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Show FROM TEXAS. Kl.DKi: Kit AN K S. 1.KAV1TT WHITES A1SOCT Ills MISSIONARY' KM' Kill KN( lvS. Ed. Washington County Nicws: ( )nce more I pen a few lines to your valuable and most appreciated little paper. I derive much joy in reading its contents, and especially the letters rum the mission fields. Probably a lew lines from this part of the vineyard vine-yard will be of interest to some of the readers of The News. I have seen a great many changes since I came into the mission field. A number of the heroes that were here when I first came have run the noble race and returned home to their loved ones. There is still thirteen sons of Zion in the north Texas conference, traveling the hot roads of this southern country and distributing tracts from house to house. Fourteen honest souls have been baptised in this conference during the last tour months; they have come fourth from the waters of baptism bap-tism with a determination to make a mark in this world, and a mark that will be stamped in the eternal world to their credit. Many more are standing upon the waters edge, but they have not the courage to step forth and obey for fear of what their friends would sav. Some have said to me, "We would like to join your Church, but it so unpopular; if you would only change the name from 'Mormon' to something else you would get lots more converts." I often express myself to such as did the Apostle Paul to the Romans, when he said "T am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ," for he knew it was the power of God unto salvation, and I can say the same of "Mormonism," so-called, so-called, Texas is a grand country, beautiful to look upon at this season of the year. It is owned comparatively by a few, which makes it hard for the poor man who has to rent his land, and the poor are in the majority here as elsewhere. Texas will promise more and do less than any other state in the. Union. There is more cows and less milk, more wood and less fire, more crocks and less water, more preachers and less Christianity Chris-tianity than in any other state. You may think I am hard on Texas, but no, it is hard on itself. I may be asked if I have traveled over all of the state, to which I would answer "no," butlhave been to parts of southern Utah and Nevada and have the testimonies of good, honest people of all the states, and I take their word for it. As president of this conference, I have traveled over the greater part of north Texas and can form an opinion. But while this is the case, I have found some people as good and honest as can be found in any country. I would like to advise the people of Southern Utah to support all home industries, among them the Washington Washing-ton County News, for by supporting home institutions they are helping to build up the country. By the way, there is going to be a wedding here tomorrow, the contracting contract-ing parties being Alonzo L. Cantrell and Miss Mantle Aaron; your humble servant Is to tie the knot; all are invited. Elder Frank S. Leavitt, Cobb, Kaufman Co. , Texas, July 9, '00 |