L’pool.

Am well, but I have a soreness about my appendix which reminds me that I may have a touch of appendicitis. It has attended me off and on since Jan. 10th.

I received letters to-day from Joel, Edna, Sister Nerva, Sister Alice & Elder Talmage. Much sickness at home. On account of the influenza All meetings and the L.D.S. High school are again closed after an opening for one week, the disease seems to have become more prevalent again.

I worked in my office as usual. Received letters from home and answered several. Two from Mother.

Liverpool.

Am well.

Attended S. School and fast & evening meetings. I prayed in school, bore testimony in fast meeting and occupied the time of the evening meeting. We had a Mr. Charles James present for the first time and I preached to him for an hour with good liberty and splendid satisfaction. After meeting [page break] Mr. James said he believed all that I said. He said he had never heard before of mans preexistance, but acknowledged that the doctrine is scriptural as I presented it.

I visited with the saints in the church until bed time.

L’pool.

Am well.

I worked at my desk all day, and wrote eleven letters with my pen. After supper Elder Stanley Ravenscroft and I went to Birkenhead and administered to Bro. Fielding.

L’pool.

I am well.

I spent the day at my desk as usual and attended the regular mid week meeting at night wed.

Lpool.

I am well.

I made a trip down town on business and spent the remainder of the day at my desk as usual. I wrote letters of condolence to Bros. J. M. Grant and Charles R. Lyman of Lovell and Otto respectively in the Big Horn Stake. The former’s wife died Jan. 11th and the Latters wife died Jan 8th, two sons having preceded her, all from influenza.

Wrote to George and to LeGrand. It is 2½ years to-day since I left my loved ones in the mountains.

* My folks at home were having the influenza from the 1st of Jan. to [page break] the 15th when the latest word was sent which has been received. Little Clarence & Little Geo. Lamont had been having pneumonia. LeGrand had been a week in the hospital. The influenza was in the homes of Nerva, LeGrand, Joel, Mamie and Nina.

On the eleventh of December my son Oliver got his leg broken in two places. He was coasting and had a miss hap through a man appearing in the road on a motorcycle with a blinding bright light. He lay on his back until Jan 3d with sand bags on both sides of his leg and a 25 or 30 lb. weight suspended from his foot. Then an operation became necessary. the ends of the two bones had to be cut off and when put in place were held there by a plate screwed on to the bones with six scriews. The leg was then put in plaster. He had bed sores. On the 15th of Jan. he was moved down home after five weeks at the hospital.

Liverpool.

I am well.

Weather cold.

I made a trip down town on business and spent the remainder of the day at my desk as usual.

I received a cablegram at 11 A.M. today from Pres. Heber J. Grant which reads as follows: “Wife sails with Junius Wells March seventh Melita.” This clearly means that [page break] my wife and Junius F. Wells expect to leave home in time to sail from St. John, N.B. March 7th Whether any others will be with them is not said. She and Sister James G. McKay were to sail on the 24th of Feb. on the Metagama according to a cablegram received on the 24th of Jan. I know not why the postponement to Mar. 7th unless it was for Junius to get ready to leave.

L’pool.

Am well.

Bitter cold day.

I spent the forenoon in my office and in the afternoon I went to Manchester and addressed the meeting of Priesthood, officers and missionaries. Returned in the evening.

Am well. Cold day

I attended Sunday School and meeting and between time I read and wrote on the life and character of Pres. Heber J. Grant &c.

Liverpool.

Am well.

Cold weather

Elder Arthur D. Evans from Manchester helped me all day and evening with the typewriter. Copied circular letters to replase missing ones from the Conference files to be pasted into books provided for the purpose.

Continued work on circular letters during the forenoon when I finished with Elder Evans. <attended> Lecture [page break]

President Heber J. Grant.

Along with the routine work of the presidency, each of the preceding presidents has had a special labor to accomplish which has particularly distinguished him and his administration. It will prove to be the case with Pres. Grant. I firmly believe that the Lord has raised him up to preside over the church at this time and that there is a special work for him to accomplish which is of great inport in preparing for the coming of our Lord whose glorious advent is near, even at our door..

His love of God is proven by his devotion to the Lord’s work and the faithfulness with which he has kept the commandments. His love for the saints is proven by his many and exceedingly generous gifts. He will have in his administration the gifts of God through the Holy Spirit and the sustaining love and prayrs of the saints with their loyal devotion to their religious duties all of which is sufficient guarantee of his <future> success.ful administration

Being the very embodyment of honor and honesty, the funds of the Church entrusted to his care as Trustee-in-trust, will will be administered be carefully and honestly adminerted. He possesses also that business acumen which coupled with his wide business experience admirably qualify him for the trusteeship. [page break]

Pres. Grant is a plain spoken man. With him, a spade is a spade. His expressions are rarely ambiguous.

He is frank and outspoken. He not only speaks the truth but he speaks the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

He has never been regarded as being physically strong but intellectually and spiritually, he is a giant in strength.

He is as fearless and scathing in his denunciation of the wrongdoer as he is gentle and loving in his commendation of the pure in heart and faithful.

His integrity is beyond all question, and this is one of the chiefest qualifications necessary for one holding the exalted office of president <of> <and> mouthpiece <to> and leader of Gods chosen people. No president of the church has ever departed from the ways of the Lord <or lead the people astray> and none shall. God choses men of integrity.

I <recently> dreamed of Pres. Grant a few days ago, at night, in which I received his kiss of love <& approbation> which I heartily reciprocated <greatly appreciated.>. I dearly love Pres. Grant and rejoice exceedingly in my associations with him in the councils of the priesthood.

