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Editorial Note

Brigham Young purchased a new black leather journal while in Manchester, England, on 20 October 1840. From that date until the end of June 1841, just before he reached Nauvoo, Illinois, on his return from Great Britain, Young made regular, almost daily journal entries in this new book.

Young and Heber C. Kimball preached in Hawarden, Wales, on the River Dee, in October 1840, likely during the gap between Young’s final entry in his second journal and the start of his writing in his new journal on 20 October. Although his diary is thus silent about this short missionary journey, he reported it to Mary Ann in November and Kimball mentioned it in a letter to the editors of the Times and Seasons. Young wrote to his wife:

We have hered from Wales whare Br Kimball and I went, a grate meny of the people was sorry they did not obey the gospel when we ware there the report went out that we had the same power that the old apostles had, it is true we did lay hands on one young man that was quite low with a fevor, we rebuked his fevor and he got well we laid our hands on a woman that had verry bad eyes she emeditly recoverd, they have a gradel [great deal] to say about our preaching. they say that Elder Kimball has such sharp eys that he can look wright through them, and Elder Young Preashes so that every Body that heres him must beleve he preaches so plane and powerful.

Kimball wrote of the positive reception he and Young received: “The people almost universally received our testimony.” He also noted that the power of God was manifested in priesthood blessings there.[1]

Other efforts and experiences from October 1840 through June 1841 were not always so positive. During his travels in London and other towns, Brigham Young observed and wrote of the opposition he faced. But that did not deter the apostle from the work he was called to do in England.

As Young and his fellow missionaries traveled, taught, and baptized many people, it became abundantly clear that a British edition of the Book of Mormon was needed. Young’s actions and his diary during this time document his efforts to fulfill this need. By the end of March 1841, copies of the Book of Mormon were “packed up,” ready for shipping to the British Saints.[2]

With spring 1841 approaching, Brigham Young led efforts to wrap up the mission and return to the United States. The apostles met in Manchester in April for a series of councils and a conference with the church there. Parley P. Pratt, Levi Richards, and Lorenzo Snow would remain to oversee the church in Britain, while Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, George A. Smith, and others would return home. Young’s journal documents the return voyage, including the passing of his fortieth birthday on 1 June 1841. His matter-of-fact, concise entries provide interesting and important information about his travels and work during the monumental mission of the apostles in England.

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19–21 October 1840 • Monday–Wednesday

this Book[3] was baught this 20 o[f] oct 1840

on monday the 19 P. P. Pratt arived here[4] from america with his wife and famely.[5] P. Pratt gon to Liverpool H. C. K. gon to Baptise W^m 20 Miller - 21 at Joseph Batemans[6] Came to Preston stop with Br Burrows

22 October 1840 • Thursday

22 at sister dorsons la[i]d hands on mary she was sick - at sister [Hannah Greenwood] Fieldings held a confrence in evening with the Brotherin it [at] sister Fieldings

23 October 1840 • Friday

23 visited through preston at Sister [Margaret] Morgans at tea, Br^s [John] mellen & [James] White head was their

24 October 1840 • Saturday

24 Br Kimball and my self went to Penwortham[7] at Br John Mellen 1. o c. p.m. as plesent a day as I have seene sence I have ben in England. took tea at Edwin martons[8] had my feet face and neck washed by Lucia Claton,[9] this evening at M^r Firness[10] to Jane Charnock & Eldon Weldon, attended a confrenc[e] with the officers in preston.

25 October 1840 • Sunday

Sunday 25 I preached in Preston in the morning had the sacrament in the afternoon went to Penwortham in the evning held a meeting <in> the house of Broth[er] Edward Martons [Martin’s] the Brotherin [and] sisters staed and sing to us a long time after meeting

26 October 1840 • Monday

monday the 26 went to Preston had dinner at Br Nibors [Alexander Neibaur][11] came to Longton[12] held a meeting with the Brotherin staid all night at Brother [William] garners the Brⁿ ware kind to us and administered to our wants

27 October 1840 • Tuesday

27 Came to Church down [Churchtown, Lancaster, England] north Meals cauld at Br Sims tooke dinner then came to Br John Highton held meeting in the [e]vening Staed all night Br^s Mellen [Peter Melling][13] & [James] Whitehead was with us

28 October 1840 • Wednesday

28 went Brother Joseph Jackson and see them weave silk and to <John> Lloydds and see hiym weave silk P[eter] Mellen [Melling] ca[lle]d a Bleson [blessing] meeting in the evening at John Highton 4 was Baptised

29 October 1840 • Thursday

Oct 29 went to south port[14] to the hous of Sister Dickson in company with Elders Peter Mellen [Melling] H.C. Kimball James Whihitehead Robart McBride & wife and Sister Alles [Alice] Highton B^r P- Mellen [Peter Melling] Spoke by the Holy gost and said that there was some - seting here present that should [not] sleep in the grave till they should see the son of man com in his glory or in the clouds of heven namely Elder young Kimball and Whitehead held a meeting in the evening staed all night

30–31 October 1840 • Friday–Saturday

30 took choach went to Liverpoo[l] arived there 1/4 past 11 a.m. took dinner at Br E mitchell went to Br Richard Harison staed all night[15] – Saterday ◊◊◊◊ the 31 [Oct 1840] took the steamboat at 3 P.M. came to Eastam [Eastham, Cheshire, England] then Kings ferry Came to Harden [Hawarden, Wales] took Super at Gorge Wright then to the level 20 miles from L.pool

1 November 1840 • Sunday

November the 1 Sunday went in the morning to the Rev W^m Beckwell Preach[ed] We returned to house of Joseph Elles whare we staed all night Elder Kimball Preached in afternoon to very attentive congration I Preached in the evening at the house of Mr Dickon[16] to a verry attentive congration[17]

2 November 1840 • Monday

monday morning <12> took coach for Liverpool saw Br Canon & famely[18] took rail way Came to Manchester found Brothers L. Richards [James] Burnam J. Blakesly & L. Snow jest arived from america upon a mision[19]

3 November 1840 • Tuesday

tusday 3 we remained at Manchester

4–5 November 1840 • Wednesday–Thursday

Wensday 4 at Br Richards staed all night at W^m Hardemans with H. C. Kimball - Thursday at P. P. Pratt at 12 o.c. -

7 November 1840 • Saturday

Saterday the 7 at Br Richards. I Be[20]

8–9 November 1840 • Sunday–Monday

sunday the 8 We had no meeting in the [Carpenter’s] Hall I Baptised John Taylor[21] in the morning[22]

9 November 1840 • Monday

Mondy 9 took dinner at old M^r Brehiston tea at Mother Miller

10 November 1840 • Tuesday

tusday 10 Came to Pendleton[23] in the after noon at the hous [of] James Bome

11 November 1840 • Wednesday

wensday 11 took dinner at Wm Hardeman fathers-

14 November 1840 • Saturday

Saterday 14 took dinner at W^m Hardmans

15 November 1840 • Sunday

Sunday 15 I went with Bro Charles Miller to duckinfield held meeting in fore noon at intermision I hered a gentleman and lady play a butiful tune the lady plaid on a dubble harp it was butiful in the after noon held a meeting with the Church then went to Stock port held a meeting in evening and returned home to Manchester

16–20 November 1840 • Monday–Friday

Monday 16 J Taylor came to manchester st[a]yed till 20

21 November 1840 • Saturday

saterday <21> took rales in company with L[evi] & W[illard] Richa[rds] came to Bolton[24] cauld at J. Cryer & B^r Crooks[25] [at]tended councel in the evening staed all night with Adam Young

22 November 1840 • Sunday

Sunday 22 W. Richards Preach[ed] in the morning upon the Preasthood I Preached in the evening upon the same subject Staed at B^r [Adam] young

23–26 November 1840 • Monday–Thursday

Monday 23 returned to Manchester staed till Wensday 25 started for London in company with Elder Kimball to[ok] raleway to stockport tar[ri]ed one [h]our fued [viewed] the arches of the raleway over the town the highest arch is 135 feet above the water took coach came to Macklesfiel [Macclesfield, Cheshire, England] cauled at Br Ia [James] Galley[26] staed all night tooke coach <next morning> [Nov 26] came to the Pot[te]ries I preached in the evening upon the evedence of the Bible and Book of mormon Staed all night at B^r Johnson met with Elder G. A. Smith at the meeting at Hanley[27]

27 November 1840 • Friday

friday 27 I am at Br Johnson with Br [George A.] Smith[28]

28 November 1840 • Saturday

saterday 28 tooke the omnibus[29] at stoke came to lane end[30] Elder H. C. K- got on to the omnibus We came to West Brummedy[31] Cauled at Br Smith then went Back 2 miles and Cauled on Sister Roden took tea their then came to Gritts Greene [Greets Green] cauld on Br Walker found Br A[lfred]. Cordon when we ware coming back from Sister Rodens we overtook a man who was mo[u]rning and c[r]ying [a]lto gether and stagering lened up a ganst the fence I asked him the reson of his feeling so he replied he was fainting for the want of food he said he had not eat ennything for 2 days Br Kimball hand[ed] him 6 pence and we left him

Mid-nineteenth-century drawing of passengers boarding an omnibus. Brigham Young owned an omnibus in Nauvoo in 1846. Library of Congress, Washington, DC, LC-USZ62-104502.

29 November 1840 • Sunday

Sunday 29 Preached in Greets Greene in the morning attended meeting in the afternoon Came to Birmingham[32] Br [Lorenzo] snow spoke[33] I followed him Br Kimball then spoke staed all night

30 November 1840 • Monday

monday the 30 took the Cars <at 12> came to London arived here a bout 6 - P.M. found Br Woodruff[34] at his lodgens came to see Father Corner[35]

1 December 1840 • Tuesday

December the 1 Br Woodruff Kimball and myself went across London bridge Went in to the Borrow[36] took dinner at Allgood Sister Turley[37] sister came acros another Bridge through smithfield market[38] I Preach[ed] in the evening[39]

2 December 1840 • Wednesday

wensday 2 went to see Br Rodgers daughter mrs [Benedetto] Sangiovanni[40] had a good visit[41] came home in the [e]vening I went to see

3 December 1840 • Thursday

thursday 3 v[i]sited the tower of London[42] went through it and then went to the tunnel of under the Thames[43] and retur[n]ed home Preached in evening

4 December 1840 • Friday

frida 4 Br Woodruff and my self went to visit the Westmister abbey we walked through St James Park had a fare vue of all the Palses saw whare qwene Victory [Queen Victoria] rezide[s] in Buckinham Pales [Palace] went from there to the abby had a vue of the hol of it and returned to our lodgens whare Br Kimball had ben all day

Print of the London Bridge as it appeared at its opening in 1831. Library of Congress, Washington DC, LC-DIG-ppmsca-02629.

5 December 1840 • Saturday

Saterday the six <5> staed in the house most of the day[44]

6 December 1840 • Sunday

on Sunday 7 6 I went to st Palls Church[45] in the morning[46] B^r Kimball & R. Williams went with me in the after noon B^r Kimball Preached to a fue in the little chappel[47] I Preached in the evening We had a good meeting[48] had the sacrement in the eve at Father corners [Henry Conner] after mee[ting]

7 December 1840 • Monday

Monday 8 7 Brothers Kimball Woodruff and Williams & my self went and visite[d] the surgent [Surgeons] musem of eria [earlier?] times and preserved bodies[49] and the[n] to the Nation galirey [National Gallery][50] - & - c – in the evening

8 December 1840 • Tuesday

tusday 8 went to the Park and the Pantheam [Pantheon] and so home mist [most] of our company

Top: Artist's rendering of the northeast view of Westminster Abbey, published in 1836. Library of Congress, Washington, DC, LC-DIG-pga-05855. Below: St. Paul's Cathedral labeled "the pride of London." Photograph taken in 1904. Library of Congress, Washington, DC, LC-DIG-stereo-1s22530.

9 December 1840 • Wednesday

wensday 9 went in the morning to St Paul Church went all over it up in to the ball 404 feet high[51] went in to the valt saw the tombs [of] sir Bengman [Benjamin] West who died in London 1820[52] we then went to the monume[n]t then crost London Bridge and a cros the Iron Bridge then went to the British musaman [museum] and then home

10 December 1840 • Thursday

thursday went to m^r Akins Church[53] as he brake bred to his Church verry [every] thursday morning - but they would not let [us] goe in[54] we returned home had a good meeting the evening

A photomechanical print of the British Museum in London, circa 1890. Brigham Young visited the museum during his stay in London in December 1840. Library of Congress, Washington, DC, LC-DIG-ppmsc-08563.

