RETURN TO SCARBORO--JOURNEY SOUTH--VISIT TO A. P. ROCKWOOD IN
PRISON--INCIDENT OF PRISON LIFE--JOURNEY TO CONNECTICUT--BAPTIZE MY
FATHER'S HOUSEHOLD.
On the 28th of April we left the island in an open sail-boat and made
our way to Owl's Head, and then walked twenty miles. The following day
we walked forty miles and suffered some with weary limbs and blistered
feet, but we felt that it was for the gospel's sake and did not
choose to complain. The next day a walk of thirty miles brought us to
Scarboro, where we spent the night at Father Carter's.
On the 8th of May I parted with Mrs. Woodruff and Father Carter and
family, and in company with Milton Holmes walked thirty-three miles
towards Portsmouth, which city we reached the following day and
spent several hours there, visiting the navy yard. We then walked
to Georgetown, formerly New Rowley, and spent the night with Father
Nathaniel Holmes.
On the 11th of May I visited Charleston and Bunker Hill monument, and
also spent several hours in the city of Boston, which then contained
a population of one hundred thousand. I ascended to the cupola of
the court-house, from which I had a fine view of the city. I visited
several of the Saints in the city, and walked over the long bridge to
Cambridge and Cambridgeport.
I visited the jail there in order to have an interview with Brother
A. P. Rockwood, who had been cast into prison on the plea of debt, in
order to trouble and distress him, because he was a "Mormon." This was
the first time we had ever met. The jailor permitted me to enter the
room where he was. It was the first time in my life I had ever entered
a prison. The jailor turned the key upon us and locked us both in.
I found Brother Rockwood strong in the faith of the gospel. He had the
Bible, Book of Mormon, Voice of Warning, and _Evening and Morning Star_
as his companions, which he read daily.
We conversed together for three hours in this solitary abode. He
informed me of many things which had transpired while he was confined
there as a prisoner. Among other things, he mentioned that the jail
had taken fire a few days previous to my visit. He said it looked a
little like a dark hour. The fire was roaring over his head, while
uproar and confusion were upon every hand. Fire engines were rapidly
playing around the building, with water pouring into every room. The
people were hallooing in the streets. Prisoners were begging for
mercy's sake to be let out, or they would be consumed in the fire. One
was struggling in the agonies of death, while others were cursing and
swearing. Brother Rockwood said he felt composed in the midst of it
until the fire was extinguished.
At eight o'clock the jailor unlocked the prison door to let me out, and
I gave the parting hand to the prisoner of hope.
We had spent a pleasant time together, and he rejoiced at my visit; and
who would not, to meet with a friend in a lonely prison? I left him in
good spirits, and wended my way back to Boston.
I spent several days in Boston, holding meetings with the Saints there,
and then walked to Providence, Rhode Island, preaching by the way.
I there took steamer and arrived in New York on the 18th of May, where
I met with Elder Orson Pratt and his family, and Elijah Fordham and
near one hundred Saints who had been baptized in the city of New York.
I spent three days in New York visiting the Saints and holding
meetings. Several new converts were baptized while I was there.
Leaving New York, I traveled through New Jersey, and returned to
Farmington, Connecticut, the residence of my father. I arrived at his
house on the 12th of June.
It was with peculiar sensations that I walked over my native land,
where I spent my youth, and cast my eyes over the Farmington meadows
and the hills and dales where I had roamed in my boyhood with my
father, stepmother, brothers and half-sister.
On my arrival at my father's home I had the happy privilege of once
more taking my parents and sisters by the hand, also my uncle, Ozem
Woodruff, who was among the number I had baptized the year before.
After spending an hour in conversation, we sat down around our father's
table and supped together and were refreshed. Then we bowed upon our
knees together in the family circle and offered up the gratitude of our
hearts to God for preserving our lives and reuniting us.
I spent the next eighteen days in Farmington and Avon, visiting my
father's household, my uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends,
preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ unto them and striving to bring
them into the kingdom of God.
On the 1st of July, 1838, one of the most interesting events transpired
of my whole life in the ministry.
When Father Joseph Smith gave me my patriarchal blessing, among the
many wonderful things of my life, he promised me that I should bring my
father's household into the kingdom of God, and I felt that if I ever
obtained the blessing, the time had come for me to perform it.
By the help of God, I preached the gospel faithfully to my father's
household and to all that were with him, as well as to my other
relatives, and I had appointed a meeting on Sunday, the 1st of July, at
my father's home.
My father was believing my testimony, as were all in his household, but
upon this occasion the devil was determined to hinder the fulfillment
of the promise of the patriarch unto me.
It seemed as though Lucifer, the son of the morning, had gathered
together the hosts of hell and exerted his powers upon us all. Distress
overwhelmed the whole household, and all were tempted to reject the
work. And it seemed as though the same power would devour me. I had to
take to my bed for an hour before the time of meeting. I there prayed
unto the Lord with my whole soul for deliverance, for I knew the power
of the devil was exercised to hinder me from accomplishing what God had
promised me.
The Lord heard my prayer and answered my petition, and when the hour of
meeting had come I arose from my bed, and could sing and shout for joy
to think I had been delivered from the power of the evil one.
Filled with the power of God, I stood up in the midst of the
congregation and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ unto the people in
great plainness.
At the close of the meeting we assembled on the banks of the Farmington
river, "because there was much water there," and I led six of my
friends into the river and baptized them for the remission of their
sins.
All of my father's household were included in this number, according
to the promise of the Patriarch. They were all relatives except Dwight
Webster, who was a Methodist class-leader and was boarding with my
father's family.
I organized the small number of nine persons, eight of whom were my
relatives, into a branch of the Church, and ordained Dwight Webster to
the office of a Priest and administered the sacrament unto them.
It was truly a day of joy to my soul. My father, stepmother and
sister were among the number baptized. I afterwards added a number of
relatives. I felt that this day's work alone amply repaid me for all my
labor in the ministry.
Who can comprehend the joy, the glory, the happiness and consolation
that an Elder of Israel feels in being an instrument in the hands of
God of bringing his father, mother, sister, brother, or any of the
posterity of Adam through the door that enters into life and salvation?
No man can, unless he has experienced these things, and possesses the
testimony of Jesus Christ and the inspiration of Almighty God.