Show missionary letter writing from san bernardino cal under date feb 12 elder wayne C gardner of this city writes the work in this part of california is very interesting as san bernardino Der nardino was settled and laid out by our mormon pioneers but due to a call made by pres brigham young for the saints to return to zion it created a division among them aa As a result of the division we have some very vei bit ter apostates and still others who joined the reorganized church here at the present time is quite a friendly feeling between the latter day saints and the reorganized church we have a fine chapel in this city that was purchased about a year ago our numbers are increasing very rap idly the chapel is filled most every 41 4 1 sunday to its capacity there are five branches in this conference and they are all in thriving condition the saints are desirous of having this conference made into a stake as soon as conditions will permit the organizing of the los angeles stake was a great step in the history and development of this mission it means a great deal to our saints tn in california as well as being a means of preaching the gospel to a great many who otherwise would not get to hear it on the sixteenth of this month the thirteenth national orange show will be held here in san bernardino all preparations are being made to make it the finest one ever held the orange crop Is the best it has been in years it is a beautiful sight from the orange groves in the valley to see the mountains on all sides covered with snow the lower hills are cov coy ered with grass and wild flowers and the roses are in bloom so california is in III her elory glory we are in the orange and lemon belt of california at corona a lemon chipping shipping station near here they ship more lemons than any single station in the state we have some of the largest vineyards of the state near here there la Is ono one vineyard of eighteen thousand acres that Is owned by one man it takes a large force of men weeks to prune it the pruning is all done now and they are doing the spring cultivating this la 13 a very fertile valley aa as all the fruits and flowers of california flour ish fah here I 1 am enjoying my labors very much as a missionary I 1 realize more each day the magnitude of the work we are engaged in give my kindest regards to your wife A and nd f family a mily very sincerely your yours pres 17 0 gardner |