Thus was the door opened, and the gospel soon spread in a wonderful manner.  The elders now separated and went to different towns, preaching, baptizing, and organizing branches of the Church.  Great crowds came out to hear them, especially in and around the city of Preston.  It was a most glorious time and full of interesting events which this little book cannot tell you about; but here is a sample: 

One day Elder Kimball told some of the brethren that he thought of going to a place called Chatburn, to hold meetings.  He was told that it would do no good, as it was a very wicked place, and the people there would have nothing to do with preachers.  Elder Kimball went, however, and large crowds came out to hear him.  While teaching the people the need of repenting of their evil doings and being baptized for the remission of their sins, Brother Kimball felt someone pulling at his coat: 

“Please sir, will you baptize me?” asked one.

“And me, and me!” exclaimed a dozen voices.

So Elder Kimball went down into the water and baptized twenty-five persons.  As the elders were walking out of the village, the young folks of the place ran to meet them, the older people stood in their doors to greet and bless them, while the children ran ahead, hand in hand, singing their songs of gladness.

At a conference held in Preston, April 8, 1838, there were reports from twenty-six branches of the Church.  The total number of souls in the Church was reported to be about two thousand; and all this was done in the short space of eight months.

The next day Elders Kimball, Hyde, and Russell left for home, leaving Willard Richards to preside over the mission.  Many were the sad partings these brethren had with the Saints, for a great love grows up between the Saints in the world and the elders who have brought them the gospel.

January 11, 1840, Elders John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff landed in England.  Brother Woodruff was led by the Spirit to go into a part of England called Herefordshire.  Here he found a religious body of people called United Brethren.  They had withdrawn from the Church of England, and were now praying that the Lord would send them more light.  These people heard Elder Woodruff gladly, and with joy they received the gospel.  Within one month he baptized all their preachers, forty-five in number, and one hundred and sixty of their members.  In eight months time Elder Woodruff brought eighteen hundred souls into the Church, including all the six hundred United Brethren, save one.

At one time just as Elder Woodruff was about to begin a meeting, a constable came to arrest him for preaching.  The officer was asked to take a seat, and was told that after the meeting Elder Woodruff would be at his service.  The constable was very much interested in the sermon.  At the close of the meeting seven persons asked for baptism, and the constable was one of the number.  After this, two clerks of the Church of England were sent as spies to find out what the Mormon elders preached.  Both of these men believed and joined the Church.