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diff --git a/44896-0.txt b/44896-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e79e8ae --- /dev/null +++ b/44896-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17555 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44896 *** + +THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF PARLEY PARKER PRATT +======================================== + +ONE OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF +LATTER-DAY SAINTS, + +EMBRACING THE LIFE, MINISTRY AND TRAVELS, WITH EXTRACTS, IN +PROSE AND VERSE, FROM HIS MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS. + +EDITED BY HIS SON, PARLEY P. PRATT. + +"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; +Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and +_their works do follow them_."--Rev. xiv. 13. + +Chicago: Published for Pratt Bros. by Law, King & Law + +1888 + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, By +Parley P. Pratt, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at +Washington. + + +Preface +------------------------ + +In publishing this volume I am discharging a duty solemnly +imposed upon me by my lamented father, just before his departure on +his last mission to the United States. + +It affords me great pleasure to present the Autobiography of the +late Author to his relatives, his numerous friends, and to the +general reader. + +The writer is well and favorably known through his "Voice of +Warning," his "Key to Theology," and other productions of his pen, +as well as through his personal labors. He was one of the first +Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, having +been called by revelation and ordained to that office by the +Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. He was intimately +associated with the martyrs Joseph and Hyrum, with Presidents B. +Young and H. C. Kimball, and other leading men, almost from the +first rise of the Church: his history, therefore, was so interwoven +with that of the Church, that many of the most interesting sketches +of Church history will be found therein. + +The following pages, which embrace his life, ministry and +travels, and some of his best miscellaneous writings in prose and +verse, are the productions of his own pen. + +He spared no pains to make the work a reliable record, and one +that would be acceptable to all lovers of truth. It is written in +the author's happiest style. He was an early pioneer of the Great +West, and travelled extensively in different countries. + +His life was one of indefatigable labor, varied and complicated, +crowded with public labors and responsibilities, and full of +strange and extraordinary events--a life mingled with the extremes +of joy and sorrow--or, in the writer's own words, "a truly eventful +one." + +With confidence and satisfaction I submit this work to the +reader, feeling assured that it will stand upon its own merits. I +also have an earnest and sincere desire that it may be the means, +through the blessing of God, of accomplishing much good. + +In editing the work I have been kindly assisted by the author's +personal friend, Elder John Taylor, to whom I feel deeply indebted. + +The work embraces a period of history of fifty years--from the +author's boyhood to the time of his betrayal, by apostates, into +the hands of his enemies, and martyrdom. + +The writer, in his second preface to his "Voice of Warning," in +1846, gave expression to the following sentiment: "Should the +author be called to sacrifice his life for the cause of truth, he +will have the consolation that it will be said of him, as it was +said of Abel, '_He being dead yet speaketh_.'" + +Editor. + +Salt Lake City, _Dec., 1873_ + + +To the Public +------------------------ + +The circumstances attending the death of our beloved and much +esteemed Apostle, Parley Parker Pratt, rendered it impossible for +him to complete and prepare for publication the work in which he +had for many years been engaged, which is now presented to the +public. + +The general history and incidents were recorded in various forms +of manuscript, some in book form, some in loose leaves, whilst +others were extracts from the "Millennial Star" and other +publications, yet they needed collating and revising preparatory to +their publication. + +The deceased, as appears above, had laid upon his eldest son, P. +P. Pratt, the responsibility of publishing his history in case +anything should happen to prevent himself from doing it. + +At the solicitation of Brother Pratt I undertook the task of +assisting to collate and revise the work preparatory to +publication. I found, as I expected it to be, quite an undertaking. +But, as Bro. Parley brought the gospel to and baptized me, and as I +have always entertained for him the most profound regard, I +esteemed it a duty, due alike to gratitude and respect, to assist +in having him properly presented before the community. + +In the revision the changes are very few and unimportant, the +meaning being rigidly adhered to, and the original, so far as +possible, preserved intact. His doctrines and general views are +left unchanged, as he was always considered sound in doctrinal +points. + +The multitudinous reminiscences manifested in his eventful life +exhibit a true and living faith in God and his religion--an +honesty of purpose, an inflexible will, and an unflagging, +indefatigable industry and perseverance. He possessed a +comprehensive mind, coupled with a sound judgment. He manifested an +indomitable fortitude under the most trying circumstances, and in +adversity and trials, as well as in prosperity, exhibited an +example worthy of praise and emulation. He was indeed a true +Latter-Day Saint, an honorable Apostle, a good and kind husband, an +affectionate father, a true friend, and an honest man. + +From various premonitions which he had during his last visit +with me in New York, I was satisfied that, when I took my last sad +leave of him in that city, I should never see his face again in the +flesh. These presentiments were but too speedily and sadly +fulfilled. He has gone--but has left a name and a fame that will +live throughout time and burst forth in eternity; and in the +morning of the first resurrection, when the opening heavens shall +reveal the Son of God, and he shall proclaim, "I am the +resurrection and the life," when Death shall deliver up the dead, I +expect to meet Bro. Parley in the resurrection of just. + +John Taylor. + + +CONTENTS +------------------------ + +CHAPTER I.--Parentage:--Childhood:--Youth:--Education:--Early +Impressions:--Journey Westward:--Making a New Farm in the Wilderness of +Oswego. + +CHAPTER II.--Thoughts on Religion:--Join the Baptist Church:--Strange +Perversion of a Scripture Promise. + +CHAPTER III.--Reverses:--Loss of our Farm:--Strange Resolve:--Travels +West:--Forest Life:--Another New Farm. + +CHAPTER IV.--Revisit Canaan, N. T.:--Interesting Meeting:-- +Marriage:--Return to my Forest Home. + +CHAPTER V.--Our Home:--New Sect:--Progressive Religious +Views:--Unexpected Meeting:--Dialogue:--Forsake My Home:--Journey to +New York:--Public Ministry:--Strange Book:--First Interview with a +Latter-Day Saint. + +CHAPTER VI.--Interesting Meetings:--Second Interview with Hyrum +Smith:--Visit to the Church in Seneca County:--Baptism, Confirmation +and Ordination:--Ministry Among my Kindred:--Baptism of my Brother +Orson:--Wonderful Sign in the Heavens:--Return to Western New +York:--First Interview with Joseph Smith:--Description of his Person +and Abilities. + +CHAPTER VII.--Mission to the Western States:--Visit to the +Indians:--Wonderful Success in Kirtland, Ohio:--Journey +Westward:--Great Excitement and Anxiety to Hear the +Fulness of the Gospel:--Imprisonment:--Mock Trial:-- +Escape:--Preaching:--Success:--Visit the Wyandots:--Journey +Resumed:--Great Hardships:--Arrival on the Frontiers of Missouri. + +Chapter VIII.--Visit the Delawares of Kansas:--Interview +with the Chief and Council:--Speech and Reply:--Great Excitement:-- +Opposition from Missionaries:--Compelled to Leave the Indian +Country:--Ministry in Jackson County:--Council in Independence:-- +Return Eastward:--Disguise:--Hospitality of a Family of the +Saints:--Dialogue:--Sickness:--Reunion with President Joseph +Smith:--Mission to the Shakers:--Ministry Among the Churches:--False +Spirits:--Inquire of the Lord:--Mode of Receiving Revelations. + +CHAPTER IX.--Revelation on False Spirits:--Ministry Among the +Churches:--Remarkable Miracle of Healing:--Arrival of Emigrant Saints +from New York:--Severe Disappointment. + +CHAPTER X.--Conference at Kirtland:--Revelation of the High +Priesthood:--Ordinations to the Same:--Appointment of Missions +through the Western States:--Return Westward, Accompanied by +my Brother Orson:--Our Success by the Way:--Arrival at the +Frontiers:--Sickness:--Remarkable Conversion of Newel Knight:--A Dream. + +CHAPTER XI.--Attend Conference:--Instantaneous Healing:-- +Return Eastward:--Description of the Inhabitants on the +South Side of the Missouri River:--Strange Manifestation:-- +Arrive at St. Louis:--Preaching and Entertainment:--Arrive at +Vandalia:--Reception:--Exposure in Crossing an Over--flowed +Bottom:--Dialogue:--Hospitality of a Preacher:--Deaf Landlord:--Meet +my Wife. + +Chapter XII.--Mission in Ohio:--Start to Western Missouri:--Incidents +by the Way:--Discourse on Board a Steamer on the Fourth of July:--Its +Effect:--Arrival on the Frontiers:--Farming:--Extortion:--Mission +in Missouri and Illinois:--Treatment by Infidels:--Great Success in +Illinois:--Opposition from Baptist Ministers:--Outlines of Mr. Peck's +Speech and my Reply:--Result:--Return Home:--A Voice from the Dead. + +CHAPTER XIII.--Prosperity of the Church:--School in Zion:-- +Revelation:--Mob:--Destruction of Printing Office:--Defence:-- +Prisoners:--Journey to Lexington:--A Dream:--Its Fulfilment:-- +Battle:--Defeat of the Robbers:--A Miracle:--Defence Construed into +Murder:--Gov. Boggs and Militia Join the Mob:--Church Driven from +the County:--Plunderings and Burnings:--Insurrections:--Signs in +the Heavens:--Action of the Governor:--Attorney-General Driven from +Court:--Refugees Settle in the North:--A Bandit Chief made Governor. + +CHAPTER XIV.--Labors in Clay County:--Conference:--Appointment +to a Tedious Journey:--A Case of Healing:--Arrive at Kirtland:-- +Revelation:--Travel Eastward, in Company with President Joseph +Smith:--Conference in Geneseo:--Pleasing Reminiscence:--President +Smith and Others Return Home:--Visit Sackett's Harbor:--Crowded +Meeting:--Requested to Visit the Sick:--A Little Boy Healed:-- +Baptisms, etc.:--Miraculous Gifts:--Lying Priests and Rabble:-- +Visit my Parents in Canaan, N. Y.:--Return to Kirtland. + +CHAPTER XV.--An Army:--A Long March:--Recruits:--A Voice:--Camp +Arrives in Missouri:--Delegation to the Governor:--Interview:--Return +to Camp:--Council:--Great Storm and Flood:--A Battle Providentially +Prevented:--Cholera:--Army Disbanded:--Sudden Destruction:--Labor with +my Hands:--Journey to Ohio:--Labor and Ministry:--Accusations:--Repair +to Kirtland:--Interview with the President:--His Action on the +Matter:--Calling and Ordination of a Quorum of Twelve Apostles:--My +Ordination, Blessing and Charge:--Charge to the Quorum. + +CHAPTER XVI.--Return to New Portage:--Fire:--Return to +Kirtland:--Mob:--Journey Eastward, as far as Maine:--Return to +Boston:--Removal to Kirtland:--A Temple:--School, Endowments, +Prophecyings, Visions, etc.:--Visit from Brother H. C. Kimball and +Others:--My Wife Healed and Blessed:--A Remarkable Prophecy and its +Fulfilment:--Mission to Canada:--Falls of Niagara:--Reflections. + +CHAPTER XVII.--Journey Resumed:--Ministry:--Striking Answer to +Prayer:--Arrival at Toronto:--John Taylor:--Visit the Religious +Ministers, the Sheriff, and the Public Market, Seeking for an Opening, +but in Vain:--Secret Prayer:--About to leave the City--God Sends a +Widow to Receive Me:--Great Faith:--Eyes of the Blind Opened:--Great +Excitement and Gainsayings:--Public Preaching:--Find a People Prepared +to Receive the Message. + +CHAPTER XVIII.--Crowded Meeting:--Discourse:--Baptize the People +and Organize a Church:--Spread of the Work:--First Visit to the +Country:--Opposition:--Remarkable Success:--Return to Kirtland:--Return +with my Wife to Toronto:--Meetings at Mr. Lamphere's:--A Woman +Healed and Evil Spirits Rebuked:--Mr. Lamareux:--A Meeting:--A +Challenge:--Discussion Held in the Open Air:--Great Crowd:--Opening +Propositions by Elder O. Hyde:--Result of the Discussion. + +CHAPTER XIX.--A Vision:--Remarkable Signs in the Heavens:--A False +Prophet:--A Dream:--Impression:--Prayer:--Interpretation Given in +a Second Dream:--Attend Mr. Caird's Meeting:--He Shows Himself to +be a Railer and a Liar:--We Challenge Him to an Investigation:--He +Visits Toronto:--We Return There:--Continues His Opposition:-- +Refusing to Meet Us:--Great Meetings:--Excitement:--Text:--Summary +of the Discourse Proving Him a False Teacher:--He Retires to Private +Life:--Return to Kirtland:--Birth of My First Born. + +CHAPTER XX.--Two Items of Prophecy:--Death of my Wife: An Open Vision +Forewarning Her of Her Death:--Burial: Description of Her Person +and Character:--Reflections: Return to Canada:--Selection for an +English Mission Jarrings in the Church:--Apostacy:--Temptation:-- +Deliverance:--Mission to New York City:--The Voice of Warning:--Its +Success:--English Mission:--Remarkable Prophecy:--Several Instances of +Healing:--Spread of the Work in the City and Country. + +CHAPTER XXI.--Remove to Missouri:--National Anniversary at Far +West:--Corner Stone of a Temple:--Insurrections:--Defence:--Attack on +De Witt, Carroll County:--Mob Chaplain:--Surrender and Flight of the +Citizens of De Witt:--Action of the Governor:--General Defence:--Battle +of Crooked River:--Death of Colonel Patten:--Defence Construed into +Murder and Treason:--Muster of State Forces Against the "Mormons," with +Orders for Extermination:--General Lucas, with Four Thousand Men, +Menaces Far West. + +CHAPTER XXII.--Exterminating Order:--Betrayal and Imprisonment +of Joseph Smith and Others:--Camp of the Enemy:--The Howlings +of the Damned:--The Enemy Boast of the Highest Crimes:--Secret +Inquisitory Trial of the Prisoners:--Sentence of Death!--How +Reversed:--A Judas:--Surrender of Far West:--Attempt to Assassinate +the Prisoners:--Farewell Scenes:--Captives Removed to Jackson +County:--General Clark Demands the Prisoners:--Refusal to Surrender +them:--Cross the Missouri River:--Visitors:--Preaching in Camp by +President Smith:--Arrive at Independence:--Public Exhibition of the +Prisoners. + +CHAPTER XXIII.--Treatment of the Prisoners:--Visit the Temple +Lot:--Gain my Freedom:--Temptation:--Voluntary Return to +Bondage:--Leave Independence:--Conduct of the Guards:--Fall +into the Hands of Col. Price and Guards:--Arrive at Richmond:-- +Chains:--Interview with Gen. Clark:--Dialogue:--Inconceivable +Absurdities. + +CHAPTER XXIV.--Massacre at Haun's Mill. + +CHAPTER XXV.--Speech of Major--General Clark, Delivered at Far West +while its Citizens were held as Prisoners, November, 1838. + +CHAPTER XXVI.--The Prisoners:--Second Interview with General +Clark:--Inquisition:--Sickness of Elder Rigdon:--Colonel Price and +Guards:--Their Conduct;--Rebuke by Joseph Smith:--Trial:--Similarity +between King Herod and Governor Boggs:--Judge Austin A. King in Open +Court Threatens a "Wholesale Extermination of the 'Mormons:'"--Other +Prisoners Obtained by Stratagem:--Advice of General Doniphan, Attorney +for the Prisoners:--Decision:--Disposal of the Prisoners:--Flight of +the Church to Illinois:--Conduct of the Outlaws:--My Family Visits me +in Prison. + +CHAPTER XXVII.--Legislative Action on the Subject. + +CHAPTER XXVIII.--Joseph Smith and his Fellow Prisoners in Clay +County:--Mock Trial in the County of Davies:--Final Escape:--Their +Arrival in Illinois. + +CHAPTER XXIX.--Farewell Scenes:--Departure of the Last Remnant of the +Exiles:--Court:--Release of Two of the Prisoners:--Reflections in +Prison. + +CHAPTER XXX.--Letter to Judge Austin A. King. + +CHAPTER XXXI.--The Prison:--Fare:--Conduct of the Guards:--A +Strange Couple:--My Wife Visits the Prison:--Fasting and +Prayer:--An Important Question:--Vision:--A Ministering +Spirit:--The Question Answered:--Visit from Judge King:--Change of +Venue:--Handcuffs:--Departure from the Prison:--Journey:--Arrival in +Columbia, Boone County:--Enter Another Prison:--Treatment:--Arrival of +Friends:--News from my Family:--Impressions of the Spirit:--Plan and +Preparations for Escape:--Fourth of July Celebration:--Flag:--Public +Dinner:--Now's the Day:--Our Friends take Leave:--Rendezvous. + +CHAPTER XXXII.--Description of the Prison:--Ladies in the +Prison:--Evening of a Public Day:--Song:--Obstinate Coffee Pot:--Order +of Attack:--Escape:--Race:--Great Excitement:--Our Friends in the +Thicket:--Prisoners Gain the Thicket:--Flight:--Encounter:--Climb +a Tree:--Faint:--Prayers:--Night Favors us at Last:--Loss of my +Horse:--Journey on Foot:--Reflections. + +CHAPTER XXXIII.--Dawn:--Bewildered in a Forest:--Beautiful +Valley:--Escape of Phelps:--Dialogue:--His Final Escape and +Arrival in Illinois:--Fate of our Two Friends:--Interview +between my Brother Orson and my Wife:--She Prepares for my +Reception:--Disappointment:--Excitement:--Search:--Suspense:--Scenes +at the Prison:--Treatment of Mrs. Phelps:--Mr. Follett Retaken:--His +Return to Prison:--Chains:--Escape of Mrs. Phelps:--Finale of Luman and +Phila. + +CHAPTER XXXIV.--Reminiscence:--Resume my Wanderings:--Lost +Again:--Storm:--Conversation:--Suspicious Characters:--Lost in a +Swamp:--Strange River:--Retrace my Steps:--Cross the River:--Wild +Scenery:--Strange Bedfellow:--Dawn:--Reach the Mississippi:--Cross +the River in a Canoe:--Land on an Island:--Entangled in the +Thickets:--Reembark:--Land in Illinois:--An Old Acquaintance:--Arrive +at Quincy. + +CHAPTER XXXV.--Opinions of the Press:--Extracts from the "Columbia +Patriot:"--"Banner of Liberty:"--"Boone's Lick Democrat:"--"Saturday +News:"--"Missouri Republican:"--"New York Sun:"--"Quincy +Argus:"--Minutes of a Public Meeting in Quincy:--"New York Commercial +Advertiser:"--Public Meeting in New York:--Closing Remarks. + +CHAPTER XXXVI.--Congratulations:--Remove to Nauvoo:--Meet +with President Smith and Other Fellow Sufferers:--President +Smith's Reproof for the Elders:--Toils:--Start for England:-- +Arrival in Detroit:--Visit my Brother Anson and Parents:-- +Arrive in New York:--Visit Philadelphia and Washington:--Meet +President Smith:--Great Meeting:--Preaching by S. Rigdon and +President Smith:--Success in New York:--Farewell Song:--Sail for +England:--Reflections. + +CHAPTER XXXVII.--General Conference at Preston, England:--Publishing +Committee:--Editorial Appointment:--First Number of the "Millennial +Star" Issued:--My own Ministry in Manchester and Vicinity:--New Hymn +Book:--Action of Congress on the Missouri Tragedies. + +CHAPTER XXXVIII.--General Conference at Manchester:--Ordinations +and Appointments:--Return to New York:--Meet with my Family:--Visit +to the State of Maine:--A Dream and its Fulfilment:--Embark Again +for England:--Consequence of Looking Back:--Safe Arrival in +England:--Resume the Editorial Duties:--Reflections. + +CHAPTER XXXIX.--Visit and Ministry in Bolton:--Conduct of two +Methodist Priests:--Arrest and Trial:--Emigration:--General +Conference at Manchester:--Council of the Twelve:--Charter the ship +"Tyrean:"--"Philosophy of the Resurrection:"--Emigration on the Ship +"Chaos:"--Visit to the Isle of Man:--Visit to Norwich:--Mob. + +CHAPTER XL.--Notice for a General Conference:--Extract of a Letter from +Elder Orson Hyde in Jerusalem:--Extracts from my Farewell Address. + +CHAPTER XLI.--Vessels Chartered:--Emigration:--Sail for New Orleans +on the "Emerald:"--Passage:--Land in New Orleans:--Charter of a +Steamer:--Historical Letter:--Journey and Arrival at Nauvoo:--Mission +with Joseph Smith:--Visit to Chester. + +CHAPTER XLII.--Miscellaneous Writings:--Mission to the East:-- +Impressions of the Spirit:--Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum +Smith:--Spirit of Exultation:--Return to Nauvoo:--Sidney Rigdon +Disfellowshipped. + +CHAPTER XLIII.--Eastern Mission:--Return:--Mobocracy:--Labor in the +Temple:--Expulsion from Nauvoo:--Cross the Mississippi:--Garden +Grove:--Mount Pisga:--Council Bluffs:--Mormon Battalion:--Winter +Quarters:--Mission to England with Elders Orson Hyde and John +Taylor:--Conference at Manchester:--Tour through the Kingdom. + +CHAPTER XLIV.--An Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-Day +Saints, _was in the Island of Great Britain for the Gospel's sake; +and being in the Spirit on the 24th of November, 1846, addressed the +following words of comfort to his dearly beloved Wife and Family, +dwelling in tents, in the Camp of Israel, at Council Bluffs, Missouri +Territory, North America; where they and twenty thousand others were +banished by the civilized Christians of the United States for the Word +of God and the Testimony of Jesus_. + +CHAPTER XLV.--Return with Elder John Taylor to America:--Arrival at +Winter Quarters:--Camp Starts for the Rocky Mountains:--Meet the +Pioneers:--Arrival in Great Salt Lake Valley:--Visit to Utah and Great +Salt Lake. + +CHAPTER XLVI.--Spring of 1848:--Scarcity of Provisions:--"Harvest +Feast:"--Arrival of President Young and Company:--Gold Fever:--Explore +Southern Utah. + +CHAPTER XLVII.--Start on my Pacific Mission:--Sketch of the +Journey:--Attacked by Indians:--Crossing the Desert:--Arrival at Los +Angelos. + +CHAPTER XLVIII.--Los Angelos:--Catholic Celebration of Corpus +Christi:--Arrival in San Francisco:--Letter to President Brigham +Young:--Family Letter. + +CHAPTER XLIX.--Valparaiso:--Quillota:--Letter to President Brigham +Young. + +CHAPTER L.--Arrival in San Francisco:--Return to Salt Lake +City:--Second Mission to the Pacific:--Articles from the Press. + +CHAPTER LI.--Reply to the Rev. Mr. Briggs on the Subject of the +Expediency of the Reappointment of His Excellency Governor Young, of +Utah. + +CHAPTER LII.--Statements Pertaining to the History of Joseph +Smith:--Return to Utah:--Home Mission:--Attend the Legislature at +Fillmore:--The Standard of Zion:--Return to Salt Lake City. + +CHAPTER LIII.--Journal of Eastern Mission. + +CHAPTER LIV.--Family Letters:--"My Fiftieth Year:"--Response by John +Taylor. + +APPENDIX + +GENEALOGY + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + + +CHAPTER I. +------------------------ + +Parentage:--Childhood:--Youth:--Education:--Early +Impressions:--Journey Westward:--Making a New Farm in the +Wilderness of Oswego. + +Parley Parker Pratt, the subject and author of these sketches, +and third son of Jared and Charity Pratt, of Canaan, Columbia +County, New York, was born April 12, 1807, in Burlington, Otsego +County, N.Y.* + +[Footnote] *For genealogy in full see Appendix. + +Of my early youth I shall say but little. My father was a hard +working man, and generally occupied in agricultural pursuits; and, +although limited in education, he sometimes taught school, and even +vocal music. + +He was a man of excellent morals; and he exerted himself +diligently, by stern example as well as precept, to instill into +the minds of his children every principle of integrity, honesty, +honor and virtue. + +He taught us to venerate our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, His +prophets and Apostles, as well as the Scriptures written by them; +while at the same time he belonged to no religious sect, and was +careful to preserve his children free from all prejudice in favor +of or against any particular denomination, into which the so-called +Christian world was then unhappily divided. + +We frequently attended public worship, with Presbyterians, +Baptists and Methodists in turn, or, as circumstances rendered +convenient--having equal respect for these several forms of worship +and their adherents. Though my father did sometimes manifest a +decided disapprobation of a hireling clergy, who seemed, in his +estimation, to prefer the learning and wisdom of man to the gifts +and power of the Holy Ghost. + +His means to educate his children were very limited; but that +excellent system of common school education early established in +the Eastern and Middle States afforded to them, in common with +others, an opportunity to learn, and even to become familiar with +the four great branches, which are the foundation of literature and +the sciences. + +My opportunity, even in these institutions, was far more limited +than most of the youths of my country, on account of my time being +mostly required in physical exertion to assist in sustaining the +family of my father. + +But I always loved a book. If I worked hard, a book was in my +hand in the morning while others were sitting down to breakfast; +the same at noon; if I had a few moments, a _book_! a BOOK! +A book at evening, while others slept or sported; a book on +Sundays; a book at every leisure moment of my life. + +At the age of seven years my mother gave me lessons to read in +the Scriptures; I read of Joseph in Egypt, his dreams, his +servitude, his temptation and exaltation; his kindness and +affection for his father and brethren. All this inspired me with +love, and with the noblest sentiments ever planted in the bosom of +man. + +I read of David and Goliath;--of Saul and Samuel;--of Samson and +the Philistines:--all these inspired me with hatred to the deeds of +evil doers and love for good men and their deeds. + +After this I read of Jesus and his Apostles; and O, how I loved +them! How I longed to fall at the feet of Jesus; to worship him, or +to offer my life for his. + +At about twelve years of age I read of the first resurrection, +as described by John the Apostle, in the 20th chapter of his +Revelation; how they, martyrs of Jesus, and those who kept His +commandments would live and reign with Christ a thousand years, +while the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years +were ended. O, what an impression this made on my mind; I retired +to rest after an evening spent in this way; but I could not sleep. +I felt a longing desire and an inexpressible anxiety to secure to +myself a part in a resurrection so glorious. I felt a weight of +worlds,--of _eternal_ worlds resting upon me; for fear I +might still remain in uncertainty, and at last fall short and still +sleep on in the cold embrace of death; while the great, the good, +the blessed and the holy of this world would awake from the gloom +of the grave and be renovated, filled with life and joy, and enter +upon life with all its joys: while for a thousand years their busy, +happy tribes should trample on my sleeping dust, and still my +spirit wait in dread suspense, impatient of its doom. I tried to +pray; but O, how weak! + +At the age of fifteen I was separated from my father's house, +and placed as an assistant on a farm, with a gentleman by the name +of William S. Herrick. This gentleman and his family were exemplary +members of the Presbyterian Church; and better, kinder, or more +agreeable people are seldom met with in this wicked world. They +treated me as if I had been an only son, instead of a hired +servant. + +I was with them eight months, during which time our mutual +affection for each other increased; and I felt grieved when my time +expired and duty called me elsewhere. + +During the winter following, being in the sixteenth year of my +age, I boarded with one of my aunts (my father's sister), named Van +Cott; she was an excellent and kind-hearted woman, and acted as a +mother to me. This winter I spent mostly at school, and it was my +last opportunity to improve my education by any means, except my +own unaided exertion--at least for many years. + +In this school, by close application, I made such extraordinary +progress that the teacher often spoke of me to the whole school, +and exhorted them to learn as Parley Pratt did;--said he (to some +of them who were more fond of mischief than of study), if you would +learn as he does, you would become men of wisdom and talent in the +world; but if you continue the course you have done you will remain +in obscurity and unknown; while he will be known, and fill +important stations in society. I do not mention these circumstances +by way of boasting; but simply because they are true. How little +did I then realize, or even dream of the station I should be called +to fill. + +Again the spring returned;--I was sixteen years of age. I left +the school of my boyhood forever, and commenced again a life of +toil. I assisted my cousin, William Pratt, in the cultivation of +the farm of my aunt (where I had boarded the previous winter) until +September, when I started a journey to the West, in company with my +brother William, in search of some spot of ground in the wilderness +which we might prepare as our future home. + +We travelled about two hundred miles on foot, and at length +selected a spot for a farm in the woods, about two miles from +Oswego, a small town situated on Lake Ontario, in the State of New +York. We purchased seventy acres of land, which was covered with an +immense growth of timber, principally beech, maple and hemlock. For +this we bargained with one Mr. Morgan, and agreed to pay four +dollars per acre, in four annual payments with interest--paying +some seventy dollars in hand. + +We then repaired again to the East, and, by dint of hard labor, +endeavored to earn the money. Wages were very low, and at length my +brother William entirely failed in raising his part of the money +for our next installment. + +The next spring found me in the employment of a wealthy farmer, +by the name of Eliphet Bristol, in the neighborhood of my aunt Van +Cott's. Here I experienced no kindness; no friendship from my +employer or his family. I always commenced work before sunrise, and +continued till dark; losing only three days in eight months. I was +then but a lad--being only seventeen years of age--and stood in +need of fatherly and motherly care and comfort. But they treated a +laborer as a machine; not as a human being, possessed of feelings +and sympathies in common with his species. _Work_! WORK! +_WORK_! you are hired to work. A man that paid for his work +should never be weary, faint, or sick; or expect a kind look or +word. He agrees to work; we agree to pay him; that is sufficient. +He needs no kindness, no affection, no smiles, no encouragement of +any kind. Such was their spirit towards me during this eight months +of toil. I was glad when the time expired; I felt like one released +from prison. I took my wages, and was accompanied by my father to +our place in Oswego. Here I paid all my hard earnings to meet the +yearly installment due on the land--reserving merely enough to +purchase two axes. We then commenced to chop and clear the heavy +timber all the time that we could command, extra of earning our +board. It was a cold, snowy winter, such as is usual in the +northern part of New York. But we earned our living, and chopped +and cleared ten acres during the winter and spring; this we +surrounded with a fence of rails, and planted with wheat and Indian +corn, being in hopes to meet the next payment with the avails of +our harvest. + + +CHAPTER II. +------------------------ + +Thoughts on Religion:--Join the Baptist +Church:--Strange Perversion of a Scripture Promise. + +It was during these toils in the wilderness that my mind was +drawn out from time to time on the things of God and eternity. I +felt deeply anxious to be saved from my sins, and to secure an +interest in that world "where the wicked cease from troubling, and +the weary are at rest." I attended public worship with a society of +Baptists who had employed one W. A. Scranton for their minister; he +was a scholar from Hamilton Seminary (an institution where young +men are educated for the ministry). + +I said to my father one day while we were laboring together in +the forest: "Father, how is it there is so manifest a difference +between the ancient and modern disciples of Jesus Christ and their +doctrines? If, for instance, I had lived in the days of the +Apostles, and believed in Jesus Christ, and had manifested a wish +to become his disciple, Peter or his brethren would have said to +me, '_Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for_ + REMISSION OF SINS, _and you_ SHALL _receive the gift of +the Holy Ghost_.' I should then have known definitely and +precisely what to do to be saved. Whereas, _now_ we go to +the religious minister for instruction, and he tells us we must +experience a mysterious, indefinite and undefinable something +called religion before we can repent and be baptized acceptably. +But, if we inquire how, or by what means we are to come at this +experience, he cannot tell us definitely; but will tell us that it +is the work of God in the soul; which he will accomplish in his own +due time, for his own elect; and that we can do nothing acceptably +till this is done. That even our prayers and repentance, and all +our good works are sin; so long as this work of God is not done +within us. + +"Now, father," said I, "how is this? I believe in Jesus; I wish +to serve him and keep his commandments; I love him: He has +commanded all men to repent and be baptized, and has promised to +remit the sins of all those who obey the gospel ordinances, and to +pour out the Holy Spirit upon them. Yet, if I apply to the +Presbyterians they will sprinkle some water in my face instead of +baptizing me. If I go to the Methodists it is the same. And if I go +to the Baptists they will not baptize me for _remission of sins +_, that I may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; but they will +require of me to relate _an experience_, and to tell of some +time and place where I had already experienced that which I am only +seeking for, and have not found. This, of course, I cannot do; and, +therefore, they will not receive me unto baptism. How, then, can I +observe the ordinances of God and keep his commandments?" + +To these inquiries my father could give no satisfactory answer; +but observed that times and circumstances had changed. With this I +was not satisfied, of course; for who had a right to change the +ordinances, transgress the law, or break the covenant of the +everlasting gospel? Such were my thoughts. + +I still continued to ponder upon these things, and to search the +Scriptures to learn how to be saved. I found the same principles +and practice throughout the history of the Apostles, the Jews, +Samaritans, Gentiles, Ephesians, Corinthians, Romans, the Ethiopian +eunuch, Saul of Tarsus, the jailer and his household, all were +baptized when they believed in Jesus Christ and repented of their +sins; and this as an ordinance connected with remission of their +sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. What, then, should I do? Where +find one who was commissioned from heaven, and would administer +salvation to me? I could only go to the Baptists; but I lacked that +"_experience of religion_" which they always required. However, +I resolved to try. + +I accordingly appeared before them at their monthly meeting, or +council, and requested to be baptized; they inquired into my +experience; I related to them my firm belief in Christ, and my wish +to serve God without being able to tell them of any particular +experience of religion. They finally consulted together; and came +to the conclusion that I had been converted, whether I knew it +myself or not, and a time was appointed for my baptism--a month or +two thence. Here I again realized the difference. In ancient times +persons were baptized immediately on profession of their faith; now +they were subjected to a delay of weeks or months. + +At length the time arrived, and I was baptized by Mr. Scranton, +and duly initiated into the Baptist society; being about eighteen +years of age. I felt some satisfaction in obeying this one +ordinance; but still I was aware that all was not right,--that much +was wanting to constitute a Christian, or a Church of Christ. + +I endeavored to pray much, and to attend meetings strictly; I +also endeavored to keep the commandments of Jesus as well as I +could. + +Mr. Scranton came to the house where I boarded to preach at a +certain time, and I inquired of him what Jesus meant when he said, +"these signs shall follow them that believe." He replied, that it +meant these signs should follow the Apostles only. + +This did not satisfy me; for it was plain and manifest +perversion of common sense and language easy to be understood. It +was as much as to say: Go ye into all the world and preach the +gospel to the Apostles; and the Apostles that believe and are +baptized shall be saved; and the Apostles that believe not shall be +damned; and these signs shall follow the Apostles that believe. +Thus, by logical consistency, confining the whole commission and +gospel to the Apostles, with all its benefits, by the same rule +that we would confine the promise of the signs following to them. + + +CHAPTER III. +------------------------ + +Reverses:--Loss of our Farm:--Strange +Resolve:--Travels West:--Forest Life:--Another New Farm. + +Time passed; harvest came; a fine crop, but no market; and +consequently the payment came due on our land and there was no +means of payment. + +The winter rolled round; spring came again; and with it a +prosecution on the part of Mr. Morgan for money due on land. The +consequence was that all our hard earnings, and all our +improvements in the wilderness, were wrested from us in a moment. +Mr. Morgan retained the land, the improvements and the money paid. + +Weary and disconsolate, I left the country and my father, who +took charge of our crops and all unsettled business. + +I spent a few months with my uncles, Ira and Allen Pratt, in +Wayne County, N. Y., and in the autumn of 1826 I resolved to bid +farewell to the civilized world--where I had met with little else +but disappointment, sorrow and unrewarded toil; and where sectarian +divisions disgusted and ignorance perplexed me--and to spend the +remainder of my days in the solitudes of the great West, among the +natives of the forest. + +There, at least, thought I, there will be no buying and selling +of lands,--no law to sweep all the hard earnings of years to pay a +small debt,--no wranglings about sects, and creeds, and doctrines. +I will win the confidence of the red man; I will learn his +language; I will tell him of Jesus; I will read to him the +Scriptures; I will teach him the arts of peace; to hate war, to +love his neighbor, to fear and love God, and to cultivate the +earth. Such were my resolutions. + +In October, 1826, I took leave of my friends and started +westward. I paid most of my money in Rochester for a small pocket +Bible, and continued my journey as far as Buffalo. At this place I +engaged a passage for Detroit, on board a steamer; as I had no +money, I agreed to work for the same. + +After a rough passage and many delays, I was at length driven by +stress of weather to land at Erie, in Pennsylvania; from whence I +travelled by land till I came to a small settlement about thirty +miles west of Cleveland, in the State of Ohio. The rainy season of +November had now set in; the country was covered with a dense +forest, with here and there a small opening made by the settlers, +and the surface of the earth one vast scene of mud and mire; so +that travelling was now very difficult, if not impracticable. + +Alone in a land of strangers, without home or money, and not yet +twenty years of age, I became discouraged, and concluded to stop +for the winter; I procured a gun from one of the neighbors; worked +and earned an axe, some breadstuff and other little extras, and +retired two miles into a dense forest and prepared a small hut, or +cabin, for the winter. Some leaves and straw in my cabin served for +my lodging, and a good fire kept me warm. A stream near my door +quenched my thirst; and fat venison, with a little bread from the +settlements, sustained me for food. The storms of winter raged +around me; the wind shook the forest, the wolf howled in the +distance, and the owl chimed in harshly to complete the doleful +music which seemed to soothe me, or bid me welcome to this holy +retreat. But in my little cabin the fire blazed pleasantly, and the +Holy Scriptures and a few other books occupied my hours of +solitude. Among the few books in my cabin, were McKenzie's travels +in the Northwest, and Lewis and Clark's tour up the Missouri and +down the Columbia rivers. + +Spring came on again; the woods were pleasant, the flowers +bloomed in their richest variety, the birds sung pleasantly in the +groves; and, strange to say, my mind had become attached to my new +abode. I again bargained for a piece of forest land; again promised +to pay in a few years, and again commenced to clear a farm and +build a house. + +I was now twenty years of age. + +I resolved to make some improvements and preparations, and then +return to my native country, from which I had been absent several +years. There was one there whom my heart had long loved, and from +whom I would not have been so long separated, except by misfortune. + + +CHAPTER IV. +------------------------ + +Revisit Canaan, N. T.:--Interesting Meeting:-- +Marriage:--Return to my Forest Home. + +It was the Fourth of July, 1827. The morning was beautiful and +gay, the sun rose without a cloud over the pine-clad hills of my +native land, where in boyhood I had often toiled and sported, just +as I came within a mile of the farm of my good old aunt Van Cott, +of Canaan, Columbia County, after an absence of three years. I had, +during this time, exchanged the features of the bashful boy for +those of the man; and, instead of a laughing, careless countenance, +a forehead of marble and a cheek of rose, stern care had marked me +as her child, and the sun had given a shade of brown to my +features; these, added to a heavy growth of beard and whiskers, +disguised me so far that I could pass through the neighborhood of +people, known and familiar to me, unnoticed and unknown. + +With a quick step, a beating heart, and an intense, +indescribable feeling of joy, sorrow, hope, despondency and +happiness, I approached the door of Mr. Halsey, and knocked; it was +opened by an aged female, a stranger to me; I entered and inquired +for Miss Thankful Halsey-in a moment more she had me by the hand, +with a look of welcome which showed she had not forgotten me. + +I spent the day and evening with her; explained to her all my +losses, my poverty and prospects, and the lone retreat where I had +spent the previous winter; and the preparations I had made for a +future home. I also opened my religious views to her, and my +desire, which I sometimes had, to try and teach the red man. + +"In view of all these things," said I to her, "If you still love +me and desire to share my fortune you are worthy to be my wife. If +not, we will agree to be friends forever; but part to meet no more +in time." "I have loved you during three years' absence," said she, +"and I never can be happy without you." + +I repaired to my aunt's--found the usual welcome. After visiting +my mother and kindred, for a few days, I saw my old friend, William +S. Herrick, where I had been employed five years before. He was +very anxious to employ me again; and finding I was willing, he +discharged a hand he had already, and gave me double wages. I +remained in his employ till October, and found the same kind +reception as formerly. + +On the 9th of September, 1827, Parley P. Pratt and Thankful +Halsey were solemnly united in the bonds of matrimony, by Elder +Palmer, Minister of the Baptist Church, in Canaan, Columbia County, +N. Y. + +In October we took leave of our friends in Canaan and took +passage for the West. We hired a conveyance to Albany, and then +took passage for Buffalo on a canal boat; and from there on board a +schooner; passing up Lake Erie we landed in safety at the mouth of +Black River, in Ohio, and within ten miles of my place. My wife had +some money, which we paid in for the land I had purchased. The +following spring found me 21 years of age, married and settled in a +log dwelling, in the midst of a small clearing made with my own +hands, in the place where I had spent the previous winter in +solitude. + + +CHAPTER V. +------------------------ + +Our Home:--New Sect:--Progressive Religious +Views:--Unexpected Meeting:--Dialogue:--Forsake My +Home:--Journey to New York:--Public Ministry:--Strange +Book:--First Interview with a Latter-Day Saint. + +Eighteen months had passed since our settlement in the +wilderness. The forest had been displaced by the labors of the +first settlers for some distance around our cottage. A small frame +house was now our dwelling, a garden and a beautiful meadow were +seen in front, flowers in rich profusion were clustering about our +door and windows; while in the background were seen a thriving +young orchard of apple and peach trees, and fields of grain +extending in the distance, beyond which the forest still stood tip +in its own primeval grandeur, as a wall to bound the vision and +guard the lovely scene. Other houses and farms were also in view, +and some twenty children were returning from the school actually +kept by my wife, upon the very spot where two years before I had +lived for months without seeing a human being. About this time one +Mr. Sidney Rigdon came into the neighborhood as a preacher, and it +was rumored that he was a kind of Reformed Baptist, who, with Mr. +Alexander Campbell, of Virginia, a Mr. Scott, and some other gifted +men, had dissented from the regular Baptists, from whom they +differed much in doctrine. At length I went to hear him, and what +was my astonishment when I found he preached faith in Jesus Christ, +repentance towards God, and baptism for remission of sins, with the +promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost to all who would come +forward, with all their hearts, and obey this doctrine! + +Here was the _ancient gospel_ in due form. Here were the +very principles which I had discovered years before; but could find +no one to minister in. But still one great link was wanting to +complete the chain of the ancient order of things; and that was, +the _authority_ to minister in holy things--the apostleship, +the power which should accompany the form. This thought occurred to +me as soon as I heard Mr. Rigdon make proclamation of the gospel. + +Peter proclaimed this gospel, and baptized for remission of +sins, and promised the gift of the Holy Ghost, because he was +commissioned so to do by a crucified and risen Saviour. But who is +Mr. Rigdon? Who is Mr. Campbell? Who commissioned them? Who +baptized them for remission of sins? Who ordained them to stand up +as Peter? Of course they were baptized by the Baptists, and +ordained by them, and yet they had now left them because they did +not administer the true gospel. And it was plain that the Baptists +could not claim the apostolic office by succession, in a regular, +unbroken chain from the Apostles of old, preserving the gospel in +its purity, and the ordinances unchanged, from the very fact that +they were now living in the perversion of some, and the entire +neglect of others of these ordinances; this being the very ground +of difference between the old Baptists and these Reformers. + +Again, these Reformers claimed no new commission by revelation, +or vision from the Lord, while they had not the least shadow of +claim by succession. + +It might be said, then, with propriety: "Peter I know, and Paul +I know, but who are ye?" + +However, we were thankful for even the forms of truth, as none +could claim the power, and authority, and gifts of the Holy +Ghost--at least so far as we knew. + +After hearing Mr. Rigdon several times, I came out, with a +number of others, and embraced the truths which he taught. We were +organized into a society, and frequently met for public worship. + +About this time I took it upon me to impart to my neighbors, +from time to time, both in public and in private, the light I had +received from the Scriptures concerning the gospel, and also +concerning the fulfilment of the things spoken by the holy +prophets. I did not claim any authority as a minister; I felt the +lack in this respect; but I felt in duty bound to enlighten +mankind, so far as God had enlightened me. + +At the commencement of 1830, I felt drawn out in an +extraordinary manner to search the prophets, and to pray for an +understanding of the same. My prayers were soon answered, even +beyond my expectations; the prophecies of the holy prophets were +opened to my view; I began to understand the things which were +coming on the earth the restoration of Israel, the coming of the +Messiah, and the glory that should follow. I was so astonished at +the darkness of myself and mankind on these subjects that I could +exclaim with the prophet: surely, "_darkness covers the earth, +and gross darkness the people_." + +I was all swallowed up in these things. I felt constrained to +devote my time in enlightening my fellow men on these important +truths, and in warning them to prepare for the coming of the Lord. + +My brother William, who journeyed to the West with me in my +seventeenth year, had now been missing to the family for five +years, and was supposed to be dead. About the time he disappeared +and was lost sight of, he was known to leave the city of New York, +where he had been employed, and to pass up the Hudson on a steamer. +He was heard of no more; and, as a notice appeared in the papers of +the same date that a young gentleman by the name of William Pratt +was drowned in the Hudson, on his way up the river, our parents and +the family had given him up for lost. + +One morning, as I was absent from home on business, about two +miles distant, I heard of him; and that he was then residing about +ten miles from me. On hearing this I ran nearly the whole distance +on foot, and in about two hours had him by the hand. He was much +surprised, although he had heard of a man of my name living in the +neighborhood; but could not believe it was me. We had each of us +taken our chance amid the hardships and toils of a new country for +years, and at last found ourselves together about six hundred miles +from our starting point. + +This was a joyful and unexpected meeting of two brothers. He +immediately accompanied me home, and was introduced to my wife and +our little farm in the wilderness, where we spent some days +together. He admired my wife; but above all my farm. "Brother +Parley," said he, "how have you done all this? When we were last +together you had no wife, no farm, no house, no orchard, and now +you are here with everything smiling around you." I replied that +hard work had accomplished it all. And, continued I, we are now +about to leave this quiet home which we have toiled so hard to +make, and perhaps, never see it again. "How so?" said he, with much +surprise, and somewhat of disappointment. I then unfolded to him +the gospel and prophecies as they had been opened to me, and told +him that the spirit of these things had wrought so powerfully on my +mind of late that I could not rest; that I could no longer be +contented to dwell in quiet and retirement on my farm, while I had +light to impart to mankind, of which I knew they were in a great +measure ignorant. "But," said he, "if I had fifty acres of land, a +comfortable house, a fine orchard, a beautiful garden, with meadow +land, grain, and above all, such beautiful flowers and so valuable +a housekeeper as you have, and all these things the work of our own +hands, I am sure I would stay and enjoy the same while I lived; and +the world might go on its own jog, and its own way, for all me. +Besides, how are you to get your living? This is your all; you have +toiled for years to obtain it, and why not now continue to enjoy +it?" "William," said I, "I see plainly you know but little of my +circumstances if the changes which have taken place with me since +we parted five years ago, nor how vastly wealthy I have become +within that time. Why, sir, I have bank bills enough, on the very +best institutions in the world, to sustain myself and family while +we live." + +"Indeed," said he, "well, I should like to see some of them; I +hope they are genuine." "Certainly," I replied, "there is no doubt +of that. They are true bills and founded on capital that will never +fail, though heaven and earth should pass away. Of this I will +convince you in a moment." + +I then unlocked my treasury and drew from thence a large pocket +book, fall of promissory notes like the following: _"Whoever +shall forsake father or mother, brethren or sisters, houses or +lands, wife or children, for my sake and the gospel's, shall +receive an hundred fold in this life, and in the world to come lie +everlasting." "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, you +shall ask what you will in my name and I will give it you." "All +things are possible to him that believeth."_ + +"Now, William," said I, "are these the words of Jesus Christ, or +are they not?" "They certainly are," said he, "I always believed +the New Testament." + +"Then you admit they are genuine bills?" + +"I do." + +"Is the signer able to meet his engagements?" + +"He certainly is." + +"Is he willing?" + +"He is." + +"Well, then, I am going to fulfil the conditions to the letter +on my part. I feel called upon by the Holy Ghost to forsake my +house and home for the gospel's sake; and I will do it, placing +both feet firm on these promises with nothing else to rely upon." + +"If I sink, they are false." + +"If I am sustained, they are true. I will put them to the test. +Experiment shall now establish the truth of Christ's promises, or +the truth of infidelity." + +"Well," said he, "try it, if you will; but, for my part, +although I always believed the Bible, I would not dare believe it +_literally_, and really stand upon its promises, with no +other prop." + +We parted. He to his business, I to my preparations for a +mission which should only end with my life. + +In August, 1830, I had closed my business, completed my +arrangements, and we bid adieu to our wilderness home and never saw +it afterwards. + +On settling up, at a great sacrifice of property, we had about +ten dollars left in cash. With this small sum, we launched forth +into the wide world, determining first to visit our native place, +on our mission, and then such other places as I might be led to by +the Holy Spirit. + +We made our way to Cleveland, 30 miles. We then took passage on +a schooner for Buffalo, a distance of 200 miles. We had a fair +wind, and the captain, being short of hands, gave me the helm, the +sails being all set, and turned in. I steered the vessel the most +of the day, with no other person on deck. Of course, our passage +cost us little besides my labor. Landing in Buffalo, we engaged our +passage for Albany on a canal boat, distance 360 miles. This, +including board, cost all our money and some articles of clothing. + +Arriving at Rochester, I informed my wife that, notwithstanding +our passage being paid through the whole distance, yet I must leave +the boat and her to pursue her passage to our friends; while I +would stop awhile in this region. Why, I did not know; but so it +was plainly manifest by the Spirit to me. I said to her, "We part +for a season; go and visit our friends in our native place; I will +come soon, but how soon I know not; for I have a work to do in this +region of country, and what it is, or how long it will take to +perform it, I know not; but I will come when it is performed." + +My wife would have objected to this; but she had seen the hand +of God so plainly manifest in His dealings with me many times, that +she dare not oppose the things manifest to me by His spirit. + +She, therefore, consented; and I accompanied her as far as +Newark, a small town upwards of 100 miles from Buffalo, and then +took leave of her, and of the boat. + +It was early in the morning, just at the dawn of day, I walked +ten miles into the country, and stopped to breakfast with a Mr. +Wells. I proposed to preach in the evening. Mr. Wells readily +accompanied me through the neighborhood to visit the people, and +circulate the appointment. + +We visited an old Baptist deacon by the name of Hamlin. After +hearing of our appointment for evening, he began to tell of a +_book_, a STRANGE BOOK, a _VERY STRANGE BOOK_! in his possession, +which had been just published. This book, he said, purported +to have been originally written on plates either of gold +or brass, by a branch of the tribes of Israel; and to have been +discovered and translated by a young man near Palmyra, in the State +of New York, by the aid of visions, or the ministry of angels. I +inquired of him how or where the book was to be obtained. He +promised me the perusal of it, at his house the next day, if I +would call. I felt a strange interest in the book. I preached that +evening to a small audience, who appeared to be interested in the +truths which I endeavored to unfold to them in a clear and lucid +manner from the Scriptures. Next morning I called at his house, +where, for the first time, my eyes beheld the "BOOK OF MORMON"-- +that book of books--that record which reveals the antiquities of +the "_New World_" back to the remotest ages, and which unfolds the +destiny of its people and the world for all time to come;--that +Book which contains the fulness of the gospel of a crucified and +risen Redeemer;--that Book which reveals a lost remnant of Joseph, +and which was the principal means, in the hands of God, of +directing the entire course of my future life. + +I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read +the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its +being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by +course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for +food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred +reading to sleep. + +As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and +comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a +man comprehends and knows that he exists. My joy was now full, as +it were, and I rejoiced sufficiently to more than pay me for all +the sorrows, sacrifices and toils of my life. I soon determined to +see the young man who had been the instrument of its discovery and +translation. + +I accordingly visited the village of Palmyra, and inquired for +the residence of Mr. Joseph Smith. I found it some two or three +miles from the village. As I approached the house at the close of +the day I overtook a man who was driving some cows, and inquired of +him for Mr. Joseph Smith, the translator of the "_Book of Mormon +_." He informed me that he now resided in Pennsylvania; some +one hundred miles distant. I inquired for his father, or for any of +the family. He told me that his father had gone a journey; but that +his residence was a small house just before me; and, said he, I am +his brother. It was Mr. Hyrum Smith. I informed him of the interest +I felt in the Book, and of my desire to learn more about it. He +welcomed me to his house, and we spent the night together; for +neither of us felt disposed to sleep. We conversed most of the +night, during which I unfolded to him much of my experience in my +search after truth, and my success so far; together with that which +I felt was lacking, viz: a commissioned priesthood, or apostleship +to minister in the ordinances of God. + +He also unfolded to me the particulars of the discovery of the +Book; its translation; the rise of the Church of Latter-day Saints, +and the commission of his brother Joseph, and others, by revelation +and the ministering of angels, by which the apostleship and +authority had been again restored to the earth. After duly weighing +the whole matter in my mind I saw clearly that these things were +true; and that myself and the whole world were without baptism, and +without the ministry and ordinances of God; and that the whole +world had been in this condition since the days that inspiration +and revelation had ceased--in short, that this was a _new +dispensation or commission_, in fulfillment of prophecy, and +for the restoration of Israel, and to prepare the way before the +second coming of the Lord. + +In the morning I was compelled to take leave of this worthy man +and his family--as I had to hasten back a distance of thirty miles, +on foot, to fulfil an appointment in the evening. As we parted he +kindly presented me with a copy of the Book of Mormon. I had not +yet completed its perusal, and was glad indeed to possess a copy of +my own. I travelled on a few miles, and, stopping to rest, I +commenced again to read the book. To my great joy I found that +Jesus Christ, in his glorified resurrected body, had appeared to +the remnant of Joseph on the continent of America, soon after his +resurrection and ascension into heaven; and that he also +administered, in person, to the ten lost tribes; and that through +his personal ministry in these countries his gospel was revealed +and written in countries and among nations entirely unknown to the +Jewish apostles. + +Thus revealed, written, handed down and preserved, till revealed +in this age by the angels of God, it had, of course, escaped the +corruptions of the great and abominable church; and been preserved +in purity. + +This discovery greatly enlarged my heart, and filled my soul +with joy and gladness. I esteemed the Book, or the information +contained in it, more than all the riches of the world. Yes; I +verily believe that I would not at that time have exchanged the +knowledge I then possessed, for a legal title to all the beautiful +farms, houses, villages and property which passed in review before +me, on my journey through one of the most flourishing settlements +of western New York. + +Surely, thought I, Jesus had _other sheep_, as he said to +his Apostles of old; and here they were, in the wilderness of the +world called new. And they heard the voice of the Good Shepherd of +Israel; and he brought them to his fold. Truly, thought I, he was +not sent (in person) save to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, +as he told the woman of Canaan; and here were a portion of them. +Truly, thought I, the angels sung with the spirit and with the +understanding when they declared: "_We bring you glad tidings of +great joy, which shall be to_ ALL PEOPLE." + +In his mortal tabernacle he confined his ministry and that of +his Apostles to the land of Judea; but afterwards, released from +the bonds of mortal life, or rather death, and clothed with an +immortal body, and with organs strong and lasting as the immortal +mind, he possessed all power in heaven and on earth; he was then +enabled to extend his ministry to heaven, earth or hell. He could +take the wings of the morning, and, with the speed of light, make +his way to the Heaven of Heavens; and converse and counsel among +the sons of God; or receive counsel from his Father in Heaven; or, +leaving again the starry worlds, he could descend to the dark and +gloomy abodes of the spirits in prison and preach to them the +gospel--bursting off their shackles and unlocking their prison +doors; while these once dark abodes were now brilliant with light, +and, instead of prison groans, were heard joyful acclamations of +deliverance to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them +that are bound; or coming again to visit the earth, he could soar +away beyond the waves and tempests, which had before set bounds to +the geographical knowledge of man, and stood up as an impregnable +barrier to the intercourse of nations; and there, in other tribes +and tongues, make known the riches of his grace, and his _triumph +_ over death. + +And when ages had passed, and nations slumbered in the +dust--when cruelty and bloodshed had blotted almost every trace of +priesthood and apostleship from the earth; when saints had been +worn out and overcome times, laws and ordinances changed; the Bible +itself robbed of its plainness; and all things darkened and +corrupted; a pure and faithful record of his ministry to other +nations is forthcoming from among the archives of the dead, to +reveal the "_mystery of iniquity_;" to speak, as with a voice of +thunder, in rebuking the evil and revealing the fullness of the +gospel. Such was the Book of Mormon--much its effect upon the +startling nations. + + +CHAPTER VI. +------------------------ + +Interesting Meetings:--Second Interview with Hyrum Smith:--Visit +to the Church in Seneca County:--Baptism, Confirmation and +Ordination:--Ministry Among my Kindred:--Baptism of my Brother +Orson:--Wonderful Sign in the Heavens:--Return to Western New +York:--First Interview with Joseph Smith:--Description of his Person +and Abilities. + +Having rested awhile and perused this sacred book by the +roadside, I again walked on. + +In the evening I arrived in time to fill my appointment. I met a +crowded house, and laid before them many interesting truths, which +were listened to with deep interest. + +The next evening I had another appointment, and the people came +out in great numbers, and were filled with the spirit of interest +and inquiry. + +They urged me very much to continue my discourses among them; +but I felt to minister no more till I had attended to some +important duties for myself. I had now found men on earth +commissioned to preach, baptize, ordain to the ministry, etc., and +I determined to obey the fullness of the gospel without delay. I +should have done so at the first interview with Elder Hyrum Smith; +but these two appointments were already out, and thirty miles' +travel required all the time I had. + +I now returned immediately to Hyrum Smith's residence, and +demanded baptism at his hands. I tarried with him one night, and +the next day we walked some twenty-five miles to the residence of +Mr. Whitmer, in Seneca County. Here we arrived in the evening, and +found a most welcome reception. + +This was the family, several of whose names were attached to the +Book of Mormon as witnesses--Mr. Joseph Smith having translated +much of the book in Whitmer's chamber. + +I found the little branch of the Church in this place full of +joy, faith, humility and charity. We rested that night, and on the +next day, being about the 1st of September, 1830, I was baptized by +the hand of an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ, by the name +of Oliver Cowdery. This took place in Seneca Lake, a beautiful and +transparent sheet of water in Western New York. + +A meeting was held the same evening, and after singing a hymn +and prayer, Elder Cowdery and others proceeded to lay their hands +upon my head in the name of Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Ghost. +After which I was ordained to the office of an Elder in the Church, +which included authority to preach, baptize, and minister the +sacrament, administer the Holy Spirit, by the laying on of hands in +the name of Jesus Christ and to take the lead of meetings of +worship. + +I now felt that I had authority in the ministry. + +On the next Sabbath I preached to a large concourse of people, +assembled at the house of a Mr. Burroughs. The Holy Ghost came upon +me mightily. I spoke the word of God with power, reasoning out of +the Scriptures and the Book of Mormon. The people were convinced, +overwhelmed in tears, and four heads of families came forward +expressing their faith, and were baptized. + +My work was now completed, for which I took leave of my wife and +the canal boat some two or three weeks previous. + +I now took leave of the little branch of the church with which I +had been associated, and pursued my journey to the land of my +fathers and of my boyhood. + +I found my wife in health and spirits, enjoying herself with her +friends. I also found my father and mother, friends and kindred, +and, among others, my good old aunt and cousins, at the old +homestead, where I always found a welcome reception. + +This was a pleasant and retired mountain valley, consisting of a +beautiful farm and a small and convenient house, out-buildings, +orchard, meadow, etc., encircled on the south, west and north with +a curve of hills, consisting of farming lands and pasture, and +their summits and bosoms partially clothed with a beautiful forest +of pine and chestnut; while the scene opened to the southeast in a +descending landscape to a beautiful vale of some miles in extent, +filled with flourishing farms and dwellings, and watered by a +winding stream; while far beyond stretched other hills and +pine-clad mountains, and the spire of a church and a small town +were seen nestling among the hills at two miles distance. + +This was the residence of my aunt Van Cott, and the place where +I had spent some of the happiest seasons of my youth. My aunt had +three children--an only son, and two daughters. These were now in +the bloom of early youth, and were fast advancing to a state of +maturity. Her husband had died at an early day, after an illness of +seven years; and here lived the widow and orphans, surrounded with +peace and plenty, blooming with health, and smiling with innocence +and joy. Retired from the throng of busy, boisterous life, and +strangers to most of its woes, ills and corruptions, the stranger +who happened there was welcome; the hungry were fed, the naked were +clothed, and, above all, the kindred found a hearty reception. In +short, it was a spot, in all respects, adapted to retirement and +contemplation, where the poet and the novelist would find a +thousand things to please the imagination, and to swell their +favorite volumes. + +In this visit to my native place, there was one family greatly +missed by me. I felt keenly the disappointment at not seeing +them--that of my old employer, Wm. S. Herrick. He had moved to the +West, and his house was occupied by strangers. + +I now commenced my labors in good earnest. I addressed crowded +audiences almost every day, and the people, who had known me from a +child, seemed astonished--knowing that I had had but little +opportunity of acquiring knowledge by study; and while many were +interested in the truth, some began to be filled with envy, and +with a lying, persecuting spirit. My father, mother, aunt Van Cott, +and many others, believed the truth in part; but my brother Orson, +a youth of nineteen years, received it with all his heart, and was +baptized at that time, and has ever since spent his days in the +ministry. + +It was during my labors in these parts, in the autumn of 1830, +that a very singular and extraordinary sign was shown in the +heavens, which I will here describe. + +I had been on a visit to a singular people called Shakers, at +New Lebanon, about seven miles from my aunt Van Cott's, and was +returning that distance, on foot, on a beautiful evening of +September. The sky was without a cloud; the stars shone out +beautifully, and all nature seemed reposing in quiet, as I pursued +my solitary way, wrapt in deep meditations on the predictions of +the holy prophets; the signs of the times; the approaching advent +of the Messiah, to reign on the earth, and the important +revelations of the Book of Mormon; my heart filled with gratitude +to God that He had opened the eyes of my understanding to receive +the truth, and with sorrow for the blindness of those who lightly +rejected the same, when my attention was aroused by a sudden +appearance of a brilliant light which shone around me, above the +brightness of the sun. I cast my eyes upward to inquire from whence +the light came, when I perceived a long chain of light extended in +the heavens, very bright, and a deep fiery red. It at first stood +stationary in a horizontal position; at length bending in the +center, the two ends approached each other with a rapid movement, +so as to form an exact square. In this position it again remained +stationary for some tame, perhaps a minute, and then again the ends +approached each other with the same rapidity, and again ceased to +move, remaining stationary, for perhaps a minute, in the form of a +compass; it then commenced a third movement in the same manner, and +closed like the closing of a compass, the whole forming a straight +line like a chain doubled. It again retained stationary for a +minute, and then faded away. + +I fell upon my knees in the street, and thanked the Lord for so +marvelous a sign of the coming of the Son of Man. + +Some persons may smile at this, and say that all these exact +movements were by chance; but, for my part, I could as soon believe +that the letters of the alphabet would be formed by chance, and be +placed so as to spell my name, as to believe that these signs +(known only to the wise) could be formed and shown forth by chance. + +Renewed in spirit and filled with joy I now pursued my way, and +arrived at my aunt Van Cott's, not weary, but refreshed with a long +walk, and deep communion with myself and God. + +Having lifted a warning voice to multitudes in all this region +of country, I now took leave, and repaired again to the western +part of New York, and to the body of the Church. + +On our arrival, we found that brother Joseph Smith, the +translator of the Book of Mormon, had returned from Pennsylvania to +his father's residence in Manchester, near Palmyra, and there I had +the pleasure of seeing him for the first time. + +He received me with a hearty welcome, and with that frank and +kind manner so universal with him in after years. + +On Sunday we held meeting at his house; the two large rooms were +filled with attentive listeners, and he invited me to preach. I did +so, and afterwards listened with interest to a discourse from his +own mouth, filled with intelligence and wisdom. We repaired from +the meeting to the water's edge, and, at his request, I baptized +several persons. + +President Joseph Smith was in person tall and well built, strong +and active, of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very +little beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself, on which +the eye naturally rested with interest, and was never weary of +beholding. His countenance was ever mild, affable, beaming with +intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look of interest and +an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from all +restraint or affectation of gravity; and there was something +connected with the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye, +as if he would penetrate the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze +into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds. + +He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his +manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his +benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal, and +his language abounding in original eloquence peculiar to +himself--not polished--not studied--not smoothed and softened by +education and refined by art; but flowing forth in its own native +simplicity, and profusely abounding in variety of subject and +manner. He interested and edified, while, at the same time, he +amused and entertained his audience; and none listened to him that +were ever weary with his discourse. I have even known him to retain +a congregation of willing and anxious listeners for many hours +together, in the midst of cold or sunshine, rain or wind, while +they were laughing at one moment and weeping the next. Even his +most bitter enemies were generally overcome, if he could once get +their ears. + +I have known him when chained and surrounded with armed +murderers and assassins who were heaping upon him every possible +insult and abuse, rise up in the majesty of a son of God and rebuke +them, in the name of Jesus Christ, till they quailed before him, +dropped their weapons, and, on their knees, begged his pardon, and +ceased their abuse. + +In short, in him the characters of a Daniel and a Cyrus were +wonderfully blended. The gifts, wisdom and devotion of a Daniel +were united with the boldness, courage, temperance, perseverance +and generosity of a Cyrus. And had he been spared a martyr's fate +till mature manhood and age, he was certainly endued with powers +and ability to have revolutionized the world in many respects, and +to have transmitted to posterity a name associated with more +brilliant and glorious acts than has yet fallen to the lot of +mortal. As it is, his works will live to endless ages, and +unnumbered millions yet unborn will mention his name with honor, as +a noble instrument in the hands of God, who, during his short and +youthful career, laid the foundation of that kingdom spoken of by +Daniel, the prophet, which should break in pieces all other +kingdoms and stand forever. + +But I will not forestall the reader. I have yet to speak of him +in my history, under many and varying circumstances, in which I +have necessarily been associated with him, up to the latest year of +his life. + + +CHAPTER VII. +------------------------ + +Mission to the Western States:--Visit to the +Indians:--Wonderful Success in Kirtland, Ohio:--Journey +Westward:--Great Excitement and Anxiety to Hear the +Fulness of the Gospel:--Imprisonment:--Mock Trial:-- +Escape:--Preaching:--Success:--Visit the Wyandots:-- +Journey Resumed:--Great Hardships:--Arrival on the Frontiers +of Missouri. + +It was now October, 1830. A revelation had been given through +the mouth of this Prophet, Seer and Translator, in which Elders +Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, Ziba Peterson and myself were +appointed to go into the wilderness, through the western States, +and to the Indian territory. Making arrangements for my wife in the +family of the Whitmers, we took leave of our friends and the church +late in October, and started on foot. + +After travelling for some days we called on an Indian nation at +or near Buffalo; and spent part of a day with them, instructing +them in the knowledge of the record of their forefathers. We were +kindly received, and much interest was manifested by them on +hearing this news. We made a present of two copies of the Book of +Mormon to certain of them who could read, and repaired to Buffalo. +Thence we continued our journey, for about two hundred miles, and +at length called on Mr. Rigdon, my former friend and instructor, in +the Reformed Baptists Society. He received us cordially and +entertained us with hospitality. + +We soon presented him with a Book of Mormon, and related to him +the history of the same. He was much interested, and promised a +thorough perusal of the book. + +We tarried in this region for some time, and devoted our time to +the ministry, and visiting from house to house. + +At length Mr. Rigdon and many others became convinced that they +had no authority to minister in the ordinances of God; and that +they had not been legally baptized and ordained. They, therefore, +came forward and were baptized by us, and received the gift of the +Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, and prayer in the name of Jesus +Christ. + +The news of our coming was soon noised abroad, and the news of +the discovery of the Book of Mormon and the marvelous events +connected with it. The interest and excitement now became general +in Kirtland, and in all the region round about. The people thronged +us night and day, insomuch that we had no time for rest and +retirement. Meetings were convened in different neighborhoods, and +multitudes came together soliciting our attendance; while thousands +flocked about us daily; some to be taught, some for curiosity, some +to obey the gospel, and some to dispute or resist it. + +In two or three weeks from arrival in the neighborhood with the +news, we had baptized one hundred and twenty-seven souls, and this +number soon increased to one thousand. The disciples were filled +with joy and gladness; while rage and lying was abundantly +manifested by gainsayers; faith was strong, joy was great, and +persecution heavy. + +We proceeded to ordain Sidney Rigdon, Isaac Morley, John +Murdock, Lyman Wight, Edward Partridge and many others to the +ministry; and, leaving them to take care of the churches and to +minister the gospel, we took leave of the saints and continued our +journey. + +Fifty miles west of Kirtland, we had occasion to pass through +the neighborhood where I first settled in the wilderness, after my +marriage. We found the people all excited with the news of the +great work we had been the humble instruments of doing in Kirtland +and vicinity. Some wished to learn and obey the fullness of the +gospel--were ready to entertain us and hear us preach. Others were +filled with envy, rage and lying. + +We had stopped for the night at the house of Simeon Carter, by +whom we were kindly received, and were in the act of reading to him +and explaining the Book of Mormon, when there came a knock at the +door, and an officer entered with a warrant from a magistrate by +the name of Byington, to arrest me on a very frivolous charge. I +dropped the Book of Mormon in Carter's house, and went with him +some two miles, in a dark, muddy road; one of the brethren +accompanied me. We arrived at the place of trial late in the +evening; found false witnesses in attendance, and a Judge who +boasted of his intention to thrust us into prison, for the purpose +of testing the powers of our apostleship, as he called it; although +I was only an Elder in the Church. The Judge boasting thus, and the +witnesses being entirely false in their testimony, concluded to +make no defense, but to treat the whole matter with contempt. + +I was soon ordered to prison, or to pay a sum of money which I +had not in the world. It was now a late hour, and I was still +retained in court, tantalized, abused and urged to settle the +matter, to all of which I made no reply for some time. This greatly +exhausted their patience. It was near midnight. I now called on +brother Petersen to sing a hymn in the court. We sung, "O how happy +are they." This exasperated them still more, and they pressed us +greatly to settle the business, by paying the money. + +I then observed as follows: "May it please the court, I have one +proposal to make for a final settlement of the things that seem to +trouble you. It is this: if the witnesses who have given testimony +in the case will repent of their false swearing, and the magistrate +of his unjust and wicked judgment and of his persecution, +blackguardism and abuse, and all kneel down together, we will pray +for you, that God might forgive you in these matters." + +"My big bull dog pray for me," says that Judge. + +"The devil help us," exclaimed another. + +They now urged me for some time to pay the money; but got no +further answer. + +The court adjourned, and I was conducted to a public house over +the way, and locked in till morning; the prison being some miles +distant. + +In the morning the officer appeared and took me to breakfast; +this over, we sat waiting in the inn for all things to be ready to +conduct me to prison. In the meantime my fellow travellers came +past on their journey, and called to see me. I told them in an +undertone to pursue their journey and leave me to manage my own +affairs, promising to overtake them soon. They did so. After +sitting awhile by the fire in charge of the officer, I requested to +step out. I walked out into the public square accompanied by him. +Said I, "Mr. Peabody, are you good at a race?" "No," said he, "but +my big bull dog is, and he has been trained to assist me in my +office these several years; he will take any man down at my +bidding. Well, Mr. Peabody, you compelled me to go a mile, I have +gone with you two miles. You have given me an opportunity to +preach, sing, and have also entertained me with lodging and +breakfast. I must now go on my journey; if you are good at a race +you can accompany me. I thank you for all your kindness--good day, +sir." + +I then started on my journey, while he stood amazed and not able +to step one foot before the other. Seeing this, I halted, turned to +him and again invited him to a race. He still stood amazed. I then +renewed my exertions, and soon increased my speed to something like +that of a deer. He did not awake from his astonishment sufficiently +to start in pursuit till I had gained, perhaps, two hundred yards. +I had already leaped a fence, and was making my way through a field +to the forest on the right of the road. He now came hallowing after +me, and shouting to his dog to seize me. The dog, being one of the +largest I ever saw, came close on my footsteps with all his fury; +the officer behind still in pursuit, clapping his hands and +hallooing, "stu-boy, stu-boy--take him--watch--lay hold of him, I +say--down with him," and pointing his finger in the direction I was +running. The dog was fast overtaking me, and in the act of leaping +upon me, when, quick as lightning, the thought struck me, to assist +the officer, in sending the dog with all fury to the forest a +little distance before me. I pointed my finger in that direction, +clapped my hands, and shouted in imitation of the officer. The dog +hastened past me with redoubled speed towards the forest; being +urged by the officer and myself, and both of us running in the same +direction. + +Gaining the forest, I soon lost sight of the officer and dog, +and have not seen them since. I took a back course, crossed the +road, took round into the wilderness, on the left, and made the +road again in time to cross a bridge over Vermilion River, where I +was hailed by half a dozen men, who had been anxiously waiting our +arrival to that part of the country, and who urged me very +earnestly to stop and preach. I told them that I could not then do +it, for an officer was on my track. I passed on six miles further, +through mud and rain, and overtook the brethren, and preached the +same evening to a crowded audience, among whom we were well +entertained. + +The Book of Mormon, which I dropped at the house of Simeon +Carter, when taken by the officer, was by these circumstances left +with him. He read it with attention. It wrought deeply upon his +mind, and he went fifty miles to the church we had left in +Kirtland, and was there baptized and ordained an Elder. He then +returned to his home and commenced to preach and baptize. A church +of about sixty members was soon organized in the place where I had +played such a trick of deception on the dog. + +We now pursued our journey for some days, and at length arrived +in Sandusky, in the western part of Ohio. Here resided a tribe, or +nation of Indians, called Wyandots, on whom we called, and with +whom we spent several days. We were well received, and had an +opportunity of laying before them the record of their forefathers, +which we did. They rejoiced in the tidings, bid us God speed, and +desired us to write to them in relation to our success among the +tribes further west, who had already removed to the Indian +territory, where these expected soon to go. + +Taking an affectionate leave of this people, we continued our +journey to Cincinnati. In this city we spent several days, and +preached to many of the people, but without much success. About the +20th of December we took passage on a steamer for St. Louis. In a +few days we arrived at the mouth of the Ohio, and finding the river +blocked with ice, the boat did not proceed further. We therefore +landed and pursued our journey on foot for two hundred miles, to +the neighborhood of St. Louis. + +We halted for a few days in Illinois, about twenty miles from +St. Louis, on account of a dreadful storm of rain and snow, which +lasted for a week or more, during which the snow fell in some +places near three feet deep. Although in the midst of strangers, we +were kindly entertained, found many friends, and preached to large +congregations in several neighborhoods. + +In the beginning of 1831 we renewed our journey; and, passing +through St. Louis and St. Charles, we travelled on foot for three +hundred miles through vast prairies and through trackless wilds of +snow--no beaten road; houses few and far between; and the bleak +northwest wind always blowing in our faces with a keenness which +would almost take the skin off the face. We travelled for whole +days, from morning till night, without a house or fire, wading in +snow to the knees at every step, and the cold so intense that the +snow did not melt on the south side of the houses, even in the +mid-day sun, for nearly six weeks. We carried on our backs our +changes of clothing, several books, and corn bread and raw pork. We +often ate our frozen bread and pork by the way, when the bread +would be so frozen that we could not bite or penetrate any part of +it but the outside crust. + +After much fatigue and some suffering we all arrived in +Independence, in the county of Jackson, on the extreme western +frontiers of Missouri, and of the United States. + +This was about fifteen hundred miles from where we started, and +we had performed most of the journey on foot, through a wilderness +country, in the worst season of the year, occupying about four +months, during which we had preached the gospel to tens of +thousands of Gentiles and two nations of Indians; baptizing, +confirming and organizing many hundreds of people into churches of +Latter-day Saints. + +This was the first mission performed by the Elders of the Church +in any of the States west of New York, and we were the first +members of the same which were ever on this frontier. + + +Chapter VIII. +------------------------ + +Visit the Delawares of Kansas:--Interview +with the Chief and Council:--Speech and Reply:--Great +Excitement:--Opposition from Missionaries:--Compelled to +Leave the Indian Country:--Ministry in Jackson County:--Council +in Independence:--Return Eastward:--Disguise:--Hospitality +of a Family of the Saints:--Dialogue:--Sickness:--Reunion +with President Joseph Smith:--Mission to the Shakers:--Ministry +Among the Churches:--False Spirits:--Inquire of the Lord:--Mode +of Receiving Revelations. + +Two of our number now commenced work as tailors in the village +of Independence, while the others crossed the frontier line and +commenced a mission among the Lamanites, or Indians. + +Passing through the tribe of Shawnees we tarried one night with +them, and the next day crossed the Kansas river and entered among +the Delawares. We immediately inquired for the residence of the +principal Chief, and were soon introduced to an aged and venerable +looking man, who had long stood at the head of the Delawares, and +been looked up to as the Great Grandfather, or Sachem of ten +nations or tribes. + +He was seated on a sofa of furs, skins and blankets, before a +fire in the centre of his lodge; which was a comfortable cabin, +consisting of two large rooms. + +His wives were neatly dressed, partly in calicoes and partly in +skins; and wore a vast amount of silver ornaments. As we entered +his cabin he took us by the hand with a hearty welcome, and then +motioned us to be seated on a pleasant seat of blankets, or robes. +His wives, at his bidding, set before us a tin pan full of beans +and corn boiled tip together, which proved to be good eating; +although three of us made use alternately of the same wooden spoon. + +There was an interpreter present and through him we commenced to +make known our errand, and to tell him of the Book of Mormon. We +asked him to call the council his nation together and give us a +hearing in full. He promised to consider on it till next day, in +the meantime recommending us to a certain Mr. Pool for entertainment; +this was their blacksmith, employed by government. + +The man entertained us kindly and comfortably. Next morning we +again called on Mr. Anderson, the old chief, and explained to him +something of the Book. He was at first unwilling to call his +council; made several excuses, and finally refused; as he had ever +been opposed to the introduction of missionaries among his tribe. + +We continued the conversation a little longer, till he at last +began to understand the nature of the Book. He then changed his +mind; became suddenly interested, and requested us to proceed no +further with our conversation till he could call a council. He +despatched a messenger, and in about an hour had some forty men +collected around us in his lodge, who, after shaking us by the +hand, were seated in silence; and in a grave and dignified manner +awaited the announcement of what we had to offer. The chief then +requested us to proceed; or rather, begin where we began before, +and to complete our communication. Elder Cowdery then commenced as +follows: + +"Aged Chief and Venerable Council of the Delaware nation; we are +glad of this opportunity to address you as our red brethren and +friends. We have travelled a long distance from towards the rising +sun to bring you glad news; we have travelled the wilderness, +crossed the deep and wide rivers, and waded in the deep snows, and +in the face of the storms of winter, to communicate to you great +knowledge which has lately come to our ears and hearts; and which +will do the red man good as well as the pale face. + +"Once the red men were many; they occupied the country from sea +to sea--from the rising to the setting sun; the whole land was +theirs; the Great Spirit gave it to them, and no pale faces dwelt +among them. But now they are few in numbers; their possessions are +small, and the pale faces are many. + +"Thousands of moons ago, when the red men's forefathers dwelt in +peace and possessed this whole land, the Great Spirit talked with +them, and revealed His law and His will, and much knowledge to +their wise men and prophets. This they wrote in a Book; together +with their history, and the things which should befall their +children in the latter days. + +"This Book was written on plates of gold, and handed down from +father to son for many ages and generations. It was then that the +people prospered, and were strong and mighty; they cultivated the +earth; built buildings and cities, and abounded in all good things, +as the pale faces now do. + +"But they became wicked; they killed one another and shed much +blood; they killed their prophets and wise men, and sought to +destroy the Book. The Great Spirit became angry, and would speak to +them no more; they had no more good and wise dreams; no more +visions; no more angels sent among them by the Great Spirit; and +the Lord commanded Mormon and Moroni, their last wise men and +prophets, to hide the Book in the earth, that it might be preserved +in safety, and be found and made known in the latter day to the +pale faces who should possess the land; that they might again make +it known to the red man; in order to restore them to the knowledge +of the will of the Great Spirit and to His favor. And if the red +man would then receive this Book and learn the things written in +it, and do according thereunto, they should cease to fight and kill +one another; should become one people; cultivate the earth in +peace, in common with the pale faces, who were willing to believe +and obey the same Book, and be good men and live in peace. + +"Then should the red men become great, and have plenty to eat +and good clothes to wear, and should be in favor with the Great +Spirit and be his children, while he would be their Great Father, +and talk with them, and raise up prophets and wise and good men +amongst them again, who should teach them many things. + +"This Book, which contained these things, was hid in the earth +by Moroni, in a hill called by him, Cumorah, which hill is now in +the State of New York, near the village of Palmyra, in Ontario +County. + +"In that neighborhood there lived a young man named Joseph +Smith, who prayed to the Great Spirit much, in order that he might +know the truth; and the Great Spirit sent an angel to him, and told +him where this Book was hid by Moroni; and commanded him to go and +get it. He accordingly went to the place, and dug in the earth, and +found the Book written on golden plates. + +"But it was written in the language of the forefathers of the +red man; therefore this young man, being a pale face, could not +understand it; but the angel told him and showed him, and gave him +knowledge of the language, and how to interpret the Book. So he +interpreted it into the language of the pale faces, and wrote it on +paper, and caused it to be printed, and published thousands of +copies of among them; and then sent us to the red men to bring some +copies of it to them, and to tell them this news. So we have now +come from him, and here is a copy of the Book, which we now present +to our red friend, the chief of the Delawares, and which we hope he +will cause to be read and known among his tribe; it will do them +good." + +We then presented him with a Book of Mormon. + +There was a pause in the council, and some conversation in their +own tongue, after which the chief made the following reply: "We +feel truly thankful to our white friends who have come so far, and +been at such pains to tell us good news, and especially this new +news concerning the Book of our forefathers; it makes us glad in +here"--placing his hand on his heart. + +"It is now winter, we are new settlers in this place; the snow +is deep, our cattle and horses are dying, our wigwams are poor; we +have much to do in the spring--to build houses, and fence and make +farms; but we will build a council house, and meet together, and +you shall read to us and teach us more concerning the Book of our +fathers and the will of the Great Spirit." + +We again lodged at Mr. Pool's, told him of the Book, had a very +pleasant interview with him, and he became a believer and advocate +for the Book, and served as an interpreter. + +We continued for several days to instruct the old chief and many +of his tribe. The interest became more and more intense on their +part, from day to day, until at length nearly the whole tribe began +to feel a spirit of inquiry and excitement on the subject. + +We found several among them who could read, and to them we gave +copies of the Book, explaining to them that it was the Book of +their forefathers. + +Some began to rejoice exceedingly, and took great pains to tell +the news to others, in their own language. + +The excitement now reached the frontier settlements in Missouri, +and stirred up the jealousy and envy of the Indian agents and +sectarian missionaries to that degree that we were soon ordered out +of the Indian country as disturbers of the peace; and even +threatened with the military in case of non-compliance. + +We accordingly departed from the Indian country, and came over +the line, and commenced laboring in Jackson County, Missouri, among +the whites. We were well received, and listened to by many; and +some were baptized and added to the Church. + +Thus ended our first Indian Mission, in which we had preached +the gospel in its fullness, and distributed the record of their +forefathers among three tribes, viz: the Catteraugus Indians, near +Buffalo, N. Y., the Wyandots of Ohio, and the Delawares west of +Missouri. + +We trust that at some future day, when the servants of God go +forth in power to the remnant of Joseph, some precious seed will be +found growing in their hearts, which was sown by us in that early +day. + +It was now the 14th of February, 1831. The cold north wind which +had blown for several weeks, accompanied with very severe weather, +had begun to give place to a milder breeze from the south; and the +deep snows were fast settling down, with every prospect of +returning spring. + +Elders Cowdery, Whitmer, Peterson, myself, and F. G. Williams, +who accompanied us from Kirtland, now assembled in Independence, +Jackson County, Missouri, and came to the conclusion that one of +our number had better return to the church in Ohio, and perhaps to +headquarters in New York, in order to communicate with the +Presidency, report ourselves, pay a visit to the numerous churches +we had organized on our outward journey, and also to procure more +books. + +For this laborious enterprise I was selected by the voice of my +four brethren. I accordingly took leave of them, and of our friends +in that country, and started on foot. + +In nine days I arrived at St. Louis, distance three hundred +miles. It was now the latter part of February; the snow had +disappeared, the rivers were breaking up, and the whole country +inundated as it were with mud and water. I spent a few days with a +friend in the country, at the same place we had tarried on the way +out; and then took a steamer in St. Louis bound for Cincinnati, +where I landed in safety after a passage of one week. From +Cincinnati I travelled on foot to Strongville, Ohio, forty miles +from Kirtland. + +This last walk consisted of some two hundred and fifty miles, +over very bad, muddy road; and for some days I had found myself +much fatigued, and quite out of health. Hearing of some brethren in +Strongville, I determined to inquire them out, and try their +hospitality to a sick and weary stranger without making myself +known. + +I accordingly approached the house of an old gentleman by the +name of Coltrin, about sundown, and inquired if they could +entertain a weary stranger who had no money. The old gentleman cast +his eyes upon me, and beheld a weary, weather-beaten traveller; +soiled with the toil of a long journey; besmeared with mud, eyes +inflamed with pain, long heard, and a visage lengthened by sickness +and extreme fatigue. After a moment's hesitation he bade me +welcome, and invited me into his house. Several ladies were at tea. +I addressed them as a stranger who had come to partake of their +hospitality for the night. + +They received me with a smile of welcome, and immediately +insisted on my sitting down to tea, during which something like the +following conversation took place: + +"Stranger, where are you from? You certainly look weary; you +must have travelled a long distance!" + +"Yes; I am from beyond the frontiers of Missouri; a distance of +twelve hundred miles." "Ah, indeed! Did you hear anything of the +four great prophets out that way?" + +"Prophets! What prophets?" + +"Why, four men--strange men--who came through this country and +preached, and baptized hundreds of people; and, after ordaining +Elders and organizing churches, they continued on westward, as we +suppose, to the frontiers on a mission to the Indians; and we have +never heard from them since. But the great work commenced by them +still rolls on. It commenced last fall in Kirtland, and has spread +for a hundred miles around; thousands have embraced it, and among +others ourselves and many in this neighborhood." + +"But what did they preach? And why do you call them prophets?" + +"Why they opened the Scriptures in a wonderful manner; showed +the people plainly of many things to come; opened the doctrine of +Christ, as we never understood it before; and, among other things, +they introduced a very extraordinary Book, which, they said, was an +ancient record of the forefathers of the Indian tribes." + +"How were they dressed, and in what style did they travel?" + +"They were dressed plainly and comely, very neat in their +persons, and each one wore a hat of a drab color, low round crown +and broad brim, after the manner of the Shakers, so it is said; for +we had not the privilege of seeing them ourselves. + +"However, these fashioned hats were not a peculiarity of this +people; but were given to each of them by the Shakers, at the time +they passed through this country; so they wore them. As to their +style of travelling, they sometimes go on foot, sometimes in a +carriage, and sometimes, perhaps, by water; but they provide +themselves with neither purse nor scrip for their journey, neither +shoes nor two coats apiece." + +"Well, from your description of these four men I think I have +seen them on the frontiers of Missouri. They had commenced a +mission in the Indian territory; but were compelled by the United +States agents, influenced, no doubt, by missionaries, to depart +from the Indian country, although well received by the Indians +themselves." + +"You saw them, then?" + +"I did." + +"Were they well?" + +"I believe they were all in good health and spirits." + +"Will they return soon? O, who would not give the world to see +them!" + +"Well, I am one of them, and the others you may, perhaps, see." + +"You one of them! God bless you. What is your name?" + +"My name is Parley P. Pratt, one of the four men you have +described, but not much of a prophet; and as to a sight of me in my +present plight, I think it would not be worth half a world." + +The rest of the conversation I cannot write, for all spoke, all +laughed, and all rejoiced at once. + +The next morning I found myself unable to rise from my bed, +being severely attacked with the measles. + +I came near dying, and was confined for one or two weeks among +them, being scarcely able to raise my head. I was watched over +night and day, and had all the care that a man could have in his +father's house. + +As I recovered in part, being still very weak, I was provided +with a horse, on which I arrived at Kirtland. + +Hundreds of the saints now crowded around to welcome me, and to +inquire after my brethren whom I had left in Missouri. + +Here also I again met President Joseph Smith, who had, during +our absence, come up from the State of New York. + +I found the churches in Ohio had increased to more than a +thousand members, and those in New York to several hundred. + +I also heard from my wife, from whom I had been absent about six +months. The news was that the whole Church in the State of New +York, including herself (for she had joined during my absence), was +about to remove to Ohio in the opening spring. I, therefore, was +advised to proceed no farther eastward, but to await their arrival. +After visiting the saints a few days, I commenced to labor with my +hands; but the Lord would not suffer me to continue long in this +occupation. + +Some time in March, I was commanded of the Lord, in connection +with S. Rigdon and L. Copley, to visit a people called the +Shakers;* and preach the gospel unto them. + +[Footnote] *See Book of Doctrine and Covenants, section 65. + +We fulfilled this mission, as we were commanded, in a settlement +of this strange people, near Cleveland, Ohio; but they utterly +refused to hear or obey the gospel. After this I paid a visit to +the churches round about Kirtland. + +As I went forth among the different branches, some very strange +spiritual operations were manifested, which were disgusting, +rather than edifying. Some persons would seem to swoon away, +and make unseemly gestures, and be drawn or disfigured in their +countenances. Others would fall into ecstacies, and be drawn into +contortions, cramp, fits, etc. Others would seem to have visions +and revelations, which were not edifying, and which were not +congenial to the doctrine and spirit of the gospel. In short, a +false and lying spirit seemed to be creeping into the Church. + +All these things were new and strange to me, and had originated +in the Church during our absence, and previous to the arrival of +President Joseph Smith from New York. + +Feeling our weakness and inexperience, and lest we should err in +judgment concerning these spiritual phenomena, myself, John +Murdock, and several other Elders, went to Joseph Smith, and asked +him to inquire of the Lord concerning these spirits or manifestations. + +After we had joined in prayer in his translating room, he +dictated in our presence the following revelation:--(Each sentence +was uttered slowly and very distinctly, and with a pause between +each, sufficiently long for it to be recorded, by an ordinary +writer, in long hand. + +This was the manner in which all his written revelations were +dictated and written. There was never any hesitation, reviewing, or +reading back, in order to keep the run of the subject; neither did +any of these communications undergo revisions, interlinings, or +corrections. As he dictated them so they stood, so far as I have +witnessed; and I was present to witness the dictation of several +communications of several pages each. + +This inquiry was made and the answer given in May, 1831.) + + +CHAPTER IX. +------------------------ + +Revelation on False Spirits:--Ministry Among the +Churches:--Remarkable Miracle of Healing:--Arrival of +Emigrant Saints from New York:--Severe Disappointment. + +"Hearken, O ye Elders of my Church, and give ear, to the voice +of the living God; attend to the words of wisdom which shall be +given unto you, according as ye have asked and are agreed, as +touching the Church, and the spirits which have gone abroad in the +earth. Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits +which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, +deceiving the world; and also Satan hath sought to deceive you, +that he might overthrow you. + +"Behold, I, the Lord, have looked upon you, and have seen +abominations in the Church that possess my name; but blessed are +they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death; for +they shall inherit eternal life. But woe unto them that are +deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus saith the Lord, I will bring +them to judgment. + +"Behold, I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who +have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but, +behold, such shall be reclaimed; but the hypocrites shall be +detected and cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; +and woe unto them who are cut off from my Church, for the same are +overcome of the world; wherefore, let every man beware, lest he do +that which is not in truth and righteousness before me. + +"And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the Elders of +His Church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand: Let +us reason--even as a man reasoneth--one with another, face to face; +now, when a man reasoneth, he is understood of man, because he +reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you, that +you may understand: wherefore, I, the Lord, asketh you this +question, unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the +Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth; +and then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and +received them to be of God, and in this are ye justified? Behold, +ye shall answer this question yourselves; nevertheless, I will be +merciful unto you; he that is weak among you, hereafter, shall be +made strong. + +"Verily, I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent +forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the spirit +of truth, doth he preach it by the spirit of truth, or some other +way? And if it be by some other way, it be not of God. And, again, +he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the +spirit of truth, or some other way? If it be some other way, it be +not of God; therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand, and +know that he that receiveth the word by the spirit of truth, +receiveth it as it is preached by the spirit of truth? + +"Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, +understandeth one another, and both are edified and rejoice +together; and that which doth not edify, is not of God, and is +darkness; that which is of God is light, and he that receiveth +light and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light +groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And, again, +verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, +that you may chase darkness from among you; for he that is ordained +of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, +notwithstanding he is least, and the servant of all; wherefore, he +is possessor of all things, for all things are subject unto him, +both in Heaven and on the earth; the life and the light, the spirit +and the power sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus +Christ, His Son; but no man is possessor of all things, except he +be purified and cleansed from all sin; and if ye are purified and +cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name +of Jesus, and it shall be done; but, know this, it shall be given +you what you shall ask, and as ye are appointed to the head, the +spirits shall be subject unto you. + +"Wherefore, it shall come to pass, that if you behold a spirit +manifested that you cannot understand, and you receive not that +spirit, ye shall ask of the Father in the name of Jesus, and if he +give not unto you that spirit, that you may know that it is not of +God; and it shall be given unto you power over that spirit, and you +shall proclaim against that spirit with a loud voice, that it is +not of God; not with railing accusation, that ye be not overcome; +neither with boasting, nor rejoicing, lest you be seized therewith; +he that receiveth of God, let him account it of God, and let him +rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive, and by +giving heed and doing these things which ye have received, and +which ye shall hereafter receive, and the kingdom is given you of +the Father, and power to overcome all things which is not ordained +of Him; and, behold, verily I say unto you, blessed are you who are +now hearing these words of mine from the mouth of my servant, for +your sins are forgiven you. + +"Let my servant, Joseph Wakefield, in whom I am pleased, and my +servant, Parley P. Pratt, go forth among the churches and +strengthen them by the word of exhortation; and also my servant, +John Corrill, or as many of my servants as are ordained unto this +office, and let them labor in the vineyard; and let no man hinder +them of doing that which I have appointed unto them; wherefore, in +this thing, my servant, Edward Partridge, is not justified; +nevertheless, let him repent and he shall be forgiven. Behold, ye +are little children, and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must +grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Fear not, little +children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you +are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my +Father hath given me shall be lost; and the Father and I are one. I +am in the Father and the Father in me; and, inasmuch as ye have +received me, ye are in me and I in you; wherefore, I am in your +midst, and I am the good Shepherd (and the stone of Israel; he that +buildeth upon this rock shall never fall), and the day cometh that +you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am. Watch, +therefore, that ye may be ready; even so. Amen." + +In obedience to the foregoing, Joseph Wakefield and myself +visited the several branches of the Church, rebuking the wrong +spirits which had crept in among them, setting in order things that +were wanting; ordaining Elders and other officers; baptizing such +as believed and repented of their sins; administering the gift of +the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, in the name of Jesus +Christ; laying hands on little children and blessing them; praying +for the sick, and comforting the afflicted, etc. On some occasions +we assembled fifty or sixty little children in one circle, in the +midst of the assembly of the saints, and laid our hands upon them +all, and prayed for them, and blessed them in the name of Jesus. + +Thus my time passed sweetly and swiftly away for some weeks. I +was sometimes in the society of President Smith, in Kirtland, and +of the saints in that place, and sometimes in the branches abroad. + +About this time a young lady, by the name of Chloe Smith, being +a member of the Church, was lying very low with a lingering fever, +with a family who occupied one of the houses on the farm of Isaac +Morley, in Kirtland. Many of the Church had visited and prayed with +her, but all to no effect; she seemed at the point of death, but +would not consent to have a physician. This greatly enraged her +relatives, who had cast her out because she belonged to the Church, +and who, together with many of the people of the neighborhood, were +greatly stirred up to anger, saying, "these wicked deceivers will +let her lie and die without a physician, because of their +superstitions; and if they do, we will prosecute them for so +doing." Now these were daily watching for her last breath, with +many threats. + +Under these circumstances, President Smith and myself, with +several other Elders called to see her. She was so low that no one +had been allowed for some days previous to speak above a whisper, +and even the door of the log dwelling was muffled with cloths to +prevent a noise. + +We kneeled down and prayed vocally all around, each in turn; +after which President Smith arose, went to the bedside, took her by +the hand, and said unto her with a loud voice, "in the name of +Jesus Christ arise and walk!" She immediately arose, was dressed by +a woman in attendance, when she walked to a chair before the fire, +and was seated and joined in singing a hymn. The house was thronged +with people in a few moments, and the young lady arose and shook +hands with each as they came in; and from that minute she was +perfectly restored to health. + +Some time in May, 1831, the Church arrived with their families +from the State of New York, to settle in Kirtland; but, to my +inexpressible disappointment, my wife had not come with them, but +had gone to spend the summer in the East with her friends. It was +now too late to go to her, as the time was near when I was in duty +bound to return to my fellow laborers in Missouri. To be so long +absent from her, and then undertake a second journey without seeing +her, was a severe trial, but God gave me grace to overcome my +feelings, for his sake and the gospel's. + + +CHAPTER X. +------------------------ + +Conference at Kirtland:--Revelation of the High +Priesthood:--Ordinations to the Same:--Appointment of +Missions through the Western States:--Return Westward, +Accompanied by my Brother Orson:--Our Success by the +Way:--Arrival at the Frontiers:--Sickness:--Remarkable +Conversion of Newel Knight:--A Dream. + +On the sixth of June, 1831, a general conference was convened at +Kirtland, consisting of all the Elders, far and near, who could be +got together. In this conference much instruction was given by +President Smith, who spake in great power, as he was moved by the +Holy Ghost; and the spirit of power and of testimony rested down +upon the Elders in a marvelous manner. Here also were some strange +manifestations of false spirits, which were immediately rebuked. + +Several were then selected by revelation, through President +Smith, and ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of the +Son of God, which is after the order of Melchizedek. This was the +first occasion in which this priesthood had been revealed and +conferred upon the Elders in this dispensation, although the office +of an Elder is the same in a certain degree, but not in the +fullness. On this occasion I was ordained to this holy ordinance +and calling by President Smith. + +After these things, and the business of the conference was over, +myself and Orson Pratt were appointed by revelation to perform a +mission together, through the Western States, and to meet the +brethren I had left in Jackson County, Missouri; and many others +also who were sent in a similar manner, two and two through the +Western States, and who were all appointed to meet in Jackson +County, Missouri, and hold the next conference.* + +[Footnote] *See revelation, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, +Section 66. + +Soon after the conference my brother and myself commenced our +journey without any means to bear our expenses. We travelled +through the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, in the +midst of the heat of summer on foot, and faithfully preached the +gospel in many parts of all these States. We suffered the hardships +incident to a new and, in many places, unsettled country, such as +hunger, thirst, fatigue, etc. We arrived in upper Missouri in +September, having baptized many people and organized branches of +the Church in several parts of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. On our +arrival we found a considerable settlement of the brethren from +Ohio, who had immigrated during the summer and taken up their +residence in Jackson County. President Smith, and many of the +Elders, had been there and held a conference, and, having organized +a Stake of Zion, pointed out and consecrated certain grounds for a +city and temple, they had again returned to the East. With them, +the brethren whom I had left there the previous winter, had also +returned. + +I felt somewhat disappointed in not meeting with the brethren; +but was consoled with the reflection that I had been diligent in +preaching the gospel on my journey, while others had hurried +through the country, perhaps, without tarrying to do much good. + +I was now taken sick with the fever and ague, owing to the +exposures of the climate through which we had travelled. I suffered +extremely for several months; being brought very low with fever, +and with other afflictions. + +I tarried mostly with a branch of the Church commonly called the +Colesville branch. They had removed from Colesville, in the State +of New York, and settled on the borders of a fertile prairie, about +twelve miles west of the village of Independence, and near the +boundaries which divide the State of Missouri from the Indian +Territory. They consisted of about sixty souls, and were under the +presidency of a faithful and zealous Elder by the name of Newel +Knight--an account of whose miraculous conversion we here record, +as extracted from the life of Joseph Smith, published in the +_Millennial Star_, Vol. 4, p. 116: + +"During this month of April, I (Joseph Smith) went on a visit to +the residence of Mr. Joseph Knight, of Colesville, Broom County, +N.Y., with whom and his family I had been previously acquainted, +and whose name I have above mentioned as having been so kind and +thoughtful towards us while translating the Book of Mormon. Mr. +Knight and his family were Universalists; but were willing to +reason with me upon my religious views, and were, as usual, +friendly and hospitable. We held several meetings in the +neighborhood; we had many friends and some enemies. Our meetings +were well attended, and many began to pray fervently to Almighty +God that He would give them wisdom to understand the truth. Among +those who attended our meetings regularly was Newel Knight, son of +Joseph Knight. He and I had many serious conversations on the +important subject of man's eternal salvation. We were in the habit +of praying much at our meetings, and Newel had said that he would +try and take up his cross and pray vocally during meeting; but when +we again met together he rather excused himself. I tried to prevail +upon him, making use of the figure, supposing that he should get +into a mud hole would he not try to help himself out? And that we +were willing now to help him out of the mud hole. He replied, 'that +provided he had got into a mud hole through carelessness, he would +rather wait and get out himself than have others to help him, and +so he would wait until he should get into the woods by himself and +there he would pray.' Accordingly he deferred praying until next +morning, when he retired into the woods, where, according to his +own account afterwards, he made several attempts to pray, but could +scarcely do so--feeling that he had not done his duty, but that he +should have prayed in the presence of others. He began to feel +uneasy, and continued to feel worse both in mind and body until, +upon reaching his own house, his appearance was such as to alarm +his wife very much. He requested her to go and bring me to him. I +went and found him suffering very much in his mind, and his body +acted upon in a very strange manner. His visage and limbs distorted +and twisted in every shape and appearance possible to imagine; and +finally, he was caught up off the floor of the apartment and tossed +about most fearfully. His situation was soon made known to his +neighbors and relatives, and in a short time as many as eight or +nine grown persons had got together to witness the scene. After he +had thus suffered for a time, I succeeded in getting hold of him by +the hand, when almost immediately he spoke to me, and with very +great earnestness requested of me that I should cast the devil out +of him; saying, 'that he knew that he was in him, and that he also +knew that I could cast him out.' I replied, 'if you know that I can +it shall be done,' and then, almost unconsciously, I rebuked the +devil, and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from +him' when immediately Newel spoke out and said, 'that he saw the +devil leave him and vanish from his sight.'* + +[Footnote] *This was the first miracle which was done in this +Church, or by any member of it, and it was not done by man nor the +power of man, but it was done by God, and by the power of +godliness; therefore, let the honor and the praise, the dominion +and the glory, be ascribed to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for +ever and ever. Amen. + +"The scene was now entirely changed; for as soon as the devil +had departed from our friend his countenance became natural; his +distortions of body ceased; and almost immediately the Spirit of +the Lord descended upon him, and the visions of eternity were +opened to his view. He afterwards related his experience as +follows: + +"'I now began to feel a most pleasing sensation resting upon me, +and immediately the visions of Heaven were opened to my view. I +felt myself attracted upward, and remained for some time enrapt in +contemplation, insomuch that I knew not what was going on in the +room. By-and-by I felt some weight pressing upon my shoulder and +the side of my head, which served to recall me to a sense of my +situation, and I found that the Spirit of the Lord had actually +caught me up off the floor, and that my shoulder and head were +pressing against the beams.' + +"All this was witnessed by many, to their great astonishment and +satisfaction, when they saw the devil thus cast out and the power +of God and His Holy Spirit thus made manifest. So soon as +consciousness returned, his bodily weakness was such that we were +obliged to lay him upon his bed and wait upon him for some time. As +may be expected, such a scene as this contributed much to make +believers of those who witnessed it; and, finally, the greater part +of them became members of the Church." + +This Colesville branch was among the first organized by Joseph +Smith, and constituted the first settlers of the members of the +Church in Missouri. They had arrived late in the summer, and cut +some hay for their cattle, sowed a little grain, and prepared some +ground for cultivation, and were engaged during the fall and winter +in building log cabins, etc. The winter was cold, and for some time +about ten families lived in one log cabin, which was open and +unfinished, while the frozen ground served for a floor. Our food +consisted of beef and a little bread made of corn, which had been +grated into coarse meal by rubbing the ears on a tin grater. This +was rather an inconvenient way of living for a sick person; but it +was for the gospel's sake, and all were very cheerful and happy. + +We enjoyed many happy seasons in our prayer and other meetings, +and the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon us, and even on the +little children, insomuch that many of eight, ten or twelve years +of age spake, and prayed, and prophesied in our meetings and in our +family worship. There was a spirit of peace and union, and love and +good will manifested in this little Church in the wilderness, the +memory of which will be ever dear to my heart. + +It was during my long illness in this dreary winter that I had +the following dream or vision: I thought I saw myself dressed in a +clean and beautiful linen robe, white as snow, and extending from +the neck downward in beautiful folds. On either breast were lines +of golden writing, in large Roman letters, about a third of an inch +in length, and the lines extending from the center of the breast on +each side six or eight inches long. The upper line on each side +appeared larger and more beautiful or conspicuous than the others; +one of these lines was: "HOLY PROPHET," and the other was: "NEW +JERUSALEM." + +On awaking from this dream I immediately called to mind the +words of the Saviour to John the Revelator: "_He that overcometh +will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no +more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the +name of the City of my God, which is New Jerusalem_." + +This dream certainly encouraged me, and enabled me to bear my +sickness, privation and long absence from my wife and former +friends more patiently. + + +CHAPTER XI. +------------------------ + +Attend Conference:--Instantaneous Healing:-- +Return Eastward:--Description of the Inhabitants on the +South Side of the Missouri River:--Strange Manifestation:-- +Arrive at St. Louis:--Preaching and Entertainment:--Arrive +at Vandalia:--Reception:--Exposure in Crossing an Over-- +flowed Bottom:--Dialogue:--Hospitality of a Preacher:-- +Deaf Landlord:--Meet my Wife. + +Some time in February, 1832, a Conference was held by Bishop +Partridge and the Elders remaining in this part of the country. To +this Conference I was determined to go, though very feeble and +almost unable to sit up. I was assisted on to a horse, and rode +twelve miles. I kept my bed during the Conference; but at the +close, several Elders being about to take their journey to Ohio, I +determined to go with them. I requested the Elders, therefore, to +lay their hands on me and pray. They did so. I was instantly +healed, and the next morning started in company with Elder Levi +Hancock, a journey of twelve hundred miles on foot. + +I gained strength at every step, and the second evening, after +wading through the snow about six inches deep for some ten miles, I +was enabled to address a congregation for the first time in several +months. + +I now parted with Levi Hancock, and had John Murdock for a +fellow traveller. We passed down the south side of the Missouri +river, among a thin settlement of people--mostly very ignorant but +extremely hospitable. Some families were entirely dressed in skins, +without any other clothing; including ladies young and old. +Buildings were generally without glass windows, and the door open +in winter for a light. We preached, and warned the people, and +taught them as well as we could. + +While ministering in these settlements, and exposed to a heavy +snow storm, brother John Murdock was taken sick with a heavy fever; +this caused us to stop early in the day among strangers, in a small +log cabin consisting of one room; we held a meeting in the evening, +and then had a bed made down on the floor, before the fire. Before +morning brother Murdock was much better, but I was seized with a +most dreadful chill, followed by a heavy turn of fever; morning +found me unable to rise or speak. As the bed was in the way, they +lifted it by the four corners, with me on it, and placed it in the +back part of the room, on another bed. Here I lay, entirely +helpless with a burning fever, during which I distinctly heard a +dialogue between John Murdock and the lady of the house; she +upbraiding us as impostors thrown upon them at this inclement +season, while they were out of milling and of wood, and but illy +prepared for such a burden; that one was sick the night before, and +now the other was taken down; that it was six miles to the next +house, deep snow and no road broke, and we would probably be on +their hands for weeks. + +To these inhospitable remarks brother Murdock mildly replied, +trying to soothe the woman; reasoning with her, and telling her +that brother Parley would soon be better, and then we would go our +way. + +This dialogue gave me such a sense of unwelcome, and I pitied +brother Murdock to that degree for having to stay with such spirits +on my account, that I felt I could endure it no longer. With the +utmost effort I roused myself sufficiently to call brother Murdock +to my bed, whispering to him to lay hands on me unobserved, so as +not to be seen or overheard. He did so; I then asked him to give me +a drink of water. The effort had been too much, I swooned away +while he was gone for the water; he could hardly arouse me +sufficiently to drink of it; it was like waking from the dead. I +drank of it, bounded on my feet, dressed myself, put on my shoes +and hat, and told him I was ready to start. The family all +marvelled; one exclaimed, "what a strange disease; it could not be +fever, and then be cured in an instant." We gave no explanations, +but started on our journey up a steep hill, in the deep snow, in +the midst of their urgings to stay to breakfast, or at least have a +cup of coffee. I said nothing, but thought to myself: ye +hypocrites, to murmur as you have, and then ask me to stay and eat. + +We travelled on for some miles nearly in silence--I waiting all +the while for brother Murdock to make some remarks referring to our +inhospitable treatment, and the dialogue with the mistress of the +house. At last I broke silence. Said I, "Brother Murdock, how did +you feel to be talked to by that woman? I thought you bore it with +great patience, and I pitied you from my heart, or I never should +have had faith and courage to be thus healed and start my journey." + +He replied that no such conversation had occurred between him +and the lady, nor had she uttered one word indicative of any such +inhospitable feeling. + +"Well," said I, "I heard it articulated in plain English by some +two persons perfectly imitating her voice and yours; it was no +imagination, or raging delirium of a fever. I can swear I heard a +conversation to that effect for a length of time. + +"If it was not the lady and yourself, then it was something from +an invisible world, which clearly revealed to me the spirit of our +hostess." + +We reached the next house; I was a well man; found good +quarters, and we were kindly and hospitably entertained for some +days. + +Pursuing our journey, we arrived at St. Louis, were kindly +received by some citizens of that place, and held meeting with +them. They conveyed us over the Mississippi free of charge, and we +continued our journey, preaching by the way. We arrived at length +at Vandalia, the then capital of Illinois. Here we were invited to +a hotel, where we sojourned free of charge, and preached to a good +audience in the Presbyterian meeting house. Next morning resuming +our journey, we crossed the Okah river on a bridge, but the bottoms +for two or three miles were overflowed to various depths, from six +inches to three or four feet, and frozen over, except in the main +channels, with a coat of ice, which we had to break by lifting our +feet to the surface at every step. This occupied some hours and +called into requisition our utmost strength, and sometimes we were +entirely covered with water. At length we got through in safety and +came to a house where we warmed and dried our clothes and took some +whiskey. Our legs and feet had lost all feeling, became benumbed, +and were dreadfully bruised and cut with the ice. + +On the next day we had to cross a plain fifteen miles in length, +without a house, a tree, or any kind of shelter; a cold northwest +wind was blowing, and the ground covered with snow and ice. We had +made two or three miles into the plain when I was attacked with a +severe return of my old complaint, which had confined me so many +months in Jackson County, and from which I had recovered by a +miracle at the outset of this journey--I mean the fever and ague. + +I travelled and shook, and shook and travelled, till I could +stand it no longer; I vomited severely several times, and finally +fell down on the snow, overwhelmed with fever, and became helpless +and nearly insensible. This was about seven or eight miles from the +nearest house. + +Brother John Murdock laid his hands on me and prayed in the name +of Jesus; and, taking me by the hand, he commanded me with a loud +voice, saying: "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth arise and walk!" I +attempted to arise, I staggered a few paces, and was about falling +again when I found my fever suddenly depart and my strength come. I +walked at the rate of about four miles per hour, arrived at a +house, and was sick no more. + +We continued our journey, preaching by the way, and crossing the +Wabash at Vincennes, we stopped in that vicinity for several days, +drawing crowded houses. Here we met with Elders Dustin and Bebee, +who left Jackson County, Missouri, when we did, and for the same +purpose. "Well, brethren, how do you do?" said we to them. + +"Tolerably well; only we have spent ten dollars each which was +given us by the Bishop when we started, and we have sold books and +spent the avails of them; and besides this we have been compelled +to borrow money in a certain branch of the Church, and have spent +that also; and we think it hard to travel for the public good and +this at our own charges." + +"Ah!" said I, "and how is this? we have not yet spent the first +cent since we left the Church in Jackson County; nor shall we have +any occasion for any spending money for weeks to come. Where did +you stay last night?" + +"In the large village of Washington." + +"Did you preach to the people?" + +"Yes; in the Court House." + +"Did they charge you for your keeping?" + +"Yes. A dollar and a quarter." + +"Well, we are going there tonight, and, although entire +strangers, we shall be well entertained free of charge, preach or +no preach." + +"How do you do it?" said they. + +"O, we hold up our heads like honest men; go to the best houses, +call for the best they have, make known our calling, pray with, or +preach to them, ask for their bill on taking leave, but they will +take nothing from us; but always invite us to call again." + +"Well, they will not treat you so in Washington tonight; you will have +to pay a good round sum." + +"Well, we shall see." + +We took leave of them and of the good people where we had been +preaching, having first sent an appointment by the mail carrier, +that if the inhabitants of Washington would get together we would +address them that evening. + +We entered the town at dark, stopped at a hotel, called for +lodging and supper and a room for ourselves; and asked the landlord +if a meeting had been got up for us. He said the mail carrier +brought the news of our appointment, but he believed it had been +neglected to be given out; was very sorry, made many apologies, and +still offered to have the bell rung and the people assembled if we +wished. We told him we were glad of an opportunity to rest, and did +not wish a meeting at so late an hour. + +We retired to our room and made no further acquaintance. Next +morning on taking leave, we asked what was to pay. He answered, +"not anything," said we were welcome to his hospitality at any +time, and bid us call again. + +Leaving Washington, we were next entertained by a very +hospitable preacher of the Christian order, whose name I have +forgotten. We tarried at his house a week or two, and preached to +crowded congregations in all the region; he frequently going with +us to introduce us and open the way. While here, having a little +leisure between appointments, I went alone and on foot to the town +of Madison, about nine miles from his house. My design was to get +out an appointment and preach, which came to pass the same evening +in the following Manner: I stepped into a hotel, they were all at +dinner, I placed the Book of Mormon on a public table and sat down +to read a newspaper; soon the boarders came out, and one by one +looked at the Book, and inquired whose it was; soon the landlord +came out, who I learned was so very deaf that one could only be +heard by placing mouth to ear and shouting at the very top of the +voice. He caught up the Book and inquired, "Whose is this?" I +arose, placed my arm round his neck, and my mouth close to his ear, +and shouted, "IT IS MINE, AND I HAVE COME TO PREACH!!" This was so +loud that it almost alarmed the town. He welcomed me to +entertainment free of charge, had the Court House opened, the town +notified, and evening found me in the judge's seat, a reporter in +the clerk's desk, and a crowded audience. I had good liberty and +all seemed much interested. + +After a few days we resumed our journey, and in May arrived in +Kirtland, where I again met my wife after an absence of one year +and seven months. + + +Chapter XII. +------------------------ + +Mission in Ohio:--Start to Western Missouri:-- +Incidents by the Way:--Discourse on Board a Steamer on +the Fourth of July:--Its Effect:--Arrival on the Frontiers:-- +Farming:--Extortion:--Mission in Missouri and Illinois:-- +Treatment by Infidels:--Great Success in Illinois:--Opposition +from Baptist Ministers:--Outlines of Mr. Peck's Speech and +my Reply:--Result:--Return Home:--A Voice from the Dead. + +I shall not attempt to describe our feelings or our joy; these +things are known by experience, not by language. I found her health +much impaired, and she had long suffered from complaints of the +nature of consumption; but she was now reduced still further by her +anxious solicitude about my long absence. + +When she found herself once more in the quiet enjoyment of my +society, she gradually resumed her wonted cheerfulness, and began +to enjoy better health; but still she was far from being well. + +After spending a few weeks at home, I performed a short mission +in the southeastern part of Ohio, and again returned, having +travelled on foot in the heat of summer about three hundred miles. +In this mission I met with no success in the ministry, owing to the +prejudice, ignorance and bigotry of the people, who either would +not hear at all, or else heard in a careless manner, and went away +with the same indifference as they came. + +I now determined to take my wife and our little effects and +remove to Western Missouri. To bear the expenses of this long +journey my wife had some sixty dollars, which she brought with her +from the East, and certain men also put into my hands sums of money +to be expended in lands and improvements in that country. With +brother Joseph's counsel and blessing I bade farewell to Kirtland. + +We took a stage coach for the Ohio River, thence by steamer to +St. Louis, and again by steamer up the Missouri. I took a steerage +passage among the poorer class, and was dressed more like a laborer +than a public minister. However, the throng of passengers on the +boat learned by some means that I was a preacher, and on the 4th of +July they pressed me very hard to address them in the cabin in +honor of our national anniversary. I refused for awhile; but at +length complied, on conditions that steerage passengers, boat +hands, firemen, and all classes, black or white, should have the +privilege of assembling in the cabin to hear the discourse. + +This was readily complied with, and very soon a large assembly +was convened and in waiting, consisting of ladies and gentlemen, +lawyers, merchants, farmers, servants, waiters and colored +gentlemen. + +I presented myself before this motley assembly in a plain coat +of gray satinet, and bowed respectfully. All tried to be grave, but +a smile, a sneer, a look of contempt would now and then escape from +some of the more genteel portion of the assembly, as if they would +say, "_Can any good thing come out of Nazareth_," or, in +other words, can so plain a man be possessed of knowledge +sufficient to entertain such an assembly on so important an +occasion as the 4th of July, and this, too, without preparing a +discourse beforehand? + +I read a chapter; all was serious attention. I offered up a +prayer; all was deep interest. I commenced a discourse, and nearly +all were in tears. I introduced the Book of Mormon as a record of +ancient America; I dwelt upon its history and prophetic +declarations, now being verified by the erection of free +institutions in this great country, and their growing influence. I +spoke of the general prosperity and resources of the country, +acknowledging the hand of Providence in the same; warned them +against national pride, ambition, and injustice; exhorted them, in +common with all citizens, to use the utmost diligence to preserve +the general peace and the pure influence of our national +institutions; and to improve in light, intelligence and love, +without which we, too, might be brought down to destruction like +the Israelites and Nephites of old; and our bones and ruined cities +and monuments alone be left to other people, as theirs were left to +us, as a testimony of our greatness which would have passed away. I +also showed them from the Book of Mormon that we were destined to +remain forever as a blessed and free people on this land, on +conditions of keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ, and that +our settlements and commerce would soon extend to the vast shores +of the Pacific ocean, and our ensign stand out to the nations as a +standard inviting them to a banquet of freedom, peace and plenty. + +After meeting I was pressed upon to come into the cabin for the +rest of the passage. And even when we changed boats at Louisville, +such was the influence of my fellow passengers, that the +gentlemen's and also the ladies' cabin and board was free to me +without money or price. One gentleman offered as high as ten +dollars for a copy of the Book of Mormon; but, unluckily, I had +none with me. + +Arriving at the Colesville branch, on the western boundaries of +the State (where I had spent the previous winter in sickness and +poverty), about the 1st of August, 1832, we commenced cutting hay, +building, purchasing and planting land, and making every +preparation to receive those who had sent funds for this purpose. +During the months of August and September I had, with a little +help, secured about fifteen tons of hay, and put into the ground +fifteen acres of wheat, besides building a log house and doing +something at fencing, etc. These exertions in the heat of the +season brought on a severe illness, in which I was nigh unto death; +but I was again restored in a few days by the laying on of hands +and prayer in the name of Jesus. + +About this time Lewis Abbott arrived with his family from +Kirtland, and having sent some money by me, partly to aid in my +expenses, and partly for the purpose of making improvements, he +became dissatisfied and demanded the utmost farthing. This took +everything I had done;--my wheat on the ground, my hay, my cows all +but one, and left me entirely destitute, after all my laborious +exertions. At this brother Abbott seemed satisfied, and thought he +had got quite rich, and turned his money to good advantage; but the +curse of God rested upon all his property as was soon manifest. + +The next winter I took a mission in company with Elder William +E. McLellin down through the State of Missouri and into Illinois, +crossing the Mississippi at Clarksville. + +As we approached Clarksville, we were told by several of the +inhabitants near, not to attempt a meeting or any religious +instruction there, for they were a hardened and irreclaimable set +of blasphemers and infidels, given to gambling, drinking and +cursing, etc.; and that many different orders of the clergy had +attempted in vain to reclaim them, or even to get a hearing. Before +entering the town we ascended a mountain and cried mightily unto +the Lord that He would open our way, and move upon the hearts of +the people to receive us and hear the Word. + +We then entered the town and called at a hotel. We told the +landlord that we had come in the name of Jesus Christ to preach the +gospel to the people, being sent by him without purse or scrip. +"Well," said he, "you are welcome to my house and such fare as we +have; and we will meet together and hear your religion, and if it +proves to be better than ours we will embrace it; for we confess +that our religion is to fiddle and dance, and eat and drink, and be +merry, and gamble and swear a little; and we believe this is better +than priestcraft." + +We replied that we would try them anyhow. So a meeting was +convened; we preached, had good attention, and much of a candid +spirit of inquiry was manifest, and we were treated with +hospitality and friendship, and even ferried over the river free; +and this was more than those religious sectaries would do, who had +warned us against them. + +Passing over the river, the next day we came to Green County, +Illinois; and as the day drew to a close we began to circulate an +appointment as we travelled along a thick settlement of thrifty +farmers, for preaching in a school house in the neighborhood that +evening. + +As we sat by the highway side to rest ourselves, an old farmer +rode past on horseback, and halted to ask if we were travellers. We +replied that we were travelling to preach the gospel, and had an +appointment that evening at the school house just ahead, and +invited him to come and hear. "No," said he, "I have not attended a +religious meeting this five years; I have long been disgusted and +tired of priestcraft and religious ignorance and division, and have +concluded to stand aloof from it all." + +"Well, we are as much opposed to these things as you can be, +and, therefore, have come to preach the gospel, and show the +knowledge of God in its ancient purity, being instructed and sent +of Him without purse or scrip. So come and hear us." + +"O! indeed, if that is the case, I will." + +So he came; the house was crowded with Baptists, Methodists, +Universalists, Non-professors, Infidels, etc. + +We preached. After meeting, a Baptist minister by the name of +John Russell, a very learned and influential man, invited us to +tarry in the neighborhood and continue to preach; he said his house +should be our home, and he called a vote of the people whether they +wished us to preach more. The vote was unanimous in the +affirmative. + +We tarried in the neighborhood some two months, and preached +daily in all that region to vast multitudes, both in town and +country, in the grove, and in school houses, barns and dwellings. +All parties were our hearers and friends, and contributed liberally +to our wants; and the old farmer, whose name was Calvin, who had +not been to meeting before for five years, became a constant +hearer, and opened his house for our home. He was very wealthy, and +bade us welcome to shoes, clothing, or anything we needed; many +Infidels, Universalists, etc., did the same. + +In this neighborhood there lived a Baptist minister by the name +of Dotson, who opposed us with much zeal, from time to time, both +in public and in private, and from house to house. + +He said the Book of Mormon was a fable; a silly, foolish mixture +of matter, possessing no interest, and that he could write a better +book himself. However, his principal objection was, that God could +give no _new_ revelation--the New Testament contained all +the knowledge that God had in store for man, and there was nothing +remaining unrevealed. + +We asked him to open the New Testament and read to us the +history and destiny of the American continent and its inhabitants, +and the origin and lineage of the same; also, the history of the +ten tribes of Israel, and where they now were. We also asked him to +read to us from that book his own commission, and that of other +ministers of this age to preach the gospel. But he could do none of +these things; but still insisted that there was no subject worthy +of new revelation, and that no revelation could be given. + +Said I, "Mr. Dotson, relate to me your experience and call to +the ministry." + +"Well," he replied, "I will do so, seeing that it is you, friend +Pratt; for you are able to bear it, and to comprehend something +about it; but I have never told it to my own members; and I dare +not, for they would not believe me." + +"Well, Mr. Dotson, be particular on the manner and means by +which you were called to the ministry." + +"Why, sir," said he, "_I was called by a vocal voice from +Heaven_." + +"Well, Mr. Dotson, _there_ is one exception to your +general rule. We come to you with a new revelation, and you reject +it, because there can be no new revelation; and yet you profess to +have a new revelation, God having spoken from the heavens and +called _you_, and commissioned _you_ to preach eighteen hundred +years after the New Testament was written, and all revelation +finished! How is this? + +"The New Testament no where calls you by name; neither makes +mention of you as a minister of the gospel; but new revelation +does, if we are to believe you. And yet you would teach your +hearers and us, and all the world, to disbelieve all modern +revelation merely because it is new. Consequently, we are all bound +by your own rule to reject your call to the ministry, and to +believe it is a lie." + +He could say no more. + +At another time he was at Mr. Russell's with us, and, in +presence of Mr. R. and others, was opposing the Book of Mormon with +all his power. + +We asked him to listen while we read a chapter in it. He did so, +and was melted into tears, and so affected and confounded that he +could not utter a word for some time. He then, on recovering, asked +us to his house, and opened the door for us to preach in his +neighborhood. We did so, and were kindly entertained by him. + +But after this, he again hardened his heart, and finding his +opposition all in vain, he wrote a letter to the Rev. Mr. Peck, of +Rock Spring, some sixty miles distant, informing him that the +"Mormons" were about to take Green County, and requesting his +immediate attendance. + +This Mr. Peck was a man of note, as one of the early settlers of +Illinois, and one of its first missionaries. He had labored for +many years in that new country and in Missouri, and was now Editor +of a paper devoted to Baptist principles. + +This gentleman, was soon forthcoming, and commenced his public +addresses among the people, to try to convince them of the great +errors we had taught. + +He said there were no antiquities in America; no ruined cities, +buildings, monuments, inscriptions, mounds, or fortifications, to +show the existence of such a people as the Book of Mormon +described. + +He also said, that there were no domestic animals such as the +cow the ox, or the horse, found here when Europeans first +discovered the country. He then inquired how these animals became +extinct since the destruction of the Nephites. + +He said further, that the fortifications and mounds of this +country were nothing more than the works of Nature. + +He then warned the people against the study of the prophetic +parts of the Old and New Testaments, observing that these +mysterious prophecies were directly calculated to lead them into +delusion and bewilderment; that the best way to read and understand +prophecy was, to read it backwards--that is to say, after it is +fulfilled; that it was never designed to be understood before it +came to pass. + +He also taught that the Millennium was already commenced, and +that Jesus Christ would not come, in person, till the great and +last judgment; and that the Millennium must first continue a year +for each day of the thousand years, spoken of by John the +Revelator, etc. + +A meeting was held for the purpose of replying to him; the +people came out in great numbers. + +I then replied in substance as follows: + +"My hearers:--The Rev. Mr. Peck is a great man. He is a man of +age and varied experience and learning. I am but a youth, inferior +to him in all these respects. I reverence his gray hairs; I respect +his learning; I admire his talents and ingenuity; and I feel a +delicacy in replying to him; and nothing but a love for the truth +and a hatred of error and falsehood, could induce me to come in +contact with him before the public; but where truth and salvation +are at stake I cannot shrink from duty, in consideration of age or +talent; I cannot spare the man, even if he were my father. + +"To do away the Book of Mormon, we are called upon to believe +that the temples, statues, pyramids, sculptures, monuments, +engravings, mounds and fortifications, now in ruins on the American +continent, are all the works of Nature in her playful moments; that +the bones of slumbering nations were never clothed upon with flesh, +and that their sleeping dust was never animated with life. + +"This is too monstrous; it is too marvelous, too miraculous for +out credulity; we can never believe that these things are the works +of Nature, unaided by human art; we are not so fond of the +marvelous. + +"Again, we are told that no cows or oxen were here when +Europeans first came to the country. I would ask what the wild +buffalo are, if they are not the cattle of the ancient inhabitants? +I would ask how horse tracks came to be imbedded in the petrified +rock of Kentucky, without a horse to make them? And if no race of +animals could become extinct, which once existed here, I would ask +Mr. Peck either to produce a living mammoth, or annihilate his +bones. But, perhaps, the reverend gentleman would say that those +bones, too, were the works of Nature, and that the huge animal they +seem to represent never existed. + +"Again, my hearers, we are warned against the study of prophecy. +We are told that a careful perusal of the prophecies, which the +reverend gentleman is pleased to call '_mysterious_' is a +principal cause of our delusion and blindness; and that the +prophecies were only designed to be read and understood after they +were fulfilled. + +"We will apply this rule, and learn its workings by practical +experience. + +"The people at the time of the flood adopted this rule, all save +eight souls. Mr. Peck's theology was then almost catholic. The +universal world (save eight) were disposed to remain in ignorance +as to the meaning of prophecy till after its fulfillment. The +result was that they knew not until the flood came and swept them +all away; then they could understand. + +"The people of Sodom were all of Mr. Peck's faith--all save Lot +and his family; they also perished unawares. + +"The Jews also were of this same school--I mean those who +perished in the siege of Jerusalem, in fulfillment of the prophecy +of Jesus Christ, recorded in the 21st chapter of Luke. + +"And permit me here to remind my hearers that this ancient +system of theology, will certainly prevail to an almost universal +extent at the time of the coming of the Son of Man. For Jesus +himself testified that, as it was in the days of Noah and in the +days of Lot, so should it be in the days of the coming of the Son +of Man. I would here pause and congratulate my reverend friend on +the glorious and popular prospects before him. Certain it is that +most of the world will, at some future day, be of his faith in this +respect; they will let the prophecies of the Holy Scriptures alone, +and not attempt to understand them until after their fulfilment. + +"But we are of another school. + +"We believe in Jesus, who said '_search the Scriptures_;' +we believe with Peter, that we have a more sure word of prophecy, +unto which we _do well_ to take heed, as unto a light shining in +a dark place; until the day dawn, and the day star arise in our +hearts. + +"We believe the Apostle when he says that, 'whatsoever was +written aforetime was written for our profit and learning; that, we +through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope.' +We wish to be children of the light and not of darkness; that that +day come not upon us unawares. In short we wish, like Timothy of +old, to understand the Scriptures from our very childhood; +considering that they are able to make us wise unto salvation, +through faith in Christ Jesus. + +"Again, we are told that the world is in the enjoyment of the +Millennium, or thousand years of rest, spoken of by John, the +Revelator. + +"Of course then Satan is bound, and does not tempt any man. The +martyrs of Jesus, and those who kept His commandments are raised +from the dead, and are now present on the earth reigning with Jesus +Christ. The nations learn war no more, none are in ignorance, none +in darkness, the knowledge of God covers the earth as the waters do +the seas. The cow and the leopard, the kid and the bear, the wolf +and the lamb, the lion, the serpent and the little child, all dwell +together in peace. For such events the prophets have described in +connection with the Millennium. + +"But the great announcement of all--the most important +communication made to us by Mr. Peck is concerning the time of the +second coming of Jesus Christ. It was now ascertained by him to be +postponed till the great and last day; and that we are to have a +Millennium of _three hundred and sixty-five thousand years_ +first, before Christ comes. Only think! '_three hundred and +sixty-five thousand_!' Why, according to this calculation the +world is yet in its infancy; we are early in the morning of +creation. The great day of the existence of the world has only +dawned; a long and glorious race is yet before the generations of +man. What is the age of Adam or Methuselah! What the few fleet +years of the earth's existence, compared to the time yet to come +before its end! + +"O, ye holy prophets and saints of old, had you been in +possession of the knowledge of the astounding facts now announced +by this reverend gentleman, you would never have warned mankind so +repeatedly to be ready for the great day of the Lord, for it was +soon at hand. + +"And had Jesus Christ known this fact, he would never have +warned the world of the danger of that day coming on them unawares. +He and His Apostles would have said: it is yet far--very far off. +The Millennium must first dawn, and then continue three hundred and +sixty-five thousand years; and then, behold, I will come to judge +the world. + +"But, my hearers, please read the prophet Zechariah on this +subject, chapter 14. + +"We were there informed that 'Jesus Christ will come, and all +the saints with him,'--that he will 'set his feet on the Mount of +Olives;' that he will 'deliver the Jews and Jerusalem from their +enemies;' that he will 'destroy those who are in the siege against +that city;' and that he will 'reign as a king over all the earth, +from that time forth; and there shall be one Lord and his name +one.' + +"Now, if he comes and all the saints with him, it cannot be his +first coming. If he comes to fight for the Jews and overthrow their +enemies, it cannot be his first coming. If the Mount of Olives +rends in twain at the same time, and opens so as to form a great +valley in the place thereof, it has no connection with his first +coming. + +"Again, if he comes to reign as a '_King over all the earth +_,' it can have no allusion to the last judgment,--the end of +the earth. Consequently, if Zechariah has told the truth, we are to +expect the coming of Jesus Christ distinct from his first coming; +unconnected with the last judgment at the very commencement of his +reign of a thousand years, which we call the Millennium; but which, +Mr. Peck says, has commenced, entirely independent of any such +event. But what can we expect of a man when he comments upon the +prophecies, while at the same time he contends that none can +understand them until after their fulfillment. + +"Of course, my hearers, he himself acts upon the principle which +he lays down to others; and if he does, he never studies, never +searches the prophecies, acknowledges himself in darkness on all +subjects connected with unfulfilled prophecy; expects to remain so, +and expects his hearers to do the same. + +"O, my beloved friends, have the people of this western country +been led in darkness for so many years by learned and reverend +gentlemen? are they willing to remain in darkness now, when the +veil is withdrawn, and his folly made manifest before all the +people, and this too by his own words, uttered in presence of you +all? + +"If so, follow him, and cleave to him as your teacher. But if +not, we exhort you to hold fast the truth as we have delivered it +to you; come forward this day, and obey the ordinances of God; seek +for the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, and continue to +search the Scriptures for more light, and God will bless you +forever. Amen." + +After this meeting some of the Baptists and others came forward +and were baptized, and joined the Church of the Saints; and the +people in general remained steadfast in the faith, and were unmoved +by the exertions of Messrs. Peck and Dotson. + +This filled them with envy, and they soon began to manifest a +lying and abusive spirit to such a degree that all the people could +see and distinguish plainly between the spirits of truth and error. + +Mr. Peck soon took leave and retired home, and we continued our +mission. + +Hundreds of the people were convinced of the truth, but the +hearts of many were too much set on the world to obey the gospel; +we, therefore, baptized only a few of the people, and organized a +small Society, and about the first of June took leave and returned +home. + +Having rested myself a few days, I now commenced again to +cultivate the earth. I plowed about six acres of ground for wheat, +and was busy from day to day in the woods, preparing timber to +fence the same, when the following dream, or night vision, was +given me: + +A man came to me and called me with a loud voice: "Parley, +Parley." I answered, "Here am I." Said he, "Cease splitting rails, +for the Lord has prepared you for a greater work." I answered, +"Whereby shall I know that this message is from the Lord?" He +replied, "Follow me, and I will show you." + +I followed him for some distance along a long path, and at last +came to a place of ancient sepulchres, where many of the Nephites +of old had been buried. One of these opened--the flesh of the man +withered away; he became like a skeleton, and passed down into the +grave. I understood and knew by the spirit, that this signified +that it was the voice of one from the dead which had spoken to me. +I therefore exclaimed, "It is enough; I know the message is of the +Lord; return unto me, that we may converse together." He then came +forth out of the grave, was again clothed upon with a body like a +man, and he talked with me, and told me many things. + +I awoke the next morning, and thought of my dream, but I was +necessitated, as I thought, to finish my fence and sow my crop +before I ceased to labor with my hands. I, therefore, continued to +make and haul rails from the woods. I perfected my fence and sowed +my crop, but I never reaped; I never saw the wheat after it was +more than three inches high. + + +CHAPTER XIII. +------------------------ + +Prosperity of the Church:--School in Zion:-- +Revelation:--Mob:--Destruction of Printing Office:--Defence:-- +Prisoners:--Journey to Lexington:--A Dream:--Its Fulfilment:-- +Battle:--Defeat of the Robbers:--A Miracle:--Defence Construed +into Murder:--Gov. Boggs and Militia Join the Mob:--Church +Driven from the County:--Plunderings and Burnings:--Insurrections:-- +Signs in the Heavens:--Action of the Governor:--Attorney-General +Driven from Court:--Refugees Settle in the North:--A Bandit Chief +made Governor. + +It was now the summer of 1833. Immigration had poured into the +County of Jackson in great numbers; and the Church in that county +now numbered upwards of one thousand souls. These had all purchased +lands and paid for them, and most of them were improving in +buildings and in cultivation. Peace and plenty had crowned their +labors, and the wilderness became a fruitful field, and the +solitary place began to bud and blossom as the rose. + +They lived in peace and quiet; no lawsuits with each other or +with the world; few or no debts were contracted; few promises +broken; there were no thieves, robbers, or murderers; few or no +idlers; all seemed to worship God with a ready heart. On Sundays +the people assembled to preach, pray, sing, and receive the +ordinances of God. Other days all seemed busy in the various +pursuits of industry. In short, there has seldom, if ever, been a +happier people upon the earth than the Church of the Saints now +were. + +In the latter part of summer and in the autumn, I devoted almost +my entire time in ministering among the churches; holding meetings; +visiting the sick; comforting the afflicted, and giving counsel. A +school of Elders was also organized, over which I was called to +preside. This class, to the number of about sixty, met for +instruction once a week. The place of meeting was in the open air, +under some tall trees, in a retired place in the wilderness, where +we prayed, preached and prophesied, and exercised ourselves in the +gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here great blessings were poured out, and +many great and marvelous things were manifested and taught. The +Lord gave me great wisdom, and enabled me to teach and edify the +Elders, and comfort and encourage them in their preparations for +the great work which lay before us. I was also much edified and +strengthened. To attend this school I had to travel on foot, and +sometimes with bare feet at that, about six miles. This I did once +a week, besides visiting and preaching in five or six branches a +week. + +While thus engaged, and in answer to our correspondence with the +Prophet, Joseph Smith, at Kirtland, Ohio, the following revelation +was sent to us by him, dated August, 1833: + +"Verily I say unto you, my friends, I speak unto you with my +voice, even the voice of my Spirit; that I may show unto you my +will concerning your brethren in the land of Zion; many of whom are +truly humble, and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and to +find truth; verily, verily I say unto you, blessed are such for +they shall obtain; for I, the Lord, showeth mercy unto all the +meek, and upon all whomsoever I will, that I may be justified when +I shall bring them into judgment. + +"Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I the +Lord am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion; and +also with my servant, Parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me; and +inasmuch as he continueth to abide in me, he shall continue to +preside over the school in the land of Zion until I shall give unto +him other commandments; and I will bless him with a multiplicity of +blessings in expounding all Scriptures and mysteries to the +edification of the school and of the Church in Zion, and to the +residue of the school I, the Lord, am willing to show mercy; +nevertheless, there are those that must needs be chastened, and +their works shall be made known. The axe is laid at the root of the +trees, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be +hewn down and cast into the fire; I, the Lord have spoken it. +Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are +honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing +to observe their covenants by sacrifice; yea, every sacrifice which +I, the Lord, shall command, they are all accepted of me, for I, the +Lord will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which +is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream that yieldeth much +precious fruit. + +"Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that an house should +be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I +have given you; yea, let it be built speedily by the tithing of my +people; behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the +Lord, require at their hands; that there may be an house built unto +me for the salvation of Zion, for a place of thanksgiving for all +saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called +to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and +offices, that they may be perfected in the understanding of their +ministry in theory, in principle, and in doctrine in all things +pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which +kingdom have been conferred upon you. + +"And inasmuch as my people build an house unto me in the name of +the Lord, and do nor suffer any unclean thing to come into it that +it be not defiled, My glory shall rest upon it; yea, and my +presence shall be there; for I will come into it, and all the pure +in heart that shall come into it shall see God; but if it be +defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there +for I will not come into unholy temples. + +"And now behold, if Zion do these things she shall prosper and +spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very +terrible; and the nations of the earth shall honor her and shall +say, surely Zion is the city of our God; and surely Zion cannot +fall, neither be moved out of her place; for God is there, and the +hand of the Lord is there, and He hath sworn by the power of His +might to be her salvation and her high tower; therefore, verily +thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion, THE PURE +IN HEART; therefore let Zion rejoice while all the wicked shall +mourn; for behold, and lo! vengeance cometh speedily upon the +ungodly as the whirlwind, and who shall escape it? The Lord's +scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof +shall vex all people; yet it shall not be stayed until the Lord +come; for the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their +abominations and all their wicked works; nevertheless, Zion shall +escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded +her; but if she observes not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, +I will visit her, according to all her works, with sore affliction; +with pestilence; with plague; with sword; with vengeance; with +devouring fire; nevertheless, let it be read this once in their +ears, that I, the Lord, have accepted of their offering; and if she +sin no more none of these things shall come upon her, and I will +bless her with blessings, and multiply a multiplicity of blessings +upon her and upon her generations forever and ever, saith the Lord +your God. Amen." + +This revelation was not complied with by the leaders and Church +in Missouri, as a whole; notwithstanding many were humble and +faithful. Therefore, the threatened judgment was poured out to the +uttermost, as the history of the five following years will show. + +That portion of the inhabitants of Jackson County which did not +belong to the Church, became jealous of our growing influence and +numbers. Political demagogues were afraid we should rule the +county; and religious priests and bigots felt that we were powerful +rivals, and about to excel all other societies in the State in +numbers, and in power and influence. + +These feelings, and the false statements and influences growing +out of them, gave rise to the organization of a company of outlaws, +whose avowed object was to drive the Church of the Saints from the +county. + +These were composed of lawyers, magistrates, county officers, +civil and military; religious ministers, and great numbers of the +ignorant and uninformed portion of the population, whose prejudices +were easily aroused. + +They commenced operations by assembling in great numbers, +destroying a printing office and its materials; demolishing +dwellings and stores, and plundering the contents and strewing them +in the street; cutting open feather beds, breaking furniture, +destroying fences and crops, whipping, threatening and variously +abusing men, women and children, etc. + +The saints submitted to these outrages for a time in all +patience, without defence or resistance of any kind, supposing that +the public authorities would of course put a stop to them, as in +duty bound. + +But they were soon convinced to the contrary, and were compelled +to take up arms for defence; and also to make the most vigorous +exertions to prosecute according to law. We assembled in small +bodies in different neighborhoods, and stood on guard during the +nights, being ready to march in a moment to any place of attack. + +I had the command of about sixty men who were thus assembled in +the Colesville branch; and rendezvoused in some log buildings +during a very rainy time. + +It was evening. I was out in the act of posting guards a short +distance from the dwellings, when two men assailed us, armed with +guns and pistols; and supposing it against our principles to make +any defence, they attacked the guards. I was without arms, but +stepped forward to interfere between them, when one of them drew +his gun backwards, and, with both hands, struck the barrel of it +across the top of my head. I staggered back, but did not fall; the +blood came streaming down my face, and I was for an instant stunned +by the blow; but, recovering myself, I called help from the house +and disarmed them, and put them under guard till morning. Their +arms were then restored, and they let go in peace. + +The taking of these two men proved a Preventive against an +attack that night. They were the advance of a party of men who were +about to come upon the settlement, but were disconcerted by this +means. + +On the next day, about sunset, myself and a Mr. Marsh set out on +horseback to visit the Circuit Judge at Lexington, a distance of +some forty miles. We were under the necessity of travelling the +most private paths across the country, in order to avoid our +enemies; but we had a most faithful pilot, an old resident of the +country, who knew every crook and turn of the different paths. + +We had ridden but a few miles when it became so excessively dark +that we could not see each other, or distinguish any object. Our +pilot dismounted several times and tried to feel his way. We were +at last compelled to halt for some time, until it cleared and +became a little lighter; but the rain began to fall in torrents, +and continued all the latter part of the night. We soon became +drenched, and every thread about us perfectly wet; but still we +dare not stop for any refreshment or shelter, until day dawned, +when we found ourselves forty miles from home and at the door of a +friend, where we breakfasted and refreshed ourselves. + +We then repaired to Lexington, and made oath before Judge Ryland +of the outrages committed upon us, but were refused a warrant. The +Judge advised us to fight and kill the outlaws whenever they came +upon us. We then returned to the place where we breakfasted, and, +night coming on, we retired to bed. Having been without sleep for +the three previous nights, and much of the time drenched with rain, +this, together with the severe wound I had received, caused me to +feel much exhausted. No sooner had sleep enfolded me in her kind +embrace than a vision opened before me. + +I was in Jackson County; heard the sound of firearms and saw the +killed and wounded lying in their blood. At this I awoke from +slumber, and awaking Mr. Marsh and the family with whom we lodged, +I told them that I had seen and heard in my dream, and that I was +sure a battle had just occurred. + +Next morning we pursued our journey homeward with feelings of +anxiety indescribable. Every officer of the peace had abandoned us +to our fate; and it seemed as if there was no alternative but for +men, women and children to be exterminated. As we rode on, +ruminating upon these things, a man met us from Independence, who +told us there was a battle raging when he left; and how it had +terminated he knew not. + +This only heightened out feelings of anxiety and suspense. We +were every instant drawing nearer to the spot where we might find +our friends alive and victorious, or dead, or perhaps in bondage, +in the hands of a worse than savage enemy. + +On coming within four miles of Independence, we ventured to +inquire the distance at a certain house; this we did in order to +pass as strangers, and also, in hopes to learn some news; the man +seemed frightened, and inquired where we were from. We replied, +from Lexington. Said he, "Have you heard what has happened?" We +replied, "That we had heard there was some difficulty, but of all +the participants we had not been informed." "Why," said he, "the +Mormons have _riz_, and have killed six men." + +We then passed on, and as soon as we were out of sight we left +the road and took into the woods. + +Taking a circuitous route, through thickets of hazel interwoven +with grape vine, we came in sight of Independence, after some +difficulty and entanglement, and advanced towards it; but seeing +parties of armed men advancing towards us, we wheeled about, and +retreating a distance, turned again into the woods, and galloping +about a half mile, reached the tents of our friends. + +But what was our astonishment when we found our brethren without +arms, having surrendered them to the enemy! + +The truth was this: The same evening that I dreamed of the +battle, a large body of the outlaws had marched to a certain +settlement, where they had before committed many outrages, and +commenced to unroof dwellings, destroy property, and threaten and +abuse women and children. While some sixty men were thus engaged, +and their horses quietly regaling themselves in the cornfields of +the brethren, about thirty of our men marched upon them, and drove +them from the field. Several were severely if not mortally wounded +on both sides; and one young man of the Church died of his wounds +the next day--his name was Barber. + +In the battle brother Philo Dibble, of Ohio, was shot in the +body through his waistband; the ball remained in him. He bled much +inwardly, and, in a day or two his bowels were so filled with blood +and so inflamed that he was about to die, or, rather, he had been +slowly dying from the time he was wounded. The smell of himself had +become intolerable to him and those about him. At length Elder +Newel Knight administered to him, by the laying on of hands, in the +name of Jesus; his hands had scarcely touched his head when he felt +an operation penetrating his whole system as if it had been a +purifying fire. He immediately discharged several quarts of blood +and corruption, among which was the ball with which he had been +wounded. He was instantly healed, and went to work chopping wood. +He remained an able bodied man, a hard worker, and even did +military duty for many years after. He is still living in Davis +County, Utah. + +The next morning, Nov. 5, armed men were assembled in +Independence from every part of the county. These joined the +outlaws, and called themselves militia, and placed themselves under +the command of Lieutenant-Governor Boggs and a colonel by the name +of Pitcher. Thus organized, manned and officered, they were a +formidable band of outlaws; capable of murder, or any other +violence or outrage which would accomplish their purpose; which was +to drive the people of the Church from the county, and plunder +their property and possess their lands. + +Very early the same morning, several volunteers united their +forces from different branches of the Church and marched towards +Independence, in order to defend their brethren and friends. When +within a short distance from the town they halted, and were soon +informed that the militia were called out for their protection; but +in this they did not place confidence; for they saw that the armed +body congregated had joined with the mobbers and outlaws, and were +one with them to carry out their murderous purposes. On +communicating with the leaders, Boggs and Pitcher, it was found +that there was no alternative but for the Church to leave the +county forthwith, and deliver up their arms, and certain men to be +tried for murder, said to have been committed in the battle the +previous evening. + +Rather than have submitted to these outrageous requirements the +saints would willingly have shed their blood; but they knew that if +they resisted this mob, the lies of the designing and the prejudice +of the ignorant would construe their resistance into a violation of +law, and thus bring certain destruction upon them; therefore, they +surrendered their arms and agreed to leave the county forthwith. +The men who were demanded as prisoners were also surrendered and +imprisoned, but were dismissed in a day or two without trial. + +A few hours after the surrender we arrived at the camp of our +brethren on our return from Lexington. + +The struggle was now over, our liberties were gone, our homes to +be deserted and possessed by a lawless banditti; and all this in +the United States of America. + +The sun was then setting, and twelve miles separated me from my +family; but I determined to reach home that night. My horse being +weary I started on foot, and walked through the wilderness in +darkness; avoiding the road lest I should fall into the hands of +the enemy. + +I arrived home about the middle of the night, and furnishing my +wife with a horse, we made our escape in safety. + +When night again overtook us we were on the bank of the Missouri +River, which divided between Jackson and Clay Counties. Here we +camped for the night, as we could not cross the ferry till morning. +Next morning we crossed the river, and formed an encampment amid +the cottonwoods on its bank. + +While we thus made our escape companies of ruffians were ranging +the county in every direction; bursting into houses without fear, +knowing that the people were disarmed; frightening women and +children, and threatening to kill them if they did not flee +immediately. At the head of one of these parties appeared the Rev. +Isaac McCoy (a noted Baptist missionary to the Indians), with gun +in hand, ordering the people to leave their homes immediately and +surrender everything in the shape of arms. + +Other pretended preachers of the gospel took part in the +persecution--speaking of the Church as the common enemies of +mankind, and exulting in their afflictions. On Tuesday and +Wednesday nights, the 5th and 6th of November, women and children +fled in every direction. One party of about one hundred and fifty +fled to the prairie, where they wandered for several days, mostly +without food; and nothing but the open firmament for their shelter. +Other parties fled towards the Missouri River. During the +dispersion of women and children, parties were hunting the men, +firing upon some, tying up and whipping others, and some they +pursued several miles. + +Thursday, November 7. The shore began to be lined on both sides +of the ferry with men, women and children; goods, wagons, boxes, +provisions, etc., while the ferry was constantly employed; and when +night again closed upon us the cottonwood bottom had much the +appearance of a camp meeting. Hundreds of people were seen in every +direction, some in tents and some in the open air around their +fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were +inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands; parents for +children, and children for parents. Some had the good fortune to +escape with their families, household goods, and some provisions; +while others knew not the fate of their friends, and had lost all +their goods. The scene was indescribable, and, I am sure, would +have melted the hearts of any people on the earth, except our blind +oppressors, and a blind and ignorant community. + +Next day our company still increased, and we were principally +engaged in felling cottonwood trees and erecting them into small +cabins. The next night being clear, we began to enjoy some degree +of comfort. + +About two o'clock the next morning we were called up by the cry +of signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great astonishment +all the firmament seemed enveloped in splendid fireworks, as if +every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course, +and sent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright +meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long +trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several +hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun. Every +heart was filled with joy at this majestic display of signs and +wonders, showing the near approach of the coming of the Son of God. + +All our goods, were left behind; but I obtained some of them +afterwards at the risk of my life. But all my provisions for the +winter were destroyed or stolen, and my grain left growing on the +ground for my enemies to harvest. My house was afterwards burned, +and my fruit trees and improvements destroyed or plundered. In +short, every member of the society was driven from the county, and +fields of corn were ravaged and destroyed; stacks of wheat burned, +household goods plundered, and improvements and every kind of +property destroyed. One of this banditti afterwards boasted to one +of the brethren that, according to their own account of the matter, +the number of houses burned was two hundred and three. + +The Saints who fled took refuge in the adjoining counties, +mostly in Clay County, which received them with some degree of +kindness. Those who fled to the county of Van Buren were again +driven and compelled to flee; and those who fled to Lafayette +County were soon expelled, or the most part of them, and had to +move to wherever they could find protection. + +When the news of these outrages reached the Governor of the +State, courts of inquiry, both civil and military, were ordered by +him, but nothing effectual was ever done to restore our rights, or +to protect us in the least. It is true the Attorney-General, and a +military escort under Colonel, afterwards General Doniphan, and our +witnesses went to Jackson County and demanded indictments; but the +court refused to do anything in the case, and the military, +Attorney-General and witnesses were mobbed out of the county; and +thus that matter ended. + +The Governor also ordered them to restore the arms of which they +robbed us, but they never were restored. Even our lands were robbed +of their timber, and either occupied by our enemies for years or +left desolate. Soon after Jackson County had rebelled against the +laws and constitution of the General and State governments, several +of the adjacent counties followed the example, by justifying her +proceedings, and by opposing the Saints in settling among them. The +counties of Clay, Ray, Clinton and various others, held public +meetings, the tenor of which was to deprive the members of our +society of the rights of citizenship, drive them from among them, +and to compel them to settle only in such places as these outlaws +should dictate; and even at that time some of their proceedings +went so far as to publicly threaten to drive the whole society from +the State. The excuses they offered for these outrages were: + +First: The society were guilty principally of being eastern or +northern people. + +Secondly: They were guilty of some slight variations in manners +and language from the other citizens of the State, who were mostly +from the South. + +Thirdly: Their religious principles differed in some important +particulars from most other societies. + +Fourthly: They were guilty of immigrating rapidly from the +different States, and of purchasing large quantities of land, and +of being more enterprising and industrious than their neighbors. + +Fifthly: Some of them were guilty of poverty--especially those +who had been driven, from time to time, and robbed of their all. +And, + +Lastly: They were said to be guilty of believing in the present +Government administration of Indian affairs, viz: that the land +west of the Mississippi, which Government had deeded in fee simple +to the immigrating tribes, was destined by Providence for their +permanent homes. + +All these crimes were charged upon our society, in the public +proceedings of the several counties, and were deemed sufficient to +justify their unlawful proceedings against us. The reader may smile +at this statement, but the public journals of Upper Missouri in +1835, actually printed charges and declarations against us, of the +tenor of the foregoing. + +By these wicked proceedings our people were once more compelled +to remove, at a great sacrifice of property, and were at last +permitted to settle in the north of Ray County, where, by the next +legislature, they were organized into the counties of Caldwell and +Daviess. Here again they exercised the utmost industry and +enterprise, and these wild regions soon presented a more +flourishing aspect than the oldest counties of the State. + +In the meantime, the majority of the State so far countenanced +these outrages that they actually elected Lilburn W. Boggs (one of +the oldest actors in the scenes of Jackson County, who had assisted +in murder and plunder, and the expulsion of twelve hundred +citizens, in 1833) for Governor of the State, and placed him in the +executive chair, instead of suspending him by the neck, between the +heavens and the earth, as his crimes justly merited. This movement +may be said to have put an end to liberty, law and government in +that State. About this time, Colonel Lucas, a leader of the +banditti, was elected Major-General, instead of being hung for +treason and murder. And Moses Wilson, another leader of the mob, +was elected Brigadier-General and others were advanced accordingly. +These all very readily received their commissions from their +accomplice, Governor Boggs, and thus corruption, rebellion and +conspiracy had spread on every side, being fostered and encouraged +by a large majority of the State; and thus the treason became +general. + +In the meantime, our society had greatly increased by a rapid +immigration, and having long felt the withering hand of oppression +from so corrupt an administration, they had endeavored to organize +themselves, both civil and military, in the counties where they +composed the majority, by electing such officers as they thought +would stand for equal rights, and for the laws and Constitution of +the country. In this way they hoped to withstand the storm which +had so long beaten upon them, and whose black clouds now seemed +lowering in awful gloom, preparing to burst with overwhelming fury +upon all who dared to stand for liberty and law. + + +CHAPTER XIV. +------------------------ + +Labors in Clay County:--Conference:--Appointment +to a Tedious Journey:--A Case of Healing:--Arrive at +Kirtland:--Revelation:--Travel Eastward, in Company with +President Joseph Smith:--Conference in Geneseo:--Pleasing +Reminiscence:--President Smith and Others Return Home:--Visit +Sackett's Harbor:--Crowded Meeting:--Requested to Visit the +Sick:--A Little Boy Healed:--Baptisms, etc.:--Miraculous +Gifts:--Lying Priests and Rabble:--Visit my Parents in Canaan, +N. Y.:--Return to Kirtland. + +As the history of this horrible persecution of the Church was +interwoven with my own, I have traced it for a few years in +connection; in which I have of necessity digressed from the main +thread of my own personal narrative, to which I mast return. + +After making our escape into the county of Clay--being reduced +to the lowest poverty--I made a living by day labor, jobbing, +building, or wood cutting, till some time in the winter of 1834, +when a general Conference was held at my house, in which it was +decided that two of the Elders should be sent to Ohio, in order to +counsel with President Smith and the Church at Kirtland, and rake +some measures for the relief or restoration of the people thus +plundered and driven from their homes. The question was put to the +Conference: "Who would volunteer to perform so great a journey?" + +The poverty of all, and the inclement season of the year made +all hesitate. At length Lyman Wight and myself offered our +services, which were readily accepted. I was at this time entirely +destitute of proper clothing for the journey; and I had neither +horse, saddle, bridle, money nor provisions to take with me; or to +leave with my wife, who lay sick and helpless most of the time. + +Under these circumstances I knew not what to do. Nearly all had +been robbed and plundered, and all were poor. As we had to start +without delay, I almost trembled at the undertaking; it seemed to +be all but an impossibility; but "to him that believeth all things +are possible." I started out of my house to do something towards +making preparation; I hardly knew which way to go, but I found +myself in the house of brother John Lowry, and was intending to ask +him for money; but as I entered his miserable cottage in the swamp, +amid the low, timbered bottoms of the Missouri river, I found him +sick in bed with a heavy fever, and two or three others of his +family down with the same complaint, on different beds in the same +room. He was vomiting severely, and was hardly sensible of my +presence. I thought to myself, "well, this is a poor place to come +for money, and yet I must have it; I know of no one else that has +got it; what shall I do?" I sat a little while confounded and +amazed. At length another Elder happened in; at that instant faith +sprung up in my heart; the Spirit whispered to me, "is there +anything too hard for the Lord?" I said to the Elder that came in: +"Brother, I am glad you have come; these people must be healed, for +I want some money of them, and must have it." + +We laid hands on them and rebuked the disease; brother Lowry +rose up well; I did my errand, and readily obtained all I asked. +This provided in part for my family's sustenance while I should +leave them. I went a little further into the woods of the Missouri +bottoms, and came to a camp of some brethren, by the name of +Higbee, who owned some horses; they saw me coming, and, moved by +the Spirit, one of them said to the other, "there comes brother +Parley; he's in want of a horse for his journey--I must let him +have old Dick;" this being the name of the best horse he had. +"Yes," said I, "brother, you have guessed right; but what will I do +for a saddle?" "Well," says the other, "I believe I'll have to let +you have mine." I blessed them and went on my way rejoicing. + +I next called on Sidney A. Gilbert, a merchant, then sojourning +in the village of Liberty--his store in Jackson County having been +broken up, and his goods plundered and destroyed by the mob. +"Well," says he, "brother Parley, you certainly look too shabby to +start a journey; you must have a new suit; I have got some remnants +left that will make you a coat," etc. A neighboring tailoress and +two or three other sisters happened to be present on a visit, and +hearing the conversation, exclaimed, "Yes, brother Gilbert, you +find the stuff and we'll make it up for him." This arranged, I now +lacked only a cloak; this was also furnished by brother Gilbert. + +Brother Wight was also prospered in a similar manner in his +preparations. Thus faith and the blessings of God had cleared up +our way to accomplish what seemed impossible. We were soon ready, +and on the first of February we mounted our horses, and started in +good cheer to ride one thousand or fifteen hundred miles through a +wilderness country. We had not one cent of money in out pockets on +starting. + +We travelled every day, whether through storm or sunshine, mud, +rain or snow; except when our public duties called us to tarry. We +arrived in Kirtland early in the spring, all safe and sound; we had +lacked for nothing on the road, and now had plenty of funds in +hand. President Joseph Smith and the Church in Kirtland received us +with a hospitality and joy unknown except among the Saints; and +much interest was felt there, as well as elsewhere, on the subject +of our persecution. + +The President inquired of the Lord concerning rite matter, and a +further mission was appointed us.* In fulfillment of which we +continued our journey eastward, in connection with President Joseph +Smith, S. Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Frederick G. Williams, Orson Hyde +and Orson Pratt. + +[Footnote] *See Revelation, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, +Section 101. + +We journeyed two and two in different routes visiting the +churches and instructing the people as we travelled. President +Joseph Smith and myself journeyed together. We had a pleasant and +prosperous mission among the churches, and some very interesting +times in preaching to the public. We visited Freedom, Catteraugus +County, N. Y.; tarried over Sunday, and preached several +discourses, to which rite people listened with great interest; we +were kindly and hospitably entertained among them. We baptized a +young man named Heman Hyde; his parents were Presbyterians, and his +mother, on account of the strength of her traditions, thought that +we were wrong, and told me afterwards that she would much rather +have followed him to an earthly grave than to have seen him +baptized. + +Soon afterwards, however, herself, her husband, and the rest of +the family, with some thirty or forty others, were all baptized and +organized into a branch of the Church--called the Freedom branch +--from which nucleus the light spread and souls were gathered into +the fold in all the regions round. Thus mightily grew the word of +God, or the seed sown by that extraordinary personage, the Prophet +and Seer of the nineteenth century. + +As we journeyed day after day, and generally lodged together, we +had much sweet communion concerning the things of God and the +mysteries of His kingdom, and I received many admonitions and +instructions which I shall never forget. + +Arriving in Geneseo, we met with the other Elders who had +started from Kirtland on the same mission, and with others who were +local, and held a general Conference. Among those whose hospitality +we shared in that vicinity was old father Beeman and his amiable +and interesting family. He was a good singer and so were his three +daughters; we were much edified and comforted in their society, and +were deeply interested in hearing the old gentleman and brother +Joseph converse on their early acquaintance and history. He had +been intimate with Joseph long before the first organization of the +Church; had assisted him to preserve the plates of the Book of +Mormon from the enemy, and had at one time had them concealed under +his own hearth. + +At this Conference we had an interesting time; public meetings +were convened; multitudes assembled to hear, and Presidents Joseph +Smith and S. Rigdon addressed the crowds in great plainness of +speech with mighty power. At the close of this Conference we again +parted company, President Smith and most of the Elders returned +home to Kirtland. + +I then journeyed in connection with a young Elder, named H. +Brown, as far as Henderson County, in northern New York, where +lived Elder Brown's father, and where there was quite a branch of +the Church. I visited with them for a few days, resting from my +toils and ministering among them. Taking leave of these friends, I +went to Sackett's Harbor, where all were yet strangers to the +fullness of the gospel. Leaving an appointment at a hotel that I +would return in a few days thence, and address the people wherever +they saw fit to assemble, I crossed over the bay to a country +neighborhood, called Pillar Point. In this neighborhood there had +been some preaching by our Elders; but no branch of the Church +organized, though there had been one or two instances of healing, +and some few were believing. Here I appointed a meeting for evening +in a school house; it was crowded full of people; indeed, all could +not get in. + +As the meeting closed a man named William Cory stepped forward, +and earnestly begged of me to go home with him and minister to his +wife, as she was lying at the point of death in consequence of a +lingering sickness, not having risen up in her bed for six days +without swooning or going into fits. He further said that he was +worn out by being up with her every night, and that his neighbors +were weary with watching, and it was doubted whether she could +survive through the night without relief. + +The Spirit would not suffer me to go with him that night, but I +promised to call in the morning. At this many voices were heard, +saying: "Yes, yes, there's a case in hand; let him heal her and +we'll all believe." Others exclaimed: "I wonder if she'll be at his +meeting tomorrow! We shall see, and if so, we'll all believe." +Expressions like these, joined with my own weakness, only tended to +dampen my courage and confidence in the case. + +I went home with a friend who invited me to partake of his +hospitality for the night. As we entered his house, we found one of +his children very sick with a violent pain in the head, to which it +had been subject from its birth, and which came at regular periods, +and was never relieved till it gathered and broke at his ear--so +said his parents. The little fellow was rolling from side to side +in his bed, an screeching and screaming with pain. I stepped to the +bedside, and laid my hands upon his head in the name of Jesus +Christ; he was instantly made whole and went to sleep. Next morning +he got up well, and continued so; he said that the pain all left +him as soon as my hands touched his head. + +In the morning, before I arose, I had a vision, as follows: I +saw a log house, and entered it through a door at the northwest +corner; in the northeast corner lay a woman sick in bed; in the +southeast corner was a small door opening into an adjoining room, +and near it a stairway, where stood a ladder; the fireplace being +in the south end. As I entered the house and laid my hands on the +woman, she rose up and was made whole; the house being crowded, she +took her seat near the fire and under the ladder, or near by it, +and she praised God with a shout of glory, clapping her hands for +joy and exclaimed: "Thank God, I'm every whit whole." I awoke from +my vision and related the same to the family where I stayed. + +The man harnessed his horses, and with seven or eight persons in +the wagon, including myself, we started for meeting, intending to +call and see Mrs. Cory on our way, as I had appointed the previous +evening. On alighting at her house I saw it was the same that I had +seen in the vision; there were the doors, the stairway, ladder, +fireplace, bed, and sick woman, just as I had seen and described. + +I laid my hands upon the woman, and said: "In the name of Jesus +Christ, be thou made whole this instant." I then commanded her to +arise and walk. Her husband burst into tears; the people looked +surprised; but the woman arose and walked to the fire, and happened +to take her seat near the ladder, as I had related in the vision +before I saw her. She then clapped her hands for joy, gave a shout +of "Glory to God in the highest," and testified that she was every +whit whole. We invited her to accompany us to the meeting; she +immediately made ready, walked out, helped herself into the wagon, +and rode some two miles over a very rough road. She then got out of +the wagon, and walked with a strong and quick step into the +meeting, where she sat till the discourse was over; when she arose +and testified what the Lord had done for her. She then rode home, +and was baptized in connection with several others, who came +forward and obeyed the fullness of the gospel. We afterwards laid +our hands on them for the gift of the Holy Ghost, when it fell upon +them in great power, insomuch that all in the room felt its power +and influence and glorified God; some spake in tongues, others +prophesied and bore testimony to the truth. + +The next evening I went over to Sackett's Harbor in order to +preach; many of the people from Pillar Point, who had witnessed +these things, went with me, and, among others, Mr. Cory with his +wife, who had been so miraculously healed. A great rabble came out +to hear, or rather to disturb the meeting; and among others, some +half dozen clergymen of different orders, who were loud in their +challenges and calls for miracles; "give us a miracle--we want a +miracle--heal the sick--raise the dead, and then we'll believe." +The lying, rage, and confusion excited by these wicked spirits, +broke up the meeting, and I had much ado to get out of the crowd +without being stoned or torn to pieces. + +After tarrying a few days in this region, I took leave and +continued my journey as far as Columbia County, east of the Hudson. +I arrived at my Aunt Van Cott's, and found them all well; paid a +visit to my father and mother; gave them money sufficient to enable +them to remove to Kirtland, Ohio, and then commenced my return. I +had started from the frontiers of Missouri and ridden on horseback +fifteen hundred miles. + +As I returned towards the West, I came to the town of Freedom, +Catteraugus County, N. Y., where President Joseph Smith and myself +had preached on our outward journey, a few weeks previously, and +where we had baptized a young man by the name of Heman Hyde, as the +first fruits in that place. As I called for the night, I found that +a large church had been gathered during my absence, consisting of +some forty members or more, principally through the labors of my +brother Orson. The new members, and the people in general, rejoiced +to see me, and aided me on my journey; and Heman Hyde accompanied +me to Kirtland, where we arrived the latter part of April, and were +kindly and hospitably entertained by President Joseph Smith. + + +CHAPTER XV. +------------------------ + +An Army:--A Long March:--Recruits:--A Voice:--Camp Arrives in +Missouri:--Delegation to the Governor:--Interview:--Return to +Camp:--Council:--Great Storm and Flood:--A Battle Providentially +Prevented:--Cholera:--Army Disbanded:--Sudden Destruction:--Labor with +my Hands:--Journey to Ohio:--Labor and Ministry:--Accusations:--Repair +to Kirtland:--Interview with the President:--His Action on the +Matter:--Calling and Ordination of a Quorum of Twelve Apostles:--My +Ordination, Blessing and Charge:--Charge to the Quorum. + +It was now the first of May, 1834, and our mission had resulted +in the assembling of about two hundred men at Kirtland, with teams, +baggage, provisions, arms, etc., for a march of one thousand miles, +for the purpose of carrying some supplies to the afflicted and +persecuted Saints in Missouri, and to reinforce and strengthen +them; and, if possible, to influence the Governor of the State to +call out sufficient additional force to cooperate in restoring them +to their rights. This little army was led by President Joseph Smith +in person. It commenced its march about the first of May, passing +through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, it entered Missouri some time +in June. + +I was chiefly engaged as a recruiting officer, and, not being +much with the camp, can give but little of its history. I visited +branches of the Church in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, and +obtaining what men and means I could, fell in with the camp from +time to time with additional men, arms, stress and money. On one +occasion, I had travelled all night to overtake the camp with some +men and means, and having breakfasted with them and changed horses, +I again started ahead on express to visit other branches, and do +business to again overtake them. At noon I had turned my horse +loose from the carriage to feed on the grass in the midst of a +broad, level plain. No habitation was near; stillness and repose +reigned about me; I sank down overpowered with a deep sleep, and +might have lain in a state of oblivion till the shades of night had +gathered about me, so completely was I exhausted for want of sleep +and rest; but I had only slept a few moments till the horse had +grazed sufficiently, when a voice, more loud and shrill than I have +ever before heard, fell on my ear, and thrilled through every part +of my system; it said: "_Parley, it is time to be up and on your +journey_." In the twinkling of an eye I was perfectly aroused; +I sprang to my feet so suddenly that I could not at first recollect +where I was, or what was before me to perform. I related the +circumstance afterwards to brother Joseph Smith, and he bore +testimony that it was the angel of the Lord who went before the +camp, who found me overpowered with sleep, and thus awoke me. + +Arriving in the Allred settlement, near Salt River, Missouri, +where there was a large branch of the Church, the camp rested a +little, and despatched Elder Orson Hyde and myself to Jefferson +City, to request of His Excellency, Governor Daniel Dunklin, a +sufficient military force, with orders to reinstate the exiles, and +protect them in the possession of their homes in Jackson County. + +We had an interview with the Governor, who readily acknowledged +the justice of the demand, but frankly told us he dare not attempt +the execution of the laws in that respect, for fear of deluging the +whole country in civil war and bloodshed. He advised us to +relinquish our rights, for the sake of peace, and to sell our lands +from which we had been driven. To this we replied with firmness, +that we would hold no terms with land pirates and murderers. If we +could not be permitted to live on lands which we had purchased of +the United States, and be protected in our persons and rights, our +lands would, at least, make a good burying ground, on which to lay +out bones; and, like Abraham's possession in Canaan, we should hold +on to our possessions in the county of Jackson, for this purpose, +at least. He replied that he did not blame us in the least, but +trembled for the country, and dare not carry out the plain, +acknowledged and imperative duties of his office. We retired, +saying to ourselves: "That poor coward ought, in duty, to resign; +he owes this, morally at least, in justice to his oath of office." + +We returned to the camp, which was then on the march, somewhere +below the county of Ray. President Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, +L. Wight and others, repaired with us into a solitary grove, apart, +to learn the result of our mission. + +After hearing our report, the President called on the God of our +fathers to witness the justice of our cause and the sincerity of +our vows, which we engaged to fulfill, whether in this life or in +the life to come. For, as God lives, truth, justice and innocence +shall triumph, and iniquity shall not reign. + +Pursuing our journey, we arrived at Fishing River, Ray County, +and encamped for the night on a hill between its forks. This stream +was then about six inches deep in each of its branches where the +road crossed it. We had but just camped, when there arose such a +storm as has been seldom witnessed on our earth; the wind blew, the +vivid lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, the earth trembled, +and the floods descended in a manner never before witnessed by us. +Our tents were blown down, and some of us lay six or eight inches +deep in water. There was a large meeting house there with the door +open, into which many of us gathered for shelter, after being +nearly drowned. + +Next morning the fords of Fishing River were said to be twenty +to forty feet deep. We afterwards learned that an army of outlaws +were in our neighborhood, and would have attacked us that night but +for the storm; the floods in the river each side of us prevented a +hostile meeting, until certain citizens made the acquaintance of +our leaders, and learned their intentions. Thus the excitement was +allayed, and the outlaws finally disbanded. + +About this time, owing to some murmurings and insubordination in +the camp, the cholera broke out among them, in fulfillment of the +word of the Lord, by the mouth of His servant Joseph, and resulted +in the death of some fifteen or twenty of the camp, or of others +connected with the Saints. Finally, the camp was by the word of the +Lord, disbanded, some remained as settlers in that country, and +others returned to their homes and families in Ohio. + +I left the camp at Fishing River, and arrived home in Clay +County, where my family resided, late in July. I found my wife +still afflicted, and on account of long sickness, reduced greater +poverty than before, and I was somewhat embarrassed with debts on +account of her board, etc., while I was absent. + +About the time of the arrival of the camp at Fishing River, the mob +of Jackson County sent a committee to twelve of their leaders, to +confer with the authorities of the exiled Church in Clay County, to +make proposals for the settlement of the whole matter, by purchasing +the lands from which they had been driven. The Saints would not sell +their lands to their murderers and the land pirates who had driven and +plundered them; therefore the mob's representatives were unsuccessful. + +As this committee of twelve returned, and were crossing the +Missouri River at evening, their boat sank in an instant in the +middle of the stream, and only about half of the committee ever +reached the shore alive. Brother Joseph said it was the angel of +the Lord who sank the boat. + +Having no means of support except by the labor of my hands, I +now commenced again to exert myself at hard labor. In this I +continued till October of the same year, when, being counselled by +the Presidency to remove to Ohio, I started a journey of one +thousand miles with my wife, in a wagon drawn by two horses. We had +not a single dollar in money, but we trusted in God, and lacked for +nothing. During this journey my wife continued in a very feeble +state of health. + +After a journey of near one thousand miles, we arrived at New +Portage, fifty miles from Kirtland, early in the winter, and +finding a large society of the Saints who welcomed us among them, +we stopped for the winter. I now commenced to preach, both in that +place and in all the region round, to multitudes who turned out to +hear the Word. Many embraced the gospel, and enjoyed the gifts of +God; instances of healing were of almost daily occurrence, and the +people waxed strong in the faith and in the gifts and power of God. +I also labored with my hands with all diligence, when time would +permit; thus the winter passed away. + +While laboring here, letters were received from W. W. Phelps, +then President of the Church in Missouri, suspending my papers +because I had gone away in debt; which debt had been contracted in +behalf of my sick wife while I had been away in the service of the +Conference, as recorded in the previous chapter. I had once offered +the money on the same, but the person to whom it was due, in view +of my public services, refused to take it; nevertheless, President +Phelps now censured me severely, observing in his letter that such +conduct was not the way of the pure in heart. + +Under this censure I ceased to officiate, at which both the +Church and people in general in and about New Portage were much +grieved. In the fore part of February, 1835, I repaired to +Kirtland, laid the case before President Smith, with my defence in +writing, in which is stated the true circumstances. I proceeded to +plead the injustice of the accusation, when the President arose to +his feet, lifted his hand to heaven, and with a voice, and energy, +and power of the Holy Spirit which thrilled the inmost soul, and +would have raised the dead, he exclaimed: "Brother Parley, God +bless you, go your way rejoicing, preach the gospel, fill the +measure of your mission, and walk such things under your feet; it +was a trick of Satan to hinder your usefulness; God Almighty shall +be with you, and nothing shall stay your hand." + +I was comforted, encouraged, filled with new life, thanking God +that there was one noble spirit on the earth who could discern +justice equity, appreciate the labors of others, and had boldness +of soul to judge and act accordingly. + +In accordance with one of the early revelations to the Church +concerning the calling and ordination of Twelve Apostles,* this +Quorum was now being filled. Among those chosen for this high and +holy calling was my brother Orson and myself. He being still +absent, and the other members having been already ordained, a +meeting was convened at Kirtland, and very numerously attended, in +which, on the 21st day of February, 1835, I took the oath and +covenant of apostleship, and was solemnly set apart and ordained to +that office; and as a member of that quorum under the hands of +Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer; the minutes of +which in the Church History are as follows: + +[Footnote] *See Revelation, Book of Doctrine and Covenants, +Section 43. + +"Kirtland, February 21st, 1835. Pursuant to adjournment, a +meeting of the Church was held, and, after prayer by President +David Whitmer, and a short address by President Oliver Cowdery to +the congregation, Elder Parley P. Pratt was called to the stand, +and ordained one of the Twelve by President Joseph Smith, Jr., +David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery. 