HEBER WRITES TO WILLARD IN BEDFORD--THE ELDERS BECOME LICENSED
PREACHERS--THE "MILK" AND "MEAT OF THE WORD"--RAPID SPREAD OF THE
WORK--MIRACLES--HEBER'S DREAM OF THE BULL AND FIELD OF GRAIN--A
DISAPPOINTED MOB.
Feeling some anxiety about the work in Bedford, where Elder Richards
was still laboring, Heber wrote to him as follows:
"PRESTON, OCT. 12th, 1837.
"_Dear Brother Richards:_
"With pleasure I take my pen in hand to let you know that
I have not forgotten you. Brother Hyde and myself have labored all
the time, night and day, so that we have not had much time to
sleep. There are calls on the right and left. In Preston there
are about one hundred and sixty members. At Walkerfold I have
built up one branch; one in Barshe Lees, in Yorkshire; one in
Ribchester; one in Penwortham, and one in Thornley. We have built
up those branches besides laboring in Preston nearly all the time;
so you can judge whether or no we have been idle. There are ten
calls where we can only fill one. Have had a very bad cold on my
lungs, so that I have had to hold up for a few days, to recruit my
health. Our congregations have been so large that our lungs have
failed to make all the people hear. Brother Fielding has been with
me part of the time; he has not preached much, but has baptized,
and visited from house to house.
"The harvest is ripe and many are thirsting for the word of life.
May God give you energy to go forth in His name, and cry aloud and
spare not; and I say unto you, Brother Richards, if you stay in
that place much longer there will contentions arise, until the
little branch will be broken up and scattered to the four winds.
And I say this in the name of the Lord: go forth into the country
without purse or scrip, as God has commanded, and if you should
leave the branch two or three weeks the Saints will take no harm,
and the Lord will bless you in so doing. Go fifteen or twenty
miles; cry repentance, and let the big things alone; for this is
the way that the hearts of the people are closed up in Bedford, by
Elder Goodson preaching those things he was commanded to let
alone. I have scarcely meddled with the prophecies; I have only
preached the first principles of the Gospel to the people, doing
the same that I teach you to do. The churches in the country I
stay with a few days, and then leave them two or three weeks; they
are praising the Lord and are glad to see me when I visit them.
"Brother Richards, I am not forgetful of your kindness to me and
the brethren while with us; but I have a godly jealousy over you
for your welfare and prosperity in the cause of Christ.
"HEBER C. KIMBALL."
Willard, it appears, had been praying to receive the mind and will of
the Lord through his brethren, the Apostles, to direct him in his
labors. His prayer being answered, he went forth with renewed energy,
preaching and baptizing, laboring diligently and with success, until
March, 1838, when he returned to Preston.
Heber continues: "The effect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ now began
to be apparent, not only in the hearts of believers, but likewise in
the hearts of those who rejected it. Our meeting in Preston being
disturbed by the Methodist ministers, we got our hall licensed, and
two gentlemen named Joseph Brown and Arthur Burrows, who were
policemen, proffered their services to preserve the peace, and protect
us from any further disturbance; which they continued to do as long as
we stayed in that land. Many began to persecute us for preaching
without a license from the authority of the nation. This idea of
obtaining a license from the secular authority was somewhat novel to
us; but after consulting our friends, amongst whom was Mr. John
Richards' son, an attorney practising in Preston, we found it was
according to the laws of England. Brothers Hyde and I therefore made
application to the Quarter Sessions and obtained licenses, by the
assistance of Mr. Richards; and for which service he refused
compensation.
"The following is a copy of my license:
"'LANCASHIRE TO WIT. } This is to certify that at the General
Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held by adjournment at Preston in
and for said county, the eighteenth day of October, in the first
year of the reign of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, Heber Chase
Kimball came before the Justices present, and did then and there
in open court, take the oaths appointed to be taken, instead of
the oaths of allegiance and supremacy; and also the abjurgation
oath; and subscribed his name thereto, pursuant to the several
laws in that behalf made and provided.
"'E. GORST,
"'Deputy Clerk of the Peace in and
for said county.'
"Having now obeyed the requisitions of the law, we felt ourselves
tolerably secure, knowing that our enemies could not lawfully harm us.
I wrote to Brother Richards that I had taken the oath to be true to
Her Majesty and see that the laws were executed, also the abjurgation
oath provided for foreigners who were not naturalized, and obtained a
license as a preacher of the Gospel; and recommended him to do the
same at Bedford: but they made him take the oath of allegiance before
they granted him his license to preach. After we had obtained our
licenses, to our surprise we found there were only a few licensed
preachers in Preston; and when they abused me I told them if they did
not cease their abuse I would see the laws put in force according to
the oaths I had taken; and this generally silenced them.
"Although we had many persecutors who would have rejoiced at our
destruction, and who felt determined to overthrow the work of the
Lord, yet there were many who were friendly, who would have stood by
us under all circumstances, and would not have been afraid to hazard
their lives in our behalf. The church in Preston now numbered two or
three hundred souls, with more being added continually.
