Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-03
J.OLIvER EARNEST.
PREACHING IN MISSOURI.
IntsresiinK- Account of Missionary
Experience by the Elders

VI tht
Willow SPRINGS. Howell Co., Mo-,
March 18th, 1897.
To the Editor:
II is with great interest that We read
the many interesting letters from the
missionaries in the various parts Of the
world, as they are published in your
paper. They are indeed source OF
spiritual food to us; and, thinking that
Others might like to hear from us, we
send this communication.
AT our last conference, which was
held at Unionville, Putnam county, No
vember 2Sth and 29th, | was assigned
to labor with Elder Alexander Watson,
at Nevada, Vernon county. We ar
rived there December Sih, and labored
together for month and half, when,
on the 25th OF January, we received
letter from Elder Burton, the secretary
OF the mission. staupg that Elders S. S.
Humphreys, oil Paris, Idaho, and Jesse
l.. Mortenson, OF Sanford, Colorado,
would arrive there that day. was di-
rected TO labor with the latter at Willow
Springs, and the former was to take my
place at Nevada. Enclosed, also, was
a letter from Elder ] ]. D1nus, Of Chi
cage, directing us to one Andrew Chris
Jensen, OF Willow Springs, who was
tavoIably impressed with the Mormons.
We met the Elders soon after. Elder
A. Reiser, OF Salt Lake Guy, came with
them on visit to Elder Watson.
We spent several days together, and
tried to get the court house and two
churches 10 hold meetings in, but with
out success. We all went to the photo
graph gallery and had our pictures taken
together; and, on the 7oth, Brother
Mortenson and ! left Nevada for Scott
Junction, where We purchased hali.iate
tickets over the Memphis road tor
Willow Springs, arriving there at 10: 10
p. m.
We did not know where to go, as we
were strangers; but we had asked the
Lord to open up the way Tor US, and we
believed that He would do SO. There
lore We were not uneasy about where
we would stop. We had made up our
minds to go to the best hotel and intro.
duce ourselves and make our wants
known, but we did not nave to do that.
As soon as we got of the train, man
came up and invited us TO 60 with him
to his hotel. We went on few steps,
but he followed us up, insisting on US
going with him. We asked wnere his
motel was; and, alter learning that he
was the proprietor. we introduced our
selves to him and told him that We were
travelling on the ancient apostolic plan
we were depending on the charity Of
the people ior our entertainment while
In their midst, adding, that we would
be pleased TO go with him. He then
dropped his head aud began making
excuses. He tried to send US to a
Josephite, who also keeps hotel neal
by, Dut we explained that we did moi
affiliate with them; so, he finally sad;
"All right, come on, and II we have
room, we will keep YOU" He took Us
and gave us good room.
Next morning, alter ee.lng breakfast
with Mr. Roberts, the hotel Keeper, VIZ
went to the post1 flee and made in
Quirles about Mr.. Christensen. We
were informed that he lived in tn,
country, but could not find out in VIVA
direction. About ten O'Clock we wen
TO the Jossphite's to make inquiries o
him. We met Mr.. Lay, the proprietor
10 the office, and he received US yer,
kindly, supposlng that We belonged t
their church, and introduced us as
couple Of BRETHREN" to his wife an,
her mother, VINO also received us kindly
We gave them some OF our tracts an,
explained the difference between US
We expected to see change com
over them, when they found out that w
were from Utah, but we did not motto
such. They treated us as brethren
We ate dinner and supper with them
and they furnished us nice bed an,
breakfast. We had some very interest
ing conversation with them; gave then
Voice OF Warning, and left them sew
eral other books to read, among who
was the Succession, Lie OF Josep
Joseph Smith, Outlines OF Ecclesiastical
History, Doctrine and Covenants, elc,
Ga January 3Ist, we found out from
butcher the direction to Andrew Chris
tensen's, and started out to fad hin
We took the road running west until W
Came 10 the Pine Grove schoolhoust
and then followed the right hand roa
north. We stopped several times an
made inquiries; travelled over hills
through the woods, crossed India
creek; and, after travelling about tw
miles out OF our way, came TO his place
about seven miles northwest OF Willo,
springs. He received US kindly an
made US welcome to stop with him a