My own account of becoming a Latter-day Saint, having heard of those people called Latter-day Saints, I determined to hear for myself and accordingly I went to the meeting room in Hounslet Road, Leeds, Yorkshire, England and I heard brother William Gibson and other brethren. And on hearing them bear faithful testimonies to the truth of the gospel, I became convinced. I went and was baptized and my oldest daughter with me. [p. 1] [PAGE OR PAGES APPARENTLY MISSING HERE]
...[AT] river Mercy and remain there till Monday about 50 minutes past 5 o'clock p.m. when we were tugged out by the steamer called "Constitution" as far as the what is called the Black Rock. We then started on sailing and we were wafted along as fast as we could be expected by a sailing vessel. The captain said that we might have gone out 12 times and not have had as good a voyage [as] we had. A fair wind and to our knowledge [p .2] no hinderance up to Wednesday noon. Then the wind rather slackened and at night the wind rather got up and blew from the northwest. Up to this night there is only very few cases of sickness considering the number of people on board the ship. Does certainly have a little now and again but on the whole it has not been more than a pleasure trip for the people, especially the young, spend their time in [p. 3] [PAGE OR PAGES APPARENTLY MISSING HERE] on our way, but if we only do our duty, as men promised our safe arrival at our destination. And if not, we certainly should be sifted out as wheat. Last thing tonight, the sea rough but ship going very fast. She tilts very much but we are trusting in God [p. 4] our Heavenly Father, who can temper the waves to his own purposes, also the winds.
Monday morning - The wind in our favor. We have traveled fast during the night. We are very sick, some from colds and others from seasickness and from the change of our food but out of all the we are still delivered tonight. We are very thankful for a speedy voyage so far. The people have began to say that we have got a third of the way to New York.
Tuesday - The wind seems to be rather too much ahead. It rather hinders our ship for traveling so [p. 5] fast. We have a deal of sickness yet but we are thankful that we have had no death, praise to God.
Wednesday - The wind as yesterday. Health as usual. My family rather better.
Thursday - The wind rather across of us but at times very rough. The waves come over the bulwarks and causes the ship to roll and tumble to [and] fro very much. Water bottles, boxes, and tubs, cans and pots. All seem to share alike today part sickness also. [p. 6]
Friday - Fair wind and we are going very fast. The sickness is rather busy today.
Saturday - The wind much as yesterday till afternoon. Then settled and we are not doing so well. At night. Sickness rather left. The Saints are very cheerful and enjoying themselves as well [as] they can possibly.
Sunday, 13 May - The wind fair for us but little on it and very wet all day which make us [p. 7] as we cannot get out. My family all well for the first day out of 13 but thanks to God we are thankful as we are indeed as busy and as rank as bees in the hive, according to what I think of the matter. We have had meetings on board today, very good ones and the sacrament has been administered. Very good testimonies warm from the hearts of the Saints and cheerful. The elders [p. 8] counsel the Welsh people to seek the company of the English as much as possible so as to learn the language as they would find if they did not, they would have a great deal more trouble when they got to the Valley as the English language is the most popular there. And as they went on their way wished them to be as much obedient to counsel as possible. From page 3 I had forgot that on Monday the 30th we had to pass doctor. [p. 9] [APPARENTLY A PAGE OR PAGES ARE AGAIN MISSING HERE] . . . that we had Brother [- -] on board, Brother Gibson, and other brethren and gave us an address and told us that if we were obedient to counsel we should arrive safe at [our] destination without the least loss or trouble.
Monday - The wind ahead which causes us much trouble in crossing backwards and forwards but we are all trusting God. Still we have not as much sickness as we had on board for which we thankful. [p. 10]
Tuesday - The wind not so much in our favor. It is driving us southwest and we are not going very fast. The president of the ship says we are short of half way across the sea, yet we have very little sickness at present.
Wednesday - The wind not much in our favor. We are still trying to do our duty as well as we can. We have had a testimonial meeting in our ward tonight and the Saints seem to enjoy much of the Spirit of God and truly we [p. 11] had to say it is good to wait upon the Lord. The night has come on very rough and headwinds seem to trouble us much. The waves come very strong on deck at times. It knocked 2 of the men down with its force. A few are still sick. My family are pretty well considering the crowded state we are in.
Thursday morning - The wind a little in our favor.
Friday morning - The night has been very rough and we have tossed a good deal about. [p. 12] Sometimes we were almost turned upside down as if we were going to fill with water, but our ship still kept skipping over the waves like a little cork boat or like something alive. And the Saints, some of them, were singing, some of them laughing at others having a good fall and spilling the contents of their slop pails and chamber servers and others their dinners of gruel and pea soup [p. 13] and other kinds [of] victuals. A few cases of sickness have still been going on.
Saturday - The night has not been so rough as last night and the day got up. The sea calm. The wind in our favor and going on very nicely. 2 ships seen at distance.
Sunday, 20 - The wind in our favor and we are traveling fast. We have meetings on board and the brethren spoke very candidly to the Saints about obedience to counsel which was very attentively listened to. [p. 14] Our president Gillett spoke very hopefully and desired the Saints to be obedient to counsel and live their religion and as we were not all Saints on board the ship, John Bright, he also told us that we must not look to others for perfections. If we did we should find ourselves in a wrong course, but strive at all times to keep the best counsel and shun those who were always fault-finding and to keep ourselves from fault [p. 15] finding and if [we] do this shall find ourselves right at last. Our own ward meeting was very good. We had another birth on board today, a little boy.
Monday - The wind rather brisk but cross which causes our course to be rather zigzag. Sickness not so bad. 2 ships seen today.
Tuesday - The wind in our favor but rather slack. Sick not so bad. [p. 16]
Wednesday - The wind in our favor but rather slack and very foggy.
Thursday - The wind as yesterday. At night a thunderstorm arose but as usual, the winds and the waves obeyed his command. All was still except the lightning, thunder, and rain and that lasted about 3 quarters of an hour. The rain very heavy and after that, the fog cleared away and we had a fine Friday morning. The wind in our favor. We travel very fast. Sickness we have not much at present. [p. 17]
Saturday - The wind in our favor, rather slow but steady. A very fine day and the Saints enjoy it. 5 ships have been seen during the last 3 days.
Sunday, 27 - The day rather wet. Meetings on board today and as before, obedience is greatly desired which is carried out as well as can be looked for as we are a mixed company.
Monday - The wind rather against us but we are getting on as well as we can. [p. 18]
Tuesday - Weather foggy and we are still trying to make all as good as we can.
Saturday - Several ships have been seen but no land yet as it is so very foggy at times.
Sunday, June 3 - Today is expected to be the last Sunday meeting on board as usual and the pilot met us.
Monday - We are driven rather cross and foggy but we see some fish boats at different times. [p. 19]
Tuesday - Very foggy and the sea still but we are making a little headway. The steamer met up. Very foggy till noon when all at once the fog cleared away and the grandest sight opened to our view that ever our eyes beheld. On each side of us some of the most beautiful houses and gardens that ever we seen in our lives. We were all very lively. All that could muster on deck did to see and hear the joyful news. [p. 20] After this comes the doctor to see us which we thought to be more like an old farmer than a doctor. He passed us without much difficulty, only 2 that ailed anything of [the] moment and that [had] not fever. We then went forward till we came in view of Castle Garden. We then anchored down. We then made ready for the night which we all enjoyed being so still.
Wednesday [ABRUPT END OF ACCOUNT] [p. 21]
BIB: Lunn, John. Diary (Ms 9281 1), pp.1-21. (CHL)
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