In the spring of 1900 I took up 160 acres of land southwest of Weston.  Peter Eliason
and my father each took up 160 acres.  I built a one-room shanty of rough lumber on my
own quarter section, in order to comply with the law that I must make this my home. 
Consequently I moved my family, consisting of my wife and two children, John and
Charlotte.

Our new home was quite a change from our Logan home.  We carried the water half
a mile over sagebrush and weeds. During the summer my father and I fenced all three
quarter sections of land.

Brother Eliason did not feel impressed to go on with his claim.  I dug most of the
post-holes, set the cedar posts, and strung the wire.  I also dug a well about sixty feet deep. 
We struck soapstone and had to blast with giant powder.

I also plowed about thirty acres, put in wheat and rye, built three shanties in order to
hold the land, besides tending to our farm in Logan and getting the winter's supply of
wood.  This required long days of toil; every morning at four o'clock I was at work, and
from then until dark.

In the spring of 1892 I was asked to take charge of the grocery department of Z. C.
M.I., at a salary of $45 per month. My reason for leaving the ranch life was the extreme
carelessness that I had observed with many farmers towards religion and especially
observance of the Sabbath day.  I came to the conclusion that we should not rear our family
on a ranch.

In 1894 I took charge of a store, formerly managed by Isaac Smith and Christensen, a
branch store of Z. C. M. I. It was a general mercantile establishment.  This store was in a
very bad condition, owing Z. C. M. I. more money than the goods were worth.  After
running this business ten months, I took stock.  I had overcome the deficit and had a fair
reserve over and above the indebtedness of the business.  Later on I bought the entire stock
of goods, and began business for myself, which has proved a success.

At a quarterly conference on August 3, 1896, I was sustained an alternate member of
the high council of the Cache Stake.  I was asked to come to the stand and was ordained a
High Priest and a member of the council by Joseph F. Smith in open conference.  I
esteemed this a distinct honor to be called to this position.  I was also a member of the
Scandinavian Presidency.  My duties were to travel throughout the state from Trenton on
the north to Avon on the south. Almost every Sunday I was visiting some ward.

April 26, 1900: I was asked by Brother Isaac Smith to take him, and Apostle Merrill
to Mendon.  This was a hard trip, The road was very bad. It snowed and rained during the
entire time of our trip. When we arrived at the Mendon meetinghouse, we were wet and
cold. Apostle F. M. Lyman was talking when we entered.  The ward was to be reorganized,
with a new bishop.  Brother Lyman asked the brethren if any of them wished to be bishop. 
The brethren shook their heads, and some of them said no. He then asked: "Do you
brethren wish to select a bishop ? " They replied: "No.  " ;"Well, do you want me to select
a bishop ? " Some of the men said: "Yes, " Brother Lyman then said: "We will give you a
new bishop - John H. Anderson of Logan.

This was the first intimation I had. It had not dawned on me to become bishop of
Mendon. I asked Brother Merrill, who was sitting next to me, if there was any way out of
this.  He answred, "I suppose you would rather go to China?"

I replied: "Yes, let me go."

The meeting adjourned at twelve, to convene again at two o'clock.  I was asked
to talk, and say how I felt, whether or not I would accept.  I made a brief  talk, telling the
people that I had always obeyed the authorities, and at this time I could not afford to refuse
the position offered me to succeed Bishop Henry Hughes.

I returned home late that night.  My wife, father, and children wanted to know what
kind of time I had. When I told them I had been called to be a bishop of Mendon, they all
began to cry.  I moved to Mendon with my wife and the small children. I was bishop for
three years, and succeeded in getting the ward in a much better condition.  The tithing
more than doubled, the meetings were better attended.  I had the entire support and
confidence of all the people of Mendon.

June 4: I was asked to go as soon as possible to the home of Brother Sweeten and
administer to one  of his daughters.  She was in a stupor.  I administered to her, blessed her
and promised her she should be healed.  She afterwards testified in public that she had been
healed, and had never had another of the fainting spells to which she had been subject.

