Oregon Portland Mission Alumni

The flavor of Missionary work at that time is seen from the following rules for the missionaries, as read to the Elders at Seattle on 21 March, 1905:

1. Elders are not to address each other by their given or names without saying ‘Brother’ or ‘Elder’.
2. Elders must not scuffle, or indulge in rough play of any kind at any time or at any place.
3. Elders must never in private, or in the presence of each other, or of Saints or strangers, try to expose each other to ridicule, or as it has been commonly called, "Run The Rig On Each Other." They must always speak to, and of one another with respect.
4. Elders must return to their headquarters by 10:30 P.M. or inform conference presidency why. They must not wander off alone unless sent by the President; Each must be accompanied by his companion at all times.
5. Elders must not lay hold of, or scuffle, play, laugh, or "cut up" with women or girls. They may visit them in their general rounds, or go two together by invitation to their homes, to meals, but they must go only as ambassadors of truth. They must not accompany women home from parties or meetings, or meet them for a good time. The Elders are not here for the purpose of social enjoyment, but to teach the truth, and to sow in tears the seeds of eternal life.
6. They should prepare Lessons well for auxiliary assignments so they will set a good example.

The Northwest has been an innovative area – an area which has played a stellar role I the progress of the Kingdom, not only in the progress of the Kingdom, not only in the Northwest, but throughout the world. The mission led out in compassionate work among orphans and established dozens of primaries among them which helped the orphans to associate with persons of warmth and understanding. The mission was one of the longest in the church to continue the practice of missionaries traveling without purse or scrip, and holding street meetings. The mission exercised leadership in calling local members to full-time missionary work during the depression of the 1930’s when the number of missionaries from the Church fell off substantially because of the inability of families to support them. President Desla Bennion, the first long-time resident of any mission area to be named as a Mission President, led out in suggesting systematic ways for the church to deal with the special needs of large concentrations of serviceman and war industries personnel. His program was later adopted by the Church as a whole. It was in the Northwestern States Mission that the so-called Anderson Plan, the grand-daddy of missionary plans for teaching the Gospel to investigators, was developed by Richard Anderson.