Show MISSION N WORK IN GERMANY st munich bavaria germany january 1897 it at is with much interest that we read the missionary correspondence in the NEWS and I 1 trust a few lines from the bavarian kingdom will be appreciated not only by our co laborers in the world but also by our dear relatives and friends in zion since the opening of the munich branch by elders john Q and abraham H cannon in 1882 the work has steadily rolled onward and today members may be found in different portions of the german mission as well as many at home who first heard the glad tidings in this portion of the lords vineyard munich the capital of bavaria is a beautiful city with nearly inhabitants saloons and several hundred churches it is numbered among the first cities of europe in music and art the national museum art galleries and the royal library rank among the finest in the world religiously it is one of the strongest catholic roman cities in existence this is one ot of the greatest obstacles we have to encounter but few protestant faiths are allowed religious liberty and those which have this freedom are really but a mixture of protestantism and C catholicism for they a given number of rites and ceremonies of the catholic church because the people for centuries have been so thoroughly grounded in these methods of worship that it seems to be a part of their natures As was the case with the former day saints so it is today with the latter day saints special laws have been enacted by the government of munich against our particular organization and but few channels have been left open through which we may proclaim the principles prince ples of the everlasting gospel however we have the po powers aers of heaven on our side and he who overrules all is curnin turning the attention of the government offices officials into other channels so they find no time to persecute the seemingly insignificant organization of the truth and while the enemy slumbers the work is moving forward and many honest souls are being gladdened by the acceptance of the revealed will of god I 1 wish to bear testimony to president ts remarks last conference in regard to the existence of two great powers in the world good and evil where the work of the lord is to be found there also are the most concentrated oppose opposing i ng powers of satan this is the case in our munich branch and particularly has it been so during the last year it seems that he has centered his bis greatest efforts against us sometimes his power has overcome me and sometimes brother olson and many in stances have occurred where he has exercised great power over some ot of our apparently strongest and most faithful members one sunday but a few weeks ago this evil power entered our meeting brother olson felt it I 1 felt it and the entire congregation felt it there was a cold disagreeable influence present we sang and we prayed but it was ot of no avril avail we could not obtain that warm and heavenly influence we had always before enjoyed finally just as them the last word of the closing prayer was uttered not able longer to remain silent he poured forth venom like the poison breath of a serpent one of our strongest members was siezer overcome an dunder the influence of satan uttered several oaths and threats and tore from our midst then all was confusion nearly every person began speaking some under the influence of the evil one while others it seemed were not so overcome this was a great test for us at first we knew not what to do we prayed for divine assi stence and it came we went to those whom we thought were the most overcome and under the influence of the spirit of cod told them they were in the grasp ot oi satan and unless they immediately repented they would surely tall fall and in our hearts we commanded the evil spirits to depart they did depart first from one and then from another and finally all was quiet again and we separated well we lasted and prayed the entire following week and visited most every member who was present in the meeting the evil spirits entirely disappeared the following sunday we held fast and testimony meeting and the spirit of god was present in as strong a degree as I 1 ever felt it in my life since then we have not again felt this influence all has been peace and love for the gospel though last lasi saturday evening a peculiar incident oc cured As our hands bands were on the head of hortense Sch ker in the ordinance of confirmation and while I 1 was speaking a woman died in the next room she was not a member of the church it jeems that satan if he cannot get into our midst is still here and ever anxious to cause trouble where there is an opportunity we need the prayers of the saints in zion we live as humble and united as possible but we ask lor for the continued assistance of the saints at home in our behalf woefully we fully realize that though we have the truth and are endowed with the holy priesthood yet the unbound power which was cast from heaven is in the earth and its effort is centered in an effort to overcome those whom god has chosen to proclaim his revealed will and it is only through humility and pure lives that we can obtain a sufficient amount of divine aid to be able to with stand the powers of the tempter brother william F olson of coalville Co alville is my companion and together we bear our testimonies to the truth and pray lor for the blessings of god to rest upon every member of the church at home and abroad lz LB roz roi C SNOW |