ADVENTURE IN .
I told him we did not really consider them essential to salva-
tion.
He said he did, and therefore should not join our
Church.
On the 4th of April, 1835, I had the happy privilege of
meeting Elder at the house of Brother .
He had been preaching in that part of , in company
with , and had baptized a number and organ-
ized several small branches.
Brother Patten had returned home, and Brother Parrish
was laboring alone. I joined him in the ministry, and we
labored together three months and nineteen days, when he
was called to .
During the time we were together we traveled through
several Counties in Tennessee for the distance of seven hun-
dred and sixty miles, and preached the gospel daily, as we had
opportunity. We baptized some twenty persons.
By the counsel of the Prophet and , Elder Parrish ordained me an , and left me to
take charge of the branches that had been raised up in that
neighborhood.
As soon as I was left alone I extended my circuit and labors.
For a season I had large congregations; many seemed to
believe, and I baptized a number.
On the 15th of August I had an appointment at the house
of Brother , the step-father of .
I had to cross , which I had to swim in con-
sequence of heavy rains. While crossing, my horse became
entangled in a tree top, and almost drowned; but I succeeded
in getting him loose.
We swam to the shore separately. He reached the shore
first, and waited till I came out. I got into the saddle, and
went on my way in good spirits, and had a good meeting.
On the 20th of October I baptized three , one
of whom was a deacon. I then rode twelve miles to Mr.
, who was eighty years old, and had been a soldier
under General . His , who was ninety-three
years old, I found quite smart, and busy carding wool. I
preached at their house and baptized both of them.