David John Journal
Volume One
I was born on the 29th day of
January 1833, at 7:40 P.M. in the village
of Little-new-castle, in the County of Pembroke,
South Wales. My father Daniel John, was born,
April 1, 1793, one mile distance from my birth-place, at a place named Martel
Mill, in the Parish of Punchaston in the County
of Pembroke, South
Wales. He died in the house in which I was born, on the 31st of
March 1856, aged 63 years to the day. He was 40 years of age, lacking 2 months
and 2 days old, when he died. He was buried in the cemetry [sic], of the Baptist Church "Beulah", where his
father Thomas John was buried. I attended my father's funeral, which was held
at his own residence, conducted by the Rev. Benjamin Owen. My mother and my
brother Thomas were present at the funeral. My father was an industrious, and
honest man. He was strickly [sic] a moral man, in the fullest sense of the
term, and was of a religious mind, and was a member of the Baptist Church.
He attended family prayers, and called upon his sons, to pray in the household,
in their turn, since they were 12 years of age. He taught his children to
observe the Sabbath day strickly [sic], and to attend meetings, and Sunday
School, in his Church. He was a kind husband and father and confered [sic] a
liberal education upon his two sons, the only two of his children who grew to
maturity, and survived him. My father was a clothier, and furnished employment
to many men, he also carried on farming, and was always dealing in horn stock
and sheep. His word was as good as his bond, and it was so considered, by all
he dealt with, and who was acquainted with him. He kept me in school at his own
expence [sic], to within seven weeks before his death, and then I left school
of my own volition, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel.
My mother Mary Williams John, was
born in the year 1801, at Llys-y-drew farm, in the parish of Punchaston, in the
County of Pembroke,
South Wales. She was 8 years younger than my
father. He was 35 years of age, and my mother 27 years of age, when they got
married. My mother was a religious woman, and was a faithful member in the Baptist Church, and taught her children, the
religion she believed in. She was a kind and affectionate mother, and was
devoted to the welfare of her husband and children. She died at her own
residence in South Wales, on the 1st of July
1878, being 77 years of age. She lived a widow 22 years and 3 months, and was
buried by my father's side. I have caused a tomb stone erected over her grave;
although I have not seen it.
My brother Thomas John was born
November 25th 1835, at 2:15 P.M. and died at 8 P.M. June 9th 1859, aged 23
years, 6 months, 14 days and 6 hours. He was buried in the same grave with my
father. He was much beloved my me, he was a true friend to me in all my trials,
I passed though after I united myself with the Latter-day-Saints, he was a
member of the Baptist Church, and was inclined to be religious during his short
life. He confessed to me, that he believed in the divinity of the Gospel as
restored to earth, by holy angels, and promised to be baptized, but he died
without being baptized. He was sick during the last three years of his life.
When he died, I lost a true and loving friend. He was 3 inches taller then I
was, but our countenances were much alike.
My sister Hannah John, the eldest
child of my parents, was born, November 25th 1830, and died at 12:15 P.M.
August 27th 1834, aged 3 years, 9 months, and 2 days. She was buried in the
grave yard of Punchaston, by the graves of the parents of my mother. I was 1
year and 7 months old when she died. I can not remember seeing her, but I well
remember her coffin, and the silver lace and plates which trimed [sic] it.
My second sister, also named
Hannah, was born, at 9 P.M., November 12th 1837 and died February 20th 1841,
aged 3 years, 3 months, and 8 days. She was buried in the [same] grave as her
sister's.
One son and one daughter were
born to my parents since the death of my sisters, the both died on the days on
which they were born, the son was named Levi, and the daughter, Martha. Some
children died at birth, and were not named.
My grandfather's name was Thomas
John, he was born, in the same village, where I was, in the year 1769, and died
December 11th 1834, aged 65 years. I was 1 year and 10 months old when he died.
I do not remember him, but my parents told me that he nursed me many a time. He
was buried in the same grave yard as my father was buried in. There were born
to him, 3 sons and 3 daughters, namely Daniel, John, Thomas, Hannah, Ann and Mary.
The maiden name of my father's mother, was Hannah Owen, she bore one child to
my grandfather, which was my father, the name of the other--the mother of his 5
children was Mary--whom I well remember, she died on February 22nd 1855, aged
80 years, and was buried in the same grave as her husband. My father had two
brothers, John and Thomas, and three sisters, Ann, Hannah and Mary. John was
born in the year 1806, and died July 5th 1863, aged 57 years, he was a tall man
6 feet high, sandy complexion. He died un-married. I preached the Gospel to him
many times, and I think, he believed it, but did not embrace it. He was an
intelligent man, was a well to do- farmer, and was a member of the Baptist Church. His brother Thomas John, was a
married man. I was present at his wedding, with my parents. The reception was
held in his mother's house. He has raised a large family of children. I saw him
last in the year 1871. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church.
The three sisters of my father were married. Ann and Mary, had large families
(of children) Hannah married to the Rev. David James, but bore no children.
My great grand father David John,
was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, in the
year 1728, and died in the year 1792, aged 64 years. I can not vouch for the accuracy
of these dates to be strickly [sic] correct, I received them from my mother,
and she gave them me, from the best of her recollection. He was burried [sic]
in the Parish of Little-New-Castle, Pembrokeshire, South
Wales.
My great grand father David John
had 4 sons and 3 daughters, namely John John, born in the year 1760 and died in
1841, aged 81 years. Wm. John born 1763, and died 1835, aged 72 years. Henry
John born 1766, and died 1837, aged 71 years. Thomas John, ( my grandfather)
born 1769, died December 11th, 1834, aged 65 years. The first of these four
sons - was John John, (whom I well remember, and whose funeral I attended, when
I was 8 years of age. The Rev'd Joseph James preached, at his funeral, from the
text, "the Lord taketh the righteous away, before cometh the evil
day." When I went home from his funeral, I repeated the text to my
parents, and have remembered his funeral and the text ever since. He had born
to him three sons and three daughters, namely, Charles, David, John, Ann, Mary
and Hannah. All of these (except Mary and John) raised large families, and are
still alive, so far as I know, at this date, being the 23rd of May 1891) John
John died un-married. Mary married, gave birth to two children, and died, her
children also died. I attended the funerals of John and Mary, when I was a boy.
The second son of great
grandfather was William John. He had born to him three daughters, Ann, Martha
and Mary. These three were married, raised large families, I was acquainted
with them all, and with their children. They lived when I was a boy in
"Dinas", a place between Fishguard and Newport,
in the County of Pembrokeshire,
South Wales.
His third son was Henry John, he
had born to him five sons, namely, David, Thomas, John, William and
Henry. Henry died when I was a boy, William died, when I was about 18 years of
age. John was un-married in 1856. That was the last time I saw him. He was then
about 50 years old. David and Thomas, moved to "Rhymney", Monmouthshire, England, when they were young men.
I saw them when I was about 15 years of age, have not seen them since, and do
not know their families. The fourth son was my grand father, whose
history I have already given. I have failed to trace the genealogy of my
father's house farther back, that [than] I have written above. As I have
mentioned already, my great grandfather, went to Pembrokeshire from
Cardiganshire, and I have failed to connect him with the family, he left on the
old home-stead.
My cousins and second cousins and
their families, I shall leave for the present, as my chief aim has been to
connect myself with the past, for the benefit of my posterity. Again, having
been absent from my birth place the most part of the last 40 years, I have no
general knowledge of the families of my relatives, during that time. I have
further details of my kindred on both sides of the houses, in this journal,
from pages 345 to 375.
My great grandfather David John,
(I will here add, died 41 years, before my birth) I have failed to learn his
wive's [sic] name, nor the family, from whence she descended. His daughter
Hannah John, was married, to the Rev'd Benjamin Davis, but she bore no
children. She was born in the year 1770, and died 1840, aged 70 years. She
raised my father, I well remember her; I was 7 years old, when she died.
Hannah Owen was the mother of my
father. She was the daughter of Daniel Owen of "Ceryg" farm, (Rock
farm) two miles from Newport, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. So near as I can learn, Dl. Owen, was born
at Newport, in
the year 1727, and died in 1792, aged 65 years. I do not know how many children
he had. One of his sons named Daniel had two sons, one of them was the Rev'd
Wm. Owen, who was a Baptist preacher, and whom I saw in the year 1871. He lived
for many years, in Cardiff, South
Wales. He was the Editor of "Y Gwir Fedyddiwr", (the
True Baptist ) for many years. He was married, but had no children. One of his
brothers named, Daniel Owen, and one sister, name un-known to me, went to America,
when they were young. I have no knowledge of them further than this. After the
birth of my father, his father and mother, separated, after which the both
married again, my grand-mother married, one Wm. Thomas, to whom she bore some
children, concerning whom, I have no knowledge, only I was acquainted with one
of her grand sons, named Wm. Evans, and I learned, that he emmigrated [sic] to
America, a few years after I arrived there. My grand mother, Hannah Owen,
(according to the memory of my mother, was born in the year 1775, and died in
the year 1840, aged 65 years. I remember visiting her twice, in company with my
father. I was 7 years of age, when she died. She was a member of the
Presbeterian [sic] Church. I had her sealed to Wm. Thomas with whom she lived
as wife for the period of 50 years. She lived and died, at a village named
"Bryn-y-berian" on the borders of Pembrokeshire, and Cardiganshire, South Wales. This is all that I can record, of my
relations on the Owen's part of the house. I was told by my mother, that they
were very religious family, and well to do farmers. I well remember Wm. Thomas,
who married my grand-mother, he lived many years, after she died. He was a good
and respectable man.
My kindred on my mother's side
My grandmother (the mother of my
mother's) was Mary Harris Williams. She married David Williams of Windy-hill
farm, in the parish of Punchaston, in the County
of Pembroke, South
Wales. He was born about the year 1740 as near as I can learn, and
died in the year 1780, aged 40 years. He had born to him the following sons and
daughters. James, Thomas, David, Benjamin, Levi and Ebenezer, my mother and
Ann, the latter [David Williams] died when young. He died as already stated at
40 years of age, leaving a large family of young children, to be cared for by
their mother, but she was an exceedingly industrious woman, she managed her
farm in a masterly manner, and raised her children up to usefulness. She lived
to see her children all married, and settled on farms before she passed away,
except Levi, who never married. I have seen scores the descendants of this man,
but time and space forbid me to write or dwell further on their names and
history at present.
His father's name was also named
David Williams (my great grand father) who was born in the year 1700, and died
in the year, 1750, these dates were given me verbally by my mother, and gave
them to the best of her recollection, when she was 70 years old.
My great grandfather had one
daughter, named Mary, she married Benjamin Thomas, they raised a large family.
I remember three of her sons, namely, Benjamin, David and John. I was also
acquainted with the children of these men. They had one sister named Ann, who
married William Lewis, I was acquainted with them and their children. I also
remember the sister of my grandfather, and the husband - Benjamin Thomas,
mentioned above. I never learned the name of my great grand mother, the wife of
David Williams the first, nor the family from which she descended, or whether
she had brothers of sisters, I know not. I have not been able to trace this
family, further back, that I have here written.
My grand-mother Williams and her ancestors,
The name of the father of my
grandmother Mary Harris Williams was Alban Harries, he was born in the year
1710 and died in 1770, aged 60 years. He lived in "Ty-Gwyrr" (white
house farm) on the borders of the north of Pembrokeshire, and the South of
Cardiganshire in the County of Pembroke, South Wales.
He was a wealthy farmer, and gave one thousand pounds to each of his children,
on the day they married. I do not know the names of his parents, nor the name
of his wife, nor the family from which she descended. She had two sons, named
Thomas and John, and three daughters, Mary, Ann and [blank] who died unmarried,
she lived with her sister Mary for many years. Mary was my grandmother. Thomas
and John settled in "Punchaston," and raised families whom I knew.
Thomas had a son named Thomas, who was a first cousin to my mother, who also
had a son and one daughter, named Thomas and Ann, the last Thomas Harris, married
a second cousin of mine, named Ann John. His sister Ann Harris, married David
Davies, "Fagwrfram" farm, near Punchaston, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. John the son of Alban Harris, raised a large
family in Punchaston. John Harris, the grandson of Alban Harris, and the
brother of Thomas above mentioned, lived in "Castellfwch," and raised
many sons and daughters, all of his children, I knew in my boyhood. Ann Harris,
daughter of Alban Harris, married the Rev'd David Rees of "Frogol,"
near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, all of their children died un-married.
All of the descendants of Alban
Harris were people, who had an abundance of means, wherever they settled, they
were prosperous, in their circumstances. I will here say, that in the year
1882, I labored four months in the Temple in St. George, Utah,
and while there, I did much work in behalf of the dead, an account of which is
written in this journal - see dates from Sep. 1st 1882, to December 31st 1882.
In consideration, of what is there recorded, I will now leave the History of my
kindred, and shall give a short synopsis of my own history.
David John was born on the 29th
of January 1833. From 5 years old, 'till I was 12, I attended day school taught
by Mr. David Williams, he was a distant relation of mine on my mother's side of
the house. During the seven years, he taught at Little-new-Castle, Punchaston,
and Castellfwch, I followed him, wherever he went, 'till I completed my term of
seven years under his able tuition. During 4 years out of the 7 mentioned, my
dear brother Thomas, attended school with me. From the years of 12, 'till I was
23 years of age, I spent the most of the time in school. In the year 1845, when
I was 12 years of age, I was baptized to the Baptist Church,
by the Rev'd Thomas Griffiths Jones. I attended all their meetings and Sunday
schools, for years in my boyhood. In the spring of the year 1848, I first met
the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Three of them
visited my birth placed [sic], and preached in the open air. They were John
Price, John Davies, and John Evans. They were native Elders. Their preaching
had a great effect upon my mind, I believed their doctrine, when I first heard
it. I followed them to their lodging house, and listened to a discussion
between them, and many others, of various creeds of faith, thus listening
deepened my convictions of the Divinity of their doctrine. When I entered my
parents' house, I informed them, that I fully believed the doctrines advanced
by the Elders. My father reasoned with me, saying "that visions, visitings
of angels, prophecy, healing the sick, speaking in tongues etc., had long since
ceased, and were not any longer necessary", I argued on the other side,
and could not be convinced to the contrary. The Elders preached several times
in the place during the summer's months and every time they preached, I
attended their meetings. When the summer ended, they discontinued their
preaching, for the reason that none were found willing to open to them, their
houses, to preach in, and it was too wet and cold, to hold meetings in the open
air in the winter season. In the month of February 1849, I met several of the
Elders at Letterstone, two miles from my father's house, I attended a meeting a
meeting [sic], on the evening of the day, I met them, when one Elder preached,
by the name of Daniel Williams. My mind was fully made up to unite myself with
the Church, at the close of the meeting. After the services were closed, I
informed Elder Williams, that I was ready to be baptized. It was a dark night,
and the rain fell in torrents, but we walked through it for two miles to reach
water. On the way to the water, the power of God, and the powers of darkness,
alternately were resting upon me, 'till my frame shook. Several times on the
way I came to a came to a sudden halt, and could not, seemingly walk another
step, my limbs and my whole body seemed powerless; Elder Williams, kept asking
me, from time to time, what was the matter with me? I answered him, that some
power whispered to me that I was deceived, and that I was bringing ruin on my
head, and disgrace upon all my kindred. He replied "that is the power of
the evil one, that endeavors to mislead you, and I rebuke it, in the name of
Jesus Christ. Come, let me baptize you, and all your doubts will be
drownded" [sic]. At his powerful rebuke, the powers of darkness departed,
and my whole being was filled with the peace of God, and I was determined to be
baptized. At length we reached the water, and he baptized me, in the name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When he raised me to my feet, a great and
marvelous power from Heaven, rested upon me, and I shouted at the full strength
of my voice, "Glory to God, and the Lamb, for ever, in the highest; I am
born of the water and Spirit." Elder Williams responded, "Amen",
in a loud voice. This incident occurred before we had left the water. We went
back to the house, from which we went, and Elder Williams, confirmed me the
same night. I remained in the house, all of that night, and the spirit of God,
seemingly, without measure, abode with us, during that never to be forgotten
night. O! how I should like here to define my feelings, my peace, and my joy,
on that night, and that week that followed, but I can not, pen can not write,
tongue can not tell, the wondrous powers of Heaven, manifested to us; not in
signs, wonders, and visions, but in the calm, peaceful influences of the Holy
Ghost. Next morning I left Williams, we separated, and we never met since. He
died in "Tooele" Utah,
a few years ago. I went to my parents house, with my heart full of joy and
gladness, to tell them the wondrous story, that I had found the truth - the
Gospel, the Priesthood restored, the establishment of the Church of God
on earth. I rejoiced to bring them the good news that angels had visited the
earth, and that the Father and the Son, had appeared and spoken to Joseph, but
to my utter disappointment, the message was not credited. A spirit of
opposition was manifested, in my father's house, and in the whole region
around. People flocked to my father's house to learn, if the report was true,
that I had been baptized by the Latter-day-Saints, and when they were answered
in the affirmative, much bitterness, was manifested towards me.
The first Sabbath, after my
baptism arrived, early in the morning, I was preparing to go and attend a
meeting of the Latter-day-Saints, a few miles distant from my father's house,
but my father forbade me. I remained at home that day, and refused to attend
services in the Baptist
Church. In the afternoon,
I took a walk, alone, in my father's fields, in deep meditation, as to what
course to persue [sic] in the future. The Spirit of God rested upon me, in a
powerful manner. Every this [thing] became new to me. The earth appeared a
paradise to me, the horses, cattle, sheep, colts, calves, etc., in the fields
around me, appeared as they never did before, all the work of creation appeared
majestic and grand. The land scape, for twenty miles before me, appeared to me,
as the garden of the Lord. Still my best friends on earth, had turned the cold
shoulder towards me. I offered a silent prayer to the throne of grace,
"Lord what shall I do?" The calm answer came back to my soul,
"Leave thy father's house, and go East to Glamorganshire for a season."
I made my intentions known to my father and mother, they opposed my leaving
home, but wished me to remain at home and attend school, for a few more years,
and prepare me for the ministry of the Baptist Church.
One evening, after my parents had
retired to bed for the night, I walked seven miles to a town, named Fishguard,
where I had learned, a meeting of the Elders, would be held at 12 o'clock that
night. The reason for the lateness of that hour, was, because they could not
hold meetings, without being disturbed by their enemies, hence they met, after
the masses had retired for the night. I reached the brethren, about mid-night,
attended their meeting, laid my circumstances before them, and asked for
advice. Elder Phillips Sykes, presided in that meeting. They advised me to obey
my father's wishes 'till I came of age, and attend school, as he desired me to
do, promising the time would come, when I should reach my majority, and become
free to act on my own agency. I returned to my father's house, before any of
the family, were up from bed. I then remained with my father from the spring of
1849, 'till the month of April 1850. I felt that I was in bondage of mind,
during this year. I kept myself at home, and did not associate much, with any
public meetings. In the mean time, I spent much of my time in reading, and
studying the Scriptures. Towards, the latter end of April 1850, I told my
father that I wished to go to "Bridgend", Glamorganshire. He told me
that on conditions that I would promise him to keep away from the Latter-day-Saints,
'till I was 21 years of age, he should give his consent for me to go. I made
him that promise. I left my father's house, and traveled on foot to
"Maesteg," Glamorganshire. This was 100 miles from my father's house,
but I walked that distance in three days. At "Maesteg", I found a
man, named Henry Davies, I worked for him, early and late for seven weeks. I
then left him, and went to "Black-Mill", near Bridgend. I found work
with a man, named Hopkin Jenkins; I fell in love with him and his family, and
they fell in love with me. It was only a few days, after my arrival, 'till I
found they regarded me, as one of their own children. Their kind treatment of
me, and their continual love and kind deeds towards me, made me feel, that I
had met friends indeed. A few days, after my arrival, I learned that Mr.
Jenkins was a Baptist preacher, and a minister of the Baptist Church
at the place. I work [sic] for him and attended school alternatively. The day
school was taught by one Mr. Martin, M.A. a refined gentleman, and highly
educated. He loved me, and gave me, much extra attention and service in my
studies, which I greatly appreciated. He taught me the English, Grammar; Latin,
and Greek Grammars, and other branches of education. I made rapid progress,
under his tuition, and he spared no time, to make my studies a success.
In one year from the time I
arrived in Black-Mill, Mr. Martin, (who was a minister in the Presbyterian
Church) suggested to Mr. Jenkins, that I should be recommended for the
ministry, and educated to that end. Mr. Jenkins, submitted to me the
recommendations of Mr. Martin, saying that he fully endorsed them, adding that
as my parents belonged to the Baptist
Church, that he thought I
should be prepared, for the Baptist ministry. I told him, that I did not
believe the Lord wished me, to be a minister in the Baptist Church.
He urged that my doubts and fears in this regard, were strong evidences to him,
that the Lord, had made the call, though Mr. Martin and himself, adding that
the Lord does not call the conceited, the proud and haughty, to his ministry.
The next Sunday after this conversation, to my astonishment the Rev. Mr.
Jenkins, announced from his pulpit, "that D. John will preach in this
church to-morrow at 7 P.M.". This was April 1851 ( I was at this time 18
years and 3 months and 3 weeks old.) Much against my desires, I filled my
appointment, and preached to a full house. I did not at this time have a
particle of faith in the Divinity of the Baptist Church.
I believed in the scriptures, and preached from them, but I had a great thirst
for education, and could see my way clear before me, to obtain it, by persuing
[sic] this course, now opened to me. I remained with Mr. Jenkins and Mr.
Martin, after preaching this sermon, one year and 9 months, preaching on
Sundays in the Baptist Churches, as per appointments made by Mr. Jenkins. Then
I made a partial change for 3 months, I left school, but remained in the
neighborhood preaching. In the meantime, Mr. Jenkins, had made an application,
to the Baptist College, "Haverfordwest," for
my admittance as a student. An answer was received, that I should be admitted,
in the month of May 1854.
I left Mr. Jenkins, and his kind
family, in the month of Dec. 1853. After living with him 2 years and 8 months.
I went to my parents, who received me with much joy. I left Jenkins with
sorrow, for he had been a father to me, but joy returned to my heart, when I
met my parents, and my brother Thomas. I yet lacked 2 months nearly, of being
21 years of age. I rested a few weeks with my parents, but I could not rest
long, I was anxious to get a good education.
In the first days of January
1854, I entered an Academy, at Haver-ford-west, 9 miles from my father's house.
The Principal of the Academy was the Rev. Mr. Brown, of the established Church
of England.
He was a highly educated gentleman, and gave much of his time and attention to
me, and my studies for 4 months. My chief studies, under his tuition were, the
Greek and Latin languages, also Geometry. During these 4 months, I preached on
Sundays, in the Baptist Churches, and several times in the Churches of my
parents-"Beulah," and "Smyrna."
The first time I preached in Beulah, my father shed tears of joy, in seeing me,
in the pulpit and Church, he loved so well. My mother, and Brother were also
present on that occasion, and scores of my kindred. I entered College of the
first of May 1854, and continued there, during school days, until, February 6th
1856.
In the month of September 1854,
we had one month vacation, during this month, I preached in the Churches in
Pembrokeshire. We resumed our studies in October 1854, and continued them,
'till June 1855. When we again had vacation, for one month. I was requested to
visit the Baptist Churches, in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire,
and Monmouthshire. Which I did, and preached three times on Sundays, and every
night in the week, excepting Saturday nights. I worked very hard during this
month, traveled through 4 Counties, and preached 32 times. I returned in the
month of July 1855, and attended College, 'till the 30th of September 1855. We
had then a vacation for 7 weeks. We were commissioned to visit Baptist
Churches, preach, and use our influences in behalf of the College, and to
receive subscriptions to aid it. We received our various appointments, and I
filled mine as follows. I went on board a Steamer from Milford Haven, to Liverpool, distance 200 miles, and labored there 9 days.
I preached in all the Baptist Churches, in Liverpool.
From there, I went to "Anglesey" [Anglesey], North
Wales, Carnarvonshire [Caernarfonshire], Montogomreyshire
[Montgomeryshire], Merionithshire, Cardiganshire, and preach in all the Baptist
Churches, in the Counties named. It was indeed a hard mission, for the short
space of time, given me perform it. From Cardiganshire, I returned to my
parents, remained with them one day, and returned to College, at the end of
October 1855. From the 1st of Nov. 1855, 'till the 6th of February 1856, I
attended College.
On the night of January 28th
1856, the last day of my 22nd year, I had a remarkable dream, or night vision,
while I was alone, in my bed-room, in the College building.
I dreamed that an angel of the
Lord visited me, he placed his right hand on my left shoulder. His eyes were of
a dark color brown color [sic], but full of glory. His voice was clear, and
full of divine power, and authority. While in his presence, I beheld
exceedingly high mountains. He told me, "they were the Everlasting Hills,
over, or by which the Latter-day-Saints, were passing to their gathering
place." He asked me, "Why are you, spending your time here, in vain?
Why is it, that you will not join the Church of Christ?"
"And spend your time there?" "I hoped that I was in the Church of God now," was my reply, "Am I
not?" He replied firmly, "you know better", and added, "Do
not ask questions, that you know perfectly well, but go on unto
perfection". He directed me, to "look towards the firmament." I
looked upwards, and beheld people of every sect and party. There, I saw Christ
sitting upon his throne in great glory, and the people gathered themselves
before him, to be judged. Those who had obeyed his commandments, He commanded
to stand on His right hand, and those who had not, on His left hand. He judged
one by one, that is one at a time, 'till they formed two single files, being
about one mile in length. The two files faced each other, and appeared in the
vision, to be about forty feet apart. Those on His left, were men of the
different sects and parties of religion; they appeared to be much disappointed,
and bowed down, with sorrow and grief. They turned their faces from Jesus, and
could not abide His presence. Those who composed the file, who stood on His
right hand, were Latter-day-Saints. They seemed to be full of joy, and satisfaction.
They all smiled and appeared lovely. They looked on the face of Christ, with
the most perfect freedom. Christ appeared, in the Majesty of His calling, and
as the Great Judge of mankind. He appeared calm and greatly dignified, but
there was no appeal from his decisions. I addressed the Angel, and said,
"According to this vision the Latter-day-Saints are right, but the others
are wrong". He answered kindly, but firmly, "You can see, who is
right, and who is wrong." He then said, "look towards the right of
thee", I looked and beheld an extensive valley. the most beautiful land I
ever saw. We were standing on one side of the valley, which was even or flat on
its surface, on the side, where we stood, were [a] high and beautiful row of
trees, under full foliage, and under the shadow of one of them, we stood, from
the heat of the sun, which was very powerful. On the other side were mountains,
but not high ones. The mountains extended to the extremity of the valley, and
beyond. The beauty and glory of the valley, which was full of precious fruits
of various kinds, is beyond my power to describe it. It appeared to my view to
be between 3 and 4 miles, wide 30 miles long. I exclaimed, "Oh, my God, I
never knew before, that such a beautiful scene as this belonged to our
earth". The angel replied, "This shall be thy inheritance, and thy
seed after thee for ever, if thou wilt obey the commandments of God, and do
right in the flesh." The Angel again spoke, and said to me, "Look
behind thee." I turned around, and found myself in a large and beautiful
building. There I saw one on the stand, preaching the Gospel (it was my brother
Thomas, he was alive then, but he will be saved, for I beheld him in a saved
condition.) The angel addressed me saying, "This is the house of the
Lord." At this remark, I was arroused [sic], and I believe that the Spirit
of God, and His holy angels, filled my room. I arose from my bed, and bowed
myself before the Lord in solemn prayer, and desired Him, that if that
messenger was sent by Him, to make it known to me, by the same messenger; if
not, to hide the vision from me. I again, laid on my bed, and soon fell into a
deep sleep, (at least it appeared so to me) when at once the same personage
appeared by my side, and made known to me some of the same things as before;
but he mildly rebuked me for spending my time where I was, He also said, Thou
wast foreordained before the foundation of the world, to come forth in this age
to assist to build the Kingdom of God upon the earth, and now the time is up.
If thou will obey the commandments of God, thy days shall be long on the earth;
if not, thy days shall be short, saith the Lord. These words pierced my soul,
and I again awoke, and spent the remainder of the night, in deep reflection,
and some what grieved in spirit, and at other moments, I rejoiced exceedingly.
On January 29th 1856, (my birth
day) I could not attend my studies in College, that heavenly personage and his
sayings, occupied my mind. I went to the house of an Elder and procured several
books of the Church, I read them for 8 days and nights, till I was about worn
out, my strength seemed to have left me. On Friday evening, February 1th 1856,
I went home to my parents. I informed my mother, and brother, of my vision and
of my intention to unite myself with the Church. They cried bitterly, pleading
with me not to do so. They beged [sic] of me, not to inform my father, as he
was quite feeble in health, and it might take his life. I obeyed my mother, and
did not inform my father at that time. On Feb 2nd 1856, I returned to College.
On Sunday evening, Feb 3rd 1856, I attended a meeting of the Latter-day-Saints.
I did not attend any meeting of the Baptist
Church on that day. On
Monday, Feb 4th 1856, I visited Elder John Griffiths, who resided in the town.
