Northern States Mission 1948-1950
Elder Melvin Winsor  Carter

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21 June 1948
Arrived Mission Home 8:30 PM.  Registered at 9:30 PM---received assignment to the Hotel Utah, room 231.  Fifteen missionaries in one room, only one bath, mirror, and bowl.  Had prayer and retired.
22 June 1948
Awoke to the sound of an alarm clock at 6:00 AM in order to be at the Temple at 7:30 to go through it.  There were many going through and the session wasn’t until 2:30 PM.  Afterward I ran into Christine Stephens from Red Mesa and had a long chat with her. Ate supper at 6:00 PM, music class 7:00 PM,  8:30 to 10:30 PM studied and got acquainted with fellow missionaries.  We knelt down and had prayer then prepared to retire.
23 June 1948
Today President Smith spoke to us.  They keep us busy.  Wrote letter to Clyde Johnson.  Finished Classes, 9:00 Study, prayer 10:30.
24 June 1948
Class. Met Allred and Larsen, we are getting much better acquainted.  Temple excursion day after tomorrow.
25 June 1948
Today met at the Assembly Hall in Temple Square.  The organ was beautiful.  Heard the Louis  Walcott fight, studied, had prayer, read Moroni.
26 June 1948
27 June 1948
28 June 1948
29 June 1948
Left for Chicago on a Pullman Train.
30 June 1948
Still on the train.
1 July 1948
Arrived in Chicago and went to the Mission Home on North Sheridan Drive. Was assigned to begin my mission in Lima, Ohio.
2 July 1948
Left for Lima–Met my senior companion, Elder Seeley.
3 July 1948
Held Sunday School in Lima. Sixteen people present for services.  I gave a presentation talk and was accepted very kindly.  Prayer is taking on more significance to me.
4 July 1948
Rested and studied.
5 July 1948
Studied all morning. In the afternoon Elder Seeley and I got our tracts and stuff packed in order to leave for our country work tomorrow.
6 July 1948
We took to the country road today.  People listen but our message doesn’t sink in.  Our seeds of the Gospel just bounce in the rocks.  Most of them say they have the Bible and a Preacher, that is enough.  Others say I’m good to my neighbor, that is enough.  At one place we were absolutely told they didn’t want to hear a thing.  As the sun started to sink low on the horizon we started  asking for a place to stay.  Four places refused us.  Then finally a man drove us around and arranged a place with his mother-in-law.  They were members of the Reorganized Church.  Their grandson had just been ordained a Priest.  It struck me very hard that he should really believe he had been called of God.  I believe the same thing.  He and his family were very nice.  They had a Branch there once, but it had fallen apart.  The old man had given of his land to build this Church and then hate and trouble between members, and some moving away caused it to be  disbanded.  The Church sold the building for $100 which cost the man $1,000.  My companion and I thanked our Heavenly Father for this place to stay for we were very tired, having walked all day.  The Gospel is hard to get over to people.  Someone along the way told us that there had been an L.D.S. Church there but my companion said that if it had been our Church it would still be there and that it must have been the Reorganized Church.  I thank the Lord for his many blessings.
7 July 1948
The next morning the old man, where we stayed, asked us to hold family prayer, so we did.  I played some hymns on the piano.  Then we went to see their sick son-in-law.  He had arthritis, it was very bad. Then we started tracting and Elder Seeley made me take every other house.  I would start to talk with them but I would soon find myself at a loss for words.  Then Elder Seeley told me to tell the story of the Restoration.  At the next house I did.  It is very hard to tell people that don’t listen.  They believe all they have to do is live like their conscience tells them and that is enough.  If you reason with them all they say is, “Yes I know!" or, “That is right.”  If only someone would be interested and ask some questions.  At 7:00 PM we started asking for a place to stay.  But, always the same answer, “We don’t have room, sorry, try the next place.”  We kept walking and asking for a place until finally we stopped outside one place and prayed that we would receive a place to stay.  We walked in the place but no one was home.  Then we kept on walking and we saw a light off the side of the road.  So we went in.  The lady there was an old maid taking care of her mother and father who were around 70 years old.  Elder Seeley, as tired he was, told her the story of the Restoration and told her the need for the people to seek for the truth.  She told us we might find a place to stay half a mile down the road.  When we had walked half a mile we saw a light so we went in and asked for a place to stay.  Their names were Dobie.  The place was called Santa Fe.  They received us very well.  The time was 12:30 at night.  They fixed us some food and we went to bed at 1:00 AM.  The girl had been to Bible School.  We contacted 16 homes today.  We contacted ten with conversation and gave tracts.
We asked nine of these for a place to stay.
8 July 1948
We received a good breakfast from the Dobies, and then their son-in-law took us to Bellefontaine.  From there we hitchhiked into Urbana.  It took us the rest of the day to do this.  We received permission to hold a street meeting from the Chief of Police, but the Supervising Elder decided there wasn’t enough people to hold a street meeting.  Then he changed my companion to Elder McKay.  I was very disappointed at first for I and Elder Seeley got along swell together and besides I was to go to Lima to receive mail and hold Sunday School with Elder Seeley.  But with McKay we are at the mercy  of the people for two weeks without being able to write home.
9 July 1948
We tracted all day through the country.  Along toward evening we got a place to stay, about the 9th place we asked.  Very nice people, they were pretty interested in the gospel.  They just fed us breakfast.
10 July 1948
Blisters on the top of my big toes are feeling better since I put tape on them.  We hitchhiked to Wapakonita and then tracted in the country there.  We couldn’t find a place to stay so we slept in a  wheat field.  In the morning while we were sleeping they started combining so we had to get up and leave.  We had run out of tracts.
 11 July 1948
So we started for Lima; we made it there, cleaned up, ate supper and I read my letters.  They were sure a glad tiding to me.  I wrote to Mother, Bob, Grandmother, and Ham.  We attended the Reorganized Church.  They don’t have the truth with them.  Their service was very much like the Protestants.  Last night we stayed with an LDS member, Mrs. Barnes, and today we start out among the Mennonite people.  
12 July 1948
We started out with a good breakfast under our belt.  We met some people named Crawford who were very interested in our message.  A hard rain started and we were forced into their house.  All day, after that, we met no one that was interested in the Gospel.  We went to a Mennonite revival meeting and stayed with a Mennonite Deacon and Preacher.  He talked with us until 2:00 AM.  Their religion teaches them to wear headdresses and not to wear any rings or jewelry.  Their religion is sort of shallow.  But he was a very good man and was strong in his religion.  He had a very nice family.  We had breakfast.  The Mennonites are very radical.  Daren Rayner was the man’s name.
13 July 1948
We started tracting and had very good conversations through the day.  We have had a hard time getting started talking with people because they think we are Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Around 5:00 we started asking for a place to stay.  The second place received us in.  I put on a pair of overalls and helped the man milk his cows.  They gave us a good bed and breakfast.  They were very nice.  We told them what we believed in.  We went to bed at 10:30, arose this morning at 7:30.  It is very fortunate we found a place when we did for it started  raining hard a little later.  The Lord is with us.
