Bought me cloth for a coat this morning of a tailor; paid him [to] cut it out and Mrs. H. makes it, cost four dollars and a half. At about 11 o’clock, Br. Napela arrived from Wailuku bringing a letter from Br. George, which gave me great joy to hear of his welfare, also one from Br. Maiola, a native brother. They all express much love for us and are constant in their prayer for our prospects in building up the kingdom in this place. In the afternoon Br. Woodbury arrived from Molokai. He has rather hard times over there; the Saints are very weak in faith, they do not provide food for him as they ought. He has not baptised any new ones since he went out the last time. Married a couple today.
Mon Nov 29, 1852
This morning met with the branch to organize a school for our children. It was agreed that we employ Br. Pukila as teacher, and pay him at a rate of 25 cents per scholar per month and that in cash on such property as we have. I made some remarks in regard to the children being kept at school and not be allowed to run the streets as formerly and etc. Employed in translating some chapters on priesthood from the Book of Covenants. All well as usual. 20 ships in yet.
Sun Mon 28, 1852
Attended meeting early in the morning, had a good flow of the spirit, was melted to tears while talking of the things of the kingdom. Br. Uaua gave me a paper printed here in native called the Messenger, and in it was an article written by the Reverend Mr. Baldwin setting forth the duties of a minister of the gospel. I was done at the ordaining of a native to be a priest. It was a long article setting forth the duties and responsibilities resting upon him. They ordained him to be a bishop, teacher and elder, all at the same time for they say that they, the offices, are all alike, one and the same thing. They say that first rum was brought forth to destroy the people, then the Pope, and last of all the Mormons. He says we are the youngest child of the devil, but he says we are more cunning and smart and [have] less shame than any of the others. He is using every exertion to put down the work of the Lord.
At 10 o’clock met and had a good meeting, preached from Matthew 10.39. Had a good flow of the language and I believe spoke to the edification of them that heard. After me, followed Br. Uaua; he spoke by the spirit, appeared to have the scriptures on his tongue. And none offered themselves for baptism. In the afternoon met and had our sacrament; had a good time, all felt well. May the Lord increase their knowledge from day to day, amen.
Fri Nov 26, 1852
Attended meeting, spoke upon the necessity of keeping all the commandments of the Lord in order to be blessed with all blessings. There is a great deal of sickness in the place and a great many dieing, but I told the Saints that if they would do right and keep the commandments of the Lord that they should have power to live in the midst of pestilence and not be hurt. One sister in trouble about her husband, he is not willing for her to be a Mormon; this will make me more careful in future and not baptise except the husband should consent. May the Lord give me much wisdom and His Holy Spirit to be with me continually. Wrote 3 letters home to my friends in the east to father, Edward and Samuel S. Jr. Br. Kipp had a talk with [Dr.] Dow.
Thu Nov 25, 1852
Employed in reading and writing in the afternoon. Mr. Hallock came to see me, he knows many folks that I knew. He was from Southhold, New York. I had a very pleasant time with him talking about home, the scenes of my childhood and youth. Had a talk about Mormonism, he did not object to anything that I said but said it was new to him, never having heard as much about it before. He is a Methodist.
Wed Nov 24, 1852
Attended meeting this morning, had a good time in teaching the teachers their duty, also the deacons theirs. Attended an auction but did not buy anything; feel very sore and lame after my ride. Mr. Anthoney came here in the night, also a Negro man yesterday by the name of Hitten. He was mad because I had baptised his wife without his consent; I told him if I did it, it was not done knowingly nor intentionally, but he appeared to want to make trouble about it, said he had a thousand dollars to spend etc. I came away and left him for he was a little drunk.
Tue Nov 23, 1852
No meeting this morning; have the meetings now on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sunday mornings only. Sent two letters to Br. Woodbury; one of them was from Br. Cannon. Received a letter from [Br.] Farrer last evening, some news in it from the coast stating that the brethren had returned from the Society Islands with a number of the Saints from those islands; they are satisfied and do not talk of their islands anymore. Rode out to Kanapeoi in company with Br. Kipp, had a pleasant ride, but nothing very profitable. Feel somewhat sore from the effects of the ride, went down and had a bath in the sea.
Mon Nov 22, 1852
This morning met with the branch. Br. Napela spoke on the proofs of the Book of Mormon, did it well, spoke with power and with the spirit. The church rejoiced in it. They are increasing in faith daily. Yesterday found handbill posted up on the corner of the streets advertising the natives to beware of us Mormons for we were a bad set, we were deceived, and cautioning the people to not meet with us for we had not foundation for our doctrine, founded on our word only. It was from the pen of a Catholic priest who had been handsomely whipped out by us from the Bible, so he took that course to vent his feelings, but it is a miserable production altogether. No name to it, but I know full well who it is from, and may the Lord reward him according to his works and may swift destruction fall upon him if he repents not. Wrote a letter to Br. George. In the morning baptised two women and confirmed them. The work is taking root in this place.
