Sat Sep 3, 1853

Wrote some notices for meeting in English to be held at my house at 2 p.m. Br. Reddin left us this morning to go out and preach in the neighbourhoods round the other side of the island from Kaanapali towards Honokohau, Nahakuela went with him. I accompanied him as far as the hospital, where he called to bid a friend goodbye. I then went on as far as Nahakuela’s house, where I took leave of Br. Nahakuela. I felt quite sorry to part with him; but he felt to go out for a while before conference, and try and raise up a branch by that time. I feel to ask the Lord to bless him in his ministry and to give him many seals to his ministry on these lands.

I returned to the hospital and had quite a long interview with the inmates thereof. Br. Reddin introduced me to a young man by the name of Silas Stodard, he is very low with the consumption. The doctor has given him up. I asked him how he felt about dying; he said he had a hope. I asked him if it was founded on obedience to the laws of God, he said [he] had prayed to the Lord for forgiveness and he believed the Lord had forgiven his sins. He seemed much effected, even to tears. I then went on and preached the gospel to him, and endeavored to show him that it was in vain to indulge in a hope, only in and through obedience to the laws of God. He seemed to not wish to be woken out of his dream of security, said that he was not in a condition to be baptised and etc. I told him that many had been baptised from off their beds of sickness and got well, and now could testify to the power of God being the same as it was anciently and etc, but his faith was very weak.

I also had some talk with two others; one of them was named Hatch, a great cavil. He put me in mind of my dream that I had last night. I thought I was having an encounter with a young stripling of a boy; I could easily whip him I thought, but he would not stay whipt. So it was with this young man (who answered to the one in the dream to a fraction), for he would not stay whipt; but seemed disposed to fight and not give up, a real skeptic. The other one was evidently an honest man and seeking for the truth; I let him have some books to read. I left an appointment with [him] for preaching at my house every Sunday at 2 p.m. They invited me to call again. My heart grieves for the hardness of the hearts of the children of men. O Lord, lift the veil from off their hearts that they may see thy truth and cease to oppose thy laws which thou hast ordained for their salvation.

Received a letter from Br. Tanner, he had just received a letter from Br. Horner stating that President Young had promised to be at his place in October next to pay him a visit. Br. MacBride arrived about 5 p.m. from Kula via Wailuku, brought a letter from Br. Cannon and one from Br. Rice, and a lot to be mailed for home and some for Oahu. Br. MacBride has had poor health long back; his stomach is out of order, cannot eat poi, so he fairs rather hard among the natives.

Wed Aug 24, 1853

Br. R. attended meeting. A native brother came and worked in our garden, he also worked yesterday some. Employed in shoemaking till about 9 a.m., then went down with the expectation of baptizing Mr. Johnson according to [his] promise last evening, but he had lost his faith. The devil had made him believe that he could not keep his covenant if he was to try, but the life which he was leading would cause him to break his covenants and etc. We did all we could to cheer and comfort him, taught him his duty as plain as we could. He said he believed every word we taught him, but did not feel like being baptised at that time. So we left him, after preaching to his wife (native) and another white man’s wife the first principles.

4 p.m. held meeting. I preached from 1 Corinthians 1-6. Had a good flow of the spirit, but my body was tired from setting on the shoe bench too steadily. After I was through, I gave liberty to the brethren to speak. Br. Kaluau got up and told a dream which he had last night. From the dream, I infer that there is trouble soon to break out as he dreamed of seeing Br. Kane bound with a rope around his neck and his enemies leading him along and etc. Br. Pakale dreamed that the sick woman which we have been administering to got well of all her complaints and etc. Went and saw Br. Kinikua (new brother), found him quite low. He had gone to doctoring again after the directions of the Kanaka doctors. He said that the man who owned the land he lived [on] had told them they must leave the land and all they had planted for coming into our church. He is a satellite of Baldwin, the Calvin priest. We cheered him up as well as we could. He said his faith and heart was with us, but his body was in trouble on account of the land and etc. This is the second case of this kind which I have witnessed lately of the landholder driving off their tenants for turning to the truth, and my feeling is that Baldwin is the cause of it all, but the Lord will settle with him for it all. They treat the smallpox and Mormonism about alike. If a man gets the former they send him to the hospital and burn his house, and if he gets the latter “infestation” they burn the house (did in one instance) and drive the man off from the land. Although the man may have been a regular bad character before, no odds until he turns to the truth and then he must leave quick. Oh how long will the Lord suffer His Saints so to be afflicted. May their deliverance soon come.

