Elder, and a small Branch organized
of twelve members, by Elder .
In February following, in company
with Elder Holton, I walked some
sixty miles to the town of , to
attend an evening meeting of the
Saints in that place, where Elder Pul-
sipher was presiding. I saw the or revelations given
through , and I believed
them with all my heart, and rejoiced
therein; and after spending several
days, and holding several meetings,
we returned home rejoicing.
During the winter, we were visited
by several of the Elders. Feb. 1st.,
Elder called upon us
and instructed the Branch till mid-
night; we had a precious time. I
accompanied brother Pratt to , and told him my circum-
stances; he said it was my duty to
prepare myself to go to , and
join the of Zion. I immedi-
ately settled my business.
April 11, 1834—With my horses
and wagon, I took brothers and , and started
for Zion. I met with ,
and other Elders, on
the way, and arrived in Kirtland on
the 25th day of April, 1834.
The Prophet Joseph invited me to
make his house my home; I accepted
his offer, and staid with him about
one week. I became acquainted with
many of the High Priests, Elders and
Saints. I spent one Sabbath in Kirt-
land, and heard many of the Elders
speak, and I felt to rejoice before God
for the light and knowledge which was
manifested to me during that day.
May 1—I started from Kirtland,
and went to and re-
mained till all the company joined
us, when we were organized.
March [May] 7—We took up our line of
march, pitched our tents by the way,
and travelled to .
After we had pitched our tents in
, (our numbers being 205)
and many of the brethren had taken
sick, and some had died, Joseph re-
quested the camp to disperse, except
enough to take care of the sick. All
who had teams were required to leave
the ground and go among the bre-
thren. I went to brother , in company with and . Shortly,
Joseph called the brethren together at
Lyman Wight's, and told them if they
would humble themselves before the
Lord, and covenant to keep His com-
mandments and obey His counsel, the
plague should be stayed from that
hour, and there should not be another
case of cholera in the Camp. The
brethren covenanted to do this, and
the plague was stayed, and there was
not another case in Camp.
President Joseph Smith returned to
Kirtland with many of the brethren;
I remained with Lyman Wight, labor-
ing with my hands till the following
winter.
I had a great desire to preach the
Gospel, which I did not name to my
brethren; but one Sunday evening I
retired into the woods alone, and
called upon the Lord in earnest prayer,
to open my way to go and preach the
Gospel to the inhabitants of the earth.
The Spirit of the Lord bore witness
that my prayer was heard, and should
be answered. I arose from my knees
happy, and walked some forty rods,
and met , a High Priest,
with whom I had staid a number of
months. As I approached him, he
said, "Brother Wilford, the Spirit of
the Lord tells me that you should be
ordained, and go on a mission." I re-
plied, "I am ready."
At a meeting of the High Council at
Lyman Wight's, Clay county, Mis-
souri, Nov. 5th, I was ordained a
Priest by Elder ; and Heman T. Hyde
were also ordained Priests.
Bishop said he would like
to have me go into the Southern States,
through , and ; and if I could find any body
who had faith enough to go with me—
for it would be a dangerous country
to travel in, in consequence of the
Missouri persecutions—to take him.
I told him I was as ready to go south
as anywhere, and asked if I should go
through , as it lay in
our route. He replied, it would be at
the risk of life, and he had not faith
enough to undertake it; if I had, I
might try it. I also asked him, if I
went through Jackson county, if I
should start without purse or scrip,
