| 281 had come there also. Some of the people began to search the scriptures to learn the truth of what I advanced. Others searched to find something by which they could overthrow it. While in this situation you may judge of my feelings when informed that elders B. S. Willber and William Hyde were preaching and baptizing about twenty miles north of me.-About this time, also a young elder by the name of Sparks, from New York, came to me and continued with me a few weeks, when we received a line from elder Woolley, stating that he had commenced preaching a few miles east of me. This rejoiced my heart, and I felt to take new courage; for while he was preaching to the citizens of the valley, I continued to blow the gospel trumpet on the mountains.-Thus we wielded the sword of the spirit, until we succeeded in establishing the truth in the hearts of many in that part of the state. I labored in Hampshire and Hampden counties mostly alone, until spring, when I organized a branch in Russell, called The Russell Branch, consisting of nineteen members, one elder, and one teacher, when necessity required me to return to Nauvoo, where I landed on the first of July, and found my family and friends well, and the city in a flourishing condition-the brethren enjoying good health, with unshaken faith in the work of God in the last days. I find on examination, that I have travelled [traveled] between four and five thousand miles, delivered sixty-six public discourses, and baptized about twenty persons. Thus the work of the Lord moves on in Massachusetts, as well as every other state in this great republic; and the honest in heart are rejoicing, while the priests of babylon howl and lament to see their merchandize [merchandise] failing. So I subscribe myself your brother and fellow laborer in the spread of the truth.
L. A. SHIRTLIFF.
Communicated.
TUESDAY, A. M., Nauvoo.
JOSEPH SMITH, Sir:-In order that an individual case may not engross too much of your valuable time, I take the liberty of using this method to acquaint you with the state of my feelings regarding religion.
The words you were kind enough to bestow on me last evening have made a deep and, I trust, lasting impression. The way of salvation has been pointed out to me in a manner perfectly plain and comprehensible, while what sectarians term "mysterious truths," have been made as clear and intelligible as if written out with a sunbeam. Although I may still be in ignorance, as regards many of the minor points and technicalities of the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, yet, by the blessing of God, I feel that light has been shed upon me sufficient to enable me (by employing the means) to save my immortal soul, and obtain an inheritance with the saints in glory. That light, as was to be expected, has had the effect to render me deeply anxious and solicitous to become united with the brethren of this church in the bonds of the new faith; to the end that I may be permitted to drink the water of life in a state as pure and undefiled as was the original fount, and not coagulated and gross with all the impurities the stream has gathered in traversing countries teeming with paganism and an age dark with the night of barbarism.
I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and have repented in all sincerity, of my sins, which in magnitude are like unto a great mountain with a weight sufficient to crush a nation, but from the "large bounty of indulgent heaven," I look for forgiveness. In the mean time I wait with trembling anxiety the ceremony of baptism, the gift to the Holy Ghost, and all the train of blessings that follow. My ambition is to become a good and useful member of the church, as far as the little strength God has given me will allow, and I have for some time had a presentment that ere I am gathered to my fathers, it will be my exceeding good fortune to do the Latter Day Saints some signal service, whether it be in the field, the sacred desk, or some more humble walk, I am unable to conjecture. But if such a presentment, (or, if you please, idea,) I cannot divert myself. From the manner in which God revealed his will unto me, I feel a conviction that he has endowed me with some quality or talent, that in some great crisis in the career of the saints, will be called forth unto their good, and unto his glory.
With many sentiments of respect and esteem,
D. S. PERRY.
To the Editor of the Times and Seasons.
CHESTER COUNTY, Pa., June 18, 1843.
DEAR BROTHER:-As I have been sometime absent from Nauvoo, perhaps a short account of my mission may not be uninteresting to your numerous readers.
Brother J. A. Stratton and myself left Nauvoo on the 4th of September, 1842; with an intention of preaching the gospel in our weakness to the world, neither of us ever having preached before. We proceeded through Illinois, and preached wherever we could get a chance, but there was not much of an opening there, and we continued our course through Indiana. We preached considerable in that state, prejudice gave way and many listened to the truth, * * * * I had some connexions [connections]
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