On train for Marianna, Florida.

At Pensacola, Florida, we changed trains enroute from Atlanta Ga. to Marianna, Florida at 6:00 A.M., and continued our journey along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, crossing an arm of the Gulf by train much the same as the Service Cab OH in Salt Lake. We passed through timbered country all the way after leaving the Gulf until we got off the train at Marianna. at 11:10 A.M. We were met by a Brother Jolly with his Car who took Pres. Callis and me and Elder Jos. Felt of Huntsville and a Miss Alma Rook and the other eleven Elders rode in a buss to Bristol, Florida, about 30 miles distant where Conference of the Alabama Conference was being held. Enroute we were forced [page break] across the [blank] river. Tables were laden with food underneath the trees where all were invited to help themselves. The first session of the Conference was held in the forenoon before we reached those.

The meetings were held in the Court room of the Court house at 2:30 P.M. There were in attendance about 175. I was the concluding speaker and occupied about 45 minutes. Subject: Be ye doers of the Word and not for your own sakes alone but for the Lords sake, for the sake of the Parents & family name and of the Church & the community. All these have claim upon you & you have no right to do wrong. What the rights of others are. I quoted “Honor Father & Mother” and the poems Get somebody else— A Mother to her son. Which loved best & told the story of Clarence & his Mother & of the entended [illegible] to show that it is possible to suffer more intensely in his mind than in body. Referred to Christs mental suffering & sweating blood & to the suffering we cause parents who love us in their anxiety over us & our welfare.

I was taken to the hotel, a very crude affair, but I had a room to myself and a bed. I took a nap for less than an hour, wrote up my journal for the day &c between afternoon & evening meeting. At the evening meeting the attendance as reported to me was 150. Pres. Callis occupied about 20 min & I took 61 minutes and spoke with unusual freedom & force. [page break]

I spoke upon the First Principles, pre-existence, a call to repentance and obedience to the ordinances of the Gospel. Jos. Smith vision & Jos. as the reserved, raised up prophet of the last dispensation whose works proclaim him a Divinely inspired man. His successors were also Divinely inspired men &c. I acknowledged the Lords help & praise & thank him from the bottom of my heart.

Bristol, Florida.

I think I am better of my cold.

Had a good night sleep and am well and happy this morning. At the morning meeting there about 165 present. I was the concluding speaker and occupied 40 min. Subject: Pre-existence and mans eternal progression. I got lost and it took about a minute to gather my self and the thread of my subject, which was very embarrassing to me but I picked it up & carried it through showing how a knowledge of the Pre-existence state of man enabled us to understand the scripture & other doctrine.

We ate at a family table under the trees helping ourselves, standing about, the whole people, being invited. I offered grace. Pres. Callis & I and other assisting administered to three people.

At the afternoon I occupied about 45 minutes as a concluding speaker. Six other Elders had preceded me. Pres. Callis offered the closing prayer. My Subject was: continuing Pre-existence and Two powers. Their effects upon [page break] man in the exercise of his agency. Read Gen. 13:16–24. The Devil’s part in tempting our first Parents; Moses 12 5:12–15; Moses 1: Satan tempting Moses; Mat. 4:1–111, Satan tempting Jesus. Told story of Joseph’s experience, The devil’s part. History repeats itself. Bore testimony and gave a warning. A successful effort.

After the afternoon meeting I attended a meeting of missionaries.

At the 7:30 P.M.meeting the attendance was about 150. I was the concluding speaker and occupied about 50 min. Subject: Gospel defined & Genealogical & Temple work. The gospel to the deal. I finished up with a testimony and read of the latter part of D&C 128: May the Lord be praised.

After meeting I blessed two babies, Julian Ellwood Paddie and Carlos Edson Deason. I visited in my room at the hotel with John Washington McKinney of Ocala Flo. And promised to have his dead wife endowed for she having been baptized in life. He is to send to me the information needed.

Bristol, Florida.

Pres. Callis and I rode in an open Ford with a Brother John W. McKenney to Quincy on the Ry. about [blank] miles. We left Bristol at 7:20 & arrived in Quincy about 9:45 A.M. We got train out of Quincy at 1:26 P.M. and arrived in Louisville Jacksonville, Fla at 10:30 P.M. While waiting at Ry Station at Quincy I wrote to my son George and posted at Jacksonville. At the Jacksonville station we learned that the train due about 8: P.M. from Atlanta was late and was [page break] momentarily expected to arrive. We waited until it came in at 11:00 P.M. and met wife Mother and Sister Callis. Sister Jordan & husband were at the station waiting for us and took us to their home. It was after 12 o’clock when we retired.

