Autobiography 1857 Draft 1 [A-5]

History of Wilford Woodruff

In traceing the history of my Fathers I find it difficult to obtain a satisfactory
account of the Woodruff family (from whom I descended) for more than
three generation. I learn from the English Book of Heraldry that

Woodruff supposed to be one of my Ancestors was Lord Mayor
of the City of London at the time of the great fire in AD 1649 My Great
Grand Father Josiah Woodruff lived nearly one hundred years of age and
possessed a strong Iron Constitution and performed a great amount of
manual labour nearly up to the time of his death. His wifes name was
Sarah. He had by her nine children as follows Josiah, Appleton, Eldad
Elisha, Joseph, Roda, Phebe & 2 names not given. One of his daughters married
married a Chase the other a man by the name of North
My Grandfather Eldad Woodruff was the third son of Josiah
Woodruff. He was born ^in Farmington Hartford County Connecticut^ in 1751. He like his father possessed a
strong constitution it was considered ^said^ that he performed the
most manual labor for several years of any man in Hartford
County Ct. but from over exertion in hewing timber he had a
severe ^was^ attack of the ^with^ rheumatism in his right hip which caused a
severe lameness in his righ for several years before his death
He married Dinah Woodford by whom he had 7 children as follows
Eldad, Elizabeth, Samuel, Aphek, Titus, Hellen, & Ozem.
Eldad Married Lewey Woodford, Elizabeth Amasa Frisby. Samuel Miss Case,
Aphek Bulah Thompson, & Azubah Hart. Titus Louisa Allan, Hellen Amos
Wheeler & Ozem Acksa Merrill & Hannah Hart, all of which had a
numerous families of children. My Grand Father died ^in Farmington Ct^ with an attack of the
^the^ spotted fever in 1806 aged 55 years. My Grand Mother Dinah Woodruff
died in 1824 ^aged the same place^ in Farmington Ct with a cancer in the left breast. Her sufferings
were very great.

My Father Aphek Woodruff was born in Farmington Hartford County Ct
November 11^th 1778. Married Bulah Thompson who was born 1782 Married Nov 29, 1801
by whom he had three children, Azmon, born Nov 29 1802. Ozem Thompson born
Dec 22nd 1804. Wilford born March 1^st 1807. My Mother Bulah Woodruff died
with an attack of the spoted fever June 11^th 1808 aged 26 years leaving me 15 months
old at her death. My Father married for his second wife Azubah Hart Nov born July 31^st
18 1792 Married Nov 9^th 1810, by whom he had 6 children

Philo born Nov 29 ^th 1811. Died by poison administered by a physician Nov 25 1827 aged
16 years. Asahel Hart born April 11 ^th 1814. Died ^in Terrahaut In^ October 18^th, 1838. Aged 24. Franklin born March
12 1816 died June 1^st 1816 aged 2 months 19 days. Newton born June 19, 1818 drowned
Sept 1820 aged 2 years & 3 months. Julius born April 22nd 1821 died in infancy
Eunice born June 19^th 1820. Married to Dwight I baptized her into the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter day Saints July 1^st 1838 I married her to Dwight Webster in Farmington Ct
Aug 4^th 1841. My Father Aphek Woodruff like his Father was a strong constitu-
tioned man, has done a great amout of labour all of his life. He commenced
attending a flouring mill & a saw mill at 18 years of age which business he has now
continued in for about 50 years, most of the time he has laboured through the day & one half
of the night. He never made any profession of religion untill I baptized him with all
his household into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the 1^st day of
July 1838. Although my Father was not a professor of religion He was a
man of great charity, honesty, integrity, & truth. He made himself poor as to
wealth by giving to the poor & accomodating his fellow man by loaning money
and being surety for his neighbor, and always saying yes to evry man who asked
a favor at his hand.

I was born in the North part of the town of Farmington now called Avon, Hatford ^Hartford^
Co Ct, March 1^st 1807. I followed the same occupation of my Father
that of a Miller from my youth up until 1831. I assisted my ^Father^ in attending
the Farmington Mills untill I was 20 years of age, in the spring of 1827 I took
the flouring Mill of my Aunt Hellen Wheeler which I attended 3 years. In the
spring of 1830 I took charge of the flouring Mill of Mr Collins the Ax manufacturer
in South Canton Ct, at the end of one year it was demolished to make way for
other Machinery, in the spring of 1831, I took charge of the flouring Mill
owned by Mr Richard B. Cowles of New Hartford Connecticut. In the
spring of 1832 in company with my oldest brother Azmon Woodruff I
went to Richland Oswago County N York & purchased a farm & saw Mill
& setled down in business for awhiles.

Variant & divers are the lives & fortunes of man in every age of the world. While the
path of some are strewn with flowers & ease from the cradle to the graves with
naught to disturb their peace others apparently are marked victims of variated
misfortune accidents & dangers. The last named class is the one in whose ranks
I have stood through my infancy childhood youth & manhood 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 but I can ownly attribute the continuation of my life on Earth
to the present time to a merciful God whose hand has been streched out & rescued
me from death in the midst of the many dangers and hair breadths escapes which I
have passed through in life some of which I will here mention

When three years of age I fell into a caldron of boiling water was instantly caught out
& so badly scalded that is was 9 months before I was considered out of danger. When
five years of age I fell from the great beam of a barn upon my face upon the beam floor
which came near breaking my neck three months afterwards I broke one of my
arms falling down a pair of stairs. I soon broke the other arm falling out of
a high stoop across some timber. When six years of age I came near being killed
by a surly bull and was ownly saved as it were by a miracle. During the same year
I went into my Fathers saw mill with several other children I got upon the head block
to take a ride while running the carriage back not anticipating any danger but before
I was aware of it my leg was caught between the head block & fender post & broak
both bones in two below the knee I was taken to the house & lay 9 hours before my
bones was set which time was spent amid severe pain: but being young my bones
soon nit together & in few weeks I was again upon my feet attending to the sports of
my youth. During my confinement with this lameness my brother Thompson was my
companion in the same room going through with a course of the typus fever
When 7 years of age I was riding on the top of a load of hay which my Uncle
Ozem Woodruff was driving to the barn when he turned the load over on top of
me and before it was I was nearly strangled for the want of air before it was removed
from me. While 8 years of age I was riding in a one horse waggon with
several others to go to our labor the horse took fright ran down a steep hill and
turned us over with the waggon on top of us. But again while in the midst of danger
my life was preserved none of us was seriously injured. While 9 years of age I clumb ^climbed^
into an Elim tree to obtain some bark. I steped upon a dry tree limb and I fell
about 15 feet upon my back which apparently beat the breath out of my body a cousin
ran & told my parents I was dead, before they arrived at the spot I came to my senses
arose upon my feet & met my Parents coming to me. At 12 years of age I
was drowned in Farmington River & sunk in 30 feet of water and was miraculously
saved by a young man named Bacon, I suffered much in being restored to life
At 13 years of age while passing through Farmington meadows in the depth of
winter with the roads drifted with snow and in an exceeding blustering day I became

Became so chilled & overcome with cold I could not travel, I crawled into the
hollow of a large tree to rest me. A man in the distance seeing me go into it
hastened to my ^rescue^ realizeing more fully than I did the danger I was in when he arrived
at the spot I had fallen asleep & was nearly insensible, he had much difficulty in
arousing me to a sens of my situation. He procured means to convey me to my
Fathers house and through a kind profidence my life was again preserved

At 14 years of age I split my left instep open with an ax which went nearly
through my foot & ^it^ was 9 months getting well. At 15 years of age I was bitten in
my left hand by a mad dog in the last stage of the Hydrophobia. He ownly clamped
my hand with his teeth but did not draw blood and I was preserved through
the mercy of God from an awful death. At the age of 17 I met with an accident
which caused me much suffering & came near ending my life. I was riding a very
ill tempered horse which I was not acquainted with, and while going down a very steep
rocky hill the horse took the advantage of the ground suddenly leaped from the road & ran
down the steepest part of the hill amid the thicket & the rocks at full speed and he commenced
kicking up at the same time & about landing me over his head among the rocks but I lodged
on the top of his head grasped one hand hold of each ear as with a death grasp expecting evry
moment to be dashed to peaces against the rocks while in this position sitting astride his neck
with no bridle to guide him but his ears he plunged down the hill among the rocks with all
force ^speed^ untill he ran against a rock which dashed him to the Earth I went over his head
& the rock about one rod & struck the ground square upon my being the ownly thing
visible that saved my life, for had ^I^ struck upon any othe part of my body it must have
killed me instantly, as it was my boenes bones crushed from under me as though they
were reeds. It broke my left leg twice in two & put out both of my ancles in a
shocking manner, and the horse came nigh rolling over me in his struggles to
get up. ^My uncle Titus Woodruff saw^ An uncle of mine saw me fall, hastened to my relief got amist me &
& carried me to his house in an arm chair, I lay from 2 oclok till 10 at night
without ^medical aid^ assistance then my Father arrived bringing Dr T Swift of Farmington with him
who set my bones boxed up my limbs & carried me in his carriage 8 miles that
night to my Fathers house my sufferings were very great yet I had good attention
& in 8 weeks I was outdoors upon my cruches & soon was all well again
In 1827 while attending the Flouring Mill attempting to clear the ice out of a water
wheel standing upon the wheel with one arm around the shaft a man hoisted the gate
let a full head of water upon it as soon as the water struck it it stopped my feet
sliped into [the wheel]. I immediately plunged head fore most over the rim of the

wheel into about 3 feet of water and my weight drew my legs
out of the wheel or I should have been drawn under a shaft & crushed
to death. In 1831, while having charge of the Flouring Mill in Collinsv-
ville Ct I was standing inside of a breast wheel 20 feet in diameter
upon one of the arms near the top clearing out the ice when a full head of
water was let onto it it immediately started. I dropped my ax and leaped
through the wheel to the bottom of it by the shaft & arms about 20 feet as I struck
the bottom of the wheel I was rolled out against a ragged stone well with ownly
about 2 feet clearance between it & the wheel the wheel caught me & rolled ^me^ out
into the water below where I found myself without any broken bones but with
some bruises & much fright. ^*see paper apart^ In 1833 the day I was baptized into the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints one of my horses newly calked
kicked my hat of my head & had he struck 2 inches lower would probably
have killed me instantly. In 10 minutes afterwards while driving the same horses
down a hill on a sled without any box the bottom boards sliped forward
under the roll caught the ground turned endways fell on the horses badly
throwing me between the horses they ran to the bottom of the hill draging me
by the lines head foremost with the steed top of me about rods over
a smooth snow path I escaped unharmed however in the midst of both dangers
In 1834, while travelling in Zions Camp to Missouri a rifle was accidentally
discharged & the ball passed through three tents with a dozen men in each & lodged
in a waggon axletree with a man standing against it it injured no one. It passed within
a few inches of my breast & many others escaped as narrowly as my self

A few months afterwards a musket was accidentally snaped with the muzzle pointing at
my breast within a few feet of me heavily loaded with buck shot but it missed fire
and my life was again preserved. In April 1839 in Rochester Ill I was riding
upon the running gears of a waggon without any box, I was sitting upon the fore ward
axletree and the bolt came out fastening the cupling pole this left the hind wheels & my
weight on the forward bolster & tongue turned the coupling pole clear over onto the horses
backs, turned the stakes upside down & shut me up fast between the boulster & tongue
but in such a manner that my head & shoulders dragged on the ground my horses
took fright and ran out into an open pari prairie & thus draged me in this position
for about half a mile when I managed so as to guide them with my left hand so
as to to run them into a corner of a high worm fence where we landed in a pile
together, I was considerably bruised but landed withou escaped without any broken bones

see paper apart*
& after one days rest was enabled to attend to my labors again (see paper apart)
Thes I have occupied considerable space in refering to those peculiar circumstances
which have attended me during life. And to sum the matter up it stands about those
I have broaken both legs (one twice in two) both arms, & both ancles ^my breast bone & 3 ribs^ ^my breast bone & 3 ribs^ have been
drowned froze & scalded, & bit with a mad dog, have been in two water wheels under
a full head of water * ^have passed through several severe fits of sickness encountered poison in the worst forms, landed in a pile of rail road ruins have bearly missed the passing bullet^ I have passed through a score of other hair breadth escapes &
Yet the protection & mercy of God has been over me, and my life there from has
been preserved upon the Earth for which blessing I feel to render the gratitude
of my heart to my Heavenly Father praying that the remained of my days may be spent
in his service and the building up of his kingdom *) ^It has appeared mirraculous to me that with all the injuries and broaken bones which I have met with with I have^ not a lame limb about me but have ever since
been enabled to endure the ever since the hardest labour and exposures and journies have ^often^ walked 40, 50 and on one
occasion 60 miles in a day
At an early age my mind began to be ^was^ exercised upon religious subjects. But
I never made a profession of religion untill 1830, being 23 years of age I did not then
join any church ^for the reason that I could not find any^ for the reason body of people or denomination or Church whos
had for their foundation, doctrin, tenets, faith or practice, ^agreed with^ the gospel of Jesus Christ or
the ordinances ^&^ gifts & practices which Christ & the Apostles taught & practiced ^in their day^
in there day & generation for the salvation of the children of Man Although the
teachers of the day taught that the faith, gifts, graces, miracles, & ordinances which
the prophets, Savior & the Apostles enjoyed were done away & no longer needed I did
not believe a word of it to be true ownly as they were done away through the unbeliefs
of the children of men I believed the same gifts graces miracles & power would be
manifest the same in one age of the world as in another when God did have a Church
& kingdom upon the Earth, I did not believe that the Church of Christ did exist
upon the Earth in an organized form, but I believed there had been a falling away
from the Apostolic order of things, but that the Church & kingdom of God would be
esstablished upon the Earth in my day & generation and that I should live to see it.
This principle was rivited upon my mind from two causes 1^st from the perusal of the
Old & New Testament with fervent prayer that the Lord would show me what was
right & wrong & lead me in the path of salvation, without any regard to the opinions of man
& the whisperings of the spirit of the Lord unto me for the space of three years did teach ^taught^
me in accordance with the ^written^ word of God that He was about to set up his Church & Kingdom
upon the Earth in the last days ^and that his "righteousness was about to be revealed & his salvation to come forth"^ ^as said the Prophet Isaiah in his 56 chapter^ And secondly I was taught this principle from my youth
up to manhood by an aged man by the name of Robert Mason who lived in Simsbury
Ct who was frequently called the old prophet Mason, ^who taught^ who did teach me many things
which are now coming to pass. He prophesied of many of those events which are now take
place. He did not believe that any man upon the Earth in the midst of the Christian Nations

