The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-14
MORMON MISSIONARIES.
They Go to Europe to Get Recruits
for the Utah Colony.



Out of that region of the West which was
once the American desert there comes every
year a band Of missionaries, pale-faced and
often patriarchal men. with the faraway
look of eyes accustomed to the eXpanse of
open plains. The wanderers are known as
emissarieS or the Mormon Church. They
travel without visible means of support,
never begging nor. on the other hand, re-
fusing assistance. They preach the beauties
of the land of Utah and the teachings of
their Latter-day prophet, Brigham Young.
1t is some months since attention was last
called to a Mormon mission in Brooklyn and
to others in the towns of New Jersey. The
present autumn especially the month just
closing, has witnessed revival of Western
missionary zeal. The movement this time
is toward Europe. 1t began in August last,
when Chester Campbell, of Alton, Wyo..
England. Two other women, young and I'M
married, went as special missionaries
from Provo, Utah to work in England
The women missionaries this year were
more or less of a. novelty. They went out
to give testimony on a special matter. AS
silver is to gold Democrat. so is the sub
ject of polygamy to a Mormon preacher.
He leaves it alone. If questions are asked,
he reaffirms the teachings of his prophet.
He cites the example of polygamous lead
ers under the laws of Moses. He refers
the inquirer to texts such as Luke xviii.
1890, quoting that There is no man that
hath left house. or parents: or brethren, or
wife, children. for the kingdom of God $
sake. who shall not receive manifold more
In this present time" Then he turns square
ly around and declares that since CtahS
statehood the members of his church nave
pledged themselves to mOnogamy. 1t Is as
witnesses of the home life in Utah that
women missionaries have been sent abroad.
Eighteen men composed the latest party
of proSelyters. They sailed on Saturday by
the steamship Pennland. The vessel car
ried a smaller party on her previous voyage,
and Saturdays company was said to be the
third within a month that had left the city.
The missionaries were poor men, who, haV-
ing left home at tn cir church 5 call, were
70 anna I'm aVyvuxr for hC
They expect to return at the end OF that
time, bringing some appreclable additions
to the population of Utah and the congre-
cation of the faithful
Hans Christensen was the name of one
elder in this missionary band The man
was Minnesota BORN but of Scandinavian
parentage Brought up as an American,
he had become a sheep raiser in Emory
county, Utah. and convert to the Mormon
eyes, yellow hair and red cheeks, which
were his by inheritance contrasted oddly
with the Yankee twang and quickness OF his
speech.
Il am going" he said ito some part of the
scandinavian countries. shall first have
to learn the language. In Utah / gave up
sheep raising for a store, which my father
in-law will manage in the two years that
] am absent l left a wife and one child,
a baby of eighteen months. My business
used to earn from $700 to 81 coo year.
Our Mormon missionaries are chosen
from the poor people. A man esteems 1t
privilege to go when the temple authori-
ties call him. If he did not go he would
not be communicated from the church.
He may give up his business or intrust 1t to
other hands. If he cannot pay his own ex-
penses a small allowance is furnished by the
church. But the missionary lives with the
greatest economy. He does not eat in res
taurants.
I'VE are hopeful. There are many mis-
sionaries of our faith in Sweden. and
there were some thousands of conversions
there last year. 1t is a country of great
hospitality and the stranger is welcomed.
Yet we may not travel without Nurse or
script, as our elders do in the South of this
country, because government regulations in
Europe make that impossible. We follow
the scriptural command as closely as
can.
missionary work unless he can afford the