Jacksonville, Florida

We left for St. Augustine, 40 mi. South, right after breakfast, Sister Jordan with her car took us, Pres Callis & wife and me & my wife. We went through the Ponce de Leon Hotel and from the top had a good view of the surrounding country. We went into the Roman Catholic Cathedral. We visited the old Fort, the plaza and saw the slave market where slaves used to be auctioned off & sold. This is a brick paved floor with roof in pavilion style about 30 x 60 feet. We saw the monument to the memory of the Confederate soldiers. Saw the Post office building and read superscription on the wall that this was the Governor’s home, that originally it was a log home, but was rebuilt, as I remember, in 1597. This City was founded according to a tablet in the old fort or on a monument at the Plaza in 1513 by Don Pedro Menandez de Avolin or 1565. I have got the information mixed.

We went across the [blank] river to the Anastasia Island and visited the Alegater farm where there are five or six thousand alligators ranging from three months old to nine hundred years of age according to estimates from growth. The largest & oldest measures 14 ft long. They can remain submerged in water for three hours. To kill them they force [page break] them to remain under water five or six hours. When shot to death the body like a snake lives all day. They seem to be almost dead but they can out run a man and when an object comes near them with tail and mouth they are as quick as a stroke of lightning so to speak. It was a great day. The weather was ideal. We returned home arriving in Jacksonville at about 6:30 P.M.

After supper the other folks went to a party of some kind gotten up by members of the Florida Conference. I remained home and after writing up my journal took a bath and retired to bed. This City, Jacksonville, is said to have been named after And. Jackson. It is built on the banks of the St. Johns River. The population fluctuates greatly, the most populous time being in the winter. At St. Augustine we sought the shade for comfort. Mother accompanied the other folks to an entertainment by the Church people.

Jacksonville, Fla.

At Sister Jordan’s home. I still have a severe cold & cough. Rained during the night.

I attended and spoke at the three public meetings held in the branch meeting house. The evening session filled the house and people were standing. At the morning I treated the subject of Pre-existence & Thy will be done. In the afternoon meeting I spoke upon the Subject of Genealogy and Temple work and in the evening, the [page break] subject of tithing. I had good liberty and occupied 55 minutes. Very satisfactory meetings especially the afternoon & evening meetings. Between the meetings a Sister Jenkins took Bro. & Sis. Callis & Mother & me out to see her river house in course of construction. We took dinner with a Bro & Sis. Melrose, and stayed at night at Bro. & Sis. Jordans.

Jacksonville, Fla.

I still have cold but am able to attend to my work.

Attended and spoke at three public Conference meetings held in the Duval Theater. At the 11:00 A.M. meeting there were 394 in attendance according to count. I occupied about 60 min. Subject First Principles, read Commentators on Heb. 6:1–2 & commented. Took dinner at Sister Jenkin’s home. At the afternoon meeting I explained the principles of the Resurrection & Eternal Judgment, occupying 55 minutes. Ex S.L. Fire Chief Bywater & his married daughter wer in the meeting & I spoke to them. At the evening meeting I occupied about 50 minutes, subject: Joseph Smith a Prophet. I blessed two babies and administered to four people after the evening meeting. We have had a very satisfactory conference. May the Lord be praised.

Jacksonville, Fla.

All well.

Sister Jordan took Sister Callis, Mother & me in her car to see the town and out [page break] to the sea shore 18 miles. We saw the Porpas playing in the Atlantic. We saw the damage done by the wind & waves of the see last Tuesday night, estimated at $500,000.00 We had a sea trout dinner while there. The tide was coming in and the waves were pulling high. We saw the jetties built out into the sea conducting the St. John River far out into the sea so that ships can navigate the seas. We sat with Pres. Callis later in the day for a picture with about 20 Elders. Pres. Callis & Elders were in meeting while we went out to the sea. We went to Bro. Brimhalls to supper and Bro & Sis Thomas Jordan took us to the train at 9: P.M. On the way we called at the Duval Jewelry Co. where Bro Jenkins works. We bought a scarf pin and a watch chain, the former was marked $18.50 & the latter $6.50. We got them for $7.50 & $3.00 respectively.

