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.
The idea of standing forth and proclaiming the gospel in a land so much
extolled for religion, which was constantly sending forth her ministers
to almost every nation under heaven, and among a people who, of course,
did not expect to be taught, but to teach others the principles of the
gospel, and the consciousness of my own weakness and unfitness for
such an undertaking, led me to cry mightily to the Lord for wisdom and
for that comfort and support which I so much needed. At the same time
I thought that if I could have been relieved from the responsibility
which rested upon me, by fighting Goliath on as unequal terms as David
did, I should have felt myself happy.
However, I endeavored to put my trust in God, believing that He would
assist me in publishing the truth and that He would be a present help
in the time of need.
Having no means, poor and penniless we wandered in the streets of that
great city, where wealth and luxury, penury and want abound. I there
met the rich attired in the most costly dresses, and the next moment
was saluted with the cries of the poor, who were without covering
sufficient to screen them from the weather. Such a distinction I never
saw before. We then looked out for a place to lodge in, and found a
room belonging to a widow which we engaged for a few days.
The time we were in Liverpool was spent in council and in calling on
the Lord for direction, so that we might be led to places where we
should be most useful in proclaiming the gospel and in establishing and
spreading His kingdom. While thus engaged, the Spirit of the Lord, the
mighty power of God, was with us, and we felt greatly strengthened, and
a determination to go forward, come life or death, honor or reproach,
was manifested by us all. Our trust was in God, who we believed could
make us as useful in bringing down the kingdom of Satan as He did the
rams' horns, in bringing down the walls of Jericho and in gathering
out a number of precious souls who were buried amidst the rubbish of
tradition, and who had none to show them the way of truth.
Feeling led by the Spirit of the Lord to go to Preston, a large
manufacturing town in Lancashire, we started for that place three
days after our arrival in Liverpool. We went by coach and arrived on
Saturday afternoon about four o'clock. After unloading our trunks,
Brother Goodson went in search of a place of lodging, and Brother
Fielding went to seek a brother of his, who was a minister, residing in
that place.
It being the day on which their representatives were chosen, the
streets presented a very busy scene; indeed I never witnessed anything
like it before in my life.
On one of the flags, which was just enrolled before us the moment
the coach reached its destination, was the following motto: "TRUTH
WILL PREVAIL," which was painted in large, gilt letters. It being so
very seasonable and the sentiment being so appropriate to us in our
situation, we were involuntarily led to exclaim, "Amen! So let it be."
Brother Goodson having found a room where we could be accommodated,
which belonged to a widow woman, situated in Wilford Street, we moved
our baggage there. Shortly after, Brother. Fielding returned, having
found his brother, who requested to have an interview with some of us
that evening. Accordingly, Elders Hyde, Goodson and I went and were
kindly received by him and Mr. Watson, his brother-in-law, who was
present at the time.
We gave them a short account of the object of our mission and the great
work which the Lord had commenced, and conversed upon those subjects
until a late hour. The next morning we were presented with half a
crown, which Mr. Fielding's sister had sent us.
It being Sunday, we went to hear Mr. Fielding preach. After he had
finished his discourse, and without being requested by us, he gave out
an appointment for some one of us to preach in the afternoon.
It being noised abroad that some Elders from America were in town
and were going to preach in the afternoon, a large concourse of
people assembled to hear us. It falling to my lot to speak, I called
their attention to the first principles of the gospel, and told them
something of the nature of the work which the Lord had commenced on
the earth. Brother Hyde afterwards bore testimony to the same, which I
believe was received by many with whom I afterwards conversed.
Another appointment was given out for us in the evening, at which
time Brother Goodson preached and Brother Fielding bore testimony.
An appointment was then made for us on Wednesday evening at the same
place, at which time Elder Hyde preached. A number now being convinced
of the truth, believed the testimony and began to praise God and
rejoice exceedingly that the Lord had again visited His people, and
sent His servants to lay before them the doctrine of the gospel "and
the truth as it is in Jesus."
The Rev. Mr. Fielding, who had kindly invited us to preach in his
chapel, knowing that quite a number of his members believed our
testimony and that some were wishful to be baptized, shut his doors
against us and would suffer us to preach no more in his chapel. For an
excuse, he said that we had preached the doctrine of baptism for the
remission of sins, contrary to our arrangement with him.
I need scarcely assure my friends that nothing was said to him from
which any inference could be drawn that we should suppress the doctrine
of baptism. No! We deemed it too important a doctrine to lay aside for
any privilege we could receive from mortals. Mr. Fielding understood
our doctrines even before we came there, having received several
communications from his brother Joseph, who wrote to him from Canada,
explaining the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. We likewise had conversed with him on the subject at our former
interview. However, he having been traditioned to believe in infant
baptism, and having preached and practiced the same a number of years,
he saw the situation he would be placed in if he obeyed the gospel.
Notwithstanding his talents and standing in society, he would have to
come into the sheepfold by the door; and after all his preaching to
others, have to be baptized himself for the remission of sins by those
who were ordained to that power.
These considerations undoubtedly had their weight upon his mind, and
caused him to act as he did, and notwithstanding his former kindness he
soon became one of our most violent opposers.
An observation which escaped his lips shortly after this circumstance,
I shall here mention. Speaking one day respecting the three first
sermons which were preached in that place, he said that "Kimball bored
the holes, Goodson drove the nails and Hyde clinched them."
