Show THE GOSPEL IN GERMANY louisan str 36 86 darmstadt hessen germany feb 16 15 1898 itis it Is more than a year since the work of the lord was commenced in this city of which I 1 think nothing has yet appeared in your columns and trust therefore that a short account of the opening present condition and future prospects of the work here may be of interest terent to the readers of the news darmstadt is the capital of the grand duchy hessen and the res residence Wence city of the royalty has a population of about SA it to is a very aristocratic city being the home of many of the wealthy business men of frankfort on the maln main and is only about twenty miles from that tha city the streets axe are clean wide and are as a rule straight the state chur church to is protestant inders bushman and each here a few weeks in the year but no missionaries remained any le length th of time until elders and stevenson were sent here from Prank frankfort fort in november 1896 and with but few ceremonies obtained the privilege of distributing tracts from door to dobr and holding public indoor in door meetings F Since Sincel Brother was waa called to preside I 1 over the frankfort conference elder sperry lawson labored here a short time after spending nearly 16 15 months in munich Wi Bai bavaria axia I 1 was called in november 1897 to continue my labors in darmstadt and with the exception excepts on of a few weeks absence to attend the switzerland conference I 1 have been here since that time elder T W Y stevenson is in my companion and with the help of the lord we are endeavoring to continue the good wark which has been begun in spreading the seed of the goo gob pel in the hearts lot the good citizens of i this city the number of members is ia as small email bu but we have v many warm friends and sincere 1 r eveatt investigators gators several of ab abdat ut ready for baptism the TIA alKy Is being systematically we Wie take one street at a time and A do not haveit lave 41 until we are either accepted I 1 or rejected by each family about tracts have already been distributed we feel to thank our heavenly t h erbor tor opening the hearts of the elm ment officials for they have I 1 raven en us perfect freedom and we do not feel in the least checked in going goffig one ahead ad and doing all we can the people as a rule accept our tracts but a great majority feel indifferent as to the contents of the pamphlets and many of those who do read them answer oh yes it is very nice but I 1 shall shaft remain with the church in which I 1 was w brought up it to Is good enough for me when we bear our testimonies to them of the divinity of the great latter day work it arouses their attention tor for a short time but this interest to is soon crushed by indifference but this must not be said of all the people here and there we find an honest soul to whom our slad glad message brings great joy oly those who have had the expert experience of a mission can understand the treat great joy of an elder who hears thanks to the lord this is just what I 1 have been looking and waiting for tor for years the gospel in its purity as taught by our savior yes deur dear readers such an expression fills heart to over flowing and adds one more proof to my testimony that the blood of israel to Is scattered among the people of this nation and when such a descendant of the great patriarch abraham hears the true gospel of christ it thrills his aa soul and he recognizes it through the workings of a power from on high in fulfillment of former and latter day prophecy president loutensock was with us last week and we had a glorious time A large public meeting was held thursday evening in Schaffer hof and the priesthood meeting friday morning there were present president loutensock secretary wm F olson and elders frank penrose bruce brown sperry lawson FK david heigh ernest T W Y stevenson tring and the writer the subject of president louten socks address was the social and religious character of the latter day saints in utah he handled the subject very well and proved clearly that the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is the only church on earth which possesses the necessary features to distinguish it as the kingdom of god he spoke to a very attentive and appreciative audience too much cannot be said in praise of the sweet singing rendered by by elders olson penrose lawson and brown such meetings result in much good in removing prejudice and in opening the way for the elders the prospects of doing much good here in darmstadt are very encouraging we now hold sunday school and a public meeting every sunday and a dible bible class every wednesday evening we shall soon endeavor to make openings in the surrounding villages and not devote all our time in the city we feel that the work of the lord is progressing with greater strides than ever before and I 1 asa missionary feel thankful that I 1 was thought worthy to bear the great gospel message and add my little mite to the furtherance of the great work of calling mankind to repentance and proclaiming the true plan of salvation I 1 wish to say to the young men in zion who have not yet received calls 8 tudy study the gospel take advantage of ol 01 the young peoples organizations and be prepared after receiving your call to enter upon missionary duties on reaching your field the humble missionary who spends his entire time in fulfilling his duties must admit at the close of his mission that it has been the most advantageous and happiest time of his life I 1 trust we axe are never forgotten in the prayers of our dear friends at home LE ROI C SNOW |