Spiritual Manifestations During the Voyage of the Golconda

During the voyage of the ship Golconda, which departed Liverpool on February 4, 1854, with 464 Saints, the company president Dorr P. Curtis, assisted by Elders Thomas Squires and W. S. Phillips, organized the emigrants into seven branches. In his journal, Curtis records that they established the 'Golconda Emigrating Conference' and held meetings five times a week, where the Saints were richly blessed with the gifts of the Spirit—specifically tongues, interpretations, visions, revelations, and prophecies—which caused the hearts of the Saints to rejoice exceedingly and to magnify the name of the Lord for the gathering of Israel. Although the voyage faced contrary winds for the first two or three days, the weather subsequently turned favorable, leading to a pleasant crossing of 42 days that concluded with the ship's arrival in New Orleans on March 18, 1854. During the journey, the company maintained love and union, reporting only one death and two marriages, with the Saints frequently expressing gratitude that they lived in an age where the God of Israel had set His hand to gather His people from the uttermost parts of the earth.