I had a great desire to t^pr^each the Gospel, which I did not revealto any person ^name to my brethren^, but one Sunday evening I retired into the woods
alone, and called upon the Lord in earnest prayer to open my way
to go and preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of the Earth; the
spirit of the Lord rested upon me and bore witness unto me
that my prayer was heard, and should be answered. I walked
arose from my knees happy, and walked some forty rods through a thick wood intoanopenroad, as I enteredthe road, there stood before
^&^ me^t^ Elias Higbee, a high priest, with whom I had staid for a number
of months, but had never said any thing to me about preaching or ordination, but now as I appouched^roached^ him, he said "bro. Wilford the
spirit of the Lord tells me that you should be ordained and
go on a mission." I replied, "I am ready."
Bishop Partridge said he would like to have me go into
the Southern States, through Arkansas, Tennessee & Kentucky, &c. ^&^ if I could
find any body who had faith enough to go with me ^to take^ for it would
be a dangerous count^r^y to travel in at present, in consequence of the Missouri persecution, ^to take him.^ I told him I was as ready to go South as any
where, and asked if I should go through Jackson County, as it lay direct
on our route, he said ^replied^, it would be at the risk of life, and he
had not got faith enough to undertake it; if I had, I might
try it. I also asked him, if I went through Jackson Co., if I
should start without purse or scrip according to the law of God, Hee he replied answered, that he had not got faith enough to start
on a mission through Jackson Co., without money, and if I did it
I must do it on my own faith, I felt strenuous to keep the
commandments, so I started without money; I called upon Elder Harry
Brown, and asked him if he wouldnot ^to^ accompany me; it met ^he consented,^ his wishes, and Bishop Partridge gave appointed him to go with me
I had a great desire topreach the Gospel, which I did not
name to my brethren, but one Sunday evening I retired into the woods
alone, and called upon the Lord in earnest prayer to open my way
to go and preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of the Earth; the
spirit of the Lord bore witness
that my prayer was heard, and should be answered. I
arose from my knees happy, and walked some forty rods
,,
& met Elias Higbee, a high priest, with whom I had staid for a number
of months,
, as I approached him, he said "bro. Wilford the
spirit of the Lord tells me that you should be ordained and
go on a mission." I replied, "I am ready."
Bishop Partridge said he would like to have me go into
the Southern States, through Arkansas, Tennessee & Kentucky, & if I could
find any body who had faith enough to go with me for it would
be a dangerous country to travel in, in consequence of the
Missouri persecution, to take him. I told him I was as ready to go South as any
where, and asked if I should go through Jackson County, as it lay
on our route, he replied, it would be at the risk of life, and he
had not got faith enough to undertake it; if I had, I might
try it. I also asked him, if I went through Jackson Co., if I
should start without purse or scrip according to the law of God,
he answered, that he had not got faith enough to start
on a mission through Jackson Co., without money, and if I did it
I must do it on my own faith, I felt strenuous to keep the
commandments, so I started without money; I called upon Elder Harry
Brown, and asked him to accompany me; he consented,
, and Bishop Partridge appointed him to go with me
Jan. 13, 1835, I received an honorable discharge from Lyman
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