brought in contact with the gospel message, who might not otherwise have the opportunity of hearing it. Elders, back row, left to right: W. E. McCullough, conference president, Salt Lake City; Leland Van Orden, Lewiston, Utah; Henry J. Watkins, Ogden; Hugh R. Woolley, Centerville; front row: Frank S. Emery, Leroy F. Beatie, Salt Lake City."

LATTER-DAY SAINTS CHOIR, CHEMNITZ, GERMANY

Elder E. E. Drundage, Chattanooga, Tenn.: "We have been laboring in Edmundson county, Kentucky, since the 29th of August, and have made many friends, and have had but little trouble in acquiring schoolhouses to hold meetings in. We have labored in one district where no elders have been for over twenty years. We held thirty-six meetings, sold thirty-six Books of Mormon and distributed many other books and tracts, and baptized ten persons. The following week we had four more baptisms. During our ninety-eight days' labor in this county we held 111 meetings, and have made hundreds of good friends. We feel that the Lord has blessed us, and to him we give the glory, honor and praise."

Elder C. M. Nielsen, president of the Christiania conference, Norway, writes: "The number of elders in our conference has been reduced to sixteen, less than half the number heretofore, but through the blessings of the Lord we have been able to make a respectable showing. The elders are very faithful and energetic, and from the report of our confrence recently held, at which President Martin Christopherson and his son Alvin Christopherson, of Copenhagen, were present, it appears that for the first six months they distributed 73,814 tracts, sold 1.305 books, visited 19,127 strangers' homes, held 33,332 conversations with strangers, 579 meetings, and bantized 38 people. On the Sunday night of our conference our house was filled to overflowing, and President Christopherson and others dwelt eloquently upon the principles of the gospel. My wife and little boys distributed 250 tracts to strangers at the door as they passed out. These tracts were "Rays of Living Light," by President Charles W. Penrose."

Elders Ray C. Bartholomew, back, Fayette, Utah, and D. A. Maxwell, front, Peoa, Utah, write from Andrews, Cherokee Co.. North Carolina, October 15: "While canvassing in this county we visited the place where an Elder Parry was whipped, thirty-four years ago, by a brutal mob who took him out of the home of Wm. D. Webster, two miles east of Culberson. Compelling him to go a quarter of a mile up the road. they made him hug a Spanish oak tree while they gave him thirty-five or forty stripes by hickories twisted together. It is said that when they released him, he returned to Mr. Webster's singing. A remarkable statement by an eye witness is that the tree immediately died, roct and branch, as if lightning had stricken it. When, some years later, the road supervisor ordered the limbs of the tree cut down for fear they might fall on

the road and cause trouble, some of the men who were in the mob happened to be working on the road at the time. They refused to cut the limbs off, nor would they allow their axes to be used. Consequently, men who were not members of the mob relieved the tree of its limbs. The trunk was never cut down, but the roots decayed and the stump toppled over. Other trees near by have also died and decayed. There were a few pieces of the stump lying about there of which we obtained some small samples which are as firm and solid as ever, although thirty-four years since the tree died. The place is known for miles around as the 'Mormon' stump."

Elder George Vincent, Belfast, Ireland, August 22: "The elders in the Irish Conference have been very successful the past year in making friends. Our street meetings have been very successful the past summer. We have met with little opposition. The thinking people seem to be willing to open their eyes to the true mission of the Latter-day Saints. There have been several anti-'Mormon' plays running at different theatres, but they seem to have little effect upon the people. They regard them the same as any other blood and thunder production. Elders, left to right: A. B. Ennis, Draper; C. H. Bennion, Salt Lake City; W. B. Goates, Lehi; S. J. Russon, Lehi, Utah; second row: George R. Clark, Garland; George F. Wells, Sunnyside; James L. Madsen, Honeyville, Utah; C. H. Smith, Preston,

Idaho; N. A. Smith, Lewiston; D. II. Stuart, Wellsville, Utah; W. H. Fjelsted, Preston, Idaho; sitting: James B. Gray, Randolph; H. L. Sterling, S. H. Corniby, Spanish Fork; T. E. Briggs, Conference President, Syracuse, Utah; John A. Empey, Idaho Falls, Idaho; George V. Vincent, Provo, clerk of the conference; front row: G. P. Greaves, Ephraim; M. A. Farrell, Eden; W. A. Noble, Smithfield, Utah."

Elder Benjamin Spence, South Tottenham, London, England, August 25: "We have no organized branch in this part of London but

are tracting and holding street meetings. Some evenings we have good-sized crowds of people who listen to us. Some of them freely accept our literature and promise to read it. In tracting we meet many people who are indifferent to religion, but we find some who are willing to converse with us on the principles of the gospel. We have thus been able to allay prejudice. We enjoy our labors and rejoice in the gospel. I met a gentleman here from California a few weeks ago, and he said among others things that the 'Mormon' people were among the best people he had met and he always had a good word for them. Elders, standing: Benj. Spence, Evanston, Wyo.; Rodney McKell, Spanish Fork; sitting: Jesse Muison, Paris, Ida.; Lemon A. Golding, Wellsville, Utah."

