| 163 societies of the saints all in the short space of a few months: and the Lord confirmed the word with signs following.
In April 1841, the twelve (myself excepted) were called home to their families and to the bosom of the church in America. On their departure the publishing department was left solely to my management, under somewhat embarrassed circumstances, being indebted between one and two thousand dollars, and but a little prospect of an immediate demand for the works on hand. The presidency of the church, which had now become numerous, devolved also upon me to a much greater extent than before. Although I had still the assistance of elders Richards and Snow of America, who were mighty men of God, and a host of faithful and zealous fellow laborers of the English and Scotch.
By prudent management and diligence in business, and by the blessing of God, I was enabled to pay all their due, and to publish a second edition of the hymn book 1500 copies, an English edition of my Voice of Warning, consisting of 2500 copies; 3000 copies of a large tract entitled "Heaven on Earth;" 3000 copies of a large tract on the mission of elder Hyde to Jerusalem; 10,000 copies of a "letter to the Queen," and some other works, and to continue the monthly periodical. I was also enabled to subscribe near 500 dollars for the temple, and as much more for the Nauvoo House, as well as to support a numerous family, and to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, and aid the poor to emigrate, and the missionaries on their journeys, both by sea and land. In these things I have spent many thousand dollars, some on the worthy, who will thank God for deliverance, and some on the unworthy, who curse me, and lie about the saints as a reward for my kindness to them. In all these duties the cause of Zion and of the suffering poor, at home and abroad, has been near and dear to my heart, with an eye single to this, I have toiled by day, and studied and prayed upon my bed in the silent watches of the night.
In addition to all these duties I have visited most parts of England and Scotland, and fully preached the gospel in person in most of the principle towns. I have also assisted in establishing an emigration agency in Liverpool upon a new and improved plan, which in point of expense, comfort, order and convenience, is a matter of astonishment to the oldest business men in the place, and which already commands more trade and business between Liverpool and New Orleans than all the other offices in Liverpool put together; as it reduces the expense of provisions and passage near one half, and rather adding to the comforts of omigrants [emigrants] than diminishing ought from them. By this means some thousands of the saints and others have been enabled to emigrate at a saving of many thousand dollars. The entire expense of a passenger from Liverpool to Illinois, (1500 miles inland, including provisions, will not exceed 25 dollars) heretofore it would cost them fifty at least.
Having labored diligently as God gave me wisdom in all these things, till the autumn of 1842. My soul longed after my native lands and my brethren and kindred in Zion to that degree that I could no longer bear the thought of staying away. My heart and soul was there, and oft in the night visions I was there shaking hands with my brethren, looking round on the buildings and improvements, joying in their joy, prospering in their prosperity, and selecting some "lot of inheritance near," where I might build and inhabit, and where myself and family and our brother pilgrims might rest our weary heads for a little season before we depart hence. I accordingly committed the presidency of the church, and the duties of publishing to elder Thomas Ward in connection with elders Snow and Clark, till further directions should be sent from Nauvoo; and the emigration agency to brother Clark, assisted for the time being, by brother A. Fielding, my former partner. I then took leave of the church and of the shores of Europe, amid the congratulations of a numerous circle of brethren and friends; many of whom accompanied us to the ship. I embarked on the Emerald with my family and about 250 souls, most of whom belonged to our society.
We sailed on the 20th of October, but were two weeks detained in sight of land, by a terrible gale, and head wind. After a long and tedious voyage of ten weeks, we all arrived safe in New Orleans. We then took the steamer "Goddess of Liberty" and most of the company landed safe in St. Louis, the fore part of January. But having a dislike to the out-laws who govern Missouri, I stopped with my family in Chester, Illinois: where we determined to winter.
The news of my arrival soon spread abroad, and I was warmly pressed to preach. I preached several times in that region, and baptized two young men, one of which had been a Campbellite.
After tarrying a month with my family, I purchased a horse and rode to Nauvoo; a distance of two hundred and forty miles. The people in many places would hardly let me pass without preaching to them, but I tore myself, as it were, from them, in my anxiety to see Nauvoo, and pursued my journey. On arriving at Nauvoo, I was extremely disappointed.
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