"On the 13th of December, I attended our conference in New York City, with Elder Parley P. Pratt, who prophesied that the mission of the Twelve to Great Britain would be known to all nations, as it surely has been. On this day Elder John Taylor arrived in our midst. It was a happy meeting; he had passed through a severe siege of sickness after we parted, but through the mercy of God had been preserved, and was able to continue his journey. He informed us that others of the Twelve had suffered a great deal of sickness, and that it was with difficulty that they could travel. "After spending six days in New York, Elder John Taylor, in company with Elder Theodore Turley and myself, sailed out of New York harbor on the 19th of December, 1839, on board the packet ship Oxford. We took steerage passage, which cost fifteen dollars each. We had storms and rough weather, but most of the winds were favorable to a quick passage. While on the ship, a Methodist minister got into a discussion with some Catholics who were in the company, and the arguments of the minister ran rather more into abuse than sound argument. Elder Taylor told the Methodist minister that he did not think it was becoming in a daughter to find so much fault with the mother; for, as the Methodists came out of the Catholics, Elder Taylor thought the mother had as much right to enjoy her religion unmolested as the daughter had. That ended the argument. Our company consisted of one hundred and nine souls, composed of Americans, English, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch." While in New York preparing for his departure for Europe, Elder Woodruff twice saw his wife in a dream. The second time she was weeping, and both times was in great affliction. Upon his inquiring after their little daughter. Sister Woodruff answered, "She is dead." The warning in this dream received fulfillment on the 17th of the following July, the child dying on that date, while he was in England. {114} CHAPTER 12. MISSION IN GREAT BRITAIN, 1840. Wilford's Arrival in England.--Missionary Work Begun.--Casting Out a Devil.--Directed by the Spirit of the Lord to Another Field of Labor.--Meets with the United Brethren.--Many Conversions to the Gospel.--Ministers Hold a Convention To Ask Parliament for Legislation against the Mormons.--First Publication of the Book of Mormon and the Hymn Book in England.--The Millennial Star.--In the British Metropolis.--Unable to Secure a Hall To Preach in, the Elders Hold Street Meetings.--First Baptism in London.--Opposition from Preachers.--Work of God Makes Marvelous Progress.