I also visited him, on Tuesday, Feb. 5th. Several of the Baptist ministers,
waited on me, they having heard, that I intended, to unite myself with the
Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day-Saints. They pleaded with me, not to do
so, I firmly informed them, that it was my intention to do it, and gave them my
reasons for the course, I was taking. On Wednesday, at 5 P.M., being February
6th 1856, I was rebaptized by Elder Jno. Griffiths,
in the tide of the sea, in the town of Haverfordwest,
South Wales. At 7:30 P.M. of this date, I was
confirmed by the Elders, at a meeting of the Saints. Within five minutes after
my confirmation, the Holy Ghost fell upon me in a powerful manner. The house
was filled, with the spirit of God. I heard a sound from heaven, as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house, in which we sat. All in the house
heard it. Thus, we received the same manifestation, in every particular, as was
received on the day, of Pentecost. The gift of tongues were also conferred on
many present, and one sister had an open vision. I prophesied by the Gift of
the Holy Ghost, and afterwards bore my testimony to the Divinity of the work.
My history since the above date
is embodied, in this book and other books, hence, I need not repeat here. I
married Miss Mary Wride, at Cardiff, South Wales, Feb 8th 1860. (see page 132 of this book. We
lived in Nottingham England
16 months, before we emmigrated [sic] to America. I married Miss Jane Cree,
at Salt Lake City,
October 10th 1865. My first wife is the mother of 9 of my children, and my
second wife, is the mother of 11 of them. On the following page, see their
names, ages, etc.,
Children of David and Mary Wride John
|
Names
|
When and where born
|
When and where died
|
|
1
Annie Jane John
|
15th
Dec 1860, Nottingham
|
20th
Augst 1861, at "Devil's Gate"
|
|
2
Mary Jane John
|
23rd
July 1862, at Provo
|
27
Mar 1934, Provo,
Utah1
|
|
3
Martha Ann John
|
1st
Oct 1864, [at Provo]
|
11
March 1927, Salt Lake
City2
|
|
4
Hannah John
|
27th
Aug 1866, [at Provo]
|
Nov
6th 1866, at Provo
|
|
5
David John Jr.
|
22nd
Oct 1867, [at Provo]
|
|
|
6
Elizabeth John
|
2nd
January 1870,
|
[at
Provo]
|
|
7
Caroline Matilda
|
7th
Feb 1872, [at Provo]
|
7th
February 1872 [at Provo]
|
|
8
Rosella John
|
1st
July 1873, [at Provo]
|
30th
Sep 1874 [at Provo]
|
|
9
Sarah John
|
4th
Dec 1879, [at Provo]
|
4th
Dec 1879 [at Provo]
|
Children of David and Jane Cree John
|
1
Thomas John
|
15
June 1867, at Provo
|
Dead3
|
|
2
Daniel John
|
4th
July 1869, [at Provo]
|
13th
Sep 1869 [at Provo]
|
|
3
Emma John
|
15th
March 1871 [at Provo]
|
|
|
4 Ada John
|
31st
July 1873 [at Provo]
|
|
|
5
Alban Harries
|
14
Nov 1875 [at Provo]
|
|
|
6
Joseph John
|
3rd
June 1877 [at Provo]
|
15th
June 1877 [at Provo]
|
|
7
Wm. Harries
|
1st
May 1878 [at Provo]
|
|
|
8
Estella May
|
29th
May 1880 [at Provo]
|
15th
March 1889, aged 8 years, 9 month 314 days
|
|
9
Alice Maud
|
15th
Jan 1882 [at Provo]
|
11th
March 1882, aged 7 weeks, 4 days
|
|
10
Jennie John
|
20th
Oct 1885 [at Provo]
|
|
|
11
Benjamin Dean
|
1st
June 1887 [at Provo]
|
31st
July 1887, aged 2 months
|
Feb. 1856
7 Feb. I remained in Elder
Griffith's house all day, and wrote a long letter, conserning [sic] the first
principles of the Gospel, to the students of the Baptist College,
but never received any answer.
8 Feb. I wrote another impressive
letter on the same subject to my Father. I humbly and faithfully bore my
testimony to him, but it was not received.
9 Feb. I was at Griffith's house when my mother and Bro.
Thomas came to see me about 10 A.M. In consequence of hearing the news that I
was baptized they came to see, and found it so, which made them to feel bad,
they cried bitterly at times, during the day my mother brang [sic] another 11
to see me, all tried to overcome me but failed.
My mother went to the house of my
cousin, John John, and there found my writing-desk, broke it opened, and found
in it a Bank Book, containing receipts amounting to about £13 or £14 in my
name; she took the Book with her. She also went to the Watchmaker's shop, and
took with her my watch; in the evening I went for these articles, but they were
gone.
She left me a commandment from my
Father never to go near his house during his life. We parted in the afternoon,
they went home and I remained where I was.
10 Feb. I was at Haverfordwest
all day being Sunday. I attended the prayer meeting, in the morning, sacrament
in the afternoon, and preaching in the evening, Elder John Gibbs, and John
Griffiths preached.
11 Feb. I occupied the day in
reading the "Stars", and Zion's
Trumpet, (Udgorn Seion), in the evening attended a prayer meeting.
12 Feb. My cousin Wm. John (now
dead) and John Morris Weaver visited me, after a long conversation they
concluded, that I was insane.
13 Feb. I wrote a letter to my
parents and brof. wrote lengthily on the first principles of the Gospel. Had a
long conversation again with John Morris Weaver, his mind was greatly
influenced and changed, and he made me a promise to be baptized.
14 Feb. I wrote letters to my
uncles Charles John and David John, touching the principles of the Gospel, bore
my testimony of them, and recommended them to embrace the same. They never
answered them, but Charles (being very pious) told my mother afterwards, that I
and my religion was too far beneath his notice, to make any reply.
15 Feb. I visited cousin John
John and his wife, there met Wm. Charles an old apostate; had a long
conversation conserning [sic] the Gospel and its Doctrines.
16 Feb. Capt. Dan Jones arrived Swansea, and many, Elders
and Saints from the country branches, attended council in the evening.
17th [Feb.] Conference was held,
attended three meetings, received profitable instructions and found myself
blessed during the day. Many attended in the evening.
18th [Feb.] The Conference
continued, I presented a piece of poetry to Elder Dan Jones which contained a
short account of the persecution we suffered on the 9th inst; which was
published in the "Udjohn" a week or two afterwards.
19th [Feb.] Elder Dan returned to
Swansea, the Elders and Saints went to their respective holmes [sic]; and I
accompanied Elder Thos. Evans, to Letterstone within 2 miles to my father's
house.
20th [Feb.] I worked at my trade
with Bro. Evans, saw many of my acquaintances, heard that my Bro. Thomas was
sick, wrote him a letter.
21st [Feb.] I left Letterstone
for Haverfordwest in company with Elder Thos. Evans (wodden [sic] leg) and Sis.
Phebe John; on the way met many of my old friends, and had several
conversations.
22 Feb. Left Pembrokeshire for
Merthyr in company with Elders John Price, Thos. Evans, and E.D. Miles. Arrived
at Merthyr in the evening, and saw very many of the Elders.
23 Feb. Conference was held,
Captain Dan, delivered a discourse in the morning, and Elders, Whelock, Martin,
Atud[?], (American Brethren) spoke in the evening.
24th Feb. Sunday. The Conference
continued, held three meetings, during the day, Elders Joseph Young, F.D.
Richards, Spencer, Whelock, Martin, Atud[?], Dan Jones, Daniel Daniels, Israel
Evans, and Benjamin Ashby spoke. It was appointed Daniel should preside the
Welsh Mission and Israel Evans and Ashby to be his counsellors [sic]. The
Apostle Franklin D. Richards, spoke influentially on "digging deep"
and to "get our faith founded on the principle of revelation." I
formed acquaintance with many Elders, and spent my time mostly with Elder
Benjamin Evans, Monmouthshire, afterwards the Pres. of the Welsh Mission.
25. Feb. The Conference
continued, spoke during the day, many of the same Elders, had a concert in the
evening.
26. Feb. Elder John Price and I
left for "Morris Town," near Swansea,
and lodged in the house of Elder Hopkin Jones.
27. Feb. Left for Swansea, went to the
"Udgorn Seion's Office" in the afternoon, and there met Elders, Dan
Jones, D. Daniels, F.D. Richards, Whelock, and Joseph Young. Took tea with
them. Elders Richards, and Spencer left the town; in the evening attended
meeting, Elders Whelock, and Young preached, our Hall was crowded.
28. Feb. Left for Haverfordwest,
in the train by going, had a short debate with D. Harries, St. Cleals,
conserning [sic] the spiritual gifts.
29. Feb. At Griffith's house H. West all day, engaged in
writing and reading.
March 1856
1st March. At the same place, saw
and conversed with some of my old acquaintances.
2nd March. Sunday. I attended 3
meetings Haverfordwest, and preached in the evening, the first time, I was
ordained a Priest the previous night (1st March) under the hands of Elders Wm.
Bowen, John Gibbs, John Griffiths, and E.D. Miles.
3rd March. I spent this day at
Elder Griffiths' house, working at my trade.
4th March. In the same place and
at the same work.
5th March. Engaged in the same,
in the evening attended meetings, the Saints in this Branch were greatly
blessed with the spiritual gifts.
6th March. At Griffiths' house at my work.
7th March. At my work all day.
8th March. Engaged in reading and
writing, saw many from home, received a letter from home stating that my father
was sick, and desirous to see me, before he would die.
9th March. Sunday. Attended 3
meetings at H. West Branch, but felt somewhat grieved conserning [sic] my
Father's sickness.
10th March. Left for my Father's
house arrived there in the afternoon. Met mother and Bro. with many relations
within few yards to the house.
Mother called me and the Saints
after nearly every evil and fowl name, so much was her rage this day, 'till all
the neighbors gathered around us, and wondered at the spirit manifested. She
told me that she did not want to see me "within her door". I told her
that if that was the case, that I could return on my way "you sent for me
and I came, but now you don't want me to enter the house, so I can return said
I. You are at liberty to return said she, by this I returned a few steps, when
my Bro. called after me and said, "David don't return, my father sent for
you, and he wants to see you, the house belongs to him, not to mother go in,
and listen not to her tongue". By this I turned and entered the house, and
found my father by the fire side, very sick. "David my child", said
he, "you came once more to see your Father, and it makes me glad, he
clasped me by the hand, I offered to kiss him, but he refused saying, I can't
find it in my heart to kiss you, after you have brought such disgrace upon
yourself, upon me, and our family, by joining the Saints. By this my mother
again rushed to the house and began saying as before. "Silence" said
he, "I won't have it." Said he, "I don't intend to quarrel with
you David, it is far from me, I brought you up as I thought was right, in the
same faith as myself, 'till you grew up, I have discharged my duties towards
you as my child, I have given you much education, for years, and now I feel my
conscience void of offense, that I have done my duty, so from this time forth
you must answer for your own acts. You have arrived to the years of maturity
and you will be responsible for your own deeds in the future. But as I said
before so say I again, I don't want to quarrel with you, but this understand, I
will not reckon you any longer, as my son, and my house will be no longer a
home for you, so remember you must not think to make a home here, but this week
you can stay and then go, David David, how hast thou fallen to this disgrace
and dishonour", and here he bursted out and cried bitterly for a long
time, and my Bro. and I cried with him. But my mother began again to call me,
and my father commanded her to quit the room, and she went by and buy. Thus all
the evening was spent, 'till bed time.
11th Mrch. I spent at home all
day, talked much with my father during the day; the spirit of persecution
filled nearly all that came to see me.
12th Mrch. At home all day, met
Captain Evans Tregwynt, an old apostate had a long conversation with him.
13th Mrch. At home, had a long
talk with David Thomas Shoemaker, he promised me to be baptized. In the evening
had a long talk with my uncle Dl. John.
14th Mrch. At home, talked much
with my brother, he began to believe some principles of the Gospel.
15th Mrch. I left home in the
afternoon, my father felt grievous, he gave me again my watch, on condition
that I should keep it, "and not give it to the Mormons". It so
happens that this was the last time I saw him alive. I travelled to H. West and
attended council there.
16th Mrch. Sunday. Went to Sutton
Branch in the afternoon, and H. West in the evening. Elder John Price preached
his farewell address before leaving for Zion.
17th Mrch. I spent the day in the
company of Elders John Price and E.D. Miles, attended prayer meeting in the
evening.
Mrch 18th I spent the day at H.
West.
19th [Mar.] I spent the day at Griffiths' house at my
work.
20th [Mar.] At the same place and
work.
21st [Mar.] Engaged in the same
work.
22nd [Mar.] At the same place,
saw many from home.
23rd [Mar.] Sunday. I attended 3
meetings at Haverfordwest Branch.
24th [Mar.] I worked all day,
attended meeting (prayer) in the evening.
25th [Mar.] At H. West at work.
26th [Mar.] I spent the day the
same, attended a Saint's meeting in the evening.
27th [Mar.] Spent the day at
work, but every evening engaged in reading, or writing.
28th [Mar.] Spent the day at work
again.
29th [Mar.] At H.West, some
friends from home visited me, received a note from my bro. stating that my
father was very sick and that he should like to see me home to see my Father.
In the evening I attended a council, I was called and ordained an Elder, under
the hands of Elders E.D. Miles, Bowen, and John Gibbs, Elder Bowen being mouth.
I was also appointed to preside over the Fishguard Branch.
30th [Mar.] Sunday. I attended
three meetings at H. West, was much troubled in my mind because of my father's
sickness.
31st [Mar.] I went to
Littlenewcastle in company with Elder Phillips Dell, part of the way. On the
way met Richard Richards, a baptist preacher, had a long talk with him at
"Cross Inn." Reached home at 2 P.M. and found father dead; he died 2
hours previous to my arrival. I spent the afternoon and evening in much sorrow,
with my mother and brother.
In the evening many of my
relations and neighbors came to see us, and all seemed united to persecute me;
many told me, that I was the cause of my Father's death[!!] But my brother when
he saw all united against me, felt sorry for me, and would not join them. I
went to bed about mid-night, in grief and sorrow, I never saw the clouds so
thick and dark before. I was far from the Saints, and all that surrounded me
with a few exceptions, looked upon me, as though I was the murderer of my
father. His case laid thus, when I joined the Church, he was unwell, when I
joined he believed from his heart, that I did wrong, so it gave pain and
anguish to his soul, so much so, that it influenced his mind, that he could not
eat, drink nor sleep but little, and so he pined away, believing that I was
going head-long to destruction. So he died in about 7 weeks after I joined the
Church; and many said that I was the cause of his death. So when I went to rest
I had a very remarkable dream, I dreamed that I saw two tall personages, which
filled my heart with joy. They told me that they were Joseph and Hyrum Smith,
and said one of them. "The Lord has seen thy trouble and the persecution
against thee, yea, he has heard thy prayers; thou hast overcome thus far, and
power will be given thee to overcome, inasmuch as thou continuest humble and
faithful; and the day comes when thou shalt sit with us, and with our God; yea
and with Gods higher than our God, says, the Lord", by this I awoke full
of the good spirit and gave thanks to God.
April 1856
1st April. At home all day, many
of my relations were with us, and the [sic] my uncles of Llys-y-drew and their
familys [sic], felt Hellish against me.
2nd April. This day my father was
burried in Beulah's Church Yard. Benjamin Owen a Baptist Minister preached in
his funeral. My relations accompanied us home from the Church Yard. My uncle
Charles John, and I had a discussion on the principle of the pre-existence of
man. He gave way soon. My Father's will was read, my name was credited with £
5,0,0, and all the rest to mother and my brother, some cross words passed
conserning [sic] it. My Bro. took my part, offered me the will and told
me to burn it, and give them what I pleased, I refused.
3rd April. At home all day, and
tried to convert my brother.
4th [Apr.] At home all day.
5th [Apr.] I left for
Haverfordwest, many met me on the road, going home from market. Evan Morgans
Fynone and wife cursed me over and over again, I kept going, they then stopped
the car and shouted after me, and told me over and over that I killed my
father. So many were such tales, so I left the road, and walked through the
fields for a long time. In the evening attended council at Haverfordwest.
6th April. I attended 3 meetings
at H. West (being Sunday) felt myself greatly blessed and refreshed during the
day.
7th April. At H. West. attended
prayer meeting in the evening.
8th April. Spent this day at H.
West.
9th April. Went to Milford Haven,
with the immigrants, and meet others, on their way to Zion,
they sailed with the Packet to Liverpool.
Returned to H. West, and attended meeting in the evening.
10th April. Went to
Littlenewcastle
11th April At home all day,
talked to my brother and others all the time conserning [sic] the Gospel.
12th April. At home all day.
13th April. Went to Fishguard and
attended meetings there, Elder E.D. Miles was with us, we had a good time
together all day.
14th April. I spent the most part
of the day with Dl. Williams Tailor Fishguard, he believed many of the
principles, but his wife was near with evil spirits.
15th April. I returned to my
mother's.
16th At home at work.
17th At home working.
18th At home working.
19th At home working at my trade
all the week.
20th Went (Sunday) to Fishguard,
held a Saint meeting in the afternoon and preached in the evening.
21st I went home to
Littlenewcastle.
22nd At home working with my Bro.
23rd At home at work.
24th At home working.
25th At home again at work.
26th I went to Fishguard, held a
prayer meeting in the evening, and after re-baptized one John Morris.
27th Sunday. We held 2 meetings
at Fishguard, sacrament in the afternoon and preaching in the evening. Returned
again home, 7 miles distant.
28th At home working, with my
brother.
29th At home working.
May 1856
1st May. At home working.
2nd May. At home working.
3rd May. At home again, my
brother was working with me these weeks.
4th May. Sunday. Went to
Fishguard, attended prayer meeting in the morning, sacrament in the afternoon,
and preaching in the evening.
5th May. Returned to my mother's
and spent the day there.
6th May. At home in the morning,
being a fair day, call [sic] St. Mark's Fair) I walked to the country, and
spent some time with Elder John Jenkins in the fields, tried to convert his
Bro. Thomas.
7th May. At home, the fair
continued, saw many of the old friends, and bore my testimony to very many
during the day.
8th May. At home at work.
9th May. At home working.
10th May. At home at work.
11th May. Sunday. Attended
meetings at Fishguard all day, good time. Returned to my mother's.
12th May. At home at work.
13th May. Working at home.
14th May. At home working.
May 15th. At home worked all day.
16th At home working.
17th Went to Fishguard and
Baptized Milia Davies, the daughter of John Davies, in the sea-tide.
18th Sunday. At Fishguard,
attended three meetings.
19th Went home to
Littlenewcastle.
20th At home working.
21st At home at work.
22nd At home at work.
23rd At home at work.
24th At home at work.
25th Sunday. Went to Fishguard,
attended meetings as usual. Returned home at night.
26th At home working.
27th At work home.
28th At work home.
29th At work home.
30th At work home.
31st I went to Haverfordwest, in
the evening attended, attended [sic] council. Elder D. Daniels and Israel Evans
were present.
June 1856
1st June. Sunday. Attended three
meetings at Haverfordwest, It was a Conference day. I was appointed to travel
in the Pembrokeshire Conference.
2nd June. Spent the day in H.
West, Elders Daniels and Evans, laid their hands upon me and blessed me, Evans
being mouth.
3rd June. Bro. John Lewis Carmarthen, and I went to Fishguard, and preached in the
evening to a large assembly in the open air.
4th June. We went to Mathry, the
distance of about 10 miles, we offered tracks on the way, the people generally
refused taking them gratis. Lodged in Elder Thomas John's house.
5th June. Went to "Coffirm
Mountain Branch", preached in the evening, good attention was given.
6th June. Went to Pembroke,
preached to a large congregation in the open air; had some disturbance among
the people, but the meeting was not broken up.
7th June. We went to
"Tenby" there met Elder Israel Evans, in the evening I rebaptized
Prest John B. Lewis, and Evans re-confirmed him, we enjoyed the spirit
abundantly. Travelled this week 64 miles.
8th Sunday. We held a conference
in "Tenby", Elder's Evans, Wm. Bowen and myself preached, had our
hall full in the evening.
9th We spent the day in Tenby, in
the evening Elder Israel Evans, delivered a lecture on the "Geography of
the Salt Lake Valley",
good attention paid by the crowd.
10th Bro. Lewis and I went to
"Manorbear Branch", preached in the open air in the evening.
Afterwards I baptized and confirmed Thomas Harries, aged 19 years.
11th We went to Haverfordwest,
met Elders, Israel Evans and E.D. Miles, Evans preached to a large assembly.
Bro. John Lewis returned home, to his parents, he was a student in the College
of Carmarthen, brought up to be a Clergyman; some time after he was baptized,
his parents overcame him, and he left the Church.
June 12th Evans and I went to
"Freystop Branch" attended meeting there in the evening, returned to
Haverfordwest.
13th Brother Evans and I went to
Fishguard, he lectured in the evening on the "Geography of the Salt Lake
Valley".
14t h Evans returned to H. West.,
I went and attended Council at "Mathry Branch", returned again to
Fishguard. Bros. John Davies and John Morris were with me. I travelled this
week 63 miles.
15th Sunday. In the afternoon went
and preached in the open air in "Gwdig?, when I was preaching, one sailor
came on, and wanted to fight me, I told him that I did not come for that
purpose, but one Morris Davies gentile, from my home, went to him and said that
he came for that purpose, so let us begin said he, this caused disturbance, for
a short time, but we finished our service after, in the evening preached in
Lower town Fishguard, and had a large assembly in the open air.
16th Went home to my mother's and
spent the evening in talking about "Mormonism" to the neighbors.
17th Went to "Wallis",
Elder Thomas John and I preached there, on a little Hill in the open air, good
attention given.
18th Went to H. West, in the
evening attended the Saints meeting, many enjoyed the gifts.
19th Remained all day with Bro.
E.D. Miles.
20th Went to Pembroke, found
Sister Jones sick, administered to her, she was greatly blessed.
21st Elder Wm. Thomas Neyland and
I went to Tenby, attended council there in the evening, we introduced the
"Law of Tithing" to the council, and they promised to abide it.
Travelled this week 43 miles.
22nd Sunday. Attended 3 meetings
at Tenby Branch.
23rd Went to "Lydstep"
preached in the open air, in the evening, one Benjamin Evans a Baptist
preacher, came and opposed me, after the meeting was over, had a long and
interesting conversation with him; he promised to meet me the following
evening.
24th Went to
"Manorbear", preached in the open air in the evening, the preacher
fulfilled not his promise, he did not attend.
25th Went to Pembroke, met Bro.
Miles there, in the evening preached out in the open air.
26th I went to H. West, and Miles
to Manorbear, I found Sister Thomas Hyland sick, administered to her.
27th At H. West, visiting the
Saints.
28th Went home to my mother's,
visited my cousin Wm. John who was sick. Travelled this week 33 miles.
29th Sunday. Went to Fishguard
held two meetings there, and one at Gwdig, preached in the open air twice.
30th Went home to my mother's saw
cousin Wm. John 4:30 P.M. he was very sick, he knew me and talked with me, died
at 8 P.M. aged 22 Years.
July 1856
July 1st . At home all day
working with my brother.
2nd July. At home working.
July 3rd . Attended my cousin's
funeral, in the evening went to Haverfordwest.
4th Spent the day with Bro.
Miles, in the evening preached at "Porfield Gate;" 6 of the Baptist
students were present, they made little disturbance.
5th I spent the day in H. West.
Miles went on a visit to Monmouthshire. Travelled this week 31 miles.
6th Elder (Sunday) John Griffiths
and I went to "Milford Haven" attended the sacrament meeting in the
morning, and preached in the open air in the afternoon and the evening. I went
to Neyland in the evening.
7th At Neyland all day at my
work.
8th Went to Pembroke, preached in
the open air in the evening, and had good attention.
9th Went to "Manorbear"
and preached at "Jamestown"
in the evening.
10th All day at
"Manorbear" and preached there in the evening, in the open air.
11th Went to "Tenby,"
and attended the Saint's meeting, in the evening.
12th Remained at
"Tenby" all day, Elder John Gibbs arrived in the evening, we had a
council together. Travelled this week 42 miles.
July 13th Sunday. At
"Tenby" all day attended three meetings.
14th I spent the day mostly at
"Tenby", in the evening Elder Noot and I went to "Pineli",
and preached to a large congregation, in the open air.
15th Went to
"Steparside", preached in the evening in the house of Elder Benjamin
Howells.
16th Remained in the same place;
in the evening preached in the open air, in a place called "Moore".
17th I again remained there, and
in the evening preached at "Sardis
Mountain", had a
large assembly.
18th I went to H. West, there met
Elder Miles, and spent the evening with him.
19th I remained with him, and
attended Counsel in the evening. I travelled this week 44 miles.
20th Sunday. I attended 2
meetings in a house, and preached in the afternoon, in "Shut" Street
in the open air.
21st Spent the day in H. West in
the evening went to "Sutton" with Elder G. Gibbs and attended a
Saint's meeting there.
22nd We spent the morning at H.
West, in the evening Miles and I went to "Brodway" and preached there
in the open air.
23rd I went from there to
"Coffirn" Mountain, and preached there in the evening to a small
congregation.
24th I went to
"Landylwy", I went round the village and invited the people to
meetings; when the time for commencing came, no one was present; but I bowed
alone before God in prayer, on a plain, in the center of the houses, and when I
opened my eyes, after offering up prayer, the people by troops surrounded me. I
preached to them and had good attention.
25th I went to Elder Thomas John
near Mathry, in the evening we went to "Abercastle" and preached
there. The people paid good attention.
26th I went home to my mother's.
I travelled this week 41 miles.
July 27th Sunday. Went to
Fishguard attended a Saint's meeting in the morning, preached at
"Gwdig" in the afternoon, and at Lower town Fishguard in the evening.
28th I spent the day about the
town and preached in the evening in the same place as the previous night.
29th I went home to my mother's
and spent the evening with her.
30th I went from home to
Abercastle to see my bro. who was at the time ill, attending the baths on the
sea-side, returned, or rode back the same night. He was extremely glad to see
me and felt sorry that he was not present to see and hear me, on the 25th; he
happened to have gone to Pembroke in a boat, the distance of 20 miles.
31st I left home and went to H.
West and from there to Freystrop and preached there in the evening.
August 1856
Aug. 1st I spent the day in H.
West
2nd I went to Pembroke and lodged
overnight. I travelled this week 60 miles.
Aug. 3rd Sunday. I preached once
in Pembroke, and once in the country. Two Baptist preachers were present, and
behaved honourable.
4th Visited the Saint's in the
morning, spent the afternoon with Mr. Walker one of the above preachers, and
lodged with him over night. At 7:30 P.M. I preached at New Zealand.
5th I spent the morning again
with Mr. Walker, he told me that he believed "Mormonism", but he
could not leave his salary just then. I spent the afternoon with his deacon Mr.
Faithful.
6th Elders Israel Evans and E.D.
Miles, arrived in the morning, we spent the day at Pembroke, and Evans and I
preached at "Monkton" in the evening.
7th We went to Milford and held a Saint's meeting there in
the evening.
8th We went to H. West and met
Elder Ashby; Evans and he, preached out door in the evening.
9th We spent the day in H. West,
and held a council in the evening. I travelled this week 31 miles.
10th Sunday. We held a conference
in H. West, and had a good time together.
11th We spent the day there
again, had a public tea party in the afternoon, Evans and Ashby, gave some good
instructions after. This was a reformation time, so Evans re-baptized many of
us this evening. I was re-confirmed by Elder Benjamin Ashby.
12th Evans and Miles went to
Fishguard, and Ashby and I went to Pembroke; in the evening we spent a few hours
with Mr. "Walker" and "Faithful" the Baptist minister, and
took supper with them.
13th Ashby went to Swansea, and I to
'Tenby,' and in the evening to "Peneli" and preached there. When I
was talking to the people, we were greatly disturbed, by a band of people going
back and fore, singing and making riots. Playing tin pans; trays, etc. but they
failed to break up the congregation. Then the Mayor of the place came, and a
long conversation took place between us, he commanded me in the name of the
Queen, and by authority of his Office as a Magistrate to quit the place; I in
return commanded him in the name of Jesus to go home, and leave me alone;
afterward he sent for the Police to take me up; he did not come for an hour,
and when he arrived the congregation was dismissed and I was gone. Went with
Elder John Davies to Manorbear.
14th I remained in Manorbear all
day, and in the evening attended a Saint's meeting.
15th I spent the day there also.
16th I went to Tenby and spent
the evening and night there.
17th Sunday. I spent the day at
Tenby, and attended meetings during the day.
18th I went to
"Steparside" and held a Saint's meeting there in the evening.
19th I stayed at the same place,
and in the evening went to an open forest to preach but the rain prevented us.
20th Went to
"Narberth", met Miles there, in the evening preached in the open air,
to a large congregation, the people paid good attention; but after closing the
service, an Independent preacher came to contend with us, and this caused the
people to rage, "till we were stoned, and pushed and driven away, we
called for the aid of the Police, and he kindly accompanied us to our lodgings.
Afterwards some applications were
sent to us, desiring us for to preach in the same place, the following night,
which we promised.
21st We spent the day in the
town, and in the evening again preached; but the mob were worse, and the Police
was not present to protect us; they followed us though the town, 'till we went
to the country; we went to the fields after dark hour.
22nd We went to Haverfordwest.
23rd Spent the day there, and in
the evening attended council.
24th Sunday. I went to "Coffirn Mountain" Branch, attended meetings
there, and returned to Haverfordwest at night.
25th I remained at H. West all
day, in the evening went to Sutton, attended a Saints meeting there. Returned
to H. West after the meeting.
26th Remained there all day.
27th I spent the day there also,
and in the evening attended a Saints meeting.