14 July 1948, Wed.
We tracted all day through the country.  We had a good day talking with the people.  I am catching on to the work.  We walked from three miles north of Hume to Buckland, then received a ride to Wapakoneta.  We walked four miles out.  We received a place to stay around eight o’clock.  We had supper and breakfast.  Wednesday night I and Frische sang parts to some songs while he played.  We had a good time.  We told them of the Restoration of the Gospel, but they didn’t listen very attentively.  The Lord provided us with a good place to stay.  
15 July 1948
The next morning we arose at 7:00, ate breakfast, bathed (thank goodness) and shaved.  I played the piano some.  Then we started on our way again.  We are about 19 miles from Sidney.  We expect to be there next Wednesday.  I miss home and Glendale.  We tracted through the day and had some pretty good conversations. Along  toward evening we were getting pretty tired. Different people along the way said we wouldn’t find a place to stay.  We did, however. An ex-serviceman said he was going to town and left his whole house to us.  It seemed good to relax.  We listened to the radio, ate supper, and went to bed early for the first time and had a good night’s rest.
16 July 1948
We got up and had breakfast.  When we started to leave,  Kupper gave us a lunch.  We tracted all  day.  Along toward evening McKay and I had some warm words.  He got on my nerves, but he is a good guy.  Tracting is getting to be better.  We started searching for a place to stay.  The Elsas of Anna, Ohio gave us supper.  He didn’t believe at first that I could help milk cows because I was dressed up and looked like a city boy.  But after I milked  the first cow he said he could tell that I  had milked before.  We explained what we could of the Gospel to them but they weren’t  very interested.  They were staunch German Lutherans, but they had one good point.  After supper their mother read scriptures from the Bible to the children.  When they pray it isn’t really talking with the Lord.  It is more of a ritual. We had a good bed.
17 July 1948
And a good breakfast.  Started out tracting today; we didn’t do a very good job. We ran into a Catholic community and farmers.  We walked close to nine  miles after 5 o’clock looking for a place to stay.  But we didn’t find one, so we laid down under a tree.  We had piled straw and went to bed.
18 July 1948, Sunday
We have continued to rest under this tree.  It is now 3:15 here and the folks are probably just finishing eating, for it is 1:15 there.  I wouldn’t have minded going to Sunday School with the folks.  At five o’clock we got up and started looking for a place to sleep and hoping to get a meal.  We sure felt gaunt and weak.  We found a place, were given supper and went to bed.  Had a good breakfast and started tracting.
19 July 1948
We tracted and had a good day and a good dinner.  We found a place to stay, we didn’t  receive supper but had a good breakfast.  We had a good discussion and gave Book of Mormon to their brother that was staying with them.
20 July 1948
Had breakfast, tracted. Stayed at a Catholic home, were given supper.
21 July 1948
We were given breakfast.  Walked into Sidney.  At 2:00 left Sidney  with Seeley.  Stayed with Bakers.
22 July 1948
Stayed at an old lady’s place.
23 July 1948
Arrived in Lima, went shopping.
24 July 1948
Cottage meeting at Wolfe’s about Auxiliary Organizations.
25 July 1948
At Sunday School only 6 present.  Gave a talk on “The Top of The Mountains,”  played the piano.
26 July 1948
Started country tracting.  Slept out in a field that night.
27 July 1948
Arrived in Columbus Grove and visited members.
28 July 1948
Started for Bluffton; stayed with a Mennonite,  no gospel conversation, forbidden.
29 July 1948
Arrived in Bluffton.  Tried to find a member but she had left.  Stayed at a United Brethren’s house.
30 July 1948
Arrived in Lima.
31 July 1948
President Haymond came and he visited with us,  we received much guidance from him.
1 Aug.  1948
President Haymond gave the Sunday School talk.  Everybody received much inspiration from it.  We went to Marion with him, Sunday afternoon, to see the Branch. Elder Seeley  had an inspiration to start  Relief Society at Columbus Grove among members.  That will be our next job.
2 Aug. 1948
Wrote letter.  Monday night we visited a contact named Rex, one block north, 2 west.  Discussed The Plan of Salvation.
3 Aug. Tues.
Started country tracting today.  We had a very good day.  We had three contacts and stayed with a previous contact, Mister H. R. Crawford (Rt. 2 Elida).  He invited us back anytime.  He is a clear thinker.
Contacts:
(1) Mrs. Ivan Lawrance 2001 Elida Rd.
(2) Mrs. J. H. Harrod 2193 Elida Rd.  Left Joseph Smith’s Story, About The Mormons, and Latter Day Revelation.
(3) E. E. Edgecomb 2411 Elida Rd.  Left Book of Mormon, he bought it.
4 Aug. Wed.
Stayed at Crawford’s,  left Plan of Salvation.  Very friendly.  Traveled to Delphi to find Charles Stirn.  Went on to Van Wert.  The Spring family gave us supper.  Stayed in Ford Motel.
5 Aug. Thur.
Came back to Delphi and found Stirn; his family of children are all Mormons.  He joined the United Brethren Church because the wife he married is a member.  They very friendly, were invited back.
6 Aug.
7 Aug.
8 Aug. At Sunday School I played the piano.
9 Aug.
10 Aug. Visited Mrs. Smith, 709 North St.  She has a Book of Mormon.
11 Aug. Wed.  Tracted, 2nd Visits.
12 Aug.
13 Aug. Fri. Good day.  Visited Mrs. Adams, good contact,  she is very interested,  940 Saint John’s Ave. Visited Dobie later.
14 Aug.
15 Aug. Sun.  Good attendance, 13 out.  I conducted the services.  Brenda Bell & Rosaland Myers gave 2 1/2  minute talks.
16 Aug.  Went to Columbus Grove to visit members and try to encourage a Relief  Society.  It might be well later on to start a Primary there and have cottage meetings.
17 Aug. Visited members and left for Lima.
18 Aug.  Arranged to take the Lima women to Columbus Grove for Relief Society.
19 Aug.  Held meeting at Columbus Grove, 12 ladies present.  It is encouraging.  Roy Brower took us.
20 Aug.  Went tracting 2nd visits out Elida Rd.  Made arrangements for transcription machine.
21 Aug.  Did laundry. Studied for a cottage meeting lesson; gave lesson.
22 Aug. Sun.  Directed singing. Helped teach young children, five attending. Wolfes invited us to dinner.  We attended the United Brethren Church.
23 Aug.  Wrote letters . Started country tracting at one o’clock.   A young lady taking care of a rich lady’s home was real friendly; left a Book of Mormon, her name was Miss Vendale Parker (Harrod).  She gave us a lead on Dr. Wisenburger at Dale Dr. between Market and Elm (Lima).  We stayed over night at a Mrs. Nora Burtchin Rt 4 (Lima, Ohio).  She is searching for the truth, we left Book of Mormon, Plan of Salvation, and Friendly Discussion.  She has been wanting the Mormon Missionaries to visit her, she loves the truth.
24 Aug.
Tracted 21 homes, finally found a place to stay, a couple of bachelors.  They were friendly, but man isn’t man without the woman. They woke us up at 4:00, it was still very dark.  During the day we drank sulfur water twice.  At Mr. Hannelies black sulfur, at another place white sulfur. This stuff smells like rotten eggs.  The road south of 118, straight west to south of Monticello, then we are going into Monticello.  Bachelors 2nd house right side after Spencerville Road at turn.
