185 years ago today - September 2, 1841

[Joseph Fielding]

2nd I came to Preston [England]. […]

…there has been a certain Principle manifested here which I shall mention. there has been a select little Company who have looked upon themselves as better than the rest, they met together as a choice Band, where they obtained Manifestations which it was not lawful to tell to the common Saints, nor even to me, though at that time presiding, it was shewn them who should be Companions in another World, that they would not be united as they are now, (these were mostly Females). they had many strange Visions, of these things I got to hear by degrees, and one/ of their Company came to a short time ago to ask my forgiveness, as she had once pronounced a Curse [p. 74] or Woe upon me. I told her I freely forgave her, the san the Mo had not come upon me, I did not care what it was nor who were concerned in it, I did not get to know of the new Companion Revelation till a short time ago. I then said it was not of God, and if one of the Twelve should sanction it, I should still reject it, soon after I was with Elder P. P. Pratt, and asked him if it were of God, he said "no", it had been the same in Manchester while a certain Female from Preston was living there, some one had been marked out for him, and some were still believing that they should have such & such an one In Preston, they were much affraid of me knowing of these things— Others have prophesied (Females) of things pertaining to the Elders, one, that an Elder's Wife would die and he should be married to another certain Person, and the Elder for want of Experience more I think, than the Want of honesty, [p. 75] really thought it was true or from the Lord, I often cautioned this Sister to be careful about her Dreams and told her if her Eye were not single, her Dreams would be mixed with Error, I also endeavoured to show the Elders that the Priesthood was to govern and, not be led by Females Dreams or Propheizings or by anyone else, I felt much grieved for the Sis, who was to die, a faithful Sister, there kind of Prophetesses, whould also say they would see who would stand and who would not, I told them there was no defense against anyone, all might stand, and it was the Will of God that all should overcome, for it was calculated to discourage some who felt weak, and I have told the Saints that some of those who seemed to be first on the Way to the Kingdom, would find it hard work to get through, which the humble, and those who were overlooked, would be first, these things have learned me more and more the use and [p. 76] Value of the Priesthood, and the Folly of thinking to do without it, or for any one exalt himself above it, for the Lord will not authorize Men to do his Work and then direct another to go and do that which pertains to the Priesthood nor reveal things to Women to teach his Will to Men

Another thing I will mention here there had been/ too great Familiarity between the Brethren and Sisters in this Land, this I saw, but had not so much Firmness as I should have had, but rather partook in it, and when the 12 returned last year, to this Land they checked this Evil, yet some who came from America, went far beyond any thing we had ever done or sanctioned, so much so that E[lder] C— went into Bed with different Women and endeavored to persuade them it was no harm and while I was in Manchester last Week, I was informed that a Sister was in a tate of Pregnancy by an E[ld]er who persuaded her [p. 77] it mattered not how familiar they were with one another so [long as] they did not actually commit Adultery or Fornication, till they got to Bed together and were overcome, and he thus received the young Sis, and the inducement he held out to her, was that E[lder] C— had often slept with Sis P— and there was no harm in it, It seems also that E[lder] T— [Theodore Turley] has been cut off from the Church since he returned to America for the like Sin. what do their Wives think of such things, I feel myself to be weak, but the Lord has preserved me at least from outward Sin, to God be all the Praise. Yes, I am very thankful that I have been thus preserved O Lord, my God, do thou keep me unspotted to the End for Jesus Christs sake Amen.

[Joseph Fielding, Journals, 1837-1859, Church Archives, MS 1567]