<The> New Year opens some little different in many respects to the past. It was an experiment at that time to prea be tried in regard to preaching the gospel among this people, but still one in which I was we had every reason to believe <we> would be sustained in attempting. The result has answered my expectations. When I take a retrospective view of the past I can see the overruling finger of providence has [been] exerted in behalf of the work upon these lands and every thing has been ordered for good. The Lord’s ways are not as man’s ways, very different is his mode of operations to that imagined or chalked out by puny man for him to work in. The experience of the past year gives every encouragement for the future. I have proved that I will have strength according to my day if I only live right.¹

Returned from Waihee and found Bro. Birch very bad; we laid hands on him and he seemed to improve. We baptized two women this afternoon. Bro. H. and I sat up with him all night; he seemed a good deal improved.²

Bro. B. is better.

Started for Wailuku; in afternoon held meeting.

Bro. Burnham came over to-day in company with Bro. Hammond having come down from Makawao yesterday. Preached to a large congregation and after meeting baptised eight. Preached and confirmed in afternoon. Returned to Waiehu in company with the brethren.

Napela came over to be baptised this morning. I baptised him and three more and confirmed them at the water’s edge.³

Quite unwell with very sore throat. About 9 o’clock this evening there was a total eclipse of the moon it was of more than an hours’ duration.

Went to Wailuku and held Bible Class in the afternoon. After the meeting was over Bros. H. and [H. K.] Kaleohano and I started off towards the beach to a place called the Maalaia [Ma‘alaea];—Bro. K. had preached the first principles to them and there were several anxious to be baptised. We arrived there about 9 o’clock. I spoke some to them upon the necessity of coming in aright with a determination to forsake all their sins.

This morning the people assembled together and I spoke to them upon the doctrines of the gospel; baptised 18 in the sea; and afterwards held meeting and confirmed them and organized the branch, ordaining one teacher and one deacon. In evening started back to Wailuku, Bro. H. going on to Waiehu.

Variously engaged.

Bible class this afternoon. I had adopted this plan thinking it the speediest way of getting them acquainted with principle of which the majority were very ignorant.—After meeting I rode down to a retired place in company with Bro. J. H. Napela and [W. H.] Uaua who wanted to be baptised. I attended to it and then we rode up to Waiehu to Mr. Rice’s; Bro. Winchester having rode to day from Makawao left his mule for me to ride over as Mr. R. & Bro. W. wished me to spend the night with them. We eat supper & then attended to the confirmation of Bro. Uaua; we enjoyed a good portion of the Spirit.

We went over to meeting at Wailuku. I had a good flow of the spirit and felt like speaking strong to them, and setting the principles of truth before them. In afternoon confirmed those baptised [blank] of them; and attended to the Lord’s Supper and ordained Bros. Napela and Uaua teachers, and gave considerable instruction on priesthood &c. After meeting I went down in company with Bros. Napela and Uaua to baptise several that wished to be baptised; on the way down met with a Catholic priest a Frenchman; he wanted to know where my authority was &c., our conversation lasted about an hour; he was much excited I kept very cool and had the advantage of him in this respect as well as others. He betrayed considerable ignorance of the scriptures in several things instances. The natives several of them thought that his arguments were very weak.—Baptised eleven and confirmed them. In the evening upon the return of Bro. N. and I to his house we met Mr. [Rev. Daniel] Conde at the door, I passed in and he stopped N. to talk with him; they talked about half an hour I sat very patiently in the house, but still I could not help hearing unless I had stopped my ears, a great deal of their conversation; he went on as usual in a strain of invective, lying and speaking evil of the truth. I sat and heard until it seemed to me that forbearance ceased to be a virtue. I went out and walked up to where they were standing; his first salutation <to me> was, that they could dispense with my attendance. I told him that he probably could but still I thought I could afford him some information upon <some> doctrinal points. He told N. that we said we could heal the sick by praying with them and anointing them [with] oil; and said we ought to heal Napela’s wife [Kitty]. I spoke to him and asked if we done wrong in doing as the Scriptures said, or would it be better for [us] to turn infidel and deny the scriptures. Our conversation lasted about five or ten minutes and he left by telling N. that he would like to see him at his house.

Napela had the advantage of him while conversing upon the scriptures and upon our belief, he could not gainsay it for N. had the bible to sustain him.—But he commenced with newspaper stories &c.

Bros. H. & W. started for Makawao.⁴

Went over to see Bro. Birch & Mr. Rice.

Held Bible Class. Baptised 17 and confirmed them.

Started this morning to go to Koolau about day break and arrived at Makawao just as they were sitting down to breakfast. I met a native from Keanae with a note for me close to Makawao, stating that they had found out the faults of the new teachers meaning Bros. Hawkins and Keeler and wishing me to come over. Bros. H. & K. I found at the house they having arrived from Keanae the evening before; they having been unable to accomplish much or at least to bring the people up to the standard they wished to; and in their endeavors to regulate the branch they had been opposed by one of the teachers who had taken a vote to reject them and choose another &c. &c.

After breakfast we held meeting for the purpose of counselling in regard to the matter—the brethren then made a statement in regard to matters at Keanae and after hearing the statements and their motives for action—it was resolved that it would be best to let them be for awhile and wait for some <further> moves on their part.⁵ Ordained Bros. Winchester & Burnham Elders.

Reading &c.

do. do. I was presented this evening with a pair of shoes by Bro. Winchester.

Bro. Winchester and I started over to Waiakoa and preached and baptised two; afternoon preached again and started again for Makawao, it commenced raining and we had a very disagreeable time riding home[,] the wind blowing cold and chilling us to the centre;—when we arrived, at about 7 o’clock, we were thoroughly drenched.

Reading &c.

do. do.

Started for Waiehu in company with Bros. H. [James Hawkins] & K. [James Keeler] arrived in afternoon very lame in consequence of my Shoes.⁷

very lame in consequence This afternoon Mr. [David] Rice proposed being baptised and we went down and baptised him I officiated also baptised a native. In after evening confirmed him & enjoyed ourselves much.

variously engaged.

do. do.

On account of my lameness Bro. [Jonathan] Napela sent a boy with a horse for me to ride over to Wailuku. I preached and had a good flow of the Spirit; after meeting baptised eleven and one white man. In afternoon enjoyed a good flow of the Spirit.

Bro. H. & Bro. Rice went to Lahaina.

They returned this evening. Translating Book of Mormon.⁸

Translating Book of Mormon.

do. do. do.

do. do.

do. the Word of Wisdom.