11 December 1840 • Friday

frday morning 11 I started at 6 a.m. Br Woodruff and Williams came with me to the Raleway station took the car at 8 rode 63 miles in a bout 2 1/2 hours then took [the] Coach road 38 miles came to Cheltenham,[55] in a fue minits found a good home at Sister Marthen Brewit No 12 Warick Building Winchumb street Cheltenham - lodged at temperenc[e] hotel 2 nights

13 December 1840 • Sunday

on sunday <13> I Preached twice to a large congration a good Prospect of a good work walked in the evening to the liegh[56] to Br Brewet staed all night

14–16 December 1840 • Monday–Wednesday

monday 14 went to the Gadfield Elm chapel attended confren[ce] had a good time[57] - went to Br Hiles staed till Wensday 16 Came to Br Kington. Went to mr Hill to the Pitt house spent the evening staed at Br Kington all night

17 December 1840 • Thursday

thursd 17 Spent the day at Br Kington went to Elder Pitt in the even[ing] had a good visit staed at Br Kin[gton]

18 December 1840 • Friday

friday 18 went to visit Sister Fidler spent the afternoon and evening sistere Mathew^s and daughter was there had a good visit came to Ledburry staed at Br Pullen all night

19 December 1840 • Saturday

Saterday 19 Came to standly hill [Stanley Hill][58] staed all night at Br Okeys [Edward Ockey][59]

20 December 1840 • Sunday

Sunday 20 I Preached at Frooms [Fromes] hill in the morning at standly hill in the afternoon tended meeting in the evening same place

21–22 December 1840 • Monday–Tuesday

monday 21 attended confrence at standly hill [Stanley Hill][60] staed all night at Br Okeys - I have had a good time with the Brethrn I find Fathers & mothers sisters & Brothers whare ever I goe Came to Ledburry Preached in the evening st[ayed] at Br Pollen

23–24 December 1840 • Wednesday–Thursday

wensday morning 23 left Br L. Richards a half past 9 a.m came to Birmingham then to gritt greene found L.[61] snow [Lorenzo Snow] at Br Walker^s jest geting over the measels staed all night with him next morning took coach at the juncion Came to Lane end staed all night at Br Players tended Church meting in the evening

25 December 1840 • Friday

frida 25 attended confrence with the Church had a good time gave the Church much instruction[62] found E^ld G. A. Smith not verry well staed all night with him at Br Sameul [Samuel] Johnson

26 December 1840 • Saturday

Saterdy 26 took the Coach in the after noon Came to Manchester found Br Richards[63] ther in councel with the Brethern at Br Pratts

27 December 1840 • Sunday

Sunday 27 I Preached in the Carpender Hall morning and evening it being our las sabath there staed all night at Br Pratt

28 December 1840 • Monday

monday staed to due som buisness and came to Br Richards Lodgen at E^d Walkers I shall stay all night

29 December 1840–4 January 1841 • Tuesday–Monday

tusday came to L.pool cald on our Printer paind paid him som monny[64] B^r Taylor was gon to harden [Hawarden] came home on thursday [31 December] had a confrence on friday the first day of Janery 1841 staed at Br Harises with E^d Taylor E^lds [Elders] P P. Pratt J[ames] Burnam <&> T. Curtis was at the confrence the last day of december I was at Br Richards Harison[65] with the B^r Taylor and others set up till after 12 o.c. E^ds [Elders] P. Pratt & Taylor and myself Came to Preston on saterday the 2 attended confrence on sunday the 3 Br P. P. Pratt went to Manchest[er] on monday 4

5 January 1841 • Tuesday

tusday 5 Br Taylor and I went to Penwortham J. T. Preached in the evening

6–8 January 1841 • Wednesday–Friday

wensday went to Longton to see Br Rocklef & Blackus [William Blackhurst][66]

found them unwell bu[t] in the faith. Br Mellen [Peter Melling] was with us we laid our hans on them they braught us good Knews from our famelies and Brethrin we returned to Preston the same night [6 January] staed till frida [8 January] B^r P. Mellen & I started for Cletheroe [Clitheroe] Confrence I left Br Taylor in Preston unwell - we came to Ribchester[67] sta[e]d all night with E^d Clark

9 January 1841 • Saturday[68]

Saterday 9 Came to Cletheroe stoped at B^r L. Smith found E^d Richards Staed all night [with] Steven Langstoth [Longstroth] had a good confrence

10–13 January 1841 • Sunday–Wednesday

a sunday the 10 staed all night at the same place Staed at Br Smith^s till tusday 12 Br Richards went to his wifes Fathers.[69] I took coach on tusday morning [12 January] at 5 o c - Came to manchestr found Br Pratts famely all well staed all night on Tues wensday 13 took dinner with Br Patrick staed at Br Pratt all night

14–15 January 1841 • Thursday–Friday

thursday took the cares [cars] at 2 o [clock] - 45 min came to Liverpool Preached in the evening in the musac hall staed at Br Harisons all night spent frida there here in the evening Br. Richards came here[70]

17 January 1841 • Sunday

Sunday 17 I Preached twice in ◊◊◊ the music hall

18 January 1841 • Monday

monday Br W. Richards and myself commencd our index for the Book of Mormon[71] - at Br Harison

20 January 1841 • Wednesday

wensday evening I Preached in hall

21 January 1841 • Thursday

thursday evening Preached at B. Greene aws [house?]

24 January 1841 • Sunday

sunday 24 I Preached in musac Hall twice[72]

3 February 1841 • Wednesday

Feb 3 I gave a Lector on [lecture in] the music hall

7 February 1841 • Sunday

on the 7 of Feb the Companey started on Bord the ship sheffield Capt Porter B^r Hyram [Hiram] Clark took charge of the companey[73]

Spent the time in L. pool

16 February 1841 • Tuesday

on tusday 16 B^r Daniel Browett from gloster Shier [Gloucestershire] and his company of one <109> soles started on bord Echo - capt wood[74]

20–25 February 1841 • Saturday–Thursday

Feb Saterday 20 went to Harden [Hawarden] with Br ��◊◊�Գ󲹳� [James] Burnham preached twice of on the sabath also on monday even[ing] also tusday evening on Wensday 24 returnd to Liverpool - thursday 25 at a blesing meeting at Br damville No 9 Fletcher street

27 February 1841 • Saturday

Saterday came to Manchester found Br P. Pratt & famely well the Bretherin all well much rejoiced to see me

28 February 1841 • Sunday

Sunday morning 28 I preched in Lumbart bur St [Lombard Street?] room

1–2 March 1841 • Monday–Tuesday

visited the Brotherin on Monday march 1 tusday 2 came to Holdham [Oldham, Lancaster, England] stoped at Br Joseph Marsland Worneth [Werneth] Mills

3 March 1841 • Wednesday

Wensday 3 came to manchester[75] staed at Br Busheas all night

4 March 1841 • Thursday

thursdy went to see Br Greene found him well came to Br M^cKilrick

6 March 1841 • Saturday

Saterday 6 B^r Kimball came to manchester[76]

8–9 March 1841 • Monday–Tuesday

8 of march 1841 I Preached in the Carpenders Hall <yesterday> in the morning Br H. C. K. in the evening now at E^d Gorge Walkers monday 8 was at a meeting in the evening at Br. Coopers Staed at Br Walkers all night tusday night Staed at Father [Thomas] Broth[er]tons

10–11 March 1841 • Wednesday–Thursday

wensday 10 took diner at Br Pratts Staed at Br Bushes all night[77] - 11 day[78] thursday - 12 o.c. at B^r Walkers took rale coach at 2 P.m. came to L.pool found Br^s Richards & Taylor, all the saints well. a com[pany] reddy to start for america Br T[homas] Smith & Wm Mors [William Moss][79] in the com[pany]

12 March 1841 • Friday

went to a blesing meeting thursday evening <12>[80] at Br Wildens

13 March 1841 • Saturday

went to a blesing meeting to Br Mitchel [Hezekiah Mitchell] frida eve 13[81] went to the [Carpenter’s] Hall to meeting in the afternoon

15 March 1841 • Monday

monday 15 took tea at B^r Dunnville Whare there was a blesing meeting

17–18 March 1841 • Wednesday–Thursday

Wensday 17 the ship Alesto saled with the Brethrin Brothers H. C. Kimball & W. Richards started for Preston in company with Peter Mellin & Whitehead. Br R. Hadlock and my self came to Harden [Hawarden, Wales] staed all night at Joseph A Ellis Br Hadlock Preach[ed] in the evening found the Bre[thre]n all well.

20–22 March 1841 • Saturday–Monday

Saterday 20 I went to overton [Overton, Wales] with B^r Fredrick Cook stoped to B^r Price found Br Burnam, <H> Royal J. Mahon, J Burgel all well. I preached in the morning sunday 21 and in the evening at Br Price had a ◊◊ large Congration, staed all night held a meeting monday.

23 March 1841 • Tuesday

tusday came to Lpool walked a bout 15 miles took rale car at Chester [Chester, Cheshire, England]

24–26 March 1841 • Wednesday–Friday

Wensday 25 [24 March] - 26 - 27[82] Spent the time as wetness on the case of Joseph Holaway[83]

28 March 1841 • Sunday

Sunday morning 28 went to here M^r [Reverend Robert] Aitken Preach[84] Br^s W. Richards R. Harison went with

29–30 March 1841 • Monday–Tuesday

monday & tusday 29 . 30 Packed up Books of mormon[85]

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Editorial Note

Since September 1840, Brigham Young had wondered, “Shall we gather up all the saints we can & come over with them next Spring?”[86] Joseph Smith responded to the question in a letter to the Twelve in mid-December 1840 stating, “I have reflected on the subject some time and am of the opinion that it would be wisdom in you to make preparations to leave the scene of your labors in the spring.”[87] By 15 January 1841, before that letter arrived, Brigham Young knew when the apostles should depart England for home. He wrote to his wife Mary Ann and informed her that on “6 day of Apriel 1841 we [will] hold a Council of the twelve with the officers of the Church for the purpos of arrangen the affares of the Church so that we can leve, I think we shall start for home then, and make ouer way as fast as we can.”[88] Other apostles were ready to head home as well. In a February 1841 letter, Orson Pratt wrote that in early April he intended to “be with all of our Quorum that meet in Manchester & then the first good ship that sails from Liverpool for N. York I intend shall carry me & all this if the Lord will.”[89]

As the time for departure approached, in late March they prepared earnestly to wrap up their mission with a series of councils and a conference. In preparation for these, Young briefly shifted from his usual journaling to use the pages for jotting down planning notes. He prepared to write instructions on gathering the Saints, ordaining various men to priesthood offices, and sending certain missionaries to certain places. It appears that he wrote these planning notes on 30 March 1841, given that he purposefully ended his 30 March journal entry midway through a page, moving on to the next page to write his conference planning notes before returning to usual journaling with a standard entry on 31 March 1841. This portion of the journal also contains eight lines of text that begin with the directional words “north south” and end with “east west.” Young jotted a series of letters sandwiched between those directional words. The reason or purpose for these jottings is unknown.

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Busness for the Councel of the twelve on the 6 day of Apriel 401[90] a peace [piece] prapared for the Star for to govern the getherin of the saints from Urop [Europe][91] - an agent at L.pool for to conduc the saints - a nother Patrick [Patriarch] ordained a peace wreten to enstruct the Saints a bout getherin to america - an agent in L-pool[92] & one in N.orlans [New Orleans, Louisiana]

-------------------------------------------------------------

the Elders are not Fathers but medwifes

-------------------------------------------------------------

high Preast to be ordaind G. D. Watt-A. Fielding T Richardson - Wm Key, John Greenehow and Mc guffee Br Whitehead an Elder to Ipswich 1 to Cheltenham

north south

bnc nbw sbe sbw

nne nnw sse ssw

nebn nwbn sebs swbs

ne nw se sw

sebe nwbw sebe swbw

ebn wbn ebs wbs

east west east west

31 March 1841 • Wednesday

my Jornal Wensday 31 attended confrence in L.pool

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Editorial Note

Brigham Young wrote characteristically brief journal entries for the highly significant events of early April 1841. As he and the other apostles held councils and a large conference with members and made decisions to conclude their British mission, Young penned short, matter-of-fact statements on daily events. These are illuminated below by information and quotations from Wilford Woodruff’s journal. Importantly, Woodruff’s journal not only records his own commentary on these events but also preserves the full minutes of important councils.

