Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 2/Number 9/From our elders abroad

FROM OUR ELDERS ABROAD.

Doubtless our patrons, and more particularly the brethren, will marvel that they through our columns, hear no more from our travelling Elders this season; we say, in answer to such an inquiry, should one arise, that we have two re[a]sons to offer, on our part; and first. Our elders have not been as free as usual in their communications to us; those few that have been out on short missions and returned, and those who have favored us, with but a short sketch of their travels and labors, give us to understand that their most sanguine expectations, have been realized, and in some instances more than realized. 2d. We have had a press of other matter that we deemed necessary to insert, therefore, that subject has been deferred.

We have now determined to select and lay before our readers a few items from the accounts we have, both oral and epistolary.

Elder Luke Johnson writes from Sackets harbor May 24th as follows—I have labored about two weeks in this county, and the Lord has blessed my labors. There is the most calls for preaching that I have ever known. I have baptized nine, and there are more who calculate to come forward when I return. I am now going to Orange county, and calculate to return in about a week.

The Lord has blessed me beyond any thing that I had realized before.—I can say like one of old, the half has not been told me.

Elders A. Lyman and N. Tanner write us from Portage, N. Y. under date of May 10th, that between that time and April 7th, they had travelled three hundred and fifty miles, held twenty meetings, and baptized six; we use their expression when we say the "sick are healed, and the promises of the Lord are fulfilled unto us."

Br. John Harvey writes us from Canada, under date of May 30th, stating that Eld. O. Pratt had been preaching in Branford, Mount Pleasant, and Mallahide, Upper Canada, and that he had baptized six in the former place, and two in Mallahide. He further adds, that there were many more believing. We knew Elder Pratt had not at that time been long in that place, for he had been but a little time absent from this.

Elder Leonard Rich states to us verbally, that he left Kirtland about the 12th of April, travelled into the county of Niagara, in the state of New York, preached seven discourses and bapti-zed 9. The Elder assures us that he had full congregations of attentive hearers; some who had formerly been bitter opposers to him and the doctrine he inculcated, yielded to the force of truth and reason, and to all human view, became his friends. The elder, from a previous agreement, felt under an obligation to his family and friends at home, to return in a short time. He therefore, feels deeply to regret, being under the necessity of leaving a field of useful labor so soon. May the good seed which he has sown, take root downward and bear fruit upward, to the glory of God the Father.

Elders Granger and Millet left Kirtland in May, travelled south as far as Richland county in this State, held eleven public meetings and baptized 29 in that county and two in Portage county on their return home. It will not, we trust, be improper here to remark, that these elders were absent from here but 8 days, and in one of the most busy seasons of the year, yet under all circumstances, say they, many followed us from place to place, and listened attentively while we held forth the words of life and salvation. A goodly number, as we have seen, were convinced of the truth and willing to obey the commandments of the Lord. So "grows the word of God and multiplies."

The venerable Patriarch of our church Joseph Smith, sen. and Elder John Smith set out on a mission from this place, May 10th, to visit some of the branches of the church south of this, to regulate them and set in order the things that were wanting; they returned again on the 18th, being absent but eight days, during which time they either baptized, or witnessed the baptism of 16, and 95 received their patriarchal blessing. Although their stay was necessarily short, yet the Lord of the harvest appeared to crown their labors with abundant success, and a number, from a thorough conviction of the error of their former ways, followed them home and were baptized in this place, on the next Sabbath after their return. Thus we see, that when men. (and they are but men) go forth clothed with authority from on high, and the ancient order of things is being established according to the word of God, the honest in heart see it, and know it, and prejudice and error give way before the light of truth and reason. While we are penning this article, these aged fathers are about to set out on a mission to the East. We most devoutly pray the Lord to be with them and bless them. We also entreat our brethren in the Eastern churches to receive them cordially, entertain them hospitably, and above all, to appreciate their instructions. The Lord, for his Son's sake preserve them in health and strength and return them to the bosom of their families and the church in this place in peace.