'O, Lord, smile from heaven upon +this thy servant; forgive his sins, sanctify his heart, and prepare +him to receive the blessing. Increase his love for thee and for thy +cause; increase his intelligence, communicate to him all that +wisdom, that prudence and that understanding which he needs as a +minister of righteousness, and to magnify the apostleship whereunto +he is called. May a double portion of that Spirit which was +communicated to the disciples of our Lord and Saviour, to lead them +to all truth, rest down upon him, and go with him where he goes, +that nothing shall prevail against him; that he may be delivered +from prisons, from the power of his enemies, and from the adversary +of all righteousness. May he be able to mount up on wings as an +eagle; to run and not be weary, to walk and not to faint; may he +have great wisdom and intelligence, and be able to lead thine elect +through this thorny maze. Let sickness and death have no power over +him; let him be equal with his brethren in bringing many sons and +daughters to glory, and many nations to a knowledge of the truth. +Great blessings shall rest upon thee; thy faith shall increase, +thou shalt have great power to prevail. The veil of the heavens +shall be rolled up, thou shalt be permitted to gaze within it, and +receive instructions from on high. No arm that is formed and lifted +against thee shall prosper, no power shall prevail, for thou shalt +have power with God, and shalt proclaim His gospel. Thou wilt be +afflicted, but thou shalt be delivered, and conquer all thy foes. +Thine office shall never be taken from thee, thou shalt be called +great, angels shall carry thee from place to place. Thy sins are +forgiven, and thy name written in the Lamb's Book of Life; even so. +Amen.'" + +CHARGE GIVEN BY OLIVER COWDERY TO P. P. PRATT + +"I am aware, dear brother, that the mind naturally claims +something new; but the same thing rehearsed frequently profits us. +You will have the same difficulties to encounter in fulfilling this +ministry that the ancient Apostles had. You have enlisted in a +cause that requires your whole attention; you ought, therefore, to +count the cost; and to become a polished shaft, you must be +sensible, requires the labor of years, and your station requires a +perfect polish. It is required not merely to travel a few miles in +the country, but in distant countries; you must endure much toil, +much labor, and many privations to become perfectly polished. Your +calling is not like that of the husbandman, to cultivate a stinted +portion of the planet on which we dwell, and when Heaven has given +the former and the latter rain, and mellow autumn ripened his +fruits, gather it in, and congratulate himself for a season in the +remission of his toils, while he anticipates his winter evenings of +relaxation and fireside enjoyments. But, dear brother, it is far +otherwise with you. Your labor must be incessant, and your toil +great; you must go forth and labor till the great work is done. It +will require a series of years to accomplish it; but you will have +this pleasing consolation, that your Heavenly Father requires it; +the field is His; the work is His; and He will not only cheer you, +animate you, and buoy you up in your pilgrimage, in your arduous +toils; but when your work is done and your labor o'er, he will take +you to himself. But before this consummation of your felicity, +bring your mind to bear upon what will be imperiously required of +you to accomplish the great work that lies before you. Count well +the cost. You have read of the persecutions and trials of ancient +days. Has not bitter experience taught you that they are the same +now? You will be dragged before the authorities for the religion +you profess; and it were better not to set out than to start, look +back, or shrink when dangers thicken upon, or appalling death +stares you in the face. I have spoken these things, dear brother, +because I have seen them in visions. There are strong dungeons and +gloomy prisons for you. These should not appall you. You must be +called a good or bad man. The ancients passed through the same. +They had this testimony, that they had seen the Saviour after he +rose from the dead. You must bear some testimony, or your mission, +your labor, your toil will be in vain. You must bear the same +testimony that there is but one God, one Mediator; he that has seen +Him will know Him, and testify of Him. Beware of pride; beware of +evil; shun the very appearance of it; for the time is coming when, +if you do not give heed to these things, you will have a fall. +Among your many afflictions you will have many blessings also; but +you must pass through many afflictions in order to receive the +glory that is in reserve for you. You will see thousands who then +they first see you, will know nothing about salvation by Jesus +Christ; you shall see a nation born in a day. A great work lies +before you, and the time is near when you must bid farewell to your +native land cross the mighty deep, and sound the tocsin of alarm to +other nations kindreds, tongues and people. Remember, that all your +hopes of deliverance from danger and from death will rest upon your +faithfulness to God; in His cause you must necessarily serve Him +with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Avoid strife and vain +glory; think not yourself better than your brethren, but pray for +them as well as for yourself; and if you are faithful, great will +be your blessings. But if you are not, your stewardship will be +taken from you and another appointed in your stead." + +"Elder Pratt gave his hand to President O. Cowdery, and said he +had received ordination, and should fulfil the ministry according +to the grace given him; to which the President replied: 'Go forth, +and angels shall bear thee up, and thou shalt come forth at the +last day, bringing many with thee.'" + +Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt were absent on a mission. Elder +Marsh returned to Kirtland on the 25th of April, and Elder Pratt on +the 26th, and received their ordinations and blessing. + +The following charge was given to the Twelve by President O. +Cowdery: + +"Dear Brethren: Previous to delivering the charge, I shall read +a part of a revelation. It is known to you that, previous to the +organization of this Church, in 1830, the Lord gave revelations, or +the Church could not have been organized. The people of this Church +were weak in faith compared with the ancient. Those who embarked in +this cause were desirous to know how the work was to be conducted. +They read many things in the Book of Mormon concerning their duty, +and the way the great work ought to be done; but the minds of men +are so constructed that they will not believe without a testimony +of seeing or hearing. The Lord gave us a revelation that, in +process of time, there should be twelve men chosen to preach His +gospel to Jew and Gentile. + +"Our minds have been on a constant stretch to find who these +twelve were, when the time should come we could not tell; but we +sought the Lord by fasting and prayer to have our lives prolonged +to see this day; to see you; and to take a retrospect of the +difficulties through which we have passed; but, having seen the +day, it becomes my duty to deliver to you a charge; and first, a +few remarks respecting your ministry. You have many revelations put +into your hands; revelations to make you acquainted with the nature +of your mission; you will have difficulties by reason of your +visiting all the nations of the world. You will need wisdom in a +ten-fold proportion to what you have ever had; you will have to +combat all the prejudices of all nations." + +He then read the revelation and said: "Have you desired this +ministry with all your hearts? If you have desired it, you are +called of God, not of man, to go into all the world." He then read +again from the revelation what the Lord said to the Twelve. +"Brethren, you have your duty presented in this revelation. You +have been ordained to the holy priesthood; you have received it +from those who have their power and authority from an angel; you +are to preach the gospel to every nation. Should you in the least +degree come short of your duty, great will be your condemnation; +for the greater the calling the greater the transgression. I, +therefore, warn you to cultivate great humility, for I know the +pride of the human heart. Beware, lest the flatterers of the world +lift you up; beware, lest your affections are captivated by worldly +objects. Let your ministry be first. Remember, the souls of men are +committed to your charge, and, if you mind your calling, you shall +always prosper. + +"You have been indebted to other men in the first instance for +evidence; on that you have acted; but it is necessary that you +receive a testimony from Heaven for yourselves; so that you can +bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you +have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an +angel. When the proper time arrives, you shall be able to bear this +testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen +God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear +you out; although many will not give heed, yet others will. You +will, therefore, see the necessity of getting this testimony from +Heaven. + +"Never cease striving till you have seen God face to face. +Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all +your unbelief, and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your +ordination is not full and complete till God has laid His hands +upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have +gone before us; God is the same. If the Saviour in former days laid +his hands on his disciples, why not in latter days? + +"With regard to superiority I mast make a few remarks. The +ancient Apostles sought to be great; but lest the seeds of discord +be sown in this matter, understand particularly the voice of the +Spirit on this occasion. God does not love you better or more than +others. You are to contend for the faith once delivered to the +saints. Jacob, you know, wrestled till he obtained. It was by +fervent prayer and diligent search that you have obtained the +testimony you are now able to bear. You are as one; you are equal +in bearing the keys of the kingdom to all nations. You are called +to preach the gospel of the Son of God to the nations of the earth; +it is the will of your Heavenly Father that you proclaim His gospel +to the ends of the earth, and the islands of the sea. + +"Be zealous to save souls. The soul of one man is as precious as +the soul of another. You are to bear this message to those who +consider themselves wise; and such may persecute you; they may seek +your life. The adversary has always sought the life of the servants +of God; you are, therefore, to be prepared at all times to make a +sacrifice of your lives, should God require them in the advancement +and building up of His cause. Murmur not at God. Be always +prayerful; be always watchful. You will bear with me while I +relieve the feelings of my heart. We shall not see another day like +this; the time has fully come; the voice of the Spirit has come to +set these men apart. + +"You will see the time when you will desire to see such a day as +this, and you will not see it. Every heart wishes you peace and +prosperity; but the scene with you will inevitably change. Let no +man take your bishopric; and beware that you lose not your crowns. +It will require your whole souls; it will require courage like +Enoch's. + +"The time is near when you will be in the midst of congregations +who will gnash their teeth upon you. This gospel must roll, and +will roll until it fills the whole earth. Did I say congregations +would gnash upon you? Yea, I say nations will gnash upon you; you +will be considered the worst of men. Be not discouraged at this. +When God pours out His Spirit the enemy will rage; but God, +remember, is on your right hand and on your left. A man, though he +be considered the worst, has joy, who is conscious that he pleases +God. The lives of those who proclaim the true gospel will be in +danger; this has been the case ever since the days of righteous +Abel. The same opposition has been manifest whenever men came +forward to publish the gospel. The time is coming when you will be +considered the worst by many, and by some the best of men. The time +is coming when you will be perfectly familiar with the things of +God. This testimony will make those who do not believe your +testimony seek your lives; but there are whole nations who will +receive your testimony. They will call you good men. Be not lifted +up when you are called good men. Remember you are young men, and +you shall be spared. I include the other three. Bear them in mind +in your prayers; carry their cases to a throne of grace; although +they are not present, yet you and they are equal. This appointment +is calculated to create an affection in you for each other stronger +than death. You will travel to other nations; bear each other in +mind. If one or more is cast into prison, let the others pray for +him, and deliver him by their prayers. Your lives shall be in great +jeopardy; but the promise of God is, that you shall be delivered. + +"Remember you are not to go to other nations till you receive +your endowment. Tarry at Kirtland until you are endowed with power +from on high. You need a fountain of wisdom, knowledge and +intelligence, such as you never had. Relative to the endowment, I +make a remark or two, that there be no mistake. The world cannot +receive the things of God. He can endow you without worldly pomp or +great parade. He can give you that wisdom, that intelligence and +that power which characterized the ancient saints, and now +characterizes the inhabitants of the upper world. The greatness of +your commission consists in this: You are to hold the keys of this +ministry; you are to go to the nations afar off; nations that sit +in darkness. The day is coming when the work of God must be done. +Israel shall be gathered. The seed of Jacob shall be gathered from +their long dispersion. There will be a feast to Israel, the elect +of God. It is a sorrowful tale, but the gospel must be preached, +and God's ministers rejected; but where can Israel be found and +receive your testimony and not rejoice? Nowhere! The prophecies are +full of great things that are to rake place in the last days. After +the elect are gathered out, destruction shall come on the +inhabitants of the earth; all nations shall feel the wrath of God, +after they have been warned by the saints of the Most High. If you +will not warn them others will, and you will lose your crowns. + +"You must prepare your minds to bid a long farewell to Kirtland, +even till the great day come. You will see what you never expected +to see; you will need the mind of Enoch or Elijah, and the faith of +the brother of Jared; you must be prepared to walk by faith, +however appalling the prospect to human view; you, and each of you, +should feel the force of the imperious mandate, 'Son, go labor in +my vineyard,' and cheerfully receive what comes; but in the end you +will stand while others will fall. You have read in the revelation +concerning ordination: 'Beware how you ordain, for all nations are +not like this nation; they will willingly receive the ordinances at +your hands to put you out of the way. There will be times when +nothing but the angels of God can deliver you out of their hands.' + +"We appeal to your intelligence, we appeal to your +understanding, that we have so far discharged our duty to you. We +consider it one of the greatest condescensions of our Heavenly +Father in pointing you out to us, you will be stewards over this +ministry; you have a work to that no other men can do; you must +proclaim the gospel in its simplicity and purity, and we commend +you to God and the word of His grace. You have our best wishes, you +have our most fervent prayer, that you may be able to bear this +testimony,--that you have seen the face of God. Therefore, call +upon Him in faith and mighty prayer till you prevail; for it is +your duty and privilege to bear such testimony for yourselves. We +now exhort you to be faithful to fulfil your calling,--there must +be no lack here; you must fulfil in all things, and permit us to +repeat, all nations have a claim on you; you are bound together as +the three witnesses were; you notwithstanding, can part and meet, +and meet and part again, till your heads are silvered o'er with +age." + +He then took them separately by the hand, and said, "Do you with +full purpose of heart take part in this ministry, to proclaim the +gospel with all diligence, with these your brethren according to +the tenor and intent of the charge you have received?" Each of whom +answered in the affirmative. + + +CHAPTER XVI. +------------------------ + +Return to New Portage:--Fire:--Return to Kirtland:--Mob:--Journey +Eastward, as far as Maine:--Return to Boston:--Removal to Kirtland:--A +Temple:--School, Endowments, Prophecyings, Visions, etc.:--Visit from +Brother H. C. Kimball and Others:--My Wife Healed and Blessed:--A +Remarkable Prophecy and its Fulfilment:--Mission to Canada:--Falls of +Niagara:--Reflections. + +After this solemn ordinance was completed, together with the +blessings, charges and instructions connected therewith, I was +instructed to prepare for a mission in the coming spring, in +connection with my brethren of the quorum. + +I now returned home to New Portage, and began to make +preparations for my mission, but the state of my affairs was such +that it seemed almost impossible for me to leave home; my wife was +sick, my aged mother had come to live with me, and looked to me for +support--age and infirmity having rendered my father unable to do +for himself or family. I was also engaged in building a house, and +in other business, while at the same time I was somewhat in debt, +and in want of most of the necessaries of life. + +Under these embarrassed circumstances, I hesitated for a while +whether to attempt to perform the mission assigned me, or stay at +home and finish my building and mechanical work. While I pondered +these things, with my mind unsettled, and continued my work, with a +feeling of hesitation whether it was a duty to sacrifice all the +labor and expense to which I had been in my preparations and +unfinished work, or whether it was a duty to stay and complete it, +I was called very suddenly to administer to a brother by the name +of Matthews, who was taken suddenly and dangerously ill. I found +him writhing and groaning in the utmost agony, being tramped and +convulsed in a horrible manner, while the family were in great +consternation, and weeping around him. I kneeled down to pray, but +in the midst of my prayer we were interrupted by the cry of +_fire! fire!! fire!!!_ We sprang from our knees, and ran towards +my house, which was all in a blaze, being an unfinished, two story +frame building, open to the fresh breeze and full of shavings, +lumber, shingles, etc., while a family occupied a small apartment +of the same, and no water near. + +Our utmost exertions barely accomplished the removal of the +family and their goods; the building, tools, boards, shingles, +building materials, all were consumed in a few moments. Thus closed +all my hesitation; my works of that nature were now all completed, +and myself ready to fill my mission. One gave me a coat; another a +hat; a third, house room; a fourth, provisions; while a fifth +forgave me the debts due to them; and a sixth bade me God speed to +hasten on my mission. + +Taking an affectionate leave of my family and friends in New +Portage, I repaired to Kirtland, ready to accompany my brethren. +While they made ready I paid a visit to an adjoining township +called Mentor; and visiting from house to house, I attempted to +preach to them; but they were full of lying and prejudice, and +would not hear the Word. I then appointed a meeting in the open +air, on the steps of a meeting house owned by a people called +"Campbellites," one Mr. Alexander Campbell being their leader; they +having refused to open the house to me. Some came to hear, and some +to disturb the meeting; and one Mr. Newel soon appeared at the head +of a mob of some fifty men and a band of music. These formed in +order of battle and marched round several times near where I stood, +drowning my voice with the noise of their drums and other +instruments. I suspended my discourse several times as they passed, +and then resumed. At length, finding that no disturbance of this +kind would prevent the attempt to discharge my duty, they rushed +upon me with one accord at a given signal, every man throwing an +egg at my person. My forehead, bosom, and most of my body was +completely covered with broken eggs. At this I departed, and walked +slowly away, being insulted and followed by this rabble for some +distance. I soon arrived in Kirtland, and was assisted by my kind +friends in cleansing myself and clothes from the effects of this +Christian benevolence. + +All things being in readiness, and the spring fairly opened, the +Twelve took their journey down Lake Erie, and landed at Dunkirk, in +the neighborhood of which we had appointed to hold a conference. +The members of the Church assembled from the region round, and the +people turned out in great numbers. We addressed them in several +interesting discourses, and had good time; many seemed to receive +the Word with joy, and some were baptized and added to the Church. + +From thence we continued our journey through the Eastern States, +holding conferences in every place where branches of the Church had +been organized, ordaining and instructing Elders and other +officers; exhorting the members to continue in prayer and in well +doing; ministering to the sick and instructing the ignorant. We +also preached the Word, and baptized such as desired to be obedient +to the faith; confirming them by the laying on of hands and prayer +in the name of Jesus Christ; thus the Holy Ghost and the gifts +thereof were shed forth among the people, and they had great joy. +The month of August 1835, found us in the State of Maine, and the +mission completed. + +We now returned to Boston, and from thence home to Kirtland, +where we arrived sometime in October. After spending a few days in +the society of the Saints in Kirtland, I repaired to New Portage, +where I found my wife and mother in usual health, and was received +with joy by them and the Saints. I now made preparation and removed +to Kirtland, in order to be with the body of the Church at +headquarters; and to improve every opportunity of obtaining +instruction. + +A portion of the Temple at Kirtland was now finished, and +schools were opened in several apartments. The Presidency of the +Church, the Twelve, and many others were organized into a school +for the purpose of studying the Hebrew language. This study, and +the meetings of the several quorums for instruction and endowment, +occupied most of the winter. + +The ordinances of the priesthood were revealed to a greater +extent than had been known among men since the prophets and +Apostles of old fell asleep; and many were anointed to their holy +calling, and were instructed in principles which were great and +glorious in themselves, and calculated to enlarge the mind and +prepare the chosen servants of God for the great work before them. +Many great and marvelous things were prophesied, which I am not at +liberty to record, and many of which have since been fulfilled to +the very letter. Many persons were carried away in the visions of +the Spirit, and saw and heard unspeakable things; and many enjoyed +the ministering of angels, and the gift of healing and of speaking +in tongues. + +Spring at length returned, and the Elders prepared to take leave +of each other, and to go on their several missions. As to myself, I +was deeply in debt for the expenses of life during the winter, and +on account of purchasing a lot, and building thereon. I, therefore, +knew not what to do, whether to go on a mission or stay at home, +and endeavor by industry to sustain my family and pay my debts. + +It was now April; I had retired to rest one evening at an early +hour, and was pondering my future course, when there came a knock +at the door. I arose and opened it, when Elder Heber C. Kimball and +others entered my house, and being filled with the spirit of +prophecy, they blessed me and my wife, and prophesied as follows: + +"Brother Parley, thy wife shall be healed from this hour, and +shall bear a son, and his name shall be Parley; and he shall be a +chosen instrument in the hands of the Lord to inherit the +priesthood and to walk in the steps of his father. He shall do a +great work in the earth in ministering the Word and teaching the +children of men. Arise, therefore, and go forth in the ministry, +nothing doubting. Take no thoughts for your debts, nor the +necessaries of life, for the Lord will supply you with abundant +means for all things. + +"Thou shalt go to Upper Canada, even to the city of Toronto, the +capital, and there thou shalt find a people prepared for the +fullness of the gospel, and they shall receive thee, and thou shalt +organize the Church among them, and it shall spread thence into the +regions round about, and many shall be brought to the knowledge of +the truth and shall be filled with joy; and from the things growing +out of this mission, shall the fullness of the gospel spread into +England, and cause a great work to be done in that land. + +"You shall not only have means to deliver you from your present +embarrassments, but you shall yet have riches, silver and gold, +till you will loath the counting thereof." + +This prophecy was the more marvelous, because being married near +ten years we had never had any children; and for near six years my +wife had been consumptive, and had been considered incurable. +However, we called to mind the faith of Abraham of old, and judging +Him faithful who had promised, we took courage. + +I now began in earnest to prepare for the mission, and in a few +days all was ready. I took an affectionate leave of my wife, mother +and friends, and started for Canada in company with a brother +Nickerson, who kindly offered to bear my expenses. After a long and +tedious passage in a public coach (the roads being very bad and the +lake not open), we arrived at the Falls of Niagara sometime in the +month of April, 1836. + +As this was my first visit to this place it made a deep and +awful impression on my mind. We halted a short time to view this +wonder of nature, and to adore that God who had formed a world so +sublimely grand. The leaping of a mighty river of waters over a +perpendicular fall of one hundred and sixty feet, the foaming and +dashing of its white spray upon the rocks beneath; the rising cloud +of mist with its glittering rainbow, the yawning gulf with its +thousand whirlpools; all conspired to fill the contemplative mind +with wonder and admiration, and with reverence to the Great Author +of all the wonders of creation; while its everlasting roar which +may be heard for many miles distant, seemed a lively emblem of +eternity. + +While musing on this spot, I fell into the following train of +reflection: O, Niagara! Generations may pass in long succession; +ages may roll away and others still succeed; empires may rise and +flourish, and pass away and be forgotten; but still thy deafening, +thy solemn and awful voice is heard in one eternal roar. The +temples of marble may moulder to dust, the monuments of the great +may crumble to decay, the palaces of kings fall to ruin and their +very place become unknown, their history forgotten in the almost +countless ages of antiquity; and still thy sound is heard in +everlasting moan, as if mourning over the ruins of by-gone years. + +With deepest eloquence thou seemest to speak in awful pride, +saying: "Before Abraham was, I am;" and with mingled feelings of +pity and contempt thou seemest to inquire:-- + + Where now is Nimrod's mighty tower? Where the + Majestic walls, the warlike battlements, + The splendid palaces, the hanging gardens + Of Babylon? + Where the proud Nebuchadnezzar, who, with + Golden sceptre, swayed the world, and made + The nations tremble? Where the proud Nineveh,-- + The strong Thebes, with its hundred gates? + The golden Tyre, the splendid Athens, the + Majestic Rome, with all their works of art-- + Their monuments of fame, once the pride + And glory of the world? + Where the mighty Pharaoh's, the terrible + Alexanders, the invincible Cesars, + The warlike Hannibal? Tyrants in turn. + Where now the gifted poets, the splendid + Orators, the profound philosophers + Of Greece and Rome, whose mighty genius + Hurled royal tyrants headlong from their thrones,-- + Made senates weep or laugh at will, and ruled + The nations? They are swept away by time; + Their beauty, like the morning flower, is withered + Their pride and glory gone like leaves of autumn;-- + Their grandest works are fast decaying, + Mouldering to ruin, soon to be forgotten. + But still my store house is unexhausted, + My fountain full and overflowing--my + Solid munitions of rocks stand secure.-- + My voice as mighty as when the beauteous + Colors of the rainbow first sported in + The sunbeams:-- + As when the intelligences of olden worlds + First gazed with admiration upon my + Expanded waters; or, animated at + The music of my voice joined in the chorus, + And all the sons of God shouted for joy. + + But, boast not, O proud Niagara! Though + Thou mayest withstand the ravages of time,-- + While countless millions, swept away with all + Their mighty works, are lost in following years.-- + Yet there is a voice to speak, long and loud; + 'Tis Michael's trump, whose mighty blast shall rend + Thy rocks, and bow thy lofty mountains in the dust, + Before whose awful presence thy waters + Blush in retiring modesty; and in + Respectful silence thou shalt stand in listening + Wonder, and admire, while thunders roll + Majestic round the sky, the lightnings play,-- + The mountains sink--the valleys rise--till Earth, + Restored to its original, receives + Its final test, and groans and sighs no more. + + Till then, weep on, and let thy voice ascend + In solemn music to the skies--'tis like + A funeral dirge--'tis fit to weep o'er the miseries + Of a fallen world in anguish deep. + + +CHAPTER XVII. +------------------------ + +Journey Resumed:--Ministry:--Striking Answer +to Prayer:--Arrival at Toronto:--John Taylor:--Visit the +Religious Ministers, the Sheriff, and the Public Market, +Seeking for an Opening, but in Vain:--Secret Prayer:--About +to leave the City--God Sends a Widow to Receive Me:--Great +Faith:--Eyes of the Blind Opened:--Great Excitement and +Gainsayings:--Public Preaching:--Find a People Prepared +to Receive the Message. + +Leaving our journey for a day or two on foot, and as the Sabbath +approached we halted in the neighborhood of Hamilton, and gave out +two or three appointments for meetings. Brother Nickerson now left +me to fill these appointments, and passed on to his home, in a +distant part of the province. + +I preached to the people, and was kindly entertained till Monday +morning, when I took leave and entered Hamilton, a flourishing town +at the head of Lake Ontario; but my place of destination was +Toronto, around on the north side of the lake. If went by land I +would have a circuitous route, muddy and tedious to go on foot. The +lake had just opened, and steamers had commenced plying between the +two places; two dollars would convey me to Toronto in a few hours, +and save some days of laborious walking; but I was an entire +stranger in Hamilton, and also in the province; and money I had +none. Under these circumstances I pondered what I should do. I had +many times received answers to prayer in such matters; but now it +seemed hard to exercise faith, because I was among strangers and +entirely unknown. The Spirit seemed to whisper to me to try the +Lord, and see if anything was too hard for him, that I might know +and trust Him under all circumstances. I retired to a secret place +in a forest and prayed to the Lord for money to enable me to cross +the lake. I then entered Hamilton and commenced to chat with some +of the people. I had not tarried many minutes before I was accosted +by a stranger, who inquired my name and where I was going. He also +asked me if did not want some money. I said yes. He then gave me +ten dollars and a letter of introduction to John Taylor, of +Toronto, where I arrived the same evening. + +Mrs. Taylor received me kindly, and went for her husband, who +was busy in his mechanic shop. To them I made known my errand to +the city, but received little direct encouragement. I took tea with +them, and then sought lodgings at a public house. + +In the morning I commenced a regular visit to each of the clergy +of the place, introducing myself and my errand. I was absolutely +refused hospitality, and denied the opportunity of preaching in any +of their houses or congregations. Rather an unpromising beginning, +thought I, considering the prophecies on my head concerning +Toronto. However, nothing daunted, I applied to the Sheriff for the +use of the Court House, and then to the authorities for a public +room in the market place; but with no better success. What could I +do more? I had exhausted my influence and power without effect. I +now repaired to a pine grove just out of the town, and, kneeling +down, called on the Lord, bearing testimony of my unsuccessful +exertions; my inability to open the way; at the same time asking +Him in the name of Jesus to open an effectual door for His servant +to fulfil his mission in that place. + +I then arose and again entered the town, and going to the house +of John Taylor, had placed my hand on my baggage to depart from a +place where I could do no good, when a few inquiries on the part of +Mr. Taylor, inspired by a degree of curiosity or of anxiety, caused +a few moments delay, during which a lady by the name of Walton +entered the house, and, being an acquaintance of Mrs. Taylor's, was +soon engaged in conversation with her in an adjoining room. I +overheard the following: + +"Mrs. Walton, I am glad to see you; there is a gentleman here +from the United States who says the Lord sent him to this city to +preach the gospel. He has applied in vain to the clergy and to the +various authorities for opportunity to fulfil his mission, and is +now about to leave the place. He may be a man of God; I am sorry to +have him depart." + +Mrs. Walton: "Indeed! Well, I now understand the feelings and +spirit which brought me to your house at this time. I have been +busy over the wash tub and too weary to take a walk; but I felt +impressed to walk out. I then thought I would make a call on my +sister, the other side of town; but passing your door, the Spirit +bade me go in; but I said to myself, I will go in when I return; +but the Spirit said: go in now. I accordingly came in, and I am +thankful that I did so. Tell the stranger he is welcome to my +house. I am a widow; but I have a spare room and bed, and food in +plenty. He shall have a home at my house, and two large rooms to +preach in just when he pleases. Tell him I will send my son John +over to pilot him to my house, while I go and gather my relatives +and friends to come in this very evening and hear him talk; for I +feel by the Spirit that he is a man sent by the Lord with a message +which will do us good." + +The evening found Brother Pratt quietly seated at her house, in +the midst of a number of listeners, who were seated around a large +work table in her parlor, and deeply interested in conversation +like the following: + +Friends: "Mr. Pratt, we have for some years been anxiously +looking for some providential event which would gather the sheep +into one fold; build up the true church as in days of old, and +prepare the humble followers of the Lamb, now scattered and +divided, to receive their coming Lord when He shall descend to +reign on the earth. As soon as Mrs. Taylor spoke of you I felt +assured, as by a strange and unaccountable presentiment, that you +were a messenger, with important tidings on these subjects; and I +was constrained to invite you here; and now we are all here +anxiously waiting to hear your words." + +Pratt: "Well, Mrs. Walton, I will frankly relate to you and your +friends the particulars of my message and the nature of my +commission. A young man in the State of New York, whose name is +Joseph Smith, was visited by an angel of God, and, after several +visions and much instruction, was enabled to obtain an ancient +record, written by men of old on the American continent, and +containing the history, prophecies and gospel in plainness, as +revealed to them by Jesus and his messengers. This same Joseph +Smith and others, were also commissioned by the angels in these +visions, and ordained to the apostleship; with authority to +organize the Church, to administer the ordinances, and to ordain +others, and thus cause the full, plain gospel in its purity to be +preached in all the world. + +"By these Apostles thus commissioned, I have been ordained as an +Apostle, and sent forth by the word of prophecy to minister the +baptism of repentance for remission of sins, in the name of Jesus +Christ; and to administer the gift of the Holy Ghost, to heal the +sick, to comfort the mourner, bind up the broken in heart, and +proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. + +"I was also directed to this city by the Spirit of the Lord, +with a promise that I should find a people here prepared to receive +the gospel, and should organize them in the same. But when I came +and was rejected by all parties, I was about to leave the city; but +the Lord sent you, as a widow, to receive me, as I was about to +depart; and thus I was provided for like Elijah of old. And now I +bless your house, and all your family and kindred in His name. Your +sins shall be forgiven you; you shall understand and obey the +gospel, and be filled with the Holy Ghost; for so great faith have +I never seen in any of my country." + +Mrs. Walton: "Well, Mr. Pratt, this is precisely the message we +were waiting for; we believe your words and are desirous to be +baptized." + +Pratt: "It is your duty and privilege," said I, "but wait yet a +little while till I have an opportunity to teach others, with whom +you are religiously connected, and invite them to partake with you +of the same blessings." + +After conversing with these interesting persons till a late +hour, we retired to rest. Next day Mrs. Walton requested me to call +on a friend of hers, who was also a widow in deep affliction, being +totally blind with inflammation in the eyes; she had suffered +extreme pain for several months, and had also been reduced to want, +having four little children to support. She had lost her husband, +of cholera, two years before, and had sustained herself and family +by teaching school until deprived of sight, since which she had +been dependent on the Methodist Society; herself and children being +then a public charge. Mrs. Walton sent her little daughter of +twelve years old to show me the way. I called on the poor blind +widow and helpless orphans, and found them in a dark and gloomy +apartment, rendered so by having every ray of light obscured to +prevent its painful effects on her eyes. I related to her the +circumstances of my mission, and she believed the same. I laid my +hands upon her in the name of Jesus Christ, and said unto her, +"Your eyes shall be well from this very hour." She threw off her +bandages; opened her house to the light; dressed herself, and +walking with open eyes, came to the meeting that same evening at +sister Walton's, with eyes as well and as bright as any other +person's. + +The Methodist Society were now relieved of their burden in the +person of this widow and four orphans. This remarkable miracle was +soon noised abroad, and the poor woman's house was thronged from +all parts of the city and country with visitors; all curious to +witness for themselves, and to inquire of her how her eyes were +healed. + +"How did the man heal your eyes?" "What did he do?--tell us," +Were questions so oft repeated that the woman, wearied of replying, +came to me for advice to know what she should do. I advised her to +tell them that the Lord had healed her, and to give Him the glory, +and let that suffice. But still they teased her for particulars, +"What did this man do?" "How were your eyes opened and made well?" + +"He laid his hands upon my head in the name of Jesus Christ, and +rebuked the inflammation, and commanded them to be made whole and +restored to sight; and it was instantly done." + +"Well give God the glory; for, as to this man, it is well known +that he is an impostor, a follower of Joseph Smith, the false +prophet." + +"Whether he be an impostor or not, I know not; but this much I +know, whereas I was blind, now I see! Can an impostor open the eyes +of the blind?" + +"Perhaps, then, you intend to be his disciple, to join the +'_Mormons_?'" + +"He said nothing to me about joining the '_Mormons_,' but +taught me the gospel, and bore testimony that God had restored its +power to the earth. Would you like to be partakers thereof? Or why +do you inquire so earnestly about my eyes being healed?" + +"Oh, we are John Wesley's disciples. We are the Christian +Church. We know John Wesley, but as to this man, we know not whence +he is." + +"How is this that you know not whence he is, and yet he hath +opened my eyes? Did John Wesley open the eyes of the blind? Can an +impostor do it?" + +"Ah, we see how it is. You are determined to forsake the +Christian Church, the good old way, for the sake of these fools, +these weak impostors the Mormons. Well, farewell. But remember, you +will have no more support from our society, no more encouragement +of any kind; you shall not even teach a school for us. How then +will you live?" + +Such contentions and discouragement as these, poured into the +ears of a poor mother from day to day, together with railings, +lyings, and various sophistry and slander, soon caused her to +waver, and like thousands of other poor, weak mortals, she shrank +back into the net of sectarian delusion, and was seen by the Saints +no more. In the meantime our meetings commenced at Mrs. Walton's. +At first very few attended, but they gradually increased till her +rooms, and sometimes her yard, were well filled with attentive +hearers. + +Sunday at length arrived, and, not wishing to show opposition, +or to set up a separate standard without cause, I appointed no +meeting, but accompanied a friend who invited me to hear a preacher +in a certain chapel. After the discourse, I was introduced to the +speaker by my friend, who invited us both to dine at his house. +After much interesting conversation, I was invited to accompany +them to another meeting, held at the residence of a Mr. Patrick, a +wealthy, aristocratic gentleman, who held an office in the +government. + +In a large apartment, well furnished, was soon convened a +solemn, well dressed, and, apparently, serious and humble people, +nearly filling the room. Each held a bible, while Mr. Patrick +presided in their midst, with a bible in his hand and several more +lying on the table before him. With one of these I was soon +furnished, as was any other person present who might lack this, +apparently, necessary article. In this manner these people had +assembled twice each week for about two years, for the professed +purpose of seeking truth, independent of any sectarian organization +to which any of them might nominally belong. + +Here had assembled John Taylor, his wife, Mrs. Walton and some +others who now knew me, although to the president and most of the +congregation I was entirely unknown, and, from my appearance, was +supposed to be some farmer from the country who had dropped in by +invitation. + +Meeting was soon opened by singing and prayer in a fervent +manner, after which each one was at liberty to introduce such +subject of investigation as he might think proper. John Taylor +arose, and read in the New Testament the account of Philip going to +Samaria and preaching the gospel, and what followed. Closing the +book, he remarked that the Samaritans received the Word with joy; +and were then baptized, both men and women; after which the two +Apostles, Peter and John, came from Jerusalem, and laid their hands +on them in the name of Jesus, and prayed that they might receive +the Holy Ghost; and they received it, and spake with tongues, and +prophesied. "Now," said he, "where is our Philip? Where is our +receiving the Word with joy, and being baptized _when we believed +_? Where is our Peter and John? Our apostles? Where is our Holy +Ghost by the laying on of hands? Where are our gifts of the Holy +Ghost? Echo answers, where? + +"Is this the pattern of the Christian Church, the model for the +organization in all after times? If so, we, as a people, have not +the ministry, the ordinances, the gifts which constitute the Church +of Jesus Christ. We are told that we were sprinkled in our infancy, +but this was not baptism; and if it was, we neither believed nor +rejoiced at the time, nor did we act in the matter at all, but were +acted upon. How different from the Samaritans, who were baptized +_when they believed, and received the Word with joy_. + +"Again, Peter and John were commissioned as Apostles, and they +ministered the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands in the name of +Jesus. Instead of which, we have had ministers commissioned by the +King and Parliament of England, or by John Wesley and his +successors, without any pretence of a word from the Lord or his +angels to commission them. Again, the Samaritans had spiritual +gifts. We have none. If, then, we differ entirely from the pattern +in all things, what claim have we, or any of the Christian world, +to be considered the Church of Christ? If we are not members of the +Church of Christ, wherein do we differ from the heathen, whom we +affect to despise or pity? We even shudder for nations or +individuals grown up without baptism, while at the same time it +would appear that we are all without it, that we are all heathen, +so far as the Christian Church is concerned, as we have not even +the shadow of anything according to the pattern. We cannot boast of +even an approach to a base resemblance or counterfeit. What say you +to this, my brethren?" + +The subject now opened gave rise to a most candid investigation. +Several spoke to the point. Some were of the opinion that the +principles, being lost, were never to be restored. Others suggested +that it was their privilege to pray that the heavens might be +opened and men commissioned by new revelation. Others, again, +hinted that the Lord might, perhaps, have commissioned men already +in some part of the world; and, if so, why not pray that he would +send them to us. + +Nothing definite was concluded on when the old preacher who +invited me arose and said: "There is a stranger present who, +perhaps, might wish to speak." + +The chairman observed that he was not aware of the presence of a +stranger, but if such was the case he was at liberty, as were all +persons in these meetings, to make remarks. I arose, and observed +that I was a stranger from the United States; but not a stranger to +the great principles under investigation in this meeting. I was +prepared to speak on the subject at some length; but should not do +so then, as the time had been well occupied and the people edified. + +My credentials were then presented to the meeting through the +chairman, and a special appointment given out for me at evening. + +However they might differ as to the means of restoration of the +Christian Church, certain it is that they appeared at the close to +unite, with one voice, in acknowledgment of their destitution. "O +Lord," said the chairman, in his closing prayer, "we have neither +apostles, visions, angels, revelations, gifts, tongues, ordinances, +nor a Christian ministry; we acknowledge that we are destitute of +everything like the pattern of the true Church, as laid down in thy +holy Word, and we pray thee to send whom thou wilt." At this all +seemed to say Amen, while tears and sobs attested their sincerity. + + +CHAPTER XVIII. +------------------------ + +Crowded Meeting:--Discourse:--Baptize the People and +Organize a Church:--Spread of the Work:--First Visit to the +Country:--Opposition:--Remarkable Success:--Return to Kirtland:--Return +with my Wife to Toronto:--Meetings at Mr. Lamphere's:--A Woman +Healed and Evil Spirits Rebuked:--Mr. Lamareux:--A Meeting:--A +Challenge:--Discussion Held in the Open Air:--Great Crowd:--Opening +Propositions by Elder O. Hyde:--Result of the Discussion. + +In the evening Mr. Patrick's large rooms were crowded to excess +with anxious listeners. I then addressed them on the subject they +had been investigating. The following is an outline of the +discourse, which occupied from two to three hours: + +"Friends, I am aware that the subject now under consideration is +one of the most vital importance to the Christian world, and, +though it may seem to be new to most persons, it is familiar to me. +I have traced it in all its bearings, weighed it in every possible +light, and am prepared to impart to others that which, I trust, +will satisfy and enlighten the inquiring mind. + +"It appears from our text, as well as from the general tenor of +the New Testament, that certain definite principles existed, which, +acted upon and enjoyed, constituted the Christian Church, or body +of Christ, viz: + +"First. An inspired priesthood or apostleship, authorized to +administer salvation in the name of Jesus. + +"Second. Faith in their words and testimony on the part of those +who heard them. + +"Third. Reformation of life. + +"Fourth. Obedience to certain ordinances, as baptism and the +laying on of hands in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the +remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. + +"Fifth. The spiritual gifts imparted to the body thus organized, +in order to its edification, growth and perfection. + +"It may be presumed that every portion of the professed +Christian Church, without any exception--I mean those who admit the +Scriptures to be a record of things as they existed--will readily +agree, that the five principles just named did exist, and did +constitute the Christian church or body of Christ. This, then +constitutes the model or pattern of the object of our present +search. + +"We have only to compare modern pretenses with this ancient +model, in order to judge of them at once. Either the same +principles would be required to constitute the body of Christ in +all succeeding ages, or else the New Testament must cease to be a +standard, and be superseded by a dispensation of later origin; +claiming power to nullify or make void the dispensation of Jesus +Christ and his Apostles, and to introduce another order of things +in its stead. + +"This last alternative none are so bold as to claim. All agree +that the gospel was a perfect system, an unchangeable and +everlasting covenant, never to be changed or altered by the Lord, +and only perverted or altered by man under a severe penalty--a +dreadful anathema. In physical matters men are not easily deceived +or duped; for instance, a man sees or hears an exact description of +a human body as existing in the days of Socrates or Plato; it has +head, eyes, ears, mouth, arms, hands, legs, feet, etc. Can an +impostor impose upon that man in this age? Can he introduce a wild +beast, a fowl, a serpent, a man dismembered of his head, eyes, ears, +hands, or feet? Could he pass any of these upon his fellow men as +constituting the human body; the model or pattern answering to the +former description? No, he could not. He would be considered out of +his senses, and would be laughed to scorn for attempting such a +thing. + +"Why, then, are we at a loss in judging of the various systems +which, in modern times, claim to be the church of Christ? Why do we +not compare them with the model, and reject or receive at once? +Perhaps you will say that such a course leads to consequences and +conclusions so awful, that it opens truths so unwelcome, that it is +natural to shrink from the view; and, like the ostrich in the +desert, when pursued too closely, hides the head and eyes in a +false covering, while the body is exposed to certain destruction. + +"Says one, 'if the ancient model or pattern is the standard, +then the veil of modern Christendom is thrown off, and the entire +world unchristianized--for we nowhere find such a pattern.' Well, +admit then that there is no Christian church in existence among +men, and that there has not been for many ages. What then? is it a +truth? If so, truth will not harm anybody. If the whole world has +been for ages wrapped in mystery and deception, is it not better to +find it out now than to continue in ignorance until Jesus reveals +it at the judgment day, and sinks us in a moment from the highest +pinnacle of hope and expectation to despair, rendered a +thousand-fold more painful by a sudden reverse? + +"But suppose, on opening our eyes to this great discovery, we +search and find our observations and conclusions warranted by the +whole tenor of prophetic writ? Suppose Jesus Christ and his +Apostles and prophets all agree in bearing testimony, and +foretelling the very order of things which we find to exist; also, +its final end or termination, and the restoration of his Church and +the reign of his Saints? Would not our own observations of what +actually exists, confirmed by the prophetic declarations of such a +host of witnesses, all testifying that it would be so, be a double +assurance that we had opened our eyes to a snare in time to escape, +and cause us to leap forward with a thrill of joy and faith to that +which is to come? + +"We could then exclaim, in viewing the trumpery, pomp, splendor +and greatness of Catholicism, or the scarcely less false and +glaring systems of absurdity and priestcraft under the name of +Protestantism, in their various forms, O, thou mystery of iniquity! +thou are at least revealed, thou who deceivest all nations with thy +sorcery, and with whom the kings of the earth and the nobles and +great men have committed fornication, and lived deliciously; thy +covering is removed, and the people shall see thy nakedness and +abhor thee; and many shall be ready when the proclamation is made, +'_Come out of her, my people._' + +"But suppose, on the other hand, we shut our eyes to these +truths, and hug to our bosoms those systems of falsehood and error, +which claim to be of Christ, but are not? The result will be a +continuance on our part to build up that which the Lord purposes in +due time to tear down, and to oppose that which the Lord will send +into the world to accomplish his purposes. We would in this case be +his enemies, and be found fighting against him. + +"Let us look at the Jews in the glass of prophecy. Our own dear +selves not being in the scale, perhaps we can the more readily +discern the equity of the balance, and afterwards venture to be +weighed in the same, even though both Jew and Gentile should be +found wanting. + +"For nearly two thousand years we behold the Jews without a +prophet, inspired priest, king, ruler or teacher, to lead them to +light, to freedom, or to God. No voice form the burning bush; no +thunderings upon Sinai; no still small voice whispering of right +and salvation; no call from the eternal throne; no vision, angel or +dream to light them on their pathway as they wander and are +oppressed amid the darkness of Gentile dominion. Their temple is in +ruins; their sacrifices have ceased; their priesthood is powerless; +while their very city and country is desolate, or trodden under +foot. We say to the Jew, why all this? Is it not possible that your +fathers have rejected the Messiah and his holy Apostles and +prophets; and these things been withheld from them in the anger of +the Almighty? O, no, says the Jew, we are the true church and +people of God; revelations, prophets, visions, angels and gifts +were only given at first to establish the church of Israel, and the +canon of Scripture being complete, there was no further need of +these things; therefore, they ceased. + +"Now, _you_ know that this Jew is mistaken. You pity him. +You wonder at his ignorance. You know that when in the days of +Samuel's childhood there was no open vision from the Lord; it was +because the priesthood, the proper communication between God and +the people, was in transgression. The priests of the house of Eli +were robbing the sacrifices for their own aggrandizement; and were +committing whoredoms with the very women who came there to worship. +_You_ also know that when King Saul was no longer favored +with revelation, when the heavens were shut against him, and the +Lord answered him not, neither by vision, angel, dream, Urim and +Thummim, nor prophet; it was because the Lord had forsaken him and +had rent the kingdom from him, and had given it to David, dooming +him to destruction, and withdrawing His spirit from him, abandoning +him to a spirit of murder and persecution towards the chosen +instruments of the Almighty. _You_ also know that, when, +before Christ, these gifts had ceased in the Jewish church (say +from Malachi to John the Baptist), there were a multitude of sects, +none of which were right. All had to come on a level and repent, +and be baptized by John, in order to prepare the way of the Lord. + +"You also know that the Jews were no longer favored with +apostles and inspired men after they had rejected Christ and his +Apostles, because they were rejected of the Lord; and the kingdom, +according to the words of Jesus, was taken from them and given to a +people who should bring forth the fruits of the same. You also know +that the reason why a Jew to this day is without these things is, +because his fathers, eighteen hundred years ago, rejected them. + +"But the Jew knows none of these things. He is blinded with the +vain and delusive thought that his race, being the chosen of the +Lord, must forever remain in favor, whether they do iniquity or +not. Why! exclaims the Jew, we dare not for a moment look at things +in the light you suggest; it would disfranchise the whole nation +for eighteen centuries, and count them as aliens from the covenant +of their fathers, and form the commonwealth of Israel. Well, what +if it does? Is it not better for them to know the worst in time to +mend? + +"Now, let us turn to the Gentile church. They, by the +ministration of the Apostles, received the kingdom of God, and +enjoyed its fruits. The natural branches were broken off, and they +were grafted in; 'take heed,' says Paul, 'for it God spared not the +natural branches, _take heed_, lest he spare not thee.' + +"When the Gentile church received the kingdom, and became such, +they were everywhere blessed with the ministry of inspired men, and +were favored with revelations, visions, angels and prophets, as the +New Testament bears witness. What became of these things? Under +what circumstances, and in fulfillment of what Scriptures did they +cease from among the Gentiles? + +"The prophet Daniel, had foretold of the several powers which +would arise and bear rule in the earth. But the Roman, the most +terrible power of all, should '_destroy the mighty and the holy +people_.' This power should change the times and the laws, and +wear out the Saints of the Most Holy, until the end, when the +Saints should take the kingdom under the whole Heaven, and possess +it. Such in substance is Daniel's testimony. + +"John, in his revelations, bears the same testimony. He predicts +that a certain power under the figure of a woman upon a beast, with +Mystery written upon her forehead, should have dominion among all +nations; have to do with all kings; and that all nations should be +deceived by her, and their kings live deliciously with her, while +she would be drunken with the blood of the saints and with the +blood of the martyrs of Jesus. + +"Paul also predicts a time when men '_would not endure sound +doctrine, but would turn away their ears form the truth, and be +tuned unto fables, heaping to themselves, teachers_.' That they +would '_have a form of godliness and deny the power_.' Paul +also bears testimony that the Gentiles, if they abide not in faith, +shall meet with a similar fall as did the Jews. + +"Jesus Christ speaks of a time when the times of the Gentiles +shall be fulfilled: their dominion come to an end with great +judgment, and Jerusalem no longer be trodden under foot by them. + +"Now the summary of these things is this: + +"The Gentiles killed the Apostles and inspired men. + +"The Gentiles ceased to bring forth the fruits of the kingdom. + +"The Gentiles became drunken with the blood of the saints. + +"The Gentiles destroyed the mighty and holy people. + +"The Gentiles changed the times, and laws, and ordinances of +God. + +"The Gentiles turned away their ears from the truth, and were +turned unto fables. + +"The Gentiles would not endure sound doctrine, but heaped to +themselves teachers. + +"The Gentiles maintained a form of godliness without its +miracles and powers. + +"The Gentiles were '_full of names of blasphemy_,' and +mystery was written as a frontispiece on all their institutions. + +"The Gentiles deceived all nations, and drew kings and great men +into the wake of their mysterious abominations and religious +mummeries. + +"The Gentiles continue to bear rule by these means till the +judgments of the Almighty sweep them from the earth, and put an end +to their dominion; and God restores Israel and Jerusalem, and gives +the dominion to his Saints. + +"How often the Lord may have restored the priesthood and +ordinances, the true Church and its gifts to the earth, among the +humble, is not known. But this much we know, there would be no +peace nor security for men professing such institutions; they would +be either hunted down and destroyed, or driven to the necessity of +secluding themselves in the most secret recesses, where their +history would never come down to us. As _Protestants_, we +can make no pretenses to a successive line of apostleship; for this +would imply that we were never Roman Catholics; therefore, what +need of protestation or dissent from that to which we never had +belonged? Nothing short of a new dispensation--a new revelation to +commission apostles as at the first, could give any religious body +a claim, or a shadow of claim, to be the Church of Jesus Christ, or +entitle them to the spiritual gifts. + +"Such, my friends, is the deplorable picture of Gentile +Christianity as presented before us, whether we look with the naked +eye on facts around us, or, aided by the glass of prophecy and +history, review the dim vista of successive generations in the +mighty past. Yet in the midst of the reign of error and blood there +have always been many individuals who desired to know and serve the +Lord. They have desired to see the triumph of truth; but the time +had not come; they died without the sight; but they will arise +again to enjoy the triumph; they with us will rejoice when error is +overthrown and the Saints possess the kingdom. + +"I have now reviewed the past, my friends, and have shown by +what means the Jews and Gentiles have lost the peculiar blessings +which characterize the Church of God. I have detained you long, and +am, as yet, only on the threshold of the great subject before me. +In another discourse I might draw a brighter picture by setting +before you the great and precious promises which ensure to the +world a new dispensation in which all these things will be +restored, and the Church of the Saints grow, flourish and triumph +in the earth. + +"I must now close by blessing this people who have opened their +hearts to listen with such attention. May the blessings of the Lord +Jesus Christ and his spirit rest upon you, that you may receive and +know the truth. Amen." + +As I finished speaking the unanimous voice was for another +meeting, which was finally given out for the next evening. + +Evening came again. Crowds assembled. + +I then went into detail with a chain of prophecy, beginning with +Moses and the prophets, and ending with John's revelation; showing +that the latter-day glory was to be ushered in by a new +dispensation revealed from heaven; by the ministration of angels, +and sustained by the marvelous power and gifts of God; till it +resulted in the overthrow of all mystery, darkness, ignorance and +corruption, and the ushering in of the universal reign of peace and +truth. + +This prophetic review occupied some two or three hours more. I +then closed by saying that had I time I would give them the details +of the commencement of this restoration by a new dispensation +revealed from the heavens by the angels of God, and in exact and +detailed fulfillment of some of the prophecies which I had been +reviewing. All cried out for another meeting, which was appointed +for the next night. + +In the third evening I related the visions, manifestations and +many of the details of the organization and movements of the Church +of the Saints. + +The truth was now plainly before this people, who had been in so +wonderful a manner prepared for its reception, as predicted by +brother Kimball on my head before leaving home. The man of the +house now rejected me, and the meeting of seekers after truth left +his house, and came and were baptized and held their meetings at +the house of the widow Walton, who had received me, and who was now +baptized with all her household, who were of sufficient age to +receive the gospel. + +John Taylor and his wife, whose house I first entered in +Toronto, are also baptized. He soon became an assistant in the +ministry. This is that same John Taylor who is now one of the +Twelve Apostles. + +The work soon spread into the country and enlarged its +operations in all that region; many were gathered into the Church, +and were filled with faith and love, and with the Holy Spirit, and +the Lord confirmed the Word with signs following. My first visit to +the country was about nine miles from Toronto, among a settlement +of farmers, by one of whom I had sent an appointment beforehand. +John Taylor accompanied me--this was before he was baptized--we +rode on horseback. We called at a Mr. Joseph Fielding's, an +acquaintance and friend of Mr. Taylor's. This man had two sisters, +young ladies, who seeing us coming ran from their house to one of +the neighboring houses, lest they should give welcome, or give +countenance to "_Mormonism_." Mr. Fielding stayed, and as we +entered the house he said he was sorry we had come, he had opposed +our holding meeting in the neighborhood; and, so great was the +prejudice, that the Methodist meeting house was closed against us, +and the minister refused, on Sunday, to give out the appointment +sent by the farmer. + +"Ah!" said I, "why do they oppose Mormonism?" I don't know, said +he, "but the name has such a contemptible sound; and, another +thing, we do not want a new revelation, or a new religion contrary +to the Bible." "Oh!" said I, "if that is all we shall soon remove +your prejudices. Come, call home your sisters, and let's have some +supper. Did you say the appointment was not given out?" "I said, +sir, that it was not given out in the meeting house, nor by the +minister; but the farmer by whom you sent it agreed to have it at +his house." "Come then, send for your sisters, we will take supper +with you, and all go over to meeting together. If you and your +sisters will agree to this, I will agree to preach the old Bible +gospel, and leave out all new revelations which are opposed to it." + +The honest man consented. The young ladies came home, got us a +good supper, and all went to meeting. The house was crowded; I +preached, and the people wished to hear more. The meeting house was +opened for further meetings, and in a few days we baptized brother +Joseph Fielding and his two amiable and intelligent sisters, for +such they proved to be in an eminent degree. We also baptized many +others in that neighborhood, and organized a branch of the Church, +for the people there drank in truth as water, and loved it as they +loved life. + +After ministering in and about Toronto for about two months I +found it necessary to return home, as some of my debts were +pressing, and we needed a supply of our printed works to circulate +among the people. I accordingly gave out word, in a meeting in +Toronto one Sun day evening, that I should take boat for home next +morning. Now all this time I had asked no man for money, nor had I +explained my circumstances. However, on shaking hands at the close +of the next meeting, several bank bills were secretly shaken into my +hands, amounting in all to several hundred dollars--including +subscriptions for books, periodicals, etc. I thanked the Lord God +of Israel for the fulfillment of the first instalment of brother +Kimball's prophecy, and went on my way rejoicing. On my arrival in +Kirtland I was enabled to meet my most urgent debts, and to get +time on the remainder. + +I found my wife had been healed of her seven years' illness from +the time Brother Kimball had ministered unto her, and I began to +realize more fully that every word of his blessing and prophecy +upon my head would surely come to pass. After a pleasant visit with +the Saints, I took my wife with me and returned again to Toronto, +in June, 1836. + +The work I had commenced was still spreading its influence, and +the Saints were still increasing in faith and love, in joy and in +good works. There were visions, prophesyings, speaking in tongues +and healings, as well as the casting out of devils and unclean +spirits. One remarkable circumstance, among many, I will relate in +detail: + +There was living within a short day's journey of Toronto, in a +certain neighborhood where I ministered every two weeks (for the +circuit of my labors had now so much enlarged that I had to travel +continually from branch to branch and neighborhood to neighborhood), +a man named Lamphere, who was noted for being the most irreligious +man in all the country; he and the family were hardly ever known to +attend a religious meeting; they would work on the Sabbath, and swear, +curse, etc. This man and his family were so wrought upon by the power +of truth that he opened his house for stated meetings, which I held +there regularly every two weeks. He and the family always entertained +me with every kindness and every demonstration of hospitality in their +power. The people of the neighborhood always turned out to hear, and +seemed to receive the Word with faith and joy, but as yet none of them +had been baptized, or joined the Church of the Saints. All noticed the +change in the Lamphere family, and all rejoiced, and even marvelled at +so sudden a reformation in a family so gospel hardened, as they called +it, though in truth none of them had ever heard the gospel in its power +and fullness till my visits commenced there. + +Now there was living in that neighborhood a young man and his +wife, named Whitney; he was a blacksmith by trade; their residence +was perhaps a mile or more from this Lamphere's, where I held my +semi-monthly meetings. His wife was taken down very suddenly about +that time with a strange affliction. She would be prostrated by +some power invisible to those about her, and, in an agony of +distress indescribable, she would be drawn and twisted in every +limb and joint, and would almost, in fact, be pulled out of joint. +Sometimes, when thrown on to the bed, and while four or five stout +men were endeavoring to hold her, she would be so drawn out of all +shape as to only touch the bed with her heels and the back part of +her head. She would be bruised, cramped and pinched, while she +would groan, scream, froth at the mouth, etc. She often cried out +that she could see two devils in human form, who were thus +operating upon her, and that she could hear them talk; but, as the +bystanders could not see them, but only see the effects, they did +not know what to think or how to understand. + +She would have one of these spells once in about twenty-four +hours, and when a period of these spells were over she would lie in +bed so lame, and bruised, and sore, and helpless that she could not +rise alone, or even sit up, for some weeks. All this time she had +to have watchers both night and day, and sometimes four and five at +a time, insomuch that the neighbors were worn out and weary with +watching. Mr. Whitney sent for me two or three times, or left word +for me to call next time I visited the neighborhood. This, however, +I had neglected to do, owing to the extreme pressure of labors upon +me in so large a circuit of meetings--indeed, I had not a moment to +spare. At last, as I came round on the circuit again, the woman, +who had often requested to see the man of God, that he might +minister to her relief, declared she would see him anyhow, for she +knew she could be healed if she could but get sight of him. In her +agony she sprang from her bed, cleared herself from her frightened +husband and others, who were trying to hold her, and ran for Mr. +Lamphere's, where I was then holding meeting. At first, to use her +own words, she felt very weak, and nearly fainted, but her strength +came to her, and increased at every step till she reached the +meeting. Her friends were all astonished, and in alarm, lest she +should die in the attempt, tried to pursue her, and they several +times laid hold of her and tried to force or persuade her back. +"No," said she, "let me see the man of God; I can but die, and I +cannot endure such affliction any longer." On she came, until at +last they gave up and said, "Let her go, perhaps it will be +according to her faith." So she came, and when the thing was +explained the eyes of the whole multitude were upon her. I ceased +to preach, and, stepping to her in the presence of the whole +meeting, I laid my hands upon her and said, "Sister, be of good +cheer, thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath made thee whole; and, +in the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke the devils and unclean +spirits, and command them to trouble thee no more." She returned +home well, went about her housekeeping, and remained well from that +time forth. + +Her neighbors watched to see if the trouble would return upon +her, but, after a few days they gave up all their fears, and gave +glory to God, saying that the ancient gospel had truly been +restored. + +About seven miles from this place lived a merchant by the name +of Lamareux, who was a man of extended thought and general +information; he sometimes preached or lectured to the people. This +man, on hearing the strange reports of what was going on, sent for +me. I visited him on a day appointed; he had shut up his store, +suspended all business, dressed in his best, and prepared a dinner, +while at the same time a general meeting of the people was +convening in his large barn. He received us cordially, and after +dinner accompanied us to the barn, where there was, indeed, a crowd +of some hundreds of anxious listeners. We preached; after which the +old merchant exclaimed to the meeting, that if this was Mormonism +he was a Mormon. + +He pressed us to tarry a few days, or rather go with him, to +which we consented. So, next morning he furnished a horse and +saddle for himself, and another for me. We mounted--he leading the +way. We travelled through a fine settled country of villages and +farms, where I had never been before, and where they were strangers +to "Mormonism" and to me, but well acquainted with him. + +As we went, he preached, saying to every man he met, and even +crying aloud to those at a distance, and as we halted in each +little village: + +"Hear ye, my friends, the kingdom of Heaven is restored again to +man, with the gospel in its ancient fullness and power. Turn out +and hear this stranger who is with me, and do not gainsay him, for +I testify to you that the sick are healed, the eyes of the blind +are opened, and devils are cast out under his hand in the name of +Jesus. And if you do not believe it we can give you names and +particulars, and prove it by scores and hundreds of witnesses." + +The more I tried to keep him still the more he proclaimed these +things. + +Leaving a chain of appointments, we travelled as far as +Scarborough, and, preaching there, we returned the next day and +filled the chain of appointments given out the day before. The +excitement now became general, and a very learned clergyman, a Mr. +Browning, of the Presbyterian order--announced himself as the +people's chosen champion to meet us in public debate and put us +down, or receive our doctrine, according as truth might appear on +investigation. + +A public discussion was at last agreed upon, to be held a few +weeks thence in the open air, as no building would hold the people. +The preliminaries were as follows: + +The Bible to be recognized as a standard of truth. + +We were to have the opening speech, in which we were to set +forth our principles; when the reverend gentleman was to have a +certain length of time to reply, and so on alternately. + +The meeting at length came off. Thousands attended, and listened +with patience. Elder Orson Hyde, who had now arrived from the +States to my assistance, took up the matter, as I was unavoidably +engaged elsewhere. A large platform had been erected for the +speakers, and while Elder Hyde sat almost alone before that vast +assemblage, the reverend gentleman had five or six other clergymen +beside him as helps. + +In the opening speech Elder Hyde laid down the following +principles, viz: + +A true Church of Christ is composed of apostles, prophets, +elders, teachers and members, who have been baptized (immersed) in +the name of Jesus Christ, and who have received his spirit by the +laying on of hands of his apostles, or authorized servants. + +A true Church of Christ believed in visions, angels, spirits, +prophesyings, revelations, healings and miracles of every kind, as +described in the New Testament. + +Any creed or religious body differing from this New Testament +pattern could not be considered the Church of Christ, however +sincere they might be. + +Having laid down these premises, he demanded of his opponent a +positive admission or denial of the premises, before he would allow +himself to be drawn to a second question or point of debate. This +took his opponents all aback; they had sense enough to see that if +they affirmed these premises there was an end of Presbyterianism, +and all other sectarian forms which have set aside these powers. On +the other hand, if they denied the premises laid down by Elder H., +it would be denying the Bible standard, by which both parties +agreed to abide. For these reasons the party of the opposition +utterly refused to either affirm or deny. Attempts were made in +every possible form to draw Elder H. to other points of debate; but +all in vain. Slanderous reports from the press, pamphlets and +newspaper abuse, were offered in abundance; but were not suffered +to be introduced into the discussion, because both parties had +agreed to abide by the Bible as a standard. Thus, after a few hours +of shuffling and trickery on the part of the opposition, and a few +vain attempts to introduce the poisonous slanders which so often +prevail in blinding the public mind, they were utterly silenced. + +Elder Hyde then proceeded to address the vast assemblage at +considerable length, congratulating them on the triumph of truth, +and exhorting them to obey the gospel, and thus avail themselves of +its blessings, after which the discussion closed; but the truth +grew and prevailed. + + +CHAPTER XIX. +------------------------ + +A Vision:--Remarkable Signs in the +Heavens:--A False Prophet:--A Dream:--Impression:-- +Prayer:--Interpretation Given in a Second Dream:--Attend +Mr. Caird's Meeting:--He Shows Himself to be a Railer and +a Liar:--We Challenge Him to an Investigation:--He Visits +Toronto:--We Return There:--Continues His Opposition:-- +Refusing to Meet Us:--Great Meetings:--Excitement:-- +Text:--Summary of the Discourse Proving Him a False +Teacher:--He Retires to Private Life:--Return to Kirtland:-- +Birth of My First Born. + +In July, 1836, while lodging at the house of brother Joseph +Fielding, the voice of the Lord came unto me in a dream, saying: +"_Parley_!" And I answered: "Here am I;" for I was in a vision +of the Spirit and knew that it was the Lord who spake unto +me. And he said: "When did I ever reveal anything unto you in a +dream and it failed to come to pass?" And I answered: "Never, +Lord." "Well, then," He continued, "go unto the people and cry unto +them with a mighty voice that they repent, lest I smite them with a +curse and they die; for, notwithstanding the present fruitfulness +of the earth, there shall be a famine in the land; and not only a +famine for bread, but a famine for the Word of the Lord; for I will +call my servants out from their midst and send them to the nations +afar off." + +Having heard these words I took courage, and I continued to lift +up my voice in the congregations, both in town and country, +testifying of the gospel and warning the people of things to come. +Many repented and were baptized, while many hardened their hearts +and were filled with a contentious and lying spirit. But the Saints +were filled with faith, joy, and love; and they met together oft, +and had great union and peace, and were happy in the society of +each other. + +In the autumn of the same year--I think in September--I had preached +on Sunday in the chapel, on the subject of the coming of the Son of +Man and the signs which would precede his coming. I prophesied that +they would see signs in the heavens very soon, such as were spoken of +by Jesus Christ in the New Testament; and that when they should begin +to see them they might know for themselves that His coming was nigh at +hand. + +After thus preaching I returned in the evening to the house of brother +and sisters Fielding, at the hour of 9 p.m.; we sat up for an hour or +two conversing on these important things and rejoicing, when, on going +out at the door and looking abroad, we beheld a most wonderful scene +in the heavens, and, as it continued for some time, we finally went to +some of the nearest neighbors and called them out to behold it. + +A wave of white light extended like a rainbow from east to west +over the entire horizon, a little south of the meridian. It was in +appearance about twenty feet wide, and seemed agitated in its motions +like a wave of the sea; at length it removed like the motions of a +great swell of the sea towards the south and disappeared; when lo! +another similar light appeared immediately in the place of the former, +and, after remaining stationary with agitated motions for some time, +it rolled away to the south and disappeared like the former, and was +replaced by a third. Thus the same scene was renewed and continued for +hours. We finally all retired to rest, while it yet continued to be +exhibited. + +After spending the season in continued labors, and organizing +the Church in many places, I was about to return in October to +Kirtland, Ohio, to my home. Now, there was a man named Caird, who, +previous to my visit to Canada, had been over from England as a +preacher, who pretended to be sent of God by revelation. He had +preached many things, and told the people that God had raised up +apostles in England, and organized the true church, and was sending +preachers from thence into all the world, to prepare the way for +the coming of the Son of Man. This man held to the sprinkling of +infants, which he called baptism. He also held that the church of +which he was a representative and messenger, included the national +Church of England; and all others who had been baptized +(sprinkled), whether Catholic or Protestant. This great, universal +church was the true church, only needing the restoration of +apostles and gifts which had now commenced to be restored. + +This man had great influence in Canada on his former visit, and +he had long been looked for to return to Toronto on his second +visit. The people were all expectation, and very anxious that he +should arrive in time to meet me before I should return home; for +many persons greatly wondered that there should arise about the +same time one church in America and another in England, both +professing apostolic power and universal jurisdiction. Some of +those who had heard both of us, tried to think that both systems +were one and would run together. Others said they would wait and +see which serpent swallowed the other before they would join +either. Some affirmed that Mr. Caird would never shrink from the +investigation of anything, therefore, he must embrace "_Mormonism +_;" for it has only to be investigated to be appreciated. +Others equally affirmed that Mr. Pratt never shrank from +investigation, and, therefore, they must meet each other; must come +to an understanding; must become one, or else one of their systems +must be shown to be very erroneous; for these men have neither of +them ever found his master in any of the sects here in Canada at +any rate. Such is a specimen of the sayings and feelings of an +excited public, in view of the meeting of two such men. On my own +part, although I knew his system was erroneous and not founded in +truth, yet I had formed a very favorable opinion of the man, and +had made up my mind to meet a fearless champion who would not +shrink one moment from a full and free investigation. Believing +this, I felt in high hopes that he would be an instrument in the +hands of God to receive and spread the truth. + +This man still lingered at Kingston, two hundred miles distant, +and did not come up to Toronto as expected. To satisfy the anxiety +of the people, I at length proposed in our meeting one Sabbath, +that I would take steamer the next morning and go down to Kingston, +and see this strange man. + +That same night I had a dream, as follows: I thought I was in a +vast wilderness of wild beasts of every description, among which +was a species of elephant so large that its trunk reached nearly to +the tops of the tall trees, and when he walked the earth trembled; +the beasts of the field fled from before him, and the trees were +swayed on either side of him as slender reeds. At this I was +afraid, and I wafted myself up by the power of the Spirit, and sat +in the top of a tall tree. As he approached, I reflected as +follows: Why should such a man as I fear? I have any amount of +power given me of God, I will, therefore, descend to earth before +him; for he can never harm me. I accordingly descended. He +considered this a defiance on my part, so he boasted that I had no +power, and that I could not stand before him. + +At this I put forth my hand and caught him by the trunk, and +lifting him from the ground by the power of the Spirit, I dashed +him to the ground a number of times; at this he seemed to dwindle +down to about the size of a suckling calf, and finally turned into +a serpent and swelled out to the length of about a hundred feet, +and half the size of a man's body. He then spoke great swelling +words in defiance of my power; said it was not the power of God, +but only the power of a man; and he continued to mock and defy me, +saying, "If you have the great power of God, why do you not pull me +in pieces?" + +At this I saw a great white stone, smooth and round at the top, +in the shape of the half of an egg, and about six feet in diameter. +The serpent coiled himself around this stone, and professed to be +fastened to it. And he said: "Now I will remain fast to this rock, +and give you a fair chance to pull me to pieces." I answered, "you +are not fastened to the rock, but will slip from it the moment I +pull." "Nay," said he, "try me, and see." I laid hold of him, and +the same power came on me as before, but as I began to pull he +slipped from the rock. I then tried to fasten him to some weeds or +some rubbish which was near, but the moment I pulled he would slip +from them; I could not, therefore, fasten him to anything. I said +to him, "you will not remain fastened to anything; how then can I +pull you to pieces?" + +Being a little at loss to know what to do, I turned to Elder +Orson Hyde, who seemed to stand by, and said, "Brother Orson, see +those wide jaws and that small neck; it is an excellent hold; seize +him by the neck and hold him fast, and, in the name of Jesus, I +will give an almighty pull." He did so, and I pulled; the serpent +then dwindled down to the size of a small snake half a yard in +length, and crawled off and hid among the grass. + +I awoke under the strong impression that the great beast and the +serpent represented Mr. Caird; and that the rock was the true +gospel, to which he pretended to be fast. This impression was so +different from the opinion I had formed of the man, that I felt +greatly disappointed. I was not willing to believe the vision; I +exclaimed in the bitterness of sorrow and disappointment: "Is it +possible that this is Mr. Caird, so beloved, so revered as a great +and good man?" I hardly dare believe it. "O Lord, if this vision is +of thee and its application, please show me the interpretation of +it in plainness, that I may not err." I immediately fell asleep +again and dreamed as follows: + +I thought I took a steamer and arrived in Kingston at early +dawn. I thought I took up one of the principal streets, directly +northward from the water, and put up at a house of entertainment. I +then inquired for Mr. Caird, and was told that he was in the same +street near to me. I saw him, and tried to tell him of the glorious +fullness of the gospel. He immediately rejected, and refused to +hear me, and commenced to speak reproachfully of me and the cause. +I replied to him in the language of the New Testament: "Doth our +law judge a man before it hear him?" He answered with a sneer: "I +am perfectly willing to judge Mormonism without hearing it; I would +not break my shins to hear it anyhow." I awoke a second time, +feeling satisfied in regard to Mr. Caird. + +I arose next morning and told the people that I now knew Mr. +Caird; that he was false, and would bitterly and utterly refuse to +investigate or hear the truth. I told them I had no desire to go to +see him, for the Lord had shown him to me in a dream, and I knew +more about him than all of them. This, however, they could not +realize; they assured me that he was no such man; and, as they had +found me the means to go and see him, and had chosen a man to go +with me, they rather insisted on my going. "Well," said I, "I will +go, but you will find the matter just as I tell you." So I went, +accompanied by a Mr. Goodson. + +We landed in Kingston at early dawn, went up the street as I had +dreamed, took lodgings, and then inquired for Mr. Caird, and was +answered that he was near us on the same street. I wrote him a line +seeking an interview. No answer was returned. We waited all day, +and then attended his meeting at evening. He preached well, and +showed great intelligence. I could detect nothing to condemn. As he +was about closing, I prayed the Lord to cause him to show himself, +that I might discern his spirit. On a sudden he broke off from his +subject, and commenced railing against Mormonism at a most horrible +rate. He said he had that day received a line from one of these +impostors, calling him brother, and professing to be of the new +church, which had been lately organized in England by the spirit of +revelation; "by this false profession," he said, "they had deceived +some of his friends in Toronto." Now all these things were lies. + +I arose in the meeting and asked to speak, but did not obtain +privilege. I, however, told the people that Mr. Caird had lied; he +had received no line from an Elder of the Church of the Saints +calling him brother, or professing to be of his new church, +organized in England; I defied him to produce such a line. All the +answer the multitude returned to this was to hiss, and to cry, +"Gold Bible! Gold Bible!--New Revelation!" etc. + +Next morning we published a printed handbill with a statement of +his lying, a copy of the line I had really sent to him, and a +statement of our doctrine as Latter-day Saints. This we circulated +freely in his next meeting, challenging him to refute the charge, +or to meet us in debate. + +We could draw no answer from him. We circulated the handbills in +the streets by hundreds, and then sent plenty of them by mail to +our friends in Toronto. The bill was headed: "_Doth our law +judge a man before it hear him?