PRESIDENT
HEBER C. KIMBALL'S
JOURNAL.
SEVENTH BOOK OF THE
FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES.
Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day
Saints.
JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE.
Salt Lake City,
1882.
PREFACE
No apology is necessary for publishing as a volume of the
"FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES" some portion of the history of the late
President Heber C. Kimball. Knowing the estimation in which he was
held while living by the Latter day Saints universally, and that the
memory of his virtues and life-long devotion to the cause of God is
still fresh in their hearts, we feel assured that they will regard as
an acceptable offering the brief account of his experience contained
in this volume. We only regret that we cannot in the present work give
a sketch of his entire life, or at least all of those incidents from
it which would tend to promote faith in young readers. His was an
exceedingly active and interesting life, and it is scarcely necessary
to state that the sketch here published, covering a period of only
a little over four years, contains but a fraction of that which is
interesting and wonderful in his life's experience. However, what is
here given will doubtless convey many valuable lessons to those who
read it, and will serve to indicate the character of the great man of
whom it treats.
Heber Chase Kimball was one of the greatest men of this age. There was
a certain nobility about his appearance as well as his disposition that
would have made him conspicuous in any community, and the Church of
Jesus Christ afforded ample scope for the exercise of his ability, and
the trying scenes through which he passed called into play his best
powers.
He was a man of commanding presence, with eyes so keen as to almost
pierce one through, and before which the guilty involuntarily quailed.
He was fearless and powerful in rebuking the wrong-doer, but kind,
benevolent and fatherly to the deserving. He possessed such wonderful
control over the passions of men, combined with such wisdom and
diplomacy that the Prophet Joseph Smith called him "the peace-maker."
His great faith, zeal, earnestness, devotion to principle, cheerfulness
under the most trying circumstances, energy, perseverance and honest
simplicity marked him as no ordinary man. He possessed great natural
force and strong will power, yet in his submission to the Priesthood
and obedience to the laws of God he set a pattern to the whole Church.
His example throughout life was one of which his posterity may ever
think with pride, and which the Saints generally will do well to follow.
No man, perhaps, Joseph Smith excepted, who has belonged to the
Church in this generation, ever possessed the gift of prophecy to a
greater degree than Brother Kimball. Although not at all pretentious,
he was somewhat celebrated among his acquaintances for his prophetic
inspiration. The prediction which he made soon after the arrival of
the Pioneers in Salt Lake Valley, that the destitute Saints would soon
be supplied with clothing, and that "States goods" would be sold in
Salt Lake City as cheap as in New York, seemed most unreasonable at
the time it was uttered. Its fulfillment, however, by the unexpected
influx of gold-seekers, making their way to California, and anxious to
lighten their loads by selling their goods at almost any price, is now
a matter of history. Scores of other predictions were made by him and
as literally fulfilled.
Brother Kimball was the only one of his father's family who embraced
the gospel, but now his is one of the most numerous families in the
Church. At the time of his death, which occurred June 22, 1868, he was
the father of sixty-five children, of whom thirty males and eleven
females were then living. His direct descendants now number one hundred
and seventy-two.
The first ten chapters of this work were formerly published in pamphlet
form by Elder R. B. Thompson in Nauvoo. Only a small edition, however,
was printed, and it has now been out of print for a great many years.
The next six chapters have been compiled from the manuscript history of
Elder Kimball by his eldest daughter, Sister Helen Mar Whitney, to whom
we are also indebted for the items contained in his letters from which
the last chapter was written.
THE PUBLISHER.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
Called to go Upon a Mission to England--Appointed to Preside--The
Journey.
CHAPTER II.
Timidity at the Thoughts of my Task--Prompted by the Spirit to go to
Preston--"The Truth Will Prevail"--Meet Elder Fielding's Brother, a
Preacher--Invited to Preach in his Chapel--Seeing his Craft Endangered,
he Closes his Doors Against us--Another Minister Forbids us Baptizing
his Church Members--Desperate Struggle with Evil Spirits--Commence
Baptizing--Elders Separate--Opposed by a Minister--His Subsequent Shame.
