Friday, July 25. Elder Parley P. Pratt wrote to Pres. Young from San Francisco, that he had baptized several people in that city. A spirit of enquiry was prevalent, and the general feeling was favorable.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 25, 1851, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Sixth General Epistle
Of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Great Salt Lake Valley, to the Saints Scattered Throughout the Earth, Greeting:
Beloved Brethren,
….Nothing definite has been heard of Elders P.P. Pratt, Amasa Lyman, and Charles C. Rich, since they passed Little Salt Lake last spring; though the papers report their arrival in California, with one hundred and forty wagons, and it is supposed that Elder Pratt is pursuing his mission on the islands and coasts of the Pacific; and that Elders Lyman and Rich are making a settlement in California, between this and San Diego, and gathering the Saints thereto, and that they will appoint missions to the Elders as the Spirit shall direct. They are also instructed to extend settlements towards Iron County, at every desirable point, with as little delay as possible. Elder Orson Pratt is on the way from the States; and about five hundred wagons, mostly of the Saints who are emigrating to this place; but they started too late, were hindered by heavy rains and floods, and it will be very late before the last camp will arrive….
[Millennial Star, 14:17-25]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 22, 1851, 5]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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San Bernardino, Dec. 16, 1851
President Richards.
Dear Brother,
We improve the present moment to open a correspondence with you from this point, which we have deferred until now in consequence of the press of business connected with settling in a new country.
We arrived here in the month of June last, with about five hundred souls, together with Brother P.P. Pratt and Company for the Pacific Islands….Brother P.P. Pratt has gone to Chili….
As business urges, we must close by subscribing ourselves your brethren in the new covenant,
Amasa Lyman
Charles C. Rich
[Millennial Star, 14:75]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dec. 10, 1851, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Establishment of the Church in Australia
Extract of a Letter from Elder John Murdock. Thirty-six baptized.
Sydney, New South Wales, March 31st, 1852
Brother Richards, Sir,
By the counsel of President Young, one year ago, the 12th of this present month, I left my family in good health, in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake; but I have had no word from them since.
I journeyed in company with brother P.P. Pratt, President of the Mission to the Coasts and Isles of the Great Pacific. After much fatigue and difficulty, we arrived in South California, being one hundred and fifty wagons, with brethren and families.
Fourteen of us, who were principally for preaching, sailed to San Francisco. We remained there about two months. During that time Philip B. Lewis, F.A. Hammond, and S.J. Woodbury sailed for the Sandwich Isles. President P.P. Pratt, and Rufus C. Allen, sailed for Valparaiso, September 5th. And, according to appointment of President Pratt, for me to go and preside over the Mission to British Australia, and brother Charles W. Wandell to assist me, we both, on the 8th of September, embarked on board the bark Petrel, of Hobart Town, Captain John Blackburn, who is a gentleman. We had a very pleasant passage of eight thousand miles. We arrive din this city October 30th, being forty-nine days sailing from San Francisco.
As soon as we could make arrangements for board, lodging, and other necessary preparations, we applied all the means we could muster for the printing of books. We have had printed two thousand P.P. Pratt’s “Proclamation;” two thousand O. Pratt’s “Remarkable Visions;” five hundred “Hymn Books;” and two thousands “History of the Persecution” of the Saints….
John Murdock
[Millennial Star, 14:459]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mar. 31, 1852, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Thursday, April 1. Brigham Young wrote letter to Parley P. Pratt.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 1, 1852, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Sunday, July 11. Nathaniel H. Felt and Edwin B. Woolley, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, Geo. A. Smith, Thos. Bullock, Edward Hunter, Daniel H. Wells, Wm. W. Phelps, Chas. C. Rich met at 4 o’clock in prayer circle. Read letter from Parley P. Pratt who was in Chile, South America, John Murdock from New South Wales, Geo. Q. Cannon from the Sandwich Islands.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 11, 1852, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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From a communication written this day to the Governor by Thos. Williams, who had arrived at Sacramento, California, we cull the following:
“I started from the Valley with my cattle on the 9th of May and had a prosperous journey of six weeks across the plains to Carson Valley. We had no difficulty with the Indians on the route whatever, as we feared we should have; neither had we any trouble with ourselves; everything went along very smoothly to my utmost satisfaction.