25 Aug. Stayed at member’s (Hinds) home in Montecello,  went to Spencerville and visited members there.
26 Aug.  Came back to Lima.
27 Aug.  Visited and changed the time of Sunday School.
28 Aug.  Washed clothes.
29 Aug. Sun  Conducted Sunday School
30 Aug.
31 Aug.
1 Sep. 1948
2 Sep.
3 Sep.-5 Sep. Sunday
Conference in Akron.  Stayed Orlis Walker’s home, grand people.  Met Trickies, investigators.
6 Sep.  Visited in Akron.
7 Sep.  Came back to Lima.
8 Sep. We started tracting 10:00.  The second house toward Lima from the overpass on 117, on the south side of the road, might be profitable to visit again.  We visited 24 houses today. Along about eight o’clock we had prayer for a place to spend the night and preach the gospel.  At about nine o’clock we met a lady at the door and told her what we were doing.  She told us no, she didn’t have a place for us to stay.  We started walking down the road.  After we had walked between a quarter and a half mile a car drove up and asked if we were the ones searching for a place to stay.    We had a good conversation with him and got to bed at one o’clock.  The name was Shepard, a Baptist from Kentucky.  (address) Willis Shepard Rt 2 Kenton, Ohio.
9 Sep.
Arose at seven o’clock.  Contacted fifteen families today.  Getting back into the swing of tracting again. Prayer is a wonderful thing.  It was quite  chilly around eight o'clock.  Elder Seeley and I decided to have prayer.  It wasn’t but the second place we asked that we found a place to stay.  We will be able to get to bed by 9:30.  We are between Alger and Harrod, going to Harrrod.  We met a Baptist preacher today, he kind of got my ire up.  He lives between McGuffey and Harrod.
10 Sep.
The people’s name we stayed with last night was John H. Conkle.  Route 1 Harrod, Ohio.  This man was very alert and I believe favorably impressed with the Church.  We contacted fourteen homes today.  After we made it into Lima from Harrod we bought groceries and then went to visit a Dr. Weisenbarger. He lives between Elm and Market on Dale Dr.  We received information that he was interested in the Church while country tracting, from a girl that used to work for them.  Only his wife was in. Now I know why it is important that each one of the Mormons need to live their religion, because the Elect, the ones searching for the truth, have their eyes on the Church as the Weisenbargers had.  We left a pamphlet on the Plan of Salvation.  They are very favorable to the Church and may be considered good investigators.  She is a Lutheran and he is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church.  She is kind of put out about the Lutheran funeral services, and is searching and is a lover of truth.
11 Sep. 1948
We didn’t accomplish much today.  We decided to learn 100 passages of scripture before Elder Seeley leaves.  We have started.  We saw The Emperor’s Waltz starring Bing Crosby, it was really a good picture.  Ila Fay Furr married a non-member; she testified to us the necessity of marrying a Mormon boy. She really was in a pitiful condition.  She is strong in the faith and her husband is becoming more favorable to the Church.
12 Sep. Sun.
We had 18 out to Sunday School.  I played the piano and gave the 2 ½ minute talks.  Elder Seeley conducted the service.  It went fine.  Wrote letters in the afternoon, and studied.  Gave talk on the purpose of joining Church and the end to which we are seeking.
13 Sep. 1948
 Went down and registered for the draft and put my grey suit in cleaners.  Tomorrow we start out in the country again.  We are getting our breif cases loaded with tracts now.
14 Sep.
Left room at 9:15, caught ride to Van Wert.  We wound through quite a few country dirt roads.  I got a headache, finally got over it.  Left a Book of Mormon with a man.  He was the one  we were wandering through the country to find.  We seemed to keep pulling over to the southwest till we found him and then we went east.  We found a place to stay with Gilberts after having a word of prayer.  It is eleven o’clock and boy is it cold.  Ever since dark we’ve been freezing.  It sure seems funny, here we were talking with Gilberts in their home and they left the door open.  They didn’t seem to mind.
15 Sep.
Today we had quite an experience.  We started tracting down a country road after we left the Gilberts.  We decided to stop and study a while because it was still pretty early in the morning.  Well, Elder Seeley had just crossed the fence when I heard a car drive up and stop.  I was putting the briefcases out of sight because I was going to cross the fence too.  I looked around and Lo! The car had Sheriff written across it and a great big  ariel on top.  He looked in our briefcases and asked what we were doing.  We finally convinced him we were missionaries.  We left a Book of  Mormon at a lady’s house, Mona Haver just outside of Ohio City.  We traveled afoot, back and forth until we hit Hwy 81 and then we traveled east toward Lima.
16 Sep. 1948
We traveled 12 hours.  Last night we stayed with  Mrs. C. R. Bevington on Highway 81, four miles west of Elgin.  She lives back off the highway, the address C. R. Bevington, RR1, Venedocia.  We left a Book of Mormon with her.  We contacted 22 today from Spencerville to the Kemp Road turn off 17.  We walked, trying to find a place to stay.  We finally slept in Mennonite’s barn.  Boy! It got cold toward morning.  But we were thankful for the barn to sleep in.  We had only three meals while we were out this week, but the funny part about it was that we didn’t feel any hunger pains.
17 Sep. Fri.
We cleaned up at the Mennonite’s place and tracted on to see Mrs. Burtchin.  She is of the House of Israel and we had a good talk with her on Authority and the need of a Restored Church.  She gave us dinner and we went on east and visited some contacts, some friends of  Elder Seeley’s.  We had no more got back on the road than we caught a ride into Lima.  Before the night we asked her for a place to stay.  I remember Mrs. Burtchin asking if someone had  sent us.  We told her no, that no one had.  She had been praying for light and more truth.  She is a fine lady with a fine mind.  Elder Seeley got his walking papers to Evansville, Indiana.
18 Sep. Sat.
I received a letter from Pres. Haymond notifying me that I was to have Elder Cook as my next companion.  I’m sure we will get along alright.  We did our laundry.  Held a cottage meeting at Mr. Wolfe’s.  He hasn’t started observing the Word of Wisdom yet.  We gave the first lesson on the Three Degrees of Glory to him.
19 Sep. Sun.
There were only four to Sunday School.  I gave talk on The Truth Shall Make You Free.  Afternoon wrote letters.  Tonight I wrote to Pres. Haymond.
20 Sep. Mon. Studied, did ironing.  Rained hard today.  Visited  Lutes,  have to be careful there, the kids like to play too much.
21 Sep. Tues.
Visited Erwin’s first this morning; gave her Joseph Smiths Own Story.  Then we visited Gottfried; it is hard to carry Gospel conversations both places.  I don’t believe it is very worthwhile to visit either.  This afternoon we visited Mrs.Smith and we had a good discussion with her on welfare work of the Church and storing food for famine, also about the Pre-existence and Plan of Salvation.  Ate supper at Mrs. Bowers’ and then went and visited Prosser’s at 612 S. Main.  If we could conduct conversation along gospel lines it would be helpful to him.  He is a worthwhile contact.  She is a member.
22 Sep. Wed.
Went to Columbus Grove, visited with members.  Primary there would be good, even cottage meetings. Brother Bender should be taught more about the Priesthood.  They treat us good.  Mrs. Bowers went with us.  She gave us a dozen eggs.