28th I went to Freystrop, and
attended meeting there in the evening.
29th Went to Pembroke, and
attended meeting in the open air in the evening.
30th I went from Pembroke to
Tenby, and in the evening attended counsel there. I travelled this week 48
miles.
31st Sunday. Stayed at Tenby, and
attended meetings there through the day.
September 1856
Sep 1st I spent the day at Tenby,
and in the evening held a Saint meeting.
2nd Went to Lydstep, and in the
evening attended a prayer meeting.
3rd Went to Manorbear, and
preached there in the evening.
4th Went to Pembroke, and spent
the evening there.
Sep. 5th Went to Haverfordwest.
6th I spent the day there and
attended council in the evening.
7th I travelled this week 24
miles.
8th I went (Sunday) to Fishguard
attended meetings there, and in the evening baptized, and confirmed, Catherine
Jenkins.
9th Remained at Fishguard.
10th I spent the day there again.
11th I went home to
Littlenewcastle.
12th I spent the day at home.
13th Remained with my mother's.
This week travelled 23 miles.
14th Sunday. Went to meet Miles,
returned to Littlenewcastle, and preached there at 12, many of my relations
passed by, but only my uncle David John stayed. Went to Fishguard and preached
before the Baptist Chapel at 4 P.M. and in the evening at Lower town Fishguard.
15th Remained in the town, and
held a Saints meeting in the evening.
16th We went to Dinas, but it
became too wet to preach out doors.
17th We went to H. West, in the
evening, preached at "City
Road," and held a Saint's meeting afterwards.
18th We spent the day in town,
and preached at "Quay" Street in the evening.
19th We spent the day in town.
20th Remained in the same place.
Travelled this week 44 miles.
21st Sunday. Spent the day there
also, and attended three meetings.
22nd Went to "Sutton",
and had a meeting in the evening there.
23rd I wrote all day in Elder
Howell's of Sutton Branch, on the Branch Records.
24th Spent the day at H. West,
attended the Saint's meeting at night.
25th Went to Freystrop, and held
a Saints meeting in the evening.
26th Bro. Miles and I went to
"Narberth", but could not preach out because of the rain.
27th Went to "Tenby",
and in the evening, attended council there.
28th Sunday. Spent the day in
"Tenby" and attended 3 meetings there.
29th I spent the day at Tenby,
and in the evening, re-baptized Eliza Griffiths, Eliza Thein, Mary Williams,
Sarah Richards and Anna Davies.
30th Went to Manorbear, and
preached there in the evening.
October 1856
1st Oct. Went to Tenby, in the
evening held a Saints meeting; and reconfirmed all of the above names, except E. Thein.
2nd Went to
"Steparside", and attended meetings there in the evening.
3rd Oct Went to Haverfordwest.
4th Remained in the same town,
and attended council in the evening. Travelled this week 34 miles.
5th Sunday. Went to Fishguard
through Littlenewcastle, and preached at "Gwdig".
6th Spent the day at Fishguard.
7th Remained in the same place.
8th Spent the day again there,
met my mother, being a fair day, and spent a few hours with her. Had a few cross
words with my Uncle Charles John, about my father's will.
9th Went to my mother's.
10th Spent the day at home wih my
Bro. Thomas.
11th Spent also this day with
him.
12th Sunday. Went to Fishguard,
preached out doors, and in the evening rebaptized Bro. John Jenkins.
13th Returned to my mother's.
14th Went to "Coffern Mountain" Branch, and attended
prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
15th Went to H. West, and
attended a meeting there in the evening.
16th Spent the day in H. West.
17th Remained there during the
day.
18th Spent the day there again,
and in the evening attended council.
19th Sunday. Went to Pembroke,
attended a Saints meeting at 11 A.M. at 3 P.M. preached at Hamilton and at Pembroke at 6 P.M.
20th Spent the day there, met
Miles and spent the evening together.
21st Went to Lydstep, and
attended prayer meeting in the evening.
22nd Spent the day there, in the
evening, re-baptized sister Dawkins and daughter.
23rd Went to Steparside, and
attended meeting in the evening.
24th Went to Tenby, and held
meeting in the evening there.
Oct. 25th Remained in Tenby, and
attended council in the evening.
26th Sunday. Went to Lydstep,
attended meeting there at 2 P.M. Returned to Tenby, and attended meeting there
at 6 P.M.
27th Went to Pembroke, met Miles
there in the afternoon I preached in the funeral of "John Hitchings"
(child ) from Job 10 Ch. 2 I took a text.
28th Went to H.West with Miles.
29th Spent the day there, and
attended meeting at 7 P.M.
30th Spent the day in the same
place.
31st Remained there also all day.
November 1856
Nov. 1st Spent the day there
attended council in the evening. I was appointed to take charge of Fishguard
Branch.
2nd Sunday. Went to Fishguard,
held meetings there, and in the evening baptized and confirmed William Evans
aged about 20 years.
3rd Went to Steparside, held
meeting there; met Elder Israel Evans, at "Narberth Road" Station.
4th We went to Tenby, and visited
some in "Peneli" in the evening.
5th Spent the day in Tenby, and
held meeting there in the evening.
6th Went to "Lydstep,"
and attended meeting there in the evening.
7th Went to Pembroke, and held
meeting there in the evening.
8th Went to H. West and there met
many of the Elders. Travelled this week 81 miles.
9th Sunday. We held Conference at
H. West, Elders E.T.Benson, D. Daniels and I. Evans was present.
10th Spent the day there, the
Elders returned, held meeting at 7 P.M.
11th Spent the day there in
composing poetry against Swansea's
"Sayree".
12th At the same place, engaged
in the same, attended meeting at 7 P.M.
13th Went home to Litlenewcastle.
14th Spent the day at home.
15th Went to Fishguard and
visited the Saints in the evening. Travelled this week 21 miles.
16th Sunday. I spent the day in
Fishguard in the evening re- baptized and reconfirmed Elizabeth Williams, Eliza
Davies, and Catherine Jenkins.
Nov. 17th Spent the day there,
held a prayer meeting in the evening.
18th Went to L.N.Castle and spent
the evening with mother and Bro.
19th I went to Pembroke through
H.West, and visited the Saints.
20th Went to Milford, and had a Saints meeting there in
the evening.
21st Went to H. West, and spent
the evening there.
22nd Spent the day there, and
attended council in the evening. Travelled this week 48 miles.
23rd Sunday. Went to Milford, held a Saints
meeting there, and preached at "Priory".
24th Went to H. West and attended
a prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
25th Spent the day there
composing poetry.
26th Went to Fishguard.
27th Spent the day there.
28th Went home to L.N.Castle.
29th Remained in the same place.
Travelled this week 44 miles.
30th Sunday. Went through much
snow to Fishguard, spent the day there.
December 1856
Dec 1st Went from Fishguard to
L.N.Castle, and from there to Punchaston fair in the afternoon.
2nd Went to H.West from
L.N.Castle.
3rd Went to Pembroke and visited
many of the Saints.
4th Went to "Lydstep"
and attended meetings there in the evening.
5th I spent the day there.
6th Went to Tenby. Travelled this
week 54 miles.
7th Sunday. Spent the day in
"Tenby" received the "Udjohn", which published my
appointments to preside the Flintshire Conference.
8th Spent the day at Tenby, in
the evening baptized and confirmed Harriet Clarke, aged 19 years.
9th Went to Pembroke, through
much rain.
10th Went from there to H.West,
attended meeting at 7 P.M.
11th Went to L.N.Castle through
"Cross Inn" by rail.
12th Went to Fishguard, and
preached there to a large assembly.
13th Went to Littlenewcastle,
wished good by to Mother and Bro. Went from there to H.West. Travelled this
week 62 miles.
14th Sunday. Spent the day at
H.West. We opened a new Hall there, Bro. B. Ashby was present.
15th Went to Sutton, held a
meeting there in the evening.
16th Ashby and I went to Milford, and held a
meeting there.
17th Went to Pembroke, and held a
meeting there in the evening.
18th Went to Tenby and held a
meeting there in the evening.
19th Went to
"Steparside" and held a meeting there.
20th I returned to Tenby and
attended council there at 7 P.M. This week I travelled 46 miles.
Dec. 21st Sunday. Attended 2
meetings at "Tenby" and 1 at "Lydstep".
22nd Went to H.West.
23rd Spent the day at H.West, met
my mother, attended meeting at 7 P.M.
24th Went to Swansea, met Elders Daniels, Miller, Taylor,
and many others. J.C. Jones, &c.
25th At the "Sayree"
Eistedfod, received 3 prices [prizes] for poetry.
26th Spent the day at Swansea.
27th Went to Merthyr. Travelled
this week 110 miles.
28th Sunday. Spent the day in
Merthyr Conference, I preached at 6 P.M.
29th Spent the day in Merthyr,
attended a concert in the evening.
30th Went with the mail to
"Abergyfeny" and from there to "Hereford" remained there over night.
31 Dec Went to Cefn Mawr North
Wales, to the Flintshire Conference and lodged with Elder John Roberts.
**********************************
For the poetry that I composed
during this year, see Zion's
Trumpet. "Udgorn Seion" for the same year.
During the year I baptized about
30, and travelled about 2,600 miles. Lost the friendship of nearly all my
former acquaintances and made hundreds of new friends in the Church.
January 1857
January 1st /57. I spent the day
at "Cefn Mawr" engaged in writing mostly during the day, attended
meeting in the evening.
2nd I spent the day there, felt
somewhat grieved after the South Saints.
3rd Met Elder Thos. Rees the late
Conf. Pres. went with him to Rhosllanerchrugog, and visited the Saints there.
4th Sunday. Went to
"Brymbo", attended two meetings there.
5th Went to "Mold,"
attended meeting with the Saints in the evening.
6th Went to "Flint"attended
meeting there 7 P.M.
7th Went to "Bagillt"
and "Trefor" and visited the Saints there.
8th Spent the day in
"Trefor" engaged in writing during the day.
9th Went to "Holy Well"
and from there to Flint,
spent the evening there.
10th Went to "Chester" and
"Wrexham" and from there to Rhosllanerchrugog, had a long
conversation with a Baptist Minister.
11th Sunday. I spent the day in
attending meetings at "Rhos" and "Cefn Mawr" Branches.
12th Went from "Rhos"
to "Cefn" attended prayer meeting in the evening.
13th Went to "Rhos" and
held a Saint's meeting at 7 P.M.
14th Went to "Brymbo"
attended meeting there in the evening.
15th Spent the day in writing
there.
16th Parted with Elder Thos.
Rees, he left for Carmarthenshire South Wales, and I for "Mold"
Branch, I composed the following verse to him in Welsh, on his parting.
[11 verses of Welsh Poetry]
17th I spent the day in
"Mold".
18th Sunday. Went to "Flint," held a
council at 2 P.M. and meeting at 6, went to Trefor in the evening.
19th Went to Holy Well, returned
to Trefor, met Pastor J.E. Jones.
20th Went to Abergele,
Denbighshire.
21st Went to Denbigh, attended
meeting there in the evening.
22nd Went to Rhuthm.
23rd Went to "Mold",
over a high mountain.
24th Went to "Brymbo."
25th Sunday. Spent the day at
Brymbo, held a council in the morning and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
26th Went to "Rhos,"
preached there at 6 P.M. Composed the following poetry in Welsh as a
conversation between J.E. Jones and I, on the Saints Emigrating &c. &c.
[19 verses of Welsh Poetry]
[Welsh verses continued]
27th Went to "Cefn
Mawr" and held meeting there in the evening.
28th Went to Brymbo, and held a
Saints meeting there in the evening.
29th Went to 'Mold" through
the Mynyo, ordained 2 to the Priesthood, at "Mold," and administered
to the sick.
30th Went to Trefor and spent the
evening among the Saints.
31st Pastor Jones left me, and
went to Denbighshire, and I remained at Trefor.
February 1857
Feb 1st Sunday. Went and attended
meeting at Bagillt in the afternoon, and preached in Trefor at 6 P.M.
2nd Went to "Mold,"
travelled through a deep snow.
3rd Went to Brymbo, at 7 P.M.
attended prayer meeting there.
4th Spent the day at Brymbo, in
reading and writing.
5th This day went to Rhos.
6th Spent the day there in
reading and writing.
7th Went to Cefn Mawr, and spent
the evening among the Saints.
8th Sunday. Spent the day in
"Cefn" Branch, attended 2 meetings, and enjoyed the good spirit
abundantly.
9th Spent the day there, attended
prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
10th Went to "Rhos"
Branch.
11th Went to Brymbo Branch.
Feb 12th Spent the day in writing
there held prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
13th Spent the day in the same
place attended meeting at the (Mynyo) at 7 P.M.
14th Went to Flint in company with Elder David Lewis.
15th Sunday. Held a council at Flint at 10 A.M. and
meetings at Bagillt at 2 and 6 P.M.
16th Went to visit Elder Edward
Williams Cacau [?] Denbigh Conf. Returned to Trefor.
17th Went to Bagillt, spent 6 1/2
hours, with John Owen Bapt. Minister, and conversed during the time on the
Gospel principles.
18th Went from "Trefor"
to "Mold," and preached there at 7 P.M.
19th Went to Brymbo, held a
meeting there at 7.
20th Engaged in Brymbo in writing
all day.
21st Spent the day there, went to
Wrexham in the evening.
22nd Sunday. Spent the day at
Brymbo, attended two meetings.
23rd Went to Wrexham, and
returned again.
24th Went to "Rhos"
Branch.
25th Spent the day there,
attended meetings in the evening.
26th Went to "Cefn
Mawr" attended meeting at 7 P.M.
27th Spent the day there, and
composed the following poetry in Welsh, that is printed in (Udgorn Seion) on a
dream that was given me January 27th 1856.
[20 verses of Welsh poetry]
Feb 28th Went from
"Cefn" to Wrexham, and returned.
March 1857
March 1st Sunday. In the morning
distributed tracks to the world, attended meetings at "Cefn", at 2
and 6 P.M.
2nd Spent the day there, in the
evening attended prayer meeting; during the day, composed the following poetry
in Welsh, on the subject "Come to Zion"
(Lilin Lon)
[3 verses of Welsh poetry]
[4 - 17 verses of Welsh poetry]
[18 - 20 verses of Welsh poetry]
March 3rd Went to
"Rhos" Branch.
4th Spent the day there, held a
meeting at 7 P.M.
5th Went to "Brymbo"
and attended meeting there.
6th Went to "Mold"
Branch.
7th Went to "Trefor",
through "Flint,"
and "Bagillt".
8th Sunday. Attended Conference
in Abergele (Denbigh Conf.)
9th Pastor John E. Jones and I
went to "Mold" through "Flint".
10th Went to "Rhos"
visited the Saints, and from there to "Cefn"
11th Pastor Jones, left for Swansea, South Wales, to
be re- baptized being the "reformation" time, at 7 P.M. I attended
meeting at "Rhos".
12th Went to "Cefn",
held meeting there in the evening.
13th Went to "Rhos" and
spent the evening among the Saints.
14th Went to "Brymbo"
Branch.
15th Sunday. Spent the day there,
attended 2 meetings and distributed tracks in the morning.
16th Went to "Mold"
Branch.
17th Went to "Trefor",
and visited the Saints at "Bagillt" and "Flint".
18th Spent the day in writing,
and reading at "Trefor".
19th Went to "Mold"
Branch.
20th Went to "Rhos"
Branch, visited the Saints at "Brymbo".
21st Spent the day in (St. Isaf.
Rhos) making the quarterly afes of the Flintshire Conference.
22nd Sunday. Held our conference
in "St. Isaf Rhos", had our hall crowded all day. [There is no page
55 in original journal]
23rd Went to Liverpool,
met there many Elders and Saints, that were going to emmigrate[sic]. Spent the
evening with Elder Israel Evans, Benjamin Ashby, and J.E.Jones.
24th Spent the day there, in the
evening attended a Priesthood meeting, Elder E.T.Benson, was present, and
talked on the reformation.
25th Spent the day there, a
meeting was held in the evening, the Hall was crowded with Emigrants, and
others, we had a good time, and all seemed to be edified.
26th The Emigrants, went on board
of the ship "George Washington" I slept in it over night.
27th The ship sailed to the
river, in the afternoon we left them.
28th At 5 A.M. the ship sailed bound
for "Boston",
having on board 817 souls. I returned by steamer to "Trefor" Wales.
29th Sunday. Spent the day in
Trefor and "Bagillt," attended 2 meetings, administered to Sister
Williams who was sick.
30th Went to "Mold"
visited the Saints in "Flint".
31st Went to "Brymbo"
attended prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
April 1857
April 1st Went to
"Rhos" attended meeting there at 7 P.M.
2nd Went and held meeting at
Brymbo.
3rd Went to "Rhos"
Branch.
4th Returned to Brymbo.
5th Sunday. Attended 2 meetings
at Brymbo during the day.
6th Engaged in writing there all
day.
7th Went to "Rhos"
Branch.
8th Spent the day there, held
meeting in the evening.
9th Went and held meeting at
"Cefn".
10th Went to Brymbo, in the
evening re-baptized and re-confirmed Thos. Jones, Dl. Lewis John Humphreys, and
Mary Roberts.
11th Went to "Rhos",
and re-baptized and re-confirmed, Samuel Parry, Amos Clark, Charles Jones,
David Thomas and John Morris.
12th Sunday. Attended 2 meetings
at "Cefn Mawr" Branch".
13th Spent the day there, in the
evening re-baptized and reconfirmed John Roberts, John Jones, Robert Williams,
Joseph Dawson, Dd. Lewis, Yomg [?] Dawson, Sister Dawson Jun., Sister Rede,
Roberts, Jones, and her three daughters, had the good spirit abundantly pourred
[sic] upon us.
14th Went to "Rhos",
re-baptized and reconfirmed, Thos. Phillips, Edward Vaughan, two sisters James
and Parry.
15th Went to "Rhos"
Branch.
16th Went and held meeting at
Brymbo.
17th Went to "Mold"
Branch.
18th Went to Trefor, visited the
Saints at "Flint".
19th Went to Bagillt, held a
council at 10 A.M. meeting at 2 P.M. in the evening went to Trefor and by the
sea side, re-baptized and re-confirmed, Edwin Price, David Jones, Thos. Conway,
Thos. Green Senior.
20th Went to "Caeau"
found Sister Margaret Williams sick with a severe fever, administered to her,
her pains were eased, but died days after. A few minutes before she expired she
testified that the veil was rent, and that she saw clearly the spirit world,
she shouted "Hosanah to God", and "Hurrah" to
Mormonism" shook hands with all in the house and died, while yet in the
vision.
21st Went and held meeting at
"Brymbo".
22nd Went to "Mold" on
the 21st and Brymbo this day.
23rd Visited the Saints of the
Brymbo, Mountain.
24th Went to "Rhuthun"
and met my Pastor.
26th Sunday. Went to
"Rhos" held council in the morning and 2 meetings after.
27th Went through Wrexham to
Brymbo, and held meeting there.
28th Went to Mold, and I
re-baptized Joseph Lloyd, George Gettings, and James Borelton, they were also
reconfirmed.
29th At "Mold" Branch.
30th April. Went to "Holy
Well", bathed in it, Jones went in naked, the man that kept it was a
Catholic, he saw Jones naked and went mad because he was "polluting the
Holy Water without his garments", &c, &c. He threatened the law,
but we gave him a glass to drink, and it brought him to good feelings and
smiles. Jones went to Newmarket,
and I to "Trefor". [In right hand margin:] I re-baptized John E.
Jones.
May 1857
May 1st Went so far as "Flint" with tracts,
but sold none.
2nd Went again to
"Caeau" and the other Sister "Williams" was sick
administered to her, but she died a few days after.
3rd Sunday. Attended meetings at
Bagillt and Trefor, Elder Edwin Price rebaptized his own family in the evening.
4th Went to "Mold"
attended meeting there at 7 P.M.
5th Went to Brymbo, at 7 P.M.
preached at Moss, in the open air, good attention was given with a large
assembly.
6th Went and held meeting at
"Rhos."
7th Went and held meeting at
"Cefn Mawr".
8th Went to "Rhos", at
7 P.M. preached in the open air to a large congregation.
9th Went to "Cefn" and
spent the day in writing.
10th Sunday. Spent the day in
"Cefn" attended two meetings there.
Composed the following verses on
the reformation.
1.
The reformation came with might
From Zion's hill with Holy light
And all the meek rejoice
They always feast on every word
That comes with power from the Lord
Through Prophet Young's voice.
2.
The reformation from above
Adored with Michael's pure love
Sprang from the fountain head
And all the hypocrites do fear
Before the lightning of his spear
Tis God's annointing shed
3.
The reformation strongly grows
And Zion's blessings overflows
Which makes the pure to sing
And if the word beset me round
Through faith the Gospel I will sound
And serve my Lord and King.
4.
All faithful Saints with one accord
With willing hearts obey'd the Lord
Throughout the British Isles
They bade farwel to worldly sleep
And resurrected from the deep
And our Redeemer smiles
May 11th Spent the day in Cefn,
attended prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
12th Went to "Rhos",
preached in the open air at 7 P.M.
13th Went to Brymbo, Charles
Jones accompanied me, preached out doors in the evening to a large assembly, a
Weslean Minister came and contended with me.
14th Went to Brymbo Mountain,
spent the evening and night there, because the rain and storm caught us.
15th Went and visited the Saints
at "Mold" Branch.
16th To day went to Trefor and
visited Flint,
Bagillt and Holywell, returned to Trefor in the evening.
17th Sunday. Attended two
meetings at "Trefor" and "Bagillt" at 7 P.M. preached in
the open air.
18th Went to the funeral of
Sister "Williams Caeau", met many of the Elders from Newmarket.
19th Went to Brymbo, accompanied
by Bros. Edwin Price, Charles Jones, and Robert Williams. Held meeting in the
evening.
20th Went and held meeting at
"Rhos".
21st Went and held meeting at
"Cefn".
22nd Bros. Edwin Price and Robt.
Williams, left me, on their mission to preach, for 3 or 4 months, throughout
the Welsh Mountains, I returned to
"Rhos".
23rd Spent the day there writing
and reading the Book of Mormon.
24th Sunday. Went to Brymbo,
attended meeting there at 2 P.M. preached at Summershire at 7 P.M. in the open
air; had an hour of discussion with a Methodist.
25th Elder John Humphreys
accompanied me to "Mold", we offered tracts to the people on the way.
Preached at 7 P.M. out doors, one "John Williams" a Wesleyan
preacher, contended with us for about an hour which caused much disturbance among
the people.
26th Went and offered books in
every house by the road 'till "Flint,"
could not preach, every square was occupied with shows. &c. &c. (being
a fair). Spent the evening there.
27th We offered tracts in
hundreds of houses, and preached at 7 P.M. to a very large assembly on "Elgin" Mountain, had
a perfect order and stillness for the course of 2 hours.
28th Offered tracts in all the
houses between "Holywell" and "Mold" some received them,
but the majority would not, stayed over night at "Mold".
29th Humphreys went to Brymbo,
and I to Rhuthun, spent the evening with Elder Thomas Roberts.
30th Spent the day there, met
Elders James Taylor and J.E. Jones, they returned to "Denbigh" and I
remained there.
31st Went to Denbigh accompanied
with Roberts, held Conference there, preached out doors twice.
June 1857
June 1st Went in company of
Elders J.E. Jones and James Taylor to Rhuthun, preached out in the evening.
2nd Went to "Mold" too
wet to preach out.
3rd Spent the day there, preached
to a large assembly at 7 P.M.
4th Went and preached at Brymbo,
were disturbed by a Methodist.
5th Went to "Cefn Mawr"
preached out at "Rhosymedre".
6th Went to "Rhos"
spent the evening there.
7th Sunday. Held a Conference at
"Rhos", had 3 meetings inside, and preached once in the open air.
Went to Wrexham afterwards.
8th Bro. Taylor went to Manchester and we to
Brymbo, it was too wet to preach out doors.
9th I went to "Trefor,"
bro. Jones to Abergele, we parted at the Holy Well station, too wet again to
preach out doors.
10th Spent the day in writing
there.
11th Went to Mold and visited the
saints at Flint.
12th Spent the day in writing and
reading at Mold.
13th Went to "Rhos"
Branch.
14th At 10 A.M. (Sunday) preached
out at "Pentre", held a Saints meeting at "Rhos", at 2 P.M.
and at 7:30 P.M. preached out doors at "Cefn Mawr".
15th Went to Brymbo Branch.
16th Went to "Mold",
met Bros. Edwin Price, and Robt. Williams, felt [?] well on their mission.
17th At "Mold" all day,
reading the Book of "Mormon".
18th Went to "Rhos" through
"Brymbo" visited the saints in both Branches.
19th Went to "Cefn
Mawr" preached out doors at 7:30 P.M.
20th Went to Brymbo.
21st Sunday. At 10 A.M. preached
at "Pentre", at 2 P.M. held a Saints meeting, at 5 preached at
"Freeth" and at "Green Brymbo" 7:30 P.M.
22nd Visited the Saints at
"Brymbo" Mountain.
23rd Went to the house of Bro.
David Lewis "Fron" preached there at 7 P.M. to a small assembly,
returned to "Cefn".
24th Met Elder "Edward
Burgoyne" from Merthyr, looking, for work, had some at "Cefn" in
the evening preached to a large assembly at "Pentre", returned to
"Cefn Mawr".
25th Went to Brymbo Branch.
26th Elder John Humphreys
accompanied me to Mold, preached to a large assembly at 7 P.M.
27th Went to Flint Branch.
28th Sunday. Went to Bagillt,
administered the sacrament at 11 A.M., and preached out doors at 1 at 5 and at
7:30 P.M.
29th Went to "Trefor".
30th Went to "Abergele"
for some tracts, and visited the Saints there.
July 1857
July 1st Spent the day there in
writing held a Saints meeting at 7 P.M.
2nd Went to "Trefor".
3rd Went to Mold Branch.
4th I spent the day there,
Humphreys, returned to Brymbo.
5th Sunday. Held a Saints meeting
at 11 A.M. preached out doors twice, had an hour's contention with one
"Perkinson" a Wesleyan preacher. Ordained two Priests, Gittings, and
Boulton; returned to Brymbo.
July 6th Went to "Cefn
Mawr" met Robert Williams, gave him more Books, to go among the world.
7th I spent the day there in
writing.
8th Went to "Rhos",
preached out doors in the evening.
9th Returned to "Cefn",
held a Saints meeting in the evening.
10th Went to Brymbo, received
Books and tracts from the Office.
11th Returned to
"Cefn", through Wrexham.
12th Sunday. At 2 P.M. held a
Saint meeting there, and preached out doors at 5 and 7:30 P.M. to large
assembles [sic].
13th Went to "Rhos",
held a Saint meeting there at 7 P.M.
14th Went to Brymbo.
15th Travelled to Mold.
16th Spent the day there in
writing, &c.
17th Spent the day there
composing poetry after my father, and wrote the following verses in Welsh,
which were printed in "Udgorn Seion", as an address, to Elder Thos.
Lewis, Morris Town, Swansea, after his children, It was printed of course with
little alteration.
[5 verses of Welsh poetry]
[12 verses of Welsh poetry]
Again the same day I wrote the
following on the Martyrdom of Elder Parley P. Pratt, who was killed in America May 12,
1857.
[6 verses of Welsh poetry]
Printed in "Udgorn
Seion"
July 18th Went to Rhuthun, stayed
with Elder Thomas Roberts.
19 Jul Sunday. Roberts
accompanied me from Rhuthun to "Denbigh" held a Saints meeting at 2
P.M. and preached in the Market
Square at 5 P.M. Returned to Rhuthun.
20th Spent the day there.
21st Went to Mold.
22nd Went to "Trefor",
visited the Saints at "Bagillt" and "Flint".
23rd Visited Elder Edward
Williams "Caean", who was in a fever; administered to him. Returned
to "Mold".
24th Went to Brymbo, met Sister
Jane Roberts there, went to Wrexham, and returned after.
25th Spent the day at
"Brymbo".
26th Sunday. At
"Brymbo" administered the sacrament at 2 P.M. preached out in the
evening, went to Wrexham, and returned.
27th Went to "Rhos" and
had a public discussion with a baptist. great assembly present.
28th Spent the day there, and
preached in the evening in the same spot as the previous evening.
29th Went to "Cefn
Mawr" and listened to a lecture on the "Maine Law" [?] with one
from "Manchester"
.
30th Met Elder Edwin Price, he
accompanied me to "Mold", there we met Pastor John E. Jones.
August 1857
Augt. 1st Went to
"Rhos" Branch.
2nd Sunday. At "Rhos",
administered the sacrament at 2 P.M. and preached out doors at 5 and 7:30 P.M.
3rd Bro. Price accompanied me to
"Mold" J.E. Jones, remained at "Rhos".
4th At "Mold" all day.
5th Went to Brymbo, Price with
me, he left for "Rhos".
6th Went and visited the Saints
at Brymbo Mountain.
7th Travelled though much rain to
"Mold".
8th Went to "Trefor",
and visited the Saints at "Bagillt" and "Flint".
9th Sunday. Went to Newmarket, met Pastor
Jones, had good time in the meetings during the day.
10th Jones and I visited, and
administered, to Bro. Williams "Caeau" who was sick and went to
"Abergele" in the evening.
11th Elder David Lewis, and I
went among the world with tracts, called in every house, that we could see, and
offered them to every person we met; went to "Bettws" tracted the
village through; lodged there.