On train from Jacksonville.

We should have arrived in Atlanta at 8:A.M. but the train was three hours late. We were met at the train by Elder Carter with auto. After reading our letters from home and writing several letters Bro. Carter, Sister Callis, Mother & I went for a ride to see some more of the City and we called at the Grant park and saw the Saclarama or painting which shows the Civil war Conflict in and about Atlanta. It represents a radius of twenty-five miles all round the center. It is a wonder like only to [page break] a similar painting Mother & I saw in Amsterdam of Jerusalem.

We had letters from Oliver, Lucina, Ray, George F. Jr, Nerva, Ruby, a letter from Pres. Roberts and a telegram from Pres. Bennion. I wrote to Prests Roberts & Bennion.

Atlanta. Ga.

Pres. Callis, my wife & I left Atlanta on 8:00 A.M. train for Greenville, So. Carolina and arrived there at 12:55 Eastern time. We were met by a number of the Elders who had come in for Conference and by Ford were driven to the Poinsett Hotel, our headquarters. From there we were driven to West Greenville where we have a nice brick Church and near it we took dinner with a Sister Crosby & family. At the afternoon I occupied 40 min., Subject: Example and Service. At the evening meeting the room was well filled and a number of non-members were in attendance. I occupied 55 min., Subject: the origin and oneness of the gospel; apostasy and restoration & Principles of the Gospel. At the conclusion my throat felt inflamed and swollen. We administered to a brother & his daughter, Honey.

Greenville, So. Carolina.

I am feeling better of my cold and sore throat than I did last night.

The weather has been pleasant all along our route in holding Conferences, no rain to hinder and no unpleasantness. We are staying about 2½ miles from the place of meeting, and are taken back & forth in a Ford owned by [page break] a Brother Crosby.

I occupied about 40 minutes at the morning meeting on the subject of Love and unity. Except ye are one ye are not mine. At the afternoon meeting I occupied about 30 min Subject: Gospel defined and Temple work. We took dinner with a Bro. & Sis Rochester.

At the evening meeting we had a number of non-members present. Two doctors were introduced after the meeting along with a number of other non members who came up to the stand to shake hands.

Pres. Callis introduced me as the speaker of the evening and I occupied 60 min with good liberty on the Subject of Joseph Smith, a Prophet. It was one of the best discourses of the trip. I spoke of some who expressed their feelings that our doctrine would be fine if we would leave Jos Smith out of it. Others like us but not our religion. Prejudice blocks the way to an unbiased investigation. This work is founded upon revelation & these came through Joseph Smith. He cannot be eliminated, the work would be all upset. There would be no foundation. I spoke of Joseph’s call as was Abraham’s, Abraham 3:22–24. The Dispensation demanded the noblest. His works prove him such an one. How know a true or false Prophet? See His Prophecies, also By their fruits. The few chosen. A Prophet not without honor except in his day & time. I bore my testimony to the Divinity of the mission of each of the Presidents of the Church and told them how they might know for themselves. [page break]

Greenville, So. Carolina

We are better of our colds.

In the forenoon we had our pictures taken with the Elders, and went out to a manufacturing plant thinking we had arrangements made to go through but the Manager being absent we could not get that privilege. I took a hair cut and at 1:00 P.M. we left Greenville for Durham, N.C. where we arrived at about 8:40 P.M. We were met by a number of the Elders and we went to the Malbourne Hotel for the night. Sister R & I took a walk up & down the main business St. and viewed the window display.

Durham, N.C.

We are feeling better of colds.

At the morning session of the Conference there were present I was the concluding speaker and occupied 40 min. Subject “Thy Will We Done” & obedience to all the laws & ordinances necessary to salvation. We should read the scriptures more and in reading & hearing the word we should visualize it as the Photo play writer has done the Ten Commandments, the Passion Play & others, then we would feel the truth and our spiritual & mental growth would be more rapid. The Lord would be pleased with a more efficient ministry. Avoid Tea & coffee in connection with the Word of Wisdom, avoid cards; and secret orders. Elders: What I most need is some lady to make me do as well as I can. That is what we all need. I had good liberty. Praise the Lord. Bore my testimony [page break]

At the afternoon meeting the attendance was [blank]. I was the concluding speaker and occupied 40 min. Subject: Hymn sung as a quoted “Oh my Father” and Pre-existence as applied to our Father & Mother these as a primary principle of the gospel an understanding of which helps to understand names evolution or the Eternal life of man and his eternal progression, and leaves no place for the doctrine of Evolution or Reincarnation of the soul.

