| Sidney Rigdon's masterful sermon—never to fall or leaders to be replaced §. Satan active §. Smiths and Rigdon preside §. Speaking in tongues §. Angels appear to some §. Elders exchange Safety Society notes in New York §. Rift between the First Presidency and members of the Twelve §. |
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| Mercy Rachel Fielding and Robert B. Thompson were among the converts from Toronto who arrived in Kirtland in May 1837. On June 4, 1837 they were married by Joseph Smith and soon returned to Upper Canada (Ontario) on a mission. |
| This letter being the only contemporaneous known for important June–July events, I have worked backwards from the July 8 and 9 dates given near the end of this letter §, I have calculated dates (in brackets) assuming no weeks are omitted. |
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Kirtland July 8 '37 |
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Mary Fielding
Mary Fielding Smith Collection. Microfilm of holographs. LDS Church Archives, MS 2779.
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My dear Sister [Mercy R.] |
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As I have met with paper I feel inclined to commence the proposed corrispondence. as I hope you also do I shall begin from the time my last Letter was writen. you would hear what a glorious meeting we had on the Thursday [June 22] before Bro. Brunell left so I need give you no account of that. |
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| Sunday meeting |
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on the Sunday following [June 25] we had a quiet comfortable waiting upon God in his House |
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| Sidney preaches on stone cut out of the mountain |
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President Rigdon deliverd a very striking discourse from Daniel Chap 2nd verse 44 |
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"And in the a Last Days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Daniel 2:44 |
| Sidney a "Masterpiece" |
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it would be useless for me to attempt giving you an idea of the manner in which he handled the subject. you must read the text and remember that he is a Masterpiece and then you may perhaps form some idea |
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| Never to fall, leaders never to be changed |
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he told us with great warmth indeed, that the Kingdom which <was> set up should never be destroyed. nor be left to other People. no said he nor yet change governours |
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| Persuaded |
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I realy thought from what he said that all opposers from that time rest satisfyed that their exertions would be fruitless. |
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| Satan at work |
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but I do not expect in the least <that> Satan will give up the contest. no hed work in the Children of the World and also in the Hearts of the Children of the Kingdom w[h]ere ever he can find access to them, untill he is bound |
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O may the Lord preserve us from his subtle power and keep us to that day. |
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| Smiths and Rigdon in the stands |
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it was truly gratifying to see the venerabl Patriarch with his two aged Brothers in the upper Stand and in the next four of his Sons with president Rigdon in their midst all I believe faithful Servants of the living God Joseph and Hirum I know best and love much |
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Asahel Jr. (1773–1848), Joseph Sr. (1771–1840), Silas (1779–1839), John (1781–1854),
Hyrum, Joseph Jr., William, Samuel H. |
Lucy a prophetess
Cries
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while I looked at them all my heart was drawn out in earnest prayer to our Heavenly Father in their behalf and also for the prophetess their aged mother whose eyes are frequently bathed in tears when she looks at or speaks of them |
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| Speaking in tongues, prophesy |
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our thursday meeting [July 6] was again better than any former one the hearts of the people were melted and the spirit and power of God rested down upon us in a remarkable manner Many spoke in tongues and others prophesied and interpreted it has been said by many who have lived in Kirtland a great while that such a time of love and refreshing has never been known |
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| Sisters hug and kiss |
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Some of the sisters while engaged in conversing in tongues their countenances beaming with joy clasped each others hands and kissed in the most affectionate manner they were describing in this way the love and felicities of the celestial world although the house of the Lord was more than half filled |
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| Weep, praise God |
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during this time there were few dry faces the brethren {2} as well as the Sisters were
all melted down and we wept and praised God together |
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| Greeat prophesies |
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some of the prophicies deliverd in tongues and interpre<d> were so great that I cannot begin to describe them |
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| Hyrum promises deliverance |
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but I do assure you. Brother Hyrum Smiths prediction that from that hour the Lord would begin to bless his people has been verily fulfild, |
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| Angels, light |
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I beleive as do many others that Angels were present with us, a bright light [inkblot] shone across the House and rested upon some of the congregation |
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| Distress disolves |
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what I felt that day seemd to outway all the afliction and destress of mind I have sufferd since I came here. |
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| Day of fasting Thursday |
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we have a promise of a still better meeting next Thursday [July 13] if we humble ourselves as in the dust before the Lord this will be our fast day, may the promise be verifyd indeed— |
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| Missionaries in New York |
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on Saturday July 8 We all received Letters from our Brethrn in New York giving an account of their journey thither and their preparations for setting sail which did not take place till the 30 of June. you will see that from various causes they were delayed 10 days in New York they were all well and in good spirits tho much disapointed at not receiving the expected money |
