Journal of Heber C Kimball

Extracts from the Journal of Heber C. Kimball

June 13th 1837, I bade my family and friends in Kirtland farewell, and in company with elders Hyde, Richards, and Priest Fielding started on my mission arrived at Fairport, on Lake Erie, that afternoon, a distance of twelve miles; and about an hour after our arrival, took passage in a steamboat. Sister Mary Fielding gave me five dollars, with which I paid my passage and brother Hyde's to Buffalo; after a pleasant voyage we reached Buffalo the next day.

There was means furnished by the Canadian brethren to help the mission but I never got a farthing of it.

I journeyed in company with Elder Richards to Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, where we spent one day visiting his father and mother, and were successful in obtaining $40 to enable us to prosecute our journey.

We arrived at New York on the 22nd day of June, where we met with brothers Goodson, Russell and Snider (they came by the way of Canada) all in good health.

Being scant of means we were obliged to rent a store house from Elijah Fordham's father, on the floor of which we lay. He had as many as twelve beds which were empty.

While we remained in New York, we distributed O. Hyde's Timely Warnings to the ministers of the different denominations, and taught the people the principles of the Gospel.

Elijah Fordham was the only Saint in New York, he gave me $10.

July 1st. We took passage on board the Garrick, and on the 20th landed in Liverpool. The mission consisted of elders Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, John Goodson and Isaac Russell and myself, also John Snider and Joseph Fielding who were priests.

[April 1838] 20th. Myself, elders Hyde and Russell, went on board the ship Garrick, and after a prosperous voyage of 22 1/2 days, we landed in New York. The sight of my native land filled my soul with gladness.

We found Elder Orson Pratt, who in company with his brother Parley P., had built up a branch of the Church in the city of New York, with whom we met, and whose hearts were encouraged by a rehearsal of the progress of the work in England. We continued our journey to Kirtland by steamboat, railroad and canal--arrived May 22nd--absent eleven months, and having been instrumental, in company with my brethren, in baptizing about 1500 souls, and establishing the Work in the heart of Great Britain.

I found my family in good health, and as comfortably situated as I could expect, for which I felt thankful to my heavenly Father.

As brother Joseph and the most of the Authorities of the Church had removed to Far West, Missouri, I took my family and journeyed, mostly by water, via Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and arrived at Far West July 25th.