Missionary Work
An Eventful Three Week Trip To Arkansas.
On March 21, [1853, before working with Brother Corbitt], I started a [short] trip to Arkansas to visit and preach the Gospel.11
I landed there on the 25th but was not recognized until the 26th.
When they found out that I was a Latter-day Saint, which was not long, they wanted me to hold meetings, which I did at four o’clock on Sunday at the home of Mr. Edmondson.
I spoke to a good number of people on the principles of the Gospel of the kingdom of God.
I was well treated by the people there and they asked me to preach again on the next Sabbath, which I did.
My meetings were attended by a respectful congregation.
In the week between these first two meetings I had many conversations with my brother, who was a Methodist preacher.12
He attended my meetings and was very attentive.
On Monday (in April) I went to Marion to visit my sister whom I had not seen in twenty years.13
On the evening of the next day I held a meeting in Marion and lectured on the judgements of the Lord that were to be poured out upon the nations of the earth.
On Friday I came back to my brother’s in Illinois [sic.]14 and found that appointments had been given out for me to preach on the following Sabbath, which was the 10th of April.15
The same evening one young lady wished me to baptize her, which I did: also my niece, another young lady offered herself for baptism.
After getting the consent of her parents we went to the water, a nice little lake, and built a fire, which made a splendid light for the purpose, it being night.16
While this was going on there were eight more people making preparations for the same ordinance, which I willingly attended to.
The company baptized consisted of my brother and his wife and his two sons and two daughters and his son-in-law.
The next morning another lady came and wanted to be baptized, which I also performed.
Their names are as follows:
John Marshall Despain (my brother),
William Easley [son-in-law of J. M. D.],
John Bone, Oren D. Despain [son of J. M. D.],
James M. Despain [son of J. M. D.],
Nancy Easley [dau of J. M. D.],
Emily Despain [dau of J. M. D.],
Nancy Despain [wife of J. M. D.],
Rachel Edmondson,
Mary Edmondson,
Charlotte Singleton [on 11th].
We repaired to my brother’s house and I gave them many instructions and confirmed them.
Having to leave next day I ordained John M. Despain and William Easley as Elders and left John M. Despain to preside over them.
A Trip to St. Louis.
I left for Illinois on the 11th of April.
I carried a petition to the St. Louis conference to connect them [the Arkansas Saints] to that conference the same as I did our branch in Calhoun Co., Illinois.17
As I returned to St. Louis I saw Orson Pratt and Horace Eldredge.
On the 17th of the same month I subscribed for The Seer then being published in Washington.
I must say that while I was on my visit south I was kindly treated by the citizens of Mississippi and Crittenden Counties Arkansas.
A Second Trip To Arkansas.
After returning … [on] May 16[, 1853, ] I [this time] in company with William B. Corbett started again for Arkansas.
We landed on the 21st and when we commenced laboring, we found that the Methodist circuit rider had been in the neighborhood,
had made many false statements, and had discouraged many of our young brethren.
But after some time we arranged matters satisfactorily, we kept laboring with the people and baptized nine more members and rebaptized two old ones.
The names of new members were:
Barker Wilkins and his wife Susan C. Wilkins,
Celia Holloway,
Nancy C. Despain,
Nancy I. Holt,
Julia A. Holt,
Nancy Edmondson,
Nancy A. Singleton,
Daniel F. Holt.
Opposition In Arkansas.
During our stay in Arkansas we had some persecution and opposition by the Methodist circuit riders.
Mr. James Rogers said he knew our doctrine was of the devil and spoke many hard things about the Prophet Joseph; also one Robert Holt.
Mr. Segarses and Mr. Lamb all spoke hard words against the Church of Jesus Christ.
We were informed that they were going to mob us.
But we had some warm friends in Isaac Nivins, Jack James, and some others.
It is my earnest desire that the blessings of God attend them.
We finished our labors for the present and started home on the 21st of June landing on the 25th.
Baptisms In Illinois.
After being home, during which time we had many good times and enjoyed the spirit of the Lord and bore our testimony, on July 2, 1853, three more joined the Church.
I baptized Napoleon Vance, Celia Reynolds, William Joseph Despain.
By the voice of the Church we ordained N. Vance an Elder.
On July 18th I baptized Lucinda Robers.
On August 17 I baptized Anna Vance, and on the 21st I baptized Christian Butcher.
On the 25th I baptized Margaret Bruce.