Communications

40 Ironmonger Row, St. Lukes,}

London, April 14th, 1841.}

Elder D. C. Smith:

As a member of the quorum of which you are president, I deem it not only a privilege, but an obligation that I am under at this time, to communicate to you some information in reference to my mission upon the island of Great Britain.

I left Nauvoo about the 20th of July last; three months from that time I arrived here in England. I am now in the city of London having arrived here on the 11th of February to take the superintendency of the church in this city, and the several branches represented under the London Conference.

Previous to my arrival in London I had visited and preached the fullness of the gospel in many of the largest, and most important towns, and cities in England: in Liverpool, in Manchester, Burslem, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Greets Green, Oldbury, Birmingham, &c. In all those mentioned places I stoped [stopped] some length of time, and in most of them I had the pleasure of administering [administering] to different individuals the ordinances of the everlasting covenant. In the towns, and cities above mentioned we have churches established in very flourishing conditions.

Throughout all England, in almost every town and city of any considerable importance, we have chapels or public halls in which we meet for public worship. All over this vast kingdom the laws of Zion are rolling onward with the most astonishing rapidity. Though we expect tremendous [tremendous] persecutions, yet we are confident they will not for a moment stay the onward progress, and rolling forth of Zion's glorious kingdom, throughout, not only the British Empire, but the Universal world.

The gospel of our King must continue to go forth, and in its mighty progress widely spread its enlightening influence among all the nations of the earth, and over all the islands of the vast deep.-Then lift up thy head O, Zion, and sing for joy in that thy cords are being fast lengthened, and thy God is pouring strength into thy numerous stakes, and soon thou shalt rejoice upon the pleasant mountains and all the trees of the wood

shall clap their palms in joy at thy presence.

Eleven have been added to the church in this city since Conference: others are following their example. Though we have man difficulties to encounter in rolling "the stone" in this city of London, in consequence of the powerful influence Satan has obtained over the people, yet I am not discouraged but trust that the Most High will grant us much prosperity. I strongly desire that you will especially remember me always in your petitions to the God of our fathers.

Most affectionately, I still remain thro' the grace of God,

Your brother in the covenant,

Lorenzo Snow.

Shemokin Township, Northumber-}

land co. Pa. Jane [June] 17th, 1841}

To the Editors of the Times and Season.

Dear Brethren,

After a lapse of many months, I feel happy for the opportunity that is afforded me through the agency of the quill, to communicate a few ideas to you, inasmuch as I have been laboring in the vineyard of the Lord, most of the time since I left Nauvoo, and perhaps my friends, are not aware of where I am, likewise I see a call in your paper, for the elders abroad to give that information; besides I esteem it quite a privelege [privilege] to me, to hear from the elders who are in the vineyard [vineyard], which I do, by an attentive perusal of your paper; and I would recommend that the elders in general become subscribers, and when situated in one neighborhood for any length of time, that they might get the news from the Corner Stone of Zion, which will be a continual source of intelligence to the saints.

I feel heartily to congratulate you on your prosperity in the city of Nauvoo, and I expect to set out for that place before long, as I beleive [believe] it to be the will of the Lord that I shall return soon, and assist [assist] in the erection of his house; for I consider it a matter of the greatest importance, that we build it soon, that we may have the blessing of God to rest upon us, and beleive [believe] that my labor will be as acceptable of the Lord, at this time, in that, as in the vineyard: and if the saints will be united in this thing, the building may soon and easily be reared, to the great benefit of the church, and to the glory and honor of God.

I will now give you a limited sketch of my travels and labors since I left Nauvoo last October. After leaving your place with my family, I moved to Ohio, but with some difficulty owing to low water, but on arriving [arriving] their found our friends all well, and we almost worn out with the journey, as our health was not good when we left; in Ohio I was taken down with the ague, and could not proceed for some weeks, but as soon as I recovered a little I proceded [proceeded] to this county in company with Elder Housewort [Houseworth], (leaving my family in Ohio,) with a view of preaching to his people, as they live in this county. Through much affliction I arrived here; my health having improved on the way, we commenced to preach once, and sometimes twice a day, in the towns, and villages of this and the adjoining counties, as well as in many of the country places, the people giving great heed, so that we had large congregations, and many believed the gospel.

Yet we found it here as in all other places, that there were some who would resist the truth. Shortly after we had commenced our labors I was furiously attacked by two of the priests of the neighborhood, of the Baptist persuasion, who, after I had spoken, rose up by turns and thought to put down the doctrine: one of them as sanctimonious as a Pharisee, and the other as full of the Devil as the High Priest Ananias; but I soon informed them that if I was to withstand them both, I should have half the time. Their object was to get a sign, (and that appears to be the design of this generation,) which they manifested very soon, and proposed arsenic, insisting that I should take a dose to prove my mission, and also spoke for the congregation, saying they would require it at my hands.

I reasoned with them a short time upon the subject of signs, but finding that they were destitute of the knowledge of reason, I soon informed them who they were, and who their father was, and brought a sufficent [sufficient] portion of scripture testimony, to show the congregation the inconsistency of their position, so that they had to withdraw, to their own disgrace, while some of the audience were heard to say, "them fellows barked up the wrong sapling, when they attacked that little Mormon." This was the first

and only attack I have had in public, yet the priests are howling, like so many wolves, keeping at a proper distance so as to prohibit any reply; but warning congregations to beware of the Mormons, charging all to be careful not to get into argument with them.

After preaching for some time in this county, I took a journey to Chester and also to Philadelphia, and found the churches in these places in a prosperous condition, the saints being strong in the faith, and many preparing to go to the west.-I tarried with them a short time, but my health being very poor, I was not able to labor to any amount; as soon as my health improved so as to be able to travel I returned to the field of my labors, and found the work about as I left it. My health being so poor that I could not labor as I had done, I gave out a few appointments, and preached a number of times since, and baptized three; there are many more who are believing. Elder Houseworth intends to continue here some time yet.

The adversary is busily engaged in these parts, all manner of lies are circulated, the public prints are at war with the kingdom, publishing all the falsehoods that are brought to them, and some individuals are so fond to believe a lie, that they may be damned, that thy have taken the pains to write to a distance to obtain them, and then circulate their lies with all possible speed verbally and in print. And when we called upon the Editors to print for us, they refused to do so, leaving us but a poor opportunity to correct the errors, or refute the falsehoods, although many are calling for reply from us if they are not true.

One great reason that they are willing to receive those strong delusions, that they may all be damned, is, they are a very religious people, and like the Pharasee [Pharisee] of old, they are so full of a spurious faith, that there is no room for the truth. The saying of John, that the devil has come down in great rage knowing that his time is short, appears to be very evident; for his servants immediately after we came here, and began to preach, commenced their threatnings [threatenings]. of a dress of tar and feathers, and driving us from the county &c., but did not come near, yet kept up a continual out cry a distance.

But notwithstanding all this, the kingdom will roll on in power, the work of the Lord will still prosper, the willing and the obedient shall eat the good of the land, and the honest in heart will be saved in the kingdom of God: Amen.

I remain your friend

and brother.

Edwin D. Woolley.