Autobiography 1865 Millennial Star
where we arrived on the .
I attended the Special Conference of
the Authorities of the Church, when
the thousands who assembled on the
occasion, voted unanimously to sus-
tain the Quorum of the Twelve Apos-
tles as the Presidency and leaders of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints.
I have ever been impressed, since
my first acquaintance with the Church
and kingdom of God upon the earth,
with the importance of keeping a
journal and record of the dealings of
God with this people, and our official
acts in the ministry, and under this
view I have written sketches of most
of the sermons and teachings which I
have heard from the mouth of Joseph
Smith the Prophet, and many of the
teachings of the Twelve Apostles and
others. Believing this course to be
beneficial, I would recommend the
Elders of Israel to do likewise, that
what is recorded on earth may be re-
corded in heaven.
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
(Written at Great Salt Lake City, Feb. 1858.)
Varied and diverse are the lives
and fortunes of men; while the paths
of some are strewn with flowers and
ease from the cradle to the grave,
with naught to disturb their peace,
others are marked victims of varied
misfortunes, accidents and dangers.
The last-named class is the one in
whose ranks I have stood through my
infancy, childhood, youth and man-
hood, up to the present time, so much
so, that it has seemed as though some
invisible power or fate was watching
my footsteps, in order to find some
opportunity to take my life from the
earth. I can only attribute the con-
tinuation of my life to the present
time to a merciful God, whose hand
has been stretched out, and rescued
me from death in the midst of the
many dangers and hairbreadth escapes
I have passed through, some of which
I will here mention.
When three years of age, I fell into
a caldron of boiling water, was in-
stantly caught out, but was so badly
scalded, that it was nine months be-
fore I was considered out of danger.
At five years of age, I fell from the
great beam of a barn, striking my face
upon the floor, which came near
breaking my neck.
Three months afterwards, I broke
one of my arms, by falling down
stairs. I soon after broke my other
arm, by falling out of a high stoop
upon a pile of timber.
When six years of age, I came near
being killed by a surly bull. My
father and I were feeding pumpkins
to the cattle, a surly bull drove my
cow away from the one she was eating.
I took the pumpkin he had left, upon
which he pitched at me. My father
told me to throw down the pumpkin
and run. I ran down a steep hill,
and took the pumpkin with me, being
determined that the cow should have
her rights. The bull pursued. As
he was about to overtake me, I step-
ped into a post hole and fell; the bull
leaped over me, after the pumpkin,
and tore it to pieces with his horns,
