THE MISSION TO ENGLAND.
In the year 1837, when the evil one was trying with all his might to
overthrow the Church both at Kirtland and in Missouri, the Lord told Joseph
that the time had come for "something new" to be done. This was to send
missionaries to England and open the gospel door to that people.
Elder Heber C. Kimball was chosen to take the lead of this mission, and
with him went Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, Joseph Fielding, John Goodson,
Isaac Russell, and John Snider.
This was the first mission to any foreign country, and in those days of
slow travel, a trip to Europe was no small matter. The brethren set out on
their journey without purse or scrip, but the Lord opened up their way, and
at last they landed in Liverpool, England, July 20, 1837.
They were in a strange country, had no money, no friends.
[Illustration: PRESIDENT HEBER C. KIMBALL]
"Go to Preston," said the Spirit of the Lord to them. Preston is a city
thirty miles from Liverpool, and there they went. Joseph Fielding had a
brother living in the city, who was a preacher, and on his invitation the
missionaries held their first meeting in his chapel. This was the first
Sunday after their arrival. The people listened eagerly to what the elders
said, for it seems that a great many honest souls had been waiting for just
such a message.
After the third meeting, the Rev. Mr. Fielding would not let the elders use
his church, as he was afraid they would take away his congregation. From
that time he opposed the missionaries, and was soon joined in this by other
preachers.
However, the people had received a taste of the gospel and they wanted
more, so meetings were held in private houses. On the eighth day after the
arrival of the elders in England, nine persons were baptized into the
Church by Elder Kimball.
Thus was the door opened, and the gospel soon spread in a wonderful manner.
The elders now separated and went to different towns, preaching, baptizing,
and organizing branches of the Church. Great crowds came out to hear them,
especially in and around the city of Preston. It was a most glorious time
and full of interesting events which this little book cannot tell you
about; but here is a sample:
One day Elder Kimball told some of the brethren that he thought of going to
a place called Chatburn, to hold meetings. He was told that it would do no
good, as it was a very wicked place, and the people there would have
nothing to do with preachers. Elder Kimball went, however, and large crowds
came out to hear him. While teaching the people the need of repenting of
their evil doings and being baptized for the remission of their sins,
Brother Kimball felt someone pulling at his coat:
"Please sir, will you baptize me?" asked one.
"And me, and me!" exclaimed a dozen voices.
So Elder Kimball went down into the water and baptized twenty-five persons.
As the elders were walking out of the village, the young folks of the place
ran to meet them, the older people stood in their doors to greet and bless
them, while the children ran ahead, hand in hand, singing their songs of
gladness.
At a conference held in Preston, April 8, 1838, there were reports from
twenty-six branches of the Church. The total number of souls in the Church
was reported to be about two thousand; and all this was done in the short
space of eight months.
The next day Elders Kimball, Hyde, and Russell left for home, leaving
Willard Richards to preside over the mission. Many were the sad partings
these brethren had with the Saints, for a great love grows up between the
Saints in the world and the elders who have brought them the gospel.
January 11, 1840, Elders John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff landed in
England. Brother Woodruff was led by the Spirit to go into a part of
England called Herefordshire. Here he found a religious body of people
called United Brethren. They had withdrawn from the Church of England, and
were now praying that the Lord would send them more light. These people
heard Elder Woodruff gladly, and with joy they received the gospel. Within
one month he baptized all their preachers, forty-five in number, and one
hundred and sixty of their members. In eight months time Elder Woodruff
brought eighteen hundred souls into the Church, including all the six
hundred United Brethren, save one.
At one time just as Elder Woodruff was about to begin a meeting, a
constable came to arrest him for preaching. The officer was asked to take a
seat, and was told that after the meeting Elder Woodruff would be at his
service. The constable was very much interested in the sermon. At the close
of the meeting seven persons asked for baptism, and the constable was one
of the number. After this, two clerks of the Church of England were sent as
spies to find out what the Mormon elders preached. Both of these men
believed and joined the Church.
Now came others of the Apostles to England to roll on the work. Brigham
Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, and George A. Smith
arrived on April 6, 1840. At a conference held in Preston on the 14th,
Willard Richards was ordained an Apostle, so that now there were eight of
the Twelve together. At this meeting it was decided to print a paper to be
called _The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star_. This paper has been
published from that day to this, it being the oldest publication in the
Church.
The Church now grew rapidly. Branches were organized in Scotland, Ireland,
Wales, and in many of the large cities in England. At a conference held in
the city of Manchester, April 6, 1841, it was found that there were about
six thousand members of the Church in Great Britain. Eight hundred Saints
had emigrated to America during the year. At this conference, nine of the
Twelve were present, Orson Hyde having arrived on his way to Palestine,
where he was going to dedicate that land for the gathering of the Jews.
Shortly after this conference, the apostles left England to return home,
leaving Parley P. Pratt in charge of the mission. From that time the work
has continued in Great Britain, and many honest souls have come to the
knowledge of the gospel.
Topics.--1. The first mission to England. 2. Wilford Woodruff's
experience. 3. Mission of the eight Apostles.
Questions and Review.--1. When were the first missionaries sent to
England? 2. Who were they? 3. Where was the first sermon preached? 4. How
did the people receive the elders? 5. What happened at Chatburn? 6. What
was accomplished in eight months? 7. Who were the second missionaries to
England? 8. Who were the United Brethren? 9. Tell of President Woodruff's
work among them. 10. Who composed the third party of missionaries? 11. What
was done at the conference held April 14, 1840. 12. What is the Millennial
Star? 13. What was Orson Hyde's mission to Palestine?