Sun Nov 21, 1852
Commenced about 6 a.m. this morning, rained until about 7, then held up. Br. Kaluau brought us 3 loaves of bread. At 9 a.m. held our meeting, preached from Revelation 14:6, had a good time. Br. Napela was with us from Wailuku; after meeting baptised 8. Met in the afternoon, preached and instructed them about gift of the Holy Ghost, had a good flow of the spirit; afterwards organized the branch, ordained two teachers and two deacons. In the evening Brs. Napela and Uaua came and desired to be baptised over again as they had fallen into sin, and they desired to repent and do so no more. Their sin was making too free with the women; this is their most besetting sin. They were melted to tears while confirming them. May the Lord now preserve them from falling into sin again, but may they go on from strength to strength until they can overcome all sin, even so, amen.
Sat Nov 20, 1852
Attended meeting this morning, had a good time in teaching the Saints their duty to each other and to God, the object of marriage and etc, and not to marry with the Negroes. They all felt well. Br. Kaluau gave me a dollar. Wrote a letter to Br. Woodbury, afternoon wrote to Br. Cannon. Employed in study. About 30 ships in yet, they hold on well.
Fri Nov 19, 1852
Held meeting again this morning. Last evening received a letter from Br. Cannon, and one directed to Brs. Lewis and Farrer, in which I read the news that Br. Cannon received by his letter. It is that there are elders on their way out to this place appointed by a special conference last August, also many elders for other parts of the world. Wrote an answer to Br. Cannon’s letter this morning. An old sister brought a turkey and a loaf of bread this morning. May the Lord bless the old soul with long life upon the earth to do His will and see His power in the last days, together with an abundance of the good things of this life. Br. Uaua gave us a goat. The brethren have done more for us since we have been in here than the brethren on the other side of the island all the while we were there.
Mr. Lase, an old acquaintance, called to see me, did not talk on religion any as he had been taking liquor. Employed in visiting and translating. Baldwin, the priest after the order of Baal, was around among the people today stirring them up to reject the truth, telling them we were deceivers after money and etc. He tried hard to get a couple of old men which he had turned out of his church some time ago to go back again. They would not, but told him they were going to join the Church of Christ. They are well off for the things of this world and have been in the habit of paying him 2 dollars a year.
Thu Nov 18, 1852
This morning met again with the brethren and sisters, spoke on blessing children and praying in the name of Jesus, and to be constant in serving the Lord day by day, the same as we eat our food day by day. They are weak and need a good deal of teaching. May the Lord give me wisdom that I may teach them the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Br. Kaluau gave us a chicken and a loaf of bread and some sweet potatoes this morning, and may the Lord reward him tenfold for his kindness unto us. I feel to bless him in the name of Jesus Christ and pray the Lord to give him much faith and wisdom and keep his feet from slipping, even so, amen. Br. Uaua came to see me, corrected my translations.
Wed Nov 17, 1852
Met with the church this morning; taught concerning the health of their bodies, how to preserve it by obeying the Word of Wisdom, also for every man to have his own wife and let other folks alone. Employed in studying the scriptures and etc. Sold our cook stove this morning to Mr. Mann for $18. Employed in translating some paragraphs respecting the priesthood.
Tue Nov 16, 1852
This morning met with the Saints and had a good time in instructing them in the things of the kingdom, they do appear to rejoice in the truth according to their knowledge. May the Lord bless them with the gift of His Spirit to teach them the things of the Spirit. I was teaching how to do with children, to bring them to the elders and have them blest, and also when any of them were sick to send for the elders to pray for and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith should mend the sick and they should be healed. After meeting, while walking home in company with Kaluau, a native brother, he asked me if we were not in want sometimes. I told him we were, but did not want to burden the church. He said he felt well and wanted to assist us, so gave me two dollars and said he had much love for us. I told him that he should be blest for his kindness.
Mon Nov 15, 1852
This morning met and confirmed 21, those that were baptised last night; had good liberty in teaching them concerning the things of the kingdom. Last night Sis. Kipp was taken very bad with a stoppage of her breath in consequence of a bad cold she has had. I administered to her before going to bed, but in the night she got very bad again. Br. Kipp called me to administer to her again. I did so, and [she] got relief immediately and went to sleep quietly. Also administered to a brother sick with a fever, who got up and went about his work in the morning. Thus the Lord blesses me in my ministry here, to Him be all the glory now and forever, amen. Do not feel very well today, a slight cold on my lungs and some pain in my bones and etc. Br. Uaua came and spent the evening with me, reading the Bible and etc.
