Extract from the Journal of Heber C. Kimball

I cannot refrain from relating a circumstance which took place, while Brother Fielding and myself were passing though the village of Chatburn; having been observed drawing nigh to the town, the news ran from house to house, and immediately on our arrival, the noise of their looms was hushed, the people flocked to the doors to welcome us, and see us pass. The youth of the place ran to meet us, and took hold of our mantles and then of each others hands, several having hold of hands, went before us singing the songs of Zion, while their parents gazed upon the scene with delight, and poured out their blessings upon our heads, and praised the God of heaven, for sending us to unfold the principles of truth, the plan of salvation to them. Such a scene, and such gratitude, I never witnessed before, surely, my heart exclaimed, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, thou hast perfected praise." What could have been more pleasing and delightful, than such a manifestation of gratitude to Almighty God, from those whose hearts were deemed too hard to be penetrated by the gospel, and who had been considered the most wicked and hardened people in that region of country?

In comparison to the joy I then experienced, the grandeur, pomp and glory of the kingdoms of this world shrunk into insignificance and appeared as dross, and all the honor of man, aside from the gospel, to be vain.. The prayer of my heart at that time was: O Lord, do thou bless this people, save them from sin, and prepare them for thy celestial kingdom, and that thy servant may meet them around thy throne. And grant O Lord that I may continue to preach the gospel of Christ, which shall cause the hearts of the poor to rejoice, and the meek to increase their joy in the Lord-Which shall comfort the hearts of the widows, and cheer the soul of the orphan; and that I may be the instrument in thy hands, O Lord, of bringing them to Zion, that they may behold thy glory, and be prepared to meet the Savior when he shall descend in the clouds of heaven.

Having an appointment to preach in the village of Wrightington; while on the way I stopped at the house of Brother Amos Fielding; when I arrived he informed me that a certain family of the name of Moon, had sent a request by him, for me to visit them, that they might have the privilege of conversing with me on the subject of the gospel. Accordingly, Br. Fielding and I paid them a visit that evening. We were very kindly received by the family [family], and had considerable conversation on the object of my mission to that country, and the great work of the last days; they listened with attention to my statements, but at the same time they appeared to be prejudiced against them, rather than otherwise. We remained in conversation until a late hour, and then returned. On our way home, Brother Fielding observed, that he thought our visit had been in vain, as the family seemed to have considerable prejudice. I answered, and said. Brother Fielding, be not faithless, but believing, we shall yet see great effects from this visit, for I know there are some of the family that have received the testimony and will shortly manifest the same. At this remark he appeared surprised. The next morning I continued my journey to Wrightington, and after spending

two or three days in that vicinity, preaching the gospel, I returned by the way of Brother Fielding's with whom I again tarried for the night.

The next morning I commenced my journey; intending to go direct to Preston, but when I got opposite the road leading to Mr. Moons, I was forcibly pressed upon by the spirit of the Lord, to call and see them again. The impression being so strong, I could not resist, I therefore directed my steps to the house, not knowing what it meant.

On my arrival at the house, I knocked at the door, and Mrs. Moon from within exclaimed; "Come in! come in! you are welcome here! I and the lasses, (meaning her daughters) have just been calling on the Lord, and praying that he would send you this way." She then informed me of her state of mind since I was there before, and said, she at first rejected my testimony, and endeavored to think lightly on the things I had advanced, but on trying to pray, she said "that the heavens seemed to be like brass over her head, and it was like iron under her feet," she did not know what was the matter, "certainly the man has not 'bewitched me,' and upon inquiry she "found it was the same with the lasses." They then began to reflect on the things I had told them, and thinking it possible that I had told them the truth, they resolved to lay the case before the Lord, and beseech him to give them a testimony concerning the things I had testified of. She then observed, that as soon as thy did so, light broke in upon their minds, they were convinced that I was a messenger of salvation, and that it was the work of the Lord, and they had resolved to obey the gospel, which they did, and that evening I baptized father and mother and four of their daughters. Shortly after I visited them again and baptized the remainder of the family, consisting of thirteen souls, the youngest of whom was above twenty years of age. They received the gospel as little children, and rejoiced exceedingly in its blessings. The sons were very good musicians, and the daughters excellent singers, and when they united their instruments and their voices in the songs of Zion. the effect was truly transporting.

Before I left England, there were about thirty of that family and connexions [connections], baptized, six of whom were ordained to be fellow labors with us in the vineyard, and I left them rejoicing in the truths, they had embraced."