_" Our friends in Toronto were +astonished above measure at the confirmation of the dream, in which +God by his servant had revealed a man's spirit, and clearly exposed +the heart of a wicked man whom his best acquaintances were unable +to discern. Mr. Caird, on being exposed at Kingston, fled to +Toronto, and there commenced preaching to crowds in the Court +House; but there the news boys met him in the face, and circulated +the handbills which we had sent, showing him to be a liar, and he +utterly unable to refute or gainsay it. He threatened persecution; +but the boys, nothing daunted, continued to offer the bills gratis +in his face to those who went in to hear. + +We returned to Toronto, and his old friends urged him to meet +me; but he could not be prevailed on to do so, although his +discourses were full of opposition, and misrepresentation of the +principles of the Saints. I now applied to Wm. Lyon McKenzie, a +printer and editor, in King street, for some large public halls or +rooms of his, which would hold hundreds of people. He gave us the +use of them, and we put out a bill, advertising two meetings, and +pledging to the public that we would prove to a demonstration that +Mr. Caird, who was now preaching in this city, was a false teacher, +whom God had never sent, and that no believer in the Bible, who +listened with attention, should go away unconvinced of that fact, +or the truth of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of +Latter-day Saints. In the handbill Mr. Caird was again invited to +attend. + +Long before the hour of the first appointment had arrived the +house as thronged to that degree that ten dollars was in vain urged +upon any one who would vacate their seat, even on the stairs which +led to the hall. I took for a text the saying of the Apostle John: +"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of +Christ, the same hath not God." I then reviewed the doctrine of +Christ and of His Apostles, in detail, showing what were the +ordinances, gifts, powers, precepts, promises, and commandments of +Jesus Christ, as contrasted with the public teachings and doings of +this man, Caird. + +The people were astonished at the review and contrast, and were +apparently all satisfied that we had fulfilled the pledge to a +demonstration. The next evening the house was as crowded as the +first; all listened with profound attention. We opened the +Scriptures of the prophets, and many were enlightened. In these two +meetings Elder Hyde was present, and presided as chairman. Thus was +fulfilled to the letter this strange and wonderful double dream. +And thus the truth prevailed over the counterfeit, while the +people's minds were settled as to which was the Moses and which was +the magician. + +Mr. Caird retired from the country, returned home to Scotland, +where I found him ten years afterwards living in private life and +of no notoriety. + +The truth had now triumphed in Canada, as was predicted on my +head on starting from Kirtland, Ohio. Several branches of the +Church had been organized, and Elders had been ordained to take +care of the flocks and to continue the work. I took an affectionate +leave of my friends in that country, and, with my wife, returned +home. Where I had labored, the Lord had opened the hearts of the +Saints sufficiently to pay up my debts, as had been predicted; and +at the turn of the season, less than a twelvemonth from the date of +brother Kimball's prophecy, my wife bore me a son, and we called +his name Parley. He was born early in the morning of March 25th, +1837. + + +CHAPTER XX. +------------------------ + +Two Items of Prophecy:--Death of my Wife: +An Open Vision Forewarning Her of Her Death:--Burial: +Description of Her Person and Character:--Reflections: +Return to Canada:--Selection for an English Mission +Jarrings in the Church:--Apostacy:--Temptation:-- +Deliverance:--Mission to New York City:--The Voice of +Warning:--Its Success:--English Mission:--Remarkable +Prophecy:--Several Instances of Healing:--Spread of the +Work in the City and Country. + +There were but two points in this extraordinary prophecy which +now remained unfulfilled. One of these was that from the results of +this Canada Mission the work should spread into England, and a +great work there would be the consequence. The other was that I +should eventually be so rich and have so much money that I would +loath the counting thereof. + +My dear wife had now lived to accomplish her destiny; and when +the child was dressed, and she had looked upon it and embraced it, +she ceased to live in the flesh. Her death happened about three +hours after birth of this child of promise. A few days previous to +her death she had a vision in open day while sitting in her room. +She was overwhelmed or immersed in a pillar of fire, which seemed +to fill the whole room as if it would consume it and all things +therein; and the Spirit whispered to her mind, saying: "Thou art +baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost." It also intimated to her +that she should have the privilege of departing from this world of +sorrow and pain, and of going to the Paradise of rest as soon as +she had fulfilled the prophecy in relation to the promised son. +This vision was repeated on the next day at the same hour, +viz:--twelve o'clock. She was overwhelmed with a joy and peace +indescribable, and seemed changed in her whole nature from that +time forth. She longed to be gone, and anticipated the time as a +hireling counts the days of his servitude, or the prisoner the term +of his imprisonment. + +She was buried in the churchyard near the Temple in Kirtland, +Many hundreds attended the funeral and wept sorely, for she was +extensively known. Her trials, for the gospel's sake, while her +husband had been absent from time to time on distant missions, her +lingering sickness of years, her barrenness, her miraculous cure, +her conception of the promised child, were all matters of note in +the Church far and near. But she had gone behind the veil to rest, +where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest; +while I was left to toil and struggle alone. My grief, and sorrow, +and loneliness I shall not attempt to describe. + +My son was put to nurse on the breast of a sister Allen, who had +just then lost an infant. For the satisfaction of our posterity I +will here attempt some description of my wife's person and +qualities. + +She was tall, of a slender frame, her face of an oval form, eyes +large and of a dark color, her forehead lofty, clear complexion, +hair black, smooth and glossy. She was of a mild and affectionate +disposition and full of energy, perseverance, industry and +cheerfulness when not borne down with sickness. In order, neatness +and refinement of taste and habit she might be said to excel. She +was an affectionate and dutiful wife, an exemplary Saint, and, +through much tribulation, she has gone to the world of spirits to +meet a glorious resurrection and an immortal crown and kingdom. + +Farewell, my dear Thankful, thou wife of my youth, and mother of +my first born; the beginning of my strength--farewell. Yet a few +more lingering years of sorrow, pain and toil, and I shall be with +thee, and clasp thee to my bosom, and thou shalt sit down on my +throne, as a queen and priestess unto thy lord, arrayed in white +robes of dazzling splendor and decked with precious stones and +gold, while thy queen sisters shall minister before thee and bless +thee, and thy sons and daughters innumerable shall call thee +blessed, and hold thy name in everlasting remembrance. + +In the spring of 1837, soon after the death of my wife, I +returned to Canada, to visit the Saints, and to confer on the +subject of a mission to England. Several of the Saints in Canada +were English, who had friends in England. Letters had already been +sent to them with information of the rise of the Church, and of its +principles. Several of the Canadian Elders felt a desire to go on a +mission to their friends in that country. + +At length, Joseph Fielding, Isaac Russell, John Goodson and John +Snider, of the Canada Elders, were selected for a mission to +England. Elders H. C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, of the quorum of the +Twelve, were selected to go at the head of the mission, and Elder +Willard Richards was appointed to accompany them. + +About this time, after I had returned from Canada, there were +jarrings and discords in the Church at Kirtland, and many fell away +and became enemies and apostates. There were also envyings, lyings, +strifes and divisions, which caused much trouble and sorrow. By +such spirits I was also accused, misrepresented and abused. And at +one time, I also was overcome by the same spirit in a great +measure, and it seemed as if the very powers of darkness which war +against the Saints were let loose upon me. But the Lord knew my +faith, my zeal, my integrity of purpose, and he gave me the +victory. + +I went to brother Joseph Smith in tears, and, with a broken +heart and contrite spirit, confessed wherein I had erred in spirit, +murmured, or done or said amiss. He frankly forgave me, prayed for +me and blessed me. Thus, by experience, I learned more fully to +discern and to contrast the two spirits, and to resist the one and +cleave to the other. And, being tempted in all points, even as +others, I learned how to bear with, and excuse, and succor those +who are tempted. + +Late in July I arrived in the City of New York, on a mission, +took lodgings, and commenced to preach and write. My first +production in that city was a book of upwards of two hundred pages, +entitled the "Voice of Warning." The first edition of this work +consisted of four thousand copies; it has since been published and +re-published in America and Europe, till some forty or fifty +thousand copies have not been sufficient to supply the demand. +Thousands date their conversion to the fullness of the gospel to +the reading of that book. + +While I was thus engaged, the English mission, under brothers +Kimball and Hyde, began to prosper exceedingly. It first commenced +in Preston, where some of the friends of the Canada Elders had +already had some information of it by letters from Canada. From +this beginning it spread, till now, 1854, it shows for itself +whether brother Kimball's prophecy was fulfilled, which said to me +the year before, that a great work should be done in Canada under +my hand, and that from thence it should spread into England, and a +great work should be done there. + +Thus is completed, all but one item, a chain of prophecy, which +may, perhaps, be set down as one among the most extraordinary in +the annals of history. It is extraordinary, whether we look at the +varied scenery, the wide and complicated field of action, the +clearness and precision of its numerous items and specifications, +the lack of natural probability of its fulfillment, or the +precision and exactness with which it was progressively fulfilled +in every item. Having thus proved the merits of brother Kimball as +a prophet, I look for the time when I shall possess great riches, +and even handle money till the counting thereof will be a burthen. +I look for this with all the certainty with which any person can +anticipate anything in the future. + +But to return to my own narrative. Of all the places in which +the English language is spoken, I found the City of New York to be +the most difficult as to access to the minds or attention of the +people. From July to January we preached, advertised, printed, +published, testified, visited, talked, prayed, and wept in vain. To +all appearance there was no interest or impression on the minds of +the people in regard to the fullness of the gospel. There was one +member of the Church of the Saints living there, whose name was +Elijah Fordham; he was an Elder, and assisted me. We had baptized +about six members, and organized a little branch, who were +accustomed to meet in a small upper room in Goerck street; +sometimes two or three others met with us. We had hired chapels and +advertised, but the people would not hear, and the few who came +went away without being interested. So we had been forced to give +them tip, after spending our money and strength in vain. + +We had retired to our private room up stairs with the few +members we had, to hold a last prayer meeting, as I was about +taking leave for New Orleans. We had prayed all round in turn, +when, on a sudden, the room was filled with the Holy Spirit, and so +was each one present. We began to speak in tongues and prophesy. +Many marvelous things were manifested which I cannot write; but the +principal burthen of the prophesyings was concerning New York City, +and our mission there. + +The Lord said that He had heard our prayers, beheld our labors, +diligence, and long suffering towards that city; and that He had +seen our tears. Our prayers were heard, and our labors and +sacrifices were accepted. We should tarry in the city, and go not +thence as yet; for the Lord had many people in that city, and He +had now come by the power of His Holy Spirit to gather them into +His fold. His angels should go before us and cooperate with us. His +Holy Spirit should give the people visions and dreams concerning us +and the work of the Lord; and He would make bare his arm to heal +the sick and confirm the Word by signs following; and from that +very day forward we should have plenty of friends, money to pay our +debts with the publishers; means to live, and crowds to hear us. +And there should be more doors open for preaching than we could +fill; crowds, who could not get in, should stand in the streets and +about the entrance to try to hear us; and we should know that the +Almighty could open a door and no man could shut it. + +As these things were manifested in power and the demonstration +of the Spirit, we could not doubt them. So we gave up going to New +Orleans, and concluded to stay; but we were almost ready to say in +our hearts, like one of old: "If the Lord should make windows in +Heaven could these things be?" + +Now there was in this little meeting a man named David Rogers, +whose heart was touched. He, being a chair-maker, fitted up a large +room, and seated it with the chairs of his ware house, and invited +us to preach in the same. This room was crowded. He then joined +with one of our members, who was a joiner, and rented a small +place, and seated it for a regular place of meeting; this was +generally crowded. In the meantime, a Methodist clergyman came to +hear me, whose name was Cox. He invited me to his house to preach, +near East River; he and household were obedient to the faith, with +many of the members of his society. While preaching, a lady +solicited me to preach in her house in Willett street; for, said +she, "I had a dream of you and of the new Church the other night." +Another lady wished me to preach in her house, in Grand street. + +In the meantime I was invited by the Free Thinkers to preach, or +give a course of lectures, in Tammany Hall. In short, it was not +three weeks from the delivery of the prophecies in the upper room +till we had fifteen preaching places in the city, all of which were +filled to overflowing. We preached about eleven times a week, +besides visiting from house to house. We soon commenced baptizing, +and continued doing so almost daily during the winter and spring. +One lady, who had been four years under the doctor's care with a +crippled leg, arose and walked, with her leg instantly restored +whole, even as the other. Her physician was immediately dismissed, +and was very angry, because we had spoiled his patronage. He even +threatened to sue us. Another lady, who had lain in her bed four +years with the dumb palsy, arose and walked. She had not, previous +to our laying hands on her, been able to stir a finger, or a toe, +on her right side for about four years; so said the family, and so +she herself testified. In this case her physician, and also some +religious ministers, who called to see her, glorified God, +acknowledged His hand, and exhorted her to persevere in the faith. + +A child of Mr. Wandle Mace, of No. 13 Bedford street, was healed +of brain fever in the last stage, when the doctors had given it +over, and the kindred and neighbors had gathered in to see it die. +I laid my hands on it, in the presence of them all, and it was +healed, and in a few hours took nourishment, and commenced to play +and run about the floor. In the same house, in an upper chamber, +lay a woman, by the name of Dexter, sick, who had not left her +room, nor scarcely her bed, for some six months; she was at the +point of death, and her babe also, who had taken the disease from +her. Her mother, who had the care of her, was present when the +child was healed, and she ran up stairs and told the woman that +there were men below who healed the sick, as in days of old, by the +laying on of hands in the name of Jesus. The woman exclaimed: +"Thank God, then I can be healed." She sent for us, and was from +that hour restored to health, and the child also. She walked about +two miles to the East River and was baptized, and then walked home +again--it being a very wet day with snow and rain, and the +sidewalks about shoe deep in snow and mud. After these three +miracles of healing had been witnessed in that house in Bedford +street, six persons who witnessed them were baptized, viz: Wandle +Mace and wife, Theodore Curtis and wife, and the sick woman and her +mother, before named. + +During our stay in New York I made frequent visits to the +country, and to other towns. Branches of the Church were formed at +Sing, and in Jersey, and also in Brooklyn and various other parts +of Long Island. Some members were also baptized in Holiston, Mass. + +On May 9th I received the hand of Mary Ann Frost, daughter of +Aaron Frost, of Bethel, Oxford County, Maine, in marriage. She was +the widow of Nathan Stearns, and had one daughter, about four years +of age. + + +CHAPTER XXI. +------------------------ + +Remove to Missouri:--National Anniversary at Far West:--Corner Stone +of a Temple:--Insurrections:--Defence:--Attack on De Witt, Carroll +County:--Mob Chaplain:--Surrender and Flight of the Citizens of De +Witt:--Action of the Governor:--General Defence:--Battle of Crooked +River:--Death of Colonel Patten:--Defence Construed into Murder and +Treason:--Muster of State Forces Against the "Mormons," with Orders for +Extermination:--General Lucas, with Four Thousand Men, Menaces Far +West. + +In April, 1838, I took leave of New York, and, with a small +colony, emigrated once more to Missouri. We settled in Caldwell +County in May. Here I again commenced anew; built a house and made +a farm. I also devoted much of my time to the ministry; I visited +many different neighborhoods, and was everywhere received with +hospitality, and listened to with interest and attention. + +On the 4th of July, 1838, thousands of the citizens who belonged +to the Church of the Saints assembled at the City of Far West, the +county seat of Caldwell, in order to celebrate our nation's birth. +We erected a tall standard, on which was hoisted our national +colors, the stars and stripes, and the bold eagle of American +liberty. Under its waving folds we laid the corner stone of a +Temple of God, and dedicated the land and ourselves and families to +Him who had preserved us in all our troubles. An address was then +delivered by S. Rigdon, in which was portrayed in lively colors the +oppression which we had suffered at the hands of our enemies. We +then and there declared our constitutional rights as American +citizens, and manifested our determination to resist, with our +utmost endeavors from that time forth, all oppression, and to +maintain our rights and our freedom, according to the holy +principles of liberty, as guaranteed to every person by the +Constitution and laws of our country. + +This declaration was received with shouts of hosannah to God and +the Lamb, and with many long cheers by the assembled thousands, who +were determined to yield their rights no more, unless compelled by +superior power. + +Soon after these things the war clouds began again to lower with +dark and threatening aspect. Those who had combined against the +laws in the adjoining counties, had long watched our increasing +power and prosperity with jealousy, and with greedy and avaricious +eyes. It was a common boast that, as soon as we had completed our +extensive improvements, and made a plentiful crop, they would drive +us from the state, and once more enrich themselves with the spoils. + +Accordingly, at an election held in Daviess County, a portion of +these bandits undertook to prevent the members of the Church of the +Saints from voting--forcing them from the poll box, and threatening +to kill whoever should attempt to vote. As some voters were +attacked they defended themselves, knocked down several of their +opponents, gained the victory, and cast in their votes. + +This was a pretext for a general rising of the insurrectionists +in all the adjoining counties. They were alarmed for fear the "_ +Mormons_," as they called them, should become so formidable as +to maintain their rights and liberties, insomuch that they could no +more drive and plunder them. Public meetings were held in Carroll, +Saline, and other counties; in which resolutions were passed and +published, openly declaring the treasonable and murderous intention +of driving the citizens belonging to the Church from their +counties, and, if possible, from the state. + +Resolutions to this effect were published in the journals of +upper Missouri, and this without a single remark of disapprobation. +Nay, more: this murderous gang, when assembled in arms and painted +like Indian warriors, and when openly committing murder, robbery, +house burning, and every crime known to the laws, were denominated +citizens, whites, etc., in most of the journals of the State. While +those who stood firm to the laws of the land, and only defended +themselves, and their homes and country, were denominated "_ Mormons_," +in contradistinction to the appellation of "_citizens_," "_whites_," +etc., as if we had been some savage tribe, or some colored race of +foreigners. + +In pursuance of the resolutions thus passed and published, a +formidable banditti were soon assembled under arms, to the amount +of several hundred, and rendezvoused in Daviess County. Here they +commenced firing upon our citizens, plundering, and taking +peaceable citizens prisoners. The people of the Church made no +resistance, except to assemble on their own ground for defense. +They also made oath before the District Judge, Austin A. King, to +the above outrages. + +One thousand men were then ordered into service, under the +command of Major-General Atchison, and Brigadier-Generals Parks and +Doniphan. These marched to Daviess County and remained in service +thirty days. But, judging from the result, they had no intention of +coming in contact with the mob, but only to make a show of +defending _one_ neighborhood, while the mob were allowed to +attack _another_. The gang now withdrew from Daviess County +and proceeded to De Witt, Carroll County. Here they laid siege for +several days, and subsisted by plunder and robbery, watching every +opportunity to fire upon our citizens. + +At this time they had one or more pieces of artillery, in +addition to small arms and ammunition in abundance. A Presbyterian +priest, "_Rev_." Sashel Woods, served as chaplain to the +gang, and said prayers in the camp evening and morning. They +succeeded in killing a number of citizens in and about De Witt. They +also turned a gentleman, named Smith Humphrey, and his wife and +children out of doors, when sick, and setting fire to the house, +burned it to ashes before their eyes. At length they succeeded in +driving every citizen from the place, at the sacrifice of +everything which they could not take with them. + +This happened during a cold, stormy time in October; and, as +many of the citizens were sickly, and robbed of shelter and +everything comfortable, they came near perishing. Some of them, in +fact, did perish before they arrived in Caldwell, a distance of +sixty miles. Here the survivors were hospitably taken in by their +brethren. The militia, under General Parks, made some show of +trying to prevent these outrages; but all in vain. At length the +General informed the citizens that his forces were so small, and +many of them so much in favor of the insurrectionists, that it was +useless to look any longer to them for protection. + +Several messages were also sent to the Governor, Lilburn W. +Boggs, the old mob-leader, imploring protection. But he was utterly +deaf to everything which called for the protection of the "_ +Mormons_," as he called us. But, on the contrary, he harkened +to the insinuations of the mob which were without shadow of +foundation. At one time he called out an army, and put himself at +their head to march against the "_Mormons_." But, as he +approached the upper country with this formidable force of several +thousand men, he was officially notified that the "_Mormons_" +were not in a state of insurrection, but were the victims of +those who were so, and that they needed his help. + +His Excellency then disbanded his forces, and returned to +Jefferson City, to await till the mobs should compel the "_ +Mormons_" to some act that might be considered illegal, which +would give him some pretext for driving them from the State. + +After the evacuation of De Witt, when our citizens were +officially notified that they must protect themselves, and expect +no more protection from any department of the State Government, +they assembled in Far West to the number of one thousand men, or +thereabout, and resolved to defend their rights to the last. A call +was made upon every person who could bear arms to come forward in +defense of our houses, homes, wives and children, and the cause of +our country and our God. In the meantime the bandits, elated with +success and emboldened by the negligence of every department of the +State Government, were increasing in numbers daily. They were +concentrating in Daviess County, with artillery and military +stores, with open threats that they would now drive the citizens +from Daviess and Caldwell Counties. + +In their marauding expeditions they took a number of citizens +prisoners. Among these was Mr. Amasa Lyman, a minister of the +gospel, and an excellent citizen of Caldwell County. They kept him +prisoner for a number of days, while his family was in suspense and +knew not his fate. They abused him in various ways, and held +frequent consultations to kill him; but at length he was set at +liberty. + +The people of Daviess County assembled several hundred men for +defense. Several parties of the banditti were met, disarmed and +dispersed. A detachment under Colonel D. W. Patten, marched against +their main body with a _posse_ of about one hundred men, met +and dispersed them, with the loss of their artillery and some +military stores. Another party were dispersed and disarmed by the +sheriff of Caldwell County and his _posse_, as they were on +the march through that county to reinforce the banditti of Daviess. + +While these transactions were going forward, small parties of +the enemy were busily engaged among the settlements, in plundering +and burning houses; driving women and children from their homes to +perish with hunger and cold, and robbing them of beds, bedding, +furniture, wearing apparel, etc., etc. Hundreds were thus compelled +to flee to the cities and strongholds. Many women and children came +in at the dead hours of the night, and in the midst of dreadful +storms of rain and snow, in which they came near perishing. + +While these things were transpiring in Daviess, Caldwell was +threatened from every quarter. Her citizens were driven from her +frontiers, and came pouring into the town of Far West, from day to +day, with women, children, goods, provisions, etc.; in short, with +everything moveable which they had time to bring. Lands and crops +were abandoned to the enemy. The citizens were under arms from day +to day, and a strict military guard was maintained every night. Men +slept in their clothes, with arms by their sides, and ready to +muster at a given signal at any hour of the night. + +During this state of alarm guns were fired and the signal drum +beat in the middle of a dark and gloomy night of October. The +citizens came running together with arms in hand. An express had +arrived from the south part of the county, stating that a party of +the enemy were plundering houses, carrying off prisoners, killing +cattle, and ordering families out of their houses, on pain of +having them burned over their heads. A portion of the militia, +under Captain Durphy, went with a deputy sheriff to the scene of +the riot. I was one of the _posse_, the whole consisting of +about sixty men. + +This company was soon under way, having to ride through +extensive prairies a distance of some twelve miles. The night was +dark, the distant plains far and wide were illuminated by blazing +fires, immense columns of smoke were seen rising in awful majesty, +as if the world was on fire. This scene of grandeur can only be +comprehended by those acquainted with scenes of prairie burning; as +the fire sweeps over millions of acres of dry grass in the fall +season, and leaves a smooth, black surface divested of all +vegetation. + +The thousand meteors, blazing in the distance like the +camp-fires of some war host, threw a fitful gleam of light upon the +distant sky, which many might have mistaken for the Aurora +Borealis. This scene, added to the silence of midnight, the +rumbling sound of the tramping steeds over the hard and dried +surface of the plain, the clanking of swords in their scabbards, +the occasional gleam of bright armor in the flickering firelight, +the gloom of surrounding darkness, and the unknown destiny of the +expedition, or even of the people who sent it forth; all combined +to impress the mind with deep and solemn thoughts, and to throw a +romantic vision over the imagination, which is not often +experienced, except in the poet's dreams, or in the wild imagery of +sleeping fancy. + +In this solemn procession we moved on for some two hours, when +it was supposed we were in the neighborhood of danger. We were then +ordered to dismount and leave our horses with a guard. This done, +we proceeded on foot for a mile or two in search of the enemy. We +had not proceeded far when, as we entered the wilderness, we were +suddenly fired upon by an unknown enemy in ambush. One of our +little number fell at the first fire, being mortally wounded; his +name was Obanyon. At a short distance we could now behold the +camp-fires of the enemy. It was now dawn of day in the eastern +horizon, but darkness still hovered over the scenes of conflict. +Orders were issued to form in the brush, and under cover of the +trees, which was instantly done. The fire now became general on +both sides, and the whole wilderness seemed one continued echo of +the report of the deadly rifle. After a few rounds of discharges, +orders were given to charge the enemy in the camp. As we rushed +upon them the strife became deadly, and several fell on both sides. +At this instant a ball pierced the brave Colonel, David Patten, who +was then at my side, and I saw him fall. Being on the eve of +victory, I dared not stop to look after his fate, or that of +others, but rushed into the enemy's camp. This was located on the +immediate banks of Crooked River, which was here several rods wide, +and not fordable. The enemy, being hard pushed, flung themselves +into the stream, and struggled for the other shore. Those who +reached it soon disappeared. + +The firing now ceased, and the wilderness resounded with the +watchword, "_God and Liberty_." + +Our little band, which had been thrown into some disorder, were +instantly formed, and their pieces reloaded. This done, a +detachment surveyed the field, to look after the wounded. I turned +to Gideon Carter, who was lying on his face, and saw him die. His +face was so marred and disfigured with wounds and blood that I did +not recognize him then, but learned afterwards that we had mistaken +him for one of the enemy, and left him on the ground in mistake. I +next found David Patten, whom, a few minutes previously, I had seen +fall. He could speak, but was lying on his side, pale and almost +dying, a ball having pierced the lower part of his body. Many +others were wounded, and some dangerously. + +The enemy had left their horses, saddles, camp and baggage, in +the confusion of the flight. We harnessed some of their horses and +placed them before a wagon, arranged blankets therein, on which we +laid those who were not able to mount a horse; this done, our whole +troop mounted the horses we had taken and formed in front and rear +of the wagon which bore the wounded. We then moved slowly back to +the guard and horses we had left. Here we halted and readjusted the +wounded. It was an awful sight to see them pale and helpless, and +hear their groans. There were about six of our men wounded, and one +left dead on the ground. The enemy suffered a similar loss, besides +their camp, and many of their arms and military stores. + +We ascertained from the prisoners whom we rescued, that the enemy +consisted of about sixty marauders, headed by a Methodist preacher, +named Bogart. Our _posse_ who were actually engaged, could not have +been more than fifty. At the commencement of the engagement there were +three of our fellow citizens held as prisoners in their camp; they +had been kidnapped from their peaceful homes the day previous. Two of +these made their escape at the commencement of the engagement; the +third was shot through the body in attempting to run to our lines, but +fortunately recovered. + +Having now arranged everything to the best advantage for the +wounded, we made slowly on towards Far West. When we came within +five miles of the city our express had reached there with the news +of the battle, and we were met by a surgeon and others for our +relief. Among those who met us here was the wife of the pale and +dying Patten. Our wounded were now taken into a house, and their +wounds dressed. As Mrs. Patten entered the room, and cast her eyes +upon the pale and ghastly features of her husband, she burst into +tears, exclaiming: "O God! O my husband! How pale you look!" + +He was still able to speak, but he died that evening in the +triumphs of faith. The young Obanyon also died about the same time. +The others recovered of their wounds, but one of them named Hendrix +is still a cripple. Patten and Obanyon were buried together, under +military honors; a whole people, as it were, followed them to the +grave. All wept, whose feelings were not too intense to find vent +in tears. He was the only member of the Quorum of the Twelve who +had as yet found a martyr's grave. He was a great and good man, and +one who chose to lay down his life for the cause of truth and +right; for this privilege he had diligently sought and prayed; +"for," said he, "I had rather die than live to see it thus in my +country." + +But, to return to the main thread of my narrative: having +conveyed the wounded to their place of hospitality, the _posse +_ hastened to Far West, and delivered the spoils of the enemy +to the colonel of the regiment, who afterwards delivered them to +the higher civil or military authorities of the State. + +These several defeats of the insurrectionists in Daviess County, +as well as in Caldwell County, checked for a time their ruinous +ravages. They saw that it was impossible to conquer a people who +were fighting for their homes, their wives and children, as well as +for their country and conscience, unless they could come against +them with some show of authority; for it had become an established +fact that the people of the Saints never resisted authority, +however abused. + +The next exertion of the enemy was to spread lies and falsehoods +of the most alarming character. All our acts of defense were +construed into insurrection, treason, murder and plunder. In short, +the public were deceived by bigotry, priestcraft, and a corrupt +press, and made to look upon all our acts of defense precisely as +they would look upon the same acts performed, without cause or +provocation, upon peaceable citizens. Murderous gangs were +construed into peaceable militia in the State service, and to +resist them was, on the part of the Saints, murder, treason and +robbery. And, finally, the whole was treated abroad as the "_ +Mormon insurrection_,"--"_Mormon war_," etc. + +And, as if this were not enough, parties set fire to their own +houses, or that of their neighbors, and then laid it to the Saints. +Whole neighborhoods were falsely alarmed, or rather really alarmed, +by the doings of these bandits; and in their fright they fled to +more distant places of security, and clamored loudly to the State +authorities for protection from the "_Mormons_," whom they +represented as burning, plundering, and destroying all before them. +While they were simply standing on their own ground and maintaining +the defensive, and this, too, in the last extreme, and not till +they were abandoned by every department of the State Government. + +This flame was greatly assisted by several dissenters from the +Church through fear, or for love of power and gain. These +dissenters became even more false, hardened, and bloodthirsty than +those who had never known the way of righteousness. Many of them +joined the enemy, and were the leaders in all manner of lying, +murder and plunder. The Governor and ex-mobber, Lilburn W. Boggs, +who had long sought some opportunity to destroy us, and drive us +from the State, now issued an order for some ten thousand troops to +be mustered into service and marched to the field against the "_ +Mormons_." He gave the command of this formidable force to +General Clark, who lived, perhaps, a hundred and fifty miles or +more from the scene of trouble. The order was expressly to +exterminate the "_Mormons_," or drive them from the State. + +It said nothing of criminals; it made no allusion to punishing +crime and protecting innocence; it was sufficient to be called a +"_Mormon_." A peaceable family just emigrating, or passing +through the country; a missionary going or coming on his peaceable +errand of mercy; an aged soldier of the American revolution on his +death bed, or leaning on his staff in the chimney corner; a widow +with her babes; the tender wife, or helpless orphan; all were +included in this order of wholesale extermination or banishment. It +was enough that they believed as Mormon did; or that they were +members of the Church of the Saints. + +So did the order read, and so it was construed by the officers +and soldiers entrusted with its execution. On the other hand, all +the bandits, murderers, robbers, thieves, and house burners who had +mobbed our people for the five years previous, were now converted +into orderly, loyal, patriotic State militia, and mustered into +service under pay, or suffered to murder people of every age and +sex, and plunder them on their own hook wherever they chose, +provided they were considered "_Mormons_." + +While General Clark was mustering his forces for this wholesale +murder and treason, Major General D. Lucas and Brigadier General +Moses Wilson, who were well known as the old leaders of the former +outrages in Jackson County, under this same Boggs--being nearer the +scene of action, and wishing to share the plunder and immortalize +their names--put themselves at the head of all the old mobbers of +Jackson County they could muster, and all those bandits who had +more lately infested the counties of Carroll, Daviess and Caldwell, +and such other militia as they could muster, and marched directly +for the city of Far West, where they arrived while General Clark +and his forces were several days' journey from the scene of action. +The army of Lucas, thus mustered and marched, consisted of some +three or four thousand men. + +In the meantime the Governor's orders and these military +movements were kept an entire secret from the citizens of Caldwell +and Daviess, who were suffering all this oppression from lawless +outrages; even the mail was withheld from Far West. We had only +heard that large bodies of armed men were approaching from the +south, and we had sent a hundred and fifty men with a flag of truce +to make inquiries. While they were absent on this mission an alarm +came to town that the whole county to the south was filled with +armed men, who were murdering, plundering, and taking peaceful +citizens prisoners in their own houses. On the receipt of this +intelligence every man flew to arms for the protection of our city. + +It was now towards evening, and we had heard nothing from the +reconnoitering company who went south in the morning. While we +stood in our armor, gazing to the south in anxious suspense, we +beheld an army of cavalry with a long train of baggage wagons +advancing over the hills, at two miles distance. At first we +conjectured it might be our little troop with the flag of truce; +but we soon saw that there were thousands of them. Our next thought +was that it might be some friendly troops sent for our protection; +and then again we thought it might be a concentration of all the +bandit forces combined for our destruction. + +At all events, there was no time to be lost; for, although our +force then present did not exceed five hundred men, yet we did not +intend that they should enter the town without giving some account +of themselves. We accordingly marched out upon the plains on the +south of the city and formed in order of battle. Our line of +infantry extended near half a mile. A small company of horses was +posted on our right wing on a commanding eminence, and another +small company in the rear of our main body, intended as a kind of +reserve. + +By this time the sun was near setting, and the advance of the +unknown army had come within plain view, at less than one mile +distant. On seeing our forces presenting a small but formidable +front, they came to a halt, and formed along the borders of a +stream called Goose Creek. + +Both parties sent out a white flag, which met between the +armies. Our messenger demanded to know who they were, and what were +their intentions? The reply was: "We want three persons out of the +city before we massacre the rest!" This was a very alarming and +unexpected answer. But they were soon prevailed on to suspend +hostilities till morning, by which time we were in hopes to receive +some further and more satisfactory information. The enemy, under +the command of Major General D. Lucas, of Jackson County mob +memory, then commenced their encampment for the night. Our troops +continued under arms during the night. The company of a hundred and +fifty soon returned from the south, informing us that they had been +hemmed in by the enemy during the day, and only escaped by their +superior knowledge of the ground. + +We also sent an express to Daviess County, and by morning were +reinforced by quite a number of troops, under the command of +Colonel L. White. In the meantime a noted company of banditti, +under the command of Cornelius Gillum, who had long infested our +borders, and been notorious for their murders and daring robberies, +and who painted themselves as Indian warriors, came pouring in from +the West to strengthen the camp of the enemy. + +Another company of murderers came in from Carroll County, and +were taken into the ranks of Lucas, after murdering some eighteen +or twenty of our citizens (men, women and children) at Haun's Mill, +of which particulars will be given hereafter. Thus both parties +were considerably reinforced during the night. The citizens of Far +West being determined, if attacked, to defend their homes, wives +and children to the last, spent the night in throwing up a +temporary breastwork of building timber, logs, rails, floor plank, +etc. + +In the morning the south side of the city was thus fortified, +and also a considerable portion of the east and west sides--the +whole line extending a mile and a half. + + +CHAPTER XXII. +------------------------ + +Exterminating Order:--Betrayal and Imprisonment +of Joseph Smith and Others:--Camp of the Enemy:--The Howlings +of the Damned:--The Enemy Boast of the Highest Crimes:--Secret +Inquisitory Trial of the Prisoners:--Sentence of Death!--How +Reversed:--A Judas:--Surrender of Far West:--Attempt to +Assassinate the Prisoners:--Farewell Scenes:--Captives Removed +to Jackson County:--General Clark Demands the Prisoners:--Refusal +to Surrender them:--Cross the Missouri River:--Visitors:--Preaching +in Camp by President Smith:--Arrive at Independence:--Public +Exhibition of the Prisoners. + +October 31, 1838.--In the afternoon we were informed that the +Governor had ordered this force against us, with orders to +exterminate or drive every "_Mormon_" from the State. As +soon as these facts were ascertained we determined not to resist +anything in the shape of authority, however abused. We had now +nothing to do but to submit to be massacred, driven, robbed or +plundered, at the option of our persecutors. + +Colonel George M. Hinkle, who was at that time the highest +officer of the militia assembled for the defense of Far West, +waited on Messrs. J. Smith, S. Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, L. Wight, +George Robinson and myself, with a request from General Lucas that +we would repair to his camp, with the assurance that as soon as +peaceable arrangements could be entered into we should be released. +We had no confidence in the word of a murderer and robber, but +there was no alternative but to put our lives into the hands of +such monsters, or to have the city attacked, and men, women and +children massacred. We, therefore, commended ourselves to the Lord, +and voluntarily surrendered as sheep into the hands of wolves. As +we approached the camp of the enemy General Lucas rode out to meet +us with a guard of several hundred men. + +The haughty general rode up, and, without speaking to us, +instantly ordered his guard to surround us. They did so very +abruptly, and we were marched into camp surrounded by thousands of +savage looking beings, many of whom were dressed and painted like +Indian warriors. These all set up a constant yell, like so many +bloodhounds let loose upon their prey, as if they had achieved one +of the most miraculous victories that ever graced the annals of the +world. If the vision of the infernal regions could suddenly open to +the mind, with thousands of malicious fiends, all clamoring, +exulting, deriding, blaspheming, mocking, railing, raging and +foaming like a troubled sea, then could some idea be formed of the +hell which we had entered. + +In camp we were placed under a strong guard, and were without +shelter during the night, lying on the ground in the open air, in +the midst of a great rain. The guards during the whole night kept +up a constant tirade of mockery, and the most obscene blackguardism +and abuse. They blasphemed God; mocked Jesus Christ; swore the most +dreadful oaths; taunted Brother Joseph and others; demanded +miracles; wanted signs, such as: "Come, Mr. Smith, show us an +angel." "Give us one of your revelations." "Show us a miracle." +"Come, there is one of your brethren here in camp whom we took +prisoner yesterday in his own house, and knocked his brains out +with his own rifle, which we found hanging over his fireplace; he +lays speechless and dying; speak the word and heal him, and then we +will all believe." "Or, if you are apostles or men of God, deliver +yourselves, and then we will be Mormons." Next would be a volley of +oaths and blasphemies; then a tumultuous tirade of lewd boastings +of having defiled virgins and wives by force, etc., much of which I +dare not write; and, indeed, language would fail me to attempt more +than a faint description. Thus passed this dreadful night, and +before morning several other captives were added to our number, +among whom was Brother Amasa Lyman. + +We were informed that the general officers held a secret council +during most of the night, which was dignified by the name of court +martial; in which, without a hearing, or, without even being +brought before it, we were all sentenced to be shot. The day and +hour was also appointed for the execution of this sentence, viz.: +next morning at 8 o'clock, in the public square at Far West. Of +this we were informed by Brigadier-General Doniphan, who was one of +the council, but who was so violently opposed to this cool blooded +murder that he assured the council that he would revolt and +withdraw his whole brigade, and march them back to Clay County as +soon as it was light, if they persisted in so dreadful an +undertaking. Said he, "It is cold blooded murder, and I wash my +hands of it." His firm remonstrance, and that of a few others, so +alarmed the haughty murderer and his accomplices that they dare not +put the decree in execution. + +Thus, through a merciful providence of God our lives were spared +through that dreadful night. It was the common talk, and even the +boast in the camp, that individuals lay here and there unburied, +where they had shot them down for sport. The females they had +ravished; the plunder they had taken; the houses they had burned; +the horses they had stolen; the fields of grain they had laid +waste, were common topics; and were dwelt on for mere amusement, +or, as if these deeds were a stepstone to office; and it is a fact +that such deeds were so considered. + +No pen need undertake to describe our feelings during that +terrible night, while there confined not knowing the fate of our +wives and children, or of our fellow Saints, and seeing no way for +our lives to be saved except by the miraculous power of God. But, +notwithstanding all earthly hopes were gone, still we felt a +calmness indescribable. A secret whispering to our inmost soul +seemed to say: "Peace, my sons, be of good cheer, your work is not +yet done; therefore I will restrain your enemies, that they shall +not have power to take your lives." + +While thus confined, Wm. E. McLellin, once my fellow laborer in +the gospel, but now a _Judas_, with hostile weapon in hand +to destroy the Saints, came to me and observed: "Well, Parley, you +have now got where you are certain never to escape; how do you feel +as to the course you have taken in religion?" I answered, "that I +had taken that course which I should take if I had my life to live +over again." He seemed thoughtful for a moment, and then replied: +"Well--I think, if I were you, I should die as I had lived; at any +rate, I see no possibility of escape for you and your friends." + +Next morning Gen. Lucas demanded the Caldwell militia to give up +their arms, which was done. As soon as the troops who had defended +the city were disarmed, it was surrounded by the enemy and all the +men detained as prisoners. None were permitted to pass out of the +city--although their families were starving for want of sustenance; +the mills and provisions being some distance from the city. + +The brutal mob were now turned loose to ravage, steal, plunder +and murder without restraint. Houses were rifled, women ravished, +and goods taken as they pleased. The whole troop, together with +their horses, lived on the grain and provisions. While cattle were +shot down for mere sport, and sometimes men, women and children +fared no better. On the third morning after our imprisonment we +were placed in a wagon, in order for removal. Many of the more +desperate then crowded around, cocked their rifles, and singling us +out presented them to our breasts, and swore they would blow us +through. Some guns were snapped, but missed fire, and the rest were +in a small degree restrained by the officers, and we still lived. + +We were now marched to Far West, under the conduct of the whole +army; and while they halted in the public square, we were permitted +to go with a guard for a change of linen and to take final leave of +our families, in order to depart as prisoners to Jackson County, a +distance of sixty miles. + +This was the most trying scene of all. I went to my house, being +guarded by two or three soldiers; the cold rain was pouring down +without, and on entering my little cottage, there lay my wife sick +of a fever, with which she had been for some time confined. At her +breast was our son Nathan, an infant of three months, and by her +side a little girl of five years. On the foot of the same bed lay a +woman in travail, who had been driven from her house in the night, +and had taken momentary shelter in my hut of ten feet square--my +larger house having been torn down. I stepped to the bed; my wife +burst into tears; I spoke a few words of comfort, telling her to +try to live for my sake and the children's; and expressing a hope +that we should meet again though years might separate us. She +promised to try to live. I then embraced and kissed the little +babes and departed. + +Till now I had refrained from weeping; but, to be forced from so +helpless a family, who were destitute of provisions and fuel, and +deprived almost of shelter in a bleak prairie, with none to assist +them, exposed to a lawless banditti who were utter strangers to +humanity, and this at the approach of winter, was more than nature +could well endure. + +I went to Gen. Moses Wilson in tears and stated the +circumstances of my sick, heart-broken and destitute family in +terms which would have moved any heart that had a latent spark of +humanity yet remaining. But I was only answered with an exultant +laugh, and a taunt of reproach by this hardened murderer. + +As I returned from my house towards the troops in the square, I +halted with the guard at the door of Hyrum Smith, and heard the +sobs and groans of his wife, at his parting words. She was then +near confinement, and needed more than ever the comfort and +consolation of a husband's presence. As we returned to the wagon we +saw S. Rigdon taking leave of his wife and daughters, who stood at +a little distance, in tears of anguish indescribable. In the wagon +sat Joseph Smith, while his aged father and venerable mother came +up overwhelmed with tears, and took each of the prisoners by the +hand with a silence of grief too great for utterance. + +In the meantime, hundreds of the brethren crowded around us, +anxious to take a parting look, or a silent shake of the hand; for +feelings were too intense to allow of speech. In the midst of these +scenes orders were given, and we moved slowly away, under the +conduct of Gen. Wilson and his whole brigade. A march of twelve +miles brought us to Crooked River, where we camped for the night. +Here Gen. Wilson began to treat us more kindly; he became very +sociable; conversing very freely on the subject of his former +murders and robberies committed against us in Jackson. He did not +pretend to deny anything; but spoke upon the whole as freely as if +he had been giving the history of other ages or countries, in which +his audience had no personal concern. Said he: + +"We Jackson County boys know how it is; and, therefore, have not +the extremes of hatred and prejudice which characterize the rest of +the troops. We know perfectly that from the beginning the Mormons +have not been the aggressors at all. As it began in '33 in Jackson +County, so it has been ever since. You Mormons were crowded to the +last extreme, and compelled to self-defense; and this has been +construed into treason, murder and plunder. We mob you without law; +the authorities refuse to protect you according to law; you then +are compelled to protect yourselves, and we act upon the prejudices +of the public, who join our forces, and the whole is legalized, for +your destruction and our gain. Is not this a shrewd and cunning +policy on our part, gentlemen? + +"When we drove you from Jackson County, we burned two hundred +and three of your houses; plundered your goods; destroyed your +press, type paper, books, office and all--tarred and feathered old +Bishop Partridge, as exemplary an old man as you can find anywhere. +We shot down some of your men, and, if any of you returned the +fire, we imprisoned you, on your trial for murder, etc. Damn'd +shrewdly done, gentlemen; and I came damn'd near kicking the bucket +myself; for, on one occasion, while we were tearing down houses, +driving families, and destroying and plundering goods, some of you +good folks put a ball through my son's body, another through the +arm of my clerk, and a third pierced my shirt collar and marked my +neck. No blame, gentlemen; we deserved it. And let a set of men +serve me as your community have been served, and I'll be damn'd if +I would not fight till I died. + +"It was repeatedly insinuated, by the other officers and troops, +that we should hang you prisoners on the first tree we came to on +the way to Independence. But I'll be damn'd if anybody shall hurt +you. We just intend to exhibit you in Independence, let the people +look at you, and see what a damn'd set of fine fellows you are. +And, more particularly, to keep you from that G--damn'd old bigot +of a Gen. Clark and his troops, from down country, who are so +stuffed with lies and prejudice that they would shoot you down in a +moment." + +Such was the tenor of the conversation addressed by Gen. Wilson +to his prisoners. Indeed, it was now evident that he was proud of +his prey, and felt highly enthusiastic in having the honor of +returning in triumph to Independence with his prisoners, whom his +superstition had magnified into something more than fellow +citizens--something noble or supernatural, and worthy of public +exhibition. + +As we arose and commenced our march on the morning of the 3d of +November, Joseph Smith spoke to me and the other prisoners, in a +low, but cheerful and confidential tone; said he: "_Be of good +cheer, brethren; the word of the Lord came to me last night that +our lives should by given us, and that whatever we may suffer +during this captivity, not one of our lives should be taken_." +Of this prophecy I testify in the name of the Lord, and, though +spoken in secret, its public fulfillment and the miraculous escape +of each one of us is too notorious to need my testimony. In the +after part of the day we came to the Missouri River, which +separated us from Jackson County. Here the brigade was halted and +the prisoners taken to a public house, where we were permitted to +shave, change our linen, and partake of some refreshment. This +done, we were hurried to the ferry and across the river with the +utmost haste in advance of the troops. This movement was soon +explained to us. The truth was, Gen. Clark had now arrived near the +scene of action, and had sent an express to take us from Gen. +Wilson and prevent us from going to Jackson County--both armies +being competitors for the honor of possessing the wonderful, or, in +their estimation, royal prisoners. + +Clark and his troops, from a distance, who had not arrived in +the city of Far West till after our departure, were desirous of +seeing the strange men whom it was said had turned the world upside +down and of possessing such a wonderful trophy of victory, or of +putting them to death themselves. On the other hand, Wilson and his +brigade were determined to exhibit us through the streets of +Independence as a visible token of their own achievements. +Therefore, when demanded by Gen. Clark's express, they refused to +surrender us; and hurried us across the ferry with all possible +despatch. Marching about a mile, we encamped for the night in the +wilderness, with about fifty troops for our guard--the remainder +not crossing the ferry till the next morning. + +Some of the neighboring citizens visited us next morning--it +being Sunday. One of the ladies came up and very candidly inquired +of the troops which of the prisoners the "Mormons" worshipped? One +of the guards pointing to Mr. Smith with a significant smile, said, +"This is he." The woman, then turning to Mr. Smith, inquired +whether he professed to be the Lord and Saviour? + +Do not smile, gentle reader, at the ignorance of these poor +innocent creatures, who, by the exertions of a corrupt press and +pulpit, are kept in ignorance and made to believe in every possible +absurdity in relation to the Church of the Saints. Mr. Smith +replied, that he professed to be nothing but a man, and a minister +of salvation, sent by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. After +expressing some surprise, the lady inquired what was the peculiar +nature of the gospel, as held by himself and his Church? At this +the visitors and soldiers gathered around, and Mr. Smith preached +to them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance towards God, +reformation of life, immersion in water, in the name of Jesus +Christ, for remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by +the laying on of hands. + +All seemed surprised, and the lady, in tears, went her way, +praising God for the truth, and praying aloud that the Lord would +bless and deliver the prisoners. + +At ten o'clock the brigade had all crossed the river, and come +up with us. We were then marched forward in our carriages, while +the troops were formed into a front and rear guard, with quite a +martial appearance. As we passed along through the settlements +hundreds of men, women and children flocked to see us. General W. +often halted the whole brigade to introduce us to the populace, +pointing out each of us by name. Many shook us by the hand, and, in +the ladies at least, there appeared some feelings of human +compassion and sympathy. + +In this way we proceeded till we arrived at Independence. It was +now past noon, and in the midst of a great rain; but hundreds +crowded to witness the procession, and to gaze at us as we were +paraded in martial triumph through the principal streets, the +bugles sounding a blast of triumphant joy. + + +CHAPTER XXIII. +------------------------ + +Treatment of the Prisoners:--Visit the Temple +Lot:--Gain my Freedom:--Temptation:--Voluntary Return to +Bondage:--Leave Independence:--Conduct of the Guards:--Fall +into the Hands of Col. Price and Guards:--Arrive at Richmond:-- +Chains:--Interview with Gen. Clark:--Dialogue:--Inconceivable +Absurdities. + +This ceremony being finished, a vacant house was prepared for +our reception, into which we were ushered through the crowd of +spectators which thronged every avenue. + +The troops were then disbanded. In the meantime we were kept +under a small guard, and were treated with some degree of humanity, +while hundreds flocked to see us day after day. We spent most of +our time in preaching and conversation, explanatory of our +doctrines and practice. Much prejudice was removed, and the +feelings of the populace began to be in our favor, notwithstanding +their former wickedness and hatred. In a day or two we were at +liberty to walk the streets without a guard. We were finally +removed from our house of confinement to a hotel, where we boarded +at the public table, and lodged on the floor, with a block of wood +for a pillow. We no longer had any guard; we went out and came in +when we pleased--a certain keeper being appointed merely to watch +over us, and look to our wants. + +With him we walked out of town to the westward, and visited the +desolate lands of the Saints, and the place which, seven years +before, we had dedicated for the building of a Temple. This was a +beautiful rise of ground, about half a mile west of Independence +center. When we saw it last it was a noble forest, but our enemies +had since robbed it of every vestige of timber, and it now lay +desolate, or clothed with grass and weeds. + +O, how many feelings did this spot awaken in our bosoms! Here we +had often bowed the knee in prayer, in bygone years. Here we had +assembled with hundreds of happy Saints in the solemn meeting, and +offered our songs, and sacraments, and orisons. But now all was +solemn and lonely desolation. Not a vestige remained to mark the +spot where stood our former dwellings. They had long since been +consumed by fire, or removed and converted to the uses of our +enemies. + +While at Independence we were once or twice invited to dine with +General Wilson and some others, which we did. + +While thus sojourning as prisoners at large, I arose one morning +when it was very snowy, and passed silently and unmolested out of +the hotel, and as no one seemed to notice me, or call me in +question, I thought I would try an experiment. I passed on eastward +through the town; no one noticed me. I then took into the fields, +still unobserved. After travelling a mile I entered a forest; all +was gloomy silence, none were near, the heavens were darkened and +obscured by falling snow, my track was covered behind me, and I was +free. I knew the way to the states eastward very well, and there +seemed nothing to prevent my pursuing my way thither; thoughts of +freedom beat high in my bosom; wife, children, home, freedom, +peace, and a land of law and order, all arose in my mind; I could +go to other States, send for my family, make me a home and be +happy. + +On the other hand, I was a prisoner in a State where all law was +at an end. I was liable to be shot down at any time without judge +or jury. I was liable to be tried for my life by murderous +assassins, who had already broken every oath of office and trampled +on every principle of honor or even humanity. Hands already +dripping with the blood of aged sires, and of helpless women and +children, were reaching out for my destruction. The battle of +Crooked River had already been construed into murder on the part of +the brave patriots who there defended their lives and rescued their +fellow citizens from kidnappers and land pirates, while the pirates +themselves had been converted into loyal militia. + +To go forward was freedom, to go backward was to be sent to +General Clark, and be accused of the highest crimes, with murderers +for judge, jury and executioners. + +"Go free!" whispered the tempter. + +"No!" said I, "never, while Brother Joseph and his fellows are +in the power of the enemy. What a storm of trouble, or even of +death, it might subject them to." + +I turned on my heel, retraced my steps, and entered the hotel +ere they had missed me. As I shook the snow off my clothes the +keeper and also Brother Joseph inquired where I had been. I +replied, just out for a little exercise. A walk for pleasure in +such a storm gave rise to some pleasantries on their part, and +there the matter ended. + +There was one thing which buoyed up our spirits continually +during our captivity: it was the remembrance of the word of the +Lord to Brother Joseph, saying, that our lives should all be given +us during this captivity, and not one of them should be lost. I +thought of this while in the wilderness vacillating whether to go +or stay, and the thought struck me: "_He that will seek to save +his life shall lose it; but he that will lose his life for my sake +shall find it again, even life eternal_." I could now make sure +of my part in the first resurrection, as I had so intensely desired +when about eleven years old. But, O, the path of life! How was it +beset with trials! + +At length, after repeated demands, we were sent to General +Clark, at Richmond, Ray County. Generals Lucas and Wilson had tried +in vain for some days to get a guard to accompany us. None would +volunteer, and when drafted they would not obey orders; for in +truth, they wished us to go at liberty. At last a colonel and two +or three officers started with us, with their swords and pistols, +which were intended more to protect us than to keep us from +escaping. On this journey some of us rode in carriages and some on +horseback. Sometimes we were sixty or eighty rods in front or rear +of our guards, who were drinking hard out of bottles which they +carried in their pockets. + +At night, having crossed the Missouri River, we put up at a +private house. Here our guards all got drunk, and went to bed and +to sleep, leaving us their pistols to defend ourselves in case of +any attack from without, as we were in a very hostile neighborhood. +Next morning we rode a few miles, and were met by an express from +General Clark, which consisted of one Colonel Sterling Price and a +guard of soldiers. This company immediately surrounded us with +poised pieces, in regular military order, as if we had been +Bonaparte and staff on the way to St. Helena; thinking, perhaps, +that if we should escape, the whole United States and all Europe +would be immediately overthrown. + +In this manner we were escorted to Richmond, the headquarters of +General Clark and his army of three or four thousand men. Here, as +usual, we had to endure the gaze of the curious, as if we had been +a caravan of animals for exhibition. Troops were paraded to receive +us, which, as we approached, opened to the right and left, thus +forming a long avenue, through which we passed into a block house, +and were immediately put in chains, under a strong guard, who stood +over us continually with poised pieces, cocked and primed. Colonel +Price continued in the superintendence of the prisoners and the +guards. + +General Clark at length called to see us. He seemed more +haughty, unfeeling, and reserved than even Lucas or Wilson had been +when we first entered their camp. We inquired of the general what +were his intentions concerning us. I stated to him that we had now +been captives for many days, and we knew not wherefore, nor whether +we were considered prisoners of war or prisoners of civil process, +or "_prisoners of hope_." At the same time remarking, that +all was wrapped in mystery; for, as citizens of the United States +and of Missouri, in time of peace, we could in nowise be considered +as prisoners of war; and, without civil process, we were not holden +by civil authority; and as to being "prisoners of hope," there was +not much chance to hope, from our present appearances! + +He replied that "_we were taken to be tried_." + +"Tried? By what authority?" + +"By court martial." + +"What! Ministers of the gospel tried by court martial! Men who sustain +no office in military affairs, and who are not subject by law to +military duty; such men to be tried by court martial! And this in time +of peace, and in a republic where the constitution guaranteed to every +citizen the right of trial by jury?" + +"Yes. This is in accordance with the treaty of stipulations entered +into at Far West at the time of the surrender, and as agreed to by +Colonel Hinkle, your commanding officer." + +"Colonel Hinkle, our commanding officer! What had he to do with our +civil rights? He was only a colonel of a regiment of the Caldwell +County Militia." + +"Why! was he not the commanding officer of the fortress of Far West, +the headquarters of the _Mormon forces_?" + +"We had no '_fortress_' or '_Mormon forces_,' but were part of the +State militia." + +At this the general seemed surprised, and the conversation ended. + +We were astonished above measure at proceedings so utterly ignorant and +devoid of all law or justice. Here was a Major-General, selected by the +Governor of Missouri, and sent to banish or exterminate a religious +society. And then, to crown the whole with inconceivable absurdity, aid +religious society is converted by this officer and his associates into +an independent government, or foreign nation. And last, and equally +absurd, the State of Missouri assumed her independence of the federal +government so far as to _treat_ with this imaginary "_ Mormon Empire_," +or foreign nation. A colonel of militia, subordinate to the general +then in the field, is converted into a foreign minister, an envoy +extraordinary, in behalf of the "Mormon Empire," to enter into treaty +stipulations with his Missouri majesty's forces, under Generals Lucas, +Wilson and Clark! + +The city of Far West, the capital of "_Mormonia_," is the "_Ghent_," +where this treaty of peace is ratified. The standing army of the +conquered nation stack their arms, which are carried in triumph to +Richmond. Preachers of the gospel are converted into "_noble_" or +"_royal prisoners_," chained to the car of the victorious champions +to be led captive as sport for the Philistines, or to be shot or +hung at pleasure, while the residue of the inhabitants of the fallen +empire--men, women and children--are to have their real estate and all +other goods confiscated, and themselves banished the state on pain +of death. A few, however, are selected from among these exiles to be +imprisoned or executed at the mere dictation of a Nero or a Nicholas. + +Was this in America, in the nineteenth century? Were these scenes +transacted in a constitutional republic? Yes, verily, and worse--a tale +of horror, of woe, of long years of lawless outrage and tyranny is yet +to be told, of which this is a mere stepping stone or entering wedge. + + +CHAPTER XXIV. +------------------------ + +MASSACRE AT HAUN'S MILL. + +We here introduce the testimony of Joseph Young, an eye witness +of one of the most awful scenes which ever stained the annals of +history in any age or country. + +"The following is a short history of my travels to the State of +Missouri, and of a bloody tragedy enacted at Haun's Mill, on Shoal +Creek, October 30, 1838: + +"On the 6th of July last I started with my family from Kirtland, +Ohio, for Missouri--the county of Caldwell, in the upper part of +the State, being the place of my destination. On the 13th of +October I crossed the Mississippi at Louisiana, at which place I +heard vague reports of the disturbances in the upper country, but +nothing that could be relied on. + +"I continued my course westward till I crossed Grand River, at a +place called Compton's Ferry, where I heard for the first time that +if I proceeded any further on my journey I would be in danger of +being sped by a body of armed men. + +"I was not willing, however, while treading my native soil and +breathing republican air, to abandon my object, which was to locate +myself and family in a fine, healthy country, where we could enjoy +the society of our friends and connections. Consequently, I +prosecuted my journey till I came to Whitney's Mills, situated on +Shoal Creek, in the eastern part of Caldwell County. After crossing +the creek and going about three miles we met a party of the mob, +about forty in number, and with rifles and mounted on horses, who +informed us that we could go no further west, threatening us with +instant death if we proceeded any further. + +"I asked them the reason of this prohibition, to which they +replied that we were '_Mormons_,' and that every one who +adhered to that religious faith would have to leave the State +within ten days, or renounce their religion. Accordingly, they +drove us back to the mills above mentioned. + +"Here we tarried three days, and on Friday, the 26th, we +recrossed the creek, and, following up its banks, we succeeded in +eluding the mob for the time being, and gained the residence of a +friend in Myers' Settlement. On Sunday, October 28, we arrived at +Haun's Mill, where we found a number of our friends collected, who +were holding a council and deliberating upon the best course for +them to pursue to defend themselves against the mob who were +collecting in the neighborhood under the command of Colonel +Jennings, of Livingston, and threatening them with house burning +and killing. + +"The decision of the council was that the neighborhood should +put itself in a state of defense. Accordingly about twenty-eight of +our men armed themselves, and were in constant readiness for an +attack, if any small body of mobbers might come upon them. + +"The same evening, for some reason best known to themselves, the +mob sent one of their number to enter into a treaty with our +friends, which was accepted on the condition of mutual forbearance +on both sides, and that each party, as far as their influence +extended, should exert themselves to prevent any further +hostilities. + +"At this time, however, there was another mob collecting on +Grand River, at William Mann's, which was threatening us; +consequently, we remained under arms on Monday, the 29th, which +passed away without molestation from any quarter. + +"On Tuesday, the 30th, that bloody tragedy was enacted, the +scenes of which I shall never forget. + +"More than three fourths of the day had passed in tranquility as +smiling as the preceding one. I think there was no individual of +our company that was apprised of the sudden and awful fate which +hung over our heads like an overwhelming torrent, and which was to +change the prospects, the feelings and sympathies of about thirty +families. + +"The banks of Shoal Creek, on either side, teemed with children +sporting and playing, while their mothers were engaged in domestic +employments. Fathers or husbands were either on guard about the +mills or other property, or employed in gathering crops for winter +consumption. The weather was very pleasant, the sun shone clearly +all was tranquil, and no one expressed any apprehension of the +awful crisis that was near us, even at our doors. + +"It was about 4 o'clock, p.m., while sitting in my cabin with my +babe in my arms, and my wife standing by my side, the door being +open I cast my eyes on the opposite bank of Shoal Creek, and saw a +large body of armed men on horses directing their course towards +the mills with all possible speed. As they advanced through the +scattering trees that bordered the prairie they seemed to form +themselves into a three square position, forming a vanguard in +front. At this moment, David Evans, seeing the superiority of their +numbers (there being two hundred and forty of them, according to +their own account), gave a signal and cried for peace. This not +being heeded they continued to advance, and their leader, a man +named Comstock, fired a gun, which was followed by a solemn pause +of about ten or twelve seconds; when all at once they discharged +about one hundred rifles, aiming at a blacksmith's shop, into which +our friends fled for safety. They then charged up to the shop, the +crevices of which, between the logs, were sufficiently large to +enable them to aim directly at the bodies of those who had there +fled for refuge from the fire of their murderers. There were +several families rented in the rear of the shop whose lives were +exposed, and, amid showers of bullets, fled to the woods in +different directions. + +"After standing and gazing at this bloody scene for a few +minutes, and finding myself in the uttermost danger, the bullets +having reached the house where I was living, I committed my family +to the protection of Heaven; and, leaving the house on the opposite +side, I took a path which led up the hill, following in the trail +of three of my brethren that had fled from the shop. + +"While ascending the hill we were discovered by the mob, who +immediately fired at us, and continued so to do till we reached the +summit. In descending the hill I secreted myself in a thicket of +bushes, where I lay till 8 o'clock in the evening. At this time I +heard a voice calling my name in an undertone. I immediately left +the thicket and went to the house of Benjamin Lewis, where I found +my family--who had fled there in safety--and two of my friends, +mortally wounded, one of whom died before morning. Here we passed +the painful night in deep and awful reflections on the scenes of +the preceding evening. After daylight appeared some four or five +men, with myself, who had escaped with our lives from this horrid +massacre, repaired as soon as possible to the mills to learn the +condition of our friends, whose fate we had but too truly +anticipated. + +"When we arrived at the house of Mr. Haun, we found Mr. +Merrick's body lying in the rear of the house; Mr. McBride's in +front, literally mangled from head to foot. We were informed by +Miss Rebecca Judd, who was an eye witness, that he was shot with +his own gun after he had given it up, and then cut to pieces with a +corn cutter by a man named Rogers, of Daviess County, who keeps a +ferry on Grand River, and who has since repeatedly boasted of this +act of savage barbarity. Mr. York's body we found in the house. +After viewing these corpses we immediately went to the blacksmith's +shop, where we found nine of our friends, eight of whom were +already dead--the other, Mr. Cox, of Indiana, in the agonies of +death, who soon expired. + +"We immediately prepared and carried them to the place of +interment. This last office of kindness due to the remains of +departed friends was not attended with the customary ceremonies nor +decency; for we were in jeopardy, every moment expecting to be +fired on by the mob, who, we supposed, were lying in ambush, +waiting the first opportunity to dispatch the remaining few who +were providentially preserved from the slaughter of the preceding +day. However, we accomplished without molestation this painful +task. The place of burial was a vault in the ground, formerly +intended for a well, into which we threw the bodies of our friends +promiscuously. + +"Among the slain I will mention Sardius Smith, son of Warren +Smith, about nine years old, who, through fear, had crawled under +the bellows in the shop, where he remained till the massacre was +over, when he was discovered by one Glaze, of Carroll County, who +presented a rifle near his head and literally blew off the upper +part of it. Mr. Stanley, of Carroll County, told me afterwards that +Glaze boasted of this fiendlike murder and heroic deed all over the +country. + +"The number killed and mortally wounded in this wanton slaughter +was eighteen or nineteen, whose names, as far as I can recollect, +were as follows: Thomas McBride, Levi Merrick, Elias Benner, Josiah +Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, Warren Smith, Sardius +Smith, George Richards, Mr. Napier, Mr. Harmer, Mr. Cox, Mr. +Abbott, Mr. York, Wm. Merrick (a boy eight or nine years old), and +three or four others whose names I do not recollect, as they were +strangers to me. + +"Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, Nathan K. +Knight, Mr. Yokum, two brothers by the name of Myers, Tarlton +Lewis, Mr. Haun and several others. Miss Mary Stedwell, while +fleeing, was shot through the hand, and, fainting, fell over a log, +into which they shot upwards of twenty balls. + +"To finish their work of destruction, this band of murderers +composed of men from Daviess, Livingston, Ray, Carroll and Chariton +Counties, led by some of the principal men of that section of the +upper country (among whom, I am informed, were Mr. Ashby, from +Chariton, member of the State Legislature; Col. Jennings, of +Livingston County; Thos. O'Bryon, Clerk of Livingston County; Mr. +Whitney, Dr. Randall and many others), proceeded to rob the houses, +wagons and tents of bedding and clothing; drove off horses and +wagons leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of +life, and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain! + +"According to their own account they fired seven rounds in this +awful butchery; making upwards of sixteen hundred shots, at a +little company of men about thirty in number. + +"I hereby certify the above to be a true statement of facts, +according to the best of knowledge. + +"Joseph Young." + +"STATE OF ILLINOIS, + _County of Adams_. + +"I hereby certify that Joseph Young this day came before me, and +made oath in due form of law, that the statements contained in the +foregoing sheets are true, according to the best of his knowledge +and belief. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and +affixed the seal of the Circuit court at Quincy, this fourth day of +June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and +thirty-nine. + +"C. M. WOODS, + + "_Clerk of Circuit Court of Adams, Co., Ill._" + + +CHAPTER XXV. +------------------------ + +Speech of Major--General Clark, Delivered at Far +West while its Citizens were held as Prisoners, November, 1838. + +"Gentlemen: You, whose names are not on this list, will now have +the privilege of going to your fields to obtain grain for your +families--wood, etc. Those that compose the list will go from +thence to prison, to be tried, and receive the due demerits of +their crimes. But you are now at liberty, all but such as charges +may hereafter be preferred against. It now devolves upon you to +fulfil the treaty that you have entered into--the leading items of +which I now lay before you. + +"The first of these items you have already complied with--which +is, that you deliver up your leading men to be tried according to +law. Second, that you deliver up your arms--this has been attended +to. The third is, that you sign over your property to defray the +expenses of the war; this you have also done. Another thing yet +remains for you to comply with; that is: that you leave the State +forthwith; and, whatever your feelings concerning this affair, +whatever your innocence, it is nothing to me. General Lucas, who is +equal in authority with me, has made this treaty with you. I am +determined to see it executed. + +"The orders of the Governor to me, were, that you should be +exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the State. And had your +leaders not been given up, and the treaty complied with before +this, you and your families would have been destroyed and your +houses in ashes. + +"There is a discretionary power resting in my hands, which I +shall try to exercise for a season. I did not say that you must go +now, but you must not think of stopping here another season, or of +putting in crops; for the moment you do the CITIZENS WILL BE UPON +YOU. I am determined to see the Governor's orders fulfilled, but +shall not come upon you immediately. Do not think that I shall act +as I have done any more; but if I have to come again because the +treaty which you have made is not complied with, you need not +expect any mercy, but extermination; for I am determined that the +Governor's order shall be executed. + +"As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, +do not let it enter your mind that they will be delivered, or that +you will see their faces again, for their fare is fixed, their die +is cast, their doom is sealed. + +"I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so great a number of apparently +intelligent men found in the situation that you are. And, oh! that +I could invoke the Spirit of the unknown God to rest upon you, and +deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and liberate you +from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound. I would +advise you to scatter abroad and never again organize with bishops, +presidents, etc., lest you excite the jealousies of the people, and +subject yourselves to the same calamities that have now come upon +you. + +"You have always been the aggressors; you have brought upon +yourselves these difficulties by being disaffected, and not being +subject to rule; and my advice is, that you become as other +citizens, lest by a recurrence of these events you bring upon +yourselves inevitable ruin." + + +CHAPTER XXVI. +------------------------ + +The Prisoners:--Second Interview with General Clark:--Inquisition:-- +Sickness of Elder Rigdon:--Colonel Price and Guards:--Their +Conduct;--Rebuke by Joseph Smith:--Trial:--Similarity between +King Herod and Governor Boggs:--Judge Austin A. King in Open +Court Threatens a Wholesale Extermination of the "Mormons:"--Other +Prisoners Obtained by Stratagem:--Advice of General Doniphan, Attorney +for the Prisoners:--Decision:--Disposal of the Prisoners:--Flight of +the Church to Illinois:--Conduct of the Outlaws:--My Family Visits me +in Prison. + +I must not forget to state that when we arrived in Richmond as +prisoners there were some fifty others, mostly heads of families, +who had been marched from Caldwell on foot (distance 30 miles), and +were now penned up in a cold, open, unfinished court house, in +which situation they remained for some weeks, while their families +were suffering severe privations. + +The next morning after our dialogue with General Clark he again +entered our prison and informed us that he had concluded to deliver +us over to the civil authorities for an examining trial. He was +then asked why he did not do away with the unlawful decree of +_banishment_, which was first ordered by General Lucas, in +compliance with the Governor's order, and which compelled thousands +of citizens to leave the State. Or upon what principle the military +power aided the civil law against us, while at the same time it +caused our families and friends to be murdered, plundered and +driven, contrary to all law? + +He replied that he approved of all the proceedings of General +Lucas, and should not alter them. I make this statement because +some writers have commended Clark for his heroic, merciful, and +prudent conduct towards our society, and have endeavored to make it +appear that Clark was not to be blamed for any of the measures of +Lucas. + +The Court of Inquiry now commenced, before Judge Austin A. King. +This continued from the 11th to 28th of November, and our brethren, +some fifty in number, were penned up in the cold, dreary court +house. It was a very severe time of snow and winter weather, and we +suffered much. During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very sick, +from hardship and exposure, and finally lost his reason; but still +he was kept in a miserable, noisy and cold room, and compelled to +sleep on the floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and +fastened to six others. Here he endured the constant noise and +confusion of an unruly guard, the officer of which was Colonel +Sterling Price, since Governor of the State. + +These guards were composed generally of the most noisy, foul +mouthed, vulgar, disgraceful rabble that ever defiled the earth. +While he lay in this situation his son-in-law, George W. Robinson, +the only male member of his family, was chained by his side. Thus +Mrs. Rigdon and her daughters were left entirely destitute and +unprotected. One of his daughters, Mrs. Robinson, a young and +delicate female, with her little infant, came down to see her +husband, and to comfort and take care of her father in his +sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of chains +and the rattle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick and +dejected parent and sorrow worn husband, she was speechless, and +only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful +lady, with her little infant, continued by the side of her father +till he recovered from his sickness, and till his fevered and +disordered mind resumed its wonted powers. + +In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep till +the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been +pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the +horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our +guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each +other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had +committed among the "_Mormons_" while at Far West and vicinity. +They even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters and +virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women +and children. + +I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, +and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could +scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards; +but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay +next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his +feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, as the roaring lion, +uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words: + +"_SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of +Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not +live another minute and bear such language. Cease such talk, or you +or I die THIS INSTANT!_" + +He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained, +and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he +looked upon the quailing guards, whose weapons were lowered or +dropped to the ground; whose knees smote together, and who, +shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his +pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards. + +I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial +robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was +suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a +Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to +conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of +emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and +majesty have I seen but _once_, as it stood in chains, at +midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri. + +In this mock court of inquiry the Judge could not be prevailed +on to examine the conduct of murderers and robbers who had +desolated our society, nor would he receive testimony except +against us. By the dissenters and apostates who wished to save +their own lives and secure their property at the expense of others, +and by those who had murdered and plundered us from time to time, +he obtained abundance of testimony, much of which was entirely +false. Our Church organization was converted by such testimony into +a temporal kingdom, which was to fill the whole earth and subdue +all other kingdoms. + +This court of inquisition inquired diligently into our belief of +the seventh chapter of Daniel concerning the kingdom of God, which +should subdue all other kingdoms and stand forever. And when told +that we believed in that prophecy, the court turned to the clerk +and said: "_Write that down; it is a strong point for treason +_." Our lawyer observed as follows: "Judge, you had better make +the Bible treason." The court made no reply. + +These texts and many others were inquired into with all the +eagerness and apparent alarm which characterized a Herod of old in +relation to the babe of Bethlehem, the King of the Jews. + +The ancient Herod, fearing a rival in the person of Jesus, +issued his exterminating order for the murder of all the children +of Bethlehem from two years old and under, with a view to hinder +the fulfillment of a prophecy which he _himself_ believed to +be true. + +The modern Herod (Boggs), fearing a rival kingdom in "_the +people of the Saints of the Most High_," issued his exterminating +order for the murder of the young children of an entire people, +and of their mothers as well as fathers, while this court of +inquisition inquired as diligently into the one prophecy as his +predecessor did into the other. These parallel actions go to +show a strong belief in the prophecies on the part of the actors in +both cases. Both believed, and feared, and trembled; both hardened +their hearts against that which their better judgment told them was +true. Both were instigated by the devil to cause innocent blood to +be shed. And marvelously striking is the parallel in the final +result of the actions of each. + +The one slew many young children, but failed to destroy the +infant King of the Jews. + +The other slew many men, women and children, but failed to +destroy the Kingdom of God. + +The one found a timely refuge in Egypt. + +The other in Illinois. + +Jesus Christ fulfilled his destiny, and will reign over the +Jews, and sit on the throne of his father, David, forever. + +The Saints are growing to power amid the strongholds of the +mountains of Deseret, and will surely take the Kingdom, and the +greatness of the Kingdom, under the whole Heaven. + +Who can withstand the Almighty, or frustrate his purposes? Herod +died of a loathsome disease, and transmitted to posterity his fame +as a tyrant and murderer. And Lilburn W. Boggs is dragging out a +remnant of existence in California, with the mark of Cain upon his +brow, and the fear of Cain within his heart, lest he that findeth +him shall slay him. He is a living stink, and will go down to +posterity with the credit of a wholesale murderer. + +The court also inquired diligently into our missionary operations. It +was found, on investigation, that the Church had sent missionaries into +England and other foreign countries. This, together with our belief in +the Bible, was construed into treason against the State of Missouri, +while every act of defense was set down as murder, etc. The Judge, +in open court, while addressing a witness, proclaimed, that if the +members of the Church remained on their lands to put in another crop +they should be destroyed indiscriminately, and their bones be left to +bleach on the plains without a burial. Yes, reader, the cultivation of +lands held patents issued by the United States land office, and signed +by the President of the Republic, was, by Judge Austin A. King, in +open court, pronounced a capital offense, for which a whole community +were prejudged and sentenced to death. While those who should be the +instruments to execute this sentence were called by the dignified name +of citizens, and these _good_ citizens afterwards elected that same +Judge for Governor of the State. + +The Judge inquired of the prisoners if they wished to introduce +any witnesses for the defense. A list of names was supplied by the +prisoners, when, who should be selected to go to Far West to obtain +and bring them before the court, but the identical bandit, Bogart, +and his gang, who were defeated by us in the Battle of Crooked +River, after they had become famous for kidnapping, plundering and +murdering! + +Of course, every man in Caldwell would flee from such a gang if +they could; but he succeeded in capturing a few of our friends, +whose names were on the list, and bringing them before the court, +when, instead of being sworn, they were immediately ordered to +prison to take their trial. Others were sent for, and, as far as +found, shared the same fate. This manoeuvre occupied several days, +during which the court was still in session, and the fate of the +prisoners suspended. + +At length the Judge exclaimed to the prisoners: "If you have any +witnesses bring them forward; the court cannot delay forever--it +has waited several days already." A member of the Church, named +Allen, was just then seen to pass the window. The prisoners +requested that he might be introduced and sworn. He was immediately +called in and sworn. He began to give his testimony, which went to +establish the innocence of the prisoners, and to show the murders, +robberies, etc., committed by their accusers. But he was suddenly +interrupted and cut short by cries of _"Put him out;" "Kick him +out;" "G-d d--n him, shoot him;" "Kill him, d--n him, kill him;" +"He's a d--d Mormon."_ + +The court then ordered the guard to put him out, which was done +amid the yells, threats, insults and violence of the mob who +thronged in and around the court house. He barely escaped with his +life. Mr. Doniphan, attorney for the defense, and since famed as a +general in the Mexican war, finally advised the prisoners to offer +no defense; "for," said he, "though a legion of angels from the +opening heavens should declare your innocence, the court and +populace have decreed your destruction." Our attorney offered no +defense, and thus the matter of our trials was finally submitted. + +By the decision of this mock Court some twenty or thirty of the +accused were dismissed, among whom was Amasa Lyman Gibbs, Darwin +Chase, Norman Shearer and myself and themselves and bail both +forced to leave the State, thus forfeiting the bail bonds, while +Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb +Baldwin and Alexander McRay (all heads of families) were committed +to the jail of Clay County on the charge of treason; and Morris +Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, Norman Shearer and myself were +committed to the jail of Richmond, Ray County, for the alleged +crime of murder, said to be committed in the act of dispersing the +bandit, Bogart, and his gang. + +This done, the civil and military authorities dispersed, and the +troubled waters became a little more tranquil. + +As our people were compelled by the memorable "_Treaty of Far +West_" to leave the State by the following spring, they now +commenced moving by hundreds and by thousands to the State of +Illinois, where they were received in the most humane and friendly +manner by the authorities, and by the citizens in general. In the +meantime bands of murderers, thieves and robbers were roaming +unrestrained among the unarmed and defenseless citizens, committing +all manner of plunder, and driving off cattle, sheep and horses, +abusing and insulting women. + +My wife and children soon came to me in prison, and spent a +portion of the winter in the cold, dark dungeon, where myself and +fellow prisoners were frequently insulted and abused by our +dastardly guards, who often threatened to shoot us on the spot, and +who made murder, robbery and whoredoms with negro slaves their +daily boast. + + +CHAPTER XXVII. +------------------------ + +LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON THE SUBJECT. + +The State Legislature were soon in session; and from this body, +so high in responsibility, we had hoped for some redress and +protection. Memorials and petitions from those aggrieved, and +others, were addressed to the legislature, praying for an +investigation of the whole matter, and for redress and protection +against the criminal proceedings of the Governor and his troops, in +seizing our property, murdering our citizens, kidnapping our +leaders and others, and driving us from the State. + +Yes, in fact, American citizens petitioned a republican +legislature for the privilege of occupying and cultivating their +own lands, purchased of the Government of the United States, and +for the privilege of dwelling in the houses built by their own +hands, on their own real estate. How strange! How incredible, in +the nineteenth century! Who can realize it? And yet it must stand +on record, and go down to posterity as a fact, a stubborn, +undeniable public fact. + +The following extract of a petition addressed to the legislature +of Missouri, dated Dec. 10, 1838, Far West, Caldwell County, +Missouri, and signed by a committee appointed by the citizens, will +show for itself the foregoing to be true. It was signed by + +EDWARD PARTRIDGE, JOHN M. BURK, HEBER C. KIMBALL, BRIGHAM YOUNG, +JOHN TAYLOR, ISAAC MORLEY, THEODORE TURLEY, GEORGE W. HARRIS, JOHN +MURDOCK. + +It read as follows: + +"The last order of Governor Boggs, to drive us from the State or +exterminate us, is a thing so novel, unlawful, tyrannical and +oppressive that we have been induced to draw up this memorial and +present this statement of our case to your honorable body, praying +that a law may be passed rescinding the order of the Governor to +drive us from the State; and also, giving us the sanction of the +Legislature to inherit our lands in peace. * * * In laying our case +before your honorable body we say that we are willing, and ever +have been, to conform to the Constitution and laws of the United +States and of this State. + +"We ask, in common with others, the protection of the laws. We +ask for the privilege guaranteed to all free citizens of the United +States and of this State to be extended to us, that we may be +permitted to settle and live where we please, and worship God +according to the dictates of our conscience without molestation. +And while we ask for ourselves this privilege, we are willing all +others should enjoy the same." + +If the necessity for such a petition seems strange, how much +more strange appears the fact, that such petition was denied by the +Legislature of a State? And to crown the whole, all investigation +was utterly refused; nay more, the Legislature itself became +accessory to these crimes, by appropriating two hundred thousand +dollars to pay the murderers and robbers for committing these +crimes. + +This last act of outrage sealed with eternal infamy the +character of the State of Missouri. She fell to rise no more. She +should be looked upon by her sister States as a star fallen from +the American constellation; a ruined and degraded outcast from the +family of States. The whole civilized world will detest and abhor +her as the most infamous of tyrants. Nay, tyranny itself will blush +to hear her deeds mentioned in the annals of history. + +The most cruel persecutors of the Christians or Reformers in +pagan or papal Rome will start with astonishment from their long +slumbers, and, with a mixture of envy and admiration, yield to her +the palm. As a State she has acted the part of a pirate, a +wholesale murderer and robber. Every department--civil, military, +executive and legislative--tramples all law under foot, and plunges +into crime and blood. + +Many of the State journals have tried to hide the iniquity of +the State by throwing a covering of lies over her atrocious deeds. +But, can they hide the Governor's cruel order for extermination or +banishment? Can they conceal the fact of the disgraceful treaty of +the generals with a portion of their own officers and men at Far +West? Can they conceal the fact that ten or twelve thousand +citizens, of all ages and of both sexes, have been banished from +the State without trial or condemnation? Can they conceal the fact +that the State Legislature appropriated two hundred thousand +dollars to pay the criminals for committing these crimes; and this +while the petitions of the sufferers lay on the table before them, +praying for investigation, redress and protection? Can they conceal +the fact that citizens have been kidnapped and imprisoned for many +months, while their families, friends and witnesses have been +driven from the State? + +Can they conceal the blood of the murdered husbands and fathers, +or stifle the cries of widows and orphans? + +Nay, the rocks and the mountains may cover them in unknown +depths; the awful abyss of the fathomless deep may swallow them up, +and still their horrid deeds will stand forth in the broad light of +day, for the wondering gaze of angels and of men--they cannot be +hid. + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. +------------------------ + +Joseph Smith and his Fellow Prisoners in +Clay County:--Mock Trial in the County of Davies:--Final +Escape:--Their Arrival in Illinois. + +This chapter is an extract from the statement of Hyrum Smith, +one of the prisoners, given under oath, before the Municipal Court +of the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, in the summer of 1843. + +"The next morning after the close of this mock court (held at +Richmond, Judge Austin A. King presiding), a large wagon drove up +to the door of our prison house, and a blacksmith entered with some +chains and handcuffs. He said his orders from the Judge were to +handcuff and chain us together. He informed us that the Judge made +out a _mittimus_ and sentenced us to jail for treason; he +also said that the Judge had stated his intention to keep us in +jail until all the Mormons were driven from the State; and that the +Judge had further stated that if he let us out before the Mormons +had left the State there would be another d--d fuss kicked up. I +also heard the Judge say myself, while he was sitting in his +pretended court, 'that there was no law for us, or any of the +Mormons in the State of Missouri; that he had sworn to see then +exterminated, and to see the Governor's order executed to the very +letter, and he would do so.' + +"However, the blacksmith proceeded to put the irons upon us. We +were then ordered into the wagon and drove off for Clay County. As +we journeyed along the road, we were exhibited to the inhabitants. +This public exhibition lasted until we arrived at the town of +Liberty, Clay County. There we were thrust into prison again, and +locked up; and were held there in confinement for the space of six +months. + +"Our place of lodging was the square side of hewed white oak +logs, and our food was anything but good and decent. Poison was +administered to us three or four times. The effect it had upon our +systems was, that it vomited us almost to death, and then we would +lay some two or three days in a torpid, stupid state, not even +caring or wishing for life. + +"The poison would inevitably have proved fatal had not the power +of Jehovah interposed in our behalf to save us from their wicked +purpose. We were also subjected to the necessity of _eating +human flesh_ for the space of five days, or go without food, +except a little coffee or a little cornbread. I chose the latter +alternative. None of us partook of the flesh except Lyman Wight. We +also heard the guard which was placed over us, making sport of us, +saying that 'they had fed us upon _Mormon beef_.' + +"I have described the appearance of this flesh to several +experienced physicians, and they have decided that is was human +flesh. We learned afterwards through one of the guards that it was +supposed that such acts of cannibalism as feeding us with human +flesh would be considered a popular deed. But those concerned, on +learning that it would not take, tried to keep it secret; but the +fact was noised abroad before they took that precaution. + +"While we were incarcerated in prison we petitioned the Supreme +Court of the State of Missouri for _habeas corpus_ twice, +but we were as often refused by Judge Reynolds, who is now Governor +of that state. + +"We also petitioned one of the county judges for a writ of _habeas +corpus_. This was granted in about three weeks afterwards; but we +were not permitted to have any trial. We were only taken out of jail, +and kept out for a few hours, and then reprimanded back again. In the +course of three or four days after that time Judge Turnham came into +the jail in the evening, and said he had permitted Mr. Rigdon to get +bail; but said he had to do it in the night, and had also to get away +in the night, and unknown to any of the citizens, or they would kill +him; for they had sworn to kill him if they could find him. And, as to +the rest of us, he dare not let us go for fear of his own life, as well +as ours. + +"He said it was hard to be confined under such circumstances, +for he knew we were innocent men, and the people also knew it; and +that it was only persecution and treachery, and the scenes of +Jackson County acted over again, for fear we would become too +numerous in that upper country. He said, 'the plan was concocted +from the Governor down to the lowest judge, and that wicked Baptist +priest, Riley, was riding into town every day to watch the +people--stirring up the minds of the people against us all he +could--exciting them, and stirring up their religious prejudices +against us, for fear they would let us go.' + +"Mr. Rigdon, however, got bail and made his escape to Illinois. +The jailor, Samuel Tillory, told us also 'that the whole plan was +concocted from the Governor down to the lowest judge in that upper +country early the previous spring; and that the plan was more fully +matured at the time General Atchison went down to Jefferson County +with Generals Wilson, Lucas and Gillum.' This was sometime in +September, when the mob was collected at De Witt. He also said that +the Governor was now ashamed enough of the whole transaction, and +would be glad to set us at liberty if he dared to do it; 'but,' +said he, 'you need not be concerned, for the Governor has laid a +plan for your release.' He also said that Mr. Birch, the State's +Attorney, was appointed to be Circuit Judge in the district +including Daviess County, and that he (Birch) was instructed to fix +the papers so that we would be clear from any encumbrance in a very +short time. + +"Sometime in April we were taken to Daviess County, as they +said, to have a trial; but when we arrived at that place, instead +of finding a court or a jury, we found another Inquisition; and +Birch, who was the District Attorney, the same man who was one of +the '_court martial_' when we were sentenced to death, was +now the Circuit Judge of that pretended court, and the Grand Jury +that were impanelled were at the massacre at Haun's Mill, and +lively actors in that awful, solemn, disgraceful, cold-blooded +murder. All the pretense they made of excuse was 'they had done it +because the Governor ordered it done.' + +"The same jury sat as a jury in the day time, and were over us +as a guard by night. They tantalized and boasted over us of their +great achievements at Haun's Mill and at other places; telling us +how many houses they had burned, and how many sheep, cattle and +hogs they had driven off belonging to '_Mormons_,' and how +many rapes they had committed, etc. * * * + +"These fiends of the lower region boasted of these acts of +barbarity and tantalized our feelings with them for ten days. We +had heard of these acts of cruelty previous to this time; but we +were slow to believe that such acts had been perpetrated. + +"This Grand Jury constantly celebrated their achievements with grog +and glass in hand, like the Indian warriors at the war dances, singing +and telling each of their exploits in murdering the '_ Mormons_,' in +plundering their houses, and carrying off their property. All this +was done in the presence of _Judge_ Birch, who had previously said in +our hearing: '_That there was no law for the Mormons in the State of +Missouri_.' + +"After all these ten days of drunkenness we were informed that +we were indicted for 'treason! murder! arson! larceny! theft and +stealing!!' We asked for a change of venue from that county to +Marion County; but they would not grant it. But they gave us a +change of venue from Daviess to Boone County, and a _mittimus +_ was made out by the pretended Judge Birch, without date, name +or place. They fitted us out with a two horse wagon and horses, and +four men, besides the Sheriff, to be our guard--there were five of +us. + +"We started from Gallatin, the sun about two hours high, p.m., +and went as far as Diahman that evening, and stayed till morning. +There we bought two horses of the guard, and paid for one of them +in clothing which we had with us, and for the other we gave our +note. + +"We went down that day as far as Judge Morin's--distance of some +four or five miles. There we stayed until morning, when we started +on our journey to Boone County, and travelled about twenty miles. +There was bought a jug of whiskey, of which the guard drank freely. +While there the Sheriff showed us the _mittimus_, before +referred to, without date or signature, and said that Judge Birch +told him never to carry us to Boone County, and to show the +_mittimus_; and, said he, I shall take a good drink of grog and +go to bed, and you may do as you have a mind to. Three others of +the guard drank pretty freely of whiskey sweetened with honey; they +also went to bed and were soon asleep. The other guard went with us +and helped us to saddle our horses. Two of us mounted the horses +and the other three started on foot, and thus we took our change of +venue for the State of Illinois. + +"In the course of nine or ten days we arrived safely in Quincy, +Adams County, where we found our families in a state of poverty, +although in good health--they having been driven out of the state +previously by the murderous militia under the exterminating order +of the Executive of Missouri. And now the people of that state, or +a portion of them, would be glad to make the people of this state +believe that my brother Joseph has committed treason, and this they +seek to do for the purpose of keeping up their murderous and +hellish persecution. They seem to be unrelenting in thirsting for +the blood of innocence, for I do know most positively that my +brother Joseph has committed no treason, nor violated one solitary +item of law or rule in the State of Missouri. + +"But I do know that the Mormon people, _en masse_, were +driven out of that State, after being robbed of all they had, and +that he barely escaped with his life. And all this in consequence +of the exterminating order of Governor Boggs; the same being +confirmed by the Legislature of that State. + +"And I do know, so does this Court and every rational man who is +acquainted with the circumstances, and every man who shall hereafter +become acquainted with the particulars thereof, will know that Governor +Boggs and Generals Clark, Lucas, Wilson and Gillum, also Austin A. +King, have committed treasonable acts against the citizens of Missouri, +and did violate the Constitution of the United States, and also the +Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, and did exile and +expel, at the point of the bayonet, some twelve or fourteen thousand +inhabitants of the State, and did murder some three or four hundred +of men, women and children in cold blood in the most horrid and cruel +manner possible. And the whole of it was caused by religious bigotry +and persecution, and because the _Mormons_ dared to worship Almighty +God according to the dictates of their own conscience and agreeably to +His Divine Will, as revealed in the Scriptures of eternal truth; and +had turned away from following the vain traditions of their fathers and +would not worship according to the dogmas and commandments of those +men who preach for hire and divine for money, and teach for doctrines +the commandments of men, expecting that the Constitution of the United +States would have protected them therein. + +"But, notwithstanding the _Mormon_ people, had purchased +upwards of two hundred thousand dollars' worth of land, most of +which was entered and paid for at the Land Office of the United +States, in the State of Missouri, and although the President of the +United States has been made acquainted with these facts and the +particulars of our persecutions and oppressions by petitions to him +and to Congress, yet they have not even attempted to restore the +Saints to their rights, or given any assurance that we may +hereafter expect redress from them. + +"And I do also know, most positively and assuredly, that my +brother, Joseph Smith, Junior, has not been in the State of +Missouri since the spring of the year 1839. And further this +deponent saith not. + +"HYRUM SMITH." + + +CHAPTER XXIX. +------------------------ + +Farewell Scenes:--Departure of the Last Remnant +of the Exiles:--Court:--Release of Two of the Prisoners:-- +Reflections in Prison. + +On the 17th of March, 1839, my wife took leave of the prison +with her little children, and, with a broken heart returned to Far +West, in order to get passage with some of the brethren for +Illinois. She tarried in Far West a month. All the society had gone +from the State, but a few of the poor and widows, and the committee +who tarried behind to assist them in removing. About the middle of +April a gang of robbers entered Far West armed, and ordered my +wife, and the committee, and the others to be gone by such a time, +or they would murder them. This gang destroyed much furniture and +other property. + +Thus my wife was driven away according to the Governor's +previous order, while I was still detained in a filthy dungeon. My +family were conveyed to Quincy, Illinois, distance two hundred and +eighty miles, by David W. Rogers, of New York, who is a descendant +of the celebrated martyr, John Rogers, of Smithfield celebrity, +England. + +On the 20th of April, 1839, the last of the Society departed +from Far West. Thus had a whole people, variously estimated at from +ten to fifteen thousand souls, been driven from houses and lands +and reduced to poverty, and had removed to another State during one +short winter and part of a spring. The sacrifice of property was +immense--including houses, lands, cattle, sheep, hogs, agricultural +implements, furniture, household utensils, clothing, money and +grain. One of the most flourishing counties in the State and part +of several others were reduced to desolation, or inhabited only by +marauding gangs of murderers and robbers. + +On the 24th of April our cases came before the Grand Jury of the +county of Ray; which Grand Jury, the reader is aware, would be +naturally composed of our persecutors and their accessories; and at +whose head was the same Judge King who had presided in the former +mock trial and inquisition which committed us to prison. + +Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer were dismissed, after being +imprisoned near six months. This release happened just as Mr. +Shearer came to visit his son for the last time before he left the +country. He came into the prison and took an affectionate leave of +his son, who wept as if his heart would break; but while he yet +lingered in town his son was called before the Court, and, together +with Mr. Chase, was told that he might go at liberty. The father +and son then embraced each other, almost overcome with joy, and +departed. + +At the same time my brother, Orson Pratt, whom I had not seen +for a year, came from Illinois to see me, but was only permitted to +visit me for a few moments, and then was ordered to depart. + +Mrs. Phelps, who had waited in prison for some days, in hopes +that the Court would release her husband, now parted with him, +overwhelmed with sorrow and tears, and, with her infant, went away +to remove to Illinois. + +Thus our families wander in a strange land, without protection, +being robbed of house and home. O Lord! how long? + +Our number in prison were now reduced to four--one having been added +about the middle of April. His name was King Follett; he was dragged +from his distressed family just as they were leaving the State, being +charged with robbery, which meant that he was one of a posse who took +a keg of powder from a gang of ruffians who were out against the +_Mormons_. Thus, of all the _Mormon_ prisoners first kidnapped, only +two remained in the State--Mr. Gibbs having denied the faith to try and +regain his liberty--these were Morris Phelps and myself. + +All who were liberated on bail were forced to leave the State, +together with those who bailed them, thus forfeiting many thousands +of dollars to the coffers of the State. + +Is it possible! Have I been recording the history of realities +as the scenes transpired in the broad light of the nineteenth +century--in the boasted land of liberty--and in the most renowned +republic now existing on the globe? Alas! it is too true; would to +God it were a dream--a novel, a romance that had no existence save +in the wild regions of fancy. But the prison door yet grating on +its hinges,--the absence of my wife and little ones--the gloom of +the dungeon where I yet repose,--these and ten thousand other +things cause me to think that my almost incredible narrative is no +fiction, but an awful reality--a fact more truly distressing than +my feeble tongue or pen can find words to set forth. + +How often in my sleeping visions I see my beloved wife, or my +playful children surrounded with the pleasures of home in my sweet +little cottage, or walk with them in some pleasant grove or flowery +field, as in years past. How often I see myself surrounded with +listening thousands, as in bygone years, and join with them in the +sacred song and prayer, or address them with the sound of the +everlasting gospel. But, alas! I soon awake, and, to my +inexpressible grief and sorrow, find myself still in my lonely +dungeon. + + O Liberty! + O sound once delightful to every American ear! + O sacred privilege of American citizenship! + Once sacred; now trampled under foot. + +When shall I and my injured family and friends again enjoy thy +sweets? When shall we repose beneath thy bower, or bask in thy +boundless ocean of felicity? When shall we sit again under our vine +and under our fruit trees, and worship our God, with none to molest +or make us afraid? + + Awake, O Americans! + Arise, O sons and daughters of freedom! + +Restore a persecuted and injured people to their rights, as +citizens of a free republic. Down with tyranny and oppression, and +rescue your liberties from the brink of ruin. Redeem your much +injured country from the awful stain upon its honor; and let the +cries of helpless orphans and the tears of the sorrowing widow +cease to ascend up before the Lord for vengeance upon the heads of +those who have slain, plundered, imprisoned and driven the Saints. +And let the news go forth to the wondering nations that Columbia +still is free. + +O tell it not in Britain; nor let the sound be heard in Europe +that Liberty is fallen; that the free institutions of our once +happy country are now destroyed, lest the sons and daughters of +Britannia rejoice and laugh us to scorn; lest the children of +monarchy triumph and have us in derision. + + O freedom must thy spirit now withdraw + From earth, returning to its native heaven, + There to dwell, till, armed with sevenfold vengeance, + It comes again to earth with King Messiah, + And all His marshaled hosts, in glory bright, + To tread the winepress of Almighty God, + And none escape? Ye powers of Heaven, forbid; + Let freedom linger still on shores of time, + And in the breasts of thine afflicted saints, + Let it find a peaceful retirement-- + A place of rest, till o'er the troubled earth, + Mercy, justice and eternal truth, + While journeying hand in hand to exalt the humble + And debase the proud; shall find some nation, + Poor, oppressed, afflicted and despised; + Cast out and trodden under foot of tyrants + Proud; the hiss, the byword, and the scorn of knaves-- + And there let freedom's spirit wide prevail, + And grow and flourish 'mid the humble poor-- + Exalted and enriched by virtue, + Knowledge, temperance and love; till o'er the earth + Messiah comes to reign; the proud consumed, + No more oppress the poor, + Let freedom's eagle then (forthcoming, like + The dove from Noah's ark) on lofty pinions soar, + And spread its wide domain from end to end, + O'er all the vast expanse of this wide earth; + While freedom's temple