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Source: Times and Seasons Vol. 3 Chapter 16 Page: 826

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826 does not intend, they prove an injury, a snare, and a curse instead of a blessing. We may at some future time, enter more fully into this subject; but shall let this suffice for the present.-ED.

COMMUNICATIONS.

LETTER

FROM ELDER GEORGE J. ADAMS.

New York, April 21, 1842.

Beloved Brother in Christ-As I have just arrived from England, and have a few hours of leisure time, I thought a short history of my labors during the past season would not be altogether uninteresting to the readers of your valuable periodical.

By the advice and counsel of our highly esteemed brother, Elder O. Hyde, on the first of January, 1841, I commenced to set my house in order, to leave my native land and go to the nations of the earth to assist in declaring the fulness [fullness] of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a dark and benighted world. According to arrangements previously made, on the 13th of February, 1841, I left my friends and the companion of my early days, to assist in carrying to a land of strangers "glad tidings of great joy." I left in company with, and under the direction of the above named brother; we left in the packet ship United States, bound for Liverpool, where we arrived after a short passage of eighteen days; we were kindly received by Elder Taylor and the brethren in Liverpool; we stayed with them two days, and then, in company with brother Joseph Fielding, we proceeded on to Preston, the principal place of Elder Hyde's former labors. Nothing could exceed the joy that was manifested by the saints in once more beholding this our brother. Here we were soon joined by our beloved brother, H. C. Kimball; this made my joy complete for the then present time, as it was from this brother that I first heard the fullness of the gospel. By the counsel of these two brethren I stopped and labored a few weeks in Preston, Farington, Southport, and the adjacent country, during which time a number were baptized. Early in April I went to Manchester to attend the Conference, and there it was counseled by Elder Kimball and others, and agreed by the quorum of the Twelve, that I should go and labor in Bedford and the vicinity thereof. Accordingly, on the 9th of April, I left Manchester in company with my highly esteemed brother Lorenzo Snow, the President of the London Conference; after traveling together about one hundred miles we arrived in Birmingham, and there I was counseled by Elder Snow to remain and labor a few days. I accordingly remained eight days, preached eleven times, baptized a number and then proceeded on my way to Bedford, in order to enter more fully upon the mission assigned me. I arrived in Bedford on the 20th day of April, and soon found the brethren, who received me with great kindness. In the evening I attended a meeting of the saints at their chapel in Hassett street, and spoke a few minutes to a very small congregation, chiefly saints; at the close of the meeting I gave out preaching for Thursday evening, at which time a few strangers attended to hear the preacher from America. At the close I gave out preaching three times for the following Sabbath; at which tine we had a large and respectable congregation, who listened with attention to the glorious truths of the fulness [fullness] of the gospel. The following week a number came forward and were baptized. The next Sabbath I gave notice to the branch at Honneydon to meet with the saints in Bedford, accordingly, on the following Sabbath a large concourse of people assembled, and we found it wisdom to ordain six to the office of Priest, to assist in preaching the gospel to the surrounding country; this proved to be too strong meat for the people of Bedford, and some of their great men challenged me to discuss our principles. I of course accepted their challenge, and in the discussion I had to contend against all the lying statements that had been published in America or Europe; in the midst of the opposition made by our enemies to the truth, and when I was nearly borne down by sectarian lies, filth, and bigotry, Elder O. Hyde came to my rescue; after which our enemies soon retired from the field in confusion and disgrace, without having left a stone to tell where slumbers the ashes of these fallen Heroes. From that time to the present the truth has stood triumphant in Bedford, no man daring to come forth in public to oppose it. Elder O. Hyde remained with us a few days, during which time he gave us much good instruction, and taught us many glorious truths. He then gave us the parting hand to hasten and fill his mission

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