Elder Woodruff then rose to lay his own individual case before the meeting. Many inquiries had been made about emigration, and other things. I have a sub- ject to lay before the meeting concerning my leaving. I wish to say that since I have been in Liverpool, I have been engaged in publishing the Doctrine and Cove- nants, and the Proclamation. The Hymn Book had been published before. I cannot feel to leave without settling my accounts honourably; no one shall say that we do not do justly with all men. We have on hand some 1500 Hymn Books, some 700 or upwards Books of Mormon, and about 2000 Covenants. I have about fifteen days to arrange matters in. By letter, received from Brigham Young, they determine to deliver the entire people, who will number at least from fifteen to twenty thousand souls. These have to be provided for with food for some twelve months, waggons, &c., and means to travel, and it will be a mighty struggle to deliver all the people, but they have determined to make the sacrifice. In Missouri, when the edict went forth for the extermination of the Saints, multitudes sacri- ficed all things, in order to assist each other. We want the Saints in Britain, therefore, to assist us in this migration. The temple has yet to be finished, and until the spring the tithing will be gathered, and I should be glad to take as much with me as I can. Perhaps our friends may say, that there have been a many calls for money, and so has it been in America, there has been a continual drain upon the Saints, by the many vexatious lawsuits which they have had to meet, as well as other things. The British Saints have come forward nobly, when called upon to assist the brethren in the building of the Temple. Some £220 has been do- nated since we called for assistance for the bell and clock; this is well, and I feel convinced that you will continue your efforts. I should wish the Saints, during the winter, to continue their exertions, when, afterwards, there will not be the same call upon their benevolence. It will be evident to all, that with the quantity of books on hand, that we should be glad to dispose of some of them, and the authorities in Nauvoo wish us to procure all we can on these things, and if any will loan money on the books, the presidency will refund the same, as soon as the necessary bills thereon are discharged. I now call upon the Saints, in the name of humanity, in the name of the Lord, and in the name of a suffering people, if there are any that can assist to do it—if any can lend money on our books to do it, not for any individual profit, but to assist in the great work that lies before us. And again, if any wish to render me any personal assistance to enable me to carry my family from the east to Nauvoo, to procure me a waggon and team, and necessaries for the journey, it will be most gratefully received, and as a servant of God I make this appeal, and leave it with you to act upon such measures as you think fit, and God will help you according to the extent of your means and intentions in aid- ing his great work.

Elder Woodruff then rose and said, that it was with no ordinary feelings that he stood before them on the present occasion. He was labouring under severe indispo- sition; the spirit was indeed willing, but the flesh was weak; he trusted, however, that the assembly would be as still as possible, while he endeavoured to make a few remarks. He had never seen any period of the church when his feelings were more satisfied than at present, the veil was beginning to be withdrawn and present scenes of glory and intelligence. Every hostile movement of the enemy at first looked dark, but that darkness was quickly dispelled, and brighter scenes of truth were speedily made manifest. The first news of the present movement certainly was like a cloud passing over the mind, which however speedily vanished, and it will eventually result in showing forth the power of God. We wish to lay before you the causes of calling this conference. Our brethren and sisters, the Saints, after being driven from their abodes, and hunted from Missouri, seemed as though they had found a resting place in the state of Illinois; there, by their industry, they had built up a large city and a temple, with several adjoining stakes; but the hand of oppression and persecution is again upon them, and they are compelled, under the alternative of death and destruction, to emigrate and seek an asylum in the wilder- ness, beyond the Rocky Mountains. Some may suppose that the present removal was a great trial—that is true, but the Saints were the people to endure that trial. The time has come for Jacob to be the head and not the tail. Many have consi- dered Nauvoo as the only settlement of the Saints, but the idea has been too limited. Nauvoo has been a nursery, where the plants of the kingdom of God have been set; but in the course of time those plants want spreading, in order that they may arrive at full growth and proper maturity. And now when the Saints cannot remain any longer, they are willing to go. This is also necessary in order that the judgments of God might be poured out upon that guilty nation that is already drunk with the blood of the Saints. The church must come out from the midst of the Gentiles. Therefore we feel a satisfaction in this. We have built stakes, we are willing to sacrifice and leave them. We have suffered our prophets to be mur-

Manchester, , and 15th, 1845 The meeting was called to order by J. D. Ross, presiding elder of the Manches- ter conference, who moved that elder Wilford Woodrufff preside over this conference, which being seconded by elder A. Fielding, was carried unanimously. It was then proposed by the president and carried, that elders Ward, Brown, and Walker act as clerks. The first hymn being sung, prayer was offered by elder John Banks. Elder Woodruff then rose and said, that it was with no ordinary feelings that he stood before them on the present occasion. He was labouring under severe indispo- sition; the spirit was indeed willing, but the flesh was weak [Matthew 26:41]; he trusted, however, that the assembly would be as still as possible, while he endeavoured to make a few remarks. He had never seen any period of the church when his feelings were more satisfied than at present, the veil was beginning to be withdrawn and present scenes of glory and intelligence. Every hostile movement of the enemy at first looked dark, but that darkness was quickly dispelled, and brighter scenes of truth were speedily made manifest. The first news of the present movement certainly was like a cloud passing over the mind, which however speedily vanished, and it will eventually result in showing forth the power of God. We wish to lay before you the causes of calling this conference. Our brethren and sisters, the Saints, after being driven from their abodes, and hunted from Missouri, seemed as though they had found a resting place in the state of Illinois; there, by their industry, they had built up a large city and a temple, with several adjoining stakes; but the hand of oppression and persecution is again upon them, and they are compelled, under the alternative of death and destruction, to emigrate and seek an asylum in the wilder- ness, beyond the Rocky Mountains. Some may suppose that the present removal was a great trial—that is true, but the Saints were the people to endure that trial. The time has come for Jacob to be the head and not the tail. Many have consi- dered Nauvoo as the only settlement of the Saints, but the idea has been too limited. Nauvoo has been a nursery, where the plants of the kingdom of God have been set; but in the course of time those plants want spreading, in order that they may arrive at full growth and proper maturity. And now when the Saints cannot remain any longer, they are willing to go. This is also necessary in order that the judgments of God might be poured out upon that guilty nation that is already drunk with the blood of the Saints. The church must come out from the midst of the Gentiles. Therefore we feel a satisfaction in this. We have built stakes, we are willing to sacrifice and leave them. We have suffered our prophets to be mur-

The Hall of Science Manchester . The conferences of the British Mission were represented containing a total of eleven thousand and thirty two members with one of the quorum of the Twelve 8 High Priests 392 Elders 590 Priests 311 Teachers and 188 Deacons and 1573 baptized during the last eight months. The statistics of the Staffordshire Conference was not included in this total Thus had the work of God in ^the^ British Isles in a few years grown into a mighty mission This Special Conference was continued through two days and much important business was taken up and arrangements made in view of my return to the United States and ^and^ the emigration expulsion of the Saints and the general affairs of the mission discoursed upon. I spent the day following the Conference with the Saints an Manchester and bid them farewell and next day returned to Liverpool