Elders Willes and Richards Guided by Visions to Mission Field

While serving in Calcutta, Elders William Willes and Joseph Richards were led by the 'still small voice' and 'many encouraging visions of the night' to conclude their mission in Calcutta and travel into the interior of India to preach the Gospel. They sustained James Patric Meik as branch president before departing on November 10, 1852, on a 1,000-mile journey toward the Punjab. Traveling without purse or scrip, they walked over 620 miles before finding it more economical to shift to ox-drawn wagons. As they journeyed up the Ganges River Basin, they visited sacred Hindu sites and the Taj Mahal, preaching and baptizing as they traveled. By the time they reached Agra, 800 miles from Calcutta, they had baptized 16 people. At Agra, Richards’s health began to fail, forcing him to return to Calcutta, while Willes continued the journey alone into the Himalayan foothills, eventually traveling more than 1,600 miles to what is now Himachal Pradesh.

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

We left Calcutta on the 10th of last November. Having for some time previous been led by the “still small voice within, and many encouraging visions of the night, to conclude that our presence was required in other cities of this vast but benighted land, and also that for the present our testimony could be dispensed with in the City of Palaces,” we felt it our duty to inform our beloved brethren in Calcutta thereof. We accordingly did so, and having set in order the affairs of the branch, and sustained Elder James P. Meik as President, we took our departure, without purse or scrip, to travel into the interior, trusting in Him who feedeth the ravens, and who has promised to be with His servants in all their journeyings. We have travelled on foot upwards of 620 miles, and have found the Lord to be a present help in time of need. We have visited the far-famed city of Benares, the holy city of the Hindoos, and have also visited the Taj at Agra, which is said to be the finest building in the world. We have preached the Gospel in many places, and have baptized 16 persons since we left Calcutta, and we have the prospect of baptizing more. We have travelled about 800 miles from Calcutta, and are now at Agra. Elder Richards’ health has been very poor for some time, and he has been obliged to return to Calcutta, but I am still continuing my journey towards the Punjab, trusting in the Lord to open my way.