We held a reliefsociety meeting after 4:00 P.M. at which Mother was one of the speakers. At 5:30 P.M. Pres. Callis and Mother & I moved from the Malbourn hotel to a new and better one the Washington Duke, a new & Modern hosteliary. At the evening meeting I was the concluding speaker and occupied 40 min. I read what Benjamin Franklin had to say at the U.S. Constitution Convention proposing prayers & what Washington said on the same subject. I spoke on the subject of Pre-existence again following my remarks of this afternoon. Had good liberty. May the Lord be praised.

Durham, N.C.

Washington Duke Hotel.

At the morning session there were about 400 in attendance. I was the concluding speaker and occupied 65 min. Subject. Genealogy and Temple work and the necessity [page break] for preaching the gospel to the dead. I had very good liberty. We took dinner with a family of Maples. At the afternoon meeting there were in attendance. I was the concluding speaker and occupied 55 minutes. Subject. The Gospel defined, its origin, one only & this the one. Faith alone is not all that is necessary; Also admonished the Saints to be preachers of the Gospel by example and precept. I had good liberty.

After this meeting we held a meeting of the missionaries & I instructed them.

At the evening meeting, I was the concluding speaker and occupied 35 min. Read Beacher on God, Napoleon on Jesus & Bryan on Immortality & commented on the teachings of Jos. Smith vs. Sectarian doctrine. Read Jos. Smith accomplishments which as fruits show the good. &c &c

Durham, N.C.

All well

Fine day.

We left home Nov 9th and train had no need of umbrella or rubbers thus far as the weather has been fine all the time.

This morning by courtesy of Brother Wm Henry Maples & Son, Pres. Callis, my wife & I went through a cotton mill and saw how the baled cotton is converted into beautifully white bleached cloth and saw it made into pillowslips &c., the Mgr. name [blank] and the man who showed us through is named [blank] [page break]

Leaving Durham at 10:30 A.M. with the Maple’s in a Chrysler 4 car 26 miles to Raleigh a station on the main throughline where we got train for Richmond Virginia. We arrived in Richmond at 5:30 P.M. and took cab to the Richmond Hotel where we had room 1068.

I wired Senator Smoot as follows: Senator Reed Smoot, Washington, D.C., Dec. 14, 1925. “Mrs. Richards & I returning from south, arrive Washington Seven A.M. Wednesday, sixteenth, leave same evening New York. Hope to see you.” Geo. F. Richards

I wired Pres Brigham H. Roberts as fol: “Arrive New York six fifty Thursday morning, seventeenth, Pennsylvania Station.”

We did some writing during the evening. I wrote to Oliver.

Richmond. Va.

All well

Rained in the afternoon & evening. We took dinner with Bro. & Sis ([blank] Jackson. At the forenoon meeting I was the concluding speaker and occupied about 50 min. Subject: The soul of Mormonism & Internal evidences of the Gospel. Read from 1 Cor. 12: The Church likeness to the body. I likened the Spirit of Mormonism to the spirit of man, the soul of Mormonism to the soul of man. Referred to Dr. Spaulding & Dr. Colton conversation. Also to a kernall of cobalt artificially made with natural grains. There is that life in Mormonism which is lacking in other Churches. It bears fruits & the fruits are good. [page break]

At the afternoon meeting I was the last speaker and occupied about 50 min. Read part of Josephs own Story & Comments.

At the evening session I was the concluding speaker and occupied 45 min. Subject: Joseph Smith a true prophet. Read Matt. 7: Be ware of false prophets &c. True scriptural doctrine as evidence, then to the law & to the testimony, &c. Stated our belief as to the Godhead & the principles of the Gospel & read Bible Comments on Heb. 6:1, 2. Read Jos. Smith accomplishments. Bore my testimony. Counseled the Saints to be missionaries. Between meetings Mother and I sat with 28 other missionaries and had a photograph taken.

