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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 39 Page: 774

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774 that mission, as I had always gone, without purse and scrip, leaving my family in a little log cabin belonging to William Brittain, near Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa, the following named brethren pledging themselves to see that my family should not suffer: Jairus M. Putney, William Brittain, John Leeka, Elijah Gaylord, Noah Green, John Pack, and Joseph Craven, and right nobly did they keep their pledge.

I reached Liverpool, February 4, 1863. Jason W. Briggs and Jeremiah Jeremiah came to England about the 15th of May, 1863, and found me at West Bromwich on the 16th. We labored in unity until the month of June, 1864, when I returned or started home to my family, by sailing vessel, from Liverpool, and arrived at home on the 6th of September of the same year.

On the lst of November I removed my family from western Iowa, and started to Nauvoo, Illinois, where we remained until the spring conference of 1865, and on the 30th of November, Brethren A. H. Smith and George Redfield fetched us from Montrose to Nauvoo, and we were kindly entertained by Alexander and wife that night.

Just prior to the General Conference in April, 1865, President Joseph Smith came to my house to inquire if I was going to the conference at Plano. I replied, "I cannot go; I have not the means."

He then said, "If I consider it of so much importance for you to go as to pay your expenses, will you go?"

I answered, "Certainly." He then gave me ten dollars. I went to conference. Three brethren were appointed to select two for ordination into the Quorum of the Twelve. Bro. Josiah Ells was one selected, and I was the other; and, believing that the call was of God, I accepted and was ordained. That night I slept with Joseph and he remarked, "Now I know why it was that I could not come to conference without you," referring to my ordination.

I served in that capacity until the General Conference of 1870, in Plano, when I resigned my position as an apostle, and requested the church to permit me to be simply an elder, for I felt that in that office was all the priesthood I was qualified to hold. After long and anxious deliberation,

(page 774)

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