Transcript

THE BRITISH MJS5I0N
President A. William Lund
In THE SPRING Of 1837, when apostasy and j^ersecution over- shadowed the Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith, heeding the whisperings of the Spirit, called his faithful friend, Heber C. Kimball, to "open the door of salvation" to England. Brother Kimball, accompanied by Elders Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, Joseph Fielding, Isaac Russell, John Goodson and John Snyder, engaged passage on the GarricJt, airiving at Liverpool on July 20th, 1837, and proceeded inunediately to Preston, which is thirty miles to the north.

Three days later, in the Vauxhall Chapel which still stands, Elder Kimball preached the first Gospel sermon on the Restoration in Europe. Intense interest was aroused, and it was but a few days before the first baptisms were performed in the River Ribble.

From that humble beginning, the Gospel has spread, not only throughout Great Britain, but throughout all of Europe. The British Mission has given to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints more members than any
other mission in the Church.

During the history of the British Mission, many books and pamphlets have been printed and distributed in large numbers. Millions of tracts have been given out from door to door by thousands of missionaries, and practically
every city, town and village in England has, at some time or other, since 1837, had the Gospel, in its restored fulness, preached within its boundaries.

All honourable means are used in preaching the Gospel. Tracting is the backbone of missionary work. Street meetings are bringing results, as are also cottage meetings, ball meetings, illustrated lectures, and newspaper articles.

The British Mission today, with headquarters at Birmingham, numbers 6,491 members, divided into sixteen districts which contain seventy-five branches. There are 885 men who hold the Priesthood. All the auxiliary organizations are functioning, and have the following memberships: Relief Society, 637: Sunday School, 1,608: M. I. A., including Bee-Hive, Gleaner Girls, M Men and Scouts, 866; Primary, including Trail Builders and Seagull Girls, 632; and Genealogical
Classes, 310.

The British Mission is in good condition, and substantial progress is being made; especially during the past few years have prejudice and ill-feeling towards us been allayed, and the press becomemore favourable.