| Show prom the fili Alil Millen lenial lal lai star MEETING OF AMERICAN ELDERS IN LIVERPOOL the emigration and other circumstances having combined to bring together in liverpool a large portion of the american elders now in in europe in obedience to the request of president richards and much to their own satisfaction they met at 36 Is lington on the evening of the of april 1803 1855 present president daniel spencer elders dan ionesc Jon esC G webb israel barlow george D grant cyrus H wheelock W C dunbar james ferguson lym win H kimball P C merrill joseph A young J A little edmund ellsworth edward alardin martin james bond john toone moses thurston Thur ston slon J D ross john barker and john perry president F D richards called for a few moments to express his regret that lie conid could not he be present at least for a time as his attention was required ta t close up the business of the day which had been an extremely busy one but he lie hoped to return in a short time and spend the balance of the evening with them lie he left them with his blessing and good wishes under the direction of president the me meeting etino t was opened by singing elder dan jones wa was s thon called upon to be mouth in prayer before prayer however president spencer made a few remarks with regard to the object of meeting particularly in that place lie he said it is brother franklins wish that we dedicate the room in which we have met and the whole house for the purpose for which it has been chosen and ask the lord to bless and sanctify it as the place in which to transact the general business of the european missions after these remarks elder D jones offered up a dedication prayer after which praise to the man who communed with jehovah was sung president spencer made mada a few remarks expressing his great joy and satisfaction at meeting so large a number of the brethren from zion with whom he was personally acquainted as also with their previous course of conduct stating that they had his confidence for lie he felt that they had kept their covenants and were pure before the lord the unreserved expression of this sentiment was a source of much satisfaction to all present and was adverted to by several of the brethren while speaking aring euring the evening after a few other remarks peculiarly applicable to the occasion he closed by desiring that the brethren would act freely during the evening as the spirit might seem to dictate I 1 he le was followed by elder G D grant who expressed the joy and comfort he received in the society of his brethren and the work in which he was engaged and said that he felt continually built up in the faith and strengthened to go forth in the strength of the lord in the discharge of his duties elder W 11 kimball spoke of the blessings which he realized that he lie enjoyed in the society ot of his brethren and said I 1 feel that the lord has greatly blessed me on this mission in all my labors and I 1 feel to bless brothers brigham heber jedediah franklin and all my brethren the spirit of god 3 ac was sung after which Elder Ellsworth spoke with much warmth of feeling and said I 1 thank the lord that I 1 have been bea sent on this mission for I 1 have learned principle much faster and enjoyed more of the spirit of the lord than ever before I 1 feel that some of the rust is getting rubb rubbed edoff off me and I 1 begin to realize more fully the of the great work in which we are engaged elder J perry spoke for far some time on the benefits of the mission to himself the great in crease of the work and his determination when he arrived at home to take more interest than he had before done in gathering the poor from these lands president richards came in while elder perry was vas speaking and remained during the evening i elder eider W C dunbar said I 1 esteem it a blessing to enjoy the privilege of associating with my brethren for a few lays days for I 1 came cime here weak and debilitated in body and I 1 have been strengthened g both HI in body and spirit and I 1 feel indeed that the society of 0 my brethren is heaven to me elder james ferguson spoke and being filled with the tile spirit of prophecy said baid ati alithe the brethren present who have been afflicted shall begin to recover their health from this tins time tinie and brother dunbar shall shail cease coughing go to his fit id of labor and regain his healt health fi and all shall go forth in greater power than heretofore in theli their labors from the greater union vinion and faich which we shall feel from our present association tog ther eider elder J A young expressed himself in the falness of his spirit and touched upon the history tor y and course of many who were present and the scenes and events of pecullar peculiar interest in the history of the church in which they had acted a part and ano he testified of their faithfulness he said I 1 feel that warm times are at hand for us as a people but all who raise their lands hands against this work or those engaged in it shall perish I 1 feel to bless you my brethren and to bless this house and all who shall labor herein elder C H wheelock said I 1 regret that before coming to this land I 1 had not the pleasure of orbein being fr acquainted with more of the brethren who are present but my feelings are warm towards you a all ail 1 when brother ferguson prophesied that brother dunbar should return to his field of afla la bw bir and recover his health it reminded me of a similar meeting to this rhile I 1 was on a former mission in this country eight years ago I 1 was vas afflicted with a violent cough and my health was so seriously impaired that it was thought advisable for me to return homp home but but bul brother jonh taylor who was present was filled with the spirit of prophecy and blessing and lie he prophesied that if I 1 would remain disease should leave me and I 1 should be restored to sound health and str strength enoth the brethren then put their hands on my head and blessed ble sed me and from that time I 1 have been a living witness of the fulfillment fulfilment of that prophecy there is one absent with whom I 1 have had much pleasure in associating 1 hea health ith is somewhat feeble but who is diligently seeking to do good may alay the lord bless brother william young ali LAII all present said amen elder dan jones said I 1 feel honored in tile the society of my brethren I 1 do not expect to say much as it is impossible to express my feelings I 1 cannot but revelt to the past and compare our present position with those which many ofus of us occupied in the earlier infancy of this church then we not only felt fell so but were highly honored in the limited sphere in which we acted but we are now still more so in being the honored instruments of proclaiming salvation to tile tiie nations and gathering scattered israel home I 1 feel highly to appreciate the counsels of brother richards and I 1 feel with the tile rest of the brethren that the tile lord will abundantly bless and strengthen him under his great labors eidar elder P C Al merrill errill said eaid I 1 foel to thank my god that I 1 have been called on this mission for I 1 realize that I 1 have learned more of my real position and standing standing in this kingdom than I 1 ever learned before I 1 feel too full to talk much and therefore shall say but a few words I 1 ask the lord to