LeRoy Palmer served in the East Central States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married Lucille Thomas – who also served in the East Central States Mission from 1934 to 1936 – in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1939. They raised four children together in Arizona. LeRoy worked many years as a dairyman before he was seriously injured. He returned to work as a custodian at Snowlfake High School and a dealer for Case Farm Equipment. Elder Palmer baptized Josephine Ruth Tipton in Townsend, in 1935. He documented her baptism and his short time in Blount County in his journal. He visited member families in Townsend, Cades Cove, and Maryville. He also met with the Harris Family in Erwin who were originally baptized in Millers Cove. He met and named the following members from Blount County: Louella Garland, Lewis Calvin Parham, Lona Parham, Josephine Ruth Tipton, Dora Tipton, Bessie Marie Harris, Frank McPherson Harris, Martha Lane Russell, LeRoy Morley Russell, Doris Blanche Russell, Sarah Katherine Cooper, Georgia Edna Wilcox, and Pearl Edith Wilcox.
Arrival to Mission Home in Salt Lake City
[Sunday] – 17 March 1935 I arrived at the mission home last night. I have spent the day in class work. I have been very much inspired by talks from Br[other] Taylor and David O. McKay. Br[other David O.] McKay impressed us very strong on what our duties as a missionary are. The last talk for the day was a talk by President [Heber J.] Grant. He encouraged us to keep on trying and not get homesick. He tells us that we are no older than we think we are. We need life and energy to be able to accomplish anything while we are out.
[Monday] – 18 March 1935 This is the second day in the mission home. We have had instructions on M.I.A. work, Priesthood work, music and various other things pertaining to missions. I have spent two days here and haven’t yet felt sure just what it is all about. I have been selected as assistant group leader over our group. The group consists of Elders Nielson, [Howard Johnson] Fuhriman, [Kenneth Heber] Edwards, Buckley, [Charles Ovid] Butterfield and myself. We are having to conduct our part on a program, which will be conducted in the home next Monday. We have a fine group and I am sure we are going to enjoy each other while here.
[Wednesday] – 20 March 1935 Here it is, the evening of the third day at the mission home. We have had some very fine instruction on various points on the gospel. At noon we had our first missionary picture. I also received my first letter from home. It told of how blue the boys got when they thought of me being gone. I wonder if they felt half as blue for me as I have for them. We have just been having our first private singing lesson in our rooms. I feel my weakness in ability but committed this day to obtain a certain degree of success before I return home. I am enjoying my associations with the fine group of elders here.
[Thursday] – 21 March 1935 We spent the day in session at the mission home. I received a letter from D[ave] E. Heywood which was very good. He said he had a lot of hope for me and that he knew I would make good. He said if he could find room for me with his company when I came back he would sure give me the chance.
[Friday] – 22 March 1935 We did not hold any sessions in the mission home today. We went over to the temple and went through. This is the first time I ever went through a temple. I was sure impressed with the grandness of the thing. I received many covenants today which I am sure will make me better if I live up to them. I put the LDS garments on today for the first time. I hope I will never break any of the commandments which goes along with them.
[Saturday] – 23 March 1935 We took a bus at 8 o’clock this morning and made a tour of the city. Some of the things we learned about are as follows. Utah was settled 86 years ago. We found that Jack Dempsey built a home in Salt Lake for his mother. The city is divided into four districts. A group which is the high class residents’ district, then a group which is the apartment house district. A group which is the stores and small businesses. A group which is the wholesale group. There are now enrolled at the University of Utah 35,000 students. The tax rate in Salt Lake City is $3.76 on a hundred dollars. The average amount of water used in the cities of the world is 86 gallons a day while the average for Salt Lake City is 200 gallons per capita. The streets in Salt Lake are 132 feet wide, leaving 16 feet on each side for sidewalks. There are 16 parks in Salt Lake from 20 to 100 acres in size. In 1886, the US Government passed a law that people would have to stop living polygamy and promised for the wives to be taken care of but there was only one woman who accepted the offer. Brigham Young died in 1877. There are all the traces and relics of Brigham Young preserved in the beautiful capitol building which cost the state 2.7 million dollars. Forty percent of the [Salt Lake City] population is Mormon. One of the rugs in the capitol building cost $6,000 and weighs 1,300 pounds. We also went through the tabernacle today. We were given a lot of information concerning it. Some of the following is part of it. There are 7,000 pipes in the organ in the tabernacle. We stood in the back over 200 feet away from the front and a pin was dropped so we could hear it from where we stood. In January 1841, Joseph [Smith] gave notice that the ordinances and ceremonies of the priesthood were ready and completed for use. One year later he joined the Masonic Lodge or in 1842. We were instructed that the Church was not recommending any brand of garments. That all garments should have sleeves to the elbow and good body covering and legs to the knees and be properly marked.
[Sunday] – 24 March [1935] I am here alone in the mission home. All the other fellows have gone home to see their folks. I am waiting for Uncle John Gibbons who has invited me out for dinner and is going to show me out around the country today. I will write more when I found out what I am going to do. I have been out to dinner with Uncle John. He also hauled me out to Magna where I saw his daughter and her husband and baby. I attended a funeral of a blind man who has been blind for 26 years. The funeral was quite interesting. They told of how this man had learned to read even though he was about 50 when he was stricken blind. After that we came into town and attended a show, Gold Diggers of 1935. It wasn’t so bad, but I have been to shows I like better. After the show, Uncle John brought me back home.
[Monday] – 25 March [1935] In the forenoon today we had our regular class work. At one thirty we were again taken through the temple. I went through the temple for Thomas Hansein. The services were beautiful. I though I shall always remember them. I hope the Lord will always be with me as he seemed to be with that group of temple workers. The last class of the day after we had come from the temple was conducted by Levi E. Young who talked on prophets and prophecies of the Old Testament. He said knowledge is a part of you and it is not knowledge until it has become a part of you. We only learn by doing. That is the reason a good missionary makes so much progress. That is what makes so much knowledge become a part of him.
[Tuesday] – 26 March [1935] We have had another full day of meetings. The meeting that has inspired me above all others was the one given by David O. McKay on the 12th Article of Faith. He explained how important it was for us to live up to what that one article implies. He told us if we would keep the law of kindness, the world would not be as it is today. He told us while we were on our missions to seek after everything that was good in the way of shows, plays, musicals and art. But to shun the common and vile things. To never even in our rooms tell dirty stories. To be a prince wherever we go so that our radiance will shine and attract others to the truth. We had another meeting this evening with David O. McKay giving the lecture. He gave us a list of the writers of the New Testament. He had them state why they thought that Christ was really crucified. He gave pretty good proof that Christ was killed by men and that he would atone for the sins of man. His testimony gave as though it were the prophets themselves is very [compelling] and I believe I will always remember it.
[Wednesday] – 27 March [1935] We have purchased our tickets now and have been set apart ready for our service. Melvin J. Ballard set me apart for my mission. These are some of the things he said to me. He asked God’s blessing to accompany me and for me to be faithful. He said that if I would think missionary work the last thing at night and the first thing in the morning and be prayerful that I would have angels on my right hand and angels on my left hand to direct me on my way. For me to always heed their warning because there would be nothing in the way of danger in which I would encounter that I would not be warned about before hand. He said if I was faithful and prayerful that my voice would cut the souls of the righteous in heart and they would listen to me and the wicked would tremble and never forget me. Then he dedicated me to the work of a missionary and set me apart to do good work among men.
Travel to Mission Office in Kentucky
[Thursday] – 28 March [1935] We spent the forenoon in getting ready to make our departure for Louisville, [Kentucky]. We bought our tickets in the forenoon. I bought a tie and received a hair cut which we made me ready for my long journey. In the afternoon we entertained ourselves very well by putting up a lunch. It being my first attempt at doing so; it was a rare feast. At 10:30 we left the station in Salt Lake City. We were unable to sleep at all the first night.
