a diary of

George Mayer

Typed by Christian T. Farmer

One of His Great-Great-Great Grandsons

George Mayer	AnnYost

Grandpa Mayer

1.	Hancock Co. Nauvoo I receved my indauments in the Tampel and had my wife salde (sealed) to me Ann Youst in the yere of 1846.
2.	On the 18 of March 1856 I had salde (sealed) to me by the name of Maria Wiet Cabell in the Indumenthous in Salt Lake Citty. (born Oct 7, 1839)
3.	On the 1 of December 1868 I had the 3 wife salde to me in the Indumenthous in Salt Lake Citty and these of her sisters by the name of Doviet Fay. She dide June 22th 1876 in Richfield Sever Co.
4.	Barbara Fay (Feh?)
5.	Elesabeth Fay
6.	Margerat Fay
7.	On the 20 of October 1881 in Salt Lake City in the Indumenthous I had a wife selde to me by the name of Holem Freder Paterson. She was babtist on island in the Church of Jesus Christ of Laterday Santes on the 13 of April 1881. Emegrated to Spanish Fork and babtised in the United Order by Al Back and confermed by James Anderson and Sabede Cotton September the 1, 1881. Born January the 31, 1852, in Iceland. (born Fed. 9, 1852)

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This diary covers basically the time of his mission.

THE HISTORY OF GEORGE MAYER

Son of

Abraham and Elizabeth (Lauck) Mayer who was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lane) Mayer. My mother’s parents names were George Louck and Elizabeth (Cline). I was born in Yorke County, State of Pennsylvania March the 2 A.D., 1805. My parents moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, when I was two years old and kept tavern. They were well off. My father got from his father 6,000 dollars but he had a large family and mother was sickly for many years with the disease the doctor called the scrofula. She died in Ohio aged 55 years 10 months 24 days, afflicted 4 years. She was the mother of 13 children. I am the third child. My parents were Christian people, members of the Lutheran Church, and had their children catechised and become members of the church according to the church government. I lived with my parents till I was 18, then I learned the wagon-maker trade and plough-maker trade with Samuel Spangler at Mount Rock, seven miles west of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I served two years and found my own cloth. (clothing)

When I was 21 I went to Ohio with Andrew Tailor, my brother-in-law, married to my older sister Elizabeth. I followed my trade in Mansfield Cred (Creek?) one a wagon and plough shop for Hooper and Evans one year and a half. My oldest brother moved to Bucyrus and then my father. I then went to Bucyrus and commenced trade for myself. I held several military offices. I was first elected lieutenant, then promoted to Captain of one company of Crawford County. After I served four years Captain I received an appointment from the Council to the office of paymaster and I held the office of County Seller of machines (?). My brother first came on a visit to Bucyrus and returned and brought his wife there.

I got acquainted with a young lady by the name of Ann Yost and took her to wife in the year March 4^th A. D. 1828. I commenced wagonmaking and plough and grain cradle making, but before I married I worked one year in Mansfield, Ohio, for Hooper and Stanley and Evans, stocking ploughs and making patterns for their foundry there.

I became a member of the Freemasons, then returned to Bucyrus and commenced for myself in business. But as I said, I was always called odd from the rest of the family because I did not believe in their religion. My wife bore me three daughters in Bucyrus and my mother wanted me to have them baptized. I told her if she would show me scripture to baptize children that I would. I told her that there wasn’t scripture to baptize children. She said, “Christ said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ ” I said, “Yes, mother, and He laid His hands on them and blessed them.” Then father said that I was right. I had six children and had none of them baptized.

I felt that I would like to see Logansfork, Indiana, therefore I sold my house and lot for four hundred dollars and went with one of my neighbors to see Logansork and see a brother-in-law by the name of William Lemon. I liked the country and moved my family to Logansport and bought a naked lot near the center of the city for 200 dollras, from General John Tiphton (?) and built me a house and shop and commenced my trade there.

Logansport is a beautiful city lying in the fork of the Wabash and Elee (?) Rivers. There is the greatest privilege for mill that I ever saw in any country, and a great fish country, and plenty of lumber and stone; as good land as I ever saw. I made property very fast. I owned three city lots and 80 of land within three miles of Logansporte and forty acres at a small lake (Kevony ?) and 53 on the Tippecanoe River near Vinemacke (?) and a fraction of land of 16 acres, and I was getting rich in the things of this world.

I being a Freemason, there I ranked in the first class of society. I therefore became a Royal Arch Mason and had many friends. But I never found any religion that suited me, or that I thought was the religion of Christ, till November 11, A.D. 1843, when I heard a Latter-Day Saint by the name of Jerry Dunham, who I sent for, to come to my house, that I could converse with him. When he came, I found that the Latter-day Saints had the genuine Bible and New Testament Doctrine. I told him to send a Mormon Elder to me that he would preach in Logansport. He sent Abe (?) Tipets, and he made an appointment in the courthouse to preach. But there came but few. I invited him to come to my house and conversed with him in the evening. There came two more elders, one by the name of Strong, and James McGraw and I went and appointed meeting at candlelight, in the evening in the courthouse and there came considerable many hearers. But some made fun of the idea of new revelation. Others believed, but through fear of persecution hardened their hearts against what they heard.

I was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by Charles William, elder, November the 11, A. D., 1843, and soon after ordained an elder under the hands of Elder James McGraw, and I went a preaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ, ever since where I thought it needful.

The next summer, after Joseph and Hyrum were murdered in Carthage jail, I moved to Nauvoo with my family were all baptized that were over eight years old, and the younger children were blessed and their names recorded in the church books. When I came to Nauvoo, I bought a half-acre from Brother Kimball, one of the twelve apostles, and built a small house on the lot. It lay right opposite Brother Kimball’s.

Later Brother Kimball councilled me to become a Seventy, and wrote me a recommend to Joseph Young, president of the Seventies, to ordain me a Seventy, and that he recommended me as a good man. I was ordained a Seventy in the 16^th Quorum of Seventies and affirmed. I was chosen Senior President in the 32^nd Quorum of Seventies. I also was chosen a police in Nauvoo and guarded the three first presidency of the Church, Brigham Young, Kimball, Richards, and the temple. I stood guard every other night in Nauvoo while I was there.

In the fall, before we were driven from Nauvoo, I returned to Loganport and sold my property and found the people there down in their spirits. The erysipelas was there the fall after I left there and nearly one hundred of the people died with the erysipelas. James McGraw had prophesied that there was a severe scourge coming over that town, and that ere long, and I prophesied that there would come a disease among the people there that the doctors could not cure, and they acknowledged it was true. The people appeared sorrowful but afraid, in a drouse of sleep, afraid to care very little, about God and religion. The different churches lost the spirit of their prayer meetings; the baptized members left the church, and all became cold and dead because they had rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore they lost the spirit of God and their faith became dead.

I sold my house and lots and returned to Nauvoo, and before I returned the difficulty commenced with the old secterians as they called themselves, and the Mormons had to leave and were not allowed to raise grain in that country another year. Then I commenced a wagon shop, and commenced twenty-two wagons and finished several, then returned back to Logansport and sold the note which I held there and returned with a two-horse wagon and two horses. And before I returned, the pioneers had left Nauvoo and were in Norway (?) on Sugar Creek. I went over to see them, and to see my daughter Elizabeth. She was married a short time befre to James H. Glines, a tailor, a Mormon Elder. and Junior President with me in the 32^nd Quorum of Seventies, and also a policeman with me.

I was not ready, yet, to start, and my horses had the distemper very bad. I traded one of my horses for a yoke of two year old stags (?). They were strong and good for the trip; and bought another horse from Brother Haywood for 50 dollars. Then on the 22 of April I left Nauvoo for the Great Salt Lake, and crossed over the Mississippi. Then there my son-in-law came back to help me along the camp. They had stopped at Garden Grove and made a development there, for those that was not when I crossed the Decimal (?).

I traded my best horse for a first rate yoke of oxen then traded my harness and doubletree and neck yoke for the cows. Then before I left the settlement, I traded the other horse for a yoke of oxen. Then I had three yoke of oxen, three cows, and when I came to Garden Grove, I went to work making ploughs.

Then the president (told) the people to send a company to Salt Lake, and those that wanted to stay to help those that went. I told Brother Kimball to take what he wanted. I had three wagons. I gave him one light two-horse wagon and one young cow. He then told me that I must go with him. The camp then that was not to remain at Garden Grove moved on to the Missouri River, Council Bluffs.

There is one thing I will mention. After the Saints left Nauvoo, it rained nearly every day and often before I came to the main camp in the evening that it rained so hard that we were compelled to do without our supper because it rained so hard and everything of our clothing got wet. It appeared the Dragon spread out a flood of water to destroy the woman, but withal the rain we still moved on our journey.

When we came to Council Bluffs, we went to work and built a boat and crossed over. Then the camp stopped. But brother George Miller went to Pine-Village and Brother Young sent after him and stopped him there. He was determined to go ahead, right or wrong. The Council thought best to send 100 wagons, 50 out of Brigham’s Company and 50 out of Kimball’s company. George Miller and Emmett had joined company and were determined to rush ahead of the President. Brigham therefore he sent the 100 wagons off chasing (the) man to stop his progress.

At the same time the government of U.S. sent an officer to enlist 500 young men of the Mormons to go to California, and my son-in-law, Glines, was told to go as Sargeant-Major. And I had to take his wife, Elizabeth, and we went with Captain Clark’s fifty sent out of Kimball’s company. (We) joined Miller. We moved on to Ponnee (?) village, and the twelve organized 12 councils (?) and George Miller President, and (they) councilled the camp to stop there for the winter with the company and park here by where they could find good grass to winter their teams.

Three Punckaw (?) Indian Chiefs (came) and spoke with Emmett and told him that if we would go with them to their land, there was plenty of rushes and buffalo grass and plenty of game, and we were welcome to remain there as long as we wanted to stay. About twenty wagons remained at the Pine Village, and the rest moved on the way to the Punckaw Chief (who) was our guide. We had crossed over the South Fork of the Platte River. Miller gave orders for the camp to move. I had lost one of my stags and hunted all day but I could not find him, and the camp left me on the ground and went four miles to follow after the best way I could. The next day I got a horse and rode back and hunted my stag, but could not find him. Then Emmett that went with me told me to go to the other camp and look among their cattle. I went, and there I found him in the yard. I drove him to the camp with much joy.

Then we moved on through the Indian Country where we had to bridge the small streams (and) double teams up the high hills. There was an accident happend to me. One of my young steers got unyoked and ran off; and while I followed him my daughter that drove the other team went to pass my wagon and caught the hind wheel with her wagon and broke the wheel clean from the hub. But I took the load out and put in the other wagons. We then drove till noon, when I put a slider under the axle-tree, then we drove on to (till) night. In the evening I went and took a small ash tree and split out fourteen spokes. And then I asked Miller whether he could not stop the next morning till I had spoked my wheel. He said, “We must move on.”

But in the morning it commenced to rain, and I commenced working at my wheel and prayed to God that it would rain till I got the wheel done, and when I drove the tire on the felow (?), it left off raining. And when the camp moved off my wheel was done. Miller was astonished when he saw that I had made it in so short a time. It was then 9 o’clock. I told him at I thanked God that he sent the rain and stopped the camp.

We then came in a few days to the Indian’s home, where they said where we could camp. The Indians were friendly and wanted to trade with us for clothing. But there were some that were tricky and stole some of the (brethren’s) brother’s cattle. We commenced hunting timber to build houses when our Council changed the location to another place about four miles of one the Runningwater, near its mouth, where it empties in the Missouri River. There we commenced building houses fourteen feet four square in the frame of a fort, taking in about an acre and a half.

The Indians shot one of my cows with an arrow and several others. The herd man drove mine home and I butchered her, and divided the meat in the camp. We by this time had our houses finished.

After I moved into my house, I met with a great loss. My only son, by the name of Benjamin F. Mayer, took sick with the inflamation in the brain and bowels, and after an illness of six or seven days he died, aged four years six months and fourteen days, September the 29^th, 1846. I buried him in the place where we buried, about a mile from the fort, where there were twenty-two buried before we left the country where the camps were.

Brother Brigham had heard where we were. He sent for George Miller to come and see him. There were about twenty wagons went back to Winter Quarters to get grain and I went back and got corn and a barrel of flour and returned. We spent the winter getting wood and herding our cattle and hunting buffalo and deer and turkeys. The president received a revelation concerning the organizing of (a) company to go west to the great Salt Lake, and Brother Benson and Snow were to come to organize a company to go west. And they organized a company of captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties and captains of tens. I was chosen for captain of the 3 (third) ten. But afterward found that we hadn’t provisions sufficient to go to the valley without first going to Missouri and buying there. We were ordered back to Winter Quarters and to remain till the next summer, and we did. I had sent a yoke of stags with Minet (?) (or Miriel?) to bring me more provisions and my wagon, and he drove them so bad that he had to leave them on the road, and he brought my wagon back on my hands and I never got one of the stags. The brothers told me that Miriel worked my stags on the side and sat in the front of the wagon and had a long whip and made my stags pull the whole load. I sent a bushel of corn meal for him to feed my stags, but the brothers told me that he would drive my stags off and make them hunt their feed and he (would) feed the hay to his oxen, till my stags got so weak that they could not work. Then when he came to Winter Quarters the brothers told him to leave my stags there, also my wagon, but he would not, and said he bought $2.50 worth of corn meal and fed my stags and started back with them, but only drove 20 miles till he had to leave them in the road, unyoked them and laid the yoke in the road and drove on. But met Brother Holbrook and told him to take them back to Winter Quarters but he would only drive one of them back. The other was too weak, and had to be left for the wolves to eat, and I never got him.

The brother wanted me to make Brother Miriel pay for the oxen, but I thought I would leave it with him and his God, that if he did the dum brute wrong and me that his conscience will condemn him. And if God will forgive him, I am willing to leave it in the hands of a Just God, who is a righteous judge of all things among his children.

I had three oxen and four cows left when we left Punckka (?) Country. The Indians said that we might go if we would give them some presents of clothing and seed of all kinds, which we did in place of ploughing them acres of land, being that our cattle were poor and it was needful to return, that we could raise a crop at Winter Quarters. We got our wagons and cattle together and made a move. But some of the brethren had to leave some of their cattle, they being too poor and weak. Two of my cows had calves, and I had to kill the calves to save the cows. There was no feed but the old dry grass, and when the cows laid down they had to be helped up, and we had to rub their legs before they could walk.

I got a remedy for weak cattle. Take red pepper four or five pods and make strong tea of it, and rub their backs with it and their legs, and give them a little in their slop or feed, and rub their legs, hornes and the top of their head, and put a teaspoon full in each ear. Turn their head to one side that it can run in, and it will make them snort and blow water out of their nose. I found that it helped my cattle and gave them strength.

We traveled from five to ten miles a day, and then went back and helped the weak teams up. We left the first of April and got in Winter Quarters the 10^th of May. And there I, with David Lewis and sixteen other families, commenced ploughing and planting corn and potatoes, and building small houses for our families. I built a small house fourteen feet by sixteen, and raised three acres of first rate corn, and two acres of buckwheat, and ten bushels of potatoes, not being able to get more than a gallon of sead potatoes. I raised a fine crop of turnips, then made a fine lot of hay and made a good warm stable for to winter my cattle. Then repaired my wagons and filled several of the brother’s wagons.

In the fall some of the pioneers returned from the Salt Lake, and told us that they had “found the place” for the Saints. And they gave orders to organize companies to start the next spring with provisions enough to last them one year. My son-in-law (Glines) returned from the army and took charge of his wife. She had a fine son nearly a year old, and while he went to meet the pioneers (?), the baby died. He was a fine child. I buried him before his father had returned in the burying ground in Winter Quarters. I then went to Brother Kimball and told him my circumstances and that I was not able to carry so much provisions with me, that I had eight in the family and I had only two yoke of oxen and three cows, and that he could have one yoke of my oxen and could return them to me in the fall. He said that he did not want my oxen, but he wanted me to go to the valley, and when he counselled anybody that he was responsible for them, that I should go and get ready, I told him there was enough said, and I went. And God blessed me in everything, and I got a good outfit. I had a thousand weight of superfine flour and fifty pounds of good side bacon, and twenty coffee, and twenty sugar, and other necessaries, and I went in Brother Bishop Winter’s ten.

I drove the large team with the provisions with one yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows. And Rachele Ann, my oldest daughter, she was twenty years old, drove the team with one yoke of large oxen that the family rode in. She had become a first-rate teamster. Berg and Buck were very obedient to her command. They were the best cattle that I ever owned before, and always willing to pull all they were able, and they could not be beat for their inches.

I got to Salt Lake Valley without any loss of cattle or any other, so God’s blessing was with me. I then got counsel from Brother Kimball to go with Brother Cilene (?) to the mouth of the North Canyon to winter our cattle and get timber for to build a house there. (In our wagon) I had a daughter borne in the month of October 9, 1848, G. S. L. City. I named her Diantha after Sisber Biliane (?), sister of Father Morley.

In the month of October we moved down in the bottom land. The cattle appeared to like to stay on the bottom, and there were ten or twelve families living on the bottom. I remained there through the winter and built a small hut for the winter. I traded a cow to Perogrine Sessions for sixteen bushels of corn which was a great help to me, and got logs for a house and built a house in the city, the lot no. 5, Block 37^th, 9^th Ward. And on the first of April, 1849, I moved into the city and lived in my wagon till I had my house ready to move into.

I drew a five-acre lot in the big field, a first-rate piece of ground, but hard to break. Therefore I rented ground and planted corn about three acres, and I had a poor crop of corn there. There was not water sufficient to water that part of the field. But I broke my five-acre lot, and the next year I had plenty of wheat. My clothing was nearly all worn out, and I didn’t know where the others would come from. But the gold mines being open in California brought a large emigration through our town, and they sold their wagons and their things that they could not pack, to our people very cheap and gave many things away. They filled our town with wagons and horse harnesses and clothing of all kinds, of men’s clothing and store goods of all kinds.

I went to work and made one hundred and ten pack saddles and sold to them for $2.00 to $5.00 apiece, and was able to buy me a fine hourse team and another yoke of oxen.

In the fall of 1850 I was called to go on a mission to Germany with Brother Carn and Houte and Riser and Hofine and Evy. But the President had a revelation that we need not go, that our offering was accepted, that the Lord was working among the nations, but that we should always be ready when called on to go. I went to work and raised all the grain that I could.

In the winter of 1850 the Ute Indians commenced stealing the brethren’s cattle in Utah Valley and fortified themselves and bade defiance to the Mormons, and said they would eat Mormon beef when they pleased. Captain Stansbury was in Salt Lake City. He was a United States officer. He sent a Lieutenant with 500 Mormons against the Indians to break their fortification. I was called as an artillery fireman, and we went against them and fired on their battery within a hundred and fifty yards. But the Indians returned the fire with rifles, and the bullets whizzed among us like hail, and several of our men were wounded, and one young man by the name of Higle was shot through the neck dead.

We fought till dark in the evening, but made very little progress in driving the Indians from their shelter. We went back with the army to the fort in the town. In the morning we commenced and made three attacks at three different places, and made two moving batteries, and we pressed them heavy. And the horse-camp commanded by Lieutenant William Kimball made an attack on a house the Indians had in possession, and gained the house with the loss of four horses that were shot dead. One or two men were slightly wounded. Several men were shot through their hats and their clothes. We then poured the fire in on them heavy from every side and the Indians began to cry for quarters. But they continued firing on them till night, then returned to the fort. But the Indians were quiet and had ceased firing.

In the morning we sent our spies, and they returned with word that the Indians had fled into a canyon, and they found several dead and wounded and one young child on the ground. The company then went to Spanish Fork and found the Indians had fled. We then took part of the camp and went to the other side of Utah Lake and there found a small camp of Indians, but they ran off. But we chased the most of them before they got out of the way and shot the men and took the children prisoners and returned to the fort. Then went up the canyon and routed them that had (gone). We found there Chief Big Elk dead and several others, and shot several others and took several other woman prisoners. We then returned to the fort, having gained a complete victory over the Indians. Found something like forty dead Indians, and we had taken about twenty prisoners. They were women and children.

We then returned to Salt Lake. The Indians soon sent a man and he begged for peace, and made peace and gave them their prisoners. The Indians had only shot one young man but took no prisoners, but had wounded several very bad, but they all recovered. And the Indians said that they will never fight nor make war with the Mormons any more because that they can’t shoot a Mormon, that when they had good aim and with a good rifle the bullets would go mostly there, then would turn short off, and they could not shoot our people, and that they would be our friends. And they have kept their word.

Then President Young said that we had no fear or apprehension from the Indians, very shortly, but more from other quarters, and that was only a beginning of war. The Indians have been friendly ever since except a small band in Tooele Valley that stole several horses and some cattle, but they were soon routed, and since all has been peace. The Indians gave us all their trade and commenced farming and raising cattle and are becoming enlightened and are becoming united among themselves and making treaties of peace.

I belonged to William Kimball’s horse-company of minute men, and I was out on several trips, once out North near Goose Creek to make a treaty with the Snake Indians, 18 days, and once out after a thief that had stolen a horse and went to Utah Valley, 8 days, and got one thief and one horse.

In the fall of 1851 there came many merchants to the Salt Lake with goods and bought cattle. There was a merchant there that had lost many cattle and he put them in the hands of a man to herd by the name of Bel. He had joined our Church and kept President Young’s cattle. And when he drove Slopshews (?) and Beeley’s cattle he drove a young steer three years old off the range where the steer was raised from a calf. The steer was mine, and before I could find it out, he was on the other side of Bear River and I lost the steer. He was worth $50, for beef. I hold Bel responsible for the steer, for he had no right to drive any cattle off the range that hadn’t Schlapser’s (?) brand. My steer was branded on the horn -- G. Mayer.

In the summer of 1852 my youngest brother came to see me and he was on his way to California. He remained three weeks with me. He was much pleased with our place and our people and said that he liked our religion better than any that he ever heard, and bought one of Pratt’s works, and I gave him a “Voice of Warning” and a Book of Mormon. He left a yoke of stags with me and said that all I got over $45 should be mine. And his name is Benjamin Mayer.

In the winter of 1852 in February I was taken with erysipelas in my head. My head was swelled so that I could scarcely see out of my eyes. And two of my daughters, one was taken in her bowels. The people said that we could not live, but God blessed us and we recovered without taking any doctor’s medicine. But we were healed by faith by having the elders to lay their hands on us and administer to us in much faith. Everybody that saw my daughter Maria said that she would not live. She was drawn quite crooked and had much pain in her bowels and I told them that there was a boiling in her insides. And it was so, for in a few days there was more than a pint of matter came from her in making water several times. Then she began to mend, got well and fat and hearty.

In the spring of 1852, March 7, my wife bore me a fine son and I called his name George. He is a fine healthy child. I blessed him when he was eight days old. My oldest daughter (Rachel Ann) got married to a man by the name of George Brimhall. He was a member of the Legislature from Iron County. He is a good man, and enjoys much of the spirit of God.

In the fall of 1852, the August 6 conference, there was one-hundred-and-twenty elders called and sent to the different parts of the world, to preach the gospel. I was chosen to take a mission to Europe to preach the gospel and set apart to go to Germany, and three others with me to that place. I was blessed and set apart for the mission under the hands of Joseph Young and Jeddediah Grant, and Rockwood, the Presidents of the Seventies, and taken down as it came from the mouth of Jeddediah Grant by G. D. Watt in Phonography. And I paid him to give me a copy in writing:

A BLESSING

A blessing upon the head of George Mayer given on the 11^th of September 1852 under the hands of Joseph Young, Jeddediah Grant, and Elder Rockwood, assistant president.

Brother Mayer, we lay our hands upon your head and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that you may go forth and fulfill your mission to Europe. The blessings of God through his servants which we pronounce upon you shall be in you and round about you. You shall have power over the winds that rage upon the mighty deep. You shall speak, and the angry elements will obey you. You shall have power to defend the servants of God and his cause that he has established among his people in the midst of the mountains. You shall set before the people the mind of the Lord and say unto them: Come go with us, for the Lord is honored by the people in Mount Zion. You shall have power to confound those who rise up against you. All who listen to your voice shall know that you are a servant of God. Even the wicked shall fear and tremble because of the spirit and power that shall attend your words. And you shall cause the air to vibrate with the power of God wherever you go. The light that is in you shall shine upon hundreds of people. And whomsoever you curse shall be cursed, and whomsoever you bless shall be blessed.

You shall have power to heal the sick by the laying on of hands, and whatsoever you say in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost that is in you shall be fulfilled. And the blessings of God shall attend you so that you shall return again in safety to the bosom of your family and friends, and those whom you have associated with in the valleys of the mountains. You shall return in honor. These blessings, and all you need to assist you in the fulfillment of your mission for your comfort and consolation while in foreign countries and for life and health and joy in the Holy Ghost we seal upon you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

G. D. Watt, Reporter.

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I made arrangements to go, and McCarter and Wiley and George G. Riser and I joined teams on my wagon. Each furnished his portion of horse feed and provisions for the journey across the mountains to the Missouri River. On the 15^th of September, 1852, we left the Great Salt Lake City. After we got the team started, I went in my house and took leave of my family. I found them all seated and waiting for the task of taking a long separation. I commenced at my wife, then with my children from the oldest till the youngest, and left them shedding tears. I walked off with a heavy heart to see them the last time for a long time. Yet I had a great joy that God was mindful of me, and had called me to so high and holy a calling to go and preach the gospel to a people that lay in darkness, bound down by priestcraft and traditions of their fathers in a wicked world nearly ripe for destruction.

