THE MISSION YEARS 1931 – 1935 PRESIDENT FRANCIS & SISTER LAURA SALZNER SWISS-GERMAN MISSION President Franz (Francis) Salzner Sister Laura Salzner Swiss—German Mission 1931-1935 TABLE OF CONTENTS Millennial Star Appointment of Pres. Salzner 1 page German Booklet Article about Salzner Family 1 page Title Page “The Accelerator” newspaper of the Swiss-German Mission August 31, 1931 Article about Salzner Family 1 page October 31, 1931 Sister Laura Salzner’s 1st Letter 1 page October 31, 1931 President’s 1st Letter to mission 2 pages November 30, 1931 Sister Laura Salzner’s Letter 1 page November 30, 1931 President’s Letter 2 pages December 31, 1931 President’s Letter 3 pages January 30, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages February 29, 1932 President’s Letter 2 pages March 29, 1932 Sister Laura Salzner’s Letter 2 pages March 29, 1932 President’s Letter 2 pages April 29, 1932 Sister Laura Salzner’s Letter 1 page April 29, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages May 31, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages June 30, 1932 Sister Laura Salzner’s Letter 2 pages June 30, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages July 31, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages August 30, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages September 30, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages October 28, 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages November 30. 1932 President’s Letter 4 pages December 15, 1932 President & Sister Salzner’s Letter 2 pages December 1932 Article about President Salzner 1 page January 27, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages February 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages March 31, 1933 President’s Letter 3 pages April 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages May 30, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages June 30, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages July 31, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages August 30, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages September 30, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages October 31, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages November 30, 1933 President’s Letter 2 pages December 1, 1933 Sister Laura Salzner’s Letter 1 page January 3, 1934 President’s Letter 1 page January 3, 1934 Article about Pres. Salzner 1 page January 3, 1934 Article on Trip to Hambach 2 pages February 1, 1934 President’s Letter 2 pages February 1, 1934 Article on Freemasonry 2 pages March 1, 1934 President’s Letter 2 pages March 30, 1934 President’s Letter 2 pages October 1, 1934 President’s Letter 3 pages December 1, 1934 Sister Laura Salzner’s Letter 1 page December 1, 1934 President’s Letter 1 page May 28, 1935 President’s Farewell Letter 1 page May 1935 Article on Salzner’s Departure 3 pages October 3, 1935 Sister Laura Salzner’s Talk at Relief Society Conference 3 pages October 1935 President Francis Salzner’s Talk at October General Conference 4 pages Helen Salzner Dean’s Personal History of the Mission Years 1931 – 1935 8 pages Missionaries of The Swiss-German Mission who Served under President Francis Salzner 1931 – 1935 3 pages Appointment of Elder Francis Salzner Millennial Star Volume 93 / 1931 Thursday, September 10, 1931 Franz (Francis) Salzner, of Salt Lake City, has been appointed President of the Swiss-German Mission, in succession to President Fred Tadje. Elder Salzner is a native of Germany, but came to America with his family in 1883, shortly after having joined the church at the age of thirteen years. He has always been active in church work. He filled a mission to Germany in his young manhood; has been a member of the Granite Stake High Council, President of the Stake German organization, and connected officially with many other church activities. At the time of receiving this call, he was President of the Granite Stake High Priests' Quorum. President Salzner, who will be accompanied by his wife and three daughters, is expected to arrive in Europe during the first week of October, when President Tadje will transfer the affairs of the mission to him. Brother Salzner and his family will receive a genuine welcome from the saints in Europe, and they will find in these lands much joy in proclaiming the eternal truths of the Gospel to a generation in deep need of divine guidance. - W (John A. Widtsoe) The ACCELERATOR Official Missionary Organ of the SWISS – GERMAN MISSION Published and circulated from the office of the SWISS – GERMAN MISSION Leimenstrasse 49, Basel, Switzerland Included in this section are letters and talks written by President & Sister Salzner While serving in the mission field 1931 - 1935 SUCCESSORS LEAVING AMERICA (Article in The Accelerator) August 31, 1931 Elder Franz Salzner, with his wife and three daughters, Helen, Edith and Frances, intend to leave, according to a report in the Deseret News, around the fifteenth of September to take over the duties of presiding over the Swiss-German Mission. The Deseret News report continues: “The new president of the mission was born in Hambach, Rheinpfalz, Germany, January 1, 1870, a son of George and Mary Lambert Salzner. He became a member of the Church with his family when thirteen years of age and came to the United States in 1883 making their home in Lehi.” “He was married in the Salt Lake Temple, June 21, 1893 to Laura Webb. His home was in Lehi for twenty years and he then lived in Sugar City, Idaho, for five years, coming then to Salt Lake where he has resided the past twenty-three years. He was a missionary to Germany in 1896 serving there twenty-eight months and was for one year president of the Dresden District.” He has been active in Church work in the Granite Stake. He was president of the stake German organization from 1909 to 1914. He then became a member of the stake high council which position he held until two months ago at which time he was made president of the stake High Priests’ Quorum.” According to shipping schedules, the new mission family should arrive on or near the first of October. The missionaries of the Swiss-German Mission want to extend them a hearty welcome and assure them heartiest cooperation. R. K. Allen Managing Editor Mission Home Basel, Switzerland October 31, 1931 My Dear Mission Sons: At last we are more or less settled in our new home in Basel, and my heart goes out in thankfulness that I am able to devote my entire time to the work of the Lord, and that I have such a fine group of sons with whom to work. It seems a little strange to say “my sons” because we have had none of our own, but I love you all and want to be a real Mission Mother to you. When you have troubles I want to help you. When you are filled with joy in your glorious work I want to rejoice with you. I want to be proud of you as my sons in the fine manly way in which you conduct yourselves and in the sincerity with which you enter into your work. I have often thought as I walked along crisp leaves crunching under my feet, that invigorating pungency of fall in the air, cloudless skies above me, how beautiful this world of ours is. Yes, it is really beautiful, and if our lives are sweet and clean, filled with worthwhile activity and love for our fellow men, we will be able to look through the more sordid things of life into the brightness of tomorrow. I have had the privilege of attending one district conference and meeting a few of our boys, but I hope in the near future to become acquainted with all of you. I have heard splendid reports of the elders in our mission and I know that I will not be disappointed in you. Already I sense a spirit of co-operation and love that exists among you and I hope that this spirit will grow and become a greater factor in our work as time goes on. My work will be a little difficult until I learn to speak the language, but it is our earnest desire to continue in the wonderful work done by Brother and Sister Tadje in the upbuilding of this mission. May the Lord bless you in all that you undertake. Sincerely, Laura W. Salzner Mission Home Basel, Switzerland October 31, 1931 My Dear Mission Sons: It is an inexpressible joy to me to be here in the Swiss-German Mission and to be engaged in the work of the Lord in this field. Wherever I have been the members and you alike have received me with open arms and the joy it has been to me has been overwhelming. It is my humblest hope and prayer that I shall be able to fulfill my duties as it should be done. At the very outset I want to tell you all that I have found you to be strong and energetic in your work as far as I have become acquainted with you, and already I can begin to sense the strength of our organization. It is a sense of security to know that you are pure and upright young men and worthy to be serving in this great work. Through the bond of our work I feel close to you all and I want you all to feel close to me. If you have troubles come to me with them and I will do my best to assist you in settling them. I hope with all my heart that you will feel free to come to me as you would to your own father and pour out your heart to me.