Utah. In 1881 he filled a mission to his native land, and was honored with the calling to preside over the Manchester conference. At that time the writer was but a boy upon his first mission, laboring under the direction of the deceased; and now, as he looks back upon this incident of his life's experience, and recalls the kindly face and the fatherly counsel of his conference president, and remembers, too, the many encouraging and comforting words received from his lips, his heart swells with feelings of tenderest emotions and deepest reverence for the memory of his departed friend and brother. Peace and rest to his sacred ashes, until that blessed day when the bodies of noble spirits, such as his, shall again come forth to their crowns of celestial glory in the Kingdom of our God. True Words Well Said. (From the Hearthstone.) A father, taking his daughter aside, said: "I want to speak to you of your mother. It may be that you have noticed a careworn look upon her face, lately. Of course it has not been brought there by any act of yours, still it is your duty to chase it away. I want you to get up tomorrow morning and get breakfast, and when your mother comes and begins to express her surprise, go right up to her, and kiss her on the mouth. You can't imagine how it will brighten her dear face. Besides you owe her a kiss or two. "Away back when you were a little girl, she kissed you when no one else was tempted by your fever tainted breath and swollen face. You were not as attractive then as you are now. And through those years of childish sunshine and shadows she was always ready to cure by the magic of a mother's kiss, the little, dirty, chubby hands whenever they were injured in those first skirmishes with this rough old world. And then the midnight kiss with which she routed so many bad dreams as she leaned over your restless pillow, have all been on interest these long years. Of course she is not so pretty as you are, but if you had done your share of the work during the past ten years the contrast would not have been so marked. Her face has more wrinkles than yours, far more; and yet if you were sick that face would appear more beautiful than an angel's, as it hovered over you, watching every opportunity to minister to your comfort, and every one of these wrinkles would seem to be bright wavelets of sunshine chasing each other over the dear face. She will leave you one of these days. These burdens, if not lifted from her shoulders, will break her down. Those rough, hard hands that have done so many unnecessary things for you, will be crossed upon her lifeless breast. Those neglected lips that gave you your first baby kiss will be forever closed, and those sad, tired eyes will have opened in eternity, and then you will appreciate your mother, but it will be too late." Announcement for Next Issue. Our February edition will surely be a "red letter" number, and every subscriber can look forward to a "feast of fat things" in this issue. It really gives us feelings of intense pleasure to be able to announce to our readers that the articles booked for February first are of the very choicest gems we have yet published, and productions, we feel sure, as will compel our patrons to exclaim, "the JOURNAL certainly is the most interesting and instructive publication that has ever come to our home." Among other things, will appear an address from the Prophet Joseph Smith, on "Elias, Elijah and Messiah," delivered on March 10, 1844. A most valuable article by Bishop Edward Hunter, on "Wickedness and Apostasy Among the Saints," will be a special feature of interest to every one, and especially to those who were personal acquaintances and friends of the deceased pillar in the Church. "Joseph the Prophet" is the title of another reproduction, from the gifted pen of Elder B. H. Roberts, whose writings are everywhere recognized by the Saints as "pearls of great price.' Besides these, we shall submit "Missionary Examples," by Orson Pratt; nothing better than this for Elders has ever been written; "Golden Hints for Latter-day Saints," and "The Way of the Reformers," by William George Jordan. We desire to say here that we sincerely appreciate the kind words of the multitude of the JOURNAL'S enthusiastic readers whose kind and encouraging letters flood our desk every day; and we can only add that their wide-awake interest serves but to spur us on to give them in each issue, the very best and brightest gems to be found in all the dust-covered volumes ever printed in the history of the Church. We are interested in this “Scrap Book of Modern Literature," and it is our ambition to make it just as valuable from the standpoints of interest and usefulness as the most careful research and the closest application to work will make it. We have stacks of old files, and volumes of abondoned publications, as well as all the current papers and magazines now published in the Church at hand, so that we are prepared to give our readers a happy surprise in each issue of the JOURNAL. Tell your neighbors about it, and give them a chance to enjoy it with you. Annual and Semi-Annual Statistical Report of the Mission for 1906, By Conferences for Six Months Ending December 29, 1906. The statistical report of the Mission for the past year given herewith, shows the amount of work accomplished by the faithful Elders in this field in the time stated. There are comparatively few large cities in the South, most all of which it should be said, have had work performed in them during the year, and in view of this fact the thousands of miles traveled by the brethren, as compared with the families visited and revisited gives somewhat of an idea of the extensive territory necessary to be covered in order to preach the Gospel to the people of this land. This can better be comprehended perhaps when it is remembered that the Mission embraces about 466,000 square miles and that at times the number of Elders has been reduced to about two hundred. It might be noted in passing that the Mission president, Elder Ben E. Rich, in his active work among the Elders and the different conferences, has traveled approximately 30,000 miles, mostly by rail. It is his custom to visit the brethren in the field as often as is practicable and to join them in their meetings. With but two or three exceptions, there