Letter from Samuel Whitney Richards, 19 August 1896
President, W. Woodruff,
and Council:
Dear Bretheren:
Permit me to acknowledge
receipt of your favor of the 12th inst, with accompanying Blanks
for reports of returning missionaries &c: and to assure
you it shall be my pleasure to do all in my power
to assist you in the realization of all that is desired,
as expressed therein.
This mission has been somewhat unfortunate in having
so many of the missionaries return home before their labors
had become really profitable to the mission, or to themselves.
Nearly all of them have been Elders without experience in
the missionary field, and quite a number with very little
knowledge of the Bible, the Gospel, or history of the Church.
Very much of this necessary information has to be acquired by careful
study after reaching their fields of labor.
Not having experienced Elders to labor with and assist this
class, it is very difficult with them to over come the embarrass-
ment which delays their appearing in public, other than by
distributing tracts and having an occasional conversation with individuals.