rears its lofty spires + Amid the skies, and on its bosom rests + A cloud by day and flaming fire by night! + + But stay my spirit, though thou fain would'st soar + On high, 'mid scenes of glory, peace and joy; + From bondage free, and bid thy jail farewell. + Stop--wait awhile--let patience have her perfect work, + Return again to suffering scenes, through which + The way to glory lies, and speak of things + Around thee--Thou'rt in prison still! + + But spring has now returned; the wintry blasts + Have ceased to howl through prison crevices + The soft and gentle breezes of the South + Are whistling gaily past, and incense sweet, + On zephyr's wing, with fragrance fills the air, + Wafted from blooming flowerets of the spring; + While round my lonely dungeon oft is heard + Melodious strains, as if the birds of spring, + In anthems sweet, conspired to pity and + Console the drooping spirits there confined. + All things around me show that days, and weeks, + And months have fled, although to me not mark'd + By Sabbaths, and but faintly marked by dim + And sombre rays of light, alternate 'mid + The gloom of overhanging night, which still + Pervades my drear and solitary cell. + Where now those helpless ones I left to mourn? + Have they perished? No. What then! Has some + Elijah call'd and found them in the last + Extreme, and multiplied their meal and oil? + Yes, verily; the Lord has filled the hearts + Of his poor saints with everlasting love, + Which, in proportion to their poverty, + Increased with each increasing want, till all + Reduced unto the widow's mite, and then, + Like her, their living they put in; and thus + O'erflowed the treasury of the Lord with more + Abundant stores than all the wealth of kings. + And thus supported, fed and clothed, and moved + From scenes of sorrow to a land of peace, + They live! and living still, they do rejoice + In tribulation deep-- + Well knowing their redemption draweth nigh. + + +CHAPTER XXX. +------------------------ + +LETTER TO JUDGE AUSTIN A. KING. + +"RICHMOND PRISON, May 13th, 1839, + +"_Hon. Sir_--Having been confined in prison near seven +months, and the time having arrived when a change of venue can be +taken in order for the further prosecution of our trials, and the +time when I can speak my mind freely, without endangering the lives +or liberties of any but myself, I now take the liberty of seriously +objecting to a trial anywhere within the bounds of this State, and +of earnestly praying to your honor and to all the authorities, +civil and military, that my case may come within the law of +BANISHMENT! enacted by Governor Boggs, and so vigorously enforced +upon from ten to fifteen thousand of our society, including my wife +and little ones, together with all my witnesses and friends. + +"My reasons are obvious, and founded upon notorious facts which +known to you, sir, and to the people in general of this republic, +and, therefore, need no proof; some of them are as follows: + +"First: I have never received any protection by law, either of +my person, property or family, while residing in this State, to +which I first emigrated in 1831. + +"Secondly: I was driven by force of arms from Jackson County, +wounded and bleeding, in 1833, while my house was burned, my crops +and provisions robbed from me or destroyed, and my land and +improvements kept from me until now, while my family was driven +out, without shelter, at the approach of winter. + +"Thirdly: These crimes still go unpunished, notwithstanding I +made oath before the Hon. Judge Ryland, then acting District Judge, +to foregoing outrages, and afterwards applied in person to his +excellency, Daniel Dunklin, then Governor of the State, for redress +and protection of myself and friends, and the restoration of more +than a thousand of our fellow citizens to our homes. + +"Fourthly: My wife and children have now been driven from our +house and improvements in Caldwell County, and banished the state +on pain of death, together with about ten thousand of our Society, +including all my friends and witnesses, and this by the express +orders of his excellency, Lilburn W. Boggs, Governor of the State +of Missouri, and by the vigorous execution of this order by +Generals Lucas and Clark, and followed up by murders, rapes, +plunderings, thefts and robberies of the most inhuman character, by +a lawless mob who had, from time to time, for more than five years +past, trampled upon all law and authority, and upon all the rights +of man. + +"Fifthly: All these inhuman outrages and crimes go +unpunished, and are unnoticed by you, sir, and by all the +authorities of the State. Nay, rather, you are one of the very +actors. You, yourself, threatened in open court the extermination +of the '_Mormons_' if they should ever be again guilty of +cultivating their lands. + +"Sixthly: The Legislature of the State has approved of and +sanctioned this act of banishment, with all the crimes connected +therewith, by voting an appropriation of two hundred thousand +dollars, for the payment of troops engaged in this unlawful, +unconstitutional and treasonable enterprise. + +"In monarchial governments the banishment of criminals after +their legal trial and condemnation has been frequently resorted to, +but the banishment of innocent women and children from house, and +home, and country, to wander in a strange land, unprotected and +unprovided for, while their husbands and fathers are retained in +dungeons, is an action unknown in the annals of history, except in +this single instance, in the nineteenth century, when it has +actually transpired in a republican State, where the Constitution +guarantees to every man the protection of life, liberty and +property, and the right of trial by jury. + +"These, sir, are outrages which would put monarchy to the +blush, and from which the most despotic tyrants of the dark ages +would turn away with shame and disgust. In these proceedings, sir, +Missouri has enrolled her name on the list of immortal fame. Her +transactions will be handed down the stream of time to the latest +posterity, who will read with wonder and astonishment the history +of proceedings which without a parallel in the annals of time. + +"Why should the authorities of the State strain at a gnat and +swallow a camel? + +"Why be so strictly legal as to compel me to pass through all +the forms of a slow and pretended legal prosecution (previous to my +enlargement), out of a pretense of respect to the laws of the +State, which have been openly trampled upon and disregarded towards +us from first to last? + +"Why not include me in the general wholesale banishment of our +society, that I may support my family, which are now reduced to +beggary in a land of strangers? + +"But, sir, when the authorities of the State shall redress all +these wrongs, shall punish the guilty according to law, and shall +restore my family and friends to all our rights, and shall pay all +the damages which we, as a people, have sustained, then I shall +believe them sincere in their professed zeal for law and justice; +_then_ shall I be convinced that I can have a fair trial in +the State. + +"But until _then_ I hereby solemnly protest against being +tried in this State, with the full and conscientious conviction +that I have no just grounds to expect a fair and impartial trial. + +"I therefore, most sincerely pray your honor, and all the +authorities in the State, to either banish me without further +persecution, or I freely consent to a trial before the Judiciary of +the United States. + +"With sentiments of consideration and due respect, I have the +honor to subscribe myself, + +"Your prisoner, + + "P. P. PRATT." + + +CHAPTER XXXI. +------------------------ + +The Prison:--Fare:--Conduct of the Guards:--A Strange +Couple:--My Wife Visits the Prison:--Fasting and Prayer:--An +Important Question:--Vision:--A Ministering Spirit:--The +Question Answered:--Visit from Judge King:--Change of Venue:-- +Handcuffs:--Departure from the Prison:--Journey:--Arrival in +Columbia, Boone County:--Enter Another Prison:--Treatment:--Arrival of +Friends:--News from my Family:--Impressions of the Spirit:--Plan and +Preparations for Escape:--Fourth of July Celebration:--Flag:--Public +Dinner:--Now's the Day:--Our Friends take Leave:--Rendezvous. + +The four following chapters are extracted from the _Millennial +Star_, published in Liverpool, England, Numbers 9, 10 and 11, +Vol. VIII. I give them in full, with some little revision, +although they contain a repetition of some of the things +recorded in the foregoing chapters: + +At the end of this extraordinary mock trial or inquisition, +which lasted over two weeks, I was unchained from Joseph and Hyrum +Smith, and the others, and being separated from them, was conducted +to a gloomy, dark, cold and filthy dungeon in Richmond, Ray County, +where I was doomed to spend the winter and spring, and await a +further trial; while they shared a similar fate in a place called +Liberty, in Clay County. + +When I first entered the dungeon there were some twenty men, +mostly heads of families, who had been torn from their families in +those awful times, and thrust into prison. It was not only crowded +to suffocation, without a chair, stool, bench, bed, furniture or +window light, but just then completely filled with smoke by a fire +which was lighted in a stove without a pipe, or any conductor for +the smoke to pass out, except at the crevices between the timbers, +where the winter storm was passing in. When my guard conducted me +to the door of this miserable cell it grated on its huge hinges and +opened like the pit yawning to receive me; a volume of thick smoke +issued forth and seemed to forbid my entrance; but, urged in my +rear by bayonets and loaded pistols in the hands of savage beings, +I endeavored to enter, but was forced to retreat again outside of +the door to breathe for a moment the free air. At this instant +several pistols were cocked and presented at my head and breast, +with terrible threats and oaths of instant death if I did not go in +again. I told them to fire as soon as they pleased, for I must +breathe a moment or die in the attempt. After standing a few +moments, I again entered the prison, and threw myself down, my face +to the floor, to avoid the smoke. Here I remained for some time, +partly in a state of insensibility; my heart sickened within me, +and a deathlike feeling came over me, from which I did not wholly +recover for several days. + +I arose, however, as soon as I was able, and began to speak to +and recognize my fellow prisoners--most of whom were my neighbors +and acquaintances. The door was now locked, bolted and barred, and +several guards placed before it. The fire died away, and the smoke +gradually cleared away from the dungeon; but the floor formed a +hard and cold winter lodging. + +In a few days all those in our prison, except five, were +released on bail, and themselves and bail banished from the State, +with the rest of the Society; thus compelling them to forfeit their +bail bonds, which amounted in all to many thousand dollars. The +five who remained were Morris Phelps, Darwin Chase, Norman Shearer, +Luman Gibbs and myself. Two of these were finally dismissed--being +boys scarcely out of their teens. But another was soon added by the +name of King Follett. + +This made our final number four. One of this number, viz.: Luman +Gibbs, denied the faith and turned a traitor to the others; +becoming their most inveterate enemy. This was in order to save his +life and gain his liberty. However, he was still kept in prison as +a spy upon us, lest it should be said that it was wholly a +religious persecution; but he was treated very well, and went out +to dine with the Sheriff or others, or to spend a day with his wife +whenever it pleased him to do so. Our food was the most unwholesome +kind, and scant at that; consisting of bones remnants of meat, +coarse corn bread, and sometimes a little coffee. We generally +partook of our meals in a standing position, using our fingers +instead of knives, forks or plates. A tin cup served us for our +coffee. We were guarded very strictly, both by night and day, by +two or three men with loaded pistols. + +These consisted of the most unprincipled, profligate villains that +could be found anywhere. They would swear, drink, gamble, and sing the +most obscene and disgusting songs. They would boast of shooting the +_Mormons_; mobbing and plundering them; committing rapes, etc. They +would also insult every female slave or black woman who might happen +to come within hearing, and then boast of their criminal connections +with them. The blasphemy; the noisy grumbling; the blackguard chit +chat; doleful lullaby and vulgar songs of these guards grating daily +upon our ears, seemed like the howls and wailings of the damned, or +like wandering spirits and demons hovering around to torment us. What +greatly added to our affliction, as if to complete our hell, the old +apostate, Gibbs, became very quarrelsome and noisy--not only to us, +but with his wife also, who sometimes came into the prison to spend a +few days with him. He was a hard faced, ill formed man, of about fifty +years of age; full of jealousy, extremely selfish, very weak minded, +and withal, a little love cracked; and, I may say, that he seemed not +to possess one redeeming quality. + +His wife was about the same age, and withal, a coarse, tall, +masculine looking woman, and one of whom he had no reason to +complain or be jealous. True, she did not love him for no female +could possibly do that; but then no one else would love her, nor +was she disposed to court their affections. However, he was jealous +of her, and, therefore, abused her; and this kept a constant and +noisy strife and wrangling between them whenever she was present. + +Whole nights were spent in this way, during which no one in or +about the prison slept. After a quarrel of some two or three days +and nights between them, he would attempt to regain her love, and a +conversation like the following would ensue. Luman, drawing down +his face and drawling his words with a loud and doleful tone, +commenced as follows: + +"Now, Phila, won't you love me? Come; here's my watch, and +here's all the money I've got!" Then turning to us, he would +exclaim: "Boys, I'll tell you all about it; the fact is, she never +did love me; she only married me out of pity--we being members of +the Baptist church together in Vermont." Then again addressing his +wife: "Come now, Phila; won't you love me? O, that I had been born +a rich man! I would give you a dollar a minute to love me." + +Phila would then laugh and call him "a silly old fool." +Whereupon he would turn away in a rage, and exclaim: "Go along +away, you -----, you! Nobody wants your love, no how!" + +On one occasion they had quarrelled and kept us awake all night, +and just at break of day we heard a noise like a scuffle and a +slamming against the wall; next followed a woman's voice, half in +laugh and in exultation:--"Te-he-he-he, Luman, what's the matter? +What's the matter, Luman?" Then a pause, and afterwards a man's +voice in a grum, sorry, and rather a whining tone was heard at a +distance from the bed, exclaiming: "Now, I swan, Phila, that's tu +bad." + +The truth of the matter was this: She had braced her back +against the wall, and with both her feet placed against his body, +had kicked him out of bed, and landed him upon the opposite side of +the room. + +Such scenes as these and all the folly of the guards served to +enhance the misery of imprisonment, and to render our sufferings +complete. We tried to keep them quiet, but tried in vain. Neither +threats nor persuasion, coaxing nor reasoning had any influence +over them. This miserable specimen of humanity was a peculiar +favorite of the Sheriff and guards, and other citizens of Richmond. +He was considered by them as the only honest, good, deserving man +in the prison. They often expressed pity for him, and wished he was +at liberty. He, in turn, watched our movements closely, and was +ready to betray us on the least show, on our part, of any meditated +plan of escape. + +Under these painful circumstances we spent a long and dreary +winter. Our whole community, who were not in prison, were forced +out of the State, with the loss of homes, property, and many lives. +They fled thousands to Illinois. + +My wife visited me several times in prison; but at length the +period expired that the State authorities had stipulated for every +Mormon to be gone, and my wife and children, and a few others who +remained behind, were obliged to fly or be exterminated, as bands +of armed men were roaming amid the deserted settlement, robbing, +plundering, destroying property and threatening all who remained. + +My fellow prisoners, who had been separated from me and sent to +prison at Liberty, had also effected their escape, and had fled to +Illinois to join their families. In short, all were gone, except +King Follett, Horns Phelps and myself, and the old apostate, who +was left to torment us. + +Alone in a State which was wholly governed by an open banditti +of murderers and robbers, we seemed abandoned to our fate, and +doomed to suffer that full weight of vengeance and fury which +seemed in reserve an entire people; but that people were now beyond +their reach; all the fury of the storm, therefore, seemed now to +beat upon our heads. We were daily threatened with assassination, +without the form of a trial; and repeatedly told that we never +should escape alive from the State. Our guards were doubly +vigilant, while the Sheriff took every possible precaution. Luman, +the apostate, was also in constant watchfulness, and busy in +forming plans for escape; then accusing us and pretending to reveal +wonderful things to our keepers in regard to our plans; which, in +fact, only existed in his lying brain. This increased the severity +of our confinement, and seemed to preclude the possibility of +escape. + +To be tried without friends or witnesses, or even with them, by +a set of "Gadianton robbers" and murderers, who could drive out and +murder women and children, was but to be condemned and executed; to +tarry there and drag out a miserable life, while our wives and +children wandered abroad in a land of strangers, without the +protection of husbands and fathers, was worse than to die ten +thousand deaths. + +Under these circumstances, and half way between hope and +despair, I spent several days in fasting and prayer, during which +one deep and all absorbing inquiry, one only thought, seemed to +hold possession of my mind. It seemed to me that if there was a God +in Heaven who ever spake to man on earth I would know from him the +truth of this one question. It was not how long shall I suffer; it +was not when or by what means I should be delivered; but it was +simply this: Shall I ever, at any time, however distant it may be, +or whatever I may suffer first; shall I ever be free again in this +life, and enjoy the society of my dear wife and children, and walk +abroad at liberty, dwell in society and preach the gospel, as I +have done in bygone years? + +Let me be sure of this and I care not what I suffer. To +circumnavigate the globe, to traverse the deserts of Arabia, to +wander amid the wild scenes of the Rocky Mountains to accomplish so +desirable an object, would seem like a mere trifle if I could only +be sure at last. After some days of prayer and fasting, and seeking +the Lord on the subject, I retired to my bed in my lonely chamber +at an early hour, and while the other prisoners and the guard were +chatting and beguiling the lonesome hours in the upper apartment of +the prison, I lay in silence, seeking and expecting an answer to my +prayer, when suddenly I seemed carried away in the spirit, and no +longer sensible to outward objects with which I was surrounded. A +heaven of peace and calmness pervaded my bosom; a personage from +the world of spirits stood before me with a smile of compassion in +every look, and pity mingled with the tenderest love and sympathy +in every expression of the countenance. A soft hand seemed placed +within my own, and a glowing cheek was laid in tenderness and +warmth upon mine. A well known voice saluted me, which I readily +recognized as that of the wife of my youth, who had for near two +years been sweetly sleeping where the wicked cease from troubling +and the weary are at rest. I was made to realize that she was sent +to commune with me, and answer my question. + +Knowing this, I said to her in a most earnest and inquiring +tone: Shall I ever be at liberty again in this life and enjoy the +society of my family and the Saints, and preach the gospel as I +have done? She answered definitely and unhesitatingly: "YES!" I +then recollected that I had agreed to be satisfied with the +knowledge of _that one_ fact, but now I wanted more. + +Said I: Can you tell me how, or by what means, or when I shall +escape? She replied: "THAT THING IS NOT MADE KNOWN TO ME YET." I +instantly felt that I had gone beyond my agreement and my faith in +asking this last question, and that I must be contented at present +with the answer to the first. + +Her gentle spirit then saluted me and withdrew. I came to +myself. The doleful noise of the guards, and the wrangling and +angry words of the old apostate again grated on my ears, but Heaven +and hope were in my soul. + +Next morning I related the whole circumstance of my vision to my +two fellow prisoners, who rejoiced exceedingly. This may seem to +some like an idle dream, or a romance of the imagination; but to me +it was, and always will be, a reality, both as it regards what I +then experienced and the fulfilment afterwards. + +In order to show some pretense of respect for some of the forms +of law, Judge Austin A. King now entered our prison and took our +testimony, preparatory to a change of venue. I shall never forget +this interview. There stood our Judge, face to face with those who, +by his cruelty and injustice, had lived a cold half year in a +dungeon. He refused to look us in the eye; hung his head and looked +like a culprit before his betters about to receive his doom. The +looks of guilt and misery portrayed in his countenance during that +brief interview bespoke more of misery than we had suffered during +our confinement. I actually pitied him in my heart. With an +extraordinary effort and a voice scarcely audible, he administered +the oaths and withdrew. + +By means of this change we were finally to be removed one +hundred miles down the country, and confined in the prison at +Columbia, Boone County, to await a final trial. + +A long, dreary winter and spring had now passed away, and the +time drew near for our removal. We looked forward to the change +with some degree of hope and expectation, for it could not be for +the worse, and might, perhaps, be for the better. At any rate, the +journey would give us a chance to leave our dark and loathsome +dungeon, and look upon the light of day, the beauties of nature, +and to breathe the untainted air. + +The morning of the departure at length arrived. Mr. Brown, the +Sheriff, entered our prison with a fierce and savage look, and, +bidding us hold out our hands, coupled us together in pairs, with +irons locked on our wrists, and marched us out; and, amid a throng +of people, placed us in a carriage. Accompanied with four other +guards on horseback, with loaded pistols, we bid farewell to +Richmond. + +It was a pleasant morning in early summer, when all the +freshness and beauty of spring seemed blended in rich profusion, +with the productions peculiar to the season as it advanced towards +maturity. The leaves on the trees were full grown, and the forest +presented a freshness of beauty and loveliness which reminded me of +Paradise. The plains were covered with a coat of green, and the +wild flowers of the prairie, blooming in all their variety, sent +forth a perfume which mingled with every zephyr, and wafted sweet +odors on every breeze. To prisoners who had breathed only a tainted +air for half a year the very ground itself seemed to send forth a +sweetness which was plainly perceptible to the senses. We enjoyed +our ride through that delightful country more than any being could +who had never been confined for weary months in a dreary dungeon. + +The day at length closed; and we were taken into a house and +stretched upon our backs on the floor, all fastened together with +wrist and ankle irons in such a manner that we could not turn nor +change our position. The doors and windows were then made fast, and +the sentinels on duty guarded us by turns until morning. This was +our night's rest after forty miles travel. + +The next day proved extremely rainy, with heavy thunder; but +still we travelled. In the course of the day we came to a stream +which was swollen by the rains to that degree that we had to swim +over it and stem a swift current. This hindered us for some +hours--in crossing over with horses, wagons, baggage, etc.; and as +all of us were engaged in this business, our chains were taken off +for the time. + +When we had crossed over, put on our clothes, and replaced the +baggage, saddles, arms, etc., ready for a start, it was night, and +we were very weary and hungry, having had no refreshments during +the day. The rain was also pouring in torrents, and the night +setting in extremely dark. Four miles of wild country, partly +covered with forests and underwoods, still lay between us and the +nearest house. Through the hurry of the moment, or for some other +reason, they neglected to replace our irons, and our limbs were +free. The carriage drove through a thick forest during the extreme +darkness, and was several times on the eve of upsetting. This +caused us to assume a position for saving ourselves by rising upon +our feet, ready to jump out in case of the carriage upsetting. + +The Sheriff and guards seeing this, rode close on each side, +and, cocking their pistols, swore they would shoot us dead if we +attempted to leave the carriage, and that if it upset they would +shoot us anyhow, for fear we might attempt to escape. + +After two days more of rain, hail and travel, we arrived at +Columbia, where we were immediately thrust into a gloomy dungeon +filled with darkness, filth and cobwebs; the naked floor was our +lodging. We had travelled hard, through rain and fatigue, for +several days, and on the last day had rode till sundown without +refreshment. We were extremely hungry and weary, but received no +refreshment, not even a drink of water, till late in the evening, +when our new keeper, Mr. John Scott, visited us with some +buttermilk and bread; but we were now too much exhausted and too +low spirited to eat. We thanked him for his kindness, and sank down +exhausted on the floor, where we rested as well as we could till +morning. We saw no more of Sheriff Brown or his guards, and will +now take final leave of them, merely observing that they made it a +point to insult every black woman they met on the way, frequently +turning aside with them into the woods and fields. On returning to +the company they would boast and glory in their criminal +intercourse with them. + +After spending one night in our new dungeon we were called on by +the Sheriff to come up into a more comfortable apartment, and were +treated with some degree of humanity. We were no longer troubled +with guards, and even Luman and Phila behaved much better. We had +been in our new situation something like a month, when we were +visited by some friends from Illinois, from whom we learned the +fate of our families and friends. + +The wife of Mr. Phelps rode one hundred and sixty miles on +horseback, accompanied by her brother, a young man named Clark. +They arrived in Columbia and paid us a visit in prison about the +1st of July. My brother Orson also arrived on horseback about the +same time. With friends we had a good visit for some days--they +being permitted to stay in the prison with us. They also brought a +letter from my wife, by which I learned that she made her escape +from Far West to Quincy, Illinois, with her children and some of +her goods, by the aid of Mr. David Rogers, of New York. During this +journey they were much exposed to hardships and trouble, having to +camp by the way, in company with other women and children who were +in a like condition. On crossing a swollen stream, Mrs. Pratt had +left the carriage to cross on a foot bridge, leaving the children +to ride through it. She had just crossed over and turned to look +back, to see whether the carriage came through in safety, when she +discovered a little girl's bonnet floating down the stream, and, on +examination, as the carriage rose the bank, her daughter, a girl of +six years old, was missing from the carriage. The next moment she +saw her floating down the swift current. She gave the alarm to Mr. +Rogers, the driver, who instantly dropped the reins and sprang +after her into the stream. At this instant the horses, being high +spirited and active, began to run, and would probably have dashed +themselves and the carriage, goods, and the other child to pieces +but for the timely interference of a large prong of a tree, which +caught the carriage with such a strong hold that all was brought to +a stand. In the meantime Mr. Rogers succeeded in rescuing the child +and bringing her safe to shore. + +She had, as she stated, pitched head foremost out of the +carriage into the water. One of the wheels ran over her, and +crushed her fast into the mud at the bottom of the stream; but as +it rolled over she caught the spokes with her hands, and by this +means the same weight that crushed her down brought her to the +surface and saved her life. On examination the marks of the wheel +were distinctly seen on both her thighs, which were seriously +injured and nearly broken. + +After a wearisome journey and various toils and dangers, they at +length arrived at Quincy, Illinois, where Mrs. Pratt rented a small +house, and by the sale of a few books, with the use of her two +cows, which some of the brethren had brought from Missouri for her, +she was making shift to live from day to day. She still expressed +some faint hopes of seeing her husband again in a land of liberty, +although at present there was little ground to hope, and she was +sometimes nearly in despair. + +Such was the news brought us by the arrival of our friends in +the prison at Columbia on the 1st of July, 1839, after eight +months of weary confinement. Previous to their arrival the Lord had +shown me in a vision the night the manner and means of escape. And, +like Pharaoh's dream, the thing had been doubled--that is shown to +me on two occasions in the same manner. + +Mrs. Phelps had the same thing shown to her in a vision previous +to her arrival; my brother, Orson Pratt, also came to us with a +firm impression that we were about to be delivered. He even +predicted that we should go to Illinois, when he should return +there. As we sat pondering upon these things, and comparing our +visions and manifestations of the spirit on this subject, my +brother Orson opened the Book of Mormon, when the first sentence +that caught his eye was the words of Ammon to King Lamoni: "Behold, +my brother and my brethren are in prison, in the land of Middoni, +and I go to deliver them!" This was indeed a similar instance to +ours. Ammon, on that occasion had an own brother in prison, and also +brethren in the ministry, and did deliver them. Our case was +exactly similar, not in Middoni, but in Missouri. And, what was +still more strange, in a book of six hundred pages, this was the +only sentence which would have fitted our case. + +He now began in earnest to make arrangements for our escape. If +there had been no strong bolts and bars to overcome, still there +was one serious obstacle which a miracle alone could immediately +remove, which was this: I was then very sick and scarcely able to +stand on my feet, or to go up and down from the upper room, where +we were in the day time, to the dungeon where we slept. + +It was the second of July, and our friends could only make an +excuse for staying to spend the great national holiday with us (the +4th) before they must leave or excite the suspicions and ill will +of the people; and, as that day had been a lucky one for our +fathers and our nation, we had determined on that time as the +proper one to bid farewell to bondage and gain our liberty. In +short, we had determined to make that notable day a jubilee to us, +or perish in the attempt. We, therefore, prayed earnestly to the +Lord, that if he had determined to favor our plan, he would heal +and strengthen me, and give us all courage to act well our part. +Through the ministration of the ordinance appointed for healing, I +was instantly healed, and from that moment began to feel as strong +and fearless as a lion. + +Our plan was this: My brother, Orson Pratt, was to wait on the +Judge and Attorney, and obtain various papers and arrangements for +summoning witnesses from Illinois to attend our trial, which had +just been adjourned for some months to come. He was also to procure +an order from the court to take affidavits in Illinois, in case the +witnesses should object to come to the state from which they had +been banished, in order to attend rite trials. + +These active preparations on our part to defend our case, +together with engaging a lawyer or two, and paying a part of their +fees beforehand, served as a sufficient blindfold to cover our real +intentions. This done, and the papers all prepared in the hands of +my brother, he and Mrs. Phelps and her brother were to stay with us +until the 4th, and after celebrating the day with a dinner in the +prison (which we obtained leave to do), he and the young Mr. Clark +were to take leave with their horses, and also with the horse and +saddle on which Mrs. Phelps had ridden, on pretence of taking him +home with them to Illinois, while she stayed with her husband a few +weeks in the prison; in the meantime engaging her board in the +family of the keeper, who occupied part of the building in +connection with the prison. + +This measure, on the part of Mrs. Phelps, served the double +purpose of lulling them into serenity, and also of furnishing a +third horse; as there were three of us. These three horses were to +be stationed in a thicket, or forest, about half a mile from the +prison, and there the two friends were to await, in readiness for +us to mount, should we be so fortunate as to reach the thicket +alive. + +Sundown, on the evening of the fourth, was the moment agreed +upon, and if we did not then appear they were to give us up for +lost, and make the best of their way to Illinois and inform our +friends that we had gone to Paradise in attempting to come to them. +The reason for appointing this hour was this: Our door would be +opened at sundown to hand in our supper, and we must then make the +attempt as our only chance; for it was customary to lock us up in +the lower dungeon as soon as the shades of evening began to appear. + +This plan all matured, and the arrangements completed with the +court and the lawyers, the fourth of July dawned upon us with hope +and expectation. While the town and nation were alive with the +bustle of preparation for the celebration of the American Jubilee, +and while guns were firing and music sounding without, our prison +presented a scene of scarcely less life and cheerfulness; for we +were also preparing to do proper honors to the day. We had +prevailed on the keeper to furnish us with a long pole, on which to +suspend a flag, and also some red stripes of cloth. We then tore a +shirt in pieces, and took the body of it for the groundwork of a +flag, forming with the red stripes of cloth an eagle and the word +"_Liberty_," in large letters. This rude flag of red and +white was suspended on the pole from the prison window, directly in +front of the public square and court house, and composed one of the +greatest attractions of the day. Hundreds of the people from the +country, as well as villagers who were there at the celebration, +would come up and stare at the flag, and reading the motto, would +go swearing or laughing away, exclaiming, "Liberty! Liberty! What +have the Mormons to do with celebrating _liberty_ in a damned old +prison?" + +In the meantime active preparations were in progress for our +public dinner; and with the contributions of our friends who were +to partake with us, and a portion served from the public table of +the citizens of the town, we had a plentiful supply. And, as we +considered it was to be a day of release, we partook of our feast +with much cheer, and with thankful as well as social feelings, +which I think have been seldom if ever surpassed. O ye sons of +Columbia, at home and abroad! Think back to the fourth of July, +1839; call to mind your feast in honor of national freedom, and ask +yourselves the question, whether in all your pomp and show of joy +and social glee, you felt anything compared with _our_ feelings, +or the interest excited during that feast. + +Eight months and four days we had been deprived of the sweets of +that liberty which a whole nation was then engaged in celebrating; +and we felt that: + + Now's the day, and now's the hour, + To trample on a tyrant's power; + To burst at once the prison's gloom, + Or find a martyr'd hero's tomb. + +The dinner over, our brethren took a final leave of us and our +prison, loaded with love, respects, compliments and messages to our +families and friends in Illinois. All these, together with the +goodbyes and farewells, were heard and witnessed by the keeper's +family, and served the purpose for which they were intended, viz: +To lull them into security, and to remove all possible ground of +suspicion as to our intentions. + +After riding out of town a mile or two in the forest, on the +road towards Illinois, they turned off into the thick leaved +wilderness, and made their way in secret, as best they could, to +the thicket agreed upon, within about half a mile of the prison; +where, with horses saddled and bridle reins in hand, they awaited +in anxious suspense the slow progress of the setting sun. + + +CHAPTER XXXII. +------------------------ + +Description of the Prison:--Ladies in the Prison:--Evening +of a Public Day:--Song:--Obstinate Coffee Pot:--Order of +Attack:--Escape:--Race:--Great Excitement:--Our Friends in the +Thicket:--Prisoners Gain the Thicket:--Flight:--Encounter:--Climb +a Tree:--Faint:--Prayers:--Night Favors us at Last:--Loss of my +Horse:--Journey on Foot:--Reflections. + +The prison at Columbia was situated in the same square with the +courthouse, being on the north edge of the town. Between it and the +wilderness, where our friends held the horses in waiting, there +were several fields and fences, say for the distance of half a +mile, consisting of meadow and pasture land, and all in full view +of the town. The prison consisted of a block house, two stories +high, with two rooms below and two above. The keeper and his family +occupied one end, and the other was used as the prison--the only +entrance being through the lower room of the dwelling part, which +was occupied by the family, and then up a steep flight of stairs, +at the head of which was a heavy oaken door, ironed, locked and +bolted as if to secure a Bonaparte or a Samson. On the inside of +this was still another door, which was but slender, with a square +hole near the top, of sufficient size to hand in the food and +dishes of the prisoners. + +The large, heavy door had always to be opened when food, drink, +or other articles were handed in; and while open, the inner door +served as a temporary guard to prevent prisoners from escaping, and +was not always opened on such occasions, the food being handed +through the hole in the top of the door, while the door itself +remained locked. However, as a fortunate circumstance for us, the +coffee pot when filled would not easily slip through the hole in +the door, and, rather than spill the coffee and burn his fingers, +the keeper would sometimes unlock and open the inner door, in order +to set in this huge and obstinate pot; and once in, the door would +immediately close, and the key be turned, while the outer door +would perhaps stand open till the supper was finished, and the +dishes handed out. + +Now, our whole chance of escape depended on the question, +whether the inner door would be opened that evening, or the coffee +pot squeezed in at the hole in the top. Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Gibbs +were in the upper room of the keeper's apartment, near the head of +the stairs, and only a log or timber partition between us and them, +and several open crevices in the same, so that we could easily +communicate with them. One of them was waiting the issue of the +great scene about to be enacted with almost breathless interest and +feverish anxiety, as on the good or ill success of that moment +depended her future hopes through life, while the other was totally +ignorant of the whole affair. In a far corner of our prison sat +Luman, the old apostate, entirely ignorant of the whole plan, and +with no other anxiety than a slight wish for the sun to go down, +that he might enjoy his supper and the society of his dear "Phila" +in his curtained bed in the upper room, while we were locked in the +dungeon below to sleep on an oak floor, amid cobwebs and filth. + +The citizens of the town were now some of them gathering in +small groups outside of their doors to enjoy the quiet of a summer +evening, to smoke a cigar or chat over the merits of the +celebration; while others were on horseback, to enjoy an evening's +ride or to return to their homes. Bands of music, or rather an +occasional beat of the drum, or blast of the bugle, was still to be +heard in the distance; while a few soldiers, or rather militia in +uniform, were hurrying to and fro. Groups of boys were playing +about the square, and last, though not least, our flag was still on +high, with Liberty and the eagle in bold colors waving to the night +breeze. This had so attracted the attention of the little fellows +that once and again they begged of us to make them a present of it; +but we told them we could not spare it till the next morning--the +fact is, we were not willing to surrender our castle before the +time, or till we made good our retreat. + +As the sun began to decline behind the long range of forest +which bounded the western horizon, and the lengthened shadows of +the tall trees were thrown over our prison, we called upon the Lord +to prosper us and open our way, and then sang aloud the following +lines: + + Lord, cause their foolish plans to fail, + And let them faint or die: + Our souls would quit this poor old jail, + And fly to Illinois-- + + To join with the embodied Saints, + Who are with freedom blest: + That only bliss for which we pant, + With them awhile to rest. + + Give joy for grief--give ease for pain, + Take all our foes away; + But let us find our friends again + In this eventful day. + +These lines were sung several times over, with the spirit and +with the understanding also, and very loud and distinct--being +heard by the old apostate and his wife, and by the keepers of the +prison; but the doctrine of spiritualizing had become so prevalent +that neither this, nor the flag of liberty, nor any other Scripture +seemed to them to have any literal meaning, till they found too +late the true interpretation by the fulfillment. + +The sun was now setting, and the footsteps of the old keeper +were heard on the stairs--the key turned, the outer door grated on +its huge hinges, while at the same moment we sprang upon our feet, +hats and coats on (rather an unusual dress for a hot day in +July--for, by the bye, my hat proved to be a fur cap, which I wore +when first taken in November previous), and stood by the door to +act the part of waiters in receiving the dishes and food for +supper, and placing them on the table. Dish after dish was handed +in through the small aperture in the door, and duly received and +placed upon the table by us, with as much grace and as calm +countenances as if we thought of nothing else but our suppers. And +I will now venture to say that famishing men never watched the +movements of a coffee pot with more anxiety than we did on this +occasion. At length the other dishes all being handed in, the huge +pot made its appearance in the hole in the top of the door, but one +of us cried out to the keeper--"Colonel, you will only spill the +coffee by attempting to put it through, besides, it burns our +fingers; it will be more convenient to unlock and hand it in at the +door." With this it was lowered again, and the key turned on the +inner door. + +In this, as in most other fields of battle, where liberty and +life depend on the issue, every one understood the part assigned to +him and exactly filled it. Mr. Follett was to give the door a +sudden pull, and fling it wide open the moment the key was turned. +Mr. Phelps being well skilled in wrestling was to press out +foremost, and come in contact with the jailer; I was to follow in +the centre, and Mr. Follett, who held the door, was to bring up the +rear while sister Phelps was to pray. + +No sooner was the key turned than the door was seized by Mr. +Follett with both hands; and with his foot placed against the wall, +he soon opened a passage, which was in the same instant filled by +Mr. Phelps, and followed by myself and Mr. Follett. The old jailer +strode across the way, and stretched out his arms like Bunyan's +Apollion, or like the giant Despair in Doubting Castle, but all to +no purpose. One or two leaps brought us to the bottom of the +stairs, carrying the old gentleman with us headlong, helter +skelter, while old Luman sat and laughed in his corner of the +prison, and Mrs. Phelps exclaimed, "O Lord God of Israel, thou +canst help." Old Mrs. Gibbs looked on in silent amazement, while +the jailer's wife acted the part of the giant Despair's wife, +Diffidence, and not only assisted in the scuffle, but cried out so +loud that the town was soon alarmed. In the meantime we found +ourselves in the open air, in front of the prison and in full view +of the citizens, who had already commenced to rally, while Mr. +Phelps and the jailer still clinched fast hold of each other like +two mastiffs. However, in another instant he cleared himself, and +we were all three scampering off through the fields towards the +thicket. + +By this time the town was all in motion. The quietness of the +evening was suddenly changed into noise and bustle, and it was soon +evident that the thrilling scenes of the great drama of the 4th of +July, and of the Columbian celebration of liberty were yet to be +enacted. The streets on both sides of the fields where we were +running were soon thronged with soldiers in uniform, mounted +riflemen, footmen with fence stakes, clubs, or with whatever came +to hand, and with boys, dogs, etc., all running, rushing, +screaming, swearing, shouting, bawling and looking, while clouds of +dust rose behind them. The cattle also partook of the general panic +and ran bellowing away, as if to hide from the scene. The fields +behind us also presented a similar scene. Fences were leaped or +broken down with a crash; men, boys and horses came tumbling over +hedge and ditch, rushing with the fury of a whirlwind in the chase; +but we kept our course for the thicket, our toes barely touching +the ground, while we seemed to leap with the fleetness of a deer, +or as the young hart upon the mountains. + +Our friends who had stood waiting in the thicket, had watched +the last rays of the sun as they faded away, and had observed the +quiet stillness of the evening as it began to steal over the +distant village where we were confined; and had listened with +almost breathless anxiety for the first sound which was to set all +things in commotion, and which would say to them in language not to +be misunderstood, that the struggle had commenced. For some moments +after the last golden beam had disappeared they listened in vain. +The occasional lowing of a cow as she came home from the woodland +pasture, impatient for her calf and the milkmaid to ease her of her +rich burthen; the mingled sound of human voices in the distance in +common conversation, the merry laugh of the young beaux and their +sweethearts, the quiet song of the whippoorwill, mingled with the +merry notes of the violin, the thrill of the bugle, or the soft and +plaintive notes of the flute, stole upon the silence of the +evening, and were occasionally interrupted by the clatter of hoofs, +as a few of the citizens were retiring from the enjoyments of a +public day to their own peaceful homes in the country. These, and +the beatings of their anxious and almost bursting hearts, were the +only sounds which fell upon their ear, till suddenly they heard a +rumbling and confused noise, as of footsteps rushing down the +stairs of a prison, then a shrill cry of alarm from Mrs. +Diffidence, the giantess, and soon followed by the shouts and rush +of men, dogs, horses and prisoners towards the spot where they were +located. They then sprang forward to the edge of the fields and ran +back again to the horses, and again returned, as if the using of +their own limbs would serve to add nimbleness to those of the +prisoners, and to quicken their speed. + +As soon as the prisoners drew near, they were hailed by their +friends, and conducted to the horses. They were breathless and +nearly ready to faint; but in a moment they were assisted to mount, +and a whip and the reins placed in their hands, while the only +words interchanged were--"Fly quickly, they are upon you!" "Which +way shall we go?" "Where you can; you are already nearly +surrounded." "But what will you do? They will kill you if they +cannot catch us." "We will take care of ourselves; fly, fly, I say, +instantly." These words were exchanged with the quickness of +thought, while we were mounting and reining our horses; in another +instant we were all separated from each other, and each one was +making the best shift he could for his own individual safety. + +I had taken about the third jump with my horse when I +encountered a man rushing upon me with a rifle, and, taking aim at +my head, he said, "G--d d--n you, stop, or I'll shoot you." He was +then only a few paces from me, and others were rushing close in his +rear, but I turned my horse quickly in another direction, and +rushed with all speed into the thickest of the forest, followed for +some minutes by him and his dog; but I soon found myself alone, +while I could only hear the sound of distant voices, the rushing of +horsemen in every direction, with the barking of dogs. What had +become of my companions or our friends, I knew not. I rode on at +full speed for a mile or more, when the woods terminated, and no +alternative was left for me but to go either to the right or to the +left into one of the public highways where I would be every moment +exposed to my pursuers, or go over the fence and pass through the +open fields to the wilderness beyond, or, on the other hand, to +turn back into the heart of the forest, partly towards the town and +prison from whence I had escaped. As horses' feet and men's voices +were already heard along the highways which lay on each side of me, +I determined upon the latter. I, therefore, changed my course, took +my back track, and plunged into the depth of the forest. I then +dismounted, tied my horse in a thicket, walked some distance from +him and climbed a tree--intending to wait in this situation amid +the concealment of the thick foliage till the darkness of evening +would enable me to proceed with safety. Seating myself in one of +its forked branches, and placing my arms in two other similar +forks, I was supported from falling, although in a moment after I +had ceased my exertions I fainted away. In this situation I +remained for sometime, without the least power to change my +position or help myself; my breath was gone through over exertion, +and my mouth and throat parched with a burning thirst, my stomach +sickened, and as I began to breathe I was seized with vomiting, and +threw up nearly all the food which my stomach contained. I then +gradually recovered my strength till I could speak, when I began to +call on the Lord, saying, "O Lord, strengthen me this once, deliver +me from my persecutors and bring me in safety to a land of liberty, +and I will praise thy name and give thee all the glory, and the +remnant of my days shall be wholly devoted to thy service; for +surely my life is now at stake, and if preserved, it is thy gift, +therefore I shall owe it all to thee." + +The darkness of evening was now fast setting in, and every +moment seemed to increase my safety and security from immediate +discovery, although I could still hear the distant sound of +tramping horses, and the voices of men and dogs in pursuit, and +sometimes so near that I could distinguish some of their words. It +was a dark and moonless evening, the sky was only lighted by the +glimmer of a few stars partly obscured by the clouds, and the thick +foliage of the forest increased the gloom, and served to render the +darkness nearly complete. I now came down from the tree and felt my +way to the place where I had tied my horse, but as good or ill luck +would have it, he had loosed himself and gone, leaving me to my +fate. I then groped my way amid the dark shades of the forest to a +small stream of warm, muddy water, and, stooping down, partly +quenched my thirst. I then made my way to the highway and commenced +my journey on foot, carefully watching on either hand lest I should +be surprised and taken. + +I was an entire stranger to the country--having no guide but the +polar star. My road lay nearly northward, and upwards of a hundred +miles of a wild country, peopled only by enemies, still lay between +me and a State where the principles of freedom yet prevailed in a +sufficient degree to insure my safety. If I could make my way +through this wilderness of enemies, on foot, after the weakness and +debility caused by eight months' confinement, and after the +fatigues of my evening's race, and neither inquire the way nor make +my appearance at any house for entertainment and refreshment, then +I should still have the great Mississippi River to ferry over, and +be liable to be discovered and retaken in the act, while in sight +of liberty. The thoughts of these dangers the inquiries of my mind +as to what had become of my fellow prisoners and friends, which I +had no means of satisfying, and the hopes and expectations of soon +meeting my family and friends in a land of liberty, alternately +occupied my mind as I slowly pursued my solitary way during that +dark and, to me, eventful night. + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. +------------------------ + +Dawn:--Bewildered in a Forest:--Beautiful +Valley:--Escape of Phelps:--Dialogue:--His Final Escape +and Arrival in Illinois:--Fate of our Two Friends:--Interview +between my Brother Orson and my Wife:--She Prepares for my +Reception:--Disappointment:--Excitement:--Search:--Suspense:-- +Scenes at the Prison:--Treatment of Mrs. Phelps:--Mr. Follett +Retaken:--His Return to Prison:--Chains:--Escape of Mrs. +Phelps:--Finale of Luman and Phila. + +At length the morning began to dawn, but it proved to be a +cloudy day; no mark was left in the heavens to determine the point +of compass, while at the same time my road became every moment more +obscure, and finally terminated in a deer path, which wound along +among the hills and vales of a dense and entirely unsettled forest, +and finally disappeared. It was now broad day. The wild forest +extended around far and wide, and no sign of human existence or +occupation. I still wandered slowly on, not knowing whether I was +every moment travelling nearer to friends, and home, and liberty, +or to the place of dreary confinement. The deer and wild turkey +occasionally started up before me, and the howl of the wolf was +heard in the distance. At length I came to a beautiful clear +stream, which seemed to wind through a fine valley. The wild +flowers blooming in richest variety sent forth sweet odors, and the +birds of the forest were pouring forth in profusion their morning +songs. + +I now sat down in safety, and took a small biscuit from my +pocket which Sister Phelps had kindly provided, and which was my +only store of food for the journey. With a hearty drink from the +crystal stream and this biscuit I made my first breakfast, after my +imprisonment, as a free son of Columbia. I recollect that while I +sat enjoying this solitary meal, far from friends and home, +surrounded with a scenery strange and wild, and without any guide +or any knowledge where I should claim the next refreshment, I +thought of the sweets of liberty I now enjoyed, and with a thankful +and joyous heart I exclaimed aloud, "Thank God for this hour, it is +the happiest of my life; I am free, although lost in the +wilderness, and if I cannot find myself, thank God nobody else can +find me." In this happy valley the reader may leave me to rest +awhile if he chooses, while he looks after the fate of the other +prisoners and our two friends, and also, Mrs. Phelps and the +affairs of the prison; bearing in mind at the same time that he +must return again and accompany me through the whole dangers, toils +and incidents of my journey to a land of liberty. + +At the time we were separated in the heat of the pursuit, Mr. +Phelps made his escape much in the same manner as myself. He was at +first closely pursued, but at length he out distanced them all, +and, once out of their sight, he struck directly into the road, and +rode on toward Illinois. He had proceeded a few miles on his way, +when he was suddenly surrounded in the darkness of the night by a +company of horsemen who were out in pursuit of the prisoners. They +immediately hailed him, and cried out, "Say, stranger, G--d damn +you, what is your name?" He replied in the same rough and careless +manner, "You damned rascals, what is yours?" On finding he could +damn as well as themselves, they concluded he could not be a +Mormon, while his bold and fearless manner convinced them that he +was not a man who was fleeing for his life. They then begged his +pardon for the rough manner in which they had accosted him, "Oh, +you are one of the real breed. By G--d, no damned Mormon could +counterfeit that language, you swear real natteral; hurrah for old +Kentuck. But whar mought you live, stranger?" He replied, "just up +here; you mout a kno'd me, and then agin you moutn't. I think I've +seed you all a heap o' times, but I've been so damned drunk at the +fourth of independence, I hardly know myself or anybody else, but +hurrah for old Kentuck; and what about the damn'd Mormons?" "What +about 'em? egad, you'd a know'd that without axin', if you'd a seed +'em run." "What! they are not out of prison, are they?" "Out of +prison! Yes, the damn'd rascals raised a flag of liberty in open +day, and burst out, and down stars right in the midst of the public +celebration, out rassling the damn'd jailer, and outrunning the +whole town in a fair foot race. They reached the timber jist as +they war overtaken, but afore we could cotch 'em they mounted their +nags, and the way they cleared was a caution to Crockett. We tuk +one on 'em, and seed the other two a few feet distant, rushin' +their nags at full speed, but we couldn't cotch 'em nor shoot 'em +either; I raised my new Kentucky rifle, fresh loaded and primed, +with a good percussion, and taking fair aim at one of their heads +only a few yards distant, I fired, but the damn'd cap burst, and +the powder wouldn't burn." "Well, now, stranger, that's a mighty +big story and seems enemost onpossible. Did you say you cotched one +on 'em? Why I'd a tho't you'd a kilt him on the spot; what have you +done with him?" "They tuk him back to prison, I suppose, but it was +only the old one. If it had been one o' them tother chaps we would +a skinn'd 'em as quick as Crockett would a coon, and then eat 'em +alive without leaving a grease spot." + +This interview over, the horsemen withdrew and left Phelps to +puruse his way in peace. He rode on during the night without +further molestation; but when day appeared he found himself in +rather an awkward fix for a traveller, having lost his hat in the +race the preceding day; he was, therefore, bareheaded, besides, his +face was somewhat bruised and scratched in the scuffle; however, he +concluded to make the best of it, and trust to Providence for the +issue. Riding up to a farm house to call for breakfast and to have +his horse fed, he began to banter the host to sell him an old straw +hat; "For," said he, "I got such a power of drink last evening at +the big doings that I couldn't ride straight, and tumbled off my +horse once or twice, and finally lost my hat." Judging from his +manner, and the dirt and scratches on his face, they readily +believed his tale, and furnished him with an old wide-brimmed, +miserable looking hat, which served as a very good disguise during +the remainder of the journey. Himself and horse refreshed, he +renewed his journey, and finally arrived in Illinois in safety, +having reached the ferry before his pursuers, and before the news +of the escape had spread so far. By his arrival the news soon +spread far and wide that we had made our escape from prison, and +that we might be looked for soon. This news was received with a +general joy, and produced a lively sensation, not only throughout +the Society, but among the public, generally--for all parties had +looked upon us as martyrs, doomed to suffer the vengeance of a set +of blood-thirsty outlaws and murderers. My brother, O. Pratt, and +the young Mr. Clark, who furnished us with the horses, must now be +looked after. + +When we parted in the thicket, as has been before described, +they had only time to flee a few paces, when they found themselves +completely surrounded on every hand, and no possibility left them +of escape by running; they, therefore, dropped down into a small +ravine which had been made by the water during some former freshet, +and there lay as close to the earth as a young quail when its nest +is disturbed. The enemy passed close by them a number of times, and +so very near that they dared not to make the least motion--not even +to look up to see whether they were discovered. + +At length night came on; the pursuers retired, and they arose +and pursued their journey on foot, and arrived safely in Illinois +soon after the arrival of Mr. Phelps. My brother immediately +repaired to the residence of my wife and children, who were waiting +his return in anxious suspense, in hopes to hear some news from me, +whom they considered still in prison--not having as yet heard any +news of the escape. As he entered the door Mrs. P. raised her +anxious and sorrowful eyes, and eagerly inquired: + +"Have you seen my husband?" + +"I have." + +"Is he yet alive?" + +"Yes." + +"Is he well?" + +"He is." + +"O, thank God for that! Is there any prospect that he will ever +get free and return alive?" + +"Well, I hope so; for the last time I saw him he was astride a +horse in the woods, and headed towards home on a gallop." + +I shall not attempt to describe her feelings at that moment, as +the reader can best imagine them; but suffice it to say, after her +first transports were over he sat down and related to her the whole +affair which had transpired up to the time he last saw me. She was +now full of hope and expectation--although mingled with fear and +anxiety indescribable. If I eluded the pursuit of my enemies and +arrived in safety it was now time to look for my arrival; but if, +on the other hand, I was taken back and chained down in a dungeon; +or if I was shot down and left without a burial to be a prey to +wolves and turkey buzzards,--Oh, dreadful thought! Oh, horrible +suspense! Oh, the hope, joy, sorrow, anguish, misery, happiness, +frenzy, and feelings undefined which agitate and distract the bosom +of a wife and mother at such a moment! If man--hardhearted, +unfeeling man--could read the heart of a woman on such an occasion, +he would never more drive, imprison or kill his fellow man. + +She soon set about preparing for the reception of her husband, +in case he should arrive, faint and exhausted with hunger and +fatigue. The table was spread, and food placed upon it; the house +was illuminated through the night, during which her anxious and +beating heart would not suffer her for one moment to sleep. She +watched during the entire night, and on several occasions opened +the door and looked abroad; but still the morning dawned and he +came not. Surely, thought she, he is slain or again confined in a +dungeon, loaded with chains, and kept for a sure prey to glut the +vengeance of a furious mob who have been disappointed of the rest +of their victims. + +The excitement now became general; friends crowded in to inquire +the news and to sympathize with her, and to endeavor, if possible +to keep up her hopes. They argued that the same God who had +delivered him from prison, and strengthened him in the chase, and +the same God who prevented the powder from taking fire when the +deadly rifle was aimed at him, would also stand by him, and bring +him safely to his friends and home. This, in some measure, still +kept her spirits from sinking in despair. + +Armed men were now despatched in various directions along the +river, and into Missouri, to endeavor, if possible, to meet with +him and protect him home. Another day and night at length passed +away in the same suspense, no tidings having been heard from him +nor from any of those who had gone in search. The pursuers, +however, were known to beat the ferry on the other side of the +river, watching his arrival. The same precaution was taken by them +at all the public ferries for some distance up and down the river. + +The suspense and anguish of her aching bosom now became +intolerable; in vain they continued to assure her that he would be +preserved and return in safety. She could plainly see that, while +they sought to comfort her with hope, they themselves were half in +doubt and beginning to despair of his deliverance. Another long day +passed and another night set in, and still no news--except that the +ferries on the Missouri side were all strictly guarded, and the +entire people on the lookout to take him dead or alive. She had now +kept her table spread both day and night, and had watched for three +entire nights without sleep. "He cannot be alive and free," +exclaimed she, "or I know he would fly to meet the fond welcome of +his wife and children, and relieve their aching hearts." + +We must now return with our readers to the prison at Columbia, +and take a glance at the scenes which followed our departure, and +learn the fate of Mr. Follett and Mrs. Phelps. As soon as the +prisoners had cleared from the jailer, and were fairly under way, +Mrs. Phelps, who was still an inmate of the dwelling, became the +particular object of their spite and rage. The old jailer and his +wife commenced to rail and curse her as the author of all the +mischief. They threatened her with instant death, and finally +turned her out of doors in the dusk of the evening, and in the +midst of a mob who had gathered in great numbers around the prison +and raging like so many tigers disappointed of their prey. Being a +stranger and without money, friends, or acquaintances in the place, +she knew not where to go or what to do. She finally sat down in the +open air in the midst of the mob, by whom she was assailed, cursed, +insulted, threatened, and abused in the most unfeeling manner for +some time. But she still remained on the spot, and scarcely noticed +the slang and abuse of the raging rabble, so intent was she upon +the issue of the race--not knowing from one moment to the other +whether her husband would be shot down, or whether he would be +taken and brought back in triumph. + +At length, after a watchful glance towards the wilderness, she +heard the shout of triumph amidst the hosts of the enemy, and next +was re-echoed from crowd to crowd, amid vollies of oaths, curses and +exulting laughs, "We've catched one of the damn'd Mormons and we'll +roast him alive over a slow fire, damn him." They now rallied +around her in great numbers, exulting and threatening, and boasting +that they had taken her husband and would kill him on the spot. +While they were thus abusing her she saw another crowd coming and a +prisoner in the midst, on whom they were venting their rage, as if +he would be torn to pieces. As they approached nearer it proved to +be Mr. Follet, on Mrs. Phelps' horse and side-saddle. He had been +surrounded, overpowered and taken at the time we were each +separated from the other. He was finally rescued from the mob, and +thrust alive into the lower dungeon and chained down to the floor. +He remained in this doleful situation for a few days, till the +wrath of the multitude had time to cool a little, and then he was +unchained by the sheriff and again brought into the upper apartment +and treated with some degree of kindness. + +They now laughed with him about his adventure, praised him for +his bravery, and called him a good fellow. The truth of the matter +was, they had no great desire to take the lives of any but those +whom they had considered leaders; and since they had discovered +that Mr. Follett and Mr. Phelps were not considered religious +leaders among our society, they were in no great danger, except +they should happen to be killed in the heat of excitement or +passion. + +We now leave him in his lonesome prison, with no other society +than the old apostate, Luman, and his dear Phila, while we get +Sister Phelps out of the trouble she was in. After the fate of the +prisoners seemed determined, she sank down exhausted on a block of +wood in the open air amid the surrounding darkness. Here she was +still mocked and insulted by the unfeeling rabble, till a certain +young man, more feeling than the others, declared that he was not +accustomed to see a female treated thus in America, and that if she +had no home his father and mother would receive her kindly and give +her protection under their roof till she could return to Illinois. +He then went home, and in a few minutes returned with his mother, +by whom she was kindly invited to their dwelling. On arriving there +she was treated in the kindest manner for about two weeks, during +which time her horse was kept from her and rode in search of the +prisoners. They finally restored her horse and saddle to her, and +she rode home in peace, where she eventually met her husband, and +rejoiced that she had been, in some measure, the means of his +deliverance. + +And here I might as well inform the anxious reader of the final +liberation of the two remaining prisoners. Mr. Follett remained in +confinement for several months, and finally was dismissed and sent +home to Illinois, where he met his family, who had been expelled +from the State of Missouri, in common with others, during his +confinement. And, last of all, the old apostate came out by fair +acquittal. And should any of our readers have the curiosity to see +the charming couple, whose singular courtship and history run +through and make a principal thread of our narrative, they will +call at the little town of Augusta, a few miles from Fort Madison, +Iowa Territory, and inquire for "Luman and Phila," who were living +there in quiet at the last accounts. + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. +------------------------ + +Reminiscence:--Resume my Wanderings:-- +Lost Again:--Storm:--Conversation:--Suspicious Characters:-- +Lost in a Swamp:--Strange River:--Retrace my Steps:--Cross +the River:--Wild Scenery:--Strange Bedfellow:--Dawn:--Reach +the Mississippi:--Cross the River in a Canoe:--Land on an +Island:--Entangled in the Thickets:--Reembark:--Land in +Illinois:--An Old Acquaintance:--Arrive at Quincy. + +I suppose by this time the reader has either forgotten the +circumstances in which he took leave of myself, or else is somewhat +weary with the winding of the narrative and impatient for it to +come to a close. The only apology I have to offer for the many +digressions and wanderings through which he has been led is, that I +consider it impolite and disrespectful to get myself out of a bad +place until I have first seen my friends all safely out. True, I +did not strictly observe this rule of good breeding in the escape +itself; therefore it becomes me to take the more care to observe it +now, when there is no danger, excepting that of being deserted by +some of my readers before I am safely out. However, if you still +wish to accompany me in all the windings of my wearisome and +dangerous adventure we will now turn to the happy valley, where you +recollect leaving me on the morning of the fifth of July in the act +of breakfasting on a small biscuit, while, to all appearances, I +was lost to myself and to all mankind. + +After resting a few minutes I arose and travelled onward, +without any way to determine the course I was travelling. After +some miles, I came to a house in the woods, and ventured to inquire +of the woman the way to Columbia, and what course it lay from +there. By this means I learned that I was fourteen miles distant +from the prison in a northerly direction. I then took a course +directly opposite to her directions, and soon found myself among +settlements, and in a kind of road, but very indirect and winding +among fields and woods, or in the language of that county, among +"clarens" and "timber." I paid but little respect to the road, but +rather wandered around among the forests, and made my course as +well as I could without being seen. + +At last the clouds thickened and it began to rain. In the +meantime I had again plunged into the depths of an unknown forest, +and lost all idea of the true point of the compass. The air now +became dense with thick clouds and mist, and the rain was pouring +in torrents. At first I thought that rather than expose myself by +another inquiry, I would sit down at the bottom of a large oak and +wait patiently for the clouds to break away, so that I could see +the sun, and thus determine my course, as to travel in uncertainty +would exhaust my strength for naught. I accordingly sat down; but +after waiting for a length of time, I found there was no prospect +of seeing the sun, moon, or stars for some days to come. In the +meantime I was becoming wet and cold, lame and stiff jointed from +the effects of my exertions the night previous. I was also aware +that hunger would soon be preying upon me, as I already felt very +much in need of refreshment. I, therefore, arose and wandered on +till I saw another house in the distance. I there ventured another +inquiry, by which I was enabled to make my way through the windings +of the forest, and finally to enter upon a vast prairie or +untimbered plain without inhabitants. Through this plain there was +a direct road to a place called Paris, which was now some twenty +miles distant and directly on my way. Here I could travel in +solitude, and have no difficulty in finding my way either by night +or day; and should I chance to meet a traveller in pursuit, I could +see him for some miles distant in the day time, and have time to +leave the road and hide myself in the grass before he could be near +me. + +It was now drawing towards evening, and the rain was still +pouring in torrents, while the wind blew almost to a tempest. I was +weary exhausted with fatigue and hunger, and chilled and benumbed +with rain and wind which had drenched me for some hours. It had +been intention to travel through the night, but I now saw it was +impossible. I would be obliged to rest my weary limbs somewhere; +and to sit or lie down without shelter in such a tempest, and +benumbed as I then was, would be death; or at least it would be +what I could not endure; and to lodge at any house would expose me +to be discovered and taken by pursuers. As night approached I +hesitated for some time whether to continue to brave the tempest +and to pass the night in the rain, or to run the risk of being +taken by turning off the road and going a mile or two through the +wet grass to a settlement which was in sight, in the borders of the +wilderness, on the left of my road. At last I was compelled by the +severity of the storm to choose the latter. I accordingly made for +a house; but how was I to account for being a traveller, and on +foot--as nearly all men in that country travel on horseback? +However, my ingenuity soon prepared me a way to account for this +suspicious circumstance. + +As I drew near the house the owner stood in the door looking out +upon the tempest and watching my approach--it being rather strange +to see a person from the open plain amid such a tempest. As I drew +near, all wet and dripping, I cried out very sociably, saying: +"Sir, can you entertain a drowning man here this terrible night?" +The answer was, "I reckon we mout: come in, stranger, you seem in a +mighty bad fix." I hobbled in as well as I could, being very lame +with walking, as well as benumbed with the storm; and without +giving time for any more inquiry, I began to complain of the +fatigue of walking, and how it had lamed me; at the same time +observing that my horse had played a very bad trick with me; he had +got away from me and strayed into the timber, where I could not +find him. "Ah," said he, "how did you happen to lose him?" "Why," +said I, "I am from Indiana, and have been out in your wild woods +back here looking for land. I had been in the habit of letting my +horse bait a little occasionally, as he never seemed inclined to +leave till, last evening, he of a sudden wandered out of my sight +in the woods, and dark coming on, I could not track him, and +finally lost him; and, what is worse, he carried off my clothing +and all the fixings I had with me, even to my shooting irons and +ammunition. I shall now have to go clear to Paris on foot, and +remain there a few days till I can advertise him and obtain him +again." + +"Oh!" exclaimed he, "it's a pity you should have such a heap of +trouble. Where did you stay last night?" I replied "the devil +himself could hardly answer that; for in hunting my horse I got +benighted, and lost myself instead of finding him; however, I made +my way out to the first cottage I could find, and took up with very +curious fare, I assure you." "What part of Indiana are you from?" +continued he. "From near Terre Haute," replied I. "What is the +price of land in that country now?" he inquired. I replied that it +had risen very much since the completion of the great national +road; "indeed," said I, "as a specimen of the rise of property I +could now take twenty-five dollars per acre for my little place in +the backwoods, which a few years ago only cost me three dollars and +seventy-five cents, so thought I would just mount my nag and ride +west here, and take a look in Illinois and Missouri, and if I could +suit myself I would go home and sell out, and come out here and +purchase." "Well," said he, "I reckon you must do a heap better here +than there, as we've a smart chance of land here that's very cheap, +besides," continued he, "we can make corn here so easy; and then, +agin, there's a power of range for cattle and horses." In this kind +of conversation the evening passed off very sociably. After eating +a hearty supper I retired to bed. + +In the morning I awoke much refreshed, and found the storm had +subsided, and the sun shining in his strength. I tarried to +breakfast, which consisted of a good cup of coffee and a fowl, with +some corn bread or "dodger." After breakfast I vented my spite once +more, with angry and impatient words about my poor horse; grumbled +sorely at being so lame, and regretted very much at having to go on +foot all the way to Paris; and, said I, "I get so hungry and faint +in walking over these lonesome plains, where the houses are a dozen +miles apart, I believe, with your leave, I'll just pocket the +remainder of the dodger and chicken." "O, yes," said the good +woman, "take it and welcome. You mout want it, and then agin you +mout not; and although its coarse fare, yet we've seen a heap o' +times in this new country that we couldn't get as good." I thanked +her, and then settled my bill with her husband, and making her a +present of a quarter of a dollar, I took leave, and soon found my +way back to the road I had left the evening before. On arriving at +the road I found a fresh horse track had been made since the rain, +and immediately concluded one of my pursuers had passed in pursuit, +which I afterwards learned to be the fact. + +I would here remark that some persons will perhaps be disposed +to censure me for saying that which was not strictly true in all +its points, in order to avoid discovery, and make good my escape. +But I can say, from the bottom of my heart, that I feel perfectly +justified in so doing, not only because it accomplished a good +object, and seemed according to wisdom, but we have numerous +instances in Scripture where God's prophets and people acted in a +similar way for a similar end. For instance, the New Testament +justifies Rahab, and even commends her, and includes her in the sum +of the faithful, because she hid the spies under the flax and +deceived their pursuers by stating that they had left the city and +fled to the mountains; and thus she became an accomplice, or an +aider and abettor of the people and purposes of God. David also, +who was the Lord's anointed, and a man after his own heart, +dissembled a number of times to save his life. At one time he +deceived the national priest, and thus obtained both bread and +armor, under pretense of being on the king's errand, while he was +in fact an outlaw, then in the act of fleeing for his life from +that same Saul. And Jesus himself mentions this to the Jews, and +justifies it. At another time he feigned himself insane, by +figuring on the wall and letting his spittle drizzle down on his +beard, in order to escape the Philistine judges. Oh, yes, says one, +but he was the Lord's anointed, and, therefore, had a right to save +his life at all hazards to fulfil God's purposes. To this I reply, +that I am also God's anointed, and have a greater reason for living +and a more worthy object to accomplish than he had. That may be, +says the objector, but who believes it? I answer, one hundred +people believe me in the days of my trouble and humility where one +believed David. And well they may; for I have a greater work to +accomplish than he ever had. But the world may blame unjustly. I +care not a straw for their judgment. I have one only that I serve, +and him only do I fear. The hypocrite who censures me may yet be +placed under similar circumstances, and then judge ye how he would +act. + +But, to drop the argument and resume the history; I now pursued +my way until I entered upon a public road called the Louisiana +road, as it was connected with a ferry on the Mississippi at a +place called by that name. I had traveled that road before, and I +was not a little rejoiced to find myself on ground I was so well +acquainted with that I could travel by night without any danger of +missing my way. I was now in a part of the State which was +comparatively thickly inhabited, and, therefore, considered it +unsafe to proceed in the daytime, as the news of our escape must by +this time have spread far and wide. I, therefore, spent the day +either in concealment among the thickets, or in slowly progressing +on my journey with much caution and many deviations from the road, +in order to shun plantations and houses; but at night I pursued my +way with all the strength I had. + +On the third or fourth day after my escape from prison I found +myself in the neighborhood of a settlement where I had formed some +acquaintances years before, and where once lived a small branch of +the Church, but they had all moved West, and, as I supposed, were +driven out of the State with the others. But I recollected a family +by the name of Ivy, who would still be living on the road, and who +had been members, but were now dissenters. I was now very hungry +and wanted a friend, but was in doubt whether they would befriend +or betray me, as they had once been my friends, and not only so, +but their near kindred had suffered in the general persecution, and +had shared the common banishment. I hesitated, prayed, and at +length came to the conclusion that I would venture past their door +in open day, and if no one discovered or recognized me I would take +it as a Providence, and conclude it was wisdom in God, as I would +not be safe with them; but if, on the other hand, I was saluted by +them, then I would think it a sign which Providence had given me as +a witness that I could trust to them. I accordingly walked past +their dwelling on Sunday evening, about two hours before sundown. +As I got nearly past, the little children who were playing in the +front door yard discovered me and cried out with surprise and joy, +"there is brother Pratt!" At this a young man came running out to +me, who proved to be one of my acquaintances, who was still a +member of the Church, and who had been driven from the upper +country; but, instead of going to Illinois with the rest, he had +come back and settled in his old neighborhood. I asked him where +Mr. Ivy, the man of the house, was. He replied that he and his wife +had gone to a neighbor's, two or three miles distant, on a visit; +"and," continued he, "I also am here on a visit at the same time, +and by this means I have very unexpectedly met with you; and I am +very glad, for the news has just reached here that the prisoners +had escaped, and that they burst a cap at one, and took another and +carried him back to prison. The other two have not been found." +This was the first news I had heard either of myself or the others. +I then requested him to go and charge the children strictly not to +mention that they had seen me, and then come with me into the +woods. + +He did so. I then told him I was very hungry, faint and weary; +and not only so, but so lame I could hardly move; besides, my feet +were blistered, skinned and bloody. He said that his brother, who +was also a member, and had been driven with him from the upper +country, lived in an obscure place in the woods, some two miles +distant, and that his brother's wife and children were as true and +genuine Mormons as ever lived. He then took me on his horse and +conducted me through a pathless wild for two miles, and, coming in +sight of his brother's house, I dismounted and hid myself in a deep +valley, whose sides were nearly perpendicular and formed of craggy +rock, while he went to reconnoitre the house, and to get something +ready for me to eat. He soon returned, informing me that his +brother was out, and would not be in till dark; but the family +wished very much that I would come in, as the children would hold +their tongues, and it was thought to be perfectly safe. I declined, +however, for the present, and he brought me out some bread, milk +and cream, on which I refreshed myself till they prepared a more +substantial supper. + +As evening came on, being pressed to come in, I finally +consented. On entering, I was received with joy by the family, and +sat down to supper. One of their neighbors, a young man soon +determined to tarry till the arrival of the man of the the house, +as he had some errand with him. This embarrassed me very much, for +I was fearful that he would arrive and salute me as an old +acquaintance, and call my name in the presence of the young man. +But the children (bless their souls) took good care for that +matter, they watched very narrowly for the arrival of their papa, +and when they saw him they whispered to him that brother P. was +there, and being just out of prison, he must not know him till Mr. +----- had gone. + +The man came in, and I looked up, with a vacant stare, or rather +with a strange and distant air, and inquired if he was the man of +the house? He nodded coolly in the affirmative. I then inquired of +him if he had seen any stray "nags" in his neighborhood? I then +went on to describe my horse which had strayed from me, and +observed that I was out in search of him, and, being weary and +hungry, I had stopped to get some refreshment with him. He said I +was welcome to his house, and to such fare as he had; but he did +not seen any nags, except what was owned in the neighborhood. + +The young man soon did his errand and withdrew. We then shook +each other by the hand most heartily, and, with a burst of joy and +smiles, inquired after each other's welfare. I told him I was well +nigh exhausted and worn out, and, withal, very lame, but still I +had some hopes of making my escape out of the State, and of living +to see my friends once more in a land of liberty. I then begged of +him to exchange with me, and take my cap and give me a hat in its +stead, which he did and then saddled his horse with a side saddle, +and placing me on horseback, he ran before and by my side on foot, +to take me on my journey. In this way we traveled till twelve +o'clock at night, when I dismounted, and he bid me farewell, in +order to reach his home again before the neighbors would arise and +find him missing. + +He had given me directions which would lead to the Mississippi +River much nearer than the Louisiana ferry, and also more in the +direct course towards my family who resided at Quincy, and, besides +all these advantages, the route was more obscure, and, therefore, +safer for me. I now pursued my course the remainder of the night +with renewed courage and strength, although so very lame, foot +sore, and so much exhausted that, in lying down to refresh myself, +I could not again rise and put myself in motion short of +extraordinary and repeated exertion, sometimes having to crawl on +my hands and knees till I could get sufficiently limbered to arise +and walk, and frequently staggering and falling in the attempt. + +At length the day began to dawn, and I must soon be under the +necessity of hiding in the thickets, or making deviations from the +road, in order to avoid discovery in passing the settlements. I, +therefore, wished to push my way with all speed while it was yet +too early for people to be stirring; but sleep now completely +overpowered me. As I was walking along the road I could scarcely +open my eyes for a moment to look my way for a few rods ahead, and +they would then close in sleep in spite of all my powers. I would +then proceed a few paces in my sleep till I stumbled, or till I had +need to take another look at the road before me; then I would open +my eyes and take one glance, and the lids would fall again as +powerless as if I had no life. In this way I walked on, alternately +sleeping and waking, till, I presume, I had more than fifty naps +without ceasing to walk; and each time I opened my eyes and came to +my senses I firmly resolved to keep them open and run no further +risk; but while this resolution was still passing in my mind sleep +would again steal over me, not exactly unawares, for I realized it +each time, but had no power to prevent it. + +At length the twilight gave place to the full blaze of the morning; +the sons of the earth were again in motion; I therefore retired, like +the owl, to the thicket, and took a morning rest. When I awoke the +sun was high in the heavens, and, feeling somewhat refreshed, I arose +from the ground and wandered slow and solitary amid the wilds of oak, +interspersed with hazel and underwood--sometimes stopping to pick and +eat a few unripe blackberries, and sometimes resting beneath the shade +of a spreading tree. + +I had now great hopes of having to pass but one more night in +the land of enemies, as I could easily reach a small town in the +course of the day, which was then only two or three miles distant; +and then, if I could by any means get on to the right track before +night, I would only have about eight or ten miles' travel for the +whole night, which would bring me to a small town on the +Mississippi. I wandered on amid the wilds, but at length about half +a mile of open plain or prairie intervened between me and the town. +To pass this in a public road, in open day, would be running a +great venture, and to wait for the cover of darkness would perhaps +keep me wandering another night, for the want of being started in +the right road from the town before me to the landing on the river. +I, therefore, concluded to venture across the plain, along the +public highway, in the day time, and should I be discovered I would +sell my life as dear as possible sooner than be taken back to +prison. I, therefore, walked boldly on. I had proceeded about to +the middle of the plain, when, on a sudden turn of the road, two +men appeared on horseback, each with a rifle on his shoulder. They +were then too near for me to retreat, or to make any other shift +than to meet them. As soon as they discovered me they both halted +as if surprised, and one said to the other, "there he is now." They +then rode on towards me, and I expected every moment that they +would hail and attempt to stop me. In such a case I felt determined +to seize one of their rifles, and overpower or frighten them, or +die in the struggle. + +I at length passed between them in the middle of the road, and I +looked as calm and unconcerned as if I hardly knew they were there. +Either from this circumstance or some other, unaccountable to me, they +never spoke to me at all, but rode on, and I saw them no more. I soon +passed the plain, and made my way into a small thicket of trees which +lay adjoining the little town. I then crept up near the court house, +which occupied a public square in the centre, and endeavored, without +being discovered or noticed by any person, to ascertain as well as I +could, by my own judgment, which of all the roads would seem to lead +off towards the river. After reconnoitering the town and the various +bearings of the roads, I retreated back into the wilderness, with +the satisfaction that I had not yet been discovered by the citizens; +I had also the satisfaction of seeing the highlands and the hilly, +broken country which evidently bordered on the Mississippi. The river, +therefore, could be but a few miles distant, and as it was yet several +hours to sundown I concluded that I could take my course, and, without +any particular regard to roads, reach some spot on the river that +evening, as nothing was to be so much dreaded as a public ferry--for +there I knew my enemies would set their traps. + +I immediately took my course, and after wandering for an hour or +two, with great fatigue, among thickets of brush, briars and vines +almost impassable, I at length descended a steep decline of perhaps +two hundred feet, and then came down to what is called in that +country the "river bottom," covered with the growth of thick +forest, and appearing in some places somewhat swampy and gloomy; +but still I pushed on with all speed supposing I was not many miles +from the river Mississippi. After travelling for some distance in +this disagreeable and swampy wild, what was my surprise and +disappointment, when on a sudden I came to a dark, deep, and muddy +looking river, some forty rods wide, and rolling with a swift and +turbulent current. This surely could not be the Mississippi; and +yet it was something that intervened between me and that great +river, and seemed to present an impassable barrier. I then heaved a +deep sigh, and feeling exhausted and almost discouraged, I +exclaimed to myself half aloud, how long shall I wander and find no +rest? It does seem as though enchanted ground lay between me and +liberty. I turned round, with the little strength that then +remained I made my way back to the town. When I arrived again in +sight of the town the sun was setting, and another wearisome night +was approaching, in which I must reach the river, or I would +probably be exhausted with hunger and fatigue, so as to be entirely +disabled. + +I now resolved to venture boldly into a public highway, and to +ascertain the right road before it would be too dark to find my way +or choose my course. There would not only be danger of exposure by +inquiring, but although I knew there was a little town on the +Mississippi, near the place I was then in, yet I had never heard +the name of it; and to appear like a stranger who did not know the +country, and yet be on foot and without a parcel or valise, or +anything which travellers are accustomed to carry, and withal a +beard near a week old, together with sweat and dirt over my clothes +from lying and tumbling on the ground, would altogether make me +seem like a very suspicious character; but yet I must venture an +inquiry, which I determined to do the first providential +opportunity which occurred. I walked along the edge of the town and +struck into a public highway which seemed to lead the right course. +I had not travelled far when I came to a branch of the same river +which I had encountered in the swampy bottom. On one side of the +road a mill was situated on its bank, and on the other side a +dwelling house. Several persons were about the mill, and it was not +yet dark. I was now determined to pass by boldly, and if anyone +passed near me to speak to them and inquire the way, and then pass +on so quick that they would have no time to have suspicion or to +question me. Just as I was passing between the house and the mill, +I said, "Good evening, sir. How do you cross this river?" He +replied, "that the teams and horsemen ford it, but a footman may +chance to cross it on the mill dam, yonder." Said I, "is this the +right road to--to--what the plague is it you call that little town +yonder--your nearest landing on the river what is its name; I can +seldom think of it?" "Oh, Saverton--Saverton," replied he. "Oh, +yes; Saverton," I repeated. "Yes," said he, "this is the direct +road to it." I replied, "Thank you, sir. How far is it?" "Nine +miles," said he. By this time I was some distance past him, and in +another moment I was balancing my clumsy and worn out body on the +edge of the dam, while the waters were roaring and foaming beneath +me. + +I got safely over, and now pursued my way with increasing hope +and certainty. However, I had not gone to exceed half a mile before +I came to another fork of the river, larger and swifter than the +one I had just crossed, and, withal, neither dam nor bridge. I soon +forded boldly into it, determined either to sink, swim, or ford it. +It proved to be about a yard deep, with a strong current, and +several yards wide; but I forded it in safety, and still pursued my +way. After wandering for a mile or two along the bottom lands, I +ascended a high bluff of several hundred feet, and thus entered +upon the high, rocky and unsettled wilds which intervened between +the bed of the river and the great Mississippi. + +It was now dark, and I was fairly under way for my night's +journey, which at most could not exceed seven or eight miles, and +feeling extremely exhausted and also at leisure, I stepped aside +from the road and laid me down at the foot of a tree, with a block +of wood for a pillow, where I intended to sleep for an hour or two. +It was a wild scene in which to slumber; no human abode was near, +no voice or sound stole upon the stillness of the evening. The +stars shone forth in unwonted splendor in the heavens, while wild +and grassy hills, and rocky steeps pierced with deep vales and +chasms, extended far and wide on all sides, as if reposing in +eternal and undisturbed quiet and loneliness. Ah! thought I, as I +lay in silent meditation and contemplated the scene, here is peace, +here is rest, here is a solitude of grand and sacred repose, +scarcely polluted by bloodthirsty dwellers upon the degraded earth. +And were it not for the ties of wife, children, and duties which +bind me to society, how gladly would I seek a lone cavern or some +unknown retreat amid these romantic wilds, and never more feel the +ills and suffer the evils which now distract and disturb the peace +of a poor, miserable world. As I had finished these meditations and +was about to fall asleep I turned to my side and made a slight +movement in adjusting my wooden pillow, when I heard the well known +rattle of a rattlesnake (eez, eez, eez,) close by my side, as if +disturbed in his repose, or as if I had more than my portion of the +bed. I then recollected the old proverb, that "travelling makes +strange bedfellows," and also the scripture which says, "If two lie +together there is heat, but how can one be warm alone?" Said I, +"old friend, I'll not argue with you as my first mother did with +your venerable ancestor, and rather than quarrel or keep you awake, +we will part." With this, I arose and very condescendingly sought +out another bed, where I was so fortunate as to remain in +undisturbed possession till the chill of the night air admonished +me to be again on the move. + +I then arose, and, after much exertion, became at length able to +use my limbs, and thus continued my journey. Early dawn found me +standing on a height which overlooks the little village of Saverton +and the broad river, which was the only barrier between me and +safety from my enemies. As the rays of the morning began to expand +with increasing light, the dark outlines of the wooded bottoms of +Illinois were distinctly visible. I had now seen with my eyes the +land of peace, and a land which contained family, friends, and all +that was dear to me; but oh, if I should be intercepted at the +ferry, and thus lose at once my labor and my hope! I now knelt down +and prayed fervently to God for deliverance, and thanked Him for +the past, and for His mercy and providence which had preserved me +thus far. + +I then descended from the height and entered the town, the +people yet being rapt in repose. I examined the shore and soon +convinced myself that no public ferry was kept there. I was +extremely glad to learn this fact being fully aware that by this +time all the ferries would be watched. I next tried to find some +road or path up the river bank, so as to pass along and obtain the +use of some chance canoe, but this was impossible. Huge rocks and +mountainous steeps, with alternate ditches or patches of mire, +rendered it impossible, even for a footman, to pass up the bank of +the river. I then made my way down along the sandy beach which lay +before the town, and just as the people were beginning to stir, I +left the town and continued down along the river for some five +miles, sometimes climbing steep and rocky spires of the bluffs, and +sometimes wading through mire and marsh. + +At length I came to a dwelling on the banks of the river, and +saw several canoes lying in the water before it. I entered the +house and inquired of the lady whether I could get a passage over +the river in a canoe. She replied that her husband sometimes set +people across, but owing to the swift current, and a large island +several miles in length, which lay the middle of the river, it was +a tedious job, for which he never charged less than a dollar; but, +however, he was very busy in the harvest field, about a mile +distant, and owing to the hurry of the harvest, she did not think +he could be prevailed on to do it at any price. I was now ready to +faint from extreme heat, and exertion, and hunger, and to walk +another mile and back upon an uncertainty was altogether to which +it would subject me. + +I cast my eyes towards the canoes and they looked very tempting, +and I know not but I might have been tempted to charter one without +the leave of the owner, but just then I saw a boy of ten or twelve +years of age playing about the water. I asked him if he was +accustomed to paddling a canoe. He replied, yes. I then offered him +a good price if he would set me across the river. He refused to do +this, saying that his parents would whip him for so doing. But, +said he, "I will set you over on to yon big island, which is one +mile from here; you can then walk a mile or two through the woods +and come to the opposite shore of it, and then shout and make signs +to the people on the Illinois shore, who will come across their +half of the river and take you from the island." He observed that +people had often crossed over in this way. I hardly believed him, +but still I thought an uninhabited island was preferable to staying +another minute in Missouri. + +The boy soon set me over and left me on the shore of the island, +pointing out my course as well as he could. I paid him well, and then +commenced my overland journey, among nettles, flies, mosquitoes and +heat. I was soon entangled in thickets of hazel, thorn and grape vines, +which made my progress very slow, as well as extremely laborious and +difficult. These, however, were soon intersected with sloughs of mire +and water, which could only be crossed with the utmost difficulty, by +picking my way on old logs and wood, and sometimes wading in mire and +water. After crossing several of these I at length came to one much +larger, which I judged was navigable for a steamboat, and I now found, +to my inexpressible horror and disappointment, that he had deceived me. +I had now no alternative left but to make my way back through the same +difficulties I had just passed, and to the shore where he had just left +me, and then I should have no other chance but to call and make signs +to the Missouri shore, which I had just left with so much joy, and, +as I hoped, forever. This was at length accomplished, and I had the +inexpressible joy of seeing my sign answered by the same boy, who soon +came paddling to me. As soon as his canoe touched the island I bounded +into it, and said to him with a determined tone and manner, "you have +deceived me my boy, so now you have to go to the opposite shore if you +never went before, and I will then pay you another dollar, which will +pay you, even if your parents chasten you for going." We now headed up +the current, and, after a painful and laborious exertion of an hour or +two, we doubled the cape at the head of the island, and shot off across +the river at a rapid rate. + +We soon landed in the woods in a low bottom, with no signs of +inhabitants, although while crossing I had seen some houses on the +shore a mile or two below. I now paid the boy his dollar, and he +pushed off and commenced his way back exceedingly well pleased. I +immediately stepped a few paces into the woods, and, kneeling down, +kissed the ground as a land of liberty, and then poured out my soul +in thanks to God. I then arose and made my way down the river for +some two miles through woods and swamps, and finally came to a +house. I entered it, determined to call for something to eat; no +one was in but a little boy, but he said his mother would be in two +or three minutes. I asked him for some milk, and he gave me a +vessel which was full, probably containing between one and two +quarts. I intended only to taste of it to keep me from fainting, +and then wait till the woman came, and ask her leave to drink the +remainder, as it was all she had; but once to my famishing mouth it +never ceased to decrease till it was all swallowed; I now felt +somewhat abashed and mortified at what I had done, but concluded +money would pay all damages. Hearing the footsteps of the woman at +the door, I was fixing my mouth for an awkward apology, when I +heard a sudden scream; on looking up, Mrs. Sabery Granger stood +before me, with both hands lifted up in an ecstacy of amazement. I +said to her, "be not afraid--handle me and see, for a spirit hath +not flesh and bones as you see me have." She exclaimed, "why, good +Lord, is that you? Why all the world is hunting you--both friends +and enemies; they had almost given you up." She then flew around, +scolded the children, talked to the ducks and chickens to keep out +of the house and out of the garden, and not stray off. She washed +my feet, gave me some clean stockings, got me some dinner, told me +a thousand things about our friends, asked five hundred questions, +laughed, cried and again scolded the children and chickens. + +This over and dinner eaten, she on with her bonnet and +accompanied me to her husband, who was clearing a small spot of +land nearby. (I had forgotten to say that this woman had been one +of our nearest neighbors in Ohio for several years.) Her husband +now dropped his work, and accompanied me as a guide for five miles +across a wet, low, untimbered bottom, covered mostly with high +grass and stagnant water, and entirely destitute of shade or +refreshment of any kind. The air was now extremely sultry, and the +sun poured in scorching beams, while we could get no water to +drink, nor any rest or retreat for a moment. To sit down the tall +grass under these scorching rays, without a breath of wind, would +be overwhelming. + +I had not proceeded more than a mile or two before I became so +weak and faint that I could hardly speak or stand, and parched with +a burning thirst. I was upon the point of lying down in the hot and +stagnant water, but he took me by the arm and partly supported me, +and drew me along for some distance, exhorting and begging of me to +try my utmost to hold up a little longer. In this way I finally +reached the upland and the shade of a fence, within about half a +mile of a settlement of the Saints and other citizens, which +extended along the bluff. I dropped down under the shade of this +fence, and fainted entirely away; the man ran to the house of a +Brother Brown and got some cool spring water and a little camphor, +and was returning with it Sister Brown, who had never seen me, came +running before him to my relief; while they were yet distant I had +partly come to, and feeling a dreadful faintness at my stomach, and +a raging thirst which knew