To the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations: BELOVED BRETHREN: I have been requested to give a brief outline of my life and association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In order for me to comply with such a re- quest my communication must of neces- sity be exceedingly brief, to be suit- able for an article in a magazine like the CONTRIBUTOR. I was born March 1st, 1807. My father's name was Aphek Woodruff. My mother's name was Beulah Thompson. She had three sons;

others were soon added to our numbers, and on the second of January, 1834, Elder Pulsipher organized a branch of the Church with twelve members, and ordained my brother Azmon and Noah Holten Elders, and myself a Teacher. This was the commencement of my asso- ciation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From that day I have closely associated with the leaders of the Church in all their history, until the present day. I traveled with Joseph Smith and company known ...

hundred and thirty-five miles, to Little Rock, begging our food by the way. At Little Rock we took the military road, having tied up our canoe, and waded the great Mississippi swamp to Memphis, Tenn., nearly one hundred and seventy-five miles, most of the way in mud and water knee deep. Brother Brown took a steamer at Memphis and returned to Kirtland, while I traveled alone to middle Tennessee. On my arrival at Memphis, I called upon Mr. Jackson, who ...

took the steamer Bangor, at Portland, with Elder Hale and arrived at Owl's Head at sunset, without any means to continue our journey or get a meal of victuals; we went on to a high hill and bowed ourselves before the Lord, and prayed that our way might be opened. The spirit of the Lord rested upon us and testified to us that our prayers would be answered. As we arose from our prayers, a sloop came sailing into the harbor. We went to the captain and enquired where ...

house, and thus started on my mission without purse or scrip. Brother Brigham Young paddled me across the Mississippi river in a canoe. The difficulties which I, with the rest of the Apostles, passed through in performing that journey to England will never be told in history. However, we all arrived in various com- panies in England in compliance with the commandments of God. We spent the year 1840 in England, during which time we preached the gospel and bap- tized some seven thousand, organized branches and conferences in England ...

burton, with Elder Joseph A. Stratton, for New York. We had an exceedingly rough passage of forty-three days. It was said to be the roughest passage known up to that time. We had seven hurricanes and fourteen gales and lost the second mate overboard. Arrived at New York on the sixth of March, 1846. My wife and daughter had gone on board ship at Liverpool with a company of Saints, on her jour- ney to Nauvoo, via

Taylor, the responsibility of presiding over the Church fell upon me, in con- nection with the Twelve Apostles. At the close of this sketch I wish to say a few words to my young friends. I have had experience and testimony suffi- cient in my life to satisfy me, beyond a doubt, of the truth of the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed to Joseph Smith, whom the Lord raised up to lay the foundation of His Church and Kingdom of God upon ...