thick darkness that it was with great difficulty
we could keep the road, and surrounded by a
large drove of wolves, which kept up a con-
tinual howling, and would frequently rush to
within a few feet of us. We traveled about
two hours in this situation, feeling that we
were in danger, and concluded to stop and
build a fire and wait till morning. According-
ly we built a large fire, which drove the wolves
off, and as we were about to lie down, we heard
a dog bark and a bell. We felt assured we were
near a house; both of us took a brand of fire
and on going about one quarter of a mile, we
came to log hut, which was occupied by Mr. Williams, who had been in Jackson county
during the mobbing of the Saints, and had
lately moved here, depending upon his gun
mostly for his living. It was sixty miles to a
house on the north and twelve miles on the
south. He and his family were living in a
small old log hut, about twelve feet square,
and one bed in the room, upon which lay his wife, several children and three 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
doorway; it was past eleven o'clock at night.
I turned the quilt, looked into the house
and spoke three times; no one stirred, not even
a dog. I walked in and laid my hands upon
the man's shoulder, and spoke to him. The
moment he felt the weight of my hand, he
leaped to his feet and commenced jumping
around the room, leaping as high as he could
each jump. I told him not to be frightened,
as we were travelers and friends, and did not
wish to hurt him, but wished to stop with him
over night. When he came to his senses, he
gave us permission to stop with him till morn-
ing, if we would take the bare floor; as he did.
We asked for something to eat, as we had
walked sixty miles without a morsel of food.
He replied, he had nothing for us, and assured
us he had to kill game for his breakfast in the
morning. He informed us that the reason of
his fright was in consequence of his having
shot a large panther a few nights previous
standing in his door, and he thought his mate
had lit upon him. We lay down upon the floor
and we were glad of this place as it soon be-
gan to rain and rained through the night.
In the morning we arose, and went on in the
rain twelve miles to a Mr. Conner's, who was
also in the Jackson county mob. He gave us
breakfast, but damned us while we were eat-
ing because we were Mormons. When we had
finished a hearty breakfast, we thanked him
very politely, and went on our way leaving
him swearing. We felt thankful for breakfast,
for we had walked seventy-two miles without
eating food. We taught from house to house
as we journeyed.
—I preached at Mr. Nathan Tanner's
in Green county, Missouri, the first time we
had found a congregation we could preach to
in safety, and the first time that I had ever at-
tempted to preach as a missionary. I had
great liberty and was followed by Elder Brown.
During our preaching there was a snow
storm.
We arrived at Petty John Creek, in Arkan-
sas, where Mr. Alexander Akeman resided
with a large family of sons and one daughter,
settled around him. Mr. Akeman and a
part of the family were members of the
church in Jackson county; his wife died
strong in the faith in Missouri. His whole
family were mobbed, and some of his sons
were whipped severely; but he could not
stand the persecution and the loss of his pro-
perty. He moved to Arkansas to get rid of
Mormonism; had apostatized and was bitter
against the work. When we called upon him,
he opposed us strongly—spoke against the
leaders of the church and the Book of Mormon.
He had one son who received us, and had a
little faith. I dreamed the night before that
we were required to walk in a staight, narrow
path, and while following the path it led to
the door of a house, which was placed in a
high wall that we could not get around. As I
opened the door to go through, I saw the room
was filled with large serpents. I entered, and
they all coiled up to jump at me; as they made
a spring to bite me, they all fell dead at my
feet, turned black, swelled up, burst open, took
fire and were consumed before my eyes.
We met with much opposition from Mr. Ake-
man and many in the neighborhood. Elder
Brown wished to leave the place immediately.
I told him I should stay and see my dream ful-
filled. We staid in the neighborhood twenty-
five days, during which time, the Lord brought
judgment upon those who threatened to mob
and kill us; many of them died suddenly, and
I was warned three times by the Lord to go to
Mr. Akeman and bear testimony unto him of
the truth of Mormonism and the wickedness
of his course in opposing it, and the last time
I called upon him he was filled with wrath
against me, and when I left his house he fol-
lowed me in a rage, apparently with some evil
intent; when I had got a few rods from his
door, he was nearly treading on my heels, and
fell dead at my feet, as though he had been
struck with lightning; he swelled and imme-
diately turned black. This created a great
wailing and mourning among his family. Br.
