 Joseph Fielding LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 2, p.762-763
Fielding, Joseph, the second president of the British Mission, was born March 26, 1797, at Honeydon, a village about nine miles from Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, the son of John and Rachel Fielding. He emigrated to Upper Canada in 1832, where he four years later became a convert to "Mormonism" under the teachings of Apostle Parley P. Pratt, by whom he was baptized May 21, 1836. He was ordained a Priest in April, 1837, and removed to Kirtland, Ohio, the following May. In June, 1837, he was called by the Prophet Joseph Smith to accompany Elders Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde and others on their first mission to England. They left Kirtland to fill this mission June 13, 1837, sailed from New York on the ship "Garrick," July 1st, and arrived in Liverpool, England, July 20, 1837. The successful opening for preaching the gospel in Preston, England, was partly due to the fact that Joseph Fielding had relatives residing in that city. Together with his brethren, who had accompanied him from America, he commenced successful missionary labors in his native land, and was ordained an Elder by Heber C. Kimball Oct. 28, 1837. Upon the departure of Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde from England for America in the spring of 1838, Joseph Fielding was placed in charge of the mission in Great Britain, being ordained a High Priest April 1, 1838, by Heber C. Kimball. Bro. Fielding [p.763] presided over the British Mission with faithfulness and fidelity until the arrival of Brigham Young and other members of the quorum of the Twelve in April, 1840. The following year Bro. Fielding was honorably released from his mission in Great Britain to return to America. He sailed from Liverpool Sept. 21, 1841, on board the ship "Tyrean," in charge of a company of emigrating saints, who arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois, in November, 1841. Elder Fielding remained in Nauvoo until the general exodus of the Saints in 1846, when he shared in the persecutions and hardships that befell his people who were driven away from Illinois by mob violence. After spending about two years on the frontiers, he arrived in G. S. L. Valley in the fall of 1848. Soon afterwards he located at Mill Creek, Salt Lake county, where he resided until the day of his death, which occurred Dec. 19, 1863, he being 66 years, 8 months and 22 days old when he passed to the great beyond. As his life had been virtuous and useful, so his death was peaceful and happy. ("Deseret News" 13: 204.) |
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