12th Engaged alike all day.
Tracted "Llanelian" and "Llanfardolhaiarn" [Llanfair
Talhaiarn] through, and lodged in the last place.
13th Travelled all day through
Denbighshire over Mountains and through Valleys. The majority of the people
were methodist, they were bittered against me, and my principles. Suffered the
want to food, 'till I was nearly weak to talk to the people, nor to walk. Went
to "Eglwysfach" met some Saints, and had some food. Lodged there over
night.
14th We spent this day the same,
and proved the people in the same condition, darkness covered their mind, the
vail was over their eyes, and so great was the darkness, that they called it
light, and the light darkness. Went and lodged in "Llanrwst".
15th We spent this day the same
till we arrived at Cerrigydrudion, lodged there; nearly swarmed in innumerable
company of flies.
16th Sunday. Preached there at 2
P.M. had a large assembly, went to "Llangwm", preached by the Parish
Church at 7 P.M. Lodged there.
17th We tracted all the country
round about "Pentreboilas" [Pentrefoelas], and "Ysbytty"
[Ysbyty Ifan] and lodged in the last place.
18th We travelled all the country
'till "Bala", suffered the want of food, beged some in the houses,
and last prospered, after being 30 hours without none. Lodged there.
19th Had a letter from my Pastor,
calling me to return to the Conference to meet himself and Elder Daniel
Daniels; I left at 12 A.M. and reached the "Cefn" Branch by night,
the distance of 30 miles. Daniel Lewis, left for South
Wales.
20th I went to "Rhos",
met Elder J.E. Jones, in the evening Elder Daniel Daniels arrived, held a
meeting in the evening.
21st We went to Mold, and visited
the Saints at "Rhos", and "Brymbo".
22nd Went to "Rhuthun",
I remained there over night, the brethren went to "Denbigh".
23rd Sunday. Went to
"Rhuthun", administered the sacrament in the afternoon, and preached
out at 6 P.M. had a large congregation.
Aug 24th Went to Mold spent the
evening there.
25th Went to Brymbo.
26th I went to "Rhos",
held a meeting there. I confirmed Edward Vaughan.
27th Went and held a meeting at
the "Cefn".
28th Went to "Rhos",
spent the day in writing.
29th I went to "Cefn
Mawr".
30th Sunday. At Cefn held
meetings at 2 and 6 P.M. administered to Sister "Rede" who was sick.
31st Went to "Cefn
Bychan", worked at my trade all day.
September 1857
Sept. 1st In the same place; in
the evening re-baptized Davis Price.
2nd In the same place; Sister
Rede died.
3rd At "Cefn" at work,
held a meeting in the evening; reconfirmed Bro. David Price.
4th Went to "Rhos"
spent the evening, there.
5th Went to Brymbo.
6th Sunday. At Brymbo, held a
meeting at 2 P.M., preached out at 5.
7th Went to "Rhos"
worked in the afternoon held a meeting in the evening.
8th At "Street Isaf" at
work, rebaptized John Williams, Elder J. E. Jones arrived.
9th At work all day, held a
meeting in the evening.
10th At work, in the evening went
to "Rhos" and held a meeting there.
11th At "Street Isaf"
working.
12th Went to Holywell,
accompanied by Elders J. E. Jones and Edwin Price, Jones and I lodged there.
13th Sunday. Went to
"Caeau" administered to Priest, Robert Williams who was sick. Held two
meetings in "Bagillt", returned to " Trefor".
14th Went to Flint, in the evening, re-baptized and re-
confirmed, Roger Conway, by the sea side.
15th Went to "Mold",
held a meeting there in the evening.
16th Spent the day there.
17th Went to Brymbo, spent the
evening there.
18th Went to Rhos. At work.
19th At work at "Rhos".
20th Sunday. Spent the day in
"Cefn" Branch, held meetings as usual.
21st At "Rhos" working
all day.
Sep. 22. At Rhos. At work held a
meeting in the evening.
23rd At work there, in the
evening held a meeting in the "Cefn".
24th Spent the day there among
the Saints.
25th Went to "Rhos".
Working.
26th At Rhos.
27th Sunday. Spent the say at
Brymbo Branch, and held meetings as usual.
28th Visited the Saints during
the day.
29th At work, at Brymbo.
30th At work in the same place.
October 1857
Oct 1st Went to Mold, spent the
evening among the Saints.
2nd Spent the day there.
3rd Went to Trefor through
Bagillt and "Flint".
4th Sunday. Spent the day in
Bagillt Branch returned to Trefor.
5th Went to "Mold"
spent the evening with the Saints.
6th Went to Brymbo, held a
meeting there at 7 P.M.
7th Went to "Rhos" held
a meeting there.
8th Went to "Cefn" held
a meeting there.
Oct 9th Spent the day in visiting
the Saints of that Branch.
10th Went to "Rhos".
11th Sunday. Spent the day at
"Rhos" Branch, held meetings as usual.
12th At work there.
13th At work again.
14th At work there held a meeting
in the evening.
15th Went to Brymbo, held a
meeting there at 7 P.M.
16th Went to Flint visited the Saints during the evening.
18th Sunday. Spent the day in
Bagillt Branch, held our usual meetings.
19th Went from "Trefor"
to "Mold".
20th Went to Brymbo, held meeting
at 7 P.M.
21st Went to "Rhos"
held a meeting there in the evening.
22nd Went to Cefn, held a meeting
at 7 P.M.
23rd Spent the day there.
24th Went to "Rhos" and
spent the evening among the Saints.
25th Sunday. Held 3 meetings at
"Rhos" Branch.
Oct 26. Went to the
"Cefn" laid a few hours on bed, being unwell, returned to
"Rhos".
27th At work in the house of
Robert Lewis, near "Rhos".
28th Went to Cefn, Wrexham, and
Brymbo, visited the Saints, &c.
29th At Brymbo, at my work.
30th Went to Mold Branch.
31st Spent the morning in writing
went in the afternoon to Trefor through Holywell.
November 1857
Nov. 1st Sunday. Went to
Abergele, held our conference there.
2nd Spent the day there in the
company of Elders, J. E. Jones, and W.Ajax, visiting the Saints, &c.
3rd Spent the day there, being a
wet day, composed poetry.
4th Went to "Dalargoch"
to the house of Elder Thos. Williams.
5th Went to Trefor, through Newmarket, visited the
Saints in that Branch.
6th Went to Brymbo, through Flint, Bagillt, and
Brymbo.
Nov. 7. Went to "Rhos"
through Wrexham, in the evening met many of the brethren.
8th Sunday. Held our Conference
at "Rhos", had good meetings through the day.
9th Went to Cefn, spent the day
in writing.
10th Spent the day there, held a
meeting in the evening.
11th Went to "Rhos"
held a meeting there.
12th At my work all day.
13th At work.
14th At work.
15th Sunday. Went to Brymbo, held
the usual meetings there.
16th Spent the day there.
17th Went to Cefn, held a meeting
there at 7 P.M.
18th Went to the house of Bro.
David Lewis Frine, near Cefn Mawr, at work all day.
19th At work there.
20th At work there.
21st At work there.
22nd Sunday. Held the usual
meetings at Cefn Branch.
Nov. 23rd Went to the house of
Bro. David Lewis, at my work all day.
24th At work, held a meeting in
the Cefn in the evening.
25th At work in the same place.
26th Spent the day in Cefn.
27th Went to "Rhos"
spent the day among the Saints.
28th Went to Brymbo.
29th Sunday. At Brymbo, held the
usual meetings.
30th Went to Brymbo Mountain.
At work in the house of Elder John Jones.
December 1857
Dec. 1st At work there, held a
meeting in Brymbo.
2nd At work in the same place.
3rd At work all day.
4th At work again there.
5th Went to Trefor, lodged in the
house of Sister Williams.
6th Sunday. At Bagillt, held the
usual meetings.
7th Went to Flint, worked in the house of Bro Thos.
Conway.
8th Went to Mold Branch.
9th Went to Brymbo, held a
meeting there at 7 P.M.
10th At work in the house of Bro.
William Roberts.
11th At work there.
12th At work again, in the evening
went to "Rhos".
13th Sunday. At Rhos, holding our
usual meetings.
14th At Rhos working.
15th At work there, attended
meeting in the Cefn Branch at 7 P.M.
16th Working at "Rhos"
held a meeting in the evening.
17th At work there.
18th At work -
19th At work Pastor Jones
arrived, I received my appointment to be the second councilor to Elder Benjamin
Evans, in the Welsh Mission.
20th Sunday. At Cefn in the
afternoon and Rhos in the evening.
21st Jones and I went to Brymbo,
through Wrexham.
22nd Went to Bagillt Branch.
23rd Went to
"Dalargoch" to the house of Bro. Thos. Williams, saw Elder Wm. Ajax.
24th Spent the day there.
25th Went to Abergele, through Newmarket.
26th Went to
"Llandudno" Carnarvonshire.
27th Sunday. Held a meeting there
at 2 P.M. travelled ten miles to "Eglwysfach", held meeting there at
6 P.M.
28th At Eglwysfach, Elder Thos. R
Jones, married to Sister Ellen Williams, we enjoyed ourselves in the party.
29th I parted with Bro. Jones and
the rest, and returned by rail to Brymbo, through Chester and Wrexham.
30. Went to "Rhos".
31. Engaged there in working and
writing.
******************************************************
During this year I baptized 43
souls, and travelled about 3,000 miles.
At the end of this year I was
released from the Presidency of the Flintshire Conference in North Wales, and
appointed as 2nd Counselor to Elder Benjamin Evans, President of the Welsh
Mission, there were 12 conferences in the Mission
at the time including [blank]
January 1858
Jan. 1st At Rhos at my work.
2nd Spent the day there.
3rd Sunday. At Rhos, held a
council in the morning, and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
4th Left Ruabon Station at 9 A.M.
and reached Swansea at 8 P.M. met Elder John Davies at the Station, this day I
left the North, for to labour throughout the whole mission (Welsh).
5th Spent the day in Swansea, saw Elder Daniel
Daniels, and many of the Elders.
6th Bro. John Davies and I went
to Morristown,
visited the Saints, held a meeting there in the evening.
7th Spent the day in Swansea, Elder Benjamin Evans, and family, arrived from
Monmouthshire for to live in Swansea.
Spent time with Elders Enoch Rees, Richards Evans, Dl. Daniels &c., they
parted for Liverpool on their way to the
Mountains.
8th Went to Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire,
met Miles, and many of the Elders and Saints.
9th I spent the day in visiting
the Saints saw many of my old friends.
10th Sunday. Went and held
meeting at "Sutton" at 2 P.M. returned to H. West preached there at 6
P.M. Had a very joyous time all day.
11th Left H. West, for my
mother's house, met her and my brother, the both cried, with joy to see me, we
had not seen each other for 13 months previous, my brother being still ill.
12th Spent the day with them.
13th Went to Fishguard, spent the
evening among my old friends, and Saints.
14th Spent the day there, my Bro.
arrived, talked much with him and others conserning [sic] the Gospel, he
returned home, and I stayed.
15th Went home, spent the day in
talking with Mother and Bro. Thomas.
16th Spent the day there.
17th Sunday. Went to Fishguard,
held meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
18th Went and spent the day at my
mother's.
19th Spent the day there.
20th I also spent this day with
them.
21st Left home, and went to H.
West, went from there to Sutton in the evening, held a meeting there, and
returned again to Haverfordwest.
22nd Spent the day in writing.
23rd Engaged at the same work.
24th Sunday. Spent the day there,
held a council at 10 A.M., and meetings at 2, and 6 P.M.
25th Spent the day in writing and
reading.
26th Went and visited the Saints
in the Pembroke Branch, rejoiced exceedingly in seeing my old friends.
27th Went to Tenby, through
Lydstep, and visited all the Saints, found some deader [sic] than they used to
be.
28th Went to Steparside Branch,
found many in the same spirit.
29th Went to Haverfordwest
through Narberth, met and conversed with Bro. "Ulet" in Narberth Road
Station.
30th Spent the day in H. West,
met my mother, Bro. Edward Burgoyne arrived from Merthyr, to preside the
Pembrokeshire Conference.
31st Spent the day there, held
two meetings, and had a profitable time all day.
February 1858
Feb 1st Spent the day there, gave
up the Books &c. of the Conference to Burgoyne, spent the day in writing
and instructing.
2nd Engaged in the same work,
went and held meeting at Sutton at 7 P.M. returned to H. West.
3rd Wrote an article to (Zion's Trumpet) on
"love and the [sic] its true object," in Welsh. Went to Pembroke,
through Neyland and "Pattirn"[sic], visited the Saints during the
evening.
4th Went to Lydstep Branch, spent
the evening among the Saints.
5th Went to Tenby, spent the
evening in visiting the Saints.
6th Spent the day there mostly in
writing.
7th Went to Steparside and
introduced Bro. Burgoyne to the Saints, held 3 meetings.
8th Monday. Went to
Haverfordwest, received a letter from Pres. Evans, who wanted me to return to Swansea,
composed the following poetry in Welsh, on the "Signs of the Times",
which was inserted in the Trumpet (Udgorn).
[8 verses of poetry]
[7 verses of poetry]
9th Spent the day in H. West,
engaged in writing.
10th Left for Swansea, arrived there in the evening;
attended meetings, few of the missionaries were present.
11th Spent the day in Swansea, this day the missionaries left for Liverpool, (not on the 7th ult.)
12th Spent the day in writing in Swansea.
13th Went to "Cyfyng"
Branch, lodged in the house of Elder Thos. Evans, Elder Thomas Rees went to
Carmarthenshire to see Elder Henry Harries, who was sick in the small pox, and
was unable to return with the other missionaries.
14th Sunday. Held a council at 10
A.M. and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
15th Went to "Ystrad"
Branch, held a meeting in the evening.
16th Returned to Cyfyng, I
baptized and confirmed Ann Jones and Gwenllian Davies.
17th Went to "Alltwen"
Branch, found Elder John Davies on his bed, having had broken his leg, in a
coal pit.
18th Went to "Skewen"
or Neath Branch, held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
19th Went to Morriston Branch,
and held a meeting there.
20th Went and spent the day in Swansea.
21st Sunday. Held a Council there
at 10 A.M. and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
22nd Spent the day in writing.
23rd Spent this day also in
writing.
24th Elder Thomas Rees and I went
to "Aberavan" [Aberavon], through "Cwmavon."
25th Went to Cwmavon, in the
evening held a meeting there.
26th Went to Maesteg of
"Llwyni", and lodged in the house of an apostate.
27th Went to
"Saintbrides" [St. Brides] through Bridgend met cousin John John in
the Police force there.
28th Sunday. Held a council at 10
A.M., administered the sacrament at 2 P.M. and returned to Swansea in the evening.
March 1858
Mrch 1st Spent the day there, in
writing.
2nd Went to "Llanelli",
held a meeting 7:30 P.M. had a joyous time.
3rd Elder David Davies and I went
to Carmarthen, and held a meeting there.
4th Went and held a meeting in
"Brechfa" Branch, in the house of Elder Evan Morgan, lodged there.
5th Went to "Pencader"
held meeting there, Davies returned to Carmarthen.
6th Went to "Penywern"
to Elder John Evans' house, lodged there.
7th Sunday. Travelled through
much snow, to "Clwtyffwrn"[?], held a meeting there at 2 P.M..
8th Travelled 20 miles, through
much snow,'till "Llanristyd"[Llanrhystud], lodged there in a public
house; caught a severe cold, being ill all night.
9th Went to
"Aberystwyth" Cardiganshire found out 2 families of Saints, was
unwell all day.
10th Travelled through the snow
'till "Taliesyn" [Taliesin] lodged in the house of Bro. Edward
Davies, being too ill to rest all night.
11th Travelled again through the
snow 'till "Machynlleth", met Elder John Treharne, my health was
worse.
12th Spent the day nearly in bed,
Bro. Treharne kept me company.
13th Spent the day there being
the same in health.
14th Sunday. Held two meetings,
but being yet unwell.
15th Returned to
"Aberystwyth" and was very weak in body, "Treharne"
returned to Carnarvonshire [Caernarvonshire].
16th Spent the day there walked a
little about the town.
17th Felt my health worse, placed
a strengthening plaster on my side, laid in bed mostly during the day.
18th Remained there, felt myself
recovering.
19th Left and travelled 30 miles
to Clwt-y-ffwrn [?], and about 10 miles after. To left Clwtyffwrn about 6 P.M.
for "Brechfa" but the night caught me, while on the top of a
mountain, I travelled for miles, but could not see a man, nor house, I then
prayed that I should be led to some house, and in a few minutes after, I found
a large Farm House, went to the door, and asked the way to "Brechfa"
the master said that I could not find it at dark hour, but offered me a lodging
in his house, which I gladly accepted. I then told him whom I was and what my
mission was to him and all others, I bore testimony of the Gospel to him, and
he seemed much interested, he asked me to pray, which I did, and all the family
bowed in prayer with me. All seemed greatly pleased that I had called there.
The name of the house was "Trellwyllin".
20 Mar Left early in the morning,
after having again prayed with the family. Called in the house of Elder Evan
Morgan, Llawrbartt Bruhfa, and from there to Carmarthen.
21 Mar Sunday. Held a council at
10 A.M. Went with the rail to "Llanelli", held meetings there at 2
and 6 P.M.
22 Mar Elder Davis Davies and I
went to "Waenylygen" held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
23 Mar Went and held a meeting at
"Uangalch" Branch.
24 Mar Went and held a meeting at
"Ponyberam".
25 Mar Returned to
"Llanelli", held a meeting at "Glam-y-mor".
26 Mar Went to Swansea, met Elders Benjamin Evans and J.D.
Ross.
27 Mar We went together to
Merthyr, met Bro. Davies there,went all together to "Tredegar".
28 Mar Sunday. Went to
"Nomtyglo" held a conference and had good instructions during the
day.
29 Mar Spent the day among the
Saints, held a concert at 7 P.M.
30 Mar Went to
"Pinycae" in the company of Ross and Evans, spent the evening there.
31 Mar Went to
"Victoria" Branch with W. Ajax, held
meeting there at 7 P.M.
April 1858
1 Apr Went to
"Tredegar" held a meeting there at the same time.
2 Apr Spent the day there being a
very heavy snow.
3 Apr Went to Merthyr, met the
same Elders, spent the evening together.
4 Apr Sunday. Held our conference
in Merthyr, had a good time all day.
5 Apr Ross went to London; in the evening we
held a concert in our Hall.
6 Apr Spent the day there, held a
meeting (council) at 7 P.M.
7 Apr Bro. Dewi, Elfer, Jones,
went to Trow-y-myw, and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
8 Apr Went to "Dowlais"
through a heavy rain, held a meeting there.
9 Apr Spent the day in Merthyr,
Bro. Evans arrived from Swansea.
10 Apr Evans, Davies and I went
to Cardiff,
spent the evening there.
11 Apr Sunday. Held a conference
there, in the afternoon saw Sister Ann Wride, in the evening saw her sister
Mary, fancied her appearance greatly in the meeting. Sent (Accompanied) her
home, walked with her two miles; and became afterwards my wife.
12 Apr Spent the day in Cardiff, visiting the
Saints.
13 Apr Spent the morning there;
went to "Whitchurch" Branch, held a meeting there, saw again Sister
Mary. Bro. Henry Harries and E. D. Miles, was with me.
14 Apr Went to
"Pintyrch" attended meeting there Miles was with me.
15 Apr Went to
"Treforest", and held a meeting there.
16 Apr Spent the day there.
17 Apr Returned to Swansea, called at
"Aberdare", stayed there 6 1\2 hours.
18 Apr Sunday. Held our
conference there, had good time all day.
19 Apr At Swansea, held a council in the evening.
20 Apr Spent the day in writing.
21 Apr Went to
"Llanelli", had a meeting at the "Sea side" Branch at 7
P.M.
22 Apr Spent the day in Llanelli,
held a meeting in the evening.
23 Apr Spent the day in writing.
24 Apr Spent the day there, held
a council in the evening.
25 Apr Sunday. Held a conference
in Llanelli. Evans and Davies were present and H. Harries, he was appointed to
preside the conference.
26 Apr At Llanelli, held a
concert in the evening.
27 Apr Left for Haverfordwest,
arrived there at 11 P.M.
28 Apr Spent the day there, held
a meeting at 7 P.M.
29 Apr Spent the day there, went
and held meeting at "Sutton" in the evening returned to
Haverfordwest.
30 Apr Spent the day in writing.
MAY 1858
1 May Spent the day there, met my
brother Thomas. Spent a few hours with him. He returned home. In the evening
Elder B. Evans arrived from Swansea.
2 May Sunday. Held our conference
there. Elder H. Harries was with us.
3 May Evans returned to Swansea. Harris and I
remained.
4 May Harris left. I went home
and met my mother and brother.
5 May Spent the day there.
6 May Spent the day there, being
a fast day I had to defend "Mormonism" all day.
7 May Spent the day the same.
8 May Went to Haverfordwest, my
brother sent me 1/2 mile, he was all this time ill.
9 May Sunday. Held a meeting at
"Sutton" at 2 P.M. and at Haverfordwest at 6 P.M..
10 May Went again to my mother's
house, my brother being very ill. They were very grateful to see me.
11 May Spent the day with them.
12 May Remained there till 4
P.M., my brother was no better. The pain in his back was severe. Arrived at
Haverfordwest at 7 P.M.
13 May Went to
"Steparside" Branch.
14 May Spent the day there. Held
a meeting in the evening.
15 May Parted with Elder Edward
Burgoyne. Went to Carmarthen and met Elder
David Davies.
16 May Sunday. At 10 A.M. held a
council in Carmarthen. At 2 P.M. held a
meeting. Went by rail to Llanelli and preached there at 6 P.M..
17 May At Llanelli. Held a prayer
meeting in the evening.
18 May Went to
"Waenbaglan", held a meeting there at 7 P.M.. I lodged with a farmer
called Fisher.
19 May Went to Llanelli and
attended meeting at 7 P.M.
21 May Spent the day in writing
there.
22 May Spent also this day there.
23 May Sunday. Brother Davies
accompanied me to Pontynawgd (New
Bridge) Branch. Attended
council at 11 A.M.. Held a meeting in the home of Brother Thomas Morgan in the
evening.
24 May Returned to Lanelli, was
not well.
25 May Spent the day in writing
on the Conference Records.
26 May Spent the day engaged in
the same, held a meeting at the "Sea Side at 7 P.M.
27 May Engaged in writing,
attended meeting in the town at 7:30 P.M.
28 May Spent the day in writing.
29 May Spent this the same, (on
the Conference Records.)
30 May Sunday. Held two meetings
at "Llanelli" Branch.
31 May Spent the day again in
writing.
June 1858
1 Jun Spent the day there.
2 Jun Spent the day there, held a
meeting at the "Sea Side" Branch at 7 P.M.
3 Jun Spent the day in writing
held a meeting in the town in the evening.
4 Jun Went to Swansea, met Bro. B. Evans, spent the day
with him.
5 Jun Spent the day there, Elder William
Bridge arrived from Birmingham.
6 Jun Sunday. Held 3 meetings at Swansea, good many
present, had a very profitable time.
7 Jun Spent the day there, in the
evening attended council.
8 Jun Spent the day in writing.
9 Jun Left Swansea in the
evening, after having spent the morning in the office arrived at Merthyr at 9
P.M. went to our Hall, Ross Bridge, Evans and Davis were present; Bridge and
Evans left Swansea about 4 P.M. and I lost the train and had to follow, a few
hours after them.
10 Jun Went together for Cardiff held a meeting
there, parted with Ross and Bridge.
11 Jun Left Cardiff at 9 A.M. and
travelled by rail to North Wales, arrived at
"Rhosllanerchrugog" about 8 P.M. met Elder Edwin Price at the
station.
12 Jun Spent the day in visiting
the Saints there.
13 Jun Sunday. Held two meetings
at Rhos went, to Wrexham in the evening.
14 Jun Engaged at
"Rhos" in writing on the Conference Books. Went to "Cefn"
in the evening.
15 Jun Went to "Rhos",
Elder Thomas R. Jones, arrived from Caernarfonshire at 5 P.M., held a meeting
there at 7;30 P.M.
16 Jun Went and held meeting at
Brymbo, spent the day in visiting the Saints.
17 Jun Went to Mold, visited the
few Saints that were there.
18 Jun Went to
"Trefor", through "Flint"
and Bagillt, visited many families of Saints during the day.
19 Jun Went to Newmarket, saw Elder Hugh Evans, from there
went to "Meliden" lodged at the house of Elder Thomas Williams.
20 Jun Sunday. Held two meetings
at Newmarket,
had a good time together.
21 Jun Returned to
"Meliden" to Bro. Williams' house.
22 Jun Went to "Rhyl"
spent a few hours by the sea side, from there went to "Abergele", and
held a meeting there at 7:30 P.M.
23 Jun Went to
"Llandudno", Caernarfonshire, attended a meeting in the evening.
24 Jun Went to
"Eylwysfach" spent the evening among the Saints.
25 Jun Spent the evening in
fishing, caught a few dozen good fishes.
26 Jun Spent the day in writing.
27 Jun Sunday. Many of the
Branches gathered together, held a council in the morning and attended meetings
at 2:30 P.M. and at 6.
28 Jun Went to
"Landudno" and from there to "Menai" Bridge with the Packet
from there to Carnaroon and held a meeting there.
29 Jun Spent the morning in
writing, walked about 27 miles to "Harlech" bathed in the sea; was
very tired, my feet bled and were very sore.
30 Jun Travelled 23 miles to
"Trwyn" Merinyd found and visited 3 Saints there.
July 1858
1 Jul Travelled about 20 miles to
"Machynlleth" held a meeting there.
2 Jul Travelled 18 miles to
"Aberystwyth" and saw a few Saints there.
3 Jul Elder Thomas R Jones,
returned to the North and I travelled 30 miles to Clwtyffwrn" was there
about 7 P.M. very tired.
4 Jul Sunday. At 10 A.M. held a
council and meeting at 2 P.M. Went in the evening to "Pencader" about
10 miles distance.
5 Jul Walked to Carmarthen,
met Elder H. Harris, spent a few hours with him. In the evening went by rail to
Swansea.
6 Jul Spent the day there.
7 Jul Spent the day there
attended meeting 7;30 P.M.
8 Jul Went to Haverfordwest and
from there to my mother's house, my brother yet being very ill.
9 Jul Spent the day with my
brother.
10 Jul Being St Peter's fair spent the day with my brother in the evening
Elder B. Evans and wife arrived from Swansea.
Spent the evening with him.
11 Jul Spent the day together
there.
12 Jul Monday. Spent the day
there.
13 Jul Also this day.
14 Jul Evans and wife left for Swansea, I remained at
home.
15 Jul Spent the day with my
brother he was continuing very ill.
16 Jul Spent also this day with
him.
17 Jul At 6 A.M. left for H. West
left my brother in bed sick. My mother accompanied me for short time.
18 Jul Sunday. Attended meeting
at "Sutton" at 2 P.M. and H. West at 6.
19 Jul Spent the day in writing
at H. West.
20 Jul Also this day.
21 Jul Spent the day there, held
meeting in the evening.
23 Jul Went to "Tenby"
visited the Saints there.
24 Jul Spent the day there in
writing.
25 Jul Sunday. Went to
Steparside, met Elder John Gibbs, held council at 10 A.M. and a meeting at 2
P.M. in the evening went to Narberth Road Station, accompanied with Bro. Gibbs,
and Ulch, some of the Sisters sent us a few miles. Lodged in a public house at Narberth Road,
Gibbs with me.
26 Jul Gibbs went to H. West and
I to "Llanelli" held a prayer meeting at 7:30. Sister Annie Dee
Swansea was there.
27 Jul Spent the day among the
Saints.
28 Jul Also this day.
29 Jul Went to Swansea, met Elders B. Evans and John Davies.
30 Jul Spent the day in writing
attended the "Theater".
August 1858
1 Aug Sunday. Went to
"Cyfyng" at 10 A.M. held a council, at 2 and 6 P.M. attended meetings
Elder Thomas Rees was with me.
2 Aug Spent the day in visiting
the Saints, in the evening attended meeting in a place called "Little
London".
3 Aug Visited
"Ustradgynlas" and the Saints that lived there, went to
"Cyfyny" and held a meeting there.
4 Aug Spent the day there being a
very heavy rain all day.
5 Aug Went to
"Morriston" at 7 P.M. attended meeting there, went afterwards to Swansea.
6 Aug Spent the day in writing
there.
7 Aug Engaged all say in the
Office.
8 Aug Sunday. At 10 A.M held a
council in Swansea,
and attended meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
9 Aug Wrote an article in welch
on "Confidence in the Priesthood", which appeared in the
"Udjohn". Attended a Branch council in the evening.
10 Aug Spent the day in writing.
11 Aug Went to "Skewan"
North Neath, held a meeting there.
12 Aug Went and held a meeting at
"Caernarfon" Branch.
13 Aug Went to "Bryn
Works", spent the evening there.
14 Aug Went
to"Mercenfig" through Maesteg (Llwyni) saw cousin Margaret John and
William Jenkins, and William Williams, formally from Black Mill.
15 Aug Sunday. Held a council at
10 A.M. and a meeting at 2 P.M. Went to "Pyle" afterwards.
16 Aug Went to Swansea, not well in health.
17 Aug Occupied the morning in
writing, and the afternoon with Bro. Evans.
