Editor's reflections.--Lorenzo writes to President Richards.--Completed
Translation of the Book of Mormon.--Visits Paris.--Pleasure of meeting
Saints.--Condition of the people.--Goes to Geneva.--Degradation
of woman.--Meets Elder Stenhouse.--Interesting meetings.--At
Lausanne.--Professor Reta.--Benefit of Elder Taylor's French
publications.
There are many passages in human life, wherein, by close and careful
observation and reflection--silently watching the results of the
course and doings of others, we may learn by their experience. There
are many others which can only be learned by individual, personal
acquaintance. When contemplating the life of my brother as a missionary
abroad in stranger lands, unacquainted with the manners and customs
of the people, and ignorant of their languages and dialects, with the
responsibility of the salvation of souls to whom he is sent resting
upon him, in connection with the fulness of the Gospel of the Son of
God committed unto him, it seems that he has to do with some of the
realities of life, of which no one can form a just conception except in
the school of experience.
It would seem that the most indifferent reader must feel an interest
in these gigantic movements of my brother--this broad platform for
missionary work--a parallel of which is not to be found on record,
either ancient or modern. An all-absorbing devotion to the cause he
was seeking to promote must have possessed the soul and inspired the
mind of Lorenzo in generating this broad missionary platform, and a
corresponding self-abnegation must have reigned supremely over all
selfish, personal considerations. Let it be remembered that at this
time he had a home with all its endearments, in the midst of the Saints
of God gathered in the Great American Desert, in the midst of the Rocky
Mountains of the West; and in that home a loving family, where he knew
that the little one ones were lisping his name, and daily missing their
loving father's knee; but with him all was laid on the altar for the
interest of the Kingdom of God and the salvation of the souls of men.
Paris, January 6, 1852.
_Dear President Richards_:
After a very boisterous and stormy passage over the Channel, with
its usual unpleasant accompaniments, I am quietly and agreeably
cloistered with Elder Bolton, together with a number of interesting and
intelligent Saints, and begin to think that my homeward journey of some
twenty-five or thirty thousand miles is now commenced.
Before leaving London, I had completed the translation of the Book of
Mormon, and got the printing forward to the last hundred pages. Elder
Joseph Richards, whom I appointed to a mission to Calcutta, to assist
Elder Willis, left London a few days before my departure. I repose much
confidence in this brother, as one who will magnify his calling and do
much towards establishing the Gospel in that country.
I find it much more pleasant now coming to Paris than formerly. When
passing through a year and a half since, here were no Saints to bid me
welcome; on arriving the other day, I found many, a circumstance you
can well imagine causing no small degree of rejoicing. I found Brother
Bolton quite an invalid; he is now much better. When the interests of
his mission will admit of a short absence, I dare say that a visit to
the cheerful, warm-hearted Saints of Old England would replenish his
spirits, and not be in any way a disadvantage. The Church here does
not boast of a multitude of subjects, but it may truthfully be said to
embrace the good, the virtuous and intelligent.
Elder Taylor may comfort his heart with the assurance of having laid
a lasting foundation for the spread of the Gospel in the French
dominions, though no sea room is left at present; in fact, I know of
no place the Gospel has been carried, where the difficulties are more
perplexing and discouraging. However, the time will come when the
Gospel will take permanent effect in France.
I am much pleased with the acquaintance I have formed with the Saints
here; I feel that they will accomplish great good. I think Elder Bolton
intends making another application to the Government for the privilege
of preaching the Gospel with equal liberty with other denominations--a
course which I much approve.
I need not speak of the political condition of the country, it is well
known to all who read the English papers. In passing over the country,
and searching the mind of the Spirit in reference to its inhabitants,
my heart is pained in contemplating the dark, dreary and bloody fate
and scourge that await this nation. The life's blood of many people
is scarcely wiped from the streets, the groans of the dying hardly
ceased, the flowing tears of the widow and orphans are still seen. As
you look around and view the troubled mien--the dark and stormy brows
of thousands--behold the significant signs, notice the low whispering
and stealthy conversations, and hear of the sudden and mysterious
changes that are constantly taking place through the various channels
of political power, you are forced to feel that again must be renewed
scenes of alarm, of sorrow, of grief and of blood! Would "the powers
that be" but permit the message of life to go forth freely among the
inhabitants, there would be hope that the cup of bitterness might, for
a season, be turned away.
I now have my passport "vise," and have just secured my place in the
_diligence_ for Switzerland. Good bye; you shall hear from me again as
I get a little further advanced in the path of my orbit. May the Lord
bless you with all that is good to fill your heart with rejoicing, and
may the same blessing descend upon all the faithful Saints.
