Letter to John Taylor and Council, 15 February 1879
W. Woodruff
— His hiding place
Presidet John Taylor & Council,
Dear Brethren
As it
costimary for Elders to report at head quarter
conce[rn]ing their Labors in thare Ministry and missions
and not considering myself Exempt from this duty
I feel like giving a short Report of my Southen Mision
As you know I accompinied Br M Thatcher
to Nephi & Sanpete we had good Meeting
and I think much good was done, esspecially
in the orgainaization of the board of Trade By Moses
Thatcher a calling which I think He is well
qualified to fill, and I hope He will continue
his labors untill He Reaches St George. After He
left me I was Joined at Moroni By Brother
George Teesdale, and we held Meeting though
Sanpete Richfield and all the Settlements
wthare we stayed over Night untill we
Reached St George, whare He stayed and
Labored about two weeks, and got his work
done up in the Temple, and went his way Rejoicing
On the ownly beadstead in the House, and they
made up a family bead on the floor with the assistance
of some beding I brought. I have spent a week
in this Barren Desert, except while reading, writing &
Praying, with a gun on my shoulder Robinson
Cruso like visiting ponds, and a small river trying
to kill somthing to Eat the next day, But I found
it dull music the first day I killed 1 Goose, 8 ducks
and 6 quails, But that days hunting scared all the
wild fowl out of the country I near killed a fowle
afterwards But I was not as bad off as Nephi
was for I did not Break my Bow, and if I did
not kill any thing, the wife seared up somthing to
Eat so I did not go hundry. I could sccarcly keep
from Laughing alone to myself at the change in
my condition, A man that had spent as busy a life
as I had, and Now sevnenty two years of Age and
an Apostle in the Church, and Now wandering
alone in a Desert I with a gun on his shoulder
miles from Human habitation, trying to kill
somthing to eat, and what all this for, if it
was not for the word of God and testimony of
Jesus Christ it was for trying to keep one of the
commandmts of God, But then when I
compare my situation with the persecution and
affliction of the ancient Saints of God as well as
