Foreign Missionary Labors
1839-1841
The Foreign Mission of the Twelve
On the 26th day of April, 1839, a majority of the apostles took their
leave of the Saints at Far West--then a hostile land--to go forth and
declare the everlasting Gospel "over the great waters" as they had
been commanded. The families of these brave men had been recently and
ruthlessly banished from their homes, and were on their journey seeking
shelter and a friendly habitation. It required the greatest courage
and the highest quality of faith for men to go forth across the ocean
to a foreign country to preach the Gospel without purse or scrip,
leaving their families in poverty, homeless, destitute, and ill. Yet
this was the test to which these brethren were put at this time. They
did not fail, but manfully and nobly took up their cross and started
on their missions. Other brethren, of the seventies, just as faithful,
accompanied them on their journey to the foreign field.
No sooner was the main body of the Saints located in Iowa and Illinois,
out of the reach of mobs, than most of the members of the council of
the twelve started on their way to the British Isles. On the 2nd day
of July, 1839, the presidency met with the apostles, and some others
who were to accompany them, and gave them instructions pertaining to
their labors. On this occasion many important items on doctrine, the
Priesthood, and the deportment of missionaries in the field, were
discussed. In the course of his instructions President Joseph Smith
taught them to beware of self-sufficiency, and to observe charity and
wisdom and to exercise the principle of mercy; for if we forgive our
brother, or even an enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our
heavenly Father will be equally merciful unto us. He further instructed
them that they were not sent out to be taught, but to teach, and to be
honest, open and frank, in all intercourse with mankind. He closed his
instructions with the following words:
"I will give you one of the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom.
It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all
eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault
with the Church, saying they are out of the way, while he himself
is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high
road to apostasy and if he does not repent will apostatize, as God
lives. The principle is as correct as the one that Jesus put forth
in saying that he who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person; and
that principle is eternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of
heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may
set it down that he is an adulterous man."
Items on Priesthood
About this time he also instructed the brethren on various matters of
Priesthood, from which the following excerpts are taken:
"The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First
Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation.
He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed. . . .
He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the scriptures. Then to
Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the
Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father
of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These
men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven.
"The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God
from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or
end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the
Gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam's
authority.
"Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he
means the oldest man, our father, Adam, Michael; he will call his
children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for
the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the father of the human
family, and presides over the spirits of all men and all that have
had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. This may
take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The Son of
Man stands before him, and there is given him glory and dominion.
Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was
delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains
his standing as head of the human family. . . .
"The keys were first given to him and by him to others. He will
have to give an account of his stewardship, and they to him.
"The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior, Moses, and Elias, gave
the keys to Peter, James and John, on the mount, when they were
transfigured before him. . . .
"Christ is the Great High Priest, Adam next."[1]
Epistle of the Twelve
After receiving their charge from the First Presidency, before their
departure for their fields of labor, the members of the council of the
twelve, wrote an epistle to the elders of the Church, the churches
scattered abroad, and all the Saints, giving them instruction: and
encouragement in their afflictions. To the Saints they said:
"We wish to stimulate all the brethren to faithfulness; you have
been, tried, you are now being tried; and those trials, if you
are not watchful, will corrode the minds, and produce unpleasant
feelings; but recollect that now is the time of trial; soon the
victory will be ours. Now may be a day of lamentation--then will be
a day of rejoicing. Now may be a day of sorrow--but by and by we
shall see the Lord; our sorrow will be turned into joy, and our joy
no man taketh from us."
To the elders they said:
"God has called you to an important office. He has laid upon you
an onerous duty. He has called you to an holy calling, even to be
the priests of the Most High God, messengers to the nations of the
earth; and upon your diligence, your perseverance and faithfulness,
the soundness of the doctrines which you preach, the moral precepts
that you advance and practice, and upon the sound principles that
you inculcate, while you hold that Priesthood, hang the destinies
of the human family. You are the men that God has called to spread
forth his kingdom. He has committed the care of souls to your
charge, and when you received this Priesthood, you became the
legates of heaven; and the Great God demands it of you, that you
should be faithful; and inasmuch as you are not, you will not be
chosen; but it will be said unto you, 'Stand by and let a more
honorable man than thou art take thy place and receive thy crown.'"
The Missionaries Depart
At a meeting held in Commerce, Sunday, July 7, 1839, Elders Brigham
Young, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff and Orson Hyde, made
their farewell remarks before their departure on their foreign mission.
