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As discussed previously, Booth and other missionaries serving in the Turkish and Armenian missions faced difficulties organizing and operating the American-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints within the Ottoman Empire. Differences in culture, customs, language, religious traditions, gender roles and relations, and conflict resolution created extensive challenges to running a distinctly Western church in the Middle East. These difficulties were compounded when very few printed materials in the local vernaculars existed. Add to these issues the grinding poverty and institutional discrimination and persecution that Armenians faced at this time in the Ottoman Empire and the further persecution Armenian converts faced from the broader Armenian community and the odds were stacked against the successful “planting of a new church abroad.” Nonetheless, Booth’s journals offer intimate insights into the struggles of the local converts and the missionaries who taught and led them. Some of the largest problems new converts faced were attempting to give up coffee, tobacco, and alcohol as the importance of the Word of Wisdom changed into a Church commandment and dealing with interpersonal conflict, false teachings, and apostasy among branch members.

Teaching New Converts and Settling Disputes in Local Branches[1]

January 1, 1899 (Sunday) [Aleppo]

New Years and Fast day. Once more my heart swells up in gratitude to God for the bounteous gifts of His love and mersey.

At 4 oclock (Turkish Time) Elder Larson called the meeting of the Saints to order. We sang in English “Welcome Welcome Sabath Morning.” I offered prayer, and a turkish hymn was sung. Our meeting was one of fasting, testimony, forgiving and confessing our faults and asking forgiveness one of another. Every Adult member of the Branch present spoke and each one asked to be forgiven and <all> expressed their willingness by a show of hands to forgive the faults of their Brethern & Sisters. It was a time of good will and general rejoycing. After the last meeting we went over to Bro Sarkis and took supper with them. The meal consisted of Boiled wheat in <olive> oil, soup and vegetables.

January 11, 1899 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

We arose very early in the morning and went down to the stream which flows past the city and there in the cold wintery water Pres Maycock rebaptized Bro Garouch and his wife, Dudu, whose course of life it seems had been other than saintly and having repented of their sins desired rebaptism.[2] The place where the ordinance was performed is out beyond the college more than a mile from our head quarters.

January 12, 1899 (Thursday) [Aintab]

We confirmed Bro Garouch Besjian and wife in our room at the mission house.[3] I was mouth in the confirmation of the former and Pres. Maycock of the latter. Studied nearly all day.

January 13, 1899 (Friday) [Aintab]

We visited the school taught by Miss Sarkis where the children are nearly all of L.D.S Parents. The closing exercises were on, as a holliday will be given for a week or so. The school room presented a very unique appearance. There were no seats nor desks for the little ones but each pupil had its own small matress or cushon on which it sat upon the floor. They were in one single line around the wall while the center of the floor, which was covered with clean neat rush carpets, was reserved for class exercises. Two tiny chafing pans with burning charcoal afforded the heat and near them the children would sit while in class recitation. There shoes were all left at the door and even some of them were without stocking, but their feet are kept warm partly by their mode of sitting in that crouched up position peculiar to the Turkish people. English, Armenian and Turkish were all taught and the little ones would read <with> ammusing accents their lessons from either of their texts books. The crude methods and conveniences under which they labor made me almost long for one of our active Utah Primary teachers to come and make an innovation on this back-of-date System of <Syrian> education.

January 30, 1899 (Monday) [Aintab]

Pres Maycock & I went through with a little set of Book keeping for an experience in keeping the accounts of a Company or an industrial organization which we are starting up for the benifit of the Saints. It is expected to furnish work for 5 or 6 men in the business of weaving girdels. 45 Turkish pounds have been put into the business as capital stock and if the affair proves successful other enterprises will no doubt be started.

March 7, 1899 (Tuesday) [Aintab]

We made a visit to Bro Samuel’s and found them in a pitiable condition. The woman cried and said that they had had nothing to eat for 2 days. We left them a little money to buy food. After the meeting the Pres called a number of the saints into our private rooms where a consultation was held by those among whom the <recent> difficulties had arisen. It was a most excitable time. Both myself and Bro. M. were brought into the “scrap”[4] and charged with evil intentions in our talking with some of the saints. etc. Some left the house with the idea that the Church was all a “hoax” and they wanted no more to do with us whatever. Elder Sarkis, Pres. of the Branch, opposed Pres Maycock in his decission on the law of the church relating to the settlement of difficulties between one another, and on the whole a very riotous spirit seemed to have gotten hold of a number of the brethern. After the close of the meeting we prayed to the Lord that He would give them the right spirit and that they <might> not be led away by the evil one, And to assist us that we might bring about a reconcillation among them.

