| 557 friends; Elder H. S. Eldredge is laboring with me here; he is a faithful servant of the Lord, and with a little more experience, will be able, with the assistance of God, to put to silence all the priests of baal, who dare raise their voices against the truth, to impede the progress of the everlasting gospel.
We have labored here about two months, and have preached three times a week. When we first preached here, the assemblies were large, and good attention was paid to the truth, and a spirit of enquirey [inquiry] was the result; the dust was brushed from many a bible that had lain undisturbed for months, by many however, for the purpose of putting down the truth; but to their great astonishment, truth could not be arrayed against truth, to put it down. What then was to be done? Why, they called in the neighboring priests, of various professions, to assist in the struggle, but alas, their attempt to put down the truth failed, and the more they struggled the deeper they sunk in the mire. Seeing nothing else would prevent the honest from searching the scriptures, receiving and obeying the same, they have resorted to the same method the enemy of all righteousness has ever done; first to ridicule the ordinances of the Gospel, secondly to misrepresent, slander, and speak all manner of evil against us, and those who dare obey the gospel. All this not having the desired effect, they have resorted to threats which are handed out on every side; and even now while I write, I understand they are holding a meeting to take into consideratioh [consideration] the best method to put a stop to the spread of what they call Mormonism, what the result will be I know not. We have succeeded in establishing the standard of truth in Franklin, for which I thank God; we have had the pleasure of leading twelve into the waters of baptism in this place, and others are believing the work of the Lord; we shall by the assistance of God, organize a branch here, and we therefore invite the Elders traveling this way, to call, for necessity requires that we should return to our families, in the West, in a few weeks.
Yours in the bonds of the
everlasting covenant,
L. A. Shirtliff.
Charlotte Centre [Center],}
Chautauqua co. N. Y.,}
Aug. 18th 1841.}
Br. D. C. Smith:-
I take this epportunity [opportunity] of addressing a person with whom I have no acquaintance, only through the medium of the Times and Seasons, by the perusal of which I have been highly gratified; I have received instruction and information-and long may you continue in health, in peace, and safety to publish that interesting periodical; may it be a swift messenger to communicate to the saints, intelligence, from the traveling Elders, of the spread of the truth, of the increase of the church of Christ, and of the triumphs of the gospel over the kingdoms of darkness-may its pages contain, for the edification of the saints, (especially those scattered abroad) revelation, doctrine and instruction, from the pen, and from the discourses of our beloved Prophet; and from all others who receive light and knowledge by the spirit of truth, and may I continue to receive your valuable paper without interruption, thus increase our acquaintance and we be mutually benefited.
We are ten in number in this vicinity who have embraced the gospel as preached by the Latter Day Saints; we are not organized, but are like sheep without a shepherd, therefore you may judge of our feelings of disappointment when we do not receive the Times and Seasons in due time,-twice the year I have been six weeks without receiving a number.
May the blessing of peace, health and happiness rest upon you.
I have the honor to subscribe myself
Your brother in the
new and everlasting covenent [covenant],
Thomas Pearson, jr.
Extract from a letter to Elder H. C. Kimball.
London, Aug. 5, 1841.
Dear Brother;
I did not see Elder Hyde while here; he is now in Germany-there are more or less baptized here every week-the meetings are very crowded-last Sunday afternoon, there was above a hundred standing out doors that could not get in. Elder Snow is in Bedford and Elder Adams is here, at present: he has held two public discussions, and is going to hold another to-morrow evening-he is obliged to get a large place to hold it in, as the meeting place is not half large enough-he has preached twice in the Regent Park, and is to preach there again next Sunday. It is as general opinion that there will be a revolution here soon-things
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