Letter to Samuel W. Richards, dated March 1856, at Swansea. (Vol18:241,245)
Report of the Church in Wales
Udgorn Seion Office, Swansea, March, 1856.
President Richards.
My Dear Brother--Privileged, through the grace of God and your good pleasure, to return once more to the blessed valleys of the mountains, I deem it due to you to state, and I trust it will not be uninteresting to you to learn, some of the leading characteristics and phases of the work of God in this dependency of your auspicious Presidency, wherein it has been my privilege to labour.
I beg to say, in the onset, that it affords me great pleasure in being able to represent that I know of no faction, jar, or schism in any portion of the Church of God in Wales; neither do I know of any practices unbecoming, or grievances detrimental to, the prosperity of the cause or the good of the Saints; on the contrary, the union and love which exist, the zeal and perseverance manifested, the many other tokens I see of the increasing faith of the Saints, and, above all, the signal proofs we have, in the measure of the spirit they enjoy, of the divine favour and approbation, are to me sources of indescribable pleasure, and incentives to diligence and humility, and to praise Him who is the great giver of all blessings. Much as I desire the good of the cause, it would be ungenerous in me not to be satisfied with the present condition of the Church in Wales, and the spirit which pervades it. God only could make it what it is.
In its financial department there has been quite an improvement during the last year. The Saints have generally manifested a determination to rid their Conferences and Branches entirely of all the contingent incumbrances of bye-gone days, and the Lord has blessed their efforts to accomplish the desired object, by pouring blessings of an earthly nature into their laps, and into their hearts the heavenly influences of His Spirit.
Not having access, just now, to the records, I am unable to give you the exact amounts paid by each of the fourteen Conferences. I will instance only two or three--the Eastern Glamorgan, for the quarter terminating the year, donated to the Temple Offering L48; paid of local debts and expenses, exclusive of rents, upwards of L100. Under the wise and energetic auspices of president Robert Evans, whose indefatigable perseverance will recommend him to all lovers of the cause, this conference has flourished promisingly, both in numbers and in good works. The Western Glamorgan Conference, numbering about 400 members, has, through the blessing of the Lord on the praiseworthy exertions of President Thomas Harris, whose zeal to execute order is becoming to his long experience in the cause, donated L38 to the Temple Offering in the previous quarter, and during the last half-year has paid L75 local debts of long standing. What is better still, it is generally increasing in zeal and union commensurate with the magnanimity of its works. The last Conference I will trespass on your time to particularize upon, though by no means the least in good works and godlike demeanour, is the Monmouthshire. I hardly know how to delineate the true character of that veteran in the cause--President Thomas Giles. Realising that he is well known to yourself and to your predecessors in the Presidency of the British mission, as presiding over this Conference ever since
the year 1849, and known to myself as a faithful servant of God, without hardly a fault, for several years anterior to that date, I only fear that what I may say of him will bedim the lustre of his bright career in the estimation of those unacquainted with him. I will, however, say that the noble traits of his character are daguerrotyped upon his Conference, so that the cursory observer will read it there in characters of virtue, sobriety, humility, and love, as well as in the precesion and order of his records. Numbering about 400, this Conference has donated to the Temple Offereing during the last quarter, the sum of L24.
To me it is pleasing to be able to recommend my co-workers in the ministry, and much-loved brethren in the holy Priesthood, to your favourable notice and confidence. Few things would please me better than to particularise the commendable conduct of each of my other brethren presiding over the other Conferences, and their faithful co-workers; but although circumstances debar me the pleasure now, their works in louder notes will praise them. The confidence, faith, and prayers of those they have served so faithfylly will draw upon them greater applauses and richer blessings than words can tell. He alone, who could make them what they have been and are now, can realize my feelings towards them all, or know the pleasure I have had in labouring with them to execute your counsels, and also in the success that has crowned our labours to merit your approbation. It is due to them to add, that so far from considering either or any of your requirements or counsels injudicious or onerous, they have ever been like the honey on Jonathan's rod, refreshing and invigorating to our souls, and sought for with avidity by them as well as by myself. The more we had of them, the happier have we felt in trying to carry them out, so that yourself as well as your much-esteemed Counsellors have a name and place on the tablets of our memories, which we pray may never be obliterated.
I have also much pleasure in saying that a spirited renovation is pervading the book department. The presiding Elders display greater vigilance than ever in scrutinising this important part of their trust, the salutary influence of which is proven in the fact that their liabilities to this office have been lessened L200 during the preceding quarter; and I have the great satisfaction of knowing that the remaining outstanding debts are invested in good-conditioned stock, with a laudable zeal existing generally to sell it.
The Saints in Wales have awoke anew, of late, to the importance of acquiring a knowledge of the English language, as may be seen in the liberal and welcome reception of the Star, Journal of Discourses, Mormon, and other English publications of the Church, and the benefits resulting therefrom stimulate to perseverance over a hitherto obstinate barrier between them and the chosen medium of God to communicate intelligence to His children. These benefits will repay a hundred-fold the cost of acquiring the language.