^Had authority^ to administer in the ordinances of the House of the Lord but believed that it was our
privilege through faith, prayer, & fasting to heal the sick, & cast out devils by the laying on of
hands which was the case under his administration as numbers could testify.
I was living in this state of mind & in this faith & belief looking for the coming forth of
the Church of Christ when I heard of what was called Mormonism. In 1832 I
was loudly called upon by the spirit of the Lord to go to the state of Rhode Island one of
my brother ^Asahel^ was also called to go to the same place & at the same time when we met
we both told our feelings & what the spirit of the Lord had whispered unto us & we marvelled
& wondered what the Lord wanted of us in Rhode Island, but as we had made preparations
to move to the west we let outward circumstances controll us, and like Jonah instead of going to
Ninivah went to Tarshis, so we instead of going to Rhode Island went to Richland Oswego County
N. York, and there remained until the 29 day of Dec 1833 before I heard a gospel sermon
by a latter day saint. I then soon learned what the Lord wanted of us in Rhode Island
for at the time we were commanded ^warned^ of the Lord to go there, two of the Elders of the Latter day
Saints were preaching there & had we gone we certainly should have embraced the
work at that time, but as it was we had to wait for the next call
On the 29^th day of Dec 1833, Elder Zera Pulsipher & Elijah Cheeny called
at my house & gave out an appointment for preaching in the school house in that
neighborhood that sa[m]e evening I attended as did my brother Azmon Woodruff
We both believed, invited the Elders to our home & offered ourselves
for baptism the first sermon we heard. We read the Book of Mormon
& had a testimony that it was true. And on the 31 day of Dec 1833 I was
baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under the hands
of ^by^ Elder Zera Pulsipher & confirmed the same evening under his hands
On the 2nd day of January 1834 I was ordained to the office of a teacher
& my eldest brother Azmon Woodruff an Elder & a small branch organized
of 12 members all under the hands of ^by^ Elder Pulsipher. In the month of February
I walked in company with Elder Holton some 60 miles to the town of Fabeus to attend
an evening meeting of the Saints in that place where Elder Pulsipher was presiding.
here ^I^ saw for the first time the Book of Commandments or revelations given through
Joseph Smith and I believed them with all my heart & rejoiced therein & after
spending two days with them we returned home rejoicing several days with them &
holding several meetings we returned home rejoicing. During the winter we were visited by
several of the Elders among whom ^was^ Elder Harry Brown in February. He again called upon
us about the first of February ^1834^ accompanied by Elder Parley P. Pratt it being the first

time I had ever seen him we appointed a meeting for him to speak to our
little branch, ^He instructed all us the branch^ and we had a precious time, he spoke till near midnight. He was upon
an important mission in connexion with Lyman Wight, it was to gather up from
100 to 5000 men ^a company^ to go up to redeem Zion. I accompanied Brother Pratt to Jefferson
County, I told him my circumstances. He said it was my duty to try to prepare myself
to go to Kirtland & join the Camp of Zion. According to his council I went to with
all my might & settelled all my accounts ^business^ & business and on the 11 day of April
1834 I bid my friends farewell, & took a pair of horses & waggon & took with
me Brothers Harry Brown & Warren Ingles, & started for Kirtland Ohio.
I met with Orson Pratt, John Murdoch, and other Elders on the way & arrived
in Kirtland on the 25^th of April 1834, where I f was introduced to the prophet Joseph
the first time I had ever seen him. He invited me to make his house my home
which kind offer I excepted of & staid with him about one week. I have for
the first time became acquainted not ownly with the Prophet Joseph & his family but
with many of the High Priests, Elders & Saints which I had never before seen
I spent one Sabbath in Kirtland & heard many of the ^leading^ Elders speak & I felt to rejoice
before God for the light & knowledge which was manifest to me during that day
through the preaching of the Elders of Israel. According to appointment I left Kirtland
upon the 1^st day of May with a part of the company went to New Portage
where we remained untill all the company came up joined us, from Kirtland & we
were organized. Then on the 7^th day of May we took up our march like the Children
of Israel pitching our tents by the way, & travelled to Missouri according to
the account already spoken of in the Church History, which was called ^the Camp of^ Zions
Camp which went up to redeem Zion & assist those persecuted brethren.
Our whole journey, manner of travelling, incidents upon the way, the way the Lord fought
our battles with hail & storm, at Crooked River, the visitation of the cholera to
our camp, the death & burial of the Saints &c has all been published in the Church
History. we arrived After we had pitched our tents in Clay County Missouri
^our numbers being 205^ & many of the Brethren had been taken sick & some had died Joseph requested the
camp to dispersed except enough to take care of the sick all who had teams were
required to leave the ground & go among the brethren I went to Brother Lyman
Wights in company with Heman Hyde & Milton Holmes. After a few days
Joseph called the ^Brethren^ people to gather at Lyman Wights and told the people ^them^ if they would
humble themselves before the Lord & covenant to keep His commandments & obey
his council the plague should be stayed from that hour, & their should not be another

case of cholera in the camp. The people ^brethren^ covenanted to do this & the plague
was stayed & there was not another case in camp. Joseph held several meetings
with the ^Saints^ Saint Set them in order, & ^President Joseph Smith^ returned home with many other of the brethren
I remained with Lyman Wight laboring with my hands till the following winter. * ^(*see paper apart & page 9^th)^
At a meeting of the High Council at Lyman Wights in Clay County Missouri
I was ordained to the office of a Priest * ^* By the direction of the High Council under the hands of Brother Simeon Carter on the 5 day of Nov 1834^ in I had a great desire in my
heart to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to my fellow men for I saw such
blessings, beauty & glory in it that I had a great desire to assist my brethren
in proclaiming it to the inhabitants of the Earth t and this desire continued
to increase upon me, but I did not reveal my feelings to any man, but soon
^(the above lines are in paper apart {shorthand} 32)^
after I was ordained to the office of a priest I received an ^appointment^ mission by Bishop
Edward Partridge to go in connexion with Elder Harry Brown on a mission
through the Southern part of Missouri & through the Arkansas, into the Southern
States Agreeable to ^my^ this appointment I bid my brethren farewell in Clay
County & on the 13^th day of January 1835 I took my valise in hand weighing
15 lbs mostly Books of Mormon & started in company with Elder Harry ^Brown^ without
without purse or scrip & crossed the ferry ^river^ into Jackson County, * ^* as we stepped onto the bank two horsmen le^a^d there horses onto the bank they eyed us very closely but said^ ^nothing to us^ we stopped south
open our mission This was the first & last time that we ever trod the soil of
Jackson County, we felt thankful for the privilege & we bowed our knees before
the Lord & offered up the gratitude of our hearts unto our Father in heaven for
the privilege & prayed for his protection whi from the mob while going through
the county as the Saints had just been driven out and ^as^ a Latter Day Saint perriled
his life to found in the county, we prayed that the judgments of God might
rest upon the wicked who had shed the blood of the Saints in that land that their
blood might be avenged & that the land might be cleansed from sin wicked-
ness & abominations & redeemed that the Saints might again inherit it
we arose & went on our way rejoiceing. I had in my possession
a petition to the Governor of Missouri for redress of wrongs done us in
Jackson County for the purpose of obtaining signat[ure] unto it we bent our
way south through Jackson County without any harm yet in one instance we
were miraculously preserved from a large mob ^of about 60^ assembled at a grog shop which we
had to pass. On the 18^th Jan we called at the Harmony Mission had an interview
with the president of the mission a Presbyterian minister, it was near sun down
he would neither give us any thing to eat nor keep us because we were mormons
it was 15 miles to the nearest house which was an ^Jerrews^ Indian traiding house kept

kept by a Mr Jerrew, we asked the minister to direct us there. He gave us directi
^directions^ the Spirit said to me that he was decieving us, directeing us wrong, I asked the question
3 times over & he declaired he was telling us the truth we followed his direction
& it led us into the Osage River swamp where we were lost in the darkness of
the night ^we undertook to follow the river but it being about the crookedest one in earth America we made but slow progress^ ^and^ after travelling through mud & water for one hour we concluded to go
out onto the open prairie & lide lie down in the grass untill morning but when we got
out into the prairie we h[e]ard the Osage Indians drum & shout at the trading house
as they were having a powwow we followed by the sound, & went into
their midst * ^*as we approached we were met by a dozen large savage looking dogs they smelt of us in a friendly manner^ ^but did not try to bite nor bark we arrived about midnight, covered with mud hungry and weary^ we were kindly received by Mr Jerrew fed & lodged for the night
19^th Mr Jerrew gave us a good breakfast set us across the Osage River
^(see paper apart 2nd page 10)^
in a canoe & was started upon our long days walk it being 60 miles to the
nearest house in the direction we were going ^and we had not a morsel of anything with us to eat^ Most of our travels through the day was
through prairie before dark we entered timber timber land as we were approaching
the timber a large black bear came out of the timber & met us we had
no weapons but a small pistol but as the bear got within about 6 rods of us he
rose upon his hind feet & examined us a short time & turned & went off
another course we travelled on as fast as we could we were soon invelloped in
so thick darkness it was with great difficulty that we could keep the road we were
soon surrounded with a large drove of wolves who ^that^ kept up a continual howling
& would freequently rush upon us & come up within a few feet of us we travelled
about one two hours in this situation feeling that we were in danger we concluded
to stop & build a fire & wait till morning. Accordingly we built a large
fire which drove the wolves of & as we were about to lie down we h[e]ard
a dog bark & also a bell, we found we were near a house we took
each of us a brand of fire & in going about one quarter of a mile we
found a ^log hut about 12 feet square^ house occupied by one Mr. Williams who was in Jackson County during the
mobing of the Saints, & he had lately moved to this place depending upon his gun mostly for
his living it being 60 miles to a house on the north of him, & 12 miles on the south
He and his family was living in a small old log house ^hut^ about 12 feet square & one
bed in the room upon which lay his wife several children & 3 young dogs. He lay
stretched out upon the ^bare^ floor with his feet to a small fire there was no door to
the house but a ragged quilt hung up in the door way, it was past 11 oclock at
night I turned away the quilt looked into the house every thing was in sound sleep
I spoke 3 times no one stired not even a dog, I walked in & laid my hand upon
the mans shoulder the mo & spoke to him the moment he felt the wait of
my hand he leaped to his feet & commenced running around the room leaping as high

as he could each jump. I told him not to be frightened as we were travellers
& friends & did not wish to hurt him but wished to stop with him him
over night, when he came to his senses we as he gave us permission to
stop with him till morning if we would take the bare floor as he did then
we excepted, we asked for something to eat as we had walked 60 miles with[out] eating a
morsel of food. He said he had nothing for us said that hed had got to kill
game for his breakfast in the morning. He said the cause of his fright was he
he had shot a large panther dead a few nights before standing in his door, & he thought
his mate had lit upon him. We lay down upon the bear floor & we were
glad of this place as it soon began to rain & rained hard through the night
we arose in the morning & went on in the rain 12 miles to a Mr Conners
who was also in the Jackson County mob who gave us a breakfast but damned
us while we were eating because we were mormons & when we had finished a
hearty breakfast we thanked him very politely for it and went our way and left him swareing
^We did feel thankful for it for we had walked 72 miles without any thing food but very little^
^see page apart 2 page 11^
We continued travelling preaching by the way without stoping ownly over night, ^or on the^ ^Sabbath^ untill
we got to Petty John Creek in the Arkansas Territory. Here Mr Allexander
Akeman resided with a large family of sons & one daughter all of which we
settelled around him Mr Akeman was a member of the Church in Jackson
County & a part of his family, his wife died strong in the faith in Missouri,
his whole family was mobed some of his sons were whiped severly. But he could
not stand the persecution & the loss of his property. He moved to Arkansas
to get rid of mormonism had apostitised & was bitter against the work, when
we called upon him he opposed us strongly, spoke against the leaders of the Church
& the Book of Mormon. He had one son who received us & had a little
faith I had a dream the night before I went there what we should meet with
& what would transpire. ^relate the dream^ When we met with opposition not ownly by Mr Akeman
but from many in the neighborhood Elder Brown wished to leave the place immediately
& continue his journey I told him I should stay & see my dream fulfilled
we staid in the neighborhood 25 days during which time the Lord brought judgment
upon those who had threatened to mob us & take our lives many of them died suddenly
while we were there and I was warned three times of the Lord to go with Mr
Akeman & bear testimony unto him of the truth of Mormonism & the wickedness
of his course in opposing it & the last time I called upon ^him^ he was filled with wrath
against me & when I left his house he followed me in a rage apparently with some
evil intent when a few rod I had got a few rods from his door he was nearly
treading upon my heels he fell dead at my feet as though he had been
struck with a thunder bolt ^lightning^. He immediately began to swell & turned black