One overarching theme emerges from Woodruff’s writings. As the apostles conducted final business in England and prepared to depart for home, something that was both the fruit of their joint labors and an important contributor to their success in Britain became clear: their unity as a quorum under the leadership of quorum president Brigham Young. Consider these quotations from Woodruff’s journal. On 2 April he wrote, “I met to day in the Council of 8 of the Twelve. We had a good time. Unity prevailed.”[93] The next day the quorum met again and conducted “much business & had a good time being united.”[94] Woodruff suggested the delight he and his associates felt in their fellowship as a united quorum when he wrote on 5 April, “Perfect union & harmony prevailed in all the deliberations of our councils for the last four days.”[95] After having been separated for much of the previous four years and having “passed through many sore and grieveous trials exposing our lives & our characters to the slander and violence of wicked & murderous men,” the apostles were grateful for God’s providential care and for the unity they now experienced as a quorum.[96]

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1–3 April 1841 • Thursday–Saturday

thursday first day of Apriel Br W. Richards & my self Came to manchester arived at 47 oxford St at P. P. Pratt^s betwene 12 & 1 found Br H. C. Kimball O. Hyde W. Woodruff & G. A. Smith was much rejoiced to see my Bretherin especely O. Hyde[97] Spent the time till the next day when Br^s J. Taylor & O. Pratt came to hand a bout 2 P.M. we commenced Buisness frida[98] & saterday[99]

4–5 April 1841 • Sunday–Monday

Sunday 4 9 of the 12 was at the [Carpenter’s] hall namely B. young H. C. Kimball O. Hyde P. P. Pratt O. Pratt W. Richards W. Woodruff[100] J. Taylor & G. A. Smith all bore testamoney to the Bible Book of mormon J. Smith as a Prophet 4 at Br Walkers in salford[101] 5 [April] in councel with the Bretherin of the 12 -[102]

6 April 1841 • Tuesday

tusday 6 our Confrence commenced at 10 A.M. We had a good time[103]

7 April 1841 • Wednesday

on wensday 7 the ◊◊ Corum [Quorum] of the 12 Ware to gether a part of the day spent the time visiting the saints[104] took tea at Mothers Millers on 7[105]

9 April 1841 • Friday

on frid<a> 9 we all went to the Z<o>ologacal gardens. I was sick in the forenoon. Stead at Fathers Brothertons all night

10 April 1841 • Saturday

on, sateday 10 Br Snow & Adams left for Burmingham

11 April 1841 • Sunday

Sunday I rested in Bed till a[l]most 12 o,clock B^r Woodruff Preached in the morning O. Pratt in the evening I attended the meeting in the after noon & evening we had a good meeting left the Bretherin in good faith & feloship[106]

12 April 1841 • Monday

monday traded a little at Falkern[107]

13 April 1841 • Tuesday

tusday night Br Levi Richards staed with me at Br Bewshers[108]

14 April 1841 • Wednesday

thursday wensday morning 13[109] Br Kimball left for Preston. Breatherins L. Richards W. Woodruff & G. A. Smith are present[110]

15 April 1841 • Thursday

thursday 15 of Apriel 1841[111] Came from Manchester[112] started 1/4 to 3 p.m. in company with L. Richard, Woodruff O. Pratt G. A. smith attended the tea party in the musac hall[113]

20–21 April 1841 • Tuesday–Wednesday

Tusday the 20[114] went on Bord the Rochester[115] Cast ancare [anchor] till wensday 21 waed ancar [weighed anchor] a bout 10 a.m. saled out of the River a bout 12 had a fine brease till out of the chanel

22 April–5 May 1841 • Thursday–Wednesday of the following week

we had 8 days contry wind 29 [April] wind changed[116] had fare wind and a plesent sale for 4 days then the wind fel was be calmed on the Banks of new found Land. I was verry sick & destresed in my hed & stomick I felt as though I could not endure menny such voige^s [voyages] as I had indured for 2 years or sence I started on my mision and ware it not for the power of god & his tendere mercy I should despare, but the Lord is my strength[.] this is the 5 day of May 1841 it is a fine plesent day yesterday was the first day that looked like an american day for the pureness of the atmostfere - there has ben som sickness on bord sence we started sister Ersken Child and sister Greene Child has ben sick[117] - the Bretherin and Sisters apere to feele well this morning though som have felt to grumble som sence we have ben on our jorney -

when the winds ware Contry the 12 a gread to humble them selves before the Lord and ask him to calm the sease & give us a fair[118] wind, we did so & the wind emeditly Changed and from that time to this it has blone in our favor[119]

6 May 1841 • Thursday

thursday 6 wind contry al the pasengers well able to eat saw a velsel [vessel] to the winderd [windward][120]

7 May 1841 • Friday

friday 7 we had a fine sale in the fore part of the day, in the afternoon the wind blue from the south west which stoped our progreese, storme after storme till it blue a gale and continued till the next day

8 May 1841 • Saturday

Saterday 8 in the afternoon it is fine wether a gane 5 P.M. I have jest come up stares for the first time to day

9 May 1841 • Sunday

Sunday the 9 the wind from the north we sale a bout 12 not [knots] a noure [an hour] we are all perty well my head akes a little my helth is verry feeble.

10 May 1841 • Monday

monday 10 it is a fine day but little wind and that a h[e]ad I had a good nights rest last night feele pirty well the Bretherin are generly well and in good spirits - Calm till 12 in the night the wind arose from the south west blue hard we ran a lon [along] 9 not [knots] a nour [an hour] all day

11 May 1841 • Tuesday

tusday 11 a[t] 4 o c P.M. we have in sight of a vessel going the same way we are going

12 May 1841 • Wednesday

wensday 12 the wind is right a head of us a bout 10 a.m. we came in sight of land the south point of novacoshia [Nova Scotia] the Cap[tain] said it was Cape Sable[121] we have seene 3 vessels to day wind died a way calm all night fougey [foggy] & raney

13 May 1841 • Thursday

Thursday 13 calm cloudy & raney in the after noon the wind blue from the south west it went down in the evening

14 May 1841 • Friday

friday morning the 14 fare and plesent a light wind from the north east all feele perty well we are a bout 500 m from N. york came [calm] all day the ship lies still on the water we see a grate menny small fish we thaught mackrel there is a grate menney see weeds in the water for 2 days back - in Longetude 67 from London & 7 from N. york a plesent evening 367 miles from N york

15 May 1841 • Saturday

Saterday morning the 15 verry plesent a light Brese in our favor goe a bout 3 miles a nour all well plesent all day Sister [Jennetta] Richards came on the deck

16 May 1841 • Sunday

Sunday 16 fauga [foggy] this morning light Brese som of the pasengers sickley, at 12 the wind shifted in to the South then south west blue a fine brese

17 May 1841 • Monday

monday morning 17 the wind is high the see rough I have ben unwell through the night we run 8 1/2 nots an [h]our the wind ded a head. a bout 3 P.M we took on <bord> our Pilot the wind began to die a way a bout 5 o.c. the Pilot said we ware a bout 65 miles from Sanday hook [Sandy Hook, Monmouth County, New Jersey] fine and Plesent

18 May 1841 • Tuesday

tusday 18 fine and plesent win[d] not faverable 11 1/2 saw a smoke arising from Jersey shore, had a fine night rest last night we saled south from N. york about 30 or 40 miles then tacked a bout for N. york a bout 5 P.M. we soon came in sight Barneget light light house[122] 45 miles from Sanday hook

19 May 1841 • Wednesday

wensday 19 we came in to the bay a bout 4 a.m. fine morning my native Land looks good to me we are all well this morning - Could not get in to harber[123] Cast ancor a bout 11 a.m.

20 May 1841 • Thursday

thursday 20 - 1841 fine morning it looks like my native[124] Contry we are on Quarintien Ground[125] we feele perty well B^r Kimball is unwell

21 May 1841 • Friday

Came to the citty Thursday [Friday] 21 evening Came to sister adms [Caroline Adams][126] found the Bretherin jonesty [?] well

Based on map research and cartography for the Joseph Smith Papers; used by permission. RESEARCH: Spencer W. McBride, Brent M. Rogers, and Gerrit J. Dirkmaat. CARTOGRAPHY: Jonathan West. © By Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

A view of the quarantine grounds on Staten Island, New York, where Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saints landed upon their arrival in the United States from England. Library of Congress, Washington, DC, LC-DIG-pga-00331.

22 May 1841 • Saturday

Saterday 22 Br Edward Okey was mar[ri]ed to Eliza Brewer at Br Latsons[127] By. Br W. Woodruff[128]

31 May 1841 • Monday

went on to Long Island monday 31 of may Saw the Bretherin all well returned to N. york

1 June 1841 • Tuesday

June the first this day I am 40 years old there was menny fires in N. y. while there - the Brethern and Sisters ware verry kind to us while there

4–6 June 1841 • Friday–Sunday

on frida 4 of June 1841 - Br^s Kimball and Taylor & myself Self left N. Y for home we took Steam Boat for Pheladelpha - Br^s G. A. Smith & R. Hadlock came part way went to New Egypt [Monmouth County, New Jersey] to a 2 day meeting.[129] We arived in Pheladelpha[130] at 2 o- P.M. we found Som of the Bren a bout sundown staed till 12 in th[e] night - we then took the cars Came better the [than] 100 miles then took the canall,[131] came 140 miles to <holadyburger> [Hollidaysburg, Huntington County, Pennsylvania] then came over the mountens on the raleway 38 miles - came a bout ha half way came to a level two or more miles the trane was verry long - 2 or 3 car[s] had a fine caredge on it, which took fire & before the Ingener [Engineer] could be notified it burned up so as to spoile it came to the canal at Johnston at 4. o P.M

7–12 June 1841 • Monday–Saturday

on monday June 7 - staed in Pitsburge[132] [Pittsburgh, Alleghany County, Pennsylvania] till Sateday the 12 looked a bout the Citty - Started this morning a bout 8 o.c. found the water verry low the boat rubed on the Botom sever<a>l times 12 miles below Pit we run a ground we staed all day and nigh 8 Boats came up 1 past us to Pits 2 down we went a shore spent the time a greable we have a good company on Bord

13 June 1841 • Sunday

Sunday 13 - we staed all day on the Sand bar menny of the pasengers left the Boat - I went a shore spent part of the day We got off the bar a bout 1/2 past 7 o.c. in the evenig evening

Painting of Brigham Young, circa early June 1841. This portrait was painted by an unknown artist, likely in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during Brigham's stay in the city on his return to Nauvoo from Great Britain. This painting is apparently the oldest surviving visual image of Brigham Young. Courtesy of the Church History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

14 June 1841 • Monday

on monday 14 we spent the time a greeable

15 June 1841 • Tuesday

tusday 15 came down the river till a bout 11 a.m. stoped for the lighter[133] that we had left Started 1/2 past 12 when the steam was put to the whell the condenst steam in a scape pipe pord out of the [pipe?] & scolt [scalded] [a] woman and a daughter & child & by the name of Thomas Dodsworth going to Cencanata [Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio] from Nova coca [Nova Scotia] we laed up 7 miles a bove wheling [Wheeling, Ohio County, Virginia]

16 June 1841 • Wednesday

wensday 16 we Started verry earley in the morning Came a bout 3 mi – got on a sand bar got off about 4 P.M – put up at wheling [Wheeling] the Boat Cicero is a verry slow runing Boat Cap Thomas oconner is we verry kind to us staed at Wheling all night

17 June 1841 • Thursday

17 Thursday came on our way finely arived in Cencenate [Cincinnati]

20–22 June 1841 • Sunday–Tuesday

Sunday morning 20 went in to the town found some of the Bretherin here we take a nother Steam Boat for St Lewis by the name of Meourmade mermaid arived at Lewisville [Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky] tusday [22 June] 6. P.M. it is a fine town a verry nice market - staed till the next day

23 June 1841 • Wednesday

wensday 23 left at 12 I went on to the Stone Bridge that the Steam goe under went in to the dry dock hewn out of asolled [a solid] Rock we ware a bout 2 hours going through the locks

26 June 1841 • Saturday

Saterday morning <26> a bout 1, o.c. a.m. we ware at the mouth of the ohio Saw the Steam boat metera she is a fine Boat[134]

―――――――― ◊ ――――――――

Editorial Note

Brigham Young arrived back in Nauvoo on 1 July 1841. Between his baptism in April 1832 and his return from England, Young served eight proselytizing missions accounting for roughly three and a half years away from his family, including the nearly two-year period he had just spent traveling to, proselytizing in, and returning from England. Just over a week after returning to Nauvoo, on 9 July, Joseph Smith dictated a revelation for Brigham Young.[135] During Young’s most recent absence overseas, Mary Ann Young and their children struggled physically and temporally. They were impoverished, often lacking essential goods and suffering from illnesses. Mary Ann fell on hard-enough times early on that she rowed a boat across the Mississippi River in a winter storm to accept a few modest necessities (a few potatoes and a little flour) from the church’s storehouse.[136] Nevertheless, although physically exhausting, she found employment, managed the household, and provided for herself and the children. Mary Ann Young proved resilient and steadfast in her husband’s absence but was certainly grateful for his return.[137] The 9 July 1841 revelation to Young directed the apostle to remain with his family saying, “It is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past for your offering is acceptable to me I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name.”[138] The opportunity to remain with and provide for his family surely would have been welcome news to the ears of Brigham, Mary Ann, and their children.

