Your letter
received, to say I was surprised,
would scarcely exprese my feelings,
for I had no idea that I would
be thought worthy the honor of
a mission, as the greater portion
of my life has been a very
reckless one. For the past twelve
years, I have ben leading the
wild life of a "Cow-boy" and
have had all the bad faults
they are noted for. A year ago
las December I came home here
to Tooele, to take a rest, resolving
in my mind to try and live a
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different and a better life, and
while I have not done in the year,
as well as I might have done,
still I have succeed in overcoming
the tea, coffee, and tobacco habit,
and this winter, I have overcome
my appetite for all intoxicating
drinks, to wich (I am ashamed
to say) I have been a slave for
many years, and was just beginning
to turn my mind towards my
relegion, (for to be honest I had never
given it a real serious thought)
when I received your letter. I
have had but little education
still am able to read, and
write, and no doubt the exper-
ence of a mission, would help
me in many ways. I have a wife
and four children, also a home, but
having no farm, or income, perhaps
it would be well to ask for a
few months ^time^ in order to work and
try to earn a little means to
leave with them. I think I have
sufficient of my monthly earnings
or rather the savings from my earn-
ings, to perhaps pay my expenses
to the states, but would also like
to leave a little with my family.
Should you speak to Apostle Lyman
I think he will endorse all that
I have said, as he has known
me allthe greater portion of my life.
He was also well acquainted
with my first wife, whoe's death
together with my ignorance was
the cause of my being much more
reckless, that I other wise, would
have been, but at her death I took
to drinking heavily again, and
while under its cursed influence
commited act that I should not
have done, but in so much as
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I have repented, and try to live a
better life in the future, and
as our Father in Heaven is a mercy-
ful, one, I feel that he will forgive
many of my wrong doings. As to
my own feelings I feel that a
mission would, (as the saying is)
be the making of me, and while,
my circumstances are not the best,
and while I know but very little in
regards to the Gospel, I am willing to
put my trust in him who governs all
things, and do the best I can.
My wife also is anxious that I should
go, and now I think this is all. You
will see I have not been very faithful
Your letter states faithful Elders are needed
&c) but trust I will be more so, from this
time forth, and now as I have given
you a sketch of my life, and if you still
deem me worthy to go, please let me
know as soon as possible, and I
will arrange my affairs accordingly