Wed Jul 20, 1853

Attended meeting; three brethren present from Waikapu, Opunui was one and a diakona [deacon] whose name I do not know. They spoke after I was through. Opunui spoke on the difference of this church and the Calvin, he having been a member of that for 12 years, but never found the truth till he came into this church. He spoke by the spirit and caused us all to rejoice much.

Employed in reading Orson Pratt’s work. By the by, I learned by the late letters from home that Elder P. had left Washington and sailed for Europe. At first he had large congregations, but gradually fell off to none.

At 4 p.m. held a church meeting for the purpose of cutting off all those who were living in transgression. There was 5 cut off, and no doubt there are many more would be cut off if they had their due, but it is hard work to get any witnesses. I preached from 1 Corinthians 5:6,7. Did not have much of the spirit, therefore did not edify myself, and I doubt much if the Saints were much edified. I had a real spell of darkness descend as if a thousand evil spirits were hovering around me, driving away all light. I felt miserable. I sometimes feel as if [it] will be just as much as I shall be able to do to save myself; therefore I feel to call on the Lord for help and strength to magnify the priesthood unto which I have been called, that it may not prove a condemnation to me at the last day! My heart trembles for fear that I may possibly yet be left to myself and grieve the Holy Spirit, and finally get into darkness and deny the truth. But my prayer to the Lord is that He will take me away to Himself before ever that shall come to pass. My dreams for the last month have all been about fighting myself or seeing others engaged in fighting, some of them causing me to feel frightful, and wake up with fear and dread acting upon me. My feelings are that the Lord is going to commence anew His work and the devil will also commence his.

Sat Jun 4, 1853

This morning sat down and mended a pair of shoes for Mr. Jones. Antonio left this morning for his home. At about 7 a.m. Brs. Tanner, Kearnes and John Kahumokee (a native elder) arrived from Honolulu on their way to Kilo, Hawaii to preach the gospel. Brs. Tanner and Kearnes cannot speak much native, but Br. John Kahumokee can talk some English, and so they will be able to teach him and he teach the people. He is as smart a native as I have seen for his years, is only about 24; has been 7 years to a boarding school, been practicing law for the last few years. He bids fair to do a great work in this kingdom. I was filled with joy to hear the brethren tell of the goodness of the Lord to them and to the people in Honolulu. A great and mighty work has been done by them in a short time and it still continues to go on; they now number about 350 in Honolulu branch and increasing daily. Br. Lewis is beginning to preach a little. Br. Johnson remains with Br. Lewis and Br. Farrer at Honolulu for the present.

I received a letter from Br. Bigler. He is doing a good work over on the other side of that island, has baptised some 31 since our conference last March. Also received one from Br. Lewis in answer to mine in relation to some business concerning Br. Rice; the brethren and sisters are all well generally down there. There have been a few cases of the smallpox down there. The brethren administered to some who had it and they got better.

Last week while I was on the other side of the island, Br. Lawson had a dream. He dreamed he saw a building going up here, and it was built on a rotten foundation, very few windows in it, built of very rough stories in front. He stood upon the wall which was up two stories high, and he could shake them to the foundation. But he saw right back of this building, a large fine house all built of first-rate materials from the ground up, with plenty of windows to give it light and etc. His interpretation was that the branches had not been organized properly, etc, and the church was built on a poor foundation upon these lands. In the evening administered to two sisters who came to see me; Br. Raymond baptized one woman from Lanai, her husband was in before, and administered to one out of the church.

Thu May 5, 1853

Attended meeting at Kaluau. Taught them to watch and pray always for we do not [know] how soon we may be called away. Employed in reading Orson Pratt’s works, which are truly very interesting.

At about 2 p.m. Br. Hawkins arrived from Molokai; he is well, and left Br. Woodbury well. They baptized one person while he was over there, traveled a good deal and preached a good deal around the islands. Received a letter from Br. Farrer and one from Br. Uaua, and a copy of the letter which was sent to the king and a copy of the answer through his ministers. The king is favorable, but his ministers are not. They have been missionaries. Br. Uaua and Kauwahi have been ordained elders. The work is spreading down there like wildfire. They number 178 and are baptizing daily such as desire to be saved. There is a great stir in the town. Br. and Sis. Lewis are living with the native brethren trying to get the language. Br. Johnson has had a sore leg. They have baptized two or three natives from the high school. They are considered equal to the chiefs. Br. Uaua has been of great service in opening up the work down there and from his letter he seems to enjoy a good portion of the spirit of the Lord.