We had a pleasant journey. We organized and made Brother Orson Spencer our president and Horace Eldrege our Sargeant of the Guard. We had a first-class time. The camp would come together every evening. After we had our supper and held prayer, then we would have a lecture from Brother Orson Pratt, and any of the brothers had a right to speak that felt like speaking. We had plenty of game. Brother Empy was our hunter and shot several deer and a young elk, and he would divide it among the camp.

When we crossed over the Platte River We stopped. The buffalo were very thick, and we killed all the meat that we needed till we came to the Missouri River. A few days before we came to the Green River I met my son-in-law, James R. Cline, whom I had not seen for four years. He had stopped at Canesville and come this summer. I only had a few minutes conversation with them. I started ahead in the morning before the camp started, and when the camp came we had to separate. They were all well. My daughter Elizabeth and little (son) George C. Mayer (Glines) and the little girl (Elizabeth) were all well and cheerful. I bade them goodbye and asked God to bless them, and we went on our way rejoicing.

Our horses took a stampede and ran four miles before that we could stop them. There came a strange horse in our camp with saddle and bridle on, and blanket gurst on the saddle, and a tin cup tied on the horn of the saddle which made a rattling and scared our horses and set them running. We caught the horse and found him a fine iron-gray young horse. We then put him in the poor emigration company and in the hands of Brother Miller.

Our horses had three stampedes on the road, but we guarded against it by keeping a man or two on horseback while on guard, the whole night. We kept strong guard in the Indian country, six men at a time to our watch, and each man had to stand his turn except the officers and bugler, Brother Pitt (?) he called the camp together. The Indians set the prairie afire, and we saw it coming very fast. We moved our wagons between the road and the river and ran our horses on an island on the Platte River, and set the grass afire and burned the grass before the main fire came. But when it came, it came like a hurricane and nearly smothered us with smoke. But we came out safe and sound with grass enough for our horses between the road and the river.

We bought flour at Port Laverne (?) at $10.00 per hundred. We bought one hundred for our team, and when we came to Carny (?) we bought six bushels of corn at two dollars a bushel. Between Carny and the Missouri River, October 27, we passed two thousand Pawnee Indians going on their buffalo hunt with women and children and the horses and mules. They were very friendly and would shake hands as they passed us and say “How do you do?”

November 2 we crossed over the Missouri River at Platteville on a ferry boat. We went up the river two miles and camped for the night, and there I sold my horse and harness to Brother Miller for thirty dollars, then went six miles to Canesville, there sold the wagon for forty dollars and divided the money from the wagon in four parts among us four. And then I and Brother Riser and Moses Cluff hired our passage for seven dollars apiece by Mr. Gilbert to carry us to Saint Joseph. When we came there, we found the steamboat El Paso ready to start in three minutes. As soon as we got aboard it started for St. Louis. We had three dollars for deck passage. It was the 10^th, and we arrived in St. Louis on November 15^th.

There I visited President Gipson, and bought one of Pratt’s works for $1.50. Brother Gipson made me a present of a Book of Mormon that had been used that I wished to leave with my father in Ohio--Bucyrus. Then Brother Grant took me to see Brother Dow that kept a stove store, and he invited me to call and see him in an hour. I called to see him. He then took me in his house and asked me to pray with him and bless him and his wife. I prayed with them and blessed them and when I took my leave he gave me $2.50 in gold to help me on my mission. I thanked him for his kindness and went and hired my passage to Cincinnati, for six dollars, cabin passage. There were twenty-two brothers with me; Pratt and the two Spencers, Ben James

Brother Pratt preached on the subject of the Sperilling (?) Nocking (?) and the living spirits that must come in the last days.

November 23 (1852). We arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, and slept in the boat that night. In the morning I took a pass on the rail cars for Columbus, Ohio then to Galion, Ohio. There I hired my passage in a carriage to Bucyrus to my father’s house. I came there in the dark of the evening. I went into the house and asked whether I could stay all night, and father said that he only boarded there and I should ask his daughter. But when she saw me, she jumped off her seat and said that was her brother George. But father said he thought not. But when he saw me more plainly he recognized me and appeared much pleased. I took supper with them then went with Jacob Hoffer (he married George’s sister), and stayed overnight. And the next day I went to see some of my old friends, for it was twenty-one years since I left Bucyrus.

I then went home with Samuel, my oldest brother, and he appeared much pleased, and I got acquainted with his new wife. His first had died and he had married a widow that had no children. She had the name of being a fine woman. But her and me could not agree for she spoke hard things against the prophet Joseph. I asked her whether she knew that they were true. She said she did. I asked her whether she had seen the prophet. She said she had not, but her brother had seen him. (I asked her) whether he ever saw anything bad that Joseph Smith had done. She said she did not know that he had done himself, but had heard it from respectable persons. I told her that it was only lies that were spoken against him by his enemies, and I defied the world to bring anybody that ever saw Joseph Smith do anything that was wrong, and that twenty-two vicious lawsuits had been tried against him and that there never had been anything proven against him yet. But his enemies said that the law wouldn’t take hold of him but powder and balls would, and they shot him, an innocent man, and that two better men never lived on the earth than Joseph and Hyrum Smith save Jesus Christ only excepted. And the spirit that persecuted them and killed them was the same that killed Jesus Christ and his holy apostles and had caused the holy priesthood to be taken from the earth and left the world in this benighted darkness.

There were eighteen-hundred years that the true gospel was not preached on the earth, and that when the apostate church said that revelation ceased and all the gifts and blessings, and then the people build themselves churches by their own wisdom and called by men’s names but not led by revelation from heaven. But St. Paul said that if we or an angel from heaven preached another gospel than what we preached to you let him be accursed. The gospel that I preach unto you is not from man, neither was I taught it from man, but by revelation from Jesus Christ. Therefore God will make known to us through his prophets the gospel, and wherever the church of Christ is, there is revelation. And when revelation ceases the gospel of Christ ceases with it.

I conversed much with my brother Samuel and his heart waxed so full that he would often shed tears. But it appeared that he still would harden his heart and say that what I said was true and scriptural, but he could not receive the prophet, Joseph Smith, as a prophet of God. It appeared that the stories that he had heard from his wife’s brother had caused him to have a hatred against Joseph Smith, and he would say that he believed him a deceiver, but that he believed that I was honest and that many honest people were among the Mormons.

I told him that the people said that Jesus Christ was a bad man and deceived the people. I told him that I would like to preach to them, before I left them, and that he should invite all the friends. There came about thirty or forty of the friends and one or two of my old friends at my father’s house. And I preached to them about an hour and then told them that they had a right to speak in favor or against what I had said. But there was none that said anything, but my brother Samuel, and he said he could say nothing against what I said for it was Scripture, but he could never receive Joseph Smith as a prophet. It was more than he could do.

I then said that I knew that Joseph Smith was a stumbling block to many people and that Jesus Christ was a stumbling stone to many people in his day and a rock of offense to the Jews to this day, and they say that he was a deceiver.

Father then tried to pray. But he could not pray much. He asked the Lord to show whether they were wrong and then he asked others to pray. But they had not much to say. But they all appeared confounded. Then I dismissed the meeting and asked God to bless them with the Spirit of God to lead them in all truth. I gave Father two books, Orson Pratt’s work and the Book of Mormon and told them to read them and lend them to the neighbors. He told me that he had given all the children two hundred dollars and that I only had got ninety yet, and he would give me the balance before I left. And the next day he gave me one-hundred-and-ten dollars.

The people found that I was going to leave the next day and sent me to know whether I wanted to preach to them that evening in the courthouse. I sent word that I would and thanked them for the privilege. When the house was lighted, they sent a man for me and said that the people were waiting. I went and found the house well filled with gentlemen and ladies. I opened by prayer, then I preached better than an hour to the people on the first principles of the gospel and then gave leave for any speak in favor or against what was said, but there was perfect silence. Not a word was said. I then dismissed the people and there was many came to me and said they would like to have me come and stay with them and preach at their house in the country. The house then was in a complete bustle. I heard many say that I had preached the true Scriptural doctrine and it could not be spoken against. I then went to my sister Elizabeth. My father’s family are all rich, but they were stingy with me. Samuel gave me a spectacles case and a pair of mittens, and I left mine and a pair of shoes which he got half-soled for me. And Rebecca gave me a pair of silver spectacles that had belonged to mother, which I think a great deal of. (Jacob) Joffen gave me two pair of woolen socks.

On December the 1, 1852, I left at daylight in a carriage for Galen, there took the Rail Car for New York, went day and night and arrived in New York on third and went to Brother Wicker (?) (Hicks) president in New York. Here I slept on the floor and furnished my own bed, with Brother Browne, and we bought our own provisions and Sister Hicks (?) cooked for us. Brother Hicks is very poor and has to work hard to support his family.

On the 12^th, Sunday, we held a meeting at Brother Spiser’s (?). There were twenty of our brethren present that came from Salt Lake. We had a good meeting, 168 Orchard Street, and were invited home with a Sister Sherger, a widow and her daughters. They live in 27 Marton Street. Brothers Brown and Cluff were with me. We had a good supper.

We hired our passage to Liverpool England. Twenty-two brothers of us went on the ship AMERICAN UNION, on December 16^th for ten dollars apiece, and we boarded ourselves. It cost us twenty dollars for board and passage. We had a good trip and sailed over in eighteen days. I was much seasick and had not much appetite. There were many of the brothers that were seasick. There were fourteen of us in one room, and we held prayers every evening and morning, and the brethren that felt to speak had the privilege of speaking. We had many good times, and had much of the Spirit of God. I spoke in tongues and Brother Erls (?) interpreted it, and it was a prophecy on Brother Treete and it came to pass. There was more speaking in tongues and they had the interpretations. There was much of the power of God made manifest. When the wind was too strong we would pray and it would be calm. It was well to be seen that the Lord was with us from the time we left the Salt Lake City all the time.

We landed in Liverpool January the 5^th, 1853. I went to church on Sunday the 9^th. We partook of the Lord’s Supper, then Brother Browne spoke, then Willy, then Smith. Then they called on me to dismiss the meeting. Then a Brother McCury invited me and Smith to take dinner with him. And then in the evening at six we went to church and Brother S. Richards preached, then Orson Spencer on the plurality of wives and the sealing power. We lodged with a widow near the Star office, No. 15 Wilken St.

I left Liverpool on January the 12^th for Hull. I went to Brother Hardy’s, presiding elder in Hull, J. T. Hardy, No. 10, Luces Square, Sykel Street (?). Brother Charles Arlet and his wife came to Brother Hardy and invited me and Brother George Percy to his house. Brother Arlet is a baker in Hull, No. 6 Dock St. I remained there on the 13^th we went to meeting. Brother Hardy called on Brother Wheelee (?) and he spoke a long time. Brother Hardy then called on me to speak and I gave them a short history of the valley. I spoke a short time then Peter Hanson spoke, then the meeting was dismissed.

On the 14 I went to see the English soldiers. They were the best drilled and the nicest dressed soldiers I ever saw. In the evening we had council meeting. On the 15^th I had an invitation to visit a Sister Hunte and took supper in company with Brother Peter Hansen and several other ladies there. On Sunday the 16^th we went to church. Brother Hardy called on me to preach and I addressed the people and showed the necessity of gathering and to have the necessary trials to prove the Saints and strengthen their faith that they could obtain the blessings that God had in store for the Saints. Brother Wheelee then spoke, then the meeting was dismissed till two.

In the evening a Sister Mary Commander invited me to take dinner at her house. After dinner we returned to meeting and Brother Orson Spencer spoke on the subject of the plurality. In the evening we had a party at Brother Hardy’s, where the brothers and sisters had some first-rate singing.

On the 17^th I was invited to visit Sister Watson and took supper in company with her and two daughters and a young Sister Hunte. They rejoiced much in the gospel of Christ and in the late revelation made known. I then returned in company with Miss Watson and Miss Hunte to Brother Arlets, where we had first-rate singing until ten in the evening. Sister Snowball made me a shelde (?) in the neatest manner and charged me nothing. I pray God to Bless Sister Snowball and all pertaining to her for her kindness. Brother and Sister Arlet are very kind to me and Sarah Jane Crofft that lives at Arlet’s.

On the 19^th I went in company with a sister Porter to her father’s. Her father had desired to converse with me. We conversed till late on the things of the Kingdom of Christ, and returning to Brother Arlet’s found many brothers and sisters waiting to accompany us on the steamboat. January the 20^th I went on board the steamboat ELON MCGREGOR with Orson Spencer and Jacob Houts (?) and George C. Riser and Geriet (?), accompanied by the Saints of Hull. The boat left in the morning and on the 22^nd we landed in Hamburg, Germany, and now are in company of Brother Carn in his one hired room.

Brother Carn told us that he had to leave Hamburg on the 27^th, on Monday. The Sunday before he had meeting in his room and administered the Sacrament to a small number of Saints. We then held meeting in the afternoon at Brother Bender’s. Brother Carn addressed the Saints and introduced us American Elders and called us to speak. I addressed the people in the German in the best manner I could. They said they understood the most that I said. I thought that if I didn’t commence to speak the German I never would learn. Brother Riser then spoke, then the meeting was dismissed. In the evening we met in Brother Carn’s room where we sang and prayed till ten. Brother Spencer spoke in English and Brother Otte interpreted in German. We then went to our room at a tavern in Hamburg.

In the morning brother Spencer and Houtz (?) left for Berlin to preach, and I and Riser and Cerist (?) went to Olhance (?) and took board at a tavern by a man that is a Jew by the name of S. Brunn, 33 Gross Frihite (?) Strasse. We had our supper and lodging for eight shillings apiece. Brother Carn rented a room in the same house. In the morning I went to Hamburg to a brother Finer’s (?), and got acquainted with his father and went to see the old man. I preached three times at the old man’s house to several people that came to hear me. I got acquainted with a Brother Wagoner and took dinner there several times, and got acquainted with a Brother Barrer, an old man but a faithful Saint. When I left Hamburg, he gave me his old watch. He said that it was all he had to give me to help me on my mission, I refused to take it, but he insisted on my taking it. I then took it to please the old man. I then got acquainted with a Mr. Simone (Simon?) and his wife and two young ladies that lived at their house. They had not joined the Church yet but sought diligently after the truth, and they told me to come and stay with them as often as I pleased. I stayed many nights in their house, and many people would come to Simone’s to hear me teach the things of the Kingdom. And when I left Hamburg they gave me eighteen shillings and a black silk handkerchief and a pair of cotton socks. They said that they were satisfied that our Church was right.

I got acquainted with a Brother Lent (?), a fine young man, and he gave me two Prussian dollars when I left, and he mended my clothes. And a brother Nelson, he gave Brother Carn six Prussian dollars, three for me and three for Brother Riser. He is a Danish brother but a good saint. I got acquainted with a man by the name of Zuengman. He believed but was not yet willing to be baptised. I lodged many nights with him. When I left for Basel, he gave me three Prussian dollars and had my things carried on the boat, paid my passage and Riser’s to Warbg. (?). He is a chair-maker and is rich. He owns two large houses in Hamburg, but he and his wife don’t agree. I preached much to them of the necessity of having peace in the family, and that a man should have peace in his house and be united and then the devil would have no power in that house, and on that principle the Devil would be bound by a union among the Saints. And when the people united the Devil will be bound.

Brother Ott went to visit a family by the name of Minich, a tailor. He lived a mile in the country. He gave his son English lessons one day a week. I accompanied Brother Ott there, and he introduced me as a Mormon Elder from America. They conversed freely with me on many subjects and they gave me an invitation to come often to visit their family. I visited the family often while I remained in Hamburg. They were Schweizers (?), and had formerly lived in Switzerland. They had thought it strange that I should leave my home and family and come to this land to preach the gospel without purse or script when their country had so many enlightened preachers. I set the principles of the gospel before them. They said it was Scripture, and they believed it was right. But they said that their preachers were right too. I told them that there could be only one church and that would have to be according to the pattern in the New Testament, with apostles and prophets, and the gifts and blessings and led by revelation from Jesus Christ.

She had a daughter that had sore eyes, and she said that she wanted to have her eyes healed. I asked her whether she believed that we could heal her daughter’s eyes. She said that she believed I could. I then asked her whether her preachers could not heal her eyes. She said that they would not do it, and said that I had her in a trap and got angry, but said nothing more about her daughter’s eyes. She mended my coat where it was ripped and when I left Hamburg they told me if I ever came to Hamburg that I must be sure to call and see them.

I went to Brother Finer’s (?), and there I found Brother Riser and Geriste. I told them that I was going to visit Brother Poulman’s family. Brother Gerist said if you have much faith that I should go there, for they were very angry about the plurality doctrine. I went and found them in much darkness. They had asked brother Carn whether it was true that the Mormons had many wives. He told them that it was true, but left in a few hours for Stonwick and remained there two weeks. And they made a strong attack on me, and I defended the case manfully, and by the help of the spirit of God I overpowered their spirits and they acknowledged that the principle was right if it was carried out as I told it to them. When I left, he gave me two Prussian dollars, but said I should not tell his wife that he had given me the money. She gave me a small bottle of hair oil. But I believe they will leave the Church because they told a lie to Brother Carn concerning me.

The brothers bought me a silk vest from a Jew for a dollar, and old brother Ferier (?) made a good vest out of it by altering it. Brother Bender and wife were very kind to the elders from America and gave us a many nights lodging and a many nights victuals. The brothers and sister in Hamburg kept me two months in Hamburg, and the police never saw my passport. Before I left, I went to the American consul and got him to transfer it for Suisse, (Switzerland) then went to the Suisse Consul and got his signature to it.

February the 2^nd Brother Spencer and Houtz returned from Berlin preaching and said that the people would not receive them and that if they did not leave immediately they would transport them. I went with them to Brother Carn’s room in Othenau and we had a council together, and on the third they left for England, and I heard that they went to Loverpool and then sailed for America.

I visited the Lutheral Church, called the Catherine Church. It is a splendid large building, would probably hold 4,000 people. It had a picture of the Saviour as large as life on the cross, and the image of his ascension all gilded over and many other ancient engravings. This Church was built by a queen by the name of Catherine. She had killed her sister and they said she would build the church and give a golden crown to put on the steeple if they would spare her life. And she built the house and gave the crown and they spared her life.

Brother Taylor came to Hamburg on the 10^th of March and we had a good time in visiting the brethren. We expected Brother Carn home from Sloshwick. There came a letter from the Swiss brother Stenhouse to Brother Carn and said that if he could spare one or two good elders that he should send them to him to Basel. I had previously felt to pray much that there might be a way opened for me to go to Switzerland, for there appeared no place in Germany and I rejoiced when the letter came and when Brother Carn came. We met in council and prayed to the Lord that he would direct us, and it was agreed that I should take a mission to the Swiss and Brother Riser should take a mission to his brothers in Stuttgart, and Gerist to a place where he received a letter from a friend, and Taylor should remain in Hamburg with Brother Carn.

We then went to the museum in Hamburg and saw many curiosities, both ancient and modern, (The works of God are great) and a great variety to please the fancy and eye of man. There are a great variety of beasts and a great variety of fowls and a great variety of fishes and a great variety of shell fish and creeping things. I saw there more than fifty different kinds of parrots from the size of a common rooster to the size of a comorant (?), and other birds of other kinds, with as many different kinds the duck has many kinds and the eagle and the hawk and the jaw of a whale from fifteen to sixteen feet long.

I beheld the works of (it) with amusement and thought when my Father sent me to organize and create an earth I shall want all his creation of the beasts and the fowl and fish and the creeping things, from the great mammoth and the great whale till the last insect, and all the tree and vegetation to beautify it like the earth where my Father had built and where He lives. And when all these things get resurrected with His children, and they are faithful like He was with His Father and He sets them up for themselves and gives them two of each kind they will all be needed for His children are many and there is no end of space, and the elements are plentiful to build worlds with, but we have not the knowledge yet.

But when we come to that fullness of knowledge as His son Jesus Christ, who is our older brother, we shall do the greater work. We shall go to the Father and behold the work that His Son did. Behold and learn all things from the Father and come to that fullness of knowledge with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, which are one God in spirit and knowledge yet three distinctive personages.

A friend sent for me to come to his house by the name of Umlauf. I took Riser and Cerist with me, and when we came there he showed us a child about five years old and said that the child had been sick from infancy and that bones had come out of its eyes. It was a dreadful, shocking, object. He desired that we should heal the child and promised to be baptized if the child got better. We prayed and laid hands on the child, and I was mouth and blessed the child with health and rebuked the disease, and the child was very still and appeared to feel the Spirit of God, and the parents said that it was a great wonder that the child held so still, for when strangers came near it, it would generally cry. I called the next day and they said the child was much better and they promised to come to meeting the next Sunday. But they did not come. They feared the persecution of their church, for they were Lutherans, and the child set to mend as fast as it had, but I believe the child will get well, for the foundation of the disease was broken and the child will get slowly well. I told them that if they didn’t get baptized they would be cursed and a worse thing would come on them, for they promised to be baptized in the Church. I left them in the hands of a merciful God.

Brother Carn thought best for Brother Ott to move to England with his mother, that he could do better there in a school at learning the language. The day before he started we took dinner with Brother Ott and I wrote a letter to my family in Great Salt Lake City and sent it to England with him. Brother Ott translated a blessing from English to German, and my certificate from President Brigham Young and his council.

There is a Lutheran Church in Hamburg that is called the Peter Church. The people say it will hold 6,000 people. It is a very large building made of brick. The Baptists in Hamburg hated the Mormons very much because they have taken many of their members. There came one there from Sloshwick to visit a family by the name of Simenses that came to hear us, and he tried to turn them from the truth with all his lies that he could think of and told them that he had seen a Mormon preacher and conversed with him, and told them that the Mormon said that he had the gift and blessing in the Church and defied him to work a miracle and if he had power with God that he should strike him blind. I told Sister Simons one day that I came there and he happened to be there, but as soon as I came in the room he went out in the shop. I sent Mrs. Simons out to tell him that I would like to converse with him. But he sent me word that he was in a great hurry and could not take time. I sent him word that if he wanted to converse with me he could and if he didn’t quit his lying that he should be cursed and then he would see a miracle to his sorrow. I told Simons when they came again to tell them that if they wanted to teach them, they should teach Scripture for their doctrine, like the Mormons did, and they would hear them. But they were tired with their lies and that they would trouble them no more and that was a good remedy to get rid of them.

Brother Bender had a brother that was very hard against the Mormons. I met with him one day at Simons’ and I gave him such a sermon with his friend that they were glad to leave the house and give it up for a bad job to contend against the truth. They went off mad and in a hurry, and Simons laughed heartily at them because I could corner them with so much ease. But truth must and will prevail.

The Sunday before I left for Basel Brother Carn asked me whether I had anything to say. I spoke to the Saints and friends and thanked them for their kindness to me while I remained with them, and that I could thank God that I never wanted a meal, victuals, nor a night’s lodging but that I got it, and their kindness in giving me money to help me on my mission to Switzerland. And I prayed God to bless them all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Brother Carn gave me the collection, which was twenty-two shillings. I got from Brother Carn for the mission to Switzerland thirty books of the Voice of Warning and ten of the Book of Mormon and forty of the Zion’s Pioneers (?).

Brother Carn made a present of a Book of Mormon and a Voice of Warning to me and gave me three Prussian dollars. An English brother, a lawyer, came there and he gave me four Hamburg shillings. His name is W. M. Peter. I had fourteen Prussian dollars when I left Hamburg. The brethren accompanied me and Brother Riser to the boat, and we went aboard and the boat left and we waved our handkerchiefs till we were out of sight, and in less than an hour and a half we were on the Rail Car from Hamburg to Wildsheim (?).

The customs house officers examined our trunks and made us pay duty on our books. I wanted them to take some of our books, but they examined them and found they were Mormon books, and bade us to hurry off. I told them not to be in a hurry, that the world was not made in one day. They appeared glad to get rid of us, for they saw that our books were religious, and we told them we were Latter-Day Saints and that an angel had brought the Gospel to the earth and restored the Gospel in its purity with the gifts and blessings. It scared them and they hurried us off. We then hired our passage to Cassel in a carriage for $2.00. It is better than a hundred miles, and we traveled all that night and the next day and came to Cassel late in the evening, and took lodging at a tavern. They charged us fifty cents apiece.

In the morning I took a passage to Frankfort and Riser stopped in a small town this isde of Frankfort. I came to Frankfort at four in the evening and then took the cars to Heidelburg and got there late in the evening. I stayed at a tavern all night. They carged me fifty cents. In the morning I took my passage for Wettingence (?). There I made a present to a young man of “Zion’s Pioneers” and gave him my address. I got to Wettingen (?) at four in the evening, then went in an omnibus to Basel on the 26^th of March and got to Basel at six in the evening, and stayed at a tavern near the fishmarket, The Sign of an Anchor. And in the morning I shaved and dressed and paid my bill and had one Prussian dollar left out of fourteen.

I then went to Mister Leder Maller (?) where Mr. Stenhouse had given me his address, but found that Stenhouse was in Lausanne. Mr. Leder Maller said that I should remain there till I could write to Stenhouse. I wrote to Brother Stenhouse and in a few days got a letter from him and stated that he would come soon to see me, but that I should send him half my books and a letter from Brother Carn. I sent them to him and for tend days he sent me fifty francs and counseled me to rent a room in Basel. I remained two weeks at Mr. Leder Maller’s, and he gave me the best of lodging, and I ate at the table with Mr. Leder Maller and wife and his mother. And he furnished me paper and every necessary thing and charged me nothing. They did not want to investigate our religion. They said they are satisfied with theirs. He is a Catholic and she is a Presbyterian. But I taught them much and they acknowledged the things I taught them were right according to the Bible doctrine.

