The Southwestern States Mission was renamed from the Indian Territory Mission in 1898. Its name was changed again in 1904 to the Central States Mission and headquarters were moved from St. Johns, Kansas to Independence, Missouri. Beginning in 1907, the mission published a periodical called the Liahona. Later that same year the magazine merged with the Southern States Mission magazine to become Liahona, The Elders' Journal.
Creation of the Southwestern States Mission
The territory of Oklahoma was added to the Indian Territory Mission in 1894. Then the states of Arkansas and Kansas were added on 1 March 1895. Finally, Texas came within the boundaries of the mission on 1 January 1897, when it was transferred from the Southern States Mission. This eventually prompted a name change to the Southwestern States Mission in March 1898.
William Thomas Jack Called as President
Mission Founded
James Gledhil Duffin Called as President
Boundary Change
Missouri and Louisiana added to the mission.
Headquarters Move
The mission home was moved to 1421 Locust St., Kansas City, Missouri. It was later moved to 1405 Locust St., Kansas City, Missouri.
Mission Name Change
The Mission's name was changed to the Central States Mission and headquarters were moved from St. Johns, Kansas to Independence, Missouri. The mission included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Kansas.
World's Fair
St. Louis, Missouri hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the last large international exposition or world's fair before World War I. Many missionaries in the Central States Mission represented the Church at a variety of meetings and exhibits at the Exposition.
Samuel Otis Bennion Called as President
World War I
The war had a dramatic effect on missionary work, not only in Europe but in the United States as well. The number of missionaries called dropped dramatically between 1916 and 1918 as many young men in the U. S. were drafted for military service.
The mission office was located at 302 S. Pleasant St., Independence, Missouri.
Elias Smith Woodruff Called as President