March 8, 1899 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

During the day and evening all the Brethern who were against us came and talked the matter over again. With one exception—Bro. Sarkis—they were reconciled and felt well towards us and the indications are that a happy settlement can be brought about among them all. We hope and pray for this condition.

April 1, 1899 (Saturday) [Aintab]

The day began with a clear sky but it turned cloudy and cold before night. Priesthood meeting was held at night with twenty persons present. Arrangements were made to hold meetings at different places in the city between our SS and afternoon services every Sunday. It seems almost an impossiblity to hold any kind of a business meeting or one in which all take a part, with out some disunion among them. The Armenians are so changeable and unstable in character that you scarcely know when to count on being safe. I was afraid of a “scrap” before they all retired but it was avoided, that is seriously.

April 2, 1899 (Sunday) [Aintab]

It being fast day we were in hopes that all little differences among the saints would be laid aside and a general spirit of brotherly love prevail but in this we were disappointed. The old feud between Pres. Sarkis and Exebogy has appearantly broken out again and the former now charges Bro Maycock with not complying to the laws of the Church. He did not come to meeting so Pres. M - went to see him but could seemingly affect no reconciliation. There is something wrong with him and has been for some time past. There seems to be a number of the saints who are pinning their faith to him instead of to the gosple itself. We fear the result but our prayers are for them.

April 3, 1899 (Monday) [Aintab]

The difficulties of which I spoke above seem to be getting more and more serious. Pres Sarkis, according to reports of the Teachers, has expressed doubts as to the truthfulness of the church. If our prayers can save him, surely they will not be left unsaid for we are deeply concerned over the affair.

April 4, 1899 (Tuesday) [Aintab]

During the day a number of the brethren came in and reported further developements in the Sarkis Case. It appears now that he has long since been in the shades of doubt and waiting for an <opportune time> when he could justify his rebellion because of the appearant wrongs of some one else. During the troubble of last month (see Mar 7) he first blamed me, then charged Pres. M - with evil because the latter defended me and denied other charges made. Later his hatred seems to have centered on Exebogy & family and as their reputation in the city is a little questionable outside of the circle of their relatives and friends, Bro Sarkis has won to his side many of the leading and most influential members of the church.

Some of them now charge Bro Maycock with being “weak” because he refuses to punish Exebogy without a formal charge and the case has grown to one of serious and alarming divisions among the saints. Last evening, so the brethren inform us to day, a number of them met at the Sarkis house when the Pres of our Branch spent several hours in trying to convince them that they had all been deceived by Mormonism. He himself felt that a great responsibility rested upon him in the efforts to undeceive those with whom he has labored as brethren and sisters. Numerous letters from his son Levon[5] were produced to confirm his position. The spirit of Apostacy seems to have taken hold of him and to day it looks as if the branch would be divided into two bitter factions insid of the next twenty four hours.

He has sent out an invitation to all the brethren to come to night and hear him explod the great Mormon decption but has expressed his desire that the missionaries be not present. What could be done? Not a moment was to be lost in checking the spread of such a devilish spirit of sudden-sprung apostacy. We could not with consistancey force our way into his house neither did we wish to appear that we entertained fears of his success by advising the saints to stay away.

The Teachers were laboring toward a settlement of the difficulties betwen <the> Exebogy and Krikor families, and to show what influence Bro Sarkis has over them (Krikors) they refused to meet for a reconciliation for fear Sarkis would be offended. This matter however was dropped for the present when the Sarkis excitement became fully known.

We concluded to call a meeting of the saints early in the evening and have them express themselves regarding the affair. Those who were interested in maintaining the good name of the Church and brooking the opposition made streneous efforts to circulate the news of the meeting and to our happy surprise nearly every male member was present. Pres M[aycock] and I fasted and the Lord surly had regard for desires to save his children from so great a fall. Even those who had been the most intimate with Bro Sarkis came and bore strong testimonies to the work of God. Not the least sign of hatred was exhibited <in the meeting> towards our new enemy and such a feeling of union and steadfastness I have not seen since coming into this mission. They were now better prepared to stem the fierce current of falshood which was soon to be turned upon them.

They repaired to the home of their would be leader and found him <prepared> with an array of charges against the church in proff of which he produced and read the Levon letters,—not all of them however for some are in his possesson which have been read before witnesses testifying to the truthfulness of the gosple and denying the veracity of those letters which the writter clames were written through missunderstanding. Be that [as it] may the letters most comfirming his present condition were brought forthe. We were not present but we lent them our faith and prayers that the Lord would help them to stand the test. The favorable change since late in the afternoon has indeed made our hearts rejoice. The battle has turned from appearant defeat to the prospects of a glorious victory. The Lord is on our side to night.