[Friday] – 29 March [1935] This was one day in my life in which I spent the entire day and night on a train. I hope it is some time before I have to spend another. We went from Utah into Colorado, from Colorado into Wyoming, down through Kansas into Kentucky. We saw mile after mile of desert land. We also saw a few farms that looked as if they might be prosperous. Along toward evening we arrived in a dust storm which was almost suffocating. The wind blew and the dust came with it all afternoon and evening. The ride was anything but a pleasure. The only thing I had for diversion was a conversation I had with a fellow. He asked me where I was going. I told him we were missionaries and were going out for two years and spend our own money and time. He couldn’t conceive of it but he was very congenial and said he knew I would do some good and for me not to let anybody put anything over me. I will have to admit that I missed an opportunity to tell him of our principles because I did not know how to do it.
[Saturday] – 30 March [1935] Continued on our way to Kentucky with very little change until we were almost to St. Louis. It began to rain and was raining when we arrived at 4:05 PM. We had from then until 2:40 to spend in St. Louis. We got a taxi and took in the Mississippi River, bought dinner and took in a show which took up all the time while there. I was very disappointed with the city and was more than glad when 2:30 came and we boarded the train for our final run to Kentucky at 10:34. I spent the time in sleep to a good advantage.
Mission Office in Kentucky
[Sunday] – 31 March [1935] I arrived in Louisville at 7:05 AM to greet the cheery face of Deryl [Denham] Shumway and two of the lady missionaries, Sister [Norma] Bingham and Sister [Hazel Margarite] Carmack. We were very heartily welcome and driven to the mission home, where we obtained breakfast and made ready for Sunday School. At noon I was invited to the home of Rile Jennings, where again I was welcomed and given a very good dinner. Before and after dinner we talked about the old town and I told him all the developments that were going on back there. After we had talked over all I knew he took me out for a ride to see the city. I wasn’t satisfied with what I could see in a car so when we arrived at the airport, Argyle and I chartered an airplane and went for a ride over the city. It is a beautiful place and from the air I was especially pleased to view it. I attended meeting in the evening and gave my first speech which wasn’t much.
[Monday] – 1 April [1935] This day was not a day for events. I arranged for my transportation to Tennessee and prepared to leave. I made a trip to the depot with Elder [Howard Johnson] Fuhriman who has traveled this far with me. A fellow from Logan, Utah; a very fine man. He went to North Carolina. After supper I had a long talk with Hazel [Margarite] Carmack. It seemed good to talk to her. She seems to have the spirit of her mission. In the evening we played game in the home and we roasted marshmallows. We spent the evening very enjoyably. I finally retired at 12:30, pretty late for a missionary.
Staying with the Russell Family
[Tuesday] – 2 April [1935] I arose at 5:30 this morning. There was no one else around at that time in the morning. I made myself ready for breakfast, also ready to travel. The lady at the mission home put me up a nice lunch. As soon as breakfast was over it became time to go so I, with the company of Elders [Kenneth Heber] Edwards, Bankley and [Winston Merriam] Crawford, set out. They saw me off to Knoxville, Tennessee where I am now and will probably be here for a while. I am staying with Sister [Martha Elizabeth] Russell who is a member of the Church.
[Wednesday] – 3 April [1935] I am out of bed and had a fine breakfast, the first breakfast in Tennessee. Where, oh where will I have breakfast next? I spent the forenoon tracting. We had a meal with one of the members. In the evening we had a meal with another of the members. At night we held a cottage meeting. I gave my first speech. I talked on faith. I can assure you I did not give a masterpiece but the Lord seemed to be present from the beginning to end. Our first time to sing was also staged. I did worse that than I did when I preached. There were one or two members, also several investigators. We had a fine meeting and there were many questions asked after the meeting. One woman seemed very interested. We had a long walk home after the meeting.
Meeting the Wilcox Family
[Thursday] – 4 April [1935] I read the letters this morning which the MIA officers wrote to me before I left home. I was loyal to their trust. I did not open them until the date which I was supposed to. We did some tracting this morning. We also ran onto some members at the Church that haven’t been visited for years. Their names were Wilcox: [Sarah Katherine Cooper Wilcox; Georgia Edna Wilcox; and Pearl Edith Wilcox]. We had a very fine visit with them. They invited us back so we will go back tomorrow. We will probably hold a meeting with them.
[Friday] – 5 April [1935] I woke up this morning expecting some word from home but I was disappointed for I did not get any mail. We went down to Sister [Sarah Katherine Cooper] Wilcox‘s where we talked to them all day. They gave us a dinner which makes a total of about six meals I have had since I came. We did some good words reconverting a daughter of Sister Wilcox who has joined the Holy Rollers. She was not very enthused but she was interested. The elders have not been there to see them in several years.
[Saturday] – 6 April [1935] Another day of storm. It rained all night and nearly all day. We spent most of the day studying. About noon we went to town and on out to a woman’s place where we were to hold a meeting. I gave my second talk tonight. I talked on repentance. I did not do as well as I did the first night. I did not have the right spirit with me. We had a fair crowd and my companion, Elder [Ralph William] Horrocks, did pretty well. I may be a singer in the future but I lack a long way from it now.
Meeting Louella Garland and William Riley Perkins
[Sunday] – 7 April [1935] We stayed pretty close to home today, it being Sunday. We were able to get in some very good studying. In the evening we went down to a family of Saints. They gave us a fine supper. In fact, we had too many good things to eat and could not do them justice. We spent the evening visiting. The lady, Mrs. L[o]u[el]la [Garland] Perkins, showed us her collection of pictures. After this we had become lazy, like a snake after eating, so we decided to stay with the family for the night. It was arranged so thus we spent another night.
[Monday] – 8 April [1935] We received word last night that a member of our Church, who lives about 30 miles away, was sick and wanted the elders to come. We packed our bags and this morning left afoot in a sheet of rain. We walked until we were almost exhausted and a kind man in a worn out Ford came along and picked us up and hauled us about 10 miles. Then we were again put out to walk because he was going another way. We now had about 12 miles to go right up a mountain. We were within about a mile and a half of the top when we were again picked up and hauled to the top. We arrived about 4 o’clock in the evening to find the woman was better but very glad to see us. We then spent the evening conversing with the family and a Primitive Baptist preacher. The man at first tried to take us off our feet but my companion, [Ralph william Horrocks], was too much for him. He finally ended up agreeing with nearly all we had to say. It was not altogether because he believed it, but because he could not get around it. After it was over he gave us a cordial invitation to come to his house and stay, whenever we were near his home.
[Tuesday] – 9 April [1935] This was the day after the grand hike so we spent a very good part of it in resting. We did however spend some time in explaining the scriptures and principles to some of the members. They were interested and wanted to know about them. They have a young son who they are very anxious to have join. The husband also is not a member but very much interested. I would not be surprised if both the father and son did join in a short time. In the evening we had a very fine cottage meeting which made about my third time to speak.
[Wednesday] – 10 April [1935] We visited investigators in the Cades Cove, Tennessee country. We found two that were very anxious to hear about our principles. We spent a good part of the day explaining the gospel to them. One of the party said he would be sure and come to the meeting we were to hold that night. He did come to the meeting and asked for some reading material and also asked us to come some night and stay with him. We had a fine meeting. I spoke on the Book of Mormon. This makes my fourth attempt at speaking.
[Thursday] – 11 April [1935] This was the day we decided to return home from Cades Cove. We came around by a man’s place who had been out West for about 30 years of his life. We found a friend of the Mormons. He told us we were doing a good work and he wanted us to be sure and see his sister’s family. He said he wasn’t a Mormon and may never be but he was after truth and he had never found anything wrong with us or our people where they were living their religion. He said there are some who are not what they are supposed to be. We began to walk from this man’s place and we had to walk about 19 miles before we finally caught a ride.
[Friday] – 12 April [1935] We were about all in from our long walk so we rested up, read and cleansed ourselves for another week. We had some good talks about the scriptures, got our reports off and all in all we were ready for another journey. In the evening I purchased an album and put my pictures in it. My companion went to the wrestling matches.
[Saturday] – 13 April [1935] We received word this morning that a woman about 35 miles from here was sick and wanted us to come. We packed our grip and went again but we did not walk this time. We took a bus and arrived at our destination about 4 o’clock in the evening. We found the woman more spiritually sick than physically. We spent the evening explaining the gospel to them. We, through the power of the Lord, made them feel much better.