The following day Elders Taylor and Woodruff took up their journey
toward their field of labor. Sunday, July 28, Elder Parley P. Pratt,
who had arrived in Commerce on the 10th from his long confinement in
Missouri prisons, made his farewell talk; so also did his brother
Orson, who had assisted Parley in his escape. August 29, Elders Parley
P. Pratt, Orson Pratt and Hiram Clark left Commerce on their missionary
journey, and they were followed September 18, by President Brigham
Young and Elder Heber C. Kimball. Elders George A. Smith, Reuben
Hedlock and Theodore Turley, left three days later. William Smith, of
the council of the twelve, failed to go. Willard Richards, not yet
ordained an apostle, was in England where he had remained since the
opening of the mission. Elders Orson Hyde and John E. Page were shortly
afterwards set apart for a mission to Palestine to dedicate the land
for the return of the Jews, and there was one vacancy in the council
caused by the death of David W. Patten, which was not filled until
April, 1841, when Lyman Wight was chosen.
Circumstances under which these brethren departed were extremely
distressing, as may be well imagined. Elder Heber C. Kimball thus
reports the departure of President Brigham Young and himself on their
missionary journey:
"September 14, President Brigham Young left his home at Montrose
to start on the mission to England. He was so sick that he was
unable to go to the Mississippi, a distance of thirty rods, without
assistance. After he had crossed the river he rode behind Israel
Barlow on his horse to my house, where he continued sick until
the 18th. He left his wife sick with a babe only three weeks old,
and all his other children were sick and unable to wait upon each
other. Not one soul of them was able to go to the well for a pail
of water, and they were without a second suit to their backs, for
the mob in Missouri had taken nearly all he had. On the 17th Sister
Mary Ann Young got a boy to carry her up in his wagon to my house,
that she might nurse and comfort Brother Brigham to the hour of
starting.
"September 18, Charles Hubbard sent his boy with a wagon and a
span of horses to my house; our trunks were put into the wagon by
some brethren; I went to my bed and shook hands with my wife who
was then shaking with a chill, having two children lying sick by
her side; I embraced her and my children, and bade them farewell.
My only well child was little Heber P., and it was with difficulty
he could carry a couple of quarts of water at a time, to assist in
quenching their thirst.
"It was with difficulty we got into the wagon, and started down
the hill about ten rods; it appeared to me as though my very
inmost parts would melt within me at leaving my family in such a
condition, as it were almost in the arms of death. I felt as though
I could not endure it. I asked the teamster to stop, and said to
Brother Brigham, 'This is pretty tough, isn't it; let's rise up and
give them a cheer.' We arose, and swinging our hats three times
over our heads, shouted: 'Hurrah, Hurrah for Israel.' Vilate,
hearing the noise, arose from her bed and came to the door. She
had a smile on her face. Vilate and Mary Ann Young cried out to
us: 'Goodby, God bless you.' We returned the compliment, and then
told the driver to go ahead. After this I felt a spirit of joy and
gratitude, having had the satisfaction of seeing my wife standing
upon her feet, instead of leaving her in bed, knowing well that I
should not see them again for two or three years" (_"Life of Heber
C. Kimball,"_ p. 275).
The conditions of some of the other brethren were little better. Elders
George A. Smith and companions upset their wagons in the soft ground
before they got out of sight of the village of Commerce, and Elders
Smith and Turley were so weak they could not get up, and Brother
Hedlock had to lift them into the wagon again. Soon after, as they
were on their way, some gentlemen passing them asked who had been
robbing the burying ground; so miserable did they appear.[2] After
passing through many hardships, traveling without purse or scrip, the
Lord coming to their assistance many times in a miraculous way, these
brethren finally reached their destination. Elders John Taylor, Wilford
Woodruff and Theodore Turley arrived in Liverpool, January 11, 1840,
and were followed by President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley
P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, George A. Smith and Reuben Hedlock, who arrived
April 6, after a stormy passage of twenty-eight days. At the time of
sailing, President Young and Elder Kimball were still in poor health,
and Elder George A. Smith was suffering extremely with ague. It was
impossible for the brethren journeying on this mission to go together
in a body, and inadvisable. Due to sickness they were detained many
days, yet they pursued their course as rapidly as circumstances would
permit. As President Young and party left the New York harbor, the
shore resounded by the voices of the assembled Saints who had come to
bid them farewell on their journey. They unitedly sang: "The Gallant
Ship is under Way," composed by Elder William W. Phelps.
