Connecting up the final form in which the centennial history of the church was completed in book form has carried us past some important matters in my life's work, which must be picked up and inserted here, apparently a little out of their order.

For example, there was the call to preside over the Eastern States Mission beginning the Spring (May 29) of 1922. Several alternatives to activity had been presented to me in connection with this call to the Eastern States. The brethren of the First Presidency told me I might select a mission within the United States as a field of labor, and there was some talk made also in relation to my taking editorial charge of the Deseret News, a newspaper recognized as a church organ. The choice I finally expressed was to become president of the Eastern States Mission. This was the most populous mission in the United States and comprised at that time eleven states within its boundary, including the industrial section of the American Union and its population exceeding thirty-three millions of people—truly a noble field. Also it had the attraction of including within it the territory of the early activities of the church, the birthplace of the prophet (Vermont), the early scenes of the prophet's life, the first vision, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (the Hill Cumorah), the cradle of the church organization (Fayette, New York). Also the Harmony, Colesville, and Susquehanna valleys, where the priesthood was restored, both the Aaronic and the Melchizedek priesthood. These many adventures of the prophet naturally would endear this section of the country to my mind and heart.

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The following summer the plan was projected for a widespread missionary tour throughout the country districts of the mission, preaching and baptizing by the way without purse and scrip for the elders. A converging of all these elders traveling through the mission territory was arranged for at the Hill Cumorah and Sacred Grove and the old Smith Farm Home, near the town of Palmyra, the place of publication of the Book of Mormon and largely identified with the early movements of the church. This conference was to convene on the 21st of September 1923 in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the revealed existence of the Book of Mormon. The 21st was the anniversary of Moroni's first visit to the prophet at the first home of his father on the Smith farm, just south of the line between Manchester and Wayne township. The missionaries converging at the meeting place of this conference had prepared a pennant blue in color and across it in white letters Cumorah, in the upper left hand corner in green and gold a picture of the Hill Cumorah, and underneath it in white letters "1823, September 21-22-23, 1923." This was worn across the shoulders of the incoming missionaries and was meant as a challenge to all observers to inquire concerning the destination and purpose of the traveling elders who wore it, and it brought about many a conversation about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. In all about 150 missionaries assembled on the Hill Cumorah on the 21st day of September.

In the celebration, provision had been made for sleeping quarters in tents obtained from the military authorities in Rochester, New York, and placed about the Smith home. Also there was a large tent that would comfortably seat the congregation and could be used in the emergencies of rains. On several occasions, rains occurring, the large tent was crowded with missionaries and the large throngs that attended the meetings.

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Careful preparation had been made with caterers in Palmyra to bring food to the Smith farm three times a day. It was served in the open at improvised tables through the three days. A flag pole had been cut from the Sacred Grove forty feet in length and raised just south of the Smith farmhouse with the United States flag raised upon it. Another flag pole was raised upon the Hill Cumorah and the United States flag flown from its apex, while just below was a flag representing the Jaredite and Nephite nations. The Jaredite portion of the flag representing the oldest empire was of purple with their name for the scared hill in white letters RAMAH, while on the blue division of the flag was CUMORAH in white letters—the Nephite name for the hill—over which this united flag of purple and blue and white waved.

Meetings were held in the open both on the summit of the Hill Cumorah, whence came the Book of Mormon, and also in the Sacred Grove, where the holy sacrament was administered to the missionaries and to the members of the church who had gathered there in large numbers. Carefully written statements of each prominent event celebrated on this occasion were read, and appointed missionaries read written remarks from missionaries in the various conferences and fields of labor in the mission. Of course, valuable instructions and discourses and reminiscences were given by the General Authorities of the church who were present, and altogether a profitable and inspiring time was had throughout in which sociability and fellowship furnished important features.

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I was released from the presidency of the Eastern States Mission in the spring of 1927 and was succeeded in that presidency by Judge Henry H. Rolap of Ogden, Utah, very prominent in Sunday school activities of the church and for a number of years upon the supreme bench of the state court.