Life did not necessarily slow down for Brigham Young after his return. In mid-August 1841 at a special church conference, Joseph Smith pronounced that “the time had come when the twelve should be called upon to stand in their place next to the first presidency, and attend to the settling of emegrants and the business of the church at the stakes.”[139] The church president’s declaration gave Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles new administrative responsibilities—“to assist in managing the affairs of th[e] kingdom in this place.”[140] In other words, the Twelve with Young as quorum president were to manage much of the business of the church, relieving Joseph Smith of these responsibilities so that he could attend to spiritual matters.[141] They had returned from England united, proven, and effective. Joseph Smith so needed the apostles that he did not wait for October conference but called this “special conference,” allowing him to make broader use of their proven talents and energy. He was pleased to have them at his side. Joseph Smith’s August 1841 action emphasized the place of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles next to him and the church’s First Presidency in practice as well as in theology.[142]

In this new role the apostles were able to build on their successes in England from 1839 to 1841, continuing to work together as a quorum as they expanded their functions and abilities. Step by step they became increasingly visible and influential as Smith’s defenders and administrative arm. Their prominence and increased sphere of influence gradually accustomed the Saints to view the apostles as their leaders. At the same time the Twelve undertook these visible assignments, they were working closely with Joseph Smith privately. He began to meet with them as a quorum and to invite them to meet with him in important councils. From this time forward some of Joseph’s closest personal associates were members of the Twelve, including Brigham Young.[143] Joseph Smith’s August decision effectively changed the constitutional arrangement for the Twelve. No longer were they authorities only abroad, outside of organized stakes. From this point forward, Brigham Young and the quorum were involved in every major initiative in the church, placing a united quorum alongside and in harmony with the church presidency in all things.

As part of their responsibilities, Brigham Young and the apostles wrote epistles to church members calling on them to assist in building up the stakes of the church and to bring tools and materials for construction in Nauvoo, particularly for the temple, the place where the Lord would manifest himself to his people.[144] Young and the apostles informed the Saints that everyone should be willing to do their part whether “giving one tenth part of their time, or one tenth part of their income, according to circumstances; while those sisters, who can do nothing more, are knitting socks and mittens and preparing garments for the laborers, so that they may be made as comfortable as possible during the coming winter.” Young and the apostles also asked the Saints to “be not covetous, but deal in righteousness.”[145]

As summer turned to fall, Brigham Young continued to take on additional responsibilities while fulfilling his duty to preach and set the churches in order. On 30 October 1841 he was appointed and subscribed his oath of office as a councilor in the Nauvoo city government.[146] Young and other church leaders also held meetings where the presiding apostle taught the Saints the importance of building the temple and instructed them on the “principles of faith and the gifts of the spirit.”[147] Strategizing with Joseph Smith and Newel K. Whitney near the end of December, Young agreed to send an agent to England “to establish a cheap & expeditious conveyance for the saints & merchandize. to this place.”[148]

From the time Young returned to Nauvoo in July 1841, he did not record another entry in his journal until January 1842. He then made only two short entries, dated 6 and 18 January 1842, in his second journal and did not begin writing regular entries again until early March 1843.

―――――――― ◊ ――――――――

6 January 1842 • Thursday

[Line of Coded Text]

Janury 6^th 1842

[Line of Coded Text][149]

Janury 6^th 1842

Brigham Young Jornal

18 January 1842 • Tuesday

Janury 18^th 1842

this Evening I am with my wife a lone by my fire side for the first time for years we injoi it and feele to prase the Lord

Notes

[1] Brigham Young to Mary Ann Young, 12 November 1840, Blair, Family Papers, Marriott Library, University of Utah; and Heber C. Kimball to Times and Seasons, 4 August 1841, in Times and Seasons, 16 August 1841, 2:508.

[2] Brigham Young, Journal, 29­–30 March 1841, p. XXX herein.

[3] Brigham Young’s newly purchased black leather journal. It was the second of his journals used while in England and the third of his holograph journals. The journal’s inside cover provides more information about the producer of the book. It contains printed leaves with descriptive advertisements for Harwood brand memorandum books. In Brigham Young’s journal the printed copy reads: “HARWOOD’S Improved Patent Memorandum Books, with Metallic Pencil. These highly distinguished Books may be had in almost every form for the Pocket, and adapted for a variety of purposes independently of their use for Order and Betting Books, for which they are so well known; they will be found very desirable, ruled with money columns for Pocket Ledgers, Cash Memorandums, Collecting Books, &c., as they preserve a permanency as durable as ink: also, especially useful ruled to pattern (with printed headings if required) for surveying and taking levels, &c. for railroads, as they may be used even in wet weather and retain the same legibility: they possess important advantages for reporting or taking notes of any kind, as they admit of the greatest freedom and rapidity in writing, and preserve the most faithful accuracy and perspicuity, without any impediment whatever to their use. In order to protect the public from numerous imitations of these Books, none are genuine unless bearing their Signature. J^no & Fred. Harwood. (signature).”

[4] Manchester, England.

[5] Parley P. Pratt had returned to the United States to accompany his wife Mary Ann and their children to England. Pratt had departed England with Olive Frost, his wife’s sister, after a July 1840 conference in Manchester. According to Pratt’s autobiography, “I received a letter from my family in New York, informing me that they were dangerously ill of scarlet fever. I, therefore, by advice of the other members of the quorum, concluded to cross the ocean once more and bring them to England, where I was likely to remain for several years.” After a thirty-seven-day passage, he and Frost arrived in New York City. Shortly thereafter, the Pratt family left the United States for England. After “a long and tedious passage,” they arrived again in England. Pratt’s family in England “then consisted of my wife and wife’s sister, and my wife’s daughter, Mary Ann Stearns, and my sons, Parley and Nathan.” (Brigham Young to Mary Ann Young, 16–30 October 1840, in Thatcher Collection, CHL; and Pratt, Autobiography, 272–74.)

[6] Joseph Bateman was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, to Thomas and Betty Bateman in 1806. Joseph eventually migrated to Utah. (Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 741.

[7] Penwortham, Lancaster, England, is a parish approximately two miles southwest of Preston on the southwest bank of the River Ribble. Many in the town were employed in cotton mills there in the 1840s. (National Gazetteer, 3:191–92.)

[8] Possibly Edward Martin, who was born in Preston, England, on 18 November 1818. Martin was a painter; he later sailed with the Saints from Liverpool, England, to the United States in February 1841 on the Sheffield. He arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois, on 18 April 1841. In 1846 Martin joined the Mormon Battalion during the U.S.-Mexico War. Martin was also a captain of the ill-fated Martin Handcart Company of 1856. (“Death of Edward Martin, Deseret News, 16 August 1882, 465; Customs no. 149, U.S. Customs List, FHL); Contributor, October 1891, 12:442–43; and Edward Martin to John Melling, 9 April 1849, Great Salt Lake Valley, in Carter, Our Pioneer Heritage, 12:354–57.)

[9] Lucy Caroline Clayton was born on 21 March 1820 in Farrington, Lancashire, England, to Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. She was the sister of William Clayton and was baptized into the Latter-day Saint faith in 1837, making her one of the earliest converts in England. (Black, Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10:284–85.)

[10] Possibly Isaac Furniss, who was approximately twenty years old at the time. He immigrated to the United States from England in 1849 and later wrote to Brigham Young in May 1869 about land matters in Utah Territory. (Louisiana, New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820–1945, database with images, FamilySearch, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKNP-Q2T2, Isac [sic] Furnace, 1849, citing ship Henry Ware, FHL microfilm 200,161; Isaac Furniss to Brigham Young, 28 May 1869, Brigham Young Office Files, box 33, folder 4, CHL.)

[11] Alexander Neibaur, a university-educated dentist, moved from Germany to Preston, England, in 1830, where he established a dental practice. Isaac Russell baptized Neibaur into the Latter-day Saint faith in April 1838. (Seventy 5th Quorum, Biographies, 10, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)

[12] Longton, Lancaster, England, a township in the parish of Penwortham, had a chapel used by Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists. It is possible that Brigham Young and other missionaries used the chapel for their meeting on this date. (National Gazetteer, 2:708.)

[13] Peter Melling was a church patriarch. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 28 October 1840, 82.)

[14] Southport, Lancaster, England, situated at the mouth of the River Ribble, had significant populations of Roman Catholics, Wesleyans, Independents, and Primitive Methodists. (National Gazetteer, 3:503.)

[15] At some point on 30 October 1840, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Parley P. Pratt visited John Tompkins, whom they had employed to print the British edition of the Book of Mormon. Young, Kimball, and Pratt paid Tompkins ten pounds in partial payment for Tompkins’s work. This was the third payment church members had made to Tompkins for the printing of the Book of Mormon. The first payment to Tompkins was made in late July for ten pounds, followed by another ten-pound payment on 9 September. (Receipt from John Tompkins, 24 July 1840, 9 September 1840, and 30 October 1840, Mission to England, Receipts for Paper for Book of Mormon, Brigham Young Office Files, box 170, folder 15, CHL.)

[16] Possibly James Dixon, who had been baptized on 27 September 1840.

[17] In a letter to Mary Ann Young shortly after this brief visit to Hawarden, Brigham Young wrote about his experiences and the responses from the people there. He stated that a “report went out that we had the same power that the old apostles had, it is true we did lay hands on one young man that was quite low with a fevor, we rebuked his fevor and he got well.” Young also stated that he and Heber C. Kimball laid their “hands on a woman that had verry bad eyes” and that as a result of their priesthood blessing “she emeditly recoverd.” Several months later Kimball wrote that he and Young preached only twice “and the people almost universally received our testimony.” Kimball said that a large church was raised up there after them and many were preparing to emigrate. According to John Taylor, Hawarden had thirty church members in early February 1841. (Brigham Young to Mary Ann Young, 12 November 1840, Blair, Family Papers, Marriott Library, University of Utah; Heber C. Kimball to the Editors of the Times and Seasons, 4 August 1841, in Times and Seasons, 16 August 1841, 2:508; and Letter from John Taylor, in JSP, D8:15.)

[18] Likely George and Ann Quayle Cannon and their children, including George Q. Cannon. John Taylor had married Leonora Cannon in 1836, and the family was baptized when Taylor came to Liverpool earlier in 1840. (“History of John Taylor,” 7, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, CHL.)

[19] In a letter to Mary Ann Young, Brigham Young wrote that when Lorenzo Snow arrived, he brought letters from Nauvoo, including one from Mary Ann and another from Joseph Smith. The letter from Smith was the first that the Twelve received from him; they were ten months into their mission. In a letter to Charlotte Granger, Lorenzo Snow described his feelings upon arriving in England: “On arriving at Manchester I experienced an inexpressible joy in greeting once more my friends from America. I tarried about ten days in that town during which preached several times, and babtized a number.” (Brigham Young to Mary Ann Young, 16–30 October 1840, Thatcher Collection, CHL; and Lorenzo Snow to Charlotte Granger, 16 February 1841, Snow, Letterbook, CHL.)

[20] TEXT: Brigham Young’s handwriting for this entry abruptly ends here and begins anew with the next entry.

[21] Not to be mistaken for the apostle, this John Taylor was from Manchester and born on 7 December 1812. Brigham Young described him as formerly “an infidel.” He immigrated to the United States and died in Ogden, Utah, in 1896. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 8 November 1840, 83; and Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1202.)

[22] Brigham Young’s later history describes why he canceled the usual Sunday morning meeting this Sabbath day. According to the history, Young “had organized the Priesthood in Manchester to meet every Sabbath morning, and distribute themselves throughout the different parts of the city to preach in the streets. In this way they occupied about forty preaching stations, at each one of which the congregation were notified of our regular meetings in the Carpenter’s Hall. This so annoyed the sectarians, particularly the Methodists, that they made complaints to the mayor, who issued an order to have all street preachers arrested.” Young then “went to the Priesthood meeting in the morning and felt impressed to tell the brethren to go home. The police, who had been instructed to arrest all street preachers that morning, took up about twenty, who all proved to be Methodists. When the magistrate learned they were not ‘Mormons,’ they were dismissed.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 8 November 1840, 82–83.)

[23] Pendleton, Lancaster, England, is approximately three miles from Manchester, situated on the main road from Manchester to Bolton. Pendleton served as a station on the western section of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. A large portion of the town’s population was engaged in the cotton industry. Many religious denominations were found here, including Roman Catholics, Independents, Wesleyans, and New Connexion Methodists. (National Gazetteer, 3:181.)

[24] Bolton, Lancaster, England, had seven churches for Wesleyans, Roman Catholics, Independents, Baptists, Quakers, and Unitarians. It also had numerous cotton factories, a theater, and a temperance hall. (National Gazetteer, 1:308–9.)

[25] Likely church leaders in Bolton. Brigham Young’s later history notes that he “went to Bolton and attended Council meeting in the evening with the authorities of the Branch.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 21 November 1840, 83.)

[26] James Galley was the presiding elder at Macclesfield, England. He was baptized on 25 April 1840. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 25 November 1840, 84.)

[27] There is a discrepancy here with Young’s later history, which says that Young stopped at Burslem, approximately two miles northeast from Hanley, where he met George A. Smith. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 26 November 1840, 84.)

[28] Brigham Young’s later manuscript history notes that George A. Smith “was afflicted with bleeding at the lungs.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 27 November 1840, 84.)