Richmond, Va.

We are well.

This is the birthplace of my father, I think. I arose at 2:30 A.M. and we made ready & took 4:00 A.M. train for Washington D.C. Pres Callis accompanied us to the depot and we there found eighteen Elders who had walked 26 blocks to see us off before 4 A.M. This we regarded as a splendid farewell reception. We arrived in Washington D.C. at about 7:00 A.M. and we were met at the Station by Senator Reed Smoot & Son Ernest and we were taken to his home where we had breakfast and after breakfast we accompanied the Senator to the office and from here his secretary Bro Eccles showed us the principal places of interest in the City includ[page break]ing the Senate & House in Session, the mint where currency & stamps are made, the monuments of Washington & Lincoln, the White house where we shook hands with Pres. Coolidge, a splendid day. We got train for New York at about 9:00 p.m. which left at about midnight and arrived in New York about 6:30 next morning.

Arrived in N. York at 6:30 A.M. and we were met at the Station by the Mission Secretary, Elder Larsen, and in cab taken to Mission headquarters, 273 Gates Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Here we received a generous welcome from Pres & Sister Roberts and breakfasted. After inspecting the House & the Chapel Pres Roberts delegated the Conference President to show us the City of New York, Elder Fred L. Monkhorn of Provo. We spent about eight hours sight-seeing. He was a good guide.

We took 9:00 P.M. train for home.

All day on train between New York & Chicago.

All day on train homeward bound.

On train from New York and the Southern States. Mother & I got in to Ogden on time, 5:00 P.M., but had to wait an hour for a belated train from the North West. A number of our family members [page break] were at the Station to meet us and our homecoming was made joyous. The folks came to our home and we spent a pleasant evening.

Home Sweet Home.

I arose before 6:00 A.M. Weather threatening snow. The ground is bare in the Streets some, snow on the sides. I took Ray & Estella down with the car & went to the Temple and examined the mail, called at the Presidents office. Went home and got Mother & we called on her sisters Annie &Estella & on Mamie, Nina & Ina & Nerva. I wrote letters to Prests. Roberts, Bennion, Callis & to Senator Reed Smoot.

Our trip through the Southern States has been a wonderful trip for Mother & me. We have been in about twenty-five states, made 49 public addresses & have spoken at a number of missionary meetings. I dedicated the Atlanta Chapel on the 29th of Nov. I dedicated a meeting house at Sarah, Miss. Nov. 15 and another meeting house at Memphis Nov 16th. The Lord has been very good to me and made my efficiency about 200% above normal.

While at Ninas I administered to Little Dorothy who has had a swelling of the throat glands for about three weeks.

We left home Nov. 19 9th and returned Dec. 20th. Six weeks less one day. [page break]

Home.

I arose before 6:00 A.M.

Mother & I went to Sugar House and called on Ina, Nina, Mamie, Estella, Ina, Annie Steed, and Nerva. I blessed Dorothy who has been ill for a week or two. I called to see the Presidency but found only Pres Ivins in. Having a large accumulation of mail I proceeded to dispose of it and put in a long day. Weather pleasant.

Home.

Fine weather

I attended the funeral services of Wm. Mercer held in Forest Dale ward. and was one of the Speakers. Called at the home and left a V with Sister Mercer. Alice was with me and we called and saw Bro. & Sister Theodore Tobiason and Sister Mary Clark. Pres R. Clawson offered the opening prayer. Geo. Albert Smith was one of the speakers. I brought Pres Clawson home in my car. Later Mother & I took LeGrand and Ina home. Mother & I went shopping in the morning and later spent several hours getting out Xmas cards. Thus we spent a busy day.

Ruby & Jack came about 11:00 P.M. after I had retired. I arose early.

Home.

All well

I arose at 5:25 A.M. and after making my toilet, fires &c continued preparing xmas cards and attending to correspondence, shopping for Xmas &c. I called on Pres. Grant and had a busy day and evening. Jack [page break] and Ruby, Chas & Edna, Orin and Nina, Joel & Georgina went in cars and we visited the other families between 12:30 and 1:30 A.M. While at Nerva’s we administered to Nerva’s baby & George lanced his gums.

Home.

