LEAVES FROM MY JOURNAL

PREFACE

About nine months have elapsed since the first edition of this work was published, and now the whole number issued—over 4,000 copies—are exhausted, and there is a demand for more.

We, therefore, have much pleasure in offering the Second Edition of LEAVES FROM MY JOURNAL for public consideration, and trust that the young people who pursue it will be inspired to emulate in their lives the faith, perseverance and integrity that so distinguish its author.

Brother Woodruff is a remarkable man. Few men now living, who have followed the quiet and peaceful pursuits of life, have had such an interesting and eventful experience as he has. Few, if any in this age, have spent a more active and useful life. Certainly no man living has been more particular about recording with his own hand, in a daily journal, during half a century, the events of his own career and the things that have come under his observation. His elaborate journal has always been one of the principal sources from which the Church history has been compiled.

Possessed of wonderful energy and determination, and mighty faith, Brother Woodruff has labored long and with great success in the Church. He has ever had a definite object in view—to know the will of the Almighty and to do it. No amount of self-denial has been too great for him to cheerfully endure for the advancement of the cause of God. No labor required of the Saints has been considered by him too onerous to engage in with his own hands.

Satan, knowing the power for good that Brother Woodruff would be, if permitted to live, has often sought to effect his destruction.

The adventures, accidents and hair-breath escapes that he has met with, are scarcely equalled by the record that the former apostle, Paul, has left us of his life.

The power of God has been manifested in a most remarkable manner in preserving Brother Woodruff's life. Considering the number of bones he has had broken, and the other bodily injuries he has received, it is certainly wonderful that now, at the age of seventy-five years, he is such a sound, well-preserved man. God grant that his health and usefulness may continue for many years to come.

Of course, this volume contains but a small portion of the interesting experience of Brother Woodruff's life, but very many profitable lessons may be learned from it, and we trust at some future time to be favored with other sketches from his pen.

THE PUBLISHER

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Strictness of the "Blue Laws" of Connecticut—The Old Prophet Mason—His Vision—His Prophecy—Hear the Gospel, and Embrace it—Visit Kirtland, and see Joseph Smith—A Work for the Old Prophet.

CHAPTER II.

Preparing to go up to Zion—First Meeting with President Young-Camp of Zion Starts—Numbers Magnified in the Eyes of Beholders—Remarkable Deliverance-Selfishness, and its Reward.

CHAPTER III.

Advised to Remain in Missouri—A Desire to Preach—Pray to the Lord for a Mission—Prayer Answered—Sent on a Mission to Arkansas—Dangerous Journey through Jackson County—Living on Raw Corn, and Sleeping on the Ground—My First Sermon—Refused Food and Shelter by a Presbyterian Preacher—Wander through Swamps—Entertained by Indians.

CHAPTER IV.

A Journey of Sixty Miles without Food—Confronted by a Bear—Pass by Unharmed—Surrounded by Wolves—Lost in Darkness—Reach a Cabin—Its Inmates—No Supper—Sleep on the Floor—The Hardest Day's Work of my Life—Twelve Miles more without Breakfast—Breakfast and Abuse Together.

CHAPTER V.

Our Anxiety to Meet a Saint—Journey to Akeman's—A Dream—Find Mr. Akeman a Rank Apostate—He Raises a Mob—Threatened with Tar, Feathers, etc.—I Warn Mr. Akeman to Repent—He Falls Down Dead at my Feet—I Preach his Funeral Sermon.

CHAPTER VI.

Make a Canoe—Voyage down the Arkansas River—Sleep in a Deserted Tavern—One Hundred and Seventy Miles through Swamps—Forty Miles a Day in Mud Knee-deep—A Sudden Lameness—Left alone in an Alligator Swamp—Healed, in Answer to Prayer—Arrival an Memphis—An Odd-looking Preacher—Compelled to Preach—Powerful Aid from the Spirit—Not what the Audience Expected.

CHAPTER VII.

Curious Worship—Meet Elder Parrish—Labor Together in Tenessee—Adventure in Bloody River—A Night of Peril—Providential Light—Menaced by a Mob—Good Advice of a Baptist Preacher—Summary of my Labors during the Year.

CHAPTER VIII.

Studying Grammar—Meet Elder Patten—Glorious News—Labor with A. O. Smoot—Turned out of a Meeting House by a Baptist Preacher—Preach in the Open Air—Good Result—Adventure on the Tennesse River—A Novel Charge to Arrest and Condemn Men upon—Mob Poison Our Horses.

CHAPTER IX.

Attending School—Marriage—Impressed to take a Mission to Fox Islands—Advised to go—Journey to Canada—Cases of Healing—Journey to Connecticut—My Birthplace—My Mother's Grave—Baptize some Relatives—Joined by my Wife—Journey on Foot to Maine—Arrival at Fox Island.

CHAPTER X.

Description of Vinal Haven—Population and Pursuit of the People—Great Variety of Fish—The Introduction of the Gospel.

CHAPTER XI.

Mr. Newton, the Baptist Preacher, Wrestling with out Testimony—Rejects it, and Begins to Oppose—Sends for a Methodist Minister to Help Him—Mr. Douglass' Speech—Our Great Success on the North Island—Go to the South Island, and baptise Mr. Douglass' Flock—Great Number of Islands—Boiled Clams—Day of Prayer—Codfish Flakes.

CHAPTER XII.

Return to Mainland—Parting with Brother Hale—My Second Visit to the Islands—Visit to the Isle of Holt—A Sign Demanded by Mr. Douglass—A Prediction about him—It's Subsequent Fulfillment—Spirit of