w far is it from Fayette to Independence, Mo.? 7. Where
is Kirtland? 8. What leading men were converted there? 9. How did Bro.
Pratt escape from the officer? 10. How did people travel in those days? 11.
Why were the missionaries forbidden to preach among the Indians?

CHAPTER XI.

REMOVAL TO OHIO.

The scriptures often speak of a time in the latter days when the people of
God shall be gathered together to build up the Lord's kingdom and prepare
for his second coming. The gospel should be preached to all the world, and
those who would believe should go out from Babylon, or the wicked world,
and came together with the people of the Lord. Every elder who has been on
a mission will tell you that as soon as persons accept the gospel, a desire
comes to them to gather with the main body of the Saints. Thus the Lord
puts the spirit of gathering into the hearts of the believers, and his
purposes are fulfilled.

The Lord told the prophet Joseph that the time for this gathering had come,
and that the central gathering place for the Saints on this land was
somewhere in the West, though at first the exact location was not told him.

In December, 1830, the word of the Lord came to Joseph that the Saints
should gather to Ohio. This was westward and in the proper direction. The
western missionaries had raised up large branches in Ohio, so it was not
like going into a new place. The Church was growing steadily, and many
revelations were given to the Saints. We might say the Lord was assigning
lessons for us, which we have not yet learned very well.

Preparations were made for this removal by holding the third conference of
the Church at Fayette and setting its affairs in order.

One day, about the 1st of February, 1831, a sleigh containing two men and
two women, drove through the streets of Kirtland, Ohio, and stopped at the
door of Gilbert and Whitney's store. One of the men alighted, and springing
up the steps, walked into the store where one of the owners was standing.

"Newel K. Whitney, thou art the man!" exclaimed the visitor, extending his
hand as to an old friend.

"You have the advantage of me," replied the storekeeper, "I could not call
you by name as you have me."

"I am Joseph, the prophet," said the stranger, smiling. "You've prayed me
here; now what do you want of me?"

Mr. Whitney, you will remember, had joined the Church sometime before, and
of course he was delighted to see the prophet. Joseph and his