23 Sep. Thurs.
Today we went south down Highway 65 to the Auglaize River and visited with  Mrs. Baughman; she is a good member.  We then visited Mrs. Naus and Mrs. Fred Leatherman.  Leathermans aren’t very much interested in the Gospel.  Mrs. Naus is very open minded and gave us a good dinner.  She isn’t too deep a thinker but she is willing to accept the truth.  She might be well to visit again. Mrs. Naus  lives down the first road (which is gravel) after you pass the Auglaize River, down the road to the northeast across the railroad track.  We received a ride back to Lima with a drunk who really condemned us.  He kind of raised our ire a little, which wasn’t very becoming of me.
24 Sep. Fri.
Visited Mrs. Stalter (Findlay Rt. South Stoll).  She works in Ohio Theater.   We came home, ate dinner and then saw Mister May at the YMCA about the use of the hall.  We ate supper at Erwin’s just a block west of here.  At 7:30 we left and went to visit Mrs. Bennett.  She acted better about things.  Got in at 12:00 that night .
25 Sep. Sat.
Elder Seeley packed and got ready to leave for Evansville; he is being transferred.  I studied and wrote letters.  Tonight we went to visit (Reva) Mrs. Wolfe at the hospital.  We saw their baby and had a good visit with them (Mr. Wolfe).  Babies looked awfully little and helpless.  I thought to myself that I would be glad when I had a child of my own.  We went to see Unconquered at the State Theater.  Didn’t  get in till after 12:00, violating Mission Rules.
26 Sep. Sunday
Had 16 out to Sunday School, had a good meeting.  I taught the young children’s group.  This week the small ones are going to try to do something their Mother tells them.  Next week I must have a story ready for them.  Tonight Browers had us down for a snack and we talked for a long time on religion.  Mr. Brower shows signs of accepting the gospel.  He is a very fine fellow.  Mrs. Brower is a good woman.  If only they had had some children.  Elder Seeley leaves in the morning and he is all ready to take off.  Mr. Brower is going to take him to the station.
27 Sep. Monday
Waited all day.  Elder Cook came in 7:30 in the evening.  
28 Sep. Tues.
We spent the day getting his baggage.
29 Sep. Wed.
Tracted five hours today, 22 contacts, none very interested.  We are going to do good I’m sure.
30 Sep. Thur.
Tracted six hours, 25 contacts.  None especially good.  We are tracting on Spring Street, we are just past Jameson going west.  Elder Cook & I are getting along pretty good.  Learned something about the Bahai Faith.  They believe  in mixing all races, that Christ has come the second time.
1 Oct. Fri. 1948
Tracted 5 hours. Went to visit Mrs. Burnett, we may start holding cottage meetings there.
2 Oct. Sat.
Did our laundry, studied, held cottage meeting at Mr. Wolfe’s.  Everything went fine.
3 Oct. Sunday
Had seven besides us to Sunday School.  I taught the younger folks; we had a good lesson.  Taught Sunday School  lesson, directed the singing, wrote letters, and studied.
4 Oct. Mon.
Went to Ada for the funeral of Christina Lynn Wolfe, 28 days old.  We will have to visit Mr. & Mrs. Wolfe again.
5 Oct. Tues.
Visited Columbus Grove & members. Relief Society doesn’t look like it is going to pull through.
6 Oct. Wed.
Went to Van Wert, visited Spring’s.
7 Oct. Thur.
Visited members in Lima,  Mrs. Klingler,  Prosert Cunningham. Lutors still need to be visited.
8 Oct. Fri.
Went to Belefontaine, visited Mrs. Bentine, a member.  Was well received,  she gave us dinner.  That night we held a cottage meeting with Mr. Burnett.
9 Oct. Sat.
Did our laundry, studied and visited with Mr. & Mrs. Brower.  No cottage meeting with Wolfes.
10 Oct. Sun.
Only two out to Sunday School, Mr. & Mrs. Brower.  They enjoyed it.  I gave 2 1/2 minute talk.  Elder Cook gave the lesson.  I played the piano.
11 Oct. Mon.
Went to Missionary Conference at Columbus.  Columbus is a very big town and we didn’t even know where the members  lived.  We found the Conference.  Visited museums at Columbus, saw Indian relics etc.  We stayed with Mrs. Pressor.
12 Oct. Tues.
Conference all day.  It was very good.  Elder Lowe went home.  Elder Hawkes has taken over as Supervisor.  We returned home.
13 Oct. Wed.
We got in a good day tracting today.  Second visits.  Visited Mr. Euller and Mrs. Smith, investigators.  Mrs. Euler isn’t too good an investigator, Mrs. Smith is, however.
14 Oct. Thur.
Tracted 6 hours today.  We tracted on through noon hour.  It is coming along better now and I enjoy it more.  The Lord was with us today.  It really was more of an enjoyable time.
15 Oct. Fri.
Tracted 5 hours today.  Held cottage meeting at Burnett’s.
16 Oct. Sat.
Cottage meeting at Wolfe’s.
17 Oct. Sun.
Thirteen out to Sunday School, played piano, helped teach young folks.
18 Oct. Mon.
Tracting, Elder Cook is a good Elder.  Trinity Methodists have closed their doors.  Had trouble  with the Bahais. Held four cottage meetings.
19 Oct. Tues.
30 Oct. Sat.
Wrote letters---emember spirit of testimony and Spirit of Missionary Conference.
31 Oct. Sun.
Sister Bowers invited us to Sunday Dinner.  Visited with members.  Had a good evening.
1 Nov. Mon. 1948
Visited French lady in apt. 1, Jean Courts.  She seems interested.
2 Nov. Tues.
Tracted 2 hours in the morning.  Then went to Colunbus Grove, held cottage meeting.
3 Nov. Wed.
Tracted 3 hrs.   Rained,  stayed in.  Held cottage meeting at Mr. Wolfe’s.
4 Nov. Thur.
Tracted.
5 Nov. Fri.
Rained all day, I darned socks.
6 Nov. Sat.
Tracted in morning.  Show at night.
7 Nov. Sun.
Twentyfour out to Sunday School.  Very good meeting, it was really swell.  Sister Wolfe and Sister Stavenger came from Ada.  
8 Nov. Mon.
We went to Monticello and visited Hinds’.  Mr. Hinds talked quite a bit with Elder Cook, all along Gospel lines. Dwelt on Authority.
9 Nov. Tues.
Tracted.  Held cottage meeting with Mr. Bender.  He is going to be recommended for advancement in the Priesthood.  They brought us home from Columbus Grove.
10 Nov. Wed.
Tracted, held cottage meeting at Mr. Wolfe’s.

11 Nov. Thur.
Tracted, visited Mr. Smith.
12 Nov. Fri.
Tracted, met lady whose husband died; her faith was based upon man.
13 Nov. Sat.
Did our laundry, hung it in the basement.  I studied for tomorrow, Sunday.  Made out records, went to bed.
14 Nov. Sun.
Eighteen out to Sunday School.  Taught young class alone.
15 Nov. Mon.
Ironed our shirts.  Tracted 6 hours, 3 hours of it at Erwin’s.