Bishop Hughes took sick and suffered tremendous pain with diabetes. His right limb
and toes went black, and all his toes dropped off one after another from his right foot.  I
administered to him: be was healed and restored to health, freed from diabetes so that he
never felt any more effects from this awful disease.

I administered to a great number of sick; Apostle Merrill felt that it was asking too
much for me to continue in the office of bishop at Mendon, my health not being good and
having my business at Logan. I was therefore honorably released on April 26, 1903.

In 1904 I was called to preside over the Scandinavian organization.

January 28, 1906: I was again set apart as a member of the High Council of Cache
Stake by Isaac Smith.

My father became ill and passed to his final rest August 1, 1904.  He was nearly 82
years of age.

He was blessed with a wonderful constitution and always enjoyed good health.  He
had great powers of endurance. I often heard him say he never felt himself tired until he had
passed his 60th year.

A more honest man never lived.  I never heard him try to evade or cover up the actual
fact or happening. He was frank and positively walked the straight way of life, not bubbling
over with superfluous words, but what he said were facts and could be depended upon.

He was a true Latter-day Saint, a son of the Chosen Seed of Israel, with a positive
faith in God. He was blessed with a big heart, helpful to the needy, and was always glad to
extend a helping hand.  I am sure he will be greeted with the blessed words: "Enter into thy
reward, for thy works do follow thee."

November 2, 1909: I was elected mayor of Logan City.  President Newel Kimball was
put up by the Democratic Party.  He was first councilor to President Isaac Smith. 
Prohibition was the main issue.  The people had voted for prohibition and it was a real
struggle to enforce it.  Logan City was governed by ten councilmen, five Republicans and
five Democrats.  This made conditions very unpleasant.  The Democrats were not willing
to have any changes made in city officers, although the City Marshall did not believe in
prohibition and was not in sympathy with it.

During my administration as mayor, the sewer and street railway were put in from the
depot to the Agricultural College hill. A number of other improvements were also made.

In 1908 I was called to labor in the Logan Temple.  I enjoyed this work very much.  I
administered to many who were sick, and the power of healing was made manifest this
time.  I labored in the Temple five years.

January 12, 1913: At a ward conference I was sustained bishop of the Fourth Ward to
succeed Bishop Newbold, with Alma Sonne and Joseph Morgan as councilors.  I was
ordained bishop by Anthony W. Ivins on February 2, 1913.

The Fourth Ward had 1450 members, which entailed a lot of work.

June 6, 1913: I received a letter from the First Presidency of the Church, asking if my
condition was such as to permit me to preside over the Swedish mission. My health at that
time was not good, and having recently been appointed bishop of the ward, the Presidency,
learning of the conditions, sent me another letter stating my calling was to continue my
labors in Zion.

The conditions in the Fourth Ward were not satisfactory.  The meetings were poorly
attended, often only about sixty persons were present at sacrament meeting.  The tithing
was low and many of the ward members were dissatisfied.  For these reasons I was asked
to take charge of the ward.

A wonderful change was made in all departments of the ward during my
administration. The tithing was greatly increased, the attendance at meetings was much
better; after our attendance increased the chapel was often filled to overflowing.

We renovated and repainted all the rooms, excavated and put in a heating plant.  I
was bishop, also a member of the High Council, until the ward was divided, making two
wards, the fourth and the ninth.

I had the privilege of choosing my job: that of continuing as bishop of the fourth
ward, or continuing as a member of the High Council. It was considered too much for one
man to hold both positions.  I felt it best to remain in the Council, consequently George W.
Lindquist was made bishop of the fourth ward.