The following conclusion <paragraph> of a letter received from him <some time ago.> shows the inward recesses of his heart. I prize very highly. It shows something of the humble faith & trust in God this great man possesses as well as his solicituous intrest in his brethren. Nov. 8, 1917. [page break]

Liverpool.

Am well.

I spent the day in my office as usual. At the evening meeting I made a short talk.

I worked in my office all day and attended a lecture in Picton hall at night. “The history of some string quartets, by the Rep. H. H. McCullagh B.A. with musical illustrations.” It was first class.

Am well, and happy.

I issued releases to Elders Charles A. Welchman, Robert W. Cluff and State England, Presidents of Sheffield, Bristol and Birmingham conferences respectively.

I went down town with Mr. G. Morris and his son to assist them in making preparations to leave for Zion.

Had business at Hotel Nelson (Ld), at the Ry. Stations, the American Consulate & the Steam ship Co.

I spent the day at my desk as usual. Wrote to Pres. Heber J. Grant and Counselors making known our needs for missionaries.

Loaned Geo. Edward Willett of Birmingham 11/3, fare home.

I spent the day in Liverpool. Attended S. School and meeting and took active part. I was the speaker at the evening meeting & occupied 1 hr. 15 min. with good liberty. May the Lord be praised. [page break] I had a good gospel conversation after meeting with Mrs. Geo. Beddow. A Mr. James was present, three girls from York and a good sprinkling of saints. A glorious day for me.

L’pool.

I spent the day in my office as usual. Wrote letters to the Presidents of the European Missions & to others with pen, having no typist.

Liverpool

I have some cold but am trying to check it before it gets a strong grip on me.

I worked at my desk all day and evening as usual except that I made a trip over on to Kensington St. on business.

Liverpool.

I have cold. Snowed.

I spent the day in my office and turned out an unusual amount of business.

Attended the evening meeting & offered closing prayr. Bros. Geo. Beddow & Stanley

S. Ravenscroft were the speakers.

Received letters from Mother, the first for twelve days.

Liverpool.

I have slight cold.

I made a trip to Knotty Ash Camp and delivered letters and the rest of the day I worked at my desk.

I attended to important correspondence, local and foreign. [page break]

Copy of a Letter Sent to the Presidents of the European Missions

Feb. 17, 1919.

Dear Brother:— You no doubt are much in need of missionary assistance in the … mission, but just what your immediate needs are, of course, I do not know, and if I did Know, the most I could do to assist you would be to make recommendations to the First Presidency. If you have not already done so, it might be well for you to write to them telling them just what the necessities of your mission are in that respect. “He that asketh receiveth.”

It may be that the Presidency have under consideration the rehabilitating of the European Missions that have been so adversely effected by the war, and will be glad to receive from you the information you have to impart.

With best wishes and prayers for your success, I remain,

Ever Sincerely,

Your brother,

[12 lines blank] [page break]

Liverpool.

I am about well of my cold.

I spent the day in my office as usual. Wrote to my wife and addressed it to St. John N.B. She is due to sail from there for Liverpool Mar. 7th.

Liverpool.

Am well.

Milder weather.

Washington’s birthday (holiday.) I spent the day at my desk as usual.

295 Edge Lane, Liverpool, England

I am well. The day is beautiful

It is the 58th anniversary of my birth day. When I opened my office door this morning I found a parcel hanging from the door knob. On opening it I found a beautiful, heavy, silk scarf and some lines from my Son George my daughter Edith and Josephine and Franklin. I later received a letter from Mother enclosing a letter from Oliver and a draft for the equivalent of $50.00 from Mother. When I entered the meeting room for S. School, I found four vases of beautiful and costly flowers and two birthday cards on the stand for me from the saints of the Branch. I am also given the opportunity of addressing the evening meeting My health is good and I am quite happy though, alone. [page break]

In my wife’s letter of Feb. 3d received to-day she says that President Heber J. Grant informed her the day previous that he who is to be my successor had been spoken to and was making ready and would be ready to leave home right after the April Conference. This is the most direct and definite word I have received in regard to my release but it means that I will probably be leaving for home about the First of May. I suppose that I, like most of the missionaries, will welcome the change when the time comes. My loved ones at home are a great drawing card and load stone, and when my mission here is ended, I shall hurry home to labor in other fields. I occupied the time at the evening meeting.

Liverpool.

I made a trip to Kensington & left a pair of shoes to be soled and a piece on the heel at a cost of 10/0 = $2:40. I also left my overcoat at the tailors to have a lining put in at the same price 10/0 = $2.40.

I spent the day in my office and attended to much important business. I am putting the work of the conferences into the hands of local brethren.

Liverpool.

I am well. Foggy weather. [page break]

I made a trip down town on business. I think the fog was the most dense I ever saw it. At times I could not see the buildings on either side of the street from the street car. I spent most all the day and the evening in my office, until 10:30 P.M. I was awake in my bed last night from 12:30 to after 5 A.M.

I have written a short letter this evening to my wife directing it to St. John, N.B. the last as she is expected to sail from that port on the 7th of March.

Liverpool.

Am well.

Cold weather

I spent the day in my office and attended evening meeting. After the meeting Elder J. M. Sjodahl and I by request went up to Sister Hayhursts and administered to her baby.

L’pool.

Cold weather.

I made a trip down town on business and spent the remainder of the day and evening in my office as usual.

Liverpool.

Am well.

I left my passport at the U.S. Consulate to be extended as the Counsel, Mr. Washington was not in. Attended to the business of the office as usual. Wrote a 5 paged letter to the Presidency. [page break]