I got acquainted with a young man at Leder Maller’s that belonged to the Baptists. He appeared anxious to learn our doctrine and bought a number of the “Pioneers” and the “Voice of Warning,” but was afraid to read them, but gave them to his preacher by the name of Frailesh (?). He lives in Strassbourg, France, and he came to me in my room and said that he would like to converse with me. But I soon found out that he had come more to contend than to learn the principles of the truth. I told him that if he could keep still I would teach him our principle of faith. I then showed him what the Church was in the days of the Apostles and that God had placed in the church apostles, and prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the work of the ministry to the fullness of the Father, to the knowledge of the Son of God, to the perfect man. But he would not hear me, and said that he was satisfied that we were wrong, that we didn’t need any more apostles, that God had put the apostles in the Church and he would not receive any more apostles. I then asked him where they were. He said they were alive and still in the Church. I told him to show me the Church on the earth that had apostles in it like the church that was on the earth in the days of the Apostles, and the gospel like the same gospel that He preached, and the same spirit that He had, and that Paul said that if an angel from Heaven should preach any other gospel he should be cursed.

But he found that I quoted too much Scripture for him to deny, and he said that he would buy the Book of Mormon and he would prove it by the Bible. I told him to pray to God for wisdom and He would show him that it was right and true, but that he could not know the things of God by his own wisdom, neither could he find them out. I sold him a Book of Mormon and sent him Pratt’s work, and in a few days he returned Pratt’s work, and he returned to Strassbourg.

The young man told me since that he said the Book of Mormon was a pack of nonsense and the young man believed him and said he didn’t want to read any of our books nor converse on the subject of our religion.

I got acquainted with a man that worked with Leder Maller by the name of Leneraude, and he read all our works and said that he believed they were true, and made me acquainted with several of his friends and went with me to hunt a room to rent. But I soon found that his wife opposed him in being in my company and his reading our books, and after a long time he told me that he could not embrace our faith because his wife would have nothing to do with it, and that God wanted peace in families, and they could not have peace and he be a Mormon. I told him that Christ said that he that was not willing to forsake father and mother, brother and sister, wife and children, for His sake and the Gospel’s sake was not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. And I told him if he would obey the gospel of Christ that he would have power over his wife and be able to rule his house in righteousness. He told others, since, that he could not receive the Gospel. But I hope he will see his folly and come out like a man and not let his wife rule him.

On the 7^th of April I got in a conversation on the Rhine Bridge with a man by the name of John Kuhn, and after conversing with him I sent him a “Voice of Warning” and went to his house, and he showed me a young woman that he said was his wife’s daughter that lay sick in bed. She was a desperate object. I prayed with them and conversed with them on the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then left them. And in five days I called them again and he desired that I should heal his daughter. I asked her whether she believed I could heal her. She said that she did. I taught her the principle of having faith in Jesus Christ and told her that God had established His Church on earth in these last days with all its gifts and blessings, and that if she believed that all things were possible with God.

The tears ran down her cheek. I then prayed with her and laid my hands on her and prayed God to heal her. And she got better. I saw her in a few days and she said that she was well and said the neighbors had asked her how she got well so soon. She promised to be baptized, and her step-father. They said that she had been sick many years and that the doctor could not help her and that they were now so poor that they could not doctor her any more. There passed several weeks and she was taken sick again with a severe fever, and her father came to me and said they would be baptized soon. I went and prayed for her and laid my hands on her organs and God healed her. I told her that they would better be baptized and keep their covenants or probably worse things would befall them. They were baptized on the 3^rd of June, 1853.

On the 9^th of April in little Basel I rented a small room from Henry Meyer in Rinegasse 34 for three francs, and board five francs, and moved my effects there and spent several days there. And several persons came to visit me and probably some were my enemies. On the 13^th I received a note from the police to appear at 10 o’clock at the police office. I appeared at the time and they showed me a small room where they kept me as much as an hour and a half. While I was in the room the door was guarded by a soldier and there were two women brought there and put in the same room. They said they did not know what was wanted of them. I was in the same fix. At last they called the women out. Then in a few minutes there came a soldier to me and asked me where I was from. I told him from America. He then left me a few minutes, then told me to follow him. He conducted me up several pair of stairs in a room to the Chief Director of Police, which I afterward found out that his name was Bishoff, and his father is a Presbyterian preacher.

The Director then told me to take a seat. They then asked me whether I was a Mormon preacher. I said that I was an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or what the people called Mormons. He asked me whether I had come here to preach. I told him if the people wanted to hear me, and that I could get the liberty. He then asked me whether I hadn’t been formerly in Lausanne. I told him not. He then asked me whether there were more elders coming to Basel. I said not that I knew of. He then asked me whether we hadn’t another Bible. I told him that we had the Bible that other people had and the Book of Mormon and believed them both too. He then wanted to know what use the Book of Mormon was. I told him it was a book that was found in America and was the record of the American Indians and gave a history of their rise and fall, how God had led them from Jerusalem five hundred years before Christ came, and how he had spoken to them through his prophets, and after that, Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem and rose from the dead, that he visited that people and established His Church among them as in Jerusalem--a Church with apostles and prophets and pastors and teachers. But the people forgot God and dwindled in unbelief and darkness. And the Book of Mormon contained many important prophecies to take place in the last days, which were of much use to us, and it taught the same Gospel that the Jewish Bible taught or our own Bible taught. But I told him to read our book, that he could have them to read, that they were at the bookstore at Mr. Schabelitz.

He then asked me whether the Mormons didn’t believe in plurality of wives. I told him that we believed the Bible and it taught such doctrine. He then wanted to know where the Bible justified one in having many wives. I told him the covenant that God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was an everlasting covenant and God blessed them as long as their children kept His commandments, but they broke the everlasting covenant. He then wanted to know where in the New Testament justified us. I told him it said nothing against it, but Christ said to the Jews that if they were the children of Abraham they would do the work of Abraham. He then told me to go and come in ten days again.

On the 20^th of April the police sent me word not to come to the police office till they sent me word. I went to see the American Consul, Mr. Burchard; he is much of a gentleman and said that he would give me all the counsel that was necessary and not to think that I was persecuted if I could not preach openly in Basel, that the Baptists hadn’t that liberty, but that I could take people to my room and teach them all about America and our religion, and he would see to it that I should remain in Basel as long as I pleased to remain. That he was placed here to protect the American citizens and he would do it, regardless of any man’s religion, that every man was alike to him, as long as he kept the laws of their country and the country that they are in.

On the 26^th of April Brother Stenhouse came to visit me and wrote to Brother Riser to come. I had previously received a letter from Brother Carn that Brother Riser was waiting to get word from Brother Stenhouse whether to come to Basel, and I had sent the letter to Brother Stenhouse and wrote a letter to Brother Carn what I had done and that the police were about to drive me out of Basel.

But I got word from the police on the 28^th of April to come to the police office. I went and was conducted before the same director, Bishoff. He said he had examined our works and found them foul and the Book of Mormon was a bundle of nonsense. He said if I were not a member of the Catholic or Presbyterian Church I could not remain in Basel and handed me my passport. I refused taking it till he would give me writings that I could not remain in Basel. He said he would give me none, and if I didn’t take my passport that he would send it to my lodgings. I then told him I was an honorable man and I wanted to be treated as such and I wanted something to show my countrymen why I could not remain in Basel, and if I had broken their law, I wanted to have something to show wherein I had transgressed or broken their law. He got very angry and told me to be off, that he had given me all the satisfaction he would give me. There came several police in the room and I took my passport and went to the American Consul, and left my passport with him, and he said he would do what he could do for me, and I should call the next day. And he sent to the Police Director and got word for me to remain in Basel for a few days. The next day I went to see the American Consul and Brother Stenhouse accompanied me and he said that I could remain in Basel if I would get a petition with signers in Basel and send it to the American Ambassador in Baden, that he thought it better for me to go to Birsfelding near Basel, a half a mile away, that there was another police there than in Basel and I could have more liberty there than in Basel. I and Brother Stenhouse thought it better for me to go to Birsfelding, and I went the next day with a Mr. Lenreaud (?), and I rented a room from Mr. Walser for three francs a week and five for board.

On the 30^th of April Brother Stenhouse concluded to return. He gave me directions for Brother Riser, if he came that he should go to the town of Zurich. And he gave me twenty-five francs and several French pamphlets, and returned to Lausanne on the 31^st. And on the 3^rd of May, 1853, I moved my room at Mr. Walser’s and on the 5^th I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse that it was announced in the Star that George Mayer, Elder, is in Basel.

On Sunday the 9^th there came three persons to my room to hear me, Mr. Lenraud and two females. The females were much pleased but said I must not say that the Gospel of Christ was not on the earth this eighteen hundred years, that the Gospel was here all the time. I told them the Gospel of Christ was the revealed will of God, and where the Gospel was there was revelation. She found I was too hard for her and left me very riches (?), and I haven’t seen her since. The devil is very willing to acknowledge us right, but wants us to acknowledge them right and on the right way to heaven, but never say anything of the holy priesthood and the authority from God. For as soon as we mention that it comes in contact with the different creeds of man, and the foundations begin to shake, and they get angry and cry “Charity, charity, you have no charity.”

There came an advertisement in the Christian paper in Basel that a Mormon elder had come to Basel to base a branch of their Church. They say they think it would suit very well, for the Mormons believe in having many wives and it would do well to have a sect of that order. On Sunday the 15^th I preached in my room to seven persons. The people were pleased, and a man by the name of Shaffrad (Shaffrath ?) gave me his address and an invitation to visit his family. I called on his family in a few days, and they received the Gospel gladly and gave me a standing invitation to come to their house. I visited the family nearly every day and taught them the plurality doctrine. There had been much written in the newspapers, and they asked me whether it was true. I told them that it was true. They believed it without too much trouble, and on the 31^st of May I baptized (1) F. A. Shaffrath (2) M. V. Emily Shaffrath, and her daughter (3) S. Emily Shaffrath. And on the 4^th of July I blessed their child, Julia Shaffrath. Brother Woodward laid hands on her father with me; and on the 5^th of June 1853, I ordained F. A. W. Shaffrath an elder.

On the 20^th of June I received a card from the police of Birsfelden to remain at Mr. Walser’s as long as I wanted to remain. On the 25^th I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse, and he stated that it was in the Star that George C. Riser and Ceriste had gone to England and were appointed to labor, Riser under Brother Banker, and Cerist under Brother Weelee.

June the 3^rd, 1853, I baptized in the bers in Bersfelden John Kuhn and his wife’s daughter, Maria Nusbaum, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Written across the above sentence is the line “Cut off November the 26, 1853.”

On the 5^th of June, 1853, I ordained F. A. W. Shaffrath an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Written across the above lines are the words: “Cut off from the Church, November 26, 1853.”)

On the 5^th of June, 1853 I ordained F. A. W. Shaffrath an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Written across the above lines are the words: “Cut off from the Church, November 26, 1853.”)

The weather is very bad. It rains nearly every day. It has rained four Sundays in succession and kept the people from coming to my room to hear me preach. On the 11^th of June I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse which contained twenty-five francs.

June the 11^th I baptized in the bers in Bersfelden Carl F. Leppert and confirmed him a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints. (Written across the above line are the words: “Cut off from the Church November 26, 1854.”

On Wednesday evening we held a prayer meeting at Brother Shaffrath’s and on Sunday I held meeting in my room. On the 15^th I baptized in the bers Albertend Justin and Sophia Juillerat and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the 24^th there came two young men to my room. They said that they came from Austria and that they had come to see me, that they had heard that I took people to America. I told them that it was a mistake, that I was here to preach the Gospel to the people that believed and became members of our Church and proved themselves faithful, and that we had taken a few from England that had been members many years and had done all they could to spread the Gospel. After I had preached to them they asked me to lend them books until Sunday and they would come and hear me preach. But they did not come and I have not seen them since. I felt that all they wanted was to get a free (ride) to America.

On the 30^th of June Brother Woodard came to see me. He had visited Brother Stenhouse and wife. Brother Stenhouse went to England. Brother Woodward remained in Switzerland; he gave me ten francs on the morning of the 4^th of July he left. His counsel was not to ordain any elders till I saw Brother Stenhouse. He preached once at Brother Shaffrath’s in French. There were three present that understood French. The members of our Church in Basel are principally Germans.

On the evening of the 4^th of July, 1853, I baptized in the bers Bersfelden, Gottlieb Beumann and confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Chrust of Latter-day Saints.

I wrote to Brother Carn on the 4^th of July, and on the 9^th I wrote to Brother Stenhouse. I wrote to my wife in the Great Salt Lake City. On Sunday the 10^th, it rained and there came only three brothers to my rooms. We prayed and spoke till late and were much blessed with the Spirit of God. On Sunday the 17^th there came to my rooms thirteen and I preached to them on the first principles of the Gospel, and the people were much pleased.

On the 20^th of July I baptized in the bers in Bersfelden Andrew Stemer and confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he left the next morning for America with his family. On Sunday the 20^th of July I received a letter for the first time since I left him, from my wife from the Great Salt Lake City, and also a letter from Brother Carn. There came eight persons to my room and I preached to the people and I gave general satisfaction. On Sunday the 30^th of July I preached in my room on the Book of Mormon. There were eighteen persons there and the people were well pleased.

There came a piece in the newspaper against the Mormons, that the Mormons had a branch of their Church in Michigan, I believe where they followed Strang, and that the government had taken them in hand and had them in custody. I thought best to answer the piece and testified that much had been published against the Mormons that was not true, and that Strang had formerly been a Mormon but for some unbecoming conduct had been cut off from the Mormon Church something like twelve years ago, and he gave himself out as a prophet and raised a Church of two or three hundred members of principally those that had been cut off from the Mormon Church for un-Christian conduct, and then went to Michigan and an island called Beaver Island. And there they were arrested for stealing. I thought it was not right that the Mormons were accountable for the conduct of apostates, or Mormons that had been cut off from the Church, and that these things were false and untrue against the Mormons.

A piece in the paper the other day that a Mormon elder had been sent from Basel to Augan (?) on a mission. Many things that appear in the American papers are false and unjust and should not be published. I signed my name to it and sealed it in a letter and sent it to the printers, and it appeared in the next number, Basel, July the 18^th, 1853, Basfelden B ?. George Mayer, Mormon Missionary.

On Thursday the 4^th of August, 1853, I wrote a letter to Brother Stenhouse and carried it to the postoffice, and on my way to Brother Shaffrath’s a police stopped me and asked my name. I told him George Mayer. Where do you live. I said in Birsfelden at Mr. Walser’s. He said the police director, Mr. Bishoff, wanted to see me at his office. I went with him and he conducted me before Bishoff, and he said: “Mr. Mayer, where do you live now?” I told him in Birsfelden at Mr. Walser’s, and that I rented a room there. He asked me where my passport was. I told him at the police office in Birsfelden. He then asked me where my card was. I told him at Mr. Walser’s. He then asked me whether I was not in Basel most of my time. I told him that I came in nearly every day. He then asked why I wrote that piece that was in the paper and dated in Basel. I told him I hadn’t dated it Basel, but Birsfelden, but that the printer had altered it. He then said he would send and see whether it was true and send a police to the printing office. He was very mad and said that if I ever wrote another piece dated Basel they would carry me out of the streets of Basel, that they didn’t want any Mormon sect in Basel. I told him it was from God and it was true, and he should know it. He told me to leave.

The police came to the printing office and asked whether the piece that I wrote had been dated Bersfelden. The editor told him that it had and the mistake was in the printing, and that the editor had signed it “Mormon Missionary.” August the 4^th, 1853.

On Thursday evening had prayer meeting at the usual place. Six members present. On Saturday the 6^th I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse and on Sunday the 7^th, I preached in my room to the same eight persons. The people were much pleased with my discourse. On Monday the 8^th, I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse and wrote him an answer.

On the 10^th I received a letter from Brother Lamanue (?) and wrote him an answer, and I wrote to Brother Carn on the 12^th of August 1853. On the 17^th I received a letter from S. Mayer my brother.

Sunday the 15^th, 1853, of August, I held meeting in my room and there were fifteen present. They seemed to rejoice in the things I taught them. I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse containing 70 francs. On the 17^th received a letter from Brother Stenhouse stating that he had appointed me book agent over all Switzerland of the German books, and that I should pay for the books that he had printed in Basel by Mr. Schablitz. One thousand of Snow’s “Only Way to be Saved” cost 54-50 francs, which I did. I borrowed 50 francs from Brother C. F. Lepperd. (Paid, 18-1853)

Saturday--21--1583. I bought myself a black coat at the tailor shop for 37 francs.

Sunday, 22. I held meeting in my room. Brother Schaffrath spoke a few minutes. Then I spoke and the people heard me gladly. On Monday the 23, Brother Robellaz was with me, and elder from Lausanne. He is the presiding elder of the branch at Lausanne. I received from Brother Stenhouse stating that he had sent me three yards of black cloth to make me a suit of clothes. On Sunday the 28^th I received a package from Brother Ballef and a letter which contained three yards of black cloth. I wrote a letter to Brother Stenhouse and preached in my room. There were eight persons present.

Thursday the 1^st of September, 1853, we held prayer meeting at the usual place. It was agreed by the members present that I should ordain Brother Lepperd (Shepherd ?) to the office of a priest. I ordained him to the lesser priesthood. We enjoyed much of the Spirit of God. (Written across the above lines are the following words: “Cut off the Church, Nov. the 26^th, 1853.)

Sunday the 4^th of September I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse with the melancholy occurrence of the death of Elder Willard Snow, who departed this life on the 21^st of August while on board the steamer transit, it is said, about eighty miles from Hull on his way to Liverpool. Elder Snow was a faithful servant of the Lord and dearly beloved of all the Saints who were acquainted with him. But he is gone to Brother Joseph and Hyrum and many of the faithful Saints who rejoice in their company. We that prove faithful shall rejoice with them in the resurrection of the just.

Sunday the 4^th, I preached in my room. There were ten persons present. I preached on the resurrection of the dead. Monday morning I went to Basel and returned in the evening to Bersfelden and found seventy centimes on the road.

Thursday the 8^th I held prayer meeting at the usual place. There were three young men who gave their names for baptism and on Friday the 9^th, September, 1853, I baptized int the bers, Bersfelden, John Ruggle and John Hug and Karl Locher, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sunday the 11^th September, 1853, in the spirit of prayer for my son George Mayer that God would bless him with health and the rest of the family. Held meeting in my room Sunday the 11^th, and there were ten persons present. I preached to the people and then gave leave to others. I then closed.

A BLESSING

Given Nauvoo, November the 18, 1844. This patriarchal blessing by John Smith, patriarch, upon the head of George Mayer, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Lauch Mayer, born in York County, State of Pennsylvania, March the 2, 1805.

Brother George, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood I lay may hands upon thy head and seal a father’s blessing upon thee because thou has obeyed the Gospel with an honest heart and a firm desire to save thyself. It is thy privilege to be a savior on Mount Zion to save thyself and thy family, thy dead and living friends and a great multitude of the Lamanites, for the whispering of the Spirit is that thou art called to proclaim the Gospel to that people, also to the Gentiles and Jews. For thou art a lawful heir to the Holy Priesthood, and all the blessings which were sealed upon thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and a numerous posterity and an inheritance among thy brethren, the children of Joseph. It is thy privilege to have mighty faith to command the wind and the waves of the sea, and they shall obey thy voice, to divide the waters of the rivers and lead the numerous armies through. Thou wilt baptize and bring to Zion with exceeding joy and songs of gladness. It is thy privilege to have the ministering of angels to comfort thee in they troubles, to deliver thee from danger, to break the chains from thy hands and to open prison gates and to cause thy enemies to flee before thee. Therefore, fear not, for the Lord thy God will deliver thee in all times of trouble.

It is thy privilege to live to see all the works and purposes of the Lord accomplished which the prophets have spoken of concerning Zion in the last days and share in all the glory and blessings of the same, to inherit all the riches of heaven and earth, and every good thing which your heart desires.

Now, Dear Brother, inasmuch as thou art faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord, and giving heed to the council of those that are set over you. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against you. Not one word which has been spoken shall fail. This is thy sealing and blessing in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.

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September the 14^th, 1853.

I baptized Maria Elizabeth Ott in the Bers, Bersfelden Basel, and confirmed her a member of the Church.

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A BLESSING

Punca Camp, Omaha Nation, near Winter Quarters, February the 13^th, 1848. A blessing by Isaac Morley, Patriarch on the head of George Mayer, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Mayer, (Born in) Yorke County, Pennsylvania, March the 2^nd, A.D. 1805.

Brother George, by virtue of the Priesthood resting on me, I lay my hands upon thy head and seal upon thee thy father’s blessings with all thy former blessings that have been ratified (?) upon thee. Thou art blessed of the Lord and numbered with the seed of Abraham. And thou shalt rejoice with the seed of Joseph, for thou hast the blood of Ephraim. The blessings of the priesthood shall rest upon thee and thy posterity after thee. The gifts of the Gospel shall rest upon thy mind, and thy tongue will yet be unloosed to proclaim glad tidings and to proclaim the everlasting gospel upon the distant islands. Thou shalt be blessed in winning souls to Christ. The power of the Priesthood will rest upon thee. Thou shalt have power from on high to convince thousands that now sit in darkness. Thy labors shall be crowned with blessings and thy name invoked with the great men of the earth because thy heart is filled with love of the Lord thy God, and to His cause. Prepare thy heart and mind for the work of the Lord, let it become stored with the principles of truth and intelligence, and no opposition shall put thee to silence. And if thou art tried, it will be for thy good. For thou shalt have power and influence over every wicked spirit.

Victory shall be ampande (?) upon thy crown, and if thou art placed in prison thou shalt have power that shall cause bolts and doors to burst at thy voice. Thy faith shall reach the Heavens and thou shalt be blessed and crowned with sheaves, for thy rejoicing, in the day of the Lord Jesus. And thou shalt return to Zion with songs of everlasting joy. There thou shalt receive thine everlasting inheritance and rejoice with the society of thy posterity and be crowned with celestial glory, in the name of the Father. Even so, Amen and Amen.

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September, Tuesday Evening, 13^th, 1853.

I received a visit from Brother S. W. Richards, and he remained with me until Wednesday, twelve o’clock. I received much good council from him with the Saints here. I accompanied him on the Basle rail car for Paris. Brother S. W. Richards gave me eight francs, 65 centimes. May the Lord bless him.

Held a meeting on Thursday evening, the 15^th, to settle some difficulties with four of the members. They acknowledged their wrongs on the 28^th of October, 1853.

Sunday the 18^th, I preached in my room on the restoration of all things which God had spoken of by His prophets. There were fourteen present, and I appointed prayer meetings in my room on Thursday evening the 22^nd of September.

Monday the 19^th, I saw Sister Robe at her brothers, Mr. Seden Melen (?), and conversed with her and laid my hands on her head and blessed her, and she shall be blessed. She made me a present of five francs, and I bought my son George a dress and sent it to Salt Lake City with Sister Robe to my wife. I held prayer meeting in my room on Thursday evening according to appointment. There were six present on Friday the 23^rd of September. I received four numbers of the Millennial Star from Brother S. W. Richards from Liverpool. I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse.

Sunday the 25^th, I preached in my room and there were nine present. I preached on faith and administered to Albertena Jurslin, and she was better.

Monday the 26^th I visited a man by the name of Lichtenahn (?), by his request that he would like to converse with me concerning our religious principles. I conversed with him till after eleven and left him the “Voice of Warning” and Snow’s “Only Way to be Saved,” with the promise to visit him again on Thursday. I visited him again, had a long conversation on Thursday the 20^th at candle-light. I held a prayer meeting in my room, and after singing and prayer several of the brethren spoke. Then I gave the brethren much instruction. Then I spoke in tongues and Brother Shepherd and Brother Baumann gave the most of the interpretation but not all.

On the 31^st, I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse that Brother Richards would send him elders Riser and Geriste, and that they would come by way of Basel to me. I wrote a letter to Brother Stenhouse and a letter to Charles Arlette (?) in Hull, England.

On Sunday the 2^nd of October I preached in my room. There were ten present, principally members. I preached on the gathering of Israel. In the evening I baptized Augusten Zumsteg (?) in the bers Bersfelden, by Basel and confirmed him.

Tuesday October the 5^th, 1853, I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse containing twenty francs, a present from Brother Loba, which he sent with kind love to me, yet I never saw him, but had seen his wife and had considerable conversation with her and judged them good Saints. May God bless Brother Loba and family and guard them safely to the Saints’ home in Zion is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Brother Loba starts on Thursday the 6^th of October for the Great Salt Lake City with his family.

I held prayer meeting on Thursday evening in my room. There was only five present. Friday morning the 7^th of October (1853), I moved downstairs to a room that I had first occupied at Mr. Walser’s. He raised my board to six francs a week.

Sunday the 9^th, 1853, I preached in my room on the first principles of the Gospel. There were fourteen present. Six were strangers. They were well pleased and promised to come again. Brother Shaffrath and Leporde (?) bore their testimony to the truth and that the sick had been healed by my administering prayer and laying on of hands.

On Sunday the 9^th I received a present of a pair of fine shoes from Brother John Ruggle and John Hug and Agusten Zumsteg, shoemakers. May God bless them.

On Thursday the 13^th I held prayer meeting in my room. There were nine present. I gave them instruction in the necessity of obeying counsel in all things. On Sunday the 16^th I held meeting in my room. There were only five present. It rained nearly the whole day. I spoke on the necessity of being one with our leader and president.