16 Nov. Tues.
Tracted 6 hours with Elder Hawkes.  Went to Columbus Grove, held cottage meetings.
17 Nov. Wed.
Tracted 6 hrs. alone, Lakewood, Charles, and Dexter.  This is the first time alone; it was quite an experience.
18 Nov. Thur.
Tracted 5 hrs. on Metcalf.  Visited Sister Cunningham.
19 Nov. Fri.
Tracted 5 hrs. on Metcalf.  Visited Burnetts, time is wasted there.
20 Nov. Sat.
Tracted 2 hrs. on Spring, all north.
21 Nov. Sun.
Had 20 out to Sunday School.   The meetings are going fine.
22 Nov. Mon.
Tracted afternoon two hrs.
23 Nov. Tues.
Tracted Collett 5 hrs.
24 Nov. Wed.
No tracting.  Laid off because of Thanksgiving.
Mr. Wolfe asked for baptism.  We told him to quit smoking; it was a joy talking with him.
25 Nov. Thur.
One month until Christmas.  Browers are giving us Thanksgiving dinner.
26 Nov. Fri.
Tracted.  Visited Barnetts and had a good visit with her friend, a Methodist.
27 Nov. Sat.
Tracted 3 hours.
28 Nov. Sun.
Had 10 out to Sunday School.
29 Nov. Mon.
Tracted 3 hours.
30 Nov. Tues.
Went to Columbus Grove; Bro. Bender is going to Columbus to be ordained a Deacon.
1 Dec. Wed. 1948
Went over to Wolfe’s, had a good meeting.  He is trying to quit; it’s pretty hard.  He said that now he can appreciate the drunkards and their problem.
2 Dec. Thur.
Went over to Mrs. Wolfe’s and cut Dickie’s hair then we came back and read all afternoon.
3 Dec. Fri.
Went to Columbus to attend Missionary Conference.  Evening had a good session of 4 hrs.
4 Dec. Sat.
Last night we stayed with McKinney’s at 503.  Mr. McKinney holds office of Elder but has fallen away,  he seems to be on the road to recovery. For eleven hours today we held Testimony Meeting and Conference.  It was most enlightening.   Surely the Spirit of the Lord was with us.  There were instances of healing told by Elders.  In a little town in Illinois, I believe, the Methodist Minister had a group of women against the Elders.  One of the town had a tumor on her throat which was healed.  A blue baby was healed, a lady who was given up for dead healed.  But best of all, we were enlightened.  If only we can do better work.
5 Dec. Sun.
Today was a good District Conference.  Found out I would probably be transferred to Columbus.  I hope that I can do a good job;  I have felt a little inadequate to be a Senior Comp but if the trust is put on me I am going to try to fulfill it.
6 Dec. Mon.
Tracted 3 hrs. on Lakewood.
7 Dec. Tue.
Tracted 5 hrs.  Had cottage meeting at Mr. Bender’s  in Columbus Grove on Church Organization and Genealogy Work.
8 Dec. Wed. 1948
Tracted 5 hrs.  Held cottage meeting with Mr.Wolfe,  took up D & C 18-20; He has a good spirit,  I believe he is making the grade.  He will make a good member if something doesn’t happen.  It was down to 20 degrees this morning and we walked out to 2911 Elida Road to see Mr. Edgcomb but he wasn’t home.
9 Dec. Thur.
Tracted 5 hrs.  Held cottage meeting with Mr. Rickenbacker.  Showed films; he shows no interest,  and  Mrs.  is taken up with this “saved” business.  This is a very bad idea that the world has, purely the doctrine of the Devil to stop people from progressing.  He has Book of Mormon.
10 Dec. Fri.
Spent all day sending Christmas Cards.  Visited Mr. & Mrs. Burnett in  evening.
11 Dec. Sat.
Laundry,  ate out, evening went to show; it was no good, a waste of time.
12 Dec. Sun.
Only had 3 out this morning.  Mr. & Mrs. Bender are going to California to visit; told them to stop by and see the folks.  Played the piano.
13 Dec. Mon.
Received word of my transfer to Columbus to become a Senior.  It is my desire to be a good one, with the help of my Father in Heaven.  Ironed shirts today.
14 Dec. Tues.
Went to Columbus Grove in the afternoon, visited Myers’,  Allens, Benders, Bells, and Stovers.  Held meeting that night on Genealogy.

15 Dec. Wed.
Tracted.  Visited the French lady at Jean Court,  Mr. Stern in the morning, and Mrs. Smith.  She told us how much we had helped her.  She has family trouble.
16 Dec. Thur.
Morning, visited Erwin’s, then afternoon visited  Sister Stavenger at Ada.  Sister Wolfe  has moved to Tiffen, the one that lost the baby.  She is sincere about having her husband join the Church so she can go to the Temple.
17 Dec. Fri.
Packed this morning, visited Sister Burnett this afternoon,  then this evening we had dinner with Mrs. Brower.  She is a fine lady.  Well, this night is the last night I’ll spend in Lima;  tomorrow I’m off.  I’ll meet my new companion and get ready to start work. I hope I can fulfill my duty.
18 Dec. Sat.
Caught the bus to Columbus at 9:40, arrived in Columbus at 1:30 P. M.  Studied and separated investigator sheets south from the north.  Elders Carr and Lloyd came in from Chicago at 12:30.  Stayed with Elder Bigelow.
19 Dec. Sun.
Went to Sunday School,  Christmas play.   Mr. & Mrs. McBeth  invited me over to dinner. We went to 326 Belvidere to see about a place to stay and decided to take it.  Sunday night  Elder Carr was first speaker, Elder Lloyd second; they only took up 5 minutes apiece.  I wasn’t going to speak very long but the Spirit of the Lord was with me and I spoke for 20 minutes.
20 Dec. Mon.
We moved into Belvidere then bought food.  At 1:00 we held a cottage meeting at Mr. & Mrs. Stith’s.   It went over well, we talked on the Three Degrees of Glory;  next time probably Celestial Marriage would be well.  Unpacked, wrote letters, took bath.  Elder Carr from Modesto, Calif.  is  my new comp.
21 Dec. Tues.
Junior Elders tract alone 1st day.  Three hours in class, then we visited Mrs. Fish; you catch the Grove City bus and get off just after you cross river or bridge and walk one mile. She wants us to call her before we come again.  She seemed favorable to meetings with which she could follow a study course.  We went to visit Mrs. Enos but she wasn’t home.  Then we went to the Branch M. I. A. Meeting.
22 Dec. Wed.
Three hours study together. Traveled all over town trying to find investigators. Visited Mrs. Remmington, she asked for prayer.  We visited Mrs. Gordon.
23 Dec. Thur.
Made an appointment with Mrs. Buehler for Monday.  Called Mrs. Ream, she asked us to call again after holidays.  Visited Mrs. McAbee at 341 south Harris.  She is a married Catholic.
24 Dec. Fri.
Washed our shirts. We were invited over to Harston’s for Christmas Eve.  Four Elders went to Church and sang Christmas Carols and played ping pong.  For Christmas Eve we ate  ice cream.