April 5, 1899 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

It was not a late hour when the brethren began to come with reports of last nights work at the Sarkis residence. The evil one had not been slack in his work on the other side of the controversy. So plausable did our new opponent picture out the conditions of the saints as he saw them through the smoaky goggles of his own sons self contredicted words, that a few of our men were not a little down hearted. Others stood the storm with the firmness of old Gibralters rocky fortress. Here are some of the monstrous fabrications of those letters as reported to us to day. Children are baptized with force not knowing the meaning of the ordaniance. Sacrament administered 3 times in a day. Mrs Montford[6] was hired to praise Pres. Willford Woodruff. That the Prophet Jos. Smith and Pres Woodruff oppose each other in the plural marriage question. That the Mormon people are licentious in their lives. That Jos Smith was a false prophet because two peoples have sprung out of his work after his death. That stated fees are charged for obtaining blessing in the temple the least being $2. That there are no meetings during the week. That the subjects of Jos Smith, and the Prophets are all that are spoken of in the Sunday meetings. He, Levon, further stated that he got through the temple by means of deception because it would have been a peice of stupidity for him to go all the way to Utah and miss that sight. Many other ridiculous statements of the same currupt origin were produced in the meeting. It was said that he spoke well of me but in a recent letter to his father had made sport of my asking him to repent which I did in my letter of Jan. 18. What will be our next surprise!? Who would have thought that such a state of affair would here confront me, as the work of one who received untold kindness at the hands of the Latter day Saints. Is it possible that the same young man, who just eight months ago to day sat under the hands of the Lords anointed in Zion and there in my own hearing was ordained to the Holy Melchidesiek Priesthood, a Seventy Apostle[7] in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and there and then was set apart to fill a mission of love and truth-bearing importance to his fellow man, and now his words, his letters and his actions rise to day in terrible testimony against their author and stamp and brand and work him as Levon the Liar the Deceiver the Hypocrit and the Apostate.

A number of his letters to Bros. Samuel and Avedis and Artine were produced at a meeting held to night for the purpose of counteracting the evil influence. These letters all spoke well of the church and the Mormon people.

Bro Sarkis to day met several of the brethren who had just left our office and asked them where they had been. They replied “We have been to get proof that your son is a liar” whereupon he flew into a rage and right there denounced the Latter Day Saints and said he would prove the missionaries to be adulterers and would publish it from the pulpits of the city.

We next heard of him being at Krikor’s trying to win them over to him with most cunning and flattering words but faithful to their cause they rejected him and he was thus left with out the prospects of a single follower.

In less than one hour from this failure he was working with Artine, trying to gain his sympathy by another turn of his tacticts. Now he expresses deep repentance and sends kind “Salams”[8] to the missionaries and wants to talk with us tomorrow. Artine was late coming to the evening meeting on account of this protracted conversation with him. Pres Maycock warned him against being deceived by the intriguer but still expressed joy in the possibility of the recent turn being one of genuine repentance. So far the incident has had a tendency to bring union and peace and reconciliation among the members of the Church and after all the scare of dark and threatening clouds of yesterday, the Lord has turned it to a veratabl blessing among those who have remaind firm.

April 6, 1899 (Thursday) [Aintab]

Did but very little studying as there was some one or more of the saints at the office nearly all day long. Wrote the account of our last two days experience. Bro Maycock gives a much more detailed account of it as he understands more all of it while I got only an idea occasionally from the conversations and now and then an interpretation.[9]

The <day> opened and closed with pleasant sunshine but was cloudy during the midday hours. We notice and appreciate a geniel flush of sunshine as we have had a great deal of rain and chilly weather of late.

April 7, 1899 (Friday) [Aintab]

As we were silently passing the morning hours in reading etc. we were almost startled by the appearance of Bro Sarkis at the door. He claimed he had come to have a peacable quite chat, but the conversation between him and Pres. M- soon rose to morr then ordinary fer[v]or and strong language. When asked to repent the doubting man declared he had done nothing of which to repent but still defended his sons course of deception on the ground that one deception was honorable to detect another. He, in a moment of rage, said that he could prove our purpose was evil, but he wanted time to investigate before he was brought up to answer for his course.

In the afternoon we took a short walk out past the college for exercise. The fact came to our notice before night that many of the saints had turned their sympathy toward Bro Sarkis.