[29] A popular means of transportation in Europe by the 1830s, the omnibus was essentially a large horse-drawn stagecoach that could carry up to fourteen passengers. It was open to all people, regardless of class, who paid the fees. (Rodrigue, Geography of Transport Systems, 207.)

[30] Lane End, Stafford, England, is situated in the southern extremity of the area known as the Potteries. It experienced great growth in the mid-nineteenth century owing to the earthenware and china manufacture establishments there. Lane End had established churches for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, and New Connexion Methodists. (National Gazetteer, 2:531–32.)

[31] Brigham Young’s later history indicates that he was in West Bromwich. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 28 November 1840, 84.)

[32] Birmingham, Warwick, England, was a bustling city with a large population. It was a center for rail and canal communication in England with a thriving manufacturing industry and a wide assortment of religious practice. (National Gazetteer, 1:273–76.)

[33] Lorenzo Snow wrote fondly of his time in Birmingham. In a letter to Charlotte Granger, he stated, “Found myself in the great town of Birmingham. I stopped in there, (distant from Manchester about 80 miles) and labored in the ministry about three months in that town and vicinity. I never enjoyed myself better, or experienced better treatment. Birmingham numbers about two hundred thousand inhabitants. The 11^th of Feby I got aboard a train of cars which in five hours brought me to London where I now am.” (Lorenzo Snow to Charlotte Granger, 16 February 1841, Snow, Letterbook, CHL.)

[34] Earlier in the day Wilford Woodruff had taken “a vary interesting walk with Doctor [Thomas] Copeland through every apartment of the College of Surgeons at Lincolns Infields which was truly interesting.” On 7 December, Brigham Young toured the College of Surgeons with Woodruff. (Woodruff, Journal, 30 November 1840, CHL; see also Young, Journal, 7 December 1840, p. XXX herein.)

[35] Henry Conner, or Connor, a sixty-year-old watchmaker from Ireland who in the early 1840s lived at 52 Iron Monger row, St. Luke Parish, London. Heber C. Kimball baptized Conner on 31 August 1841, making him the first convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London. (Woodruff, Journal, 29–31 August 1840, CHL; “History of Joseph Smith,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 23 February 1856, 18:119; and Jorgensen, “First London Mormons,” 14.)

[36] Possibly “The Burrough,” which was a market adjoining the end of London Bridge.

[37] Frances Amelia Kimberley Turley was born on 22 June 1800 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and married Theodore Turley on 26 November 1821. She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1837. She died on 30 August 1847 at Winter Quarters. (Black, Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 43:934 and 26:695–96.)

[38] Smithfield market was London’s largest meat market, covering ten acres. In the 1600s the city of London formally established a cattle market there; the market operated until the mid-nineteenth century. Smithfield market also served as a public space for preaching and executions. (Knight, London, 2:313–28.) Wilford Woodruff and other Latter-day Saint missionaries had visited the market earlier in 1840. (See Woodruff, Journal, 28 August 1840, CHL.)

[39] Brigham Young’s later history provides a location for the evening preaching: “Barrett’s Academy.” The history does not describe the topic of the sermon. Some miscellaneous notes with a variety of scriptures inscribed by Young may give insight into his teachings in England. The lists of scriptures include Exodus 16:28 and 20:6; Deuteronomy 4:3–40; 5:10–29; 6:17, 8:11, 11:13; 1 Kings 2; 11:34; 18:18; Isaiah 48:18; Matthew 5:19–20 and 19:17; Mark 7:7–40 and 10:19; Luke 18:20 and 12:29; John 14:15, 21–24 and 15:10; 1 Corinthians 7:19; 1 Timothy 6:14; and Revelation 12:17 and 14:12. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1 December 1840, 84; and Brigham Young, Scripture Notes, Mission to England, Miscellaneous Papers and Receipts, Brigham Young Office Files, box 170, folder 17, CHL.)

[40] Susanna Rogers Sangiovanni, daughter of David W. Rogers and Martha Collins. Susanna lived at her parents’ boardinghouse in New York City, where she met Benedetto Sangiovanni, an Italian clay modeler and sculptor. Sangiovanni was a refugee who had served as an officer under King Murant of Naples in 1833. He and Susanna Rogers were married on 5 November 1833 at a Methodist Episcopal church in New York City before moving to London by 1834. David Rogers continued to run his boardinghouse in New York City, where he encountered Latter-day Saint missionaries; he was baptized by Parley P. Pratt in December 1837. Rogers later gathered with the Saints in Missouri and then Illinois. Before opening her home to the missionaries, Susanna had had a most unusual dream in which “she observed a crowd of interesting people listening to a speaker. As the scene was not so unusual she continued on her way, but as she was passing the group she chanced to notice the speaker, who held an open book in his hand. Beside him was another man, dark eyed and taller, with one or two books in his arms.” A few weeks following her dream, she experienced “the scene of her dream exactly as it had appeared to her weeks before, and the strangers were the living duplicates of the characters of her dream. She had never seen them before, but knew there could be no mistake, and she stood there listening intently. Yes, they were Mormon elders, Wilford Woodruff and Heber C. Kimball. And the dream had been sent her for a purpose. She soon applied for baptism” and eventually joined the church. (Memoirs of Susanna Rogers Sangiovanni Pickett Keate and “Life Sketch of Susanna Rogers Sangiovanni,” USHS; and “The Biography of David White Rogers,” 34A, 2:17, Seventies Quorum Records, CHL; for more on David W. Rogers see Williamson, “David White Rogers of New York,” 73–90)

[41] Wilford Woodruff’s journal offers little more information on the visit. His journal states, “Spent several hours with Mr B. Sanglovanni, Sculptor & Modeller No. 23 Nassau Street Middlesex hospital. His wife was the Daughter of Br Rogers.” The apostles used Sangiovanni’s residence as a meeting place in London. (Woodruff, Journal, 2 December 1840, CHL; see also Kimball, Journal, 16 February 1841, CHL.)

[42] The Tower of London was a medieval fortress of eighteen acres with walls more than ten feet thick and ninety feet high. The tower served many functions: a palace, a prison, and a place of execution. It has also housed the Royal Armories, the mint, the Royal Observatory, the Royal Menagerie, the public records, and the Crown Jewels. Wilford Woodruff was with Young and wrote extensively about this visit to the Tower of London, its history, and the contents of its rooms and armories. (Knight, London, 201–80; and Woodruff, Journal, 3 December 1840, CHL.)

[43] The Thames Tunnel was the world’s first underwater tunnel and was 1,200 feet long. Apostles Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, and George A. Smith marveled at the tunnel in a letter to the Times and Seasons. They wrote, “On the 1^st day of September we visited the Thames Tunnel, by descending about 80 feet into the bowels of the earth on the south side of the river, and entering the archway on the left which was finished 1120 feet and was beautifully lighted up with gas; we walked through it under the Thames, with the river and British shipping over our heads: in the middle of the river there was only about 15 feet between the top of the arch and the bed of the river – there is two archways 22 feet high, the whole length of the Tunnel which affords free communication from one shore to the other. This is considered one the most stupenduous works of modern times, and truly shows that man hath sought out many inventions.” (For more on the Thames Tunnel, see Thames Tunnel Company, Explanation of the Works of the Tunnel under the Thames; and Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, and George A. Smith, letter, 28 October 1840, in Times and Seasons, 1 January 1841, 2:261–62.)

[44] Brigham Young went on a walk with Heber C. Kimball and Wilford Woodruff, who wrote in his journal, “I walked out with Elder Young to try to find the Book of Mormon as we herd it was published & for sale in London by some person unknown but probably it was a fals report.” Following his walk, Brigham Young wrote a letter to Levi Richards providing him with some details of his travels and the health and disposition of some church members in various British towns. (Woodruff, Journal, 5 December 1840, CHL; and British Mission Manuscript History, 5 December 1840, CHL.)

[45] St Paul’s Cathedral, a magnificent Anglican cathedral, was rebuilt under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren in the late 1600s and officially completed in 1711 on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city of London. Wilford Woodruff wrote that the building was completed in forty years and that the “whole expens of erecting this edifice amounted £1,564,874 14s 6p in addition to which the stone and iron enclosure - total £1,576,076. . . . This sum was raised by a small tax on coal imported into London.” (Woodruff, Journal, 24 August and 9 December 1840, CHL.)

[46] Young attended a worship service in the cathedral. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 6 December 1840, 85.)

[47] The location of the “little chappel” is unknown, but it could have also been used as a school or building for educational purposes. Wilford Woodruff called the building “the Academy.” (Woodruff, Journal, 6 December 1840, CHL.)

[48] According to Brigham Young’s later history, Young preached and was “followed by brothers Kimball and Woodruff. We had a very interesting meeting; one person applied for baptism. Several of the Aitkenites were present; they wished us to call upon them – thought they would be baptized; one of them purchased a hymn-book.” Wilford Woodruff wrote a similar account in his journal: “We all met at the Academy at 3 oclock. Had about 50 preasant. Kimball Preached to them. An independent Minister invited me home with him to take tea. I accepted the Invitation & had a good time. I preached the gospel to him. He received my testimony & offered me his Chappel that would hold 800 & he thought he should be Baptized & would try to get his society to Do the Same. We again met at half past six & had the most in our room that we have ever had. Br Young Preached & was followed by Br’s Kimball, Williams, Corner, Hulme & Woodruff. We had a vary interesting time. One offered for Baptism. Some of the Aitkenites were Present. One purchased a Hymn Book wished us to Call upon them & thought they would be Baptized. We then met at Father Corners & communed with the Saints & had a good time.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 6 December 1840, 85; and Woodruff, Journal, 6 December 1840, CHL.)

[49] The Royal College of Surgeons contained a museum with a great collection of anatomical and pathological specimens. According to Wilford Woodruff’s journal, the college contained many “skeletons of natural history – mammoth, elephant, lions, tigers – humans.” Regarding the human bodies, Woodruff wrote, “The Joining Room was occupied with a great variety of parts, & whole Human Bodies & Frames in various stages & states. Some bodies were whole & embalmed. One Ownly that was Egyptian.” (Woodruff, Journal, 30 November 1840, CHL; and Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 7 December 1840, 85.)

[50] The National Gallery, an art museum in London, was founded in 1824 after King George IV and Sir George Beaumont persuaded the government to buy thirty-eight paintings that included works by Raphael and Rembrandt. The gallery was built between 1832 and 1838 on the north end of Trafalgar Square. Wilford Woodruff visited the gallery the next day (8 December 1840) and viewed all the paintings there. (Woodruff, Journal, 8 December 1840, CHL.)

[51] Wilford Woodruff described in detail his visit to St Paul’s Cathedral. In a letter to the Times and Seasons, Heber C. Kimball also described his experience at St Paul’s. (See Woodruff, Journal, 24 August 1840, CHL; letter from Heber C. Kimball, Times and Seasons, 16 August 1841, 2:511; see also Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, and George A. Smith, letter, 28 October 1840, Times and Seasons, 1 January 1841, 2:261–62.)

[52] Benjamin West was an American-born painter who lived and produced religious and historical artwork in England. Wilford Woodruff inscribed into his journal the text of Benjamin West’s tombstone: “Here lies the remains of Benjamin West Esq. President of the Royal Academy of Paintings Sculptures & Architecture. He was born at Springfield, Chester County Pennsylvania North America . . . Died at London March 11^th. Mr West was one of the finest Artist of his day. Much of his painting is in the National Gallery & other parts of London.” In June 1844, Joseph Smith exhibited Benjamin West’s painting Death on the Pale Horse in his Nauvoo reading room for three days. (Woodruff, Journal, 9 December 1840, CHL; and Joseph Smith, Journal, 15 June 1844, in JSP, J3:284.)

[53] The Aitkenites were followers of Reverend Robert Aitken, who broke with the Anglican Church and founded the “Christian Society” in 1835 in Liverpool. Aitken led his brand of Wesleyan congregations together with Reverend Timothy Matthews, the brother-in-law of Joseph Fielding. Aitken’s followers proved to be receptive to the apostles’ message, even if their leaders were vehemently against the missionaries. Heber C. Kimball and his companions baptized many Aitkenites during their 1837–1838 mission. The apostles’ preaching on the topics of authority and baptism apparently convinced many of the Aitkenites that the apostles offered them something they were missing from Aitken. (See Joseph Fielding, Journal, CHL, 51–52; John Taylor, Liverpool, England, to Leonora Cannon Taylor, Commerce, IL, 30 January 1840, Taylor Collection, CHL; Heber C. Kimball to Willard Richards, 22 December 1840, Willard Richards, Journal, CHL; Letter from John Taylor, 3 February 1841, in JSP, D8:12; and “Mission to England,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, April 1841, 1:292–94.)

