Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-20


On Christmas day the hearts OF the
Elders, who were at Fagalu, were glad
dened by the words, "Steamer! here's
the steamerl' The welcome visitor,
entering Apia harbor and about to drop
anchor had on its deck three Elders
from Zion, among them +. J. Wood, |
who returns on hts second mission and
is now our president, the right man in
the right place" Heaven seems to
have smiled on our verdant shores and |
bestowed a special blessing. As the |
new Elders entered our humble cottage, |
the expression OF I'VE welcome you to |
our ranks" fell from the lips OF ten e. |
ders who had come into headquarters to |
meet our new president, and to wish
Elder Barrus, our former president, and
those who accompanied him, a safe re-
turn to their loved ones in Zion.
In few days the Elders returned to
their fields of labor, while Elder Wood
and myself were busiy preparing for
journey to the island OF Savau. On
! New YEARS day we crossed the straits
between Nopolu and Savau, landing at
Salelavalu, where we were warmly well
coined by Elders and Saints. The E.
ders OF Savau had gathered to meet our
president and comply with the wish OF
Brother Alfred Keneson, who had 10
vited the Elders TO partake OF New
Years feast prepared by himself and
wife. None but the servants OF God
can appreciate the joy one has in meet
ing the Saints ana old comrades with
whom they have shared missionary ex-
periences.
The feast was given 'nuary and, in
Fred Keneson's house. At 10 a. M,
little girl called at the mission quarters
and announced that dinner was pre-
pared GA entering the gate our a''en
ton was attracted to the beautiful flow
ers and ferns artistically arranged in
decorating the veranda Now let me
tell you what we had for our New
Years dinner: Ole bullock, & large
hogs, chickens, 1876 large fish, IS
taro, los yames, Sc punches Of bananas,
10 pine apples, So cocoanuts. 70 palu
sami, 30 taiai, 100 ianusi, plum pud-
dings, plum cakes, etc. Elder Wood
and Captain Kenesop were seated at
the head OF the table; and to watch
Brother Wood eat palusam ma faili, ma
ulu, you would think he had grown up
in Samoa. At night, the SAINTS, many
t foreigners. and the Elders gathered at
our little church, where a program rem
: dered by the Elders occupied part Of
I the evening. During the entertain
c ment, the Elders surprised that kind
: hearted Captain David keneson, Sr, by
making him present Of nice hanging
: lamp.
! We spent the Sabbath here, and many
; people came out TO hear what Mlsi Llau
e lie alu pule elder Wood had to tell
Il them While Elder Wood was on his
e first mission he conceived the dea, that
5 II he ever returned to Samoa, he would
,.s.Nh 4
d views Of early Church history, ais 0
e photographs of our Prophets and
c Apostles, As a result, we now have
S with us a good lantern and many nice
/ views and photographs, A night was
u designated to give a magic lantern en-
e tertainment. Hundred; turned out; and
d as Brother Wood showed his different
IS views the writer had the pleasure oI
+ explaining to the people, each view, and
giving a short sketch OF each Prophet
e and Auostle. thus advertising the work
IS Of the Lord in pointed manner. The
W natives were surprised to see our beau
W titul Temples that were bulk in the top.
n OF the mountains in the last days, il
!. iulillment OF prophecy; and that we hac
81 Prophets and Apostles. Our large
4 tabernacle, schoolhouses and beauiiu
Of cities astonshed them, as they appeared
s. on the canvas. They have been laugh
,r by their ministers, that we lived in som,
G. dense forest away inland, shut out iron
5, civilization.
" awe next called on the chiefs OF Sapa
as paalu, and through the 6tiJrts Of Brother
lie David Kenesou, succeeded in getting
d, the largest hou,e in their village TO show
D5 our views. This is the village where III,
lie first white missionaries landed abou
Vt siN;y-six years ago, 1t then being the
st home OF King Maletoa, They have
ID law iorbldding other churches to hole
re meetings there As the time drew neaI
H. for us TO be at their village, the minis
* tiers and deacons held council, any
ne decided 10 have US turned out, but thel
ID were 100 late, ior the chiefs said, 20 /,
d, a matou mstlmau / lie malamaiama,
10 Mamona') literally, we will look at tn,
W Mormons' light. Hundreds of then
tn came and we taught Them truths tina
ee caused them to marvel, frequently quot
ing passages OF Scripture to show tlen
Id they were Gospel truths they had neve
r. heard Of
in We now returned to Tuasive Eide
or Via /, a native carrying our lantern, etc.
We were royalty entertained by Brothe
It. David Keneson and wife. During tn
DIS sabbath three well attended meeting
&c were held. 1t was estimated tina. tire
ne hundred were m attendance at uigh
ne and listened TO powerful sermon o.
OF Church organization, by L der L.
a " God, The people came from all III
ot neighbour villages TO see our views q
to ION
ey We were several days getting to Sale
st, aula, As we gave entertainments in tn
nd largest villages ihr ugh which W
set passed. Elder Wood established
lar branch OF the Cuurch in Saleaula /
ng 1899, and while lablring there, game
he many irieGd5 who have not iorgotle
him. On entering the village, "raloi
Of lava M,si Laau," came rom the throa
on OF old and young, Saint and sinner, a
en- they came out to meet Us The Saint
cir and Elders had decorated the uiss.o
an house nicely and no means had bee
IN. spared to make our visit pleaslp
lre While there, hundreds came u on
nd meetings and entertainments. The da
ole before leaving, the whole village cam
nd cul TO do us Ii NOR. The taupo or vi
I'VE gin oil Sauleaula and her helps, dresss
Bg IN their best, brought food and danced (,
in us. Elder Wood remarked, What
OF change has taken p acs since Sist,
nat rolovai aud were driven out Il Sal
.ri- laula and her house burned" 1t was