CHAPTER III.
Meeting for Confirmation--Convert and Baptize Miss Richards--Her
Father, a Minister, Invites me to Preach in his Chapel--Congregation
Believe my Testimony--Mr. Richards Frightened--Closes his Chapel
Against me--His Daughter Troubled--I Predict that he will Again Open
his Chapel to me--Prediction Fulfilled--Other Elders Encouraged by the
Rev. Mr. Matthews, who Afterwards Rejects their Testimony and Commences
Preaching their Doctrines on his Own Account.
CHAPTER IV.
The People Eager to Hear us--We Rent "The Cock Pit" to Preach
in--Obtain Licenses to Preach--Continued Success.
CHAPTER V.
First Conference in England--Word of Wisdom First Taught there--Enemies
Active--Urgent Invitation from a Baptist Church--The Effect of our
Preaching.
CHAPTER VI.
Impressed to Visit Downham and Chatburn--Bad Character of those
Places--Warned Against Going--Joy with which the Gospel was
Received--The People Eager to be Baptized--Loth to Part with me--Vain
Opposition from a Minister--Affecting Conduct of Little Children.
CHAPTER VII.
Visit to the Moon Family--Prejudiced Against our Doctrine--A Prophecy
about them--Impressed to Call at their House again--My Presence Hailed
With Joy as an Answer to Prayer--The Prophecy Fulfilled; they Join the
Church--A Dream and its Interpretation.
CHAPTER VIII.
Extraordinary Success--Very Cold Weather--Scenes of Suffering--Our
Excessive Labors--A General Conference--Farewell Meeting--Affection
Manifested for us--Elder Russell's Labors--Elder Goodson a Barrier.
CHAPTER IX.
Our Lodgings--Wants Supplied by Liberality of
Saints--Journey to Liverpool--Contrast Between Arrival and
Departure--Return Voyage--Meeting with Elders and Saints at New
York--Arrival at Kirtland.
CHAPTER X.
Removal to Missouri--Sickness--Kindness of the Saints at Far
West--Build a House, and then Have to Abandon it--Battle of Crooked
River--Death and Final Testimony of Apostle David W. Patten--Corner
Stone of Temple at Far West Laid--Removal to Illinois.
CHAPTER XI.
Far West Besieged--Joseph Smith and Brethren Betrayed by
Apostates--Atrocities of Mob--Conversation with W. E.
M'Lellin--Extermination Speech of General Clark.
CHAPTER XII.
Perils of the People--Cheerfulness of the Saints amidst their
Troubles--Visit our Brethren in Prison--Apostles Ordained--Mock
Distribution of State Appropriation--Letter from Joseph Smith
and Brethren in Prison--Indifference of State Officials to our
Appeals--Word of the Lord to me.
CHAPTER XIII.
Final Expulsion from Ear West--Destruction of Property--Escape of
Joseph Smith and Brethren--Attempt to Visit Parley P. Pratt and
Brethren in Prison--Forced to Flee to Escape Mob Violence--Assembly of
Apostles and Others on Temple Site According to Revelation--Arrival in
Illinois--Word of the Lord Fulfilled.
CHAPTER XIV.
Joyful Meeting with Joseph--First Conference in Illinois--First Visit
to Commerce--My Impression Concerning the New Gathering Place--My
Recommend--Struggle with Evil Spirits--Joseph Smith's Experience
with Evil Spirits--P. P. Pratt's Escape from Prison--Building
Houses--Prostrate with Sickness--Remarkable Manifestation of the Gift
of Healing.
CHAPTER XV.
Start upon a Mission under Distressing Circumstances--Incidents of the
Journey--A Drunken Doctor Gives me a Table-spoonful of Morphine--My
Life Saved Through the Prayer of Faith--Brethren Leave me to Proceed to
Kirtland--Their Fear that I would Die--I Predict that, I would Recover
and Reach Kirtland Before Them.
CHAPTER XVI.