Christmas

No snow on the streets but the mountains are white and the weather is clear & beautiful. Jack & Ruby & Orin & Nina & their children slept here last night and Ray took the car and went down to the Buckingham apartments & got Chas & Edna and brought them up about 6:30 and we had the usual good time with the usual goodly number of nice presents. Nerva’s baby was better and all are happy.

We drove around and visited the other members of the family & Mother Sister Estella. We called on her Sister Anna the night before.

In the evening all the married folks of the family gathered at our home and we had a pleasant evening, playing games, drawing for parcels &c. Retired at a late hour.

I wrote a letter to Hugh & Sarah and one to Oliver, the former at Basel & the latter at Frankfurt. I remained home until about 4 P.M. when Mother, Ray & I went down to Nerva’s. Geo. F. & Edith were there also. We had a good supper and spent a pleasant evening. [page break]

I attended the 27th ward S. School and the evening meeting in the Sugar House ward where I was one of the speakers. The meeting was in the nature of a farewell reception for my son LeGrand who leaves next week for a mission of six months to the Eastern States. 434 were present.

Mother, Estella, Ray & I took dinner with LeGrand & Ina and I took Mother, LeGrand & Ina with my car & called on Aunt Lou & her son Willard & daughter Grace, on Geo. Robinson & family on my sister Nerva, W. B. Richards, Aunt Annie Robinson Steed & Arnold [illegible] the two latter named were not at home. After the evening meeting the whole family, married folks, repaired to Clarence & Mamie’s home where we had refreshments & a pleasant visit. We took Charles and Edna home afterwards.

I spent most of the day at the temple at desk work.

My daughters Nerva & Mamie and their husbands & children & Ruby took supper with us and we had turkey. Chas & Edna & Lucena called in the evening. Jack left for Ogden to-day & Ruby follows by train tomorrow to join him in Ogden on their way home.

The weather remains clear and not extremely cold though all around us there is freezing zero weather.

Home.

Weather same

All well.

Ruby took train this A.M. [page break] I awoke at 5:00 A.M., arose at 6:00 had my usual morning bath, shave &c. Spent part of the day at my desk in the Temple and part at home. Took Mother down town shopping. In the evening Mother & I, LeGrand & Ina & Joel & Georgina & Geo L & Nerva took supper at Geo. & Edith’s and spent the evening there.

Home.

Weather not extremely cold, no snow on the ground.

Edna is ill with sore throat & fever. I spent part of the day at the Temple. We had LeGrand & Ina, Geo, & Edith, Nerva & Geo L., Joel & Georgina and all their children to dinner and in the evening all the married people who are here in the city except Edna & Charles who, the former, was unable to come, she being indisposed. We served refreshments in the evening.

Alice Howarth & Chas. came up with us in my auto and they detected what was the matter with our radio set & corrected it for me. Ray took them home in our car.

Home.

Weather same.

Edna no better.

Charles & I administered to her in the evening. I attended weekly Council meeting in the Temple, no meeting last week. 10 A.M. to about 3:00 P.M. I loaned LeGrand $800.00 the amount I withdrew from him in August to buy my car. A busy day.

This is the last day of the year 1925. It has been a good year for me. My debts are paid and I have plenty to do with. I have no enemies [page break] so far as I am aware. I have no enmity towards any person and am trying to cultivate love of fellowman. As my mission is one to serve, I feel the need of this love of men & of God that I may better serve them.

I have an abiding testimony of the truth of this work, that God lives & that he is the Creator of all things by His first born Jesus Christ, that he is the father of the Spirits of all men; that Jesus Christ is the Savior & Redeemer of men and that there is no salvation except through him and his atonement; that Joseph Smith was Divinely called & chosen a Prophet of God, his mouthpiece to the children of men in this day & time; that each of his successors has been inspired and through their guidance the work of the Lord has grown and advanced rapidly towards its destined goal; and that it will ultimately triumph for God is at the helm.

How glorious to be engaged for and with the Lord in the noble work of saving of souls, my own included. How wonderful that my Savior should care for me enough to live for me not die for me. How loving, sacrificing & servicing. I should follow his example. Loving the Lord with all my heart and my fellowmen as myself and the truth more than life. May the Lord help me to live up to these ideals and bear with my infirmities

Good bye old year, you have done your work well. May this be said of me when I pass on to holier spheres. May the Lord be praised forever. [page break]