25 Dec. Sat.
I ironed shirts.  Were invited over to Harston’s for Christmas dinner.  Played the piano for them. Two  Elders were there from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
26 Dec. Sun.
Went to Sunday School.  We were invited over to Blake’s for dinner.  Afterward went over to Elder Bigelow’s and stayed until Church.  Cold, walked along river, very cold. Threw rocks on the ice.  Bro. Brown gave us a lot of food.
27 Dec. Mon.
We tracted 2 hours today, then visited 3 investigators. It’s 12 degrees outside.  A lady lost a daughter.
28 Dec. Tues.
We went to East 6th Ave., she wasn’t home.  Still skating on lakes, and the river is frozen over.  The streets here are paved with bricks.  Bought us an alarm clock.  Cottage meeting Stith’s; he works at  plastic plant.
29 Dec. Wed.
Tracted 3 hours today, visited investigators.  Got cottage meeting at Marples.
30 Dec. Thur.
We loaned a Book of Mormon, tracted 3 hours.  Companion received note from mother.
31 Dec. Fri.
Tracted 5 hours, sold a Book of Mormon and loaned another. Sold book to boy’s mother going to preaching school.  That night we played table tennis.  Went up on top Lincoln Le Ve.
1 Jan. Sat. 1949
Went to Sunday School and Fast Meeting; they were good meetings.  Visited Mr. and Mrs. Fish, had a good talk with them, they are going to move to Arizona.  Talked on Pre-existence, Fall,  Holy Ghost.  He accepts Godhead with the Father as a distinct individual.
3 Jan. Mon.
We visited Mrs. Buehler, she was quite interested and invited us back any time.  Covered generally our reason for being here, Pre-existence, Fall,  Atonement, and why Christ.  She accepts the Godhead.  Went over to other Elders’ and got the record machine for Wednesday night.  Bought umbrella.
4 Jan. Tues.
Started raining.  Visited Mrs. Merry, her husband told us his fish story.  Missed dinner and supper we were so busy.  We grabbed some stuff on the way to Mutual, walked quite a ways in the rain, 14 blocks, Elder Lloyd was soaked.  Elder Bigelow had a 13 dollar toadstool which couldn’t shed the rain off them both.
5 Jan. Wed.
Raining, tracted anyway.  Visited the blind lady; she was very nice.  We might be able to do some good there.
6 Jan. Thur.
While tracting met a Negro lady who invited us in and told us her dream and took a Book of Mormon.  She gave us 10 cents apiece.  She was hurt at first when we weren’t going to take it.  Then when we told her that was the most we had received since being here in Columbus she really lit up.  She was quite poor.  We taught her that Paradise was different from heaven and Christ is our intercessor.
7 Jan. Fri.
Tracted 5 hours,  loaned a Book of Mormon to Mr. Seeman,  and the nice young mother took a Book of Mormon  She was having trouble.
8 Jan. Sat.
Washed clothes and then went to Oklahoma.  It was quite a musical; some day it would be nice if I could write one. Started reading Added Upon out loud.
9 Jan. Sun.
Attended Sunday School.  Mr. & Mrs. Stith came out to Sunday School.  That was encouraging, for we have been holding cottage meetings with them.  Sunday night I played a piano solo; was quite rusty but struggled through. I received some compliments.  We anointed and blessed  Mr. & Mrs. Marpel’s child, William Peay.  He recovered and became better.
10 Jan. Mon.
We ironed our shirts today and held cottage meeting with Stith’s.  We gave them the first two lessons in the message of Mormonism.  He accepts everything we tell him.  He is converted to a degree, but he and his wife can’t get along.  If only they could settle their differences we could make Mormons of them, with the help of the Lord.  By the way, he is calling it our Church.
11 Jan. Tues.
Accidently, on the 5th, my foot went in a lady’s door in true salesman-like fashion.  I didn’t notice it, but very shortly she said, “I’m not going to close the door, you can take your foot out.”  We second tracted today on Columbian; a lady we had talked with before who seemed not interested at all, by an oversight we came to her door.  She surprised us by inviting us right in.  She took a Book of Mormon.  Then we went over to Elder Bigelow’s to pick up Elder Carr’s mail.  He gave us some more contacts, then we went and visited Mrs. Butler.  She was nice and told us to call the early part of next week.  She wants us to come for supper.  She said there were two things she could not accept about the Mormon belief, that is Polygamy and that Joseph Smith was actually a prophet.  It was snowing heavy coming home from Mutual.  We had a good lesson on testimonies and how to gain one.
12 Jan. Wed.
Looked up some old contacts that were on some tracting records.  None very good.  Afternoon we visited a Mr. & Mrs. Shanon.  His mother was really a convert but he was never advanced in the Priesthood.  He is having trouble with his legs.  Then we held a cottage meeting at Marpel’s and played the Fullness of Times records 2 A&B and 3 A&B.
13 Jan. Thurs.
We went all day trying to contact some of the people on old tracting records.  It seems that nobody was home until the last one on the list, and then we were going home.  She invited us right in and talked for about 2 hours on her troubles.  She had played the piano for the Elders back in 1913.  She seems not to have had gumption enough to join, and now she is trying to justify herself by her good deeds that she has done in the past.  Mrs. Krebbs is her name.
14 Jan. Fri.
We second tracted today till noon, then we ate dinner and went to our fourth tracting again.  A Mrs. Kraft had the Elders stay with her 40 years ago.  She is old and didn’t ever take any interest in the gospel.  We held a cottage meeting at McKinney’s; it was turned over to me and it was on Authority. We sang songs and everything.
15 Jan. Sat.
We washed our clothes, then we went over to Church to print cards or notices of the Mutual Party.  We then came back and studied until 10:00.
16 Jan. Sun.
 We went to Sunday School.  Came home, ate dinner.  Wrote letters in the afternoon.  Then went to Church, Priesthood Meeting, D&C Sec 102 on the High Council.
17 Jan. Mon.
Studied together Rays 5,  then ate.  I started ironing, with Elder Carr  studying the Apostasy, then he ironed while I studied.  We then held a cottage meeting at Stith’s on the Restoration and prophecies supporting it, also the Book of Mormon.  Was accepted very well. We then went next door to a Mister Hoff and met them for the first time.  Talked on Resurrection, possibilities there.

18 Jan. Tues.
Went down and got a hair cut at McKinney and Sons.  Mr. Marpel was quite friendly.  Then we went to the blind lady’s; she was having company.  We went to the lady who had lost a daughter, she was busy.  Went out on East Broad, no one home.  Went to Mutual; I played The Little White Donkey.  Lesson on Word of Wisdom.
19 Jan. Wed.
We went 2nd tracting on Nashoba.  Mr. Bowman, 269 Mason, has a Book of Mormon  Talked with Mr. Mason quite a while.  He had read some in the Book of Mormon,  he is going to read some more. We went way out east on Parkview to visit a member, they weren’t home.  Boy, the homes there are really rich.  Held cottage meeting at Marpel’s, it went over good but I made a blunder and didn’t close with prayer.  The Marpels are really fine. (Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Marpel 73 South Campion, Columbus, Ohio) She gave us a fine dinner.
