On the 16th of October, 1852, that portion of the Elders whose mission
required them to travel westward met in council and received our blessings, and
entered into arrangements for starting. The following blessing I received under
the hands of Jedediah M. Grant, Wilford Woodruff and Joseph Young:
“Brother William. We lay our hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus
Christ, for thou art one of the anointed of the Lord. Thou hast received thy
holy annointing in the holy Temple. We lay our hands upon your head and confirm
all the blessings of the endowments with all the power that has heretofore been
conferred upon you. We again seal upon your head and we ask our Heavenly Father
that his Spirit may indite our hearts to pronounce upon you such blessings as
your heart desires, and indeed, we say upon you that all your heart desires in
righteousness before God, shall be given to you. The Lord will not turn you
away for your heart is sincere before him and you have sought him in the days
of your youth and have followed him in the regeneration. You have been quick to
embrace the things of God when presented to you and your feet have run in the
pathway of obedience agreeable to the council that has been given to you.
Therefore the Lord will uphold you in the day of difficulty and danger and you
shall have power over them wherever your lot may be cast, you shall prevail
over the power of Satan, and the enemies who may seek your destruction, they
will be bound. Thou are set apart even to south Australia in company with thy
brethren who are destined to labour in the same land. You are to be the first
counselor to Brother Farnham, who is appointed to be the President of that mission,
to set in council with him in oneness of heart, to council and transact
business pertaining to this mission in the light of the Holy Spirit. The power
of the Lord shall rest upon you, and His Spirit shall guide your understanding.
You shall proclaim the Gospel successfully to that people and no power shall
turn you away nor thwart you in your purpose, inasmuch as you are intent in
doing the will of the Father. We pray that the blessings of the Holy Spirit may
rest upon you and abide with you, and we say unto you that they will. You have
been faithful in years gone by — have been enlisted in the Battalion to defend
the cause of truth, and save the people of God; thou wast valient in that
arduous expedition and indefatigable in thy labours and diligence in that
mission. So shalt thou be in the present one. The blessings of God shall be
with you in this, as his power was made manifest in that campaign. His Spirit
shall guide your feet, and altho enemies shall try to destroy you, you shall
triumph over them and be successful on your mission. You shall not experience
concern, trouble, or anxiety about your kindred or friends, neither shall they
for you. The Spirit shall manifest all things to you your heart desires, for it
is present everywhere and it will report faithfully all things you desire to
know. You shall have power over the works of darkness, over wild beasts and
serpents, the elements shall have no power over you, but shall stand rebuked at
your command and in your presence. Go forth with your brethren like a mighty
herald of salvation proclaiming the Gospel with power. We seal upon you the
blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with all the blessings your heart desires
and pray our Father in Heaven to be with you from this time henceforth, that
the Spirit of this mission may begin to increase upon you from this hour, to
feel the weight and responsibility thereof, and the blessings we pronounce upon
you shall be felt from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet, and
shall not fall to the ground. Inasmuch as you continue faithful you shall
accomplish your mission and return bringing your sheaves with you and rejoice
in the midst of your family and in the bosom of the Church. All of which we
seal upon your head in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” (The Private Journal
of William Hyde, ed. Liam H. Mack [2025], 50-51)