no bounds, I made an effort to arise and +run towards them, at the same time making signs for them to hasten; +I staggered a few paces like a drunken man, and again fell to the +earth. This singular appearance, and my dirty clothes and long +beard so frightened the woman that, instead of hurrying, she halted +till the man came up with her, and then she exclaimed, "It cannot +be Elder Pratt, of whom I have heard so much--it must be some old +drunkard." But the man assured her it was me, and they then came on +together. They bathed my temples and wrists in cold water and +camphor, and finally gave me a spoonful or two at a time to drink. +In about half an hour I was so far revived as to be able to arise +and be led to the house. I then shaved and washed myself, and +borrowed a change of linen, and got into a comfortable bed. + +Next morning I felt quite refreshed, and, after resting through +the day, I was so far recruited as to be able to mount a horse at +evening and ride towards Quincy, which was still twenty-five miles +distant. Brother Brown furnished me a good horse and saddle, and +himself another, and we started for Quincy in high spirits just as +the sun was setting. We rode on at a brisk rate, and arrived in +Quincy at about two o'clock the next morning. Riding up to the +dwelling which (from the partial recollection of Mr. Brown, as well +as from the fact of my two Missouri cows lying before it quietly +chewing their cud) we judged was my wife's residence, we dismounted +and gave a gentle knock at the door. She had watched for four +successive nights and most of the fifth, and had now just lain down +and given up all for lost. On hearing the knock she sprang from bed +and opened the door, and in another instant I had clasped her in my +arms. + + +CHAPTER XXXV. +------------------------ + +Opinions of the Press:--Extracts from the "Columbia Patriot:"--"Banner +of Liberty:"--"Boone's Lick Democrat:"--"Saturday News:"--"Missouri +Republican:"--"New York Sun:"--"Quincy Argus:"--Minutes of a Public +Meeting in Quincy:--"New York Commercial Advertiser:"--Public Meeting +in New York:--Closing Remarks. + +Extract of a letter from A. W. Turner, member of the Legislature +of Missouri, dated City of Jefferson, November 31st, 1838, +originally published in the _Columbia_ (Missouri) _Patriot +_: + +"The Mormon war is the most exciting subject before the +Legislature or the community; it involves an inquiry the most +critical of any ever presented to the Legislature of this country; +one in which the rights of a portion of the free citizens of the +State is concerned, on the one side, and the rights of another +portion of the same citizens on the other. Upon the decision of +this subject the character of the State is suspended. If, upon full +investigation, it is found (and reported by the committee to the +Legislature) that the Mormons are not the aggressors, and that some +of them have been murdered, others driven from the State by +military force, and others imprisoned by order of the Executive, +then our character will be established as the most lawless invaders +of religious and civil rights." + +Will the public believe that, with the foregoing view of the +subject, the Legislature avoided an investigation? The following is +from a Missouri paper, printed in Callaway County, entitled _The +Banner of Liberty_: + +"The Governor of Missouri has negotiated a State loan with the +Bank of Missouri, of three hundred and forty thousand dollars. Of +this sum, two hundred thousand dollars are to go towards paying the +expense of the troops called out to _drive the Mormons from the +State_." + +The following is taken from the _Boone's Lick Democrat_, +a Missouri paper, under date of January 9, 1839: + +"A letter under date of the 29th of November, 1838, has been +written by Michael Arthur, of Clay County, to the delegation from +that county in the General Assembly now in session, from which the +following is an extract: 'Humanity to an injured people prompts me +at present to address you this.' + +"'You were aware of the treatment to some extent before you left +home, received by that unfortunate race of beings called Mormons, +from devils in the form of human beings; inhabiting Daviess, +Livingston and part of Ray Counties. + +"'Not being satisfied with a relinquishment of their rights, as +citizens and human beings, in the treaty forced upon them by +General Lucas, of giving up their arms and throwing themselves upon +the mercy of the State and their fellow citizens generally (hoping +thereby to gain protection of their lives and property); they are +now receiving treatment from those demons which makes humanity +shudder, and the cold chills run over any man not entirely +destitute of humanity. + +"'These demons are now strolling up and down Caldwell County in +small companies armed, insulting the women in any and every way, +and plundering the Mormons of all the means of sustenance (scanty +as it was) left them, driving off their cattle, horses, hogs, etc., +and rifling their houses and farms of everything thereon; taking +beds, bedding, wardrobes, and such things as they see they +want--leaving the Mormons in a starving and naked condition. These +are facts I have from authority that cannot be questioned, and can +be maintained and substantiated at any time.'" + +The following appeared in the St. Louis (Mo.) _Saturday News +_. The reader may draw his own contrast between the two +statements: + +"THE MORMONS:--That self-afflicted class of people who has +chosen the fancy name of Mormons has elicited some sympathy and +well intended compassion from some of our charitable citizens, and +two meetings have been called to devise means of relieving their +present wants. Although many of the Mormons deserve hanging, as an +atonement for their criminal proceedings and corrupt intentions, +they are truly objects of charity. + +"But if this intrinsically vagrant race (the Mormons) would +relieve themselves from the humiliating necessity of asking +charity, they should mind their own business, * * abandon +abolition, and apply themselves to hard labor, as those do who are +actively engaged in attempting their relief. + +"No attempt should be made to retain a single Mormon within the +boundaries of Missouri. A colonization society might find +advantageous employment in sending them all off to Botany Bay." + +The following resolves were adopted at a public meeting of the +people of Daviess County, Missouri, and published in one of the +journals of the State: + +"1st. _Resolved_, That we esteem the laws of our country +our great bulwark, and the only safe refuge to protect us in this +and every other emergency. + +"2d. _Resolved_, That we highly approve of the course of +the Executive in placing Gen. Clark in command of the forces +ordered out AGAINST THE MORMONS, and that his orders to EXTERMINATE +AND DRIVE THEM FROM THE STATE was dictated by the imperious duty of +his office as Governor of the State. + +"The following is from the _Missouri Republican_, +published at St. Louis: + +"To show our readers the amount of injury which is now inflicted +on the character of our State, and which there is no means of +repelling (the Legislature having refused to inquire into the +matter), we copy the following from the proceedings of a public +meeting held in Quincy, Illinois, as published in the _Quincy +Whig_ of the 2d. inst: + +"'Mr. Sidney Rigdon rose and read the memorial which his people +had presented to the Legislature of Missouri, and other documents, +going to show the absence of all law and justice in the course the +Missouri authorities had pursued toward them, from Governor Boggs +down to the lowest grade of officers.'" + +"After another had addressed the meeting the same account says: +'Mr. Rigdon again took the floor, and in a very eloquent and +impressive manner related the trials, sufferings and persecutions +which his people have met with at the hands of the people of +Missouri. We saw the tears standing in the eyes of many of his +people while he was recounting their history of woe and sorrow, +and, in fact, the gentleman himself was so agitated at different +periods of his address that his feelings would hardly allow him to +proceed.' + +"We are satisfied that his address will have a lasting and good +effect, sustained, as it was, by the public documents which he +produced. + +"'We will not attempt to follow him through the cold blooded +murder, by the mob of Missouri, of Mormon men and children, the +violation of females, the destroying of property, the burning of +houses, etc. + +"In vain may the press in Missouri protest against these +representations. In vain may we declare that Rigdon and his +followers were doing injustice, misrepresenting and slandering our +people, their institutions and officers, etc., the public abroad +will judge us by the course of our Legislature. We have made our +bed and must lie down on it. + +"A friend, residing in Lafayette County, a few days since called +our attention to reports in circulation in New York seriously +affecting the character of the State, growing out of this subject, +and requesting us to contradict them. Most cheerfully would we +undertake the task, but we know it is hopeless." + +The following is from the New York _Sun_. After giving +some extracts from St. Louis papers, showing the outrages of the +people of Missouri against the Mormons, the editor proceeds thus: + +"That Captain Bogart must be very much like a blackguard and a +coward, if he is not a decided candidate for both titles. He was +one of those who started the horrible stories of the 'cutting up of +Missourians, fifty at a hatch, by the Mormons.' Probably he ran +away from his company, and imagined the horrible stories he +carried. The shooting down of a flag staff bearing a flag of truce +is characteristic of the bravery of a coward, when backed by 3,000 +men against 700. + +"They must have a primitive mode of administering justice in +Missouri. These Mormons are as much citizens as the others, and +yet, without trial, upon the _ex parte_ testimony of the +persons who had provoked the Mormons to retaliation, the Governor +issues orders, if we understand the case, for the expulsion of the +Mormons from the State of Missouri. + +"The Emperor of Russia, the Shah of Persia, or the Sultan of +Turkey could not embrace in his own person more legislative, +judicial and executive power than is here assumed. Legislative, in +the enactment and promulgation of an edict of banishment. +Judicial--extra judicial--in sentencing them to banishment under +it. Executive, in summoning the force of the State to put in force +his own judgment upon his own edict. Well done, Governor Boggs! + +"We are sorry to hear of the massacre of the Mormons by the +armed mob; however, this violence, being the natural promptings of +infuriated men, is positively less culpable than the cool ignorance +and impudent, illegal assumption of the Governor of Missouri." + +From the Quincy (Ill.) _Argus_, March 16, 1839: + +"We give in today's paper the details of the recent bloody +tragedy acted in Missouri--the details of a scene of terror and +blood unparalleled in the annals of modern, and, under the +circumstances of the case, in ancient history; a tragedy of so deep +and fearful, and absorbing interest that the very life blood of the +heart is chilled at the simple contemplation. We are prompted to +ask ourselves if it be really _true_ that we are living in +an enlightened, a humane and civilized age, in an age and quarter +of the world boasting of its progress in everything good and great, +honorable, virtuous and high minded; in a country, of which, as +American citizens, we could ask whether we are living under a +Constitution and laws, or have not rather returned to the ruthless +times of the stern Atilla--to the times of the fiery Hun--when the +sword and flame ravaged the fair fields of Italy and Europe, and +the darkest passions held full revel in all the revolting scenes of +unchecked brutality and unbridled desire? + +"We have no language sufficiently strong for the expression of +our indignation and shame at the recent transaction in a sister +state, and that state _Missouri_, a state of which we had +long been proud, alike for her men and history, but now so +_fallen_, that we could wish her star stricken out from the +bright constellation of the Union. We say we know of no language +sufficiently strong for the expression of our shame and abhorrence +of her recent conduct. She has written her own character in letters +of blood, and stained it by acts of merciless cruelty and brutality +that the waters of ages cannot efface. It will be observed that an +organized mob, aided by many of the civil and military officers of +Missouri, with Governor Boggs at their head, have been the +prominent actors in this business, incited too, it appears, against +the Mormons by political hatred, and by the additional motives of +plunder and revenge. They have but too well put in execution their +threats of extermination and expulsion, and fully wreaked their +vengeance on a body of industrious and enterprising men, who had +never wronged or wished to wrong them, but, on the contrary, had +ever comported themselves as good and honest citizens, living under +the laws and having the same rights with themselves, _to the +sacred immunities of life, liberty and property._" + +"PUBLIC MEETING: +_"Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1839_, 6 P.M. + +"The members of the Democratic Association, and the citizens of +Quincy generally, assembled in the court house, to take into +consideration the state and condition of the people called 'The +Latter-day Saints,' and organized the meeting by appointing Gen. +Leach, chairman, and James D. Morgan, secretary. + +"Mr. Whitney, from the committee appointed at a former meeting, +submitted the following report: + +"The select committee, to whom the subject was referred, of +inquiring into and reporting the situation of the persons who have +recently arrived from Missouri; and whether their circumstances are +such that they would need the aid of the citizens of Quincy and its +vicinity, to be guided by what they might deem the principles of an +expanded benevolence, have attended to the duties assigned them, +and have concluded on the following: + +REPORT: + +"The committee believe that their duties at this time and on +this occasion, are all included within the limits of an expanded +benevolence and humanity, and which are guided by that charity +which 'never faileth.' From the facts already disclosed, +independent of the statement furnished by the committee, they feel +it their duty to recommend to this association that they adopt the +following resolutions: + +"_Resolved_, That the strangers recently arrived here +from the state of Missouri, known by the name of The Latter-day +Saints, are entitled to our sympathy and kindest regard; and that +we recommend to the citizens of Quincy to extend to them all the +kindness in their power to bestow, as to persons who are in +affliction. * * * + +"_Resolved_, That the committee last aforesaid be +instructed to use their utmost endeavors to obtain employment for +all these people who are able and willing to labor; and also to +afford them all needful, suitable and proper encouragement. * * * + +"All of which is submitted. + +"J. W. WHITNEY, _Chairman_. + +"QUINCY, _February 27, 1839_. + +"Mr. Rigdon then made a statement of the wrongs received by +Mormons from a portion of the people of Missouri, and of their +present suffering condition. + +"On motion of Mr. Bushnell the report and resolutions were laid +upon the table till to-morrow evening. + +"On motion of Mr. Bushnell, the meeting adjourned to meet at +this place on tomorrow evening at seven o'clock." + +"Thursday evening, Feb. 28. + +"Met, pursuant to adjournment. + +"The meeting was called to order by the chairman. + +"On motion of Mr. Morris, a committee of three was appointed to +take up a collection; Messrs. J. T. Holmes, Whitney and Morris were +appointed. + +"The committee subsequently reported that $48.25 cents had been +collected. + +"On motion the amount was paid over to the committee on behalf +of the Mormons. + +"On motion of Mr. Holmes, a committee of three, consisting of S. +Holmes, Bushnell and Morris, was appointed to draw up subscription +papers and circulate them among the citizens, for the purpose of +receiving contributions in clothing and provisions. + +"On motion, six were added to that committee. + +"On motion of J. T. Holmes, J. D. Morgan was appointed a +committee to wait on the Quincy Grays, for the purpose of receiving +subscriptions. + +"Mr. Morgan subsequently reported that $20 had been subscribed, +by that company. + +"The following resolutions were then offered by J. T. Holmes: + +"_Resolved_, That we regard the rights of conscience as +natural and inalienable, and the most sacred guaranteed by the +Constitution of our free Government. + +"_Resolved_, That we regard the acts of all mobs as +flagrant violations of law, and those who compose them individually +responsible, both to the laws of God and man, for every depredation +committed upon the property, rights, or life of any citizen. + +"_Resolved_, That the inhabitants upon the western +frontier of the state of Missouri, in their late persecutions of +the class of people denominated Mormons, have violated the sacred +rights of conscience, and every law of justice and humanity. + +"_Resolved_, That the Governor of Missouri in refusing +protection to this class of people, when pressed upon by a +heartless mob, and turning upon them a band of unprincipled +militia, with orders encouraging their extermination, has brought a +lasting disgrace upon the State over which he presides. + +"The resolutions were supported in a spirited manner by Messrs. +Holmes, Morris and Whitney. + +"On motion, the resolutions were adopted. + +"On motion, the meeting then adjourned. + +"SAMUEL LEACH, _Chairman_. + + "J. D. MORGAN, _Secretary_." + +From the New York _Commercial Advertiser_. + +"MEETING IN BEHALF OF THE MORMONS. + +"Last evening, pursuant to public notice, a large meeting +assembled at National Hall, to listen to the recital of the wrongs +and sufferings of the Mormons, and to devise means for the relief +of their women and children. + +"The meeting was organized by placing Mr. Charles King in the +chair, and Mr. Marcus Spring as Secretary. The Chairman having +briefly stated the object of the meeting, and read the circular +letter signed by Governor Carlin, of Illinois; Senator Young, from +that State, and other residents, vouching for the trustworthiness +of Mr. Green, who is deputed by this people to make their case +known to the country, the Chairman introduced Mr. Green to the +meeting. + +"Mr. Green proceeded to give a plain, unadorned, and, as is +believed, unexaggerated narrative of the settlement of the Mormons +in Missouri, of the constant outrages to which they were subjected, +and the series of persecutions which were only ended by their +forcible expulsion from the State; and the surrender, without +compensation, of the lands and houses they had acquired by their +own money, or built with their own hands. + +"Mr. Green was himself an actor and witness in many of the +scenes he described, and he related them without any attempt at +ornament or appeal to passion. + +"When Mr. Green took his seat, Joseph Blunt, Esq., addressed the +meeting with ability and great effect, and offered the resolutions +that will be found below. He was eloquently followed and seconded +by Hiram Ketchum, Esq. The resolutions were further supported by +several speakers, among whom were Dr. D. M. Reese and W. L. Stone, +Esq.; when the question was taken on them separately, and they were +carried almost without a dissenting voice. + +"Upon a suggestion from the Chair, that as the wants of the +sufferers were urgent, good might arise from some immediate +contributions--a mechanic in his working jacket stood up, saying +that having often witnessed the good effects of example on such +occasions, he proposed, although, as he added, the sum he could +give was humble, if nine others would do likewise, to give five +dollars, and immediately walked up to the table and deposited the +money. The challenge was accepted by several others, and a sum +exceeding fifty dollars was collected on the spot. + +"The meeting then adjourned, it being understood that, the +committee named to receive and distribute contributions would at +once enter upon their duties. + +"_Resolved_, That as Americans, we have heard with shame +and indignation the narrative given by Mr. Green of the +persecutions, sufferings and lawless violence of which a body of +American citizens have been the subjects and the victims, for no +other apparent cause than that without hinderance to others, or +violation of any law of the land, they had acted upon the right +guaranteed them by the Constitution of the United States of a free +exercise of religion. + +"_Resolved_, That, without meaning to express any opinion +whatever as to the religious views or practices of the Mormons as a +sect, we condemn and desire to bear our testimony against mob law, +lynch law and all other forms of outrage and violence where an +excited populace becomes at once jury, judge and executioner. + +"_Resolved_, That the Mormons, as wronged, persecuted, +exiled and defrauded Americans, are entitled to the sympathy and +support of their countrymen; and that especially in behalf of the +women and children, driven from their homes at the point of the +bayonet, we appeal to the known benevolence of our fellow citizens +at large for pecuniary aid. + +"_Resolved_, That the Chairman and Secretary be a +committee, with power to add to their numbers, to obtain +subscriptions in aid of the women and children of the Mormons; such +subscriptions to be applied after due investigation by the +committee themselves. + +"_Resolved_, That these resolutions be signed by the +Chairman and Secretary, and published in the newspapers. + +"CHARLES KING, _Chairman_. + + "MARCUS SPRING, _Secretary_." + +From the foregoing numerous extracts the public can see that my +horrible tale of woe is not a fiction; but an awful reality. I +might fill a volume with similar quotations from the public +journals of every part of the Union, but I forbear, with the full +conviction that the foregoing are sufficient to show that an +impartial public, who stand entirely unconnected with our Society, +as religionists, bear out my narrative in its awful tale of woe and +suffering; and I now submit the subject to the perusal of all +people, willing to meet my statements in the foregoing at the bar +of Him who knows all secret things, and who judges righteously. + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. +------------------------ + +Congratulations:--Remove to Nauvoo:--Meet with President Smith +and Other Fellow Sufferers:--President Smith's Reproof for the +Elders:--Toils:--Start for England:--Arrival in Detroit:--Visit my +Brother Anson and Parents:--Arrive in New York:--Visit Philadelphia +and Washington:--Meet President Smith:--Great Meeting:--Preaching +by S. Rigdon and President Smith:--Success in New York:--Farewell +Song:--Sail for England:--Reflections. + +Being once more at liberty, and in the enjoyment of the society +of family and friends, I spent a few days in rest and refreshment, +and in receiving the congratulations of my friends and fellow +citizens. My house was thronged from day to day, not only with my +old acquaintances and fellow exiles, but with strangers of every +sect and party, all anxious to see a martyr, as it were, who had +been so wonderfully and miraculously delivered from bondage and +death in their most terrible forms. + +After a few days spent in this way, we removed to Nauvoo, a new +town, about fifty miles above Quincy. Here lived President Joseph +Smith and many of the refugees who had survived the storm of +persecution in Missouri. It had been already appointed as a +gathering place for the scattered Saints, and many families were on +the ground, living in the open air, or under the shade of trees, +tents, wagons, etc, while others occupied a few old buildings, +which they had purchased or rented. Others, again, were living in +some old log buildings on the opposite side of the Mississippi, at +a place called Montrose, and which had formerly served the purpose +of barracks for soldiers. + +The hardships and exposures consequent on the persecutions, +caused a general sickness. Here and there, and in every place, a +majority of the people were prostrated with malignant fevers, +agues, etc. + +When we first arrived we lived in the open air, with out any +other shelter whatever. Here I met brother Joseph Smith, from whom +I had been separated since the close of the mock trial in Richmond +the year previous. Neither of us could refrain from tears as we +embraced each other once more as free men. We felt like shouting +hosannah in the highest, and giving glory to that God who had +delivered us in fulfilment of His word to His servant Joseph the +previous autumn, when we were being carried into captivity in +Jackson County, Missouri. He blessed me with a warmth of sympathy +and brotherly kindness which I shall never forget. Here also I met +with Hyrum Smith and many others of my fellow prisoners with a glow +of mutual joy and satisfaction which language will never reveal. +Father and Mother Smith, the parents of our Prophet and President, +were also overwhelmed with tears of joy and congratulation; they +wept like children as they took me by the hand; but, O, how +different from the tears of bitter sorrow which were pouring down +their cheeks as they gave us the parting hand in Far West, and saw +us dragged away by fiends in human form. + +After the gush of feelings consequent on our happy meeting had +subsided, I accompanied Joseph Smith over the Mississippi in a +skiff to visit some friends in Montrose. Here many were lying sick +and at the point of death. Among these was my old friend and fellow +servant, Elijah Fordham, who had been with me in that extraordinary +work in New York City in 1837. He was now in the last stage of a +deadly fever. He lay prostrate and nearly speechless, with his feet +poulticed; his eyes were sunk in their sockets; his flesh was gone; +the paleness of death was upon him; and he was hardly to be +distinguished from a corpse. His wife was weeping over him, and +preparing clothes for his burial. + +Brother Joseph took him by the hand, and in a voice and energy +which would seemingly have raised the dead, he cried: "BROTHER +FORDHAM, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, ARISE AND WALK." It was a +voice which could be heard from house to house and nearly through +the neighborhood. It was like the roaring of a lion, or the heavy +thunderbolt. Brother Fordham leaped from his dying bed in an +instant, shook the poultices and bandages from his feet, put on his +clothes so quick that none got a chance to assist him, and taking a +cup of tea and a little refreshment, he walked with us from house +to house visiting other sick beds, and joining in prayer and +ministrations for them, while the people followed us, and with joy +and amazement gave glory to God. Several more were called up in a +similar manner and were healed. + +Brother Joseph, while in the Spirit, rebuked the Elders who +would continue to lay hands on the sick from day to day without the +power to heal them. Said he: "It is time that such things ended. +_Let the Elders either obtain the power of God to heal the sick +or let them cease to minister the forms without the power_." + +After these things I joined with brother Kimball in purchasing +some land in the contemplated city of Nauvoo, which was then a +wilderness and both of us went to work together with our own hands +to build us a log house each. After toiling a few days in this +manner I sold out my improvement and prepared for a mission to +England, as our quorum were now appointed to visit that country. + +On the 29th of August, 1839, I took leave of my friends in +Nauvoo and started for a foreign land. I was accompanied by my wife +and three children (having obtained my son Parley from his nurse, +Mrs. Allen), and Elders Orson Pratt and Hiram Clark. We journeyed +in our own private carriage, drawn by two horses. Our route lay +through the wild and but partially inhabited countries of Illinois, +Indiana and Michigan, for about five hundred and eighty miles, to +Detroit, the capital of the State of Michigan, situated at the head +of Lake Erie. + +The first day we rode seventeen miles through a beautiful plain, +or prairie. Our route was a most delightful one. + +On all sides, as we turned our eyes, we beheld a boundless field +of grass and flowers, with here and there a small grove of timber; +the landscape was level or diversified with gentle swells; the +surface smooth as a garden; the soil extremely rich; and, although +there was no road marked by art, yet our carriage rolled as +smoothly and easily as if it had been on a railway. Most of this +delightful prairie was without inhabitants, and could, probably, +have been purchased for one dollar and a quarter per acre. + +It is well calculated for the purposes of agriculture, producing +in richest profusion, when cultivated, almost every kind of grain +and grass, and every vegetable suited for the climate. + +After travelling seventeen miles through this delightful +scenery, we arrived in Carthage, a flourishing village. Here we +stopped for the night with a member of our Society, who received us +kindly; and at evening preached in a large court room to an +attentive audience. Next day we rode some twenty-five miles through +a similar country, and at evening arrived at a fine village called +Macomb. Here we were kindly entertained over Sabbath by a brother +Miller. We preached in the court house. + +My brother Orson and brother Clark went still ahead about thirty +miles, where they preached on Sunday. On Monday morning we started +and rode thirty miles through a delightful country. + +Sometimes we were in the midst of flourishing farms and villas, +and sometimes the wild deer would startle from their grazing at our +approach, and go bounding over the wild expanse till lost in the +distance. + +In the evening we arrived at the house of my brother, Wm. Pratt, +where we found brothers Orson Pratt and Clark. We preached at a +neighboring house, which was crowded by an attentive congregation. +Next morning we rode eight miles to Canton, and found some Saints +who persuaded us to stay till morning. We consented; and in the +evening preached to the people who crowded the house and yard, and +who seemed very anxious to hear more. + +Continuing our journey we came next day to Peoria, thirty miles; +a flourishing town on the Illinois River. Here we tarried with one +of the members of the Church, and were kindly entertained. Next day +made thirty miles, and, providentially, stopped for the night at +the house of the only member of our Society in that region. When he +learned who we were he welcomed us, and finally prevailed upon us +to stay two or three days, after which we blessed him and his +household and departed. + +We then journeyed about thirty-three miles every day for four +weeks, and at length found ourselves within part of a day's journey +of Detroit. Here we found several small branches of the Church; and +being worn down with our journey, we tarried with them six days, +during which we ministered the gospel. Brother O. Pratt, in +particular, preached in several towns to large and attentive +audiences. Taking leave of the brethren, we rode to Detroit, where +I found my brother Anson Pratt and family; whom I had not seen for +many years, and also my aged father and mother, who were now living +with him. My father was now about seventy years of age, and was on +his death bed with a heavy fever. We tarried with them two weeks; +during which I preached in the City Hall at Detroit, and +superintended some printing and publishing matters. + +While here we sold our horses and carriage, and at length took +leave of our kindred and a last farewell of our sick father, and +took passage on a steamboat down Lake Erie to Buffalo; distance +three hundred miles. + +Previous to our departure from Detroit brothers O. Pratt and +Clark took leave of us, and passed down the lake into Ohio; +intending to meet us again at New York. + +After landing safe in Buffalo, we took the Erie Canal and +railroad to Albany--distance three hundred and fifty miles; thence +to New York by steamer down the Hudson River--distance one hundred +and fifty miles. Here we arrived in safety after a journey of about +one thousand four hundred miles. We were received by the Saints in +New York almost as one of the old saints risen from the dead. I had +been absent nearly two years during which time I had lain eight +months in prison. Brother Adison Everett, a High Priest of the +Church in that city and one of the first members I had baptized +there, related to me that the Church in that city were assembled in +prayer for me on the evening of the 4th of July previous, that I +might be delivered from prison and from my enemies in Missouri. +When, on a sudden, the spirit of prophecy fell on him, and he arose +and declared to the Church that they might cease their prayers on +that subject; "For," said he, "_on this moment brother Parley +goes at liberty_." + +We found the Church in New York strong in the faith, and +rejoicing in the truth. They had become numerous in the city and in +several parts of the country around. + +In this city I resided with my family some six months, during +which I preached most of the time in the city, and also +superintended the printing and publishing of several of our books. +I also performed occasional missions in the country; I visited Long +Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia and the City of Washington. In the +latter place I published an address in a printed circular to each +member of Congress, and to the President of the United States and +his Cabinet, setting forth our principles in plainness, and bearing +testimony of the truth; while, at the same time, our petitions for +redress were pending before them--President Joseph Smith and others +having visited them in person, with an earnest appeal for +investigation and redress of our grievances in Missouri. In +Philadelphia I had the happiness of once more meeting with +President Smith, and of spending several days with him and others, +and with the Saints in that city and vicinity. + +During these interviews he taught me many great and glorious +principles concerning God and the heavenly order of eternity. It +was at this time that I received from him the first idea of eternal +family organization, and the eternal union of the sexes in those +expressibly endearing relationships which none but the highly +intellectual, the refined and pure in heart, know how to prize, and +which are at the very foundation of everything worthy to be called +happiness. + +Till then I had learned to esteem kindred affections and +sympathies as pertaining solely to this transitory state, as +something from which the heart must be entirely weaned, in order to +be fitted for its heavenly state. + +It was Joseph Smith who taught me how to prize the endearing +relationships of father and mother, husband and wife; of brother +and sister, son and daughter. + +It was from him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might +be secured to me for time and all eternity; and that the refined +sympathies and affections which endeared us to each other emanated +from the fountain of divine eternal love. It was from him that I +learned that we might cultivate these affections, and grow and +increase in the same to all eternity; while the result of our +endless union would be an offspring as numerous as the stars of +heaven, or the sands of the sea shore. + +It was from him that I learned the true dignity and destiny of a +son of God, clothed with an eternal priesthood, as the patriarch +and sovereign of his countless offspring. It was from him that I +learned that the highest dignity of womanhood was, to stand as a +queen and priestess to her husband, and to reign for ever and ever +as the queen mother of her numerous and still increasing offspring. + +I had loved before, but I knew not why. But now I loved--with a +pureness--an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling, which would +lift my soul from the transitory things of this grovelling sphere +and expand it as the ocean. I felt that God was my Heavenly Father +indeed; that Jesus was my brother, and that the wife of my bosom +was an immortal, eternal companion; a kind ministering angel, given +to me as a comfort, and a crown of glory for ever and ever. In +short, I could now love with the spirit and with the understanding +also. + +Yet, at that time, my dearly beloved brother, Joseph Smith, had +barely touched a single key; had merely lifted a corner of the veil +and given me a single glance into eternity. + +While visiting with brother Joseph in Philadelphia, a very large +church was opened for him to preach in, and about three thousand +people assembled to hear him. Brother Rigdon spoke first, and dwelt +on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible. When he was +through, brother Joseph arose like a lion about to roar; and being +full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of +the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had +enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon, and +translated them by the gift and power of God. He commenced by +saying: "If nobody else had the courage to testify of so glorious a +message from Heaven, and of the finding of so glorious a record, he +felt to do it in justice to the people, and leave the event with +God." + +The entire congregation was astounded; electrified, as it were, +and overwhelmed with the sense of the truth and power by which he +spoke, and the wonders which he related. A lasting impression was +made; many souls were gathered into the fold. And I bear witness, +that he, by his faithful and powerful testimony, cleared his +garments of their blood. Multitudes were baptized in Philadelphia +and in the regions around; while, at the same time, branches were +springing up in Pennsylvania, in Jersey, and in various directions. + +Among the Elders who were instrumental in doing a good work in +those regions, I would make honorable mention of Benjamin +Winchester, of Philadelphia, since fallen from the faith; and +Lorenzo Barnes, who labored and did a great work in Chester County, +Penn., and afterwards laid down his life while on a mission in +England. + +Soon after my arrival in New York City, Elders O. Pratt and +Clark who left us at Detroit, arrived, having performed a mission +through some of Ohio and New York. Elders Turley, John Taylor, and +Wilford Woodruff, had also arrived from the West on their way to +England. Brother Clark and two Elders soon sailed for Liverpool. +Brothers Taylor, Woodruff, and Turley, sailed a few weeks +afterwards. Brother O. Pratt labored in the country around New York +with good success. + +Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, and R. +Hedlock, also arrived in New York City late in the winter, after +performing a long and important journey and mission through the +States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and New York. + +Finding ourselves together once more, after all our trials and +sufferings, we rejoiced exceedingly and praised God for all His +mercies to us. During the few days that we were together in New +York we held many precious meetings in which the Saints were filled +with joy, and the people more and more convinced of the truth of +our message. Near forty persons were baptized and added to the +Church in that city during the few days of our brethren's stay +there. + +We held a general Conference, in the "Columbian Hall," previous +to our departure, in which the following song, composed by myself, +was written expressly for that occasion and sung by those present: + + When shall we all meet again? + When shall we our rest obtain? + When our pilgrimage be o'er-- + Parting sighs be known no more; + When Mount Zion we regain, + There may we all meet again, + + We to foreign climes repair; + Truth, the message which we bear; + Truth, which angels oft have borne; + Truth to comfort those who mourn. + Truth eternal will remain, + On its rock we'll meet again. + + Now the bright and morning star + Spreads its glorious light afar, + Kindles up the rising dawn + Of that bright Millennial morn; + When the Saints shall rise and reign, + Then may we all meet again. + + When the sons of Israel come, + When they build Jerusalem; + When the house of God is reared, + And Messiah's way prepared; + When from Heaven he comes to reign, + In the clouds we'll meet again. + + When the earth is cleansed by fire; + When the wicked's hopes expire; + When in cold oblivion's shade, + Proud oppressors all are laid; + Long will Zion's Mount remain, + There we all may meet again. + +On the 9th of March, 1840, we embarked on board the ship +"Patrick Henry," for Liverpool, England. We were accompanied to the +water by my family, and by scores of the congregation, of both +sexes. We bade them farewell amid many tears, and taking a little +boat were soon on board ship--which lay at anchor a short distance +from the shore. + +From there we could still see the crowd of our friends on the +shore, while a wave of their hats and handkerchiefs in the air bid +us a last adieu. At twelve o'clock we were under way, being towed +by a steamer for some distance until the sails were all unfurled +before a fair breeze. The steamer now bade us farewell with three +cheers, and we found ourselves fairly under way on the broad +expanse of ocean. The sun was soon setting behind a distant +promontory, which looked like a dark cloud on the bosom of the +ocean: while to the north the distant shores of Long Island were +still in view. + +Next morning we found ourselves tossing upon a rough sea before +the wind with no land in sight. We had a rough passage of +twenty-eight days, and on the sixth of April landed in Liverpool, +England. Brother Kimball had been there before; but it was the +first time that the other brethren and myself had set our feet on +the shores of the old world. + +We soon found brother Taylor, who had raised the standard of +truth in Liverpool, and had already baptized about thirty. From him +we learned that all those who had sailed before us had arrived in +safety, and had commenced their missions in various parts with good +success. We soon called a general Conference in Preston, where we +were enabled to rejoice together with most of our brethren in the +ministry. + +Thus, through the mercy of God, we have been enabled to fulfil +His commands thus far, and have accomplished a journey of five +thousand miles under circumstances which would have discouraged any +except such as were upheld by the arm of Jehovah. + +When we take into consideration the persecution, imprisonment, and +banishment, together with the robbing and plundering which has been +inflicted upon our people in the West, and the consequent sickness, +poverty, and distress to which ourselves, families and friends were +reduced, previous to our undertaking this mission--when we consider +that it has been opposed by persecution, sword, flame, dungeons, +chains, sickness, hunger, thirst, poverty, by death and hell, by men +and devils, and all the combined powers of darkness--it would have been +no marvel, if, like Paul, we had failed to accomplish the mission at +present, and had addressed an epistle to the Church in England, saying, +"We would have come unto you once and again, but Satan hindered us." + +But this could not take place with us, as it did with Paul, +because our mission to Europe was by express command of the +Almighty, and therefore it had to be accomplished in spite of men +and devils. + +One might suppose, from the opposition that it met with, that +Satan was aware that if once accomplished, it would result in the +ultimate overthrow of his kingdom, and the enlargement of the +kingdom of God--which may God grant for Christ's sake. + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. +------------------------ + +General Conference at Preston, England:--Publishing +Committee:--Editorial Appointment:--First Number of the "Millennial +Star" Issued:--My own Ministry in Manchester and Vicinity:--New Hymn +Book:--Action of Congress on the Missouri Tragedies. + +On the 15th of April, 1840, a general conference was convened in +the "Temperance Hall," Preston, Lancashire, in which thirty-three +branches of the Church were represented, including a total of near +two thousand members. + +In this conference, Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and +myself were appointed a publishing committee for the Church. I was +also appointed editor and publisher of a monthly periodical, to be +called the _Millennial Star_. + +While the residue of the committee travelled in the ministry, I +repaired to Manchester and commenced preparing to fulfill my new +appointments. + +The first number of the _Star_ was issued in May. The +following hymn was written by myself expressly for the introduction +of this periodical, and originally appeared on its cover: + + The morning breaks, the shadows flee; + Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled! + The dawning of a brighter day + Majestic rises on the world. + The clouds of error disappear + Before the rays of truth divine; + The glory, bursting from afar, + Wide o'er the nations soon will shine. + The Gentile fullness now comes in, + And Israel's blessings are at hand; + Lo! Judah's remnant, cleans'd from sin, + Shall in their promised Canaan stand. + Jehovah speaks! Let earth give ear, + And Gentile nations turn and live! + His mighty arm is making bare, + His covenant people to receive. + Angels from heaven, and truth from earth + Have met, and both have record born; + Thus Zion's light is bursting forth, + To bring her ransomed children home. + +While engaged in editing and publishing the _Star_ I also +preached the gospel continually to vast congregations in and about +Manchester, and the spirit of joy, and faith and gladness was +greatly increased, and the number of the Saints was multiplied. I +also assisted my brethren in selecting, compiling and publishing a +hymn book. In this work was contained nearly fifty of my original +hymns and songs, composed expressly for the book, and most of them +written during the press of duties which then crowded upon me. + +In the third number of the _Star_, page 65, is published +the final action of the Congress of the United States, on the +subject of the outrages committed by the State of Missouri, upon +the Church of the Saints. It reads as follows: + +"TWENTY SIXTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION. + +"In Senate of the United States, March 4, 1840. Submitted, laid +on the table, and ordered to be printed. + +"Mr. Wall made the following report: + +"The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the +Memorial of a Delegation of the Latter-day Saints, report: + +"The petition of the memorialists sets forth, in substance, that +a portion of their sect commenced a settlement in the County of +Jackson, in the State of Missouri, in the summer of 1831; that they +bought lands, built houses, erected churches and established their +homes, and engaged in all the various occupations of life; that +they were expelled from that county in 1833 by a mob, under +circumstances of great outrage, cruelty and oppression, and against +all law, and without any offence committed on their part; and to +the destruction of property to the amount of one hundred and twenty +thousand dollars; that the society thus expelled amounted to about +twelve thousand souls; that no compensation was ever made for the +destruction of their property in Jackson County; that after their +expulsion from Jackson, they settled in Clay County, on the +opposite side of the Missouri River, where they purchased lands, +and entered others at the land office, where they resided peaceably +for three years, engaged in cultivation and other useful and active +employments, when the mob again threatened their peace, lives and +property, and they became alarmed, and finally made a treaty with +the citizens of Clay County, that they should purchase their lands, +and the Saints should remove, which was complied with on their +part, and the Saints removed to the County of Caldwell, where they +took up their abode, and reestablished their settlement, not +without having pecuniary losses and other inconveniences; that the +citizens of Clay County never paid them for their lands, except for +a small part. + +"They remained in Caldwell from 1836 until the fall of 1838; +and, during that time, had acquired by purchase from the +government, the settlers and pre-emptionists, almost all the lands +in the County of Caldwell, and a portion of the lands in Daviess +and Carroll Counties--the former county being almost entirely +settled by the Saints, and they were rapidly filling up the two +latter counties. + +"Those counties, where the Saints first commenced their +settlements, were for the most part wild and uncultivated, and they +had converted them into large and well improved farms, well +stocked. + +"Lands had risen in value to ten, and even twenty-five dollars +per acre; and those counties were rapidly advancing in cultivation +and wealth. + +"That in August, 1838, a riot commenced, growing out of an +attempt of a Saint to vote, which resulted in creating great +excitement, and the perpetration of many scenes of lawless outrage, +which are set forth in the petition. That they were finally +compelled to fly from those counties, and on the 11th of October, +1838, they sought safety by that means, with their families, +leaving many of their effects behind. That they had previously +applied to the constituted authorities of Missouri for protection, +but in vain. + +"They allege that they were pursued by the mob, that conflicts +ensued, deaths occurred on each side; and, finally, a force was +organized under the authority of the Governor of the State of +Missouri, with orders to drive the Saints from the State, or to +exterminate them. The Saints thereupon determined to make no +further resistance; but to submit themselves to the authorities of +the State. Several of the Saints were arrested and imprisoned, on a +charge of treason against the State; and the rest, amounting to +about fifteen thousand souls, fled into other States principally in +Illinois, where they now reside. + +"The petition is drawn up at great length, and sets forth with +feeling and eloquence the wrongs of which they complain; justifies +their own conduct, and aggravates that of those whom they call +their persecutors; and concludes by saying that they see no +redress, unless it is obtained of the Congress of the United +States, to whom they make their solemn, last appeal, as American +citizens, as Christians, and as men; to which decision they say +they will submit. + +"The committee has examined the case presented by the petition, +and heard the views urged by their agent with care and attention; +and, after full consideration, unanimously concur in the opinion, +that the case presented for their investigation, is not such a one +as will justify or authorize any interposition by this government. + +"The wrongs complained of are not alleged to have been committed +by any of the officers of the United States, or under the authority +of its government, in any manner whatever. The allegations in the +petition relate to the acts of the citizens, and inhabitants, and +authorities of the State of Missouri, of which State the +petitioners were, at the time, citizens or inhabitants. The +grievances complained of in the petition are alleged to have been +done within the territory of the State of Missouri. The committee, +under these circumstances, have not considered themselves justified +in enquiring into the truth or falsehood of the facts charged in +the petition. If they are true, the petitioners must seek relief in +the courts of judicature of the State of Missouri; or of the United +States, which has the appropriate jurisdiction to administer full +and adequate redress for the wrongs complained of; and, doubtless, +will do so fairly and impartially; or the petitioners may, if they +see proper, apply to the justice and magnanimity of the State of +Missouri; an appeal which the committee feels justified in +believing will never be made in vain by the injured or oppressed. +It can never be presumed that a State either wants the power, or +lacks the disposition, to redress the wrongs of its own citizens, +committed within her own territory; whether they proceed from the +lawless acts of her officers, or any other persons. + +"The committee therefore reports, that they recommend the +passage of the following resolution: + +"_Resolved_, That the committee on the Judiciary be +discharged from the further consideration of the memorial in this +case; and that the memorialists have leave to withdraw the papers +which accompany their memorial." + +The action of the general government on this momentous subject, +establishes the precedent that there is no power in the government to +carry out the principles of its own Constitution. Fifteen thousand +citizens of the United States can be murdered, robbed, plundered, +driven from their lands, or disinherited, while the Constitution +guarantees to them liberty and protection, _and yet there is no power +to protect or reinstate them_. Congress only mocks them by referring +them to their murderers for redress. It seems almost superfluous to +say that the Saints appealed to a higher tribunal--even the throne +of God, where the case is yet pending; and that the Congress of the +United States is charged with being accessory to these highest crimes +known to the laws of God and man. They hold in fellowship this guilty +partner--Missouri--after knowing her to be a wholesale murderer and +land pirate. + +As the case is yet pending before the court of Heaven, we will +drop the subject and proceed with our own history. + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. +------------------------ + +General Conference at Manchester:-- +Ordinations and Appointments:--Return to New York:--Meet with +my Family:--Visit to the State of Maine:--A Dream and its +Fulfilment:--Embark Again for England:--Consequence of Looking +Back:--Safe Arrival in England:--Resume the Editorial Duties:-- +Reflections. + +On the 6th of July, 1840, a general conference was convened at +Manchester, in the "Carpenter's Hall," a building which would seat +near five thousand people. + +There were present of the Twelve Apostles: Brigham Young, H. C. +Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, Willard Richards, George A. +Smith and myself. Of other officers: High Priests, 5; Elders, 19; +Priests, 15; Teachers, 11; and Deacons, 3. + +At this conference Parley P. Pratt was unanimously chosen +President; and William Clayton, Clerk. + +Two thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven members were +represented, including 254 officers. + +The publishing committee had just completed the new hymn book, +which was presented to the conference, and accepted by them by +unanimous vote. + +Three persons were then ordained to the high priesthood, viz.: +Thomas Kington, Alfred Cordon and Thomas Smith; also John +Albertson, John Blezord, William Berry, John Sanders, John +Parkinson, James Worsley, and John Allen were ordained elders; +seven individuals were ordained to the lesser Priesthood. + +Many elders were also selected and appointed to labor in the +ministry in various parts. There was a variety of business +transacted, and much instruction given by Brigham Young and others, +after which, conference was adjourned to the 6th of October, at the +same place. + +During this conference I received a letter from my family in New +York, informing me that they were dangerously ill of scarlet fever. +I, therefore, by advice of the other members of the quorum, +concluded to cross the ocean once more and bring them to England, +where I was likely to remain for several years rather in a +stationary position as an editor and publisher. I accordingly +repaired immediately to Liverpool and embarked for New York. I was +thirty-seven days confined on this dreary passage, without any +friends or associates who cared for me or the cause of truth. + +I then landed in New York, found my wife and children recovered +from their sickness, for which I felt truly thankful. They were +agreeably surprised at seeing me so soon and so unexpectedly, and +so were the Saints in that city and vicinity. After several joyful +meetings among them, I went to the State of Maine on a visit with +my wife and children to her parents and kindred. They lived in +Bethel, Oxford County, about sixty miles from Portland, the seaport +where we landed. The day before our arrival my wife's sister, a +Mrs. Bean, prophesied to her husband that Brother Pratt and family +would arrive there the next evening, and she actually changed the +bedding and prepared the best room for our reception, as if she had +received notice of our coming. At this her husband and friends +laughed in derision; "for," said they, "our brother-in-law is in +England and his family in New York; how, then, will he be here +to-night?" But she still persisted, and made ready the room and all +things for our reception, assuring them that I would arrive that +night with my family. + +Night came, the deep shades of evening gathered around, a dark +and gloomy night set in, and still no signs of us. They still +laughed her to scorn for her superstition, and she still persisted +in her anticipations of our momentary arrival. At length, as they +were about to retire to rest, we knocked at the door and were +joyfully received--it being the first time that any of my wife's +kindred there had seen my face. + +Mrs. Bean had a dream a few days previous to our arrival, in +which she dreamed that I came to her and gave her a key to the +Bible. As she related the dream to me, I presented her with my +"Voice of Warning." It seemed to her and her husband as they read +it as if it was indeed a key to the doctrine and prophecies of the +Holy Scriptures. They rejoiced with exceeding joy, and promised to +be baptized, and to gather to Nauvoo if God would only open their +way to sell their farm. + +My father-in-law, Aaron Frost, and household, and all our +kindred and many others in that region, received me with joy and +hospitality, and I preached several times in their churches. + +I finally took leave of them and returned to New York, +accompanied by my wife's sister, Olive Frost, a young lady of some +twenty years of age, who accompanied us to England to help us in +the family. + +We soon embarked, and after a long and tedious passage we +arrived again in England in October, 1840. My family then consisted +of my wife and wife's sister, and my wife's daughter, Mary Ann +Stearns, and my sons, Parley and Nathan. + +I now again resumed the editorial duties in Manchester, and +assisted in the publishing department and in the presidency of the +Manchester Conference, and the general presidency of the work in +that country. The _Star_ had, during my absence, been edited +and published by Elders Young and Richards. + +My brother-in-law, Samuel Bean, soon sold out, according to his +desires, and started with his family to remove to Nauvoo. + +He arrived in Portland, ready to embark, when he heard some +lying tales about the "_Mormons_," as is usual, and being +darkened in mind he turned back and bought a farm in Maine, and +soon afterwards died without ever obeying the gospel or gathering +with the Saints. His wife and children were left as a widow and +orphans to drag out a lonely existence on a farm which was not +saleable, and without means to gather with the Saints, and without +opportunity to obey the gospel--a solemn warning to all persons not +to delay or neglect a strict and punctual obedience to their +convictions. + +On the 6th of October, a general conference convened at +Manchester, according to adjournment. + +I had hoped to land from America in time to attend it, but was +disappointed by contrary winds. + +The following members of my quorum were present, viz: Brigham +Young, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, Willard +Richards, H. C. Kimball and G. A. Smith; other officers, viz.: High +Priests, 5; Elders, 19; Priests, 28; Teachers, 4; and Deacons, 2. + +In this conference, Elder Orson Pratt was called to the chair, +and Elder George Walker chosen clerk. + +A general representation showed a great increase since the July +conference, and a spread of the work into many parts. + +Many ordinations took place; much instruction was given; and +many additional missionaries were sent out. + +In a few days after this conference, I landed in safety with my +family, and again repaired to Manchester, and resumed the editorial +duties; and, in connection with Elder Young, superintended the +publishing department. + +The October number of the _Star_ contains much cheering +news of the spread of the work in various parts of the United +States, England, Scotland and Isle of Man, and an interesting +account of Elder Orson Hyde's appointment on a mission to +Jerusalem, in connection with Elder John E. Page. + +May the Almighty speed His work, and bless the believers with +signs following, and with grace and wisdom to escape all the +judgments which await the wicked, and to stand before the coming of +the Son of Man; for Christ's sake. Amen. + +Thus closed the year 1840 with us and our labors. An eventful +year it had been to us, and to the Church of the Saints. It was the +first mission of the Twelve modern apostles, as a quorum, to a +foreign country. It had been undertaken under circumstances which +would have deterred men of a less holy and sacred calling and +responsibility. It had overcome chains and dungeons, and gloomy +cells, and perils of robbers and of death. It had triumphed over +poverty and sickness, and perils by sea and land. And it had +triumphed and been crowned with a success unparalleled, even by the +history of the ancient Apostles. + +It was the hand of God that performed it, and to his name be +ascribed honor and majesty, and power and glory, forever and ever. +Amen. + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. +------------------------ + +Visit and Ministry in Bolton:--Conduct of two +Methodist Priests:--Arrest and Trial:--Emigration:--General +Conference at Manchester:--Council of the Twelve:--Charter +the ship "Tyrean:"--"Philosophy of the Resurrection:"--Emigration +on the Ship "Chaos:"--Visit to the Isle of Man:--Visit to +Norwich:--Mob. + +On the 19th of January, 1841, I visited Bolton for the first +time; found an interesting society there consisting of about one +hundred and thirty members, including some small branches in the +vicinity. They appeared to be dwelling together in truth and love, +and zealously united in the cause of God and godliness. Their +presiding officer is an aged minister by the name of Crooks, +formerly of Stockport; through whose labors the Society there has +grown from a small handful to its present flourishing condition. +The meetings are crowded to excess, and scores of people are +pressing forward and uniting with the Church by repentance and +baptism. The Holy Ghost is poured out into their souls, and its +fruits are manifested in their gifts and blessings. + +On Wednesday evening, the 20th, I attended one of their meetings, and +had the privilege of addressing a full and attentive audience. The +subject was confined to a few scriptural observations, in which the +precepts and promises of Christ were clearly set forth, as contained in +the written word of the New Testament. These were contrasted with the +systems of Christianity as they now exist, and the difference was so +manifest that the people saw clearly that the religion of Christ was +_one thing _, and modern sectarianism another. This so exasperated some +craftsmen who were present, viz.: a Mr. James Pendlebury, professedly +a Primitive Methodist preacher, and Mr. Thomas Balsham, of the New +Connection, that they could no longer hold their peace. For while the +sermon was proceeding, the said Pendlebury arose and began speaking so +loud that the speaker paused and requested the interruption to cease; +but was not heeded, for the intruder with stentorian voice continued +to cry out, saying: "This is a new doctrine, and we cannot believe it +without miracles; here is a blind man, heal him; here is a blind man, +heal him! You have preached a new doctrine--a new doctrine, sir, and +we want the proof--we want the proof!" By this time the house was all +confusion, everyone endeavoring to act as moderator. We endeavored +from the pulpit to command silence, and expressed our surprise that +the New Testament doctrine should be a new doctrine; but we found that +it was a new doctrine to him, as was manifest in his behavior. Indeed, +the doctrines of common law and civilization were to him equally as +strange and new as the doctrine of Christ, for he still continued to +disturb the meeting. The Saints commenced singing, and finally closed +the meeting. But while this was proceeding the riot grew more and +more violent, till at length a form was broken, and some other damage +done. While the civil part of the people were retiring from the room +they were variously insulted by him and his comrades, some crying out, +"He hath a devil," some challenging to debate, and some calling for a +miracle. At length a policeman arrived and took this brave champion +into custody, and his associate, T. Balsham. + +These were handcuffed, marched away, and finally held to bail. +Next morning they had a warrant served on them for a breach of the +peace, and were brought before James Arrowsmith, Esq., Mayor, and +five magistrates. An able plea was made by Attorney John Taylor, +Esq., and a laborious attempt on the part of the prisoners to +justify themselves by the introduction of several witnesses +belonging to several different orders of Methodists, whose +testimony was more calculated to throw a false coloring over our +doctrine than anything else. At length Pendlebury was found guilty +of a breach of the peace, had to pay for the form and make good the +damages and costs of suit; and was bound in the penal sum of ten +pounds to keep the peace for six months. + +It is to be hoped that these prompt measures will put a stop to +similar disturbances in our public worship, and also prove a +warning to other priests not to turn infidels against the doctrines +of the New Testament, and then use such vile measures against the +truth. + +Since this affair we have heard verbally from Bolton, that many +are embracing the truth and coming to the waters of baptism. May +the Lord shed forth His Spirit upon the people of Bolton, and cause +a great work to be done among them. + +During February, about two hundred and forty of the Saints +embarked at Liverpool for America, intending to settle with the +Saints at Nauvoo. + +An edition of the Book of Mormon, consisting of 5,000 copies, +was issued by us at Liverpool during this month. + +On the 6th of April, 1841, the Council of the Twelve assembled +at Manchester, in the "Carpenter's Hall," for the first time to +transact business as a quorum, in the presence of the Church in a +foreign land, being the first day of the twelfth year of the rise +of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. + +Nine of the quorum were present, viz.: Brigham Young, Heber C. +Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford +Woodruff, Willard Richards, John Taylor, and George A. Smith. + +President Young having called the house to order and organized +the Conference, then opened by prayer. Elder Thomas Ward was then +chosen Clerk. The president then made some introductory remarks +relative to the organization of the Church in the house of the Lord +in America; in reference to the different quorums; in their +respective orders and authorities in the Church. + +The representations of the Churches and conferences throughout the +kingdom were then called for. The total numbers of which were as +follows: 5,814 members; 136 Elders; 303 Priests; 169 Teachers; and 68 +Deacons, besides about 800 souls who had emigrated to America during +the year, who were not included in this representation. * * + +Eleven persons were chosen and ordained to the high priesthood +during this conference, and twelve persons were ordained elders. + +Several new conferences were also organized, and presidents were +appointed for each conference in the kingdom. + +The names of the several conferences, with their respective +presidents, were as follows: Manchester, P. P. Pratt; Edinburgh, G. +D. Watt; Liverpool, J. Greenhouse; London, Lorenzo Snow; +Macclesfield, J. Galley; Staffordshire, A. Cordon; Birmingham, J. +Riley; Glasgow, J. McAuley; Gadfield Elm, Thomas Richardson; +Preston, P. Melling; Brampton, J. Sanders; Garmay, Levi Richards; +Clitheroe, Thomas Ward; Froomes Hill, William Kay. + +The business of the conference being accomplished, several appropriate +discourses were delivered by different members of the quorum in +relation to the duties of the officers in their respective callings, +and in relation to the duties and privileges of the members, also on +the prosperity of the work in general. * * * * * * + +Elders Young and Miller then sang the hymn, "Adieu, my dear +brethren," etc., and President Young blessed the congregation and +dismissed them. + +This conference closed the mission of the Twelve for the present +in England, and as they were about to take their departure for +America, all save myself, an epistle was addressed by them to the +Saints in the British Isles. It was written by my own hand, under +the direction of the president of the quorum, and signed by each of +the nine members present in that country. It was dated at +Manchester, April 15, 1841.* + +[Footnote] *See _Millenial Star_, April, 1841. + +In the month of September, 1841, Brother Amos Yielding and +myself chartered a large new ship called the "Tyrean," Captain +Jackson, master, for New Orleans. On which we sent two hundred and +seven passengers of our society bound for Nauvoo. + +Our chartered ship, the "Tyrean," sailed with two hundred and +seven passengers on the morning of the 21st of September. On going +out of the dock the previous day, many hundreds crowded around to +witness a ship load of the sons and daughters of Zion depart from +their native shore for the promised land. They moved slowly out +into the river, singing: + + "Lovely native land, farewell! + Glad I leave thee--Glad I leave thee-- + Far in distant lands to dwell." + +Next morning they weighed anchor about ten o'clock, and hoisted +sail before a fair wind; moving away under the flag of liberty--the +American Stars and Stripes. + +The emigrants were all on deck, and in good spirits; and as our +little boat came off with three hearty cheers, they were singing +the favorite hymn: + + "How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, + Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!" + +The last lines which we heard, as their voices were lost in the +distance, were as follows: + + "When through the deep waters I call thee to go, + The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'er flow." + +Hats and handkerchiefs were still waving in view as a last token +of farewell. Soon all was a dim speck upon the ocean; a few moments +more and they vanished from view in the wide expanse and lost in +the distance. May God speed them onward in their course, and land +them safely in their destined port. + +The _Star_ for October, 1841, contains several other +communications of interest; giving cheering accounts of the spread +of the work in various places, but we will not record them here. + +The November number opens with an editorial on "The Philosophy +of the Resurrection," from which we extract the following: + +The mysterious works of God in the formation, progress, changes, +and final destiny of creation, are all wonderful and miraculous in +one sense. The formation of the natural body in embryo, or even of +a plant or flower, is as much a miracle as the creation or +reorganization of a world or the resurrection of the body. Each +effect has its cause, and each cause its effect; and the light, +spirit or truth which proceeds from Deity is the law of life and +motion; the great governing principle of the whole machinery of the +universe, whether natural or spiritual, temporal or eternal. It is +the cause of causes; the main spring of nature's time piece. By it +we live; in it we move and have a being. + +Let man be placed upon a lofty eminence surrounded with the +original elements of uncreated worlds; let him contemplate the +confused and chaotic mass of unorganized existence; let him hear +the voice of truth and power as its first sentence rolls in majesty +of wisdom from the lips of Deity; let him behold the first movement +of chaos as it begins to come to order. + +Let him contemplate its various workings till the heavens and +earth, and man and beast, and plant and flower startle into +conscious being in all the beauty of joyous existence; let him +observe every minute particular of its progress through time in all +its various changes; let him contemplate the changing seasons as +they roll in hours and days, and months, and years; let his +thoughts reach to the starry heavens and view them in all their +motions and revolutions; the sun in its daily course; the planets +in their annual revolutions; the blazing comet as it moves afar in +the wilds of ether, and returns from its journey of a hundred or a +thousand years; let him return to earth and view the vegetable +kingdom as it blooms and ripens and falls again to decay in the +revolving seasons; the time-worn oak of a thousand years, as it +braves the tempest, or the modest flower whose life is but a day; +let him view the animal creation in all its variety, as it appears +and passes in turn from the stage of action; let him contemplate +man from his infant formation through all the changes of his +various life till he returns to dust; let him view the laborious +revolutions of the groaning earth and its various inhabitants +through all their temporal career, till wearied Nature sinks to +rest, and, worn by slowly rolling years, the earth itself shall +die; and lastly, let him contemplate all Nature regenerated, +renewed, and starting into being, while death itself shall +conquered be and immortality alone endure. + +The vision ended. Man! what hast thou seen? + +Nothing out of the ordinary course; all I beheld was nature +moving in perfect accordance with the law of its existence; not one +single deviation or shadow of turning from the immutable laws of +truth. + +But hast thou seen no miracle? + +Yes, it was all miraculous; it was all achieved by the law of +light, which was the immediate power of God; but it was all upon +the most natural, easy, simple and plain principles of nature in +its varied order, and which to call the most miraculous I know not, +whether it was the creation of a world, the blossoming of a flower, +the hatching of a butterfly, or the resurrection of the body, and +the making of new heavens and a new earth. All these were so many +displays of the power of God. + +All these were miraculous. + +All these were natural. + +All these were spiritual. + +All these were adapted to the simplest capacity, aided by the +Spirit of God. All these were too sublime for an archangel to +comprehend by his own capacity, without the spirit of revelation. + +On Sunday, October 17, 1841, the Manchester Conference convened +at the "Carpenter's Hall." Twelve branches were represented, +consisting of one thousand, five hundred and eighty-one members, +with appropriate officers. Many were called to the ministry, and +ordained to their respective offices. Instructions were given in +relation to the duties of the officers, members, etc., and they +were particularly exhorted to abstain from intoxicating drinks, +together with tobacco, snuff and all other evil habits. + +After the ordinations, the Saints present partook of the Lord's +Supper, and sung and rejoiced together. Several interesting and +useful addresses were delivered at evening, and the meeting +concluded with a spirit of joy and satisfaction. The number of +officers present at this conference was about one hundred, and +members not far from one thousand. + +Some hundreds had emigrated from this conference, and still it +numbered near one thousand, five hundred members, all of whom had +been gathered in about two years, and that from an obscure +beginning in a small basement in Oldham Road, being the first place +where the fullness of the gospel was preached within the bounds of +what now comprises the Manchester Conference. + +On the 8th of November we sent out the ship "Chaos," with about +one hundred and seventy passengers of the Saints. + +Cheerfulness and satisfaction seemed to pervade every heart as +they bid farewell to their native shores, and set sail for the land +of promise. + +Several interesting communications were received during the +month of November, from various parts of the country, the purport +of which was that the sick were healed, the lame walked, the old +men dreamed dreams, the young men saw visions, and the Lord's +servants and handmaidens spake in tongues and prophesied, while the +Lord was showing wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth +beneath--blood, fire and vapor of smoke. + +In the meantime, the wicked rage, and the people imagine a vain +thing; the priests take counsel together against the Lord and +against His hinted ones. The most artful falsehoods ever inspired +by Satan continues to flood the country, both from the press and +pulpit, and reiterated those who profess to be followers of Jesus. +We went on a short mission to the Isle of Man of late, and after +preaching to vast multitudes the plain truth of the scriptures, +they would mock and make light of the Bible, and everything quoted +from it. + +The priests too were busy in church and chapel, in lying against +and perverting the written Word, and thus inspiring the people with +violence, hatred and every cruel work; yet we found the Saints +rejoicing in the truth, and the honest in heart disposed to inquire +into it. + +We have just returned from a visit to Middlewich and Norwich. In +the former place we had a very candid hearing in the magistrate's +room, which was filled. In the latter place many hundreds of people +assembled at our meeting house, among which were a large number of +"Association Methodists" and other professors, with one Thompson at +their head, who came possessed of the devil to make disturbance. +These made all manner of noises, such as whooping, shouting, +laughing, whistling, mocking, etc. They openly hissed and mocked +the written word of Jesus and His apostles, and made such a noise +as to finally break up the meeting; after which they began to rush +among the people, and to bellow like bulls, and to run over, and +knock down, and trample under foot all who came in their way. We +narrowly escaped, but finally got out of their midst. Mr. Thompson +then addressed them, justifying and applauding their conduct. The +lights were at length extinguished, and the room cleared, but not +until some persons were wounded, and some forms broken. + + +CHAPTER XL. +------------------------ + +Notice for a General Conference:--Extract of a +Letter from Elder Orson Hyde in Jerusalem:--Extracts from +my Farewell Address.*. + +[Footnote] *See _Millenial Star_, October, 1842. + +The following appointment for a general conference for the +British Isles appeared in the March number of the _Star_: + +"The several conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of +Latter-day Saints, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, are +hereby informed that a general conference will be held in +Manchester, to commence on Sunday, the 15th day of May next, and to +continue for several days, or until all the business is completed. + +"Each conference is requested to appoint one or more delegates +to present them in the general conference, and to assist in such +business as may be necessary for the general welfare and prosperity +of the cause of truth. It is very desirable that a full +representation should be made of all the conferences, branches, and +members of this realm. + +"P. P. PRATT, _President_. + + "THOMAS WARD, _Clerk_." + +In the _Star_ for March, 1842, the following editorial +introduces an extract of a letter from Elder Hyde in Jerusalem: + +"We have lately received two lengthy and highly interesting +letters from Elder Orson Hyde, dated at Trieste, January 1 and 18, +containing a sketch of his voyages and travels in the East; his +visit to Jerusalem; a description of ancient Zion; the pool of +Siloam, and many other places in Holy Writ; with several +illustrations of the manners and customs of the East as applicable +to scripture texts; and several conversations held between himself +and some of the Jewish missionaries, etc., in Jerusalem; together +with a masterly description of a terrible tempest and thunder storm +at sea, with a variety of miscellaneous reflections and remarks, +all written in an easy, elegant and masterly style; partaking of +the eloquent and sublime, and breathing a tone of that deep +feeling, tenderness and affection so characteristic of his mission +and the spirit of his holy and sacred office. + +"Elder Hyde has, by the grace of God, been the first proclaimer +of the fullness of the gospel both on the Continent and in far off +Asia, among the nations of the East. In Germany, Turkey, Egypt and +Jerusalem he has reared, as it were, the ensign of the Latter-day +glory, and sounded the trump of truth; calling upon the people of +those regions to awake from their thousand years slumber and to +make ready for their returning Lord. + +"In his travels he has suffered much, and has been exposed to +toils and dangers; to hunger, pestilence and war. He has been in +perils by land and sea, in perils among robbers, in perils among +heathens, Turks, Arabs and Egyptians; but out of all these things +the Lord has delivered him, and has restored him in safety to the +shores of Europe, where he is tarrying for a little season for the +purpose of publishing the truth in the German language--having +already published it in French and English in the various countries +of the East. And we humbly trust that his labors will be a lasting +blessing to Jew and Gentile." + +Being about to return to America, I published in the October +number of the _Star_, 1842, my Farewell Address, from which +I here give a few extracts: + +FAREWELL ADDRESS TO OUR READERS AND PATRONS + +_Brethren and Friends_:--As I am about to take leave of +the STAR, and give it to the management of others, I feel it +necessary to make a few remarks suited to the occasion. + +This publication was undertaken two years and six months since. +Since that time I have labored diligently, as far as a pressure of +other duties would admit, to render it a useful and interesting +periodical. I have published the principles of the Latter-day +Saints, together with a choice selection of the most interesting +items of news in relation to the progress of these principles among +men. + +I have also endeavored at all times to defend the cause of +truth, and to ward off the arrows of envy and slander which have +been hurled at the children of light by the strong arm of thousands +who speak evil of things they understand not. + +I feel great satisfaction in a review of my editorial course; I +feel my conscience clear, and a secret whispering within, that I +have done my duty faithfully before God. + +I also feel to rejoice in the success which has attended the +efforts of the servants of God in this country in the publication +of truth. At the commencement of the STAR, the Saints in Europe +numbered less than two thousand, they now number near ten thousand, +besides thousands who have emigrated to a distant land. This, +surely, is a great triumph of the truth, when we take into +consideration the prejudice and opposition which we have had to +encounter. Surely the STAR has stood forth as a beacon on a hill, +as a lonely lamp amid surrounding darkness, to light the weary +pilgrim on his toilsome journey, and to kindle up the dawn of a day +of glory when the effulgent beams of the sun of righteousness shall +shine forth as the morning, and dispel the misty vapors which, like +a gloomy cloud, have for ages hovered over the pathway of mortals. + +Dear Brethren and Sisters--Though I now take leave of the +editorial department, and withdraw from the shores of Europe, yet I +have the satisfaction of leaving the STAR to shine among you in its +full glory, being conducted by one who has a willing heart and a +ready pen, and one who, I hope, will be so aided by his patrons and +by Divine favor as to be able to conduct it with effect, till its +feeble rays shall be lost amid the effulgence of the rising morn. + +I now return my sincere thanks to all our agents and patrons, +and to all who have in any way contributed to our assistance in +this great and good work; and I pray that the blessings of God may +rest upon them and upon the thousands who may hereafter peruse this +work. + +I must now take leave of you for a season, as duty calls me +home. I have labored among you in the ministry between two and +three years, and for the last eighteen months (since the departure +of the rest of the Twelve) I have had the more particular +presidency of the Church in Europe, and as one of old said, "in +some measure the care of all the churches." + +In this highly responsible trust I have endeavored so to serve +you in all things, both temporal and spiritual, and to go in and +out among you in the fear of God, exercising judgment, mercy, and +charity according to the ability which God has given me. I have +endeavored to teach the ignorant, to reclaim the transgressor, and +to warn the wicked; to comfort the feeble-minded, to bind up the +broken hearted, and to administer to the poor. + +I recommend and appoint Elder Thomas Ward as my successor in the +office of the General Presidency of the Church in Europe, in +connection with Elders Lorenzo Snow and Hiram Clark. To these +persons I commit the care and government of the Church in this +country for the present, trusting that they will conduct and +counsel in all things according to the mind of the Spirit, and +according to the counsel which shall be given them from Nauvoo, +from time to time, by the quorum of the Twelve, or the first +Presidency. + +On taking leave of you for a season I take this opportunity to +assure you before God, to whom we are all accountable, _that the +fullness of the gospel is true, that the Book of Mormon is true, +and that the everlasting covenant is true, and will stand when +heaven and earth shall pass away_. + +I now take a pleasing farewell of the Saints, with a firm +conviction that I have labored diligently and done my duty thus +far, and I have nothing to regret but my own weaknesses and +imperfections, which I trust you will all be willing to forgive, +and that God will forgive also. + +Please remember me in your prayers, and may the Lord Almighty +bless you all, and preserve us faithful to the end, that we may +meet again with joy. Amen. + + +CHAPTER XLI. +------------------------ + +Vessels Chartered:--Emigration:--Sail for New +Orleans on the "Emerald:"--Passage:--Land in New Orleans:--Charter +of a Steamer:--Historical Letter:--Journey and Arrival at +Nauvoo:--Mission with Joseph Smith:--Visit to Chester. + +Between the middle of September and my own embarkation in +October, I chartered three vessels for New Orleans, and filled them +with the emigrating Saints, viz: + +The "Sidney," with one hundred and eighty souls; the "Medford," +two hundred and fourteen souls; and the "Henry," with one hundred +and fifty-seven. + +I next chartered the "Emerald," on which I placed about two +hundred and fifty passengers, including myself and family. + +Having finished my present mission in England and taken an +affectionate leave of the Saints and friends there, I embarked on +the "Emerald," and sailed on the 29th of October. We had a tedious +passage of ten weeks, and some difficulties, murmurings and +rebellions; but the Saints on board were called together, and +chastened and reproved sharply, which brought them to repentance. +We then humbled ourselves and called on the Lord, and he sent a +fair wind, and brought us into port in time to save us from +starvation. + +We landed in New Orleans early in January, 1843. Here I +chartered a steamer called the "Goddess of Liberty," and took +passage with the company for St. Louis. Running up the river for +about a week, I landed with my family in Chester, Illinois--eighty +miles below St. Louis. The company continued on to St. Louis. My +reason for landing here was, I would not venture into Missouri +after the abuses I had experienced there in former times. + +Here I wrote the following historical letter, which appeared in +the _Star_ of April 1, 1843. + +CHESTER, STATE OF ILLINOIS, + +January 21, 1843. + +DEAR BROTHER WARD--I take this opportunity of communicating a +few items of news which may be of use to your readers. I arrived +here two weeks since with my family. We are all well, except my +eldest daughter, Olivia, who has the whooping cough. We are living +here a few weeks, waiting for the river to open for Nauvoo. We are +comfortably situated, a few yards from the landing, in a stone +house in a small village, eighty miles below St. Louis, and three +hundred from Nauvoo. Provisions are cheaper than ever; Indian corn +is 20 cents per bushel; wheat, 40 cents; flour 3 1/2 dollars per +barrel; oats, 15 cents per bushel; pork and beef, from 2 to 3 cents +per lb.; butter, 10 cents; sugar, 5 cents; chickens, 8 cents each. +Cows, from 8 to 10 and 12 dollars per head; good horses, from 25 to +50 dollars; land, from 1 1/4 to 4 dollars per acre. + +We were ten weeks on the "Emerald," and one in coming up the +river. The weather was very fine until the day before we landed, +when it became extremely cold and snowy; but after a week of severe +weather, it became suddenly warm and pleasant, and it remains so +yet--all ice and snow have disappeared, and the weather is like +May. + +I have not heard from Nauvoo, except by the public prints. From +these I learn that Brother Joseph Smith gave himself up to the +authorities of Illinois, agreeably to the governor's writ of last +fall to attempt to deliver him to the State of Missouri. He was +brought by _habeas corpus_ before the Judge of the Supreme +Court of the United States, and after a trial at Springfield, the +seat of government for Illinois, he was honorably discharged--the +Judge deciding that he must not be delivered to the Missouri +authorities, according to the demand of the governors of the two +States. Thus, one more malicious lawsuit has terminated in which +the rulers have been disappointed and bloodthirsty men have lost +their prey the prophet of the Lord having found protection under +the wings of the eagle. + +Brother William Smith, Joseph's brother, is a member of the +legislature of Illinois, which is now in session. They have +introduced two bills for the purpose of taking away all our Nauvoo +charters, but they have both been lost without becoming a law, and +the charters still stand good. The first was a bill for the +repealing of all city charters in the State (for the avowed object +of getting rid of Nauvoo), this bill was lost by a majority of one. +Next a bill was introduced to repeal the Nauvoo charter alone. This +was too barefaced to be countenanced, and was lost by an +overwhelming majority; but not until some warm debating on +Mormonism had occupied the house for some time. The fact is, it +grieves the enemies of the Saints very much to see them enjoying +political privileges in common with others, and every exertion is +made to hinder the progress of a people and of principles which +they consider as already becoming too formidable to be easily +trampled under foot. + +I have now been here two weeks, and have minded my own affairs +as a private man, in no way seeking to be public, or even to be +known. I have spent my time in providing for my family, getting +wood for fire, bringing water, etc., together with reading papers, +educating my children, etc., and have not mentioned "Mormonism," or +any other "ism," or principle, till it was first mentioned to me. +Mrs. Pratt and I attended a Presbyterian meeting last Sabbath, and +listened in silence to a dry sermon. + +But after all my endeavors to be quiet, it is noised abroad, +through all parts of the town and surrounding country for +twenty-five miles, that a "Mormon" is here. All parties are on +tiptoe to hear him preach; the citizens have sent the postmaster to +me with a request to hear me, and have opened their chapel for +tomorrow where we heard the Presbyterian last Sabbath. I have +consented, and commence my public ministry tomorrow. In the +meantime I have lent and sold several books, "Voice of Warning," +"Book of Mormon," etc., and these are having the desired effect. +The people here were greatly prejudiced against something called +"Mormonism;" they knew not what, having never read or heard any of +the Saints; indeed they had not the most distant idea of our +holding to Christianity in any shape. + +Yesterday a brother called here, from twenty-five miles in the +country; he had heard of my coming and came to see me. He is a rich +farmer, being two hundred acres of land well improved. He informed +me of a small branch of the Church in his neighborhood, and made an +appointment for me to go to George Town (sixteen miles distant), on +Monday next, and another to his own house, nine miles further, for +Tuesday evening, so you see I am getting into business fast. This +man brought me two Nauvoo _Wasps_, the latest of which was +printed January 7th. From these I learned that all was peace, +industry and prosperity; a fine hard winter had set in so early +that none of our ships' companies which had sailed this season had +been able to get up the river to Nauvoo; they are scattered from +New Orleans to St. Louis, and are waiting to swarm Nauvoo in the +spring. From the weather, I judge that the river is about opening +that far; it is now open above St. Louis. + +No one landed here with me but Sister Mary Aspen, and my family. +Sister A. is with us now, she is well and much pleased with the +country; most of our passengers went to St. Louis. + +_January 26th_--Last Sunday, preached twice to an +attentive audience. Monday, walked sixteen miles; preached in +George Town; good attention. Tuesday, rode ten miles; preached +twice among the Saints. Wednesday, baptized two young men; held +confirmation meeting, then rode twenty-five miles to this place. + +The river is now open, and is twelve feet higher than it was +last week, the weather is like May. I start for Nauvoo on horseback +tomorrow, my family will follow in two weeks by water. I shall +write again soon. + +Yours truly, in Christ, + +P.P. PRATT. + +_January 27th_, 1843, I started for Nauvoo on horseback, +and after a ride of some eight days I arrived there in safety--a +distance of some two hundred and eighty miles. + +I was astonished to see so large a city all created during my +absence, and I felt to rejoice. I visited my brothers Orson and +William and their families, by whom I was hospitably entertained. I +also visited President Smith and family, who received me with the +usual welcome and "_God bless you, Bro. Parley_." + +While on this visit to Nauvoo I was invited to Shockoquon, a +small town up the river, a few miles above Nauvoo, in company with +President Smith, Elder O. Hyde and others. We started February +15th; stayed over night at a Mr. Russel's. On the next day we dined +at McQueen's Mills; visited Shockoquon and returned to the said +mills at evening. Here President Smith spoke for about two hours. +The crowded congregation seemed deeply interested--most of them +being strangers to "_Mormonism_." + +After a few days I returned to my family in Chester County on +horseback. The weather being extremely cold the Mississippi did not +open till very late in the spring. + +I at length sent my family per steamer to St. Louis, and stopped +at a hotel myself on the opposite side of the river, in Illinois +Town. In this situation we still had to remain for several days +awaiting the opening of the river above. + +A small steamer arrived, commanded by Captain Dan Jones, and was +finally chartered for Nauvoo, and filled with Saints, including my +family. I passed by land to Alton, and there went on board. + +Captain Jones was a good and kind hearted Welshman, and was much +interested in the fullness of the gospel. He soon joined the +Church, and was finally ordained and appointed a mission to Wales, +where he preached the fullness of the gospel and gathered thousands +into the Church. + +_April 12th_ we landed in Nauvoo, and were kindly +welcomed by President Smith and scores of others, who came down to +the wharf to meet us. + +My time, from my arrival until the last of the year, was spent +in the ministry, and in building, travelling, etc. + + +CHAPTER XLII. +------------------------ + +Miscellaneous Writings:--Mission to the East:-- +Impressions of the Spirit:--Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum +Smith:--Spirit of Exultation:--Return to Nauvoo:--Sidney Rigdon +Disfellowshipped. + +_January 1, 1844._ + +In the opening of this year I completed a number of +miscellaneous works, some of which were published in pamphlet form. +Among these were _"An Appeal to the State of New York,"--"Immortality +of the Body,"--"Fountain of Knowledge,"--"Intelligence and Affection," +and "The Angel of the Prairies."_ This last work was a curious and +extraordinary composition, in the similitude of a dream. It was +designed as a reproof of the corruptions and degeneracy of our +government, in suffering mobs to murder, plunder, rob and drive their +fellow citizens with impunity, etc. It also suggested some reforms. It +was read in the presence of President Joseph Smith and a general +council, and was highly applauded; but never appeared in print. + +In the spring I went to Boston as a missionary, and on business. +I proclaimed the gospel, as usual, while on this journey, on +steamers on the lakes and rivers; in the cities of the Atlantic, +and in whatever village or neighborhood I had opportunity. Visiting +North Bridge, a short distance from Boston, and having a day's +leisure, I wrote a dialogue entitled "_Joe Smith and the Devil +_," which was afterwards published in the _New York Herald +_, and in various papers in America and Europe. It was finally +published and republished in pamphlet form, and had a wide +circulation; few persons knowing or mistrusting who was the author. + +President B. Young, and most of the members of the Quorum of the +Twelve, were then on a mission through the Eastern States, as well +myself. While on this mission, on the 27th of June, 1844, a mob +murdered the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum, in a jail +at Carthage, Illinois, while Governor Ford had pledged the faith of +the State for their protection. + +A day or two previous to this circumstance I had been +constrained by the Spirit to start prematurely for home, without +knowing why or wherefore; and on the same afternoon I was passing +on a canal boat near Utica, New York, on my way to Nauvoo. My +brother, William Pratt, being then on a mission in the same state +(New York), happened, providentially, to take passage on the same +boat. As we conversed together on the deck, a strange and solemn +awe came over me, as if the powers of hell were let loose. I was so +overwhelmed with sorrow I could hardly speak; and after pacing the +deck for some time in silence, I turned to my brother William and +exclaimed--"Brother William, this is a dark hour; the powers of +darkness seem to triumph, and the spirit of murder is abroad in the +land; and it controls the hearts of the American people, and a vast +majority of them sanction the killing of the innocent. My brother, +let us keep silence and not open our mouths. If you have any +pamphlets or books on the fullness of the gospel lock them up; show +them not, neither open your mouth to the people; let us observe an +entire and solemn silence, for this is a dark day, and the hour of +triumph for the powers of darkness. O, how sensible I am of the +spirit of murder which seems to pervade the whole land." This was +June 27, 1844, in the afternoon, and as near as I can judge, it was +the same hour that the Carthage mob were shedding the blood of +Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and John Taylor, near one thousand miles +distant. My brother bid me farewell somewhere in western New York, +he being on his way to a conference in that quarter, and passing on +to Buffalo I took steamer for Chicago, Illinois. + +The steamer touched at a landing in Wisconsin, some fifty or +sixty miles from Chicago, and here some new passengers came on +board and brought the news of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum +Smith. Great excitement prevailed on board, there being a general +spirit of exultation and triumph at this glorious news, as it was +called, much the same as generally shown on the first receipt of +the news of a great national victory in time of war. + +Many passengers now gathered about me and tauntingly inquired +what the Mormons would do now, seeing their prophet and leader +killed. + +To these taunts and questions I replied, that they would +continue their mission and spread the work he had restored, in all +the world. Observing that nearly all the prophets and apostles who +were before had been killed, and also the Saviour of the world, and +yet their death did not alter the truth nor hinder its final +triumph. + +At this reply many of them seemed astonished, and some inquired +who would succeed him, and remarked to me: "Perhaps you will be the +man who will now seek to be leader of the Mormons in his stead--who +are you, sir?" I replied: "I am a MAN, sir; and a MAN never +triumphs and exults in the ruin of his country and the murder of +the innocent." This was said in the energy of my soul, and by +constraint of the Spirit, and a powerful and peculiar accent was +thrown upon the word MAN each time it occurred in the sentence. +This served as a sufficient rebuke, and all were silent. + +Landing in Chicago I found great excitement, and the press had +issued extras announcing the triumph of the murderous mob in +killing the Smiths. + +I now hastened on to Peoria, and, staying over night, started +next day on foot across the country to Nauvoo--distance 105 miles. + +During the two or three days I spent in travelling between +Chicago and Peoria I felt so weighed down with sorrow and the +powers of darkness that it was painful for me to converse or speak +to anyone or even to try to eat or sleep. I really felt that if it +had been my own family who had died, and our beloved Prophet been +spared alive, I could have borne it, and the blow would have fallen +on me with far less weight. I had loved Joseph with a warmth of +affection indescribable for about fourteen years. I had associated +with him in private and in public, in travels and at home, in joy +and sorrow, in honor and dishonor, in adversity of every kind. With +him I had lain in dungeons and in chains; and with him I had +triumphed over all our foes in Missouri, and found deliverance for +ourselves and people in Nauvoo, where we had reared a great city. +But now he was gone to the invisible world, and we and the Church +of the Saints were left to mourn in sorrow and without the presence +of our beloved founder and Prophet. + +As I walked along over the plains of Illinois, lonely and +solitary, I reflected as follows: I am now drawing near to the +beloved city; in a day or two I shall be there. How shall I meet +the sorrowing widows and orphans? How shall I meet the aged and +widowed mother of these two martyrs? How shall I meet an entire +community bowed down with grief and sorrow unutterable? What shall +I say? or how console and advise twenty-five thousand people who +will throng about me in tears, and in the absence of my President +and the older members of the now presiding council, will ask +counsel at my hands? Shall I tell them to fly to the wilderness and +deserts? Or, shall I tell them to stay at home and take care of +themselves, and continue to build the Temple? With these +reflections and injuries I walked onward, weighed down as it were +unto death. When I could endure it no longer, I cried out aloud, +saying: O Lord! in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Thee, show me +what these things mean, and what I shall say to Thy people? On a +sudden the Spirit of God came upon me, and filled my heart with joy +and gladness indescribable; and while the spirit of revelation +glowed in my bosom with as visible a warmth and gladness as if it +were fire. The Spirit said unto me: "Lift up your head and rejoice; +for behold! it is well with my servants Joseph and Hyrum. My +servant Joseph still holds the keys of my kingdom in this +dispensation, and he shall stand in due time on the earth, in the +flesh, and fulfil that to which he is appointed. Go and say unto my +people in Nauvoo, that they shall continue to pursue their daily +duties and take care of themselves, and make no movement in Church +government to reorganize or alter anything until the return of the +remainder of the Quorum of the Twelve. But exhort them that they +continue to build the House of the Lord which I have commanded them +to build in Nauvoo." + +This information caused my bosom to burn with joy and gladness, +and I was comforted above measure; all my sorrow seemed in a moment +to be lifted as a burden from my back. + +The change was so sudden I hardly dared to believe my senses; I, +therefore, prayed the Lord to repeat to me the same things the +second time; if, indeed, I might be sure of their truth, and might +really tell the Saints to stay in Nauvoo, and continue to build the +Temple. + +As I prayed thus, the same spirit burned in my bosom, and the +Spirit of the Lord repeated to me the same message again. I then +went on my way rejoicing, and soon arrived in Nauvoo, and delivered +this message both to the people and friends individually, and in +the great congregation. In confirmation that the message was right, +I found them already renewing their labors on the Temple, under the +direction of John Taylor and Willard Richards, who were members of +our quorum, and were in jail with the prophets when they were +murdered Taylor being wounded with four bullets, and Richards +escaping uninjured. + +We then, being the only members of the quorum now present in +Nauvoo, united in daily councils at Bro. Taylor's, who was confined +by his wounds, and counseled for the good of the Church. We were +enabled to baffle all the designs of aspiring men, such as Rigdon +and others who strove to reorganize and lead the Church, or divide +them, and to keep the Church in a measure of union, peace and +quiet till the return of President Young and the other members of +the Quorum. Elder Rigdon arrived from Pittsburgh soon after my +arrival, and with the aid of Elder Marks, local President of the +Nauvoo Stake, and others, attempted to worm himself in as President +of the whole Church. A public meeting was actually called and +appointed for that purpose, the call being made and the day +appointed by President Marks on the public stand. President W. +Richards was present when this appointment was announced. + +On being informed of this untimely and underhanded attempt, I +called upon Elder Rigdon to meet with us--that is, the three of the +Twelve then in the city, at the house of Brother Taylor, who was +still confined with his wounds, and there we expostulated with him, +and showed our reasons for being opposed to such a course. + +I finally told him that no such meeting should be held, nor any +such business attempted in the absence of the general authorities +of the Church. And that, if any such meeting was attempted, I +should be there and oppose it, and show my reasons, and then +dismiss the congregation and take my hat and walk away. He finally +assured us that no business of the kind should be attempted, and +that the meeting should only be the usual prayer meeting. We +likewise forbade President Marks from attempting any general +business till the return of the general authorities. + +About this time, President Marks joined with the widow of the +martyred Joseph and some others, in a council in the upper room of +Brother Joseph's house, to try to nominate and appoint a trustee in +trust for the whole Church. I entered this council and heard Mrs. +Emma Smith plead in relation to this matter, the great importance +and absolute necessity of immediate action on this subject, as +delay would endanger much property of a public and private +character, and perhaps cause a loss of scores of thousands. I arose +and protested against any action of the kind, telling them plainly +that the appointment of a trustee in trust was the business of the +whole Church, through its general authorities, and not the business +of the local authorities of any one stake of the Church, and that, +therefore, it could not be done till the remainder of the quorum +returned. To this it was replied that by this delay much property +would be lost. I again repeated that dollars and cents were no +consideration with me, when principle was at stake, and if +thousands or even millions were lost, let them go. We could not and +would not suffer the authorities and principles of the Church to be +trampled under foot, for the sake of pecuniary interest. The +council finally broke up without accomplishing anything. + +At length the day for Mr. Rigdon's great meeting arrived, when the +remainder of the quorum, or a majority, with President Young at their +head, arrived in time to be present. Mr. Rigdon was frustrated in his +ambitious schemes, and with his adherents, including President Marks, +soon left the place, being disfellowshipped by the Church. + +President Brigham Young was unanimously chosen and upheld in the +Presidency of the whole Church; the keys of which he held by virtue +of his apostleship, being the senior and President of the highest +quorum of the Church then living in the flesh. + +_October 6th_.