[54] Wilford Woodruff also wrote of the same incident: “Called at Zions Chapel, to attend a sacrament meeting at Mr Aitkens Society, but they knowing who we were refused to let us in, fearing lest we should break up their Society. We then crossed over the waterloo Road & returned home. We attended meeting in the evening. I preached. Was followed by Elders Kimball & Young, who bore strong testimony to the people.” Aitken became greatly opposed to the work of the Latter-day Saint missionaries owing to the loss of his members to their church. Alfred Cordon, a church member in England, wrote in his journal about interactions with Aitkenites. In one entry he wrote, “When we arrived back to Burslem, the Aitkins came around us and the[y] began to persecute us. But we told them that we were saints of God and that none of them had such a witness.” (Woodruff, Journal, 10 December 1840, CHL; see also Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 10 December 1840, 86; and Cordon, Journal, July 1839, 14–15, CHL.)

[55] Cheltenham, Gloucester County, England, sat ninety-six miles from London. It had its founding in the Roman era and by the mid-nineteenth century was known for its mineral waters, spa resorts, and magnificent hotels. Cheltenham had places of worship for “the Baptists, Independents, Society of Friends, Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, Unitarians, Mormonites, Jews, and Roman Catholics.” In a letter to George A. Smith, Heber C. Kimball wrote that Brigham Young expressed his belief that “the prospect is good thare at present,” referring to potential proselytizing success for the Latter-day Saints in Cheltenham. (National Gazetteer, 1:547; and Heber C. Kimball to George A. Smith, 12 December 1840, George A. Smith Collection, CHL.)

[56] The Leigh, a parish in Gloucestershire, England.

[57] Referring to this conference in a letter dated 30 December 1840, Brigham Young noted that “there were 17 branches represented, 327 members including 13 Elders, 31 Priests, 9 Teachers.” (British Mission Manuscript History, 14 and 30 December 1840, CHL.)

[58] Stanley Hill is approximately twelve miles north and slightly west from Ledbury and almost two miles directly south from Fromes Hill in central England.

[59] Edward Ockey was born on 27 February 1816 in Bishopsfroom, Hereford County, England. His family consisted of seven brothers and four sisters. He owned a farm near Castle Frome, where he heard “the gospel of Jesus Christ preached by Elder Wilford Woodruff” and was baptized in August 1840. Ockey later went in company with Woodruff and Brigham Young to the United States in spring 1841. When they arrived in New York, he married Eliza Brewer, a fellow British convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Ockey, Journal, 1–2, CHL; and Brigham Young, Journal, 22 May 1841, pp. XXX and XXXnxx herein.)

[60] There were 25 branches spanning 839 members, including 17 elders, 57 priests, 16 teachers, and 1 deacon at the Stanley Hill Conference. In a letter to the Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, Young gave the combined statistics of the Garway, Gadfield Elm, and Stanley Hill Conferences: “there is, in these 3 conferences, 1261 members, 31 elders, 95 priests, 28 teachers, and 2 deacons – making 254 added since the October Conference.” (Brigham Young to the Editor, 30 December 1840, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, January 1841, 1:239.)

[61] TEXT: The “L” is written over an “E.”

[62] This meeting was held in Hanley of the Staffordshire Potteries. According to church member Alfred Cordon, “We assembled together at Hanley to hold our Quarterly Conference Elders B. Young and G.A. Smith of the travelling High Council were [present] had a time of rejoicing many principals were very beautifylly illustrated by them. There was a good Spirit manifested among the Saints.” Twelve branches (Burslem, Newcastle, Stoke, Longton, Tunstall, Leek, Badley Edge, Prees, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Macclesfield, and Lower Lane) were represented at this meeting. Combined, the branches consisted of 502 members, including 10 elders, 40 priests, 16 teachers, and 11 deacons. (Cordon, Journal, 25 December 1840, 124, CHL; and British Mission Manuscript History, 25 December 1840, CHL.)

[63] Willard Richards also mentioned this meeting in his journal but did not offer any additional details. See Willard Richards, Journal, 26 December 1840, CHL.

[64] John Tompkins, a printer based in Liverpool, agreed to print five thousand copies of the Book of Mormon for 210 British pounds. Brigham Young paid an installment of ten pounds to Tompkins on 29 December 1840. John Taylor had previously made a payment of twenty pounds on 21 November 1840. By 12 February 1841, Brigham Young and other church leaders had completed making payments to Tompkins for his work on the Book of Mormon; they paid Tompkins a total of 210 British pounds. (John Tompkins to Brigham Young, 8 April 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, box 20, folder 2, CHL; Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 26 December 1863, 25:819; Receipt from John Tompkins, 21 November and 29 December 1840, Mission to England, Receipts for Paper for Book of Mormon, Brigham Young Office Files, box 170, folder 15, CHL; for other previous payments, see Brigham Young, Journal, 30 October 1840, p. XXXnXX herein; and Receipt from John Tompkins, 12 February 1841, Mission to England, Receipts for Paper for Book of Mormon, Brigham Young Office Files, box 170, folder 15, CHL.)

[65] Richard Harrison, an iron molder and the superintendent of the largest iron foundry in Liverpool, England. (“Richard Harrison, 1808–1882, Iron Works Superintendent,” historical marker in Cedar City, Utah, Historical Marker Database, https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=130595.)

[66] According to the British Mission Manuscript History, “Elders Brigham Young and John Taylor went to Longton and saw Brother William Blackhurst from America; he was sick and the brethren administered to him. He brought good news from America from the brethren’s families.” (British Mission Manuscript History, 6 January 1841, CHL.)

[67] Ribchester, Lancaster, England, is considered one of the earliest cities in England with its founding in the Roman era and a Christian church dating to the thirteenth century. Workers in this city were primarily employed in the cotton mills and neighboring slate and iron quarries. (National Gazetteer, 3:316; and Bloxham, Moss, and Porter, Truth Will Prevail, 91.)

[68] TEXT: Brigham Young demarcated another entry on 9 January 1841 with lines that he drew across the page above and below the entry. That additional entry reads: “A Marble Quarry a bout 10 miles a bove the mouth of the Illinois River by Fra[n]cis Clark Ribchester - Jan the 9 – 1841.” It is unclear to what this entry refers, although it may have to do with Francis Clark going to work in the Illinois stone quarry for the construction of the Nauvoo Temple. (Colvin, “Means and Materials Used in Construction,” 43–76.)

[69] Willard Richards’s father-in-law was “the Rev. John Richards, minister of the Independent Church” in Walker Fold. His daughter Jennetta was among the first baptisms in Kimball and Richards’s 1837 mission in England. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 10 January 1841, 88; and Allen, Esplin, and Whittaker, Men with a Mission, 37–39.)

[70] Willard Richards arrived at Richard Harrison’s home. He wrote the address in his journal: “To Liverpool 72 Burlington st.” (Willard Richards, Journal, 15 January 1841, CHL.)

[71] Since spring 1840, Brigham Young had worked to secure a contract to print thousands of copies of the Book of Mormon for the British Saints. With the printing of the first English edition of five thousand copies nearing completion, Young and Richards worked feverishly to complete the book’s index; they finished on 21 January 1841. Before leaving England, Brigham Young decided that the church should send two special copies of the 1841 British edition of the Book of Mormon to English royalty, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Church member Lorenzo Snow had them delivered in October 1842. (See Letter from Brigham Young, 29 April 1840, in JSP, D7:272–73; Letter from Brigham Young, 7 May 1840, in JSP, D7:276–81; Lorenzo Snow, London, England, to “Br. McConougley,” [1841], copy, Snow, Letterbook, [15]; “From England,” Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:120–21; John Taylor, Liverpool, England, to Brigham Young, Manchester, England, 18 June 1840, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 18 January 1841, 88; Willard Richards, Journal, 16–18 January 1841, CHL; and Letter from Lorenzo Snow, 10 October 1842, in JSP, D11:135–39.)

[72] According to Brigham Young’s later history, he spoke on “Election and Reprobation.” Brigham Young and Willard Richards wrote a lengthy discourse on that topic for the January 1841 issue of the Millennial Star. Responding to the question, “Do you believe in Election and Reprobation?” Young and Richards wrote “so that the Saints may learn doctrine, and all who will, may understand that such election and reprobation as is taught in the Old and New Testaments, and other revelations from God, we fully believe, in connexion with every other principle of righteousness.” It is possible that his speech this day mirrored what he and Richards had expressed in their published discourse. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 24 January 1841, 89; and Brigham Young and Willard Richards, “Election & Reprobation,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, January 1841, 1:217–25.)

[73] The previous day “a council was held at Brother Richard Harrison’s, 72 Burlington Street, Liverpool, for organizing a company of Saints going to New Orleans, on ship Sheffield, Captain Porter: Elders B. Young, W. Richards, J. Taylor, and other officers, present. Elder Hyrum Clarks was chosen President, and Thomas Walmsley, Miles Romney, Edward Martin, John Taylor, Francis Clark, and John Riley, Counsellors to President Clark. . . . Alexander Neibaur was on the ship.” The Sheffield departed Liverpool and arrived in New Orleans on 30 March 1841. There were 233 Saints on board. (British Mission Manuscript History, 6 February 1841, CHL; and U.S. Customs Lists, no. 149, MF 200,149, FHL.)

[74] On 11 February 1841 at 72 Burlington Street in Liverpool, Willard Richards, John Taylor, and Brigham Young “set apart the Presidency over the ship Echo, Daniel Browett, President.” The Echo left on 16 February, and the 109 Saints on board arrived in New Orleans on 16 April 1841 led by the thirty-five-year-old Browett, who was a carpenter. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 11 February 1841, 89; and U.S. Customs List, no. 173, MF 200,149, FHL.)

[75] Two days after his arrival, Brigham Young wrote a letter to George A. Smith. Writing from 47 Oxford Road in Manchester, where Parley P. Pratt had “hired a house and shop,” Young gave Smith an update of his activities and the well-being of other members of the quorum. Furthermore, Young informed Smith, “The brethren have hired the Carpenter’s Hall for one year; next Sabbath, they commence. We have it for our conference gratis.” (British Mission Manuscript History, 5 March 1841, CHL.)

[76] Heber C. Kimball had been in London, Woolwich, Bedford, Burmingham, Grets Green, and Lane End. In the last location he spent time with George A. Smith. He arrived in Manchester at noon on 6 March. On the twelfth George A. Smith wrote from Macclesfield to Brigham Young asking him to inform Kimball that in Lane End “the truth is spreading.” (Kimball, Journal, 13–14, 20, 27 February 1841 and 1–4 March 1841, CHL; and George A. Smith to Brigham Young, 12 March 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, box 42, folder 1, CHL.)

[77] On this date, 10 March 1841, Brigham Young wrote a letter to the editor of the Millennial Star on family prayer. Desiring to give general instruction on this matter, Young wrote, “Having travelled through many branches of the church in England, I have found it to be a general custom among the brethren I visited, that when any of the travelling elders are present, they wait for the elder to go forward in family prayer instead of attending to that duty themselves; that is not right, and I would say to them that it would be better for them to understand their duty on this subject. My dear brethren, remember that the Lord holds all of us responsible for our conduct here. He held our father Adam responsible for his conduct; but no more than he does us, in proportion to the station we hold. . . . Kings are heads of nations, governors are heads of provinces, so are fathers or husbands governors of their own houses, and should act accordingly. Heads of families should always take the charge of family worship, and call their family together at a seasonable hour. . . . If an elder should happen to be present, the head of the house can call upon him if he chooses so to do, and not wait for a stranger to take the lead at such times – by so doing we shall obtain the favour of our heavenly Father, and it will have a tendency of teaching our children to walk in the way they should go.” (Brigham Young to the Editor, 10 March 1841, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, March 1841, 286–87.)

[78] On this date, 11 March, Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball met with Willard Richards and John Taylor to appoint Thomas Smith and William Moss the leaders of the company of Saints who were to sail to America on the ship Alesto. The company, comprising some seventy-seven people, left Liverpool on 17 March and arrived in New Orleans on 16 May 1841. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 11 March 1841, 91; U.S. Customs List no. 199, MF 200,149, FHL; and Peart, Autobiographical Sketch, CHL.)

[79] William Moss had written to Brigham Young a few weeks earlier informing him that many Saints were ready and intending to relocate to the United States. (William Moss, Waddington Mill, to Brigham Young, 26 February 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, box 20, folder 2, CHL.)

[80] TEXT: Brigham Young mistakenly wrote the incorrect day of the week; the twelfth was a Friday.

[81] TEXT: Brigham Young mistakenly wrote the incorrect day of the week; the thirteenth was a Saturday.

[82] TEXT: It appears that Brigham Young wrote either the day of the week or the dates that follow the word “Wensday” incorrectly. We have assumed the latter.

[83] Brigham Young and Willard Richards “were detained at the Liverpool Post-office, as witnesses in the case of ‘The Queen v. Joseph Holloway, ‘for not delivering letters in due season.” When not participating in the trial, they “were also engaged packing and sending off Books of Mormon to pay those who had loaned us money to carry forward the printing and binding.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 25–27 March 1841, 92; and British Mission Manuscript History, 25 March 1841, CHL.)