Further Incidents of the Journey--Money Increased by the Power
of God--Arrival at Kirtland Ahead of Brethren, in Fulfillment of
my Prediction--Services in the Temple--Visit my Old Home and my
Relatives--Kind Treatment--Arrival in New York--Joyful Meeting with
Brethren.
CHAPTER XVII.
Incidents of Elder Kimball's Mission, as Gleaned from his Letters--Some
of his Prophecies Fulfilled--Elder Hyde's Account of the Contest
with Evil Spirits--Great Success of the work Throughout England--A
Testimonial--Summary of Labors--Return to Nauvoo.
PRESIDENT H. C. KIMBALL'S JOURNAL.
AN ACCOUNT OF HIS MISSION TO ENGLAND AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL
TO THAT LAND.
CHAPTER I.
CALLED TO GO UPON A MISSION TO ENGLAND--APPOINTED TO PRESIDE--THE
JOURNEY.
The labors of the Elders of the Church of Latter-day Saints in early
days were confined to the United States of America, with the exception
of the province of Upper Canada, where a great many persons embraced
the gospel of Jesus Christ, and rejoiced in the blessings thereof. The
majority of this latter class were originally from Great Britain, and
they soon began to manifest a desire that their relatives and friends
who were still residing there, might be privileged with hearing the
glad tidings of salvation, and be made partakers of those gifts and
blessings which are promised in obedience thereto. For the attainment
of this object, their prayers were continually ascending to the Lord of
sabaoth, that He would prepare the way, and hasten the time when
"The servants of the Lord
Soon should take their stand,
And spread the glorious light of truth--
Throughout their native land."
Notwithstanding this desire, the way was not open for the Elders until
the spring of 1837, when the word of the Lord to the Elders of Israel
was, that they might go forth to the distant nations of the earth, that
the kingdom might roll forth, so that every heart might be penetrated.
Prior to this, my labors had been confined to my own land, in which
I had traveled about six thousand miles, preaching the gospel to the
best of my ability, and had the pleasure of baptizing several of my
countrymen for the remission of sins, and introducing them into the
kingdom which the Lord has set up in these last days.
I had frequently felt a desire to visit the shores of Europe, and
believed that the time was fast approaching when I should take leave of
my own country and lift up my voice to other nations, warning them of
the things which were coming on the earth, and making known to them the
great things which the Lord had brought to pass. Yet it never occurred
to my mind that I should be one of the first commissioned to preach the
everlasting gospel on the shores of Europe, and I can assure my friends
I was taken by surprise when I was informed by Brother Hyrum Smith,
one of the Presidency of the Church, that I had been designed by the
Spirit, and, at a conference of the authorities of the Church which had
been held, was appointed to take the charge of a mission to the kingdom
of Great Britain.
The idea of being appointed to such an important office and mission
was almost more than I could bear up under. I felt my weakness and
unworthiness, and was nearly ready to sink under the task which
devolved upon me, and I could not help exclaiming: "O Lord I am a man
of 'stammering tongue,' and altogether unfit for such a work. How can
I go to preach in that land, which is so famed throughout Christendom
for light, knowledge and piety, and as the nursery of religion; and to
a people whose intelligence is proverbial?"
Again, the idea of leaving my family for so long a time, which a
mission to that country must necessarily require--of being separated
from my friends whom I loved, and with whom I had enjoyed many
blessings and happy seasons--of leaving my native land to sojourn among
strangers in a strange land, was almost overwhelming.
However, all these considerations did not deter me from the path of
duty. Neither did I confer with flesh and blood; but the moment I
understood the will of my Heavenly Father, I felt a determination to
go at all hazards, believing that He would support me by His almighty
power, and endow me with every qualification I needed.
Although my family were dear to me, and I should have to leave them
almost destitute, I felt that the cause of truth, the gospel of Christ,
outweighed every other consideration; and I felt willing to leave them,
believing that their wants would be provided for by that God who taketh
care of sparrows and who feedeth the young ravens when they cry.