During the time I served as bishop, I administered to a great many sick.  Ben
Lundburg was taken very sick; he sent for me and my councilors.  When we entered the
house I observed he was very sick, and I asked my councilor, Abraham Jorgenson to pray,
then Brother Alma Sonne anointed him with oil.  I sealed the anointing and blessed him: in
the blessing I promised him be should be healed.  The Lord accepted of our faith and
administration.  Brother Lundburg was healed and made well.  After his recovery, I was
told of his serious condition.  Brother Lundburg had had a bad case of appendicitis; his
folks sent for an osteopath, who gave him a real rubbing and going-over.  This made the
case much worse. They then sent for a doctor who told them Brother Lundburg had
appendicitis and that the appendix had burst.  He also told them Brother Lundburg could
not live.  When we went into the sick-room his chest was swollen, big sweat drops covered
his face.  He would have lived but a short time if it had not been for the power of God and
His blessing.  Five years later Brother Lundburg had his appendix removed, although he
had not had any more attacks.

Bishop Griffin took very sick, and as time went on he did not mend. He felt disposed
to cry all the time. I called to see him.  He asked me to give him a blessing. I promised him
he should be healed and live to do much good.  All gloom left him and he regained his
health in a very short time. In the course of time he became bishop of the fourth ward.

I had quite an experience when Joseph was a small boy.  We drove up to the
Neiderhouse mill site.  The day following we saddled our horses and crossed the river. We
set out for the White Pine Lake. We rode up the hollow towards the lake, but got too far to
the right.  After riding a long time and thinking we were somewhere near the lake, I got off
my horse and told Joseph to stay with the horses.  I was going to walk over a few ridges
and see if we were going in the right direction. Finally I discovered the lake, but going back
to the place where Joseph was, I got off the track.  After skirmishing around considerably I
whistled as loud as I could and shouted, but there was no response.  I became worried; I
could very easily find my way back to camp, but to find my boy seemed impossible.

Finally I stopped, took off my hat and knelt down to pray to God.  I asked my
Heavenly Father to direct me to my boy. I arose, ran in one direction for some time, then
stopped and whistled. Joseph heard my whistle and answered.  If I had not stopped, only
continued the way I was going, I would have gone to the very spot where he was waiting. 
It took only a short time for me to reach him after hearing his response.  The Lord hears
and answers prayers when the prayer comes from the heart.

On the morning of May 6, 1925, just as I was about to go to the store, I said to
Geneva, who was the only one home at the time, mamma having gone to the Temple, "I
dreamed last night that I had received a letter from President Grant calling me on a mission
to preside over the Swedish Mission.

Strange as it may seem, two days later I received a letter dated May 6, which read:

"We are looking for a successor to the president of the Swedish Mission, and would
be pleased to hear from you as to whether your circumstances are such that you would be
willing to respond to a call to go to Sweden to preside over that mission,

Hoping to hear from you at an early date, and ever praying for your welfare, we are

Sincerely your brethren,

Heber J. Grant 
Anthony W. Ivins"

A few days later I went to Salt Lake City, interviewed President Grant, explained my
condition, and said I was willing to leave the whole matter in his hands. I would do as he
suggested.

May 16: I received another letter from President Grant stating he had talked with
some of the brethren and they all felt I should go on this mission.

I arranged to leave home July 24; Melvin had received a call to go to Germany on a
mission. On July 22 I was set apart by President Grant.  Melvin was set apart by President
Nibley for his mission.
July 22, 1925


BLESSING UPON THE HEAD OF ELDER JOHN H. ANDERSON, BY
PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT AND PRESIDENT CHARLES W. NIBLEY,
PRESIDENT GRANT OFFICIATING, SETTING HIM APART TO PRESIDE OVER
THE SWEDISH MISSION.

Brother John H. Anderson, we, the servants of the living God, holding the Holy
Priesthood, and in the authority of the same and in the name of Jesus Christ, lay our hands
upon your head; and we bless you and set you apart to preside as the president over the
Swedish Mission, to which place you have been called by the inspiration of the Lord to
those whose right it is to direct in all matters pertaining to the kingdom of God here upon
the earth.

We bless you, dear brother, that you may be strengthened in body and in mind, and
that you may be fitted and qualified in every particular to discharge this important and
responsible duty and calling that has come to you to preside over one of the missions of the
Church.

