Missionary Trials

Back in Quincy, Illinois, John prepared to leave for the east. The only place he could find for Leonora and the children to live was an old army barracks on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was run down, cold and dreary. Wishing he could leave them with a nice home and better surroundings, but knowing there was no time to do that, he blessed his wife and children and left. John and Wilford Woodruff began their missionary journey on August 8. On the way out of town they met Parley P. Pratt and Heber C. Kimball who were building a log house. Brother Pratt gave John an empty purse to take on his mission because it was all he had. Brother Kimball only had a dollar to put in it. John and Elder Woodruff got as far as Germantown, Pennsylvania, and became very ill. John was so sick he couldn’t get out of bed. Elder Woodruff was in poor health, but he would be able to travel, so John told him to go on ahead. Better to leave one sick man behind than two, John reasoned. Elder Woodruff gave John a blessing--left him to the Lord, and headed for New York.