[Sunday] – 14 April [1935] We spent all the Sabbath day studying the gospel and explaining it to these people. We were very royally entertained at this home. Their names were Altum. They have had a lot of sickness in the last year. Their father had been a Mormon nearly all his life. He had taken care of the Mormons for years. I saw the name cards of [Elders] Richard Gibbons, Charles [Love] Flake and Wallace [Hunt] Larson, who had been to this place.
[Monday] – 15 April [1935] We returned back to our place of labor after bidding them good-bye. We promised them we would write to them and would also return in the near future. We administered to the woman of the house before we left. We were impressed to tell them if she would have faith she would be well. She would have health again in her home. She has had a sick girl there in bed for nearly four years.
[Tuesday] – 16 April [1935] We went out tracting this morning. We were greeted very well in most cases. I was, however, turned down three times. In one case the man said he had two good Bibles and he did not want any of that manmade stuff. He said that is what is the matter with the world now. I agreed with him that we had too much manmade stuff and assured him that what I had was not manmade. But he only grew more angry. In the evening we held a cottage meeting. I spoke on Christ and his ministry.
[Wednesday] – 17 April [1935] We studied this morning and in the afternoon went to visit a woman. This woman has at one time been a member of our Church but at the age of 15 she was baptized a member of the Holy Rollers. She says she knows when people are speaking [the truth] and she thinks we are. She is quite interested. She may rejoin. I am not just sure yet.
[Thursday] – 18 April [1935] This is the one day I have felt like I was not doing much good. We have not accomplished a thing with our tracting nor have we seemed to make any impression with our meetings. The people come and say they are glad they’ve come to meeting and they enjoyed our talks but that is as far as they go. We did however get in some very good hours of study this afternoon and this evening. I was more than ever convinced today that we have the right thing when I ran on to so many things that Christ taught in the Bible that he also taught in the Book of Mormon.
[Friday] – 19 April [1935] We went out tracting this morning for a while. We then went to Townsend, Tenn[essee]. We there met a fellow we had previously met. In the course of our conversation, it was made known to him that we intended to walk on over the mountains to a little place called Cades Cove. He insisted that we stay with him that night. We explained the gospel to him and then listened to him sing and play the guitar. His name was Joseph Abbot.
[Saturday] – 20 April [1935] We went from Mr. Abbot’s place to a nephew of his. He wanted us to be sure and see the boy and tell him of our religion and also some of the things as they were out West. We went to see him. He was not home, so we had to proceed over the mountain afoot and it was storming some. We made it to Cades Cove about 5:00 in the afternoon. We were a little worn out but otherwise fine. We had a good meal and enjoyed renewing our friendship with the people.
Meeting the Tiptons
[Sunday] – 21 April [1935] Today being Sunday and in a new place and storming very hard, we did very little. We visited with the Tiptons, [Joseph Sherman Tipton and Dora Tipton] and in the afternoon we visited with some people by the name of Riddle. They were very find people and are somewhat interested in our doctrine.
[Monday] – 22 April [1935] It was still cloudy in the morning when we first crawled out of bed, however, as the day came to lightness it cleared up. We were finally greeted with a beautiful sun which we were very happy to see. We visited some people by the name of Gregory. We invited them out to meeting that night. We had a fine cottage meeting this evening. There was quite a crowd.
[Tuesday] – 23 April [1935] We had all intentions of coming home today but did not. We accomplished very little. I went over to where a C[ivilian] C[onservation] C[orps] camp was playing [base]ball with the hopes that I might swing the club once again. I was very much disappointed because I did not even as much as feel the bat.
[Wednesday] – 24 April [1935] We caught the mail from Cades Cove to Townsend. We there met Mr. Joe Abbot again and were introduced to his sister and his brother-in-law. This was the third time we had come to this place with the hopes of meeting Mr. Abbot’s nephew. We were treated with all the courtesy in the world and were given a very fine dinner. We learned that the boy we were looking for was down to a little town by the name of Walland some 7 miles away. After dinner, being very much overcome with a full stomach, also filled with the spirit, we went our way. We had to walk the 7 miles, however, we did get to see the boy and had a very fine conversation with him. We then had to went our way on to Maryville, which was by this time about 10 miles on down the road. We had walked a very short way when we had the blessing of a ride given to us. We were just about home in time for supper.
[Thursday] – 25 April [1935] We had a very successful day today. We did some fine work tracting in the morning and held one of the best meetings we have had this afternoon. We had about 10 interested investigators and all seemed very interested in the remarks. I talked on the Book of Mormon and I am certain for once that the Lord was with me.
[Friday] – 26 April [1935] We cut the lawn and did a little of nothing today. We did not go away from the house until after dinner. I was treated very kindly today by the mailman. I received a letter from: [my sister], Ima; and Wilford [Shumway]; Harvey and Dean, [my brothers]; Phil Pearce; Bishop [Dow] Rhoton; and Leatha Hair. I certainly was happy to get so much news in one day.
[Saturday] – 27 April [1935] Today was almost a replication of yesterday with the exception of the mail. I got the Holbrook Tribune and the Snowflake Herald, which was something. This afternoon we visited an investigator who has been some interested in what we have had to say. I will say goodnight, hope we have better success tomorrow.
[Sunday] – 28 April [1935] We did very little today. We spent most of the day in study. The Russells, the family we are staying with, went away and left us here alone. We slept a while and then read a while.
[Monday] – 29 April [1935] As we began our trek to town to begin our day’s work we encountered heavy rain. It rained on us all the way to town and back. We had barely stepped into the house when the rain stopped. After dinner we again attempted a venture into the land of mud, but we were again met with sprays of moisture, thus interpreted would be rain. So the day was spent with little accomplished in the way of our work. We did however, get in some very valuable time with our servant, the Bible. Thus closed the day of our Lord, the 29th.
[Tuesday] – 30 April [1935] Today was a beautiful day and was more or less uneventful. We got in a few hours of tracting this morning. We had nothing unusual happen this morning, but when we came back to read over our mail, was I surprised I had some good mail. A letter from Erna Shumway. She had some interesting news. She said that Arman Peterson, Louise Phelps and Reed Freeman were elected officers at Arizona State Teachers College. She also said Perry and Jessie had blown themselves for a new car. I also received a letter from Stan[ley Shumway]. He says he did not get any [from me] before he wrote that letter. I swear I have written two letters and a card to him. This evening we had a meeting. It was somewhat of a success. I spoke on the First Article of Faith. I did well for the first half, then I became a little frustrated. Otherwise things moved in fair order.
[Wednesday] – 1 May [1935] There was nothing of an unusual nature that happened today. We completed the day with a great deal of study. I will eventually learn enough about the religion to make a complete study. We did very little in the way of teaching. W saw a show in the afternoon called Heldorado. It was a good show but I would have ben just as well off if I had never seen the show.
[Thursday] – 2 May [1935] We arose rather early and were on the road to town sooner than usual. Better still, we were picked up and hauled to town. The first free ride I have received in Tennessee, that is, one that was taking me where I wanted to go and one I didn’t have to flag down. We did some good tracting this morning. We did not meet with anything of special interest. In the evening we went to a show, White Parade, which was a very good show for its educational value. Also for its moral value.
[Friday] – 3 May [1935] We met with a little interest this morning while on our tracting beat. A woman brought out our tract and said she did not want the thing. I asked her if she had any [reason] for not wanting it. She said “yes,” it did not conform with the Bible. I told her that I would treat her if she could show me where it didn’t conform with the Bible. She said she knew all about it because a preacher had told her. It was a Methodist preacher. I don’t know where he learned all about it.
[Saturday] – 4 May [1935] We spent all the day in cleaning our clothes and preparing for another day’s, yes another week’s work. I only had to press three pair of pants and a coat. The rest of our time we spent in studying.
[Sunday] – 5 May [1935] We spent the larger portion of the day with our Bibles in our hands. It stormed some to make things a little more dreary. As to what we accomplished, it would have been nothing if right after supper a very interesting investigator hadn’t come along. He asked some very deep questions and seemed to be very glad with the answers we gave him. He invited us to his home. We have an appointment with him. I am not sure yet what will be the results.
