at last they landed in Liverpool, England, July 20, 1837.
They were in a strange country, had no money, no friends.
[Illustration: PRESIDENT HEBER C. KIMBALL]
"Go to Preston," said the Spirit of the Lord to them. Preston is a city
thirty miles from Liverpool, and there they went. Joseph Fielding had a
brother living in the city, who was a preacher, and on his invitation the
missionaries held their first meeting in his chapel. This was the first
Sunday after their arrival. The people listened eagerly to what the elders
said, for it seems that a great many honest souls had been waiting for just
such a message.
After the third meeting, the Rev. Mr. Fielding would not let the elders use
his church, as he was afraid they would take away his congregation. From
that time he opposed the missionaries, and was soon joined in this by other
preachers.
However, the people had received a taste of the gospel and they wanted
more, so meetings were held in private houses. On the eighth day after the
arrival of the elders in England, nine persons were baptized into the
Church by Elder Kimball.
Thus was the door opened, and the gospel soon spread in a wonderful manner.
The elders now separated and went to different towns, preaching, baptizing,
and organizing branches of the Church. Great crowds came out to hear them,
especially in and around the city of Preston. It was a most glorious time
and full of interesting events which this little book cannot tell you
about; but here is a sample:
One day Elder Kimball told some of the brethren that he thought of going to
a place called Chatburn, to hold meetings. He was told that it would do no
good, as it was a very wicked place, and the people there would have
nothing to do with preachers. Elder Kimball went, however, and large crowds
came out to hear him. While teaching the people the need of repenting of
their evil doings and being baptized for the remission of their sins,
Brother Kimball felt someone pulling at his coat:
"Please sir, will you baptize me?" asked one.
"And me, and me!" exclaimed a dozen voices.
So Elder Kimball went down into the water and baptized twenty-five persons.
As the elders were walking out of the village, the young folks of the place
ran to meet them, the older people stood in their doors to greet and bless
them, while the children ran ahead, hand in hand, singing their songs of
gladness.
At a conference held in Preston, April 8, 1838, there were
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