18 Aug Went to Llanelli, and Carmarthen, and from there to "Cerbine" Farm
lodged there in the house of a sister to Elder Thomas Jeremy.
19 Aug Went to
"Llawrbarth","Pencader", and "Clwtyffwrn", I was
engaged these days in getting up the names of Individuals that had paid
tithing, since it was first taught; with the amounts that each had paid.
20 Aug Returned to Carmarthen, and from there to Llanelli met Elders H.
Harris and David Davis.
21 Aug Left for Swansea spent the evening with Bro. Evans and
Rees, felt much pain in my left side.
22 Aug Sunday. Attended meetings
at Swansea at 2
and 6 P.M.
23 Aug Spent the day with Evans,
attended a council in the evening.
24 Aug Went to H. West and from
there to my mother's, my brother being still ill.
25 Aug I spent the day there,
felt myself sick all day.
26 Aug At home unwell.
27 Aug Spent it there, felt the
same.
28 Aug Went to H. West mother
accompanied me, felt my self very sick.
29 Aug Sunday. Spent the day
there, but being too weak to preach, the Saints believed that I was in the
decline.
30 Aug Spent the day mostly in
bed, could not eat anything.
31 Aug Felt nearly the same.
September 1858
1 Sep Recovered in my strength in
the evening attended meeting and was able to talk for a few minutes.
2 Sep Spent the day there, felt
myself coming better and stronger, but could not eat much.
3 Sep Occupied the day in
reading.
4 Sep Walked some out doors, for
fresh air, began to at bread after being unable to eat it (bread) for 5 or 6
days.
5 Sep Felt better still (Sunday)
went by rail to Swansea
attended 2 meetings. Elder Morrison and wife from London were present.
6 Sep Spent the day with Elders
Evans and Larrison, attended council in the evening.
7 Sep Spent the day with them.
8 Sep We left for Merthyr together
held a meeting there in the evening.
9 Sep Spent the day there, in the
house of Elder John Davis.
10 Sep Evans and Harrison went to
Tredegar, Davis and I remained.
11 Sep Spent the day there.
12 Sep Sunday. Went to
"Aberdare" held a meeting at 6 P.M. Davies was with me.
13 Sep Spent the day in visiting
the Saints, Pres. Evans arrived from Cardiff,
held a meeting at "Cwmbach"; Evans stayed with his brother at
Aberdar.
14 Sep Went to Aberdar to meet
Evans, he went home in the evening and I attended a council at
"Aberaman".
15 Sep Spent the day visiting the
Saints at 7:30 P.M. held a meeting at "Cap Cueh".
16 Sep Spent the day there, went
and held a meeting at "Mountain Ash" in the evening.
17 Sep Brother Davis
returned to Merthyr and I went to Treforest, and from there to Cardiff, met Bro. Miles there.
18 Sep Left Cardiff Station and
went to North Wales, met Elder Edwin price at
the Station spent the evening among the Saints.
19 Sep Sunday. Several Branches
met at "Cefn Mawr" Elder Thomas R. Jones their Pastor was there,
attended meetings during the day, and had a very profitable time.
20 Sep Went to Brymbo through
Wrexham.
21 Sep Went to Rhuttun, found the
Saints very dead in their feelings.
22 Sep Went to Denbigh.
23 Sep Went to Newmarket found Sister Evans ill, who died
soon afterwards. Went to Meliden and lodged with Elder Thomas Williams.
24 Sep Went to Abergele.
25 Sep Visited the family of Parry "Park",
and from there went to Eglwysfach.
26 Sep Sunday. Held a council
there at 10 A.M. and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
27 Sep Went to
"Llandudno" held a meeting there in the evening.
28 Sep Spent the day in visiting
the Saints in the morning, in the afternoon returned to Eglwysfach..
29 Sep Spent the day there, made
a trowsers to Bro. Jones, held a meeting at 7 P.M.
30 Sep Spent the day in writing
there.
October 1858
1 Oct Went to "Mold"
Flintshire.
2 Oct Went to "Rhos"
waited 5 hours, in the Station for Bro. Evans, but did not arrive.
3 Oct Sunday. Held our Conference
there, had good meetings all day.
4 Oct Spent the day in "Cefn
Mawr".
5 Oct Went to Brymbo.
6 Oct Went to Mold.
7 Oct Went to "Trefor"
through Flint,
and Bagillt, visited the Saints.
8 Oct Went to Newmarket, and from there to
"Meliden" and spent the evening with Bro. Williams.
9 Oct Went to
"Abergele" through "Rhyl".
10 Oct Sunday. Held our
Conference there, being a very wet day.
11 Oct In the morning visited the
family of Parry "Park", in the evening went to
"Llandudno" with mother Parry "Tan-y-Graig".
12 Oct Spent the day in writing
there.
13 Oct Visited the Saints of that
Branch, held a meeting at 7:00 P.M.
14 Oct Spent the day in writing.
15 Oct Went to
"Eglwysfach" received many letters.
16 Oct Spent the day in writing
and reading.
17 Oct Sunday. Held our
Conference there, attended three meetings.
18 Oct Went in company of Elders
Thomas R. Jones, to Abergele" young Sister Parry with us.
19 Oct Went to "Rhyl"
parted with Jones, across the water about 86 miles to Liverpool,
stayed 5 or 6 hours in the Office.
20 Oct Went by rail to Swansea
South Wales, met Bro. Evans (Benjamin).
21 Oct Spent the day there in the
company of Elders Evans and Rees.
22 Oct Spent the day in writing,
Bro. Davies arrived from Merthyr.
23 Oct Evans, Davies, and I went
to Haverfordwest, met Bros. Miles and Burgoyne.
24 Oct Sunday. Held our
Conference there, attended three meetings, and had a good time all day.
25 Oct Went to
"Pastor", went through the government Dock Yard. returned to H. West,
held a Concert in the evening.
26 Oct Elders Evans, Davies and
Miles returned home: I remained and attended a Musical Concert in the town Hall
at 7 P.M.
27 Oct Went home to see my mother
and brother, found him ill and weak.
28 Oct Spent the time at home.
29 Oct Spent the morning there,
left in the afternoon for H. West.
30 Oct Spent the morning there,
met my mother. Left for "Llanelli" there met Elders Evans, Davies,
Harris and others.
31 Oct Sunday. Held our
Conference, attended three meetings.
November 1858
1 Nov Spent the day with Evans
and Harries, Davies returned home, held a Concert at 7 P.M.
2 Nov Evans went to Swansea, I spent the day
with Harries in visiting the Saints.
3 Nov Spent the day mostly in
writing.
4 Nov Spent the day in visiting
the Saints, attended meeting at 7 P.M.
5 Nov Went to Swansea, met Evans, Rees and many of the
Elders.
6 Nov Went to Cardiff met Bro. Miles and Sister Mary Wride,
(Sister John) at the Station.
7 Nov Sunday. Held a council at
10 A.M. and meetings at 2:30 and 6:30 P.M.
8 Nov Spent the day in writing at
Comton in the morning and the evening in visiting the Saints.
9 Nov Spent the morning in
writing. Attended school in the evening.
10 Nov Went to "Cergy"
Branch, attended meeting there at 7 P.M.
11 Nov Went to "Ely"
held a meeting returned to Comton Cardiff.
12 Nov Went to Whitchurch, held a
meeting there saw Bro. and Sister Barry and Ann Wride, [88] for a dance after
the meeting.
13 Nov Went to "Graiy"
Farm spent 3 hours with the Sisters Mary and Ann Wride, began our
correspondence returned to Comton, Cardiff.
14 Nov Went to Newbridge (being a
Sunday) held a council at 10 A.M. and two meetings after.
15 Nov Spent the day in
Treforest, held a meeting in the evening.
16 Nov Went to "Cayner"
held a meeting in the evening, Evans Richards with me. Returned to Treforest.
17 Nov Went to
"Llanfabon" held a meeting there in the evening.
18 Nov Went through Treforest to
"Pentyrch" held a meeting there at 7 P.M. had many present.
19 Nov Went to Cardiff, met Elder Benjamin Evans there.
20 Nov Evans returned to Swansea, his daughter
Mary Ann was dead. In the evening Elder Aso. Caulkin arrived, and Elders
Davies, Harries and Burgoyne.
21 Nov Sunday. Held our
Conference there, Evans arrived 3:30 P.M.
22 Nov Spent the day there, held
a concert in the evening, Evans went home.
23 Nov Bro. Caulkins returned to
Liverpool, Davies and I went to Swansea,
to the funeral of Mary Ann, she was buried in the afternoon.
24 Nov Spent the day there, held
a meeting at 7 P.M. Davies went to Merthyr.
25 Nov Spent the day in writing
on the Conference Books, attended a prayer meeting at 7 P.M.
26 Nov Spent the day there.
27 Nov Evans and I went to
Merthyr.
28 Nov Sunday. Held our
conference at Merthyr had a good time.
29 Nov Spent the day there, held
a concert at 7:30 P.M.
30 Nov Spent the day there, at 7
P.M. attended a Gentile Concert.
December 1858
1 Dec Spent the morning there,
went and held meeting at Rhymney at 7 P.M. Davis, Elfer Jones with me.
2 Dec Went and held meeting at
"Tredegar" at 7 P.M. evans went to Pen-y-cae and his wife with him.
3 Dec Went about among the
Saints, visiting all day. Bro. Ajax with me.
4 Dec Went to Penycae, met Evans
there, he left for "Nangylo"; I wrote a note to Sister Mary Wride.
5 Dec Sunday. Held our Conference
in "Pen-y-cae". (My proposition to my wife for marriage Dec 5, 1858.)
6 Dec Spent the day among the
Saints, held a concert at 7 P.M.
7 Dec Went to Pen-y-cae, Evans
and wife went home.
8 Dec Went to
"Tredyar", held a council in the evening.
9 Dec Went to Comton, Cardiff.
10 Dec Wrote in the morning,
visited the Saints in the evening.
11 Dec Went to Cardiff,
spent 3 hours with Sister Mary Wride (John) went to Swansea, met Elders Evans, John Davies, and
Thomas Rees.
12 Dec Sunday. Held our
Conference, Barry and Ann Wride were there. Attended three meetings.
13 Dec Spent the day there,
attended a concert in the evening.
14 Dec Spent the day there,
attended a concert in the evening.
15 Dec Also this day.
16 Dec Spent the day in writing.
17 Dec Also this day.
18 Dec Also this day.
19 Dec Sunday. Attended a council
at 10 A.M. and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M. at Swansea Branch.
20 Dec Spent the day there,
attended a council in the evening.
21 Dec Spent the day there.
22 Dec Spent the morning there,
went to Morristown,
held a meeting in the evening.
23 Dec Went to
"Lanelli" held a meeting there at 7:30 P.M.
24 Dec Spent the day at the same
work.
25 Dec Spent the day at the same
work.
26 Dec Sunday. Held a council at
10 A.M. and meetings at 2 and 6 P.M.
27 Dec Spent the day there,
attended a concert at 7 P.M.
28 Dec Went to Swansea, met Bro. Evans, wrote a preface for
the Trumpet (Udjohn).
29 Dec Spent the day in writing,
attended meeting in the evening.
30 Dec Went to Cardiff, met Evans and Rees, held a concert
in the evening.
31 Dec Went to Birmingham,
stayed at Gloucester
6 hours there.
I travelled during the past year,
somewhere about 4,838 miles. I did not baptize, I believe more then two Souls,
also re-confirmed many, and ordained many to the Priesthood. I travelled
through the Welsh nation through the year, I witnessed many Baptisms,
administered by others.
During the year I visited the
North 3 times, and went through the Conferences in the South many times.
I wrote a few articles to Zion's Trumpet (Udgorn
Seion) during the year, which are inserted in the same year. I also composed
many pieces of poetry, which are in print in the same volume. My travels during
the year, made me acquainted nearly in every portion of the nation.
I had much joy in my labors; I
labored with great pleasure, in connection with Elders Benjamin Evans and John
Davies, which composed the presidency of the Welsh Mission.
I was young and unexperienced,
for the large field of labor before me, nevertheless the Lord gave me power to
do every thing, that I was told to perform, and my soul rejoices in the
privilege many times to visit my relations during the year, I continued to bear
my testimony to them, but not one soul obeyed the Gospel.
Many strangers received my
testimony, but all my relations rejected it.
January 1859
1 Jan Spent the day in Birmingham, attended a
council of the Priesthood of the European Mission. All the traveling ministry
were present, had a most joyous time together.
2 Jan Sunday. Attended conference
at the "Music Hall", a very great or large assembly were together,
had a profitable time during the day.
3 Jan Attended council in the
morning and the afternoon; I was released from being a counsellor to the Welsh
Mission, and was appointed to preside the Nottingham Conference in England. Elder
William Ajax succeeded me in Wales.
4 Jan We were engaged mostly all
day in having our Portraits drawn, which were given to Elder Asa. Caulkin,
according to his desire. In the eve attended the Theater.
5 Jan At 7 A.M. parted with the
Welsh brethren, they returned to Wales, I felt somewhat grieved all
day.
In the evening went with Elder
John Cook to Nottingham; arrived there 7:10
P.M. Attended a prayer meeting.
6 Jan Spent the day mostly in
receiving the Conference Afes from Elder Edwards Harding who was going to Scotland to
labor. Walked out twice, Cook with me.
7 Jan Spent the day with Harding
again receiving the accounts. Went to a circus at 7 P.M.
8 Jan Spent the morning in
writing walked out in the afternoon, Cook, Harding, Sloan and myself received
our covenants by baptism Cook administered to me, and I to him. Many families
of the Saints we visited during the day.
9 Jan Sunday. Attended 2 meetings
at Nottingham, Sloan with me.
10 Jan Spent the day in reading
and writing, received a note from Sister Mary Wride (John).
11 Jan Elder Cook accompanied me
to Mansfield Branch, held a meeting there at 7:30 P.M.
12 Jan Spent the day mostly in
visiting the Saints. We went to a high spot about one mile from Mansfield, from
the top of which we saw Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Rutlandshire, and parts of the other counties. Went to Sutton Branch in the
evening, held a meeting at 7 P.M. met Elder Joseph Burrows there.
13 Jan Visited the Saints of that
Branch in the morning, in the afternoon went and visited the Saints of the
Portland Branch at 7:30 P.M. attended meeting Somercotes.
14 Jan Went to Eastwood, held a
meeting there at 7:30 P.M. The Saints were dead there, and were quite
indifferent seemingly to the principles and ordinances.
15 Jan Returned to Nottingham, spent a few hours in writing, the remainder
of the day was spent in the company of Elders Cook, Sloan and Burrows.
16 Jan Sunday. Went to Hucknall,
held a council at 10 A.M. and meeting at 2 P.M. went to the Basford Branch, and
attended a meeting there at 6 P.M. Bro. Thomas Oaky was with one.
17 Jan Went from Nottingham to Calverton, accompanied by Elder Josiah
Holmes. Held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Went to lodge to the house of an aged
Bro. by the name of Wright.
18 Jan Visited the Saints all
day, in the evening attended a meeting at church. Returned to Nottingham,
received some letters from Wales.
19 Jan Went to the Heanor Branch.
Held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Lodged with Elder John Parkins.
20 Jan Went to Swamick,
Somercotes, and Portland,held
a meeting at the last, visited the Saints in the other places.
21 Jan Left for Nottingham,
spent the afternoon with Elder Cook, went together to Radford, attended a
School there at 8 P.M. reading, writing and summing were going on, it was held
over a week, Pastor Cook gave the charge of it to me.
22 Jan At home, spent the day in
making out my monthly accounts, and gave the same to the Pastor, the incomes
were as follows.
|
Tithing
|
53
4 7 3/4
|
|
Penny
Fund
|
12
1 1/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
7
10 -
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
2 9
2 1/4
|
|
|
L
75 4 10 3/4
|
23 Jan Sunday. Went to Brimsley
attended meeting there at 2 P.M. and at Somercotes at 6 P.M.
24 Jan Went to "Loscoe"
had a very heavy rain on the way, spent the evening in the house of Elder John
Parkins, in singing.
25 Jan Went to Eastwood, held a
meeting there in the evening.
26 Jan Returned to Nottingham met Elder Cook spent the day with him.
27 Jan Spent the day in writing.
Elder Holmes arrived with his district accounts.
28 Jan Spent the day in writing
on the Conference Books. Attended the Radford School
at 8 P.M.
29 Jan Spent the day in writing.
Walked out in the evening.
30 Jan Sunday. Attended 2 Schools
and 2 meetings at Nottingham, had a large
assembly and good attention at 6:30 P.M.
31 Jan Spent the morning in
writing, spent 3 hours in the house of Bro. Butterwick, visited the family of
Elder William Orton. Lost a fine gold ring from my finger.
February 1859
1 Feb Spent the morning, in
writing went to Mansfield
at 4 P.M. Held a meeting there at 8 P.M.
2 Feb Spent the morning among the
Saints there in the afternoon went to Sutton 4 miles distance many of the
Saints accompanied me, held a meeting at 7:30 P.M. Sat down and talked with the
Saints in Elder George Marriot's 'till 2' o'clock the following morning.
3 Feb Accompanied by Elder George
Stringfellow to Pinxton, visited Elder Clark's, from there went to Somercotes
and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
4 Feb Returned to Nottingham, met
Bro. Cook, having returned the previous night from Manchester. At 8 P.M. attended School at
Radford.
5 Feb Spent the morning in
writing at 2 P.M. Elder Williams from the Liverpool Office arrived on a visit;
spent the evening with him.
6 Feb Sunday. Held a Priesthood
meeting at 10:30 A.M. and meetings at 2:30 and 6:30 P.M. the 13 Branches were
present.
7 Feb Elders Cook, Williams,
Aaron Nelson. Charles R. Jones and I spent the morning in walking out. Williams
left for Liverpool at 3 P.M. In the evening we
attended a Circus.
8 Feb Went to Eastwood,
accompanied by Elder Cook, attended meeting there at 7:30 P.M.
9 Feb Spent the day among the
Saints, Cook returned home. I remained very wet in the evening. Lodged at
Sister Rowland's.
10 Feb Went to Loscoe to Elder
Parkins, and from there to Pinxton; held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
11 Feb Returned to Nottingham,
lost my hat when in train, had to walk 7 miles in consequence, from it, and
walked to Nottingham.
12 Feb Spent the day in Nottingham reading and writing.
13 Feb Sunday. Occupied the
morning in reading, at 2 P.M.attended meeting at Radford at 6 P.M. at Nottingham. Took tea with Sister Elizabeth Burrows.
14 Feb Spent the day in writing,
the names and amounts of Tithe payers in the pastorate, for to be sent to the
Liverpool Office.
15 Feb Engaged in the same all
day.
16 Feb Spent the morning at the
same. Cook and I went to visit Sister Boot and family of Bulwell in the
afternoon, attended meeting at Basford at 7 P.M. Returned to Nottingham.
17 Feb Occupied the day in writing.
18 Feb Spent the day at home,
attended school at 8 P.M.
19 Feb Nottingham all day. At
3:30 P.M. I baptized Mary Ann Marley of Eastwood, Cook confirmed her.
20 Feb Sunday. At A.M. went to
Hucknall, attended meeting there at 2 P.M. Returned to Nottingham
and preached there in the evening.
21 Feb Spent the day in writing.
22 Feb At home in the morning, at
4 P.M. went to Mansfield.
I was taken ill on the way, attended meeting at 7 P.M. I spent the night in
severe pains.
23 Feb Spent the day sick in bed
in the house of Elder Abraham Hanford, who was every kind to me, spent the day
and night in great pains.
24 Feb Spent the morning very
sick, in the afternoon, the pain left me miraculously, after having suffered
most painful 48 hours in my life. It was the inflammation on the bowels.
Returned to Nottingham met Bro. Cook well.
25 Feb Spent the day at home,
felt my body very weak.
26 Feb Spent the morning in
writing, made out my Monthly accounts, and presented the same to my Pastor
(Bro. Cook) which incomes were as follows.
|
Tithing
|
51
2 5
|
|
Book
Money
|
6
18 4
|
|
Penny
Fund
|
11
11 4 3\4
|
|
Poor
Fund
|
3
8 1 1\2
|
|
|
L
73 0 3 1\4
|
27 Feb Sunday. Bro. Cook and I
spent the day at home, attended two meetings.
28 Feb Spent the day at home, at
8 P.M. attended a Branch council at Nottingham.
March 1859
1 Mar Spent the morning at home,
visited the Saints in the afternoon. Attended meeting at 8 P.M.
2 Mar Elder Cook accompanied me
to Arnold, visited a few Saints there, from there went and held meeting at
Calverton, returned home, walked 7 miles after the meeting.
3 Mar Spent the day at home,
Elder James Bond and wife arrived on a visit, and to see us and their friends,
before going home to the Valley. Spent the evening together.
4 Mar Spent the day in writing
attended the Radford
School at 8 P.M.
5 Mar Spent the day at home with
Cook; Elder Bond spent the evening with us.
6 Mar Sunday. At 6 :30 A.M.
Elders Cook and Bond, left for Leicester, at 2
P.M. I preached at Radford and at Nottingham
at 6:30 p.m. Had large assemblies in both places.
7 Mar Spent the morning in
writing, the afternoon in visiting the Saints, and the evening in walking
about, the town was crowded with people being a fair day.
8 Mar Cook and Bons returned from
Leicester, went and saw the races 16 horses ran together; from there went to
Brasford, and held a Social Party there.
9 Mar Went to Heanor, held a
meeting at 7 P.M. In the afternoon spent a few hours visiting the Saints sister
Fletcher and others.
10 Mar Visited Elder Parkins
Loscoe and Elder Thomas Gamble, who had lately buried his son Thomas, who was a
faithful Elder in the Church. There I met Elder Farnsworst, went with him to
Somercotes, and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
11 Mar Visited the Saints of that
Branch in the morning. In the afternoon accompanied by Sister Singleton to
Swamick at 6 P.M. held a council, the Branch was rising up against their
President, Elder Samuel Otterway; through jealously. Held a short meeting
afterwards.
12 Mar Returned to Nottingham, met Bro. Cook and in the evening Elder
Edwards Oliver Manchester arrived and James Bond; Spent the evening together.
13 Mar Sunday. Held our
Conference, had good time all day.
14 Mar Spent the day in the
house, being very wet, Sister Bond and Sisters Books arrived in the afternoon,
at 7 P.M. Elder Nelson and I attended the Circus.
15 Mar Spent the day among the
Saints at 8 P.m. attended meeting. Elder Oliver talked in evening.
16 Mar Went to Eastwood, spent
the evening with the Saints.
17 Mar Visited the Saints in the
morning, returned home in the evening.
18 Mar Spent the day in writing
at Nottingham, attended the Radford
School at 8 P.M.
19 Mar At home, Elder Bond
visited us in the evening.
20 Mar Sunday. Went to Radford in
the morning, accompanied from there to Arnold
by Bro. Taylor, held a meeting there at 2 P.M. returned to Radford and preached
there in the evening.
21 Mar At home. Elders Cook and
Bridge arrived from Leicester, in the evening
went to the Theater, Mijs Godard acted the performance called Hamlet in a man's
character.
22 Mar Went to see the Nottingham Castle, went through its cellars. At 4
P.M. left for Mansfield
held a meeting at 8 P.M. Elder Budge talked on the subject, "what is a
Prophet"
23 Mar Returned to Nottingham at
10 A.M. at 11:30 Budge left for Derby
(and Cook). I went to Calverton and Arnold
visited the Saints there.
24 Mar Went to Nottingham, wrote
3 or 4 hours in Arnold,
on their Branch Book. At 7 P.M. went and saw. "Tom Thum" 31 inches in
length and 25 pounds in weight. Aged 20 years. Met Bro. Cook.
25 Mar Engaged all day in writing
out my accounts for the Conference. The monthly and quarterly Afes. The monthly
was as follows,
|
Tithing
|
44
15 8
|
|
Book
Money
|
5
14 8
|
|
Penny
Fund
|
17
8 7
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
1
15 11 1\4
|
|
|
L
69 14 10 3/4
|
26 Mar Occupied the most part of
the day in writing.
27 Mar Sunday. Wrote in the
morning attended two meetings in Nottingham.
28 Mar Spent the day in writing
on the Conference records. Sent names of few Emigrants to the Office.
29 Mar Spent the morning at home
writing went to Mansfield
and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
30 Mar Went to Sutton held a
meeting there at 7 P.M. A Methodist preacher was present.
31 Mar I saw the "Midland
Gazette" with the following lines inserted in it.
READ and PONDER
the FOLLOWING FACTS.
1st- Mormonism
is a system of Infidelity.
2nd- The leaders of Mormonism are wicked impostors.
3rd- The book of Mormons is a filthy romance.
4th- The doctrine of water baptism for the dead as taught by the Mormons is a
false and soul-damning dogma.
5th- Mormonism when reduced to practice, produces evil, and evil only, and evil
of the most debasing kind.
6th- Water baptism is not essential to salvation, nor will any person ever
perish for not being immersed in water.
7th- The laying on of hands as taught by the Mormons, does not communicate the
Holy Ghost, nor is it essential to salvation.
8th- The literal gathering together of the Mormons in Salt Lake Valley, is nowhere taught in the Bible,
but is anti- christen, and the drift of political rebels.
9th- The Bible is the only divine revelation to teach men the way to heaven.
10th- Mormonism does not teach repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ as essential to salvation.
If any one
disputes the above facts, the Rev. W. Rose of Somercotes, via Alfreton,
Derbyshire, is prepared to prove them in public discussion with any Mormon in
the world. "Mormons what say you to this-ALPHA.
Then I wrote the following lines
in reply.
MORMONISM.
To the Editor of
the Midland Gazette.
Sir,-An article appeared in yours of the 5th March.
Headed "Read and Ponder the following Facts" and it ends with the
question "Mormons what say you to this?" We say:
1st- Mormonism
is a not a system of Infidelity, but differs more from it, than any other sect,
now existent upon the face of the earth.
2nd- The leaders
of what is commonly termed Mormonism, or the "Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter day Saints," are virtuous, faithful, and true to their God, and the
honest in heart; and are clothed with Divine power, and authority to administer
the ordinances of the Lord upon the earth.
3rd- The book of
Mormon is the Word of God which contains a true history of a portion of the
House of Israel, upon the continent of America, and is essential to expand the
knowledge of the human family; inasmuch that it gives the history of the
dealings of God among the people as the new Testament furnishes us with an
account of his dealings with his people in Palestine.
4th- The
doctrine of baptism for the dead, as taught by the Mormons, is a true and
soul-saving principle; as taught by Paul. 1 Cor. 15th chapter, 29 verse and as
touched upon with Peter, I Peter, 3rd chapter, 18th, 26th verses.
5th- Mormonism
when reduced to practice produces virtue, and virtue only, and virtue of the
most heavenly kind.
6th- Water
baptism is essential to salvation, nor will any person be acknowledged of God
without being baptized in water, mark 16th chapter, 16 verse; 1 Peter, 3rd
chapter, 21st verse.
7th- The laying
on of hands as taught by the Mormons, does communicate the Holy Ghost, and is
essential to salvation, John 3rd chapter, 5th verse.
8th- The literal
gathering of the people of God is often taught in the bible, and is one of the
most glorious purposes of God, to be brought about in the last days, for the
salvation of his people, Isaiah 14th chapter, 10-16 verses; Jer. 23-7, Micah
4,1,2, and a voice from heaven says "Come out of her, my people; that ye
be not partners of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev.
19; 4
9th- The Bible
is a divine revelation to teach men, but it does not contain the whole truth.
God has the same power and authority to speak from the heavens in these days as
he had in ancient days. "The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of
Prophecy," and when a man is possessed with his "testimony" he
can, or the Lord through him will reveal his mind and will; "the righteous
of the Lord is revealed from faith to faith," and again the scripture
inform as "that the Lord doeth nothing without revealing his secrets to
his servants, the Prophets."
10th- Mormonism
does teach repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as
essential to salvation, and all those that have read the Mormon Books can bear
testimony to the same. "It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but
every fool will be meddling. Prov. 20, 3
If the Rev. W.
Rose, of Somercotes, disputes the above facts, Mr. David John, 3 Phoenix Terraer, Simms
Street, Nottingham,
is prepared to prove them by private letter or through the public print.
Reverends, what say you to this?
BETA.
Went to Pinxton, held a meeting
there. Went with Elder Farnsworth to lodge.
April 1859
1 Apr Friday. Went to Eastwood,
spent the afternoon among the Saints. Returned to Nottingham,
at 8 P.M. attended School at Radford.
2 Apr At home with Bro. Cook all
day.
3 Apr Sunday. Went to Eastwood at
2 P.M. held a meeting at Heanor, and at 6 P.M. in Eastwood.
4 Apr Returned to Nottingham at 8 P.M. met Bro Cook. At 3 P.M. Eight Saints
left us, for Liverpool on their way to the
Valley. At 8 P.M. I attended council.
5 Apr At home writing all day on
the Conference Record. At 8 P.M. attended meeting.
6 Apr At home, received a letter
from Bro. Cook from Liverpool, which says that
the Scandinavian Saints were caught in a Storm, but no life lost. Attended
meeting at Radford at 8 P.M. April 1859
The following lines came out in
the "Gazette."
To the Editor of
the Miland Gazette.
Mormonism.
