I spent most of the day in quarterly meeting of the Twelve & setting apart missionaries.

I attended Temple meeting and sealed about 20 couples living Attended meeting of the Apostles, the First Council of Seventy and Mission Presidents which took most of the day.

I attended Temple meeting at 9: A.M., a meeting of the Twelve at 9:30 A.M. and regular Council meeting of the Presidency & Twelve at 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The First Council of Seventy were also present excepting Bro J. G. Kimball. Each Spoke on subject of Pres B. H. Roberts address in the Tabernacle delivered Sunday before last, which was read to us. Each deprecated what was said & Bro Roberts disclaimed any improper intention etc. Offered to say or Sign any thing he might be required to do to set himself right. Nothing more was required.

Attended General Conference meetings and in the afternoon was one of the Speakers occupying 20 or 23 minutes and was blessed of the Lord greatly.

My son Oliver & I attended the McCullough wrestling match in the evening.

Attended the Conference meetings including the [page break] Priesthood meeting in the evening.

I attended 10: A.M. & 2: P.M. Conference meetings and evening SS Union meeting. By appointment of Pres. Grant I attended a meeting of the deaf & dumb in the upper room of the Bureau of Information at 12:30 and addressed them.

This has been a wonderful conference. I have had my heart touched and have shed tears copiously.

I attended to my duties at the Temple as usual. Pres. E. J. Wood was speaker at the morning meeting. I had a visit from Pres Shephard of Logan Temple. In the evening I attended a reception tendered the General Authorities & their wives by the Presidency in the Bps Bldg.

Stormy day.

I spent Some time at the Temple and part of the day at home.

In the evening Mother & I attended a reception tendered the Presidency & the Twelve & their wives by Sister Mary T. Smith at her home on 3d ave.

I spent the day at the Temple as usual, Pres Grant was the Speaker at the Temple meeting. In the evening we left the Temple for home about 8: P.M.

I spent a busy day at the Temple Mother home with Edna & Estella. [page break]

Attended weekly Council meeting Elder J. F. Smith & I went up to the home of Jos. Christensen and administered to him. A busy day.

Ray’s birth-day. 19 yrs old. I took 8:15 A.M. train for Los Angeles. Had a restful profitable day, studying &c.

Arrived in Los. Angeles at 8:30 A.M. and was met by President Rey L. Pratt and in his auto was taken to his home, 2067 Hobart Boulevard where I spent the forenoon. Attended conference meeting at 2: and 7:30 P.M. and spoke by interpreter at each. This is the Mexican <Spanish American> Mission. I spoke of the Principle of Pre-Existence as a foundation principle and what it revealed in interpreting obscure passages of scripture, the light it throws upon the principles. I also Spoke of our mission to preach the Gospel to the world, the Atheist, the Agnostic & the Infidel as well as the misguided Christians. I tried to magnify the name of the Lord & His truth.

Los Angeles.

Fine weather

Am well.

Attended and spoke at three conference meetings occupying about 40 or 50 minutes at each, Pres Pratt interpreting my talks into Spanish. The Lord helped me and I feel well over the results of my efforts. I spoke of the Love of the Father and the Son for us, Their great sacrifice for us and the service rendered. I spoke upon the principles and ordinances of the Gospel &c. All other speakers at the meetings spoke in Spanish. [page break]

Los Angeles, Cal.

Am well.

Attended a three hours duration meeting of missionaries twenty of us being present. All spoke and I occupied about 60 minutes in giving instruction, used character Subject, fashion, dress &c.

An interesting meeting made specially so because the others spoke in English.

I wrote to Mother and to Ray. I rode out with President Bennion for an hour or so and in the evening went with him, his wife and Careman Garrison to a show.

I left Los Angeles with Bro. & Sis Prat[t] and their little boy Samuel in their Buic for San Diego at 1:20 P.M. We had a pleasant ride and went on to TeJuane, Old Mexico about 16 miles So. of San Diego. We attended meeting at 8: P.M. at which I spoke, Pres. Pratt interpreting and he finished the Speaking. I had plenty to say but did not feel the freedom in speaking that I usually do. There were some young people Americans, who were whispering & laughing most of the time & perhaps that accounted for it. I spoke however, for about 60 minutes. We had a good attendance.

