Transcript
Transcript for Ellsworth, Edmund, "Hand-Carts Coming Up," The Mormon, 16 Feb. 1856, 3
We have received the following welcome communication from Elder Edmund Ellsworth, which will no doubt be read with interest especially by those who wish to try the hand-carts. We say to Bro. Edmund you shall have a chance:
BIRMINGHAM, Jan. 21, 1856.
ELDER TAYLOR—Dear Bro:—I am rejoicing in my labors in this land, and feel that this mission is full of salvation to me. By the November mail I received a letter from our much respected President Brigham Young, in which he seemed to be full of blessings for the brethren absent on missions; calling on me to know if I was willing to be the first to lead out in the hand-cart expedition.
Before the letter came, in a dream, I was called to the performance of this duty, and the good spirit attending the dream filled my heart with enthusiasm on the subject, and I immediately began preaching about the undertaking, I offered my services to bro. F. D. Richards, to help carry out the scheme, if such a thing was suggested, which I feel also to do to you, that you may know that I have full faith and confidence in the undertaking that it will be a successful plan for emigrating the poor from these lands. And in any way that you may see it to dispose of my services to forward the undertaking I shall feel proud to assist you.
With my prayers for your prosperity in all your struggles for the building up of our Father's Kingdom here on earth, I am dear Bro. yours truly, in the Gospel of Peace.