On Thursday the 20^th of October, 1853, I held prayer meeting in my room. I opened by prayer, then Brother Shaffrath spoke and then Lepperd. (?) They were both much in darkness. They rejected my counsel and Brother Stenhouse’s counsel concerning remaining here another year and were making preparations to go to America in the spring, and they have their secret meetings. I pray God to show them their folly that they may come to see the light.

October the 23, 1853, I held meeting in my room. I spoke of the way that God leads his people to prove and test their faith. I spoke of many things that had come under my observations and experience as being an eyewitness to many things these eleven years in the Church. There were nine present and they were much pleased.

On Thursday the 27^th, 1853, I held prayer meeting in Basel and there was thirteen present, and we had a first rate time and enjoyed much of the spirit. Brother Augusten Zumsteg leaves Basel and goes to the City of Baden. I gave him a certificate of his good standing in our Church of Latter-day Saints in Basel.

On Friday the 28^th I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse and twenty francs and twelve numbers of No. 9 and No. 10 of the “Reflector,” and a letter from Brother Ballef (Ballif ?) stating that the money he sent, fifty francs, was intended for Brother Mayer and for him to dispose of as he thought best. Brother Ursenbach came to Basel to remain ten days and trade. He is in the wine trade. He made me a present of a woolen knit shirt. May God bless him.

On Sunday the 30^th of October, 1853, I held meeting in my room. I preached on the necessity of revelation and that it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Wisunbuch (?) spoke in French. There were fourteen present, and it had rained all forenoon. I received a letter from Brother Carn stating that I could have books. I wrote to Brother Carn for “Books of Mormon,” fifty books of “Voice of Warning,” one hundred of Zion’s Pioneers,” for the Swiss Mission.

On November the 1^st, 1853, I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse and wrote him an answer the same day. On the 3^rd, Thursday, I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse. In the evening, I held prayer meeting in my room. There were six present. We enjoyed a good time. A young man requested baptizm on Monday.

On Sunday the sixth of November, 1853, I preached in my room. There were ten persons present. Shaffrath and Leppard occupied most of the time with their good old fun, but nonsense to me.

On Monday the 7^th, 1853, I baptized Abraham Grob in the bers, Bersfelden, by Basel, and confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the 14^th left for Neushatel.

On Thursday the 10^th I held prayer meeting in my room and there were five present. I instructed them on the “Calling of God” that all that desired in their heart to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ were called of God, but many were called but few were chosen. We are chosen by them that God has set over us. Then it is for us to be obedient to their counsel, then we shall obtain a blessing.

On Sunday the 13^th of November, 1853, I held meeting in my room. There were eight persons present. I spoke on baptizm. On Monday the 14^th, 1853, Abraham Grob left Basel to go to Neuchatel to work. On Tuesday the 15^th I received a letter from Brother Gerist from Geneva stating that he came through last Friday and intended to be in Basel on Saturday and Sunday. I also received a letter from Brother Hart (?) from Paris in France. On Thursday morning I found the streets covered with a snow two inches deep, this being the first snow this winter.

On Thursday evening I held prayer meeting in my room. There were only three of us present and we claimed the promise and we were blessed with the Spirit of God. John Ruggel and John Hug and myself were present. John Ruggel and John Hug they took my boots and halfsoled them and put on heeltaps. They put them in first rate order, all for the gospels sake and love toward me.

Saturday morning (November 18, 1853), Brother Gerist came in my room. He was in good health and spirits. There came a young man to my room that I had seen the evening before and had preached to him. He said that he believed all that I said and would relate a dream that he had concerning me. He said that a personage came to him and said that he should follow him, and the personage conducted him to Bersfelden and led him in a room and presented him to a man and told him the man to instruct him in the right way and told him to give heed to my preaching, and he (had) then written in large letters Mormon. And he said he loved the man and his teachings and thought that he would like to be always with him.

The next day he came to Bersfelden and inquired for a man by the name of Mormon, and the people directed him to me and he said to me that he had never heard of me. But in the dream he thought that he was in Bersfelden and when he saw me and the room he thought I was the man. He then related his circumstances how that he was in debt fifty francs for board and how he came in debt, and if he didn’t pay the debt that he must leave Basel, and seemed to be in much trouble. I felt that it might probably be a hoax, and that if I ought to help him that I would probably have a testimony of it. He came on Saturday and said he would come on Monday the 28^th to be baptized. He then asked for us to lend him five francs to get a pair of shoes, but he did not get it, and he didn’t come.

On Saturday the 18^th I and Brother Gerist visited several of the Saints in Basel, and on Sunday the 20^th, 1853, we held meeting in my room, and Brother Gerist preached on the first principles of the Gospel, and I gave my testimony with other instructions. We then appointed a meeting at Brother Shaffraths and we met at nine in the evening. I opened the meeting by prayer and then gave leave for others to speak. There were several spoke. Shaffrath spoke and gave his testimony of the truth of the work and that he was healed by the power of God by laying on my hands, and said that four of them had made a covenant to stick together and go to America and gather with the Saints, and that he knew that it was of God. Brother Leppard gave his testimony of the truth of this work and manifested the same spirit that Brother Shaffrath did. Brother Gerist then spoke a long time of the necessity of the Saints giving heed to the counsel of the Elders that God had set over them if they were to get salvation. I then gave my testimony and prophesied that if they would be one with us and be humbled before God that the power of God would be manifested among us more than it had been.

On the evening of Monday, after visiting several families with Brother Gerist we went to Brother Shaffrath’s and Leppard and Abbenda were there and we heard them relate their circumstances, and the reason they wanted to go to America. They gave their reasons that they had met in prayer and had made a covenant to stick together and they intended to do so, that they knew it was the will of the Lord and he had blessed and led them many years. And then Brother Gerist asked them whether their four hadn’t their secret meetings unknown to Brother Mayer. They said that they had and they knew that they had the right spirit. Brother Gerist preached long and tried to get them to see their evil and have them do right and acknowledge their wrong in not giving heed to my counsel. They showed a stubborn spirit and Leppard said that he saw that their object was to get their money and they would not submit, and we left them in the hands of the Lord, and told them that they were under the influence of an evil spirit and advised them to repent. We then returned to our room in Bersfelden.

On the 26^th of November 1853 I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse that Brother Ceriste should labor in Basel at present and that I was at liberty to go where the spirit directed, but I wrote that the spirit directed me to have him to say where I should go and labor and I should be obedient to his counsel.

On November the 26^th, 1853, Brother Ceriste cut off F. A. W. Shaffrath and C. F. Leppard from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for nourishing a false spirit and for disobeying counsel, and the priesthood was taken from them. On the 27^th of November we held meeting in our room. There came only three persons, and Brother Ceriste spoke to them and I gave my testimony, and when I closed there came Shaffrath and Leppard to make a disturbance. They were tools of the Devil and were mad because they were cut off from the Church and said that they had the Spirit of God and that me and Brother Ceriste had the Spirit of the Devil. The people got disgusted at their conduct and left the house. They made many threats against us, and said that Brother Ceriste would have to leave this country like he left Germany. Then Shaffrath said that I owed him fifteen francs for board and he would keep a Book of Mormon and several pamphlets that he had at his house.

On the 28^th of November 1853 Leppard came to my room and I paid him fifty francs and took his receipt and told him that I had paid him all, and if I was a servant of God, which I knew that I was, that the Lord owed him nothing for what he had done for me. He said, “Yes,” and nodded his head and left, and I, by the holy Priesthood, delivered him over to the buffetings of Satan till he repented of all the evil he has done to the hindrance of the work, and that he will do that is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ and by the Authority of the Holy Priesthood which I have. Amen. Amen.

On December the 1^st, A.D. 1853 I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse that in reply to my letter on the 26^th of November that I should go and labor in and around the city of Zurich. I considered it the will and the word of the Lord to me his servant.

Elder George Mayer

On the 3^rd of December I left Basel in the stage to Bardan and arrived there at five then took the rail car for Zurich and landed in Zurich at six in the evening. I put up at a tavern and remained there till Tuesday noon then moved to a friend’s house by the name of K. E. Egle.

On the 8^th I visited a family by the name of Hug in Winegan (?) five miles north. They appeared at first to believe, but they sent for a Baptist preacher and he came full of an evil spirit and would not hear me but spoke all the time and said if we were right why did people persecute and drive us, that if we were Christians we would not be persecuted. I asked him why the Saints of former days were persecuted. He found he had the wrong person, and said I was a false preacher and didn’t understand the Scriptures. I gave him my testimony of the truth of the Gospel and prophesied that he should know and feel it, that I was a servant of God and had told him the truth and it would stand against him in the day of Judgment of God.

In the morning I left the family and left them the Book of Mormon and the Voice of Warning and Zion’s Pioneers and promised to come in four weeks to see them again.

On Friday evening I rented a small room from a man by the name of Bugard (?) on the corner of Linden half No. 347, for 2f. 50 per week.

December the 8, 1853, Mr. K. E. Egle took a great interest in hunting me a suitable room and boarded me several days and lodged me at his home and charged me nothing. I pray God to bless him with the spirit of truth and lead him in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

On the 18^th of December 1853 I received one half of the books that Brother Carn sent me from Hamburg. The other half I left with Brother Ceriste in Bersfelden by Basel. The number in full is twenty Books of Mormon, fifty of Voice of Warning, 100 of Zion’s Pioneers.

Sunday the 25^th, 1853, it being Christmas the people attended meeting and closed their shops, and kept them closed all day Monday. The people in all religions did.

December the 31^st, 1853. I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse containing twenty francs which the brethren had donated for me at the close of the conference at Lausanne.

January the 2^nd, A. D. 1854. I wrote a letter to Brother Stenhouse and carried it to the post office, and I saw many people going in a large old building. I went in with the crowd and came in a large room upstairs, and there was the armor and all manner of weapons of war of the old Swiss people before they knew the use of firearms. There were shields made of steel that covered nearly the whole body and even the face with a small hole to be seen through to see the enemy, and their cannon and guns of later years. Zurich is one of the oldest cities in the Swisse.

Thursday January the 5^th, 1854. I went to Winegan to visit Mr. Hug’s family according to my promise and found them well and in good spirits. They were very friendly. They had a letter from their son in Basel, and he told them that he had been in darkness but that he was now in the light and that the Gospel that I taught was the Gospel and that they should read in my books and prove it was true and he knew it. I stayed two days with them, and they said that I was welcome at their house any time I came to them. They bought from me four numbers of Zion’s Pioneers. They told me that a Baptist preacher was there several times and had inquired for me to know whether I still was in Zurich. They said he seemed to be very uneasy and that the prophecy I had delivered on him had taken effect on his mind. I have them my address and told them to give it to him. I received a letter from my family from the Great Salt Lake City mailed on the first of November, 1853, and I received it on the 11^th of January 1854. They were all well and doing well. I felt to rejoice and thank the Lord for His goodness and mercy to them and for bringing us to the light of His everlasting Gospel and His continuous blessings to His servant George Mayer.

On the 18^th of January I was invited to a friend’s house and there came seven persons together to hear me. I preached to them two hours and they listened with much interest. I think that Zion’s fire will soon blaze and burn here. I have been trying to make it burn in several places. May God help me in my prayer.

On the 19^th I went to Winegan to Mr. Hug’s family and found them in good health and rejoicing in the truth. I remained till the 21^st and returned home to Zurich.

On the 22^nd of January 1854 I received a letter from Brother Stenhouse containing Twenty-five francs, it being a present from Brother Ballif. May God bless him and lead him safe home to Zion

On Sunday the 23^rd I visited several families and brought them the principles of the Gospel and they acknowledged it right and true and desired to hear more. May God bless them and bring them in His sheepfold is my prayer.

Monday I received two letters from the Great Salt Lake City. There were forwarded to me from Brother Stenhouse. I also received a letter from Brother Ceriste and two papers from England. On Monday night, 24^th, 1854, I dreamed I had a beautiful field of wheat that was just ripening and so was ripe for harvest and I felt very much concerned concerning the wheat that it should be harvested and saved for the wind blew and the wheat was tall and very thick on the ground, and I thought if I did not harvest it soon the wind would destroy much of it. I thought that the most of the people had harvested their wheat, but mine got ripe late in the season. There was a small strip of oats and it had been cut down by some boys and they were binding it up. But I thought it was damp and green. I went to the boys and asked them who gave them leave to take the oats, they said that Mr. Leppard had given them leave. I told them Leppard had no right, that I had taken Leppard’s right from him. I told them they might take what would feed their teams, but if they took any more without asking me I would make them trouble. I thought there was a man with me and I took him into the one end of the field and showed him the wheat and we thought it was beautiful wheat and would do to harvest. I thought I would hire some person to help me. I thought the oldest of the boys was Thomas Clarke and the man was George Grant. I thought I saw William Kimball and several more that I knew.

On the 27^th of January 1854, Brother John Hug and John Ruggle came to my room and took dinner with me, and after dinner I laid my hands on John Ruggle and blessed him and gave him power over his father’s family to teach them the principles of truth and convince them of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought forth in these last days. I laid my hands on John Hug’s head and blessed him that the spirit of God should lead his mind to give heed to the counsel of the servants of God and obey their counsel and he should have more of the Spirit of God than he ever had before and should rejoice in the light and he should increase from this time. May God grant it for Christ’s sake is my prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.

On January the 31^st, A. D. 1854 I went to Winegan to Mr. Hug’s and on this evening I baptized five persons in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, four of the Hug’s family and a man that worked at Hug’s, a shoemaker by the name of John Sehmed. (Schmid ?). I baptized them in the River Lemmad(?) at Winegan, Canton Zurich, 1) Henrich Hug 2) Jacob Hug, 3) David Hug, 4) Reguld Hug, 5) John Schmid. (The laboring man cut off from the Church.) And I confirmed them the same night between eleven and two o’clock in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had to walk a mile to the river. We had a first rate time and there was none that complained of the cold, and when I confirmed them I felt much of the Spirit of God and gave them many blessings and taught them much and the necessity of giving heed to the counsel of the Elders of the Church and it was the only way that we could obtain salvation in the Kingdom of God. They all agreed to give heed to my counsel and the authority that God would set over them from time to time.

On Sunday the fourth of February, 1854 I visited a family by the name of Bare, according to previous appointment. There came several of their neighbors to hear me. They have a peculiar kind of a belief, but the family seemed to believe all that I taught them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought forth by the Angel. But two of the strangers seemed to have a kind of contending spirit and would like to get around baptism by saying that Christ said that He was the water and they that drank that water that He gave them should never thirst, and they said they were baptized in their hearts and that was the birth of water. But I showed them Scripture to show them that Christ was baptized in Jordan to fulfill all righteousness and that many people came to John to be baptized of him in Jordan because there was much water there. I left them and told them they must do as Christ told the people, purge the old leaven out and become a new lump.

I left Bare and visited a family by the name of Shiling, and his wife prepared me some supper, and there came a boy and told me that his father Mr. Balinger had sent him for me to come to his house. I went with him and I came there. He informed me that several of his neighbors would come to his house to hear me preach if I would agree to it. I told him it was right to do so. He sent around and in less than half an hour the room was full of people. I opened by prayer and spoke about an hour and a half, and the people kept first-rate order and desired that I should preach to them on Saturday evening. Mr. Balinger and family seemed to rejoice in hearing the things I taught them. His wife first heard me at Mr. Shiling’s and she said that I should come to their house. This was the second time that I had been at their house. I pray God to bless them and Mr. Shilling and family.

On the 10^th of February, 1854, I moved my lodgings to a man’s house by the name of Casper Shilling at the Kingengasse No. 526 in the third story, and I have my board with them at what it costs.

On the 12^th of February I visited a family by the name of Bare and there were several there. They asked me concerning the plurality doctrine. I showed them the 4^th Chapter of Isaiah and explained some chapters in the New Testament, and they were satisfied. I then went home and had my supper and there came a boy for me to come to his father’s, Ballinger’s to preach. There were several had come to hear me preach. There were two children in the house, one belonged to _______, the other to Mr. Ballinger. I had told them that if they had faith their children could be healed through the power of God. They said that I should pray for them. I promised them that I would in a few days. Afterwards I came there and the little girl came to me and thanked me and said that I had made her well. I told her that I knew that God would heal her. She had very sore and weak eyes and was confined to the house and she was in bed when I was there. And Mr. Ballinger’s child was sick and had a disease in its head and some inflammation in and out of the ears and they said it was getting much better. There came about sixteen grown persons and fifteen young people to hear me preach. I preached three quarters of an hour and then gave them liberty to ask questions. The people said what I had preached was the truth and desired that I should preach to them the next Sunday evening.

On the 13^th of February I received a letter from Lausanne from Brother C. R. Savage and I wrote him an answer and he desired that I should heal him. He was much in distress and I anointed him with oil on his head and prayed for him and he got well and began to mend from that moment.

On the 15^th I went to Winegan to Mr. Hug’s and found them all well and rejoicing in the truth. There came two men to see me and they believed my teachings and appeared to be religious. On the 18^th I returned to Zurich and on the 19^th I visited several families, I visited Mr. Bare’s family and found them rejoicing. Their little son was sick the Sunday before and they desired that I should heal him. I laid my hands on his head and prayed for him to myself and told them if they had faith their son would get well. He appeared to be in much pain and distress. They told me the next Sunday that in less than an hour he got up and said that he was well. They wanted to make him stay in bed but he cried and said that the beloved God and the man had made him well and went to his aunt upstairs and told his aunt that God and the man made him well. On Sunday night the people sent for me to come to Mr. Colinger to preach to the people. I went and there came 25 persons to hear me.

On Sunday the 27^th, 1854, I received a present of a satin vest from Mr. Shilling, it being partly worn. On Monday I was called to visit a family in Wiedekon(?), that one of his sons was blind for better than a year. He had dreamed that he had seen a man that healed his eyes and he had a book in his hands and taught him and prayed for him and he could. So he described the man that the man was a tall man and had a large gray beard round his chin. His parents heard of me and came to see me and they said that I filled the description that he gave of me. I went to see him and conversed with him and he said that he believed that what I taught him was true. I laid my hands on him and anointed his eyes with oil and prayed for him and told him that he should see in the name of Jesus Christ. I left him in the hands of God. The family appeared to rejoice in the things I brought them and desired that I should come on Thursday to see them again. I went on Thursday and found them in good spirits and the blind man in strong faith that his eyes were getting better. I administered to him again and promised him that he should come to his seeing before long. He said that he believed that the Gospel I taught was the right Gospel and said he would be baptized soon.

There came a widow to see me that had heard of me before, and sent me a present of a very fine black handkerchief and bought the Book of Mormon and the Voice of Warning, and desired that I should come to her house and converse with her on the principles of the Gospel. I pray God to bless her. Her name is Smith.

On Saturday the 25^th, February 1854 Brother Ursonbaugh came to see me and on Sunday evening he appointed meeting with me. There came from 40 to 50 persons to hear me. I preached before them an hour. The people were much pleased. Brother Ursonbaugh speaks the French language and the people in Zurich all German, therefore he could not preach, but spoke considerable time to a young man that spoke French. Brother Ursonbaugh leaves here on Tuesday for Basel. I gave him a letter to Brother Ceriste.

On Monday the 27^th I went with him to his father-in-law and taught them the principles of the Gospel, then returned to his father’s at nine in the evening. There were several of their neighbors who came to hear me. After the people had gone the family asked me concerning the plurality doctrine and I told them to read the two last verses of the third Chapter of Isaiah and the whole of Chapter 4 and I showed them other Scriptures. They said it looked right and said they believed that it was true and right and righteous before God. Before I went to bed we kneeled down and prayed and I laid my hands on Uterich Brenar and prayed for him and blessed him that God would cause the sight to come in his eyes that he might see. May God bless him is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. George Mayer. In the morning he made me a present of 4 francs.

On March the 1^st, 1854, I preached at Jacob Brenar’s in Witigen. There was several of his neighbors there. The people thanked me for the knowledge I gave them. The next day I spent the afternoon with Widow Smith and another lady that lived with her. They rejoiced in things I taught them.

On the 2^nd of March, 1854, I baptized Casper Shilling and his wife Anna Barbara and confirmed them members in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and blessed their child, Anna Bartha, and baptized them in Zurich Lake. On Sunday the 4^th, 1854 I visited a family by the name of Bare and took dinner with them. They had a first-rate dinner. In the evening I went to Bolingen and there came many people to hear me preach. I preached better than an hour and was much blessed with the Spirit of God, and the people gave good attention. After I had closed I gave leave that the people might ask questions. There were several Baptists there and they had brought a preacher there. His name is Hug. I had seen him out in the village of Winegan at his brother’s, and he came there full of the Devil and wanted to quarrel with me. I had asked him several questions and when he found I had cornered him he got angry and said that I was a false teacher and didn’t understand the Scriptures. I gave him my testimony and told him that he should feel that I taught the truth. He tried to preach to the people and warned them to take care or I would deceive them. I told him that if he hadn’t better for the people than I had that he should hold his tongue or God would shut his mouth for him and I told the people that he was a wicked man and his own brother’s folks told that he was in jail for setting a house afire. When he found that I knew his character he left the house. The people told him to leave, that they didn’t want to hear his preaching, that they knew that he had lied, and that the things I had taught I had proved by the Scriptures, and he couldn’t find Scripture for his teachings. He said that a man’s sins were forgiven without baptism. I asked him to show me the Scripture but he didn’t want to hear of the Bible. I told them I could not for this opinion I wanted to see the Scriptural proof. When he left the other commenced by the name of Keller. I asked him how their preacers were called, but he didn’t want to hear that, and whether they considered the Catholic Church the church of Christ, and he said not, When he found that I had him ensnared he got mad, cried out, “False prophet.” I then asked him to show me the true prophet. He found he was in the wrong pew and took his leave after the people had scoffed at him and wanted him to answer my questions. He left mad and said he would never come anymore to hear me. The people told him to send somebody that knew and believed the Scriptures better than he did, and we would converse with them. On Monday morning there came 8 young men to see me, to hear me, and to learn of our land in Zion. Some appeared honest and brought books and appeared pleased.

On the 7^th of March I went to the village of Winegen to Brother Hug’s and preaced on Tuesday night. There were four persons came to hear me. They generally well pleased. I cut off John Sehmid from the Church of Jesus Christ for lying.

On Sunday the 12^th, 1854 I preached at Mr. Balinger’s at candle light. There was as many came as could get in the room. I preached on the first principles. The people was well pleased and spoke of renting a larger room for me to preach in. On the 14^th of March Brother Ceriste came to see me on a visit from Basel, and in the evening I went to a place about a mile up the lake to a man’s house by the name of Joseph Ruh to baptize his whole family and a young man. And I baptized in the Zurich Lake on the 14^th Joseph Ruh and his wife and his son and his daughter and the young man. Joseph Ruh, borne March 19, 1803; Antonia Ruh, born January 17, 1811; Julius Ruh, born October 23, 1836; Elisa Ruh, born May the 3^rd, 1834; and Henrich Grunder, born Sept. 30, 1823. I confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The same evening the old man was sick, before I baptized him and when he was baptized he declared that he was well and they all rejoiced greatly.

On the 18^th of March, 1854, I baptized in the Zurich Lake Jacob Studer born March the 15, 1817, his wife Barbara, born Nov. 23, 1809, Michael Watenhofen, born June 21, 1834, and confirmed them members in the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. On the 19^th of March, 1854 I went to Mr. Bare’s and Brother Ceriste was with me. We were invited to dinner. Then after dinner there came a dozen or more to see brother Bare and they wanted to hear the gospel from me, and we preached to them better than an hour. The people said it was true what we had preached and some invited me to visit their families in the evening. I sent Brother Ceriste to Brother Shilling’s to preach. I had left an appointment there and I remained at Mr. Bare’s. There were several came to be baptized, and Mr. Bare’s family had set that evening to be baptized. I baptized eight persons in the Sel, a small stream. It was a first-rate place, a fine bath house over the stream, and it appeared that the Lord had everything prepared for me in Zurich before I came here, and all that rise against me are brought to silence and shame. On the evening at 9 o’clock I baptized the following persons: Heinrich Bar(Bare ?), born Oct. 13, 1813; Anna Barbara Bar, born Jan. 1, 1827; Anna Bomer Abderhelden, born 1840; Caroline Abderhelden, born August 4, 1846; Hans Ulrich Bryner, born April 16, 1827; Ara Maria Bryner, his wife, born June 17, 1828; Anna Barbara Bryner, February 2, 1830; and blessed their three children. Brother Ceriste laid hands on with me and we confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and blessed Brother Bar’s three children; Richard Bar, born the 11^th, 1847; Adolf Bar, born the 17^th, 1849; Fredrica Bar, born November the 27, 1852.

On the 21^st of March I and Brother Ceriste went to Winegan to Brother Hug’s and we preached there and in the evening I baptized three in Winegan in a stone fountain: Regula Hug, born Nov. 2, 1801. And on the 22^nd of March 1854 I preached to the people and the people were well pleased. On the 23^rd I left for Zurich, and Brother Ceriste left for Basel and there came a man to me and said that he was a doctor and that he wanted to go to America. Seeing that he had come full of the Devil and denied the gifts and blessings, I told him that he should leave, that I didn’t want to speak to him, that we were commanded not to cast our pearls before swine. He raved and got very noisy. I commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to be still; he left threatening what he would do.

