reports from
twenty-six branches of the Church. The total number of souls in the Church
was reported to be about two thousand; and all this was done in the short
space of eight months.

The next day Elders Kimball, Hyde, and Russell left for home, leaving
Willard Richards to preside over the mission. Many were the sad partings
these brethren had with the Saints, for a great love grows up between the
Saints in the world and the elders who have brought them the gospel.

January 11, 1840, Elders John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff landed in
England. Brother Woodruff was led by the Spirit to go into a part of
England called Herefordshire. Here he found a religious body of people
called United Brethren. They had withdrawn from the Church of England, and
were now praying that the Lord would send them more light. These people
heard Elder Woodruff gladly, and with joy they received the gospel. Within
one month he baptized all their preachers, forty-five in number, and one
hundred and sixty of their members. In eight months time Elder Woodruff
brought eighteen hundred souls into the Church, including all the six
hundred United Brethren, save one.

At one time just as Elder Woodruff was about to begin a meeting, a
constable came to arrest him for preaching. The officer was asked to take a
seat, and was told that after the meeting Elder Woodruff would be at his
service. The constable was very much interested in the sermon. At the close
of the meeting seven persons asked for baptism, and the constable was one
of the number. After this, two clerks of the Church of England were sent as
spies to find out what the Mormon elders preached. Both of these men
believed and joined the Church.

Now came others of the Apostles to England to roll on the work. Brigham
Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, and George A. Smith
arrived on April 6, 1840. At a conference held in Preston on the 14th,
Willard Richards was ordained an Apostle, so that now there were eight of
the Twelve together. At this meeting it was decided to print a paper to be
called _The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star_. This paper has been
published from that day to this, it being the oldest publication in the
Church.

The Church now grew rapidly. Branches were organized in Scotland, Ireland,
Wales, and in many of the large cities in England. At a conference held in
the city of Manchester, April 6, 1841, it was found that there were about
six thousand membe