During these sad days of trial and tribulation, the word of the Lord came to Joseph Smith stating that something must be done for the salvation of the Church. The solution was the carrying of the Gospel to Great Britain. On Sunday, the 4th day of June, the Prophet approached Elder Heber C. Kimball in the Kirtland Temple and whispered to him, saying: “Brother Heber, the Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me: ‘Let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my Gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation.’” Brother Kimball, feeling his weakness, asked if Elder Brigham Young could not go with him. The Prophet answered that the Lord had something else for Brigham Young to do. Following this conversation Elder Kimball was set apart for this great work in the British Isles, which was to be the first foreign mission of the Church. While the First Presidency were setting Elder Kimball apart, Orson Hyde, of the council of the twelve came in, and listening to the blessing being given to his fellow laborer asked that he also might have the privilege of assisting in that work. Elder Hyde had been among those disturbed because of speculation. His heart melted within him and he now acknowledged his faults, and sought a blessing. His offering was accepted and he was set apart for the British labor.
The Work in Canada
The movement to send elders to Great Britain was the outgrowth of the work in Canada. Several of the elders had taken trips to Canada and had preached the Gospel there. Elder Orson Pratt was the first to carry the message into Canada in the year 1833. In the fall of that same year the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon went on a brief mission to Upper Canada and made a number of converts. In 1836, Elder Parley P. Pratt went to the City of Toronto and surrounding country and preached with wonderful success. It was here at this time that Elder John Taylor, afterwards of the council of the twelve and later President of the Church, received the Gospel. It was also here, and due to the preaching of Elder Pratt, that Joseph Fielding and his two sisters, Mary—who a few months later became the wife of Hyrum Smith—and Mercy R., were baptized. Others who received the Gospel in Canada were John Goodson, John Snyder and Isaac Russell. All of these people were in correspondence with relatives and friends in Great Britain whom they informed of the rise and progress of the Church, thus preparing them for events to come.
Departure for Great Britain
Elder Willard Richards, having requested the privilege of going to Great Britain, was set apart by Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, on the 12th of June, 1837. The following day Elders Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, and Joseph Fielding, a priest, who came from Honeydon, England, left Kirtland on their mission to the British Isles. They were accompanied on their journey as far as Fairport by Elder Brigham Young and others. This little band of missionaries was later augmented by the addition of Isaac Russell, John Goodson and John Snyder, and on the 23rd of June, 1837, they engaged passage on the merchant ship Garrick, for Liverpool. On the morning of the 20th of July, the Garrick anchored in the River Mersey. As soon as these brethren landed they went to Preston, about thirty miles from Liverpool. It was election day for members of Parliament, and Queen Victoria, who had recently come to the throne, was about to organize her cabinet. As the missionaries alighted from their coach, they saw in letters of gold on a banner above their heads an inscription, “Truth will prevail,” which they accepted as a favorable omen.
Elder Joseph Fielding had a brother Rev. James Fielding, who resided in Preston, and the brethren went to hear him preach on Sunday, July 23, 1837. At the service Rev. Fielding unexpectedly announced that there were present some ministers from America and they would occupy his pulpit in the afternoon. The invitation was joyfully accepted and President Kimball gave a brief address followed by Elder Hyde. That evening Mr. Fielding again offered his pulpit to the brethren and Elder Goodson and Brother Fielding preached. This was the opening of the door for the Gospel in England.[3]
The following Wednesday (July 26, 1837) another meeting was held in Rev. James Fielding’s chapel. Elders Hyde and Richards preached and much interest was manifested by the congregation, many were convinced and sought baptism. Fearing that he would lose his entire flock the Rev. Fielding closed the doors of his chapel against the elders and from that time opposed the work with all his power. However, the work was started, a foothold had been gained, and the brethren received many invitations to preach in private homes. The work spread rapidly throughout the nation, many branches were organized and many souls sought salvation through the remission of their sins.
Revelation to the Twelve
The same day that the Gospel was first preached in England (July 23, 1837) the Lord gave a revelation through Joseph Smith to Thomas B. Marsh and the twelve. They were commanded to gird up their loins, take up their cross and follow the Savior and feed his sheep. “Exalt not yourselves,” said the Lord, “rebel not against my servant Joseph Smith, for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come.”
This was a timely warning, for even then some of the members of that council were in secret collusion with enemies of the Church. Their actions later developed, and before the close of the year they were in open rebellion as previously indicated.