7 Rue Tourmon,
Paris, August 8, 1850
DEAR BROTHERS WM. PHILLIPS AND JOHN DAVIS,
In Boulogne, on the 24th of June, we arose early. Bro. Taylor addressed our
Heavenly Father, entreating him to open the hearts of the chief leaders of this
kingdom, to facilitate the mission. After that, we went to Messieurs Fountaine,
the Lord Mayor of Boulogne, to request permission to preach the gospel of Jesus
to the inhabitants of this town; this was granted nobly with the greatest
amiability.
After that we went to a gentleman by the name of Monsieur Tatar to request
permission to preach in his "Salé de Concerts," which was granted
immediately. Then we went to the editor of the newspaper
"Interpreter," Mr. Peter, to request permission to write about
Mormonism in his paper; this was granted directly. God answered our prayers; it
is good to begin with God in the morning for a blessing. "Thy father which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Math.6:6)
In the evening we went down to the beach on the seashore where Brothers Taylor,
Bolton, Piercy, Pack and Stayner and I went on our knees before the Lord. Bro.
Taylor offered the following prayer:
"O Lord God, our Heavenly Father, we thy servants, at this time, bow
ourselves before Thee, and for want of a better place on the sea shore, in the
shade of night, unnoticed by the children of this world, we call upon Thee, for
thou art our Father, and thy mercy has been extended to us. Thou saidest unto
some of us that are here, by the mouth of thy servants, while we were in the
Valley of the far distant west, to leave our homes, and come to this place to
preach the Gospel.
Thus far, O Father, we have obeyed thy word, and we are here according to thy
command. Thou hast brought us here in safety, while travelling over mountains,
deserts, plains, oceans, and seas. Thou has preserved us from plague,
pestilence, shipwreck, and the sword. Our lives have been precious in thy
sight, and we are found here as monuments of thy mercy. There are also others
here, our Brother Howell, who has been here before, and our Brothers from the
city of London, who have also left their friends, to labor in thy vineyard.
And, Holy Father, we ask Thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to give unto us
wisdom to lay before this people the principles of eternal truth; for we have
come to unlock the door of salvation to this mighty nation, and we ask thee, O
Lord, to aid us in our enterprise, and to help us to fulfil the callings that
devolve upon us, in a manner that shall bring glory to thy name, do honor to ourselves,
and lead many to a knowledge of the truth; that thousands in this land may
rejoice in the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace. And we pray
thee, O Father, so to dispose the hearts of the rulers of this people, that
they may further us in this work, and not put any legal obstruction in our way;
but that we may have an opportunity of presenting thy words before all grades
and conditions of men, that they honest in heart may be gathered out and
participate in those blessings which thou hast revealed unto us. And we pray
thee to clothe us with wisdom, intelligence, and the power of thy Spirit, that
we may be enabled to magnify our high and holy calling. May we have widom given
us so that we may know when to speak, and when to be silent, what principles of
truth to advance, and what to retain, so that we may never, by word, or action,
throw a stumbling block in the way of any that are honest in heart. Forgive us
our sins, Holy Father, if we have sinned against thee in word, or thought, or
deed; we ask thee, in the name of Jesus, that Thou wilt blot out our
transgressions, and remember them no more against us for ever. May we be girt
about with the power, wisdom, and spirit of the Most High, and be enabled to
conduct ourselves with dignity, and as men of God, while we sojourn in this
land, and may we be enabled to preserve our bodies and spirits pure before
thee. We ask thee also to bless our wives and children, and our families, that
we have left behind; comfort them in their lonely situation. May thy angels, O
Lord, protect, and thy Holy Spirit brook over them. May their wants be all
supplied, and may they lack no good thing that is calculated to make them
comfortable and happy. Preserve them from the power of the destroyer, and from
the hands of wicked men. We ask thee, O Father, that thou wilt bless thy
servant, Brigham Young, and his counsellors. Clothe them with the power of thy
Spirit, and let the revelations of Heaven be unfolded to their view. Bless all
thy people be joyful in thy salvation. Let Zion be established in
righteousness, and all nations flock to her standard. And now, O Lord, we
dedicate ourselves unto thee, together with our wives and children, and all
that we have, and are, for we are thy chilren, and thou art our God. And we ask
that thy peace and blessing may be with us, and abide with us, from this time
henceforth, and for ever, in the name of Jesus, "Amen."
June 26.--Monsieur Piclard, the French Minister in Havre, has come over here
after us from London. He was the first who believed the gospel in France after
he questioned me in detail for eleven hours; he wishes to live with us, and
will doubtless receive baptism soon. Every day he spends some of his time with
us; he does not know so much as one word of English. He is in our meetings and
everywhere that we are. May God prompt him to hasten to cast his lot with us,
for such a one is greatly needed.
-- 29.--We received a kind letter from the Mayor of Boulogne granting us
permission to preach in the Salé de Concerts, 21 Montseigny.
-- 30.--We went with Bro. Taylor to the Catholic Church where the priest
preached in English on the "Necessity of works for Salvation--works of
piety, charity, and penitance." Amidst the errors he said much truth. As
he preached he sat down frequently in his pulpit to take a "pinch of
snuff."
July 1.--In every street in town the following information is being presented
to the eyes of the men who gaze at the papers plastered on the walls. They
wonder how the Latter-day Saints came to possess such authority in the place.
Then they read the account of the lectures which Bro. J. Taylor intends to
deliver (admission free) in a large hall in the center of town.
This small letter is full; I shall go on in the next one to portray the
lectures and the debate. My love to you all.
WM. HOWELL.