We stayed at the U. S. Grant Hotel. I had Room 635. I wrote up my journal after meeting.

San Diego, Cal.

Am well

Fine weather.

Pres. Pratt & wife & I called to see a [page break] in which was living an aged lady member who by auto accident lost her right leg below the Knee and is just recovering. We administered to her. It is the home of a Bro & Sis. Black. We drove home to Los Angeles arriving at 1:30 P.M. The distance is about 140 miles. We took 6:15 P.M. train for Mesa, Ariz.

Arrived in Mesa at 7:00 A.M. We went direct to the Temple and attended the Temple meeting where we both Spoke. Visited with the Presidency of the Temple for about an hour considering temple questions. We then went to Rex Hotel where we made our staying place. Attended to business during the day. Sent a 50 word telegram to Pres. Harry L. Payne of St. Joseph Stake about having missionary work done in El Paso by the Seventies in that Stake.

Copy of Telegram

Mesa, Ariz. Oct. 17, 1929

Harry L. Payne,

Safford, Ariz.

Are Seventies in your Stake conducting Missionary work as a quorum? If so, how would you feel about taking over the missionary work in El Paso, Keeping at least two Seventies there continuously? Answer fully eleven twenty-six Myrtle avenue by letter or in person. Will be in El Paso Saturday noon to Monday night.

Geo. F. Richards.

I wrote a letter to my wife at home and one to my son. Ray in Germany. [page break]

Mesa, Ariz

Am well

Warm weather.

I spent some time in conversation with Bro. & Sis. Phelps at their request. I went with Pres. Pratt and Elder Ash in auto to the Indian headquarters, thence in about 15 miles to Cases Grandes ruins. On return I rested a while, received visit of Pres Udall did some studying &c and in the evening attended a meeting of our Mexican people and was one of the speakers by interpreter, Pres. Pratt occupying 65 minutes with good liberty. Pres. Pratt & I & Elder Freestone took train at 12:15 A.M. for El Paso, Texas.

Am well.

We arrived in El Paso at 12:15 P.M., 12 hrs. from Mesa, and put up at Hotell Hussmann. We went across the line to Ciudad Juarez, visited an old church of the Spanish Catholic fathers supposed to have been constructed 1600 or there abouts & still in use. We attended evening meeting of the conference of the Mexican people. I spoke by an interpreter, Pres Rey L Pratt. Had good liberty. may the Lord be blessed.

I attended and spoke at the 10: A.M. & the 2: P.M. meetings of the conference, & in the evening I spoke in the El Paso Ward house to English Speaking people, 157 being present. I occupied an hour with good liberty on the Apsotasy and the Restoration. An attentive congregation & appreciative. [page break]

Attended a missionary meeting from 10:00 A.M. to about 1:00 P.M. and addressed the meeting for about 30 minutes. Did some writing and reading after dinner.

I set apart Treniel Pauli First Counselor to Bishop Pierce in the Bishopric of El Paso ward. I received a letter from my wife and answered same. Received wire from Pres. Payson of St. Joseph Stake and answered by letter Pres. Pratt & I took train at 5:20 P.M. for San Antonio, Texas.

We arrived in San Antonio at 3:15 P.M. and put up at Robt. E. Lee Hotel. Took dinner at 4:30 and retired to my room to read & write. &c. Wrote to my son Ray in Germany.

Accompanied Pres. Pratt to a show in the evening.

San Antonio, Texas.

Am well & happy

May the Lord be praised.

The weather has changed this morning, cloudy or foggy and colder.

Among the points of interest in San Antonio are the peculiar & crooked river running through the heart of town, the old church and its defenses used by the Americans who were besieged and captured, and the Buckhorn Drug Store formerly saloon where there are hundreds of deer and other heads & horns including many fine specimens of Texan Cattle horns, some of them six & eight feet between tips.