April 22, 1899 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Another difficulty arose between a number of the saints on account of alleged backbiting and slandering. Meser Gyork and Kocher were at the office in the evening till a late hour talking over the imaginary wrongs they are suffering. They felt better on leaving.

June 12, 1899 (Monday) [Aintab]

Another amusing incident has occured which should have been recorded under yesterdays date, but it makes no difference as to that matter. On the 25 of last month I mentioned the fact that Nerses Kulujian had gone to Haleb. Yes he went there and appearantly tried to make some sort of a sensation among the saints by painting verbal pictures of his o[w]n imaginations concerning the work here in Aintab. Elder Larson took his stories only for what they were worth, and seeing the poor fellow was in troubble in more ways than one, did him some kind acts and assisted him in getting work but Nersis is an Armenian and of course was dissatisfyed and, last week returned again to Aintab. Yesterday he came to meeting and afterward had a talk with Pres. M. and had a string of faults to offer against him and Larson and the Church. He claimed they had acted in a manner with him that was not strictly honest. (They had not given him all the [blank] he wanted I suppose.)

And among the many criticisms of the church doctrine & discipline were the following. He said he had learned (citing Hagop Tenekjian as authority) that the rule in this church was that the man who offered the opening prayer in our services should also ask the blessings on the Sacrament, and he had seen the law violated which gave him much concerne. “And another thing I have understood” he said “that it be a priest who reads the Hymns to be sung in our meetings. And I have seen teachers called upon to perform that important duty.” “I went to Haleb” he said “to investigate and fount there, too, that things were out of geer and when I saw such disorder in the church I began to have my doubts.” Surely patience is required with such childish people.

June 21, 1899 (Wednaesday) [Aintab]

At about 12.30 <a.m.> Turkish time, we went to the home of Sister Anik Nalbantian where we met with a number of the sisters and organized a Y.L.M.I.A.[10]—The first one ever organized in Turkey.

Following are the minutes of the meeting.

Minutes of the Organization of the Y.L.M.I.A. of the Aintab Branch in the Turkish Mission, held at the house of Sister Anik Nalbantian June 21 1899.

Meeting called to order by Pres. Philip S Maycock.
Singing Hymn No 5
Prayer by Elder J. W. Booth
Singing Hymn No 6.

There were present 11 Sisters and several small children. Pres Maycock explained the object of the meeting and impressed upon the Sisters the responsibilities they were undertaking and the duties that would rest upon them as members of the association. Sister Esther Küretlian was elected President of the association. Sisters Doodoo Kalishian and Doodoo Kastian as her councilors. Lucy Kuchük Keorkian, Secretary and Gulli Kullaksizian, Treasurer. Further instructions were given and expressions heard from a number of the Sisters.

Meeting closed by singing Hymn No 11
Benidiction by Lucy K. Keorkian.

The affair seems only a small begining but it is hoped that the dawn of Womans <rights> and advancment has burst upon this unenlightened land. Truly the Gosple is able to make us wise unto Salvation and when its glorious light shines forth in all the earth and its truths are taught and obeyed and its righteous laws bear sway in every clime, then the earth will be a blessed abode.

Taught my class as usual in school.

June 30, 1899 (Friday) [Aintab]

Zadok Aposhian and Garooch Bezjian who have been in partnership in running the weaving works came and desired a dissolution of partenership. Garooch was owing the business ten Liras and agreed to take that and ten Liras more which Zadok would turn over to him in goods, and with this 20 Liras would furnish 4 persons work. Zadok was to keep his own 22 Liras and the remaining 58 in the Capital Stock and to furnish 6 men with work and receive ⅔ of the profits therefrom. Garooch agreed to pay the business ⅓ as much as he himself gains. And so another change was wrought in the working scheme. I realy hope they will be satisfyed now for a few more months at least.

Later we called at our school. The teachers and pupils were busy preparing for examinations exercises. They went through with their pieces before us and we assisted them some in their exercises in English. One little boy who was on the program was very loath to recite his piece and went through some very peculiar manauvers while on the floor but we soon discovered the cause of his apparent shyness in the fact that his trousers were falling from their accustomed hangings and the little hero of ridicul was obliged to march through the laughing crowd and make an exit whil he “hoisted the curtains” and tightened the draw string about

July 1, 1899 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Elder Maycock (Philip S.) & I were busy all day in settling up affairs prior to his departure for Utah the date of which has already been set as Monday July 3.

