Kirtland, . President O. Cowdery, Dear brother, Perhaps it would not be altogether uninteresting to our friends abroad, to give them a brief sketch of my travels in the min- istry, and travels since I left Kirtland, in May, 1834; at which time I joined the saints to go up to Zion, for the pur- pose of visiting our brethen in their afflictions. I deem it unnecessary to give an account of my travels while journeying to that place; suffice it to say, that after I arrived in Missouri, I spent the summer and fall in laboring with my hands. On the 5th of Nov. 1834, I was ordained to the office of a priest, under the hand of elder S. Car- ter, and sent forth in my weakness to proclaim the first principles of the gos- pel. After receiving some advice from bishop Partridge, I left Clay county, Missouri, on the 13th of January, 1835, in company with elder Henry Brown, for the purpose of preaching the gos- pel in the south country. We first visited Jackson county, the only suc- cess we met with, was to procure a few signers to the petition to the Gov- ernor of Missouri, for redress of wrongs done to the saints, who inhabi- ted that county: and we felt to rejoice in the privilege of bowing the knee on that land, to worship the God of Israel, although, at the same time it was pol- luted by wicked and ungodly men. From thence we passed into the ter- ritory of the Arkansas, and traveled through an extent of country where the fulness of the gospel had never been proclaimed by the Latter Day Saints. Many parts of the country we visited was but thinly inhabited, as we found in it places from 20 to 50 miles between dwelling houses, in which places was frequently the wide prairies, inhabited only by the bound- ing deer, and prouling wolf which are very numerous. Some parts of the Arkansas was considerably populous; and wherever we found inhabitants, we did not shun to preach the word unto them as we had opportunity, ei- ther in the family circle or in the pub- lic assembly. Elder Brown, having been absent from his family for some length of time, felt it his duty to re- turn; we travelled with speed through the country, consequently we had not time to establish churches in that re- gion; yet I trust our labors were not in vain: the minds of many were awa- kened to enquire into the work, preju- dice removed, and the way opened for those who may visit that country in future. In places where our stay was short, some would take us by the hand and with tears in their eyes bid us God's speed. Elder Brown led two into the waters of baptism, at the Pet- ty John creek in the Arkansas; these were the only two we baptised while together. From this place we proceeded to the Dardanell, where we dug us out a ca- noe, and proceeded down the Arkas- sas river to the Little Rock, a distance of 170 miles. From thence we took the military road leading from Little Rock to Memphis; passed through the Mississippi swamp rising of 100 miles which road at that time was almost impassable for man or beast in conse- quence of mud and water. Here about 60 miles east of the Mississippi, I took the parting hand with elder Brown, af- ter we had commended each other to God. He started for Kirtland, and I bent my course for Benton county, Tennessee; and as others before us had found it good to trust in the Lord, so did we; for, although our travels together were rising 1,000 miles, with- out purse or scrip, in a thinly settled country, yet I can say with gratitude to God, and those that entertained us, that in not one instance were we refu- sed in any of our requests for the ne- cessaries of life. I reached Benton county Tenn. in April, 1835, where I was privileged with a happy interview with elder W. Parrish, and a society of saints, raised up through his and elder Patten's in- strumentality. I traveled for several months with elder Parish; the Lord blessed our la- bors while together, the work of God rolled on, and we had souls given us as seals to our ministry. Elder Par- rish was called to Kirtland, and after setting in order the churches and or- daining me to the office of an elder, he left them in my care and returned to this place. I felt my weakness but was much blessed in my labors, and continued to preach the gospel; and although priests and people raged, yet truth prevailed among the honest in heart, many received the word with joy and gladness, and were baptised