is not a city in the South where the Elders have labored, in which Brother Rich has not preached upon the streets, and in most of them his voice has been heard many times in the open. It will be noticed that in almost every detail the report for the six months just ended, shows a vast improvement over the previous half year, especially in families visited and revisited, books sold and distributed, and meetings held. All the conferences have increased their report materially in these items. Comparing the work of 1905 with that of 1906, it will be seen that the latter in the matter of families visited and revisited, tracts distributed, books sold, meetings held, Gospel conversations, and JOURNAL subscriptions taken, is far in advance of the former. There were also ninety baptisms more this year than last. Mobbings during the year have been comparatively few, none of which having been attended with bodily injury to the Elders. The outrages on Harker's Island, fathered by a Methodist minister, in which the church building and a private house afterwards used for meetings, were both burned to the ground, the lives of the Saints threatened, their meetings prohibited, and the Elders driven from the island, were the worst things reported. By instruction from the First Presidency President Rich visited Nassau, an island off the coast of Florida, to look into the situation for missionary work. He found conditions unfavorable and the field was not opened, During the year ending Decem ber 29, 1906... 301562 242956 30370 101904 9093 342869 15281 749 6186 12189 202395 678 645 11 11020 151 Total work done in the year 1905... 242607 180987 35136 87056 7716 257401 11977 728 6228 10699 184938 617 555 24 3 595 169 Brother Rich has held twenty-three general conferences with the Elders, two of which were with the conference presidents held at the headquarters of the mission, the rest being scattered throughout the field in the several states; the last tour of the mission just completed having been made by Elder George A. Smith. of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder B. H. Roberts, of the first seven presidents of Seventies, in company with Brother Rich. Many remarkable healings by the power of the Lord have been reported, and His blessings have been poured out in great abundance upon the Elders and their work. The Saints too have been blessed for their faithfulness and a good peaceful spirit is found among them. The ELDER'S JOURNAL, published by the mission, has had a remarkable growth, and is at the present time extending its circulation with surprising rapidity. All in all the past year has been a most prosperous one in this field and to the Lord do we ascribe all the credit and the honor for the little amount of work done in this part of His vast vineyard for the advancement of His mighty and wondrous latter-day work. May the New Year be even more prosperous than the old, and may the report given serve to stimulate every harvester in the field to increased activity in warning the people and spreading the Truth. Report of Mission Conferences for Two Weeks Ending December 29, 1906. TURNER-Roger L. Turner, the fifteen-year-old son of Brother E. P. Turner, of Teasdale, Mississippi, on Nov. 1, 1906. of the Church in good standing. He was a bright boy, and a member WARE Sister Cordella Ware, at Memphis, Tenn., on Sept. 27, 1907. STOCKS Sister Anna Stocks, of Drummond, Tenn., on Nov. 17, 1906. Both Sisters Ware and Stocks were faithful members of the Church. It is a glorious thing to know that there is hope and happiness beyond this life. When one is bowed down with sorrow, there is one true friend to whom the troubles of life can be told. That is our Father in heaven. And no one can go to Him without being comforted.-George Teasdale. PUBLISHED BY THE SOUTHERN STATES MISSION CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 6 Subscriptions PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE SOUTHERN STATES MISSION Office, 711 Fairview Avenue, Chattanooga, Tenn. A SCRAP BOOK OF MORMON LITERATURE Entered as second-class mail matter at Post Office, Chattanooga, Tenn. How consoling to the mourners, when they are called to part with a husband, wife, father, mother, child, or dear relative, to know that although: the earthly tabernacle is laid down and dissolved, they shall rise again, to dwell in everlasting burnings in immortal glory, not to sorrow, suffer, or die any more; but they shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.-JOSEPH SMITH, The Prophet. Vol. IV. . FEBRUARY 1, 1907 Avoid Debt and Credit. No. 9 AN EDITORIAL BY PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH, IN THE DESERT NEWS 1905. The evil of running in debt has often been pointed out in these columns, and there is frequent need of recurring to the subject. The man, the family, the firm or the company that keeps out of debt is on solid ground, and free from the anxiety and weakness that afflict honest folk who are in financial bondage. The topic is aptly treated in the Improvement Era for September, and we gladly copy the following from the pen of its editor, President Joseph F. Smith: "An incident came under my observation some days ago which, as an illustration showing the value of correct business methods, is worth a passing notice. It appears that in one of our settlements a co-operative store had existed for many years, under diverse management. Its affairs had been so carelessly attended to that in course of time it was involved in debt to the amount of many thousand dollars. The principal reason assigned for this condition was that through the credit system large sums of money were outstanding in many small accounts which it seemed impossibble to collect. The people failed to pay. Finally, it became necessary for the directors to cast about them and see what could be done to relieve the financial strain. It was thought best to sell out, but the stockholders could not make an offer, under their financial burden, without, perhaps, levying an assessment. At least, the complete sacrifice of their entire stock was apparently necessary. One of the directors at length offered to conduct the business at stated salary, provided, he should be given complete contro!. It was agreed that he should not be interfered with, and so he undertook |