this created a great wailing & mourning with his famil, Brother Brown
& myself assisted the family in laying him out & burying him. He died
on the 14^th day of Feb 1835 & we buried him on the 16. This clo singular
dispensation of providence brought solemnity upon the people & they began to reflect &
wished to hear preaching, we held several meetings & preached to the people we
baptized a Mr Hubbel & his wife aged people who had opened their doors
& given us a home & just as we had got the people prepared to receive
the Gospel & anxious to learn & pleading with us to stay & preach, Brother
Brown resolved that he would continue his journey south. I was fully satisfied
that should we stop we should build up a Church, & I was convinced it was
our duty to stop but Brother Brown held the office of an Elder I a priest
& we were travelling together upon a mission, & I felt that I must subject
to those over me in the priesthood, so I submitted. This is an error which
many have committed in this Church who were sent as missionaries to the
world, as soon as they get doors open & a people prepared to receive the gospel
they go away & leave them we left this people with tears in their eyes we left
& Brother Brown did not baptize another person during his whole southern
mission we left them on the 2nd day of March went upon the bank of
the Arkansas River cut down a large cotton wood tree dug out a canoe
4 feet wide 12 feet long put on a pair of oars & rowed down the Arkansas
River 125 miles to Little Rock geting ^beging^ our food by the way a meal at a time
as we had an opportunity, after visiting Little Rock we tied up our canoe ^travelled down the river 10 miles^ on
below Little Rock & tied up our canoe on the East Bank & stoped with a Mr Jones
preached next day at his house on the 16 left our canoe with Mr Jones walked back
^the East Bank of the Arkansas River & started on foot to ward & wade the Mississippi^
^Swamp to Memphis Tennessee we travelled on the old military road it was over 200
miles the way we travelled ^up the river 10 miles took the old^ ^the road^ & almost the whole distance was knee deep in mud &
water up the river 10 miles opposite Little Rock & took the old military
road & started to waid the missippi swamp which was mostly covered with
water from Little Rock Arkansas to Memphis Tennessee, a distance of
about 175 miles, we waided through mud & water knee deep day after day & in some instances
40 miles per day before we could get a stoping place. On the 24^th while in the
swamp I had an attack of the rheumatism & could not travel but slow
My companion Brother Brown had got in a hurry & wished to hasten to
the Missippi River take boat close up his mission, take boat & return
to his family in Kirtland, & as I could not travel as fast as he
wished so we parted to meet no more for about 3 years he left me siting on
a log in the mud & water I being lame & unable to walk & no food & 12 miles to the

nearest house on the road. He went out of sight in great haste I then knelt
down in the water & prayed the Lord to heal me up & the spirit of the Lord rested
upon me & I was healed the pain left me I arose & went my way ^*^ whenever
I met with one or more families I preached to them & bore
my testimony as I went alone to the people I arrived at the Missippi River
& crossed it in the evening of the 27^th March 1835 [FIGURE]
(*^after^ that night that ^after^ Brother Brown left me in trying to travel in the night to me he lost
his ^way^ got into a thicket of brambles & tore nearly all of his cloths off from him
He stoped at a cabin & took him nearly all night to mend up his clothes)
[FIGURE] I stoped for the night at a publick house kept by Mr Josiah Jackson I was rote
up for ^of being^ an imposture Mr Jackson believed I was one of Murrells clan ^instead of a Mormon preacher^ who was
then murdering & stealing Negroes through the country & to test the thing he gathered
to gether a large house full of the the wickedest & most corrupt J Gentry in the city
& set me to preaching, to them, to test whether I could preach or not. I do not
think that Mr Jackson or the same company of men & women will ever meet
to gether again for the same purpose to test whether a Mormon Elder could preach or
not for they would not like again to have their sins & abominations revealed to
each other as plainly & pointedly as I told them that night through the inspiration
of the Holy Ghost, they seemed glad to get rid of me upon almost any terms,
I travelled from Memphis to Middle Tennessee. And on the 4^th of April
I met with Elder Warren Parish at Father Frys in Benton County ^Middle^ Tennessee
He & David Patten had been labouring to gether through the winter in Tennessee they had
baptized some 20 or 30 persons Elder Patten had returned to Kirtland at that time
before I arrived. I joined Elder Parrish & we laboured to gether ^over 3 months^ and continued
*^and travelled & preached daily baptizing such as would receive our testimony on the 23rd of June^
^we received a letter from Oliver Cowdery saying that they wished ^Elder^ Parrish to come to Kirtland & for me to remain^
^to take charge of the Southern Churches & the Lord would bless me in so doing^
to extend our labourse through Tennessee & Kentucky, Elder Warren Parrish ordained
me to the office of an Elder. On the 28^th day of June at Father Frys Eagle
Creek Benton County Tennessee we baptized some 40 persons while labouring to gether
& on the 23rd of July ^1835^ I parted with Elder Parish also returned to Kirtland
This left me alone in my labours in the South. I continued to travel alone
through the year & extended my labours both in Kentucky & Tennessee I baptized
43 persons during this season 31 after Brother Parrish left me

On the 15 day of Nov while traveling about 12 miles in the night with severall
of the Brethren among whom was Brother Benjamin Clapp, a tremendous storm of wind
& rain over took us it was exceeding dark we bacame lost in a forest & we
crossed a dangerous stream some 20 times we had a creek to cross, the rain
^stream^ had swollen to such an extent by the rain that we could not cross without

swimming our horses & several of the company were females & could not consistently
cross the stream he and we undertook to head the stream so that we could cross
sufficient to ford it, but in in the attemp in the midst of the darkness of the night
& the raging of the wind & rain we became lost in the thick woods we had neither fire,
light, or road, but was in the darkness, rain, wind, mud, creeks, & treetops we crossed
the stream near twenty times & setting aside our females & horses we made more the appearance
of fishermen than travelers. I thought of Paul's perils by water but the Lord was
merciful unto us in the midst of our troubles, [Acts 27] for while we were gropeing with in
the darkness like the blind for the wall suffering under the pelt cold ^bursts^ & pelting ^hail^ floods
of wind & rain ^of the storms^ & runing the risk of killing both ourselves & animals by riding off
steep bluffs, a bright light suddenly shone around about us & revealed unto
us our perilous situation as were upon the edge of a deep gulf, the light continued
with us untill we found a house & got put upon ^learned^ the right road then the light
disappeared the darkness returned yet we were enabled to reach the house of Brother
Henry Thomas at 9 oclock in the evening, without any harm having rode 20 miles
being 5 hours in the storm, having forded creeks or [krakes] twenty or more
times but neither male or female murmured but ^and^ felt to thank God for our preservation
often

I received a letter from Oliver Cowdery at the time that Warren
Parrish was called home. Councilling me to During the winter, ^&^ spring, & for part of the ^summer of 1836^
I continued to labour ^mostly alone^ through Kentucky & Tennessee extended my labours opening
new places preaching daily, baptizing, confirming, & organizing new branches
holding conferences &c At a conference held at Brother Clapp on Taropen
Calaway County, Kentucky, ^on the 26 day of Feb 1836^ I ordained A O. Smoot & Benjamin Boydston
Elders & Daniel Thomas & Benjamin Clapp to the office of a priest
Brothers Smoot & Clapp both entered into the labour of the ministry
Elder Smoot freequently accompanied me upon my mission
On the 21^st day of April 1836 Elder David Patten returned to Tennessee
to again join me in my labours he Sister Patten came with him
I met with him on the 21^st day of April 1836 in Henry County Tennessee
Tennessee it was truly a happy meeting. He related to me the blessings
which he had received in Kirtland during ther endowment which was
great & glorious & caused my heart to rejoice We travelled &
laboured together & preached daily, & continued to baptize such as would
receive our testimony persecution began to rage against us in the South Elder
Patten bore a very plain & pointed testimony unto the people of the work of God

in the last days & when we were opposed by a mob he would rebuke them in great
plainness we were not injured or molested ownly threatened, the sick were freequently
healed under our administration. On the 27^th of May 1836 we were
again joined by Elder Warren Parrish direct from Kirtland Ohio who also
laboured with us. We held a conference on the 28^th day of May at Brother Seth Utley ^in Benton County Tennessee^
where there was 7 Branches represented
containing 116 members Abel Wilson & Jesse Turpin were ordained priest
& Albert Petty a teacher. On the 31^st day of May I was ordained under
the hands of David W Patten & Warren Parrish, Elder Patten being mouth unto
the office of the High Priesthood & a member of the 2nd Quorum of Seventies
[FIGURE] Elder Patten prophesied many blessings upon my head. We continued to
extend our labour upon a circuit of several hundred miles.
Elder A. O. Smoot also laboured constantly with us and Benjamin
L Clapp freequently—we would travel at times two by two then we would
all meet to gether ^to hold conferences &c^ at certain points we laboured dilligently & faithfully
administering in the ordinances of the gospel as we had an opportunity.
Persecution began to rage against us in Benton County Tennessee and
on the 19^th June a ^states^ warrant was issued against David Patten Warren W
Parrish & Wilford Woodruff sworn out by Mathew Williams at Methodist
priest served by the shiriff Robert C Petty Elders Patten & Parrish
were taken by an armed mob of about 50 under form of law led by
the sheriff a colonel 1^st & 2nd Major with other Officers & a
Methodist priest with a gun upon his shoulder, I was in another
county & not taken we were accused of prophesying falsely by
saying that 4 persons who were baptized should received the Holy Ghost
in 24 hours & that Christ would come in this generation. The second
time before this generation passed away. The whole concern was a ^mob^ mock trial
contrary to law, justice judgment, mercy or truth. The particulars of which
were recorded in D. W. Pattens account. On the 25 ^June^ I preached in the
Court House in Dresden Weebly County Tennessee to a crowded house was
followed by Brother A O Smoot & Benjamin Clapp. On the 27 I
went to a Baptist meeting house on Thompsons Creek to fulfill a previous
appointment when I arrived the house was crowded with people I entered the
pulpit & was asked to speak when the Baptist priest Mr Browning arrived
on horseback at the door directly steped inside the door in great
agitation & told the Deacons to forbid my preaching in the house

at the same time began to talk about the mormons & told several
lies which I corrected before the people, this still enraged him worse
and I was forbidden to preach in the house I told the people
as I had been invited to preach to them & had come 10 miles
to fulfill the appointment I would like to preach to them, I was willing
to stand on a fence, wood pile, on a cart or anyplace they would
appoint a man rose & said he owned the land in front of the meeting
house I might stand upon that & preach & welcome all the congregation
except the Minister & one Deacon left the house walked across the street
formed seats out of a worm fence & gave good attention while I
preached for an hour & a half upon the first principles of the
Gospel when I closed I gave liberty for anyone to speak that wished
Mr Randolpph Allexander arose & made a few remarks it being the
first time he had a Mormon Elder speak, "He said the people at the present
day made him think of a pen of hogs the keeper would make a trought &
pour into it any thing & they would drink it, hot or cold water, dish water
or anything els, but let a stranger come along & pour over a bucket
of corn on the back side of the pen & the hogs would be frightened & run &
snort all over the pen. He said it was so with the people their priest will
feed the people with ^them on^ any kind of food or doctrine no matter how fals the people
will drink it down but let a stranger come & preach the truth as Mr
gospel of Jesus Christ which will save the people as Mr Woodruff has
done & the people are afraid of him." Mr Allexander invited me home
bought a Book of Mormon of me, & was soon baptized and ^as was^ several
others were soon baptized in that place. July 14 ^th I wrote a letter
to president Oliver Cowdery at Kirtland Ohio & sent him a list of
subscribers for the Messenger & Advocate and gave him an account of
my Mission in the South. 18^th I rode in company with Brother A
O Smoot to a ferry on the Tennessee River their was no ferryman to
cross us over, we were offered the use of the ferry boat, so we let our
own horses unto it & concluded to row ourselves acrosst ^we ferried ourselves^ but not being
much used to the business and loosing one oar in the river having to row
with one broaken oar we landed a great distance below the usual place
of landing with a high circulation of blood & blistered hands but
our horses leaped the bank & we went on our journey to the Sandy
& swam our horses across the streamwent to Mr Thomas Fraziers & spent the
night. July 30^th We rode to Mr David Criders and preached at

His house also on Sunday the 31^st we were threatened with a mob we
I baptized Mr Crider amid the scoffs & jeers of the rablle
they did not mob us but went in the night & poisoned both
of our horses the one which I rode belonging to Brother Samuel
West died in [t◊◊◊◊] two days afterwards Brother Smoots recovered
the hogs that eat of the horse flesh also died. August 11^th I rode to
Mr Gainers in Henry county Tennessee ^with Brother Smoot^ where we had the priviledge of again
met with Brother David W Patten & his wife, Brother Patten
and Parrish had been driven from place to place by a mob because
of their religions they were driven out of Benton County into Henry County
Elder Parrish had left for Kirtland. I headed ^laboured^ with Brother Patten
& Smoot and preached daily through the County untill the 29^th when
we were visited by Elders Thomas B Marsh & Elisha H Groves
who had come direct from Caldwell County Missouri, we had a
pleasing interview. On the 2nd of Sept we held a conference
at Damonds Creek Calaway County KY. There were present T. B. Marsh
D W Patten ^of the Twelve Apostles and Elders^ E. H. Groves, W. Woodruff A. O. Smoot D. Cathcart
& other official Members. President Marsh presided. R Allexander Clerk
the various branches were represented containing 119 members in
good standing Johnston F Lane Benjamin L Clapp & Randolph Allexander
were ordained Elders under the by David W Patten & Linzy Braid to the
office of a priest 5 were baptized at the close of the conference by Elder
Patten. At the conference I was dismissed from my labours in
the South by Elders Marsh & Patten and councilled to go to
Kirtlind & get my Endowment, as was also Elder ^A O^ Smoot,
we however again visited the south th[r]ough most of the our field
of Labor before leaving and baptized several persons among the number
was Parson Baity a preacher of the Denomination called Christians
On the 19^th Sept at the house of Brother Camps in Kentucky I took the parting
hand with Brother ^T. B^ Marsh D. W. Patten & wife & E. H. Groves who started in
a two hors waggon for Far West Mo. The same day they left I orgin-
ized the first company of Saints who ^that^ ever emigrated from the
Southern States for Zion which consisted of Lewis & Benjamin Clapp
& families Albert Petty & John Camp and their families and Elders
Boydston & Cathcart numbering 22 souls I travelled with them the first
day ^8 miles^ to the South fork of Mayfield where we pit[c]hed our tents for the night

