d so
grieved at this that I finally took it. I left my congregation in
charge of Elder Julien Moses, and started for my family about the
1st of October, 1839. I promised to call on my flock the next
spring, or send a suitable minister to wait upon them.

When I reached Vandalia I found my family well. God had raised up
friends for them in my absence. The Saints were then gathering at
Commerce, that is to say Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. I
visited my sister's family that fall; they then lived about one
hundred miles north of Vandalia. I preached often through Central
Illinois, and that fall I baptized all of my wife's family,
except her father. He held out and refused the gospel until he
was on his deathbed; then he demanded baptism, but being in a
country place he died ere an elder could be procured to baptize
him. By the rules of our Church a person can be baptized for the
dead, and later he was saved to eternal life by the baptism of
one of his children for the salvation of his soul.

CHAPTER VIII - LEE AS A MISSIONARY

Shortly after my return to Illinois I built a house for my
family. During the winter I entered into a trading and trafficking
business with G. W. Hickerson. We would go over the country and
buy up chickens, butter, feathers, beeswax, and coon skins, and
haul them to St. Louis, and carry back calicoes and other goods
in payment for the articles first purchased. We made some money
that way.

While carrying on this trade I drew the remainder of my money
from my friend, Vanleven, and began my preparations for joining
the Saints. About the middle of April, 1840, I succeeded in
securing a good outfit, and with my old friend Stewart again
joined the Saints at Nauvoo. I felt it to be God's will that I
must obey the orders of the Prophet, hence my return to the
society of the brethren.

Joseph and his two counselors, his brother Hyrum and Sidney
Rigdon had been released from jail in Richmond, Missouri, and
were again at the head of the Church and directing the energies
of the brethren. It was the policy of Joseph to hold the city
lots in Nauvoo at a high price, so as to draw money from the
rich, but not so high as to prevent the poor from obtaining
homes. The poor who lost all their property in following the
Church were presented with a lot free in the center of the city.
The Prophet told them not to sell their lots for less than eight
hundred to one thousand dollars, but to sell for that when