I dreamed last night that the Brs. Allred got the gift of this or some other Indian tongue, but lost it through fear. I got the interpretation and lost it the same way. Saw the Indians very plain, thought they were wild as they could well [be] and etc.

At 4 p.m. the Saints came together for meeting as today is our fast day. Br. Hawkins spoke first on general principles. I followed on the subject of one true church, read Br. Uaua’s letter to them. They felt well and seemed to get their faith strengthened.

Sat Apr 30, 1853

Feel quite smart this morning. Had a dream last night, thought I saw Br. Joseph and he was having a difficulty with a crowd of whaling captains about the plurality system. They insulted him, and then I thought Br. Joseph and all of us that were with him commenced an attack on them. But they were 10 to one of us and it appeared that this was just what they wanted, for they commenced to throw great large jackknives at our little party and we were forced to run and seek shelter as best we could. I thought Br. Joseph had wounded quite a number of them, but finally gave himself up and was taken. I thought that I was hunted about among some old buildings, and they finally mistook me for one of their own party, and I gave my big knife to one of them and he troughed it at the side of a horse. But they at last found me out, and took me on the way to prison or the court, and as I went along the street, I lifted up my voice and bore testimony to the truth of this work, being filled with the spirit of the Lord. I told them that I would do so if I knew they would hang me for it by or before 1 o’clock tomorrow morning, and called upon them as my brethren (in the flesh) to not resist the truth for Joseph was a man of God and had seen God and talked with Him face to face.

This is the way I thought I talked to them, careless of what they could do to me, but felt to rejoice in the persecution. They took me around to where they had Br. Joseph a prisoner without any shirt on, but bare down to the waist-band of his pantaloons. I thought they insulted him again, when he drew off and smote several of them down with his hands, and they trembled before him with great fear. I thought they requested him to let them feel of his head phrenologically, but he told them no; that no man should feel his head. They said he had a bad head to speak phrenologically, but Joseph would not answer them at all. Then they asked what Joseph believed about phrenology. I answered he believed all that was true about it and so also about every other science, but that a good man was a good man if he had no head at all. I thought Br. Joseph looked young and strong with the most powerful nerves that I ever saw on a man. His flesh was fair and as smooth as a young child. I felt like worshipping him. Many more things I saw which are not very distinct. One was that I thought I saw the Lord come down and talk with us, He sitting in or standing in a tree close by. I cannot describe how He looked or what He said; also saw Br. Cannon and others, but cannot remember their names.

Employed in reading the old Deseret News and etc. Received letters from Brs. MacBride, Burnham, and Dennis; Br. MacBride’s was part native, not very correct but well wrote for the time he has been studying the language. In the evening it rained a little shower. It was good for our garden. Mrs. H. works very hard at sewing and doing her housework, she is very ambitious.

Thu Dec 23, 1852

Commenced with showers from the south; very little wind. There has a great deal of rain fall here last few days, more than has fallen for 8 months before. It thundered very hard in night. I dreamed of feeding a very large flock of hens and chickens, saw one or two hung up to die by the neck on a limb of a tree. They were old and appeared very worthless, lousy and etc. In the afternoon it cleared off. Br. Cannon and I went down and blessed the little child of Br. Uaua, 8 days old today, the same which we attended at its birth. Br. Cannon was mouth; it got a good blessing. It was named Asieata.

Wed Sep 1, 1852

This day held a fast. Brs. Hawkins and Kaleohano joined us about 10 o’clock; they are from Hana, the east end of this island. About 12 o’clock the governor held a meeting in our meetinghouse to settle some difficulties with the people in relation to their judges. After the governor was through, we commenced our meeting; had a good time in teaching the people their duty and etc. We had a good turnout and the people appeared to enjoy themselves much. In the evening, laid hands on Br. Bigler and he commenced to get better right away and seemed like another man among us. Last night dreamed a dream about a ship and a few left for sea.