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Brother Kimball advised me to go out into the country without purse or scrip, and preach to the surrounding villages. . I felt the influence of the Spirit of God upon me, so that I spoke with ease.

–28.–Preached under the shed again–disturbed by talking; visited Mrs. Thorpe, and answered fourteen questions.

September 3.–Preached in the eve.

–10.–Preached at Sister Brown’s; no one present but the members of the Church, and in the evening at Brother Gaunt’s.

–12.–Saw Brother Goodson on the stage at a quarter past one in the morning, on his way towards Manchester.

He served a mission in England from 1837 to 1841, during which he married Jennetta Richards and was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Doctrine and Covenants 118:6). While in the army he had mercurial ointment administered to him by the surgeon to cure an eruption of the skin, and taking cold, his health was impaired during life.

He possessed 160 acres of land, and would be considered in medium circumstances as a New England farmer.

They felt somewhat disappointed at our late arrival, by which we lost the chance of a passage in the ship United States.

–23.–Engaged passage in the ship Garrick, in the second cabin.

–24.–This day I am thirty-three years old.

Brother Goodson preached in the evening in Mr. Mathews’ chapel, also on the eves of the 3rd, 4th and 5th.

–6 (Sabbath).–I attended Mr. Mathews’ meeting.

–7 and 8.–We preached at a private house, which we hired for one week.

–9.–We called upon Mr. Mathews, and received a letter from Brother Hyde.

–10.–Elder Goodson baptized five.

–12.–I baptized one.

–13.–Elder Goodson baptized one.

I start for England tomorrow, and you may go with me, so get ready;” but I saw no way to extricate myself or to procure means.

I walked with Brother Fitch Brigham to President Hyrum’s, and after closing my business, inquired if it was my privilege to take a foreign mission. He was ordained by Brigham Young and became the first and only apostle ordained outside of the United States.

Served mission to England, 1837–1841. Truly it was a day of trial; I passed through all the bitterness of death. Preached at Brother Smith’s.

–19.–Church came together at Sister Braddock’s; I read them the account of the angel’s appearance to Joseph.

–20.–Visited Brother Gaunt’s; preached at Brother Smith’s.

–21.–Kept this as a fast day; read Nehemiah and part of Ezekiel with much interest.

But his efforts were in vain. There was not a shade of deviation . Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve, 14 Apr. 1840, at Preston, Lancashire. Preached in the evening at Sister Braddock’s; laid hands on Brother Smith.

–17.–Preached in the morning at Brother Smith’s; administered the sacrament in the afternoon; held meeting at 6 p.m.; we had four or five new hearers this day, and I felt somewhat encouraged.

–18.–Kept this as a day of fasting and prayer, that God would restore me to perfect health, give me humility, meekness, wisdom and the spirit of prophecy, and wholly prepare me for his will and service, and that he would make known to me his mind and will about the people of Bedford.

4 p.m., much refreshed by the Spirit.

In the evening Brother Goodson preached, and Brother Fielding bore testimony.

–26.–Elder Hyde preached in the evening, and I bore testimony.

–31.–Met in council. Other books were as agreeable to me as the Bible, believing that all I read in that, and all the meetings I attended and all other privileges would sink me deeper in the labyrinth of woe.

Then his beloved Prophet Joseph was shot and fell through the second story window into the midst of a howling, murderous mob. Died at Salt Lake City.

Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.