"November 14th, I wrote to Willard Richards, exhorting him to teach
the first principles of the Gospel only; telling him that if the
people would not receive them they would not receive anything else;
the more simple he could be, the better it would be for his hearers,
Brother Goodson having left about 20 Books of Mormon in his
possession, I told him to sell all that he could, either to saint or
sinner; to get him some clothes, and to make himself warm and
comfortable."
The wisdom of the Apostle's counsel to give first the "milk of the
word" to those who were infants in faith, reserving the "meat" for
such as became strong, is self-evident. No vessel can contain beyond
its capacity. Food, in kind and quantity, must ever keep pace with the
growth, and be suited to the condition of the one to whom it is
administered.
It is human nature to oppose that which is new. The pride of man
revolts at the idea of admitting himself in error, and his
preconceived notions to be false, or even defective. The flesh,
naturally inert, dislikes change that brings toil and study, even for
the soul's salvation. Self-interest pleads in various ways, in favor
of the old, and against the new. Thus hoary tradition, antique error,
sits warmed and comforted, a welcome guest, alike in palace and in
hovel, while Truth, a pilgrim, hungry and cold, without stands
shivering in the frosty air.
All truth may be new to the ignorant, though old as eternity to the
Gods, and whom the Gods make wise. Much that is true, is not
expedient. The Prophet Joseph could not tell all he knew, even to the
Elders; nor the Elders all they knew to the people, Paul, caught up
unto "the third heaven;" Joseph, unto "the seventh heaven," saw and
heard things unspeakable, things "unlawful to be uttered." The
mysteries of God's kingdom are not for the world, nor for novices in
the faith until it is wisdom in the Lord, "lest they perish."
The effect of Elder Goodson's folly in reading to the Reverend Mr.
Matthews the vision of the triple glories, when his mind was just
beginning to grasp the Gospel's first principles--sufficiently novel
and far enough advanced to test his neophyte faith to the utmost--is
only one of many like instances in Mormon missionary experience.
Prudence demands that truth be inculcated by gradual degrees. "Cry
nothing but repentance to this generation," is a word of supreme
wisdom to the Lord's servants, laboring in His vineyard among the
tender vines and fragile flowers of humanity. Eagles build their nests
in strong and high places. Truth is loftier and mightier than many
eagles.
The Apostle's record continues:
"Having an appointment to preach in the village of Wrightington, while
on the way I stopped at the houses of Brothers Francis Moon and Amos
Fielding, when I was informed that the family of Matthias Moon had
sent a request for me to visit them, that they might have the
privilege of conversing with me on the subject of the Gospel.
Accordingly Brother Amos Fielding and I paid them a visit that
evening. We were very kindly received by the family, and had
considerable conversation on the subject of my mission to England, and
the great work of the Lord in the last days. They listened with
attention to my statements, but at the same time they appeared to be
prejudiced against them. We remained in conversation until a late
hour, and then returned home. On our way Brother Fielding observed
that he thought our visit had been in vain, as the family seemed to
have considerable prejudice. I answered, 'be not faithless but
believing; we shall yet see great effects from this visit, for I know
that some of the family have received the testimony, and will shortly
manifest the same;' at which remark he seemed surprised.
"The next morning I continued my journey to Wrightington and Hunter's
Hill. After spending two or three days in that vicinity preaching, I
baptized seven of the family of Benson, and others, and organized a
branch.
"I returned by the way of Brother Fielding's, with whom I again
tarried for the night. The next morning I started for Preston, but
when I got opposite the lane leading to Mr. Moon's, I was forcibly led
by the Spirit of the Lord to call and see them again. I therefore
directed my steps to the house. On my arrival I knocked at the door.
Mrs. Moon exclaimed, 'come in! come in! You are welcome here! I and
the lassies (meaning her daughters) have just been calling on the
Lord, and praying that He would send you this way.' She then informed
me of her state of mind since I was there, and said she at first
rejected my testimony, and endeavored to think lightly on the things I
had advanced, but on trying to pray, the heavens seemed to be like
brass over her head, and it was like iron under her feet. She did not
know what was the matter, saying, 'certainly the man has not bewitched
me has he?' and upon inquiring she found it was the same with the
lassies. They then began to reflect on the things I told them, and
thinking it possible that I had told them the truth, they resolved to
lay the case before the Lord, and beseech Him to give them a testimony
concerning the things I had testified of. She then observed that as
soon as they did so light broke in upon their minds; they were
convinced that I was a messenger of salvation; that it was the work of
the Lord, and they had resolved to obey the Gospel. That evening I
baptized Mr. Moon and his wife, and four of their daughters.
"The same night I went to Leyland, and stayed with Francis Moon, and
the next morning I went to Preston where I stayed about three weeks
with Brother Hyde.
