Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-11
IN VIRGINIA.
One Who Remembers the Prophet
Missionary Opportunities.

10 the Editor
It's not OF frequent occurrence that
we meet in the far East, these who
were 10 Nauvoo ain yelhaloyon days."
Indeed we find the number growing
less each year who saw this Temple,
fewer stlll who shook hands with hs
Prophet.
Blu, while laborlng In smyth
county, Va, during the early fall, We
we met Brother John Tanning Pitts,
who, when q boy, drove team for BILE
uncle from wythe county, Va, to
Nsuvoo, making the journey In eight
weehs. This was 10 1912. A train OF
fifteen wagons, not all from Virginia,
went to Nauvoo. via the Cumberland
Gap, Louisville, Ky, then . small
town. Springfield aud Carthage, III.
While In Springfield, they were
visited by Governor and Mfs. Ford, At
whore house, Bro. Potts obtained som
milk for n sick child In the company.
They were couIleously treated by the
chief executive. This state house was
then in the course Of construction.
Bro. Pelts described the flood on the
Mississippi which extended that
sprinR for miles on the Iowa
eide aud up 10 tho famous
stone house on tho Nauvoo slde.
IL was on the wharf where he nfst met
and shook hands with Joseph Smith.
The description that he gives OF The
Prophet 10 that he was tall, nnely pro-
poftioned, Of magnificent carriage AMI
God.like miepj with eyes "wOndrou.
kind,D yet able TO read the very soul
OF man. The Prophet was carrying IN
his arms, Baby Joteph-now the
leadoro the Rsorganizsd Movement.
The Prophet Joseph had Kind words
for all and after n few commonplace
remarks on the Hood, left them.
Brother Petis obtained employment,
on the Temple and worked there until
tho south side was up TO the square.
IL was ii this Iunoturo that Brother
Potts told US he had often passed this
slgn, NV. Woodruff, Blacksmith
shop" while In Nauvoo, our narrator
often heard tbs Apostles anu other
Church dignitaties; among Others he
mentioned J. M. Grant lwho was
the fibi to begin missionary work
In this stato), Hsber q. Kimball,
PAiley T.. Pratt and Brigham
Young. But no sermon was so grand
Ne the one delivered by tue Prophet
himself ut King Folloips Funeral.
According 10 BRO. Petts, thousands
were In attendance anu for hours
listened In breathlsts silence, rapt In
wonder and admiration as Joseph, with
the sloquenoe ne alone could summon,
thundefed forth the Gospel truths.
History says that sermon was grand,
that Le spoke "by tho Spirit" but
description Of IL NJ least would be but
"vordp, words, wordt." IL gave ulIey
10 hear how the Prophet was SEGA
Visiting the sick, riding In his oarfiage
drawn by the beautiful black horses In
which U. T.. Rockwell as copohman
took such pride. Tho youthful curl.
oaity Of Bro. Petts led him 10 visit the
"mummiet," for which he paid
Mother Smith 26c. Ali this aud moro
brought Nauvoo nearer TO ua than "
ever was before; and II made us graie
ful that we were emissafies Of
those glorious truths for which tho
founder OF Nauvoo gave his life.
Brother Pets left Nauvoo May 27th,
1914, and returned to his homo In
Bufkes Garden, Va, which, by the
way, 10 one OF the pfeItlesl ami richest
valleys In the state. IL was here In
Virginia that no nfst heard and gave
heed TO the Gospel teachings, It was
nj tho time when Jsdediah NJ. Grant
and his brother Joshua Travelled
through southwestern Virginia ana IL
was ON this circuit that the Apostle
preached his famous sermon from the
"blank" text. Since that day the
Gospel has hAd many preachers In this
part VI the Lords vineyard, among
whom arc remembered Elder George
Teasdale, tho late lamented Elder
John Morgan, anu Prof. 4. Il. Lewis.
We are surviving TO keep up the worn
made possible by the valiant men Of
God who labored here In early days.
And now, dear Editor, will y0u send
Us your papoiI We want tive need
II. In speaking Of Utah wo intultiVe-
ly turn TO the NEWS, IL 10 our "chlld Of
the Desert" We arc tventy-four
strong aud more oomlng.
The fields OF labor now assigned the
Elders are NJ followsi
Nj. Thomas and II. Day, Norfolk
City.
Il. II. Fife and N. whitney Kim.
ball IT., Halifax Go.
WIN. Cutler ana w. IL. Dixon, Sus.
sex 20.
y, d. Taylor and O. Wilson Nibley
Jr., Petersburg City.
H. J. Blsohofi and Alexander
Adams, Nausemond 90.
H. M. Boimey Jr. and II. A. Hol.
lingsworih, Buckingham Go.
y. Jackson and q. II. Webb, Nor.
folk Go.
Ezra Bingham and Wallace Fife,
Brunswick %.
w. w. Hufisker and Thos. @. Rom.
ney, SOUTHAMPTON 90.
h. w. BsskstrAnd and J. II. Gibbs,
hscklenbuTg 20.