We bless you with great wisdom, discretion and discernment, and with the spirit of
this mission from this very time, that you shall go forth rejoicing in the opportunity that has
come to you to labor for the salvation of the souls of men. There is no labor in all the
world, dear brother, that is more acceptable to our Heavenly Father than to work to bring
people to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ which has been revealed in our day, and
which means salvation to those who obey it and live it, not only in this life, but salvation
and eternal glory in the life to come.

We bless you that you may be strengthened in body, that you may go forth in peace
and return in safety and that no harm or evil or accident shall befall you in your journeyings
to and from your mission and while you are in the mission field.

We bless you with wisdom to direct the labors of those who are under your charge,
and to gain their love and confidence, that they may have great joy as well as you in your
labors.  We say unto you, dear brother, that every desire of your heart in righteousness
shall be granted to you upon this mission, that you shall be given great wisdom and light
and intelligence from our Heavenly Father.

We bless you, dear brother, for your devotion to the work of the Lord in the past and
your willingness to take this mission at the present time. We reseal upon you all your
former blessings and set you apart to this mission, not in our own name, but in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ and in the authority of the Holy Priesthood which we hold, even so. 
Amen.
APPROVED: (Signed) Heber J. Grant

The Scandinavian organization gave me a reception and the First National Bank
Directors presented me with a beautiful watch and chain. The 4th ward gave us a reception,
as did the Cache Stake Presidency at the Girl's Camp in Logan Canyon.  The latter group
presented me with a gold pen and pencil.

July 24: Our children and grand-children met at our home, where a family dinner was
served.  In the afternoon Melvin and I bade good-bye to our loved ones and left for Ogden. 
Mamma and Woodruff went with us. We stayed with Rube and Charlotte overnight.

July 25, 1925: At 6:30 A. M. we boarded our train for the east, making stops at
Buffalo and Chicago.  At New York we received our tickets for the trip across the ocean.

We sailed on the Steamship Stockholm, leaving New York August 1st, at 1:00 P. M.
We enjoyed the entire trip. We spent most of our time studying the principles of the
Gospel, which was a great advantage to Melvin, for we took up the various principles in a
very thorough manner, which would be a great help to him in his missionary work.

August 11: We arrived at Gottenburg, Sweden.  We were met at the harbor by the
missionaries and taken to the Church building.  Next day at 12:30 P. M. we left for
Stockholm, our first ride on the Swedish train. The country was very inviting; the fine
farms, the forests, and lakes, beautiful homes and barns. We arrived at Stockholm at 9:20
P. M. We took a taxi to Swertensgatan, #3, the Mission Home.  Here we met President H.
D. Peterson and his wife, also the Stockholm missionaries, who received us kindly.

Sunday Melvin and I spoke at our services.  On August 17, Melvin left for his mission
to Germany.

President Peterson turned the mission and all Church property over to me.  In
checking the reports of the missionaries, I found they were not doing satisfactory
missionary work.  The hours of tracting for each missionary were very low.  I at once took
up a special campaign to increase the actual missionary work.  In a short time the mission
showed by actual report that our activities had doubled.  The number of tracts distributed
had increased by many thousands.  I called home missionaries in all conferences to work
part time tracting and visiting non-members, and set them apart for this work.

I also organized a study class for the Elders. We met every morning before breakfast. 
I taught this class, which was very instructive to the missionaries, for I found they were at a
loss on many subjects pertaining to the Gospel.

September 12: I went to Gavle to attend conference.  Our first meetings were very
poorly attended. I was told only 8 to 10 out of a membership of 64 attended the services in
Gavle.  This poor attendance was because of a dispute between two missionaries several
months before I arrived.  President Peterson had tried to reconcile the Saints and Elders,
but made things worse.  I advised the Elders that we would go out and visit every member
of the Branch, also all investigators and ask them to come to our services.