Sun Nov 14, 1852
At 9 o’clock held meeting, preached from the 3rd chapter of Genesis 6th verse. Had hard work to make myself understood, it made me feel my weakness very much. I had thought to make a good preach this morning as I had heard that there was a man about ready to come in, so I wanted to show off well before them, but the Lord’s ways are not man’s ways. After me, Br. Uaua spoke and done well; made me feel well again. He spoke by the Spirit. The people gave good attention; there was some who wanted to be baptised, but were afraid to come out before the crowd.
Appointed a meeting for 3 o’clock this afternoon; met according to appointment, preached from Galatians 1:8-9. Had a good flow of the Spirit, felt much better than I did in the morning. Br. Uaua spoke on the same subject and also on baptism for the dead, which seemed to please the people very much. 21 came forward for baptism, but water on tide being so low, we put it off till 8 o’clock this evening.
At 8 o’clock, met and baptised 21, mostly women, 5 men only out of the lot. At the waters edge, there assembled quite a multitude to witness the ordinance; I preached a little to them concerning the ordinance of baptism. There were also a number of foreigners there, whom I spoke a few words to. They appeared quite attentive and expressed a desire to hear more. After appointing a meeting for those who were baptised early in the morning, we retired home rather tired. The poor are the first ones to come into the kingdom as in the days of old.
Sat Nov 13, 1852
Attended meeting again this morning, had good liberty in teaching the principles of the kingdom. Brs. Napela and Uaua were present, had a good time. Employed in studying the scriptures. In the afternoon took a walk with Br. Kipp about the town, saw nothing to please, but much to disgust. Went down and took a good bath in the sea; about 30 ships at anchor in the harbour. Today news came from Oahu of there being a great row between the sailors and the policemen; the prefect of the police killed one of the sailors by striking him on the head with a braided whip, killing him dead. This caused a great excitement among the sailors. They demanded the policeman that killed the sailor that they might hang him, but the authorities [are] not giving him up to them. They went and set fire to a government house near the dock, burnt up one or two butchers’ shops also. About 150 ships there and about all their crews are engaged in it.
Fri Nov 12, 1852
Attended meeting, had a good flow of the Spirit, felt like teaching sinners the way of life. Brs. Napela and Uaua [were] both there. Employed in reading the Deseret from home; had a great feast for my soul to banquet upon, it was like hearing from the courts of heaven. I was too full to read and gave way to tears a number of times for joy and etc, pure joy at the prospects of Zion abroad and at home. May the Lord keep me faithful till He shall call me away. In the afternoon, wrote to Br. George telling him what detained the papers and etc. I also wrote to Br. Woodbury, giving him some of the news from home and etc.
Fri evening Nov 12, 1852
Went and called again on the Reverend Mr. Baldwin, asked him for his church to preach in. He would give me no direct answer, but said he did not want to talk anything about our religion; he knows enough already, he has had a good opportunity to know about it. I told him he was not honest then or else he would have embraced it. He and his wife both felt that they had indulged me too much all ready in listening to my talk. He invited me to take tea with them provided I would not say anything about my religion; I thanked them and declined. He was very unreasonable, would not hear to reason at all, said his religion was good enough for him and did not want any more. He said if I would raise the old governor from the dead he would then believe, but I told him I was not sent to work miracles but to preach the gospel. He condemned, or rather his wife condemned, our course of taking in sinners into the church before we know whether they are good men or not and etc. I found that there was no use in prolonging the interview, so I got up and bore my testimony to him in humility that Joseph Smith was a truth and prophet, the Book of Mormon was true, the priesthood had again been restored to the earth; I told him those things in the name of Jesus Christ and by virtue of the priesthood invested in me. I left him and went and did unto him as the scriptures direct.
Thu Nov 11, 1852
Meeting as usual in the morning about 10 o’clock. Received 4 letters and 8 newspapers from Deseret, but none from anyone else. I forwarded the letters by Brs. John and Albion today, but the papers I retained to read, and truly my soul was fed whilst reading of the doings of the Lord among the nations of the earth. Every[thing] looks like a short work that that Lord is a doing on the earth this time. Everything is peace and prospering in the valleys of the mountains, and Israel is gathering in fast from all quarters of the earth. I see two letters in the Deseret News that I wrote from here, one to Br. Lewis, the other [to] Br. Rich, also two of Br. Cannon’s. It encouraged me to hear from home, to hear of their prosperity and of their faith and prayers. It puts new life, as it were, in me and I feel like doubling my diligence in serving the Lord.