However, his congregation did not follow his example; they had for some
time been praying for our coming, and had been assured by Mr. Fielding
that he could not place more confidence in an angel than he did in
the statements of his brother respecting this people. Consequently,
they were in a great measure prepared for the reception of the gospel,
probably as much so as Cornelius was anciently.
Having now no public place to preach in, we began to preach in private
houses, which were opened in every direction, while numbers believed
the gospel. After we had been in that place eight days, we began to
baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins. One
"reverend" gentleman came and forbid us baptizing any of his members;
but we told him that all who were of age and requested baptism we
should undoubtedly administer that ordinance to.
One Saturday evening I was appointed by the brethren to baptize a
number the next morning in the river Ribble, which runs through that
place. By this time, the adversary of souls began to rage, and he felt
a determination to destroy us before we had fully established the
gospel in that land; and the next morning I witnessed such a scene of
satanic power and influence as I shall never forget while memory lasts.
About day-break, Brother Russell (who was appointed to preach in the
market-place that day), who slept in the second story of the house in
which we were entertained, came up to the room where Elder Hyde and I
were sleeping and called upon us to arise and pray for him, for he was
so afflicted with evil spirits that he could not live long unless he
should obtain relief.
We immediately arose, laid hands upon him and prayed that the Lord
would have mercy on His servant and rebuke the devil. While thus
engaged, I was struck with great force by some invisible power and fell
senseless on the floor as if I had been shot, and the first thing that
I recollected was, that I was supported by Brothers Hyde and Russell,
who were beseeching a throne of grace in my behalf. They then laid me
on the bed, but my agony was so great that I could not endure, and I
was obliged to get out, and fell on my knees and began to pray. I then
sat on the bed and could distinctly see the evil spirits, who foamed
and gnashed their teeth upon us. We gazed upon them about an hour and a
half, and I shall never forget the horror and malignity depicted on the
countenances of these foul spirits, and any attempt to paint the scene
which then presented itself, or portray the malice and enmity depicted
in their countenances would be vain.
I perspired exceedingly, and my clothes were as wet as if I had
been taken out of the river. I felt exquisite pain, and was in the
greatest distress for some time. However, I learned by it the power
of the adversary, his enmity against the servants of God and got some
understanding of the invisible world.
The Lord delivered us from the wrath of our spiritual enemies
and blessed us exceedingly that day, and I had the pleasure
(notwithstanding my weakness of body from the shock I had experienced)
of baptizing nine individuals and hailing them brethren in the kingdom
of God.
A circumstance took place while at the water side which I cannot
refrain from mentioning, which will show the eagerness and anxiety of
some in that land to obey the gospel. Two of the candidates who were
changing their clothes and preparing for baptism at the distance of
several rods from the place where I was standing in the water, were so
anxious to obey the gospel, that they ran with all their might to the
water, each wishing to be baptized first. The younger, being quicker on
foot than the elder, out-ran him, and came first into the water. The
circumstance reminded me of Peter and another disciple, who went to see
the sepulchre where the Savior was laid: their anxiety was so great to
find out whether He was yet there or not, that they had a race for it.
The ceremony of baptizing being somewhat novel, a large concourse of
people assembled on the banks of the river to witness the ceremony.
In the afternoon, Elder Russell preached in the market-place, standing
on a pedestal, to a very large congregation, numbers of whom were
pricked to the heart.
Thus the work of the Lord commenced in that land (notwithstanding the
rage of the adversary and his attempt to destroy us)--a work which
shall roll forth, not only in that land but upon all the face of the
earth, even "in lands and isles unknown."
The next morning we held a council, at which Elders Goodson and
Richards were appointed to go to the city of Bedford, there being a
good prospect, from the information received, of a Church being built
up in that city. Elders Russell and Snider were appointed to go to
Alston, in Cumberland, near the borders of Scotland, and Elders Hyde,
Fielding and the writer were to remain in Preston and the regions round
about.
The next day, the brethren took their departure for the different
fields of labor assigned them.
Brothers Hyde, Fielding and I continued lifting up our voices in
private houses, at the corners of the streets, in the market-place and
wherever the Lord opened a door. The following Sabbath, Elder Hyde
preached in the market-place to a numerous assemblage, both rich and
poor, who flocked from all parts to hear "what these babblers had to
say," hearing that we were "setters forth of strange doctrines." After
Brother Hyde had got through, I gave an exhortation, and when I had
concluded, a minister stepped forward to oppose us on the doctrines we
advanced, but more particularly on the doctrine of baptism, he being a
great stickler for infant baptism.
The people, thinking he intended to offend us, would not let him
proceed, but seemed determined to put him down, and undoubtedly would
have done so had not Brother Hyde interposed and begged permission for
the gentleman to speak, telling the congregation that he was prepared
to meet any arguments he might advance. This appeased the people, who
listened to the remarks of the reverend gentleman; after which Brother
Hyde spoke in answer to the objections which had been offered, to the
satisfaction of nearly all present.
The minister felt somewhat ashamed. One individual came up to him and
asked him what he now thought of his "baby baptism," while another
came, took him by the hand and led him out of the throng. Indeed, all
those who arose up to oppose the doctrines we taught were confounded,
and could not with any success combat the truths we preached.