No man, perhaps, Joseph Smith excepted, who has belonged to the Church in this generation, ever possessed the gift of prophecy to a greater degree than Brother Kimball. Although not at all pretentious, he was somewhat celebrated among his acquaintances for his prophetic inspiration. The prediction which he made soon after the arrival of the Pioneers in Salt Lake Valley, that the destitute Saints would soon be supplied with clothing, and that "States goods" would be sold in Salt Lake City as cheap as in New York, seemed most unreasonable at the time it was uttered. Its fulfillment, however, by the unexpected influx of gold-seekers, making their way to California, and anxious to lighten their loads by selling their goods at almost any price, is now a matter of history. Scores of other predictions were made by him and as literally fulfilled. Brother Kimball was the only one of his father's family who embraced the gospel, but now his is one of the most numerous families in the Church. At the time of his death, which occurred June 22, 1868, he was the father of sixty-five children, of whom thirty males and eleven females were then living. His direct descendants now number one hundred and seventy-two. The first ten chapters of this work were formerly published in pamphlet form by Elder R. B. Thompson in Nauvoo. Only a small edition, however, was printed, and it has now been out of print for a great many years. The next six chapters have been compiled from the manuscript history of Elder Kimball by his eldest daughter, Sister Helen Mar Whitney, to whom we are also indebted for the items contained in his letters from which the last chapter was written. THE PUBLISHER. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Called to go Upon a Mission to England--Appointed to Preside--The Journey. CHAPTER II. Timidity at the Thoughts of my Task--Prompted by the Spirit to go to Preston--"The Truth Will Prevail"--Meet Elder Fielding's Brother, a Preacher--Invited to Preach in his Chapel--Seeing his Craft Endangered, he Closes his Doors Against us--Another Minister Forbids us Baptizing his Church Members--Desperate Struggle with Evil Spirits--Commence Baptizing--Elders Separate--Opposed by a Minister--His Subsequent Shame. CHAPTER III. Meeting for Confirmation--Convert and Baptize Miss Richards--Her Father, a Minister, Invites me to Preach in his Chapel--Congregation Believe my Testimony--Mr. Richards Frightened--Closes his Chapel Against me--His Daughter Troubled--I Predict that he will Again Open his Chapel to me--Prediction Fulfilled--Other Elders Encouraged by the Rev. Mr. Matthews, who Afterwards Rejects their Testimony and Commences Preaching their Doctrines on his Own Account. CHAPTER IV. The People Eager to Hear us--We Rent "The Cock Pit" to Preach in--Obtain Licenses to Preach--Continued Success. CHAPTER V. First Conference in England--Word of Wisdom First Taught there--Enemies Active--Urgent Invitation from a Baptist Church--The Effect of our Preaching.