SIR,-In your
impression of to-day we find our challenge against Mormonism accepted. We hope
our antagonist is a Giant. As he is willing to discuss the topics ( named in a
former impression ) through the public press, we shall feel obliged, if you
will favor us with space in your excellent paper. Should you accede to our request,
we shall in your, next prove 1st- MORMONISM A SYSTEM OF INFIDELITY.
We are sir,
yours, &c.,
ALPHA.
Somercotes, April end, 1859.
********************************
To the Editor of
the Midland Gazette.
SIR,-I perceive
Mr. Alpha is courting discussion with the Mormons. Now would it not be better
to let him give a few brief articles in the Gazette on the subject named, and
others that would rise out of it, limiting him to space, so that the above
should contain nothing personal or uninteresting, and allow the Mormons to
answer for themselves; it would be instructive to us, your readers, far more so
than cricketers, &c. The Mormons, I should think, would be more likely to
accept the challenge, and the contest would not be injured by rows and foolish clamour.
Yours
respectfully,
NOT A MORMON.
Pinxton, April 1st, 1859.
=================================================================
The following appeared the week
after.
MORMONISM A SYSTEM OF INFIDELITY.
Mormonism is a
great evil; and the thought has been indulged that the monstrosity of the evil
was so great that it would cure itself-it would have its day and then pass and
then cease, but is this the way in which physical evil is met? Can bodily
disease be cured by neglect? Is burning fever to be allayed by avoiding the
necessary medicines; of the parched tongue to be cooled by the non-use of
means? How then can moral evil and moral disease be cured but by the proper
methods? Moral means should be used to meet the moral evil and moral disease be
cured but by the proper methods? Moral means should be used to meet the moral
evil. Religious influence and enlightened philanthropy should step in and stay
the pestilence. By exposing the vileness of Mormonism,-and its debasing
character,-untruthful pretensions,-and ruinous tendency, we hope to lead many
from that awful vortex into which it is plunging them. That Mormonism is a
system of infidelity we shall prove from the writings of the Mormons.
1st-Infidelity
teaches that the Bible is a human production. So does Mormonism. Orson Pratt,
in divine authority, p. 1, 2, says, We are persuaded that all the preachers and
teachers of the day are without authority, that their teachings and
interpretations are without authority, uncertain as to the truth; that the
translations of the scriptures being done without inspiration are also
uncertain! Melancholy thought! a deplorable picture, but a true one! The
different teachers doing the best they can! all jarring! -all contending! The
result division, multiplied division! And they have a right, if they think
proper, to divide from an authority merely human." Here Mormonism, like
infidelity, quarrels with the divine authority of the Bible. Again O.P. says,
in his Kingdom of
God, p.1, "Millions
of modern Christians say they take the Bible as their rule of truth and
practice! That the Bible is their law. But let me ask, What part of the Bible
is the law of God unto man in this age? Is the history of any events recorded
in either the old of the New Testament a law unto any man now living? No it is
not." We say it is from Genesis to Revelations. "All scripture is
given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works,"-2 Tim. iii 16, 17, see also I Cro. x. to
18 verse. Again in the doctrines and covenants, p. 28, Mormonism calls the
Bible a human tradition. "What testimony have men in the first, instance,
that there is a God? Humans testimony? and human testimony only." This
language is so plainly infidel, that it needs no comment.
2nd.-Infidelity
teaches that master is the only God to be worshipped, and that to talk of
spiritualities is to talk of nonentities. Mormonism teaches the same.
"What is God?" He is a material, intelligent person, possessing both
body and parts. Could he be a being without body and parts? No, verily no. What
form is he of? He is in the form of man. As the God of heaven possesses body,
and parts, doth he also possess passions? Yes, he eats, he drinks,
&c.."-Millenial Star, vol. xi., no. 5, p. 74, 75. What is this but
infidelity? The Bible teaches that God is a spirit." &c., John iv.,
24. Mormonism denies the omnipresence of God. "Can this being, God, occupy
to distinct places at once? No."-Millennial star, vol.xi., p. 75. This
infidel dogma is in opposition to Jeremiah, xxiii. 23, 24 verses.
3rd-Infidelity
teaches that man is a mare animal machine, or a creature of circumstances, who
ought to indulge in all gratifications of his animal passions are propensities,
without restraint, as it is his only joy to do so. Mormonism teaches that man's
cheif joy consists in yielding to gratifications of the animal passions and
propensities, and that if he did not thus yield, he would have no children; and
having no children, would have no joy. My authority for making this assertion
is, Book of Mormon, p.58.
4th-Infidelity
teaches that mirage is not lawful, but an unnatural crime. Mormonism teaches
something equally bad, if not worse. "The nations of Europe,
who believe in the one wife system, have actually forbidden a plurality of
wives by the laws." How monstrous; how absurd; how un-Mormon like!"
and the consequences are, that the whole country among them is overrun with the
most abominable practices; adultries and unlawful connections prevail through
all their villages, towns, cities, and country places, to a most fearful
extent. And among some of these nations these sinks of wickedness,
wretchedness, and misery, are licensed by law; while their piety would be
wonderfully shocked to authorise by law the plurality system as adopted by many
neighbouring nations."-The Seer, vol 1 p. 13.
Infidel
Mormonism contradicts itself. Sometimes holding forth the doctrine of plurality
of wives, and at other times condemning it, as we will show. "It is the
doctrines of the church, that no woman can attain to celestial glory without
the husband; nor can he arrive at full perfection in the next world without at
least one wife; and the greater the number he is able to take with him, the
higher will be his seat in the celestial paradise."-"Expedition to
the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, &c.,
pp.136,137. "God has actually commanded some of his servants to take more
wives. -The Seer, vol.I, p. 14. "But have not some of the Saints in Utah more wives than
one? Yes; and they take good care of them to."-Seer. vol.2.p.30. Here yon
perceive the Mormons hold forth the doctrine of -plurity of wives. But mark the
following:-"Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shall cleave
unto her and none else."-Doctrines and covenants, sec. 13, par. 7.
"Do you believe that them Book of Mormon is a Divine revelation? We do.
Does that book teach the doctrine of plurality of wives? It does not. Does the
lord in that book forbid the plurality doctrine? He forbids the ancient
Nephites to have any more than one wife." -The Seer; vol.I p.30. "For
Behold, thus saith the Lord, this people begin to wax in iniquity; they
understand not the Scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing
whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and
Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines,
which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord."-Book of Mormon, p.
96. If an abomination then, why not now, unless the Lord has changed his mind,
and looks favorably on that which was formerly accursed? "There shall not
any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have
none."-Book of mormon, Jacob 2, 6. Now, I leave the public to judge,
whether there can be worse infidelity than Mormonism. It is a mass of
contradiction and falsehood. And now, if David John, of Nottingham,
can overturn what I have written, let him do so.
Somersotes
W. Rose
The week after, I replied as follows.
MORMONISM
At present, we
are under the necessity of answering objections, correcting misrepresentations,
and entering the field of controversy, with those who differ from us, we shall
"contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the
saints-"The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle-patient
towards all men." In meekness instructing those who oppose
themselves." In matters of doctrine, we shall contend for the one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one Holy Spirit, one God and Father of all; and in
short, for all the offices, ordinances, gifts, and blessings, which all the
offices, ordinances, gifts, and blessings, which were set in order among the
ancient saints.
As to Calvinism,
Arminianism, Trinitarianism, Unitarianism, and a thousand other such like
terms, which have confused, distracted, and divided the religious world, we
know of no such terms in the Bible, and therefore have nothing to do with them.
As to the "powers that be," we shall teach men to fear God, honor and
respect the laws, and all who are in authority, until he (Christ) reigns, whose
right it is to reign. I would remark, that we believe the Bible to be the
inspired word of God; but let W. Rose remember, that it not the, "hearer
of the word, "but the "doer, who justified." "How wilt thou
say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote of thine eye; and behold a beam in
thine own eye?" "Thou hyprocrite. first cast out the beam out of
thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy
brother's eye."-Matthew vii. 4, 5. Hence we shall weigh our opponent in
his own balances; "the law and the testimony;" and if he shall find
himself wanting, we earnestly invite him to become a member of the "Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," for they hold, teach, and practice,
those things contained in Scripture, and eternal salvation depends on our
embracing the truth.
W. Rose, being
acquainted with our books, has made garbled extracts, and withheld the truth,
by wilful misrepresentations. Now had he been an honest man, he would have
stated that orson Pratt, was relating a letter, that was received from a friend
in London. (not
a Mormon). where he says, "here Mormonism, like Infidelity, quarrels with
the Divine authority of the Bible." ___________the last impressions, are
to_________. Those words mentioned in the _____________ be found in the
friend's letter, and not the words of Pratt. See Divine Authority, p. 1,2. Thy
did you not state the truth, Mr Rose; was it because you could not find none in
your heart? Again O. Pratt in his "Kingdom of God"
p.1, does not say that the Scriptures were not given by the "inspiration
of God," but he asks the question-"is the history of any of the
events recorded in either the old of the new Testament a law unto any man now
living? "No; it is not," decidely so. The Lord commanded Noah to
build an ark, Lot to flee from Sodom,
Moses to prepare a tabernacle; all those commandments were given and recorded,
by inspiration, and are profitable to us now; but are they given as laws to the
people of this age? Certainly not.
Rose
says-"Mormonism calls the Bible a human tradition." This is a wilful
lie, Sir; and before you could have written so you must have been inspired by
the Fathers of Lies. It reads thus--"What testimony have men, in the first
instance, that there is a God? Human testimony, and human testimony
alone."-See Doctrines and Covenants. p.28. And again, sec. ii 56. It
treats upon the existence of God, proved from the scriptures, and proves
plainly that the people were destitute of the Spirit, by which the Scriptures
were written, and then could not understand; hence their testimony was human.
As a proof that the saints believe in the Scriptures, I will quote the
following: -"Now what revelations has the Lord given for the government of
the saints, we further quote- "Thou shalt take the things which thou has
received, which has been given unto thee in my Scriptures for a law, to be my
law to govern the Church."-Doc. and Cov. Sec. ziii. 16. "Hence that
which is more or less," than a belief in the Scriptures, and in other
revelations which God has given to the saints, cometh of evil and shall be
attended with cursings and not blessings."-See O. Pratt's Remarks on
Mormonism, p. 6. Is this infidelity? Let the public judge; has Mr. spoken the
truth? Let his own conscience answer. Rose, in his second section
says-"Infidelity teaches that matter is the only God to be worshipped, and
that to talk of nonentities. Mormonism teaches the same." "What is
God? He is a material, intelligent person, possessing both body and
parts,"&c. Again, he says-"Yes; he (God) eats he drinks."
&c.-Millenial Star, vol. xi., No. 5, pp.74, 75. "What is this but
infidelity?" what then Mr. Rose? nothing at all. Do you prove it to be to
the contary? No; you leave it there. Now if it could be proved, that we believe
in some principles, as the ranters do. should that prove that the we are
ranters? Verily, no; it is the same then with infidelity.
Nottingham.
DAVID JOHN.
[The extreme length of this
letter precludes the possibility of our giving it entire in this impression.
The remainder will appear in our next.]
MORMONISM.
(Concluded form our last.)
In the mist of
the grossest darkness of idolatry, and while the sectarian world around us are
engaged in the worship of almost innumerable imaginary Gods, it is of utmost
importance that we come to the knowledge of the true God, and learn to
"worship him in spirit and in truth." The sectarian churches around
us, describe a God without body, parts, or passions. Indeed this can hardly be
said to be infidelity, nor idolatry; for strictly speaking, it amounts to
Atheism. It is as much to say-there is a God, and yet he does not exist; or
there is a being, and there is no being; for reason teaches us that being or thing,
which has a whole must as to say that it has no whole, and if it has no whole,
it does not exist, and therefore it is not. But this God of half the Christian
world-or rather this God and no God, is as contrary to Scriptures, as to reason
and common sense. The old and new Testament everywhere reveal a God, with body,
parts, and passions. The following are a few of the many texts which speak of
his body and parts. Image-Gen.1.27. Eyes-prov.xv.3. Mouth-Isaiah, lv.11.
Nose-Isaiah lxv. 5. Lips and Image-Isiah xxx.27. Ear-2nd Kings, xix. 19. Soles
of his feet-Ezekiel, xliii.7. Arm-Jeremiah, xxi.5. Finger-Exodus, xxxi. 18.
Fingers-Psalms, viii.3. Loins-Ezek. i.27. Hands, face, and back parts-Exodus,
xxxiii.22. The foregoing abundantly show, that the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, hath both body and parts, to say nothing of Jesus Christ, who actually
ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, with flesh and
bones. Hence, what can we say of the sectarian God, without body, parts and
passions!" as compared with Jehovah and Jesus Christ, or with Scripture
and reason? Indeed their God is not equal with the several Pagan Gods. The
Pagan Gods are in the Scriptures described as having "eyes but they see
not, "but the model God of Christendom, so called, hath no
"eyes," let alone seeing; "ears but they hear not," but
this God hath no "ears," &c., &c. Now we seriously exhort W.
Rose, to neither love, serve, nor fear, the God of the Ranters, for he can
neither see, hear, speak, think. or walk; he can neither harm us nor do us any
good; he can neither love us nor hate us, because he hath no passions. In
short, let us serve none but the living and true God, and him alone let us
serve.
W. Rose further
says, "Mormonism denies the Omnipresence of God." This, Sir, is a
glaring misrepresentation. We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and
that the spirit is everywhere present. See Millenial Star, vol. xi.p.p. 235,
236. Again, the "Holy Spirit," by O.Pratt, p. 51. If Mr. Rose would
read those passages, he would see that they correspond with the Psalmist and
Jeremiah, and in fact with all the Scriptures.
W. Rose further
says. "Mormonism teaches that man's chief joy consists in yielding to the
gratifications of the animal passions." This is another palpable
falsehood? (See Book of Mormon, p. 58). The sentences there plainly show, that
man could not enjoy the sweet without tasting the bitter; and again, that there
is much joy in being blest of the Lord with children; this is in accordance
with Scripture and common sense. But "yielding to the gratification of the
animal passions," has sprung from Rose's lustful heart, and not from the
Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon condemns the principles from beginning to
end. When speaking of adultery and other sins, it says-"But woe unto such,
for they are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."-See
p.p. 511, 512. Again the "Doctrine and Covenants" says of the same
character-"They shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone, which is the second death. Verily I say, they shall not have
part in the first resurrection."-p.p.149, 150.
W. Rose compares
Mormonism with Infidelity, by saying that the infidels teach that
"marriage is not lawful, but an unnatural crime," and the Mormons
believe in pologamy I think; but every little boy can see that there is no
comparison there. If Mr. Rose has been in the Ranter College,
he came from there without learning the comparative mood. We would earnestly
exhort him to learn the lesson before he attempts to compare again. He also
says, that "Mormonism contradicts itself." "Sometimes holding
forth the doctrine of plurality of wives, and at other times condemning
it." He quotes the Seer, vol. 1, No. 1. p. 14; vol. 2, p. 30; Doc. and
Cov., sec. 13, par. 7. He has taken up some parts to answer his own craft, but
did not state the whole. I exhort my readers to carefully peruse the above
quotations, and they can easily see that he has broken up the sentences to
answer his own purposes, and kept the truth from the public. We shall prove
this law (polygamy) to be of God, under the 5th proposition,
namely-"Mormonism when reduced to practice, produces virture, &c.
Mr Rose, closes
his tale, by saying that-Mormonism is a mass of contradiction and
falsehood," but for ought he has told us, it remains full of truths and
divine principles. His whole drift from beginning to end is--Mormonism believes
thus, and so, then it must be wrong. Why does he not show us his
"religious influence, and philanthropy?" It is because he has none, I
fear; if he has any, I hope he will show it us in his next article. Infidelity
contains the following principles--"The statue of Mary (the mother of
Jesus) succeeded the statue of Diana of Ephesus."-See Thomas Paine in the
Age of Reason, p.5. Again, he says, while speaking of the Bible-"That it
would be more consistent, that we called it the word of a demon than the Word
of God."-p.14. Again, says he--"They tell us that Jesus rose from the
dead, and ascended into Heaven. It is very easy to say so; a great lie is as
easily told as a little one." p. 224. Now, let the public compare these
sayings with those we have quoted form the Mormon books, and they can see that
the contrast is great indeed. Hence we say to W. Rose-"Lying
lips are an abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are his
delight."-Prov. xii. 22.
Nottingham.
DAVID JOHN.
To the Editor of
the Midland Gazette.
Somercotes, May
2nd, 1859
Sir,-Being a
constant reader of your most valuable paper, we were glad to find from your
impression of the 2nd ult., that the Rev. W. Rose's challenge to discuss
Mormonism was accepted, and anxiously awaited the arrival of your Somercotes
Agent, that we might receive your paper containing the rev. gentle man's first
letter on "Mormonism a system of Infidelity'" and from the perusal of
that letter we were in hopes of having a rich intellectual feast; thinking that
David John would follow in the steps of his antagonist and abstain from those
low personalities and invidious remarks which are calculated to injure the
cause which he is attempting to serve, and bring upon him the just contempt of
your readers. But our hopes were doomed to perish, when we saw David John's
reply was wrote ad captandum vulgus of his own sect, rather than bring forth
arguments to refute the assertions of his opponent.
We have sat
under that remarkable infidel, Joseph Baker, while he has been sending forth
his invectives against all believers in orthodoxy. We have listened to the wild
ravings of secularists, socialists, and political demagogues; but still we
never met with one who made use of that low blackguardism which David John
indulges in.
Now, sir, the
reason that we write this, is to suggest to the Rev. W. Rose, whether it would
not be better to condemn David John to "keep his own place," by his
(the Rev. W. Rose) abstaining from all further correspondence on the subject,
rather than give him the chance of writing in a style that suits the party with
which he is connected, and to the disgust of all intelligent minds. Hoping you
will find room for these few remarks in your next number,"
I remain, Sir
yours, &c.
VINCIT VERITAS.
MORMONISM THE WORST, MOST DEGRADING,
AND MOST BLASPHEMOUS KIND OF INFIDELITY.
Sir.--We have
read our opponent's letter, and we wish to say, we have nothing to fear from
his puny efforts. Thus far our point is gained. We have nothing to do with sect
and party names, as they have no relation to our subject. Mormonism is not to
be found in the Bible. The word Mormon is derived from the Greek word Mormo,
which literally signifies, Bugbear, False Terror, Frightful, Spectre, Deathly,
Ghastly, Hobgoblin, Raw Head, and Bloody Bones. Mormon is indeed a foul name,
but not more foul than the practices of some Mormons.
"Mormons
are their names;
Mormo is their nature,
Mormon really means,
Mormo-frightful creature!
'Tis their own selection,
Their prophet, vile knave!
Coin'd their Mormon fiction!"
W. Rose is
acquainted with the Mormon books.--
His acquaintance
with them began as follows. Some few years ago, a Mormon Elder asked him to
lend some money on the Book of Mormon; he complied with the request, and then
read the book. One day, some time after, when the Elder knew that W. Rose was
from home, he went to his house, and said, "I have come for the book of
Mormon; I have seen Mr. Rose and paid him the money." But he had neither
paid him, nor seen him, nor has he paid to this day. W. Rose has several Mormon
books in his possession now, which were taken to a stationer to be bound; the
stationer bound them according to order, but the Mormons were too dishonest to
pay the binder. And these are the men, whom our opponent calls "virtuous,
faithful, and true to their God," &c. They are true deceivers. But
more of this when we prove- the leaders of Mormonism wicked imposters. Again,
we maintain that we expressed the truth in our remarks on Divine Authority, p.
1, 2. Our opponent says Orson Pratt, was relating a letter, that was received
from a friend in London,
( not a Mormon). Be it so ! But the friend in London, had learnt what he stated in his
letter, from a book which had been lent him by Orson Pratt. The letter read as
follows:-"My dear sir, I have the letters you so kindly left with me. As I
informed you in my last, I cursorily read through the letters, and handed the
book to Mr.-, with him it is at the present time." (Now mark), "The
impression thereby made on his mind is very remarkable, and he requests me to
inform you, that if you will allow him, he means to keep "the book, if you
will please to let him know the price thereof. He and I concur in our view of
Mormonism at present. Do you enquire what that view is? I will then proceed to
state it. (It is the same the book has taught us). "We consider that the
proofs which Mormonism gives of the apostacy, are, without question, clear and
demonstrative, We entirely concur, also, in the personal appearance, and reign
of our Lord; we are persuaded that all the preachers and teachers of the day
are without authority; that their teachings and interpretations of the
Scriptures, being done without interpretations are uncertain as to the truth;
that the translations of the Scriptures, being done without inspiration, are
also uncertain. Yes, all is uncertain! Melancholy thought! A deplorable
picture, but a true one! The jarring, all contending! The result, division is a
multiplied proof that they are all wrong; that they are without that spirit who
guides unto all truth, and truth is one."-Divine Authority.-p.1, 2. Our
opponent says, O.P. in his kingdom
of God, p.1, asks the
question-"Is the history of any of the events recorded in either the Old
or New Testament, a law unto any man now living?" We refer your readers to
1 Cor. x 1, 18. Again, our opponent in dealing with our quotation, from Doc.
and Cov. p. 28, refers us to Doc. and Cov. sec. 2, 56, and to see 13, 16. But
what does he prove? Read and judge, "What testimony have men in the first
instance, that there is a God? Human testimony, and human testimony only. Is
the knowledge of the existence of God a matter of mere tradition, founded upon
human testimony alone, until a person receives a manifestation of God, for
himself? It is."-Doc. and Cov. p. 28. Here infidel Mormonism positively
declares that the Bible is a human tradition. Now read the quotations made by
our opponent from Doc. and Cov.; and you will find they flatly contradict the
above quotation. But do two blacks make one white? If an author declares on one
page of his book that the Bible is a "human testimony," and then on
the next page declares it to be "divine testimony" What does that
prove? Why, it clearly proves that such an author is a man of no principle.
Such a man is Orson Pratt. To prove God a material being possessing body and
parts; our opponent, refers us to several passages of Scriptures, which speak
of the mouth, eyes, ears, hands, and feet of the Lord, &c. But, here he
throws himself in a terrible labyrinth, for we may with equal propriety say,
God is a Sun and shield-Psalm lxxxii. IL.- a fountain, Jer. ii. 13.-a rock,
Duet. xxii. 4.-a bird, Psalm. lvii. 1., and Psalm xci, 4. According to Mormon
theology, God is a strange being
[MISSING TEXT]
into a number of
little joys, or we may accumulate a great joy by heaping together the solid
parts of several little joys. We shall then have the colour and shape of a
thought. It will be either white, grey, brown, crimson, purple, or it may be a
mixture of two or more colours. Then we shall have a dark grey hope, a bright
yellow sorrow, a round brown tall pain, and an octagonal green belief, an inch thought,
a mile joy. Orson Pratt calls matter into existence of which the world knows
but little. he has intelligent matter-all wise matter, and all-powerful matter.
this matter is capable of division into parts; for all matter has length,
bredth, and thickness. Then we shall have the half of an intelligent atom of
matter, the eighth of all-wise atom, the thousandth part of an all-powerful
atom, &c. Such are the absurdities of Infidel Mormonism.
(to be included in our next)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Concluded from
our last. If the Mormon god be a material being, 'now do they obtain their
revelations? he must necessarily act mechanically. Therefore all his visions
and revelations must be through some material medium, and not, as
immaterialists would suppose, by spirit operating, and not, as immaterialists
would suppose, by spirit operating on spirit, it must be body acting on body.
the vision then must be some subtle gas, coming from the great seat of the
fluid to the individual man.' Your readers may have heard of pills being made
from the rays of the sun.-'PILULCE RADIIS SOLIS EXTRACTUM;'but the spirit of
man is to subtle for reduction to such a use. Such are the glaring absurdities
of this Mormonaterial scheme. Orson Pratt says.'The Father is a material being'
"The elementary materials of his body are not susceptible of occupying, at
the same time,the same, the identical space with other matter;'and 'a spirit is
as much matter as oxygen or hydrogen. It has many properties in common with
other matter. Kingdom
of God, part 1. p. 4.
orson spencer says in like manner-"The most subtle and refined spirit
conceivable, is a material existence as far removed from immateriality as the
east is from the west.' (Letter 8) But in the fifth Letter he says, the Holy
Ghost is 'an unembodied personage.' So that matter is unembodied, or it is
matter and not matter. If the spirit of man be matter, how can it occupy the
same space with the matter of which the body consists. 'The spirit and the body
are the soul,' Doc. and Cov. p.97. "Man is a spirit." Doc. and Cov.
p.246. Now what is the soul according to this theory? Matter also? No doubt
Orson Pratt would so judge. It cannot be immaterial, 'immortality' he tells us,
is only another name for nothing.' But the soul is something. It must be 'a man
beside himself,' Verily that man must be Orson Pratt. Mormons say, 'God does
not differ materially in size from man, that man resembles him in the features
and form of his body.' These puny mortals, liken the supreme and
incomprehensible Jehovah to themselves. In this absurd system there is no
perfection in God. The Mormon god not being an omnipresent and perfect
spiritual existence, is no god; he is like unto themselves, and 'where he is
they cannot tell.' This scheme is opposed to true philosophy and scriptural
theology. Mormo-materialism contradicts itself; for if Christ were possessed of
a body of flesh and blood, how could he become incarnate. Mormons believe in th
incarnation, but this contradicts it. Their doctrine implies that he had a body
before he was incarnate, or he had a body before he had a body and had not a
body at the same time. It contradicts the scriptures, Christ Jesus being in the
form of God, took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men; and being found in fashion as man, etc. (Phil. ii 5,8) It is opposed to
the pre-existence of Christ. If a body be necessary to his existence, then he
had none, and did not exist until born of the virgin, (Luke i 35). But "he
was in the beginning with God." "The word was made flesh,'(John i
2,14). "He took upon him the form of a servant; he was made in the
likeness of men." If a body be necessary to his existence, then he existed
before he existed. He existed before he had a body; but as nothing can exist
without, according to the Mormon scheme, and seeing Christ did not exist before
he had a body, then he existed and did not exist at the same time. But which
body are we to believe is really the true body that is to be called the Son of
God? It is the body he possessed when as 'the angel of the covenant' he
appeared unto Abraham? Or, the body 'which was made of the seed of David,
according to the flesh? Or, that body the Church of which it is said'the church
which is his body (Eph. i 22,23). Now which is really the body of Christ? He
cannot have three bodies. Let the Mormons inform us if they can. If the spirit
be a material substance, it cannot occupy the same space with other matter. How
then can Mormons explain the case of Mary Magdalene? She possessed seven
spirits. These were seven material substances in the same place. Our Lord cast
out a legion of evil spirits in one case. Were they all material substance? If
so, will our opponent inform us by what means they made their exit? We would
like to say a great deal more on this material system were it not intruding too
much on your columns. But in concluding this Letter we would say, bad as Paine,
Hume and other professed infidels were, they are outvied by the Mormons. Robert
Owen never uttered such awful blasphemy, as did Joe Smith, Orson Pratt, etc.
And though our oponent contends for such an abominable, filthy scheme, beknows
it is wrong, and your readers shall know it is wrong; for we intend, ere we
cease, to give such an exposure of it, the world has never known before, Truth
is mighty and will prevail.
W. Rose
Somercotes, May 2nd, 1859.
P.S. Mr John
says, a man must taste the bitter before he can enjoy the sweet. "Man was
obliged to sin to be made happy." System of Mormon Logic. He also says, we
have taken up some parts to answer our craft, but if it will please him better
we will make our quotations more lengthy, for it will answer our end much
better.
MORMONISM
Sir, having
carefully perused the prefatory remarks of my antagonist in the Gazette, I
shall briefly allude to them. I thought we had come before the public to
discuss doctrine, not characters; if characters he wished to examine, it would
be better to commence between our two selves, but he took another course, for a
reason better known to himself.
If some were too
dishonest to pay their debts, that he had no bearing in the least on the faith
and doctrine of the church: if so the same can be said of every 'sect and
party' that existed in ancient dates as well as modern, and where could we find
the end of it?
He says,
"And these are the men whom our opponent calls virtuous, faithful, and
true to their God." This is a base and mean insertion, his opponent never
said about these he wrote of, but the leaders of the church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. He never lent them any, neither has he seen them as yet. His
writing 'mixed up with all sorts of fictions.' Hence common sense and reason,
Sir compel me to forbear; for to follow him through all of his wanderings would
be fruitless. But I would just remark, that the same blindness, darkness, and
ignorance of the subject that he has taken upon himself to condemn, runs
through the whole of it. 'He understands not what he says, nor where he
affirms.' Hence I shall consider the most part of it far beneath my notice, and
be as brief and pointed as possible.
I perceive that
the terms 'most degrading - most blasphemous - bloody bones, etc' are favourite
terms with him, but such as I should treat with contempt, when attempting to
write or preach on divine principles. Light and truth, the law and the
testimony, are what I want to have our principles tried by, and not by the
creeds, opinions, and characters of men. If they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no light in them - Isaiah, viii 20. But the
apostle Paul declared in his days, - Now the spirit speaketh expressly, then in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron. 1 Tim iv. 1,2. When professors of religion
so far degrade themselves, and their profession as to attempt to injure others
by lying and misrepresentation, they should remember that when the devil was
disputing with the archangel about the body of Moses, the Lord would not permit
the archangel to bring a railing accusation against the devil; and until they
can prove that the individual they wish to injure is worse than the devil, and
they themselves are better than the archangel, the bible requires them to hold
their tongues, and mind their own business.