In the evening a <special> priesthood meeting was held at which I was nominated and sustained as the President of the Aintab Branch. Among other business transacted was the excommunication of Neznik Ekmekjian, The priesthood was taken from Hagop Tenekejian <(a priest)> and Hohannus Ossian was informed that he would be delt with at the next meeting if he did not repent. I was unable to understand all of the charges brought against these men but I had Bro. Maycocks word for it that they were all guilty of conduct which justifyed the actions of the Priesthood in what they did.

July 2, 1899 (Sunday) [Aintab]

My name was presented to the Branch in morning services and I was unanomously accepted as Pres. of the Aintab Branch. The subject of Apostacy was then taken up in the regular S.S. class work and the Subject finished for the time being.

We took supper with Bro Nersis Pilavjian and family. Zodok Aposhian and Garooch Bezjian were there and we talked with them concerning the Weaving business and they both agreed to take each one third of the gains up to the present and I was to pay them in adition for extra work ½ lira each, as soon as a report of all their transactions was given to me. They have already commenced to work under separate heads (see June 30). On[e]s paitence almost becomes exhausted with the unstableness of character of the Armenian and I told Bro M[aycock] to tell them for me that the next time they came with a proposition to change to bring also some one to take their place.

September 28, 1899 (Thursday) [Aintab]

Sarkis Negogoshian called to intercede in behalf of Artine Uzoonian for money to by winter wheat. He said the price was low now and much would be saved by advancing the money (Artine’s wages) for two or three months and buying the wheat. The condition at preseant gives any thing but a bright future for the poor of this city. Work and money are both scarce and the price of food stuff will most likely raise soon.

October 1, 1899 (Sunday) [Aintab]

Fast day. Both S[unday] S[chool] and afternoon services were well attended by the saints, but very few visitors came. I spoke in meeting for about 20 minutes. Laid hands on a sick child in the evening. Read Matt 22. Hagop Bezjian came to visit me as teacher.[11] I was feeling very well.

October 20, 1899 (Friday) [Aintab]

Gave the children a little drill in calisthenics in school. Took supper with Garooch Bezjian and spent the evening there. The Teachers called. We sang hymns and talked till a late hour.

December 13, 1899 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

Taught my classes in school, the first time this week. Gave our School statistics to a young man who called for that purpose. Called at the shop and had Hagop Bezjian read my letter for me—the one I received yesterday. It was written in Turkish.

I[n] company with the 3 priests Artine Uzoonian, Nersis Pilavjian & Avedis Kulluksuzian, I commenced to visit the saints at their houses for the purpose of encouraging them and learning more concerning their real condition both temporally and spiritually. We visited the latter’s family, and also Garooch Bezjians, where we met with a number of other saints and visitors.

January 7, 1900 (Sunday) [Aintab]

The first Fast sunday in 1900. Many of the saints fasted two days. I had not eaten since Thursday evening. We had a general hand shaking and asking forgiveness and forgiving each other before we partook of the sacrement. Two testimony meetings were held and we were very happy in our association with each. Took up a good share of time in afternoon meeting. Also three of the sisters spoke viz. Esther Keretlian, Dudu Kalishian and Dudu Bezjian.

April 6, 1900 (Friday) [Aintab]

School closed at noon and the children came to practice their singing and some recitations for to night. Took a walk through the Charsha and had supper at the restruant.

Soon after dusk the people began to assemble for our Church anneversary celebration. The Hall was packed to its utmost capacity—the congr[ega]ation sitting, as usual, on the floor. In the room not more than 22 ft. sq. were crowded 243 persons. Artine Uzoonian Read the program which was carried out as follows. Brief History of the Church or the Gosple during the periods Time of Christ, Dark Ages and Restoration of the Gosple, by Arushiak Aposhian, Herepsima Pilavjian, Herepsima Uzoonian respectively. Koran Uzoonian also gave a short exercise. Nersis Pilavjian reported the work and progress of the Sunday School. Avedis Kulluksuzian, the Y.M.M.I.A., and Esther Keretlian, the Y L M I A, [and] Artine Uzoonian showed the progress and beauty of the Church and the Gosple. I bore testimony to the truth of the work of God on the earth. One visitor spoke a few minutes but I did not understand all he said. He is Nersis Pilavjians Brother. The whole affair was a success so far as number, and giving a good clear view of the work of the church were concerned.

Received letters from Dr Fuller and Prof. Merrill asking to be excused from attendence as it might be construed that they were favoring “Mormonism” or the work which we represent. Dr Shepard sent in a note asking us to excuse him and Mrs Shepard as their little boy was down with the dyphtheria.