I was then set apart, along with Elder Hyde, who was likewise appointed
to that mission, by the laying on of the hands of the Presidency, who
agreed that Elders Goodson, Russell, Richards, Fielding and Snider
should accompany us.
After spending a few days in arranging my affairs and settling my
business, on the thirteenth day of June, A. D. 1837, I bade adieu to my
family and friends, and the town of Kirtland, where the house of the
Lord stood, in which I had received my anointing, and had seen such
wonderful displays of the power and glory of God. In company with Elder
Hyde and the other brethren, I arrived at Fairport, on Lake Erie, that
afternoon, a distance of twelve miles; and about an hour after our
arrival, took passage in a steam-boat for Buffalo, New York.
We were accompanied by Brother R. B. Thompson and wife, who were on
their way to Canada, from Kirtland, where he intended to labor in the
ministry.
After a pleasant voyage, we reached Buffalo the next day, at which
place we expected to get some funds which were promised us, to assist
us on our journey, but we were unfortunately disappointed.
At that time we had but very little means, but still we determined to
prosecute our journey, believing that the Lord would open our way.
We accordingly continued our journey, and took our passage in a line
boat on the Erie Canal to Utica, a distance of two hundred and fifty
miles, and thence to Albany on the railroad.
From this latter place I went with Brother Richards into the country
about thirty miles, where we were successful in obtaining some means to
enable us to prosecute our journey. We then returned and took passage
on a steamboat for New York, at which place we arrived on the 22nd day
of June.
On our arrival we met with Brothers Goodson and Snider, according to
appointment (they having gone round by the way of Canada), all in good
health.
When we arrived at New York we found a vessel ready to sail, but not
having sufficient means we were obliged to wait until such time as
we could obtain funds to pay our passage and buy provisions for the
voyage. We rented a small room in a store house, hoping that some
way would be provided for us to go forward and fulfill the mission
whereunto we were sent.
We spent considerable time while we were there in praying to our
Heavenly Father for His guidance and protection, that He would make
our way plain before us, bless us with a prosperous voyage across the
billows of the mighty ocean, and make us a blessing to each other and
to the captain and crew with whom we should sail.
During our stay in that city, we were subject to many inconveniences.
We had to lay upon the floor, and had to buy and cook our own victuals;
yet none of these things moved us, neither did we feel discouraged,
believing that the Lord would open our way and guide us to our
destination.
We conversed with many persons on the subject of the gospel, and
distributed a large number of copies of the "Prophetic Warning" among
all classes of the community; not forgetting the ministers of religion
who abound in that city. We sent a copy to every one whose name we
could ascertain through the medium of the post office.
After remaining a few days, we were presented with sixty dollars to
assist us. Brother Elijah Fordham made us a present of ten dollars,
and concluded to accompany us on our mission, but upon more mature
consideration, we thought it was best for him to stop in that place,
believing that the Lord had a people in that city, and that a Church
would be built up, which was afterwards done by the instrumentality of
Elders Parley P. and Orson Pratt.
Having obtained as much money as would pay our passage across the
Atlantic, we laid in a stock of provisions, and on the first day of
July went on board the ship _Garrick_, bound for Liverpool, and weighed
anchor about ten o'clock, a. m., and about four o'clock, p. m. of the
same day, lost sight of my native land. I had feelings which I cannot
describe when I could no longer behold its shores, and when I bade
adieu to the land of my birth, which was fast receding, I felt to
exclaim:
"Yes, my native land, I love thee:
All thy scenes I love them well:
Friends, connections, happy country,
Can I bid you all farewell?
Can I leave you
Far in distant lands to dwell?"
However, when I reflected on the causes which had induced me to leave
it for a while, and the work which devolved upon me I could likewise
say,
"I go, but not to plough the main
To ease a restless mind."
No; I hope I was actuated by a different motive than either to please
myself or to gain the riches and applause of the world; it was a
higher consideration than these that induced me to leave my home. It
was because a dispensation of the gospel had been committed to me,
and I felt an ardent desire that my fellow-creatures in other lands,
as well as those of the land of my birth, might hear the sound of the
everlasting gospel, obey its requisitions, rejoice in the fullness and
blessings thereof and escape the judgments which were threatened upon
the ungodly.