[84] On 10 December 1840, Brigham Young was prohibited from attending an Aitkenite meeting. See Brigham Young, Journal, 10 December 1840, pp. XXX and fnXX herein.

[85] Brigham Young may not have received it by this time, but Thomas Kington had written a letter to Young at No. 149 Oldham Road in Manchester informing him “that there are Mistakes in the Book of Mormon we have lost two Copies through the Mistake and bad Binding you must please to see about those things and lodge Complain against the Book binders.” Young eventually took the matter up with the printer, John Tompkins. (Thomas Kington to Brigham Young, 26 March 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, box 20, folder 2, CHL; and John Tompkins to Brigham Young, 8 April 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, box 20, folder 2, CHL.)

[86] Letter from Brigham Young and Willard Richards, 5 September 1840, in JSP, D7:392.

[87] Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 December 1840, in JSP, D7:463.

[88] Brigham Young to Mary Ann Young, 15 January 1841, Blair, Family Papers, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

[89] Orson Pratt to George A. Smith, 8 February 1841, George A. Smith, Papers, CHL.

[90] TEXT: Brigham Young appears to have written this figure, representing the year 1841, numerically as he would have spoken it phonetically.

[91] The “peace prapared for the Star” was an epistle in the Millennial Star that instructed the Saints in England and covered the gathering from Europe to America. See “An Epistle of the Twelve,” 15 April 1841, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 1:309–12.

[92] Amos Fielding. See “Epistle of the Twelve,” 15 April 1841, 1:311.

[93] Woodruff, Journal, 2 April 1841, CHL.

[94] Woodruff, Journal, 3 April 1841, CHL.

[95] Woodruff, Journal, 5 April 1841, CHL.

[96] Woodruff, Journal, 5 April 1841, CHL.

[97] In April 1840, Joseph Smith authorized Orson Hyde to travel as a church agent and representative to “London, Amsterdam, Constantinople and Jerusalem.” Smith charged Hyde with conversing with “the priests, rulers and Elders of the Jews, and obtain from them all the information possible.” Hyde departed from Nauvoo in mid-April 1840. He remained in the eastern United States for some time before he left New York City on 13 February 1841, arriving in Liverpool, England, on 3 March 1841. At that time Hyde wrote about reuniting with his fellow apostles. “To meet once more with the Twelve,” Hyde stated, “brought fresh to my mind, many scenes of bygone time; and caused my heart to swell with gratitude to Him whose providential care has preserved and restored me to the embraces of that honorable body.” Shortly after his stop in England, Hyde continued on his mission to the Holy Land. (Recommendation for Orson Hyde, 6 April 1840, in JSP, D7:257; Letter from Orson Hyde, 17 April 1841, in JSP, D8:124; Fielding, Journal, February–October 1841, 9–10, CHL; and Letter from Orson Hyde, 17 April 1841, in JSP, D8:124.)

[98] Nine of the Twelve Apostles (Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, and George A. Smith) met at the home of James Brewsher, who lived at No. 4 Gray Street. The apostles accepted the efforts of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Parley P. Pratt, the committee appointed to secure a copyright of the Book of Mormon and print the same in England. The members of the Twelve present also “Resolved, That as the quorum of the Twelve have had nothing to do with the printing of the Book of Mormon, they will not now interfere with it; but that the said committee settle the financial or business matters thereof with Joseph Smith, junior, to whom the profits rightly belong.” In September 1842, Parley P. Pratt wrote from Liverpool to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball in Nauvoo informing them that the copies of the Book of Mormon and the funds that he had received from their sale “are subject to your order and direction” since Smith held the copyright. They also made the following resolutions: “That Elder Amos Fielding be appointed to superintend fitting out the Saints from Liverpool to America, under the instruction of P.P. Pratt. . . . That brother G. J. Adams go to Bedford and Northampton, and labor in that region.” (Woodruff, Journal, 2 April 1841, CHL; Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 2 September 1842, in JSP, D11:41–45; Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 2 April 1841, 93; and “An Epistle of the Twelve,” 15 April 1841, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 1:309–12.)

[99] On Saturday 3 April, the Twelve discussed the “business of publishing the Star and Hymn Book.” The Quorum placed Parley P. Pratt in charge of the publishing endeavors in England. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 3 April 1841, 94.)

[100] According to Wilford Woodruff, the apostles “met the church in Manchester & had a good time. Elder George J. Adams preached in the morning. Elder Smith & myself administered the Sacrament to the Congregation in the Afternoon after which all of the quorum of the Twelve who were present being 9 in number arose & bore testimony of the truth of the fulness of the gospel, the Book of Mormon &c. It is seldom that any congregation is privileged with as much testimony as on this occasion for this is the first time that so many of the Twelve have met together for about four years. Elder O Hide Preached in the evening upon the gathering of Israel from the 31 ch of Jeremiah. Much testimony was produced, which was unto edification. 11 were confirmed.” (Woodruff, Journal, 4 April 1841, CHL.)

[101] Salford was a community, and now is a suburb, near Manchester, England.

[102] According to Brigham Young’s later history, “The Quorum of the Twelve met, and resolved that the 17^th day of April be appointed for the Apostles who are going to America to set sail from Liverpool.” With the arrival of Orson Hyde from his journey to Jerusalem in time for the closing councils of the Twelve in England, there were nine apostles who sat in council together, the highest number of apostles assembled abroad to date. According to Wilford Woodruff, “Perfect union & harmony prevailed” in all the apostles’ deliberations. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 5 April 1841, 94; and Woodruff, Journal, 5 April 1841, CHL.)

[103] Wilford Woodruff’s journal includes more information about the conference held this day. “The Council of the Twelve assembled at Manchester in the carpenters Hall,” Woodruff wrote, this being the first time they transacted business as a quorum in a foreign land. Brigham Young, the quorum president, called “the house to order & organized the conference then opened by Prayer.” He then gave remarks about the organization of the church, the different quorums of the Priesthood, and the office of patriarch “and concluded by moving that Elder [John] Albertson be ordained to that office.” Young later blessed and dismissed the congregation, after which the Twelve ordained Albertson a patriarch. Attending this church conference were 5,814 members, including 136 elders, 303 priests, 169 teachers, and 68 deacons from various British branches. In addition to Albertson’s ordination, ten high priests and twelve elders were ordained. (Woodruff, Journal, 6 April 1841, CHL; Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 6 April 1841, 95; and Pratt, Autobiography, 278.)

[104] The Twelve also “blessed Elder O. Hyde, who was on his mission to Jerusalem.” Hyde had visited, among other places on his mission, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Regensburg, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Cairo. Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff also spent part of this day walking in the city of Manchester. Both men bought a pair of “Pebble Specticeles,” glasses with round, thick lenses and a high degree of magnification. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 7 April 1841, 95; Letter from Orson Hyde, 15 June 1841, in JSP, D8:167–80; Letter from Orson Hyde, 17 July 1841, in JSP, D8:199–209; and Woodruff, Journal, 7 April 1841, CHL.)

[105] This likely refers to Ann Miller, mother of Charles Miller, the branch president and a shoemaker in Manchester. (Miller, Diary; and Harris, “Mormons in Victorian Manchester,” 52–53.)

[106] The meetings took place at the Carpenters Hall. The sacrament was administered at the afternoon meeting, and “many testified of the work of God.” According to Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt “preached in the evening from Daniel on the kingdom & the four beasts. Represented the first beast kingdom of Nebuchednezzar 2d Meeds & Persians 3d Macedonian, & 4^th the Roman Kingdom. He spoke of this work of the last days. He was followed by Elders Kimball Young &c. We spent the night at Br Brewshers.” (Woodruff, Journal, 11 April 1841, CHL.)

[107] This is Robert and William Falkner’s shop at No. 1 Oldham Street in Manchester. The Falkners dealt in silk, linen, cloth, wool, quilting, gloves, and buckskins. Wilford Woodruff recorded in his journal that he “accompanied Elders Young & Kimball to PP Pratts 47 oxford street. PP Pratt gave me £3 for 40 Hymn Books. We then went to No 1 Oldham street & purchased such articles as we stood in need of in the family. (shawl, linen, flannel, silk, sewing thread, stockings, dress patterns). . . . I also received a present of a dress pattern & 4 spools & 6 balls of cotton thread from Sister Martha Brotherton. . . . We dined at Brother Brothertons & then returned to Br Brewsher’s. Took tea. We then walked out into the city & spent the evening together.” (Receipt from R. and W. Falkner’s, undated, Mission to England, Miscellaneous Notes and Receipts, Brigham Young Office Files, box 170, folder 16, CHL; and Woodruff, Journal, 12 April 1841, CHL.)

[108] Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and George A. Smith walked through the fair in Manchester. There they “saw a great variety of curiosities, a man nearly eight feet high, weighing 450 lbs., and a pig 1200 lbs., a living skeleton, a great variety of wild beasts, an elephant, said to be the largest in Europe; lions, leopards and tigers, all in one cage, with their keeper in the midst of them playing with them; he would make them all lay down and lay on top of them.” (British Mission Manuscript History, 13 April 1841, CHL; and Woodruff, Journal, 13 April 1841, CHL.)

[109] TEXT: Wednesday was 14 April 1841.

[110] Wilford Woodruff “spent the day counting out the Millennial Stars.” He also bought “2 cases of raisors one 6/6 box Iron with 2 heaters, 3/, 5 pair of scissors 3/ one nail hammer 2.” His purchasing of materials apparently caught the attention of Parley P. Pratt, who mused that if Woodruff carried the hammer to America, Pratt would give Woodruff “a 1 pound sovereign the first time he sees me.” Woodruff also received “a present of a nice silk work bag & needle ball from Sister Martha Brotherton.” Probably like other apostles and those readying themselves to travel to the United States, Woodruff “spent the evening preparing my things for going to Liverpool.” (Woodruff, Journal, 14 April 1841, CHL.)

[111] On this date the apostles signed an epistle to the Saints in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, giving them counsel and instruction before the Twelve’s departure for the United States. (See “An Epistle of the Twelve,” 15 April 1841, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 1:309–12.)

[112] To Liverpool. As Woodruff noted, “We sent our trunks & baggage on the baggage cars & we bid old Manchester with all their was in it farewell,” then traveled to the seaside city for departure. (Woodruff, Journal, 13 and 15 April 1841, CHL.)

[113] According to Brigham Young’s later history, “200 Saints were seated at table together. I addressed the meeting a short time, and was followed by several of the Twelve. At the close of the party the Twelve met a few moments, and agreed to sail on Tuesday.” Wilford Woodruff’s journal provides more detail on this event: “We arived Just in time to attend a splended tea meeting of the Saints at the music hall Liverpool. 200 Saints sat at the table. The Saints have rented this hall for their meetings. It will seat about 2,000. This is the first time I have visited Liverpool since I first landed. It gave me peculiar feelings to sit down with 200 Saints in this place thinking that when we first landed that [there] was not one in the city but ourselves. After tea we were introduced to this intelligent body of Saints & the quorum of the Twelve addressed them in few words, after which we were dissmissed.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 15 April 1841, 96; and Woodruff, Journal, 15 April 1841, CHL.)

[114] Between 15 and 20 April, Brigham Young, the other apostles, and many English Saints hurriedly prepared to embark on a monthlong ocean voyage back to the United States. For example, Wilford Woodruff wrote that 16 April was an “extream busy day. Many things to do & little time to do it in. The Saints are coming in from various parts of England to sail for New York on board the Ship Rochester with us.” Woodruff then reflected on what had transpired over the course of the previous year: “Their is a great difference between our landing as we did in Liverpool on the 11th of Jan 1840 as a stranger in a strange land & peneless & our setting sail on the 20 of April 1841 with a ship load of Saints & all that we need of this worlds goods to make us comfortable, & having an influence sufficient to detain a Ship a day or two on our account. Truly the lord hath blessed us in a manner not looked for.” (Woodruff, Journal, 16 April 1841, CHL.)

[115] Brigham Young’s later history states, “The Rochester was a fast sailing ship, about 900 tons burthen, and passed all the ships that went out of port with us.” Young’s history also remarks on the impact of the quorum’s British mission: “We landed in the spring of 1840, as strangers in a strange land and penniless, but through the mercy of God we have gained many friends, established Churches in almost every noted town and city in the kingdom of Great Britain, baptized between seven and eight thousand, printed 5,000 Books of Mormon, 3,000 Hymn Books, 2,500 volumes of the Millennial Star and 50,000 tracts, and emigrated to Zion 1,000 souls.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 20–21 April 1841, 97.)

[116] The previous five days saw a heavy headwind with rough waters that caused much sickness among the Latter-day Saint passengers. (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 24–28 April 1841, 98–99.)

[117] Wilford Woodruff also noted that a six-week-old child of Peter Maughan died on 5 May 1841. (Woodruff, Journal, 5 May 1841, CHL.)

[118] TEXT: The “r” here is written over one illegible letter.

