Letter From Elder Woodruff

Liverpool, Stanley Buildings,

Bath St. Oct. 9th 1845.

DEAR BROTHER PHELPS:-

I received your kind letter by the hand of A. Fielding, which I was glad to get, for it is always cheering to hear from old friends. I rejoice much at the glorious news I hear concerning Zion, by all the letters and papers I get from the goodly land of Joseph. I, at times feel it a great sacrifice to be deprived of the society of my friends in that place, and the choice blessings enjoyed in the city of Joseph, but a second thought teaches me that it is the better way to obey even with this sacrifice, for, I know that it is necessary for some one of the Quorum to be in this land at the present time; and as the Lord and my brethren have sent me here I will be content and do the best I can. I know the Lord is with me and blesses me abundantly; if he did not I could not pass through the labours [labors] and responsibilities that are now resting upon me. The work of the Lord is prospering well through this country, considering the few experienced Elders we have in this part of the vineyard. The conferences universally are mostly adding to their numbers. I have occasionally to visit some of them to visit some difficulty that springs up, but the business of the church

keeps me almost constantly in Liverpool at the present time. I have just returned from a few days tour to Leamington (between Birmingham and London.) Elder Hedlock was with me. Leamington is a resort for the gentry who visit the springs, similar to the Saratoga Springs. We held a Conference there last Sunday. The saints' meetings there for several weeks previous had been fully attended but much disturbed by mobs who had broken down their banisters, tables, benches, &c. We had however a very still time, good attention, and good was done. On Sunday we went through each apartment of the Warwich castle and tower, said to be the most splendid castle in England, occupied by the Earl of Warwich, and furnished in the most splendid manner the genius of nobility could invent. The main body of the Castle is composed of several rooms; the whole being three hundred and thirty three feet long, filled with the richest paintings and furniture. The walls hung with the richest tapestry, damask covered chairs, tables and stands profusely interwoven with pearl, shell, and precious stones, some of them cost fifteen thousand pounds each. This castle is eight hundred years old, and the Tower five hundred years old and one hundred and fifty feet high. It has connected with it forty acres of pleasure ground and a park five miles in circumference. Among the ancient Armoury [Armory] I saw that worn by the great Guy, his helmet and breast plate and shield of steel weighed one hundred and twenty pounds; his sword twenty pounds, and his brass porridge pot held one hundred and twenty gallons. Among the splendid paintings of the Kings, Queens, Princes, Lords, Orators, Poets and Reformers, stands one as large as life of the founder of the Jesuits. The Butler treated us very politely.

After leaving the Castle, we took railway to Birmingham, where we arrived in the evening. We found between four and five hundred saints assembled in a large hall, to what is called, in England, a Tea Meeting. They were all seated at the table when we entered, waiting our arrival. As we entered the door, the clapping of hands and stamping of feet, as tokens of applause, made the house tremble. After feasting with them we addressed them for about two hours, and had a good time. We spent several hours with the officers and broke up at midnight, and in the morning returned home.

I have many calls through the Kingdom to visit the churches, but I have very little time to go abroad. The work of the Lord is taking a higher stand in this country than it has done; by means of servants and our books it is beginning to be investigated by some of the nobility and rich ones of the earth. I hope it will not be a great while before some of them will begin to open their hearts to begin to do something for Israel. A few days since, I received the Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles, to the Kings, Rulers, and Nations of the earth. I shall do what I can to circulate it in this country. I have now twenty thousand in press in English, and have sent word to Elder Jones to prepare to publish it in Welsh as soon as it is out of press here. I shall visit the Rabbis in this place with the work and see if I can get them to publish it Hebrew. I received your "Come to me," and "Capstone," for which I was thankful. We shall make arrangements about forwarding you "Punch." We have cleared the ship "Palmyra" again to day with about sixty passengers on her, only about thirteen saints. The rest were transient passengers. This is the same ship that A. Fielding went over in the last time.

Mrs. Woodruff joins me in respects to Brother and sister Phelps, Brother Richards, Mother Smith, Sister Emma, and sister Mary Smith, and their families, with the Twelve and all enquiring [inquiring] friends.

I still remain your brother in the truth,

WILFORD WOODRUFF.