--The half yearly Conference was held at +Nauvoo, which I attended. + + +CHAPTER XLIII. +------------------------ + +Eastern Mission:--Return:--Mobocracy:--Labor +in the Temple:--Expulsion from Nauvoo:--Cross the Mississippi:-- +Garden Grove:--Mount Pisga:--Council Bluffs:--Mormon Battalion:-- +Winter Quarters:--Mission to England with Elders Orson Hyde and +John Taylor:--Conference at Manchester:--Tour through the Kingdom. + +_December 2d_. + +Having been appointed by the President and others of the Twelve +to go East, and take charge of churches in the Atlantic States, I +this day bade farewell to home, family and the City of Saints and +started on this journey. I rode to Quincy; stayed over night at +Brother Haywood's, and next morning took boat and soon arrived in +St. Louis. I was accompanied by Elders E. T. Benson and P. Brown, +who were sent to assist me in this eastern mission. Nothing worthy +of note transpired on the passage. We arrived in New York towards +the close of the year. I appointed brother Benson to take charge of +Boston and vicinity, and Brother Brown to the charge of +Philadelphia and vicinity. + +_January 1st, 1845_.--I sent forth a proclamation in a +New York paper, called the _Prophet_, edited and published +by Samuel Brannan, and professedly devoted to the interests of the +Church of the Saints.* + +[Footnote] *See _Star_, No. 10, vol. 5, page 149. + +As we gradually became acquainted with circumstances pertaining +to the Church in these parts, we found that Elders William Smith, +G. J. Adams, S. Brannan and others, had been corrupting the Saints +by introducing among them all manner of false doctrine and immoral +practices, by which many of them had stumbled and been seduced from +virtue and truth. While many others, seeing their inquiry, had +turned away from the Church and joined various dissenting parties. +We, therefore, in accordance with the instructions of the Holy +Spirit in President Young before he left home, directed William +Smith and G. J. Adams to return to Nauvoo, where, in process of +time, they were cut off from the Church. We also warned Brother +Brannan and others to repent speedily of all such evil practices or +we would withdraw fellowship from them. They promised faithfully to +repent and lead a new life, and therefore we bore with them. We +also taught the Church to beware of all impure and wicked doctrines +and practices, and not to receive any elder or minister who sought +to seduce them by any false teachings. With these exertions and the +continual labors of Elders Benson, Brown, Grant and many others, +with myself, we succeeded in setting in order the churches and +reestablishing pure gospel principles. There were, however, many +who would not believe us, nor hearken to our advice, but continued +in their abominations and dissensions. Elder Brannan was at length +disfellowshipped at Nauvoo, as appeared in the official organ of +the Church there. On seeing this notice I called his attention to +it, and urged him to repair immediately to the authorities there; +acknowledge and frankly repent of his faults, and seek restoration +to his standing. He did this, and returned in full fellowship. But, +as it finally proved, this was only to disgrace himself and the +cause still more in a wider and more responsible career in +California, where he, under our instruction, soon after repaired +with a colony of Saints in the ship "Brooklyn." He was a corrupt +and wicked man, and had the Church and myself been less long +suffering and merciful, it would have saved the Church much loss, +and, perhaps, saved some souls which were corrupted in California, +and led astray and plundered by him. I have always regretted having +taken any measures to have him restored to fellowship after he was +published in Nauvoo as cut off from the Church. However, if I +erred, it was on the side of mercy. + +I devoted the winter in the presidency of the eastern churches, +to writing for the _Prophet_ and in visiting the churches in +Boston, Lowell, Philadelphia, Long Island and various other places, +and preaching the gospel among them. + +The following pieces from my pen are found in the above +periodical, under their appropriate dates and titles: +"Materiality;" "New Proverbs." + +I continued writing for this periodical in New York, which had, +however, changed its name, and was now published as the _New +York Messenger_. From my numerous editorials and communications +in that paper, I select the following as worthy of record: +"Heaven." + +_July 20th, 1845_, I published an address to those under +my charge. + +Soon after the publication of the foregoing, I took leave of the +Saints and friends in the Eastern States, and returned to Nauvoo by +way of the Erie Canal and the lakes, journeying from Chicago to +Nauvoo by land, by private conveyance, accompanied by a few of the +Saints from the East. We arrived in Nauvoo sometime in August. I +found my family mostly in health, and was rejoiced to meet them. + +From the time of my arrival home until the end of the year, I +was engaged in the cares of my family, in finishing my house, and +in my official duties. + +In autumn the mobs recommenced their murders, robbings, house +and grain burnings, and driving families away from their lands and +homes in the borders of our county, and elsewhere. + +The sheriff of the County called out several _posses_ and +dispersed them, killing some and arresting others. + +This bold and energetic execution of the sworn duties of Sheriff +Backinstafs did not seem to be quite congenial to the spirit of the +government and citizens of the State of Illinois--they being to a +great extent in favor of mob violence, murder, plunder and house +burning. Therefore, Sheriff Backinstafs was arrested to answer to +the charge of murder, and another sheriff was imposed on the +county, unlawfully, entirely independent of the ballot box. +Backinstafs, however, was afterwards discharged by the Court, who +justified his killing some of the mob, pronouncing it an official +act in perfect conformity with his duties as an officer. The +Governor sent troops to our county, on pretence of aiding the law, +but, in reality, to aid the mob to escape justice and carry out +their expressed resolutions of driving every member of the Saints, +and their families, from the State. General Hardin and Major +Warren, who had the command of this expedition, joined their advice +with Judge S. A. Douglass and others, some of them citizens of +Quincy, and meeting with President Young and our other leaders in +council, advised and urged us strongly to yield to the mob, and +abandon our houses, forms, cities, villages and Temple to this +wholesale banditti, who were engaged against us, and sell them for +what we could get, and remove out of the country. But very little +of the real estate was ever sold. + +To these extravagant counsels we finally yielded assent, and +agreed to move West in the spring, and to advise others of our +society so to do, as fast as we could sell. + +We continued, however, our work on the Temple, a portion of +which was finished and dedicated. + +"It was the first specimen of a new order of architecture, +introduced by President Joseph Smith, and was the most beautiful +building in the Western States, erected at a cost of a million +dollars. The mob subsequently set fire to it, the light of which +was visible for thirty miles." + +As winter approached, President Young, myself, the quorum, and +many others were daily engaged in the Temple, administering in the +holy ordinances of Endowment, to many hundreds of people. Thus +closed the year 1845. + +_January 1st, A.D. 1846_, I continued to minister in the +Temple night and day, with my President and the rest of the Twelve, +until early in February. + +Soon after these things the ministrations in the Temple ceased; +and President Young, with the rest of the quorum and many others, +bade farewell to their homes in the beloved city of Nauvoo, and +crossed the Mississippi River, with their families and such teams +and wagons as they could get. They formed an encampment on Sugar +Creek, in the State of Iowa. + +_February 14th_, I crossed the river with my family and +teams, and encamped not far from the Sugar Creek encampment, taking +possession of a vacant log house, on account of the extreme cold. +This encampment was about seven miles from Nauvoo. In leaving home +at this inclement season, I left a good house, lot and out +buildings, worth about seven thousand dollars, and several lots and +houses of less value, besides a farm in the country worth near two +thousand. But I was much in debt. I, therefore, left Mr. Bickford +as my agent, authorized to sell the property, settle up my +business, and take care of such of my family or friends as might be +left it his care, including my aged mother, and the father, mother +and sister of my wife. I was intending, when things were settled, +to place the surplus, if any, at the disposal of the Church or its +agents, in aid of the removal of such as were not able to remove +without assistance. + +While we lay encamped, some one hundred and twenty miles west of +Nauvoo, President Young coming up with the main body of the camps, +formed an encampment a few miles in the rear, and sent for me and +the members of the Twelve, who were with me, and George Miller, to +meet with the council at his camp. His letter censured us on +account of some of our moves, and as heavy rains had swollen the +small streams which intervened between the two encampments (so that +they could only be passed by swimming), and myself being sick on +account of exposure in the storms, we did not immediately attend +the council, as requested. However, we found means to cross after a +little delay, and were proceeding to his camp when an express met +us with another letter front the President, censuring us still more +severely. + +We hastened on and met in council. The President then reproved +and chastened us severely for several things, among which was our +drawing off from the council and main body of the camp and going +ahead. He said there was manifestly a spirit of dissension and of +insubordination manifested in our movements. I could not realize +this at the time, and protested that in my own heart, so far as I +was concerned, I had no such motive; that I had been actuated by +the purest motives, merely seeking to sustain the teams and people, +and to make what progress we could with that end in view. However, +the sequel soon proved that it was the true Spirit which reproved +and chastened us. For Bishop Miller, who was a leading and active +member of our camp, has since left us and gone his own way, having +refused to be led by the counsels of the Presidency, and removed to +Texas. And here I would observe that, although my own motives were +pure, so far as I could know my own heart, yet I thank God for his +timely chastisement; I profited by it, and it caused me to be more +watchful and careful ever after. + +All things being harmonized and put in order, the camps moved +on. Arriving at a place on a branch of Grand River we encamped for +a while, having travelled much in the midst of great and continued +rains, mud and mire. Here we enclosed and planted public farm of +many hundred acres and commenced settlement, for the good of some +who were to tarry and of those who should follow us from Nauvoo. We +called the place "_Garden Grove_." It is in Iowa, perhaps +one hundred and fifty miles from Nauvoo. After assisting to fence +this farm and build some log houses, I was dispatched ahead by the +Presidency with a small company to try to find another location. +Crossing this branch of Grand River, I now steered through the vast +and fertile prairies and groves without a track or anything but a +compass to guide me--the country being entirely wild and without +inhabitants. Our course was west, a little north. We crossed small +streams daily, which, on account of deep beds and miry banks, as +well as on account of their being swollen by the rains, we had to +bridge. After journeying thus for several days, and while lying +encamped on a small stream which we had bridged, I took my horse +and rode ahead some three miles in search of one of the main forks +of Grand River, which we had expected to find for some time. Riding +about three or four miles through beautiful prairies, I came +suddenly to some round and sloping hills, grassy and crowned with +beautiful groves of timber; while alternate open groves and forests +seemed blended in all the beauty and harmony of an English park. +While beneath and beyond, on the west, rolled a main branch of +Grand River, with its rich bottoms of alternate forest and prairie. +As I approached this lovely scenery several deer and wolves, being +startled at the sight of me, abandoned the place and bounded away +till lost from my sight amid the groves. + +Being pleased and excited at the varied beauty before me, I +cried out, "this is _Mount Pisga_." I returned to my camp, +with the report of having found the long sought river, and we soon +moved on and encamped under the shade of these beautiful groves. It +was now late in May, and we halted here to await the arrival of the +President and council. In a few days they arrived and formed a +general encampment here, and finally formed a settlement, and +surveyed and enclosed another farm of several thousand acres. This +became a town and resting place for the Saints for years, and is +now known on the map of Iowa as a village and post-office named +"_Pisga_." + +June 1. We crossed the river, and, travelling one mile, +encamped; next day we travelled nine miles, and the third day +twenty miles. + +Passing on from day to day, we at length came to a large river +which could not be forded, called the Nishnihotany. Here was the +home of the Pottowatamie Indians who were very friendly and civil +to us. + +We tarried here some days and built a large bridge, over which +the camps were enabled to cross. + +In July we arrived at the Missouri River, near Council Bluffs. +There we encamped for several weeks; opened a trade with upper +Missouri, exchanging wagons, horses, harness and various articles +of furniture, cash, etc., for provisions, oxen, cows, etc. + +In the meantime we built a ferry boat, fixed landings, made +dugways, etc., and commenced ferrying over the Missouri. The ferry +ran night and day for a long time, and still could not complete the +crossing of the camps till late in the season. + +While we tarried here I returned on the road as far as +Pisga--being sent on a mission to the camps and settlements in the +rear--distance, in going and returning, two hundred miles. In this +journey I came near drowning, in attempting to swim a branch of the +Nishnihotany on horseback. My horse refused to swim, reared on his +hind feet to try to touch bottom, and caused me to slide off behind +him in the middle of a very strong current with all my clothes on, +including hat, coat and boots, and a large parcel under my arm. The +parcel contained letters and important documents. I, therefore, +clung to it and to my hat also, and stemming the current with the +other hand, swam to shore, a distance of several rods. Passing on a +mile or two, I came to a camp of the Saints and dried my letters +and clothing. As I returned from this mission I met President Young +and others, who were going down to Pisga and to intermediate camps +to try to raise five hundred men, who had just been called for by +the United States as recruits for the Mexican war. These troops +were soon raised by the united exertions of President Young and +Council, and were mustered into service by Lieutenant-Colonel +Allen, and called the Mormon Battalion. + +This is that famous battalion which marched through more than +two thousand miles of a trackless waste on foot, and helped to take +and maintain California--some of the members of which first +discovered the gold mines of that country, and thus turned the +world the other side up. + +The lateness of the season, the poverty of the people, and, +above all, the taking away of five hundred of our best men, finally +compelled us to abandon any further progress westward till the +return of another spring. The camps, therefore, began to prepare +for winter. + +The place for winter quarters was finally selected on the west +bank of the Missouri River, in what is since known as the territory +of Nebraska. This was a beautiful town site. The land sloping up +from the immediate banks of the river sufficiently high to be +secure from high water, and then stretching away in an unbroken +plain to the hills, which swelled up at less than half a mile +distant in beautiful rounded grassy points, or in rising benches, +one above another. + +Vast quantities of hay was cut and secured, and some seven +hundred log cabins and one hundred and fifty dugouts (cabins half +under ground) were built in the course of the autumn and winter. +Other large settlements were also formed on the other side of the +river, and back into the country. + +President Young also caused the erection of a good flouring mill +on a small stream which here entered the river. + +This city, which was known by the name of Winter Quarters, is +Florence, and is becoming a thriving place in Nebraska. + +While the camps lay in these parts, and soon after I had, with +my teams and family, crossed the Missouri, Presidents Orson Hyde, +John Taylor and myself were appointed a mission to England. The +reason for this mission under the present distressing circumstances +was this: Elder R. Hedlock, who was then presiding in England, was +in transgression, and was engaged in a wild scheme of financing, by +which he obtained vast sums of money from the Church in a kind of +joint stock organization, which professedly had for its object the +emigration of the Saints to America, while in reality the money was +squandered by himself and others in any and every way but to do +good. Our mission was for the purpose of breaking up this scheme of +fraud, and displacing him and regulating all the affairs of the +Church in the British Isles. + +July 31.--I bid a solemn farewell to my family and friends, then +dwelling in tents and wagons on the west side of the Missouri +River, and started for England. I met Elders Hyde and Taylor as +agreed upon, and we took passage down the river in an open scow, or +flat boat, in company with a family of Presbyterian missionaries +who had been residing on the Loupe fork of the Platte River, among +the Pawnee Indians, and who were now bound for St. Joseph, +Missouri. We floated or pulled the oars for some days, tying up and +sleeping on shore at night. Arriving at St. Joseph, the +missionaries landed and sold the boat to us. We then continued down +the river to Leavenworth, where we found the Mormon Battalion, who +were just receiving money for clothing, etc., preparatory to their +long march thence to California. + +We visited with them a day to two, and they contributed several +hundred dollars to aid us on our mission to England. + +They also made up a purse of between five and six thousand +dollars for their families and friends at the Bluffs, and +furnishing me a horse, it was finally agreed by my two brethren +that I should return to the Bluffs with this money. Accordingly, I +took leave of Elders Hyde and Taylor and the brethren of the +battalion, and started on horseback for the camp of the Saints. I +rode with all speed, and in less than three days reached +home--distance one hundred and seventy miles. Unexpected as this +visit was, a member of my family had been warned in a dream, and +had predicted my arrival and the day, and my family were actually +looking for me all that day. + +I delivered the money to President Young and Council, with the +list of subscribers, and of the persons for whom it was sent, and +again prepared for my departure. Obtaining a light buggy, I +harnessed my horse before it, and started for Chicago, Illinois, by +land--distance five hundred and fifty miles. I performed this +journey in safety in eleven days, averaging fifty miles per day. +Arriving in Chicago towards evening, I immediately sold my horse +and buggy, and then took steamer the same evening across Lake +Michigan, thence by railroad to Boston; thence to New York, where I +arrived a day or two sooner than the day agreed upon. I was +hindered a little, being at a loss for funds to pay my passage; but +one Elder Badlam kindly assisted me, and I soon embarked in the +cabin of a splendid ship, and set sail for Liverpool. On this same +ship was Franklin D. and Samuel Richards, and M. Martin, on a +mission to the same country. + +We had a long passage, and arrived in Liverpool October 14, in +good health and spirits. + +We found Elders Hyde and Taylor there all well, and were kindly +received and entertained by the Saints. + +A General Conference was convened in Manchester October 17; an +account of which will be found in the _Star_, No. 7, Vol 8. + +In this Conference it was agreed that President Hyde should edit +the _Star_, and attend to all business in the publishing +office at Liverpool, while President Taylor and myself should visit +the different conferences in the British Isles. We, therefore, +published our appointments beforehand in the _Star_, and so +commenced our winter's mission. I will not detain the reader with a +detail of our journeyings, visits and meetings in pursuance of this +arrangement; but, suffice it to say, we travelled from conference +to conference by railway, coaches, steamers, etc., visiting nearly +all the principal towns in England and Scotland. We were everywhere +received and treated with the utmost hospitality, and with +demonstrations of joy and gladness not soon to be forgotten. The +Saints and others convened from far and near at the sessions of our +several conferences, and vast crowds of strangers, as well as +Saints, listened to us. Public feasts, tea parties, public dinners +and all kinds of demonstrations of joy and welcome greeted us as we +visited from place to place. So that our sojourn was more like a +triumphal procession than like a dreary pilgrimage. We preached the +gospel, set in order the churches, directed the labors of the +elders, comforted the Saints, and reproved and corrected the abuses +introduced by President Hedlock and others in relation to the joint +stock companies, etc. + +Hedlock fled at our approach, leaving many debts unpaid and +finally lived incog. in London with a vile woman--he being severed +from the Church. + +It was during my travels in England on this mission that I wrote +the following letter in blank verse to my family, whom I had left +at Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River. It was published in +England at the time, on a beautiful sheet with a handsome border, +and designed to be put in a frame as a household ornament; and is +frequently seen to this day (1856) as a memorial in the parlors of +the Saints on both sides of the Atlantic. + +May it be handed down to posterity as a monument of suffering +and self-denial of women and children for the gospel's sake. + + +CHAPTER XLIV. +------------------------ + +AN APOSTLE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, + +OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, + +_Was in the Island of Great Britain for the gospel's sake; +and being in the Spirit on the 24th of November, 1846, addressed +the following words of comfort to his dearly beloved wife and +family, dwelling in tents, in the camp of Israel, at Council +Bluffs, Missouri Territory, North America; where they and twenty +thousand others were banished by the civilized Christians of the +United States for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus:_ + + MY DEAREST WIFE, + + Thy kindly soul and all + Thine acts of love to him, thy chosen head, + Are treasured deep in memory's archives. + + And when, amid the busy throng of towns, + I pass unheeded, or wander lonely + In some country lane, or graveled highway, + Lined with hawthorn hedge--or turn aside + From the busy walks of men in meadows green, + Or wander 'mid the solitary grove + At twilight hour, where silence reins, and the + Fading tints of autumn tell of time's flight, + And the low murmur of the whispering breeze + Steals o'er the senses like a funeral dirge,-- + Or flying swift o'er country hedge and ditch + In flaming chariot; while hills and vales-- + And towns, and villas, farms, plains, and woods + Are swiftly whirled behind--or musing in + The midnight hour in lonely solitude + Upon my bed--'Tis then I think of thee. + + Sweet thoughts steal gently o'er the memory; + And my spirit wanders o'er the wide sea + And far away o'er Alleghany's heights, + And down the broad Ohio, from its source + To where it mingles its limpid waters + With the dark waves of Missouri's current; + And onward still, with lightning speed it flies, + Till towns and cries all are left behind; + And the last trace of Gentile dwelling fades + From view, and disappears in the far east. + + At length the long sought vision bursts to view + And stays my spirit in its onward flight. + + Towering bluffs; deep indented vales; wide spread + Prairies; boundless plains and beauteous groves + Expand to view; all clad in green, and deck'd + In summer's richest livery of flowers; + Or with the grey tints of fading autumn + Crown'd--emblem of Nature's dissolution. + + There one eternal silence seems to reign, + And slumb'ring Nature rests in solitude. + + There peace prevails; the Sabbath rules the year; + And, in its own primeval innocence, + Uncursed by man's polluted touch, the earth + Seems resting in sacred, sublime repose. + + No Gentile tyrant sways his sceptre there; + No pris'ners groan in solitary cells. + + There freedom dwells; no superstitious creed + Enslaves the mind of man; no Christian mobs + To drive him from his home or shed his blood. + + O sacred solitude, divinely blest-- + Zion's retreat; where dwell the great and good. + + There, with delight my spirit lingers still, + And would prolong the heavenly vision. + + I love thee, for thyself, O land of Zion! + The beauty of thy landscape, thy flowers, + Thy boundless immensity of green fields, + Mingling with the with expanse of Heaven's + Blue arch; thy star-bespangled firmament + Have charms for me. + + The mellow moonlight + Gently stealing o'er thy sacred forests;-- + The fading tints of twilight painted on + Your evening sky;--the soft and plaintive voice + Of the autumnal cricket, as he sings + The funeral knell of expiring insects, + Or sounds a requiem to the closing year-- + + All these steal o'er my senses with delight, + And wake the memory to scenes afar: + + They whisper to the lonely exile, + And tell of youth, and friends, and native clime. + + Yet not for these charms alone I love thee; + Nor yet for peace, or freedom sweet, or rest, + Or sacred Sabbath of sublime repose. + + All these, though dear to me, are worthless toys,-- + Mere baubles,--compared to that precious gem + Which yet remains to beautify my verse, + And swell the music of my joyous theme. + + There dwell my family,--my bosom friends,-- + The precious lambs of my Redeemer,--my + Best of Heaven's gifts to man,--my germs of + Life and immortality,--my hope of Heaven,-- + My principality on earth began,-- + My kingdom in embryo, big with thrones + Of endless power and wide dominion. + + Ye kindred spirits from worlds celestial! + Offsprings of Deity;--Sons and daughters + Of eternity;--Ye nobles of Heaven + Whose dwellings were of old among the Gods + In the everlasting mansions, and who stood + In the councils of the High and lofty + One, ere chaos sprang to order, or the + Foundations of the everlasting hills + Were laid: Why came ye to this world of woe? + Why this disguise?--This painful sojourn in + A land of death?-- + + Why wander far from Heaven's eternal fold + And from the bosom of your Father there? + Had _He_ no love? No fond affection for + His own, that you are banished thus, and left + As exiles wandering in some dreary waste? + And if thus fallen, and forsaken quite, + Like evil spirits thrust from Heaven, to + Return no more;--why that latent spark of + Heaven's pure love still glowing in your breast? + Why does your bosom swell with hope and joy, + And fire celestial kindle in your eye? + + O heavenly gift! The key of knowledge + Restored to man, the mystery unfolds + Of God's elect--their final destiny. + + You are here because your Father loved you; + Because in Heaven ye kept your first estate, + And firm remained when angels did rebel, + And Lucifer drew a third of Heaven's host + From God; and with them sunk in dark despair. + + You are here for further proof and trial;-- + For a second estate; which if ye keep + As ye did the first, will purify your souls, + And fit you for a Heaven celestial. + + You came to the earth to be born of flesh, + To fashion and perfect your earthly house,-- + To live, to love, to suffer and to die,-- + To rise and reign in immortality. + To form your kindred ties with kindred souls,-- + To blend your sympathies by mutual acts + Of kindly charity:-- + + To love and serve + Each other in ten thousand nameless ways; + And thus give exercise to mutual love, + And qualify yourselves for union endless + In that world of bliss. + O ye beings of noble birth! ye lambs + Of celestial origin, to Zion bound! + I know ye now; and knowing, can but love. + + O my Father in heaven? Thine they were, + And Thou gavest them to me:--Precious gifts! + Endear'd by long acquaintance in the heavens, + By the soul's best affections on the earth, + By mutual love and sympathy of soul, + By all the kindred ties which twine around + The heart in sacred, inexpressible + Delight--Made nigh by a Savior's blood:-- + Seal'd by the Holy Ghost, and secur'd + By the spirit and power of Elijah-- + By which the hearts of the fathers are turn'd + To the children: Enliven'd by the hope + Of endless union in that world of life + Where all is pure:-- + + Thrones, principalities, + Powers, majesty, might and dominion, + As a mutual reward! + Who can but love? + + O precious kindred! my loveliest, best! + Are motives wanting still to prompt my love, + And kindle my soul's affection to its + Highest, purest flame? sweet memory dwells + On all the past--Your sufferings with me; + Your sacrifices for the Gospel's sake. + + For _me_ and truth you gladly left your home, + Your native clime, your father, mother, and friends, + And kindred dear, and wandered far away + O'er mountain, seas, and continents. The wide + Expanse of ocean--its waves and tempests + Could not quench your love, or cool your courage:-- + + Towering mountains rose before you; rivers + Intervened to check you on your journey-- + + Wide lakes, gloomy forests, and desert plains + Forbid your further progress, but in vain. + + Truth was the prize you sought; and love impell'd + You onward. These overcome, a host + Of fiends assailed you next, with lying tongues + To flatter, frown, to pity or deceive; + To coax, or drive you from your chosen course. + + When slander, rage, and lies, and pity fail'd, + Then came the deadly strife!--The fires consum'd; + The sword devour'd;--Widows and orphans mourn'd; + Hell's artillery bellow'd; Martyrs bled; + The world exulted;--Devils hugely grinn'd;-- + Heaven wept; saints prayed; Justice stood aghast;-- + Mercy, retiring, dropped a tear of blood;-- + Angels startling, half drew their glittering swords; + And the Gods, in solemn council decreed A just VENGEANCE! + + Amid these awful scenes ye firmly stood + For truth, and him you loved; And leaving house + And home again behind, in poverty + Ye fled; and pitch'd your humble tent amid + The storms of winter: And wandering o'er the + Wide, unsheltered plain, ye braved the tempest + Many a weary month without a murmur-- + + Without a _murmur_! Nay more--Ye smiling + Stood, amid the awful storms, and hail'd the + Tempest welcome. The solitary wilds + Reverb'rated with freedom's joyful songs, + While there you fondly pressed your infant to + Your bosom,--smil'd on your lord,--receiv'd his + Smile in turn, and realized your freedom. + Supremely blest with heaven's approving smile, + With peace and friendship, liberty and love; + And with the daily presence of your lord,-- + Whose best affection sweeten'd every care; + Ye still were happy in your low estate, + Nor sighed for more. + + One only sacrifice remained for us + To make, to further test our depth of love + For God and truth;--'twas all that Heaven could ask. + + With you, my lambs, be left _alone_, to spend + Another winter in this dreary wild, + While him _you love_ shall wander far away + Beyond the sea, for truth and Zion's sake? + + Your pulse beat quick; your bosom heav'd a sigh; + Your heart swell'd with emotion; a big tear + Gush'd forth, and stole in silence down your check; + While your spirit said: "_If I must, I will!_" + + The Recording Angel smil'd; Heaven approv'd, + And said: "_It is enough_," record the same, + And with it Our decree: They are Elect! + Eternal life is theirs: They shall be ONE, + WHILE ENDLESS AGES ROLL! + +PARLEY P. PRATT. + + +CHAPTER XLV. +------------------------ + +Return with Elder John Taylor to America:--Arrival +at Winter Quarters:--Camp Starts for the Rocky Mountains:--Meet +the Pioneers:--Arrival in Great Salt Lake Valley:--Visit to Utah +and Great Salt Lakes. + +Early in January, 1847, having completed our mission in the +British Isles, Brother John Taylor and myself went to Liverpool, +preparatory to our return, with a few of the Saints, who were +accompanying us as emigrants. Here we soon made arrangements for +passage to New Orleans, chartering the second cabin of a large new +ship, called "America." + +We bid adieu to our warm hearted and affectionate friends in +England, and embarked on this ship. Our company consisted of +fourteen persons in all, composed of returning elders and a few +families or individuals who were emigrating with us. We were very +comfortable in our own little cabin, where we had our own +provisions, and set our own table, hiring the ship's cook to do our +cooking. We sailed January 19th, but we soon met a gale of wind, +which was directly contrary to us. This gale continued for nine +days, without any cessation or abatement, during which time we were +beating in a land-locked channel between Ireland and England, +without gaining fifty miles on our course, being in imminent danger +of being cast away on a lee shore. During all this time our Captain +lay sick in his berth with a fever on the brain, and much of the +time in a state of mental derangement. We frequently watched with +him, and in his rational moments he would converse a little. He +said his family lived in America, and he much wished to get to +them, but was very positive he should never see them more, having +been for many days oppressed with a sure and certain presentiment +that he should never reach America alive. We, in reply, allowed +that presentiments of that kind were possible, and sometimes true, +and to be depended on, but not always. And Brother Taylor and +myself assured him, as men of God, that his present presentiment +was false, and that both him and his vessel would reach America in +safety. This we assured him over and over again, from day to day. +After nine days of severe struggle with the wind and waves, the +mate and supercargo becoming discouraged, and the men worn out, +they counselled with us and concluded to put back into the port of +Liverpool, which was accordingly done after some difficulty and +delay. Here the Captain, who was still dangerously ill, went on +shore, and under proper medical aid, recovered, and afterwards +landed in America per steamer, where he reached his family in +safety. Our mate was sworn in captain, and we again put to sea, +after visiting our friends on shore, and recruiting our stock of +provisions. On taking this second farewell of our friends in the +British Isles I sent forth through the columns of the _Star_ +the following farewell address: + +TO THE SAINTS IN GREAT BRITAIN + +_Beloved Brethren_:--Having been so crowded with business +and care on my late departure from your shores for my home in the +distant wilds of western America, I had no time to say _farewell +_, or to leave my blessing with you in a formal manner as a +whole, although expressed frequently in our farewell meetings. I +have, therefore, providentially returned to your midst, after nine +days of seafaring life, in order to take a fair start, and to say +farewell through the medium of the _Star_. + +I feel the most perfect satisfaction with the manner of our +reception and entertainment among you as men of God. I also feel +that we have, as far as time would permit, accomplished the work +for which we came, and that the utmost success and prosperity has +attended our labors. The Church universally has manifested a spirit +of confidence and obedience to the instructions we had to impart, +and the measures we were sent to purpose for their prosperity and +deliverance, both temporally and spiritually. + +We have also been received and entertained in the most kind and +hospitable manner in every place we have been permitted to visit. +We have been lodged, fed, comforted and cheered as if we had been +angels of glad tidings, and we feel the utmost satisfaction in +expressing our most grateful thanks for all the kindness and +assistance rendered unto us while in your midst; and, in the name +of Jesus Christ, and by authority of the Holy Priesthood and +Apostleship vested in us, we bless the congregations of the Saints +throughout this land, with all the officers and members thereof, +with the blessings of time and eternity in all their fullness. We +also bless the Queen, ministers, magistrates, and people of this +realm, while they continue to administer equal justice for the +protection of every subject, without respect of persons; and we +pray that Heaven's choicest blessings may rest upon the Saints, and +upon all that fear God and work righteousness in this land. Ye sons +and daughters of Zion, be of good cheer; for God will deliver you +in due time, and gather in one the children of God. Pray for us and +for the camp of the Saints in the wilderness. Farewell. + +P. P. PRATT. + LIVERPOOL, _January 29, 1847_. + +Elder Hyde did not sail with us, but stayed a few days longer to +complete the business in the office. Soon after we set sail Elder +Joseph Cain, returning missionary, was married on board to Miss +Elizabeth Whittaker. It was a fine affair, and we had a good dinner +on the occasion. The wind was now fair continually, and we were +only thirty-five days in coming to anchor off the port of New +Orleans--having sailed some seven or eight thousand miles. Here we +were delayed a day or two by a dense fog, but as the weather +cleared, a tug steamer soon got hold of us, and took us into port. + +Here, as soon as we could get clear of the custom house, we took +a steamer, and, in about six days, arrived in St. Louis. + +Here I left Brother Taylor to pass up the Missouri River on a +steamer, with the company and baggage, while I took a horse and +rode through the northwestern portion of Missouri, and into Iowa, +by land. I went _incog_. for fear of my old enemies in that +State. + +I struck the wagon trail we had made the year before, near +Garden Grove, and tarried there with the Saints one day. It was +then quite a flourishing place the farms which I helped to open and +enclose the previous year having yielded abundance of provisions, +and other farms having been opened. + +Being a little refreshed I passed on to "Mount Pisga," where I +found another flourishing settlement of the Saints, and stayed over +night. Thence I passed on to the Missouri River, finding Saints to +entertain me every night. In making the journey from St. Louis to +Missouri River, near Winter Quarters, I had probably travelled near +four hundred and fifty miles on horseback. I crossed over the ferry +at noon of a fine April day, and came suddenly upon my friends and +family. This was April 8, 1847. I found my family all alive, and +dwelling in a log cabin. They had, however, suffered much from +cold, hunger and sickness. They had oftentimes lived for several +days on a little corn meal, ground on a hand mill, with no other +food. One of the family was then lying very sick with the scurvy--a +disease which had been very prevalent in camp during the winter, +and of which many had died. I found, on inquiry, that the winter +had been very severe, the snow deep, and, consequently, that all my +horses (four in number) were lost, and I afterwards ascertained +that out of twelve cows I had but seven left, and out of some +twelve or fourteen oxen only four or five were spared. + +President Young and Council, with a company of pioneers, were +then encamped on the Elk Horn River, twenty miles west, ready to +start for the mountains. Some of them, however, returned to Winter +Quarters on business, and I had an interview with them. I then gave +a relation of our European mission, and delivered to them an +account of our hundred and sixty-nine sovereigns in gold, collected +in England as tithing, which had crossed the sea in my charge, and +was then in charge of Elder Taylor on the Missouri River, and might +be expected soon. This small sum proved a very acceptable and +timely relief in aiding the Presidency to relieve some of the +distress, and to fit out as pioneers for the mountains. + +The President and Council seemed well pleased with our mission +and management. They expressed an earnest wish for me to accompany +them on the pioneer trip to the mountains; but my circumstances +seemed to forbid, and they did not press the matter. + +After a few days' rest I began to prepare for journeying to the +mountains with my family. My wagons were overhauled and put in +order, tires reset, chains repaired, yokes and bows arranged in +order, wagon bows made or mended, etc., etc. This occupied most of +my time till June. + +Early in June I loaded my goods and family into my wagons, and, +obtaining a few more cattle, started for the Rocky Mountains; or +rather for the Elk Horn River, where we expected to form a +rendezvous, and establish a ferry and wait the arrival of others, +and the organization of companies for the purpose of mutual safety +in travelling. + +Arriving at Elk Horn River with a small company, we made a ferry +of a raft of dry cotton-wood timber, and rafted over our own +company of about fifty wagons. We then organized for herding and +grazing purposes, continued to aid others in crossing and +organizing until five hundred and sixty-six wagons were finally +crossed and organized ready for a march. In the final organization +of this vast company Father Isaac Morley and Bishop Whitney +assisted, or rather took the oversight--being a committee appointed +for that purpose by the Presidency before they left. As Brother +Taylor and myself were present, we were appointed and invited to +take a general superintendency of this emigration. + +The organization consisted of companies of tens, fifties and +hundreds, with a captain over each, and the whole presided over by +a president and two counselors, a marshal, etc. President John +Young was called to preside--having been nominated by the +Presidency before their departure. John Van Cott was appointed +marshal. + +This organized, this large company moved on up the Platte about +the Fourth of July. There were some difficulties and jealousies +during the first few days, on account of some misunderstanding and +insubordination in the order of travel. This at length became so +far developed that it was found necessary to call a general halt on +the Platte River, and hold a council of the principal officers, in +which things were amicably adjusted and the camp moved on. + +Arriving at the Loupe Fork of Platte River, we continued up it +quite a distance above the trail the pioneers had made, as we could +not ford the river in their track. We at length found a ford, and +with some difficulty on account of quicksands, forded the river and +made our way over to the Main Platte, re-entering the pioneer +trail. As we passed up the Platte on this trail the companies in +front had frequently to halt and build bridges, etc. On one +occasion Peregrine Sessions, who was captain of our company of +fifty, and myself found two horses which had probably strayed from +some former travellers, and which, after several unsuccessful +attempts by different parties, Brother Taylor succeeded in driving +into camp, he and I captured them. We were at the time ahead of the +company, following up a stream to try and find a ford. This was a +very timely providence to me, as I had lost all my horses the +previous winter, and was now pioneering for the company without any +horse, and on foot. + +After journeying for several hundred miles up the Platte, we at +length met two messengers from the pioneers under President Young, +from Salt Lake Valley. These were P. Rockwell and E. T. Benson; who +had been sent out to try to find us and report our progress and +circumstances. Having visited all the camps, they returned to the +valley, or rather to where they met the President and pioneers, on +their way back to Winter Quarters on the Missouri. I accompanied +them back nearly one day's ride on the way, and then bid them God +speed, and returned to my own camp. Soon after this our fifty met +the President and company of pioneers and camped with them one day. + +A council was called, in which I was highly censured and +chastened by President Young and others. This arose in part from +some defect in the organization under my superintendence at the Elk +Horn, and in part from other misunderstandings on the road. I was +charged with neglecting to observe the order of organization +entered into under the superintendence of the President before he +left the camps at Winter Quarters; and of variously interfering +with previous arrangements. In short, I was severely reproved and +chastened. I no doubt deserved this chastisement; and I humbled +myself, acknowledged my faults and errors, and asked forgiveness. I +was frankly forgiven, and, bidding each other farewell, each +company passed on their way. This school of experience made me more +humble and careful in future, and I think it was the means of +making me a wiser and better man ever after. + +After bidding farewell to the President and pioneers, and to my +own brother, Orson Pratt, who was one of them, we continued our +journey; and after many toils, vexations and trials, such as +breaking wagons, losing cattle, upsetting, etc., we arrived in the +Valley of Great Salt Lake late in September, 1847. Here we found a +fort commenced and partly built by the pioneers, consisting of an +enclosure of a block of ten acres with a wall, or in part of +buildings of adobes or logs. We also found a city laid out and a +public square dedicated for a Temple of God. We found also much +ground planted in late crops, which, however, did not mature, being +planted late in July; although there were obtained for seed a few +small potatoes, from the size of a pea upward to that of half an +inch in diameter. These being sound and planted another year +produced some very fine potatoes, and, finally, contributed mainly +in seeding the territory with that almost indispensable article of +food. + +After we had arrived on the ground of Great Salt Lake City we +pitched our tents by the side of a spring of water; and, after +resting a little, I devoted my time chiefly to building temporary +houses, putting in crops, and obtaining fuel from the mountains. + +Having repented of our sins and renewed our covenants, President +John Taylor and myself administered the ordinances of baptism, +etc., to each other and to our families, according to the example +set by the President and pioneers who had done the same on entering +the valley. + +These solemnities took place with us and most of our families, +November 28, 1847. + +Some time in December, having finished sowing wheat and rye, I +started, in company with a Brother Higby and others, for Utah Lake +with a boat and fish net. We travelled some thirty miles with our +boat, etc., on an ox wagon, while some of us rode on horseback. The +distance brought us to the foot of Utah Lake, a beautiful sheet of +fresh water, some thirty-six miles long by fifteen broad. Here we +launched our boat and tried our net, being probably the first boat +and net ever used on this sheet of water in modern times. + +We sailed up and down the lake shore on its western side for +many miles, but had only poor success in fishing. We, however, +caught a few samples of mountain trout and other fish. + +After exploring the lake and valley for a day or two the company +returned home, and a Brother Summers and myself struck westward +from the foot of the lake on horseback, on an exploring tour. On +this tour we discovered and partly explored Cedar Valley, and there +crossed over the west mountain range and discovered a valley +beyond; passing through which we crossed a range of hills +northward, and entered Tooele Valley. Passing still northward, we +camped one night on a bold mountain stream, and the next day we +came to the southern extreme of Great Salt Lake, and passing round +between it and the west mountain we journeyed in an eastern course, +and, crossing the Jordan, arrived in Salt Lake City--having devoted +nearly one week to fishing, hunting and exploring expedition. +During all this time we had fine weather and warm days; but the +night we arrived home was a cold one, with a severe snow storm. And +thus closed the year 1847. + + +CHAPTER XLVI. +------------------------ + +Spring of 1848:--Scarcity of Provisions:--"Harvest +Feast:"--Arrival of President Young and Company:--Gold Fever:-- +Explore Southern Utah. + +_January 1st, 1848_. + +The opening of the year found us and the community generally in +good, comfortable, temporary log or adobe cabins, which were built +in a way to enclose the square commenced by the pioneers, and a +portion of two other blocks of the city plot. Here life was as +sweet and the holidays as merry as in the Christian palaces and +mansions of those who had driven us to the mountains. + +In February we again commenced to plough for spring crops, while +I had the happiness to behold the tender blade of my wheat and rye +clothing a few acres with a beautiful green, pleasingly contrasted +with the gray, wild, wormwood and other traits of our dreary +solitude; while similar pleasing sights stretched away in the +distance, marking the bounds of agriculture as possessed by my +neighbors. + +_March 25th_--My oldest son Parley celebrated his +birthday with a family party--being then eleven years of age. + +After dinner, in presence of the assembled family, I related the +circumstances of his being a promised child, with an account of his +birth, his history, and the death of his mother. I reminded him +that he was my first born--my heir, both to estate and priesthood. +I exhorted him to prepare to walk in my footsteps, and to do good +and serve God and his fellow men by a well ordered life, and by +laying hold of knowledge and a good education. I rehearsed to him +my own sufferings, and the sufferings of my family, and of the +Church while in the States--telling him of the murder of our +prophets and Saints, and how we had been driven to the mountains, +robbed and plundered of a very large amount of property and +possessions. The day was spent most pleasantly and profitably by +all. + +I continued my farming operations, and also attended to my +ministry in the Church. Devoting my Sabbaths and leisure hours to +comforting and encouraging the Saints, and urging them to faith and +persevering industry in trying to produce a first harvest in a +desert one thousand miles from the nearest place which had matured +a crop in modern times. + +We had to struggle against great difficulties in trying to +mature a first crop. We had not only the difficulties and +inexperience incidental to an unknown and untried climate, but also +swarms of insects equal to the locusts of Egypt, and also a +terrible drought, while we were entirely inexperienced in the art +of irrigation; still we struggled on, trusting in God. + +During this spring and summer my family and myself, in common +with many of the camp, suffered much for want of food. This was the +more severe on me and my family because we had lost nearly all our +cows, and the few which were spared to us were dry, and, therefore, +we had no milk to help out our provisions. I had ploughed and +subdued land to the amount of near forty acres, and had cultivated +the same in grain and vegetables. In this labor every woman and +child in my family, so far as they were of sufficient age and +strength, had joined to help me, and had toiled incessantly in the +field, suffering every hardship which human nature could well +endure. Myself and some of them were compelled to go with bare feet +for several months, reserving our Indian moccasins for extra +occasions. We toiled hard and lived on a few greens and on thistle +and other roots. We had sometimes a little flour and some cheese, +and sometimes we were able to procure from our neighbors a little +sour skimmed milk or buttermilk. + +In this way we lived and raised our first crop in these valleys. +And how great was our joy in partaking of the first fruits of our +industry. + +On the 10th of August we held a public feast under a bowery in +the center of our fort. This was called a harvest feast; we partook +freely of a rich variety of bread, beef, butter, cheese, cakes, +pastry, green corn, melons, and almost every variety of vegetable. +Large sheaves of wheat, rye, barley, oats and other productions +were hoisted on poles for public exhibition, and there was prayer +and thanksgiving, congratulations, songs, speeches, music, dancing, +smiling faces and merry hearts. In short, it was a great day with +the people of these valleys, and long to be remembered by those who +had suffered and waited anxiously for the results of a first effort +to redeem the interior deserts of America, and to make her hitherto +unknown solitudes "blossom as the rose." + +During this autumn our little colony was reinforced by the +arrival of President Young and family, accompanied with large +trains of emigrants, amounting in all to several thousands. Under +his wise counsels city lots were given out, and people began to +build on them and vacate the forts. I obtained some lots south of +the Temple square, and built a temporary adobe house, where I soon +removed with most of my family. Here, in our new habitation, we +spent the remainder of the year. + +_January 1st, 1849_--Our city now began to take form and +shape, and to be dotted here and there with neat little cottages, +or small temporary buildings, composed of adobes or logs. The roofs +were generally of poles or timbers covered with earth. Saw mills +were now in operation, and a few boards were obtained for floors, +doors, etc. Our happy new year passed off merrily, and we were +probably as happy a people as could be found on the earth. + +_February 12th_--I met in council with the First +Presidency and members of the Twelve, in which certain vacancies in +our quorum were filled. We were then instructed to assist in +reorganizing the different quorums here, and in establishing +righteousness. We accordingly met with the Presidency almost daily, +and proceeded to organize and ordain the Presidency of the High +Priests quorum, the Presidency of the Stake at Salt Lake City, with +its High Council, and to divide the city and county into wards and +ordain a bishop over each. In these and similar duties, and in +meeting with my quorum and teaching and preaching in the several +branches of the Church my time was chiefly spent until spring. + +_March 15th_--was appointed by a General Convention as +one of a committee of ten to draft a constitution for the +Provisional State of Deseret. + +_March 18th_--The committee reported, and the Convention +unanimously adopted the constitution. + +I devoted the fore part of the summer to farming; but, my crop +failing, I commenced in July to work a road up the rugged canyon of +Big Canyon Creek. I had the previous year explored the canyon for +that purpose, and also a beautiful park,* and passes from Salt Lake +City to Weber River eastward, in a more southern and less rugged +route than the pioneer entrance to the valley. Emigrants now came +pouring in from the States on their way to California to seek gold. +Money and gold dust was plenty, and merchandise of almost every +description came pouring into our city in great plenty. + +[Footnote] *Since called Parley's Park. + +I soon so far completed my road as to be able to obtain a large +amount of fuel and timber. In November I ceased operations in the +canyon and broke up my mountain camp and returned to the city. + +I now received a commission from the Governor and Legislative +Assembly of the State of Deseret to raise fifty men, with the +necessary teams and outfit, and go at their head on an exploring +tour to the southward. + +This company was soon raised, armed, equipped, and ready for a +march into the dreary and almost unknown regions of Southern Utah. + +I will here give the list of names composing the company, and +also a short summary of the report that I gave in to the +Legislative Assembly on our return. + +PARLEY P. PRATT, _President_. + W. W. PHELPS, D. FULMER, _Counselors_; + ROBERT L. CAMPBELL, _Clerk_. + +_February 7th, 1850_: + +FIRST TEN: Isaac C. Haight, _Captain_. Parley P. Pratt, +William Wadsworth, Rufus Allen, Chauncey West, Dan. Jones, Hial K. +Gay, George B. Mabson, Samuel Gould, Wm. P. Vance. + +SECOND TEN: Joseph Matthews, _Captain_. John Brown, +Nathan Tanner, Sterling G. Driggs, Homer Duncan, Wm. Matthews, +Schuyler Jennings, John H. Bankhead, John D. Holiday, Robert M. +Smith. + +THIRD TEN: Joseph Horn, _Captain_. Wm. Brown, George +Nebiker, Benjamin F. Stewart, Alexander Wright, James Farrer, Henry +Heath, Seth B. Tanner, Alexander Lemon, David Fulmer. + +FOURTH TEN: Ephraim Green, _Captain_. Wm. W. Phelps, +Charles Hopkins, Sidney Willis, Andrew Blodgett, Wm. Henry, Peter +Dustin, Thomas Ricks, Robert Campbell, Isaac H. Brown. + +FIFTH TEN: Josiah Arnold, _Captain_, Jonathan Packer, +Christopher Williams, Stephen Taylor, Isaac B. Hatch, John C. +Armstrong, Dimick B. Huntington. + +Our company had 12 wagons; 1 carriage; 24 yokes of cattle; 7 +beeves; number of horses and mules, 38. + +Average in flour, 150 lbs. to each man; besides crackers, bread +and meal. One brass field piece; firearms; ammunition in +proportion. + +At Captain John Brown's, on Cotton Wood, 23d of November, 1849, +at 2 P.M., a meeting of the company for exploring the south was +convened. Called to order by P. P. Pratt, who gave instructions +relative to the necessity of peace, order and good feelings being +preserved during this expedition. Supported in this by W. W. Phelps +and David Fulmer. + +Voted, That Parley P. Pratt be President of the company. That W. +W. Phelps and David Fulmer be his Counselors; carried unanimously. + +Voted, That John Brown be Captain of Fifty; carried unanimously. + +Voted, That W. W. Phelps act as Topographical Engineer; carried +unanimously. + +Voted, That Ephraim Green be Chief Gunner; carried unanimously. + +During our exploring expedition we encountered severe weather, +deep snows, and many hardships and toils incident to such an +undertaking. We explored the best portions of the country south +from Great Salt Lake City to the mouth of Santa Clara, on the Rio +Virgin, which is a principal branch of the Rio Colorado. Our +distance in going and returning was (counting the direct traveled +route as afterward opened), between seven or eight hundred miles. +In much of this distance we made the first track; and even the +portion which had before been penetrated by wagons was so +completely snowed under that we seldom found the trail. + +It was during these toils, and perils, and amid the snows of +these regions, that I composed the song, beginning, "O, come, come +away, from northern blasts retiring," which became a favorite with +the singers in camp, and seemed to beguile the tedious winter +evenings around our camp fires. + +I here give a few extracts from my journal while on our return +trip: + +_January 21st_--Having been on our homeward journey for +some twenty days, and it snowing severely, we remained in camp. +This day I was taken very sick of a bilious attack, and was +confined to my bed. We held a council, and finding that our +provisions would only sustain half of our company till spring, and +traveling with the wagons was impossible, we decided upon leaving +half the company to winter there with the wagons and cattle, and +the other half, with some of the strongest mules and horses, should +attempt to reach Provo--the southern frontier--distance upwards of +one hundred miles. The company that remained were mostly young men +without families. My counselor, David Fulmer, being placed in +command. It was in a country of shrub cedars, which would afford +some shelter for the animals, and richly clothed in bunch grass, +and some portions of the hill sides where the snow had blown off +being nearly bare, the cattle could live. + +_January 22d_--In the morning I was still sick, but about +noon bid farewell to those who stayed, mounted a mule, and, with +upwards of twenty men and animals, we commenced our wallowing in +the snow. We made about nine miles, and camped in a cedar thicket. +Being unable longer to sit on my mule, or stand on my feet, the +snow was shoveled away, some blankets spread, and I lay down. I had +not eaten one mouthful for a day or two, but vomited many times +very severely. + +_Wednesday, 23d_--I was better, and we again started, the +snow being from three to four feet deep on a level. The men went +ahead on foot, the entire company, men and animals, making but one +track. The person breaking the track would tire out in a few +moments, and, giving place to another, would fall into the rear. +This day we made nine or ten miles, and camped in a mountain pass, +thirteen miles south of the Sevier River. + +_Thursday, 24th_--It was long after night when we +wallowed into camp, waist deep in snow; and, shoveling away the +snow, we made fires, spread our blankets, and sank down to rest, +being entirely exhausted--our animals either tied to cedar bushes +without food, or wallowing up the hills in search of bare spots of +bunch grass. + +_Friday, 25th_--We were obliged to leave several of our +animals which gave out. We passed through Round Valley, made about +ten miles, camped on the heights, some four miles south of the +Sevier. It was still snowing; our animals found some bunch grass on +the hill sides. + +_Saturday, 26th_--In the morning we found ourselves so +completely buried in snow that no one could distinguish the place +where we lay. Some one rising, began shoveling the others out. This +being found too tedious a business, I raised my voice like a +trumpet, and commanded them to arise; when all at once there was a +shaking among the snow piles, the graves were opened, and all came +forth! We called this Resurrection Camp. Passing on, we forded the +Sevier, and camped on the heights, six or seven miles north of the +same, the snow this day being much less. + +_Sunday, 27th_--Our provisions being nearly exhausted, +Chauncey West and myself volunteered to take some of the strongest +animals and try to penetrate to Provo, which was still some fifty +miles distant, in order to send back provisions to the remainder, +who were to follow slowly. + +We started at daylight, breaking the way on foot, and leading +the mules in our track, and sometimes riding them. Traveled all +day, averaging about knee deep in snow. Camped at eleven at night +on Summit Creek, extremely hungry and feet badly frozen. We built a +small fire, it being the coldest night we had ever experienced, and +after trying in vain to thaw out our frozen shoes, stockings and +the bottoms of our drawers and pants, we rolled ourselves in our +blankets, and lay trembling with cold a few hours. + +_Monday, 28th_--Arose long before day; bit a few +mouthfuls off the last black frozen biscuit remaining. Saddled up +our animals, and, after another laborious day, living on a piece of +biscuit not so large as our fist, we entered Provo at dark; raised +a posse of men and animals, with provisions, and sent back same +night. + +These picked up one of our men, whose name was Taylor, who had +wandered off ahead of the rest, and had reached within some eight +miles of Provo. They found him sunk down in the snow, in a helpless +condition, his horse standing by him, and both nearly frozen to +death. He lived, but in a measure lost the use of his limbs. + +This relief company met those we had left behind somewhere in +the southern end of Utah Valley, some twenty miles from Provo. They +were entirely out of food and very faint and weary. They were +plentifully supplied and safely conducted to the settlement. + +I rested a day or two in Provo and then started again for home. +After riding thirty-six miles on a mule, I took supper with a +friend in Cottonwood, and, leaving the mule, started at sundown and +walked the other ten miles which brought me once more to my home. +This was about the first of February, 1850. + +The company we had left with the wagons and oxen wintered +themselves and cattle very well, and finally arrived home in safety +in March following. + +After my return from my southern exploring expedition I +re-entered the Legislature and continued my duties as a member of +that body until its annual adjournment. + +Some time in this month I again commenced work on my road in Big +Canyon Creek, and in getting out timber and wood from the same. I +continued this operation during the remainder of the season--obtaining +much building and fencing timber and a large quantity of poles. In +July I had so far completed the road as to open it for the California +emigration. The amount of toll taken this first season was about one +thousand five hundred dollars. + +The following winter, being re-elected to the Legislative +Assembly of the State of Deseret, I devoted much of the time in the +duties thereof. I also continued in the duties of my Priesthood. +And, lest any time should run to waste, I filled up the interstices +not otherwise occupied, in the study of the Spanish language. + +During this winter I was called by the First Presidency and set +apart to take charge of a General Mission to the Pacific. I +composed a song, which was sung before the congregation in the +Tabernacle, on the occasion of our departure on this mission, +commencing + + "Holy, happy, pure and free," etc. + +I now close this chapter of my history by saying that my life up +to this date has been an eventful one, somewhat hurried and +laborious; and, if "variety is the spice of life," I think it may +truly be called a spicy one--which circumstance will account for +the imperfect sketch I have written of it. + + +CHAPTER XLVII. +------------------------ + +Start on my Pacific Mission:--Sketch of the Journey:-- +Attacked by Indians:--Crossing the Desert:--Arrival at +Los Angelos. + +_March 16th, 1851._ + +I left Great Salt Lake City for the Pacific, on a mission to its +islands and coasts, being commissioned and set apart for that work +by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Jay +Saints. + +Passing through various settlements, and visiting the brethren, +I arrived at Fort Utah, and assisted the Presidency to organize a +stake of Zion, with its High Council and other officers, and to +ordain and set them apart. + +_Friday, 21st_--I took leave of my friends and pursued my +journey on horseback, twenty-eight miles to Peteetneet, where I +overtook my teams, and spent Saturday in organizing the company +with which we journeyed. Their outfit consisted of about one +hundred and fifty wagons. Most of the company were emigrating with +C. C. Rich and A. Lyman to Southern California. + +My own party of missionaries consisted of the following elders, +viz.: John Murdock, Rufus Allen, Wm. Perkins, S. Woodbury, F. H. +Hammond, P. B. Wood, Mr. Hopkins and Morris Miner. + +Mr. Perkins, Mr. Woodbury, Mr. Hammond and Mr. Hopkins were +accompanied by a wife each, as well as myself. + +_Monday, 24th_--We commenced our journey from Peteetneet +organized in companies of tens, fifties and one hundred--fifty +journeying together. + +Our fifty, commanded by Captain Seely, traveled six miles to +Summit Creek. + +_Tuesday, 25th_--I took a walk in the morning about three +miles and ascended a beautiful height, which afforded a fair view +(with a telescope) of the head of Utah Lake and the valley of Salt +Creek, which enters the lake through an extensive meadow at the +head of the lake, forming at its junction a beautiful harbor and a +convenient beach of sand. The depth of water not known, but its +deep blue color intimated sufficient depth for small crafts. + +About two miles west of an encampment on Summit Creek I +discovered a beautiful and inexhaustible stone quarry of blue lime, +which, both for building and lime, will be very useful and +convenient to the settlement which will soon grow up on that +beautiful site. + +Returning to camp, we journeyed eleven miles to Willow Creek the +country being rich in grass, and watered by Salt Creek, a stream of +one and a half rods wide, and several large springs running north +into Utah Lake. + +_Friday, 28th_--I ascended a ridge of mountains, and +obtained a view of an extensive country to the west, composed of +desert plains, hills, and confused fragments of broken mountain +chains, without fertility or anything to redeem or enliven this +landscape except the windings of the Sevier River and narrow, +grassy bottoms. And even this scene soon loses itself amid the +black and barren hills of the dreary waste. + +This day we passed through about ten miles of waste country, +with some grassy spots and cedar groves, and encamped on the Sevier +River. + +_Saturday, 29th_--We passed the ford, three feet deep and +one hundred and fifty feet wide--a smooth and sluggish current--and +encamped on its southern bank. + +The weather bad, with squalls of snow and cold winds. The hills +afford some scattered bunch grass, which is very good. + +_Monday, 31st_--We traveled thirteen miles through a pass +where the hills were very rich in grass and fuel, and full of fine +stone quarries. This pass was five miles from the river. + +Thence through a valley rich in grass and soil, beautiful and +extensive, and abundantly supplied with fuel on its borders, but +destitute of living streams, although the melting snows of its +bordering mountains supply some streams which run a short distance +at certain seasons of the year, and then sink. + +_April 1st_--Camp divided for convenience of travel, and +General Rich and myself, with twenty-three wagons, traveled +thirteen and encamped at a beautiful spring brook, among grassy +hills, interspersed with cedar, like an orchard. + +Our road to-day led through a pass in the mountains by a gradual +assent for about three miles, and then down very gradually for ten +miles among hills, plains and little vales, more rich in bunch +grass and cedar fuel, and more varied and beautiful than any other +country I ever beheld. Every high hill, every dell, every vale or +nook seemed richly coated with a living green of rich grass, and +set about with cedars from twelve to twenty-five feet high, like an +old orchard. + +Its northern bounds, limited by a rocky and barren range of high +mountains through which we had passed. + +Its eastern limit was a snowy and timbered range, which divides +between the valley where we were and the Sevier River, which heads +in the south, near the rim of the Great Basin, in a beautiful +salmon trout lake, surrounded with lofty pines and cedars, and runs +in a northerly direction, till it sweeps round to the west and +southwest, and forms a lake which is in view from our camp, and +appears like a silver mirror at some thirty or forty miles +distance. + +I arose in the morning, and with my large telescope viewed from +an eminence the vast country before me. + +On the east the high mountain chains at several miles distance +appears snowy and timbered, and pierced with gorges accessible for +roads to be made to the timber; and giving rise to several streams +which meander though this vast valley on our south and west, and +enter the lakes or sinks in their own rich alluvials. + +To our southwest and northwest the view is almost boundless; +consistent of a vast valley interspersed with fertile meadows, +desert spots, known by their darker hues; lakes, rivulets, +distinguished by the yellow meadow grasses and red willow streaks; +and hills here and there dotted with cedars, and the whole bounded, +in the vast and dim distance, by dark mountains not very high. +Beyond which, at the distance of perhaps a hundred miles, appear +other and more lofty peaks white with snow, and looking up like +distant white clouds on the horizon. + +Here are resources for farming, stock raising, fuel, etc., in +sight of present encampment, probably more than sufficient to +sustain the present population of Rhode Island; and yet, not a +domestic animal, except those of the passing traveller, or a human +being, save the occasional savage in his wanderings, occupies any +portion of this wide domain. + +Crossing several streams in the same large valley, all bordered +by lands, we at length left the valley and journeyed two miles over +a hilly country, well supplied with cedar and shrub pines for fuel, +and bunch grass for feed, but not well watered. + +Thence a few miles over a worthless country to the Beaver River. + +This is a large stream, swift and clear, running in several +branches through a large and fertile bottom; the soil of which +appears rich, but highly impregnated with saleratus, and the table +lands, which surround it, barren or nearly destitute of pasturage. + +However, I think the place worthy of settlement, and, probably, +containing eight or ten thousand acres of land which may be watered +and cultivated. + +Leaving this place, we passed another long stretch of upland, +destitute of all resources, except grass and fuel, which were +abundant in places. + +We were at length met by G. A. Smith and others, from Little +Salt Lake settlement; and accompanied by them, we all arrived on +Red Creek, in the same valley. Here the camp found water and grass +to refresh themselves after so wearisome a journey. + +_April 10th_.--Same evening I arrived in the fort, +accompanied by the citizens, who came out to meet us. I found the +inhabitants all well, and the settlement in a truly flourishing +condition. Hundreds of acres of grain had been sown, gardens +planted, etc., and the farming land nearly enclosed; together with +a most substantial saw mill, and many houses of wood and of sun +dried brick, built and in progress. Building materials consisting +of timber of the finest quality, viz.: pine, fir and cedar, +together with good building stone and brick, were scattered in +profusion in every direction. + +Water ditches were flowing for mills and irrigation purposes in +many directions. + +Mechanics' shops were in operation; such as joiners, carpenters +millwrights, coopers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, etc. + +All this was the work of two or three months, in winter and +early spring; not to mention a large enclosure of pickets in the +center of the fort--a council house of hewn timber, and a bastion +of the same material. + +The number of men composing the settlement and performing all +this work, did not exceed one hundred and twenty all told including +old men, boys and Indian servants, just being tamed and initiated +into the first rudiments of industry. + +All the camps moved from Red Creek and encamped near the fort, +where we tarried a few days. + +_April 12th_.--Celebrated my birthday by a feast jointly +provided by us and G. A. Smith, at his house. Ten or twelve persons +sat down to a sumptuous repast. + +_April 14th_.--We removed to Summit Creek--distance seven +miles. Here we tarried one week, in course of which the rear camp, +headed by Amasa Lyman, arrived in good condition. + +_Sunday, 20th_.--All met in a general assembly, to +worship God and to edify one another; being joined by the people +from the fort, we had a good time. The Spirit was poured out upon +us. G. A. Smith and others spake with power in the Spirit and +testimony of Jesus; rebuking iniquity, worldly mindedness, +unbelief, profanity, and all manner of iniquity, and exhorting the +people to obey the servants of the Lord in all righteousness. + +As the meeting was about to close P. B. Lewis, who lived in this +settlement, was set apart by prayer, prophecy and the laying on of +hands of the four Apostles present, as one of the Pacific +missionaries. He had already moved into camp with his wife and +teams, etc., to accompany us. We travelled eight miles to a stream +called Coal Creek. Encamped and built a bridge across the deep and +narrow channel, about four feet wide, and tarried here next day for +the remainder of our company, some of whom had failed to obtain +their animals the day before. + +This encampment was about ten miles below the crossing of the +same stream on the old road. I had, however, looked out a new +route, which would save some eight or ten miles. + +This stream forms a rich meadow bottom, of about fifteen miles +long and two broad. + +Abundance of cedar fuel and rich pasturage is found on the table +lands which border this bottom; and iron ore abounds a few miles to +the southwest, not to mention a large cottonwood grove in the upper +part of the meadow, and a canyon opening into the mountains, from +which the stream issues. Taken all together, this place combines +materials for a large settlement. + +_Wednesday, 23d_, we travelled twenty miles without +water, over hills and plains, and among forests of cedar, and +encamped after dark at a spring, having regained the old road a few +miles before encamping. + +While the cattle were feeding I ascended an eminence, and, with +my telescope, viewed the largest valley I had ever seen in the +great basin. It might have been seventy miles from south to north, +and thirty miles from east to west. + +Some signs of water and rich and fertile spots appeared in the +dim distance; but, generally speaking, it was a cheerless monotony, +without water, and clothed in the leaden hue of the desert. + +We travelled several miles over a fine table land, on east of +said valley, which still stretched away some thirty miles to the +west, and was finally bounded by a low range of mountains on its +south and west, and these again were backed by a still higher range +and white with snow. Their lofty peaks, at fifty or sixty miles +distance, peeping up from behind the nearer hills like distant +clouds on the far off horizon. + +After passing a few miles of very hilly road we came down upon a +small stream, which heads in numerous spring meadows near the rim +of the basin, on the divide between it and the Colorado. Here we +camped to rest on Saturday and Sunday. + +This little mountain paradise was, by the present road, three +hundred and eleven miles from the Great Salt Lake City, and was +altogether the most beautiful place in all the route. Some thousand +or fifteen hundred acres of bottom, or meadow lands, were spread +out before us like a green carpet richly clothed with a variety of +grasses, and possessing a soil both black, rich and quick--being a +mixture of sand, gravel and clayey loam, and the decayed +visitations of ages. It was everywhere moistened with springs, and +would produce potatoes, vegetables and the smaller grains in +abundance without watering. + +The surrounding hills were not abrupt, but rounded off, +presenting a variety of beauteous landscapes, and everywhere richly +clothed with the choicest kind of bunch grass, and bordered in +their higher eminences with cedar and nut pine sufficient for fuel. + +Afar off, behind the hills in the east, could be seen from the +eminence high, snowy mountains, black in places with tall timber, +plainly distinguishable with the telescope, probably from ten to +twenty miles distance. + +_May 13th_--We encamped at a large spring, usually called +the Vegas--having travelled nearly two hundred miles since the +foregoing was written. The country through which we have passed is +a worthless desert, consisting of mountains of naked rock and +barren plains, with the exception of here and there a small stream, +with feed sufficient for our cattle. + +The longest distance without water is about fifty miles, which +we passed on Saturday and Sunday last, and arrived here safe and +without much suffering. We have as yet lost no cattle through +hunger, thirst, or fatigue. Two cows were stolen from us by the +Indians on the Rio Virgin. + +The place where we now are is about two hundred and fifty miles +from the coast settlements on the Pacific. It is well watered, +abundance of grass, and would admit of a small settlement--say one +or two hundred families--has a good soil, good water and fuel, but +no building timber. + +The same remarks would apply to the last stream, fifty-three +miles from this, called the Muddy. The Indians already raise wheat +and corn there. + +_Wednesday, 21st_--We encamped at a place called Resting +Springs, where we arrived on the 19th after dark. + +This is a fine place for rest and recruiting animals being a +meadow of rich grass and sufficiently extensive to sustain +thousands of cattle. The water is sufficient for all travelling +purposes, although the stream is small. + +Since leaving the Vegas we have travelled seventy-five miles +through a most horrible desert, consisting of mountain ridges and +plains of naked rock, or sand and gravel, and sometimes clay, +destitute of soil or fertility, except a few small springs and +patches of grass. + +The weather, contrary to our expectations, has been universally +cool since we left the Muddy; thick vests, and sometimes coats, +have been worn in the noon of a sunny day, and the sun has been +sought rather than the shade. The nights have all been cool, and +some of them as cold in the middle or latter part of May as the +nights usually are in March and April in Great Salt Lake City. + +Twenty miles from the Vegas, our camp was assailed in the +evening, ten o'clock by a shower of arrows from the savage mountain +robbers; some of which passed near men's heads and all fell +promiscuously among men, women, children and cattle, but did no +injury. Our men mustered and returned the fire without effect. + +Afterwards, in the same place, a savage, single handed, made his +way among the cattle, in open day, while they were under the care +of armed herdsmen and shot an ox and a mule; one was wounded in the +hip, and the other in the leg; but they are both doing well. + +_Friday, 23d_.--Provided with water and hay we travelled +on fourteen miles. Road heavy, up hill and sandy; day hot. Arrived +at Salt Spring gold mines towards evening; water brackish; but +answered for stock and use. + +After resting for a few hours we started on in the evening and +travelled all night, with the exception of short intervals of rest. +The hot day and heavy road had so harassed the cattle that we made +but little progress. + +Next morning we continued to travel, finding no grass nor water. +The road was up hill for ten or twelve miles, and rough; the day +rather cool. + +Long before night our hay and water were consumed, and the camp +in a suffering condition. Some cattle had given out entirely; and +fifteen or twenty miles still intervened between us and water, and +without grass sufficient to feed a goat. Six or eight miles of the +way was still up hill. This was the most trying time of all. + +At dark, about fourteen miles from water, _our ten_ was +behind, and my two wagons were the rear of all; and some of my oxen +had already failed. We still rolled slowly, resting every few +minutes. We soon found the different portions of the camp ahead, +halted, and lost in slumber--every man and beast, by common +consent, sunk in profound slumber, and probably dreaming of water +and feed ahead. + +We, viz., _our ten_, with some exceptions, slipped +quietly past them, and resting often and a few minutes at a time +continued to roll. The night was cool, and a miraculous strength +seemed to inspire the cattle. + +At sunrise next morning we arrived at the Bitter Springs; the +water of which was about as palatable as a dose of salts. + +The other camps followed us in, and by ten o'clock all were in, +except three oxen left by the way, and two wagons with their loads, +left twenty miles back. + +Men and animals were so exhausted that, after digging and +improving the water, and a general watering, it was ten hours or +more before the cattle were driven to what little feed there was, a +mile or two distant. + +I rode back ten miles and carried water and feed to two animals, +and tried in vain to drive them in. + +In this desert we had travelled, without much intermission, two +days and two nights; during which we had no feed nor water, +excepting that which we carried with us, and the Salt Springs, and +the Bitter Springs, and a little dry feed to refresh upon after +this toil women and children, young and old, and old men walked on +foot day and night. + +It was certainly the hardest time I ever saw; but we cried unto +God, and in the name of Jesus Christ asked Him to strengthen us and +our teams, and He did so in a miraculous manner, and we were saved +from the horrors of the desert. + +_Wednesday, 28th_. We arrived on the Mohave River in the +evening, in an exhausted condition; having travelled thirty-one +miles without water or much rest. The day had been warm and some +two or three cattle gave out, and were left by the way. + +At this camp we found plenty of water, timber, soil and grass. +Those appointed to the Pacific mission (with the exception of +Brother Hopkins, who said he should not fill the mission), now took +leave of Brother Rich and company, and travelled twelve miles up +the Mohave, and encamped in a pleasant place, with water, feed and +fuel. + +June 1st.--Rested Sunday. At two o'clock had a prayer meeting in +the shade of some trees. All the members of the mission offered +themselves in prayer, acknowledging their faults and imperfections; +seeking the remission of the same; renewing their covenants with +God and with each other; and giving thanks to Him for deliverance +from the perils of the desert, and praying that God would +graciously open the way for the further prosecution of the +appointed mission. All seemed renewed in spirits, faith and union, +and felt blessed of the Lord. + +Passing on our journey over one hundred miles we came to a fine +farm, which had wheat and other grain, gardens, and even bearing +fruit trees, etc. We also found a member of our society by the name +of Crisman, who, with his family resided on the place. We were +kindly received, and after resting a few days, obtained a team, and +Brother Wood went to Los Angeles, thirty miles, to obtain supplies +to send back. We sent a load of supplies to the companies on the +Mohave River, and then moved our camp to brother Crisman's, where +we arrived at noon, and were received with welcome; and all +rejoiced that our desert and toilsome journey was at an end. Having +rested the last week, every man who was with me as a fellow +missionary accompanied me to the lone hills, about one mile from +camp, where in solitude we joined in prayer with all the energy we +possessed; praying in turn, and asking our Father in Heaven, in the +name of Jesus Christ, to open our way, to guide us in wisdom in our +duties, to give us the gift of the Holy Ghost, bind to supply us +with means to proceed on our journey in His own way, and in His own +time. + +We also remembered our families before the Lord, and all the +authorities and interests of the kingdom of God. + +Selling some of our cattle and one wagon, we journeyed seventeen +miles and encamped on a small stream near some hills of wild oats, +which served us for feed. We also pulled several bundles to fill +our beds, and to take with us to Los Angeles, where we arrived in +the evening of the 16th of June. + +Several Americans called on us, conversed in a friendly manner, +and seemed much interested in the Mormon settlement about to be +made. More particularly as to the additional security this +population would afford to the peace and order of a distracted +country. + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. +------------------------ + +Los Angelos:--Catholic Celebration of Corpus +Christi:--Arrival in San Francisco:--Letter to President Brigham +Young:--Family Letter. + +Los Angeles is a fertile, well watered, and delightful valley of +vineyards and orchards, with a fine old Spanish town--a mixture of +American, European, Spanish and Indian population--and has been +cultivated for eighty years. + +_Thursday, 19th_.--I attended the Catholic celebration of +Corpus Christi, and witnessed perhaps five hundred people of all +ages, sexes and colors, the Indian blood prevailing--three priests +at their head--performing the various ceremonies. The ladies in the +finest dresses I ever beheld in any country, consisting of silks +and satins of various figures and extreme costliness; white muslin, +cambric, etc., made in full dresses, together with costly silk and +satin shawls worn over the head and enclosing the shoulders, bosom +and waist, leaving only the face in view; while all other portions +of their persons were buried beneath the rich and ample folds of +costly apparel. + +In these costly robes every female knelt or sat on the filthy +floor of earth in the old church for hours! No seats, carpets, or +spreads of any kind; while various images were exhibited in turn, +and were worshipped in humble postures, and with low chants, amid +the discharges of cannon and crackers, the beating of drums, and +the tinkling of bells. + +Clouds of incense rose before each image, and perhaps one +hundred candles were burning at midday. All the men were also +dressed in their best and knelt in a devout manner, or stood in a +reverent posture with hats off. + +Not one changed place, or was seen to leave the church, although +the services lasted for hours, without one seat or other +convenience whereon to rest. + +This ended, all formed in procession and moved around the public +square, beneath the beautiful arches richly decorated, and the walk +lined on each side with green branches. + +At proper distances were placed images amid costly decorations, +before which all fell upon their knees, and remained for a length +of time prostrated in the thick dust with all their finery, +chanting hymns, praying and worshipping, while crackers were +discharged in profusion. Even all the spectators must stand in the +broiling sun in the roads uncovered, or give great offense. + +In a few days Brother Wood returned from the rear camps where he +and Brother Allen had been with provisions. Reported all well and +prosperous. Brothers Lyman and Rich also paid us a visit, and some +others. + +Brothers Hammond, Perkins, Wood and Murdock with their baggage, +etc. started for the landing at San Pedro. The remainder tarried to +complete their sales. + +_Sunday, 29th_.--I preached in the court house in Los +Angeles to some forty attentive persons, mostly American gentlemen. + +_Monday, 30th_.--I sold my last wagon and moved down to +the Port at San Pedro. Found that portion of the brethren well who +went down before, and camped with them on the beach. + +_July 7th_.--We embarked on board the steamship Ohio, and +set sail for San Francisco, at 4 o'clock P. M. + +After four days' rather rough passage, we arrived in San +Francisco on the 11th inst. at eleven o'clock, A. M. Found some +good brethren who rendered us assistance in various ways. Rented a +house the same day, and all moved into it together. + +Brothers Lyman and Rich arrived per steamer Goliah. We visited +and received visits. + +_Sunday, 20th_.--I preached at eleven A. M. in a large +room, a goodly number of persons out to hear, and good attention. +Next morning we repaired to the water and baptized eight persons, +and the same evening met at the house of Brother Winner and +organized a branch of the Church, confirming the above persons. + +I was chosen president of this branch, and Philo B. Wood, clerk. +The remainder of the week devoted to writing and instructing +inquirers who called. + +I wrote the following letter to Elder Addison Pratt, Society +Isles: + +SAN FRANCISCO, _July 26, 1851_. + +DEAR BROTHER PRATT: My long contemplated mission to the Pacific +has at length become a reality. I am here, having left home in +March last. Eight of us are here, and will go to the Sandwich +Islands and elsewhere as the way opens and the Spirit directs. +Brother P. B. Lewis and wife would have sailed for your islands +with letters, etc., but Brothers Clark and Thompkins having +arrived, we concluded to send no more laborers to that part of the +vineyard at present. + +I hold the presidency of all the islands and coasts of the +Pacific, under the direction of the First Presidency of the +Church--to open the door to every nation and tongue, as fast as the +way is prepared and the Lord directs, for the preaching of the +gospel of salvation. + +As president of that part of the vineyard you will preach the +gospel to every people as fast as possible. Send men to the +Friendly Isles, or to any other groups where the way may be open, +and as circumstances will permit, as you are led by the Holy Ghost. +If you need more laborers send to me at this place. I am well known +here, and making some progress. Also make your report to me from +time to time, and ask such counsel as you may need. + +Elder Philip B. Lewis will sail for the Sandwich Islands, +accompanied by his wife, Brother Hammond and wife, and Brother +Woodbury and wife. He will have the presidency of those islands. It +would be well if you would correspond with him. + +The work is prospering wonderfully in Deseret, England, Wales, +Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc. Several +young men are with me who will go to Chili and Peru in due time. +Bishop Murdock will also go soon to the English Colonies in New +Zealand, Van Dieman's Land, or New Holland, if the Lord will. + +Our instructions to the elders abroad, everywhere, are to seek +the Spirit and gift of the Holy Ghost, by humble prayer and faith +and good works. Also, to take no part in government matters, except +to uphold and obey the authorities and laws of every nation where +they may labor, and teach others to do so. + +The laws of the country we are in will govern us in all things +consistent with liberty of conscience, freedom of speech, etc. + +With sentiments of love and good will I subscribe myself, + +Your brother in the gospel, + PARLEY P. PRATT. + +SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 1851. + +_To His Majesty_ KING KAMAHAMAHA _and the People of +the Sandwich Isles_. GREETING: + +I beg leave to introduce to the favorable notice of your Majesty +and subjects, and to commend to your protection, hospitality and +kind consideration the following persons, who go out as +missionaries and residents to your country: + +Elders P. B. Lewis, Francis A. Hammond and Stillman Woodbury, +with their wives. + +These persons are from Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, U. +S., and have been selected by the Presidency of the Church of Jesus +Christ of Latter-day Saints to fulfil a mission to the Pacific. + +Mr. Hammond is a former resident and artisan of your kingdom, +and we trust is favorably known to your Majesty and some of his +fellow citizens. We can confidently recommend these gentlemen as +men of good character, and men who bring good news, peace and good +will to man. + +With sentiments of high consideration and esteem for your +Majesty and the people of your realm, I have the honor to subscribe +myself, + +Your humble servant and the friend of man, + +P. P. PRATT, + _President of the Pacific Mission of the Church of Jesus +Christ of Latter-day Saints._ + +I here give a few extracts from a letter to President Brigham +Young: + +SAN FRANCISCO, August 28, 1851. + PRESIDENT YOUNG. + +_Dear Brother_: I am well, or rather so as to be able to +perform my daily duties, although not in good health. + +I arrived in this place some time in July, together with those +who accompanied me on the mission. * * * * * * If the Presidency +wishes to make any communication on any subject, letters addressed +to me at San Francisco, California, will be forwarded to me to +Chili, or elsewhere, as I shall not leave this place without +appointing an agent to receive and forward all papers and +communications. + +The Sandwich Islands are at peace, and enjoy a free government. +We have sent to those islands three additional missionaries who +sailed on the sixth day of August for the Port of Honolulu. P. B. +Lewis is appointed to preside over that mission. + +* * * * Since I have arrived here I have been diligent in the +duties of my calling every hour, and have called upon God for His +Spirit to help me with all the energy I possessed, and without +ceasing. The result is, the Spirit of the Lord God has been upon me +continually, in such light, and joy, and testimony as I have seldom +experienced. + +Brothers A. Lyman and C. C. Rich have been here with me some of +the time; we have called together the old members and others, and +preached repentance and reformation of life. We have re-baptized +many of them, and have re-organized the Church. Several new members +are being added--some of whom are young people of the old members, +and others are strangers from different countries. We are upwards +of fifty members in number. We have preaching twice a day on +Sundays in a large theatre in the center of the city, and prayer +meetings on Sunday and Thursday evenings. Strangers give good +attention. The members feel well, and are full of faith and the +good Spirit, and the Spirit is poured out till our hearts are full. + +I expect to leave this country soon for South America, unless I +should be able to go to New York, _via_ the Isthmus, to get +some books printed. + +I am studying Spanish with all diligence, and will, I trust, +master it in the course of a few months. + +Now, my dear brethren of the Presidency, accept this +manifestation of my remembrance, good wishes and determinations, +and rest assured you are always upheld by my prayers and good +wishes. I want your prayers--your continued confidence, and your +good wishes and fellowship. I want the Spirit of God and His angels +to be with me; and I fear not earth, nor hell, nor men, nor devils, +nor death. I desire power to do good continually, and to bring +about the restoration of His people. I glory in my calling. I would +not exchange it for any other position or calling on this earth. + +I hope to come home by and by and see you all, and see the +preparations for the ordinances and powers of Heaven in your midst +in state of forwardness; such as peace, union and diligence can +alone produce. So farewell. + +With my best wishes and prayers, + Your brother and laborer in the truth, + P. P. PRATT. + +During my stay in San Francisco I wrote a proclamation of the +gospel addressed to the people of the coasts and islands of the +Pacific, which was afterwards published by Elder Wandell in +Australia. I also commenced the book entitled _Key to Theology +_. At a public meeting of the Saints, Elder George K. Winner +was unanimously chosen and set apart to preside over the San +Francisco branch--myself being honorably discharged from the duties +of the same, with a view of a mission to Chili. + +I then spoke of my duties to other parts of the Pacific; was +honorably discharged from the presidency of the branch with a vote +of thanks, and a sum of money, amounting in all to fourteen hundred +and ten dollars, was then and afterwards subscribed to assist me on +my mission. + +_Sept. 5_.--I sailed for Valparaiso, Chili, on board the +bark Henry Kelsey. After a tedious and disagreeable passage of +sixty-four days, arrived safe in Valparaiso, Nov. 8th, accompanied +by my wife and Elder Rufus Allen, all in tolerable health. + +Found the country in a state of civil war, and most kinds of +business at a dead stand--men's hearts failing them for fear. + +I then finished the following letter which I had commenced on +the sea: + +SHIP "HENRY KELSEY," PACIFIC OCEAN, + Lat. 24 N., lon. 115 W., + Sept. 15, 1851. + +_Dear Family_--Here we are on the deep, bound for Chili, +S. A.--self, Phebe and R. Allen. We sailed from San Francisco on +the 5th inst. Have had fine weather, excepting three days, in which +we were becalmed; and have sailed more than eleven hundred miles. +We are now running before the wind seven miles an hour. We have all +been sea sick, and have not yet recovered in full. We are the only +passengers, and have the cabin to ourselves, except at meals. We +study Spanish every day. It is a beautiful language, and +wonderfully adapted to the simplicity of the Lamanites. I hope to +master it during the passage and a few months' residence among the +Chileans. + +We pay sixty dollars for passage in the cabin, and found. We +expect to be two months in going. + +Well, dear ones, six months have passed, and their events been +recorded in the records of eternity since we parted; all this time +I have had not one lisp from you. Oh, how lonesome! Just imagine +the monotony. Sky and sea! Sea and sky! Night and day! Day and +night! Infinitude of space! Boundless waste! Emblem of eternal +silence! Eternal banishment! Eternal loneliness, where the voice of +the bridegroom and of the bride are not heard. Where the holy music +of children's voices, in joyous merriment, falls not on the ear; +where no changing or varied landscape relieves the eye; where no +vegetation, or leafy bower, or sweet blooming flower cheers the +senses, where no birds tune their soft notes of praise announce the +dawn, or sound the requiem of the closing day. + +Even the fierce and ravenous beast of the desert (which, in his +native solitude, announces with doleful and prolonged howls the +midnight hour, or wakes the weary traveller at early dawn, and +gives the signal for another day of thirst, and toil, and +suffering) is lacking here. + +On this boundless waste of waters there is seldom anything to +break the monotony of eternal silence, or, rather, of the roar of +the waves as they break in increasing foam upon each other, or +against the vessel's side. + +Thanks for that promise, "_There shall be no more sea_." +Thanks for the hope that all the elements of nature will one day be +adapted to the enjoyment or occupation of intellectual life, or +social and sympathetic existence. + +Just imagine sundown, twilight, the shades of evening, the +curtains of the solitary night gathering in silent gloom and lone +melancholy around a father who loves his home and its inmates; his +fireside and the family altar! Behold him standing leaning over the +vessel's side as it glides over the waters of the lone and +boundless Pacific, gazing for hours in succession into the bosom of +its dark abyss, or watching its white foam and sparkling spray! +What ate his thoughts? Can you divine them? Behold, he prays! For +what does he pray? For every wife, for every child, for every near +and dear friend he has on earth, he prays most earnestly! most +fervently! He calls each by name over and over again, before the +altar of remembrance. And when this is done for all on earth, he +remembers those in Heaven; calls their names; communes with them in +spirit; wonders how they are doing; whether they think of him. He +calls to mind their acts and sufferings in life, their death and +the grave where sleeps their precious dust. + +This done, he prays for Zion, Jerusalem, Judah, Israel, the +Church, the Holy Priesthood, the resurrection of the just, the +kingdom and coming of Messiah, the end of war, and sin, and death, +and wrong, and oppression, and sorrow, and mourning, and tears; and +for earth, and Heaven, and God, angels and men, to be joined +forever in the bonds of eternal peace, and love and truth. + +This done, he commends himself, the vessel and his all on board +to God, and to the guardianship of his good angel. Amen. Walks the +deck a few minutes, examines the sails, the speed of the vessel, +the course of the wind, and then retires to rest to dream of home. + +_October 5th_.