The meeting lasted nearly 2 hours. I shall long remember the great crowd—the largest I have yet had the privilege of addressing in Turkey. 1900 the 70 <anneversary of the> birthday of the church was a day of hope and joy, and the Syrian sky was scarcely covered with a cloud. The grain several inches tall, the trees just begining to leaf, and the air warm and fresh. Recd letters from Robt & Jessie Hinter.

April 7, 1900 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Went to settle some difficulty between Hagop Bezjian & wife but she was not home. Ate supper and spent the evening at the House of Dudu Bezjians sister.

April 8, 1900 (Sunday) [Aintab]

Talked on “The existance of God” from Sec XX Doc & Cov. in S.S. Talked with Hagop & wife (see 7th) and they both agreed to try to get along better. Spoke in services on a variety of subjects showing that the gosple was not simply to obay one commandment.

We were a little short of food for supper (I had fasted) and while eating, a good dish of kufta[12] was brought in. Spent the evening at Krekore Kunajian’s who desires with his daughter in law to be baptized this week.

April 29, 1900 (Sunday) [Aintab]

Gave a lesson on Baptism, mode of, in S[unday] S[chool] and spoke in afternoon meeting on fault finding among the Saints. Hagop Tenekejian made a confession and asked forgiveness of the Branch.

February 10, 1901 (Sunday) [Aintab]

Talked in S.S. on the 1st verse of Sect 19 of Doc & Cov. Had a very attentive and appreciative audience. Before administering the sacrement, Solomen Budvillian acknowledge before the Branch to having committed adultry and was freely forgiven (see last Oct 29.)

January 1904 [Aintab]

All well, with grateful hearts to the Giver of All Good. The New year presents much hope for us in the work of the Lord in this Land. On the evening of the 1 inst we gave a concert to a very crowded house. Dialogues, songs, Hymns, Speaches and prayers. It was a very interesting entertainment. The singing of “Ne güzel ide ol sabah.” = “O how lovely was the Morning” by all the children and “O My Father” in Turkish by 4 little boys and “Love at Home” or [Turkish language] by 2 little tots, a boy and a girl, was very pleasing. The first Sunday in the new year was a pleasent one. The Saints had a general forgiving-and-asking-forgiveness-hand shake and a good spirit prevailed.

December 24, 1904 (Saturday) [Aintab]

<Went to Hammam,> read mail, talked of my trip, spoke in Primary to the little children (my wife having started it during my absence).[13]

April 30, 1905 (Sunday) [Aintab]

Buyuk Zidik (Easter) among the Armenians. We arrose at day break and prepared for meeting which began a few minutes after Sunrise. I preached for about 1 hour on the “Resurrection,” and the Saints and visitors seemed interested. This is a great day for visiting friends and greeting them with the salutation, Christ is risen from the dead, and the answer.[14]

February 14, 1906 (Wednesday) [Aleppo]

At 4 oclock (about 9 Ala Franka a.m.) the sisters of the Branch met (2 visitors) 12 in all and I talked to them on the work and duties of the members of the Womens Relief Society. No permanent officers were chosen but minutes were taken and I told them that I & Sister Booth would take charge till some one was selected after a few weekly meetings. I gave them 1 Turkish lira = $4.50 of church money to begin their work and told them that the fast donations would be turned into their hands to assist the poor. This may be called the first Relief Society meeting in Aleppo.

October 7, 1906 (Sunday) [Aleppo]

Fast Day. Both yesterday and to day the Saints fasted and to day the S. S. was pospened and in its place we held a 3 hour pray and testimony with our fasting. It was one of if not the best meetings I have attended in Turkey. There was a quiet and peaceful spirit and many prayers were offered in behalf of the Elders (Vance & Newman) who are endeavouring to get the Book of Mormon accepted or permitted to be freely circulated in Turkey. The saints promised to live better lives in the future and I enjoyed the spirit of prophecy for a period of the time and arose and prophesied good for the saints who kept their promise and evil for those who did not.

This being the second day for the Saints and the Seventh day for myself in fasting I told them to return home and prepare their food and eat at, or soon after noon. And so about half or ¾ of an hour after midday I partook my first meal in a week. I was not very strong but the Lord blessed me very abundantly.

March 29, 1907 (Friday) [Aintab]

We all went to the bath[house] and took the male members of the church. (30 <of us> in all were present.) Spent several hours in recording names of the dead relatives of Sarkis Tutlian. Soon after sunset a priesthood meeting conveined and lasted for three hours. Five brethren, all priests, were selected to be ordained elders, 4 teachers to become priests, 2 deacon for teachers and three members for deacons. (See Sun 31.) I think this was the greatest priesthood meeting I ever held in Turkey.