On the 24^th of March, 1854 Brother Schilling came to me and told me that the police had left a letter with him for me with a small card that I should see that I had received it. The card read thus, that George Mayer from America, city of Washington should leave Zurich without any resources. I left word with Eckly(?) that I was going to Winegan six miles in the country, but went to Brother Bare, and on Sunday night there came from twenty to thirty brethren and sisters to see me and 7 to be baptized. The brethren and sisters seemed much concerned for my safety and were determined to have me stay. I promised to remain with them at the risk of my life, if necessary. I baptized in the evening in the Sel in a bathhouse that is in the care of Brother Bar on March 26, 1854: Barara Gehreng, born Jan. 27, 1803; Fereng Brener, born Sept. __ 1831; Anna Wais(?) born Sept 1, 1819; John Nefczger, born Dec. 14, 1818; Elizabeth Nefczger, born Nov. 15, 1825; George Bammelli, born may 25, 1827.

On the 27^th of March 1854 I baptized in the Zurich Lake in Sefelhe(?), Henrich Schlepper, born Feb. 6, 1825; Henrietta Schlepper, born Oct. 1, 1821; Hans Henrich Lattman, born June 8, 1806; Elizabeth Lattmann, born Sept. 1810; Pouleina Lattmann, born Oct. 16, 1841; Barbara Elizabeth Lattmann, Jan. 31, 1841; and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

On the 25^th of March 1854 the police of Canton Zurich brought me a writing that the authorities of Zurich had agreed that I should leave Zurich without resources, and on the 31^st I went before the Stadhalten(?) and asked him why I had to leave Zurich. He said all he had to say was to leave, and if I was not willing to leave willingly they would transport me out of the Canton Zurich. I told them that I would not leave willingly. Mr. Ferse(?) then called 12 or 15 police and said that they would force me to go. I told them that they did not know what they were doing and that they were putting their best friends out of Zurich, and God knew it and the holy angels knew it, and if they were all against me that God was my friend. They then appeared confounded and left me and said that I should leave on Sunday morning. I left and went to my lodgings and took my dinner. Then I and Brother Shilling went to the high Council of Canton Zurich and he said I should petition against the proceedings. We then went to a lawyer and he sent us to another and Brother Bremer told him that he was willing to give bond for my good behavior of a thousand dollars if required, and that I must remain here, and that they had no right to make me leave Zurich, that I was a good and honorable man, and he demanded him to do all he could for me to remain in this country, and he didn’t care what it cost. He said that he would take it in hand and do all he could for me and he made an instrument of writing and I took it to the High Council for them to act on it. They gave me a receipt for it to show the police what I had done. The writing cost 12 francs; the brothers and sisters paid for me freely.

On the 1^st of April 1854 I held a prayer meeting at Brother Bar’s and there were from 25 to 30 brothers and sisters present and there was much of the Spirit of God with us. I prophesied in the name of Jesus Christ that those that spoke should be blessed and they were blessed. The brethren and sisters were blessed for the Spirit of God rested upon them and they spoke with power and suffered their hearts to go in mightyprayer to God to have me remain with them, and they felt very humbled before God with a perfect love towards one another. They are a good people and are willing to obey counsel.

On Sunday the 2^nd of April I was at Brother Shillings and there came a police and told me that I should go with him to the Stathalter and I went with him. He took me in the police room and told me to take a seat. Then there came a police to me and told me in a rough way to stand up. He asked me several questions in an insulting way, whether that blind man could see now, and said that he could see the rage in my eyes. I said nothing, but thought probably my eyes were a looking glass to his, but he could not look me in the face much. He then told me to strip off. I took off my coat and vest and they searched me and took everything from me. But I had prepared myself for them and had emptied my pockets before they had taken me. They then told me to put my coat and vest on, and after they felt me all over they said that they would send me to America. The house was full of policemen. I told them that they did not know what they were doing, that I was an innocent man and was their friend and God knew it and the holy angels knew it. Several of the police seemed to be affected, and one said it was damn hard that a man hadn’t a right to his own faith, and that faith would remove mountains. A policeman by the name of Gart Meyer told me to follow him. He then led me to the Zurich jail and told the jailor to feed me on half rations. That was soup three times a day and a small slice of bread at noon. The bed was tolerable decent. At first the jailor and wife were very rough toward me, but the Lord softened their hearts toward me and they treated me with respect. There came a sister to me with some milk and cake; they treated her very roughly but they gave it to me. Her name is _______ Studer. Then in a day or two there came another Sister Bar to me with a bowl of milk and cake and apples and sausages. The jailor treated her more politely. He appeared very friendly. A Brother Bomele came and conversed with me and said that he had written to Brother Ceriste and wanted to know whether it was right. I told him that he should write to him and state to him that I would write to him as soon as I came out of jail. Brother Shilling and others were very active in doing everything to get me out of jail. Shilling went to the American Consul, Mr. Gunde, and he took a very active part in my favor and wrote to the Statholder to get the privilege to release me. But he refused him the privilege. He requested the privilege two times but got no answer, he then went personally to see the Statholder and got the privilege to visit me. He came with his council to the jail and introduced himself to me as the American Consul.

I told him that I was happy to see him and that I would have come to see him but I had understood that there was no American Consul in Zurich but a Mexican Consul. He said that he had written to Bern to the American Ambassador concerning my case and that he would see that I should remain in Zurich. He then asked me whether I suffered for anything that I should say it and he should see that I had it. I thanked him for his kindness and he said that he would see that I came out of jail as soon as possible.

There were several in jail that became much attached to me and desired to hear from me. I taught them the principles of our faith. They seemed much delighted with it and said that it was a blessing to them to see me and that they hoped that I would have the privilege to remain in Zurich and they would call to see me. I believe the Lord brought good out of it in suffering me to be cast in prison.

On Sunday the 9^th I was discharged from prison with instructions to appear before the magistrate on Monday at 9 o’clock. On Monday the 10^th at 9 o’clock I appeared before the consul in the consulate, Mr. Benz, and told him that I was Mayer. He told me politely to take a seat. He then told me that he had caused that I was delivered from prison. I thanked him. He said that I was at liberty till further examination, and he wanted me to promise him not to preach in Zurich and not to make proselytes for the Mormon faith. I told him that I would do as I had done and that was to give English lessons and answer such questions as the people asked me of our country and faith and religion and that I desired the right to attend meetings. He said that I should have that right but not to preach publicly to make proselytes. I then asked him if I had not the right to come to his house if he sent for me, and relate all concerning our country and faith and religion. He said that I had. He then told me that I was at liberty and they would investigate the matter further.

On Monday(?) the 11^th I went and got my things from the police and they charged me six francs and 50 centimes for cost and board while they had me in prison. I believe that while they had me in prison that they thought they would try an experiment on me. They put me in a room by myself and that night I was taken very sick. I had to get up six times on the pot, but I received no harm. God heard my prayers and it did not hurt me. The Saviour says if they drink deadly poison it shall not hurt them.

On the 12^th of April I went to Winigan and baptized in the Simmed(?), Henrich Benz, born Oct. 31, 1802; Anna Benz born May 28, 1836; Rudolf Ahrsam, born Oct. 14, 1834 (cut off); Jacob Fisher, born Oct. 18, 1834; Henrich Fisher, born August 18, 1804; Ferrena Fisher, born August 15, 1828; Elisabeth Haug, born January 1, 1834, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Presents given me from my friends and brethren and sisters: Susana Frei gave me one franc; Mrs. Matis gave me one franc; George Bammlli gave me 2 francs in prison; Henrich Haug gave me 5 francs and a pair of fine slippers, and the brothers and sisters paid the expenses of the writing I had to pay the lawyer 12 francs. Barbara Studard does all my washing and ironing and gave me a pair of nice woolen socks.

On the 22^nd of April 1854 I baptized in the Sel in stream in a bathhouse at Brother Bare’s in Zurich: Hans Ulrich Brenner, born March 26, 1806; Verena Brenenr, born March 10, 1804; Toratha(?) Mates(?), born June 15, 1801; Mary Magdalene Mayer, born April 6, 1808; Gregorious Apderhalden, born Sept. 1791; and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On the 27^th of April, 1854 I received a present from Sister Anna Wais of two francs. On the 28^th of April I went to Winigan and preached in the evening and on the evening of the 29^th I baptized Jacob Marton, born June 14, 1826; Rudolf Hug, born July 18, 1836; Anna Hug, born June 28, 1835; Regula Bentz, born July 1, 1839; Elisabeth Bentz, born April 12, 1804; Barbara Fischer, born Oct. 16, 1801, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On the 4^th of May 1854 Brother President Stenhouse came to see me and asked me to organize a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Zurich. He is in good health and spirits. On the 6^th of May, 1854, I baptized in the Sel in Zurich Susan Rufschmied, born March 9, 1800; Rudolf Pifsister, born Aug. 2, 1834; Barbara Lapsman, born Oct. 3, 1839, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On the 7^th of May, 1854, we met at the house of Brother Bare in Zurich. Brother President Stenhouse and Elder Ceriste were present and a brother from Canton Berne, a Dane, a priest, on a visit from Copenhagen, Don Marke(?). We proceeded to organize a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by acknowledging the authority of President Brigham Young and his councilors as our prophets, seers, and revelators of the whole church over the whole world, and the twelve apostles and all the authorities under their control, and Brother Lorenzo Snow as our president over the Swisse Mission and the Italian and __?__ __?__; and President T. B. H. Stenhouse president over the Swiss and Italian mission, and Elder Georger Mayer president over the church in Zurich and Winigan and the Canton Zurich, which was received by the unanimous role of the whole of the Saints present, which numbered 38. We then proceeded to appoint a deacon and teacher and priest and an elder, and we ordained Brother Heinrich Bar as Elder, and Henrich Grunder(?) priest and George Bummelli priest and Jules Ruch priest. We then proceeded to administer the Sacrament to the people. Elder Bar was appointed presiding elder over the branch in Zurich. The meeting was then addressed by President Stenhouse in French and I interpreted. Priest Grunder(?) and several others spoke and then the meeting was closed by President Stenhouse. The deacon and priest first proceeded to take a collection which was 37 francs and 60 ?, which we gave to Brother Stenhouse. We then dispersed to meet on Thursday next at Brother Bar’s, to hold a prayer meeting. Collections raised in Zurich and Winegan was 40 francs, 60 ?.

On the 8^th of March, 1854 we went to Winegan and there were present President Stenhouse and President George Mayer and Elder Ceriste, and the meeting opened by prayer by Elder Ceriste. Brother Mayer addressed the meeting on the necessity of order and nominated Brother Heinrich Huge, a priest, to teach and instruct the Saints there, and we ordained him a priest. He was received by a unanimous vote. We then proceeded to administer the sacrament to the Saints then priest Hug spoke, then the meeting was closed by President Stenhouse. I then took a collection to pay the expenses of President Stenhouse. The amount raised in Winegan, 27 francs, in Zurich and Winegan 40:60—67:60.

On the 9^th Brother Stenhouse returned to Geneva and gave me the presidency of the Zurich and Basel mission. Susana Scheble gave me a fine linen shirt. Susana Hufschmied gave me five francs. Mary Magdalene Mayer gave me five francs. Anna Carramer (?) gave me five francs. On the 9^th of May I and President Stenhouse and Ceriste blessed three children in Vieteken (?): Maria Magdelena Brener born June 28, 1851, Henerich Godfred Brener, born July the 17, 1853, children Hans Ulrich and Mera Brener; and Elisabeth Anna Schnceel (?) born july 17, 1849, daughter of Anna Wise.

Blessed, May the 12, 1854: I blessed three children for Brother Schlotter; Henrietta Schlotter, born June 29, 1850, and Heinrich Schlotter, born May 31, 1854, and Barbara Schlotter, born Nov. 12, 1851, children of Henrich and Henrietta Schlotter under the hands of President George Mayer.

On the 12^th of May I wrote a letter to my wife in Great Salt Lake City, 1854. On the 13^th of May, 1854, I baptised in the Sel, Zurich, Susanna Scheble, born Nov. 20, 1822, and I confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the hands of Elder G. Mayer and Henrich Bar.

On the 21^st, 1854, of May, I went to Winigen and preached and administered the Sacrament to the members, and on Monday evening held prayer meeting and on Tuesday I returned to Zurich. On Sunday the 21^st I went to Winigen and preached and administered the Sacrament and on Monday evening held a prayer meeting and gave the Saints instructions, and on Tuesday I returned to Zurich. On Saturday, 27^th I attended two baptisms and baptized in the Sel in Zurich in a bathhouse Jacob Gerhart, born Dec. 31, 1821; Caroline Gerhart, born August 15, 1832; Elisabeth Verz, born June 14, 1812; Catherin Vehrle, born March 10, 1832, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the hands of George Mayer and H. Bar.

On Sunday the 28^th of May, 1854 I preached at Brother Gerhart’s home and on Sunday evening I administered the Sacrament in Brother Bar’s house. The Saints were nearly all present. Brother Bar had visited Winegan Branch and preached there; four gave their names for baptism.

On Monday the 6^th of June 1854, I baptized in the Sel in Zurich Anna Gossamer, born June, 1808; Alice Bruer, born April 29, 1831; Alberdena Studer, born Oct. 29, 1845, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On Wednesday I preached in_______ and left some books. The people seemed much pleased. Sister Shulebarger and Sister Shebly went with me and had my fare on the steamboat. It was 12 miles. We returned the same day and I held prayer meeting in the evening at Brother Brener’s in Witegan. While in meeting the news came that an old maid was found dead in her room. Her name is Ulmer. She had given her name for baptism.

On the 7^th of June, 1854 Catherine Verly was afflicted with sore eyes and the doctor said there was no help for her eyes and that she would go blind. She heard of our church and came to hear me preach several times and desired baptism, and when she was confirmed I said that she should receive her sight and her eyes should become strong, and she is now restored to her sight and gave her testimony that she was healed through the power of God through the ministration of laying on of hands of Elder Mayer. Many rejoiced and gave their testimony that they have been healed of diseases that the doctors couldn’t help.

On Saturday the 11^th of June, 1854, I baptized in the Sel in Zurich, Henrich Mayer, born Aug. 28, 1802; Margreta Mayer, born June 22, 1806; John Mates, born Feb. 16, 1803; John Mates, born Dec. 13, 1832, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On the 12^th of June, 1854, I preached on Zurich Mountain at Brother Slatter’s on the first principles. My test was “when visions cease the people perish.” The people rejoiced in the truth. In the evening we held meeting at Brother Bar’s and held the Sacrament.

I baptized on the 17^th of June, 1854, in the Sel, Zurich, David Mayer, born March 15, 1815; Anna Barbara Mayer, April 17, 1824; Theophel Nefzger, Jan. 11, 1844; Kasper Bryner, August 1834; Elisabeth Ochsner, May 1821; Anna Schiess, Nov. 6, 1817, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On Friday the 23, held meeting in Winigen and cut off Elisabeth Hug from the Church for unChristian conduct, 23^rd of June 1854.

On Saturday the 1^st of July 1854 I paid G.D. Riser, president of the Hamburg or German mission 36 Prussian dollars, 136 francs and 80 (?) at 3-80 a Prussian dollar. On the 1^st of July I baptized in the Sel in Zurich Joseph Lutsche, born march 4, 1815; Merea Lutsche, born Nov. 19, 1810; Elisabeth Keller, born May 2, 1838; Merea Josepha, born March 18, 1835, and confirmed them members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On Sunday the 2^nd of July I preached in Wideken at Brother Bryner’s to a full house of 40 or more. I bore a strong testimony of the truth of the Gospel and that Joseph Smith was a prophet sent from God and that Brigham Young is his successor and is a prophet, seer, and revelator, and that I was sent of God to preach the Gospel. On the 4^th of July, 1854, I visited a family by the name of Jaharte and his mother-in-law by the name of Elisabeth Verz, who had had a felon on the inside of her hand for fifteen years and her doctor had tried everything that she had heard about. I told her that if she had faith that her hand would be healed, that God worked according to the faith of his children. She said that she had faith. I anointed her hand, laid my hands on her head and prayed for her, and her hand was restored as the other, perfectly whole, and she rejoiced greatly and to the astonishment of those who knew her, G. Mayer.

On Saturday the 8^th of July, 1854, I baptized in the Sel in Zurich five persons and confirmed them members of the Church. On Sunday the 9^th I preached in Wenigen and administered the Sacrament and found the Saints all right. On Wednesday the 13^th I preached in Weideken and there came many to hear me and there came a Baptist and tried to make a disturbance. But the people would not suffer him and he went off mad and threatened many things. On Thursday evening I held prayer meeting at Brother Bar’s in Zurich and after the brethren and sisters had all spoken and given their testimonies that desired I addressed them a short time. Then they sang a hymn, I then spoke in tongues and Sister Carlin (Caroline?) Apderhalden gave the interpretation and said that I had quoted several passages of Scripture in “Solomon’s Wisdom,” the 18^th Chapter and the 14^th of the Revelations of St. John, which I advise everybody to read and see what is to come to pass in our days.

On the 20^th of July, 1854, Brother Elder C. R. Seveg (Savage?) came on a visit to Zurich. On the 21^st of July 1854, I sent President T. B. H. Stenhouse 25 francs to assist him in his mission in Italy. On July 23, 1854 there appeared Brother Gemender and George Bummlee and Carlena (Caroline?) Apdhalden and Elisabeth Ochner to answer to disturbances and talking among them against Brother Gemender. They acknowledged their faults and said they knew of no evil of Brother Gemender since he was baptized, and said they were sorry and asked forgiveness. I chastened them for breaking their covenants and for trying to injure Brother Gemender for things that he had done that was wrong before he came in the Church, and that were previously settled and Brother Gemender forgave them and all things were settled between them up to that day.

On Sunday 23^rd, 1854, I preached in Weideken to a full house. There were several strangers there. The people appeared much pleased at what was said. On Monday we went to Brother Mathe’s and took dinner and at 2 o’clock we went to visit a friend by the name of Mr. Mayer, at the “Sign of the Lion,” and they seemed much pleased and gave me leave to preach in their house on the 6^th of August, 1854.

On the 25^th I and Brother Savage went to Winigen to see the Saints and I desired Brother Hug to give Brother Savage something to mend his shoes and he gave him 5 francs, and on Thursday the 26^th we came to Zurich. On the 27^th Brother Savage left Zurich for Lausanne. I gave him 20 francs which I collected for him to bare his expenses to lausanne. On the 4^th of August I sent him fifteen francs for the poor brethren, making all in all 40 francs. On Friday evening I went to Weideken to meet a sort of sectarian preacher. Call them ? ? . His name is______Bruml. He had been to see Brother Brener’s family to try to turn them from the faith and found he could not. They told him to come and see me, and if he could show them before them that I taught everything that is false they will drop it. They told me that he had left a challenge to me to meet him there and he would prove me a false teacher. I went then on the appointed time and he came in the house with one of his friends. He shook hands with those in the house. I rose and offered him my hand but he refused and said he would not give me his hand. I asked him why he was angry with me and why he came. He said to show the people that I was a false heathen. I thanked him and told him that I was honest and if he showed me anything in my belief that was false by the Scriptures, the Old and New Testament, I would give it up and I required him to do so. But he said he would not deny his belief. I told him if his faith was grounded in the principles of truth he need not fear, but I would show him that the shoes would fit him of being a false teacher and he will have to wear them. He asked me several questions concerning our belief, which I answered him and he could not deny but tried hard, but every scripture he brought up condemned him and strengthened my testimony. He found that he had the wrong person to deal with. I then told him it was now my turn, giving questions, whether he was a preacher and how he was called and whether he was baptized and who him first. He denied the need of baptism for remission of sins. I told him to show me that a person could get his sins forgiven without baptism. He said they could. I handed him the Bible, but he would not take it, but said I was a false teacher and God would judge between us. I reached him my hand and told him, “Yes, God shall judge,” but he refused to take my hand and said he was done with me, and got up and started off. I told him to stop, that I was not done with him, that I would give him my testimony. But he would not stop. But I gave them my testimony by walking after them till they were out of doors and that it should stand against them in the day of judgment, if they did not repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins by those that God had sent.

On Sunday the 12^th of August, 1854 I held meeting and preached to a large congregation in a large room owned by a Mr. Mayer. They were nearly all Saints. The people were much pleased. I preached the restoration of the Gospel by an angel.

Wetaken, August 13, 1854: On Monday evening there were two rough men with several others laid a plan to commit violence on me because I had baptized their uncle’s family. Two followed me but feared to make the attack on my person, when they came in my presence. I pray God to curse them with a severe and grevious cursing in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

On Saturday evening I baptized two persons in the Sel in Zurich and on Sunday I preached in Winigen at Jacob Hug’s and in the night I baptized old man Hug and a young man and confirmed them members of the Church. August 20, 1854. On the 2^nd of September 1854 Brother P. Daniel Tylor (Taylor?) came to visit the Saints in Zurich. On the 2^nd of September I was under the necessity of cutting Henerich Gemenden, a priest, from the Church, for lying and deceiving and nursing a stubborn spirit. On Sunday the 3^rd of September I preached at the upper street in Mr. Mayer’s large room. There were better than a hundred present, and in the evening we held meeting at Elder Bare’s and took the sacrament. President Taylor spoke in English and I interpreted in German. There were better than 60 Saints present, and a good spirit prevailed.

On Thursday evening I held prayer meeting at Elder Bar’s and we had a good meeting, and on Saturday evening we met at Elder Bar’s where there were seven baptized by Elder Bar under my direction, which made it a hundred in the city of Zurich, from December 7, 1853 till September 9, 1854 in the short time of nine months by my labors here and the blessings of God. On the 10^th of September 1854, we, Brother Taylor and myself, went to Weiningen and organized a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We ordained President Heinrich Hug to the office of an Elder and made him president over the branch which we named the Weinigen Branch, and ordained Jacob Marten to the office of a priest and ordained John Hug to the office of teacher and ordained Heinrich Benz to the office of a deacon and President Daniel Taylor gave them the necessary instructions in English and I interpreted in German to the Saints. Elder Hug preached to the Saints on charity, and I gave my testimony and many of the Saints spoke and gave their testimonies. On Monday we came to Zurich.

On the 15^th of September President Daniel Taylor left Zurich for Geneva. We gave him 50 francs--90 for his expenses. He gave me directions to ordain Brother G. Abterhalter as priest and father Brener a teacher and his son a teacher, with directions for me to open the conference in Geneva on the 1^st of October.

On the 16^th of September 1854 the priesthood met at Elder Bar’s and Brother Abderhalter came from St. Gallen to Zurich and I ordained him to the office of a priest, and appointed him to labor in St. Gallen and Canton for the present.

On the 24^th of September I preached at Mr. Mayer’s at the upper street. There was a full house. I preached on the Book of Mormon and the people were much pleased. On the 28^th of September, 1854, I prepared to attend conference in Geneva, and Heinrich Hug gave me one hundred francs for to help the mission and in the evening I baptized Sister Susanna Abegg.

On the 30^th of September 1854 at 12 o’clock in the night I arrived in Geneva at Brother Stenhouse’s and found them well. Brother Taylor and Brother Ceriste, Lavig Katon (?) and Frances Budge. I lodged with Brother Dellavice and boarded while I was in Geneva. He and wife appeared to be good saints. I remained in Geneva four days. During the time we had a first-rate time in conference. I represented the Zurich Conference containing the Zurich and Weinegan branches, and also Basel, where there are four members, also Canton St. Gallen where Prist G. Abderhalden labors--all consisting of 102 members which I baptized since December 4, 1853. Elder Budge and Priest Collen were appointed to labor under me in the Zurich Conference, by the conference president, Daniel Taylor.

On the 7^th of October I returned to Zurich by steamboat to Lausanne then to Baren by bus, then to Baden, thence to Zurich, being gone 7 days. I left Elder Budge in Weinegan to learn the German language, at Brother Hug’s. On Sunday the 8^th I preached at Brother Bryne’s (Bryner’s?) in Weiteken to a full house. On the 10^th of October Priest Albert Coller came to Zurich to labor under my direction. On Thursday evening I held prayer meeting in Weiteken at Brother Bryner’s, and there was much of the spirit prevailed. Took a vote that we received Brother D. Taylor as our president of the Swisse and Italian mission and to assist President Stenhouse with means to remove to the valley of the mountains with his family as a token of respect to him and family.

On the 13^th of October I sent President Taylor 93 fr. -65, it being part of the 300 francs I borrowed from Brother Mathes for President Taylor, and on the 7^th of October I paid Mr. Zizzling in Zurich fr. 106-35 ct. for books he printed, “The Kingdom of God.”

On the 5^th of October, 1854 I rented a small room from Mr. Grub in Street Krotz, No. 715, for 28 guldens a year to live in when I pleased and rent to shop. On the 12^th of Oct., 1854 Priest Alfred Collier came to Zurich and left on the 20^th for St. Gallen to labor. On Sunday the 15^th of October, 1854, I preached at Mr. Meyer’s large hall at the “Sign of the Golden Lion.” There was a full house and good attention. Priest Bunnily spoke a few minutes till the congregation had all come in, then I spoke to the congregation on the Kingdom of God to be built up in the last days and gave my testimony of the truth of the Gospel. Then Priest Collier spoke on the first principles of the Gospel, then Elder Hug spoke a short time, then Elder Bare closed the meeting. Then 3 young ladies gave me their names for baptism on Wednesday evening.

