Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 2/Number 2/Letter from Orson Pratt (Nov. 18, 1835)

by Orson Pratt

Kirtland, Ohio, Nov. 18, 1835.

Dear Brother:

Sometime the last of Oct. I left Kirtland, and travelled about 100 miles south east until I came to Beaver Co. Pa. There I held 16 meetings, two in the village of Fallstone, 3 in the village of Beaver, 4 in the village of Bridgewater, and 7 in the village of Freedom: in these villages I found many who were willing to listen to the word of life, and also many who were exceedingly opposed, but more especially the priests of Baal, and their followers. I was encountered by two Methodist priests, and one of their class leaders, and also by Doct. Winters, who had been a Baptist priest, but his character and standing in society, I was informed, was considerably below par; but their opposition only showed the weakness of their system established the faith of some, while others were stirred up to investigate. Thus truth loses nothing by opposition, for notwithstanding the tongue of the slanderer is loosed, falsehoods circulated to the four winds, the cry of blasphemy heard among all the sects, yet, truth, remains truth still, though the prince of darkness may rage; his subjects use all their crafty inventions, yet all their efforts will be in vain, for truth is from heaven; its glory is unsullied: its light is eternal, and will shine though all their engines of wickedness may be put in operation against it. Its light cannot be quenched; its progress cannot be stayed, while it is apparently smothered in one place, it will shine forth with increased brilliancy in another. I baptized three in Freedom, one of which (Sampson Avard) I ordained an elder, he formerly had belonged to the Campbellites, and had preached among them. After parting with two books of Mormon; four books of Revelations, and obtaining 14 subscribers for the Messenger and Advocate, I left them with elder Avard to continue the work. There is a prospect of many embracing the gospel in those parts: May the Lord bless elder Avard and send some one of his servants to assist him.

I remain your friend and Brother,

O. PRATT.

JOHN WHITMER Esq.