Rhosllanerchrugog, May 8th, 1857
President Daniels,
Dear Brother -- The reason I have not written to you sooner is that I know
that Pastor Jones has supplied this need in his epistles to you from time to
time.
With respect to the Reformation, it has been and continues to be of
remarkable worth here, as in other places. I rejoiced when I first heard of it,
inasmuch as we had laid the foundation for repentance and the 'doctrine of
baptisms', etc. I had known for several months that I had great need to reform
in many things; but I had a completely different look at myself through the
teachings of our Pastor, the Trumpets, Stars, and Brother Benson, etc. In
short, I believe that I have had a very correct look at myself, through the
aforementioned means, and in this image I have seen where I need to reform, in
thought, in speech, and in deed. On the 23rd of March, in Liverpool, I
covenanted in the name of the Trinity again, to live my religion, to purify,
and to sanctify myself before my Father, which he has commanded me to do. The
covenant was sealed, and a more abundant outpouring of the spirit of God than
ever before came over me, according to the promise. And until now a fire as it
were is going through my whole constitution, and it is increasing, and through
its strength I have preached on the same topic for seven weeks, namely the
'Reformation', in the morning, the afternoon, and in the evening. And as men
are separate in their bodies and their spirits, thus also does the effect of
preaching the reformation separate. Some of the chief leaders and the lords
believed that the reformation was the death blow to Mormonism, originating from
a lack of love, self-interest, and violence. Others thought differently,
knowing that it was a blessing originating from God's love and mercy; and in
this light about fifty percent have re-covenanted through baptism to live
better, and I can say that they have, as their works testify of that. I expect
to baptize more soon, but I believe that it will be from forty to fifty short
of the previous number, which proves that they were dead before. But this is a
fact, there will be greater success in their midst from now on, and that is
natural and spiritual, because there is more of the spirit of God in their
midst, and as a result more work will be done. We have begun to preach with a
greater endeavor in the open air, and there are large crowds who hear us,
attentively and seriously, but one must allow that the occasional Saul will be
in every meeting. Many of our listeners exhibit a smile of honesty that plays
on their faces, which proves to a great extent that it is in their hearts. Many
of these smiles have been created through the effect of the faithful
distribution of pamphlets over the past five months; there is no doubt that
these have done much good. When preaching out of doors, if troubles arise in
the midst of the people, these are most often caused by the ministers and the
preachers, as they call themselves. They are known in the congregations, not by
their virtue and their goodness, but rather by their Babylonish Flags, namely
their white handkerchiefs, their long faces, and their works of the evil one.
By now they carry their newspapers and their almanacs to strive to prove us
wrong. But the keenness of his eye sees through this that they fail to have
anything against us in the written word of God, so it is obvious that all
things work to the good of the children of God, and the spreading of the
kingdom of God on the earth, and the time will dawn soon when the kingdom, and
the greatness of the kingdom, will be in the possession of the Saints of the
Most High.
This is how we are going forth here, wishing for an interest in your
prayers, knowing that our labor will not be in vain in the Lord.
My warmest love to you and to all the faithful brethren with you.
I am, yours obediently and faithfully in the Lord,
David John
[Translated by Ronald Dennis from the original Welsh in Udgorn
Seion (Zion's Trumpet), vol. 10, 1857:174-75.]