April 1, 1907 (Monday) [Aintab]

In the after noon a letter came calling me to go and talk with the Chunguzian family as the father was offended at my asking him (as I did all the others) in priesthood meeting last Fri night, concerning his standing on tith paying, Word of wisdom, etc. We went and talked to him in the evening.

April 13, 1907 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

Pursued our journey and with pleasure arrived at Aleppo in good time. I read much again from “Great Truths”[15] and studied choice passages. Went to the Hammam at night with most of the male membership of the branch.

September 6, 1907 (Friday) [Aleppo]

Received a Star and a letter notifying me of £2 at Liverpool to my credit & £8 to J. T. Woodbury. Bot a ring for 5 piastres and another for 6. Visited Bro Solomon at night and listened to him & others in a reading lesson. Several are learning to read.

June 3, 1909 (Thursday) [Aintab—excerpt from John Woodbury journal]

In the morning of June 3^rd we occupied the time in trying to bring about a reconciliation between the sisters who had become estranged through some sayings set afloat by some of our members, it seems. Outsiders had taken up the words of some of the Saints and changed and added to in many respects. These sayings were anything but pleasing to those who were concerned. We were able to bring about an all around hand shake and a seeming mutual forgiveness if it don’t have some fresh outbreak. The Saints are so envious and jealous that it is an extremely difficult matter to keep them at peace. Indeed, at times they give so much trouble with their poverty and envy that the missionaries sometimes almost wish that they had never seen Turkey. Some of them, thinking that they will not get a chance to go to Zion [Utah], as soon as some others, try to find faults of all kinds in those who they think will likely be helped to Zion. Some seem to feel that they can only ascend or gain favor in the church’s eyes by stepping on those who are better than they are.

July 30, 1922 (Sunday) [Aleppo]

Stephan Mumjian & Senem Keleshian confessed to their crime of Adultry and asked the forgiveness of the Church. (134 present)

March 11, 1925 (Wednesday) [Aleppo]

Relief Society work session was held. Bro Hagop Bezjian & I talked and we took a vote to ascertain the feeling of the members regarding the Change of Officers. 17 wanted them to continue, 22 wanted a change.

Evolving Word of Wisdom Observance[16]

September 22, 1898 (Thursday) [Leipzig]

Arrived [in Leipzig, Germany] at 10. p.m. and went out with A.C. Lund to get a drink of beer as the customs here make it hard to get a good glass of water.

March 30, 1900 (Friday) [Aintab]

The mail man came with letters for me from P. D. Lyman and D. C. Strong and several papers. Priesthood meeting at night in which I talked to the smokers pretty straight.

April 18, 1902 (Friday) [Beirut]

In the evening visited Herr Fredrick Schaefer and family, where we drank a cup of tea, the first one I think that I have had in Syria.

January 6, 1904 (Wednesday) [Killis]

Elder Vance, Sister Booth and myself left Aintab for a visit with the Saints in Aleppo. We remaind in Killis a few days visiting the Saints, 1 family, there and also a sister from Aleppo who was there their with her son for a short time. Here we met Elder Micha Markow[17] on his way to Aintab. Came to Aleppo on the 9th and found things very neatly arrange[d] for us and the Saints glad to see us. . . . During the month Priesthood meetings were held and instructions given and there seemed to be an awakening spiritually among the saints of the Branch. A Bad feature of our brethren here is their violation of the word of wisdom, but during our stay here a noticable effort was made to leave off some of their evil habits in this respect.

April 17, 1904 (Sunday) [Aleppo]

Good attendance at both meetings. I had asked that all the saints who smoke refrain on Sunday and especially to day and tomorrow as we are going to have a picnic party out in the gardens. Some difficulty was encountered about the cost and the division of the expense and I made them the proposition that if they would unitedly agree to the proposition neither to smoke, drink liquor, sware, nor quarrel among themselves for a whole week I would pay the expense of the picnic. If they broke the agreement the violator should pay to the fast offering acct twice the amount of his portion otherwise.

Notes

[1] Excerpts in this section come from Booth Journals, vols. 6–7, 9–10, and 12–16.