"During this time our enemies were not idle; they heaped abuse upon us
with an unsparing hand and issued torrents of lies concerning us,
which I am thankful to say did not injure us. Among those most active
in publishing falsehoods against us and the truth were many of the
clergy, who were afraid to meet us face to face in honorable debate,
although particularly requested so to do. We only asked three days'
notice of the time of discussion, so as to notify the people. But they
sought every opportunity to try to destroy our characters, and
propagate their lies concerning us, thus showing that they loved
darkness rather than light. We frequently called upon the ministers of
various denominations, who had taken a stand against us, to come
forward and investigate our religion before the world, in an honorable
manner, and bring forth their strong reasons to disprove the things we
taught, and convince the people by sound argument and the word of God,
if they could, that we did not preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This
they declined. They kept at a respectful distance, and only came out
when they knew we were absent, with misrepresentations and abuse. It
is true we suffered some from the statements which they thought proper
to make, when we could not get an opportunity to contradict them; but
generally their reports were of such a character as carried their own
refutation with them.
"I visited Mr. Moon again, and baptized the remainder of his family,
consisting of thirteen souls, the youngest of whom was over twenty
years of age. They received the Gospel as little children, and
rejoiced exceedingly in its blessings. The sons were very good
musicians, and the daughters excellent singers. When they united their
instruments and voices in the songs of Zion, the effect was truly
transporting.
"Before I left England there were about thirty of that family and
connections baptized, five of whom, Hugh, John, Francis, William and
Thomas Moon, were ordained to be fellow laborers with us in the
vineyard, and I left them rejoicing in the truths they had embraced.
"In all my labors I was greatly assisted by the Spirit of the Lord,
and my soul was comforted exceedingly; for the sick were healed, the
lame walked, and in several cases where persons had lain upon their
beds in a consumptive state for many years and were not able to sit
up, they would be taken in a carriage, perhaps a mile, to the water,
where I baptized, laid my hands upon them and confirmed them, that
they might receive the Holy Ghost, and rebuked their disease in the
name of Jesus Christ, and said unto them 'be thou made whole,' and
they would leap and shout glory to God, and begin to mend from that
hour. This was a common occurrence on our first mission to England.
Many scores of persons were healed by our sending a handkerchief to
them.
"I was instrumental in building up churches in the following places,
viz.; Eccleston, Wrightington, Askin, Dauber's Lane, Exton, Chorley,
Whittle, Hunter's Hill, and Leyland Moss, after laboring about four
weeks, and baptizing in the neighborhood of two hundred persons, which
caused me to rejoice that I had not labored in vain. More loving and
affectionate Saints I never saw before; they were patterns of
humility. All the above villages are within a short distance of each
other, and near to Preston.
"After my return from those places I took a tour to the northeast of
Preston, in company with Brother Joseph Fielding, where we labored a
short time with considerable success, and raised up churches in
Ribchester, Thornley, Stoney Gate Lane, and at Clithero, a market town
containing several thousand inhabitants. At Clithero I baptized a
preacher named Thomas Smith and six members of the Methodist Church,
immediately after I had preached the first time.
"One night while at the village of Ribchester I dreamed that in
company with another person I was walking, and we saw a very extensive
field of wheat; more so than the eye could reach; such a sight I had
never witnessed. The wheat appeared perfectly ripe and ready for
harvest. I was very much rejoiced at the glorious sight which
presented itself; but judge of my surprise, when on taking some of the
ears and rubbing them in my hands, I found nothing but smut; not any
sound grain could I find. I marveled exceedingly and felt very
sorrowful, and exclaimed 'what will the people do for grain! Here is a
great appearance of plenty, but there is no sound wheat.'
"While contemplating the scenery, I looked in another direction, and
saw a small field in the form of the letter L, which had the
appearance of something growing in it. I immediately directed my steps
to it, and found that it had been sown with wheat, some of which had
grown up six inches high, other parts of the field not quite so high,
and some had just sprouted. This gave me some encouragement to expect
that at the harvest there would be some good grain. While thus
engaged, a large bull, looking very fierce and angry, leaped over the
fence, ran through the field, and stamped down a large quantity of
that which had just sprouted, and after doing considerable injury he
leaped over the fence and ran away. I felt very much grieved that so
much wheat should be destroyed when there was such a prospect of
scarcity.
"When I awoke next morning the interpretation was given me. The large
field with the great appearance of grain, so beautiful to look upon,
represented the nation in which I then resided; which had a very
pleasing appearance and a good show of religion; which made great
pretensions to piety and goodness, and consequently of the gifts of
the Spirit. The small field I saw, clearly represented the region of
country where I was laboring, and where the word of truth had taken
root, which was in the shape of the letter L, and it was growing in
the hearts of those who had the gospel, some places having grown a
little more than others. The village I was in was that part of the
field where the bull did so much injury; for during my short visit
there, most of the inhabitants were believing, but as soon as I
departed, a clergyman belonging to the Church of England came out and
violently attacked the truth, made a considerable noise, crying,
"False Prophet! Delusion!" and after trampling on truth and doing all
the mischief he could before I returned, he took shelter in his
pulpit.
"However he did not destroy all the seed, for after my return I was
instrumental in building up a branch in Ribchester. A mob of Catholics
had combined, that when I went to baptize any persons they would pelt
me with stones. I made arrangements with each of the candidates to go
singly to the place of baptism, and about the time the last one got
there I started quickly, got to the place and baptized them all. As I
was baptizing the last one the mob came up and were disappointed in
their vengeance, for I came out of the water, and they did not know
how many I had baptized."