We spent a whole day at this special visiting.  The result was that our meetings were
well attended. I took up a special labor with Church members and had all past difficulties
settled. Many shed tears in humility, regretting they had been negligent and indifferent, and
promised to attend their duties.

One week later I found almost the same conditions in Narchoping Conference,
difficulties that had existed for several years and had never been settled.  Some of the
Church members had been forbidden to partake of the Sacrament, The Elders were not in
harmony with the conference president. I took all these matters in hand and everything was
arranged to the satisfaction of all concerned. We had a most wonderful conference. Those
members who had been in a way disfellowshipped, became our most faithful and efficient.

My visits to the Gottenburg and Malmo Conferences were greatly enjoyed and
seemed to result in much good and better feelings throughout all the Branches.

Christmas time in Sweden is celebrated with much preparation and everything is done
within the reach of all to make this the big event of the year.

Christmas morning our Chapel had been decorated with flowers, Christmas trees and
a lot of ferns.  At 7 A. M. over five hundred people attended these services.  I spoke on the
Life of Christ.  My talk was taken from Farrar's History of Christ and the New Testament. I
spoke to a very attentive audience one hour and fifteen minutes.

New Year's night is considered a very important time. A good program was arranged
in our Chapel from 10 P.M. to twelve midnight. I was the speaker. Our Chapel was filled
with a very appreciative audience.

While visiting with a family of saints a Brother in the Church told me that he had used
tobacco ever since he was eight years old.  He had tried many times to overcome his desire
for tobacco and stop using it, but it seemed impossible to do so. I promised him he should
be able to quit using tobacco if he would start at once with a determination not to use it
again.  This man and his father both left off their tobacco and snuff that night.  The father
was seventy years old and the son was about forty-five.  They afterward bore testimony in
our fast meetings that they did not so much as have a hankering for tobacco or snuff from
that moment.

January was very cold.  One day an aged sister sent word to the office to see if we
would come and administer to her, for she was sick.  Brother Andrew Johnson and I called
on her; we found her in bed.  No fire was in the stove; the windows were covered with
thick ice; very little bedding was visible.  Brother Johnson anointed her and I sealed the
anointing and promised her she should be made well and be healed.  She was suffering from
rheumatism and other ailments.  Next Sunday she attended our services and walked about
eight or ten blocks.

I administered to a great many sick.  I had very good health until going to Vesteras
where I held a number of meetings which were well attended. While staying in Vesteras I
slept at the Local or the room where we held our services.  The bedding I slept in was
damp.  It had been stored in a hallway during the winter.  I took a severe cold, then
returned to Stockholm.  My cold continued to get worse. I called in a doctor who did what
he could for me, but it continued to be very bad. My tonsils and throat became badly
infected; my condition gradually became worse.  My appetite left me; I could not sleep at
night.  I would perspire continuously. When cold weather came on I would feel cold and
clammy; my underwear was damp through sweating.  Finally I decided there was only one
thing to do: leave for home and get away from the piercing damp atmosphere of the Baltic
Ocean.

It would be a question if I would live over the winter if I should remain in Sweden. 
President Grant had advised me if at any time I felt my health was affected while on this
mission I was at liberty to return home.  After six months of illness, fighting against odds, I
decided that I must leave Sweden and return home.  This I regretted to do as I had stated
in Stockholm to President Talmage that I would rather die than leave my mission if it were
not for my family. No one will ever know what I went through during these six months of
illness.

October 21- I made it known to the Elders and the Saints at Stockholm that I must
leave the mission.  I spoke at the evening meeting. The Saints and Elders felt very badly.
This was indeed a sad period of my life.  I had enjoyed my mission immensely.  I had
hoped, prayed and struggled with all my might for recovery, but it seemed impossible to
get rid of the poison that had got into my system through the infected tonsils.

President Talmage advised me to leave the affairs of the mission with Andrew
Johnson, who had been editing the Swedish Star.