[Monday] – 6 May [1935] We woke up this morning with a drowsy feeling. It was raining very hard so we were resigned to our rooms for the day. We did our best to make our time worthwhile. We studied diligently, our hearts set on advancement.
[Tuesday] – 7 May [1935] We were a little late getting out to tract today. We went to see an investigator’s place. There is where we found ourselves when dinner time came. We were not invited in so we very soon made our way to one of the member’s place, feeling positive that we would find something to fill the lower place in our center cavity. To our sorrow we found no relief. To get to our work we had to pass by another member of the Church. So we went in there thinking it would be about dinner time. Again, we found a lot of nothing so we went about our work feeling a little depressed. We were about to the end of our hike when I was met with a flat refusal. She said people had been teaching that there wasn’t a God and their preacher had told them to not read any of that stuff. I tried to explain our mission, she was kinder to me, but never offered to take a tract.
[Wednesday] – 8 May [1935] We had very little to our credit today in the way of work. We did do some good studying and accomplished something on that score.
[Thursday] – 9 May [1935] Today came with a few more troubles. We were expecting to meet a party at 1:30 and ride to Cades Cove with them. However, they didn’t come so we had to do next best. That was to catch the bus to Townsend at 4 o’clock. Of course we enjoyed the way, oh yes. When we did arrive in Townsend we expected to stay with a party there and the next day go over the hill to Cades Cove. Upon arriving we found nobody home, therefore we had to face that 11 mile hike over hill and dale, mostly hill, after 5 in the evening. We bowed our head to the task with a willing heart and strong detemination to succeed. But the Lord took a hand as a car immediately came along and carried us to the end of our destination, bringing us there in time for supper.
[Friday] – 10 May [1935] Today found us contentedly located in Cades Cove. The people seemed very glad to see us and more than anxious to make things nice for us. We spent most of the day visiting and cleaning our clothes.
[Saturday] – 11 May [1935] The sun was shining bright when we decided to accompany our hosts over the mountain to a little place where Mrs. [Dora] Tipton‘s parents were buried – [William Riley Thomas Tipton and Emily Cordelia Burchfield]. We spent the good part of the day visiting and discussing the Gospel with Mr. and Mrs. Joe Abbot. We returned to Cades Cove in the evening after having spent the day very well so we figured.
[Sunday] – 12 May [1935] We spent the forenoon in preparation for a meeting that was to be held in Cades Cove with a man by the name of Garland. We went to the place early in the day and had some very good discussion with them before meeting time. The meeting was a success and we had a good crowd. It was our privelege to stay with the family for the night. A few minutes after the meeting, Mr. Garland’s brother came in to stay with him for the night, so it was necessary for someone to sleep on the floor. He and his wife slept there and gave us their bed. It was very kind of them and I am sure the Lord will bless them for so doing.
Baptism of Josephine Ruth Tipton
[Monday] – 13 May [1935] We studied today and also baptized a little girl by the name of Josie [Ruth] Tipton. This was my first baptism, therefore I was a little timid. But trying very hard to cover my meekness I proceeded with the ceremony. While so doing I slipped and fell. I very near dunked myself. It was a sad scene and to make it worse, a man not of our faith walked on the scene just in time to see it all.
[Tuesday] – 14 May [1935] We packed our grips for a farewell trip to those people in Cades Cove. There was a chance we would not see them for sometime again. We rode over the mountain with the mailman and went to the home of [William] Ernest Tipton in Townsend. He is a very fine fellow and interested in our religion. We spent a good part of the day in discussion of religion with them and in having dinner. After that we visited Joe Abbot and he took us to a friend of his where we spent the evening. The family sang and played for us until quite late.
[Wednesday] – 15 May [1935] We spent the day and the night with Mr. Abbot and his wife. He is well posted himself in the fundamentals of religion.
[Thursday] – 16 May [1935] We returned to Maryville where we read our mail that had piled up for the week. We prepared for our work on the morrow. However, in the evening, we decided to go to Mrs. Adams’ place and hold a meeting. We did go and to our joy we had a fine meeting. All seemed to be very well satisfied with what the Lord had impressed us to say because we had made no preparation at all previous to our going over there.
[Friday] – 17 May [1935] We tracted this morning and expected to go to Townsend in the evening to preach but the fellow that was coming to take us never came. So we were not given the chance to preach to those people.
[Saturday] – 18 May [1935] There was not anything unusual that took place today. We have done some good work in the way of study.
[Sunday] – 19 May [1935] We held our last meeting at Parson’s Hill where we had held our regular meetings. In fact this is where I first spoke after I arrived in the field.
[Monday] – 20 May [1935] Today we spent all day with a very interesting investigator. He was coming along especially fine a while back when he happened to be in a hall where wrestling was going on. At his side was one of the missionaries that had helped to have him see our religion as he was. However, during the wrestling bouts, this elder became so enthused that he began to use strong language. The investigator said that that was all for him. He wouldn’t have anymore to do with us if that was the way we did [it]. That was several weeks before I landed in the field. One evening the fellow came to us and said he had decided he was wrong to judge the religion by one man and wanted to be instructed on some of our principles.
[Tuesday] – 21 May [1935] We did some tracting this morning. I was not very pepped up with the idea but we got through okay.
[Wednesday] – 22 May [1935] Today we packed our grips, had our suits pressed to make our departure from Maryville.
[Thursday] – 23 May [1935] It seemed like leaving home this morning when we bid the Russell people good-bye. They have sure treated me fine. Roy [Morley] Russell went to haul us to town but when he arrived there he decided to take us to Knoxville, some twenty miles away. It was very kind of him. There we met with all the elders of this, the East Tennessee District. They are [James Ammon] Simmons, [Lawrence Seifert] Tuttle, [Ellis McMillan] Burton, [Gerald Leland] Larsen, [Clifford Olene] Weaver, Sorenson, [Ralph William] Horrocks, Lucille Thomas and Sister [Virginia Lillie] Davidson. It was a pleasure to meet with them in a meeting and have them bear their testimonies of the gospel. In the evening we met with Bro[ther] and Sis[ter] Kirkham and their daughter, and Bro[ther Francis R.] Lyman and his wife. They gave some good instructions to carry out, which are: speak out plain, have a good impressive beginning and a good climax with nothing between to detract from the subject. They told us to be gentlemen. Bro[ther] Lyman said [that], if we would be faithful, we would surpass our expectations at the present time both in missionary work and temporal. My ambition now is to become the best missionary in the East Central States. May the Lord help me to do so. Further instructions, we were to get off from the beaten paths.
Middle row, left to right: Lucille Thomas, Virginia Lillie Davidson, Lawrence Seifert Tuttle, Sorenson
Front row, left to right: Gerald Leland Larsen, Ralph William Horrocks, Clifford Olene Weaver
[Friday] – 24 May [1935] We spent the day in the town of Knoxville. All went to the film, Cardinal Richilieu, featuring George Arlis. In the evening we took in a wrestling match. Roy Steel and Roland Kurshmier were the main bout, a Turk and Roy Ricforce (sic), another. All were good.
[Saturday-Sunday] – 25-26 May [1935] I will have to change this morning to a new companion, Mr. [James Ammon] Simmons. I will have to say good-bye to my friend, Mr. [Ralph William] Horrocks, very soon. We left for Kingsport where we will be for a few days, then we will go into the country. We tried our luck at hitchhiking and I tell you we didn’t have very good luck. We had to stay in a church last night. It was too cold to sleep so we spent the night shivering and trying to hurry the dawn of the new day. Since there was almost continuous day, [so] shall this diary be. For we knew no change at the close of the 26th and not until when three thirty could we start on our way. I want you to know, by the time we arrived at a little store about 15 miles beyond where we spent the night, I was exhausted. I could not go any further. We waited until the bus came along. It was two big weary, slouchy, hungry, low-spirited, humble, meek, downhearted, dirty, footsore fellows that came into Kingsport, Tennessee the 26th day of May 1935. May we never see another one like that I do wish.
