Letter from Henry Smith Tanner, 29 September 1896
San Francisco, Cal.
Pres. Wilford Woodruff
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Brother:
I returned from Sacramento and Latrobe last Thursday. We held
some very successful meetings and were well represented by the press.
We have just added six more to the church. There is a gradual increase
in all of our congregations, yet we have plenty of indifference to
contend with. I received the tracts and Voice of Warning you sent
by the Elders.
I have been waiting anxiously for definite word about me staying
in the mission. My wife is not enjoying very good health and being
whooly dependent upon others, it is almost more than she can do to
care for herself and three litttle ones. If you decide for me to
remain here and it be consistent with your feelings I would like
to have my family with me. But that would increase the expense and
add unto your burden and it makes me feel that perhaps it would be
better for you to send some one who is able to bear the expense. There
are Elders who would carry the mission successfully if they could come
and stay with me a little while until they become familiar with our
methods and I believe it would be well to consider it before you de-
cide to keep me. However the matter rests wholly with you. I am
willing to do as you say and do my best to further the cause whether
here or elsewhere.
Perfect harmony exists among the Elders and we are enjoying our
labors, but we have some unpleasant things occasionally among the
members. The other power has been working to divide our flocks but
so far all little troubles have proven a benefit to us. I have just
released Elder B. W. Henderson on account of the financial depression.
He is a member of the Henderson and Sons firm at Oneida, Idaho, and
is an excellant young man with good judgment. He has been in the
Mission 19 months.
When I sent in my report on the 2nd inst. the mission indebted-
ness was $114.18. I borrowed the money of Bro. Scowcroft to carry me
along but another month is almost gone and rents are due. I hope you
will be able to make an appropriation of $150.00 for the benefit of
the mission.
We will hold our northern conference here next Sunday, October 18th
we will hold our Southern Conference in Los Angeles. I hope to leave
for there about the 12th. Brother and Sister Scowcroft will accompany me
south. I expect to be south two and one-half months. I will leave