October 22, 1854. On Wednesday evening I baptized Barbara Meyer and her sister Carlena Meyer and Susanna Landuett (?) and John Grentert (?) and on Sunday evening Brother Bar baptized three and on Sunday I preached at Weinegen to a full house. In the night I baptized Margrete Eliken in the Sel. Then came a piece in the paper called “The Frie Sterne,” (?). It is considered the blackguard paper and it spoke many lies of the blackest kind which came from Geminder, an apostate Mormon priest cut off for stealing, lying, with other mean things. And by raising excitement against me and the Mormons the chief of Police asked two sisters to appear before him and he asked them what kind of man I was and what kind of doctrine I had brought to them. They told him that I was a righteous man and taught a right doctrine, the same that Jesus Christ and his apostles taught. He asked them much concerning the baptism and whether they were baptized. They told him much concerning the doctrine and that it was doing the people good and saved them. He said that they intended to have me before them. They got the “Voice of Warning,” and “The Kingdom of God,” and said that they intended to read it.

October 25, 1854. I tried since to find where the lies came from. There was a sister Gohort and her mother who pretended to know something was certain, but when I came to searching it was all hearsay, and nobody knew anything but the sayings of others. It was a lie got up by Geminder and other apostates that I had cut off from the Church for lying and deceiving the honest.

On Saturday the 3^rd of October, 1854, I visited an old apostate Catholic monk that had taken it in hand to write against the Mormons and had published a large piece in “The Frie Sterne,” against me and the Mormons in Zurich, of the most base lies that could be published. I asked him why he had done so. He said that he would put down such corrupt doctrine. I told him that he should inform himself first correctly and not publish such base lies, that there was not a letter nor word of truth in it. He puffed and snorted, and I thought if I had stayed there much longer he certainly would have burst with passion. There happened to be a gentleman present that seemed much pleased to hear me corner the old monk so that he could not help himself only by saying, “O, you don’t understand Scripture.” He had threatened to attend my meetings and show the people that I was a false teacher. I told him to come and I would expose his lying to the people. I told him that the people had heard enough of his lies and if he wanted to put down Mormonism he must do it with truth and not try to deceive the people with black lies and that he was not only lying against me but he was fighting against God, and that he should feel the judgment of God from that time, and I said it in the name of Jesus Christ and it shall come to pass on him and his foul and lying tongue shall be stopped. And he shall feel the smart for his willful lies he had made and published against me and God’s people. He said that he had read all our books and found them a crass and ignorant and lying bundle of nonsense, but he is willful, ignorant, and devilish. His name is Frans Aman.

On the 18^th of November, 1854 I preached in Weinegen and found that it was necessary to explain the doctrine of plurality as several were in darkness concerning the doctrine. I called Priest Alfred Collier to appear before me with Elder Budge to answer to charges against him or he should be dealt with accordingly. Nov. 22, 1854.

On Saturday the 25^th of November, 1854, I visited a family 3 miles up the lake and stayed all night and taught them the principles of the Gospel, and on Sunday I returned to Zurich to preach at the Golden Lion, where there was a large congregation assembled. Brother Budge was there and told me that he was driven from Weinegen Saturday night by a mob and that he made a narrow escape by getting his coat torn and his vest and hair badly pulled. He stated that Elder Henry Hug had gone to baptize a Mister Benz and hadn’t returned and that he was gone 3 hours, and the mob came and began to surround the house and then forced themselves in the house and caught him, but, by the help of the Lord and the brothers and sisters they jumped out of the window and came into Zurich at 2 o’clock in the morning and waked Elder Bar up and he went to Weinegan to learn of the particulars. When Elder Bar returned the next evening he stated that one of our brethren, a priest by the name of Jacob Marton had turned Judas and Betrayed Elder Hug as he was going to baptize Mr. Benz in the River Linet about a mile off and told them where to hide themselves and when Brother Hug was in the water and had said the ceremony as usual in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, the Chief Police of Weinegan came out of his hiding place and bawled out as loud as he could bawl in the name of the devil and made Elder Hug and Mr. Benz go with them before their judges to answer for the crime of attempting to baptize Mr. Benz, and the Chief of Police struck Elder Hug on the mouth with his hand and struck him on his hands with his cane, and Priest Marton went with the crowd and took part with them and hasn’t showed himself since to the Saints.

They sentenced them to jail and they took Elder Hug and Mr. Benz to Zurich jail the same night. But the Statholden, Mr. Perry (?), let them out in the morning. The preacher of Weinegan was the chief cause of the uproar. He had preached on the Sunday before and said all against the Mormons to prejudice the minds of the ignorant members and showed that he can’t put Mormonism down with the principles of truth, that he will try to force matters with his lies, knowing that his craft is in danger. The chief object was to catch Elder Mayer and Elder Budge and baptize them in a hole of dung water. John Hug had the good luck not to get in, but being a strong man he put some of the mob in the hole and made them snuff dung water to their own sorrow and shame. The people that lived in the house took part with the mob and made Brother Hug’s family leave the house the next day. My prayer to God is, in the name of Jesus Christ, to bring the mob to judgment speedily and smite the man that struck Elder Hug on the mouth with a grevious and sore scourge, with his son that took part in the affair, is my paryer. Amen, and Amen, and Amen.

On the 30^th of November I received a summons to appear before the Stadholder and he asked me whether I knew one Budge and where he was. I told him he had gone to St. Gallen to see friends. He then asked me whether I had been at Weinegen last Sunday. I told him I had not but I had been there the Sunday before. He then asked me what I had taught the people there. I had taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is in the Scriptures. He asked me then whether I hadn’t taught the doctrine of many wives. I told him that I was often asked whether Mormons didn’t believe in having many wives, and I generally told them that we believed the Scriptures and the Scriptures in Isaiah says in the 4^th Chapter that seven women shall desire to be the wife of one man, that it shall be in the last days and that men shall be very scarce after the judgment of the scourges passes through the world and the men shall fall under the sword, and what is left of Zion and Jerusalem shall be called holy, and the fruits of the earth shall be fine and good.

He then asked me whether I hadn’t promised persons to take them free of cost to America if they gave me money. I told him I had not promised them such things, but I had told them that all that kept the commandments of the Lord that they would be gathered in time, but probably not in twenty years, and that we had gathered several hundred out of England and that we intended gathering the poor Saints everywhere till we have them all gathered. He then asked whether I hadn’t promised a blind man to restore him his sight if he gave me money. I told him I had not, but I had told him that I had referred him to St. James where it says if any are sick among you send for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over them.

He then asked what the faith of the Mormons was. I told him I had it in print and he might read it. He called a man into the room that could speak English and he translated it in German but not all, only that which suited them. But then he told me I might go and bring Budge the next morning at 9 o’clock. Elder Budge came home from St. Gallen that evening and the Statholden, a Free Mason and the man that spoke English. I had called on one of the gentlemen when I first came to Zurich, but knew nothing of Masons, and I asked him whether he knew me. He said he had seen me. I then told him I had seen him at the Masonic Hall and that I had been in many a lodge. He asked why I had not made it known, because they were Germans. Then he said they have English Masons here and appeared very friendly. I went the next morning with Budge, and the Statholder told me that I might go and that he would send for me when he needed me and appeared very friendly. He counciled Budge to remain in Zurich and not to go to Weinegan, that he would not be safe there, because the people there were determined that he should not remain there.

On the 11^th of December I was summoned to appear before the Statholder, Mr. Fesie (?), and he said to me that my time is out on the 17^th of December and he can’t suffer me to remain in Canton Zurich any longer. I asked him to give it to me in writing and he said he would send it to my room. I left and went to Mr. Gunder (?) the American Consul, and he wrote a letter to the American Ambassador in Bern. I await an answer. I this morning wrote the Statholder a lengthy letter stating that I am a Brother Freemason and asking him in the name of the Great I Am to suffer me to remain in Zurich six months longer, then I should return to America. And I cautioned him to be careful not to drive the innocent out, for the judgments were at their door, and that peace was taken from the earth, and those that fight against the servants of God would be like the snow in summer, and their glory would pass away and not be known.

On an affair that took place on Saturday the 25^th of November in Weinegan: One Jacob Marton, a Priest in the Church of our Christ, but had come in the Church with the intention of getting to America. But when he found that we would not let him go to America this seasons, and others had as near as I can find out promised him money to go to America if he would betray the Mormons, and he had betrayed Brother Hug and the brethren when they were going to baptize a Mr. Benz. And Marton had a gang with the Chief of Police of Weinegan and he kneeled down with the brothers and pretended to pray with them. He told all he knew and many lies against the brethren. God’s judgment is sure to come upon hypocrites.

On Monday the 11^th this Jacob Marton was overtaken with the judgment of God. He was digging some trees out and one fell on his head and broke his scull and he died in about three hours. The Saints are all satisfied that it was the judgment of God come on him for turning traitor and betraying the innocent, and not only the Saints but others confess it is the judgment of God come on him.

I received an answer from the American Ambassador at Bern. He stated that he had two or three Mormon cases and stated the authority of a Canton had the right to put any person out of their city or Cantons if they did not want them there. And if any person did or taught anything that interfered with the religion of these cities or places or Cantons. But that if I desired it he would write to Washington concerning the matter, or if I would present my case in writing to him he would leave it before the Brudesrad (?) of Bern. I told the American Consul I would leave the matter to my President, D. Taylor.

On the 18^th I went to the Statholder and asked him for my passport. He asked me if I hadn’t received notice that I could remain till Friday. I said that I had not received any notice, but when I returned I received the written notice that I must not remain in Canton Zurich after the 24^th, 1854. The notice cost me 75 centimes.

Dec. 13, 1854. I sent a telegraph dispatch to President D. Taylor to have him come to Zurich immediately if he possible could come conveniently. On the 14^th of December I wrote to Canton St. Gallen to Priest Alfred Collier to come in Zurich to answer to 3 charges against him before the priesthood meeting at Elder Bar’s on Saturday the 16^th of December. I also had sent Elder H. Hug to see him and inquire into the affairs there, and he brought bad reports of Priest G. Ablerhalden, and that he had not treated Collier as he should and Collier worked against Abderhalden, and none of them could do much good. Collier came to answer to the charges and appeared very stubborn. But I had the evidence in his own handwriting, and when he found that he would have to acknowledge and humble himself and ask forgiveness before the brethren or be cut off from the Church he began to be more mild and acknowledge wrongs and we forgave him. I counselled him to remain in Zurich till President Taylor came and gave him counsel.

A circumstance too place on Sunday night the 17^th of December 1854. As I was baptizing three persons in a bathhouse at Elder Bar’s, while I was baptizing the last, an old man by the name of Henerich Ellker was drawing on his pants and the planks had been taken off the side of the bathhouse and a cloth hung up to close the place, he fell backwards into the water, about seven feet into the water. And the water was something like 3 feet deep and very swift current. And while I was baptizing this Catherin Werly I heard the splash and saw him floating down with the current. I left the young woman standing and jumped 5 or 6 feet into the other channel and ran after him with all the speed I could. Before I could get hold of him the current had taken him 50 or 60 yards and he was nearly drowned. I got him back by the help of Elder Bar who came to my assistance, and we got him back in the bathhouse without anybody seeing or hearing us. And then I baptized the young lady and returned to the house. I had cut my feet running over the sharp stones. After we changed our clothing we confirmed them. And the old man the next morning was able to go four miles from home rejoicing in the God of Israel with his whole family. They are eight of them baptized and are good Saints and full of good works.

We took the lessons from Alfred Collier and gave him 50 francs, and sent him on his way to England. He left on the 22^nd of December. Brother Savage and Budge remained in Zurich for a few days. I left on the 22^nd of December, 1854 for Winefeld in Canton Thurgan, and it rained on me the whole way. I came to Bommelly’s and found them all well and full of good works and faith. On the 24^th I baptized Daniel Bommelly’s father and mother and 3 sisters and Adon Kellen and ordained Daniel Bommelly to the office of Priest and gave him charge over the Saints there, nine in number. I remained there two weeks then left for Canton St. Gallen, to OberDakenburg (?) to George Loosere, and I settled the difficulty between Abderhalden and Loosere and Margeto, and administered the Sacrament to them. And then on Monday night I preached to his father, and on Tuesday I went to a man’s house up on the mountain and stayed over night and preached to the family, and they heard me gladly and invited me to come again to see them.

I then went with G. Abderhalden to Brother Loosere’s and stayed over night, and in the morning Brother Abderhalden left and gave me 5 francs. I remained till Friday. On Thursday I baptized a Mr. Looser and his son and confirmed them. On Friday I left for Rapersville (?) and walked 27 miles and stayed in Rapersville at the tavern over night and at 5 in the morning I left by steamboat for Milan and then walked 5 miles to Kusnaucht (?) to see Brother Ellkers, and I found them all well. And Brother Budge was there. They were all glad to see me. I had to keep myself in the house, and when strangers came in the house I would hide till the strangers were gone. I then visited a family 9 miles on the other side of the lake in company of a lady by the name of Barbara Nessley. We remained overnight. I preached to them till 3 in the morning and they heard me gladly. They are baptized. And one of them was a preacher. We then, at 3 o’clock, started for Zurich afoot and arrived at Zurich at Brother Bar’s at 8 o’clock. I had blistered my feet badly.

On the 16^th of December I kept myself at Brother Bar’s concealed in a room upstairs and several brothers and sisters came to see me. Brother Budge left for Schaffhausen. Preacher Debruner came to see me and seemed much pleased to see me. I prophesied to him that it was the hand of the Lord that had led him to send for me to hear the eternal truth, and that the Lord desired him to gather the sheep from the goats out of the Baptist Church, that he would have to do a good and great work for there are many honest hearts in the Baptist Church, and they were lacking for the things to come that now are here. I told him that I desired to baptize him and confirm him a member in the Church and to ordain him an Elder to preach the Gospel.

On Saturday evening Sister Bar came upstairs and said that Brother Bryner was downstairs and wished to see me. I went down and conversed with him a short time when suddenly a policeman came in and asked for Mr. G. Mayer to go before the Statholden. I told him that I wanted to eat my supper first. He gave me leave and after supper I left for the mayor’s office. Brother Bryner accompanied me. When I came before the mayor, Mr. Fercy (?), he seemed soured and said, “Mr. Mayer, how is it that you are in Zurich?” He had given me orders not to come in this canton any more. I told him that I had been in Thurgan (?) and was on my way to Bersfelden by Basel. I also gave him the sign of a Mason. He told the police to see that I left Canton in the morning. The police took me to jail and asked me many questions, whether I had a wife and children. I told them I had a wife and eight children, Dec. 17, 1854, and that I had left them to preach the Gospel of Christ. I then showed them the portrait of my wife and two youngest children. They seemed struck with wonder, then asked me how my family got their living. I told them that they worked for their living. When the old jailor saw me he said, “Oh, my God, here You have brought that man again.” He gave me a good bed and in the morning the police came and took me to the police quarters. I then was taken to the railroad station and put on the car for Baden. Elder Hug accompanied me to Baden. I told the police that I felt sorry for Zurich. He asked why. I said that the judgment of God would rest on it from this time, for you have rejected the innocent and have let the guilty go free. Your preachers are the cause, and they are rotten and black-hearted as the Devil can make them. I said you were a blessed people but your blessing will turn into a cursing and all Switzerland, for they have rejected the Mormons and sanctioned the proceedings of the Mayor of Zurich, and I say in the name of Jesus Christ that your country shall be cursed from this time, and Switzerland shall become a slaten (?) field, and it shall surely come to pass.

Brother Elder Hug accompanied me to Baden, then I took another road back to Weinegan 3 miles from Zurich. There I received a letter from Brother Taylor stating that I should accompany the Saints to Liverpool but not to think of going to America at present, but that it would be made known when I came to England. I therefore remained concealed at Brother Hug’s house until the Saints started for Liverpool. Ragala Hug had to leave secretly. Her husband was not willing that she should leave the country without paying him 200 francs. I told her not to pay a cent. Her husband was a bad man and hadn’t lived with her better than a year. Henry Hug wanted me to start with Regala to Liverpool before the rest left, but I would not consent to go, as President Taylor wrote to me to see the company to Liverpool. Henry got very angry and threw out some threats. I told them that they did me wrong and that I did right to abide by the counsel of the President and not them. I reasoned the matter with them and the next morning they asked my pardon. I told them that I could forgive them and wouldn’t say anything about it if nobody said anything to me.

A preacher Debuner came to see me and brought me a pair of fine shoes. He would not tell me what they cost but he said he would tell the brethren. I have faith that he will join the church sooner or later. On the 25^th of January, 1855, I left Winegen to meet the brethren 4 miles on the road for Liverpool. They came about 7 in the evening in two carriages. There were 15 persons in the Hug family consisting of the following persons: Regala Hug and her daughter, Regala Hug, and 4 sons, Jacob Hug, John Hug, David Hug, Rudolf Hug, and Rasper Bryner, his sister Barbara Bryner, and John Matis, and Jacob Hindeman, and Anna Benz and Anna Hug, and Carolena Abdholder, and Catherin Wehrly and Verena Fisher. We came that night to Bremerhorn and left the next morning at 5 for Friedrichshofen. We went on a steamboat on the Buten lake. We came in 3 hours to Friedrichshofen at 4 the same evening took rail cars for Beverdoc and arrived at 9 in the evening. The next day I had to return and open the baggage and chests at the customs house at Friedrichshofen, for they would not let them pass till they had seen them open. The agent told Hug in Zurich that the chests would go safely to Liverpool and that I need not see to them till I came to Liverpool, but I kept a good watch on the baggage and chests and saw them all safe in Salt Lake City.

The River Rhine was frozen and the steamboats could not run, and we found John and Regala Hug in Beverdock. The chief agent that was to send the Saints to Liverpool his name is Counsilny (Consul) Rineard. (?) He came to visit us and said that the river is frozen and that it would be better for us to remain in Beverdock because our board would be much cheaper than in Mannheim on the Rhine. We remained there till the 15^th of February then came to Mannheim by railcar and came to Stuttgart. The King Paul (?) is there. The king is 70 years old and his son is married to the daughter of the Emperor of Russia. I there bought three kinds of seeds, red and white, and certain seeds according to a dream I had the night before. We then took the cars for Brucksal (?) and arrived there at nine in the evening and left at nine in the morning for Mannheim, and arrived at eleven. Mr. Longe came to the station and took us to his house and I wrote a letter to President Taylor on the 18^th. Mr. Long kept us 2 days on Consul (?) Rineard’s account, but the Rhine being still frozen fast we remained in Mannheim till the 5^th of March, 1855. I paid Mr. Long 28 francs for myself, which came to all for the 16 persons, 4-48 francs, and took his receipt for the same. I sold in Mannheim my many Mormon books privately. Mr. Long bought the Book of Mormon, Voice of Warning, Kingdom of God, Zion’s Pioneers, showing the only way to be saved, and taught the people privately, as it was against the law of that country to sell books or give away under the penalty of being fined 30 dollars for any offense and imprisoned. Mr. W. Long told me that he believed the doctrine and would write to me and when religious liberty was granted in that country to come and preach to them. He said that there was a man 80 years ago that said the pure gospel would be brought to that country by a man from America, and he believed that this is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. But Mr. Long is rich and keeps tavern, and is bound down with the cares of this life, and I fear he will leave or forget it.

On the 12^th of March, 1855, we arrived all safe in Rotterdam and put up at the Red Lion, where we were treated with the greatest respect. I saw that our chests were all unloaded and put on the steamer for Hull, England, the steamer Arwell, Th. Sodel Master. We had a first-rate trip to Hull and arrived on the 16^th and went to tavern and had something to eat and then went to the agent and got tickets for Liverpool and went on the cars and arrived at Liverpool at six and called on President F. Richards and he sent us to the tavern, The Emigrant’s Home, and we being very sleepy, not having slept any for several nights. On the 18^th went to meeting and the brothers and sisters were much pleased to see the English Saints and hear them sing. They called on me to speak. I have them a short history of my mission. The people and Brother Richards were much pleased. I had considerable trouble with Catherine Wehrly concerning 198 (francs)? that she was to get from the Swiss Consul in Liverpool. He refused paying till he got a letter from Zurich from Mr. Widemon, the agent that emigrated her from Zurich, and I had to make arrangements with F. Richards to have her go after much running back and forth to see the Swiss Consul. Then they reduced her money for the expenses. They had to pay for her board while she was in Mannheim. Wideman of Zurich acted very mean with the emigrants that he agreed to take to Liverpool free of cost by paying 100 francs, but when the Rhine froze he made them pay their own expenses and we couldn’t stay to go to law with him. But I sent all the papers back to Zurich to Henry Hug who had made the bargain with him, Wideman. And he may get the money back if he can.

On the 12^th I got the money from the Swiss Saints and put it in President Richard’s hands for safe keeping and to get it changed into sovereigns. There money was French gold pieces, 20-franc pieces. They let me have 32-80 francs. The Hug family paid the passage for Carlena Abdholder and Verena Fisher and Anna Benz. The Hug family and Bryners and Mathe’s paid the 15 pounds for my passage. I received 16 tickets to go to the Great Salt Lake City and on the 31^st of March, 1855, we left the dock and went out in the river, and on the 1^st of April, 1855, we set sail for Philadelphia. We had a contrary wind and there was considerable sea sickness. President Richards appointed W. Glover President of the ship, and he appointed twelve counsellors and divided the ship into twelve wards: 1) T. Guyman; 2) William Pitt; 3) G. Smith; 4) B. Brown; 5) David Cavenn; 6) John Mayer; 7) S. H. Everly; 8) James J. Bell; 9) Charles Harper; 10) George Mayer, President of Company; 11) William Glover; 12) Clark P. Lynch.

On the 6^th of April we held a conference aboard the ship Jeventa, consisting of 5-70 Saints, which all landed safe in Philadelphia. The five days I had the sea sickness but soon got better and had a good appetite, but soon was taken with a severe attack of erysipelas. On the 25^th I received favorable health with such treatment as I could receive on the ship, for I had nothing, only the ship allowance. President Richards said that if the Saints did right and obeyed counsel that not one would die on the ship. There wasn’t one died on the ship, but three born. Several fell down the hatch hole from the upper deck to the lower floor but we laid hands on them and they got well.

We had one night a great storm that tore several large sails all to pieces before they could fix them. We saw several whales and many smaller fish, blackfish and porpoises. We arrived in Philadelphia on the 4^th of May 1855, a passage of 35 days without a death on the ship.

Brother John S. Fullmer received us there and we got our baggage on the rail cars for Pittsburgh, and when we came in the city of Deleven (?) the freight cars ran against the passenger cars and smashed three cars so that they had to leave them in Deleven, and one of the freight cars. But the hand of the Lord was with us, for there was not a Saint hurt. But one of the hands got his legs considerably mashed. The car that I was in had to be left. I never felt such a jar before. The floor smashed up and wrecked the seats up. There was a great bewailing among the women, but we all landed safe in Pittsburgh, and all the passengers of the P. E. Fund Company (Perpetual Emigration Fund) went on the Equinox Steamboat, and J. Fulman accompanied us to St. Louis. We landed in St. Louis on May 13, 1855. Brother F. Richards had given me $17 in Liverpool to make me comfortable on my journey home, and I bought 33 ½ yards of calico and 34 of sheeting and my wife a dress pattern, which cost me $10.80.

On Sunday the 21^st I went to meeting and Brother Erastus Snow called me to the stand and I gave them a short history of my mission. Brother Snow gave his testimony that I had done my duty and my testimony will bring judgment against that nation and condemn them, and it was necessary that they heard that testimony that they might reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that they might be condemned and destroyed. Brother Snow gave an appointment for a German meeting at candlelight in the lower story of the meetinghouse, and asked me to open it. We had a good time of it. Elder G. Riser and Ceriste and Elder Nelson were there. There were several Saints from Hamburg that Brother Carn had cut off, but they attended meeting. The Swiss Saints were much pleased. The meeting went off in good order. We hired the steamboat Equinox to carry us to Atchison for $500, and on the 20^th we arrived at Atchison. There were four deaths of the cholera. I had the dysentery the whole way.

After we landed and got our wagons put together we moved five miles out to Mormon Grove and arranged our tents. The cholera came in the camp and 22 died in a few days. Brother and Sister Bell were taken. I tended them. He was first taken while I was rubbing his hands and legs. She fainted and fell into my arms. She died in a few days. I was taken the next day and in two hours I was speechless and I had given up hope of ever getting well, for they were dying on all sides, and Brother Bell dies. I sent for Brother Pitt and told him to see to my things and where he would find my clothing. The brethren Glaser (?) and Pitt did what they could for me, and I began to mend. Brother Balentine came to me to lead the third company. I told him I was willing to do all I could to build up the Kingdom of God and I would try, believing that the Lord would make me able to do it.

I got my wagons ready and tent and oxen. They gave me ten wagons, one yoke of oxen to each wagon, two wild yoke of young steers and cows to each wagon. They were the wildest cattle that I ever saw. We had to break them by dragging logs around the camp. On the 24^th we moved the camp out a short distance to fresh feed and to try our teams and teamsters, for the teamsters were as wild and ignorant of oxen and how to yoke cattle as the oxen were, and I found I had my hands full.

There came several brethren from Salt Lake City, sent on missions to England, John Scott, J. Kay; John Smith, and several others. They made our hearts feel glad to see them and to hear from the Valley. Brothers McGraw and M. Anders gave them a feast with the returning missionaries and we had a good time. On the 2^nd of July 1855 we left for Salt Lake City. We had heavy loads, 700 or flour and 200 of corn meal and 1,100 of baggage besides spokes, axel trees, tugs, cooking utensils, and eleven persons to each wagon.

