Elder L. J. Herrick's protection and successful preaching during a shipwreck

“I left Cape Town on the 24th of January, on board the barque 'St. Helena,' bound for London. We had a very pleasant passage until the 12th of February, when, about 4 o'clock in the morning, the vessel struck on a reef in St. Helena Bay. The fog was so dense that we could not see the length of the ship. The captain, who was a very gentlemanly man, was much alarmed, and thought the ship would go to pieces in a few minutes. I felt perfectly calm, and had a testimony that we should be saved. I told the captain that the ship would not go to pieces, and that we should all get safely to land. He seemed to take courage from what I said. We remained on the reef until the 14th, when the weather cleared up, and we were enabled to get the ship off, and proceeded on our voyage. The captain invited me to preach on two occasions, and had all the arrangements made for that purpose. The passengers turned out to hear me. We had good meetings, and the Lord poured out his Spirit upon me, so that I was enabled to speak freely and without fear. I feel that I have the prayers of faithful Saints and have faith that I shall reach my journey’s end in safety.”

— L. J. Herrick, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 36, No. 12