Show LABORS IN switzerland bienne suisse aug 30 1897 seeing that a great many of my co laborers have been giving accounts of their various experiences in the missionary fields and thinking a fw few words from the jura conference not be amiss I 1 herewith take the liberty to pen you a few lines in order tot to give the readers of your worthy paper an idea of the work done in the loas of mixed nations where the german swiss and french people dwell an ano t where the combined charms of beauty of scenery and historical recollect recollections iona are an attraction to thousands of tourists through the entire year here are abreo areo found all classes of people all kinds of occupation and religion of every possible elble description on the face of the earth and here herein in the jura mountains have sprung into existence live branches of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints presided overby elders N bangerter W J reek heek mann and arthur porter the membership of this confer conference enele numbers over one hundred and are represented from nearly every village lw in the district services are held every sunday at biel chaux de ponds les loges and lamboing lambring Lam boing and once or twice a month in neuchatel Neu chatel and schwanden aschwanden Sch A sunday school in 9 nourishing flourishing condition where the yount young and rising generation can learn the gospel of christ is also a feature of this conference as well as an excellent choir considering the scat scattering teri residences of its members all taft t elders are preaching with power and tile the people appear to see that this is the thae only true religion and that nothing can ever remove it from the earth again and investigators are found on every side during the past two months some sixteen souls have been added to our membership a phenomenal work for this country being presented with a new life through baptism for the remission of their sins making a covenant with their father in heaven to worship and obey him in all his commandments an account of one of these baptisms might be interesting on this occasion nine persons were baptized at one time it was nearly ten at night before this was accomplished complis hed as we did not desire to be disturbed the moon was at its brightest and several people witnessed the ceremony brother bangerter doing the baptizing and after all al was completed each one wended bended his or her way to their various homes only to meet again on the following day sunday to receive the gift of the holy ghost through the laying on of handstand hand sand they had then entered into a new life for which they will receive the rewards according to their merits I 1 do not believe I 1 ever saw a happier band of people than these nine persons were when we congratulated them as brothers and sisters for the first time brother porter was with me and confirmed some in the french language this occurred on the beautiful biel lake since then some more have been brought into the fold from the chaux de douds branch through the efforts of elder heckmann who is also alao doing great work in that district single handed which lies on the boundary line of switzerland and prance france and has made many friends for the gospel there several children have also been blessed into the church during this period and on my last tour through this conference I 1 find excellent prospects for more members six rix applications for baptism being now under consideration from the boundary district on the of this month we held a large open air meeting in the woods close to a french village called president P lautensack Lauten sak of the swiss and german mission and his secretary elder olsen accompanied am vy the traveling elders and saints from the Berne conference united with viann 4 in this meeting and as it was a ae new departure an account of it ma may y not be out of place and will interest conr readers meeting was opened with prayer from elder heckmann after which elder olsen addressed the people on the first principles of the gospel in the german language he being followed by elder porter in french the die latter had hardly commenced aced when a brass band stationed themselves within twenty five feet of us and commenced to play lustily accompanied compa mpa nied by the yells of the small boy from the village this disconcerted us and for a few moments silence signed in our camp when president took brother porters place and having a powerful voice addressed reseed the people in german holding them to a complete silence while he save arave them the glad tidings that the gospel of christ had once more been Te restored stored to the earth never more to be removed while he was speaking some af f the elders tried to induce the would tu be e musicians to desist and go away but as aa they were hired to disturb us our appeal tell fell on deaf ears tracts were distributed to the listening multitude in ul whose numbers had been swelled by the brass band performance and aware spoken to on the gospel and in fact them the sympathy was with us we carried on our program in spite of the music until we were through closed A by singing eine herde und ein hirt and prayer by brother buhler the visitors numbered some people and were addressed also by elders ban gester and whitmer in the french language who expounded the principles of the gospel in the most excellent manner this is a sample of some of the trials and tribulations the elders in this conference must meet with and it only strengthens us in our work and faith i the branch was organized last december with six members and were a part of what was once a temperance society A hard feeling was created when one of our elders was invited to address the society at their meeting which resulted in the disbanding of the society by the baptizing of these six and the formation of a mormon society hence the cause of the disturbance tur bance as the pastors are bitterly opposed to us on the three more souls were added to the fold by baptism and were confirmed the same evening by elders bangerter and heckmann and there are still many souls investigating the gospel of christ and inquiries are received dally daily tor for elders to visit them and where one missionary is employed three could very conveniently be used as the hearts of the people have been softened towards the true disciples of christ we have amny friends in this conference who aid us in our wor kand sisters as well as brothers expound the gospel wherever opportunity permits we could use many more missionaries in this country and if the young men would only come out this way we will assure them a good a field to labor in as god ever opened up to men and an experience which one can never forget the news is always a welcome visitor and many rend it with interest weep keen the good work going and god will wili bl alpas ats us until the end very respectfully your brother in the work of salvation NIKLAUS BANGERTEN from east bountiful utah |