Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-29

H'hfN uIuh " idtnl tnhA VIZ uMlltu III
OewcgO County, New York. He
opened the door for any remarks to be
made. The hOuac was crowded. The
fret thing knew stood on top Of n
bonch before the people, not knowing
what got up for. But said TO my
neighbors aud friends, 81 want you 10
be careful what you sny as touching
these mon There were TWO ofthenil and
their testimony, for they are servants
OF God aud they have testified
unto us the truth--prlnciples that
have been looking for from my child.
hood" ] went forth and was baptized.
I war ordained Teacher. | was al.
ways sorry that was not Deacon
first; for had desire to bear the
Priesthood IN lts varloas degrees, ~ far
a. was worthy. I had hal desire
for years, not only 10 hear the Gospel,
but to have the privilege and power Of
preaching It TO my fellow men. I was
a miller by trade, ana ! spent many
midnight hour IN the mill calling upon
the Lord for light and truth, aud pray.
ing that I might hear the Gospel of
Christ and be- able TO teach II 10
my fellow men. reJoiccd IN
II when hid receive II.
Afterwards went with Ilon'a Camp
10 Missouri In the spring Of
1884, with tho Prophet Joseph, his
brother Hymn, ana over two hund.
red 81 the Saints Of God. Tint was "a
great mission 10 me. | was with the
Prophet. had read hia revelations.
| had read the vision recorded Ia this
Book OF Doctrine and Covenants, aud
II had given me more light and more
knowledge with regard 10 the dealings
Of God with men than all tile rcvela-
lions had ever read, In the Bible Or
anywhere else. | had been taught
that there was one heaven and ono
hell; and everybody that was not
Hprlnklcd or baptized, infants aud nll,
would have 10 10 10 hell. II made no
difference whether tho Individual had
committed no wrong, II ho had not
been received Into the church by
rprlBkling or baptism, he would have
TO 20 10 hell with tho murderer, with
the whorrmOngcr, with the wickedest
Of men. on tho other hand, every
body that was sprlnkled would 20 10
heaven. No matter II they had never
made single sacrifice for the Gospel
Of Christ, they would have the same
had sacrificed their Hives for the
teaching heard In my boyhoOd. |
did not believe ono word OF u then;
and don't now. But this vision OF
which | speak opened my eyes. II
showed me the power Of God and tho
righteousness Of God In dealing with
tho human family. Before | saw
Joseph | said | dld not care how Old
he was, or how young he wns; ] did
not caro- how he lookud--whothor his
hair was longer short. the man that
advanced that revelation was prophet
OF Goh. know II for myself. firt
met Joseph Smith In the streets OF
Kirkland. He had on nm old hat, and
a pistol In his hand. Said he, "Broiher
Woodruff, I've been out shooting at a
mark, aud wanted to see II
could hit anything;"and says
he, "liave you any objection
10 it?n "Not ut ALL" says 4;
"thcro Is no law against man shoot
Ing ut mark, that 1 know
OFF, lilo invited mo 10 his
house. lie had a woltslin, which he
wanted me TO help INN 10 tan; he wnn.
tod II TO at on while driving his wagon
team. Now, many might have said,
"You are n pretty prophet; shooting \
pistol aud tanning wolf skin" Well
we tanned II, and used II while maxi
Ing Journey VI q thousand miles.
This was my first acquaintance with
the Prophet Joseph. And from that
day until the present, with all the
apostacles that we have had, and with
all tho difficulties and Affections we
have have been called 10 pass through,
! never raw "a moment when had any
doubt with regard 10 this work.
have had no trial about this. While
the people were apostatizing on the
right hand and ON the LETT, aud while
Apostles were urging mo 10 turn
against the Prophet Joseph, twas no
temptation 10 mo 10 doubt this work OF
10 doubt that Joseph Smith was n
prophet OF God.
As have said, while holding the
office OF teacher, | went 10 Missouri IN
souri,, having gone through many
trials and fluctuations, and suffering
from cholera, which caused us 10 lay
In tho grave fifteen OF our brethren, VT
stayed at brother Lyman Wighps.
While nj Lyman Wighps, l attended
council meetings with the Prophet,
with David Whltmcr, with Oliver
COwdery and other leading brethren
OF the Church. David w hitmer was
the President OF the stake OF Zion.
Brother Joseph reproved him very
sharply, ns well as some OF the other
brethren, because OF their lack In full
filling the commandments Of God Rnd
doing their duty. While Mt that
place had agreat desire In my heart Ia
40 and preach tho gospel. went OIL
one Sunday night by myself into n
hickory grove, several hundred yards
from the settlement, and 1 asked the
Lord TO open tho door for mo that
might go and preach the gospel.
did not want 10 preach the gospel for
any honor | might get on this earth;
for thoroughly understood M far IN q
man could In my condition, what a
preacher would have 10 pass through,
| Ii was not honor, nor wealth, nor gold,
nor silver that desired; but |
knew this was the gospel OF Christ,
revealed to me by the power OF God;
knew this was the Church Of Christ,
knew Joseph Smith was "a prophet oil
| God; anu had "a desire that | might
preach that gospel to the nations Of tht
| earth. | asked the Lord 10 give mt
that privilege. Tho Lord answered
that prayer and said should have my
desire granted. got up rejoicing. |
walked about two hundred yards out In
the open road, AMI when got into the
road, there stood Judge Iilgbee. Says
he, "BrOther Woodruff, tho Lord has
/ revealed To me that IL Ia your duty 10 be
ordained 10 80 aud preach tho gospel
Says !, "Has He2" "Hes." "Weil,
says |, "if the Lord wants me to preach