| 78 since that time I have baptized into the church in all 123 persons 20 or more of which have been ordainad [ordained] to the ministry, I have travelled [traveled] and preached the gospel in some 14 states and preached some in Upper Canada, during this time I have had several debates and have discussed the subject of our faith with various gentlemen publicly and privately in several different places and I can say that as yet the Lord has verified his promise and has not forsaken me for which I feel to render sincere and unfeigned thanks to his Holy name.
Although as yet no man has laid violent hands upon me, yet my life has been threatened and mobs have come out against me, and all this for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I commenced travelling [traveling] in the northen [northern] and eastern states, since then I have spent 2 years in the states of Virginia and North Carolina. When in North Carolina; a most unwaranted [unwarranted] and unparallelled [unparalleled] persecution was raging against the saints in Missouri, meanwhile misrepresentations touching the troubbles [troubles] in Missouri and our faith were spreading in every direction through the papers of the day and by letters from the hostile Missourians, some of whom had gone to Missouri from Virginia and North Carolinia [Carolina], and were writing to their friends in the south and abusing the suffering saints in Missouri by misrepsesenitng [misrepresenting] them in the worst manner, this together with the opposition of the sectarian clergy, created no small excitement in the south, a certain portion af [of] the inhabitants combined and united their efforts to destroy the work of the Lord in that region upon the principle of the Missouri mob, but without avail, for the principal leading characters in the country discountenanced the mob and no violence was committed. It was during this that I published a small pamphlet, for the purpose of correcting the misrepresentations, which had prejudiced the public against the Latter Day Saint, and then circulated this pamphlet gratis by mail in almost every direction, this had the desired effect for as the pamphlet circulated prejudice and hostile feelings seemed to abate on every side, as I had no means of obtaining all the particulars of the Missouri persecution, but few particulars are in the pamphlet, and as it was extremely difficult to obtain confirmed facts, likewise in it are some few mistakes, but I believe nothing of any particular consequence, my faith and confidence in the presidency and in the church are good, and I wish to be considered as a living stone in the temple of the Lord. I am determined through the grace of God to be a humble faithful follower of our Divine Master, and to perform my part in the building up of the kingdom of these last days, preparatory to the second advent of the Mosiah [Messiah] , when his faithful servants shall rest from all toils and sorrows that they have experience while passing through this vail [veil] of tears, wherein I may have erred I pray for forgiveness from the Lord, and his church, and ask of our Heavenly Father wisdom and strength to enable me to eye his glory in all things and magnify my calling and adorn my profession as his servant that I with all the faithful saints may see him come with the clouds of Heaven, and be caught up to meet the church of the first born.
Please accept assurances of my high consideration and esteem, and believe me truly your bother in the gospel
FRANCIS G. BISHOP.
P. S. By means of certain testimonials from highly respectable sources in the south together with the pamphlet before mentioned, I had ready access to many of the inhabitants of the State of Kentucky. I was kindly received and gave lectures correcting the misreprsentations [misrepresentations] against us in some eight large towns in that State and frequently was solicited to return, or send some other preacher that way. F.G.B.
Philadalphia [Philadelphia] Pa. Jan. 29th, 1840.
ELDER D. C. SMITH,
Highly esteemed brother in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant: It really rejoices my heart to be able to state to you that the work of the Lord, even the fulness [fullness] of the everlasting gospel is spreading, and prospering mightily in these earstern [eastern] lands. I have calls in every direction, on the right hand and on the left.-
A dozen elders might well be employed in Chester Co. Pa. where I have been
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