A Coppy of a letter Written by Elder Thomas B. Marsh Directed to Elder Willford Woodruff Dated July 14, 1838
Elder W. Woodruff,
Sir; a fiew days since Prest. Joseph Smith jr and some others were assembled to
attend to some Church business when it was thought proper to select those who was designed of the
LORD to fill the places of those of the twelve who had fallen away namely Wm E Mclellin, Lyman E. Johnson, Luke Johnson, and John F. Bointon. The persons selected were John E. Page, John
Taylor, Willford Woodruff and Wilard Richards. On the following day five of the twelve with
President Rigdon and some others met and resolved that President Rigdon write to Br Richards who
is now in England and inform him of his appointment, and that P. P. Pratt write to Orson Pratt and
inform him that the LORD has commanded that the [FIGURE] 12 assemble in this place as soon as possible
and that I should write to yourself. Know then Brother Woodruff by this that you are appointed to fill
the place of one of the twelve apostles; and that it is agreeable to the word of the LORD given vary
lately that you should come spedily to far west. And on the 26 of April next to take your leave
of the Saints here and depart for other climes acrosts the mighty deep! Yours in the love of God
Thomas B. Marsh
Wilford Woodruff
Far West July 14th 1838
~ Friday
Aug 10. I left Br Ames in company with Priest Thomas for the purpose of visiting the South Island
notwithstanding the threats of the people to mob, tar, feather, and kill me if I came there again
yet I was determined to visit the Saints once more upon that Island of the sea. I had a short inter-
view with Mr Douglass the methodist Preacher, at John kents store his vary countenance indicated
the wrath of his heart against me. We crossed the thoroughfare and landed upon the South
Island with Jabez Brown. We walked to Br Crockett's, to Br Merchant's from thence to Br Charles
Brown, to Capt Benj[amin] Coombs we took supper with him We called upon Mr Burgess and family they had
A Coppy of a letter Written by Elder Thomas B. Marsh Directed to Elder Willford Woodruff Dated
On the following day five of the twelve with
President Rigdon and some others met and resolved that President Rigdon write to Br. Richards who
is now in England and inform him of his appointment, and that P. P. Pratt write to Orson Pratt and
inform him that the LORD has commanded that the 12 assemble in this place as soon as possible
and that I should write to yourself. Know then Brother Woodruff by this that you are appointed to fill
the place of one of the twelve apostles; and that it is agreeable to the word of the LORD given vary
lately that you should come spedily to far west. And on the 26 of April next to take your leave
of the saints here and depart for other climes across the mighty deep! Yours in the love of God
Thomas B. Marsh
Wilford Woodruff
Far West July 14th. 1838
~ Friday
Aug 10. I left Br. Ames in company with Priest Thomas for the purpose of visiting the South Island
notwithstanding the threats of the people to mob, tar, feather, and kill me if I came there again
yet I was determined to visit the saints once more upon that Island of the sea. I had a short interview with Mr Douglass the methodist Preacher, at John Kents store his vary countenance indicated
the wrath of his heart against me. We crossed the thoroughfare and landed upon the South
Island with Jabez Brown. We walked to Br. Crockett's. to Br. Merchant's from thence to Br. Charles
Brown. to Capt Benjn Coombs we took supper with him we called upon Mr Burgess and family they had
"Journal (January 1, 1838 – December 31, 1839)," August 9, 1838 - August 10, 1838, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed December 12, 2024, https://arts.wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/lVM