Ordination of Willard Richards
The first council meeting of the apostles on foreign soil was held
in Preston, England, April 14, 1840, at the house of Elder Willard
Richards, who on this occasion was ordained to the apostleship by
President Brigham Young, and under the hands of all the brethren of
the council who were present. Other business was transacted and the
brethren assigned to fields of labor. On this occasion Brigham Young
was also unanimously sustained by the brethren of the twelve as the
president of that council. There were present: President Brigham Young,
Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford
Woodruff, George A. Smith and Willard Richards.
The Millennial Star
A general conference of all the Saints in the British Isles was held in
Preston the following day, April 15, 1840, at which there were present,
or represented, the following: elders, 36; priests, 45; teachers, 36:
deacons, 11; members, 1686, all contained in 34 branches which had
been raised up since the opening of that mission by Elder Kimball and
companions in 1837. At this conference it was decided to publish a hymn
book, and a monthly periodical under the direction and superintendency
of the twelve, for the benefit and information of the members of the
Church. The next day, in a council meeting of the apostles, Parley
P. Pratt was chosen to edit the monthly periodical which was to be
called _"The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star,"_ which soon made its
appearance and has been issued continuously ever since. The committee
selected to prepare for printing a book of hymns was Brigham Young,
Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor.
British Copyright of the Book of Mormon
It was also decided, agreeable to the counsel of the First Presidency
previously obtained, that copyright of the Book of Mormon and of the
Doctrine and Covenants be secured in England; and that editions of
these books be printed. The first number of the _Millennial Star_ was
issued in Manchester, in pamphlet form of twenty-four pages, Wednesday,
May 27, 1840. Later the place of publication was transferred to
Liverpool, which became the headquarters for most of the publications
of the Church, until comparatively recent years.
The First Patriarch in England
Under the labors of the twelve and their missionary companions,
branches of the Church had sprung up in various parts of England,
and the population of the Church was now growing rapidly. At another
council meeting of the twelve, held April 16, 1840, it was decided that
a patriarch be ordained, and the honor fell to the lot of Elder Peter
Melling, a most worthy man, who was ordained in Preston the following
day. Early in 1841, John Albiston was also ordained to this sacred
calling.
Individual Labors of the Twelve
Elders John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and-Theodore Turley, the first
of the missionaries to arrive in England, met in a special council
Friday, January 17, 1840, with Joseph Fielding and Willard Richards
of the presidency of the British Mission, and decided on their fields
of labor. It was agreed that Elders Taylor and Fielding should go
to Liverpool; Elder Hiram Clark, to Manchester, with Elder William
Clayton; and Brother Richards to labor where the Spirit should direct.
In Liverpool Elders Taylor and Fielding raised up a branch of about
thirty members before the arrival from America of the other brethren of
the twelve. This number rapidly increased and at the beginning of the
year 1841, numbered more than two hundred souls. In March, 1842, the
headquarters of the mission were transferred to Liverpool.
In Herefordshire
In the Potteries of Staffordshire, Elders Woodruff and Turley found
a fruitful field. Elder Woodruff labored in Burslem, Hanley, Stoke,
Lane End and the Potteries from the 22nd of January, 1840, to the 2nd
of March, preaching every night in the week, and two or three times
on the Sabbath day, and the people flocked to hear his words and
many were baptized. While preaching on the Sabbath, March 1, which
was the anniversary of his birth, the Lord manifested to him that he
was to leave that part of the country and go to the south. Acting
on the impression from the Spirit, he left on the 3rd of March and
continued his journey to the farming communities of Herefordshire and
stopped at the home of Mr. John Benbow, at Castle Frome, Ledbury. Mr.