I gathered this small camp together in Brother Albert Petty tent and
we appointed Elder ^Benjamin^ Boydston as their leaded to Colwell County Mo. I then
addressed ^taught them^ upon the subject of their journey the importance of their being united,
following the council of their leader, remembering their prayers night &
morning, before the Lord. I was followed by Elders Boydston Clapp &
Cathcart and the rain poured down in torents during the whole time
untill we were thoroughly wet in a good tent

On the morning of the 20 Sept 1836 I parted with this ^the^ camp who
started upon their journey for Zion. I then spent a few days with
Elder A. O. Smoot in visiting several of the branches we travelled 224 miles
and baptized & & confirmed 8 persons and obtained 30 subscribers for
the Messenger & Advocate. And on the 25 Oct in company with ^with^
A. O Smoot and Jesse Turpin For the first time in my life I
went on board of a Steeam boat called the Aid and started upon
our journey for Kirtland this was the first time I had ever travelled
upon a Steem boat. We left the Steemer at Louisville on the
28^th And we spent 19 days in visiting the relatives of Elder Smoot
and preaching among the people we visited the Big Bone lick in
Kentucky from where the mamouth bones are taken which have
been deposited in the various Museums in America & Europe
we arrived in Cincinnati on the 17 Nov where we saw the ^thirteen person^ dead
& wounded taken from the Steemer Florg Flora which had burst her
pipes while running a race. there was 13 caused [as◊◊◊e] dead & wounded
we arrived in Kirtland on the 25 Nov 1836 where I again had the
happy privilege of striking hands ^meeting^ with the Prophet Joseph & many of the Elders
with whom I was acquainted in the Camp of Zion. I went through each
apartment of the temple, and felt to rejoice in the privilege of treading the
course of the Temple of ^the Lord^ God which was built by Commandment & Revelation
in my day. Nov 29^th It being Sunday I attended meeting in the Temple for the
first time. In the forenoon I heard President Joseph Smith preach to the people
much to my edifycation and comfort. In the afternoon I was called into the
stand to speak to the people I read the 56 chapter of Isaiah and made some remarks
upon it and gave an account of my mission in the South and was followed
by Elder ^A O^ Smoot ^also addressed the Saints^ The Sacrament was administered and I felt to rejoice in
the communion with the Saints. I was councilled with by the Presidency
to attend a Latten ^the^ School in ^the Temple taught by professor Haws I studied the Latin^ Kirtland during the winter according to council I entered
^Language and English Grammar^ the School taught by Professor Haws and commenced boarding with Brother ^Ira^ Bond

I attended this school through the winter I attended ^the evening^ meetings
with the ^Seventies^ 70^s during and other Quorums as I had an opportunity during the
winter of 1836 & 7 and received much valuable instruction. On the evening
of the 20^th Dec 1836 I was present at the organization of the third Quorum
^of seventies^ & their was 27 ordained ^among them A. O. Smoot^ into that Quorum during this meeting among the number
^of seventies^ was A. O. Smoot who had accompanied me to Kirtland

On Sunday the 25 Dec after attending meeting at the Temple Samuel Smith
preached & Hiram Smith administered the Sacrament to the people, He several
of the Quorum of the Twelve administered to Abram O. Smoot who lay very
sick with the plurisy ^Scarlet Fever^ O Hyde was mouth He was Healed.

((During the year 1836 I travelled 6,537 miles. I held 153 meetings, attended
4 conferences, and held 4 debat[e]s. I baptized and confirmed 27 persons. I ordained
2 Elders, 3 Priest, & 2 deacon. I blessed 19 children. 4 persons were healed
under my hands. I procured $70 dollars for the Messenger & Advocate & $91
for the Temple. I wrote 34 letters and received 7. I had three mobs
come against me but was delivered out of their hands.))

On the 3rd day of January 1837, I attended a meeting of the seventies when
when twenty men were ordained into the third Quorum of the Seventies under the
hands of Hazen Aldrich and Zebedee Coultrin they also ordained Milton Holmes
and myself ^I was ordained^ into the first Quorum of the Seventies and pronounced great blessings
upon my ^our^ heads.

Jan 6^th I visited the office of the Kirtland Safety Society and saw the first paper
that was issued from that institution it was given to Jacob bump in exchange for
other notes. He was the first to circulate it I herd President Joseph Smith declare
in the presence of F. G. Williams D Whitmer E Smith W Parrish & others that he
had received that morning the word of the Lord upon the subject of the Kirtland Safety
Society. He was alone in a room by himself he not ownly had the voice of the spirit
but an audible voice upon the subject and said if we wo the people would give heed
to his council all would be well. On Sunday Jan 8^th a large congregation
attended at the Temple two discourses was delivered from the Aaronic Stand by Brother
Knight and Williams ^Jan^ 10^thth I met with the Seventies when twelve were ordained into
the third Quorum of the Seventies under the hands of Elder Sherman Elder Brigham
Young gave an interesting exhortation an urged strongly upon the Brethren not to murmur
against Joseph who set to lead us. 16 Elder A O Smoot was again very severly
attacked with the Cholera Morbus. He was administered to by Elder H C Kimball O Hyde

B Nobles M Holmes and myself when he was ^and^ immediately healed. 17^th I met with
the Quorums of the Seventies and heard a lecture delivered by David Whitmore
He warned the Elders to humble themselves before the Lord lest his hand be laid upon
us in anger for the sins and pride which the Elders and Saints were running into in our
days of prosperity as did the Ancient Nephites. 24^th I met in the evening with the
Seventies several were ordained into the third Quorum of Se under the hands of Silvester Smith
there were two lengthy discourses delivered by Elder John E Page and P. P. Pratt meeting
held till near midnight, we were threatened by a mob from Painsville to demolish the
bank and to plunder but they did not appear but the wrath of our enemies were waxing
hot against us. 25 ^Jan^ At early candle light clouds began to appear ^arise^ in the North East
^and reached unto the North west^ having the appearance of fire and it soon spread over the whole horizon the reflection of the
clouds upon the Earth which was covered with snow had a very ^blood^ red appearance it
commenced at about 6 o clock & continued ^lasted^ till past 10 P.M. 29 Sunday President Joseph
Smith and O Cowdery addressed the Saints in the Temple. Joseph blessed the people in the
name of the Lord and said if we would be faithful we should arise above our embaris-
ments and be delivered from the hands of our enemies.

(30. I wrote an peace ^article^ which was published in the Messenger & Advocate)

Jan 31: An address was delivered in the Temple upon the temporal interest of the
Church of Christ by President Joseph Smith, and Sidney Rigdon. A petioton
was prepared to present to the Legislature of Ohio asking for a charter to support
the Kirtland Safety Society.

Feb 19^th Sunday I attended the meeting at the Temple ^president^ Joseph ^Smith^ had been absent on
business for the Church but not half as long as Moses was in the mount away from
Israel yet many of the people in Kirtland if they did not make a calf to worship
as did the Israelites, they turned their hearts away from the Lord and from Joseph [Exodus 32:1-8]
they had engaged in speculation and given away to fals spririts untill they were dark-
ened in their minds and many were opposed to Joseph ^Smith^ and some wished to appoint
David Whitmore as prophet ^a^ to lead the Church in ^his^ stead of Joseph it was in the midst
of this cloud of dark spirits that Joseph returned to Kirtland and this morning arose
in the stand. when he first arose in the he appeared as though he was much
depressed in spirit but soon the spirit of God rested upon him and he addressed the
Assembly in great plainness for about three hours and he put his enemies to silence
for the time being when he arose he said I am still the ^President^ prophet, seer, and revelator
and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ and kingdom of God upon the Earth.
God and not man has appointed and placed me in this position and No man
or set of men has ^have^ power to remove me or appoint another in my stead and those

that undertake it if they do not spedily repent they will go to hell and burn
their fingers. He reproved the people sharply for their sins darkness and unbelief
the power of God rested upon him and bore testimony that what he said ^his sayings^ was true.
His discourse was not reported and here cannot be given. He also addressed the
people again on Sunday the 26^th March 24^th I left my school to make some
preparations for my Endowment March 23rd This day was spent in the Temple by the
saints in Kirtland in fasting and prayer the House was divided into four parts
by vails the females the females occupied 2 apartments and the males the other two.
The Patirarch Joseph Smith ^sen ^Presided He^ called upon me to read a Chapter in the Book of
Mormon. I read the third Chapter of the Book of Jacob containing the parable of
the bare Olive tree likend unto the House of Israel, I made a few remarks upon
the subject, the time was occupied during the day in singing, exhortation, prayer and
the exercising of the gifts, some spoke in tongues, others interpeted. The Spirit of the Lord
was poured out upon the people in a great degree, at the close of the meeting there was a
^a^ contribution ^was^ taken up for the poor. 26 Sunday in the forenoon the sacrament was
administered to the Saints, in the afternoon Elder W Parrish preached the funarel
Sermon of the wife of Elder Parley P. Pratt who died March 25 1837.
April 4^th I received my washings and anointings in the House of the Lord in Kirtland
I spent the whole night in the Temple with others of the seventies in prayer and fasting
the spirit of the Lord rested upon us. After praying and fasting for 24 hours I went
home and partook of food. On the 6^th day of April 1837 The presidency
of the Church, the Twelve Apostles, High priests, Seventies, with the ^and^ other Quorums of
the Church- met in solmum assembly to transact the business of the Church
after spending an hour in the lower part of the House, the presidency called the
Seventies into an upper room. And there removed six of the presidency of the
seventies into the High Priest Quorum, then appointed six others to take their
place as Presidents of the Seventies. Then the presidency of the Church ^and^ sealed
upon our heads, our washings, anointings, & blessings with a loud shout of Hosanna
to God & the Lamb. The spirit and power of God rested upon ^us^ to the joy of our hearts
after spending three hours in the upper rooms we then joined the congregation of the
Saints in ^The Quorums then repaired to^ the Lower Court and each the vails were closed ^lowered^ and each appartment
attended to the duties of their office. The ^the Ordinance of washing of feet was administered^ washing of the feet of the anointed was
the next business attended to, The Twelve assisted the presidency of the Seventies to wash
the feet of the Elders Elder ^H. C.^ Kimball washed my feet and pronounced blessings upon me
my head. when at the close of ^after^ this ordinance the veils ^of the Temple^ were rolled up which
brought the whole assembly congregation into one assembly. The Presidency occupied
the lower stand of the priesthood. And ^and^ President Joseph Smith arose and addressed
the Saints ^Elders^ for the term of three hours clothed with the spirit and power of God

He unbosomed his feelings in the House of his friends gave much important instruction
to the Elders which was not reported he urged upon us ^the absolute necessity of giving strict heed to obey^ to give heed to his teachings and
councils ^and the revelations of the Lord to the Church^ and be wise in all things that Zion and her stakes might be redeemed and
esstablished ^no more to be thrown down^ in esstablished. He said that the Kings of the Earth would yet come to
behold the glory of Zion and great and glorios blessings would be bestowed upon the
Saints in the last days. Hiram Smith followed Joseph and bore testimony to the truth
of what he had said. He ^&^ was followed by Oliver Cowdery who made but few
remarks He exhorted the Saints ^Elders^ to keep within the bounds of their knowledge
and let the great mysteries of the kingdom alone, for the gentiles had not a knowledge
even of the first principles of the gospel, for it is far better to preach what the people
would call the small things of the Kingdom than to enter into the visions of
Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John. He was followed by Elder Sidney Rigdon with
a few remarks. Then the Twelve were called upon to break bread ^which was distributed to the^ to the multi-
tude, (as Jesus did in the days of the Apostles ^who eat and were filled^) And the multitude eat and were filled
and rejoiced together at the closed of the feast thanks was returned to the
Lord for his blessings with uplifted hands to heaven which was at the ^Thanks was returned at the meeting closed at the^
setting of the sun. But The House was again filled at candle light
and the meeting again commenced with much interest. The prophet Joseph
^President Smith^ requested the congregation ^Elders^ to speak their feelings freely and sing exhort or
pray as the spirit should give utterance. The meeting continued during the
whole night many of the gifts were poured out upon the people. and at break
of day the meeting was ^we were^ dismissed and we returned to our homes
I also spent the night of the 7^th in the Temple with several of the
Elders in prayer and praise before the Lord the Holy Ghost rested upon
us and the spirit of prophesy was given unto ^us^ and many things were
shown us by the Holy Spirit. April 9^th Sunday The patriarch Joseph
Smith opened the meeting in the morning by prayer and read the twelvth
Chapter of the 2 second Book of Nephi and preached from it during the forenoon
in the afternoon Elders Kimball, O Pratt, and S. Rigdon, spoke followed by the
Prophet Joseph ^April 9^th president Smith spoke in the afternoon^ He & said in the name of the Lord that the judgments of God would
rest upon those men who had professed to be his friends and friends to humanity
and the ^in^ building up Kirtland the ^a^ stake of Zion, but had turned traitors to him and
to interest of the Kingdom of God had given power into hands of our enemies
against us, and they had oppressed the poor Saints, and had become covenant
breakers for which they will feel the wrath of God, he said they had become
whited walls and sought to bring distress upon the Saints

