1911-10-Improvement Era-Elder John T Barrett

Improvement Era, October 1911, pp. 117-118.

Elder John T. Barrett

Elder John T. Barrett, Philadelphia, July 7, says: "The Saints and elders shown in the group had a very pleasant round trip down the Delaware river on a visit to the historic old Brandywine battle grounds near Wilmington, Delaware. The distance was about sixty-five miles, by water from Philadelphia. In the East Pennsylvania conference there are one hundred and forty-seven Saints, a choice class of people, full of faith in the gospel and true to their duties. Our elders are zealous, devo ed, faithful young men, equal to all the emergencies that arise; and each is so filled with love of the truth, so characteristic of the 'Mormon' elder, as to arouse within him a surprising amount of energy and force, a marvel to himself and us all. Give the elder a task and he arises to the occasion; teach him the correct principles of the gospel, and he soon learns to govern himself. To lead and persuade him is easy, when he is conversant with his duty, when the way is in the course of right. He is true to his own reason and conviction. In June, thirteen elders in the conference sold 28 Books of Mormon, and two other standard works; smaller books, 365; tracts, 3,719; Liahonas, 486; visited 2,239 families; revisited 691; engaged in 618 gospel conversations at homes; spent 402 hours with the Saints; held 26 hall and 34 open-air meetings, besides other work. Eight new members were added to the Church in May. There are many sincere investigators. Eight elders in the country are traveling without purse or scrip, spending little if anything for food or beds, and what little they do spend is mostly for railroad fares and stationery. "The work is a grand pleasure to me and I enjoy every moment of my time."