Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-11
The Northwestern States Mission.


In the early part of the year 1897,
President Woodruff and his associates
placed the responsibility of opening
mission in the states of oregon, WASH
ington and Idaho. upon the presidency
OF the Oneida Stake OF Zion. who. al
though feeling the magnitude and re-
sponsibllity Of such n labor, in humility
and a determination to honor the call
made of them by the servants of the
Lord, began to make the necessary ar
rangements for the opening OF said
mission. on July 20. 1897. six Elders.
Wig. Lewis $. Pond Thomas Preston,
Denmark Jensen, George z. Lamb, Gas
ton L.Iraby and James Il. Smurthwaite
Were, at a regular quarterly conference
of the Oneida Stake, held at Marsh.
Center ward, set apart to I'LL mission
to those states; Elders Pond and
Preston were sent to Boise. Idaho, Ell
| ders Jensen and Lamb to Baker City.
oregon. and Elders Brady and Smurth-
waite to Walla Walla, Washington.
II now became necessary to havs
some way to Identify the mission, and
as these states We're in the northwest
It was but natural to call 1t THE
Northwestern States Mission" hence
Its name: and as 1t was under the d.
rection Of the presidency Of the Oneida
Stake. Preston, Idaho. became the
Headquarters, and Chas. d. Goaslind.
clerk of the Stake, was called to act
as the secretary. Since that time this
work OF the mission has been extend
ing. other Elders have been sent, and
there is still call for more. SO that the
work of the Lord is increasing here, as
in other missions.
The Elders who are called to la Dor in
this mission. receive like Instructions
N n N Int ta....
They are asked to travel without
money and trust in our Heavenly Fa-
ther for their support. They are also
required" to keep "A daily report or
their labors and to make weekly re-
port to the president of the conference,
VINO In turn makes weekly report to
the stake presidency. Each state is q
conference
The mission had hoen IN operation
eight months when. on Saturday and
Sunday. March Goth and 27th, 1898. a
conference was held at Baker City, Ore.
at which Apostles John Henry Smith
and Matthias f. Cowley, President Geo.
G. Parkinson, Secretary c. d. Goaslind,
and twenty-one travelling Elders of the
mission We're present.
ON Friday evening, before the OPEN
inS OF the conference, the Apostles and
Elders met at the Baker meeting house
where they enjoyed themselves In hand
shaking, singing the songs of Zion and
receiving instruction from the Apostles
and president of the mission.
Saturday morning. afternoon and
evening. and Sunday morning meetings
were held In the Baker meeting house
at which the Elders, twenty-one in
number, bore record that the Lord had
been with them and had raised up
friends to minister to their wants: for
they had travelled, to very great ex-
tent, without purse or scrip Their tes
tlmnny nj La L..
been intensified ten-fold. As n rule the
people were hospitabie and willing to
entertain them and in some instances
receive their testimony. The Elders all
expressed a desire to fulfll an honor
able mission.
on Sunday afternoon and evening
meetings were held at the Rust opera
house.
The time of the afternoon was &C.
cupied by Apostle Matthias T.. Cow
ley, who spoke as one having author
ity; for the Holy Ghost rested upon
him. In his discourse he said that the
children of men are all from one COM
mon parentage; that through the fall
of Adam all mankind became subject
to death; that through the atonement
OF Christ there was a universal saliva
ton from the grave, and salvation
from our individual sins through obed-
ience to His Gospel; that by the Shirt
of revelation shall We know of the doc
trine whether 1t be of man or of God.
He spoke of the predictions of the
Prophets concerning the restoration OF
the Book of Mormon and the coming
OF our Lord and Savior,and bore n faith
full testimony to these things. MANY
who listened We're brought to tears.
Apostle John Henry Smith occupied
the time OF the evening meeting, speak
ing on the existence of the Book of
Mormon, and Its divinity. He bore a
powerful testimony to the existence of
God. and that Jesus liz indeed the
Savior of the world; and that God had
spoken from the heavens and restored
the Gospel and the authority to onci-
ate In the ordinances thereof.
ON Monday morning. March 2Sth,
the Apostles and President Parkinson
met with the Elders. eighteen in num-
Der. three having been released to re-
turn home. They were assigned to
their respective fields of labor, after
which the following instructions were
given: Elders should be kind and con-
siderate TO their companions, exem-
plary In their lives, prayerful both in
private and public; study the scrip
lures, and other good books and be-
come Informed on all topics: trust to
the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost to
dictate what they shall speak; be-
ware of lewd women and give no OPP
portunity for temptation or criticism,
and lastly this injunction was given,
BE ye clean that bear the message of
the Lord"
on Monday afternoon there was
Primary conference of the Baker
branch, at which Sister Carrie c.
Goaslind, one of the Stake presidency,
and Sister Joseph a. West, one of the
general board. We're present and gave
appropriate Instructions to the chill
dren and officers OF the branch. Presl-
dent Parkinson also gave some very
excellent and spirited advice TO the
children.
On Monday evening a meeting was