Benbow was a wealthy farmer, cultivating some three hundred acres
of land. Elder Woodruff presented himself to this gentleman as a
missionary from America and an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, who had been sent to preach the Gospel to him and
his household and all the inhabitants of the land. Mr. Benbow rejoiced
in the statements of Elder Woodruff, and informed him that there were
in that place six hundred persons and more, who had broken off from
the Methodists and had taken the name of "United Brethren." They had
forty-five preachers and a number of meeting houses that were duly
licensed according to the law of the land. They were searching for
light and truth. Losing no time, on the morning of the 5th, Brother
Woodruff stated he would like to begin his labors by preaching to the
people. There was a large hall in the mansion of Mr. Benbow, which was
available for that purpose, and the people were invited to come and
hear the new message, from the new world across the sea. The people
of the neighborhood deserted their ministers and came to hear this
strange preacher, who, in the course of a short time, baptized over
six hundred persons in that place. At the meeting held on March 8, a
constable, sent through complaint of the parish rector, came to arrest
him for "preaching to the people." Elder Woodruff said he had a license
to preach as well as the rector, and if the constable would take a
chair and sit beside him until the close of the meeting he would be at
his service. He then launched forth on a discourse treating the first
principles of the Gospel, and at the close of the meeting opened the
door for baptism, and several came forward to be baptized; among the
number were four preachers and the constable, who said, "Mr. Woodruff,
I would like to be baptized." The constable went to the rector and
told him that if he wanted Mr. Woodruff arrested, he must go himself
and serve the writ, for he had heard him preach the only true Gospel
sermon he had ever heard. The rector then sent two clerks of the Church
of England as spies, and they were both baptized. The ministers and
rectors of the Church of England then sent a petition to the Archbishop
of Canterbury, to request Parliament to pass a law prohibiting the
"Mormons" from preaching in the British nation, stating that they had
baptized fifteen hundred persons, many of whom were members of the
Church of England. But the Archbishop, knowing well that the laws of
England permitted religious freedom, replied that the petitioners, if
they had the worth of souls at heart as much as they valued ground
where hares, foxes and hounds ran, they would not lose so many of their
flock.
The other brethren also met with remarkable success. The field was
ripe, ready for the harvest, and thousands of the house of Israel
were soon gathered into the fold. At a conference of the Church in
the British Isles held in October, 1840, there was reported a Church
membership of about 4,000 souls, and in the meantime a number had
emigrated to the United States.
The First Emigration to the United States
In June, 1840, a company of forty Saints sailed in the ship _Britannia_
from Liverpool for New York, being the first Saints to leave England
for Zion.
The Mission to Palestine
At the general conference of the Church held in Nauvoo, Hancock County,
April 6-8, 1840, Elder Orson Hyde, who had not departed for England
with the other apostles, was appointed to take a mission to Palestine
to dedicate there the land for the gathering of the Jews. Elder John E.
Page, who had also tarried at home, was called to accompany him. While
addressing the congregation on the 6th, Elder Hyde remarked that it had
been prophesied, some years before, that he had a great work to perform
among the Jews; and that he had recently been moved by the Spirit of
the Lord to visit that people, and gather all the information he could
find respecting their movements, hopes and aspirations, and communicate
them to the Church. He expressed the desire to visit the Jews in New
York, London and Amsterdam, on his way to the field of his appointment.
It was moved and carried that he proceed at once on his mission and
that Elder John E. Page be given proper credentials and accompany him.
On the 15th of April, Elder Hyde left Nauvoo for Jerusalem. Working his
way across the country to New York, he sailed, after some delays, for
Liverpool, on his way to Palestine, Saturday, February 13, 1841. He
traveled alone, as Elder John E. Page had failed to make the journey.
Other Missionary Appointments
Other missionary appointments to foreign fields were made in these
early days. In July, 1840, William Barrett, a boy seventeen years of
age, was ordained an elder by Elders George A. Smith and Alfred Cordon,
in Hanley, Staffordshire, England, and set apart to take a mission
to Australia, to be the first missionary to that country. In August,
following, Elder William Donaldson, of the British army, having been
assigned to the field in India, was also blessed and set apart to labor
for the Church in that land. The following year, at the conference
of the Church, Elder Harrison Sagers was called to go to Jamaica;
Elder Joseph Ball, to South America; Elder Simeon Carter to Germany;
and Elder Arza Adams to Canada, where the Gospel had previously been
preached.
The Return of the Apostles
On the 20th day of April, 1841, President Brigham Young and Elders
Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George
A. Smith and Willard Richards, with a company of Saints left Liverpool
on the ship _Rochester_, for New York. Parley P. Pratt continued in
England to edit the _Millennial Star_ and preside over the mission.
