| 77 Seasons, and all the saints of our God, and fellow laborers in the dispensation of the fullness of times, greeting.
Dear brethren, realizing that all the faithful are wishing to hear from the Elders abroad, and to know how the work of pruning the vinyard [vineyard], progresses in these last days; I have thought proper to give you a short sketch of my, labors since the 6th of July, 838 [1838]: for on that day I started from Kirtland, Ohio, with my family in company with the camp of saints (called the Kirtland camp) numbering in all women and children five hundred aud [and] fifteen souls fifty eight teams, a large number of cows &c. This company consisted principally of the poor saints of Kirtland with the sick, lame, blind and all that could not move without assistance.-We had a fine journey to Dayton Ohio, when we stoped [stopped] and labored four weeks on the turnpike then resumed our journey and arrived at springfield, (the seat of goverment [government] for Illinois) Sep. the 15th, and finding that several in the camp were sick with fevers, the Council thought best for me to stop and take care of them which I accordingly did by renting a house and taking them into it and making other nesessary [necessary] provisions for their comfort. I then commenced preaching in Springfield in my own hired house, but the prejudice of the people (on account of the difficulties at Far West) were so great that they generally would not hear, but a few were enquiring [inquiring]. When many of the brethren who were coming from the east heard that I was in Springfield, they turned thither and stoped [stopped] also and I soon organized them into a branch of the church called the Springfield branch over which I was apointed [ appointed] to preside, after which we held our meetings in the Campbellite meeting house I continued preaching in Springfield and its vacinity [vicinity] until January 8th, 1839, the church at this time numbering about forty members in good standing. I then removed my family to Carthage Hancock Co. Ill. in the vacinity [vicinity] of Crooked Creek; and in April I baptized several and organized a branch of the church called the crooked Creek branch over which I was chosen to preside, which I have endeavered [endeavored] to do, preaching to the church and in other places until the present time having had many calls for preaching which I could not attend to on account of my ill health and indigent circumstances. I have baptized and confirmed in this vicinity fifteen members, and Br. John E. Page has baptized several, and James Carle two: this branch numbers about fifty members in good standing and many more appear to be believing whom I hope will soon become Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise, by being baptized for the remission of their sins.
Now let thy servant O our God! And gathering home to Zion's land,
Be cloth'd with power divine; Which was to Joseph given:
That they may spread thy truth abroad That they in safety their may stand,
And cause the light to shine: When Christ descends from heaven:
'Mong nations who, in darkness are, To burn the wicked in his wrath,
For darkness fills the earth, And to receive his bride;
That they may shun the devils snare With righteousness to fill the earth,
By having a new birth. Which then is purified.
From your fellow laborer in he gospel of Jesus Christ. JOEL H. JOHNSON.
For the Times and Seasons.
Nauvoo, Feb. 4th, 1840.
To the President of the quorum of High-priests:
Dear Sir, and beloved brother in tribulation.
As I was not with the Church in Missouri in their almost unparalleled afflictions, yet I suffered (although not phissically) [physically] with bleeding Zion.-And thinking that a brief account of my labors in the vinyard [vineyard] of the Lord, would not be unaccepted, I have thought proper to drop you a few lines.
I became a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, on the 2nd of July 1832 and at the same time was ordained an elder and immediantly [immediately] commenced travelling [traveling] and proclaiming the fulness [fullness] of the gospel, and
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