Our passage was very agreeable, and the winds for most part very
favorable. On the banks of Newfoundland we saw several whales and many
different species of fish.
We were kindly treated while on board, both by the officers and crew,
and their conduct was indeed praiseworthy; had we been their own
relatives, they could not have behaved more kindly or have treated us
better. Thus the Lord answered our prayers in this respect, for which I
desire to praise His holy name.
The Lord also gave us favor in the eyes of the passengers, who treated
us with the greatest respect. During our voyage a child belonging to
one of the passengers was very sick and was given up for dead by the
doctor who attended it; consequently, its parents had given up all
hopes of its recovery, and expected to have to commit their little
one to the ocean. Feeling a great anxiety for the child, I went to
its parents and reasoned with, and laid before them the principle of
faith, and told them that the Lord was able to restore their child,
notwithstanding there was no earthly prospect of its recovery, to
which they listened with great interest. Having an opportunity shortly
after, secretly to lay hands upon the child, I did so, and in the name
of Jesus Christ rebuked the disease which preyed upon its system. The
Spirit of the Lord attended the administration, and from that time the
child began to recover, and two or three days after it was running
about perfectly well. Its parents had to acknowledge that it was healed
by the power of the Almighty.
The last Sunday we were on the water I went to the captain and asked
the privilege for one of us to preach on board. He very obligingly
agreed, and appointed the time when it would be most suitable for
himself and the crew to attend, which was at one o'clock p. m. We then
appointed Brother Hyde to speak, and notified the crew and passengers
of the circumstance.
At the time appointed, there was a congregation of from two to three
hundred persons assembled on the deck, who listened with great
attention and deep interest to the discourse, which was delivered
with great power. I think I never heard Brother Hyde speak with
such power and eloquence as that time; he spoke on the subject of
the resurrection. The time being limited on account of the duties
of the ship's company, his subject was necessarily condensed. The
congregation was composed of persons from different nations, and of
different faiths, English, Irish, Scotch, Germans, French, etc., both
Jews and Christians. A great feeling was produced upon the minds of
the assembly, who had never heard the subject treated in like manner
before, and from the conversation we afterwards had with several of
them, I believe that good was done and many from that time began to
search the scriptures for themselves, which are able to make men wise
unto salvation.
On the 15th of July we came in sight of land, which caused joy and
gratitude to my Heavenly Father to arise in my bosom for the favorable
passage we had had so far and the prospect of soon reaching our
destination. We then sailed up the Irish channel, having Ireland on
our left and Wales on our right. The scenery was very beautiful and
imposing.
Three days after first seeing land, being the 18th of July, we arrived
in Liverpool, one of the largest ports in Great Britain, being just
seventeen days and two hours from our departure from New York. The
packet ship _South America_, which left New York the same time we did,
came in a few lengths behind. The sight was very grand to see these two
vessels enter port, with every inch of canvass spread. When we first
got sight of Liverpool, I went to the side of the vessel and poured out
my soul in praise and thanksgiving to God for the prosperous voyage
and for all the mercies which He had vouchsafed to me, and while thus
engaged, and while contemplating the scenery which then presented
itself and the circumstances which had brought me thus far, the Spirit
of the Lord rested upon me in a powerful manner; my soul was filled
with love and gratitude, and was humbled within me, while I covenanted
to dedicate myself to God and to love and serve Him with all my heart.
Immediately after we anchored, a small boat came alongside, and
several of the passengers, with Brothers Hyde, Richards, Goodson and
myself got in and went on shore. When we were within six or seven feet
from the pier, I leaped on shore, and for the first time in my life
stood on British ground, among strangers whose manners and customs
were different from my own. My feelings at that time were peculiar,
particularly when I realized the object, importance and extent of my
mission and the work to which I had been appointed and in which I was
shortly to be engaged.