Geneva, February 7. Bidding adieu to the brethren in Paris, on the
morning of the 27th of January, I stepped into a _diligence,_ and was
soon on my way to Switzerland. The country over which I passed the
first two hundred miles seemed, though in the midst of winter, to wear
the appearance of an American spring. France is _un beau pays_; one
could scarcely wish to live in a more delightful climate, or a more
beautiful and charming country. Everywhere people were seen in pasture
and ploughed fields, meadows and vineyards, busily occupied preparing
for approaching spring. What appeared a dark spot in this otherwise
beautiful scenery, was the number of poor women slavishly engaged in
manual labor, and exposed to all the hardships of out-door occupations.
Small towns and villages dotted the face of the country, the
foundations of which appeared in almost every instance to be that of
some religious Catholic edifice. It would seem that in building these
towns the churches were first erected, then private dwellings piled
around, one after another, as the inhabitants arrived. As we approached
Switzerland, the country was more and more broken, till we began to
wind up and descend down the rugged, snow-covered steeps of the Jura.
About midnight of the 28th I reached Geneva, where I had the happiness
of meeting Elder Stenhouse, whom I found with several of the Swiss
Saints waiting to welcome my arrival. I accompanied Elder Stenhouse
to his lodgings, where I had the gratification of sitting down to an
excellent supper, prepared by Sister Stenhouse with an eye single to
the probable condition of my appetite at the completion of a fatiguing
journey over the mountains.
The following evening we had a very interesting meeting with the
Saints, at which several strangers were present. Elder Stenhouse
addressed the meeting in French with great fluency, and several
brethren gave their testimony relative to their knowledge of the
work of the Lord, and their joy and consolation in the principles of
salvation.
In moving the work forward here, much the same course has to be adopted
as at our commencement in London, _i. e_., by forming acquaintances
through one to another, and persuading one here and another there to
attend our re-unions. The people feel that they have had so many new
and false coins passed among them, that it is of little use to search
for or anticipate anything that is genuine; nevertheless, patience
and perseverance will, in time, overcome all these difficulties, and
the power of truth will triumph through the length and breadth of
Switzerland, unto the redemption of the wise and virtuous.
Our little family of Saints here now numbers twenty. Having no
acquaintance with the language, and being a stranger to the manners
and customs of the people, and having no friend to introduce him to
the favor and confidence of any one, Elder Stenhouse, as can readily
be imagined, has had to encounter difficulties insurmountable to any
but those who have the most perfect consciousness of the truth and
life-giving power and spirit of the cause in which they are engaged.
Through the blessing of the Lord these difficulties are being fast
overcome, and I have great confidence that the work will now roll on
with accelerated speed. The Saints are full of life and energy, and
embrace every opportunity to make known the doctrines of our Church;
several of them are persons of education and influence in society. I
expect that much good will shortly result from their united labors and
testimonies.
After having passed a few days very agreeably and profitably at
Geneva, I left, accompanied by Brother and Sister Stenhouse, to visit
the Saints in the Canton de Vaud. We were favored with beautiful
weather, which made our steamboat excursion on the the clear lake
of Geneva very agreeable. Switzerland has a world-wide fame for
beautiful scenery; though the winter season is not the most favorable
for landscape varieties, we were much pleased with the general beauty
of the country. The many fine villas and chateaux, surrounded with
gardens and vineyards, that besprinkle the gently rising banks on one
side of the lake, formed a beautiful contrast with Mont Blanc and the
lofty, snow-capped mountains on the other. Though the works, wonders
and beauties of nature prompted our minds to contemplation, and raised
their springs of gratitude to the good and wise Preserver of all, yet
there was a still higher theme for contemplation, a still greater
incentive to gratitude--the work of the Lord.
We arrived at Lausanne, an ancient town romantically situated upon the
banks of this beautiful lake, and spent a few days very pleasantly with
the Saints, the fruits of Elder Stenhouse's labors. We held meetings
every night during our stay, and enjoyed much of the Spirit and power
of the Lord. Since my arrival here I have had a pleasant visit from
Professor Reta, an Italian gentleman of literary talent and celebrity,
who has published some important works in the Italian language, as well
as having edited several of the first journals in Italy. I presented
him the four hundred pages of the Book of Mormon that I had with me,
which he pronounced "a correct and admirable translation, and in a very
appropriate style of language."
I acknowledge with pleasure the benefits we are deriving from Elder
Taylor's French publications, which, together with my own, we endeavor
to circulate as widely as possible. My visit here has been a great
blessing to me, and I humbly trust it will result in lasting and
important benefit to the interests of the work generally.
In a few days I leave for Italy. The gigantic Alps lie in my route,
rearing their snow-capped heads high amid the clouds; I trust, however,
they will prove no positive barrier, as passing over them last January
in a severe snow storm has given me some experience and confidence in
encountering such formidable obstacles.
Brother Stenhouse joins me in kind love to yourself and your brother
Samuel.
Yours very affectionately,
Lorenzo Snow.