Pres. Pratt and I left San Antonio at 9:55 A.M. and arrived at Laredo at 3:15 P.M.

We attended public meeting at which there were more than 100 present and each of us spoke, I by interpreter & occupied my time [page break] an hour with good liberty.

Laredo, Texas.

Am well & happy.

Weather good

Pres. Pratt and I walked across the cement bridge, across the Rio Grande River which forms the dividing line between the U.S. & Mexico. We visited about on both sides of the river. On the Mexican side the City is called New Laredo.

We took train at 3:30 P.M. and arrived in San Antonio at 8:30 P.M. and went by taxy to the Robert E Lee hotel which we made our staying place while in San Antonio. I had Room 716 & he 704.

San Antonio, Tex.

Am well & happy

Weather still good.

I attended missionary meeting from 10 A.M. until after 2: P.M. and was one of 26 speakers. I occupied about 40 minutes with good liberty on topics about as follows: Feed my sheep Success & Joy, failure and disappointment. Salvation for others or condemnation for us. System in doing missionary work. Push sales of B. of Mormon. Loan B. of M. to those who cannot afford to buy one. Since we are called out to call people to repentance, we may ask; have we not need for repentance. Sins of commission and of omission. Secret vices. Neglect to feed the Sheep. Dives Lazarus. This is the work of the Lord and no man can succeed in teaching it without the Lords help. If we get it, it will be by the Holy Spirit which will not dwell in unholy tabernacles. How make these tabernacles unclean and unholy. Secret vices, evil thoughts, disobedience to council & to Spirit promptings &c. [page break]

I received a letter from home and one from Pres. Harry L. Payne of St Joseph Stake. Mother’s letter enclosed one from Ray. Took dinner and spent the remainder of the afternoon in my room reading, writing and studying.

San Antonio, Tex.

Am well.

Raining when I awoke and continued during the day. This is the first rain since I left home. A Bro. Boothe from Dalas, Texas, Called on me at my room and gave me a biographical sketch of his life as relates to his acquaintance with and membership in the church. I spent the forenoon in the Hotel, Robt. E. Lee, Room 716, reading, studying &c.

Attended and spoke at the afternoon and evening Conference meetings and was blessed of the Lord.

I received a letter from Pres. Heber J. Grant approving my recommendation of an appropriation of 4 or 5 thousand dollars with which to assist the Mexican people of Mesa, Arizona to build a chapel to cost $8,000 or $10,000.

San Antonio, Texas.

Am well.

Stormy during night.

Attended and spoke at 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. meeting. Took 4:00 P.M. train for home, train No. 103. Lower 2 to Los Angeles.

On train in Texas.

Arrived at ElPaso at 10:30 Cent. Time. Had a good night’s rest & sleep last night on the train.

I had a good day for studying &c.

Not much of interest to see this day. [page break]

Arrived in Colton at 7:10 A.M., nine minutes late. As this train is due in Los Angeles at 9:15 and the U.P. train for Salt Lake is due to leave L.A. at 9:40 A.M. A leeway of 25 minutes only, I decided to detrain at Colton. I took electric Car to San Bernadino, six miles, there to await my train due at 12:01. I had the agent phone or wire for reservation and took it up before the train got in. While waiting, I went up through the business part of town walking up & back.

I called in a tailors shop and had my trousers repaired in the Seat and had cuffs put on them at a cost of $1.00 and a 40 min. wait. I also bought two collars and a tie for $1.50. It was a cold morning and my overcoat came in handy.

Arrived at Salt Lake at 12:20 P.M. & was met at depot by my wife & two Sons George & Oliver.

I went direct to the Temple and was busy the remainder of the day. Mother & I visited at the homes of our daughter, Nerva, Thelma and our Son Oliver, reaching home about 10 o’clock P.M.

I was the speaker at the Temple. Attended weekly Council meeting and attended to correspondence & other work at the Temple. In the evening after the Companies at the Temple were under way Mother & I went down to Sarahs, thence to Mamie’s & Ninas and reached home about 10:00 P.M.

All usually well [page break]