October 26: I left Sweden on the Steamship Gripsholm, a large, fine vessel. It had
accommodations for 1650 passengers, besides the crew. My health began to improve while
on the way home; a change of atmosphere was very beneficial. My entire time was devoted
to reading Swedish and part of the time the English Testament, unless I was engaged in
explaining the Gospel to passengers.

On arriving home I found my loved ones all well and enjoying good health. I was glad
to return to them, but regretted that I had to leave the mission field, which I enjoyed
immensely.  After my return I spoke in many wards in the Cache and Logan Stakes.

December 9, 1926: I had a wonderful dream: I saw in my dream that we had only a
very limited number of Church members in South America, but the time would come when
our Church members would number millions upon millions.  The long expected day of the
Lamanites had come; the spirit of God rested upon them mightily.

April Conference: 1927 - I gave the following speech at Conference: "My dear
brethren and sisters: I sincerely pray that God may inspire me with his holy spirit in what I
shall say.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a message to the world; they
declare that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them; that he is the
Father of our spirits; that we lived with him in the eternal world; and that Jesus Christ is his
only begotten Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.  Further, that God arranged a
plan before this earth was organized by which his sons and daughters who would obey
could return into his presence.

"The fundamental of that plan is faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus, in
speaking to the Jews, called their attention to this very important fact.  He asked them, "Do
ye believe in God ? ". They claimed to believe in God.  Then he said, "Believe also in me.  "
Have the people of the world the message of Jesus Christ ? Do they actually believe in him
as the Savior and Redeemer of the world ? Christ says, Whither I go ye know, and the way
ye know.  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we
know the way ? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.  " Jesus is the way, the truth and the light; no man cometh back
to God except through Jesus Christ.

"This plan requires not only faith in God and in his Son, but it requires repentance
from sin, leaving off wickedness and all that which is wrong before God; for if one desires
to enter into the presence of God, one's sins must be taken away.  The plan provides
baptism for the remission of sins.  And in order that one may remain faithful and true to
God, so that he shall not falter by the way-side, a further arrangement is provided, the
bestowal of the Holy Ghost, which leads men and women into all truth, leads them back to
God, and makes it possible for them to live that Christ-like life which shall eventually
prepare them for, and entitle them to, eternal life.

"We read in the holy scriptures that Jesus took Peter, James and John upon the
Mount and there conversed with Moses and Elias, and a cloud overshadowed them, and a
voice was heard from the cloud saying, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased, hear ye him, " Was this voice only to Peter, James and John ? It was the voice of
God to all His children, born and unborn, declaring that this was his Son Jesus Christ, the
well beloved, "Hear ye him, " Have the people of the world caught the echo of the sound of
that voice ? Has faith entered into their souls ? Do they believe Jesus Christ to be the very
Son of God, as the Father declared he was ? More than a hundred years ago this same
voice came back to the earth and declared to the boy prophet, Joseph Smith, that this is my
beloved Son, and to hear him, and from that day to this the message has gone forth from
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that God has again spoken, declared anew
the divinity of his Son, the way to salvation, the plan prepared for his children that it might
be possible for them to return to him and gain eternal life.

"What the world needs today is a spiritual awakening, a realization of what God
requires of them, a turning away from sin, seeking the way to which Jesus Christ calls
attention.

"Jesus remarked to his disciples, when he sent them out to preach the gospel and to
baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Ghost, "I will be with you
even unto the end of the world.  " But what requirements did he make ? "Observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you.  " That warning is to all the world, to those who
accept Jesus and the gospel plan.  They are required to observe and keep all of the
commandments and the sayings of Jesus.  If it is so that we do that, he will be with us even
to the end of the world.  Salvation and exaltation are promised only upon condition that we
remain faithful unto the end.

"I bear witness to you this afternoon that the gospel of Jesus Christ is restored and
that this is the Church and kingdom of God established upon the earth.  I also bear witness
to you of the truth of the saying of Jesus when he said that the kingdom of heaven is
likened unto a pearl of great price, that when men found it they went and sold all that they
possessed that they might possess that pearl of great price.