Respecting emigration, I beg to assure you that I would not wish to see a greater desire for that than is evidently pervading every class, in every locality. "Do help me to go to Zion;" "When shall I go home?" "Oh, do try to help me off this time," are so often reiterated in my hearing, and plead with such anxiety and earnestness, that they tingle my ears, asleep as well as awake. Nor can I easily forget the emotions of those who hear the welcome "Yes, come along;" and I am sure that the love and gratitude displayed towards yourself, and the untold blessings showered upon you, and upon their generous and never-to-be-forgotten deliverer and father in Zion--President Young, and upon all who have so kindly extended a helping hand to pull them out of the pit, would have been music in your ears had you but heard as much of it as I have since our welcome budget, announcing the number allotted to be helped out, has been received, and all say, they would prefer the emigration of the persons elected to going themselves. "Oh! no; they never can so far forget themselves as to be guilty of ingratitude for such goodness. They think it impossible any more not to love, respect, and obey such God-sent benefeactors." So they say,l and so they doubtless feel; so they should feel, and that they may always possess and cultivate that feeling is my prayer.
Some 130 emigrated per ship Caravan last month, a liberal portion of them contemplating to complete, in the States, for outfit for crossing the plains this summer; in addition to which, I have now on my books about 550 names of applicants for passage in the ship which sails next, with a fair prospect of timely making up the even 600. Of these, about 350 intend going through to Utah by the swiftsure Hand-cart Train, and about 100 by the old "slow and sure" ox trains; 21 have been sent for from Utah through the P. E. Fund Company, and quite a number of the remainder have prospects of seeing Zion this season somehow.
The presiding Elders of all the Conferences, except one, have been liberated in order to emigrate to Zion this season, and they will, with one or perhaps two exceptions, avail themselves of that privilege.
Respecting my highly esteemed Counsellor, and now successor in office, President Daniel Daniels, I cannot too highly commend him. His zeal and integrity of heart, his humility and steadfastness of purpose, and his many other rare qualifications, are worthy the emulation of all. The unanimity of sentiment that has cemented our souls together for some years while here on a former mission, so far from being weakened by the perplexities, and many incentives to draw out the secrets of a man's soul, which are incidental to a journey of about 8000 miles over an ocean and a continent, have subserved to tighten the Gordian know of brotherly love; and the further developments of character during a residence of three years in Zion, the journey back to Wales, with its varied incidents, and especially the requirements of our mission during the three years and three months we have laboured here side by side, have subserved to weld each link to link in the chain of union which binds us too strong for memory to instance a disagreement in sentiment. In fact, the union has been such as to compel brother Daniel and brother Dan to be either both right or both wrong every time. That He, who alone can qualify us for His service, may be ever near unto brother Daniels, endow him with the wisdom and influence requisite to the discharge of the important duties devolving upon him, and enable him to do all the good his liberal heart desires, is my prayer.
Respecting Elder Daniels' Counsellors, Elders Evans and Ashby, permit me to state that the zeal and energy with which they lay hold of their duties, in their new field of labour, promises to the Saints incalculable good; and I am highly elated at the perseverance and assiduity which the Saints already evince in acquiring a knowledge of the English language; thus betokening a determination to avail themselves of the advantages afforded them of a more direct communication with the Spirit flowing from Zion through these brethren, as well as through those who may favour them with a visit hereafter, and through the English publications. I do not doubt but that the well-merited gratitude which they evince towards you for your judicious and provident care for them, will increase commensurate with the increase of the joy which they will obtain by understanding Prophets, Apostles, and holy men of God in Zion, through receving from them the glorious truths of heaven in a language which you have stimulated them to acquire. And when they shall stand in holy places to receive the keys of eternal lives, and to learn how to obtain the glories and immortalities awaiting the worthy from among all nations, they will bless brother Franklin, and all means that shall have contributed to put them in possession of the medium communicating the same.
If I be indulged in expressing of my personal feelings and doings, present, and within the past three years and a half since I left home upon this mission, I would say, that I have enjoyed myslef better the more I have been enabled to execute the counsels of my brehteren; that the kingdom of God--our kingdom--is my all in all, and that my soul delights in nothing outside of its jurisdiction. It is truly my greatest pleasure to add my mite to the efforts of my brethren in saving souls, in winning obeisance to the laws of Chirst, and in happifying and subserving the good of the much loved children of our great Father. I appreciate still more and more the privilege of being enabled to do so, the more good I receive from God through my brethren. In short, I could sum up my feelings while on this mission, as regards all counsels, dispensations, feelings, and every minutiae apperetaining thereto--my own weaknesses and failings excepted--and say that all is well, as it should be, to my heart's content. All who have experinece will agree with me that the feelings engendered by anticipating the prospects of again returning to the place form whence we came, and of again enjoying the society of those loved most dearly, cannot be told--better imagined. I shall not attempt it further than to say, so may it be with me.
