| 691 in due form I read a chapter in the Bible where Paul speaks of times and seasons. I intended to say something on the coming of Christ. The Spirit rested on me, and I talked about twenty minutes.
I was president of the branch but three months, or until the next conference, when I was released from that duty. I next started to go on a mission to St. Louis; but I learned that was not required of me then. I went to Hannibal, Missouri, to take charge of that district. When I got to Hannibal I was made welcome by Bro. John Taylor. I got there on Saturday night, and on Sunday Bro. Taylor called on me to speak. I felt oppressed. I told Bro. Taylor there was something wrong; but he would not hear to it. But on Monday I sought for wisdom of the Lord, and to my satisfaction I received what I should do. When I told Bro. Taylor, he questioned the Spirit, but when we were talking he received the witness that it was right for me to return home.
I served as president of the String Prairie and Nauvoo District for a number of years.
I was ordained to the office of seventy, April 10, 1871, at Plano, Illinois.
In 1873 I was ordained to the office of apostle at Plano, Illinois.
In 1875 we moved from Vincennes, Lee County, Iowa, to Farmington, Van Buren County, Iowa; and on the 27th of February, 1877, my second wife died. We had seven children born to us. Three had died when young, and four were living. The two older were quite young women; and the youngest was four years and seven months old.
For some years I had been devoting all my time to the ministry in Iowa and Missouri, and had been to Canada on two or three missions. Now the question was, What must I do? The two older children said, You must stop preaching and get work here in town, so you can be with us at nights, or you will have to get some one to stop with us; so in March, 1878, I married Sr. Mary Huggins. She lived near Burnside, Hancock County, Illinois. We were married by Bro. Walter Head. priest. On the 9th of September of the
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