Transcript

My wife understanding the practice of midwifery was able to earn and save a few dollars and with what I accumulated, we were in moderately good circumstances by July 1862 and consequently I began to prepare for the journey to Zion[.] I bought a wagon, one yoke of oxen, four cows, two stoves, a tent, clothing to last us for several years, and plenty of flour, meat, etc. and started for Florence on the 5th day of July 1862. I engaged a young man whose father lived in Utah to drive my team for the board, etc. This was a great help to me as I was not accustomed to handling oxen. The journey was extremely tedious and monotonous and nothing of particular interest occurred until we reached Ham's Fork where one of the wagon wheels broke down and we were compelled to lay over long enough to have it repaired, but reached camp late in the night. We had all enjoyed good health thus far except my wife who had suffered much and which at Ham's Fork, she had to be lifted from the wagon when she left it at all. Her faith in the power of the Priesthood to heal her was strong and unflinching and according to her request, two of the elders who were present lifted her from the wagon and placed her upon the grass where, according to the pattern given by our Savior they anointed her head with oil and rebuked the disease in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and almost immediately the petition was answered and she received strength, for she arose and walked about and cooked dinner and ate heartily. This was a striking testimony to all who were present and a very great blessing to herself. We traveled on again without anything more of special interest until we reached Parley's Canyon where we had the misfortune to break the wagon again, but this time we left it and engaged another to haul our things to Salt Lake City where we arrived in good health and spirits, though very tired of our long journey (over 1200 long miles). We were made welcome at the home of my wife's brother David King in the Sugar House Ward.