April 13^th 1837 I married Phebe W Carter daughter of Ezra & Sarah
Carter of Scarborough Maine I was married at the house of President Joseph Smith

the marriage carrimony was performed by Frederick G Williams ^Esqr^ and we were
blessed by the Patriarch Joseph Smith sen The Prophet Joseph was expecting to
marry us but his life was sought by a mob and he had to flee from his house
and hide himself us his house was guarded day and night by his brethren
Elder Johnathan Homes was married at the same time to Mariet Carter daughter
of John S Carter On the 15 of April I received my Patriarchel Blessings
under the hands of the Patriarch Joseph Smith sen. My wife ^having^ received her patriarchal
blessings ^from him^ under the hands of the Patriarch Joseph Smith, sen Nov 10 1836.
On the 5^th May while labouring for Joseph Young we were visited with a
sudden storm of wind and rain a vain of it past south of the Temple in the
form of a whirlwind or tornado which destroyed and injured several buildings
it crushed one of Elders Youngs buildings and removed the one we were in ^some 10 feet^ but no
person was injured soon all was calm again. On Sunday May 28 Joseph Smith
addressed the people in the Temple upon the subject of the apostacy in the Church in Kirtland
the spirit of murmuring complaining, and aposticy had increased throughout Kirtland
untill it was almost difficult to tell who was Joseph friends and who were not
this spirit had been incresed in the family circle in secret chambers, and in the streets
untill many ^had apostitized^ were apostitizing not both in high places and through the whol body
of the Church and many were taking strong grounds against Joseph they were
trying to cast him down and destroy his influence. This grieved Joseph to the
heart to have to pass through such perils among fals brethren. But notwithstanding
this thick cloud of darkness which hung over Kirtland Joseph ^He^ remained unmoved
in the cause of God and was determined to magnify his calling and leave the evil
in the hand of God. At this time the number of his friends that occupied high station
in the Church that had faith and moral courage to stand by him shoulder to shoulder
were vary few among the number was Brigham Young who stood by him in evry
trial he was also sustained by Heber C Kimball Sidney Rigdon and a few others
it was in the midst of this scene of things that Joseph entered the stand
congregation and arose in the stand and spoke to the people in the name of the Lord in his
own defence the Lord was with him by his power and spirit to the convincing of the
honest in heart that he would stand while his enemies would fall. Sidney
Rigdon followed him as he did several others and sustained him in his position
Warren Parrish spoke against him in the bitterness of his heart as had some of the
twelve before, but the people could discern the difference of the spirit between Joseph and
his enemies. But Joseph came off triumphant in all of his difficulties and accusations
that came from fals brethren or his persecution from the world

While in the mist of this scene of things in Kirtland I felt impressed to go out upon
a mission the spirit that was upon me lead me to go to Fox Islands called

Vinal Haven bordering East upon the State of Maine although it was a country
I never had visited. I named my feelings upon the subject to Elder Kimball Sidney
Rigdon, and some others they incoraged me to go, Elder Kimball blessed me and said
in the name of the Lord I should be blessed and prospered on my mission & do a good
work I made a proposition to Elder Johnathan H. Hale to accompany me upon my
mission which he excepted. On the 31^st day of May I parted with my wife and
friends and left Kirtland in company with Johnathan H Hale, ^who accompanied me by my request^ and walked 12
miles to Fairport we were their joined by Elder Milton Holmes went on board
the Steemer Sandusky arived at Buffaloo June 1^st at 6 oclock AM, took canal and
arrived at Sarycuse on the 4^th, walked 36 miles to Richland Oswego County N York
and called upon my two brothers Azmon and Thompson Woodruff which I
had not seen for several years, we visited the churches as far as Sackets
Harbor, called upon Archiball Patten delivered to him some letters from Warren
Parrish which were stuffed with $100 dollar bills which he had taken from
the Kirtland Bank having been ^a^ Clerk of that institution we visited the American
Garrison which was beautiful for situation. We took passage in the Onida
& crossed the Lake to Kingston upper Canida there took another steamer up the canal
passed through a 12 mile swamp which abounded with fur such as muskrat, auter [otter], beavers &
passed through Crambery marsh to Joneses falls there we passed through
4 four locks which cost $100,000 each the country around was presented in
glorious asspect a rocky, hilly barren uncultivated country we left the canal and
walked to Brother Judd'^s ^we crossed the Lake, visited upper Canida, attended a conference^ May 10^th We attended a conference with Elders John E Page
& ^J^ Blakesley in the Township of Bastard, Leeds County where there was 8 branches
represented containing 300 members, 13 Elders 5 priest 8 teachers and 6 deacons. Elder
W^m Draper and myself ordained 7 Elders 9 Priest 11 Teachers and 5 deacons and
5 was baptized by Elder page at the close of the conference. One ^a^ woman was was
possessed with the Devil she was greatly afflicted and much of the time was dumb
four of us laid hands upon ^her^ and commanded the Devil to come out of her in the
name of Jesus of Nazareth and the evil spirit immediately left her and she was
made whole and she arose and gave thanks unto God and went her way rejoicing
we visited several other branches preached the word of God and ^several sick were^ healed several that
were sick, ^we^ returned to Kingston took steamer for Oswego and canal for Albany
we were accompanied from Canida by John Goodson, Isaac Russel, and John Snider
who left us at Schenectady to join Elders Kimball Hyde & Richard at New York
to go to England. We walked from Albany to Farmington Connecticut, attended a
conference with the saints in Canaan, I arived at my Fathers house on the 6^th day
of July 1837 it being the first time I had seen them ^him my Father or relatives in Connecticut^ since I had joined the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they received me kindly. On the 10^th I preached
in the city hall in Collinsvill and a mob gathered and attempted to break up the meeting

with fife and drum hollowing & yelling to stirred up by the ^a^ prysbetarian priest
at the close of the meeting the priest came to me with his rabble and asked many
questions, he said I had no right to my opinion, and said that no man had a right
to preach the gospel unless he had a Colledge education. I told him I would
admit that point when he would tell me what Colledge Jesus Christ and his
Apostles had obtained their education in and received their diplomas to preach the
gospel, he ^they^ then left me. On the 12^th I preached in a school house in west Avon
to an attentive congregation. After meeting I baptized my Uncle Ozem
Woodruff and his wife and his son John, which was in ^a^ fulfillment of ^a^ dream
which I had at 10 years of age. I visited most of my relatives in Connecticut
and preached the gospel unto them. On Sunday 16^th ^July^ May I preached at Adna
Harts in Avon where I was met by my step Mother and sister Eunice also my
wife who had travelled alone from Kirtland to visit her Fathers family in
Maine and met me at this point. & 19^th I parted with Elder J. H. Hale who
went to went to New Rowley Mass to visit his friends. I had been solicited
to preach to the citizens of Farmington by many prominent men of the place but evry
room which was offered me including the town hall was closed against me by Rev
Noah Porter the Pastor of the Prysbeterian Church in that place, untill the Methodist
Chapel was offered me which he had not in influence to close, in two hours after I
gave out the appointment the house was filled and I preached to a very attentive congreg-
ation ^including my Father and his household^ for 1 1/2 hours upon the first principle of the gospel. I gave liberty to the assembly to
ask any questions or find any fault with what I had said but I met with no opposition
20^th I left my Fathers house and ^in company with my wife^ took stage for and rode to Hartford. 21^st Not having
money to pay the fare for both myself and wife I paid her fare in the stage to New Rowley
Mass, and I walked through a hot sultry day 15 hours averaging 3 1/2 miles an hour making
52 miles. 22 I walked 48 miles, 23 I walked 36 miles and ^arived^ at Elder Nathaniel
Holmes in New Rowley ^arived at 2 oclock PM^ making 136 miles on foot a little over two days and a half. I have
met with my wife and Elder Milton Holmes at his Fathers house, I spent several
days in preaching to the Saints in this region. We left New Rowley Aug 1^st and was
joined by Elder Hale who acompanied us to Saco Maine, ^7^th^ I acompanied my wife
to her Fathers House in Scarborough, it being the first time I had met with
any of my wifes relations we were kindly recieved and entertained, we found
Mother Carter very sick. I spent several days visiting the Saints in that region
on the 10^th I accompanied Ezra and Fabyan Carter my brothers in Law on a fishing
excurtion we caught with hook 250 cod fish haddock and hake and saw four whales

It being the first time I had ever seen that class of fish that swallowed Jonah
Aug 18 I left my wife at her Fathers house and in company with Elder Hale
I started to fill my mission on Fox Islands as I was directed by the spirit
and the council of my brethren when I left Kirtland. We walked to portland
and spent the night at Mr Samuel Hales. 19 we took the steemer Bangor rode 85
miles to Owls Head where we arived at sun set we went on shore. we had no conveyance
to Fox Islands or money to pay our fare except a $3 broaker bank bill. we wento
onto a high hill and bowed before the Lord and prayed that he would open our way and
the spirit of the Lord rested upon us and testified unto us that our prayers would be
answered as we arose from our knees a sloop came into the harbor, we immedia-
tely ^we^ went to the ^Captain^ and inquired where ^he^ they were was going they ^He said^ told us they was going to
through the Channel of Vinal Haven we asked them for a passage and told them we
had no money except $3 on a broaker bank they said they would take us we
^He gave us a passage^ went on board they set sail and landed us on North Fox Islands at 2 oclock
on the morning of the 20, it being very dark and we not all acquainted with the
country we wandered about for about an hour stumbling over the rocks and ^bushes^ [c◊◊◊s]
finally found the house ^of Mr Nathaniel Dyer^ where we were ^entertained^ taken in and furnished with a bed and went
to rest after sleeping several hours we arose were furnished with a breakfast
by Mr Nathaniel Dyer who occupied the house. It being Sunday morning and
feeling anxious to commenced our work I inquired if their was any religion
on the Island and what kind, any preachers or Meeting Houses and what kind
I was informed their was a Baptist Meeting house, Baptist Minister, Church
and meeting the ministers name was Gideon J. Newton as it was late we did not
go till the after noon meeting. Mr Benjamin Kent piloted us to the place ^Baptist Meeting House^ when we arrived
^occupied by Elder Gideon J Newton pastor of the ownly religious denomination upon the Island. At the^
at the door the meeting had begun, I sent for the Deacon who came to the doors
I told him I wished him to inform the minister that there was two servants ^we were servants^
of God at the door who ^and^ wished to deliver a message to that people. He sent word
for us to come into the pulpit accordingly with valiece in hand we walked
up into the pulpit and took a seat one on each side of him, when
he closed his discourse he asked me what hour we would like to speak
to the people I told him at 5 oclock he gave out our appointment and
invited us to his house to take tea we accepted the invitation on arriving at
his house I asked how many school houses there was on the Island he
said four ^4^ ^four^ and gave me their names ranging from West to East I asked him

if they were free for any one of to preach in. He said yes I took
out my Bible, Book of Mormon, & Doctrin & Covenants and laid them
all upon his stand he took them up and examined them but asked no
question ^but said said he said would read them^ the hour of meeting arrived, the house was full I preached to
the people upon the first principle of the gospels and bore testimony that the
Lord had raised up a prophet and had commenced to establish his
Church and Kingdom again upon the Earth in fulfillment of the word of
God or spoken through the Ancient Prophets and Apostles this was the first
discourse ever delivered by any latter Day Saint upon this chain of Islands Elder
Hale bore testimony to the truth of what I had said I gave liberty to all present
to make any remarks no one spoke, at the close of the meeting I gave out an
appointments for preaching in the four school houses for the next four following evenings
the people came out in mass to investigate the principles which we taught the first
^in^ 14 days of our stay upon the Island we preached 19 discourses. I thus opened
a door for baptisms when Capt Justice Ames and his wife came forward
and were baptized by Elder Hale being the first baptized upon those Islands
Elder Newton the Baptist Minister with his family attended about a dozen of the ^twelve^
first of our meetings, read the Books, and was convinced by the spirit of the Lord
that our Doctrin was true and he had a hard struggle for days in his mind
to know which to do either to receive or reject it. He finally resolved to
reject it and took a stand against us. He commenced preaching against us
also sent for Mr Douglass the Methodist Minister on the South Island to come over
and help him he had been long at variance with Mr Douglas but they now made
friends and united in a war against us but they did not stop the work of God
we continued preaching daily untill we baptized most of the members of Mr
Newtons, Church, and those who owned the meeting house. I then followed
Mr Douglass home to his own Island and commenced preaching to his
Church and baptized a good share of his members ^A number of those that we baptized were^ they also sent for other
^sea Captains,^ Ministers from the Main Land who came over and tryed to put a stop to the work
by preaching and lying about us but the work continued to roll on they wished
me to work a miracle to convince them that my Doctrine was true, I told them
they had rejected the truth and they would see signs but not unto Salvation

Vinal Haven includes both North and South Fox Island is in Lat 44 Long 69, 10.
The inhabitants are generally healthy, industrious and hospitable to strangers the
people obtain most of their wealth and living by fishing they fit out annually over
one hundred licensed vessels beside many smaller crafts. The North Island
is 9 miles long 2 wide population 800, they have one post office, one store a Baptist
meeting house a small branch of the Baptist Church, four school houses and a grist mill
the Land is rather rocky and rough yet their are many good farms which produce
good wheat barley oats potatoes and grass. The principle timber is fir, spruce, hemlock
and birch. Rasp and goose bury^s grow in great abundance. Sheep are the principle
stock. South Fox Island comes as near being without any form or void
as any thing I ever saw, and it would be difficult for a historian to give a
description of it. It is about 10 miles long and 5 wide and is one universal mass of
rocks, much of it granit, formed into shelves, hills, hollows, cut up into nooks and points
and canions to make room for the coves an harbors, which run through and through the
Island pop 1000, they get their living entirely ^live^ by fishing their principle stock is sheep
I do not recollect of ever seeing a horse on eith[er] Island their is some small patches
under cultivation but it is at the expens of great labour and toil many from this Island
fish at New Foundland bring their fish home and dry them upon their own flakes, they supply
the market annually with a great amount of codfish, mackarell, and boxed herren, this
Island contains two stores, three tide saw mills, 6 school houses a small branch of the
methodist Church and a priest the timber is pine fir spruce hemlock and birch, also goose
bury, raspberies & whoretleburies and upland cramburies, grow upon the Island the bushes
and timber grows in a great measure out of the crack and cravices of the rocks
Their is a great amount of variety of fish inhabit the waters, coves, and harbors
around these Islands such as whale black fish, shark, ground shark, Pilot
fish, horse mackerel sturgeon, salmon, holloboat cod, Pollock, tom cod, hake,
haddock, mackarel, shad, bass, alewives, herren, Pohagen, Dolphin, whiting
Frostfish, Flounders, smelt, skate, shrimp, shid, cusk, bluebacks, scollop
Dogfish, Muttonfish, Lumpfish, squid, Fivefingers, Monkfish, Nursfish, Sunfish,
Swordfish, Thrasher, Cat, Scuppog, Tootog, eyefish Conner, Ling, Eels, also
Lobsters, Clams, Mussels, Rincles, Porposes, seals and others not named &c, &c *

On the 23rd Aug while standing upon the farm of Eleazar Carver on the North
Island I counted fifty five Islands many of which was inhabited

*On the 6^th Sept
the harbor was filled with a school of Mackerell which the people caught ^in great numbers^ with hooks while
standing upon the wharf we also caught all that we wished in the same way

On the 7^th Oct 1837 Elder Hale left and returned to his family in Kirtland
I continued labouring on the Islands and main land as far as Bangor
also visited other Islands including the Isle of Hold.