“I was awfully shocked, although not very much surprised, to witness the depraved condition of society here. Gambling and carousing is the chief pursuit of the male sex, and in relation to the females, I shall simply state that I have heard from good authority that there are scarcely a dozen virtuous women in the City; but be this as it may, there certainly is a striking contrast between society here and in the Valley; and yet men will rise up in the pride and ignorance of their hearts and blab and talk about the immorality of the Mormons. Yesterday, I had an interview with Bro. Parley P. Pratt who is getting on prosperously in the Redeemer’s cause. He gave me much important information in revelation to tithing which I shall endeavor to follow out to the very letter.”
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 30, 1852, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Elder Wm. Willes and Joseph Richards wrote the following form India
2 Jaun Bazaar Street, Calcutta
Aug. 3, 1852
Beloved Brother,
It affords me infinite pleasure to be enabled to furnish you with some items in connection with the progress and prospects of this highly interesting mission….
We have lately received, by letter signed by Elder Anderson, a brother named Chas. Gale from Australia, late of the Edinburgh Conference. Although he has been there several years, the people have, it appears, proved invulnerable; but we are happy to hear that Pres. P.P. Pratt having taken Australia in hand and earnestly pray for the prosperity of the same…
With affectionate regards to all the Saints,
William Willes
[Millennial Star, 14: 541]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aug. 3, 1852, 2]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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San Bernardino, Sept. 11th, 1852
Brother Young & Council.
Beloved Brethren:
We improve the present opportunity afforded by the return of Br. P.P. Pratt to let you know of our welfare at this time. Since the communication to you of July 20th, as has invariably been the case with us since we have been in this land; peace and health have prevailed, the prosecution of our harvest in which we were then engaged has constituted our principal labors, together with the building of the Flouring Mill in which we have at present one run of stone and expect to start another before we return to the Lake; to his will be added the labor on the Council House. A general feeling of joy was diffused through our little community, when we learned by letter from your place, as well as the return of Br. Rich, that our labors were acceptable to God and those with whom we are called to cooperate in the cause of Zion. It is our feelings that the spirit of the Gospel is on the increase in this Branch of the Church, the best evidences of which are exhibited in the disposition of the people to observe and be governed by the Council ordained for their edification; they still manifest a disposition to unite their efforts with ours to accomplish the payment for the place and to defer, until that time the receiving of their private inheritances, or improving the same, so our improvements until that time will be the creation of those public conveniences, such as Mills, store houses, such as will suit our convenience best, and favor the payment for the place; which, when accomplished, will allow us the privilege to locate our inheritance and improve the same, without the chance of being swept away from us for the indebtedness against the place; our present arrangements place this time, in the Spring and Summer of 1854, which with God’s blessing on our labors will give us the full and undisputed right and possession of the land of San Bernardino, and in addition to this the most of our Brethren connected with us in this labor, will by the appropriation of their labor and means, have secured to themselves a credit that will go far towards the payment for their places when their children will cease to be born strangers and homeless wanderers in the land; but spring up in the inherent possession of the blessing of a home rendered sacred by the thousand endearments that bless the domestic circle, where seeds of truth planted in the soil of Virtue, produce a rich Harvest of those joys that have their source in the fountain of truth, made accessible for us through the Gospel, and for further particulars as to the feelings of the people here, we refer you to Br. P.P. Pratt and the minutes of our Conference which will accompany this.
We subscribe ourselves your Brethren in the Truth.
Amasa Lyman
Charles C. Rich
P.S. Br. Rich arrived here on the 20th day of August, being 21 days six hours on the road, without accident or loss, having but three days of excessive heat on the way.
Friday evening 10th, we went to see the operation of a new Thrasher, belonging to Br.’s Lewis and Hyde, which has been mostly made since the return of Br. Rich. It thrashes at the rate of 720 bushels in 12 hours; the above named Thrasher runs by water.
A.L.
C.C.R.
[Deseret News, Nov. 27, 1852]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sep. 11, 1852, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]