Brown and myself assisted in laying him out
and burying him. He died .
This singular dispensation of Providence
brought solemnity upon the people, and they
began to reflect and wished to hear preaching.
We held several meetings and preached, and
baptized Mr. Hubbel and his wife, who had
opened their doors and given us a home; and
just as we had got the people prepared to re-
ceive the gospel, and anxious to learn and
pleading with us to stay and preach, br. Brown
realized that he would continue his journey
south. I was fully satisfied that should we
stop, we would build up a church, and was con-
vinced it was our duty to stop, but br. Brown
held the office of an Elder and I submitted.
Br. Brown did not baptize another person on
the mission.
HISTORY
OF
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
(FROM HIS OWN PEN.)
[CONTINUED.]
—We cut down a large cotton wood
tree, and in two days dug out a canoe four feet
wide and twelve long, put on a pair of oars
and then rowed down the Arkansas river, 125
miles to Little Rock, begging our food by the
way, a meal at a time, as we had opportunity.
After visiting Little Rock we traveled down
the river ten miles, and tied up our canoe on
the east bank and stopped with Mr. Jones. I
preached next day at his house. On the 16th
we left our canoe with Mr. Jones and walked
back up the river ten miles, opposite Little
Rock, and took the old military road, and
started to wade the Mississippi swamp, which
was mostly covered with water from Little
Rock, Arkansas, to Memphis, Tennessee, a
distance of about 175 miles. We waded through
mud and water knee deep, day after day, and
in some instances forty miles per day, before
we could get a stopping place.
On the , while in the swamps, I had an
attack of the rheumatism and could not travel
fast. My companion, br. Brown, had got in a
hurry, and wished to return to his family in
Kirtland, and as I could not travel as fast as
he wished, we parted. He left me sitting on a
log in the mud and water; I was lame and unable to walk, without food, and twelve miles
from the nearest house on the road; he went
out of sight in great haste. I then knelt down
in the water and prayed to the Lord to heal
me. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me,
and I was healed; the pain left me; I arose and
went my way. Whenever I met with one or
more families, I preached and bore testimony
to them.
I crossed the Mississippi river in the evening of the , and staid at a public house kept by Mr. Josiah Jackson. I was
suspected of being an impostor. Mr. Jackson
believed I was one of Murrill's clan, who were
then murdering and stealing negroes, and to
test me, he gathered together a large house
full of the most wicked and corrupt people in
the city, and set me to preaching, to see
whether I could preach or not.
I do not think that Mr. Jackson or the same
company of men and women will ever meet
together again for the same purpose, for they
would not like again to have their sins and
abominations revealed to each other as pointedly as I told them that night, through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; they were glad
to get rid of me upon almost any terms.
I traveled from Memphis to Middle Tennessee.
—I met with Elder Warren Parrish
in Benton county. He and David W. Patten
had labored together through the winter in
Tennessee, and baptized twenty persons. Elder Patten had returned to Kirtland. I joined
Elder Parrish and we labored together over
three months, traveling and preaching daily,
baptizing such as would receive our testimony,
extending our labors in Tennessee and Kentucky.
—We received a letter from Oliver
Cowdery, requesting Elder Parrish to come to
Kirtland, and for me to remain and take
charge of the southern churches, and the Lord
would bless me in so doing.
—Warren Parrish ordained me an
Elder. We baptized some forty persons while
laboring together.
—Elder Parrish left. I traveled
alone through the year, and extended my labors
both in Kentucky and Tennessee. I baptized
forty-three persons during this season, thirtyone after br. Parrish left.
—While traveling in the night with
br. Benjamin L. Clapp and others, a tremendous storm of wind and rain overtook us. We
came to a creek which had swollen to such an
extent by the rain that we could not cross
without swimming our horses; several of the
company were females. We undertook to head
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the stream, to ford it, but in the attempt, in
the midst of the darkness and the raging of
the wind and rain, we were lost in the thick
woods, amidst the rain, wind, creeks and fallen tree tops; we crossed streams nearly twenty times. I was reminded of Paul's perils by
water; but the Lord was merciful unto us in
the midst of our troubles, for while we were
groping in the dark, running the risk of killing
both ourselves and animals by riding off precipitous bluffs, a bright light suddenly shone
round about us, and revealed our perilous situation as were upon the edge of a deep gulf.