On the 2nd of Oct in company with Elder Hale I left the Islands and
returned to Scarborough ^on foot^ Elder Hale returned to Kirtland.

Oct 2nd I left the Island with Elder Hale Capt Ames took us to Thomastown
in a sloop 3rd we walked 46 miles to Bath. 4^th we attended a Baptist
Convention in Bath and preached to a large congregation in the evening in
Pierces Hall the people gave good attention. 5^th we walked 36 miles to portland
6 we walked 10 miles to Father Carters in Scarborough where I found
my wife and friends well. On the 9^th I parted with Elder Hale who returned
to Kirtland I continued preaching through various towns on the Main Land
untill the 2nd of Nov when I again returned to Fox Islands ^accompanied by my^ and continued
^wife who wished to visit the Island sisters upon the Islands of the sea
my labours preaching and baptizing. On the 14^th I visited the Isl of Holt 12 miles
East of Fox Island preached to an attentive congregation left them the Book
of Mormon which they promised to read and returned on the 16, in the same
vessel that I went over in as I had ^an^ appointments in vinal Haven on the 17^th,
which was necessary for me to attend. I laboured mostly upon those Islands during
^I labored here during^ the winter of 1837 & 8, and as nearly evry person oupon those Islands had over 10 years
old had attended my meetings and investigated the principles of mormonism the people
began to ^and^ take sides either for or against, ^us^ and our enemies would gather together at
times to try ^made attempts^ to break up our meetings, while holding a meeting on the North
Island. On the evening of the 15 Jan 1838 a company of sailors belonging to the
United States Revenue Cutter whose business it was while coasting to protect the
Lives and Liberties of all American citizens as far as they could they hauled
on shore a panel of cannon ^Brought on shore^ a swivel and joined the mob and paraded near
the house where I was speaking ^preaching^ and discharged it several times followed by smaller
arms with the intention of breaking up our meeting, but it ownly caused me to
preach the longer and louder as some of the mob gathered around to see what effect
it would have I warned them in the name of the Lord, and proclaimed the judgments
of God that awaited the wicked and I shook my garments in the presence of the people
and told them I was clear of their blood and ^but^ they heard my voice and words
ownly when mingle with the roar of Cannon and musketry, before I had done
speaking they went back on board of the Revenue Cutter taking their arms with ^them^
having accomplished nothing ownly showing the wickedness of their hearts, and burning
up some powder and grass. at the close of the meeting I baptized 2, also one next
day and while baptizing the mob again commencing^d^ fireing guns but being loaded with

nothing but powder they were harmless. The Baptist and Methodist joined
the mob, ^originated got up^ and tried to stir up the people and lied about us more than proved for their
benefit. Mr Douglass the methodist priest on the South Island ^when argument found him^ applyed to the
^to all the^ magistrates for a warrants against me for a lie bill for overthrowing his doctrin but ^they refused to grant them as he had no^
their was not a magistrate on the Islands would issue one to him.
^cause of complaint but religious persecution^

On the 13^th Feb 1838 I left the Islands I crossed in the mail boat to Hampden on
the main Land. I there met with ^ordained^ James Townsend I set him apart to the ministry
and we walked together through deep snows to the City of Bangor, preaching each
night and visited and preached in the Town of searsmont, Belfast, Northport
Frankfort Hampden, and twice in the City Hall in Bangor, to large assemblies, and
returned to the ^Fox^ Islands via Casteme and the Isle of Holt, arived in Vinal Haven the
8^th March ^Elder Townsend returned home^. On the 22nd March I accompanied Brother Starreat at low tide onto a
barr to some 40 rods from shore to dig som clams, we were soon accompanied by Mrs
Woodruff and a Sister Stone who had a curiosity to see how clams were dug, the ground
for some 12 rods near shore was several feet lower than the point we were on we were
so busily ingaged in diging clams we did not observe the flowing tide untill we
were surrounded with water, and having no boat we had no other alternative
ownly to waid ashore and carry the women to dry land in an arm chair, which we
safely accomplished amid the reflection that the tide nor more than time waited for no
man,. On the 4^th April I called at the post office and Mr Kent the post master
showed me a letter containing two sheets of fools cap signed by Warren Parrish
and several of the Twelve who had apostitized and been cut off from the Church the
letter was teeming with falshood against Joseph Smith and the Prophet and all that stood
by him it was sent with the intention to of breaking up the work upon these
Islands but it did not injure have the do accomplish it or hinder the work.

On the 11^th April I was visited by Elder Townsend and Milton Holmes who
attended the conference with me upon both Islands and bore their testimony to the
people, but the spirit of opposition increased to a great hights, untill I felt warned
by the spirit to leave the Island for a season and take a western mission. after visiting
the saints from house to house, and praying with them and incouraging them I left
them on the 28^th April and went to the main land with Elder Holmes & Townsend Mrs
Woodruff ^Mrs Woodruff^ had returned to her friends in Scar Fathers house on the 17^th April We walked
to Scarborough, I left Scarborough May 7^th walked to Bradford where I left
Elder Holmes, I walked to Boston and on the 11^th I had an appointment to
preached at Sister Vose room. But I went to Cambridgeport to visit Elder A. P. Rockwood
who had been shut up in jail on pretense of debt but in reality out of persecution the
jailer shut ^locked^ me in and did not let me out till 10 oclock at night but while it

[START HERE] disappointed a congregation of people it gave me a happy visit with Elder Rockwood
in conversing upon the work of God if we were ^although^ in Jail, it was the first time I had ever
met with him. On my return to Boston the people were still waiting to hear
me speak though at a late hour, I spoke to them a short time. On the 14 I left
Boston and walked some 30 miles to Hollistown to Deacon Havens and preached, I walked to
Providence RI, took steamer to New York arived on the 18 Met with Br Orson
Pratt and attended meetings with him ^un^till the 27. When I went up the North River
and preached at ^to^ New Burgh and preached in several towns in New York and New
Jersey and walked around the country to Farmington Connecticut and arived at my
Fathers house on the 11^th June 1838 I commenced preaching at my Fathers house
to such as would come together to hear. Ond On the first day of July I baptized
six persons in Farmington river including my Father, step Mother, and ^my ownly^ sister Unis
Eunice, also cousin Seth Woodruff and aunt Anna Cossett, and Dwight Webster
a Methodist class Leader who was boarding at my Fathers house. When Father J
the Patriarch Joseph Smith ^sen gave me my blessing he said I should bring
my Fathers household into the Kingdom of God, I felt that it had been fulfilled this
day. I confirmed those baptized and organized this small branch of the Church
consisting of 9 members 8 of which were relatives, I ordained Dwight Webster
to the office of a Priest and administered the sacrament unto them. On the 3rd of July
after committing myself father Aphek Woodruff and his household into the hands of God
I bid them farewell and again ^I^ started for the state of Maine. I walked most of the
way to Boston there took steemer for Portland and arived at Father Carters ^In Scarboro^ on the 6^th
On the 14^th July My wife was delivered of a daughter wh at her Fathers house which
we named Sarah Emma. On July 22 I wrote a letter to Thomas B Marsh
giving him an account of my labours upon Fox Islands and the Eastern Country
On the 30^th I left Scarborough and returned to the Islands I preached several times
to large congregations in Thomaston & the methodist meeting house in East Thomaston
and in the Town Hall in Camden before crossing to the Islands where I arived on the
7^th Aug. On the 9 Aug I received a letter from Thomas B Marsh informing me
of my appointment to fill the place in the Quorum of the Twelve of one who had fallen
and I was requested to come to Far West as soon as possible to prepare for a mission
to England in the spring. I immediately visited all the Saints upon both Islands
and earnestly exhorted them to sell their property and prepare themselves to accompany
me to the body of the Church in Missouri. Several immediately sold their property
but many were poor and had not the means to. Brother Nathaniel Thomas said
he would furnish means to help off all the poor saints upon Fox Islands who wished
to go, and for this purposes went with me to the main land ^on the 13^th Aug^ and I assisted him

in procuring about two thousand Dollars worth of horses, waggons, tents &c for the
company. He paid about $1,500 of the expens himself $1,000 of which was to furnish
conveyance for the poor after purchasing the outfit for the company and urging the importance
of their starting as soon as possible not later than the first of Sept. On the 19^th Aug
I left thesaints ^upon the Islands^ returned to town of Camden where we had prepared our outfit and returned
to Scarborough to prepare my own family for the journey, expecting to see the company in
few days but here I remained in great suspens untill the 1^st Oct when Elder Townsend
went to meet the company. They arived in Scarborough on the 3rd Oct with their
waggon covers all flying. The company stoped at the house of Sister Sarah B Foss
we went to work nailed down all the covers and painted them and made them water
proof. And in the after noon of the 4^th Oct 1838 ^with^ my wife bid her Father Mother &
friends fare well ^and with her child two month and a half old in the first stage of the hooping cough^ and we [FIGURE] started upon our journey. The company consisted of
53 persons including Brother Townsend & family and myself and family we had 10 waggons
a pair of horses to each waggon, we had now ^before us at this late period^ commenced this gloo 4^th day of Oct
^Before us^ to start upon a gloomy land journey of two thousand miles from Maine to Missouri
we continued to travel from day to day to day through all the rain, mud, cold, frost, and
snow, untill I arived in Rochester, Sangamont Co Illinos, on the 19^th day of Dec.
where I stoped and setled my family and company for the winter. My wife had
passed through a severe course of the brain fever and her s while upon the journey
and her sufferings had been very great her spirit had left her body twice to all
human appearance and ownly been called back through the prayer of faith and the power of
God. Our child had also been very sick and I had become so thoroughly chilled through
my whole system ^in crossing the bleak prairies^ ^*Brother Thomas had buried one child and^ that it was two months after I stoped before I got sufficiently thawed
nearly all the company had been sick through their exposures some of them had stoped by the way
out and warmed up to feel natural. ** We continued travelling untill we were obliged to
side we had wallowed through much mud and snow had broaken several axeltrees, and
stop in consequence of the bad roads and cold weather, I spent the remainder of
^we suffered much upon the journey yet &^
the winter laboring with my ^hands^ for the support of my family. On the 8^th day of March
1839 I attended a conference at Springfield Ill. their was present 8 seventies
6 Elders 3 priest and 1 Deacon, several were presented on ordination, we ordained
2 Elders & one priest. Brother Brewster was presented for ordination and Brother
Dunham strongly urged that he be ordained as did several others. I strongly objected to it
for I felt that the spirit the man possessed was not of God, a strong influence was
got up in his favor in Springfield, I called a vote of the Elders upon the subject and
all voted for him to be ordained except 3 of us two besides myself he then
came foreward d and demanded baptism ^ordination^ at my hands ^in the name of Jesus Christ^ I told him he should
not be ordained by my consent, for that was not the way God imparted the Holy
priesthood to the children of man he was not ordained and I marvelled that so
many should have voted for his ordination after seeing the spirit he manifested

