Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 10–21 January 1844

Minutes of the Conference Held in the Musiec Hall in Bold St

this Conference seems to be improving there is good feeling Generaly Existing among the saints they wish to Emgrate and many will this spring from the Isle of man A numbr of withy [wealthy] Respectab[l]e people are inquairing after the truth hear and some are aded Every Week and the Past Difaculties seem to subside and more union Restored Among the saints according to the minutes of the several Conferences there [3 words illegible] <​there are​> 11 Conferences Composed of 137 Branches of the church in which there are at pressent 6,149 members 218 Elders 315 teachers <​priests​> 181 Teachers 97 Deacons Since Last Conference there Has 108 Removed to 137 added by Baptisem there <​are some​> many more Conferences and Branches of the church in Britten that I I have Never not as yet Had any Returns from them

We Expect to Hold a General Conference on the 6th. of April 1844 after which I Shall Be able to make a more Corect Estimate of the Numbers of the Conferences Branches and Members in this than I am at the pressent time there Seems in this to Be much oppossission to the truth but the Predgudices of the People Seems to give way before its mighty influence and the false tales against the Saints and president Joseph Smith Do not w[e]igh So much as they did <​6 months ago​> on the minds of the People— the Number of Saints Reterned at the Conference held in on the 6 day of Aprile 1841 Was 5814 there had about 800 Emigrated to Before that time from that time to a General Conference held on the 15th. of May in 1842 there was then Reprasented 7514 members making an increase in about one year 1700 besides about 905 souls that have Emigrated to in one year according to the Emigration <​Books​> [p. 18]