I find that upwards of 2000 persons have been baptized into the Church in Wales since my return; 1400 will have emigrated, making a total of 2000, including 350 who went with me in 1849. Upwards of 3000 more will be left anxiously praying the happy day of deliverance to dawn for them to follow. I have had the pleasure of being present, since my return, at nearly one hundred Conferences, and it is due to the unerring Spirit of Truth to say, that at none of them nor on any other occasion has it allowed me, in my weakness, to advance any sentiment that required recantation; and it is due to the Saints also to say that all, without exception, have been received with gladness, and acted upon with a promptness deserving the great source from whence they emanated. In the editing and publishing department, however incompetent to do justice to the duties thereof, I have, notwithstanding they were arduous, had much assitance from the good Spirit, and great pleasure in the good that has been accomplished. That the Udgorn Seion, has been welcomed by the Saints, as well as by the world, is evident from its increasing circulation, and the unanimity of sentiment and feeling it has contributed to create, enriched by the reflection of the "Star"-light, and by translations of the rich treats we get in the Deseret News, Journal of Discourses, Mormon, &c. It has become the bosom friend of its nearly 2000 subscribers; including it, I find
that a quarter of a million of pamphlets have been published in this office, sold, and paid for in two years; the majority of the latter to people of the world, and withal we have quite a decrease in former book debts. These pamphlets, under the blessing of God, have been influential assailants of the partition wall raised by priestcraft between the people and the truth, and have wiped away the stigma with which press and pulpit have so studiously attempted to bespatter our holy religion and the unblemished characters of its bravest advocates. Nor does it require to overstrain the vision of the prospective to anticipate a rich harvest of souls, consequent upon the seed thus profusely sown; in fact, it seems already whitened. In fulfilment of President Young's prediction--that the increase of baptisms would be commensurate with the exertions of the Saints to emigrate, I would say that it is even so in Wales. With the preparations to leave comes the alarm among the ranks of lookers-on, and already the news comes from all quarters that the people are being baptized. I look forward with confidence to hear that the last sermon preached and acted out by the exit of about 600 persons--Noah-like, when he showed the antediluvians his back the last time--will be a telling one, one that will tally its hundreds, doubtless, from among the thousands who appear to be as anxiously waiting for their turn, as the invalids of old were on the banks of
Siloam for the approach of the "angel to trouble the waters."
The Babylonish predictions of the "downfall, death, and burial of Mormonism in Wales," are so far from containing any colour of truth, that the augmentation of numbers, and the increasing interest seen pro and con about it, are unmistakable proofs that its funeral requiem has been prematurely chanted; and, to me, sleepless nights and a worn-out constitution, in its rapidly-increasing business and multitudinous requisitions, are ever present proofs that "Mormonism" exacts the long and rapid strides of the most stalwart walker to keep pace with its march. I find that from among the "poor Mormons" in Wales some L3600 have rotated through my hands to yours during the last year, towards emigration deposits with you, and for the various funds; and yet, as the ever-gushing stream from its pearly bed supplies the drainage of the fountain, so are they replenished the more, from the overflowing resources of their richer banker in heaven, the better use they make of it.
Much as I may have intruded on your time already, I ought not to conclude my, probably, last report of my stewardship in this sphere without a recognition, however inadequate, of the inexpressible good we have received through your counsels, admonitions, and administrations, and especially in the honour you preferred upon us by your presence among your Welsh brethren, at the General Conference convened at Merthyr, February 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th. Your appreciation of our labours, and approbation of the spirit which characterises my Welsh brethren, and your expressed satisfaction of the general phases of this portion of the great family of God is a fountain oozing forth its living streams of pleasures--ample equivalents for all its costs. Your consels given there and then, with the principles so engraven upon the minds of the Saints, so far from falling to the ground, will be fully appreciated only when they have achieved their ultimatum in the general assembling of nations divested of nationalities, in the perfection of union, order, and purity at the marriage supper of the Great Bridegroom. Even then will Brother Franklin live in the memories of those he led there.
To your highly esteemed Counsellor and our much loved father in Israel--President Spencer--the Saints in Wales owe much. His counsels, though many, and given under peculiarly intricate circumstances, have invariably proved to be the highway to happiness, and his superior judgment and discernment, coupled with his integrity and meekness, have merited him the unlimited confidence and goodwill of all lovers of godliness withersoever he has been among us, and his visits have not been few in proportion to the radius of his circuit. May that God who has so greatly blessed his labours, and who alone can give him his due, repay him in the resurrection of the just.
Having studied unvarnished brevity and precision in this communication, and not having troubled you for a long time with lengthened reports, indulge me, in giving vent to my feelings, by classifying among the many God-sent visitors to Wales by whom much has been contributed to make the Church here what it is, the names of Elders Wheelock, Ross, J. A. Young, Ellsworth, Ferguson, Atwood--but I will desist, and chronicle the others, who have been no less welcome here, in archives where names are never forgotten.
Finally, I will conclude, praying that the richest, choicest, and all coveted blessings of earth and heaven be yours, and that when you enter into the full enjoyment of the same, you may see, among all, the Welsh Saints, and not very far behind your humble servant, and affectionate brother,
DAN JONES
