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Letter from Heber C. Kmball and Joseph Fielding to the editors of the Times and Seasons reporting progress of the Church in the British lsles subsequently reprinted in Times and Seasons, Vol.1, pp.138-139.
FROM ENGLAND.
Clithero, May 6th, 1840.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE TIMES AND SEASONS.
Dear Sirs,
According to promise, we now sit down to communicate to you the situation of the affairs of the church as it has been while we were absent, and the present state thereof &c. We landed in Liverpool on the 6 of April, after a passage of 28 days, 16 of which we had strong head winds, two very heavy gales; the officers of the ship said they were the heaviest they had known in 15 years: but through the goodness of God we came safe to land. On the second day after we arrived not knowing that there were any saints in Liverpool, as we passed along the streets elder P. P. Pratt observed in a window an advertisement of a work on the second coming of Christ; and by inquiring for the author, we found from him that elder Taylor and Fielding had been preaching in the town for several weeks, he also told where they were: we found bro. T. but bro. f. had just gone to see the church in Manchester; about 20 had been baptized, and an effectual door was opened in that large town, which contains, we understand, nearly 300,000 souls. Some families of Saints had started for America a few weeks before; and we found bro. Taylor on board a ship in company with another family, who were expecting to sail that same day. On the 9th, all except bro. P. P. Pratt took the railroad for Preston, 31 miles, about a mile and a half of which at Liverpool, is a subterraneous passage, partly under the town, thro‘, which we pass without engine, it being inclined, and lighted with Lamps. Arrived at Preston 6 o’clock P. M. found Br. Fielding in Manchester with elder Clayton, elder Richards in Clithero where we now are: there was great rejoicings at our return to this land. -- On the Sunday following we met in the Cockpit, where we used to preach before; the news of our being here had ran through the churches in all directions, and 5 or 600 Saints were come together: It was something like the day of Pentecost, for there were some from various places, from a distance of 20 to 60 miles. Those of the Twelve that were present bore testimony to the work, and spoke with power, for the Lord was with them, and a good effect was produced; as a proof thereof eleven were confirmed the next Sabbath: several came to hear who had long left the church; but there is no hope of those who left through their own sin, as satan left his place; some that were led off by them are returning, but some of the former, after hearing all the testimony &c. that could be borne, are evidently harder that ever: we mention this as a caution to others, and to show that the Lord will not be played with by creatures. The next day elder B. Young P. P. Pratt W. Woodruff, J. Taylor, H. Clark, W. Clayton, met in Preston; the Twelve met in conference the two following days, organized themselves & ordained elder Willard Richards to the Twelve: on the 15th a general conference, according to previous appointment, was held in the Cockpit; the minutes of which will be forwarded if you have not already received them: there was a good feeling, the measures proposed were adopted and carried with a unanimous feeling as well as voice.
p.139 The next day the Twelve met again in conference, appointed elder P. P. -- Pratt to edit the Latter Day Saints Millennial Star which will be published in Manchester, and is expected to come out this month Br. B Young; P. P. J. Taylor to select the Hymns for a Hymn book, and such other business as appeared to be necessary, and from them agreed to separate to different parts of the land Br. Young accompanied Br. Woodruff to his field of labor in Herefordshire, a very extensive field. Br. G. A. Smith and Br. H. Clark went with elder Wm. Clayton to Manchester, there spent one Sabbath and from thence the former went to the Potteries, and Br. Clark to Macklesfield. Br. O. Pratt and Br. Hadlock went north, to the place where elder Russell formerly labored. Br. P. on his way to join elder Wright and Mulliner in Scotland, who had long been anxiously looking for some one to assist them; a letter has since come from them again, requesting some one to come to them, Br. Pratt not having then reached, but they had heard of our arrival in England, by a passenger in the same ship; the letter states that they had lately baptized 27 and others. were ready &c. A letter from Br. Taylor, Liverpool, last Sunday, states he had baptized 8 the last Sunday 6 on Tuesday, and a prospect of more soon, things there flattering.
Br. Fielding and myself are visiting the churches which were built up when I was here before; they are generally revived at our coming: it was said on all sides by the enemies that we should never come to England more, and whether the saints were afraid or not, they are heartily glad to see us; they say our coming has made many false prophets, we consider the churches in general are in a comfortable way; peace and unity prevails the brethren here expected that when the Twelve came, there would be greater power in the preaching in general, and so it is; many have been added of late, the field is widening, the work is rolling on in the land, the prospect is good. Br. Fielding says he don‘t know how to express his feelings, he so greatly rejoices to see it, and he is far from being alone in this.
We are surprised to see what those men that rose up against us formerly, have come to; they are objects of pitty almost every where. We suppose there has been not much short of 100 Methodist Preachers baptized in all; one baptist preacher, who left baptizing people, to be rebaptized himself. And now, we sent our love to President Smith and council, our brethren of the Twelve in America, the High Council, the Bishops, and all the elders of Israel, and to all the saints, the health of us all is improving, we are of one heart and of one mind, we request an interest in ill your prayers, that we may be enabled to do the work that is before us: and we pray the Lord to be with you all and bless you forever, Amen.
HEBER C. KIMBALL,
JOSEPH FIELDING. |
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