[2] H. Dean Garrett writes, “Rebaptism [i.e., because of lost membership records or reentry into the Church after excommunication] is rare among Latter-day Saints in modern times. Historically, however, many members were rebaptized as an act of rededication. This was first practiced in Nauvoo and was continued in the Utah Territory. Rebaptism served as a ritual of recommitment but was not viewed as essential to salvation. Members often sought rebaptism when called to assist in colonization or to participate in one of the United Orders. On some occasions, members were rebaptized as they prepared for marriage or entrance into the temple. Early members also rebaptized some of the sick among them as an act of healing” (“Rebaptism,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 3:1194). Garrett also notes that rebaptism was officially discontinued in 1897 “because of misuse by some Church members.” However, as we see here in Booth’s journal entry, the practice persisted in Latter-day Saint society beyond that date.

[3] Confirmation is a Latter-day Saint ritual that consists of male priesthood holders “laying hands on the head” of a recently baptized person. One of them acting as the “mouth” confirms the person a member of the Church and calls upon him or her to “receive the Holy Ghost” as a constant spiritual guide as the new member remains worthy by honoring the baptismal covenant and keeping the commandments.

[4] Booth uses the slang term scrap to mean an argument or fight.

[5] For further details on Levon Sarkis’s disaffection with the Church, see footnote 2 in the section “First Trip from Utah to Asia Minor” in part 1.

[6] Lydia M. von Finkelstein Mountford (1855–1917), an international lecturer on Palestine and the Bible from Jerusalem, became a close friend of Wilford Woodruff while visiting Utah. Alexander, Things in Heaven and Earth, 328. Anthon H. Lund visited her on his trip to Jerusalem.

[7] At this time of the Church the function of the office of seventy was primarily that of missionary work. Missionaries were ordained to be seventies and were considered apostles in the sense that they were sent forth as “especial witnesses” for Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 107:25).

[8] The word means “peace,” from the Arabic salaam. It is used to mean “greetings” or “hello.”

[9] See Philip S. Maycock Journals and Papers.

[10] Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association, a Churchwide women’s organization. The name was later changed in 1934 to Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association.

[11] Teacher here refers to the Church’s program in which male priesthood holders were assigned to visit the homes of Church members to inquire about their physical and spiritual well-being and to discuss religious principles. Originally referred to as “block teaching,” the name was changed to “ward teaching” in 1912 and “home teaching” in 1963. Most recently, in 2018, the program became known simply as “ministering.” See Boss, “Home Teaching,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 3:654–55.

[12] Kufta or ��ö�ڳٱ� is a Turkish “meatball” of spices and ground beef. Regional variations abound.

[13] Booth’s wife, Reba, set up the Primary, a Latter-day Saint organization designed to teach children Christian principles and nurture their talents and identities as children of God.

[14] In many Eastern Christian churches, the response to the traditional Easter greeting “Christ is risen from the dead!” is “Truly He is risen!” Modern adherents of the Armenian Apostolic Church perform this call and response as a traditional Easter greeting.

[15] Booth appears to be referring to Great Truths: Individual Problems and Possibilities (1903), by the popular essayist William George Jordan, first published in New York in 1902 with a different main title, The Power of Truth. Enamored with the book, President Heber J. Grant purchased several thousand copies while presiding over the European Mission (1903–1906). Deseret Book Company republished the book in 1935. See the Wikipedia articles “William George Jordan” and “The Power of Truth.”

[16] Excerpts in this section come from Booth Journals, vols. 6, 8, and 11–12. Adherence to the Latter-day Saint health code, or “Word of Wisdom” (see Doctrine and Covenants 89), varied widely during this time period, and its place in Latter-day Saint life evolved throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although some Church leaders encouraged strict observance, many members failed to practice it faithfully. By the turn of the century, Church leaders were beginning to become more insistent that the Word of Wisdom become official practice. When Joseph F. Smith became president of the Church in 1902, he taught abstinence from tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco and began instructing stake presidents to give temple recommends only to those who obeyed the Word of Wisdom (Alexander, Mormonism in Transition, chap. 13). Booth’s renewed emphasis on the Word of Wisdom comes in the context of Joseph F. Smith’s more pronounced policy on abstinence.

[17] Mischa Markow (1854–1934) was a Hungarian of Serbian and Romanian ancestry converted by Jacob Spori in 1887 while traveling to Constantinople from Egypt. Following his baptism and ordination, Markow became something of an itinerant preacher traveling throughout Europe and baptizing six Belgians before emigrating to Utah in 1892. In 1899 Markow returned as a missionary to Eastern Europe, where fierce opposition forced him to go to Constantinople to labor with Hintze. Markow returned to Salt Lake City in 1901 and was again called as a missionary in 1903, at which time he accompanied Booth to England. Markow was assigned to labor in Russia, but because of dangerous conditions there he was transferred in January 1904 to the Turkish Mission, where he remained until October 1905. Charles, “European LDS Missionaries,” 14–21.