1914-01—Improvement Era—New Mission Presidents
New Mission Presidents
- Improvement Era, v17 n03, January 1914, pp. 2490-250.
New Mission Presidents
Elder Walter P. Monson, recently appointed to succeeded the late Elder Ben E. Rich as president of the Eastern States Mission, is the son of C. H. and Ellen Monson. He was born, June 30, 1875, at Richmond, Utah; baptized, July 5, 1883, and ordained a deacon when fourteen years of age. At that time he was called on a mission to assist with the janitor work of the ward meetinghouse, which he tilled faithfully and well, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Until he was twentytwo years of age, he worked with his father at his lumber yards and planing mills at Richmond, Utah, and Franklin, Ida. He married Leona S. Parkinson, November 6, 1895. They have a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. He has filled several missions, the first being in 1898, to the Northwestern States. During that summer he was called to be Secretary of the Oregon conference and shortly after presided at Portland, Oregon, over the newly made conference. In December, 1899, he was called as counselor to the president of the mission, holding that position until released, February 9, 1900. Returning, he launched out in the lumber business for himself, in July, 1900, succeeding admirably until, in 1909, he was called to England on another mission. He was assigned there to labor in the London Conference, and after five weeks was called by President Charles W. Penrose to take charge of Earlscourt booth. During the four months of time spent here in giving out information and tracts and selling books he met representatives of 252 different religious denominations with whom he discussed the gospel in an informal manner, bearing testimony also to peoples of forty-two different nations. This venture was the means of distributing over 58,000 tracts and selling 5,888 books. The booth was open for one hundred days. In March, 1910, he was chosen president of the London Conference, which position he held until released, in April, 1911. During this time he met that valiant friend of peace and liberty, Mr. W. T. Stead who later fought the Latter-day Saints' battles valiantly to the discomfiture of his countrymen. Elder Monson had the distinguished honor of dining at Mr. Stead's home and forming a most intimate and affectionate acquaintance with this great man. Mr. Monson has been interested in politics, and in the civic life of the communities in which he has resided. He has served as county commissioner, city councilman, and president of a commercial club, and has taken a broad-minded view of the problems of life. He has been a friend of the poor, and has ever been willing to administer comfort to the sick. He has served as counselor in two bishoprics, and the young men of the wards in which he resided always had a friend in him. Lately he has served as supervisor of the Sunday School parents' classes in the Weber stake. In taking up his new duties as president of the Eastern States Mission, he leaves a lucrative position as manager of the Eccles Lumber Company, where he has served two and one-half years. He is a man of strong emotion, kind disposition, and fearless in upholding the truth, being greatly admired by both friends and enemies alike.
