Letter to Aphek Woodruff, Azubah Hart Woodruff, and Eunice Hart Woodruff Webster, 9 December 1835
Paris, Henry County Tennessee
Aphek & Azubah Woodruff & Sister Eunice Beloved & Respected Friends A
Multiplicity of busineess has hitherto prevented me from
informing you that I had receieved A letter from you
which I perused with great pleasure & was much gratified to hear
once more from my friends I also received A letter from Brother
Asahel under date of Sept 9th which stated that he was well &
some prospect of his calling to see me I have enjoyed the best
of health since I last wrote allthough I have laboured almost
night & day for the salvation of the honest & meek of this
south country Elder Warren Parrish left me as he was called to
Kirtland on the 23rd of July since that time I have ben
labouring alone untill A few Days since I was joined by one
of the travling Elders my circuit has been & still is very
ex^s^tensive it is about 130 miles in length & I make it A
point to travel through in two weeks the Elders of the
Church of Latter Day Saints generally make it a point
to two by two & on part & I generally have done So myself.
still I came to this state but as my circuit is so extensive
I cannot do it well here & as my friends Desire to supply
me with horses I consider it no sin to ride them
for I have many waters to cross which at times I
cannot ford them with my horse without swiming him which I
occasionally do & at one time while attempting to swim Bloody River
The courant being rapid my horse got tangled among the brush
I was obliedged to leeve her & swim out myself however
we both got out unharmed I have travled all weather wet or
dry, cold or hot, I have many calls upon the right & left hand
far more than I can attend to we have Baptized on my circuit
112 & 24 of them I have Baptized since Brother Parrish left me
& I espect to Baptize a number more soon as their is 10 or 15
have manifested their determinations to follow they friends by
entering into the New & Everlasting Covenant I have been
much opposed by the priests of the day in this county more however
behind my back than ato my face some few have opposed me
publickly face to face such I have always publicly answered
& the Lord in not one instance has suffered me to be confounded
