The conversion of Frances Farr Mills

(The following is taken from the history of Louisa Harriet Mills Palmer)  It was while at "Winchester Hampshire, England that the family first heard the gospel.  It was carried to them by Brother Charles R. Savage, who later became a member of the Old Folks committee of Salt Lake City and William Wilde of Coalville, Utah.

Until this time my mother had belonged to the Baptist and Methodist churches, but did not seem satisfied with either.  The gospel came to them in a very peculiar way.  I was a baby of eleven months and was so ill the Doctor had given up all hopes of my recovery.  The minister passed judgment upon me and said that I would be dead by morning.  My mother was watching over her dying baby, waiting for the Doctor and minister to return, when someone knocked upon the door.  Upon answering the door she found two home missionaries who were strangers to her. 
The visitors seemed quite boisterous, mother thought, and she became much annoyed.  She asked them to please be quiet because she had a dying baby in the house.  On hearing this, Brother Savage asked to see the baby.  He said, "In the name of the Lord you child shall not die."  My mother thought him beside himself.  He also said that with her permission he would administer to me in the name of the True and Living God.  She gave her consent but with instructions to be quick before he minister should return.  In the blessing he said, "You shall not die but shall live and be a savior unto our people and shall gather to the land of Zion."  Brother Savage also said that I should be dressed that day and that my mother should hear the Gospel and receive it at their hands.  Their promises were fulfilled.

While still a small child I remember John Taylor and Erastus Snow who were missionaries in our town. About the year 1857 my family moved to St. James St. in Southampton in order to be nearer to the church.  The church worked under great opposition at this time.  After a lapse of a few years I was baptized, having to go a long distance at night to the ocean.  I was baptized and confirmed by President Henry Puesy.

At this time the Saints were asked to fast and pray for three days fro the Saints in Zion because of Johnson's Army.  My mother fasted all three days and I fasted on day.  This was my first fast.

At this time my mother was called to do missionary work, I helped by taking the numbers of the houses while she distributed tracts.   It was a while at this work I received my first lessons in the Gospel, which have been very beneficial all through my life.  I also saw the mobbing of the saints and the breaking of windows by non-members.

In the year 1860 President George Q. Cannon, who was the President of the European mission counseled the saints to come to Zion.  If they did not have means to come all at once to send as many of the children as they could and the next year send more until all were in Zion.  Upon this advice my brother Charles Edmond Thomas, his wife, and my sister Mary were sent in the year 1861.  I was to go the next year and my sister Sarah the following year."