Show IN THE CHEROKEE conference sans bans bois choctaw nat 1 I T september 24 1897 in july of the present year our president jos joe J richardson and the un de reigned der signed were appointed met meteoric boric elders of this conference we journeyed south from the cherokee to the choctaw nation calling on saints and investigators the tried and true saint uncle ceberen mabrey whose name is deax dear to all X elders ide ra that ever knew him took us to sans bans bois in his wagon where we held a course of meetings at the homes of bro john E weaver and other kind friends returning to the cherokee nation we called upon the saints at round mountain held a few meetings with them and had the privilege of adding by baptism two more sheep to the lords fold we soon reached the happy home of uncle williams and aunty aulty hendricks the long tried and true friends of the elder in need for many years past no elder ever filled or tried to fill a mission to indian territory but had cause to call down the blessings of god upon this mild kind household it seems indeed they are chosen in the hands of the lord for alding his hi glockous ivcak may the peace and blessings of heaven rest upon all that for the elders as do these and many others of the true children of the kingdom on the of august we reached the city of and through the kind kindness nees of the deputy high sheriff procured the use of the capitol grounds to hold meetings in it is a pretty place and as the light from our borrowed lamp flickered over the faces ot some two hundred of the towns best people we gladly assumed the attitude i of preachers and under the good infix influence z laid before them the principles of faith on the morrow a minister or ministers took up an earnest labor of bote ove I 1 with the high sheriff the results were manifest at night as we stepped forward to call our audience to order fits 1118 edict that we should no longer fee be given the privilege that all the denominations of the city had enjoY enjoyed iDd made it necessary for or us to dismiss war listeners from all quarters could be heard the he tones of dissatisfaction and we had kind invitations to lodge at hotels and private dwellings of Tahle tallequah tahlequah quah titus thus the lord turned to good the he evil our enemies would do us the following day we secured the use of the M E church the room was well filled fillia d citi g our stay of six days in the city 7 and the isad strengthened us in presenting the gospel of truth to the listener among whom we found several diligent in ers a well known adge among others and he as he bid us i goodbye good bye left in our hands money 4 which was much needed this as always was given in answer to earnest prayers before our departure elders win A turner and 0 F hulet called in to see bee us on their return from the north art of the district where they with the help of the lord had done a goodal good and md earnest work we were then led by the spirit of the lord to the city of vinita acty miles north As we journeyed we called at the spavinaw Spavin aw mills that were vete built in 1857 1867 59 by company of saints on their way to the valleys of mountains here we were kindly received by many persons who never before had seen a mormon ett 01 t der but had learned to respect them because of the good record indelibly impressed upon the minds of thos ellio had been so fortunate to come in con tact with the influence of the soan saints of the most high we held one meeting with t then walked on the next morning we ve were invited to ride b by one mr an old resident of the pla place 04 who though young well remembered the sojourn of our people on the this beautiful 1 why said he 1 I never sa saw sch eh an industrious and thrifty people there were carpenters cabinet grilk ers blacksmiths sp iners weavers hat makers and every other kind of makers in fact everything they wore or used was the product of their own labor I 1 remember that just before the war that their president had a 6 vision he said that there was going to be war and they must go 90 at once to the valleys of the mountains to escape and im blessed if they pull stakes and go to utah and that just in time too thus we who know the good shepherds voice see how he guards his chosen ones vinita the largest of cherokee cities was reached as night came on we were met and accosted by a former member of the reorganized church asking if we were not utah mormon n elders eldera yes we replied then said he wont you go home with me we did and were most kindly treated and found his good family one among many searchers of truth not being allowed to preach in their churches we commenced preaching on the street to a multitude of attentive listeners for a short time we did without the comforts of the body but in due time the spirit whispered peace to our happy souls and sent men to provide for our wants As our last meetings drew to a close we contemplated tem plated leaving the acty if none were sent to provide for our wants while we stood alone in silent prayer that the sign might thus be given a small sinval boy stepped to my side and said mr have you had supper no was the reply then teen please come and take supper wath papa and mamma we followed him to a hotel had bad an excellent supper and were asked to stay over night we started to leave the place and were directed to the house of mr edmonds a member of the reorganized chur church cli at the door they met us with open hearts and the day was spent in earnest conversation at night we held meeting with them a few friends being invited the spirit of the lord rested upon us and several received a living testimony of our divine calling and message the next day and night we remained under the shades of the root roof owned by thit good family and that of a mr cowles also a member of the same organization the time was spent in conversation and meeting again the next morning mr cowles in conned us that ire he and wife were ready for baptism this we were indeed happy to perform but found upon our repairing to the waters not only these but tour four others ready to receive the holy ordinance at our hands among these were the kind wife of mr edmonds and his son also mr cowles son and an earnest lady mrs parr farr who had bad also received a testimony through the spirit this was a day of rejoicing and of thanksgiving for the light of the gospel at the close of days day these good saints bid us godspeed and brother cowles took us fifteen miles on our way to his ranch slater sister cowles gave us money and they all did what they could for our comfort while with them we went to chelsea and were kindly received by mr M E couch who gave us the use of his hall to hold meetings in here we taught the first principles of the gospel for one week found some believers and left others converted and ready for baptism on our return here elders Elder alfred sAlfred dixon and mfred alfred hogensen H were met in their field of labor and were found doing much good missionary work and filled with the spirit of 0 f the th gospel 1 tidings elder so lame he could scarcely walk we had twenty miles to travel to the next town of da claremore remore how it was to be made we knew not but prayed and trusted As we were ready to leave a kind gentleman and lady with whom we stayed over night placed in my hand just enough money to pay our fare to claremore CIaire more on reaching this city judge norwood hired the opera house for us to preach in we held four meetings with little interest manifested by the people we ahen journeyed south again to sans bols bois where we had arranged to hold held conference here the face of 1 every elder was lighted with smiles of joy at meeting elder wm P F jack and their fellow laborers brothers J H bristow and J E weaver had secured the use of the court house for our meetings and the deiv Ett derp were kindly received and cared for or by the saints and a good family faintly I 1 mcdanel by name that has ever been a true friend to the elders meetings were held each night during the four conference days at which the people were taught the principles of the gospel elder jack spoke the first night upon the subject of mediator medi aton and atonement explaining in his earnest manner the beauties of the grand plan to the understanding der standing of all at our second meeting elder D T hawkley and elder jos J soo e apon ti ii t ct of faith and water baptism on the following day six souls were baptized by elder B H allred jr sacrament and confirmation meeting was held in the afternoon at which brother james H bristow was ordained a priest and selected superintendent in of the sunday school to be organized on the following sunday meeting was held again at night elder B H allred jr spoke on the birth of water and the spirit at the last of our conference meetings elder W J jack spoke upon the divine calling of the prophet joseph smith elder bore testimony to the great truths taught the people and our conference closed though some of our elders have not had the best of health during the past warm season they have done a great and good work with indian Terri torys people having baptized forty nine persons and left a testimony never to be forgotten with thousands there are but eight elders now in this conference and all will work for the next eight months in the choc choctaw taw nation the saints and friends of sans bois have been very kind doing all in their power for the comfort and happiness of the elders and the success of our conference many more elders are needed in indian territory young men in n zion are you ready B H ALLRED JR |