My opponent
says, 'To prove God a material being possessing body and parts; our opponent
refers us to several passages in scripture, which speak of the mouth. eyes,
ears, hands, and feet of the Lord, etc. But here he throws himself in a
terrible labrynth, for we may with equal propriety say, God is a sun and
shield, fountain and rock. According to our opponent's theory God has wings,
feathers, etc. But mark, here he throws himself in a most terrible labrynth,
and at the same time proves my principle to be correct. Therefore their
inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and contended; they were as
the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops,
and as corn blasted before it be grown up. 2 Kings xix. 26. According to this
theory, those inhabitants were strange beings, having wonderful bodies composed
of many singular parts; for they were part grass, part green herb, and part
corn.
My opponent
takes the honour upon him to comment, for he attempts to tell us the reason why
God is represented as having bodily parts. Let him furnish proof from the
Bible.
He further
quotes Millenial Star, where it says, -God is made of immortal flesh and
immortal bones. He wants a scriptural proof: - when Jesus rose from the dead,
he appeared unto his disciples and said, - Handle me and see, for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. But the Bible declares, -God is a spirit;
true and the same Bible declares God is love. 1 John iv. 8. But the author's
letter to the Hebrews, proves, without the least doubt, that God was a person,
where it says that He, (Jesus), is the brightness of his Father's glory, and
the express image of his person. See chap. i. 3. Is this infidelity, Mr. Rose?
Again he remarks, - 'Yes, he (God) eats, he drinks, etc.' - Millenial Star.
Yes, he eats. - See Gen. xviii. 1,7 And the Lord appeared unto him in the
plains of Mamre, and he (Abraham) sat in the tent door in the heat of the day,
etc. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him: and
when he saw them he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself
toward the ground. And he took butter and milk, and the calf that he had
dressed, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree. Mark 'and
they did eat,' A plainer proof cannot be produced, because it says the Lord
appeared unto him, etc.
He also quotes
(Book of Mormon, p. 321), where it says-that the brother of Jared saw the
finger of the Lord; for he was struck with fear. But my antagonist did not
quote the whole connection: Nothing could be more pleasing to me than seeing
him inserting our sentences in his letters, and will answer our purpose; but he
inserts one part of the sentence and leaves the other out, to answer his own
craft. But mark the following, -'And the Lord said unto him, (the brother of
Jared), because of thy faith thou hast seen, that I shall take upon me flesh
and blood. And again, -Behold I am Jesus Christ, etc. Taking upon him flesh and
blood was spoken of in the future tense, I shall take, etc.
Again, -Cursed
is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.' True, but blessed
is the man that trusteth in God, for he hath the everlasting arms. -(Deut.
xxxiii. 27, Thou hast a mighty arm and strong is thy right hand - Ps. lxxxix.
13). Our opponent says, -That by the 'hand of God' we are to understand the
strength of his power. I admit that his hand is powerful; but I refer your readers
to Ez. viii. 1,4, when he was in vision, he said, -"As I sat in mine
house, and the Elders of Judah
sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me. And he put forth the
form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head, etc. And behold the glory
of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision I saw in the plain.
Again, see Dan. v. 5. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and
wrote over the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace:
and the king saw part of the hand that wrote. Also see Deut. ix. 10 -And the
Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God. The
foregoing quotations correspond with the testimony of the brother of Jared, in
the Book of Mormon, and if Mr. Rose is an honest man, he must confess it. He
further says - By his eyes and ears we are to understand his omniscience; by
his face the manifestation of his will. Let him furnish your readers with
scriptural proof. This is the Ranter scheme, or the system of the Ranter logic.
But mark the testimony of the bible, -And the Lord spake unto Moses, face to
face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. -Exo. xxxiii. 2. Again says he, -By
his mouth the revelation of his voice. It seems by logic that he cannot speak.
But mark the bible logic, -And as they went, I heard the voice of their wings,
like the voice of great waters, as the voice of the almighty, the voice of
speech. -Ez. ii. 24. What can be plainer than these words-'the voice of the
almighty, (even) the voice of speech.' Again - and Jesus when he was baptized,
went straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him,
and he saw the Spirit of God ascending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And
lo, a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. -Matt. iii. 16,17. That was a manifestation of his will, but it came
by his own voice, -This is my beloved Son.'
This is the
bible logic, and it corresponds with the Mormon logic, or rather the last with
the first. The Mormons believe the same as the prophets, patriarchs, and
apostles of old did, as we have proven. But Mr. R. tries to prove that the
Mormons are infidels; hence according to his theory the ancient prophets, and
people of God were infidels. 'Most disgusting, most degrading, and most
blasphemous kind of infidelity.'
The passages
that I have inserted, are but few of the many, that may be with propriety
applied as proof to establish the fact, that God is a real person, and not as
my opponent contends, 'without body and without parts.' And if he, by his
logic, can produce proof to confound the two books, (the bible and the book of
Mormon), let him do it.
He further says,
-'There is no such word in te English language, as the comparative mood.' True,
but there is such a mode there, as the (mode of comparison). I advise him to
learn the lesson and understand it, before he will compare again. If he fully
understood the lesson great, greater, greatest; small smaller, smallest, etc.
He should have compared doctrines and principles better. Again he says, -'He
beholds nothing but deathly deformity,' why? because his eyes are heavy. Jesus
met with, and spoke of the same class, while on the earth. Says he, -And in
them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which sayeth, by hearing, ye shall
hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and
their eyes, they have closed; lest at any time, they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them. -Matt. xiii. 14,15.
D. JOHN
(to be concluded
in our next.)
MORMONISM
---------
(Concluded from our last.)
Sirs, Mr. R.
gives a quotation, commencing, "If the mind be material, and the brain
nothing but a large gland, etc." He goes on and gives many other
quotations; it seems that he wants to claim these as original, while in fact,
they stand in the pamphlet he quoted from, in the exact language he has used. I
refer your readers to Taylder's tract against Materialism, where the quotations
and arguments of Mr. Rose stand these many years, although he palmed them off
as his own. All these arguments are to be found wisely considered, and
logically answered, in "Absurdities of Immaterialism" in O. Pratt,
and if any of your readers would like to see the said book, if they will send
to my my address, I can lend them it.
Inasmuch then
that all his quotations are already answered, I see nothing before me to argue
against; hence I will proceed to favour your readers with a short account of
the faith and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
* * * * * * * *
* *
Yours, etc.,
11, Promenade, Robin Hood D. JOHN
Street,Nottingham
[The extreme
length of one portion of David John's letter, which, in fact, is the Mormon
creed, copied from a reprint, and would occupy over three-quarters of a column,
compels us, in mercy to our readers, to reject its publication. The arguments,
pro and con, appear to have reached a climax that would puzzle the most astute
theologian; indeed, as Mr. John expresses himself, he "sees nothing before
him to argue against," consequently, we must conclude that the "War
of the Roses" is at an end. We have frequently infringed on our limited
space to the exclusion of interesting matter, and in some instances given
offense to correspondents in reference to this Mormon question; but if we must,
as a public journalists, express our opinion freely, a NEWSPAPER is not the proper
vehicle wherein to discuss the truthfulness or deception of any religious sect.
We have to cater for all parties; to give the current events of the week- NEWS,
not religious controversy; if we deviate from this straight-forward path, the
newspaper ultimately becomes a mere controvertist, and the circulation of the
Gazzette would grow "small by degrees and beautifully less."]
7 Apr Spent the morning in
writing at home. Went to Somercotes in the evening. Held a meeting there.
Lodged with Elder Wm. Singleton.
8 Apr Spent the day among the
Saints. Went to Swemick?. Held a meeting there at 7 P.M..
9 Apr Returned to Nottingham. Cook returned from Liverpool.
10 Apr Sunday. At 9 A.M. left
home for Hawknall? Held a meeting there at 2:30 P.M. and at B??? at 6:30 P.M..
Returned to Nottingham.
11 Apr Spent the day with Bro.
Cook in writing and walking. In the evening listened to a lecture by Mr. Ernest
Jones London. on the "Reform Bill"; He wanted to be a member in the
house of Commons for the borough of Nottingham.
12 Apr Went to Eastwood, held a
meeting there in the evening.
13 Apr Spent the day among the
Saints there. Left at 6 P.M. for Sutton and held a meeting there. Met Elder
Holmes.
14 Apr Spent the day there
visiting the Saints. Returned to Nottingham
and met Bro. Cook.
15 Apr Spent the day at home and
visited Sister Matthews. Attended the Radford ?????.
16 Apr Spent the day at home.
Bro. Cook left for "Burton on Trent" Branch.
17 Apr Sunday. Attended two
meetings at Nottingham. Had a large assembly
at 6 P.M.
18 Apr Spent the day at home.
19 Apr Wrote at home in the
morning. Went to Mansfield
and held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Visited the family of one Mrs. Jones.
20 Apr In the morning walked
about two miles seeing the country. Walked again 7 miles to Calverton and held
a meeting there at 7 P.M.
21 Apr Returned to Nottingham. Sister Eliza Lister with me. Met Bro. Cook
and walked out with him in the evening.
22 Apr Spent the day in making
out my monthly accounts. Met Elder Josiah Holmes and attended the Radford School at 8 P.M. The income of the month
was as follows, -
|
Tithing
|
51
2 8 3/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
5
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
30 3 1 1/2
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
4
11 3 3/4
|
---------------
91 7 2
23 Apr Spent the day at home
writing.
24 Apr Sunday. At Nottingham, held a council at 10:30 A.M., at 2 and 6 P.M.
attended meetings. The majority of the Priesthood throughout the conference was
present.
25 Apr Easter Monday. Spent the
day at home, many were with us from the country, being a wet day, we could not
walk much out doors. Held a social party at Radford at 7 P.M.
26 Apr Spent the day at home.
Cook left for ????. I attended meeting at 8 P.M. and we had a good time
together.
27 Apr Left Nottingham at 9 A.M.
and reached Birmingham
at 1 P.M. Went to a "Circus" at 3 P.M. Left again at 6:30 P.M. and
arrived at Ch???????? at 10 P.M. Lodged with one Mr. Phillips, formerly from
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
28 Apr Left at 10 A.M. stayed in
Gl????one hour. Reached the Cardiff Station (Wales) at 1 P.M. where Bro. Miles
met me. Spent the eveining with him.
29 Apr Met Sister M. Wride (John)
at Cardiff.
Spent the afternoon with her, being a very wet day.
30 Apr Spent the day at C??? and Cardiff and saw many of
the Saints. Spent a few hours with Sister M. Wride.
1 May Sunday. Went to M??? and
attended a conference there. Elders J. D. Ross, B. Evans, J. Davies Jr. were
present. Sister Wride rode with me a few miles on her way home in the morning.
2 May Ross left for Bristol. Bro. Evans and I
to Cardiff ????
and met many friends in the evening.
3 May Spent the morning among the
Saints. At 3 P.M. left for my mother's house. I arrived there at 9 P.M., a
distance of 70 miles. Found my mother well but my brother Thomas very ill. They
very kindly received me.
4 May Spent the day at home. My
brother was very low in spirits, believing firmly that his days were short upon
the earth. We tried to influence his mind to the contrary, but he was steadfast
in his belief that he could not live long.
5 May At home. My brother desired
to be annointed with oil and to have my hands laid upon him. I did so and he
was comforted.
6 May At home. (being St. Mark's
fair) the village was much crowded. Did not enjoy myself well, but spent the
day with my brother.
7 May A fair day again. In the
evening my brother walked with me to Mrs. Nicholas' house, but he was very
weak.
8 May Sunday. Left home in the
morning. My mother wept and my brother felt very sorry to lose my company. I
felt somewhat the same. This day was the last time that I saw my brother. I
left him leaning against the door. Met Elder B. Evans in Haverfordwest and
attended meetings there all day.
9 May Left about 12 A.M. and
arrived in Swansea
at 3 P.M. Spent the evening in visiting the Saints. Lodged with ???? in the Office.
10 May Stayed in Swansea
until 4 P.M. Left for Gloucester
and met Miles at Cardiff Station. He went with me until Newport. Arrived at Gloucester about 7:30 P.M. and lodged there.
11 May Left at 6 A.M. called at Birmingham and Derby and
arrived at Nottingham at 7:20 P.M. Elder
Holmes met me at the station.
12 May Bro. Cook returned from
Licester and I spent the day with him in reading, writing, and walking.
13 May Occupied the day mostly in
visiting. Attended the Radford
School in the evening.
14 May At home. Bro. Ross arrived
from London.
15 May Sunday. A Pastoral
Conference was held at Nottingham and we had a
good time all day.
16 May Spent the day mostly at
home. In the evening went to Derby
and attended meetings there. Returned home after it was over.
17 May Engaged in opening a new
Individual Emigration ??? Book. Bro. Cook went to bury his brother and returned
at night. Ross and I took a walk in the evening.
18 May At 9 A.M. Ross left for Birmingham. Cook and I
visited the Saints. Took tea with Sister Arnott Radford. Attended meeting in
that Branch that evening. Returned home.
19 May At home writing.
20 May Spent the day in making
new Pastoral Balance Sheets for 1858. Attended school at Radford at 8 P.M.
21 May Spent the day at the same
work.
22 May Sunday. Went to Calverton
and held a meeting there at 2 P.M. and at ???? in the evening. Bro. Cook and
two sisters came to meet us on the way.
23 May At home. Wrote an article
to the "Midland Gazette". Attended Branch conference at 8 P.M. Bro.
Cook left for Leicester.
24 May Engaged in writing in the
morning and then went to Mansfield.
Held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Took a walk through the Arboretum in the
afternoon.
25 May Went to Woodhouse. Sister
Harriet Jones with me. Visited the Saints there. Went to Sutton in the
afternoon. Attended meetings in the evening. Sent Sister Jones to the station.
26 May Returned to Nottingham and met Elder Holmes with his district ???.
Met Bro. Cook. Spent the evening in writing.
27 May Spent the day in making my
monthly ???. Presented the same to Cook. The ??? were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
19
15 6
|
|
Book
Money
|
7
10 0
|
|
Individual
Emigration
|
???
20 11 9 3/4
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
3
15 10 1/2
|
-----------------
81 13 ??
Attended School at 8 P.M.
28 May Spent the day in reading
and writing. Received the "Gazette" with the discussion in it.
29 May Sunday. Attended two
meetings at Nottingham. Posted the
"Gazette" to Elders Asa Calkin and J.D. Ross. Took a walk in the
evening.
30 May At home. Wrote an article
to the "Gazette". Took a walk with Elder Holmes in the evening.
31 May Went to Swanick. Wrote a
few hours there and attended meeting at 7:30 P.M.
1 Jun Wrote in the morning. Sent
an article to the "Star". Went to ???. Elder ??? went with me and
held a meeting at 7 P.M. Lodged at "Loscoe" with Elder Parkins.
2 Jun Visited the Saints during
the day. Went to Somer??? and held a meeting at 7:30 P.M.
3 Jun Went to Eastwood and spent
the day mostly there. Returned to Nottingham and attended Radford School.
Met Bro. Cook.
4 Jun Spent the day at home. At 7
P.M. attended the "???" and saw a play acted called the "Death
of Abel".
5 Jun Sunday. At home in the
morning. Attended meeting at Radford at 2 P.M. and Nottingham
at 6:30 P.M. Visited Elder ????'s family.
6 Jun About home all day. Took
tea with Bro. Holmes and Sister Burrows. Attended council at 8 P.M.
7 Jun At home in the morning. At
4 P.M. went to Eastwood. Held a meeting there at 7 P.M. and had a good time
together.
8 Jun Spent the day in visiting
the Saints. Mother Rowlands with me. Lodged in her house in Eastwood.
9 Jun Went to ????. Held a
meeting in Portland
at 7 P.M. My Brother died this evening at 8 P.M. The following card is in
remembrance of him
---------------------------------------------
| In Affectionate Remembrance of |
| THOMAS JOHN |
| Who Departed This Life 9th June, 1859, |
| Aged 23 Years, 6 Months, 14 Days, |
| and 6 Hours. |
| Born Nov 25, 1835 |
---------------------------------------------
The following is a card in
remembrance of my father. See pages 30 and 31.
---------------------------------------------
| In Affectionate Remembrance of |
| DANIEL JOHN |
| Born April 1st, 1793 |
| And died April 1st, 1856, |
| Aged 63 Years |
| Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. |
---------------------------------------------
10 Jun Returned to Nottingham and met Bro. Cook. Received a note from my
Mother dated the 8th inst. stating that my Brother was worse and too ill to
write himself.
11 Jun Engaged in writing mostly
all day.
12 Jun Sunday. At 8:30 A.M.
received a note from my mother stating that my Brother was dead. Left at 9 A.M.
for home, but could not go farther than Derby
because there was no train going. Spent the day there, being a General
Conference meeting. Bro. Cook was present.
13 Jun At 12:30 Mid-night I
started with the mail and reached Gloucester at 4:40 A.M. Left again at 6:40
A.M. and arrived at my mother's house at 3:30 P.M., the distance of 300 miles;
but my brother was buried 30 minutes before I arrived. Spent the evening in
sorrow and tears.
14 Jun Spent the day with my
mother.
15 Jun Also this day.
16 Jun Visited my uncle's family
of ???. Returned to my mother in the evening.
17 Jun Went to a Draper?? shop in
Letterstone, accompanied by my mother and Aunt Martha Williams. Returned in the
evening.
18 Jun At home all day.
19 Jun Sunday. At home. Many of
our relations visited us and among them my uncle Levi Williams and cousin Jane
Williams.
20 Jun Left my mother at 7 A.M.
She cried bitterly and so did I.
After I left her I spent 6 hours
with Burgoyne in Haverfordwest. Left again for Swansea and arrived there at 7 P.M. Met Elder
B. Evans and lodged with him.
21 Jun Spent the day with him in
the Office. Had a play at the ???.
22 Jun Spent the day with him.
Visited a few Saints. At 7 P.M. attended meeting and had a good time with the
Saints.
23 Jun Left Swansea at 3 P.M. and
arrive at Gloucester
at 8 P.M. I lodged there.
24 Jun Left at 6:20 A.M. and
arrived at Nottingham at 1:20 P.M. Attended the Radford School
at 8 P.M. At 11 P.M. met Bro. Cook on his return from "Calverton".
25 Jun Spent the day in writing
my monthly ????. The incomes were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
36
3 11
|
|
Book
Money
|
7
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
7 8 4
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
3
11 5 3/4
|
-----------------
54 13 8 3/4
The quarterly incomes were as
follows
|
Tithing
|
137
2 1 3/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
20
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
58 3 3 1/4
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
8 1
11 3/4
|
-----------------
223 17 4 3/4
26 Jun Sunday. Attended 2
meetings at Nottingham. Took tea with Sister
Mary ??? Atkin.
27 Jun At home writing all day.
Bro. Cook returned from Derby.
28 Jun Spent the day in writing.
At 8 P.M. attended meeting at Nottingham.
29 Jun Wrote during the morning.
Went to Calverton and attended meeting there at 7 P.M. Lodged at Bro. Wright's.
30 Jun Wrote a few hours on the
Branch Records. Went to Arnold
and did the same there. Returned to Nottingham.
1 Jul Occupied the day mostly in
writing. Attended the Radford
School in the evening.
2 Jul Spent the day in writing at
home.
3 Jul Sunday. Went to Mansfield and held a
meeting there at 12 o'clock. Returned to Nottingham and attended meeting there
at 6:30 P.M. Sister Harriet Jones and her mother accompanied me on their way to
America.
4 Jul At 7:30 A.M. the two
Sisters Jones and Sister Mary Ann Webb left for Liverpool
to go to the States. I spent the day at home. Attended council at 8 P.M.
5 Jul At home until 3 P.M. Left
for Eastwood and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
6 Jul Spent the day in Eastwood.
Attended meeting at Ho???? at 7 P.M. Mother Mary Rowlands accompanied me.
Returned to Eastwood. Elder William Bowers was with us.
7 Jul Left at 11 A.M. Went to Princeton and visited the Saints there. From there went
to Som???? . Elder John Farnsworth was with me and we attended meeting there at
7:30 P.M. Returned to Farnsworth's house.
8 Jul Returned to Nottingham and met Elders J. Cook and R.R. Handson at the
station. The last arrived from "Durham"
and was coming to travel in the Nottingham Conference. He and I attended School
at 8 P.M.
9 Jul At home all day.
10 Jul Sunday. At 9 A.M. I left
for ???? and attended meeting there at 2:30 P.M. and at Nottingham (Radford) at
6:30 P.M. Returned to Nottingham through the
"Arboretum" with Elder James Oakley.
11 Jul At Nottingham
in the afternoon. Went to "Breeston" accompanied by Handson. Visited
the Saints and afterwards returned home.
12 Jul Went to Mansfield. Sisters Burrows, Holmes, Whitaker,
Cook and 2 Carlins accompanied me. Met Elders Cook and E.L. Sloan, and J Holmes
there. Held a social party in the open air for 6 hours. Returned to Nottingham at 10 P.M.
13 Jul At Nottingham
all day. Elder Sloan arrived and we visited the Saints. Attended meeting at
Radford at 8 P.M. Elder Hudson
was present.
14 Jul Visited the Saints at Nottingham in the morning. Went to "Bulwell" at
3 P.M. Visited Sisters B??? and returned again. Sloan visited with me.
15 Jul Sloan left for Lincolnshire. I spent the
day at home. Attended School at 8 P.M.
16 Jul At home all day. The
following article appeared in the "Star":
No. 29, vol. XXI. Saturday, July
16, 1859, Price One Penny
READING AND REFLECTION
BY ELDER DAVID JOHN
Among the many means of acquiring
information and improving the mind is that of reading. Books are instruments of
knowledge; but it requires taste and judgement to make a good and useful
selection. It is possible to store the memory with romances and all kinds of
light literature; but it should be taken into consideration, before choosing or
reading a book, how much real and useful knowledge we are likely to gain by its
perusal.
Again: It is in the power of the
human mind to commit the whole pages of a valuable book to memory without
discovering any truth or beauty connected therewith, because the reader does
not think; and if not, he does not understand; hence he gains no knowledge and
cannot progress. But when he thinks, reflects, and searches to the bottom of
the subject of his reading, he will understand it, and his judgement will
become more and more powerful. One author says--
"When we are searching out
the nature and properties of anything by various methods of trial, or when we
apply some active powers or set some causes to work, to observe what effects
they would produce, this sort of observation is called experiment. So when I
throw a bullet into water I find it sinks; and when I throw the same bullet
into quicksilver, I see it swims; but when I beat out this bullet into a thin
hollow shape like a dish, then it will swim in the water too. So when I strike
two flints together, I find they produce fire: when I throw a seed into the
earth, it grows up into a plant. All these belong to the first method of
knowledge."
As it is not the amount of food
which we eat that gives us strength, but the portion which we digest, so also
it is not the number of books which we read that gives us knowledge, but the
portion that we understand. One page carefully read and perfectly understood
imparts more knowledge than a whole volume without reflection.
Those who have read the most are
often supposed to understand the most, but this is not always the case. Reading only supplies the
mind with the materials of knowledge: it is by thought and reflection that we
make what we read our own. By reviewing what we read and meditating on the
thoughts of others laid down before us, one idea begets another: reflection on
one simple truth generates another; or, in other words, it will point it out;
and those ideas and truths attained by reflectionmay be called our own. Thus
man will progress or rise in the scale of intelligence by his own energies and
mental exercise, which is the sure road to greatness and the only true
foundation of power. Hence we may say that one hour's reading and two hours'
reflection will be far more likely to improve the mind than two hours' reading
and one hours' reflection.
Again: To render our reading
hours profitable, we should be void of all prejudice. This has been a general
complaint and cause of failure in every age of the world; but never has it been
stronger than at present. It is a great hinderance to knowledge, and has in its
very nature a tendency to lead its possessor into difficulties and error. Those
who desire to tread in the footsteps of the wise and attain valuable and useful
knowledge must rid themselves of this most dangerous impostor, for it dresses
up error in the garb of truth and keeps men's minds in the dark, with a belief
that they are more in the light than others.
Impartiality also should
characterize our searching after truth. When this is not the case, we may give
what is really false the force of truth, because we wish it to be true. We
should not fall in love with any doctrine or principle and wish it to have such
force from a mere opinion that it is true. We should contend earnestly for the
true faith, but we should first be sure that it is the true faith. We should
love the truth because it is truth, and for no other reason. Our opinion and
zeal, though ever so sincere or warm, will not excuse us for taking truth for
error, or error for truth. Examination and meditation will endow the mind of
every man with power to judge for himself and enable him to determine the
difference between what is reasonable and what is unreasonable.
We may attain much knowledge by
reading histories of the past; but there is no history that can be so
beneficially studied as that of the restoration of the everlasting Gospel in
these latter days, the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ, and the
modern revelations received through the Prophet Joseph. Nothing can be more
useful and instructive than reading the works of our own Church and reflecting
upon their sublime principles and truths. All the books of the Church, however,
may be read over and over again without discovering the real character and
worth of their contents. Hence reflection should always accompany reading, so
that the reader may be edified and his mind improved.
17 Jul Left home at 9 A.M. and
went to Princeton. Attended meeting there at 2
P.M. Went to Somer???? and attended meeting there at 6 P.M. Elder Josiah Holmes
was present.
18 Jul Returned to Nottingham. At 6 P.M. went to a meeting of the
"Spirit Rappers"; they profess to receive revelation. I had a
conversation with a few of them. Attended our council at 8 P.M.
19 Jul Met at the Arboretum at 2
P.M.; the Saints met. Took tea at 5 P.M. We ????, sang, and danced until night.
It was the ???? day with the gentiles.
20 Jul At home writing until 2
P.M. Cook and I left for the Nottingham
Gardens. Took tea there
with many of the Saints. Attended meeting at Radford at 8 P.M. Elders Cook,
Nelson, Hodson were present.
21 Jul Went to Arnold?? in the afternoon. Attended meeting
there at 7 P.M. Returned to Nottingham. Elder
R.R. Hodson was with me.
22 Jul At home writing. Attended
the Radford School at 8 P.M.
23 Jul At home all day.
24 Jul Went to A??? and held a
council there at 11 A.M. Went and held meetings at Calverton at 2 and 6 P.M.
The ??? Saints joined us, 3 from Nottingham
were there. "Butterswick" and wife and Sister Underwood. Bro. Hodson
and I lodged with father Wright.
25 Jul Returned home and visited
Bro. Holmes and Sister Burrows. Spent the evening in writing.
26 Jul At home in the morning. At
3:30 P.M. left for Eastwood. Met Elder Holmes with his districts' ???. Received
??? from him and attended meeting there at 7 P.M.
27 Jul Left for Sutton and met
Elder Holmes at the Princeton Station. The Saints from Mansfield joined us and had a party there
(being their feast).
28 Jul Returned to Nottingham. Made up my monthly accounts and ???? the same
to Elder Cook. The incomes were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
48
6 4
|
|
Book
Money
|
6
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
6 9 0 1/2
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
5 1
4 1/4
|
-----------------
66 6 8 1/4
29 Jul Wrote all day on the
Conference Books. Attended School at Radford at 8 P.M.
30 Jul At home all day.
31 Jul Sunday. Went to Radford
and held a council there at 11 A.M. and a meeting at 2 P.M. Returned to Nottingham and preached there at 6:30 P.M.
1 Aug At home. Attended council
at 8 P.M. Cut off Hyrum Weston for "apostacy".
2 Aug Went to Eastwood
accompanied by Elder Hodson. Visited the Saints and held a meeting at 7 P.M.
3 Aug Hodson left for Calverton
and I for Haverfordwest. Held a meeting at 7 P.M. Went and lodged with Elder
Parkin "Loseve??".
4 Aug Left for ???? and arrived
there at 10 A.M. Wrote an article to (?????). Visited the Saints and attended
meeting at S??? in the evening.
5 Aug Returned to Nottingham and met Elders Cook and Hodson. Visited a few
Saints with the evening at B??? and Radford. Attended School there at 8 P.M.
6 Aug At Nottingham
all day.
7 Aug Sunday. Attended meeting at
Radford at 6:30 P.M. and at Nottingham at 2:30
P.M. Bro. Cook was with me all day.
8 Aug At Nottingham.
9 Aug Bro. Cook and I went to Mansfield and held a
meeting there at 7 P.M. Took tea with Sister Elizabeth Dickinson.
10 Aug Visited the Saints in
Woodhouse. Went from there to Sutton and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
Returned to Mansfield.
11 Aug Went to Sutton. Bro.
Holmes accompanied me from there to Somer???? and held a meeting there. Lodged
with Elder John Farnsworth.
12 Aug Returned to Nottingham at 12 A.M. Spent the evening in writing an
article to the "Star" on "Truth". Attended the Radford School at 8 P.M.
13 Aug At home all day.
14 Aug Sunday. Went with Elder
James Oakley to Bruston and held a meeting there at 2 P.M. and at Nottingham at 6:30 P.M. Spent 12 hours together.
15 Aug At home all day.
16 Aug At home. Attended meeting
in the evening. Hudson and I went to the Baths.
17 Aug Visited the Saints at 7
P.M. Attended meetings at A??? and returned home.
18 Aug At home all day.
19 Aug At home. Budge and Cook
arrived from Derby.
Spent the evening at home.
20 Aug At home all day. The
following appeared in the "?????".
The two articles that follows
here is written in Welsh?