After a period of one month upon the water they arrived safely in
New York, and continuing their journey arrived in Nauvoo, July 1,
1841. Some eighteen or twenty months before, these brethren had left
Nauvoo, poverty-stricken, afflicted and sorrowful of heart. Now they
returned rejoicing and with gladness of heart, bearing the fruit of
their labors. They started on their way without money, and returned
with none. Yet, during their labors abroad, they had published an
edition of five thousand copies of the Book of Mormon; and an edition
of three thousand copies of the Hymn Book; over fifty thousand tracts
and pamphlets; had established a permanent magazine, the _Millennial
Star_; organized an emigration agency for the gathering of the Saints
to Zion, and had been instrumental in the hands of the Lord in bringing
thousands of the children of the House of Israel to a knowledge of
the everlasting Gospel. Truly it was a marvelous work, worthy of all
commendation.
The Prophet's Comments
Commenting on the labors of these members of the council of the
apostles, the Prophet said:
"All the quorum of the Twelve Apostles who were expected here this
season, with the exception of Elders Willard Richards and Wilford
Woodruff, have arrived. We have listened to the accounts which
they give of their success, and the prosperity of the work of the
Lord in Great Britain with pleasure. They certainly have been the
instruments in the hands of God of accomplishing much, and must
have the satisfaction of knowing that they have done their duty.
Perhaps no men ever undertook such an important mission under such
peculiarly distressing and unpropitious circumstances. Most of
them when they left this place, nearly two years ago, were worn
down with sickness and disease, or were taken sick on the road.
Several of their families were also afflicted and needed their aid
and support. But, knowing that they had been called by the God of
Heaven to preach the Gospel to other nations, they conferred not
with flesh and blood, but obedient to the heavenly mandate, without
purse or scrip, they commenced a journey of five thousand miles
entirely dependent on the providence of that God who had called
them to such a holy calling. While journeying to the seaboard they
were brought into many trying circumstances; after a short recovery
from severe sickness, they would be taken with a relapse, and
have to stop among strangers, without money and without friends.
Their lives were several times despaired of, and they have taken
each other by the hand, expecting it would be the last time they
should behold one another in the flesh. However, notwithstanding
their afflictions and trials, the Lord always interposed in their
behalf, and did not suffer them to sink in the arms of death. Some
way or other was made for their escape--friends rose up when they
most needed them and relieved their necessities; and thus they
were enabled to pursue their journey and rejoice in the Holy One
of Israel. They truly 'went forth weeping, bearing precious seed,'
but have returned with rejoicing, bearing their sheaves with them"
(_Documentary History of the Church_, vol. 4: 390).
Notes
1. _Documentary History of the Church_, vol. 3:385-8.
2. Another incident worthy to relate is the following statement by
Elder Wilford Woodruff:
"Inasmuch as the devil had been thwarted in a measure by the twelve
going to Far West and returning without harm, it seemed as though
the destroyer was determined to make some other attempt upon us
to hinder us from performing our missions; for as soon as any one
of the apostles began to prepare for starting he was smitten with
chills and fever, or sickness of some kind. . . .
"On the 25th of July, I was attacked with chills and fever, for the
first time in my life; this I had every other day, and whenever
attacked I was laid prostrate. My wife, Phoebe, was also taken
down with the chills and fever, as were quite a number of the
twelve. . . .
"Although feeble, I walked to the banks of the Mississippi River;
there President Young took me in a canoe and paddled me across
the river. When we landed, I lay down on a side of sole leather,
by the post office, to rest. Brother Joseph, the Prophet of God,
came along and looked at me. 'Well, Brother Woodruff,' said he,
'you have started upon your mission.' 'Yes,' said I, 'but I feel
and look more like a subject for the dissecting room than a
missionary.' Joseph replied: 'What did you say that for? Get up,
and go along; all will be right with you. . . .
"Soon a brother came along with a wagon, and took us (Elders Taylor
and Woodruff) in. As we were driving through the place, we came to
Parley P. Pratt, who was stripped to his shirt and pants, with his
head and feet bare. He was hewing a log, preparatory to building
a cabin. He said: 'Brother Woodruff, I have no money, but I have
an empty purse, which I will give you.' He brought it to me, and
I thanked him for it. We went a few rods further and met Brother
Heber C. Kimball, in the same condition, also hewing a log to build
a cabin. He said: 'As Parley has given you a purse, I have got a
dollar I will give you to put in it.' He gave me both a dollar and
a blessing" (_Wilford Woodruff--His Life and Labors_, p. 108).