THE ELDERS SEPARATE FOR THE BETTER PROSECUTION OF THEIR WORK--JENNETTA
RICHARDS--THE PRESTON BRANCH ORGANIZED--HEBER GOES TO WALKERFOLD--
ANOTHER MINISTER'S "CRAFT IN DANGER"--MORE OF HEBER'S PROPHECIES--
"WILLARD, I BAPTIZED YOUR WIFE TO-DAY."
Having gained a foothold in Preston, and lifted the ensign of the
latter-day work, around which the ransomed of the Lord were beginning
to rally, the Elders decided to separate and carry the Gospel into
other counties. They met in council the day after the first baptisms
in the River Ribble, and "continued in fasting and prayer, praise and
thanksgiving until two o'clock in the morning." Elders Richards and
Goodson were appointed to go on a mission to the city of Bedford, and
Brothers Russell and Snyder to Alston, in Cumberland. Apostles Kimball
and Hyde, with Priest Fielding, were to remain and labor in and around
Preston. A day or two later the brethren departed for their fields of
labor.
The second important step in the founding of the British mission was
now taken.
"On Wednesday, August 2nd," says Elder Kimball, "Miss Jennetta
Richards, a young lady, the daughter of a minister of the Independent
Order, who resided at Walkerfold, about fifteen miles from Preston,
came to the house of Thomas Walmesley, with whom she was acquainted.
Calling in to see them at the time she was there, I was introduced to
her, and we immediately entered into conversation on the subject of
the Gospel. I found her very intelligent. She seemed very desirous to
hear the things I had to teach and to understand the doctrines of the
gospel. I informed her of my appointment to preach that evening, and
invited her to attend. She did so; and likewise the evening following.
After attending these two services she was fully convinced of the
truth.
"Friday morning, 4th, she sent for me, desiring to be baptized, which
request I cheerfully complied with, in the river Ribble, and confirmed
her at the water side, Elder Hyde assisting. This was the first
confirmation in England. The following day she started for home, and
wept as she was about to leave us. I said to her, 'Sister, be of good
cheer, for the Lord will soften the heart of thy father, that I will
yet have the privilege of preaching in his chapel, and it shall result
in a great opening to preach the Gospel in that region.' I exhorted
her to pray and be humble. She requested me to pray for her, and gave
me some encouragement to expect that her father would open his chapel
for me to preach in. I then hastened to my brethren, told them of the
circumstances and the result of my visit with the young lady, and
called upon them to unite with me in prayer that the Lord would soften
the heart of her father, that he might be induced to open his chapel
for us to preach in."
While awaiting the issue of this event, the brethren continued their
ministerial labors. The record resumes:
"Sunday, 6th, Elder Hyde preached in the marketplace to a numerous
assemblage, both rich and poor, who flocked from all parts 'to hear
what these dippers had to say.' After he was through with his
discourse I gave an exhortation, and when I had concluded a learned
minister stepped forth to oppose the doctrines we advanced, but more
particularly the doctrine of baptism, he being a great stickler for
infant baptism. The people thinking that 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, and
the minister appeared somewhat ashamed. Some of the people hissed at
him and told him not to do the like again. One individual came up and
asked him what he now thought of his baby baptism; when another took
him by the hand and led him out of the throng."
It was now deemed advisable to confirm all who had been baptized and
organize them into a branch, twenty-eight persons having been baptized
in Preston, but only one confirmed. The converts were accordingly
requested to meet at the house of Sister Ann Dawson, where the Elders
had their lodgings. It was the evening of the third Sabbath they had
spent in England. The meeting having convened, after some preliminary
remarks by the Elders, they confirmed twenty-seven members and
organized the Preston branch, the first branch of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints in a foreign land. While attending to
these sacred duties, the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon them
in a powerful manner, causing them to rejoice exceedingly.
And now came the fulfillment of Heber's prophecy to Jennetta Richards,
daughter of the minister of Walkerfold. The early part of the week
brought two letters to Elder Kimball, one from Miss Richards, and the
other from her father. The latter read as follows:
_Mr. H. C. Kimball,_
Sir:--You are expected to be here next Sunday.
You are given out to preach in the forenoon, afternoon and
evening. Although we be strangers to one another, yet, I hope we
are not strangers to our blessed Redeemer, else I would not have
given out for you to preach. Our chapel is but small and the
congregation few,--yet if one soul be converted it is of more
value than the whole world.
"I remain, in haste,
"JOHN RICHARDS."
Taking coach from Preston on the following Saturday afternoon, a
little before dark Heber arrived at the door of the Revered John
Richards, in Walkerfold. On entering the house he was warmly greeted
by Mr. Richards, who said: "I understand you are the minister lately
from America?" Heber replied in the affirmative. The reverend
gentleman then bade him welcome and exclaimed: "God bless you!"
Refreshments were served and conversation ensued until a late hour, to
the satisfaction of the whole family.
"Next morning," says Heber, "I accompanied the reverend gentleman to
his chapel at the hour appointed. He gave out the hymns and prayed,
and I preached to an overflowing congregation on the principles of
salvation. I likewise preached in the afternoon and evening, and they
seemed to manifest great interest in the things which I laid before
them. Nearly the whole congregation were in tears. After I had
concluded the services of the day Mr. Richards gave out another
appointment for me to preach on Monday evening, which I attended to.
