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13 [Mar., 1910] Today was my first attempt at presiding over services in the Samoan language. Pres. Moody said I did fine but I can’t talk hardly at all, and I had to preside and lead in the singing. I am living in the hopes of doing better next time.

[Mar.] 16 Elder Jm Nelson, ((John A. Nelson, born 1888, from Cardstone, Canada served from Mar 11, 1910—Apr 4, 1916. )) one of the newly arrived Elders was appointed to labor with me until Conference. Today Pres Moody, Elder Nelson and I went to the American Council and were registered as American citizens. Bro Nelson who lives in Canada could not be registered in either American or British because he was born in U.S. and has lived in Canada all his life.

[Mar.] 19 Last night we held a splendid singing practice in Pesega and practiced to good advantage. // I have been reading in Bancroft History of Utah (( Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1832-1918 ) History of Utah, 1540-1886, The History Company, San Francisco, 1889. Bancroft wrote, compiled, and published extensive histories of the western states. His volume on Utah deals extensively with the history of the LDS church from a reasonably impartial non-Mormon point of view. This book is available on the internet. )) and am impressed with the greatness of Pres. Brigham Young.

[Mar.] 20 Today it became my duty as presiding Elder to preside and I could see a great improvement over last Sunday. So far as I know I made no noticeable mistakes while last Sunday I did nothing noticeably but make mistakes.

About 10 oclock we were visited by some Seventh Day Advents who came according to appointment. We spent several hours together explaining opinions and exchanging. They left us in pretty good humor and knowing considerably more about Mormonism than when they came.

[Mar.] 23 I planted a garden in our yard and went to Apia on business for Elders in Sarau.

[Mar.] 24 I met with a misfortune. Not being very well posted on Samoan I had a small book with great many sentences written in which a took as a prompt for when I forgot. Today I went to visit Simur and forgot my book so I had to trust to another source and I had a lovely time visiting with them. //

Mar 25 Today has been the most eventful Good Friday I ever remember. It was raining in the forenoon so Bro Nelson and I cleaned house, ate dinner and went to visit Mary Ah Mu. There we had another dinner (faaSamoan, in every respect) we visited another Chinaman and enjoyed a fine lunch and still another family. We then started for home and on our way were given more invitations to dinner. In the evening we held singing practice and after our practice we spent about two hours in singing dancing and other pastimes.

[Mar.] 26 After visiting and proselyting around in our village we ended up at Mary Ah Mu and helped to kill a goat thereby earning an invitation to Easter dinner which we accepted with our usual good will.

[Mar.] 27 I presided over the services today and Elder Jas. L. Lisonbee preached an Easter Sermon.

[Mar.] 28 Today is a government Holiday. We spent it in house cleaning.

[Mar.] 29 Pres. Moody borrowed our neighbors cart and traveled around visiting families living a long way off. We administered to two sick people also visited at Voi vasa and took several pictures. // I had my face shot while lined up with a German a blackboy and a Samoan.

[Mar.] 30 Worked in Mission Office most of the day was called out to administer to sick.

[Mar.] 31 Bro Nelson and I came to Sauniatu. ((Sauniatu is a remote village settled in 1904 by Latter-day Saints who had be persecuted in other parts of Samoa. It is 20 miles east of Apia on the island of Upolu. )) We had a lovely boat ride of 20 miles and then had to tramp over a mountain trail in mud knee deep. It was a fright we were late in the night arriving in Sauniatu. Thursday night I slept in the Mission Home on springs tonight it promises to be a mat stretched out on a pavement of small round pebbles (a native bed).

April 1 Friday we spent about four hours at the Sauniatu swimming hole and sure had a great time.

[Apr.] 2 Sat our April Conference began. A large crowd of natives were present and good attention given to the speakers.

[Apr.] 3 After meeting Pres. Moody and I went to Soo’s place for dinner. My Pesega Saints were also staying at this place. We had a good chicken dinner and I felt quite big. The man of the house waited on us. Our chairs were covered with white linen and we had swell company. // We continued to have good meetings, chicken dinners and happy times until Tuesday morning when I left Sauniatu alone for Pesaga

[Apr.] 5th I came down to the coast caught a Sarau boat and with them and Sister Ah Mu we came to Apia where her buggy was awaiting to take us to Pesaga. However I had much business in Apia so sent my grip in the buggy but remained in Apia until my work was finished when I returned home.

[Apr.] 6th Wed. looked at quarterly financial report.

[Apr.] 7 finished the report and mail it to Presiding Bishops Office.

