in all their freshness and simplicity; as flowers of the field, with the dew and fragrance of their native meadow yet clinging to them. This has been done, not only out of deference to the wishes of his relatives, who desired that much of what their father had written should be incorporated in the book of his life, but because I have deemed it best to thus project upon the reader's mental vision, by means of the most superior process, the portrait of the man and his mission as painted by himself.

I cannot close this introductory without expressing my deep sense of indebtedness to the kind friends who have aided and encouraged me in the bringing forth of this, my first book. Their name is legion, but limited space will only permit the mention of a few. To President Wilford Woodruff and others of the Apostles I am indebted for kind words and encouragement, and for the appointment of a committee, at my request, to read the manuscript and pass upon it critically, as to doctrinal and historical points, before placing it in the hands of the printer; to Elder George Reynolds, for his intelligent advice and labors as one of said committee; and to Edward W. Tullidge Esq., the veteran author, for a collection of facts relating to my subject, gathered during his extensive experience as historian and biographer. Last, but not least, in this limited reference, I am under obligations of gratitude to my uncle, Solomon F. Kimball, the chief promoter of this work, who first approached me on the subject of writing his father's life, and who, in all the toils incident to such an undertaking, has proved my staunch and faithful friend.

My labor, I need hardly say, in conclusion, has been one of love and duty. I have fulfilled, imperfectly I know, conscientiously I am as certain, what I considered a sacred trust; the result of which I now lay at the feet of an indulgent public.

ORSON F. WHITNEY.

NOVEMBER, 1888.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

  A Pre-existent Glimpse—God's Noble and Great Ones—Heber C. Kimball
  a Predestined Prophet—Opening of the Last Dispensation—Heber's
  Birth and Parentage—Early Incidents of His Life—Clouds and
  Sunshine

CHAPTER II.

A Romantic Episode—Heber's Marriage with Vilate Murray—A Soldier and a Free Mason—His Stern Arraignment of the Ancient Order—Death of Heber's Father and Mother

CHAPTER III.

  Heber's Poetic Nature—A Rough Diamond—Early Religious
  Experience—Joins the Baptist Church—"Signs in the Heavens
  Above"—Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young—The Everlasting Gospel

CHAPTER IV.

  Heber Embraces Mormonism—A Baptism of Fire—Death of Miriam
  Young—Vilate Kimball a Mother to the Orphans—Heber Ordained an
  Elder—Resolves to Visit Kirtland

CHAPTER V.

  The Land of Shinehah—Arrival of Heber and Brigham in
  Kirtland—Their First Meeting with the Prophet—The Kimballs and
  Youngs Remove to Ohio—Vexatious Suits and Mob Violence—Fallen on
  Perilous Times

CHAPTER VI.

  The Gathering of the Titans—Heber's Testimony of Joseph and the
  Twelve—Their Mighty Mission—The Test of Faith—Zion's Camp

CHAPTER VII.

  The Redemption of Zion—Enoch's City to Return—Object of The United
  Order—Cause of the Jackson County Expulsion—The Wheat from the
  Chaff

CHAPTER VIII.

  The Zion's Camp Expedition—Joseph as a Prophet General—Finding of
  the Bones of Zelph, the Ancient—Rebellion in the Camp—Joseph
  Predicts a Scourge—Heber's Failure as a Launderer—Zion's Camp
  Saved by a Storm

CHAPTER IX.

The Fishing River Revelation—Why Zion was not Redeemed—The Cholera in Camp—The Test of Faith Complete—The Shadow of a Coming Event

CHAPTER X.

  Building the Temple—Joseph and Heber Working in the Quarry—The
  Theological School—A Lesson on Faith—Call of the Twelve—Heber C.
  Kimball Ordained an Apostle

CHAPTER XI.

  First Mission of the Twelve—Heber Revisits the Scenes of his
  Childhood—Mobbing an Abolitionist—"The Accuser of the
  Brethren"—Days of Repentance and Reformation

CHAPTER XII.

  Heber's Description of the Temple—Its Dedication—Angels
  Administer—The "Beloved Disciple" John Seen—The Solemn
  Assembly—The Elders Endowed with Power from on High—Heber's Lone
  Mission

CHAPTER XIII.

  The Worship of Mammon—The Temporal Above the Spiritual—The
  Kirtland Bank—Financial Disasters—Apostasy—Heber Sorrows Over the
  Degeneracy of the Times

CHAPTER XIV.

  Zion's Ship Among the Breakers—"Something New Must be Done to Save
  the Church."—Heber C. Kimball Appointed to Open the British
  Mission—Spiritual Things to the Front—Righting the Ship—Heber's
  Prophecy to Willard Richards—"Yea, in the Name of the Lord, Thou
  Shalt Go With Me"—The Departure for England

CHAPTER XV.

  Farewell to Native Land—"Upon the Wide, Wide Sea"—Heber's Dream of
  Joseph—A Ship Out of Her Reckoning—A Dying Child Healed—Apostle
  Hyde Preaches on Board—Arrival at Liverpool—The Elders Leap Ashore

CHAPTER XVI.

  Strangers in a Strange Land—The Elders Led by the Spirit to
  Preston—"Truth Will Prevail"—The Reverend James
  Fielding—Wonderful Fulfillment of Heber's Prophecies—A People
  Prepared for the Gospel—The Elders Preach in Preston

CHAPTER XVII.

  Satan Alarmed—The Powers of Evil Conspire Against the
  Elders—Chapels and Churches Closed Against Them—The Reverend Mr.
  Fielding in his Real Colors—The Work Continues to Spread—An Army
  of Demons Attack the Elders—The Dawn and Victory

CHAPTER XVIII.

  The Reverend Mr. Fielding Forbids the Elders to Baptize their
  Converts—Apostle Kimball's Answer: "They are of Age and Can Act for
  Themselves"—Premier Gladstone and Secretary Evarts—Free Agency and
  Unrighteous Dominion—Heber C. Kimball Baptizes in the River
  Ribble—A Miracle

CHAPTER XIX.

  The Elders Separate for the Better Prosecution of Their
  Work—Jennetta Richards—The Preston Branch Organized—Heber Goes to
  Walkerfold—Another Minister's "Craft in Danger"—More of Heber's
  Prophecies—"Willard, I Baptized Your Wife To-day."

CHAPTER XX.

  The Mission of Elias—The Symbolism of the Universe—The Past
  Preparatory to the Present and Future—The Way Prepared for the
  Fullness of the Gospel—The "Lesser Lights" of England—Fielding,
  Matthews and Aitken—The Stars Paling Before the Sun

CHAPTER XXI.

  The Temperance Reform in Preston—A Work Preparatory to the