By request of the congregation I likewise preached on Wednesday
evening. A number believed the doctrines I advanced, and on Thursday,
17th, six individuals, all members of Mr. Richards' church, came
forward for baptism. James Smithies and his wife Nancy were two of the
number."
This result was more than the good pastor had anticipated. He had
listened with deep interest to, and had been willing for his
congregation to hear, the simple yet powerful testimony of the Mormon
Apostle, who, fired with the Holy Ghost, and all unmindful of the
studied arts and graces of pulpit oratory, spake, like his Master of
yore, "as one having authority." But conversions of this kind he had
not counted upon. Fearful of losing his entire flock, and also his
salary, if any more such preaching were to be heard in his chapel, he
informed Elder Kimball that he would be obliged to close his pulpit
against him. Unlike Mr. Fielding, however, he manifested no bitterness
of spirit, but after denying him this privilege, continued to treat
his Mormon guest with great kindness and hospitality.
Heber's mind had been prepared for the change. "One night," says he,
"while at Mr. Richards' house, I dreamed that an elderly gentleman
came to me and rented me a lot of ground, which I was anxious to
cultivate. I immediately went to work to break it up; and observing
young timber on the lot, I cut it down. There was also an old building
at one corner of the lot which appeared ready to fall. I took a lever
and endeavored to place the building in a proper position, but all my
attempts were futile, and it became worse. I then resolved to pull it
down, and with the new timber build a good house on a good foundation.
While thus engaged, the gentleman of whom I had rented the place came
and found great fault with me for destroying his young timber, etc.
"This dream was fulfilled in the following manner: After Mr. Richards
let me preach in his chapel, I baptized all of his young members, as I
had before baptized his daughter. He then reflected upon himself for
letting me have the privilege of his chapel; told me that I had ruined
his church, and had taken away all his young members. I could not but
feel pity for the old gentleman, but I had a duty to perform which
outweighed all other considerations."
Heber now began to preach in private houses, which were opened in the
neighborhood, and "ceased not to declare the glorious tidings of
salvation." Among his interested auditors, still, was the Reverend
John Richards. His daughter Jennetta was very sorrowful over the turn
affairs had taken, and wept much at his refusal to allow Elder Kimball
to preach in his chapel. Heber told her to be of good cheer, for he
believed that the Lord would soften her father's heart, and cause him
to reopen his chapel.
The fulfillment is noted as follows:
"Sunday, 27th, I went along with him to his meeting, feeling a desire
to hear him preach. After he had finished his discourse, I was
agreeably surprised to hear him give out another appointment for me to
preach in his chapel. I accordingly preached in the afternoon and
evening. The words were with power. The effect was great upon the
people, for they were in tears, and the next day I baptized two more,
both of them members of Mr. Richards' church. Although he had preached
in that parish upwards of thirty years, and his members, as well as
the inhabitants of the place and vicinity, were very much attached to
him, yet when the fulness of the Gospel was preached, the people,
notwithstanding their attachment to and regard for their venerable
pastor, when convinced of their duty came forward and followed the
footsteps of the Savior, by being buried in the likeness of His
death."
While laboring in this neighborhood, Heber had a dream in which
Willard Richards appeared to him and said: "You are wanted at Preston,
and we cannot do without you any longer."
"The next morning," says he, "I started for Preston where I found that
I was anxiously expected by the brethren, who had received a letter
from Brother Richards, and one from Brother Russell, giving an account
of their proceedings since they left Preston. There was also a letter
from my wife, which contained many precious items of news from
Kirtland. Elder Hyde praised the Lord on seeing me. Brother Goodson
had likewise returned from Bedford, where he and Brother Richards had
labored; he gave us an account of their mission and success in raising
up a little branch of nineteen."
Another of Heber's prophecies--one of those seemingly casual though
fateful utterances for which he was famous--must here be mentioned.
"Willard, I baptized your wife to-day," were his words addressed to
Elder Richards just after Jennetta Richards joined the Church. Willard
and Jennetta had not yet seen each other. The sequel is in Willard's
own words, taken from his diary. Time: March, 1838:
"I took a tour through the branches, and preached. While walking in
Thornly I plucked a snowdrop, far through the hedge, and carried it to
James Mercer's and hung it up in his kitchen. Soon after, Jennetta
Richards came into the room, and I walked with her and Alice Parker to
Ribchester, and attended meeting with Brothers Kimball and Hyde at
Brother Clark's.
"While walking with these sisters, I remarked, 'Richards is a good
name; I never want to change it; do you, Jennetta.' 'No; I do not,'
was her reply, 'and I think I never will.'"
"Sept. 24th, 1839, I married Jennetta Richards, daughter of the Rev.
John Richards, independent minister at Walkerfold, Chaigley,
Lancashire. Most truly do I praise my Heavenly Father for His great
kindness in providing me a partner according to His promise. I receive
her from the Lord, and hold her at His disposal. I pray that He may
bless us forever. Amen!"