The light continued with us until we found a
house and learned the right road; then the
light disappeared, and we were enabled to
reach the house of br. Henry Thomas at nine
o'clock, all safe, having rode twenty miles,
five hours in the storm, and we felt to thank
the Lord for our preservation.
During the winter and spring I continued to
labor mostly alone, through Kentucky and
Tennessee, opening new places, preaching
daily, baptizing, confirming and organizing
new branches.
Brs. Smoot and Clapp both entered into the
labors of the ministry. Elder Smoot frequently accompanied me on my mission. Elder D.
W. Patten returned to Tennessee in April, and
joined us in our labors, accompanied by his
wife. It was a happy meeting. He related
to me the blessings he had received in Kirtland
during the endowments. We traveled and labored together; persecution raged against us.
Elder Patten bore a strong and forcible testimony of the work of God, and when we were
opposed by mobs he would rebuke them in
great plainness; we were threatened, but not
injured. The sick were healed under our administrations.
—Elder Warren Parrish arrived
from Kirtland. We held a conference on the
, at br. Seth Utley's. Seven branches were
represented containing 116 members. Abel
Wilson and Jesse Turpin were ordained Priests
and Albert Petty a Teacher.
We labored over a circuit of several hundred
miles; br. Smoot labored with us, and br. Clapp
frequently. We traveled two by two, and all
met together to hold conferences.
—A States warrant was issued
against D. W. Patten, Warren Parrish and
Wilford Woodruff, sworn out by Matthew
Williams, a Methodist priest, and served by
the sheriff, Robert C Petty. Elders Patten
and Parrish were taken by an armed mob of
about fifty, under pretence of law, led by the
sheriff, a colonel, first and second major, with
other officers, and a Methodist priest with a
gun upon his shoulder. I was in another county and therefore not taken. We were accused
of prophesying falsely, by saying that four
persons who were baptized should receive the
Holy Ghost in twenty-four hours, and that
Christ should come the second time before this
generation passed away. The whole concern
was a mob mock trial, contrary to law, justice,
judgment or truth.
On the , I went to a Baptist meeting
house, on Thompson's creek, to preach; the
house was crowded. As I rose to speak, a
Baptist priest, Mr. Browning, arrived at the
door on horseback, and stepped in greatly agitated, and told the deacon to forbid my preaching in the house; at the same time commenced
a tirade of abuse against the Mormons, telling
several lies, which I corrected before the people, which increased his rage. As I was forbidden to preach in the house, and had been
invited, and traveled many miles to fulfil my
appointment, I told the people I would like to
preach and was willing to stand on a wood
pile, a fence, a cart, or any place they would
appoint. A man rose and said he owned the
land in front of the meeting house, and I might
Column 3
stand and preach on that, and welcome. All
the congregation, with the exception of the
minister and one deacon, arose and left the
house, walked across the street and formed
seats of a worm fence, and gave good attention
while I preached for an hour and a half on the
principles of the gospel.
When I closed, Mr. Randolph Alexander,
who had never heard a Mormon Elder speak
before, said, the people of the present day
made him think of a pen of hogs; the keeper
would make a trough, and pour into it hot or
cold water, dish water or anything else, and
they would drink it; but let a stranger come
along and pour over a basket of corn on the
back side of the pen, and the hogs would be
frightened and run and snort all over the pen.
He said it was so with the people; the priests
would feed them with any kind of doctrine,
no matter how false, the people will swallow
it down, but let a stranger come and preach
the gospel of Jesus Christ, which will save
the people, as Mr. Woodruff has done, and the
people are afraid of him.
Mr. Alexander invited me home, bought a
Book of Mormon, and was soon baptized, and
several others followed his example.
—I wrote a letter to Oliver Cowdery,
and sent him a list of subscribers for the Messenger and Advocate, and a detail of my mission
in the South.
—18—I rode in company with A. O. Smoot
to a ferry on the Tennessee River. The ferryman was absent. We were offered the use
of the boat, and ferried ourselves; but not
being much used to the business, and losing
one oar in the river, and having to row with a
broken oar, we landed a great distance below
the usual place with a high circulation of
blood and blistered hands; but our horses leapt
the bank, and we went on our way to the
Sandy, which we swam, and spent the night at
Thomas Frazer's.