20 Jan. Thur.
We second tracted on Nashoba & Lechnor.  The Negro lady gave back the Book of Mormon.  We then went and visited Mr. Evans of the Goodwill Industries, then Mrs. Gordon.  Elder Carr got his notebook.  Then we went over to Mrs. Butler’s.  She gave us supper and then Mr. Butler showed us around the Omar Bakery.  We saw the slicing and wrapping machine.  They were installing what will be the largest oven in the world.  He is presser for Omar Bakery. Then we talked a long time with Mrs. Butler about religion,  mostly about our relationship to God and the actuality of an evil Spirit.  M. A. Butler, 374 Sheldon,  G.R. 2280,  Columbus, Ohio.
21 Jan. Fri.
Tracted 2 hrs.  Left Book of Mormon at 136 Lechner.  She seemed quite interested and said she would read it.  We came back, ate, and then it was raining.  We were tired so we decided not to go out.  Held cottage meeting at McKinney’s on Apostasy. It went over quite well.  I got a birthday card from Mother; it was very nice.  She told me about Family Night, it sure sounded nice.
22 Jan. Sat.
We took baths and did our washing.  We then studied and went to the show,  So Dear to My Heart by Walt Disney.  Read the Book of Mormon to Indian Agents.  Looked at big Rocks.
23 Jan. Sun.
We arose, ate breakfast, then went to Sunday School.   Elder Carr talked on wasting time while you are young;  I talked on prayer. Then we came home, studied, wrote letters and slept.  Went to Church.  I had to play the piano for the service.  It rained all day and night.  This morning around 6:00 Mr. Brown brought another box of food.
24 Jan. Mon.
Ironed and studied in the morning.  Held cottage meeting with Stiths on John Baptist’s visit to Joseph Smith; it was accepted.  Held cottage meeting last with Hoff’s,  next door, on Resurrection.  They are friendly, hope they remain that way.  We read 10 pages of Book of Mormon together and went to bed.
25 Jan. Tues.
Tracted this morning.  We met a woman who said she was awful sorry for us,  that Satan had deceived us.  She took our names and said she wanted to pray for us.  I told her about the Godhead; she contradicted herself on that.  Wouldn’t even take the time to talk with us.  But then repeatedly said she would pray for us, that we would see the light.  It was Elder Carr’s door. I took over and as soon as we started to depart she said again she was going to pray for us.  I turned around on the front of the porch and told her that, “We will pray for you too, lady.”  In the afternoon we went over to get ready for the Mutual Party.  We were in charge.   We had the beans on at 3:00 and they were not done until 9:00.  We took turns stirring the brew,  the party went fine.  We had to do the dishes  afterward, which took until 11:30.  We broke the Missionary rules that night.
26 Jan. Wed.
We were both sick today, we really had headaches and our stomachs were upset.  Too much night life, which we aren’t used to.  We went over to Marpel’s to hold a cottage meeting.  Played records.  Mr. Marpel said he would like to read Book of Mormon with us.  We got home and went to bed.  Rain today.
27 Jan. Thurs.
Felt much better today.  We went tracting this morning.  One lady at the door told us that we didn’t have anything that would be of use to her.  We kept talking and finally she just up and said she wanted a Book of Mormon to read.  It sure surprised us, we handed it right to her.  This afternoon we went over to Mrs. Baitty’s;  met quite a few of the Baitty boys, all were real friendly.  Herb’s wife invited us over for dinner.  We went, she and he are very friendly, he asked for a Book of Mormon.  We sold it to him.  But when we got home we felt very bad because we hadn’t given it to him.  We went to bed at 9:00 and the other Elders, Bigelow & Lloyd came after the record machine.  We didn’t even hear them come in.
28 Jan. Fri.
We got up and went out 4th tracting,  or looking up names of people previously visited.  We visited Rabbi Friend’s wife.  She told us many wonderful things about her experiences with the Mormons in Salt Lake City.  Many years ago, 30 to 40 years to be exact,  her husband was a Jewish Rabbi,  head of the Jews in Salt Lake City.  She and her husband knew Reed Smoot,  Apostle Talmadge, and Pres. Joseph F. Smith.  She and her husband were there when persecution was strong and Senator Smoot was having difficulty being seated in the Senate.  She told us the Protestant Ministers were, and still are, as sweet as pie to the Mormon’s face, but back of them they are hateful.  She told about the time 5 ministers in their clerical garb came to her husband and asked him to join them in their fight against the terrible hierarchy of Mormonism.  She said they spent about an hour telling hateful things against the Mormons and then Rabbi Friend got up and told them, you are not Christians if you have that attitude, and proceeded to tell them off. The Leaders of the Church got word of it and from thence forth he and they had many wonderful times.  He was invited to every Mormon doing and he went and he and his wife really enjoyed them.  They have the utmost respect for the Mormon people.  Later, here in Columbus, in school they were studying about Utah so his little Jewish granddaughter came to him to ask about Utah and the Mormons.  This 9 year old granddaughter talked one hour in class on Utah and the Mormons, telling of the good things which her grandfather had told her.  That night her teacher  got a telephone call from one of the mothers ranting and raving about the teacher letting a little Mormon girl preach Mormonism to her children.  The woman said her children were perfectly satisfied with their Church and didn’t want things like that happening.  The teacher let her continue until she had let off her steam and then she said, “That little girl who gave that talk was a Jewish girl who doesn’t believe in Christ yet.  I thought her talk was a good lesson to the children on tolerance.”
29 Jan. Sat.
Washed, ate, went over to see Elder Hawkes, then we went over to see Edmunds’ and ate supper.  Then we went to a Relief Society Party and had to eat a second supper; was really full.  At the end of the party Elder Lloyd and I were chosen for the race in putting on women’s clothes, it was a riot. I laid down a girdle to save it until later and Elder Lloyd picked it up; he also had stockings so I won.



30 Jan. Sun.
Got up, skipped breakfast, went to Sunday School.  Had a good lesson on Sec. 2 of D&C.   Came home, studied for cottage meeting, made out weekly and monthly report, then wrote 2 letters,  Christine and home.  Went to Church, I played the piano, Elder Hawkes gave talk on the Holy Ghost. Then we met the fellows from Arizona,  Reber & Peterson,  working at Lancaster.  I had the privilege of giving the Priesthood Lesson on Church History.  Brother Brown took us home,  Mrs Brown invited us to dinner next Saturday.
31 Jan. Mon.
Elder Hawkes came over for the day.  He tracted with Elder Carr in the morning.  I tracted alone.  Met an Apostolic fellow, he talked about an hour and a half.  We skipped dinner and held a cottage meeting at Seth’s, it went pretty well.  I was a little nervous since Elder Hawkes was there.  We then came back over to Harris’ and went up to see Mrs. Butler but she wasn’t home.  We bought  groceries and  came home.  Elder Hawkes cooked the fish, then we studied and went over next door and held a cottage meeting on the Holy Ghost and The Family.  Next time, Personality of God.
1 Feb. Tues. 1949
Elder Hawkes tracted with Elder Carr again.  All together we got in 6 homes.  Left Book of Mormon on Wrenhem, then I  went to Wenteral. Met the Marvels; they are Quakers, pretty nice, 235 Wrenhem.
2 Feb. Wed.
Elder Hawkes tracted with me today; it was pretty good.  I was kind of nervous; need to learn more scriptures.  “Take it easy,” Elder Hawkes said, “be less business like.”  We held cottage meeting at the Marple’s, played records 7A & B and 8A & B.  Mr. Marple  took a Book of Mormon and is going to read it.
