The missionaries had to purchase their own copies of books and pamphlets, and recoup the cost by selling them. At some periods, I know, they didn’t pay the full cost, but enough so that they wouldn’t squander them; I don’t know whether in this mission at this time they paid full or part cost, but they did pay. In that case, the money they received from sales was their own money so was available for their use (although they would, of course, have to buy more copies in order to continue tracting).

As today, the missionary paid his own way, but what arrangements they made (support from family and friends, or from pre-mission savings) was their own responsibility. Elder Jones refers a time or two to getting a check from home, and, as you recall, to not receiving an expected check on time, so he (a young single man) was likely being supported by family. It also seems to me from some clues that checks generally went to the missionaries’ accounts at their mission home rather than directly to them, in most cases.

There was no expected requirement that the elders do manual labor. We see them picking cotton, and also, once in a while, chopping wood, bringing in water, and other chores. I’m pretty sure that was chiefly done for members, and perhaps to help out in extraordinary conditions, and not a regular thing. For one thing, they had to maintain their character as traveling clergymen, something that was hard enough for them to do, and not be perceived as tramps who would do chores in exchange for supper. I don’t know whether there were restrictions on the kinds of work they could do — I rather doubt it, since even carrying guns and hunting was not prohibited.

Noting that someone was “mouth” would apply only to group prayers. You wouldn’t use that in reference to your private prayers, where you would be the only “mouth” possible. Today we might more naturally say “voice,” although the old “mouth” is ingrained enough that you sometimes hear it.

Use the archive (the “Topical Guide” link, then use your browser’s search feature to find “Without Purse or Scrip in Texas” (there are a couple of other, unrelated posts with “without purse or scrip” in their title). The introductory post is first in the list of posts there.

The missionaries are offering tracts, but selling pamphlets and Books of Mormon too. Were these given to the missionaries for free, by the church, and then the money from the sales were used to support the missionaries? Or did they pay the church for them, and were simply selling enough so they could send the money to buy more?

While most of their lodging, and their food, is shared with them as itinerant preachers, he does still mention the money he spent, and what it was spent on. Was all of a missionary’s money saved up before accepting a mission call? Was the family responsible for sending all the money they needed? (There has been a mention of waiting for money from home and it not coming when expected.)

This episode talks about helping to pick cotton. The missionaries don’t seem to get or expect any pay. Was their willingness to do that hard labor because they were staying with someone LDS, or was there an expectation of service for the missionaries? Was there specific kinds of labor they were not allowed to volunteer to do?

I know I asked about when it says “I was mouth” for a prayer. There seems to be periods of time where he doesn’t mention it for quite a while, and then it will peek in again. I am wondering if this was an expression used only in a group praying together, and would not be used when someone is praying on their own?

I missed a number if the original posts. Was there a “post that started it all” which explained who the missionary was, the length of his call, etc., that I could go back and read. I’ve looked around the archive some and must be blind as a bat.

Is this just that the church would pay for their train ride home, that they were going home early, or something else I entirely missed?