The following letter appeared in
the Welsh periodical "Zion's
Trumpet", in January. When I left Wales, I had no time to visit all
the Saints in the nation. Hence, I addressed them all through the print and
stated my feelings to them as follows:
The following letter was written
in Welsh?
21 Aug We held our conference in Nottingham. Elder Wm. Budge was with us. We held 3
meetings during the day. Bro. Budge and I took tea with Bro. Whitaker.
22 Aug Took a walk in the
morning. Went to the artist and had our Portraits drawn. Budge took mine and
Cook's with him to Nottingham.
23 Aug At home writing in the
morning. Bro. Cook and I went to the Mansfield
???? in the afternoon. Saw a balloon ascending call the "Queen". We
met with many of the Saints there and returned home in the evening.
24 Aug Spent the morning in
writing at home. In the afternoon walked 7 miles to Calverton and held a
meeting there at 7 P.M. I lodged there with Bro. Reuben Marriott.
25 Aug In the morning left for
A??? and visited the Saints for a few hours. Then returned to Nottingham.
Received accounts from Branches from Elder Charles Whitaker and Elder James
Oakley. Spent the evening in writing at home.
26 Aug Spent the day in making up
my monthly ?????. The incomes were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
35
16 1
|
|
Book
Money
|
6
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
14 9 11
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
5
17 0 3/4
|
-----------------
62 13 0 3/4
Attended the Radford School
in the evening.
27 Aug At home all day.
28 Aug Sunday. Attended meetings
at Nottingham at 2:30 and 6:30 P.M. Took tea
with Sisters Underwood and Arnott. Visited the families of Bro. James Ward and
Thomas Lowe in the evening.
29 Aug Went to S????. Held a
social party in New Matlog? Lodged in S????
30 Aug Went to Eastwood and held
a meeting there at 7 P.M. Sister Mary Whitaker and Elizabeth Cook of Nottingham
were there on a visit.
31 Aug Spent the day there among
the Saints.
1 Sep Went to Princeton and P???
Row and held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Lodged with Elder ?????
2 Sep Returned home. Met Elders
Cook and Hudson and attended the Radford School at 8 P.M.
3 Sep At home. In the evening a
few Saints met in Bro. Butterwick's, to exercise the Drama "????
Family".
4 Sep Sunday. Went with Bro. Cook
to Licester and attended 2 meetings there. Had a good time all day.
5 Sep Visited the "Museum"
and walked through the town. Went to Lou??borough in the evening. Went to the
town hall and saw a "????" with American views. Lodged with Bro.
Thomas ???????.
6 Sep Cook and I went to Eastwood
and his daughter Eliza with us. Held a social party in the evening in the house
of Sister Mary Rowland until 10 P.M.
7 Sep Spent the day in visiting
the Saints. I held a meeting at ????? at 7 P.M. Returned to Eastwood. Elder
Hudson went to the ????? Branch.
8 Sep Visited the Saints during
the day. Went to ????? and held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Lodged with Elder
Farnsworth.
9 Sep Returned to Nottingham and
attended Radford School in the evening.
10 Sep At home all day.
11 Sep Sunday. Went to Mansfield
and attended two meetings there. The Sutton Branch joines us.
12 Sep Visited the Saints in
??????? and Mansfield. Visited Visited ??? Warren in the evening. Lodged with
Elder Abraham Hansford.
13 Sep Spent the day among the
Mansfield Saints and attended meeting there at 7 P.M.
14 Sep Went to Sutton, Sister Elizabeth
Dickinson with me. Held a meeting there in the evening.
15 Sep Went to S??? and held a
meeting there at 7:30 P.M.
16 Sep Went to S??? and from
there to Alfreton??. Bro. Holmes was with me. Returned to Nottingham and
attended School in the evening.
17 Sep At home all day.
18 Sep Sunday. Attended School at
10 A.M. and meetings at 2 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. at Nottingham. Had a large
assembly at 6:30 P.M.
19 Sep At home all day. Visited
Elder C. Whitaker who was sick. 20 Sep At home writing my monthly and quarterly
????. The incomes of the Monthly were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
39
11 8 1/2
|
|
Book
Money
|
6 6
0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
2 1 8 1/2
|
|
Donations
for Book Debt
|
31
9 3
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
4
11 5 1/4
|
-----------------
84 0 1 1/2
The quarterly were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
123
14 1 1/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
19
6 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
23 0 8
|
|
Donations
for Book Debt
|
31
9 3
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
12
3 4 1/4
|
-----------------
209 13 4 1/2
21 Sep Wrote in the morning.
Visited Bro. Ward in the afternoon. Attended meeting at Radford at 8 P.M.. Returned
home.
22 Sep At home all day and met
Elders Holmes and Hudson.
23 Sep At home all day writing
and attended School at 8 P.M.
24 Sep At home. Writing all day.
25 Sep Sunday. Went to Calverton
and held a meeting at 2:30 P.M. and at A??? at 6:30 P.M. Returned home with
Bro. North and daughter.
26 Sep Wrote in the morning.
Visisted Bro. Riley and Sister Atkin. Saw his brother there who had lately
returned from India. He belongs to the Army. He complained that the Officers
were cruel.
27 Sep At home. Writing in the
morning. Went to Eastwood and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
28 Sep Visited the Saints during
the day. Went to Hollmor and attended meeting there at 7 P.M. Returned to
Eastwood.
29 Sep Visited the Saints in the
morning. Returned to Nottingham in the evening.
30 Sep At home all day. In the
afternoon went to Professor Edwin Ward and gave him a few lessons in the
English Grammar. Attended School at 8 P.M.
1 Oct At home all day.
2 Oct Sunday. Attended council at
Nottingham at 10 A.M. and meetings at 2:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. Several branches
were present.
3 Oct At home. (Goose Fair) Held
a social party at 6 P.M. The "????? family" was acted. The hall was
crowded.
4 Oct At home all day. Took tea
with Sister Arnott Radford. Went to the Circus at 7 P.M.
5 Oct About home all day. Went to
a show where P.P. Pratt and his three wives were exhibited, the Temple too. ???
At 7 P.M. held a social party at Radford. Had a good time.
6 Oct Spent the day about home.
Walked on the London Road and crossed the "Trent" river in a boat and
returned home.
7 Oct About home all day. The
"Goose" fair was closed after 6 days of continuation. Attended School
at 8 P.M.
8 Oct At home all day.
9 Oct Sunday. Went to A??? and
attended three meetings there. Many Saints gathered together from Calverton,
Radford, and Haucknall??. It was their School Anniversary.
10 Oct Went and visited the
Saints at Bruston? Bro. cook with me. Returned and held council at Nottingham
at 8 P.M.
11 Oct At home in the morning.
Went to Mansfield in the evening but was too late for meeting.
12 Oct Spent the day among the
Saints. Held a meeting at Sutton at 7 P.M.
13 Oct Went to Princeton and
attended meeting at 7 P.M. Lodged with Bro. Holmes.
14 Oct Went to Eastwood and from
there to Radford. Attended School at 8 P.M.
15 Oct At Nottingham all day.
16 Oct Sunday. Went to Eastwood
and attended 2 meetings. Sister Cartwright ???? was there on a visit.
17 Oct Visited the Saints there
in the morning. Went home in the evening. Visited Bro. Ward in the evening.
18 Oct At home. Spent the day
mostly with Elders John Cook and R.R. Hudson.
19 Oct At home. Spent most of the
day in writing and walking with Bro. Cook.
20 Oct At home all day. Cook and
I took a walk with R.R. Hudson. 21 Oct Spent the day in writing. Attended
School at 8 P.M.
22 Oct At home. Made up my
monthly ???. The incomes were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
43
1 6 1/2
|
|
Book
Money
|
7
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
2 4 8 1/2
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
3 7
4 3/4
|
-----------------
56 3 7 3/4
The following appeared in the
"Millenial Star":
TRUTH
BY ELDER DAVID JOHN
"Truth is mighty and will
prevail." Its design is to promote salvation. A man possessed of all the
riches of the world must be in a miserable situation, if destitute of truth.
Salvation cannot be procured but in connection with it; hence miserable will be
the condition of all without it, for salvation brings happiness, either in this
life or in the life to come.
A king enthroned in Gentile
majesty, pomp, and splendour, having all the bounties of life at his command,
is but weak, poor, and miserable, if he governs not himself and subjects by
truth and justice; but a poor man as to the riches of this world is strong and
happy, if in possession of truth.
"Truth indeed came once into
the world with her Divine Master, and was a perfect shape most glorious to look
on; but when he ascended, and his Apostles after him were laid asleep, then
straight arose a wicked race of deceivers, and they took the virgin Truth,
hewed her lovely form into a thousand pieces, and scattered them to the four
winds." From that time the sad friends of truth have endeavoured to gather
it together, but could not find it, until its chief Superintendent from the
mansions of glory authorized an holy angel to restore it to the earth. Thus the
great fountain of truth was again opened, and its key was given to the Prophet
Joseph, which is now in reserve with his successor, and its power is felt among
all the nations of the earth. Truth after truth is revealed, and will be
continued to be made known; and at the second comin of Christ, he will bring
together every "joint and member, and shall mould them into an immortal
feature of loveliness and perfection." Then the "earth shall be
filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the
sea."
"The truth is mighty;"
but its power cannot be felt, unless in connection with agents. It is
calculated to save; but it cannot save a single soul, except in connection with
the living Priesthood. "Truth is light, and light is life," wherever
if can be found; but that life cannot be sealed to be life eternal, unless in
conncetion with God's authority upon the earth. Jesus said unto Peter,
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The same order must
of necessity be unchangeable, and be brought down to the last generation.
By truth in connection with
Priesthood, men have power to rebuke diseases and unclean spirits, to control
the elements, and to open up or shut up the heavens s brass. Truth enabled
Jesus, Joseph, and all the martyrs of God to seal their testimonies with their
blood. The pains of death were overweighed to a certain extent by the force of
truth that they possessed. Zeal connected with knowledge gave them, when
brought to the test, power to overcome. Truth has prevailed with increasing
influence since the restoration of the fulness of the Gospel, and yet it has
the same force: its quantity is not diminished, nor its quality deteriorated or
changed.
All should seriously set upon the
search of truth, having their minds fixed with pure love towards it. He that
loves it will take great pains to get it; but he that loves it not will not
exert himself much to possess it; nor will he be troubled in the least if he
should miss it. The majority of the religious world, so called, profess to be
lovers of truth; but among those who persuade themselves so, very few can be
found that love it for its own sake.
Whatsoever God has revealed is
certainly true: it comes from the fountain of truth and knowledge, and no doubt
can be entertained of the authority that reveals it; yet we are to embrace it,
not only because we believe that it comes from a Divine source, but because it
brings with it light, self-evidence, and the force of demonstration. If any one
falls in love with any revealed principle before he discovers any proof or
evidence to support it, it is owing to his inclination that way. Such a man is
not led by principle.
It is a man's right to reflect
upon truth, but not to change truth for error. If faith and reason are not to
be exercised, then in matters of religion there will be no room for reason at
all, but the son must inherit the opinions of his parent and walk the same low
and degraded path, which leads the mind farther and farther into darkness; and
at the end of his career he will be farther from the fountain of truth than
when he commenced his journey. Many of the most important truths are kept
unpractised by many through the force of prejudice, conceit, selfishness,
habit, and worldly interest; ant the united forces of the nations, political
and religious, sustain error dressed in white robes, and put to death the
annointed of the Lord.
Tens of thousands now living have
embraced different creeds and opinions, without the exercise of their own
mental powers; and this will account, to a great extent, for the present state
of society. Such superstition has poisoned the nations and confounded and
divided mankind. Men have held the notion that to consult reason in religious
things is a sin against God. Have we known any truth to be in opposition to
reason? No; neither can it be. When a higher principle is revealed, it is not
necessary to put aside reason; but by the exercise of that faculty, when
touched with the light of the Divine Spirit, its beauties can be discovered far
more plainly. But such is the state of millions of mortals, that they are led
astray by error and intoxicated by imaginary theories, till they entirely
mistake their own duties to God and to mankind. Paul says of such -
"Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools;" and again -
"Who changed the rtuth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature more than the Creator." But truth connected with Divine authority
is calculated to restore the earth and its varied inhabitants so as to answer
the design of the Creator.
A man cannot be made holy but in
connection with truth. When Jesus prayed for his disciples, he said,
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word os truth;" and continued
he - "And for thy sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth."
A man must be interested in the
truth before he can perceive its value; and he must feel its value and put it
in practice before he can realize its virtue; and when he increases in virtue
he will increase in holiness, and the most corrupt systems cannot corrupt his
mind. He will gain power over every evil habit, and then he will become
powerful to redeem mankind from their degraded condition and break assunder the
bonds of error that keep men drinking from the polluted fountains of
superstition. Hence the promulgation of truth should characterize the actions
of all men, especially the Saints of the Most High. The pen, in the hand that
knows how to use it, is the most powerful weapon known.
23 Oct Sunday. Went to Sutton and
attended meeting there at 2:30 P.M. and at Mansfield at 6 P.M.
24 Oct Spent the morning there.
Went to Eastmoor and spent the evening there. Elder Holmes passed through to
Nottingham being unwell.
25 Oct Visited the Saints in the
morning. Returned to Nottingham and met Elder Hodson. Attended meeting there at
8 P.M.
26 Oct Spent the day in writing.
At 7 P.M. I rebaptized Bro. ???? Dabell, who was going to America.
27 Oct Went to Calverton and held
a social party there. Returned at 11 P.M.
28 Oct Wrote at home all day.
Attended the Radford School at 8 P.M. Bro. Cook was with me and was unwell. He
fainted, fell up on his face and broke it. He was unwell after it for a few
days.
29 Oct At Nottingham. Bro. Cook
presented me with a gold chain. 30 Oct Sunday. Attended 2 meetings at home.
Bro. Cook joined me in the evening.
31 Oct Spent the day about home.
Attended council in the evening. Paid Bro. Dabell's emigration means.
1 Nov Went to Swanick through a
heavy train from Pyebridge. Lodged in Father ????? house.
2 Nov Wrote 5 or 6 hours in the
morning. Attended meeting there in the evening.
3 Nov Went to Somercoates. Wrote
8 hours in the house of Elder Wm. Singleton on "Unfaithfulness and
Rebellion". Attended meeting at 8 P.M.
4 Nov Went to Mansfield,
"Statutes", and met Brothers Cook and Holmes there. We held a social
party until 10 P.M. at Mrs. Warren's.
5 Nov Returned to Nottingham and
spent the day there.
6 Nov Sunday. Held meetings there
at 2 P.M. and at 6:30 P.M. Preached 65 minutes at Radford. I forced myself and
felt very sick during the night.
7 Nov Cook, Nelson, and myself
went to the Eastwood 'Statutes'. We spent the evening in walking through the
fair.
8 Nov Visited the Saints in the
morning. Went to Mansfield and held a meeting there at 7:30 P.M. Elder Nelson
arrived at 8:30 P.M. from Somercotes.
9 Nov Spent the morning in
writing. At 3:15 P.M. I left for "Chesterfield". Elders E.L. Sloan
and James Payne met me at the Bus. Went to the "Theatre". Lodged in
Elder Jones' house, the Branch President. It was Sloan's birth day.
10 Nov Visited the Saints. At 4
P.M. left for Sheffield and arrived there at 5 P.M. Elder "Memmott"
he took us through the L??? Vaults ??? his ??? which were very large. Attended
meeting at 8 P.M.
11 Nov Visited the cutlery works
for hours. I was much interested in the scenes. At 6:45 P.M. Sister Leeds
arrived from Leeds. We went to the Theatre (Sloan and myself).
12 Nov Spent the day there until
6 P.M. Arrived at Nottingham at 9:35 P.M.
13 Nov Sunday. Attended two
meetings at home. Elder Hodson joined me in the evening.
14 Nov Spent the day at home.
15 Nov Brother Cook, Sister
Elizabeth Cook, and I went to the Loughborough Statutes, met Elders Nelson,
????, and many of the Saints. Held a party at Brother Thomas Henderson's house
in the evening.
16 Nov Went through the cemetery
in the morning. Returned home at 4 P.M. Spent the evening in reading.
17 Nov About home all day.
18 Nov Wrote mostly the day
through. Took tea with Sister Amalt? Radford. Attended school there at 8 P.M.
19 Nov At home.
20 Nov Sunday. Wrote in the
morning. Attended meetings at Nottingham at 2:30 and 6:30 P.M. Had a large
assembly in the evening.
21 Nov Wrote of the conference
records the most part of the day. 22 Nov Went to Somercotes and met Elder
Holmes there. Received from him his accounts of six Branches. Held a meeting in
the Swanick at 7 P.M. I preached on unity, its "nature and its
effects".
23 Nov Went to "Los??"
and "H???. Held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Went and lodged in Eastwood. It
was a very dark night.
24 Nov Stayed there until 5 P.M.
Returned to Nottingham and received from Elders R.R. Hodson and J. Oakley.
25 Nov Spent the day in writing.
Made up my monthly ???. Attended scholl at 8 P.M. The incomes for the month
were as follows.
|
Tithing
|
39
?? 9 1/2
|
|
Book
Money
|
9
10 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
30 18 6
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
3
12 11 1/4
|
---------------
83 2 2 3/4
26 Nov At Nottingham. Have a new
top coat.
27 Nov Sunday. Went to Basford
with Brother Butterwick. Preached an hour there at 2:30 P.M. Attended the
Nottingham meeting at 6:30 P.M. and preached from the words, "where there
is no law, there is no sin".
28 Nov At home. Wrote letters to
Brother John Davies Wales and Sister Mary Wride (John). Spent a few hours with
R.R. Hodson. Attended council at 8 P.M. Cook arrived from Derby.
29 Nov Went to Eastwood and held
a meeting there in the evening.
30 Nov Visited the Saints in the
morning. Went to Sutton and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
1 Dec Visited the Saints in the
morning. Elders George Marriott and Thomas Thorpe accompanied me to Princeton.
Held a meeting there at 7:30 P.M.
2 Dec Returned to Nottingham. Met
Bro. Cook there and spent the day with him. Attended School at 8 P.M.
3 Dec At home. At 3 P.M. Elder
Blackburn arrived from Manchester and at 7 P.M. Elder Calkin arrived from
Liverpool.
4 Dec Sunday. Held our Conference
and had a good time all day.
5 Dec At home. Elder Calkin
returned to Liverpool. Elders Cook, Blackburn, C.R. Jones and myself took tea
with Sister Amott. Attended meeting at the Radford Branch at 8 P.M.
6 Dec Elders Nelson and ??? went
to L???ster, Jones and Burrows to Derby, Blackburn, Cook, and I to Mansfield.
We held a meeting there at 7 P.M. Lodged at Mrs. Warren's.
7 Dec Visited the Saints in
Woodhouse. Went to Eastwood and held a meeting there at 7 P.M.
8 Dec Went to Somercotes and held
a meeting there in the evening. Brother Blackburn told us of the powers and
influences manifested in the Valley at the reformation time.
9 Dec Returned to Nottingham. I
renewed my covenant. Elder Blackburn blessed me. Attended School in the
evening.
10 Dec Spent the day in Nottingham.
Took tea with Brother Butterwick.
11 Dec Sunday. Cook and Blackburn
went to Derby. I attended meeting at Radford at 2:30 P.M. and at Nottingham at
6:30 P.M.
12 Dec Occupied the morning in
writing and reading. Elders Cook and Blackburn returned from Derby.
13 Dec At home. Attended meeting
at Nottingham at 8 P.M.
14 Dec At home. Blackburn and I
visited Sisters Ann Limb and Mary Atkin. Attended meeting at Radford at 8 P.M.
15 Dec At home all day. Elder
Hodson was released from the ministry for his rebellious disposition.
16 Dec Occupied the day in
writing. Took tea with Oakley. Attended School at 8 P.M. Elders Blackburn and
Cook with me.
17 Dec At home all day.
18 Dec Sunday. Attended Hucknall?
meeting at 2:30 P.M. and at Nottingham at 6:30 P.M. Elder Thomas Morly?
accompanied me.
19 Dec Spent the day in writing.
The river "Trent" froze so that men could slide over it for 20 miles.
20 Dec Spent the day in writing.
Attended meeting in Nottingham in the evening.
21 Dec Elders Cook and E.H.
Blackburn returned from Leicester?. We attended the Radford meeting at 8 P.M.
22 Dec At home writing all day.
Blackburn left us for Manchester.
23 Dec Went to Eastwood and
returned. Made up my monthly, quarterly, and yearly afes? Attended the Radford
School in the evening. The incomes of my monthly afes were as follows:
|
Tithing
|
38
3 11 1/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
5
14 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
7 1 10
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
4
12 1 1/4
|
---------------
55 11 10 1/2
The Quarterly:
|
Tithing
|
120
6 3 1/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
22
14 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
40 17 6 1/2
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
4 6
4 1/4
|
---------------
188 4 2
The Yearly:
|
Tithing
|
525
16 11 1/4
|
|
Book
Money
|
82
12 0
|
|
Emigration
|
???
164 0 6 1/2
|
|
Donation
for Book Debt
|
42
0 0
|
|
Poor
Offering
|
25
10 0 1/2
|
---------------
839 19 6 1/4
24 Dec At home all day. In the
evening went to a private party to Sister Burrows. The following article
appeared in the "Star"
UNFAITHFULNESS AND REBELLION
BY ELDER DAVID JOHN
Unfaithfulness in its nature is
rebellious; it is opposed to righteousness. Whatever comes in contact with
righteousness, the rights of man, God, or any other being, whether saved or
unsaved, may be regarded as antagonistic to right; and the source from whence
it comes does not in the least alter the case. History has not furnished us
with its beginning, nor can the natural understanding comprehend its end. As
the sand on the sea-shore, its converts are inumerable, but differ greatly in
their degrees, power, and standing, and can be found in all circles or
organizations, whether social, political, or ecclesiastical.
"Rebellion against
legitimate authority was the parent curse - the fountain of all evil." As
a people, we profess to be guided by the Holy Spirit, in connection with the
Living Priesthood; and there is sufficient evidence gained by our experience to
demonstrate the fact that it is the right course. While man refuses to tread
the royal path, but rebels against legitimate authority, he partakes of the
forbidden fruit, and brings the principles of death upon his organized system.
Indeed, it is the word of God that "where no counsel is, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Where no counsel is
given, but not put in practice, "the people" must "fall,"
and it will be a greater one. :And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into this world, and men loved darkness rather than light."
Many profess to seek counsel; and
if the counsel given is according to their pre-conceived notions and desires,
they readily obey it; but if it comes in contact with their own feelings, they
as readily rebel against it. Such are unfaithful to the Priesthood, and will
not be governed by it.
Again: The unfaithful will often
perform a certain thing, and, after it is done, inquire of the Priesthood,
"Was it right?" and "Will you sanction it?" thus working on
a rebellious principle; because, if the action done could not be sanctioned,
they would feel quite indifferent, having more confidence in their own
judgement; otherwise they would have asked before it was accomplished.
The unfaithful further cherish
the idea that it matters not how evil and polluted their public and private
character may be, if the Priesthood believe that they are pure and holy. Though
a portion of it might have been conferred upon themselves, yet they do not
listen to its dictates, magnify its powers, nor trouble themselves if they sin
against it, if those over them are deceived and kept in the dark respecting
their real standing. Such are in an awful state, and in open rebellion against
the will of God, and even break the law which was originally implanted within
them by their Maker. They may have confidence in their own qualifications to
deceive the Priesthood, and thus deceive themselves. How degraded their
position! - How great their darkness! - how evil their desires! Can a man
deceive God? The unfaithful may deceive the unfaithful; but those that are
faithful to their calling cannot so easily be deceived.
O thou unfaithful servant, when
thou believest that thou are qualified to deceive the Priesthood, remember that
thou art in the dark, and art deceivinf thyself, and are greatly influenced by
the spirit of apostacy. The pure Priesthood over thee has power given them of
God to discern thy spirit, to read the composition of thy heart in the index of
thine eye, and to understand the pollution, wickedness, and hypocrisy within
thy bosom. Trust in them, and thou shalt live and be wise; but "he that
trusteth in his own heart is a fool."
Many are the (would-be) reasons
or causes for being unfaithful. What caused the mind to foolishly abandon the
path of rectitude? How much attraction is their in the past to draw the mind
from duty? How comparatively small the attraction to draw the affections from
principle! How polluted its nature, and how injurious its effects! But, again,
what is the power? and where is the throne of the attractive principle? Can all
this be attributed to the kingdom of darkness and its agents? Nay: the throne
on which it sits and the place from which it sprang is the heart of the
unfaithful servant; and its nature is rebellious, and leads to apostacy. He is
a free agent, and there is no power that can strip him of his agency. Might
cannot do it, and right dares not to interfere. There is nothing that can
condemn him but his own unfaithfulness. When his mind is poisoned, he hath
within him the source of all evil; and, unless removed, it will increase,
because it gathers strength from the impure elements from all directions. Thus,
when the mind is poisoned by pride, the heart rises up in rebellion and strife
against the ordained authority; but, through the unbridled force of pride and
conceit, the mind grows independent, and does not give the glory to Him to whom
it is due.
Mark the footsteps of the
apostates in the past; read their history in sacred records from the beginning
of time; endeavour to understand the secrecy of the cause, and the first moving
power that actuated them in that direction. Shall we find that it was their
good works, or their love to the Priesthood? Nay, but their unfaithfulness in disobeying
counsel. It is the case with them, when they go wrong, that they see everything
else go wrong. It has the same effect upon the mind that green glasses have on
the eye of the observer: every object to him seems green. So "they have
not been treated as they deserved," and their Presidents are "going
wrong, and need reforming." The Prophet Joseph said - "It is an
eternal principle that" the "man who rises up and condemns others,
finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he
himself is righteous," is in the high road to apostacy."
The spirit of interfering with
another man's business has a great tendency to bring unfaithfulness to the
heart, or, in other words, to increase it, because it is in its nature
rebellious. "Let him not rebel or rail against the holy Priesthood,"
but "shun such conduct as he would shun hell; for, unless he does, it will
lead him to commit crimes of the deepest dye."
When a man troubles his brain
about having a thorough understanding of certain doctrines that cannot under
the present circumstances be understood, and has a great desire to obtain
certain blessings that cannot, according to the economy of God, be obtained for
a thousand years yet to come, it has a great tendency to weaken the faith and
decrease the blessings that he has already realized. Indeed, we know it to be a
fact, and have heard the unfaithful denying the powers and blessings that they
once enjoyed. "If we disbelieve everything because we cannot certainly
know all things, we shall do much what as wisely as he who would not use his
legs, but sits down and perish, because he had no wings to fly." Our
business is not to know all things, but those which concern our conduct. If
this can be fully realized, we need not be troubled about things that do not
concern us.
These are a few of the causes
that actuate the mind to unfaithfulness among the many too numerous to point
out in this article. Awful are the results of taking this course. What are the
consequences? Let the history of Lucifer, the son of the morning, answer. Let
the sacred records of ancient and modern dates answer. What were the results
among ancient Israel
for rejecting the councels of Moses? Let the voice of God answer: - "And
the Lord said unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that
I may consume them as in a moment." (Num xvi) The tens of thousands that
were destroyed in the wilderness show the results. The destruction of the
antediluvians and of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the fate of Korah, Dathan, and
Abiram are eternal monuments of the consequences of rejecting the counsels of
the Priesthood. The kingdom was taken from Saul for rejecting the counsels of
Samuel. The Bible furnishes hundreds of like facts. The Book of Mormon also
proves that the like cause produced the same effects in the western hemisphere.
And indeed, this is not all; for the history of the Church, since its
organization in 1830, illustrates the same awful consequences. Let those of the
negligent and unfaithful who have one spark of light within them reform, and
the good Spirit will assist them to put in practice the counsels of the
Priesthood to-day. Let us also remember the words of the Prophet Joseph: -
"In all your trials, troubles, and afflictions, bonds, imprisonments, and
death, see to it that you do not betray Heaven, that you do not betray Jesus
Christ, that you do not betray the brethren, that you do not betray the
revelations of God, whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine of
Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be revealed unto man in this
world, or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see
to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found in your skirts,
and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning
against the Holy Ghost and proving a traitor to thy brethren."
25 Dec Sunday. Went to Calverton
and held a meeting there at 2:30 P.M. and at "Arnow?" at 6 P.M.
Returned home with Elders North, and Frederick Richards.
26 Dec At home writing. Elder
Holmes arrived with his district afes?. Held a social party in our Hall until
10:30 P.M.
27 Dec Wrote at home until 3 P.M.
Went to Sutton accompanied with Elder Holmes and his daughter Maria. Held a
party there until 2 o'clock the following morning. The Mansfield Saints were
there, and a few from Chesterfield Branch of the Sheffield Conference.
28 Dec Left for Nottingham
at 7:30 A.M. Spent the day in writing.
29 Dec Spent the day in writing
on the Conference Records.
30 Dec Spent the day in writing.
Took tea with Sister Amott Radford. Attended school there at 8 P.M.
31 Dec At home all day writing.
I travelled this year about 3600
miles. I baptized about 8 souls. But 42 were baptized in the conference, 24 cut
off, 15 emigrated, and 9 died. The conference was composed of 64 Elders, 40
Priests, 24 Teachers, 19 Deacons, 467 members, Total 615 Souls. During the year
I made my home with Elder John Cook, (the Pastor). I visited Wales twice, I also saw Derby,
Leicester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and many
other towns. I laboured with great satisfaction throughout the year. I also
buried my only brother.