Priesthood Quorums' Table

"Gospel Themes"-The following questions and suggestions may serve as guides and helps to class instructors and students in the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums. See January ERA for questions on the first four lessons. The questions are prepared by Elder David O. McKay:

PART I-THE STORY OF GOD (continued)

Lesson 5, Chapter V-Creation of the Earth.

1. The word "create," in Latin "creatus," participle of "cree comes from a Greek word which means to command. Show the rela tion of this fundamental meaning of the word with the Latter-day Saints' idea of creation.

2. Show the fallacy of the belief that something can be create? out of nothing.

3. What is the difference between a spiritual creation and a temporal?

4. What is the meaning of the word "Adam"?

5. Of what does the "work and glory" of God consist? Mem orize the passage.

6. What is the primary purpose in placing man upon the earth? 7. Compare Doc. and Cov. 88:15 with the following: "We are not bodies alone, nor spirits alone, but both; our bodies isolate us, our spirits unite us."-Lodge. "Science and Immortality," page 43. 8. What is another purpose of man's probation on earth?

Lesson 6, Chapter VI-Elect of Elohim.

1. Who was Michael? Elohim?

2. Who proposed the first plan to the Council?

3. Explain the significance of the line, "Tried souls 'mid untried spirits found."

4. What principle did the first speaker make basic in man's salvation?

5. What was Lucifer's plan? Why rejected?

6. Explain:

"And one shall go thy face before
While Twelve thy steps attend."

7. In which stanzas do you find reference to the following: a. Redemption fore-ordained. b. The fall of man.

c. The atonement.

d. Faith. e. Free agency. f. The folly of ambition.

heaven.

g. Rebellion in

PART II-THE LAW OF OBEDIENCE

Lesson 7, Chapter I-"The Way of Salvation."

1. Show that man is "saved by grace, and that not of himself, but a gift from God."

2. Point out the justice of unconditional redemption.

3. Explain again, the difference between redemption and salvation.

4. What is the meaning of "men must work out their salvation?" 5. Define "salvation."

6. Give illustrations showing the necessity of obedience.

7. Explain wherein lies the justice of God in "making his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sending rain on the just and on the unjust."

8. Who is the most important personage of his generation? Explain.

Lesson 8, Chapter II-Faith.

1. Explain how Faith becomes the first requirement of the gospel. 2. Discuss faith as follows: a. As the foundation of all righteousness." b. As the moving cause of all action. c. As a "principle of power."

3. What is the meaning of, "Faith as a grain of mustard seed"? 4. Discuss the difference between "faith" and "credulity."

5.

What is the difference between a credulous person and one who is incredulous?

Duties cf a "Mcrmon" Boy. From far-away Sydney, Australia. comes a message to the boys of Zion, to the IMPROVEMENT ERA, and its Deacon readers, from a young man fifteen years of age. Besides being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he is a member of an organization in that country which requires boys and young men to drill in military training and discipline. In both organizations to which he belongs, cigarettes are not permitted. He has written as follows:

IMPROVEMENT ERA, Salt Lake City, Utah: The most important duty of a "Mormon" boy is to be honest, true and sincere in his belief, to obey and respect his elder people, to abide by the law of the land, and not to make and use bad language, nor to play on the streets with bad boys. If he should converse upon religion he should not be afraid to say he is a "Mormon." Even if he should say he belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ, the person to whom he was talking would perhaps not know to which church he belonged. If the person he is speaking to is good on scriptures, and he cannot defend his faith, he should just pass him a tract or small book on the doctrines of the gospel which every "Mormon" boy should carry, and tell them not to be afraid to ask for more when he has read it. If persons should pass critical remarks about his religion he should thank them and quietly pass along

These are some of his duties outside the Church. The duties in the Church should be that he is present at every meeting that he can possibly be at. Should he hold the Priesthood, he should be present at Priesthood meetings, because he can never know too much of the word of God. Should there be any Saints sick and unable to attend their meetings, it is his duty to pray that they may be raised from their beds of affliction and further continue. He should always be ready to bear his testimony, and pray to the Lord, and thank him for his goodness and mercy. Should there be any visitors in the meeting, it is his duty to make them welcome, and feel at home; and last, but not least, he should have a good feeling toward brother and sister, friend and foe.

Your Brother,

JOSEPH DOOLAN. 19 Pennell St., Newton, Sydney, Australia, December 16, 1913.