extend the blessings of the same spirit which we enjoy here to night to those of our brethren who are toiling in dark and distant lands A general amen was the response to this sentiment webb elder C G webb said I 1 feel the importance of the covenants I 1 have made with my god and my brethren I 1 feel that I 1 can overlook the imperfections of my brethren otherwise inthey if they in these things it is quite enough for me to know that a man is true to his god my heart is full of rejoicing and I 1 have enjoyed great satisfaction in my labors notwithstanding I 1 have at times been brought low in health I 1 feel that the lord will sustain all who trust in him brethren I 1 rejoice to see you and I 1 have been greatly blessed in associating tin with you alay may tile tiie blessings of the lord rest abundantly upon you all amen elder J D ross expressed his good feelings and said I 1 think it probable that there is more importance in the prophecies delivered here tonight night than we at present realize and that events are about to transpire which will more fully call into action the wisdom power and knowledge which have been already been best bestowed oved upon us and cause us more fully to realize the extent of them Pre president F D richards arose and said I 1 feel exceedingly happy at seeing so many of my brethren together who ullo have been to zion and received their blessings in the house odthe of the lord I 1 feel eel it an honor 19 to have a name and position amo among ng you I 1 am sensible that it is not the be position which a man occupies in this kingdom kin g that is of fa so mich mich importance imp orAnce as the manner in which he rills fills that position 1 feel much debilitated in body from the late great press of business in getting off the emigration and I 1 probably feel feet more mort so from having been engaged in heavy business transactions in direct contact with the spirit of world after the present crowd of emigration is over and I 1 am permitted to jo engage gore more more directly in the work of the ministry I 1 hope to enjoy more of the spirit to life he and strength although I 1 have not been privileged lemed to associate much with you in the past ie few w days in which you have enjoyed ld d each other s society I 1 realize th that t t the liyo L good spirit has been with you and I 1 fee feel I 1 to bl bless biess you u my zy brethren 1 feel brethren that if you will live faithful i to your covenants and labor with all your bour hearts lo 10 work righteousness the lord will ail succor you yon in th the e hour of temptation and never suffer any of you to commit any sin from which yoi yon campot cannot redeem youself or that will cut you off from the blessings orthe celestial kingdom we are removing the tile office and my residence to this place on account of the oilier other being too strait for us and I 1 feel as though I 1 wanted the peculiar blessings blessin 3 of heaven to rest upon this house those who ibor labor here the books the papers and everything that pertains to the extended business of this office I 1 thank the lord that I 1 am blessed with such faithful brethren to assist ine me in the office they are diligent in their labors not as eye servants but in singleness cf heart to build up tip this kingdom and brethren I 1 wish you would sustain them thein by your faith and remember them in your you r prayers that they may be blessed and strengthened in the arduous duties which devolve upon them I 1 would say gay sav fay to those of you my brethren who have been ban afflicted with sickness and debility if you will reach out your faith and claim the blessings which the lord has placed upon you through his servants you shall be healed and enjoy health it is your privilege brethren to lay hold bold on life streng strength thi and salvation the dreadful condition odthe of the world is well calculated to make us appreciate the great blessings we enjoy in each others society and in the domestic and social relations of our mountain home sorrow and mourning are easily discernable discernible discern able in the countenances of the multitude and when we walk the streets we everywhere met the evidences of want degradation and nii nil aitery bery tery the fine dress and smiling face are often an outside show to hide the effects of sin hidden deformity and an aching heart the world is daily becoming more given over to wickedness and abominations and it is necessary gary sary for the elders to raise their voices still more frequently and powerful than heretofore here tolore against tile the vices and corruptions corrupt ions of the people and to teach the saints the principles plen plem of life ilfe and and how hov to live pure before the lord in all their associations the work odthe of the lord continues steadily to progress and is spreading on the right hand and on the left it is strengthening enina ening its hold on tile the minds of or the people rot not not only in these islands but on the continent president richards here gave a comprehensive and interesting review of the progress of the gospel in scandinavia switzerland and and italy and gave some timely instructions to the tile elders present as to the means to be employed in spreading the work in the british lies hieb he lie gave mu much ch other good counsel which will remain in tile the hearts of those present as way marks to guide them in their future course and especially exhorted tile the returning brethren not to forget the poor whom they were leaving behind when they arrived in zion elders J A little J toone J barker and edward martin expressed in a feeling and happy manner the joy and blessing which they ther realized in their labors and the falness of the spirit which they enjoyed on the occasion refreshments were now brought in and while they were passing round many heartfelt sentiments were expressed which called up pleasing remembrances of the past and intimated the indulgence dul gence of high and holy hopes for lor the future elder J ferguson arose and expressed an earnest desire that elder J D T mcallister who was de barred the tiie privilege of being present might experience a renewal of his faith and nd st strength and share in the abundant blessings of the S spirit irit which was wag enjoyed this desire met inet w with ith a cordial response from the com parly piny president spencer made a few very appropriate remarks on the importance of obeying counsel and sustaining sustaining inin 9 president richards in his office and implicitly aly carrying out his instructions in order to enjoy the holy spirit and progress frognes 9 in the way and salvation president richards then closed the services services of the evening by prayer embracing in his sup the general interests of the church and those objects of solicitude included in the tile ties of kindred and the covenants of the priesthood and he again dedicated the house to the lord for the u use se of his servants in doing the general business of the church for fur tile the E european u ro missions the proceedings of the meeting were very imperfectly reported and consequently but very few of the many interesting remarks made have been recorded the elders eiders were full ot of the spirit of prophecy ev and blessing it was a prelude of that time lime when the union will be perfect and the joys of eternal life be full |