3 Feb. Thurs.
This working was pretty fine.  Mr. & Mrs. McKinley took a Book of Mormon and she said she was going to read it.  Then we met a fine young woman in the apartments on Belvedere who is going to take a Book of Mormon  It was a fine morning.  We tracted again this afternoon on Doren, finished it.  Then we went to town.  I got my leather binder.  Then we went to Snake Pit, ate there.  Came home, studied 2 hrs. and went to bed.
4 Feb. Fri.
Today we tracted morning, afternoon and went out in the evening.  Loaned 2 Books of Mormon today.  It was pretty pleasant tracting.  We took a bath when we came in and went to bed.
5 Feb. Sat.
We tracted 3 hrs. again this morning, came in, did our washing, then went over to the Highland Elders’ and visited in afternoon. Went over to Mr. & Mrs. Brown’s for dinner.  Came home and went to bed.
6 Feb. Sun.
We went to Sunday School.  There were quite a few out.  I had to give the Adult Class Lesson, and then was stuck with it for next week.  We then went over to the Highland Elders’ for dinner.  Visited until Elders Hawkes and Leachty left, then Elder Carr and I came home.  We went over to the Baptist Church right north of here in the evening.  It was truly a Protestant service,  read opening and closing prayers, anybody that wanted to be saved raised their hand.
7 Feb. Mon.
We tracted 2 hrs. this morning then held cottage meeting at Stith’s.  I can’t figure them out.  We had a good talk with her.  It seems they have quite a bit of quarreling between them.  We went over to Mr. and Mrs. Heiner’s at 177 Columbian , they said to come back.  We worked some on Elder Carr’s ring and went to bed.
8 Feb. Tues.
We have tracted 5 hrs. today, sold a Book of Mormon and loaned one. While tracting we came to a door where the man had his mouth full of tobacco; he couldn’t speak so we went in.  The lady was coughing blood and hemorrhaging through the mouth and nose.
9 Feb. Wed.
Six  hrs. tracting today, another Book of Mormon loaned.  We then held cottage meeting at Marpel’s which went fine.  He is reading Book of Mormon.
10 Feb. Thur.
Tracted 5 hrs. today.  We are going to prune a blind lady’s tree.  Visited Mr. Fish, had a very fine conversation with him.  He is still strong about going to Arizona.  We had a good Gospel conversation.
11 Feb. Fri.
Tracted 2 hrs. over in Okie town between two railroad tracks.   Then came home, studied, and went over to Mrs. Merry’s. She is a very fine contact, she is enthused about our welfare program.  Her minister found out about it and being the fact that she is one of the best mainstays in his Church,  tried to institute a welfare program which flopped.  Then to keep her interested he came and told her he was putting her at the head of a committee to go around and see who would help during a depression,  and know who to help when the time came.  She told us that was the silliest thing she had ever heard.  She commented to us that the missionary system amazed her, the Church sending out  mere babies  into the world against learned men like her minister with a Master’s Degree in Science and Doctor’s Degree in Theology.  “And you have the answers to all the questions,” she said, “or a source from which you can find them.”  “I ask my minister a question from the Bible and he leaves in a hurry.”  She said, “If I didn’t know the Bible any more than my minister I’d be ashamed to preach the Gospel.”  Then she told of him contradicting himself on different sermons and the people didn’t even think enough to catch it. She testified that the D & C was of God, that no man could conceive or make it up, not even learned men.   Especially see Sec. 93 and 133.  She believes the Pearl of Great Price.   She said she wasn’t a good Mormon but we had ruined her on Protestantism.  She read  I Peter 4:6  to her minister about Gospel being preached to the dead and then he said with startlement, “Do those Mormons teach that?”  She said not the Mormons, that was from the Bible.  Then she asked him about it and he got up and left.
12 Feb. Sat.
We did our washing,  ate breakfast and then went to Joan of Arc on at RKO here in Columbus.  The other Elders were late as usual.  The show wasn’t too bad. The Catholics sure digged the Episcopalians or the English in the show.  We came home and wrote letters.
13 Feb. Sun.
We had a large crowd out to Sunday School.  It was my privilege to be able to give the lesson to the Adult Class, the second lesson on D&C Sec. 4.  We went over to Anderson’s for dinner, and then to Church.  Sister Harston & Brother Brown gave the talks.  Priesthood Meeting was good, on Fishing River Revelation.  This morning a young girl came in and sat down in the front row with Elder Carr.  She listened very attentively to the lesson.  Afterward we found out she had come there by mistake thinking it was the Church of Christ.  We told her that this was the Mormon Church and wanted her back.  It was very strange.  She was nice looking and very well poised.
14 Feb. Mon.
We went with Brother Brown to court this morning, then he brought us home.  We ate, studied, went to Stith’s, held another cottage meeting concerning Work for the Dead.  Next week, visit of Moses.  We then shopped for food, came home, ate and were called to administer to Dean Marpel.  We went right over.  He cried and bawled while we were performing the ordinance, but  he seemed better right away.  Talked with Mrs. Marpel quite a while about Book of Mormon.  Then we went to a Sunday School Valentine party.  It was pretty good, had a little trouble with it.
15 Feb. Tues.
Tracted 4 hrs. then we went to Mutual, had a fairly good lesson.  Brother Brown brought his plan about the show.  We are going to bring it up before Pres. Haymond at the Conference.
16 Feb. Wed.
Second tracted 3 hrs. in morning then afternoon we 4th or 3rd .  The young lady on Lechner kept the Book of Mormon a little longer.  She said she would study it some more.  Then we went across the insane asylum, a beautiful walk over to see Sister Leslie Miller.  She is a member, her husband is Catholic, she lives between the railroad tracks in a shanty town or slum.  Her husband has been out of work for a month now.  Then we went over to Marpel’s.  They gave us dinner, she is reading the Book of Mormon very rapidly.  Her son, William Dean Marpel, we administered to Monday is feeling well.  Jack said to me he had never seen a kid get sick and then well so fast.  We played records 11 and 12.  They seemed interested and willing to start the message of Mormonism.
17 Feb. Thurs.
Paid all our bills,  tracted this morning,  packed,  called Elder Bigelow to wake them to be there in time to get their tickets.  Then we went over to McKinney’s son; we had a good conversation with him.
18 Feb. Fri.
Got up at 5:40.  Washed and shaved while getting breakfast.  Called the Elders again to make sure they would be there at the bus.  We got our tickets and it was time to board the bus when they come up in a hurry and told us they had forgotten  their clergy books.  Elder Carr and I rode on to Cincinnati.  We arrived there about twenty minutes to 11:00.  We went out to the Chapel  to visit the Elders.  The streets are so narrow in Cincinnati that they have made some of the busier ones one way streets.  The alleys are so narrow  that a truck can barely squeeze through.  That night we had a talent show.  Each Elder had to perform.  I sang with quartet and played the piano.  We had a fine session.  Then we stayed with Blackhams at Udell Blackham 962 Burton, Tel. U.N. 9202.  We talked after we got there until about 12:00.  He gained a Fellowship in Chemistry; is going to get a Doctor’s Degree.  He hasn’t