[Monday] – 27 May [1935] Arrived in Kingsport. We certainly enjoyed ourselves today. We rested from the strain we had yesterday. Brother and Sister Parks sure did treat us fine. Gave us a nice room and made us feel right to home.
[Tuesday] – 28 May [1935] It was our intention to go out into the country but as yet our tracts have not come so it will be impossible to go. We went down and visited with the Digby people. We had luck with them. They treated us very kind. They at one time were out in Idaho.
[Wednesday] – 29 May [1935] Today we visited the Carter people. Sister Carter has very recently been baptized to the Church. She is very sincere and seemed very glad to see us. Elder [James Ammon] Simmons played the piano. We all sang. This was my first experience at holding Primary. Sister [Lucille] Thomas and Sister [Virginia Lillie] Davidson were the two conducting. I mostly assisted. Mr. Parks made a special trip down after us.
[Thursday] – 30 May [1935] Elder [James Ammon] Simmons and I went down to town to help the lady missionaries tract today. They sent us out on Watagua Street. This is where all the rich people live; we found them very cold. Most of them did not care or were not at all interested in what we had to say. We were by no means very successful in getting conversations. We spent a happy noon hour at lunch with the lady missionaries.
[Friday] – 31 May [1935] We met the lady missionaries part way down town to do some more tracting. I was the only one that did not get a conversation. While they were talking, I handed out about 65 tracts. After we finished tracting, we went down to Bro[ther] and Sis[ter] Moore’s. They are fine people and are members of our Church. We took lunch with them and had a fine visit. We walked back to town and there found our tracts, so we were fixed up again.
[Saturday] – 1 June [1935] In company with the lady missionaries, we went out to the island near Kingsport to do some tracting. We met a member by the name of Vermillion. He and his wife were fine people. We took lunch with them. Mr. Parks called for us and hauled us back to his home.
[Sunday] – 2 June [1935] Sunday today. It seemed it fell to my lot to give the lesson. I treated the subject of individual possibilities. After Sunday School we were invited to take lunch with a Mr. and Mrs. Still. They are not members of our Church but are certainly fine people.
[Monday] – 3 June [1935] Elder [James Ammon] Simmons and I left for our country work. It almost seemed like leaving home to leave the Parks’ home. We tracted the houses on our way. I ran onto a lady that was very interested in what I had to say. She said she would be sure and attend our conference. We caught one ride after a long time. We arrived in a little place called Fordstown [at] about 5 o’clock in the evening, so we began to inquire for a place to stay and also a place to hold meetings. We found that a man owned a place where we might hold some meetings. We proceeded to inquire of the man of the privilege we desired. He said it had been deeded to the county with a clause in it that all denomination[s] could hold meetings in there but ours. [He] told us where some people lived that might let us stay with them. I told him it did not matter who they were, if they were Christians, they would let us stay with them. We finally found one old man by the name of Houck, who after much deliberation took us in and gave us supper and a bed. We had a good conversation and left him some literature.
[Tuesday] – 4 June [1935] We continued our tracting today. We had several good conversations but were unable to find a place to hold a meeting. People have not seen the elders out in the past for 15-25 years and we have had some trouble winning a slight degree of confidence. We were given our dinner by a nice man by the name of Erwin. We continued again tracting and, [at] about 5:30, began to inquire for a place to stay for the night. William Capains was the kind man. We sang songs for about one hour. The bed was fine. He gave us a good breakfast to help things out.
[Wednesday] – 5 June [1935] Our experiences were new and very interesting today. We did not find anyone that was very interested in what we had to say. It seemed we would never come to a place that would give us something to eat. We asked a woman if she had some milk. She gave us a fine dinner instead. We began [at] about 6 o’clock to inquire for a place to stay. It seemed we would never find anybody so kind as to keep us for a night. [At] about 8:30 o’clock, we came to a place that seemed to be our last chance. When we came up to the door there was no light but Elder [James Ammon] Simmons knocked anyway. The man answered and wanted to know what we wanted. My companion said he would like to speak to him. We told him what we wanted and who we were. He finally decided to give us a bed. They treated us with the best of courtesy. Their names were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Gray.
[Thursday] – 6 June [1935] Today was another day full of work and experiences. We began our trek to Holston and passed tracts as we went. In the evening we again began to inquire for a place to stay. We had no hopes until [at] about 7:30 we came to an old fellow who was a widower and his oldest daughter had very recently got married, leaving a family of children with a little girl ten or twelve years old to do all the work. Things were anything but clean. When we finally went to bed it was impossible to sleep because of bedbugs. I never tried to sleep in such a miserable place in all my life. I will also long remember the breakfast we had with all consideration to the poor little girl. The people’s names were Comblis.
[Saturday] – 8 June [1935] We were in close quarters until after noon because we had no clothes to go out in. We were looking for Pres[ident] Kirkham and some of the elders to come in. Pres[ident] Kirkham came in [at] about 7 o’clock. The elders came in later.
[Sunday] – 9 June [1935] We held conference all day and what a day. We had a good crowd to all three meetings. I was lead-off man in the first session. I talked about 20 minutes on the Book of Mormon. At noon, we had lunch served in the same building. I presided over the afternoon meeting. We held a baptismal service at four o’clock. There were four children baptized by Elder [James Ammon] Simmons. We wound the day up with the most beautiful service I have ever heard. Some of the members bore their testimony that has never had an equal in my experience. We stayed with Sister Carter that night. President Kirkham hauled us home.
[Monday] – 10 June [1935] We went through the paper mill today. We saw where the wood was split, mashed, cut into small chips, cooked, cleaned, dyed, mixed with other chemicals, pressed, dried, rolled, cut and packed. We proceeded from Kingsport to Knoxville. We landed safe in Knoxville and held the meeting as scheduled. There was a very poor crowd. I spoke on prayer.
[Tuesday] – 11 June [1935] We drove to Chattanooga today. The drive was pleasant. We drove up on Mount Lookout, near Chattanooga. This is a place that was hot during the battle above the clouds in the Civil War. Some of the remains of old guns still stand. Many relics of interest have ben picked up and are on display in the museum. The place has now been organized with national honors. On top of the hill is a monument erected by New York State, with two soldiers on top representing a confederate and a union man shaking hands. You can, on a clear day, look into seven states from points on the hill. The states being Georgia, North and South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee (sic). Bro[ther] and Sis[ter] Kirkham, and their daughter Bessie, were in the party. The elders were [Ralph William] Horrocks, [Clifford Olene] Weaver, Sorenson, [Lawrence Seifert] Tuttle, [Ellis McMillan] Burton, and [Gerald Leland] Larsen, [James Ammon] Simmons, and myself. We stayed with Roy Nash.
[Wednesday] – 12 June [1935] Elders [James Ammon] Simmons, [Clifford Olene] Weaver, [Ellis McMillan] Burton and myself hitchhiked from Chattanooga to Northcutts Cove, coupled with a little bad luck we had some good. We caught several rides but had to walk a long way there, the reason for being late for the 2 o’clock session. Upon arrival we had a cold lunch which really hit the spot. We had eaten our dinner at a placed called Palmer. The last meeting was fine, people all turned out. After [the] meeting we went home with Bro[ther] Oscar Rhea. He treated us fine. We had to stay up late because of a sick woman at his place.
[Thursday] – 13 June [1935] We left early this morning for Oneida. It was necessary for Elder [James Ammon] Simmons and I to get up very early in order that we be at Bro[ther John Houston] Tipton‘s at 5:30. Four of the elders did not continue with us on our journey. They were left to labor around Northcutts Cove. I drove about 50 miles of the way. We arrived in good time. We ate dinner with Bro[ther] Waters. We held two meetings here. A good spirit seemed to prevail. We stayed with a blind man overnight.
[Friday] – 14 June [1935] We began our homeward trek of about 220 miles. The Lord was with us all day. First fellow to pick me up was a fellow delivering a new bus through to Georgia. He stopped without me trying to stop him. He hauled us for about 54 miles. We were then picked up just out of Harriman, Tenn[essee] and hauled on into Knoxville. The fellow said he did not very often pick a fellow up but would take a chance. He was going about 60 miles an hour when we hailed him. We arrived in Knoxville about 3:30. We caught a ride from Knoxville to Maryville and there we stayed for the night with the Russell people. They seemed almost as glad as I was to have us there. We cleaned up, pressed our clothes and were ready for another day.