March 13 I was pressed in spirit to go to Quincy Illinois and visit the
the saints who had fled their from their persecuters in Missouri I immediately
^March 13^ I took my wife ^Family^ & child into my waggon and started on the 12^th March and arived
^March 13 I took my family and started for Quincy where I arived^
in Quincy on the 16. I dined with Emma Smith at Judge Clevelands I then
went on the bank of the river near Quincy and saw ^a great^ many of the Saints
old and young man wom & children lying in the mud and water in a hard rain
storm with^out^ scarcely any tent or covering which ^suffering^ was the fruits ^caused by^ of the unhallowed
persecution of the State of Missouri the sight filled my eyes with tears
while my heart was made glad at the cheerfulness of the Saints in the
midst of ther ^affliction^ dreary position. Sunday 17. I had an interview with Elder
^President^ Brigham Young and John Taylor we held a meeting with the saints $50 and a number
of teams was raised to bring out the remainder of the people from Missouri. I made a statement
of the procedings of the Springfield Conference when the Church voted that Jonathan Dunham
be reproved for calling a conference at Springfield and for cherishing the wrong spirit
which Brewster possessed. President Brigham Young councilled that the Twelve as soon
as possible immediately move their families to ^to locate their families in^ Quincy ^for the time being^ so they could be together in council
I left Quincy on the 20^th arived in Springfield on the 23rd Held a meeting with the Saints
reproved Elder Dunham for his course in maintaining Brewster in his wrong spirit. He
confessed asked forgiveness & was forgiven I collected a donation of ^I returned to Rochester for my effects while at Springfield I collected $70 for the relief of the
Saints in Quincy ^which I sent to them^ A messenger took it to the Brethren in that place. I arived in Rochester
on the 24^th. On April 3^rd while riding upon the running gears of a waggon, setting upon the
foreward bolster, the bolt came out of the copling pole which left the hind wheels I was imme-
diately shot up between the bolster and tongue with the coupling pole turned over upon the horses backs
the horses became frightened and ran onto an open prairie with me draging my head and
shoulders upon the ground after draging me in this position for several minutes I managed
to dr guide them so as to run into the corner of a high staked worm fence where I
landed with myself ^&^ horses in a pile, and escaped through the mercy of God with ownly a few
bruises without any broken bones. I settled my business and ^I^ returned to Quincy on the
8 April where I left my family and went to Far west with the Twelve and
attended the conference on the Temple Block on the 26 April 1839 where I was ordained
as one of the Twelve Apostles on the corner stone of the Temple under the hands of the Twelve
^Elder^ Brigham Young being mouth. Elder G. A. Smith was also ordained ^at the same time^ to the same office. We
returned to Quincy on the 2nd day of May. On the 3rd in company with five of the
Twelve I went to Mr Cleevelands and had a happy interviewed with ^President^ Joseph Smith the
Prophet who had just escaped out of the hands of his persecuters in Missouri it was the

first time I had seen him for more than two years it was a happy meeting I attended
the conferences and meetings with the saints in Quincy untill the 15^th when I left with
Elder Brigham Young and journeyed to Nau M Commerce with him crossed the river and settled
my family in a room in the old barracks in Montrose Brother Brigham Young and family occupied ^I moved my family to Montrose and occupied a room in the barracks^
^with President Young and family^ the same room with me a short time I spent my time attending the meetings, council, and
conferences in I wrote ^in my journal^ the teaching of Joseph sayings, and prophesyings of Joseph from
time to time as I had an opportunity. July 22 I was with the prophet ^President^ Joseph ^Smith^ and his
council and the Twelve, it was a day of Gods power with the prophet, he healed many on both
sides of the river who were sick nigh unto death, among ^them^ was Elijah Fordham and
Joseph B. Nobles, as the Prophet had healed many even the wicked rabble followed
to see the sick healed and as Joseph was about to cross the river a man came to
him and asked him if he would not go about 3 miles and healed two of his small
children which were twins about 3 months old and were sick nigh unto death, he was a
man of the world never herd a sermon preached by a Latter Day Saint, Joseph said
he could not go, but he would send a man, after a moment^s hesitation he turned
to me and said you go with this man and heal his children, at the same time giving
me a read po sick [silk] handkerchief and said after you lay hands upon them wipe their faces
with it and they shall be healed, and as long as you will keep that handkerchief it shall
ever remain as a league between you and me, I went and done as I was commanded
and the children were healed. On the 25 I was attacked with the chills and fever for the
first time in my life. I had a chill every other day and was very sick. On the 8^th of
I laid hands upon my wife and children blessed then committed them into the hands of God
and started upon my English mission ^leaving my family sick and with not more than 4 days provision^ Brother Brigham Young rowed me across the river in a
boat, I was sick and feeble, when I landed I laid down upon the bank of the river on a
side of soal leather, the prophet Joseph came along and looked at me and said you are starting
on your mission, I said yes, but I look like a poor instrument for a missionary I look
more fit for the hospital or desecting room, ^than a missionary^ he replyed what do you say that for, go ahead in
the name of the Lord and you shall be healed and blessed on your mission I thanked him
A brother came along with a waggon I got and took me to carried me along a few miles
on my road, I started without purse or scrip I passed by Parley ^P^ Pratt who was hewing
house logs for a house barefoot, bareheaded, without coat or jaket on, he came to me and said I have
no money but I have got an empty purse. I will give you that. I went a few rods and found
Elder H. C. Kimball in nearly the same position, that Parley was, building a log cabin also he crossed
to me and ^said^ I have one dollar I will give you that to put in your purse. He blessed me and I
went along my way accompanied by Elder John Taylor I had a shake of the ague every other
day and lay on the bottom of the waggon while I travelled over the ^a^ stubs and stones
we stoped with Samuel and Carlos Smith at McComb held a meeting with the Saints

in that place they contributed ^$9^ to our necessities and George Miller gave us a horse
as Father Coultrin was going east he took us into his waggon to help us along we spent 5
days in Springfield where Elder Taylor printed fifteen hundred copies of a pamphlet upon
the Missouri persecution also had a trial with Elder Babbit having prepared a charge against
him for improper conduct. We sold our horse in Springfield, and left on the 21^st continued
our journey we spent the night of the 24 with Dr Modasett, at Terrehaute. On the 28^th
while travelling Elder Taylor had a suddent attack fell to the ground as though he had been
knocked down we administered to him and he revived, on the following day he fell again
and fainted several times, it seemed as though the Destroyer would take his life, we
travelled with him 4 days after he was taken sick, ^his sickness proved to be^ it was then evident that he had a hard
attacked of the billious fever we stoped with him ^two^ at a Jerman Tavern in Germantown Wane
County Indianna with a k kind family with whom he was acquainted, we stoped with
him two days, untill Father Coulton would stop no longer, I offered ^proposed^ to remain with
Brother Taylor but as I was sick with the fever and ague and not able to take care of
myself Brother Taylor he ^Brother Taylor^ advised ^me^ to continue my journey, with Father, Coultrin^ ^saying it was easier to take care of one sick man than two^ saying
that one such man could get along better than two, according to his council I committed
him into the hands of God and the family promised to do all in their power to make him comfortable
I parted with him with a heavy heart, on the 2nd Sept and continued my journey with
Father Coultrin to Cleaveland Ohio, I there took steamer on the 10^th for Buffalo but we
had a severe gale and did not reach Buffalo untill the 12th^th I travelled to Albany on a
canal boat had the ague daily, was very sick, had no companion except sectarian
priest who was daily lying about ^the mormons^ mormonism I took stage ^at Albany^ for Farmington
Ct on the night of the 19^th and rode all night and the following day and suffering
immensely ^severely^ with the fever and ague I arived at my Fathers house in Farmington Ct
on the 21^st Sept Quite sick I found my Father and family well. On the 27 Sept 1839
my ^maternal^ Grand Mother Anna Thompson on my mothers side died aged 84 years of age
I was to sick to attend her funeral, it is a singular incident that my Grand Father
Lot Thompson and Anna Thompson his wife, Samuel Thompson and Mercy Thompson
all ^of one family^ died the year they were ^in their^ 85 ^year^ years of age old. On the 4^th Oct Adna Hart died
brother to my step Mother, aged 43. He requested me to preach his funeral sermon
I had been sick at my fathers house with the ague for fifteen days attended with a
severe cough and the hour for the funeral was the hour for my ague, yet I gave out
the apointment, attended the funeral, preached an hour and a half, and I had no more
ague for many days, I left my fathers house on the 7^th Oct and visited New York
Long Island, New Jersey and various parts of the country but was ^in^ very poor health
Nov 1^st I assisted Elders Clark, Wright, & Mulliner, to sail for England. Elder
John Taylor recovered from his sickness and arived in New York 13 Dec and on
the 19^th, in company with Elder John Taylor & ^Theodore^ Turley I went on board of the

Packet Ship Oxford bound ^at sail^ for Liverpool and ^where I^ landed, in Liverpool Jan 11^th 1840
in good health and spirits having a passage of 23 days. When I left my Father
in Farmington Ct he gave me some mony to assist in paying my passage then
gave me five dollars more requesting me to keep that untill I arived at Liverpool
saying I would then want it. this I found to be true after landing and getting
ready to go to Preston that money was all we had to carry us to preston and we had 2 penny
2 pence left. we arived in Preston on the 13. Had a happy intervied with Brother Willard Richards
Held a council together resolved ^agreed^ that Elder Taylor go to Liverpool, Turley to Birmingham, and that
I go to Staffordshire poterris. 18 Arived in Manchester met Elder Clayton ^who^ he presided over
that branch numbering 164 members I was immediately called upon to visit a woman possessed
with the Devil she was raging and foaming and held by four men the more we rebuked the
devil the worse he raged, but we continued to pray and ministered untill we conqered and
cast the Devil out of her and she was clothed in her right mind and arose and gave
thanks to the ^Lord the^ Devil entered into a young child and we cast the Devil out of the child
after preching to the people ^I preached^ several times and laying ^laid^ hands upon twenty ^eight^ sick persons I ^then^ went
to Burslam on the 21. Met with Elder ^Alfred^ Cordon president over the potteries ^Burslam^ N saints in the Burslan
Branch ^which^ numbered 66. I commenced preaching [ni◊] to in the Stafford Shire potteris, Elder Turley
left for Birmingham on the 29^th, I remained in the potteries some 40 forty days preching
daily, baptizing, confirming, blessing children, opening new doors &c., On the 1^st March as I
met in the evening with a large assembly in the town of Hanly the Lord revealed unto
me that it would be the last meeting that I would hold with the Saints in the potteris
for many days I told the people it was the last meeting I should hold with them
for a season it created much excitement among them as I had appointment out ^out^ for
a week ^which I got Brother Cordon to fill^ I went before the Lord in prayer and asked him where I should go the spirit
said go to the South. according to the directions of the Spirit on the 3rd March I
went to Herefordshire and called upon John Benbow at Castlefroome. Here I
found a people prepared for the gospel. I preached twice at his house on on the 6^th
I baptized 6 persons including John Benbow and wife I hear found a body of ^society^
people called United Brethren numbering about 600 six hundred members having some
fifty preachers Thomas Kingston their presiding Elder, they come from all quarters to hear
me preach and believed my testimony and I preched and baptized daily the ^Ministery of the^ Church of
England sent three ^Church^ Clerks of their Church to see what I was doing and I baptized
them all, one constable came to take me up for preaching and breaking into their arrangements
and I baptized him, I^n^ remained some ^some^ 30 days and ^I^ baptized 160, forty ^eight^ of which
were preachers of the united Brethren including their presiding Elder Thomas Kingston,
^I esstablished forty two preching places esstablished and liscenced according to law including one Chapel^
On the 9^th April I had an appointment at Haw Cross as I was going into the meeting
some letters was put into my hands from Elder Brigham Young and others informing me
of the ^his^ arrival of with five of the Twelve with him and requested me to come to Preston ad and

attend a General Conference. A vast assembly had gathered at Haw Cross to attend my
meeting the house, door yard, and street was crowded and among it was a large mob
a mob had gathered. I preached to the people, 5 came forward and wished to be
baptized the mob surrounded the pool armed with stones. I dismissed the meeting and went
away but both the congregation and mob remained on the ground till midnight and as there
was no prospect of their dispersing and the candidates were anxious to be baptized, I went
down into the water and baptized five in the mids of a shower of stones the water
was all of a foam for a road around me none that I baptized were hit at all
and I was ownly hit twice one on my hip and one on the head it raised a large
bump on my head which all left me while confirming those I Baptized I afterwards
^subsequently^ baptized many of the mob. I left next morning for Preston attended the conference
with the Twelve, and returned to Herefordshire accompanied by Brother Brigham
Young on the 22nd April and was soon joined by Elder ^Willard^ Richards, Elder Brigham Young
remained with me twenty seven days preching, baptizing, confirming, ^&^ councilling, &c and
numbers were added daily to the Church. He then returned to Manchester I spent about
seven months labor in Herefordshire, Glostershire, & wostershire, and we baptized
over eighteen hundred including all of the United Brethren save one we baptized
over two hundred preachers of various denominations in that part of the vinyard
A synod of Church ministers became so alarmed for their flocks in that part of
the vineyard they petitioned Parliament to take ^adopt^ some measure to stop our preching they
got for an answer that if they was as well acquainted with the Bible as their hunting
grounds and was as much interested in the welfare of the souls of men as the chasing
of stags and foxes they would not loose so many out of ther Diocese ^of their Congregations^ I arrived
^I visited^ London on the 18 Aug 1840 with Elders H. C Kimball and G. A. Smith I laboured with
them in esstabliching the Church in London I spent over 5 months in that City ^we^ visited
nearly evry part of the City and notable places that we could have access to. I attended all
the General Conferences in England and set sail with my Brethren of the Twelve] on the
ship Rochester on the 20 April 1841 arived in New York May 20^th. I went to
Scarboro Maine got my wife and also my son Wilford whom I had not before
seen he was born March 22nd 1840. I returned to New York and started for
Nauvoo via the Lakes was badly wreked on Lake Michigan while in the steemer Chesapk
Chesapeake, but arived in Nauvoo in safety on the 6^th October, 1841, where I
again had the happy privilege of striking hands ^meeting^ with the Prophet Joseph and Hiram and
my Brethren the Twelve. I bought a log house of Brother Tracy on lot no. 1 block 106
on Hotchkiss and Durffee street, ^President^ Joseph Smith afterwards gave me the lot. I spent the
winter of 1841 & 2, attending meetings, councils, and laborings with my hands,
attending the Nauvoo House provision store untill the 3rd Feb, ^1842^ when I took charge
of the printing office in connexion with Elder ^John^ Taylor. On the 4^th March

