D. Jones witnesses Pentecostal manifestations during meetings in Wales

During his second mission to Wales in 1853, Elder Dan Jones reported a profound outpouring of the Spirit during his open-air preaching tours. In his September 29, 1853, letter to Samuel W. Richards, Jones recounted a specific, highly successful preaching engagement in Bethesda, Carnarvonshire. Finding the local barn already packed with people, Jones had a cart moved to the center of the crowd to serve as his pulpit. He described the ensuing experience as a 'Pentecostal like' outpouring, noting that the atmosphere was so charged and the attention of the masses—including those who had traveled twenty to thirty miles—so fixed on his message that tears of joy glistened in their eyes. The crowd was so engaged that they were reluctant to break for an intermission, and even after preaching for two hours, he found it difficult to conclude, famously recording that it was 'difficult to find a place for the “Amen.”' Following this, he held another session that evening, where his preaching continued to draw great attention, leading many to request that he preach again the next day. This success extended to other regions, including Bangor and Carnarvon, where Jones continued to see similar scenes of spiritual influence and converts coming forward to be baptized.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I have just returned from a tour through the North of Wales, and I feel it my duty to give you a brief account of the work of the Lord in that region. On the 18th instant, I arrived at Bethesda, Carnarvonshire. I found that the Saints had made arrangements for a public meeting, and had procured a large barn for the purpose. When I arrived, I found it crowded to excess, and many were outside who could not get in. We had a cart brought into the middle of the crowd, which served as a pulpit. I stood upon it, and addressed the people for about two hours. The Spirit of the Lord was with us in a remarkable manner. Heaven’s floodgates were thrown open: Pentecostal like! With open mouths, and tears of joy glistening in their eyes did the mass unmoved drink down with greediness eternal truths. Many had traveled from twenty to thirty miles to hear the word. I felt as though I could have preached to them all night, and they seemed as though they could have listened. It was with difficulty that I could find a place to say 'Amen.' After the meeting, many came forward and requested that I would preach again in the evening, which I did, to a still larger congregation, and with equal effect. The next day I went to Bangor, and from there to Carnarvon, where I held meetings, and the same spirit of inquiry and interest was manifested. Many are investigating the truth, and several have been baptized.