[119] Wilford Woodruff’s diary provides more insight into this event. On 27 April 1841, the day before the storm, Woodruff wrote, “The Twelve are generally well & vary patient well united & agree in all things & love one another. I visited the Sick & got them on deck.” Being united helped the Twelve as the winds turned. On 28 April, the day of the storm, Woodruff recorded that strong headwinds “soon increased to a great Storm & tempest which scenery I have not language to describe. . . . The tempest was now raging with all power the sea piling up into mountains, the Ship mountain the waves & billows & pitching into the valleys & rocking tremendiously & shiping seas occasionly. In the midst of this seenery the cry of help was herd in our Cabin. I rushed to the seene & found the ropes giving way & breaking which held the whole mass of baggage which was piled up between decks, consisting of heavy trunks, chests, Boxes & barrels which if once liberated from their Confinement would with one surge be hurled with all their force into the births of the men, women, & Children which would endanger the lives of all. I again repaired to the Aft quarter deck to behold the raging of the tempest & the wonders of the deep & the movements of the ship which was the greatest seenery I ever beheld upon the water. Elders Young, Kimball, Richard’s & Smith was with me on deck for a time. . . . We were Shiping heavy seas.” It was apparently during this time, with the Twelve together in the midst of the storm and all others below deck, when Brigham Young wrote his entry of: “the 12 a gread to humble them selves before the Lord and ask him to calm the sease & give us a fair wind,” and it was so. The following day, 29 April, Woodruff wrote: “Sea vary rough after the gale. The Sun Shines plesent, & we have a fair wind for the first time since we left Liverpool. We sail 10 [k]nots an hour.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27–29 April 1841, CHL.)

[120] Wilford Woodruff penned the following in his journal: “All the Saints on board are well except Sister Richards who is still feeble. We enjoy ourselves well. We sing & pray with the saints morning & evening. I never enjoyed my self better with the Twelve than about these days. Union prevails among us & we dwell together in love.” (Woodruff, Journal, 6 May 1841, CHL.)

[121] Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, is the southwest extremity of Nova Scotia. It had a population of 1,636 people and a lighthouse with a powerful revolving light that sat fifty-three feet above sea level. (Crossby, Gazetteer of British North America, 76.)

[122] Barnegat Lighthouse on the New Jersey coast is approximately eighty miles south of Manhattan.

[123] Brigham Young’s later history provides more detail: “While passing through Sandy Hook we ran into a fishing smack [boat], came near sinking her with all on board. We had a head wind and could not run into the dock; cast anchor at 11 a.m. at the quarantine ground. A steamer came down to get the latest Liverpool news.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 19 May 1841, 102.)

[124] TEXT: The word “native” is written over one illegible word that had been wipe-erased.

[125] From the end of the eighteenth century through the middle of the nineteenth, New York State and New York City operated a quarantine and hospital on the northeast shore of Staten Island as a defense against infectious and contagious disease coming in with overseas travelers. Brigham Young’s later history described the landing and quarantine process further: “Two quarantine lighters came alongside the Rochester and took all the passengers and baggage to the Custom House, where we had to unload all the baggage, which was inspected by the officers, after which we reloaded on board the lighters, which took us to New York city. When we arrived at the docks, we found them covered with horses and drays and a great crowd of draymen and pickpockets, who stood ready to leap on board and devour all our baggage, and, because we were unwilling to be robbed and felt disposed to do our own business without being forced to measures by draymen, they cursed and swore at a dreadful rate, and acted more like savages than civilized men; but, after much difficulty, we got our goods out of the lighters and loaded on drays, and had to keep constant guard over them to keep them from being stolen. Many attempts were made to steal our baggage. I collared some of the thieves, and threatened to throw them overboard if they would not let it alone. I was under the necessity of striking their fingers to keep them from carrying off the trunks they laid hold of. We were until ten o’clock at night getting from the docks to an inn. We were all very much fatigued, for we had been constantly handling boxes, chests, barrels and trunks from sunrise till ten p.m., without eating or drinking.” A lighter is a flat-bottomed boat or barge used to move people and goods between ships and to assist in the loading and unloading of ships. A dray is a “low cart or carriage on wheels, drawn by a horse.” (“The Quarantine Grounds,” About the Watering Place (blog), https://blogs.shu.edu/mvdh/the-watering-place/; Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 20 May 1841, 103; see also Woodruff, Journal, 20 May 1841, CHL; and Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, s.vv. “Lighter,” “Dray.”)

[126] Caroline Adams and her husband George J. Adams were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They lived together in New York City, and she remained there while her husband served a mission to England in 1841 and 1842. (Orson Hyde, Preston, England, to Parley P. Pratt, 13 April 1841, Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, April 1841, 1:307; and Holmes, Dreamers of Zion, 74–75.)

[127] John W. Latson was a merchant living in New York City. He had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by April 1841 and attended meetings of the church branch in Lower Manhattan. (Historical Introduction to Letter from John W. Latson, 7 January 1842, in JSP, D9:89; and “Arrest for Violating a Statute,” New-York Tribune, 16 April 1841, 2.)

[128] Wilford Woodruff recorded this event in his journal as well: “Married in New York City May 22d by Elder W Woodruff Mr. Edward Ockey to Miss Eliza Brewer both from Castle Froome Herefordshire End. the day following their arrival. This is the first time I have had the honour of officiating at a marriage ceremony. This was at the house of Elder J. W. Latson’s in the presence of the quorum of the Twelve.” (Woodruff, Journal, 22 May 1841, CHL; see also Ockey, Journal, 2, CHL; and Brigham Young, Journal, 19 December 1840, pp. XXX herein and XXXnxx herein.)

[129] New Egypt had been an important place of church activity in 1841. William Smith issued a note to church members James and Charles Ivins for $2,500 in exchange for land in New Egypt, New Jersey. The land was intended to be transferred to Horace Hotchkiss as payment for the outstanding debt Joseph Smith had incurred to Hotchkiss when he acquired much of the lands in Nauvoo. (Letter from William Smith, 5 August 1841, in JSP, D8:217–21; and Charles Ivins, Nauvoo, IL, to Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 22 August 1842, Joseph Smith’s Office Papers, CHL.)

[130] At the 6 April 1841 conference held in the city, Benjamin Winchester reported that the Philadelphia branch consisted of “214 members, including 13 Elders, in good standing.” According to the Philadelphia branch records, more than fifty people were baptized into the church in Philadelphia during the first nine months of 1841. (Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 6 April 1841, CHL; and “Names of the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Philadelphia,” Philadelphia Branch Record Book, CHL.)

[131] The Pennsylvania Canal, which connected Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. In a graphite notation near the back of Brigham Young’s third holograph journal, Young writes “Penna Canal” along with the names of three people who resided in either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. See pp. XXX and XXXfnXX herein.

[132] Brigham Young wrote a letter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Willard Richards in Richmond, Massachusetts, on 9 June 1841. Young’s letter described their journey en route to Nauvoo and provided guidance to other elders planning to take that route to gather with the Saints. (Brigham Young, Pittsburgh, PA, to Willard Richards, Richmond, MA, 9 June 1841, Willard Richards, Journal, CHL.)

[133] A lighter is a flat-bottomed boat or barge used to move people and goods. See note 144.

[134] Brigham Young, the other members of the Twelve, and more than 250 other Saints arrived in Nauvoo on 1 July 1841. The Latter-day Saint newspaper Times and Seasons commented that “Elders Brigham Young, H. C. Kimball, John Taylor, G. A. Smith and R. Hadlock, have arrived at home in safety, after an ardious and interesting mission to Great Britain. The remainder of the Twelve are expected soon. The accounts which they bring of the progress of truth are highly satisfactory.” In a separate article, the newspaper remarked further, “Under the instrumentality of the Twelve and their fellow laborers, large and flourishing churches have been built up in various parts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man; and when they left, the work was progressing with rapid strides. . . . They certainly have been the instruments, in the hands of God, of accomplishing much, and must have the satisfaction of knowing that they have done their duty. Perhaps no men ever undertook such an important mission under such peculiarly distressing, forbidding, and unpropitious circumstances.” (Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1 July 1841, 105; Times and Seasons, 1 July 1841, 2:463; Times and Seasons, 15 July 1841, 2:478; and “The Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 2 August 1841, 2:487.)

[135] Revelation, 9 July 1841, in JSP, D8:187–88 [D&C 126].

[136] Godfrey, “Plight of Missionary Wives in the Early Church,” 53–69.

[137] Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, 15 April 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, box 44, folder 10, CHL.

[138] Revelation, 9 July 1841, in JSP, D8:187–88 [D&C 126].

[139] Minutes, 16 August 1841, in JSP, D8:222–26; and Discourse, 16 August 1841, in JSP, D8:228.

[140] Minutes, 16 August 1841, in JSP, D8:226.

[141] Minutes, 16 August 1841, in JSP, D8:222–26; in his journal Willard Richards condensed the meaning of this special conference to “Conference – Business of the Church given to the 12.” (Willard Richards, Journal, 16 August 1841, CHL.).

[142] Joseph Smith’s action at this special conference brought this practice into line with earlier revelation and statements about the place of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. For example, at a 16 January 1836 meeting in Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith clarified that the authority of the Twelve is next to the first presidency and “not subject to any other than the first presidency.” He furthermore explained that the authority of the Twelve “is next to the present presidency.” (Minutes, 16 January 1836, in JSP, D5:152; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 March and ca. 4 May 1835, in JSP, D4:314 [D&C 107:21–24]; and Joseph Smith, Journal, 16 January 1836, in JSP, J1:159.)

[143] Esplin, Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve to Mormon Leadership, 191; Woodruff, Journal, 7 November 1841, CHL; Historian’s Office, Brigham Young History Drafts, 59, CHL; and “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 November 1841, 2:600–602.

[144] Brigham Young, “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 September 1841, 2:520–21; and Brigham Young, “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 October 1841, 2:567–70. Young and the apostles further reminded the Saints of the importance of the temple and tithing in an epistle issued in mid-December. See “An Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints of the Last Days,” Times and Seasons, 15 December 1841, 3:625, 627.

[145] Brigham Young, “Epistle of the Twelve,” 15 October 1841, 2:570.

[146] Brigham Young was elected a city councilor on 4 September 1841 to replace Don Carlos Smith, who had died. He was formally appointed to this position on 30 October 1841. (“A Record of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo Handcock County, State of Illinois, Commencing A.D. 1841,” ca. 1841–1845, Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 4 September 1841, 21, CHL; and Minutes, 30 October 1841, in JSP, D8:339.)

[147] Proceedings of a meeting held at Ramus, Illinois, 18 November 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 December 1841, 3:616–17; JSP, J2:10; Woodruff, Journal, 19 December 1841, CHL; and Joseph Smith, Journal, 26 December 1841, in JSP, J2:19.

[148] Joseph Smith, Journal, 24 December 1841, in JSP, J2:18.

[149] There are two lines of coded text in this entry; each line is followed by an inscription of the date “Janury 6th 1842.” No known key code exactly deciphers Brigham Young’s coded text. Known nineteenth-century keys fit parts of the text closely but do not work to perfectly decode Young’s text without modifications. Using a Masonic code key published in 1852, Andrew Ehat has deciphered the first line to read, “I was taken into the lodge.” If Ehat’s reading is correct, the entry may relate to a petition by Young, Joseph Smith, Willard Richards, and several others on 30 December 1841 for initiation into the Nauvoo Masonic Lodge, which was then not yet formally recognized. The Nauvoo lodge met on 6 January 1842 (the date of Young’s coded journal entry) and again on 3 February 1842, when “the Committee of Investigation then reported favorably on the following persons; to wit: Joseph Smith, Willard Richards, Brigham Young,” among others. The Nauvoo lodge gained official status on 15 March 1842.

Using the same 1852 key, Ehat has deciphered the second line of coded text to read, “J Smith was Agneww,” or, alternatively, “J Smith was Agness.” Ehat and others suggest that the entry is a cryptic record of a plural marriage between Joseph Smith and Agnes Coolbrith Smith, the widow of Smith’s brother Don Carlos, in the Nauvoo Masonic Hall (though the hall had not yet been built). This interpretation, however, requires the addition of several words to the text or, as Todd Compton has suggested, reading “was” in the cipher text as a code for the phrase “wedded and sealed,” a phrase unattested in other sources describing plural marriages of the time. Moreover, if this attests a ceremony uniting Joseph Smith and Agnes Smith, it would not have been a sealing for eternity since Agnes would have been sealed to her deceased husband Don Carlos.

These two lines of coded text are the only known instance of Brigham Young using a cipher or code in any of his writings. (Compton, Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, 153–54; Andrew F. Ehat, “Deciphering the code in the Brigham Young Diary entry for January 6, 1842,” unpublished research report, 21 December 2021, Joseph Smith Institute; Nauvoo Masonic Lodge, Minutes, 30 December 1841, 7, CHL; and Freemasons Minutebook, 6, CHL.)