On the 4^th March Phebe Amelia was born. On the 23rd July being out of a stock of
papers Brother Joseph sent me to St Louis to buy a new stock ^of paper^ I was 6 days getting to
St Louis on my arival I had a severe ^was severely^ attack ^with^ of the Billious fever setled upon me
and the day I made my purchases and got my freight on board the fever was raging
so hard that I was hardly sensible of what I was doing, as soon as I got my
freight on board I flung myself into a ^took my^ birth and lay there most of the time
untill I arived home ^I reached Nauvoo, which was on the 10 Aug the boat being 5 days getting over the
rapids. As soon as I delivered the paper to the office I went home and went to bed
and ^I was confined to my bed for forty days unabled to get up^ ^and^ passed through the most severe fit of sickness I ever endured in my life, my life
was dispaired of by many. I lay 40 days upon my bed unabled to set up at all I was adm-
inistered to by the Twelve, and others and my life preserved through the power of God I
took a relaps twice after I began to recover. Once was while in council with the presidency
and Twelve. my strength left me my breath stoped and I felt as though I was struck with
death it was with great difficulty that I was brought to by the laying on of hands. after
my recovery I continued my labours in the printing office. ^Sept 24^ The office took fire
in the upper story in the midst of a large amount of paper and it came near burning ^up^
it to the ground. The winter of 1842 & 3 was one of the most severe ever experienced in
Illinois Nov 21^th Alphaus Harmon and his nephew was found froze to death on the
prairie I help to lay them out on the 22nd I remained in Nauvoo attending Councils
Meetings, and the business of the printing office, untill the 7^th July 1843, when I was
called to go ^started^ on a mission with the rest of the Twelve ^Elders Brigham Young & G A Smith to go into^ into the Eastern States to collect
funds for for the Temple and Nauvoo House. I gave bonds in the sum of two thousand
dollars for the faithful performance of my duty. July 7^th I left Nauvoo on the
Steemer Rapids for my mission in company with Elders B. Young G. A. Smith & E P Magin
I travelled with the Twelve and attended conferences with them through the middle &
Eastern States ^&^ visited my parents as I went along. On the 12 Sept I left
Boston at 5 oclock PM, on the express train for portland while passing through the
Chester woods 6 miles south of Kennebunk an Irishman having pried up one
of the rails and rolled a log under it, and it being dark we struk it at full speed
and landed in a pile of ruins. three cars were filled with passengers and there
lives were saved by having a long train of freigh betwen the passenger cars
and engine which was dashed to peaces. the enganeer was killed and some bones
broaken of the passengers I escaped unhurt. On my return home in the fall
as the printing office was out of stock I procured means and purchased a
stock of ^a supply of^ paper and other materials to supply ^sufficit for^ the printing office for more than
a year which I took with me and arived in Nauvoo on the 4^th Nov.
I spent the winter of 1843 & 4 in Nauvoo recieved my Endowments with the Twelve
remained in business in the printing office untill the 20^th Jan 1844 when I settled my

^closed^ my business in the office and left it well supplyed with materials in the hands of
Elder Taylor. I built me a ^finished^ ^built a two story^ brick house upon my lot which had been some
two years in building I received a mission in the spring to go through the Eastern
states with the Quorum of the Twelve and on the 9^th of May 1844 I took the
last parting hand with President Joseph Smith in his own house in company with
J. M. Grant. He blessed me and bid me God Speed, I left Nauvoo in company
E with Elders G. A Smith J. M. Grant & Ezra Thayer we travelled through Ill
^Ia^ and Michigan^ and preached and held Conferences^ June 17 I parted with Elder G A Smith in Franklin Oakland co
Michigan and went to Boston via the Lakes and Albany met with the Twelve in Boston
on the 27th June I attended Conferences and meetings with the Twelve and visited
Maine I was in portland ready to step on board of a steamer for fox Islands when
I saw an accout of the death ^marterdom^ of Joseph & Hiram Smith in Carthage Jail the spirit
bore record to me it was true, I immediately returned to Boston met in Council
with the Twelve. returned with them to Nauvoo where we arived on the 6th Aug I
attended the Special Conference of the Authorities of the Church where the thousands who
assembled on the occasion voted unanimously to sustain the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
as the Presidency and Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
I have ever been impressed sinch since my first acquaintance with the Church
and Kingdom of God upon the Earth with the deep 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 teaching which
I have ever had 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 to us as well
as the Saints in former generations I would recomend the Elders of Israel to do
likewise that what is recorded on Earth may be recorded in Heaven

* paper apart page 5, 11^th line

History of Wilford Woodruff

On the 29^thday of March ^21^st^1856

On the 21^st day of April 1856 I innoculated my arm with poison & mortifycation
while assisting to remove an ox which had died of poison & beened been skined which
poison worked through my system for seven days before it showed itself outwardly
on the 28^th day my arm began to swell was in great pain and showed signs of mortification
I showed it to President Young who advised me to clens my stomach immediately
and put on onion poltices and any thing that would draw the poison from
my system into my arm which council I immediately put into execution
29^th was another trying day to my life the poison had so thoroughly penetrated
my whole system that my strength left me I could not stand I was led to my
bed my bowels and stomach sceased to act, my speech was like that of a drunken
man President Young called in company with Dr Sprague and laid hands
upon me and rebuked the deseace & the power of the Destroyer which had seized
my body and promised me in the name of the Lord that I should not die but
live to finish my work which was appointed me upon the Earth, I soon began
to recover, the poison ^and mortification^ left my system and centered in my arm which was removed
drawn from my arm through the aid of charcoal poltices mostened with ^a^ strong
decotion of wormwood rag weed & wild sage, the dead flesh was removed from my
arm with instruments and Lunar Castic and in few days I was well again

(*paper apart page 5^th) 11^th line) During the winter of 1831 while in
New Hartford Ct I passed through a severe course of the lung fever

(*paper apart Page 6^th to come in its date,) taken off from page 38.)
On the 23rd of July 1842 President Joseph Smith sent me from
Nauvoo to St Louis to procure a stock of paper. I started went down upon
a steamer to steemboat was 6 days on the way during which time I
was severely attak with the Billious fever on the day I made my
purchase the fever was so high I was sccarcely sensible of what I was
doing as soon as I had made my purchase & got my freight on
board I took my birth and lay there untill I arived in Nauvoo
which was on the 10^th Aug I was confined to my bed 40 days
and passed through the most sever[e] fit of sickness I ever endured
my life was dispaired of by many

(*2nd, Page 6^th paper apart)

On the 5 day of Oct 1846 while with the Camp of Israel
building up Winter Quarter on the west side of the Missouri
River then Indian Country I passsed passed through one of the most
painful scenes of my life and serious misfortune of any of my life
I took my ax and went 2 1/2 miles onto the bluffs to cut some shingle
timber to cover my cabin I was acompanied by two other men and
while falling the third tree ^which was an oak over two feet in diameter^ I steped backed of it some 8 feet and also one
side about the same distance where I thought I was entirely out of danger
but when the tree fell (being over two feet in diameter) ther being a crook
in the body of it, it struck a knowl on the ground and the whole body of the tree
shot end ways back of the stump and bounded & the but of the tree struck
me in the breast and knocked me several in the air against a standing
Oak and the falling tree followed me in its bend and caught me
against the standing tree and I came down between ^the two trees^ them one
standing & the other falling but before reaching the ground I was
liberated from between them and struck the ground upon my feet.
It badly bruised my left thigh the whole leangth of it and my hip
also my left arm it also broak my breast bone into also 3 ribs
on my left side it also bruised my lungs, vitals, and left side in
a shocking manor. After the accident I sat upon a log untill
Mr John Garrison went a quarter of a mile to get my horse. Notwith-
standing I was so badly hurt I had to mount my horse and ride
2 1/2 miles over a very rough road and had to dismout twice in
consequence of miry places, my breast and vitals was so badly torn
to peaces that each step of the horse went through me like an arrow
I continued on horsback untill I arived at Turky Creek on the
North side of Winter Quarters I then became exhausted & was taken
off and carried in a chair to my waggon not having a ^my^ cabin built
I was met in the street by president Brigham Young H. C Kimball, W
Richards & others who assisted in carrying me to my family. Before lying
me upon my bed the presidency laid hands upon me rebuked my suffering
& distress in the name of the Lord and said I should live and
not die. I was then laid upon my bed in my waggon and as
the Apostles prophesied upon my head so it came to pass I did live and
not die. I employed no physician on this occasion but was administered

to by the Elders of Israel and nursed by my wife I lay upon
my bed unabled to move untill my breast bone began to nit
together which commenced on the 9^th day I began to walk about in
20 days from the time I was hurt and in 30 days from the time I was
hurt I again commenced hard labour. And It has always
appeared miraculous to me that with all the injuries and broken bones
that I have had, I have not a lame limb about me but have
been enabled ever since to endure the hardest manual labor,
exposure, hardships and injuries have even walked 40, 50 & on one occasion
60 miles in a day. However if I over labor or take a severe cold I
feel it more sensibly in my breast and left side than I did
before my last injury. Thus I have occupied considerable space in
referring to those peculiar circumstances which here attending me ^thus far^ during life
and to sum the matter up it stands about thus. I have broaken
both legs (one twice in two) both arms, both ancles, my breast bone,
3 ribs, have been drowned, froze, & scalded. have been in two
water wheels under a full head of water, bitten by a mad dog
and passed through a score of other hair breadth escapes. Yet the
mercies of God have been over me, and my life has thus far
been preseved upon the Earth for which blessing I feel to render
the gratitude of my heart with thanksgiving to my Heavenly
Father praying that the remainder of my days, may be spent
in his service & the building up of his Kingdom

(Page 9^th * History) Having embraced the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel of
Jesus Christ and seeing in it great beauty, power, glory & salvation
I had a great ^great^ desire to teach it to my ^the gospel fellow men, and this
desire increased upon me and rested with great wait upon my
mind but ^which^ I did not reveal this to any man ^person^. But one Sunday
evening I retired into the woods alone by myself and called upon
the Lord in earnest prayer to open my way to go and preach
the gospel of Salvation to the children of men ^inhabitants of the Earth^. The Spirit of the
Lord rested upon me & bore witness unto me that my prayer was
heard & should be answered upon my head. I arose from my
knees happy & walked some forty rods through a thick wood into
an open road, as I entered the road there stood before me
Judge Elias Higby an High Priest with whom I had been

closely associated having ^and^ lived in the same house for a number
of months but had never to my recollection said any thing to me
about preaching or ordination. But now as I approached him
he said Brother Wilford the Spirit of the Lord tells me that you
should be ordained & go and preach the gospel ^on a mission^. I said very well
if it is the will of the Lord I am ready.

At a meeting of the High Council at Lyman Wights Clay County Missouri
on the 5^th day of Nov 1834 I was ordained to the office of a priest by the
directions of the High Council under the hands of Brother Simeon Carter
Stephen Winchester & Heman Hyde were ordained priests at the same time.

I called upon Bishop Edward Partridge and asked him what my
mission should be in what part of the country I should go to preach
the gospel. He replyed that I should ^Bishop Partridge said he would^ like to have some of the Brethren ^me^ go into
the Southern States through Arkansas Tennesee Kentucky &c if I could find
any body who had faith enough to go ^with me^ for it would be a hard mission
and a hard ^dangerous^ county to travel in at present in consequence of the Missouri
persecutions. I told him I was as ready to go South as any where else if he
wished it. As Arkansas lay South of Missouri I asked him if I
should go through Jackson County as it lay direct in our path ^route^ he said
it would be at the risk of ones life & I have not got faith enough to
undertake it if you have you can try it, I asked him if I went
through Jackson County if I should start without purse or scrip as in
general terms that seemed ^according^ to be the law ^of God^. He said that he had not got
faith enough to start on a mission through Jackson County without money
and if I dare it I must do it on my own faith. As the commandments
required the Elders to go out without purs or scrip I felt strenous to keep
the commandments so I ^started without money^ resolved that to go without purse or scrip
I wished to have some companion go with my ^up^ on my mission I did
not wish to launch forth into the open world alone. I called upon
Elder Harry Brown (who had accompanied me from Richland New York to Clay Co
Missouri) and asked him if he would not accompany me it met his
wishes and Bishop Partridge gave him his mission with me. And
we immediately ^prepared^ ourselves to start upon our journey And on the 13^th day of Jan
1835 I recieved the following recommend in connexion with my priests license
((Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, Jan 13 1835 This certifies that Wilford Woodruff
has faithfully discharged evry duty required of him in the Camp of the Saints
on the 13 day Jan 1835 I received an honorable discharge from Lyman Wight from
the duties of Zions Camp and

in journeying from Kirtland Ohio to this place has been very faithful
in the discharge of his duty since his arival here both temporally and spiritually
is strong in the faith of the Latter Day Saints and worthy of his calling
He is recommended by the Church in this place to any branch where providence
may call him. Lyman Wight))

2nd Page 10 We were very kindly received & entertained for the remainder
of the night by Mr Jerew the French trader. He had an Osage squaw for a
wife she got us a good supper but marvelled that we did not drink coffee
she offered us their best bed which was highly ornamented and adorned but
we refused ^Declined^ her kind offer as we were wet & muddy she then made
us a good bed of Mocasin blankets before a large fire and we slept
comfortably untill morning. May the Lord reward both Mr Jerew & wife &
the prysbeterian Minister according to their desires))

2nd page 11. ((On the 24^th Jan I preached at Mr Nathan Turners in
Green County Missouri it being the first time that we had found a
congregation during our journey that we could get together and preach
to in safety, & the first time that I had ever attempted to, preach the
gospel to a congregation in the capacity of a priest or missionary I had
good liberty & was followed by Elder Brown ther was a hard snow storm
during the time))