And we had our hands full to get along with the heavy loads and the awkward teamsters and the wild and weak teams. I will give you the names of my ten:

			Second Ten		Third Ten		Fourth Ten
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.	George Mayer, Captain Marton Fletcher Mary Fletcher Samuel Kook Kasper Bryner Barbara Bryner John Motes John Picket Elisabeth Wight Dick Wight	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	John Hug Jacob Hug David Hug Rudolf Hug Regala Hug, mother Regala Hug, daughter Verena Fisher Anna Benz Carlena Abderhalder Catherine Werly Anna Hug	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.	James T. Worlton Elisabeth Worlton Emma Worlton John Martha Flora Emily Mary Greene Mikel Sanders Jacob Henderman	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	Samuel Marton John Marton Elenor Marton Fanny Marton Isabella Marton Marton Sara Wickel Laura Wickel Charles Torde Joseph Race William West
	Fifth Ten		Sixth Ten		Seventh Ten		Eighth Ten
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.	Josiph Race Isabela Race Isabela Race Bartholomew Race John West Elisabeth West Joseph West Margaret West Hiram West Mary E. West	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	James Robertson, Sr. Mary Robertson James Robertson, Jr. Thomas Robertson William Robertson Marton Tesdel Reum (?) Tesdel William Kent Jane Davis George Henshaw Jane Jeuston	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	George Simons, Sr. Mary A. Simens George Simens, Jr. Mary Simens Samuel Lenfield Rachel Lenfield Elisabeth Sanders James Wall Elisabeth Wall Thomas Lloyd Elisabeth Bery	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.	Joseph Burch Dorothy Burch Anne Burch Mary Burch Mary Burch G. Mother James McCracken Ann Blestin William Bishop Mary Bishop Elisabeth Bishop Anna Bolson
	Ninth Ten		Tenth Ten
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.	Thomas Thysum Sister Thysum Nathaniel Thysum Marian Thysum Maryann Mears George Boren	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.	Joseph Westwood Sister Westwood Jane Westwood Mary Westwood Joseph Westwood Charlotte_________

I had to deliver rations to my ten every Saturday, five of flour and two of cornmeal, 100 of bacon, 50 sugar, 2 ounces tea, ½ bar of soap. There was a great deal of murmuring among some that they had not enough to eat. I had my hands full. James T. Wolton lost a young steer through his neglect fro not unyoking when he was counselled and had to bring them in the corral and take the yoke off while the cattle were driven out, and the steer ran out of the other end of the corral and went straight off and they could not turn him back, and the next morning we could not find him.

On the 12 of July J. T. Worlton’s child died. I had it buried the same evening. We campted on the Little Sandy, a beautiful small stream. I also lost my leading cow. She had eaten three papers of needled packed in my old coat and it caused her death. On the 24^th of July we stopped and celebrated in memory of the time the pioneers first entered the Great Salt Lake Valley. We had a good dinner and danced till two in the morning. Captain Balentine, the leader of our company, with Glover, the Captain of the guard, Captain Garner, and Captain Pitt, G. Mayer and West--we led off the dances and kept it up till two in the morning.

On the 28^th I had a fine present given. Brother Simons caught 2 large snapping turtles and gave me one. It weighed 36 pounds. I divided the most of it among the brethren. We had some very bad road through the dry land and had to doublekick to get through, but the Lord helped us by sending a heavy rain in the night and settled the sand and made the road much better.

On Wednesday evening Sister Race met with a serious accident by having her right arm shot through above the elbow with a double-barrell shot gun of her husband’s. He had been out shooting and brought his gun home loaded and left the percussion cap on and she told the child to hand the gun to her in the tent, and she caught hold of the muzzle of the gun and drove the gun over the bed and the gun went off and mangled her arm in a shocking manner. Brother Balentine intended to take her to Laramie to get surgeons aid to have her arm taken off, but she died on the way. Near Art Point (?) the hunters were counselled over and told to take the caps off their guns before they came in the camp. Therefore Brother Race was to blame.

On the tenth of August, 1855, Carlene Abdhalder met with a serious accident by having the wagon run over her. She had the hem of her dress torn and it hung and dragged on the ground and when she went to get on the wagon she looked in the wagon and saw that there were others in the wagon. She said that she would walk a while longer and stepped back and stepped on the torn dress and fell, and the wagon ran over her body cutting across her groin and breast. I called the doctor. He said she was dangerously hurt. I gave directions to make her as comfortable as circumstances would permit. I also went and sent Sister Wickel to see that she was attended to and that she had something nourishing. But she died in three days from the time she was run over and we buried her ten hundred yards west of a trading post and 500 from the road, a place called Ash Point, 18 miles East of Laverne on the 15^th of August, 1855.

On Friday the 17^th of August Elisabeth Sanders died one days drive west of Laverne. She was buried the same evening. Another serious accident happened. A young man had a shotgun in his hand and it went off and lodged in a sister’s knee. We left her in Laverne in care of the doctor. There came about 500 Sioux Indians in our camp. When the gun went off and the women screamed the Indians were much scared and rode off and formed till they knew what had happened. They seemed very sorry for the sister. But we heard that she died in a few days. She belonged in Brother Gardner’s company. On the 23^rd of August we had a fine dance after we came to the Platte River. Brother Erastus Snow came to us. He left the next morning for Great Salt Lake City. On the 28^th I made five quarts of buffalo-berry preserves. They were very fine. I took them home to my family, for the buffalo-berry wasn’t in the valley. I made them at Willow Springs. The buffalo-berry was very plentiful. I gathered them by spreading a sheet under the bushes and knocked them off with a stick, then put them in a basin of water and the leaves and dirt came to the top. That was the way we cleaned them. I expect to have some of them many years.

On the 29^th we came to Independence Rock. I went to the top and got a piece of rock and wrote my name, George Mayer, on the side nearest the road. On the fifth of September I had a small mule steer fall dead as we drove him to the corral. He was in good condition and appeared well, when we had unyoked him. There was only three head of cattle died in my ten, and one lost, which made four head in all out of 90 head.

On the fifth Brother Birch’s child died, and we buried it on Willow Creek by several other graves. Sunday, September 16, 1855, we came to Fort Bridger and there we met with several brethren going on missions: Sneteger (?), and Boly (?), J. Scofield, Ott, and several others. There were eight wagons.

On the 24^th of September we came over the large mountain and camped at the foot of the Lost (Last?) Mountain. The brass band of music came to accompany us into the city. We had a fine dance that night, and the next morning we crossed the Little Mountain and drove into the city with our flags flying. My flag was a beehive on one side and the motto “The Bee Coming Home,” and on the other side a ?, with “Truth and Liberty.” The Presidency, Brigham, and Kimball and Grant, came to visit the camp when we were camped in Union Square. Brigham took me by the hand said to me, “You are welcome home again,” and seemed much pleased to see the Swiss Saints.

Sunday the 30^th of September, having found my family all well we went to meeting together and I was called on the stand. Several of the brethren and Captain Ballentine were called on to speak. He gave a history of his mission which was quite interesting, and at the afternoon meeting I was called on by Brother Kimball to speak, and I gave a short history of my mission, of my labors, and success, and imprisonment, which was quite interesting. Then President Kimball asked me to speak to the German Saints, and I spoke a short time in German and encouraged them to faithfulness. The J. Grant spoke a short time, then President Kimball gave his testimony of what was said and made many good remarks.

I then got my team from Cedar Valley and got some wood home from the canyons. I had one yoke of oxen, Brad and Berry (?). One of my horses died out at Boxelder, a dapple gray; his name was Baker. He was very fat, and one of the best horses that ever sired, worth $150.

On the 3^rd of November, 1855 Brother Brigham called me with D. Carn and G. C. Riser to labor giving endowments in the endowment house, so that we could learn that we might assist in giving the Germans their endowments. I labored ten days, then they dismissed till after the legislature were down sitting. Then we commenced again. Brothers President Brigham and Kimball and Jeddediah Grant and his Council gave the missionaries that returned this season one of the best parties in the Social Hall I ever enjoyed before. A free party met at two and supper at seven, then danced till eleven, then supper again, then danced and had singing at intervals till two in the morning. We then gave them a vote of thanks and said that we would be on hand to serve them at any call that they thought fit to send us to labor in the Kingdom of God.

I the next morning took my cattle to Cedar Valley to winter, being I had no feed for them. I had one yoke of oxen and two cows. I yoked the cows and put them on the tongue. I got there with little trouble. Cedar Valley is forty miles off. I got there in two days and three cows and one two year old and one calf, which made nine head. I brought one fat cow home and beefed her, which left me eight head. Brother Week, the Bishop, called me in to preach on Sunday and on Monday they had a dance and I went the next day to hunt my beef cow and found her on South Creek seven miles away.

The next day I went hunting rabbits and killed ten. I then returned home. My son-in-law J. H. Gline, lives in Cedar Valley. He married my daughter Elizabeth. They have three children and one son dead. He died at Winter Quarters.

On the 24^th of January, 1856 I was summoned to sit on the Grand Jury at the Probate Court in Salt Lake City. We sat five days and found an indictment.

Zurich--A Dream

In July 15, 1854, by a young lady. She dreamed that she saw me in a vineyard laboring with two others and that I was very busy cutting off the grape vine that bore fruit and the others that bore no fruit I left. She said that she felt joy for the good grapes and wondered why I did not cut off the vines that bore no fruit. In a short time she came to a garden where she saw me laboring and she thought she saw all manner of fruit trees and the grape vine and that they were very fruitful. She thought she saw me planting the trees and grape vines and she thought she knew many of the trees that she had seen before they were brought there. She said that she pitied me because of my enemies for they were trying to drive me out of the garden. In a short time afterwards she came to my meeting, and when she saw me she said I was the man she had seen in the vineyard and garden. She was baptized December the 9^th, 1854, and rejoiced in the truth.

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Sunday the 24^th, 1856 of February, I was taken by surprise while in the tabernacle hearing the names of many brethren being called on missions to various places to hear the name of George Mayer called on a mission to Los Vegas with twenty other brethren and to go this spring if our circumstances would admit and to take part of our family with us.

On the 18^th of March I took a second wife by the name of Maria W. Cable, daughter of John and Martha H. Cable. (She was) born October 7, 1839. She got her endowment and we were sealed by Brigham Young at the alter and accepted of the Lord, in the endowment house on the 18^th of March by the consent of my first wife, Ann Mayer. Great Salt Lake City, April 13, 1854:

A blessing by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of Maria W. Cable, daughter of John and Martha H. Cable, born October 7, 1839, Terra Haute Indiana. Sister Maria in the name of Jesus Christ I place my hands upon your head and place upon you a father’s blessing for and in behalf of your father. You are a daughter of Abraham through the loins of Joseph and lawfully entitled to the everlasting priesthood which shall be conferred upon you in due time, making you acquainted with the power of working miracles of healing the sick and even raising the dead, if it be necessary. Thou shalt have power to rebuke the tongues of the slanderer. You shall have peace and health and whatever you desire, live to see the winding up scene of wickedness and inherit all the blessings and glories of the Redeemer’s kingdom forever. Amen.

Maria W. Cable, recorded in Book G, page 681, No. 1687.

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On the 29^th of April, 1856, we left (for?) Los Vegas and we stopped at the mouth of the Provo River and laid in a lot of fish. The fishermen were very kind in donating fish to the missionaries. On the 5^th of May we started on our journey and came to the balance of the missionaries for the Vegas. Brother Cobert took charge of the company and organized them in two companies. I was appointed captain of the first ten and Samuel Thompson of the second ten, and Alma Fulmer Captain of the Guard. We moved on to the Round ? and rested, it being good feed and water.

When we came to Fullmer City I traded with Brother Barthelmess my Booly (?)-horse for a yoke of oxen and went on to Meadow Creek seven miles that night. My cow went back nine miles, I believe. She was driven back by some person who would probably bought the chance of her (?), but I followed her tracks back and found her ten miles on the other side of Fullmer coming towards me. I was nearly tired to death. I came up with the company at two o’clock the same day. They had only moved seven miles, and Brother Cobert sent me a horse by his son. I bought and traded for two (twenty?) pounds of flour. And on the 15^th of June we landed all safe in Los Vegas. The brethren met us on the divide with teams and water, which was much needed, and after resting a few days we commenced labor by clearing the ground and ploughing and planting corn and other garden seeds. But our crop failed; the worms destroyed the corn and potatoes, but squashes and melons (grew) very well.

I took Brother Blaserd’s (?) garden lot to tend on shares, which was much help to me for early garden things. I then bought out William Burston of his house and lot in the forke and

? garden lot two and one-half acres, which was all in cultivation with corn and beans and vines, for which I paid him a yoke of oxen, he being cut off the Church by the President Bringert for lying which was not proven, but Bringert said that he knew that he had said by the Spirit of God and cut him off.

On the 22^nd of December, 1856, my wife Maria bore me a fine son. I named him Samuel W. Mayer and blessed on the 1^st of January, 1857.

Being called away from Los Vegas by President Brigham Young, we left on the 22^nd of March for our several homes. I prepared a wagon which I bought, and I had one yoke of oxen and one cow. And Alexander Lemon put his cow in with mine and I hauled his things for him. We were instructed by Samuel Thompson that we must all leave. Some would liked to remain till word could have been sent to President Young. The Indians were very friendly, requested some of us to stay with them, and desired that the mission should be kept up. We travelled through the different tribes of Indians without any trouble. The Los Vegas Indians sent some men with us to the Muddy Indians. They received us kindly and herded our cattle.

We rested one day and left for the Rio Virgin, and there the Indians were all friendly. We treated them as friends and made them flour much and put our cattle in their hands. They treated us as friends and took good care of our cattle and returned them all safe every morning. James Allred was our interpreter. They would attend prayer with us evening, then we would sing hymns for them. Then they would sing for us in their language. They seemed to enjoy the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I had flour enough to last me to the city of Parowan, where I bought some flower that lasted me to Salt Lake City, where I arrived the 22^nd of April, 1857, and moved into my adobe house and went to work planting my garden and corn and potatoes.

My wife Ann seems cold toward me, as she did when I left. She would not shake hands with me. I told her that I had done all I could and that my conscience is clear and God would judge between us. I raised 150 bushels of wheat and 35 bushels of corn and considerable potatoes and squash and peas.

On the 24^th of July, 1857, President Brigham Young with this Council and many of the brethren went up Big Cottonwood Canyon to celebrate the day, and Porter Rockwell came with several other brethren up the road and brought news that the mail was stopped by the government troops and that the President of the United States had sent 2,000 troops and a governor and officers of Utah. (Here is inserted, pp. 261-7, a genealogy of George Mayer.)

When the policy of the president was made known to our people the Lord made known to Brigham Young and his Council that we are a free people, that our Gentile yoke was broken and we are free of this Gentile nation from henceforth and forever, if we observe and keep the commandments of the Lord. We took a vote that we would be free and the vote was unanimous, and we took a vote to keep the Gentile armies out of the Valley of the Mountains at the sacrifice of our own property and lives, and that they shan’t have.

On the ninth of November we were called out on the road to stop the progress of the U. S. troops that had got to Fort Bridger, their supplies being destroyed by our own people previous to their coming, after our boys stole 1,700 of their cattle and fifty horses and mules and burned better than 100 wagons loaded with provisions and other freight. And many of their horses and mules and oxen died, and through fear and division among themselves they were compelled to stop at Fort Bridger and fortify for the winter, and were discharged after nineteen days of service.

I returned home. I had served under C. Killiam of the Silver Grays. We are making preparation to make them leave next spring, 1858, whether they are willing or not.

On the 31^st of December, 1857, I married Jacob Wook (?) to Elizabeth Bumbily (?), both of Switzerland. I moved to Spanish Fork City in the spring of 1858 and remained there the next summer and rented John Chillester’s house and fifteen acres of land, for which I gave him one third in the stack. I had a poor crop of 150 bushels to my share.

There was a company of fifty men ready to go in the mountains under Captain O. Allen to watch the movements of C. Johnson. In ten days we were called home. I was in W. Byles’ (?) ten. I bought the George Hicks’ (?) house and lot off ? for 1846, Lot No. 6. I also bought John Chitester’s house and lot for 35 bushels of wheat.

I had a fine son born to me by my wife Maria W. Cable on the 25^th of August, 1859. I named him George Cable Mayer and had him blessed on the 3^rd of September by Bishop John Butler. He was taken sick on the 1^st in the evening with a violent cramp and dissentery with some puking, which the midwife called the cholera. He failed very fast and took the sinking of the head which determined in his death on the 10^th of September. I did all for him that I could to save his life, but it appeared his sickness was appointed to death. Two days previous to his death I washed and anointed him with the necessary blessings with the assistance of his mother, also ordained him to the office of elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (This last phrase, beginning with the word also, has been partially crossed out.)

I buried him in the morning of the 11^th of September in the burying ground by the sawmill in Spanish Fork City. On September the 17^th, 1860, I had a daughter born by my wife Maria W. Cabel, and on the 25^th of the same month I had her blessed by A. Thurber, bishop. Spanish Fork City.

Spanish Fork City, August 29, 1862. I had a daughter born by my wife, Maria W. Cabel. I named her Elizabeth Sofia Cabel Mayer.

On the 10^th of October, 1863, I was working on the meeting house in Spanish Fork City removing some scaffold plank over twenty feet long, two inches thick. I was drawing it our from under the sheeting over the wall of the building. Brother J. Murry, the superintendent of the building, was carrying the end of the joyce or plank on the end of a spike pole standing on the ground, and when the joyce slipped out from the sheeting the spike pole slipped and the joyce threw me from the scaffold and I fell twenty feet to the hard ground and broke both of my legs off at the ankle and mashed the left ankle and heel. My legs were badly set and the bones badly matched and therefore I suffered very much for nearly six months before I could stand on my feet and walk with the assistance of a crutch and staff.

March the 16^th, 1865, I had a daughter born by my wife Maria W. Cabel Mayer, Esther Caroline, blessed by A. R. Thurber, April 16, 1865.

July the 10^th, 1868, I had a son born by my wife Maria W. Cabel Mayer. We named him John Albert Cabel Mayer. Blessed by Bishop A. R. Thurber, July the 29^th, 1868.

August, 1868, I was chosen a member of the School of the Prophets in Provo, Utah County. Then in October the President, Brigham Young organized a school of the Prophets in Payson, and we from Spanish Fork were staffed (?) to Payson. I consider it a great privilege and blessing to be a member of the School of the Prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

December the 1, A.D., 1868, I had in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City a wife sealed to me. Her name was Dorothy Fae (Fay), and then she was baptized for three (dead) sisters by the names of Barbara, Elizabeth, and Margaret. Sealed these wives to me.

(1867) I am president over the seventies of the different quorums of the Seventy living in Spanish Fork. I planted a vineyard in Spanish Fork City in 1863 and in 1867 I made forty gallons of wine, and in 1868 I raised one thousand pounds of grapes of good quality and sold grapes at forty and thirty cents a pound and made thirty gallons of good wine.

The grasshoppers and locusts visited our valley in 1867 and 1868 and did us much harm. It was only for the mercies of God or we would all have perished. But he gave us enough to live on and taught us a lesson to be obedient in the future and listen to his servants the Prophets in the future, or perhaps worse things might come upon us.

On the 7^th of August, 1871, my wife Maria Wiot (Wyatt?) Mayer left me and married a man by the name of Charles Warren. And in October, 1872 she parted with him, got a bill from Judge Bean, Provo City, and is now single with a baby eight months old. (and married again to a man, name of S. Cven (?) )

November the 28, 1873. All well. I have gone into bee keeping and have thirty-two stands or colonies of Etation Bees in the Longsorfe (?) hive. They do well at present, and by the blessings of God I hope to make a good business of bee keeping. (June, 1875 I had fifty-seven colonies.)

May the 1^st, 1874, I took the names of my family to join the United Order, or the Order of Enoch in Spanish Fork City.

My wife Maria has been married twice since she left me and had one child by a Gentile which she got while she lived in the city of Salt Lake. She has showed what she is, and I am sorry that I cannot give her a better record. February the 23, 1878.

January 15 (no year given.) She has been married four times, the last, H. Dolton, had a fit and (they) parted again.

I feel like writing a few lines to my family to turn their thoughts towards their God and their Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and to use great diligence in keeping all his commandments. And by doing this, with all the requirements, God will bless you and deliver you out of every trouble, and curse your enemies for your sakes, and he will not withhold any blessing from you when you desire counsel go to your God and good men, faithful servants of God. And what you receive there see that you abide by it. Lest you might despise God and bring his displeasure upon you, be humble and prayerful and rejoice with one another with all the tenderness and more especially the younger. You have many influences that surround you and some near, but give no heed to them associate with them as little as possible and you will prosper. Fulfill your missions faithfully and all the requirements of the Lord, and when you come on your deathbed you will have nothing to regret, and it will be said: “Well done, though good and faithful servant. Enter in the joy of your Lord.”

A HISTORY OF M. CABEL

First she was married to a Mister Coone, and she left him and was sealed to me in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and we had eight children. She left me and married Charles Warren that had one child. She left him and married ? Creer, had one child, left him and married the name of Dolton. One child. Left him and married a man in December, 1893 by the name of D. Fowler in American Fork. I will mention that after she left me, she went to Salt Lake City to live, got with a child. She made her home with a shoemaker by the name of Meede. His wife lived in Spanish Fork at the same time and had his bed in his shop all in one room about sixteen feet square. The child was born in Spanish Fork and died at Sister Meed’s house and was buried in the graveyard in Spanish Fork.

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Spanish Fork, Sept. 24, 1876

A Patriarchal Blessing by Levi W. Hancock upon the head of George Mayer, son of Abraham Mayer, and Elizabeth Lauck, born March 2, 1805 in York Co., Pennsylvania.

Brother George, with my hands upon your head I give myself into the hands of the living God, that He may prompt me to speak such things concerning thee as He in His kindness shall show. Thow hast been a man of greater patience than many men who have stood high in authority over their fellow men. Yet something whispers to me that thou dost feel in thy own estimation to deserve these words spoken concerning thee. But thou has under the most trying circumstances stood forth and proclaimed the everlasting Gospel where other men would falter and fail to give a faithful witness. Thou has been tried to the very center and sounded to the very core. Yet thou never hast denied the Lord God of Joseph, and through the loins of Joseph hast thou sprung, and thy fathers before thee hath waded through affliction and sorrows and have been pursued by evil designing men because of their holding authority and not understanding the principles of peace, pursued all that was opposed to them in order to conquer them by power. The living flame of light that was with thy fathers caused thy heart to burn at the joyful sound of truth, when thou didst hear it and received it with a joyful heart. Thou hast truly been a Savior on Mount Zion. When you were tried the spirit that was in thee and lift up thy mind with the spirit of reason, thou didst step forth and labor for the good of the Saints, trusting in the God that thou didst serve for thy pay in after days.

Heaven is full of blessings for thee dear brother, for thou hast endured, and in patience hast thou kept thyself from the evil of the world, All thy trials will be made up to thee, and innumerable blessings shall be added to them. Thy posterity shall be numerous, and in the end shalt thou have power over them all and those who have sought to do thee harm will someday become thy warm friends. Because of the honesty of thy hear thou wilt say to some, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.” I seal these blessings upon thee and all the blessings that hast been promised upon thy head by other men appointed of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning thee, and thy days hereafter shall be multiplied upon thee according to the desire of your heart. Thou shalt have part in the morning of the first resurrection as others have promised upon thee. Even so. Amen.

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Spanish Fork, Sept. 24, 1876

A Patriarchal Blessing by Levi W. Hancock upon the head of Martha Maria Mayer, daughter of George Mayer and Maria Wayat (?) Cable, born Feb. 6, 1876. Sister Martha Maria I place my hands upon thy head and will bless thee according to the directions of the Spirit, that the same may be handed down to be remembered among thy friends so that they can praise (phrase?) and contemplate this blessing in their minds. Thou hast had many serious thoughts. It has all been for thy good, for thou art one of the favored of heaven, belonging to the royal blood of the House of Israel, but hath been unfortunate in some things, but all things shall work for thy good, so that all things shall be made up to thy satidfaction and the Lord will shower down upon thee. He knows thy heart and has given his angels charge concerning thee because of the good desire of thy heart the Lord will quicken thy understanding. Thy mind shall penetrate to the very depths of the truths of heaven. Thou shalt be a bright and shining light to all around thee inasmuch as thou wilt receive these things and treasure them up in thy mind. Thou shalt have great manifestations, and the awakening powers from on high shall bring many things to thy remembrance that thou wilt seem to have known them before. And thou shalt live to be a mother in Israel and be able to give good counsel to all around thee. Thou shalt have a companion that will love thee and take great pleasure in administering the comforts of life, and thou shalt have a posterity that will speak well of thee and will become bright and shining witnesses before all people that shall become acquainted with them.

Lift up thy heart and rejoice, for the Lord is well pleased with the integrity of thy heart. He will not leave thee or forsake thee, neither will he let much sickness bear thee down because thou art striving to serve thy God. And thou shalt have the comforts of life and be able to spread a table with the rich bounties of the earth, so that thou wilt be able to minister to thy friends according to thy heart’s desire, for it shall be given to you when there is no Elder around so that the sick shall recover, and many blessings that cannot be here spoken of are for thee in the future. For thou hast sprung from the House of Joseph and the precious blood of Ephraim that has to be tried, that always overcomes. And thou wilt not be apt to be deceived by the evil influences that are from beneath. Thou wilt have the gift of comparing the spirits, so that thou shalt judge what which is right and will receive it. And thou shalt overcome and have right to the tree of life and will partake of it to thy satisfaction. All that is needed when dark clouds arise is to hold to the rod of Arion and thou shalt come out from the cloud like the full moon in its splendor and spread thy light to all around thee. Something strikes me that thou mayest live till the Son of God shall make his appearance. All is well with thee, and thy name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Even so. Amen.

