Experiences in the Life of President Wilford Woodruff, II

EXPERIENCES IN THE LIFE OF PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF. BY ABRAHAM 0. WOODRUFF, OF THE QUORUM OF TWELVE APOSTLES.

THE FIRST FRUITS FOR ZION FROM THE SOUTH—IMPRES- SIONS OF KIRTLAND. H.

On the 2nd day of September, 1836, general conference was held at Damon Creek, Calloway County, Kentucky, at which Apostle Thomas B. Marsh, who was then president of the twelve apostles, presided. All the branches of Tennessee and Kentucky were represented. In the records of the Tennessee conference, is a list of names of brethren who contributed to Elder Woodruff, who was to be released from his Southern States mission and was about to leave for Kirtland, the sum of $76.35. This was to supply his necessities. He had assisted President Marsh in obtaining fifteen hundred dollars from the brethren in the south to buy lands in Missouri for The Church and it was at this time that an addi- :

tional fifty dollars was given him by the brethren which amount he sent with President Marsh, who was to enter forty acres of land for him in Missouri. Elder Woodruff left on September 19, for Kirtland. He says:

"It is a day long to be remembered by me and others, in consequence of the interesting scenes transpiring with the Saints of God in the south. Isaiah and other ancient prophets testify to us of the great events of the last days; especially of the literal gathering of Israel. They say the Saints shall gather from the east and from the west, and that the

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north shall give up and the south keep not back. This interesting day had now arrived when some of the Saints of God in the south began to take their families, their wagons, their oxen, their horses, their tents and their armor and like the children of Israel move toward Zion according to the commands of God."

The company breakfasted at Brother Camp's, then repairing to the bank of a stream, where prayer was offered. President Marsh led a young man into the waters of baptism. Coming up out of the water, the young man was confirmed on the banks of the stream under the hands of Elders Marsh, Patten and Grooves. After that, a touching scene was enacted: "We all stood upon our feet," writes Elder Woodruff, "and received great blessings confirmed upon our heads with uplifted hands, of the three abovenamed brethren. President Marsh being speaker." Bidding good-by to their friends, they "set their faces as a fiint towards Zion." The company consisted of four families with the elders, as follows: Lewis Clapp and family, Albert Petty and family, and Benjamin Clapp and family, with Elders Boydston and Cathcart, the former being chosen leader. Tne company were principally the first fruits of Elder Woodruff's ministry. There were twenty-two in all, six male, and five female members with ten children and a servant. He expresses that solicitude for their welfare that is characteristic of a father for his children — the sentiment that was always uppermost in his heart ever after for the Saints of God. He makes the page of his journal fairly express the elation he felt, while he rode with them the first day's journey to the south fork of Mayfield, at seeing "this company of faithful Saints move forward on their journey in good spirits and with joy." At this place, they camped for the night, and after pitching their tents, he addressed the assembled pilgrims from the tent of Albert Petty. He says: "I arose to address them, and although the rain descended in torrents, so that we were wet through, yet my soul was vibrated and filled with emotions and feelings of no ordinary nature. I endeavored to lay before them the w^orth and value of

the cause they were engaged in; and that they were the first in fulfilling the prophets who spake of the south keeping not back; and that it would be recorded in the archives of heaven that they

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were the first fruits of the south who had spread their tents for Zion." He also instructed them in the practical affairs of how to travel and how to behave. As in all subsequent labors among the people of God, he pointed to the spiritual and the temporal in harmonious combination as being the proper course for the Saints to walk in. Elders Boydston, Cathcart and Clapp followed, speaking "in the spirit of God and the feelings of deepest interest." Then they all kneeled in prayer, "and I addressed the throne of grace imploring the mercy of God to rest upon the camp, that they might all reach Zion in peace." Under date of November 23, 1836, Elder Woodruff gives the following as his impression of Kirtland, its temple and people:

"I took the parting hand with Elder Shirwood. I then set out in company with Elder Smoot, on foot in a hard snow storm for Kirtland. We came in sight of the temple, before we reached the village, this being the first sight I ever had of the house of the Lord. I exclaimed, 'I behold the glory of the Lord and the covering.' We soon entered the village, and spent one of the happiest days of my life in visiting the house of the Lord, 'and the President's and the elders of The Church. I was truly rejoiced again to strike hands with President Joseph Smith, and many other beloved Saints of God who are rolling on his mighty work. I had been separated from them about two and a half years. was filled with I

joy with the privilege of again striking hands with Elder Warren Parrish and also in being made acquainted with his companion, Sister Parrish. There is an enjoyment in meeting our brethren and companions in tribulation that the world knows not of, because it flows from a celestial source. "After spending a short thime in conversation with friends, a more important scene was now to open to my view than kings ever saw or princes ever knew, in this generation, which was to visit the temple of the Lord and behold its contents. "Elder Smoot and myself visited each apartment of the house accompanied by Elder Warren Parrish. I must confess the beauties of the interior are indescribable. When I entered the threshold of the house and entered the lower room, there was a great feeling of solemnity, if not of awe, which immediately overwhelmed me. I felt indeed as if my footsteps were in the temple of the Lord. We then visited the upper rooms, and there viewed four Egyptian mummies: and also the Book of Abraham, written with his own hand. Not only the hieroglyphics, but also many figures that this precious treasure contains are calculated

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to make a lasting impression upon the mind. Our visit at the temple ended. We next called at the bank and the printing office.

"Two and a half years since, I left Kirtland, with my brethren in their poverty, to go forth to visit our brethren in tribulation in Zion. * * * Then our brethren in Kirtland were poor, and despised. How changed the scene! Now I behold, a cheerfulness beaming from every countenance that indicates prosperity. The noise of the ax and the hammer are heard, and there are walls and dwellings newly erected all around. * * * Qq(J jg ^j^ii them, and his temple stands in

honor of his kingdom."