Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 3/Number 4/From elders abroad

Elder Erastus Snow writes us a long article, embracing the most important events which occurred in his observation and travels, during an absence of several months from this place. The elder wrote us from Butler Co. Pa. Sept. 2, '36, but the letter never reached us, nevertheless he favored us with a copy, which we shall not be able to publish entire, we only give our read[e]rs a synopsis.

It would seem that the elder had labored in the township of Plumb-Creek Armstrong Co. Pa. and had established a small branch of a church in that place: he had made an appointment to preach there on the 22d of August last at 2 o'clock P. M. The elder was informed by his friends that most of the inhabitants of the little village of Elderton & its vicinity combined together to prevent his filling his appointment, indeed, such were the threats of insult and violence, that even some of his friends urged him to desist: but he was not to be deter[r]ed from his purpose, notwithstanding as he drew near the place, a company of 30 or 40 made their appearance, armed with whips clubs &c. This company consisted (as says the elder) of Roman Catholicks [Catholics]. Scceders [Seceders], Presbyterians, pedlars [peddlers], liars, drunkards, thieves, &c. Thus we see the materials of which this heroick [heroic], or rather demoniac band were composed, yet notwithstanding their hostility to each other, they could like Herod and Pilate (for the time being at least,) unite to oppose the delivery of the elders message to the people, according to his appointment, but, he persevered, preached to those who were willing to hear, and ultimately escaped personal injury all their threats to the contrary notwithstanding. The elder travelled, after the scene we have described, in Pennsylvania and some in Ohio and returned here, in December, having preached in many places & baptized fifty persons.

Dear brother in Christ Jesus of Nazareth, of the Latter day saints, and all readers of the Messenger and Advocate; and particularly the authorities, and official members of said church: this is for you[r] joy, comfort, encouragement, to be faithful in the discharge of all your several duties, to roll forth the kingdom, gather Israel and build up Zion, and prepare for the coming of the son of God, who shall reign in Mount Zion and Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously. Isaiah, 24-23: Rev. 14-1: also Rev. 7-9.

Having for years since obtained an absolute knowledge of the gospel which I preach, I took leave of wife and children in the land of Kirtland, on the last day of May, last, to preach the everlasting gospel in the upper province of Canada, in company with elder Wm. Harris. We commenced our ministerial labours in township of Loughborough, some 18 or 20 miles north of Kingston, where we added 14 members to the Loughborough branch. From thence we traveled to Leed's Church, distance 20 miles, and baptised 3.—From thence we traveled 25 miles to Bedford, and North Crosby, where we planted a church that now numbers 68 members. Elder Wm. Harris gave me the parting hand, and left for Missouri on the 5th of Sept. and then I took the field alone, without a brother or an assistant, to comfort or cheer my heart, in the moments of ragings of wicked persecutors, who seemed to double their force when I was alone: and yet, thanks be to the most high God, I was not without the presence of him whom Nebuchadnezzar saw walking with the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, whose form was like the Son of God; and that to fulfil all he had promised me under the hands of the servants of God in my ordination, and annointing, washing feet, and patriarchal blessings.

At the time elder Harris left me, we had baptised in all, about 40. From Bedford I went to South Crosby, and Bastard townships, and labored alone, preaching and opposing wicked persecutors, until the 25th of Sept. at which time Elder James Blakesley, to my great joy, came to my assistance. Eld. Blakesly is an able and worthy brother in the ministry. We continued our labors together until the 17th of Nov. in which time we baptized 97; elder Blakesley then took leave of me and went home to his family: I was then left alone without any assistance except some whom we had just ordained, but still the Lord gave me strength according to my day. I continued my labors incessantly until the 1st of Jan. last, on which day I baptized 5, the last I baptized in Canada. However, previous to this time, from the period when elder Blakesly left me till the 1st of January, I baptized 41; of this number 19 belong in and about the village of Perth, U. C 20 miles or more from Bastard and South Crosby branches. Besides all this the elders and priests who have been ordained at the conferences I have held have swelled the number of those baptized to 267 in all added to the church in the bounds of the territory where I have labored over seven months, it being my first mission in the gospel of Christ.