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December the 1^st, 1868, in Salt Lake City, in the Endowment House I had a wife sealed to me by the name of Dorothea Fey, born Feb. 3, 1799, (died 1876), and three of her sisters. She was baptized. Their names were Anna Barbara, born July 30, 1786 and Elizabeth, July 11, 1790, (died March 16, 1828); and Anna Margaretta, October 17, 1800, all sealed to me at the same time by President D. Wallis (?), December 7, 1868.

December 24, 1883

My Dear Brother George:

I must tell you that I got your two letters. I think I gave you all the names of my kindred on father’s side: they are Samuel, Cornelious, Henry, and Thatcher (?). His is Abraham. The girls are Aunt Betsy. Aunt Betsy was Shelly’s wife. Mary was Nisely’s wife. Catherine was Beird’s wife. These are all I know of father’s. Mother’s name was lane. (Kline?). Now mother’s side. Her mother’s name was Lane (Kline?). Her sisters were married, one to Cone, the other to Cormony. I forget their first names. Both lived at York. Her two brothers died young. One was Mike, one Henry, one Peter. The two that died were John and Jake. Goodbye, I hope to meet you in heaven. All the way my Saviour leads me. What have I to ask besides. Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide. We both love Jesus and we shall meet in Heaven.

Your sister, Elizabeth Mayer?

Spanish Fork City, February the 3^rd, 1878

I sent this day $15 to B. F. Cummings, Jr. for part pay for hunting up the genealogy of my father and mother and friends as far back as he can trace them. I also have sent a list of names to St. George to my son-in-law David Rogers to do the work in the temple for the dead for me and sister Catherine Lemon.

G. Mayer

November the 3^rd, 1887

Brother B. F. Cummings has never made me return of my progenitors up to date. He has got his pay and done nothing for me.

On the 20^th of October, 1881, I had a wife sealed to me. Her name is Holm Freder Peterson, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, by President Wells. She emigrated from Iceland August, 1881, and was baptized in the Order in Spanish Fork September the 1^st, 1881. Baptized in the United Order September 1, 1881, by Alfred Beck, confirmed by James Anderson, Zebedee Coltrin mouth. Her son, Loujah Peterson (Mayer) was blessed March 1, 1883, by Bishop George D. Snell, mouth G. Mayer.

Spanish Fork City, October 27, 1884, I had a son born of my wife Holm Freder Peterson. I named him Abraham Peterson Mayer. Blessed at the fast meeting in the Spanish Fork meeting house by Bishop G. Snell, G. Wilkins, and George Mayer, B. G. Snell, mouth. Blessed him with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his forefathers. (Died on the 18^th of August, 1885.)

My son, Samuel Mayer had a son blessed in Spanish Fork City at the fast meeting. His name is Samuel Davis Mayer. G. D. Snell, G. Wilkins and George Mayer was mouth, on the fourth day of June, 1885. He was born March 19, 1885.

A Copy of a Recomment to my Quorum of the 32 Seventies:

This is to certify that Elder George Mayer is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing and as such we recommend him to the fellowship of his quorum of Seventies, Spanish Fork Ward, August 30^th, 1883. G. Snell, Bishop.

I sent later to the Presidents of the 32 quorums of Seventies of the new organization of the different quorums and the standing of the presidents of 32, of which I am a member.

October 10, 1883 George Mayer, Pr.

Patriarchal Blessing by Levi W. Hancock on the head of Esther Caroline Mayer, daughter of George and Maria Cable Mayer, born Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah, March 16, 1865, given at Spanish Fork April 13, 1878

Sister Esther Caroline:

I lay my hands upon thy head and as the Lord shall direct I will bless thee with thy patriarchal blessing, which is according to the established order of Heaven given for the benefit of all the honest in heart who are seeking to be established in their minds concerning points of doctrine that there may be a unison of mind and thought, that there might become a mighty effort in faith for the benefit of a fallen word. Thou art a daughter of Israel, a spirit that needs education from the Fathers of Israel that thou mayst come in possession of that wisdom which in intended for thee. The qualities of thy years is tenderness and a love for that which is right. Thou wilt be required to listen to the voice of the instructors that are set to guide the minds of men and the daughters of Israel to that principle which emenates from on High, which brings with its promptings intelligence that cannot be overcome by the powers that are from beneath. Thou hast great cause to rejoice that the sins of thy fathers extend to the prophets who passed through much tribulation to excape with their lives from the hands of persecutors. Let this thy blessing sound in thy ear. Committ it to memory as much as possible and in it thou wilt find waymarks to guide thy mind so that thou shalt not fall. And in the end thou shalt be perfected with Father and Mother, brothers and sisters, who will salute thee with much joy, together with children that shall spring from thee. For in the own due time of the Lord wilt thou be connected with one as husband and wife, endowed with wisdom from on High and great faith in the House of God, and will make thee comfortable all thy days, so that thou shalt not suffer for the comforts of life. The more thou dost study these things the better will thou relish the words of eternal life which will be as a well of water forever satisfying the thirst for that element. Thou hast enough of the blood of Ephraim within thee to increase thy desires and hope until wisdom shall be in thee equal to any of the daughters of Israel. Thou wilt be capable of leading many of them to a knowledge of thy Redeemer and many children shall give ear to the voice of thy instructions. Thou shalt live to see mighty things transpire on the earth for the accomplishment of the great and terrible things that are to transpire previous to the coming of the Son of God. All this I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Recorded on pages 12, and 13, Book F., M.L.H. Clerk.

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Genealogy of George Mayer, born March 2, 1805, County of York, State of Pennsylvania: Father’s name Abraham Mayer, mother’s Elizabeth Louck. I was baptized November the 11^th A.D., 1843 by Elder Charles Williams, ordained by J. P. Harmon, a Seventy. Ordained a Seventy in the 16^th Quorum of Seventies in Nauvoo, Illinois by J. P. Harmon. Set apart or ordained a president of the 32^nd quorum of seventies by Levi W. Hancock at the new organization of Seventies. The 32^nd quorum was located at Providence, Cache Valley, Utah Co., and I living in Spanish Fork City according to the counsel of the First Presidency joined the 19^th Quorum of Spanish Fork City, Utah County, Utah on the 17^th day of May. President Abraham H. Cannon came to Spanish Fork City and set apart and blessed me and two other bretren presidents to fill the 19^th quorum in Spanish Fork City.

Charles E. Munk James Hanson Simon Cirtes Andrus Engberry

George Mayer John Hayes Sylvester Bradford Sept. 11, 1886

(Copy of a letter from Martha C. Hancock)

My son Abraham died on the 18^th day of August, 1885. This dream we had on the same time he was born on the 27^th of October 1884. A dream of Martha my daughter. She dreamt that she was at her father’s house and I saw Samuel her brother put in a coffin. It seemed like it was Mosiah. We were all mourning together. The coffin was taken away. There was five or six heavenly messengers in the house that was talking with one another saying when the God of Heaven called them it was their time to go, they were wanted behind the veil. I looked at those heavenly messengers. I saw going before them was a young man going straight toward me. His name was Timothy, the young man that got killed by the falling of a tree. He offered me his hand. I took his hand and shook hands with him. His hand was very warm and a heavenly influence was with him. Solomon Hancock and his wife were there, and his father and his wife were there. They rubbed their hands over me___?___, talked about a great many things. They took me to their home. It was in the terrestrial kingdom. Their home was the greatest in the kingdom. There was great glory in their habitation. They told me a great many things, some things I was forbidden to tell, and the knowledge was taken away. They took me and showed me monstrous things in that kingdom, those that had worked against their husbands and hindering them from following the commandments of the Lord, and have used their tea and coffee contrary to the commandments of the Lord, have a doleful looking place. They will have their coffee pals there. They showed me a great many people of the Hancocks. They took me to the edge of their city and there showed me another city that belonged to the Mayers. They took me to the edge of that city. Grandfather Hancock made a report from the Celestial Kingdom concerning Father and his people. Mother’s glory will be greater than mine. She was pictured out to me. She had a bunch of flowers. There was no crown on her head. After I saw these things I awoke.

Hoping to hear from you often,

Martha C. Hancock

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Samuel Mayer, my grandfather’s family, and his wife’s name, Lane, and their children’s names:

Samuel Mayer, Sr., (born in Lancaster, Pa., in the year 1700)

Cornelius Mayer, Son

Henry Mayer, son, baptized May 18, 1886

David Mayer, son, baptized May 18, 1886

Abraham Mayer, my father, born July 4, 1777 the youngest child

Betsy Mayer, Mr. Shaly’s wife

Catherine Mayer, Mr. Birde’s wife

Abraham H. Mayer, my brother, born Oct. 20, 1818, died Oct. 20, 1872

Paul Bucyrus, Ohio, May 18, 1886

Henry

Paul

My mother’s father and mother were a Mr. and Mrs. Kline.

George Loucke’s children’s names: Henry Louck, my uncle, Peter Louck, John Louck, Mike Louck, (May 18, 1886); Jake Louck, (May 18, 1886); John Louck, Henry Louck’s son, (May 18, 1886); - Girl’s names - a Catherine Louck that was married, a Miss Louck, one to Cermong, one to Con. My mother, the youngest daughter, Elizabeth Louck Mayer, born Jan. 3, 1781, died Nov. 27, 1836.

Salt Lake City, December 1, 1868 in the Endowment House I had a wife sealed to me by President D. Wells by the name of Dorothea Fey, born Feb. 3, 1799, and died June 22, 1876, in Richfield and three of her dead sisters that were baptized and sealed to me, my wife proxy. Elizabeth Fey, born July 11, 1790, died March 16, 1828; Barbara Fey, born July 30, 1786, died (no date); and Margaretta, born Oct. 17, 1800, death (no date); all sealed to me at the same time. John Conrad Fey, born March 14, 1751, died February 1829 (1851?).

Dorothy Fey, baptized and sealed, Salt Lake City, December 1, 1868.

Elizabeth Fey, endowments, Logan, May 20, 1886

Anna Barbara Fey, May 21

Anna Margaretta Fey

Abraham Henry Mayer, my brother, baptized May 18, 1873, proxy A. Lamon, ordained by Yates

Henry Mayer, my father’s brother, my uncle, baptized May 18. A. Lamon, endowments, by Yates.

David Mayer, my uncle, baptized by proxy, A. Lamon, ordained by N. E. Edleson.

Mike Louck, my uncle, baptized by proxy, A. Lamon, May 18, 1886.

Jake Louck, my uncle, baptized by proxy, A. Lamon

John Louck, my cousin, baptized by A. Lamon

Mr. Cone, my uncle my marriage--A. Lamon (perhaps he means ‘by marriage’)

Mr. Cormony, my uncle by marriage--A. Lamon

Mr. Berde, my uncle by marriage--George Mayer

David Shelley, my uncle by marriage--George Mayer

Betsy Mayer, baptized May 18, 1886--Margrete Lamon proxy.

Thorkill, John’s son

Thorlakur Hallgrin’s son

Daniel Shelley, baptized May 25, proxy George Mayer, endowments and sealed, May 26, 1886.

Betsy Mayer, baptized on May 18, 1886, proxy Margreta Lamon King

Mr. Nisley, May 25, 1886, proxy George Mayer, nephew.

Mary Mayer, May 18, 1886, proxy Margreta Lamon King.

Mr. Bierde, May 25, 1886, proxy George Mayer, nephew.

Catherine Mayer, May 18, 1886, proxy Margreta Lamon King, endowments, 28^th, proxy, Margreta Lamon King.

Thorkakur Peterson, baptized May 18, 1886, proxy George Mayer, son-in-law.

Gudrun, daughter of Thorlakur, May 18, 1886, proxy, her daughter, Holm Freder Mayer.

Thorkill, John’s son, baptized May 25, 1886, proxy A. A. Lamon, endowments and sealing, May 27, 1886.

Sigreder Gudmunson, May 18, 1886, proxy, granddaughter Holm Freder, ordained E. M. Cuotes. (?), May 27.

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A Copy of a Decision in the case of Mrs. Mariah Cable Creer vs. George Mayer

We find the decision of B. Thurber to be that in case of neglect or abandonment of the children or their return to George Mayer, their father, that the right to redisburse the property should not be sold without consent of the Presidency of the Spanish Fork branch until the children become of sufficient age to choose for themselves. We find that Mariah Creer has so far neglected or abandoned the children that they have returned to their father and that has been their home these four or five years past, and because of the conduct of the mother they do choose to remain with their father. Therefore we decide that Mariah Creer is not entitled to any of her children nor is she entitled to any property more than she has already got.

George D. Snell, Bishop

James Anderson, First Counsellor

George G. Hales, Second “

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Spanish Fork City, Nov. 9, 1883

This is to certify that for and in consideration of the sum of $100, one hundred dollars, paid in my hands I take in his name, G. Mayer forty acres of land. I fence and improve the same and keep all necessary expenses including

? until the said George Mayer or his agent or appointee shall appear to take possession of the land, feeling confident that the said G. Mayer will reward me for all expenses over the $100 expenses on said land.

Mosiah Hancock

(G. Mayer comments as follows below his signature:)

He did me out of it fairly and ill-treated my daughter Martha, and Esther is right. President W. Woodworth said Esther all right in the temple in St. George. I thank God for it.

George Mayer

February 11, 1872:

Bishop G. D. Snell came to my house and told me that it was my privilege to have my second anointing and to prepare for to go to the temple to receive it with my wife.

On Friday the 12, 1892, I received my second blessing with my wife, Freder Peterson, in the temple of the Lord under the hands of Brother Lloyd and President Farnsworth, in the Manti Temple, and we returned home on the 13^th rejoicing in the blessings of the Lord.

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Clan of Elizabeth Mayer Glines:

Elizabeth Ann Beers

Franklin Beers

Their children:

Annie Beers, Mary Beers, Frank Beers, Jennie Beers, Warran Beers, Nellie Beers, Olive Beers.

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Levi W. Hancock was born the 17^th of April, 1803, and died the 10^th of June, 1882 at Washington County, one of the first of Utah in the Seventies next to Joseph Young.

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Salt Lake City, June 24, 1893

Elder George Mayer, Spanish Fork, Dear Brother:

We are in the receipt of a letter from the Council of the 19^th Quorum of which you are a member asking that further information be given them about giving your transfer to the High priest’s quorum, and as they say it, for your desire I am instructed to hand you this letter, which will be received by the high priest’s quorum as a transfer from the Seventies to the high priest’s quorum, and you are at liberty to use it. We trust you will be as useful in that other portion of the new field as you have been in that of the Seventies, and we remain your brethren,

Whitaker, Clerk of the Seventies

On the 20^th of October, 1881, in Salt Lake City in the Endowment House I had a wife sealed to me by the name of Holm Freder Peterson. She was baptized in Iceland in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 13^th of April, 1880, and emigrated to Spanish Fork August 1881 and was baptized into the United Order by A. C. Beck and confirmed by James Anderson and ? Colton, Sept. 1, 1881, born Nov. 27, 1878, and in Iceland, Elough Peterson (adopted) Mayer, born Nov. 27, 1878, and emigrated with his mother to Spanish Fork. He is now lying sick since the 10^th of February with the disease ? . This is the 3^rd of March, 1896, he has got well over a week. This is the 21^st of March. I received a letter from my daughter Esther from Glendale, Kane County, Utah, March 6, 1896, and that she has got married to a man by the name of James Lovett Bunting. They were sealed at St. George Temple, President Woodruff had sent letters to that president of the temple that Esther was freed from Mosiah Hancock for time and all eternity, and I ask God to bless them in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. And when our work is done on earth we will be worthy of each other in the Celestial Kingdom of God is the prayer of your brother in the Gospel and affectionate father, George Mayer.

I wrote a letter today, the 8^th of April to Esther, accounting for the number of her family.

April 13^th--day and night the Apostle James says he that lacks wisdom should ask of God for wisdom who would richly bestow to all and upbraid not. I ask God the Eternal Father to give me wisdom for I need it much. Amen.

On the 12^th of May 1896 I received a letter from my daughter, Esther C. Bunting, stated that they were all doing well and glad to hear that I was well.

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President Wilford Woodruff, June 14, 1892

Dear Brother:

I heartily recommend George Mayer, born March 2, 1805, and his wife, Holm Freder, born in the year 1854, of Spanish Fork, 1^st Ward, as being worthy to receive their second blessings in the House of the Lord.

Your brother in the gospel, A. D. Smude

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On July the 11^th, Monday, we and company arrived in Manti; on Tuesday the 12^th I and my wife and __?__ went to the temple and gave our recommends to the clerk. He took the recommends of Smude (?) and Bishop H. Gardner and gave the recommend of the Church, W. Woodruff President, and Tuesday the 12^th, 1892 President Farnsworth, the recorder, with two others, the three gave us. G. Mayer and Holm Freder Mayer his wife, and Mgnoose (?) and Paperson (?) and wife our second blessings in the House of the Lord (in Manti Temple). And Wednesday the 13^th we returned home rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord.

George Mayer.

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(In a different handwriting)

A few lines of my father’s will I thought I would write. When my father made his will, he was very old and feeble, and was led by my brother Samuel, who had the will made to suit his feelings, how to keep the means from the Mormon Church, therefore the means that fell to me, George Mayer, was between 4 or 5 hundred dollars, and if I did not come myself in two years that it should be given to the children of Ann Yost, their mother. Whether they have got it I know not at present. My brother Abraham came to Salt Lake City on his way to California and paid my sister Catherine Lemon her share and didn’t come to Spanish Fork, but he got the will of my father from my sister Lemon, and my sister could never find it. He was a Lutheran preacher and very bitter to the Mormons. Several years ago I used to write to him the principles of the Gospel and that he should come, see, and hear for himself, and leave his foolish principles of his preaching, and God would stop him that he might know the power of God. When he was in Salt Lake City, the authority wanted to honor him to preach in the meetinghouse, but he could not, for he had lost his speech; he could only whisper. He told my sister that I had cursed him. He soon after died. He had a wife in California. The will is recorded in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.

My wife, Ann Yost Mayer, died in Salt Lake City December the 26^th, 1893, and was buried in the Salt Lake City graveyard on the bench where James Gline’s wife, Elizabeth my daughter, and some others of the family were buried. James H. Glines was buried in Cedar Fort.

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On the 13^th of August I had an accident happen by which I lost two of my fingers to the first joint by leading my cow. She tried to run away from me. I took a hitch to a small tree with the rough (?) which caught my finger pulled off the two middle fingers to the first joint. They are now nearly well.

December the 22^nd, 1895 I met with another misfortune. The devil has tried to kill me in many ways by trying to perplex me in many ways, by disobeying my counsel in many ways and thinking that they know better than I do, bringing things that are very offensive to me and giving me much trouble in my age. I am nearly 91 years old.

I am now 91, 1895. The Lord tells me to keep my house in order, and I am responsible if I don’t do my duty.

(Copied in another hand:)

Who Will Compete?

To the Editor: While in Spanish Fork recently I paid a visit to an aged veteran, Brother George Mayer, who is now in his ninety-first year. He is still hale and hearty, is a constant reader of the News, and in giving his order for its continuance, he took my pen and signed his name without glasses. He is the oldest man in Spanish Fork, and he thinks there is no man in the Church older than him who has been in the Church as long as he has. He joined the Church in 1843, hence has been in the harness fifty-two years, without having his jubilee of rest. Is there anyone older who has been in the Church as long?

S. S. H.

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March the 2^nd, 1896, Spanish Fork:

This is my birthday. I am 91 years old this day, and my health is good. I write this and use no glasses. I now commence on my 92^nd year. My health is good at present. The Lord has been good to me in all of my afflictions. I write this with my own hand. George Mayer.

Celebrating of my birthday Samuel and his wife and George W. Wilkins and his wife came to my house with the good things to feast upon. Samuel bought a lat of parsnips and we cooked some with some fresh pork and potatoes, which made a good dish. We had some good wine to drink with it. We would have had more of a company, but I told them not to make me a surprise, for we have a sick man in the house, has been sick since the 10^th of February, my wife’s son, Louge Mayer.

My son, John A. Mayer wrote that he could not come to see me, that he was herding sheep far off and could not come. I write this without glasses. This paper has been bound so badly that I thought I would drop one line and use larger letters. My health is good today. I thank God.

George Mayer.

On the 11^th of March I wrote a letter to George A. Louck in Bucyrus, Ohio, my cousin’s son, showing him the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought forth by the prophet, Joseph Smith in this the last and winding-up dispensation of the fullness of time of all the dispensations from Abraham till the present time. I also wrote to David Roger in St. George to do the work for my dead sister and Elizabeth and her husband, Andrew Tailor, with the help of my daughter, Maryanne Rogers. I received a (letter) March 22 that they will do the work for me and my dead sister and her man when the temple would be open, that they were now repairing the temple and would soon be at work again.

This is the 28^th of March, 1896. My health is tolerable good to date. My son Samuel called to see me today. His family were all well. I am glad to see him when he comes he gets me my coal and kindling wood and makes some gardening for me and helps me much in many things and ways.

April. This being fast day I went to fast meeting in the first ward. Our Bishop Henry Gardner presided. He called on me to speak. I spoke a few minutes to their edification. They were all pleased. My subject was to keep in the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, that we may be good for our own selves and not for another.

At two in the afternoon I went to the High Priest’s meeting in the City meeting (house) and had a good time there. I told them that on this day I was one month in my ninety-second year, as I was born on the 2^nd day of March, 1805. I write this in 1896, which this is, and I am well, and I have mended my fence which was broken in a few places and needed repairing very much. My son Samuel brought me a ton of coal, which I needed. I am tormented with my neighbors hogs, turkeys, chickens, very much all summer that they destroy my garden. I keep my chickens in my coop and let them out in the evening and feed them. I tell them that if my chickens come in their garden and do damage that they shall tell me, and if I don’t take care of them they have the right to eat them, and I want the same right, and that is fair on both sides, and I won’t call you a thief, and you don’t call me one.

I have plenty of clover in my lot and a small part for garden. Some keep their chickens home and raise many young chickens and they run all over my garden all summer. They come even to my house and I catch some as mine because I herd them in my lot. They have the same privilege with me. I am sorry I had to take that course. I want peace.

Sunday the 12^th, 1896: Brother Evans and Samuel Conabe came to my house after meeting, and I treated them to some wine, and they thanked me. On Sunday the 19^th I was at Provo at the conference and two of the twelve apostles came, and the first presidency of seventies. Seymour B. Young, Joseph F. Smith, and Abraham H. Cannon were present, and after the forenoon meeting they all went in the council room with the President of the Provo Stake and there they asked George H. Brimhall to bring me in the Council room and to take a seat, which I did. Then they commenced to ordain several Bishops and their Counsellors, and they ordained Rufus Snell High Councilman. Then they told me to take my seat and they all laid their hands on my head, and Joseph F. Smith of the First Presidency ordained me a patriarch, George Mayer, and I thank God and His servants for this gift, and I pray to give the Spirit of God in all my labors in my office. Amen.

Patriarch, George Mayer

On Wednesday the 12^th, I was invited to a party at Charlie Robertson’s and we had a very good dinner and pleasant party. George P. Garff and his wife Tryphena were present, and I gave them blessings, and they left for their mission (to Hawaiian Islands) All that are members in the Church of Jesus Christ in good standing are welcome to receive a patriarchal blessing under my hands.

(The end)

April 11, 1967 Obituaries Deseret News, 6507 F Utah S18K Deseret Evening News Wed., Aug 12, 1896, Pt. 41.

George Mayer, Spanish Fork, Aug. 4, 1896,

One of God’s robust sons, Elder George Mayer, passed away on July 24 at 9:50 o’clock p. m. He was born in Yorks County, Penn. March 2, 1805, joined the Church Nov. 11, 1843 and was soon after ordained an Elder. The next summer after Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered, he moved with his family to Nauvoo. Here he was ordained a Seventy and shortly afterwards chosen president in the 32^nd Quorum On April 22^nd, 1846, he left Nauvoo for Salt Lake City with a pair of lazy oxen. He endured many hard trials while on this trip and arrived in Salt Lake in Oct. 1848. In the fall of 1852 he was called on a mission to Europe and appointed to labor in Switzerland and Germany. One little incident concerning this mission was that he was placed in prison for preaching the Gospel. In the evening the jailer placed a pitcher of poisoned water in his room. Brother Mayer went to bed and in a few minutes he became exceedingly thirsty and arose to get a drink. He drank very heartily and soon felt a deadly pain in his stomach and realized what he had taken. He vomited until he was empty, but received no harm, because God had heard and answered his prayers. The next morning the jailer came to the room expecting to find him dead, but to his surprise found him alive. The jailer was always kind to him afterwards. While on his mission to Europe he baptized many into the church and did a great deal of good for the establishment and building up of Zion. He was called on a mission to Las Vegas, New Mexico, in the year 1856.

He leaves many sons and daughters, also friends and relatives to mourn his loss.

On Sunday July 26, at 1 o’clock p. m., friends assembled at his residence to view his last remains He was then taken to the meeting house at 2 p. m. where funeral exercises were held After prayer by Bro. Ruful P. Snell, addresses were delivered by Elder Charles Monk, Bishop George D. Snell, Bishop Andrew E. Nielsen, Bishop Henry Gardner, and Elder G. W. Wilkins. A few lines of poetry written in honor of the deceased were read by Brother Mosiah Hancock.

The closing prayer was offered by Marinus Larsen.

The friends, relatives and citizens proceeded to the cemetery where the pall bearers placed the body to remain with mother earth until the morning of the first resurrection. Elder George H. Brimhall dedicated the grave and afterwards Bishop Henry Gardner returned a vote of thanks in behalf of the family and relatives of the deceased and all who had in any helped in the last hours of the deceased and the funeral.