[Saturday] – 15 June [1935] We are now on the road waiting for a ride from Maryville. We had a ride and now find ourselves in the post office in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is now 10:45. I am in Jefferson City. I rode with a Mr. Bernard. I am now in Morris Town (sic) at 12:25. A fellow by the name of Miller gave me a ride. I had another ride for three miles. I passed Elder [James Ammon] Simmons. My next ride was with a state road engineer. I rode with him for about 15 miles. A Mr. Lyons picked me up and hauled me for 20-30 miles, which puts me in Johnson City at 3:30. I caught two more rides on into Kingsport. I got good and wet. Mr. Parks was on his way after me when I arrived.
[Sunday] – 16 June [1935] We spent the night with Mr. Parks again. Today being Sunday we held Sunday School. We were invited to Mr. Carter’s for dinner. We, in company with Mr. Carter, went up to see a sick man. The man has T[u]b[erculosis]. He was of a jovial nature. He was reasonable and it was satisfying to talk to him. He accepted many of our points of doctrine. In the evening we attended services which were very poorly attended. I spoke to them to try to encourage them in their duties as members of the Church.
[Monday] – 17 June [1935] We prepared ourselves for another trip into the country. At noon, we had dinner with the lady missionaries. I had my shoes half-soled as a final preparation for our trip. We spent the remainder of the day visiting with Mr. Parks and in studying.
[Tuesday] – 18 June [1935] We were on the road en route to Mountain City when we were given a ride into Bristol. We had been waiting for some two hours, neither on getting a ride. All at once a car stopped for me. I was some distance in head of my companion. Thinks I, I am sure to have him now, but I was not settled well in my seat when he rolled up behind me in a Ford coupe and later passed me up. As luck would be or rather, should I say as the Lord willed it, we were given a ride on in. I, being separated from my companion when I arrived in Bristol, decided since it was so near dinner time I would go and see Bro[ther] and Sis[ter] Salby. I was sitting down to the table when Elder [James Ammon] Simmons came in. They insisted that we stay with them overnight, so we did so. We spent the night with them.
[Wednesday] – 19 June [1935] We left for Mountain City this morning. We were on the road for a long time before we received a sign of a ride. We finally began to catch short rides. We caught 7 rides and walked several miles all in all. But the ride that was the most help was the one that hauled us right to Sister Maxwell’s. We did not know her nor where she lived. This car stopped for us and when we were in, the occupants of the car said they knew who we were and where we were going, which proved to be right. We were who they said we were and we went straight to the place with the people we were to visit.
[Thursday] – 20 June [1935] We visited with some of the Saints today. We also went to town for our mail. While there we went to the chief justice and asked him if we could hold a meeting in the courthouse and on the street. He said it was all right with him. We came back and studied for a while. We held a meeting in the evening. We had a good crowd and a good spirit seemed to exist. I spoke on faith. Elder [James Ammon] Simmons spoke on repentance.
[Friday] – 21 June [1935] We made our reports out Friday to get them in the mail. We cleaned up ourselves and did some studying. It has been a week ago, so that is all I can remember about what we did.
[Saturday] – 22 June [1935] We visited some of the members in this vicinity today. Some of them were glad to see us, others were not so thrilled, or so it seemed to me. We met Sister Fannie Blankinberklers (sic) and Sister Finster. We also went into town and introduced ourselves to a fellow by the name of Bill Muse. He had been out West in his boyhood. He knew many of the towns in Utah, some in Arizona. He seemed very glad to see us and invited us down to his place for supper.
[Sunday] – 23 June [1935] We did a little bit of everything this morning. [At] about one [o’clock], we went to a fellow by the name of Huskins to visit. We spent the time with him until we had to leave for town which is about 4 miles away. We went into Mr. Muse’s place. We met his fine family, had lunch, played the piano, that is Elder [James Ammon] Simmons did so. We afterward went over to the Baptist Church for services, which was conducted by Preacher Davis. He gave a pretty good sermon about “Do we love Christ?” We afterward went home with Mr. Muse and stayed with him for the night.
[Monday] – 24 June [1935] We went to the post office for our mail. I had a letter with some money in it. This was some consolation because I had been out for about two weeks. We afterward prepared ourselves with some tracts. We tracted on the road from town to where we were staying. We also advertised a meeting and felt sure we would haul in a crowd. We met a fellow who asked us what caused Christ’s death. He said He died with a broken heart. That was what caused His death and nothing else. When night came we were all ready for a good meeting but no one came.
[Tuesday] – 25 June [1935] We churned butter and read the Book of Mormon all morning. That is, one read while the other churned. We also prepared a talk on morality. Thus we spent the good part of the day. When evening came there were several here, so we held a meeting. I tried to explain an authority but did not do any better job of that than I have writing this.
[Wednesday] – 26 June [1935] We visited with a woman whose husband died about 2 months ago. We did our best to cheer her up a little. We went from there and visited a miserable man who is down with typhoid fever. From there we went to town and tracted part of the town. We met Mr. Muse again. I got a haircut and we bought some bananas and cantaloupes to take home and eat.
[Thursday] – 27 June [1935] We churned again for Sister Maxwell. We read the Bible from James to John. We have not accomplished much except study this morning. However, we are going to hold a meeting over to Mrs. Finster’s who is a member of the Church. We had a good meeting last night and I hope we will have a good one tonight.
[Friday] – 28 June [1935] We did not tract any yesterday. We made out our reports and wrote a few letters. For the evening we made ready to go to town for our mail. We saw a rain coming so we waited a little. It was not for long because it soon began to pour down. We then gave a little boy a 25-cent piece to go to town for us. The newspaper is all we got. We had to walk about a mile and a half to a meeting. When we arrived we were muddy as two mud hens. We held a fair meeting and stayed all night with the people. They treated us fine and gave us a good bed. I wrote to Elder [James Ammon] Simmons‘ girl.
[Saturday] – 29 June [1935] We arose quite early and to breakfast with the Finster people. We then came over to Mrs. Maxwell’s to clean our clothes up so we can hold a meting in the street of Mountain City. After we had successfully cleaned up our clothes we went into town. There we held my first meeting on the street. Of all the meetings I ever was in that is the worst. I was afraid to begin with, but we did have 15 around when we began to sing. Before I was through my talk there were only about 5 left. I was putting forth every effort I could to make an interesting speech. I was thankful when that meeting was terminated. We did hold a good cottage meeting that night so we felt a little better.
[Sunday] – 30 June [1935] We wrote letters all morning. In the afternoon we prepared for a meeting in the evening. We did not count on having a very good crowd because we had not advertised it a whole lot. But when time came for it to start the house was more th[a]n full. We had about 60 persons in attendance. The spirit of the Lord seemed to be with us. I gave as good a talk as I have given since I have been in the field. I spoke on prayer. The people all seemed to be well pleased with the meeting. We tried to get the young folks to sing for us after the meeting. The[y] were all too bashful and afraid they could not sing when they started.
[Monday] – 1 July [1935] We went to town this morning to tract. I went to one place and told her who I was. She turned her back on me and went right out of her back door over to her preacher, a Mr. Davis. I saw her and knew she wanted to warn him that the grievous wolves were among them. As soon as I saw her I began in her direction with all my might. She began in her weak way to leave. However, she was still making signs to him when I came up closer. She looked anything but like she was very comfortable. I shook hands with the preacher, told him who I was and what I was doing. I had already attended a meeting at his church so we had something in common. He treated me very nice except he told me he didn’t think I could do any good in that part of the country because nearly all of the people were Baptists. I timidly reminded him that I knew there were about three denominations with Church houses in Mountain City and its population is about a thousand. I gave him my name card and bid him good day. We held a meeting at Finster’s at night. There was a fine crowd. I spoke on people and their possibilities.