——We preached at Mr. David Crider's,
also on Sunday, the , where we were
threatened by a mob. I baptized Mr. Crider
amid the scoffs of the rabble, who went in the
night and poisoned both of our horses; the one
which I rode, belonging to bro. Samuel West,
died in two days afterwards; brother Smoot's
recovered; the swine that eat of the horse
flesh also died.
—I met with D. W. Patten and
wife; he and bro. Parrish had been driven out
of Benton into Henry Co., and Elder Parrish
had left for Kirtland.
—We held a conference at Damon's
Creek, Callaway Co., Kentucky; several
branches were represented, containing 119
members; Johnson F. Lane, Benj. L. Clapp
and Randolph Alexander were ordained elders,
and Lindsey Bradey a priest by D. W. Patten,
who baptized five at the close of the conference.
I was released from my labors in the South,
and counselled to go to Kirtland and receive
my endowments, as was also A. O. Smoot.
—Elders Marsh and D. W. Patten
and wife, and E. H. Groves, started for Far
West. I organized the first company of Saints,
who emigrated from the Southern States, which
numbered twenty-two souls. I appointed Elder Boydston president of the company, and
counselled them to be united, and to remember
their prayers night and day before the Lord.
——The camp started. I spent a few
days visiting the branches; baptized and confirmed eight, and obtained thirty subscribers
for the Messenger and Advocate.
—In company with A. O. Smoot and
Jesse Turpin, I started for Kirtland; this was
the first time I had ever traveled on a steamboat. We left the steamer at Louisville on
the , and spent nineteen days visiting Elder Smoot's relations and preaching among the
people; we visited the Big Bone Lick. We arrived in Cincinnati , where we saw
thirteen persons dead and wounded taken from
the steamer Flora, which had burst her pipes
Column 4
while running a race; arrived in Kirtland on
the , and had the happy privilege of meeting the Prophet Joseph, and many elders, with
whom I was acquainted in the camp of Zion.
, I heard Joseph preach in the Temple.
In the afternoon I was called to speak and
read the 56th chap. of Isaiah, and made some
remarks, and gave an account of my mission
in the South; Elder Smoot also addressed the
Saints.
I was counselled by the Presidency to attend the school in the Temple, taught by Prof.
Haws. I studied the Latin language and English Grammar, and boarded with bro. Ira
Bond.
I attended meetings with the Seventies and
other quorums during the winter of 1836-7, and
received much valuable instruction.
—I was present at the organization of the third quorum of Seventies; there
were twenty-seven ordained.
——At early candle light, a cloud began
to arise in the north east and reached to 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 blood red appearance. It commenced at about 6 o'clock,
and lasted till past 10 p.m.
——Prests. 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 embarrassments and be
delivered from the hands of our enemies.
——I wrote an article on faith, which
was published in the Messenger and Advocate.
—I attended meeting at the Temple.
Prest. 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, turned their hearts away from the
Lord and from his servant Joseph, and had
engaged in speculation and given away to
false spirits, until they were darkened in their
minds; and many were opposed to Joseph
Smith, and some wished to appoint David
Whitmer to lead the church in his stead. In
the midst of this cloud of dark spirits, Joseph
returned to Kirtland, and this morning arose
in the stand. He appeared much depressed;
but soon the Spirit of God rested upon him,
and he addressed the assembly in great plainness for about three hours, and put his enemies
to silence. When he arose he said, "I am still
the President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and
Leader of the church of Jesus Christ. God,
and not man, has appointed and placed me
in this position, and no man or set of men
have power to remove me or appoint another
in my stead, and those who undertake this, if
they do not speedily repent, will burn their
fingers and go to hell." He reproved the people
sharply for their sins, darkness and unbelief;
the power of God rested upon him, and bore
testimony that his sayings were true.
, was spent in the Temple by the
Saints in Kirtland in fasting and prayer. Patriarch Joseph Smith, sen., presided. The
Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the
people; a contribution was taken up for the
poor.
—I received my washings and anointings in the house of the Lord. 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 twenty-four
hours I partook of food.
——The Presidency of the Church, the
Twelve Apostles, and other quorums, met in
solemn assembly, and sealed upon our heads,
our washings, anointings and blessings with a
loud shout of hosannah to God and the Lamb;
the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us. After
spending three hours in the upper room, the
quorums repaired to the lower court; the vails
were lowered, and the ordinance of washing
of feet was administered. Elder H. C. Kim-