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| Used Safety Society bank notes |
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but they contrived to exchange some Kirtland Paper or to get provisions for it. so as to enable them to pay their expences amongst them |
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By this time the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking notes were in fact worthless. |
| Transatlantic fares |
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the fare was 20 dollers each in one of the largest vessels. that has ever sailed 9 hundred tons burden. |
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| To send money |
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Joseph says I must send the money when the next Elders go which will probably be in the fall. but all uncertain |
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| James Fielding |
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they expect to land at Liverpool so that poor Brother James will soon have to receive or reject them. our prayer to God must be unceasing that he may become as a li[ttle] Child that he may enter in to the Kingdom, |
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James Fielding (April 7, 1793–December 7, 1877) was pastor of the Methodist Church in Preston, Lancashire, England. |
| Wives in good spirits |
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Sisters Kimball & Hyde are begining to write to their Husbands at Preston they continue to be in good spirits |
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Vilate Kimball and Marinda Johnson Hyde |
| New York missionary work |
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While the Brethren were in new York they endeavourd to do all the good they could by conversing with the people and distributing the prophetic warning to all the Priests they could find. about 105 they were put into the Post office |
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| Apostles Marsh, Patten, and Pratt to Kirtland |
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Elders Marsh and Patten have arrived from missouri they met Elder Pratt 300 miles on his way thither and brought him back with them |
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| Marsh a man of faith |
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Elder Marsh is a most excelent Man he seems to be a Man of great faith |
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| Twelve can reconcile with First Presidency |
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he says he believs the difficulties between the Presidency & the twelve will very shortly be settled. and then we can expect better days then {3} Sunday 9th Elder Marsh preached [-] from the 11th Chap [from here to end part of the page is missing] [- -] |
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read it over and form some idea for yourself [-] [lacuna] shakled by tradition. holding the truth in its purity, and [lacuna] |
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much of the Spirit, would handle the subject. he appea [lacuna] |
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in whose heart the pure principles of the Gospel are deeply [lacuna] |
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[- - -] in all his conduct he says he will lay down [lacuna] |
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promise in the afternoon we had a comfortable time [lacuna] |
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were made satisfactorly. by Orson Pratt who express [lacuna] |
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for what he had said [lacuna] [-] founded upon report. [lacuna] Spirit, he withdrew the [lacuna] did not know personaly the [lacuna] Brother Joseph and believes [lacuna] quite satisfyd. he said more [lacuna] would be as well satisfyd as the [lacuna] been as well pleased as the [lacuna] prophet speaks in the power [lacuna] |
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confessed his failings & [lacuna] |
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[-] Angle or in the presen[ce] [lacuna] |
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my Son, you are forgiven [lacuna] |
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were truely affecting O that [lacuna] has done for them in [-] [lacuna] Creature Man. by which he [lacuna] truth. |
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Thursday 13 fast day [lacuna] [cording?] to repeating the [-] [lacuna] |
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nember of the people of [lacuna] much crouded and [lacuna] will <not> I do not think gratify [lacuna] [-] and much of the [-] remarkable, Sister [-] [lacuna] whose name was Sawyear was present. from15 to 20 persons spake in tongues the interpretation in full many great things were sa[id] truely astonishing such as [lacuna] I cannot here describe I hope [lacuna] proving your gift so that more may be given. I want <you> are all getting on in Canada. I am still with Sister [lacuna] is indeed a Christian & Friend I do believe her kindness to [lacuna] she feels my wellfare is nearly if not quite equal to that [lacuna] Sister if the Lord would give me something to do here so as to provide for myself without hurting Sister. K. I should [lacuna] with her I have already found her Friendly council & advice & great [lacuna] |
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{4} will pray much for me you know I am still exposed to temp[tation?] [lacuna] you have escaped, and I feel greatly to desire the prayers [lacuna] |
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I have confidence give my love particularly to Brother [Tay?]lor the first opportunity and tell them I greatly desire an [interest in t]heir prayers that I may be guided aright in all things |
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John Taylor and the Fieldings were among Parley Pratt's converts in Canada. |
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[lacuna] without trials. |
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I may say with the poet but still [lacuna] <Man is never long at ease> one trouble gone another [do]th him seize |
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when we meet [lacuna] perhaps have things <to> talk over which we cannot do in writing {4b} [lacuna] [has?] been a day of much comfort [lacuna] [con]solation to the Saints here [lacuna] & contention appears now to [lacuna] nearly done away William [re]turned from Missouri and [lacuna] made, I believe, <ample> confession [lacuna] and a faithful promise in the strength of grace to far [lacuna] himself up more fully than ever to the work of the Lord [lacuna] also made considerable acknowledgement of faults &c but [lacuna] he still denies and that publikely all impropriety of conduct myself, you may perhaps in some way enter into [-] according to <his> account my own dear Brother Joseph has been [lacuna] can you believe this? all my comfort is in the Lord and that I have a clear conscience in his sight. O may the Lord [lacuna] in the hollow of his hand, and you also, your very affectionate Sister Mary |
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