[Tuesday] – 2 July [1935] We planted beans all morning. This is the first work I have done since I left home and Mrs. Maxwell being a widow and a man booted her on the crop she used to plant. We took pity on her and put the beans in. We had not much more than finished when it began to rain. We had one real rain. We are spending the rest of the afternoon in study. We will hold another meting here at Sister Maxwell’s tonight. We held our meeting and it was well attended considering the stormy weather we had. I spoke on the Third Article of Faith.
[Wednesday] – 3 July [1935] We walked to Mountain City this morning and told the Muse people good-bye. We went from there to the Finster’s where we ate our dinner. We then went up and told Sister Blankenbeckler (sic) good-bye. We then went to Mrs. Maxwell’s where we ate our supper and packed our grips. We went up on the hills where Emery Huskins lives. There we waited for the mail truck to haul us in to Bristol. When we arrived in Bristol all the others that were with the mailman had to pay but when I offered to pay him he said, “Never mind.” We came on over to Sister Salby’s where we pressed up our clothes. We are there now about ready to take a bath and on to bed.
[Thursday] – 4 July [1935] We spend the days with the Salbys. We saw the parade which consisted of bands from 6 schools or rather six towns. It was fine. I enjoyed it. It made me feel a little homesick. After the parade we went to one of the Saints in Bristol, Sister [illegible]. She told us about a sick man. We went to see him. After we were there a little while he asked us if we would administer to him which we did. We spent the rest of the evening visiting the Saints of Bristol. They all treated us very fine. We ate two meals fit for a king.
[Friday] – 5 July [1935] We went this morning to see the sick man before we went on into Kingsport. We found he had rested very well the first time in days and was somewhat better. However, at his daughter’s request we administered to him again. When we were through the old man was in tears and could hardly speak to us. We then began our trip on into Kingsport. We had, that is, I had good luck. I was in town by a little after noon. Elder [James Ammon] Simmons did not get in until late in the evening.
[Saturday] – 6 July [1935] We were in Kingsport all day. Mr. and Mrs. Parks went away and left us alone with the home. We were in need of some clean clothes so we busied ourselves by washing. That evening we had to prepare our own supper so I decided to make biscuits. They were not so hot. Soon after supper Mr. and Mrs. Steve Montgomery came up with a large watermelon which we ate to our misery. We then talked until 12 o’clock.
[Sunday] – 7 July [1935] We were still at the Parks’ home on this beautiful Sunday morning and there alone, but it was fast Sunday, so breakfast was easy to get. We studied for a while before walking the 2 1/2 miles to Sunday School. After Sunday School, we were invited to dinner by Brother Vermillion. We blessed three of his children. We also had a fine dinner. We then took a cab to town where we visited with the Carter people and the lady missionaries. We also took supper with the Carter people. After supper we baptized Ruth Carter. Regular services were held in the evening. We came to Johnson City en route to Jonesboro with Mr. and Mrs. Steven. While in Johnson City we were invited by a Br. Lee to his home. We had not much more than arrived when we were ordered out of the house by Mr. Lee’s wife. We went to Bro[ther] Yates’ where we spent the rest of the night talking, playing the organ and finally sleeping on the floor.
[Monday] – 8 July [1935] We spent a very little time at something worthwhile today. We came down and had dinner with the lady missionaries [at] about 2 o’clock and then we all went to a show, the name being Doubhting (sic) Thomas featuring Will Rogers. In the evening, we went over to the Baker’s, some very good investigators. The evening was spent very enjoyably, after which Mr. Baker took us to a place to stay.
[Tuesday] – 9 July [1935] We left for Jonesboro[ugh]. We caught a ride in a very short time. When we arrived we made an attempt at finding a place to hold meetings, but were not at all successful. We also tried to locate a family of Saints which we supposed lived in that neighborhood. We were also unsuccessful. In the evening we returned by way of the train back to Johnson City to again spend the night with Bro[ther] Yates. The floor was hard but we were welcome.
[Wednesday] – 10 July [1935] We spent the entire day at the home of Mr. Yates. We studied a lot, ironed a little and killed some time. He is a fine old man and I am sure is doing his very best to live the gospel the best he knows how.
[Thursday] – 11 July [1935] We left Br[other] Yates this morning with the intention of catching the train to Jonesboro. We were about 5 minutes late so we set out afoot. We were on the road for some time before we caught a ride. We finally did catch one after we almost gave up. We now find ourselves in Jonesboro. We got our mail and the thing that shocked me most was the account talking about Evins Baldwin and Mary Standifird’s marriage. We also ate very heartily of the cake sent by mother. It was part of [my sister] Ima’s birthday cake. We all of a sudden decided to go into Kingsport. We had previously been in a rain and our clothes needed pressing very bad.
[Friday] – 12 July [1935] We arrived at the Carters’ last night. We spent the day cleaning clothes and writing our letters which we were behind. We had intended to leave to go back to Jonesboro early this morning but were unable to get out, so we decided to leave early in the morning.
[Saturday] – 13 July [1935] We left Kingsport for Jonesboro this morning. It was necessary to get our mail so we could know where to send our reports. We had a great deal of difficulty getting to Jonesboro and had several rides and several being with a negro. When I arrived I found Elder [James Ammon] Simmons patiently pacing the streets. He had been there already for some time. A Mr. Strow, a Mormon friend from Utah, had called for our mail and taken it to Johnson City so we had to catch a ride over there. We went with the lady missionaries to some investigators to hold a meeting but no one came, so we sang a few songs and returned back to Mr. Yates’.
[Sunday] – 14 July [1935] We visited with Mr. and Mrs. Strow for a while this morning. We are now resting after having taken dinner with the lady missionaries. I believe that Mr. Parks will be over after us very soon and drive us to Kingsport where we will hold [a] church [meeting] with Steven Montgomery. After church we ate watermelon to our hearts’ content. We then went with Steve and Gladys to their home where we stayed for the night.
[Monday] – 15 July [1935] We went and visited with Digbys and Parks people today before we returned to Johnson City. We had quite a lot of trouble to get a ride from Kingsport to Johnson City. We arrived in Johnson City [at] about 3 o’clock. A fellow picked us up, his name was Capins. He said he never passed anybody. He said he had picked a Mormon elder up about two months before. This elder was on his way to Virginia. When we arrived in Johnson City we went to Bro[ther] Yates’. We spent the night here with him.
[Tuesday] – 16 July [1935] We left for Erwin, Tenn[essee] this morning. We had several rides and walked quite a little before we finally arrived. We first went to the post office but there was no mail. We had had nothing to eat since morning, so we went to a place to hold meetings. We failed to see the sheriff tonight.
[Wednesday] – 17 July [1935] We got in some very good tracting today in Erwin. We passed [out] about 100 tracts. We met some fine people our first day in Erwin. However, we did not find anybody that was very anxious to see us and no one cared if we went away very soon.
Meetings with the Harris Family
[Thursday] – 18 July [1935] We tracted again this AM. I had a long conversation with a fellow. In the afternoon we tracted a house and the lady of the house, [Bessie Marie Harris], said she had been a member of the Church. She also said her father, [Nathan Dempsey Harris], and brothers were members. We were very much overjoyed so we began to find where her family lived. We found them and found out that all the boys were members but the father, [Nathan Dempsey Harris], was not. We had a meeting scheduled so we invited them all out. They all came and while there the old man, [Nathan Dempsey Harris], said he wanted us to baptize him.
[Friday] – 19 July [1935] We did some tracting for a while, we visited with Sister Bessie [Marie] Harris, for a while. We left her some reading material. From there we went and had our hair cut. The barber cut our hair for 30 cents, his regular price was 40 cents. We told him our work. Since we both had it cut he charged us less. We then went to Mrs. [Bessie Marie] Harris‘ where we held a good meeting with a good crowd. Upon request, we stayed all night with the Harris people.
[Saturday] – 20 July [1935] We went back to our rooms and slept for a while. We were unable to sleep last night on account of little things. In the afternoon we held a street meeting. There was a fair crowd and a good spirit attended. We held another meeting at Mr. [Nathan Dempsey] Harris‘ at night. The crowd was poor and the talk I gave on the apostacy was worse than poor; the very worst I have give, I believe.