[Apr.] 8 Copied up Conference minutes and visited.

[Apr.] 9 Did considerable business in Apai handling about 1500 marks.

[Apr.] 10 Sun Having been sustained as Mission Secretary I and again taking xxxxxxxx Elder W.E Tangreen ((Wilford Emer Tangren (1886-1979), spelled Tangreen in microfilm of Samoan mission records, from Moab, UT served Dec 18, 1908—Jan 12, 1912. )) was appointed to labor with me an preside in branch affairs but will not be here for another month during which time I will likely be alone.

We held a good testimony meeting today. //

[Apr.] Sun 17 Nothing of importance this week. We spent it in mission business and studying.

When Sunday came it found Bro. Nelson and I here alone. I held Sunday School and everything worked like a charm. But when meeting came I did not know who to have preach so I spoke a few minutes then called on different members to come and speak. One that I asked seemed very slow but finally came up and droped on his knees before me confessing his sins. It kind of got the best of me but I hurriedly told him to take his seat. He is very good now bringing food etc. to get on the good graces of we judges.

[Apr.] 18 Today I met Elder John Bennet ((John Bennet, born in 1888, from Holden, UT served from July 31,1909—Jan 12,1911. He was released due to illness. )) who just came from Savaii he had been four days in coming across the 8 mile of chanel. While making the journey he converted the man running the boat.

[Apr.] 19 and when they landed he baptized him and I confirmed him.

[Apr.] 20 I had my picture taken and purchased some post card views of Samoa. //

Apr 24 Elder Geo Brown (( George Alma Brown, born in 1886, from Draper, UT, served from Feb 17, 1908—June 1, 1911. )) came from Tutuila and is still staying at Pesaga with us.

[Apr.] 25 Broke Mary Ah Mu cow to give milk and had another swell chicken dinner. After dinner we borrowed their horse and had about a ten mile drive around the country. We also had a short runaway on Main Street in Apia. We got our horse stoped just in time to keep from running over the lumber yards in Apia. No harm came from it but it caused considerable excitement.

[Apr.] 26 Besides our regular work of visiting and office work we walked out to the Apia baths and enjoyed a fine swim.

[Apr.] 27 We became somewhat ‘faalamaitists’ and clipped our hair and eyebrows off. Pres. Moody said it was a wonder that our Saints had not aposized.

May 7 Getting along well, hair and eyebrows growing. Spend the time in visiting and do office business.

We had been without mail for some weeks and was pleased to receive a nice large mail and again come in contact // with the world.

[May] 2 Elder W.E. Tangreen has arrived from his journey to Samoa and will take charge of village affairs and leave with the Secretary work.

[May] 17 Tues. Elder Tangreen and I are alone in headquarters. We are pleased to be left alone that we may better use our time. Last Sunday we accompanied Ah Mu up to the plantation and had a very nice time.

[May] 16 Last night we visited in Apia the man of the house was a member of the church but he was not at home but a house of non members were there. We started in on them and as one would get enough they kept leaving until only a poor sick old woman was left so we tried to cheer her with a ½ hour gospel sermon then left them feeling that we at least had tried to preach to them.

[May] 19 I am beginning to pray faaSamoa. The work here is progressing and we have several Gospel Conversations every day. //

May 26 Yesterday we called on the Chinese Council and had about three hours interview. We asked many questions and leaned much of their customs. We also got a good in sight into the Councilor business.

We gave them the “Ar. Of Faith” by Talmage (( The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by James E. Talmage was first published in 1899. )) and they seemed very pleased with it. We left them with a hearty invitation to call again.

In the last six days while proselyting in and around Pesega we have run on to people of six vastly different religion, namely Atheism, 2 Mohamadism, 3 Confucius of China, 4 Cha Catholism 5 Protest[ant]ism, 6 Presbeteriansm and last but not least there were a few Mormons visited.

[May] 31 Elder Tangreen and I again visited the Chinese Council and inquired farther into their customs. //

June 11 Time is fleeting so quickly that I can hardly keep up and accomplish half what I outline for work.

On June 7 we held Elders meeting at Pesega from 9:30 AM. until 4 P.M. and it was as interesting as it was long. Much good advice was given and Pres. Moody spoke very highly of the work being done by Elder Tangreen and me. He commended us on the good Spirit we were enjoying and mentioned several ways he had noticed where we had improved. We decided in the meeting to take some doctrine each month and each learn 4 passages in Samoan and English.

(To be continued)