My wife, Phoebe, was also soon taken down with the chills and fever, as were quite a number of the Twelve.
I passed thirteen days in Montrose with my family, after I was taken sick, before I started on my mission.
The 7th of August was the last day I spent at home in Montrose, and although sick with the chills and fever the most of the day, I made what preparations I could to start on the morrow on a mission of four thousand miles, to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and this, too, without purse or scrip, with disease resting upon me, and a stroke of fever and ague once every two days.
Yet I did this freely, for Christ's sake, trusting in Him for the recompense or reward. My prayer was: "May the Lord give me grace according to my day and souls for my hire, and a safe return to my family and friends, which favor I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
CHAPTER XXI.
LEAVE MY FAMILY—START UPON MY MISSION—OUR CONDITION—ELDER TAYLOR THE ONLY ONE NOT SICK—REPROOF FROM THE PROPHET—INCIDENTS UPON THE JOURNEY—ELDER TAYLOR STRICKEN—I LEAVE HIM SICK.
Early upon the morning of the 8th of August, 1839, I arose from my bed of sickness, laid my hands upon the head of my sick wife, Phoebe, and blessed her. I then departed from the embrace of my companion, and left her almost without food or the necessaries of life.
She parted from me with the fortitude that becomes a Saint, realizing the responsibilities of her companion. I quote from my journal:
"Phoebe, farewell! Be of good cheer; remember me in your prayers. I leave these pages for your perusal when I am gone. I shall see thy face again in the flesh. I go to obey the commands of Jesus Christ."