[Sunday] – 21 July [1935] We spent the forenoon in study. Then about noon we came up to Mr. [Nathan Dempsey] Harris‘ for dinner. We had a fine dinner. We had to stay there until late because of the rain. In the evening we went back to the room and from there we went to a meeting with the Casey people. It was a Church of God meeting. The sermon was fine as long as the fellow talked about his subject, but he began to condemn preachers and missionaries that were going over the world scattering out tracts and preaching false doctrine. He said for them to take all they could get and bring them to him, he would burn them up. He made me mad but my testimony grew stronger. I felt sorry for a preacher that was so misinformed.
[Monday] – 22 July [1935] We tracted a little this AM in an attempt to find a Mrs. Marion who had been reported to be a member of the Church. It rained nearly all day. I had to get my shoes half-soled, so I spent some time at that. We went up to Mr. [Nathan Dempsey] Harris‘ to hold a meeting but no one came, so we only visited with them.
[Tuesday] – 23 July [1935] We came up to Bro[ther] George [Washington] Hensley‘s today. He is a member of the Church and is a good one. Br[other Nathan Dempsey] Harris and his boys brought us up. The Hensley people were very glad to see us. There had not been any elders there for two years. It is sure good to see them and to eat good ranch food after starving around town for a week. We had the intention of going down to a meeting but we decided not to go on account of rain.
[Wednesday] – 24 July [1935] We did not do much to celebrate the coming of the Saints into Utah. If no one did any more than we did from outward appearance it was not celebrated. How my thoughts were there. I remember the many good times I have had on that day at home. I was not homesick but would like to see the folks and some of my friends at home. However, I feel to rejoice that I have been found worthy to represent such a noble cause. I know God has been with us as he was [with] Brigham Young and the Saints when they came across the plains. I am sure [that] if we as a people will be faithful to the end we will be blessed through perilous times.
[Thursday] – 25 July [1935] I cannot say I spent a good night last night because I was unable to sleep. About 2 o’clock I had to get up and relieve myself of my supper. Again this morning I had to feed the bugs because there were no fish. I have been sick to the stomach all day. However, I ate a little dinner and a little more supper. I slept some during the day, so tonight I feel some better, but do not feel like challenging anyone for a foot race even then. I did a little studying but other than that I did not do any good for anyone.
[Friday] – 26 July [1935] A good night’s sleep will restore you when tonic or pills will fail. Thus, after having had such, I feel much better this morning. I sat down after breakfast with Parley Pratt’s Key to Theology in my hand and hardly put it down until I was through with it. I love to read his writings. He has such a clear and beautiful way of making himself understood. After dinner, Bro[ther George Washington] Hensley, Elder [James Ammon] Simmons and myself went out to pick blackberries. We picked about six gallons. That was my first attempt at picking them. We have been very well cared for during our sojourn with the Hensleys. They sure are fine people. They are living their religion as well or better than any persons I have met since I came out. They are being blessed for so doing. They do not have to worry about the necessities of life. They believe in the passage which reads, “Seek ye after the Kingdom of Heaven and in righteousness and all else will be added unto you.” I only wish people would live up to their religion so they would be in a position to receive blessings the Lord has in store for them. I will close this epistle because I believe we are going to have chicken for supper, that is my weakness now.
[Saturday] – 27 July [1935] We got up this morning and picked some more blackberries. [At] about noon, Frank [McPherson] Harris came over to take us back to Erwin. We arrived in Erwin [at] about 4 o’clock and made our way out very soon to Johnson City. We caught a ride pretty soon after we left Erwin. Upon arriving in Johnson City, we called on the lady missionaries. We visited with them for 35 to 50 minutes then again headed for Kingsport. We had not reached the city limits until we hailed a ride and the fellow hauled us all the way in. When we arrived at the Parks’ home we found it locked and no way to find where the folks were. Since we were so tired and night was coming on we sat down thinking possibly they would soon come. After waiting for some time, we decided to go in through the window, which we did. We spent the rest of the night in getting our clothes cleaned. It was about 12:30 when we finally gave up to go to bed.
[Sunday] – 28 July [1935] We attended Sunday School this morning. We had a good crowd. Immediately after Sunday School we went out for a picnic. After that we held a service commemorating the 24th of July. We had a fine program. I believe everybody was well pleased with the results. After all the people left from Bro[ther] and Sis[ter] Moore’s the missionaries had a good visit. I made a date with Sister [Lucille] Thomas for July 28, 1936. I am putting this in here to help me remember it. Steve and Gladys [Montgomery] came for us. We rode home with them after we had bade the lady missionaries goodbye. We stayed all night with Steve and Gladys.
[Monday] – 29 July [1935] We went from Bro[ther] and Sis[ter] Montgomery’s to Mr. Parks’ where we gathered our things together to go to Bristol. We had an appointment with the Fustin people for dinner so we had to take the bus to make it there in time. When we arrived in Bristol, Br[other] Fustin met us at the street, so [he] hauled us back to his home for dinner. We had a good dinner and immediately after we went to town where we visited with some people we knew. One, an old man that was sick. We had a few [who had] administered to him once before at the request of his daughter, but this time we were asked by him. We sang him a few songs and tried to make him take a new hold on life.
[Tuesday] – 30 July [1935] We were up by 3:30 this AM. It was necessary to get up early to catch the mail [truck], our only chance to get into Mountain City before the bus came out which was to bring the lady missionaries [Lucille Thomas and Virginia Lillie Davidson]. We were there soon enough but were not able to change before the ladies came. We had a fine dinner with Sister Maxwell. After dinner Elder [James Ammon] Simmons and the ladies held a dedication service over the grave of Br[other] Maxwell. I went to town to find out when the bus went to Johnson City from here. I found it did not leave until in the morning so we had the lady m[issionaries] with us for a cottage meeting. Our meeting was quite well attended.
[Wednesday] – 31 July [1935] We told Sister [Lucille] Thomas and Sister [Virginia Lillie] Davidson good-bye this morning. Sister [Lucille] Thomas is leaving for Nashville and will not likely be over this way any more. Sister [Cleva Louise] Ethington will be Sister [Virginia Lillie] Davidson‘s companion in Johnson City. We spent the rest of the day in study and cleaning our clothes. It seems rather lonesome to tell the lady missionaries good-bye knowing we may not see Sister Thomas again while in the field. She certainly has been a fine missionary and it has indeed been a pleasure to know her as I have.
[Thursday] – 1 Au[gust 1935] We went out and invited a group out to a meeting. We had a good crowd. Much better than we ha expected. The singing did not sound as good as it would have done if the lady m[issionaries] had stayed with us. We put in some consistent effort studying also today.
Last visit with the Harris Family
[Thursday] – 26 Sep[tember 1935] We came to Johnson City today, had pretty good luck. We caught two rides. We did not have to walk but a little ways. We helped a fellow out of a ditch with his car, so another fellow that helped him out asked us to ride on into Johnson City with him. We took dinner with the lady m[issionaries] and attended a show. We also studied for a while in the afternoon.
[Friday] – 27 Sep[tember 1935] We came to Erwin today. We found the Harris people quite well with the exception of Mr. [Nathan Dempsey] Harris who seems to have something wrong with his back. A fellow that first picked us up hauled us all the way to Erwin. We visited with the people, made our reports, and wrote some letters.
[Saturday] – 28 Sep[tember 1935] We have completed dressing and breakfast. We have already bid part of the Harris family good-bye. So we will have to be on our way back to Johnson City pretty soon. We went to Johnson City without any trouble. We had dinner with the lady m[issionaries]. We went down and bought a suit and hat for Elder [James Ammon] Simmons. We called for Mr. Parks to come and get us, which he did. Therefore we spent the night in Kingsport.
[Elder Roy Palmer continued laboring in Northeast Tennessee and was transferred to Kentucky for the remainder of his two-year mission.]
Source: The journals and life sketches of LeRoy Arthur “Roy” Palmer, 1911-2003 / compiled and edited by Arvin Palmer, Ph.D and Jean Smith Palmer. Taylor, Arizona: Palmer Publications, [2012], https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/0926d9e5-af46-4be0-bdc6-64e8d4549f65/0/9 (accessed: January 29, 2024)
Smoky Mountain Ward 