--Coast of Peru, S. A., lat. 3 deg. 30 m. +S. A month passed on the ocean; much head wind, some calms, and +more or less sickness has attended us by turns until the present. +We have not been able to read, write, or study much, therefore the +time has passed off very tediously indeed. + +We have a miser for a captain, who thinks more of a sixpence +than he does of our lives or even of his own. He will not suffer +the steward to cook potatoes, bread, pies, puddings or any other +wholesome food, but keeps us on hard, mouldy bread, full of bugs +and worms, and on salt beef and pork--the pork being rotten. He has +flour, potatoes and good pork, but will not allow it to be used; +thus you will readily perceive that we ate truly in unpleasant +circumstances. + +Last evening we came near a shipwreck, having run near the land +without knowing it, and it fell calm. The ship became unmanageable, +and was drifting on to the shore, but we cast anchor and awaited +the light of morning, when we got under weigh with much labor, and +stood again to sea. + +FRENCH HOTEL, Valparaiso, Chili, S. A., + November 9th. + +_Dear Friends_: After a most disagreeable and tedious +passage of sixty-four days we have at length arrived in port, in +tolerable health. We landed yesterday at noon, and took lodgings +and board at a French Hotel, where we have a great variety of good +eating, and a front parlor to ourselves--price four dollars per day +for three of us. The proprietor speaks French, the clerk French, +with a little English, the landlady German, the waiter Spanish, and +ourselves English, with a little Spanish. + +So you see we have a little Babel of our own, independently of +Nimrod or the great tower. + +We find the country in the midst of revolution and civil war. +Two persons and their adherents fighting for power and rule. +Business is dull, living high, and doubt and uncertainty +characterizing every transaction in the various business +departments. + +On Sunday we attended a meeting in a very large building. We saw +thousands of both sexes, and of all classes and ages, throng the +place, bow down on their knees and worship certain images and +paintings with much apparent devotion. No instructions were given +in any language, no music, no voice or sound, except a low, +plaintive voice in the far end of the room, not addressed to the +people, neither sufficiently loud or distinct to be understood by +them. + +The worshippers were dressed in a variety of degrees of neatness +or of its opposite. Some of them wore very costly apparel, and +others were very neatly clad. All seemed full of zeal and devotion. +All bowed down on their knees in silent, solemn attitudes. All +their faces seemed disfigured with a painful and awe-stricken +solemnity. All made certain signs and motions, while they said +nothing audible, and the impression of a strange observer would be +that the image, to which every eye was turned with long and +supplicating gaze and imploring look, had no ears to hear, but was +deeply versed in the science of physiognomy, and also acquainted +with the deaf and dumb alphabet. + +On inquiry, we were informed that this kind of worship prevailed +throughout Spanish America and various other countries, and that it +is called by the dignified name of Christianity, and that it is +very ancient. + +From all which circumstances I infer that it must have been +instituted soon after the Church of Jesus Christ became extinct in +the Roman world, and, by some unaccountable blunder, borrowed its +name from those institutions, which it does not even resemble in +the least in any one feature save the name. + +_Sunday, November 16th_. Dear friends:--During the past +week we have rented a house, purchased furniture and commenced +housekeeping. We devote almost our entire time to the Spanish +language. + +Our house is in the rear of a block of buildings which fronts a +large and beautiful street, called Victoria street. It opens into a +large yard, surrounded with high walls and with other buildings, +and filled with beautiful trees, such as orange, fig, peach, pear, +etc., together with pinks and a variety of other flowers and +shrubs. Its walks and pavements are neatly swept, and the houses +around it occupied with widows, orphans, etc., of a good class of +Spanish or Chilanoes, and their kind and sociable young people and +little children. + +We divide our time between reading and studying our Spanish +lessons, and chatting, visiting, reading Spanish, hearing them +read, and playing with the little ones, etc., all of which pleases +them much, and causes us to advance in the language with a rapidity +which is almost astonishing to ourselves and to them. Truly +Providence has ordered our footsteps and cast our lot in pleasant +circumstances, when we were strangers in a strange land, and among +a people of a strange tongue. Truly He has opened our way to learn +that tongue, and we can learn it if we are diligent. + +Rents are high here, provisions and fuel dear. Strawberries, +oranges, lemons, etc., are in market, as well as green peas, and +other vegetables, and melons. It is, in fact, a state of advanced +spring or early summer. The peaches, pears and figs are perhaps +one-third their size on the trees, while the flowers are in full +bloom. + +NOVEMBER IN CHILI + + 'Tis the spring of the year, all the fountains are full, + All nature is pregnant with life and with love; + A chorus of voices ascend from each pool, + A myriad of songsters enliven the grove. + To her nest in the Andes, the condor retires, + The winds from magellan no longer prevail, + And Sol, with the north breeze returning, inspires + New life on the zephyr, and love on the gale. + The forest is clad in its robes of fresh green-- + Where the dove sings an anthem, his mate to decoy. + The orchard is dressed as a holiday queen, + And the rosebud is bursting with fullness of joy. + The orange, the olive, the fig and the vine + Are clothed as in Eden, with innocent bloom; + The earth is an altar of incense divine, + Exhales a sweet odor of richest perfume. + The young of the flock bound exulting away + While their dams nip the blade, 'mid the dewdrops of morn, + And groups of young children are sportive and gay; + Yet my heart, 'mid this gladness, is sad and forlorn. + I sigh for the storms of November to come, + The frost, and the snow-drifted plain I would see; + The bleak, wintry blasts of my own mountain home, + And the storm-beaten glaziere are dearer to me. + The chime of the sleigh-bell again I would hear, + The low moaning tempest in harmony roll-- + It would speak of my country and kindred so dear; + Oh! this would be music indeed to my soul. + +With sentiments of the most endearing affection, + I remain yours, etc., + P. P. PRATT. + + +CHAPTER XLIX. +------------------------ + +Valparaiso:--Quillota:--Letter to President Brigham +Young. + +_January 19, 1852_. + +We have continued to reside in Valparaiso, and to study Spanish +diligently until this day. We make much progress, being already able to +understand in part that which we read in the Spanish Scriptures, and +in the daily papers, as well as in history. We have also gathered much +general information of the countries of Spanish America, their manners, +customs, laws, constitutions, institutions--civil, religious, etc. + +Revolutions have been in progress more or less in nearly all +Spanish America during the past year. + +In Chili the present revolution has ended with the loss of many +thousand lives, and without success. + +In Buenos Ayres it still rages, and a great battle is soon +expected between the combined armies of Brazil and Montevideo on +the one part, and Buenos Ayres on the other--the two armies +amounting to near twenty-five thousand men each, as reported. + +Priestcraft reigns triumphant in all these countries, as by law +established; and by law paid and supported--by marriages and +christening fees, forgiving sins, etc. + +In Chili the charges are as follows: Twenty-five dollars for a +marriage, and one dollar for christening. For forgiveness of sins +there are various prices to suit the circumstances of the +customers. + +We departed from Valparaiso in a cart drawn by oxen, and arrived +on the morning of the twenty-fifth at Quillota--a small town +situated in a beautiful and fertile valley on a river thirty-six +miles from Valparaiso. + +Here we have hired a house and live with a widow and two +daughters, young ladies of fifteen and seventeen; they are very +sociable, and much pleased with us. They can read Spanish, and they +take every possible pains to teach us the language. They are very +frank and friendly, and seem a much void of guile as little +children. + +I read to them in the Spanish Testament, which pleases them +much, as they have never read it. + +The people in this town seem to be a neat, plain, loving and +sociable people; very friendly, frank, and easy to become +acquainted with. They are mostly white, intelligent, and good +looking; very plain and simple in dress and manners. The houses are +mostly neat and comely, and are situated on a line with the mud +walls which separate the streets from the gardens and vineyards. + +The houses are built of sun dried brick, plastered and +whitewashed outside and inside; with brick floors and tiled roofs. +Many of them, however, have no floors except the earth, and but few +of them have glass windows. The streets are straight, and cross at +right angles. A clear, cool stream runs in the center of each +street, and of tall stately poplars, as well as fruit trees and +vines adorn the entire vale, both in town and country. + +A mountain or round hill, perhaps 500 feet in height, rises in +the midst of the town, and is surrounded on all sides by the level +of the fertile, well watered and well cultivated plain. This hill +is near our residence, easy of access, and commands a view of the +whole valley with its farms, orchards, vineyards, towns, streets, +river and water ditches, fertile as Eden and stretching away till +lost in the dim distance; or bounded by lofty hills and mountain +chains, whose lower swells are checked with fences and houses, and +covered with flocks and herds, while their bosoms are rugged with +rocky precipices, and checkered by dark ravines, or mantled with +clouds; while the rugged summits repose in solemn grandeur on the +bosom of the clear blue sky, unobscured by clouds or any of the +gloomy shadows of the lower world. + +The land of this valley is extremely fertile, and easily +irrigated by small canals from the river. + +The whole taken in at one view from the summit of the center +hill, presents one of the most beautiful scenes I ever beheld in +the old or new world. + +On the top of this mountain is a place for retirement and +prayer, which I intend to use every evening about sunset or +twilight. Figs, plums, pears, peaches, apples, oranges, grapes, +and, indeed, most kinds of fruit are very plentiful here. A quarter +of a dollar will purchase enough for three of us to eat in one day. +The figs and plums are sweet as honey, and will melt in the mouth. +There is not much need of other food. The grapes, peaches and +apples are not generally ripe yet. + +Having dwelt in Quillota one month we returned to Valparaiso, +and on the 2d of March embarked on board the ship "Dracut" for San +Francisco; weighed anchor on the 5th of March, and sailed out of +port with a light breeze. + +The following is the copy of a letter written to President Young +during the voyage from Chili to San Francisco: + +SHIP "DRACUT," PACIFIC OCEAN. lat. 18. + March 13, 1852. + PRESIDENT YOUNG. + +_Dear Brother_--We are well. Elder Rufus Allen, myself +and wife, sailed from San Francisco, September 5, 1851, for Chili, +S. A., and arrived in Valparaiso, November 8--passage sixty-three +days. From that time to the present has been devoted to the study +of the Spanish language and the laws, constitutions, geography, +history, character, religion, manners, customs, revolution, and +events of Chili and Peru in particular, and of Spanish America in +general. + +By intense application I soon became able to read with a degree +of understanding and interest in that language. I have already read +through the Spanish Testament; while, in the same language, I have +copied in writing many of its most important passages, and have +read them over perhaps twenty times--committing some of them to +memory. + +I have also read a small work, on Natural History of Chili, near +three times through, in which are many curious and important facts +in relation to the wars with that brave and patriotic nation +freemen called _Arraucanians_. These have maintained their +liberty and independence unimpaired for 300 years against the +combined powers of old Spain and of all her colonies, sustaining a +defensive war, with but little cessation, for near 200 years, +without firearms or other modern means of defense. Some of their +history I hope to translate and publish hereafter. + +I have also read the Spanish school geography of Chili, and some +other works, while a constant perusal of their newspapers, and +those of Peru and Buenos Ayres, have given me a general insight +into their governments, laws, politics, religion, revolutions, +hopes, feelings and prospects. + +The civil wars, and my own pecuniary circumstances, but more +particularly the want of language, prevented my travelling much in +the country, or even visiting the Arraucanians. I, however, visited +a small town in the interior, forty miles, and lived there one +month. + +On the second day of March we embarked on this ship bound for +San Francisco, without a sufficiency of the language to turn the +keys of the Gospel as yet to these nations. We stayed till all our +means were exhausted and sought and prayed diligently for our way +to open; but we could neither speak the language sufficiently to +preach the gospel nor find any way to earn our living, so we found +it necessary to return to California while we still study the +language on board. + +We have one fine young man in the cabin who is very useful to +us. He is a native Chilean, reads and converses fluently in +Spanish, is conversant with the Scriptures, which we read together +and converse upon. He has borrowed the Spanish Bible of me and is +reading it by course. I have told him of our doctrine, baptism, +Church persecution, settlement in the mountains, and of the Book of +Mormon. Also of the evils of adultery, drunkenness, gambling, and +other sins, and the wickedness of the Catholic abominations. He has +taken the whole in good part, and talks of going to the mountains +with us. What is very remarkable for a Chilean, he neither smokes +nor drinks. He has some means, and is going to California to make +more. We pray much in secret that God will open his heart and give +him to us for a help in the ministry. + +The Chileans are a mixed race of Spanish and Indian blood--say +four-fifths Indian--consequently coarse features, black hair and +eyes, low foreheads, high cheek bones, broad faces, and in most +cases copper color in its various shades and degrees, whilst a few +are white and even fair and beautiful. In general they are ignorant +and devoted Catholics. Probably more than one-half of them can +neither read nor write. Their knowledge of arts and industry is +extremely limited. In manners they are simple, frank, and extremely +sociable and apparently affectionate but subject to a small low +meanness in their dealings, and to trifling thefts. There are, +however, many honorable exceptions to those faults or evil habits. + +The Bible is not in general use among them, being prohibited by +their religion; but I found many who had read it, and all, so far +as I tried the experiment, seemed willing to hear it read. Some +said they could understand it better when I read it than when it +was read by their own natives. I spoke freely to many against their +priestcraft and errors; showed them the true mode of baptism, etc., +which very seldom gave offense. + +They frequently told me of the abominations of their priests, +and how they administered all the ordinances for money, at so much +per head. The constitution establishes the Roman Catholic religion, +supports it out of the treasury, and prohibits all others. There +is, notwithstanding this prohibition, a Church of England and an +American Congregational Church in Valparaiso. + +The latter I visited and conversed with the minister. He said +there was no difficulty in landing religious books or papers and +circulating the same, although the press is not free to print or +publish any religion but the Catholic. He had imported and +distributed Bibles in Spanish, and had placed them for sale in the +book stores. Foreign books are landed _free of duty_. + +The revolution which raged so violently this season in Chili +professed to be in favor of universal suffrage, and of absolute +liberty of conscience, of speech, and of the press. The masses, so +far as I am able to judge, are warm revolutionists, but they don't +like to fight. The revolution cost some 5,000 lives, and ended in a +general amnesty, without any alteration of the Government. But the +people are sanguine in their hope--they think to accomplish their +liberties in a few years. + +In the provinces of Buenos Ayres a long civil war has raged, +which is now about terminating in favor of the more liberal party, +aided by Brazil. + +Peru is tranquil. The public prints of Lima, its capital, have +interested me much--they are in Spanish, and I have spent days in +their perusal. The Government of Peru is much influenced by England +and the United States. Its constitution guarantees liberty of the +press, of speech, and of worship. But it seems to have remained a +_dead letter_ on these points till the present year, in +which the Congress Peruana has made a special law to carry out +these general principles of liberty, making special provision for +the liberty of other worship, and for Protestants to officiate in +the holy _sacraments of matrimony and of burial_, which is a +step ahead of even Protestant England (where all must go to the +National Church for these things). + +Peru has also made a special treaty with Great Britain, in which +all these liberties are guaranteed to British subjects there. These +liberal measures have alarmed "His Holiness," the Pope of Rome, to +such an extent that he has issued his letter of disfellowship of +the Government Peruana, in which he denounces all these liberal +measures as _anti-Catholic, un-Christian and heretical_. + +This official document, in the hands of the Archbishop of Peru +and of his clergy, was brought to bear with considerable power +against the liberal proceedings of the Government; but, in the +meantime, a very learned and talented man (I suppose a clergyman), +called Dr. Vigel, and many other writers come out against the Pope +in the columns of the public prints. They denounce him in no +measured terms as a usurper of more power than Peter of old, who, +they say, meddled not with governments, wealth, or any other thing, +but to preach the Gospel and catch fish. + +They boldly inquire of "His Holiness" "where's Peter's salary! crown! +title! palace, etc.? where his dictations of political government?" +They then inform him that Peru is a free and independent sovereignty, +and will not be dictated to by any foreign power whatsoever. They refer +"_His Holiness_" to Simon Magus, who wished to purchase the gift of +God with money. Remind him and the public how much it has cost certain +other governments to purchase remission of sins for similar offenses, +and inquire how much poor erring Peru will have to pay to His Holiness +for the remission of the great sins she has committed in giving her +citizens the liberty to worship as they please; and to _marry, die and +be buried_ in such manner as seemeth to them good. + +Such writings have a wide circulation in Peru, and are popular, +but are also opposed by lengthy replies and defenses on the part of +the more orthodox clergy. All these things go to show that the +press, as well as the mind, is beginning to exert its freedom in +the countries where, for three centuries, all intellect has slept, +and all freedom of thought been _crushed--buried_--under the +incubus of the horrid institutions of the great Mother of +Abominations. + +Should Peru sustain her liberties, a field is opened in the heart of +Spanish America, and in the largest, best informed and most influential +city and nation of South America, for the Bible, the Book of Mormon, +and the fullness of the Gospel to be introduced. + +Four-fifths, or perhaps nine-tenths of the vast population of Peru, as +well as of most other countries of Spanish America, are of the _blood +of Lehi_. 'Tis true they are degraded. Civilization is at a low ebb; +and modesty and virtue, in the sense they are understood among the more +polished nations, may hardly exist among them, even in idea. Yet Jesus +came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. The whole +need no physicians, but those who are sick. + +New Granada has also revolutionized in favor of the same great +principles of liberty; while the revolution in Northern Mexico, and +other movements of a like nature in other parts, all go to show +that a door is opening more wide than can be filled very soon +_in the Spanish language_, unless God shall raise up (as in +England) thousands of native teachers of the fullness of the +Gospel. + +I had much desire to go to Peru at this time; but an empty purse +and imperfect tongue, which has only barely begun to stammer in +that language, together with the want of books or the means to +print them, with other circumstances, all combined to cause me to +wait a little till I could study the language more fully; while, in +the meantime, I return to where I can communicate more fully with +the Church at home, with the various missions on the islands and +with my family, for whom I must do something as speedily as +possible, if God will open my way. + +I feel as though the Book of Mormon and some cheap publications +should be translated into Spanish and printed, and then the key be +turned to these nations while a living Priesthood is accompanied by +something for them to read--even those writings which have the +promises of God, the prayers and faith of the ancients, and the +power and Spirit of God to work with them in restoring the house of +Israel. + +It is in my heart to translate the Book of Mormon and some other +works, and to print the same in Spanish as soon as I have the +language sufficiently perfect. As printing is very expensive in all +parts of the Pacific, it may be wisdom, to go to England and get +some printing, and, perhaps, some stereotyping done; and also, to +bring out two or three elders from there with _English passports +_, etc. to assist in Spanish America. + +As these contemplated labors would be, under the blessing of God +a furtherance of the great work of laying the foundation for the +restoration of unnumbered millions of the house of Israel and of +Joseph--even of many nations extending over a large and important +portion of the earth--I feel to labor with patience, and to take +time to prepare the way before me and before those who will, in due +time, be sent unto them in power; knowing that God, who has said +certain things, will cause those things to be performed in due +time. + +If before half these things are accomplished I should return to +the valley and sit in council with you and my brethren, or even do +the translation _there_, I hope I shall not be counted a +slothful servant; for I assure you that I do all in my power, with +all diligence, and with all the prayer of faith I possess; and my +earnest desire is to be counted worthy to labor for the restoration +of Israel until it be accomplished. + +I study the language all day and think of it, and even dream and +talk it aloud in my sleep, in which I sometimes learn more than in +the day. But it is no small work to become familiar with the entire +grammar, words and style of a language, so as to write for +publication. + +If the Twelve Apostles will divide the European languages +between them, and each become thoroughly versed in one, so as to +translate the fullness of the Gospel and turn the keys of the same, +it will be one great step towards the consummation; for a host of +fellow laborers would soon be raised up in each to cooperate with +them, and these languages command the influence and keys of +communication with most of the nations, tribes and languages of the +earth. I trust and hope, also, that they will soon be introduced +into our University, and among the elders of Israel, in preference +to the dead languages, or of those of less consequence. + +PACIFIC OCEAN, lat. 3 deg. N. + March 27, 1852. + +_Dear Brother_--We have now sailed for twenty-three days +and made nearly half the passage. We are well, and the wind is +generally fair, but now and then a calm. Brother Allen and myself +still study the language with diligence, and still talk with the +Chilian, who is also reading diligently in our Spanish Bible. + +The "Book of Mormon," "Voice of Warning," etc., have been the +rounds, and been read by the captain and mates; but they will not +believe in them, nor in the testimony of men or angels. However, +there is one intelligent, sober young man, who is interested much. + +_April 29th_, lat. 27 deg. N.--Fifty-five days have +passed like a dreary imprisonment to us, with but little to eat. We +live on a little poor, hard bread, probably baked some two or three +years ago, and some beans, and very poor damaged salt beef and +pork. We have no flour, potatoes, sugar, molasses, rice, or other +comforts, although we pay a good price for cabin passage. + +We have not had one day of good sailing in a month; it is either +calms or light head winds. We seldom sail more than from thirty to +fifty miles in twenty-four hours. We are hungry, and weary, and +lonesome, and disconsolate. But, after praying much for a fair wind +and speed, we find our prayers are not answered, and we have given +it up, and have asked our Heavenly Father to give us patience and +reconciliation to His will. + +We are now some eight or nine hundred miles from port, and our +provisions (poor as they are) must fail us soon. But live or die we +trust in God and try to serve Him. + +There is no one on board who fears God or regards man, as far as +we know, except one of the sailors and ourselves. The most horrid +blasphemies resound in our ears every day in the cabin and on deck, +from captain and mate together, with gambling and blackguardism. + +We are shunned and hated because of our testimony, and because +our example is a reproof. But we mind our own business, and study +language and the Scriptures every day. + +The young man of which I speak is a Mr. Howard, from the United +States, who is well educated, and has read our books with much +interest during the passage, and has requested to be baptized and +join the Church as soon as we land. He is not accustomed to a +seafaring life, and wishes to go to the mountains with us. He has +been brought up at school and in clerking. I think his calling is +to preach the Gospel, but I have not yet even hinted this to him. + +Brethren, I want to see you all with a desire above all other +times of my life. I feel as though I wanted to sit down with you +and seek the powers and gifts of God and the powers of Heaven, even +that which shall be shed forth for the restoration of the house of +Israel. + +Oh, when will the time come? When shall the veil be rent and the +full powers of the apostleship be permitted to be exercised on the +earth? It must be before long or no flesh be saved--for the powers +of darkness prevail abroad to that degree that it can even be felt +physically. + +There are none who know the Lord; none who seek after the truth; +none who appreciate it when found; none who incline to cease from +sin. I had like to have said to be found abroad in the earth. To +find one is like lighting a candle and searching diligently for +food among of dungeons of darkness, death and famine. + +Adieu till we land. + +Your brother, + P. P. PRATT. + + +CHAPTER L. +------------------------ + +Arrival in San Francisco:--Return to Salt Lake +City:--Second Mission to the Pacific:--Articles from the Press. + +After a long and tedious passage of seventy-nine days we landed +in San Francisco on the 21st of May, having suffered severely for +the last forty days for the want of proper food. + +After resting and recuperating for a few days, my time was again +devoted to the ministry in the Church at San Francisco and San +Jose, and in visiting, studying language, writing to the other +missionaries, and in the preparations for our homeward journey, +until near the end of July; and I would here add, that, through the +kindness of my brethren and friends, near twelve hundred dollars in +money, mules and a wagon was contributed to assist me in my mission +and for my journey home, being given at various times after my +arrival from Chili. + +I found the Saints in the above named places possessed of some +faith and kindness, benevolence and charity. They were also +endeavoring to serve the Lord, and to set good examples of life, +and they met often to worship and edify each other and as many as +came to their meetings. Many attended their meetings and listened +with interest, and some were baptized and added to the Church. + +I urged the principles of the gathering with all the energy of +the gift of God within me, but seemingly almost in vain. The world +and the gain thereof seemed to have a strong hold and influence +over them. After a trial for months, I only obtained three men to +go with me, for Deseret, besides brother Allen. These were Wm. +Follett, Thomas Dual and Elisha Hyatt; with these I started on the +steamer "Sea Bird" about the last of July. + +We landed in St. Pedro after three days, and on the 14th day of +August we arrived all safe in San Barnardino, where we were kindly +received by Brother Amasa Lyman and the Saints in general, whom we +found well and prosperous. We camped near Sister Rich's, and were +entertained by them very hospitably. + +_Sunday, 15th_.--Met with the Saints for worship and +preached to them. It was a meeting full of interest, well attended +by both sexes; good singing, good instruction, the sacrament, and +in the afternoon a Sabbath school. + +Their meeting house is large and commodious, and is used for +school purposes every day. + +_August 20th_.--Brother C. C. Rich arrived in good health +from Salt Lake City with seventeen men, making their journey in +twenty-two days without loss or accident, having six wagons. +Reports well of the grass and water. Tells of much rain on the +desert and in Deseret. Brings good news of all things there, and +letters from my family, who were all alive and well. + +_Sunday, 22d_.--Had a joyful meeting with Brother Amasa +Lyman, C. C. Rich and the Church. After meeting we three of the +Twelve met and appointed certain young men to study the Spanish +language, with a view to a mission hereafter, and Brother Stout to +teach a class in Spanish, in this place, to consist of such young +men. + +_September 4th_.--Attended a harvest feast in the bowery, +or meeting house. The entire people made this feast, and assembled +to enjoy it. The room was richly and tastefully ornamented and set +off with evergreens, specimens of grains, vegetables, etc. + +Meeting opened by prayer and singing, and a few remarks from +myself and others, after which the entire day and evening was spent +in feasting, dancing and speaking. + +Every variety almost which the earth produced, or skill could +prepare, was spread out in profusion and partaken of by +all--citizens, strangers, Spaniards or Indians--with that freedom +and good order which is characteristic of the Saints. + +The dances were conducted with decorum and propriety. Old and +young, married and single, grandsire and child, all mingling in the +dance so far as they chose, without a jarring spirit to mar their +peace. + +With an address from A. Lyman, a few words from C. C. Rich and +myself, and benediction, we closed, about nine P.M., one of the +most interesting assemblies of the Saints in this place. + +_Tuesday, 14th_.--All being ready, we took leave of the +Saints in San Barnardino, and commenced our journey at nine +o'clock, A.M. Brothers Rich and Lyman, with several other friends, +accompanied us a few miles, and ox teams and teamsters accompanied +us for three days, to haul us over the Cajon Pass, where we took +leave of them, and at evening organized our company as follows:--P. +P. Pratt and wife, Rufus Allen, William Follett, Clark Ames, Samuel +Gould, Andrew Calhoun and wife, Elisha Hyatt wife and child, Thomas +Dowel, John Hyatt, John Green, George Clark. John Green was +appointed captain of the guard. In all, eleven men, four women and +one child. + +We were soon joined by five Spaniards, who had near forty +animals, mostly horses, who accompanied us for some hundreds of +miles, and joined us in guarding, etc. Their animals being poor and +unshod, we left them on the Rio Virgin. We met a company of +twenty-four emigrants near the Salt Spring. + +On the Muddy our camp was thronged with near sixty Indians, in a +state of nudity, bringing with them green corn, melons, and dressed +skins for sale, or exchange for clothing. They were all good +natured and glad to see us; some of them accompanied us twenty-five +miles, held our horses, guns, etc., and assisted us up the hills. + +After twenty days we all arrived in safety at Santa Clara, about +one hundred miles from the settlement in Iron County. + +_October 7th_.--All arrived in safety in the settlement +in Iron County, Utah, and were kindly received and entertained by +the Saints. + +I called on Sister Robinson in the twilight of evening, and +asked for the dinner which I had spoken for one and a half years +before. We were kindly received by her and others. + +We tarried three days in Parowan Fort and preached to the +Saints. + +Taking leave of the Saints we resumed our journey. Nothing +worthy of note transpired during the rest of the journey, which was +two hundred and fifty miles, mostly among the settlements, where we +were kindly entertained. + +On the 18th, near midnight, I arrived home. I found my family in +usual health. + +On my arrival home I found my wife, Mary Ann Frost, and my two +children, Olivia and Moroni, who had arrived from Maine, where they +had been for several years. The two children were glad to see me, +but their mother had for several years been alienated from me. I, +however, supported her until the following spring, when she applied +for and obtained a bill of divorce; after which, with the two +children, she removed to Utah County. + +I spent the remainder of the autumn in the ministry, and in +overseeing and assisting in farming, fencing, etc. + +I was also chosen a member of the Legislative Council, to which +I devoted forty days, commencing in December, 1852. Occupied with +these duties, and with the study of Spanish, the year 1852 was +brought to a close. + +_January, 1853_.-This month was mostly occupied in the +legislative councils. + +_April 6th_.--I attended a General Conference, on which +occasion the corner stones of the Salt Lake Temple were laid by the +First Presidency, Twelve and others. "The Temple Block is forty +rods square, the lines running north and south, east and west, and +contains ten acres. The center of the Temple is one hundred and +fifty-six feet six inches due west from the center of the east line +of the block. The length of said house, east and west, is one +hundred and eighty-six and a half feet, including towers, and the +width ninety-nine feet. On the east end there are three towers, as +also on the west. Draw a line north and south, one hundred and +eighteen and a half feet, through the center of the towers, and you +have the north and south extent of ground plan, including +pedestal." + +I devoted the remainder of the season to the ministry, and to +farming, building, etc., not wholly neglecting the study of +Spanish. + +At the August election I was returned to the Legislative Council +by unanimous vote, and in December following I attended its session +till the end of the year. + +_January, 1854_.--Still in legislative session, which +adjourned the latter part of this month. + +The remainder of the winter was spent in the ministry; in the +active duties of a Regent of the University of Deseret (being one +of a Committee on the Deseret Alphabet and a New System of +Orthography); in teaching a class in the Spanish language; in +ministering in the ordinances of the endowments in the house of the +Lord; and in studying, writing, etc. + +At a General Conference, held on the 6th day of April, I was +appointed to a second mission to California. Donations were +contributed to aid me in said mission. + +_May 5th_.--I took leave of my family and friends in Salt +Lake City and started on my second mission to California. + +Brother Thurston, a young man who had a mission to the isles, +accompanied me. We had a small wagon, drawn by two mules. + +At Provo we joined Governor Young and train on their trip south, +and travelled with them as far as Cedar City. At Parowan we were +joined by Elders Silas Smith and Brother West, who had also been +selected by the conference as missionaries to the islands. + +At this place Brother Young gave me the parting hand and blessed +me; and also Brother Kimball rose up and blessed me, and, as he +gave me the parting hand, promised many good things. He said I +should be blest, and my posterity forever. + +Here we parted--Brother Young and company on their return, while +I and my company proceeded on our Pacific Mission. + +Near Cedar City we were joined by other missionaries, and our +company now consisted of twenty-four men and one woman. + +Nothing of particular note occurred on our journey, and on June +9th we arrived safely and in good health and spirits at San +Barnardino, and were kindly entertained by Elders C. C. Rich and A. +Lyman. + +After resting a few days I here left the main company and +started with Brother J. W. Stewart in a carriage for the port of +San Pedro--distance, eighty-five miles. The road was good, and we +camped out two nights and arrived on the 14th, and were kindly +received by Messrs. Alexander & Co., who kept the warehouse. + +Here I unexpectedly met with a company of Saints from Australia, +under the direction of Elder William Hyde, and we mutually rejoiced +in meeting friends. + +I set sail on the steamer "Southerner" for San Francisco on June +24th, and had kind treatment and passage free in cabin. We had head +winds and were driven back three times, being five days longer than +usual on the passage, arriving there on the 2d of July in safety. +In a few days I went to San Jose Valley, and at Brother Cheeney's I +found my wife Elizabeth, in very poor health--she having come on +business a few months previous. We rested a few days at Brother +Cheeney's and were kindly entertained. + +We then returned to San Francisco, and about the 10th of July +the other missionaries arrived from San Barnardino. I met Brothers +Tanner and McBride, who had been on a mission to the Sandwich isles +and had returned. Brother Tanner had purchased a vessel in order to +transport the Elders both ways and to emigrate the Saints; but we +could not pay for it and fit it for sea, notwithstanding I ran in +debt to help him, so we had to sell it at a great loss. + +We now commenced holding meetings, circulating books, tracts, +and in every way we could, to notify and warn the people. + +I devoted the time I could spare from the ministry to writing my +history and for the press. + +Some time in August, Elders George Q. Cannon, J. Hawkins, Bigler +and Farran, of the Island Mission, landed, and Brother Cannon +assisted me some forty days in copying my autobiography. + +About the last of August the following was published in a weekly +paper, called the _Chronicle_, of San Francisco: + +A PROPHET IS AMONG US. + +Mr. Parley P. Pratt, of Salt Lake notoriety, is among us, and we +knew it not. He has just addressed a letter to Mr. J. S. Hittell, +whose "proposed course of lectures _against_ Christianity" +appears to have caught the Prophet's attention. + +As Mr. Pratt's letter, which is written on the blank leaf of a +printed Latter-day Saint's circular, is curious and characteristic, +we give a copy of it. We also give a copy of the circular itself. +To enable the reader to understand Mr. Pratt's allusions in the +letter, he had better first glance over Mr. Hittell's advertisement +in another column. One would scarcely have thought that Mr. Pratt +could seriously expect to make converts to his faith in this +"desperately wicked" California--the very hell on earth of the +"Mormons." But so it seems to be. We give him and his cause all the +publicity we can, by publishing his circular gratuitously. + +SAN FRANCISCO, _September 1st, 1854_. + +MR. JNO. S. HITTELL. + +_Sir_--What do you mean by the term "Christianity?" If +you mean the system taught by Christ and His Apostles, as recorded +in the "New Testament," you need give yourself or the public no +uneasiness, for no such system has troubled the earth for the last +thousand years at least, so far as we have any knowledge, except in +the single instance of its restoration in the United States by the +Prophet Joseph Smith; and even this has been misnamed "Mormonism," +and driven to the mountains of Utah. + +In short, this Christianity of the New Testament is a system of +visions, angels, revelations, prophesyings, gifts, miracles, etc. +Such system you can never oppose--it speaks and acts for itself; +its votaries know what they experience, see, hear and feel. + +As to the modern systems--the forms without power, they are not +worth opposing; they are dying of themselves before the power and +intelligence of truth made manifest by "Mormonism." + +I am happy to subscribe myself + The friend of truth and man, + PARLEY P. PRATT. + +CIRCULAR. + +Repent! ye people of California. _For know, assuredly, the +Kingdom of God has come nigh unto you._ + +Mr. Pratt, missionary from Salt Lake, will impart instruction on +the fullness of the Gospel to individuals, families, or +congregations who may desire it. + +Having authority of Jesus Christ he will also baptize by +immersion in water for remission of sins, and administer the gift +of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands to all penitent +believers in Christ who will covenant to cease from sin, and serve +God with all their hearts. + +Mr. Pratt will accept, with pleasure, any invitations from his +fellow citizens to preach in their houses, halls or churches, +without respect to party or sect. + +When not otherwise engaged, he will hold public meetings at his +residence on each Sunday, at the usual hours; also, prayer meetings +on Thursdays, at two P. M. + +The following appeared in the _Christian Advocate_ of San +Francisco, September 22: + +CASE OF DEFAMATION. + +P. P. Pratt, an Apostle of "Mormonism," takes us to task in no +measured terms for our unregenerate temerity, in daring to quote +from the _Richmond Despatch_ Dr. Ferris's account of the +"Mormon" community at Salt Lake. To have a man possessed of divine +authority, and capable of raising the dead, threaten us so, is +truly awful. Men have pursued us with bludgeons and revolvers +before, but this thing of being sent straight down to the bottom of +the bad place, is a sprinkle more terrific than carnal weapons. + +We are half inclined to repent, as much as we can, without +doubting a word of Dr. Ferris's description. + +Our readers will rejoice to know, from an apostle of Joe +Smithism, that all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts and +_whoredoms_ shall be done away. Here is the letter: + +Woe to you, priests, editors, hypocrites! You love to publish +lies to destroy the innocent. You condemn the just, and he doth not +resist you. + +Read your _Christian Advocate_ of September 15, headed +"The Mormons," and _tremble_; for God will not suffer such +lies to be published with impunity. "For," thus saith the Lord: +"all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts and whoredoms shall +be done away, and whosoever will not repent and come unto my +beloved Son, will I cut off from among the people, and I will +execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, +such as have not heard." + +Now, Messrs. Heath, Taylor, Blain and Philips, you know in your +own hearts that you have published lies enough about the "Mormons" +to sink you and those who patronize your publications to the lowest +hell with murderers. + +You know the people of Salt Lake to be an innocent community, +therefore, repent quickly, or your damnation is sealed, and your +hands will be found dripping with innocent blood. + +Yours etc., + P. P. PRATT + +A few more such will cause us to retire to private life.--Eds. + +A CHALLENGE + +_Editor's Chronicle_:--I perceive by the tone of the +press that politicians, moralists and religionists are in trouble +about Utah and Polygamy. "War!" "war!" "blood!" and "destruction" +to the poor heathen Mormons! But, thanks to the pious Methodists, +the Mormons are going to be converted first. Missionaries are going +to be sent to them. + +It is the right of the President of the United States to appoint +a Governor, and to send troops to Utah. The citizens of that +territory know this, and have no objections. But suppose a Governor +and troops went there to interfere with the rights and liberties of +the people and trample on the laws, why then, of course, the +aggressors, in common with all others are amenable to the civil +courts, and are liable to fine, imprisonment or execution, +according to their crimes. Even if they only threaten, they might +be bound over to keep the peace. The courts of Utah have never yet +been found remiss in the execution of the laws. + +What is the particular crime alleged against the Governor and +citizens of Utah, for which they are threatened with destruction or +conversion? + +We will be told it is Polygamy. Well, "sin," says the Apostle, +"is the transgression of law." We should greatly prefer conversion +to murder, and here permit me to suggest a plan for a wholesale +conversion, without a drop of blood or even the trouble of a +journey to Utah. + +I am here in California as an official member and representative +of the Church in Utah, for which I can produce credentials. I am +willing to meet a convention of the ablest lawyers and clergy to be +found in our country, and I hereby pledge my honor that I will +publicly renounce Polygamy, and that the church I represent will do +the same, on the following conditions, viz: + +The Old and New Testaments, the Constitution and laws of the +United States, and the laws of Utah Territory shall be their +standard; and if in all this wide range one item of law can be +found wherein God, angels, men, prophets, apostles, the Son of God +or the Holy Spirit have made plurality of wives a _crime_, a +_transgression of law_ or an _immorality_, then, on these +conditions, we will renounce Polygamy. But till this is done +we shall hold the law of God on the subject of matrimony, including +a plurality of wives, as a most sacred institution, binding on our +own consciences, in the free exercise of which we claim the +protection so freely and fully guaranteed by the constitution of +our common country. + +If editors in general throughout the country will please publish +this, it may tend to investigation and enlightenment, either of the +"poor, ignorant Mormons," or of those who think them so far out of +the way. + +P. P. PRATT. + SANTA CLARA, November 22d, 1854. + +_December 6th_.--I returned to San Francisco, and on the +second evening attended a discussion at the Mercantile Library +Association, on the subject of Governor Young, the Utah Mormons and +the general government. Spoke several times, and was appointed to +make the opening speech in one week from that time on the same +subject, and to be answered by Rev. Mr. Briggs. + +FROM THE DAILY "ALTA CALIFORNIA" + +Mr. Parley P. Pratt, for whom we have considerable respect as a +man and as a teacher, coupled with as much admiration of his talent +as the doctrines which he employs to defend it will admit of, Mr. +Parley P. Pratt appears to have walked into the temples of our +money changers in this city, and fairly put to flight all reason +and philosophy by the boldness of his attack upon the Christian +Church. + +Our readers will remember Mr. Pratt as the self-confessed +Apostle of Polygamic Mormonism in California, and its last exploit +was to draw up on him the fire of a room full of debaters in the +San Francisco Mercantile Library Association, and then commenced a +bombardment of the citadel of their reason, and silenced or +rendered useless every gun! For several weeks Mr. Pratt has been +wheeling and charging his squadron of polygamic arguments in full +sight of all our church doors and lecture rooms, and even advanced +in person to the foot of our pulpits to proclaim himself the +defender of a new faith, flinging the glove even into the +minister's desk. + +Up to the present time, we believe, no David has gone forth +against this Philistine to meet him on either point of law, +morality or religion, which he declares himself ready to engage an +enemy upon. + +We naturally ask, why is this? In a city with so many well +supported churches and able divines, can no one be found to match +this champion of the Mormons? Or are the abhorrence and contempt of +such doctrines, and scorn of their advocates so great as to stifle +the power of expression among our worthy controversialists? Either +of these causes, we consider fallacious and bad. Passion should +play no part in the impulses of Christian minds, and we much doubt +the propriety of condemning a doctrine because of its low origin, +or despising argument because it may not present a respectable +exterior. Missionaries are sent to the heathen; and why should +discussion be denied heathenistic doctrines when they are brought +to our own very doors? + +We have very worthy and respectable street preachers in San +Francisco, and we do not see how a religious discussion with a +Mormon would profane the walls of any one of our churches, or taint +the reputation of any of our ministers of the gospel. + +Mr. Pratt seems to have the best of the law on his side so far +as the situation of the Salt Lake people is concerned; under our +territorial regulations there really appears to be no law to +prevent Polygamy. + +_December 9th_.--Returned to Santa Clara by steamer and +stage, and found all well. + +_Sunday, 10th_.--Preached twice to an attentive and +somewhat numerous audience in a large and commodious hall. Visited +and wrote history the four following days, and instructed such as +sought me. + +_Friday, 15th_.--Repaired again to San Francisco in +company with some five of my friends, and at evening attended the +discussion. The place was crowded, and God gave me His Spirit, and +truth triumphed. + + +CHAPTER LI. +------------------------ + +REPLY TO THE REV. MR. BRIGGS + +ON THE SUBJECT OF THE EXPEDIENCY OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR YOUNG, OF UTAH. + +My friend, Mr. Briggs, in the fullness of his charity as a +"peacemaker," the other evening kindly, gently, and in a +Christian-like manner merely suggested a few pious ideas concerning +myself such as theft, robbery, murder, etc., being considered no +crime by me and the "Mormons," provided these crimes were committed +on the Gentiles, and in favor of the Church treasury, etc. + +This puts me in mind of the good, peaceable Quaker who said to a +poor dog which he wanted killed, "I will not kill thee, but I will +give thee a bad name." So he cried, "Mad dog! Mad dog!" And on +hearing this cry the people soon despatched the poor animal. + +Perhaps my friend thinks to get the Mormons killed off in the +same pious and Christian-like manner. Even should he succeed in his +peaceful, pious purposes, it would not be the first time that the +blood of martyrs has stained our soil through the influence of such +Christian benevolence. + +I am truly sorry to see so worthy a fellow citizen--so pious a +man--one so full of charity and benevolence--so uninformed, so +utterly at fault on the most familiar subjects of Bible history and +morality, or of right and wrong, as to insinuate that there is no +difference between Polygamy and adultery; between a house full of +wives and children and a house full of harlots. + +He takes Polygamy, adultery, theft and murder, and compounds +them all together as crime! And then seems to infer that a man +would steal, commit adultery, etc., simply from the fact that he +has a house full of wives and children! And even my good friend the +learned and candid Mr. Hittell, although very just in the main +drift of his argument, the other evening seemed to recognize no +very clear distinction between Polygamy and adultery, or between a +man having his own wife, or robbing a neighbor of his wife. + +Sir, in justice to myself and the cause I represent, and in +charity to those whose judgments are so warped by tradition and +custom; whose otherwise keen perceptions are so blunted by Roman +superstitions and Puritan littleness, I must call the attention of +these gentlemen to the recognized standard of all Christian +nations--"The law and Testimony"--and give them a lesson on the +first principles of right and wrong, or of virtues and vices, +according to the laws of God and nature. + +I will state the question direct, as inferred or inquired, by my +friend the "peace maker." What is the difference between a house +full of wives and children or a house of "ill fame," or of +"harlots?" + +Sir, I will tell you. The one leads to _life_ and the +other to _death_--I mean literally--or, in plainer language, +one rightly conducted, under the blessings and law of God, +multiplies, preserves and trains our species in the highest order +of physical, moral and intellectual endowment the world with +cities; gives rise to nations; and has given to the world its +principal rulers, kings, prophets, apostles, and, finally, its +Messiah, and is the lineage and order through and in which all +nations shall be blessed. + +The other perverts the order of nature; prostitutes the most +holy principles and affections to the vilest of purposes; checks +the reproduction of our species; spreads disease and death as a +sweeping pest through the world; degenerates the race; and if it +fills the world fills it with a mean, grovelling, sickly, puny, +lustful, deformed and miserable race of beings, whose misfortune is +that they were born at all. + +Such were the people of the flood; the people of Sodom and the +Canaanites, who were so far degenerated that the Lord in mercy +interfered, and doomed them to utter destruction, that nations and +races degenerate should no longer propagate their species: and +then, by his own holy laws of marriage, repeopled those same +countries with a better race. + +As polygamists Abraham and Jacob were the friends of God; worthy +to converse with Him, and to receive His blessing on themselves and +their wives and children; worthy of associating with angels from +Heaven, and of being filled with the holy and pure spirit of +prophecy and of revelation; while, for their sakes, kings were +reproved, saying, "touch not mine own anointed, and do my prophets +no harm." + +As a polygamist Jacob gave twelve tribes to the world instead of +two, which was the number born by his first intended, his beloved +Rachel. While, on the other hand, his sons visited a whole city +with the sword, because its _ruler_ had seduced their sister +Dinah. + +As a polygamist Moses beheld the face of God, and was filled +with His glory to that degree that his face shone like that of an +angel. + +As an adulterist, a prince of Israel, named Ziniri, was killed +in the very act by Phineas the priest, the grandson of Aaron; which +act of justice so pleased the Lord that he stayed the plague which +was consuming the camp on account of their whoredoms. + +The law of God regulating and sanctioning Polygamy was thundered +from Mount Sinai in awful majesty, from the mouth of the God of +Israel, although it had existed before, and also among the eternal +and unchangeable principles of morality, virtue and purity. + +While, on the other hand, the same God, in a voice of thunder, +proclaimed, "Thou shalt not commit adultery, nor covet thy +neighbor's wife, or anything that is thy neighbor's." + +As a bigamist, Elkanah, who had two wives, became the father of +Samuel, the Prophet; he being a child of promise, obtained by the +fervent prayer of Hannah, his mother, in the Holy Temple, and by +her vows devoted to the service of the Temple from his childhood. +While, on the other hand, had he been a child of whoredoms, instead +of a child of bigamy, he would have been excluded from the house of +the Lord, and his children after him, for ten generations. + +The first revelation ever given to this child of bigamy rebuked +the priests, the sons of Eli, _Hophni_ and _Phineas_, for their +whoredoms and other sins, and revealed their dooms. In fulfillment +of his words these two fornicators fell in battle while bearing +the very Ark of God. + +As a polygamist, David, the anointed King and Prophet of Israel, +was called a man after God's own heart; and God Himself expressly +declares, by the mouth of Nathan the Prophet, that he gave him his +wives. + +While, as an adulterer with the wife of Uriah, and the murderer +of her husband, he is reproved by the word of the Lord; and, +although he sorely repented, yet the child of his adultery died; +and his punishment was, that the sword should not depart from his +house; that his wives should be taken from him and given to +another; and his own salvation was suspended for ages--the Apostle +Peter himself declaring, in his day, that the patriarch, David, had +not yet ascended into Heaven. + +As polygamists, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are approved and +commended by Jesus Christ, who expressly declares that, "many shall +come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from +the south; and shall set down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the +Kingdom of God." While, at the same time, he declares that, "those +wicked and adulterous persons, who, in that age, considered +themselves the children of the kingdom, should be thrust out." I +sincerely hope my mistaken friends here will learn, ere that +eventful day, to distinguish between a house of Polygamy and a +crowd of adulterers; but they might by mistake consider the kingdom +of God a house of ill fame, and go with the wrong crowd. + +Sir, the Apostle Paul sets forth Abraham, the polygamist, as the +father of the faithful; worthy of all imitation, as heir of the +eternal covenants and promises; in whose seed all nations shall be +blessed. He shows, most clearly, that the gospel introduces us into +the family of polygamists; makes us children of Abraham, and heirs +to the same covenants. + +On the other hand, this same Apostle declares that adulterers +and fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of God. + +Again, sir, John the Revelator describes the eternal Jerusalem +of Heaven, the Royal City of our God, as peopled and governed by +the great family of polygamists; which, in its _lineage_, +includes Jesus and the holy prophets and apostles of all ages. The +pearly gates are embellished with the names of twelve polygamists, +the sons of four women by one man. + +While, on the other hand, this same John expressly declares, +that the place for all liars, sorcerers, whoremongers and +adulterers is outside; and that there shall in no wise enter into +the city anything that defileth or maketh a lie. + +Now to come to Utah. There, sir, the law of God is _honored +_; by it we determine what is virtue and what is vice. Here, +sir, if nowhere else in Christendom, our virtuous wives and +children, given us by the law of God, are our _glory_; our +_crown of rejoicing_; our _kingdom in embryo_, big with thrones +of power and immortality. There, sir, the local administration +carries out the principles of the glorious Constitution and laws +of our common country--even to the protection of prophets and +apostles, who have dared to restore the Laws of God, and to +organize and regulate their household by the same. And-- + +Sir, I have yet to learn by what constitutional or moral right a +local state sovereignty makes a crime of that which, rightly +conducted, never has been recognized as a crime by God, or angels, +prophets or apostles, or even by the Saviour of the world. + +I have yet to learn by what right a State of this Union dooms a +man to prison for a conscientious act, in embracing the everlasting +covenant, made with Abraham and the fathers; while, at the same +time, a fornicator, who by the law of God, is worthy of _death +_, runs at large, or, at most, pays a fine for his damnable +deeds of seduction, and then is at liberty to repeat them, while +his purse will hold out to pay the repeated fines and damages. + +I have yet to learn that a State has the constitutional right to +deprive a Mormon, a Jew, or even a Mahomedan or Pagan of his most +sacred rights of conscience in regard to marriage relations or +family ties; while they are regulated by the recognized laws of the +Bible, or of most civilized nations of ancient and modern times. + +Now, sir, let me say that, on account of the corrupt +institutions, and the prevalence of whoredoms in modern +Christendom, the _race is degenerated_; the cities and +nations are corrupted till earth groans; the heavens weep; the sun +will, ere long, veil his face in shame; the moon be arrayed in +crimson blushes; the starry heavens tremble; the planets be thrown +from their orbits, and tremble for very anguish; while plagues, +earthquakes, storms and tempests sweep the earth, and famine and +the sword devour the wicked; while fire consumes the mystic Babel, +the great whore of all the earth. + +Then will prevail the kingdom of our God, and the power of his +Christ; "and the saints shall possess the kingdom and the greatness +of the kingdom under the whole heaven," while the meek inherit the +earth; and the house of Israel, under the new and everlasting +covenant of eternal matrimony, blossom and bear fruit, and fill the +face of the world with cities. + +Men, brethren and fathers: It is for the hope of Israel the +eternal laws, promises and covenants of God made to the fathers, +that myself and the "Mormons" are called in question. + +We believe the prophets, sir, and, therefore, expect the wreck +of nations; the casting down of thrones; the crash of states, and +the winding up of all mere human institutions; while a new dynasty, +as a universal Theocracy, shall succeed and stand forever. + +The nucleus of this kingdom, sir, is formed; this grain of +mustard seed is planted and has sprung up, and is beginning to grow +and flourish in the heart of our country, under the fostering care +and constitutional guarantee of the very best human government now +existing on this earth. + +Sir, God raised up the United States and influenced her +constitutional institutions for the very purpose of shielding and +protecting the Church in the wilderness, and all men in their +liberties, and of throwing a guard around His embryo kingdom till +He should come, whose right it is to reign and subdue all enemies +under his feet. + +His kingdom, sir, when organized, in the United States, is a +constitutional kingdom of God. It has the perfect liberty and +right, guaranteed by our institutions, to organize itself under the +administration of prophets and apostles, and to receive the +ministrations of angels, and of visions and revelations from +Heaven. + +Sir, one of the strongest reasons I urge for the reappointment +of Governor Young is, that as a polygamist, civilian and an +ecclesiastic, he has given the strongest proof of his skill in the +science of government, whether of _Family, Church or State_. + +_Sunday, 17_.--Met with the Saints twice, and preached to +them, and were truly blessed; and partook of the ordinance of bread +and wine, in remembrance of our Lord. Next day I repaired to +Oakland and met the Lyceum, and made arrangements for discussing +polygamy on the next evening; and, according to appointment +(Tuesday, 19), met the Lyceum and a large assembly of both sexes, +and discussed the law of marriages till eleven o'clock at night. +Truth was triumphant, and my adversaries confounded. + +On the last of the month we convened a General Conference at +Santa Clara, of two days, during which five branches were +represented--in all about one hundred and twenty members. We had a +joyful time, much good teaching, and many out to hear. + + +CHAPTER LII. +------------------------ + +Statements Pertaining to the History of Joseph +Smith:--Return to Utah:--Home Mission:--Attend the Legislature at +Fillmore:--The Standard of Zion:--Return to Salt Lake City. + +_February 24th_. + +I sat for a large likeness, taken in +daguerreotype, as a keepsake for my family, being forty-seven years +ten months and twelve days old. I presented this to my son Parley, +to be handed down from generation to generation, as long as it will +last. + +In March a Council was held at my office, and it was concluded +to remove the Conference of the 6th of April next from Santa Clara +to San Francisco, where I also moved my wife and made my home +during the remainder of my mission. + +April 12th.--This is my birthday. I am forty-eight years old. I +wrote letters for home today and sent a set of books, viz: "Book of +Mormon," "Doctrine and Covenants," "Hymn Book," "Voice of Warning," +"Harp of Zion," etc., to each of my wives and to Parley, Olivia and +Moroni, my elder children; also, books to my younger children, +Alma, Nephi, Helaman, Julia, Lucy, Agatha, Belinda and Abinadi, +Cornelia and Malona, and small presents and candies for the little +ones, Phebe, Hannahette, Mary, Lehi and Moroni W., all as a +birthday present or memorial. + +In May I received a letter from President Young counselling me +to return home this coming summer. + +_June 8th_.--The sad news reached us today of Brother +Silas Beckwith being murdered and buried. This Beckwith was one of +the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, and was, at the time of +his death, a worthy member and teacher in the San Juan branch. + +I visited his widow and orphans, and spent some hours in the +house of mourning. On my second visit I gained and wrote down the +following statements pertaining to the history of Joseph Smith: + +Mrs. Eunice Corinthia Beckwith, formerly Mrs. Lawn (whose +father's name was Joshua Twitchell), was the widow of John Lawn, +captain of a company of Illinois Militia, of McDonough County, who +guarded Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage Jail until the morning +of the day they were martyred, when himself and company were +disbanded by order of Governor Ford, and started for home, leaving +the prisoners in the hands of the Carthage Greys. + +On taking leave of the prisoners he gave his hand, received +Joseph's blessing, and heard him say most solemnly: "Farewell, +Captain Lawn; when you and your men leave me my life guard is +gone." Previous to this, however, Joseph had read to him the +fifty-fifth Psalm, and told him to remember that chapter and read +it to his friends when he arrived home. One of the Carthage Greys +also read in reply the sixty-first Psalm. + +Captain Lawn and his troops had marched about twelve miles +towards home when the news reached them of the martyrdom! At this +he exclaimed: "O that I had known of this massacre, so soon to +transpire! I would have remained, and, when the first ball was +fired at the Smiths, I would have fired the second through the body +of the villain who fired it or died in the attempt." A man named +Townsend, living in Iowa, near Fort Madison, was one of the mob who +assaulted and forced in the jail door. The pistol discharged by +Joseph Smith wounded him in the arm, near the shoulder, and it +continued to rot without healing until it was taken off and even +then it would not heal. + +About six months after he was shot Mrs. Lawn saw his arm and +dressed it. He was then gradually rotting and dying with the wound. +He stayed over night with Mrs. Lawn's father, and groaned through +the night without sleeping. He asked the old gentleman what he +thought of Joseph Smith being a Prophet? He replied that he did not +know. "Well," said Townsend, "_I know he was a Prophet of God +_! And, oh, that I had stayed at home and minded my own +business, and then I would not have lost my life and been tormented +with a guilty conscience, and with this dreadful wound, which +_none can heal_!" He died two or three months afterwards, having +literally rotted alive! + +James Head, of McComb, was also one of the murderers at the +Carthage Jail; he was heard by Captain Lawn and others to boast of +it afterwards, and Captain Lawn drew a pistol and chased him; but +he ran away. He was always gloomy and troubled from the time he +helped to murder the Smiths, and frequently declared that he saw +the two martyrs always before him! He had no peace. + +A colonel of the Missouri mob, who helped to drive, plunder and +murder the Mormons, died in the hospital at Sacramento, 1849. +Beckwith had the care of him; he was eaten with worms a large black +headed kind of maggot--which passed through him by myriads, +seemingly a half pint at a time! Before he died these maggots were +crawling out of his mouth and nose! He literally rotted alive! Even +the flesh on his legs burst open and fell from the bones! They +gathered up the rotten mass in a blanket and buried him, without +awaiting a coffin! + +A Mr. -----, one of Missouri mob, died in the same hospital +about the same time, and under the care of Mr. Beckwith. His face +and jaw on one side literally rotted, and half of his face actually +fell off! One eye rotted out, and half of his nose, mouth and jaw +fell from the bones! The doctor scraped the bones, and unlocked and +took out his jaw from the joint round to the center of the chin. +The rot and maggots continued to eat till they ate through the +large or jugular vein of his neck, and he bled to death! He, as +well as Townsend, stank so previous to their death that they had to +be placed in rooms by themselves, and it was almost impossible to +endure their presence, and the flies could not be kept from blowing +them while alive! + +Wm. T. Head, an officer in Captain Lawn's company, and tarrying +in Carthage, testified that he saw a certain man raise a large +knife to strike off the head of Joseph, when, all at once, and in +the midst of a clear day, with no cloud in sight, "a terrible clap +of thunder rolled heavily, and forked lightnings flashed in the +face of the murderers, and perfectly paralyzed a number of them. + +"The ruffian, who had raised his knife and had sworn with a +dreadful oath to take the head off Joseph, stood perfectly +paralyzed, his arm uplifted with the knife suspended in air, and +could not move a limb. His comrades carried him off, and all fled +in terror from the scene." + +These particulars, and many others, were related to me by +brother Beckwith previous to his death, and afterwards by his widow +and father-in-law, and others who were conversant with them, and +are believed to be correct. + +At a General Conference, held June 16--being the eve of my +departure--it was the unanimous voice of the meeting to give me a +letter of commendation and fellowship from the Conference to the +Presidency of the Church in Utah. Elder J. Crosby was set apart as +President of the San Francisco Conference, under my hands and +others. + +I gave them a few words of farewell and blessing, and returned +them my sincere thanks for their many marks of kindness and +hospitality to me and my wife while we sojourned with them; and I +shall long remember the many brethren who have generously assisted +me with means whereby I am enabled to puruse my journey home. + +While on this mission I have been diligent in preaching, +teaching, baptizing, visiting and ministering to the sick, and +writing for the press. I feel the Saints have rejoiced under my +teachings, and a goodly number have been added to the Church. + +_June 20th_.--I took leave of the Saints and friends at +San Francisco and started at noon, with my team, for my home in +Utah; crossed the ferry at Oakland ten miles on a steamer, and +drove twenty-five miles and stopped after sundown at Brother +Naile's, near San Jose. After resting a few days, and all being +ready, we started from Dr. McIntyre's at nine o'clock A. M., with a +company composed of seven men, two women and one child, five wagons +and sixteen animals. I thanked God that, after thirteen months and +a few days' absence, I was now ready to return to my home in the +peaceful valley of the Great Salt Lake. + +_August 18th_.--After a long and wearisome journey of +some eight hundred miles we arrived safely home, and rejoiced to +find all well. + +_Sunday, 19th_.--I met the great congregation twice in +the Tabernacle and bowery; heard Orson Pratt and President B. Young +preach, and spoke a few words myself. In the evening met with, the +Quorum of the Twelve for prayer, as usual. + +On Monday I visited my wife Sarah, and her two children, Julia +and Teancum, who resided on my farm; and, from this date until the +Conference of October 6th, my time was engaged in the care and +labors of my family, and other duties, although I attended Sabbath +meetings, and sometimes preached. + +The Conference appointed my brother Orson, and brother Woodruff, +and myself, with upwards of twenty others, to a home mission in +Utah Territory. + +After Conference I spent my time mostly in the House of the +Lord, in administering in the endowments, until the 20th of +October. + +_October 15th_, Monday.--Agreeable to instructions from +President Young I called a meeting of a few of the Twelve, and +others concerned in the mission, and divided the territory into +missionary districts, and assigned to each his labor, appointing +Conferences, or general meetings in each district. + +_Saturday, 20th_.--Commenced my home mission by riding +seventeen miles to attend a general meeting in company with O. +Pratt, W. Woodruff and others, at Farmington, Davis County. Good +attendance and spirited preaching on this day three times. Tarried +at Sister Haight's. + +_Sunday, 21st_.--At half past eight o'clock, A. M., held +a council of the missionaries of the district, and appointed the +next quarterly meeting for the districts, to be held in Bishop +Stoker's ward on the 18th of November next, and the second to be +held December 15th, at ten o'clock, in Bishop Kay's ward. + +This day we held three meetings, which were well attended, and +greatly blessed with the spirit and power of God. + +_Monday, 22d_.--Returned home and found all well. + +_November 1st_.--Started with my carriage, accompanied by +my wife Belinda and child, my brother Orson Pratt and W. Woodruff, +and arrived at Ogden on the following day at eleven o'clock, A. M., +and put up at President Farr's. Preached in the meeting house three +times. The night following a dreadful wind arose, which did some +damage. After travelling and preaching through the northern +settlements nearly two weeks to large assemblies, who listened with +good attention, we returned home and found all well. + +_Saturday, 17th_.--Rode ten miles in my carriage with my +wife Mary, and brethren O. Pratt and W. Woodruff, to P. Sessions', +and met with the Saints in a Quarterly Conference. + +_Sunday, 18th_.--Met a crowd out of doors, on the south +side of the school-house, at Bishop Stoker's. I preached in the +forenoon, and brothers Joseph Young and Erastus Snow in the +afternoon. Many were out and the good spirit prevailed. + +Next morning returned home and found all well. + +_December 3d_.--Bid farewell to my family and started in +my carriage with Agatha, my wife, and O. Pratt and W. W. Phelps as +passengers, for the city of Fillmore, to attend the Legislative +Assembly. + +_Friday, 7th_.--Arrived at Fillmore at 1 P.M. in a heavy +snow storm. Put up with Brother Bridges. + +_Sunday, 9th_.--Attended meeting twice. Preached in the +morning and listened to O. Pratt in the afternoon. + +_Monday, 10th_.--Attended the council of the Legislature +and witnessed the organization, and was unanimously elected +chaplain of the council. Accepted and was sworn, and entered upon +my duties, being charged by the President, Hon. H. C. Kimball, to +instruct and exhort the members and others in their duties. I +prepared an address on the laws of marriage and morals, which was +delivered to the council on the twenty-first. This was so favorably +received that the Governor and President called for the reading of +it before the joint session. It was accordingly read by the clerk +on the thirty-first of December. On motion, it was unanimously +voted to have it printed in the _Deseret News_; and, on +motion, a vote of thanks was carried unanimously. + +_January 1st, 1856_. + +Wrote a letter to the _New York Herald_, and, in the +evening, attended a dance in the Legislative Hall. It was a fine +party, where old and young engaged in the dance till near midnight. +From this time till the adjournment of the Legislative Assembly +nothing worthy of record transpired. + +THE STANDARD OF ZION + + O, Saints, have you seen, o'er yon mountain's proud height, + The day star of promise so brilliantly beaming? + Its rays shall illumine the world with its light, + And the ensign of Zion, exultingly streaming, + All nations invite to walk in its light, + And join to maintain the proud standard of right-- + The Standard of Zion, O long may it wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! + + Our motto is peace, and the triumph of right; + And we joyfully hail the Millennia dawning, + When man can emerge from a long dreary night + And bask in the sunbeams of Zion's bright morning. + The white flag so rare, still floating in air, + Proclaims 'mid the mountains that peace is still there. + Let the Standard of Zion eterally wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. + + Though earth and its treasures should melt in the fire-- + The planets be riven with the trumpets' loud thunder, + The sunlight of Heaven wax dim and expire, + And the veil of eternity parted asunder, + Yet firm and unshaken the truth shall remain, + And the heirs of the Priesthood forever shall reign, + And the Standard of Zion eterally wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. + +FILLMORE COUNCIL CHAMBER, _January 8, 1856_. + +_Tuesday, 15th_.--I attended a festival of the +Legislature in the State House, where all were treated to abundance +of oysters, fruits, wines, etc., by the Hon. Secretary Babbitt. + +_Friday, 18th_.--The Legislature adjourned and all +started for home. We travelled about forty-five miles--some of the +distance in about eight inches of snow--and camped at night in a +point of cedars. The cold was extreme, but we emptied our carriage +and kept a constant fire in the stove. Sat up through the night, as +there was not room for all to lie down, and thus we passed the +night. + +_19th_.--Rode twenty miles to breakfast; arrived in Nephi +about ten o'clock, nearly frozen; but a good breakfast and three +hours' rest revived us, and we started again at 1 P.M. and rode to +Payson, a distance of twenty-five miles, and were kindly received +by Brother Donich. + +_20th_.--Started at ten A.M. Rode to Provo and dined at +Brother Stewart's. Rode ten miles more, and were entertained by +Bishop Walker, of Pleasant Grove. + +_21st_.--Rode thirty-five miles and dined at the +Bishop's, Unionville, and arrived home at sundown; found all my +family in tolerable health except my little daughter Isabel, who +had been sick with a fever and cold on the lungs. I ministered to +her and she speedily recovered. + +_Friday, 25th_.--Spent the day with my family, and in a +meeting with a chartered company, called the Deseret Road and +Express Company, of which I was a member. + +_Saturday, 26th_, and from thence to February 14th was +spent with my family, and in preaching occasionally in the +Tabernacle and in the different wards in the city. Also in the +office of juryman on the Grand Jury of the United States Court. + +_Tuesday, March 4th_.--Attended at the President's office +in the duty as a Regent of the University. + +Next day attended at the President's office as a Committee of +the Regency in raising school books. + +_Thursday, 6th_.--Myself and family fasted and attended +meeting in the Fourteenth ward school-house, and at evening visited +at Brother Southworth's, and attended another meeting in the ward. + +Having been elected a delegate of Salt Lake County to a +Convention called by the people of the Territory of Utah, to form a +Constitution for the State of Deseret, I attended the daily +sessions of the Convention for ten days, ending March 27, 1856. My +time, after the adjournment of said Convention, was devoted to +laboring on the farm, garden, and administering in the various +duties of my calling, writing history, etc., until the Annual +Conference, which convened April 6th and closed on the 8th. This +Conference was held under a bowery adjoining the Tabernacle, and +was attended by six or eight thousand people. At this Conference +several hundred persons were called to go on missions to the United +States, England, Australia, the Sandwich Islands and other parts of +the earth. The Presidency enjoined upon me the duty of setting +apart and ordaining those who were called for their several +missions, in which I was assisted by the rest of the Twelve and +some of the Presidents of Seventies. + +About this period, or immediately after Conference, I was taken +sick with a fever and came nigh unto death, which sickness +continued about two weeks. + +_May 26th_.--Accompanied by Elder Gates I started on a +mission of preaching, visiting and instructing the Saints in the +southern part of the Territory; during which tour we held meetings +at Union Fort, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Provo, Payson, +Summit, Nephi, Fillmore, Beaver, Paragona, Parowan, Cedar City and +Harmony. + +On my return to Salt Lake City called and preached at the +different towns and settlements on the route, arriving home June +27, 1856. + +While at home my time was occupied in attending meetings, +instructing and speaking words of comfort and encouragement to the +Saints, and writing my history, assisted by my wife Kezia, as +copyist. + + +CHAPTER LIII. +------------------------ + +JOURNAL OF EASTERN MISSION. + +During the summer, after my return from the South, I performed +several home missions or preaching tours through Davis, Weber and +Box Elder Counties, and in September received an appointment to +take a mission to the States, for which I received the following +letter of appointment: + +UTAH TERRITORY, PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, + GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, _Sept. 10, 1856_. + +ELDER PARLEY P. PRATT. + +_Dear Brother_--As you are about to leave on your mission +to the States, we feel to give you a word of counsel for your +guidance. + +We expect that your principal occupation will be to travel and +preach the gospel in different places, as you shall be led by the +spirit of the Lord. + +We are informed that there is quite a large number of Saints in +the southwestern part of Virginia, which it is our wish you shall +visit and instruct in the principles of the gospel. + +Owing to the extra duties of delegate being placed upon Brother +John Taylor, it is suggested that you also aid him in writing for +_The Mormon_, and such other duties as may devolve upon you +by the united counsel of brethren now in charge on that mission. + +As you are expected to return the ensuing season, we do not +consider that it would be wisdom for you to have the burden of the +mission to rest upon you, but rather that you should aid the +brethren for the brief period which you will remain with them. + +If Brother Snow should be able to resume _The Luminary_, +we should be pleased to have you assist him also in writing for +that publication. + +We believe that, by thus devoting your time during the ensuing +winter, you will render the brethren now upon that mission +effective aid, and be a comfort and consolation to the brethren and +Saints who shall have the pleasure of your ministerial administrations, +and be blessed with your society in this your short visit to the Saints +in the States; and that the Lord will bless you abundantly with His +spirit, and enable you to perform your mission with honor and +satisfaction to yourself, and His divine acceptance, is the prayer of + +Your brethren in the Gospel of Christ, + BRIGHAM YOUNG, + HEBER C. KIMBALL, + J.M. GRANT, + _First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of +Latter-day Saints_. + +After receiving the foregoing appointment my time was employed +chiefly in settling up my business and preparing for the journey +eastward. + +_September 7, 1856_. I preached my farewell discourse in +the Tabernacle, in which I bore testimony to the Book of Mormon and +of the calling of Joseph Smith, and of his Presidency and +Apostleship. At noon, the same day, gave instructions and strict +charge to my son, Parley P., concerning my business, and the duties +that would devolve upon him in my absence. + +At 5 P.M. met with my quorum in prayer, in which President Young +and others laid their hands upon my head and set me apart for my +mission to the States--confirming and sealing upon my head all the +keys and powers of the eternal priesthood, so far as they were held +upon the earth--"and that I should always be numbered among those +that were faithful to the priesthood, both in this life, in the +world of spirits and in the resurrection." + +_September 11_. Bid farewell to my family and friends and +started on my eastern mission in company with several elders and +friends, who were going to the States. We met, on the journey +across the plains, several companies, chiefly from Europe. Some of +them were companies traveling with ox teams, and several hand cart +companies. The first hand cart company we met was near Green River, +which consisted of two hundred and thirty men, women and children. +These had crossed the plains from Iowa City--some 1,200 miles--the +women as well as men drawing hand carts and the children walking. +They had travelled twenty miles a day and sometimes more. Their +faces were much sun-burnt and their lips parched; but cheerfulness +reigned in every heart, and joy seemed to beam on every +countenance. The company gathered around us and I tried to address +them, observing that this was a new era in American as well as +Church history; but my utterance was choked, and I had to make the +third trial before I could overcome my emotions. We had passed on, +nothing worthy of note occurring until we arrived at Fort Kearney. + +_October 17_.--We arrived at Fort Kearney; here the death +of A. W. Babbitt, and others with him was confirmed. The commanding +officer of the fort came to me and said he had an account of +Babbitt's death from the Indians themselves; and that he had +obtained his papers and accounts, which he would deliver to +Babbitt's wife, if she would come. We pursued our long and +wearisome journey through Iowa and Illinois. On the way we saw +Nauvoo and the ruins of the temple in the distance. This called up +reflections which I will not attempt to describe. I thought of the +temple and city in their glory; of the twenty thousand Saints once +busy there; of the vast congregations once assembled there in +prayer and praise; of the martyred prophets and Saints; of the +wholesale murder and plunder perpetrated by ruthless mobs. I +thought of my once happy but now fallen country. I greatly desired +relief by tears, but tears would not come to my relief. I felt too +deeply; but I felt some relief in assuring myself that at last +justice would triumph and righteousness reign. + +_November 18_.--We landed in St. Louis after a long and +toilsome journey of over two months. Here I remained, attending +public meetings with the Saints; visiting, instructing, writing +history, and writing for _The Mormon_, then published by +Elder John Taylor in New York; visiting and preaching at several +places in Missouri and Illinois, until the 16th of December, when I +left St. Louis for New York--travelling by railroad. I stopped at +Cincinnati, where I arrived at 4 A.M. on the 17th. Here I found +some Saints, who took me and my baggage, and extended to me the +hospitality of their homes. I remained in Cincinnati, preaching, +conversing with the Saints and others, writing correspondence for +_The Mormon_, history, etc., until the 22d, when I took +leave of the Saints and started by railway for Philadelphia, where +I arrived on the 24th--meeting there President John Taylor and +other brethren, who kindly greeted me. Here I remained preaching, +visiting, conversing, writing history, corresponding with _The +Mormon_, etc., until the 31st, when I took the 10 A.M. train +for New York, where I safely landed the same day--thus closing +another year of my changeful, varied and eventful life. It leaves +me among strangers, and yet in my own native state--a pilgrim and +almost a stranger in the very city where, twenty years ago, I +labored, toiled, prayed, preached, wrote and published the message +of eternal truth. + +Oh, how darkness prevails! How ignorant, blind and impenetrable +are the minds of men! My Father in Heaven, Thy will be done. As a +blank of another year of my life is about to commence to be filled +up, I will close the volume of the book I have been writing, +commending myself to God and the guardianship of his angels; +asking, in the name of Jesus Christ, that my sins and follies, up +to this date, may be blotted out, and that my labors and records +may be accepted; then I will retire to rest with a conscience void +of offense, and with a calm and resigned confidence in my Heavenly +Father. If I am privileged to awake in the morning of a new year, I +will commence a new book or volume of my life. + +January 1st, 1857. Thank God for a new year and for the +reservation of my life and health. Spent the day in visiting with +President Taylor and others, and at 5 P.M. repaired to the +Latter-day Saints' Hall, where I met with some four hundred +persons, mostly members of the Church, in a public party. + +Judge Appleby called the meeting to order; I opened by prayer. +President Taylor made a few remarks, after which there were songs, +recitations, speeches, and amusements of various kinds, +refreshments, etc., which lasted till eleven o'clock, after which I +addressed them, bearing testimony of the restoration of the +priesthood and gospel by Joseph Smith; was followed by Presidents +Smith and Taylor. While in this party we received news of the safe +landing of two hundred and twenty Saints from Europe on the +"Columbia." My time was occupied in visiting the Saints, meeting in +council with the brethren, writing, etc., until the 5th, when I met +in the evening with Brothers Taylor, Smith, Snow and Appleby in +council at Brother Taylor's residence. After opening by prayer I +was chosen to preside, and Brother Appleby acted as clerk. Brother +Snow made a statement in relation to the financial condition of the +emigration under his agency. We agreed to make this a matter of +prayer, and to solicit and influence means into that channel as far +as possible. At 7 P.M. Brother Taylor having furnished an upper +room in his residence, the before-named persons, five in number, +met in a room for prayer, in which we humbled ourselves and called +on the Lord for remission of our sins and the light of the Spirit +of God to guide us in our several duties. We also asked for means, +and for our way to be opened up to enable us in all things to +magnify our callings; dedicating ourselves renewedly to the service +of God. After this we continued in council until a late hour. + +_January 6th_. I visited Mr. George W. Pratt, No. 89 Gold +Street, on the subject of genealogy--he being the son of Zadoc +Pratt, ex-member of Congress, and descended from the same parentage +as myself, our progenitors being among the early settlers of the +New England Colonies. I conversed with him very agreeably for half +an hour, and learned that he was in correspondence with Brother +Orson, in Liverpool, on the subject of our ancestry in England. + +_January 7th_--I was in council all day at Brother +Taylor's residence with the brethren of the Twelve. We resolved to +concentrate our energies this year in forming settlements on or +near the Platte River, on the route of our emigration, according to +the instructions of President Young. We voted that _The Mormon_ +be continued, and that it is not expedient for Brother Snow +to resuscitate the _Luminary_ at present. Next day bid farewell +to the brethren, and took the train for Trenton, N. J. Here I +was kindly received by Brother Hurdley and family, where I +remained for two days, the weather being very cold. + +_Saturday, 10th_.--Joseph Asay came with a carriage and +conveyed me about four miles into the country to his house. This +day I completed a communication for _The Mormon_ on spiritual +communication in modern times. + +_Sunday, 11th_.--Preached to a small congregation in a +school house, and returned with Brother Asay and spent the evening +in instruction--several of the Saints from Trenton being there. +Spent the time writing, visiting and conversation with the friends +here until the 14th, when I took leave of my kind friends in +Trenton; taking the cars for Tacony, where I arrived at noon, went +to Sister Conrad's, where I was received with every conceivable +kindness. After dinner preached to them and read the revelation on +marriage. God blessed me to open their understandings, teaching +things of the kingdom. Here I wrote a communication for _The +Mormon_ called the "Looking-glass;" conversed with and instructed +the family on many things. + +_Saturday, 17th_.-Returned to Philadelphia and stayed at +Brother Harmer's; received this evening letters from home, dated +November 4th, at which time several of my family were sick. I +invoked the blessing of God upon them that they might be healed and +comforted. + +_Sunday 18th_.--Though the wind was very high and +extremely cold, attended with a severe snow storm, I repaired to +meeting and preached to a few in the morning, and at night attended +meeting again in our own hall, the Spirit of God being among the +Saints in the meeting. + +_Monday, 19th_.--Still being very snowy, cold and windy, +remained at the house of Brother Harmer and wrote to my family. + +_Sunday, 20th_.--Railroad travel being obstructed by +drifts of snow, I visited at Peter Rensimer's; stayed all night and +talked to him, his wife and others, till a late hour. + +On the next day wrote a poem on "My Fiftieth Year," which was +responded to by John Taylor, both of which were published in the +_Mormon_ at New York.* Returned to Tacony in the evening and +repaired to the house of Sister Conrad; the family came together +and I taught them the gospel. Next day visited with the family, +taught them and some of their friends who came in, the principles +of the gospel. + +[Footnote] *These poems will be found in the latter part of +this work. + +_Thursday, 24th_.--Bade farewell to my kind friends in +Tacony, took the train for Philadelphia, where I arrived at half +past nine. Attended the Saints' meetings at Washington Hall three +times this day; addressed the people morning and evening; communed +with them; heard their testimony in the afternoon. We were blessed +through the day with the Spirit of God and had much joy. + +_February 1st_. Attended meetings three times in +Washington Hall, Philadelphia. Preached in the morning repentance +to the Saints and preparation for the great restoration. In the +evening preached on the Resurrection to a crowded house, and bid +the Saints farewell. + +_Tuesday, 3d_. Wrote, visited sister Fenton, and there +spent the evening in an agreeable company of some fifteen of the +Saints. We sang and prayed, feasted and rejoiced, and taught them +as we were led by the Spirit. Elder Angus M. Cannon being with me +in this and nearly all my visitings and meetings in this city. A +happier companion is seldom found. + +_Wednesday, 4th_. Spent the evening at a tea party; at +ten o'clock we sang, "When shall we all meet again?" etc. Knelt +down and prayed. This was my farewell of Philadelphia and the +Eastern States. I then took a final leave of the Saints, and, +accompanied by Elder Cannon, started for the railway. Here I met +with Brother and Sister Beers, and some others who had come to see +me off. I took the train for Pittsburg, where I safely arrived +February 5, at 2:30 P.M. Took the train at three for Mansfield, +Ohio, where I landed safely at 1:30 next morning. Stayed at a +hotel, and on the 6th took train at 12 P.M. and arrived at +Hannover, Huron County, Ohio, at 4 P.M. Here a neighbor volunteered +to carry me half a mile to my brother, Nelson Pratt's. We were +overjoyed to see each other after twenty-one years' absence. He had +a wife and three children living, viz: a son, Edwin Delano Pratt, +aged twenty years; and two daughters, Helen Orisa, aged fourteen, +Aurelia Fenetto, aged twelve years. Remained and visited with my +brother and family; talked, read, reasoned, etc., until the 11th, +when I had a call from a young school teacher named Pratt, perhaps +a distant relative, who had a spirit of inquiry and was teachable. +We conversed much, and I lent him some books. As he and others were +soliciting a meeting, I finally consented to appoint one for +Thursday evening at the school house near my brother's. In +fulfilment of this appointment I preached to a large congregation +in a capacious school house. + +_Friday, 13th_.--At noon took leave of my brother Nelson +and his family, who accompanied me to the railroad station, and bid +me an affectionate farewell. This night, about eight o'clock, the +locomotive ran over and killed a horse, and was thrown off the +track with a number of cars, some of which were broken. By this +accident we were hindered some six hours, during which time we sat +in the cars and slept as best we could. Arrived in Columbus, Ohio, +at 4 A.M. Here we stopped and slept at a hotel until 9 A.M. At 1 +P.M., started for Cincinnati, where I arrived at dark, and was +kindly received by Brother Meriweather and family. + +_Sunday, 15th_.--Met with the Saints three times; taught +them repentance and reformation of life: stayed at brother +Walker's. + +_Monday, 16th_.--In the evening Mr. Alberger and Dr. +Darling called to see me, and spent the evening in conversation on +the various phenomena of Spiritualism. Mr. Alberger related to me +the circumstances of the introduction of a secret order, called the +Patriarchal Order, which order, he said, was introduced by spirits +in Cincinnati a short time previously by means of a stone, with a +new alphabet and a key to read the same. He also made me a present +of the stone, or rather a pattern of the same in plaster of Paris, +with the alphabet thereon and key to read the same. Also a printed +pamphlet containing the ceremonies of the "Patriarchal Order," and +the forms of initiation of members into the same, with a request +that I would take them to Salt Lake and exhibit them to the Council +there. + +The following day, wrote an article for the _Cincinnati +Gazette_, in defense of Utah. In the evening met with the +Saints, and preached at Thos. Shore's. The next day was very rainy; +visited at Brother Meriweather's, and found Brother Geo. A. Smith +there, just arrived from Virginia. He had spent some time in +Washington City, in company with John Taylor, who was one of the +delegation, but as no encouragement was given for the admission of +Utah at the present session, the petition was withdrawn. + +_Friday, 20th_.--Wrote for _The Mormon_, visited +with Brother Smith, etc. My communication to the _Cincinnati +Gazette_ in defense of Utah, appeared in this day's paper. We +mailed several copies of the paper to the members of Congress, and +to _The Mormon_. + +_Sunday, 22d_.--Attended at Melodian Hall at 10:30 A.M., +and heard an excellent discourse from Elder G. A. Smith. At 2:30 +P.M. I preached on first principles, and in the evening met the +Saints at Brother Shore's, and reorganized the Cincinnati Branch. +Elder Joseph Bean was unanimously chosen to preside, and was +ordained a high priest under the hands of G. A. Smith and myself. +Brother Benjamin E. Styles was reappointed clerk. At ten o'clock we +sung "When shall we all meet again." + +We appointed and set apart Brother D. O. Ridout to a mission in +southwestern Virginia. We blessed and administered to several. A +man named James Raliston came to us and expressed his faith in the +gospel as he had heard us preach it the day before. Many of the +Saints now gathered in to see us, and contributed means to help us, +and manifested their love in every way that was in their power. We +bid them farewell about 2 P.M., and took the train for St. Louis, +at which place we arrived safely about midnight. + +_Tuesday, 24th_.--Called and stayed at Brother +Boardman's. Here, for the first time, heard of the sudden and +unexpected death of President J. M. Grant, who died in Salt Lake +City, in November last. He was a great and good man, called away in +the full vigor of manhood. He has gone to his rest, but we are left +to mourn. + +_Wednesday, 25th_.--On repairing to the office found +letters from home, also one from Sister Ruth Sayers, who crossed +the plains with us on our outward trip from Salt Lake City. I also +read in the _Western Standard_, a paper published by George +Q. Cannon in California, a confirmatory account of the death of +President J. M. Grant. We found the Saints in St. Louis well and +prosperous. After spending some time in the office in council I +repaired to brother Restell's, and was kindly received by Sister +Restell and Sister Pollard. This night I was taken very sick. + +_March 1st, 1857_.--I found myself quite well again, and, +being Sunday, I met with the Saints three times and had good +attendance. I preached in the forenoon, and Erastus Snow and others +in the afternoon. We had sacrament, and the gift of the Holy Ghost +was upon us. Brother Snow spake by it in great wisdom. + +The spirit of reformation is abroad in the St. Louis branch, but +the adversary also has a great hold there. + +_Monday, 2d_.--We met with the Saints and assisted +President Snow to confirm twenty-nine souls, who were baptized in +the font there. At 7 P. M. the same evening met with the brethren +in council. + +Much instruction was given to the elders by Presidents Snow, +Smith and myself. + +_Tuesday, 3d_.--Assisted President Snow at the office, on +the Deseret alphabet, etc. + +The above is the last extract from the journal of President +Parley P. Pratt. + + +CHAPTER LIV. +------------------------ + +Family Letters:--"My Fiftieth Year:"--Response +by John Taylor. + +NEW YORK, _January 3d, 1857_. + +MY DEAR SON PARLEY: I am well; how are you? Please write and let +me know. I long to see and hear from you. + +I am getting along very comfortably. You will see by the +enclosed how "_Mormonism_" keeps printers and editors busy. +Give my best love to all the family, and especially to the +children. Remember me to Olivia and Moroni. Do the best you can for +me and my family, and try to get a good education; and try by +prayer and doing right to cultivate an acquaintance with the Spirit +of the Lord. + +Read the enclosed letter to the family, and then have it +carefully laid away as a part of my history. + +Now, my son, farewell. + God bless you. Amen. + Your affectionate father, + P.P. PRATT. + +NEW YORK, _January 3d, 1857_. + MY DEAR FAMILY: + +A happy New Year to each of you. I am well. I spent Christmas in +Philadelphia in a public party of the Saints--say 300 persons-- +assembled in a large hall neatly furnished and lighted. +There were prayers, hymns, songs, recitations, comic, tragic, +sublime and ridiculous. There was some music and dancing, merry +making, eating and drinking till midnight. I did not dance, but I +preached and bore testimony. + +On the following Sunday I preached twice in the same hall, some +500 persons being present. + +On Wednesday, December 31st, I arrived in this city and put up +with President John Taylor. This closed the year 1856. + +_January 1st, 1857_.--I attended a public party of the +Saints here from 5 P.M. till midnight. It was like the one in +Philadelphia--only there was no dancing. About 400 persons were +present. During this party the news arrived of the landing of 220 +Saints at Castle Garden direct from Europe, all in good health and +spirits. These we visited next day in company with Presidents +Taylor, G. A. Smith, and E. Snow, who are here now, and we shall +hold a council. The Saints here are mostly emigrants from Europe +and very poor. I am now well clothed, and God has opened my way to +obtain sufficient funds for travelling expenses. + +A letter from my Brother Nelson announces that all is well +there, and they are overjoyed to hear that I am to visit them. He +is trying to sell and go to the valley. + +Brother Orson writes to me that all is well with him. + +I have gone as far East as I intend to go. I hope soon to +commence to return westward, visiting my brother Nelson as I go. +The darkness which broods over this country can be felt--it is no +place for me. I feel like going to the frontiers and fitting out as +soon as grass grows. + +The whole country is being overwhelmed with the most abominable +lying, mockery, and hatred of the Saints, and with all manner of +corruption. The legions of spirits are let loose and are working +wonders. All things are ripening for a universal overthrow of all +human power in this land. + +I am almost an intruder wherever I go. I am a stranger and the +world knows me not. There are a few of the Saints and others who +will hear us, and not exactly demand a vote of thanks, although +some of them would think it a great condescension for which we +ought to thank them. + +O, God, let me retire from such a generation into dens, caves, +deserts, mountains--_anywhere_. But I will say no more about +them. I feel for my family and pray for them continually. I hope +they with me may have grace to endure to the end, and be saved in +the kingdom of God. + +My history is mostly completed. It will probably not be +published in my day. Should anything happen to me, and the record +be preserved, I wish it carefully compiled, copied, and taken care +of. + +My feelings, and the affections of my heart, I will not attempt +to describe, but will express them in person when I return. Should +I never return, be assured they are as warm and as tender as ever, +and I think a little more so. + +I hope you will not be cast down or borrow any trouble about me +because I admit an if, as to my safe return. I have no doubt but +that I shall return in safety and live to a good old age. But still +I must acknowledge that I do anticipate with a great deal of +pleasure the change of worlds. And, every day that I work on my +history, I naturally think that the word finis will soon be added +to the end. * * * * + +Write when you can via California and Panama. Now God bless and +preserve you all, even to little Mathoni. Amen. + +Yours ever, + P. P. PRATT. + +To my wife HANNAHETTE and others. + +MY FIFTIETH YEAR + + I am fifty years old! I have lived to see + Seven times seven and a Jubilee. + That period famed in the days of yore + As a grand release for the humble poor; + When the pledg'd estate was again restor'd, + And the bondman free'd from his tyrant lord. + When man his fellow was bound to forgive, + And begin anew to think and to live. + The nations have hail'd the year of my birth + As a Jubilee to the groaning earth.* + The triumphs of steam over land and sea + Have stamp'd the age of my Jubilee. + I have mark'd its progress at ev'ry stride, + From the day it was launch'd on the Hudson's tide + Till it conquer'd the ocean--grasp'd the land, + And join'd the world in a common band. + I have liv'd to behold the lightnings yield + To the mandate of man, and take the field, + As a servant-runner to bear the news + In an instant, where its lord might choose. + +[Footnote] *The first steamboat was launched in 1807, on the +Hudson river, by Robert Fulton. + + And, scarce less strange, I have liv'd to behold + A _Mormon Sage_, with his wand of gold, + Overturn the world, and toss it up + As a teller of Fortunes would his cup.* + All these are facts; but of little worth, + Compared with a Prophet restored to earth. + I have seen his day and have heard his voice + Which enraged a world, while the meek rejoice. + I have read the fate of all earthly things: + The end of thrones, and the end of kings. + I have learned that truth alone shall stand, + And the Kingdom of God fill every land. + I have seen that Kingdom rolling along, + And taking its seat 'mid the mountains strong; + While the nations wondered, but could not tell + To what these wondrous things would swell. + I have wandered far, over land and sea, + To proclaim to the world its destiny-- + To cry to the nations, repent and live, + And be ready the bridegroom to receive. + +[Footnote] *An American soldier, of the Mormon Battalion, +discovered the gold mines in California in 1847. + + I have wandered far--I have wandered wide, + From Maine to the wild Missouri's tide; + And over the Atlantic's sea-girt isles + Full many a weary thousand miles. + I have trampled the desert's burning sands + And the snow-clad mountains of unknown lands. + 'Mid the crystal waters of Deseret + I have pulled the oar and cast the net. + I have climbed the steeps 'mid the golden ore, + And roamed o'er the lone Pacific shore. + I have ploughed its bosom many a day + To visit the nations far away. + I have stood on Chili's distant shore, + Where the Polar Star is seen no more. + I have gazed on the Andes' heights of snow, + And roamed 'mid the flowery plains below. + I have toiled with the great in freedom's cause, + And assisted to give to a State its laws. + I have lain in a dungeon, bound in chains, + And been honored in Courts where Justice reigns. + In a thousand joys, and a thousand fears + I have struggled on through my fifty years. + And now, by the law of God, I am free; + I will seek to enjoy my Jubilee. + I will hie me home, to my mountain dell, + And will say to the "Christian" world--farewell! + I have served ye long--; 'twas a thankless task; + To retire in peace is all I ask. + + Another fifty years will fully prove + Our message true, and all our motives love. + Then shall an humble world in reverence bow, + And hail the Prophets so rejected now. + Kings shall revere, and nations incense bring + To Zion's temple and to Zion's King. + I shall be there and celebrate the day + 'Till twice ten fifties shall have passed away. + + +A RESPONSE TO P. P. PRATT'S "FIFTIETH YEAR" +BY JOHN TAYLOR + + Thou art "fifty years old"--I am glad to see + That thou now canst hope for a Jubilee. + Go rest thee, my friend, for weary and long + Thou hast faithfully striven with a wayward throng; + With a world environed with error's chain + Thou hast wrestled and struggled, but not in vain. + On thy native shore and on foreign land + Thou hast battled for truth with a master hand, + And their cities, and towns, and hamlets have rung + With the sound of truth, with the voice of song, + And thousands in Zion do now rejoice, + Who've read thy works or heard thy voice, + And millions have seen thy bosom swell + With celestial truths thou lov'st so well. + + Let drivelling sycophants bow the knee + To that chameleon shrine, popularity, + And with honey'd lips, bound with mammon's spell + And with wheedling, whining, canting tongue, + Daub o'er the deeds of a hellish throng. + 'Twas thine the mask from their loathsome face + To rend, and exhibit their foul disgrace. + + Thou hast grappled with sages in error rife, + Thou hast taught to the erring the way of life; + With flaming words and a burning pen + Thou hast bearded gaunt priestcraft in his den, + And said Baal's grizzly priests, avaunt! + I dare you in your dark, ghastly haunt. + And the canting, craving minions fled + At the truths thou penned and the words thou said. + With Elijah's faith and Elijah's rod, + Thou despised their power and defied their god, + And made the canting hirelings cower + Beneath the truth's keen withering power. + Thou show'd them their systems were doom'd to fall + That "Upharsin" was written on Babel's wall. + Thou hast spent 'midst their hordes a busy life; + Thou art leaving the den of their Babel strife. + Let others know now 'mid the nations roam, + And hie thee away to thy mountain home. + + If, sleeping at night, the weary may + Forget the cares and toils of day; + And if by God to man is given + A day of rest in every seven; + If the pledged possession could be restored, + On the grand release by Jehovah's word; + If the debtor's bonds could then be broke, + And the slave be freed from a master's yoke, + And the very land a partaker be + Of the general jubilant Jubilee; + If all bonds were broken on that day, + And chains and manacles thrown away; + If throughout the land, by every tongue, + All joined in the joyous Jubilee song; + If debtors and slaves and earth were free, + Thou oughtest to have a Jubilee. + + If a wish from a sincere friendly heart + Can to thee any comfort or joy impart; + If a fervent prayer to the God of grace + Could smooth thy path in thy onward race, + That prayer would be, may grace be given + To wend thy onward course to Heaven. + May'st thou abound in corn and wine, + And the blessings of plenty now be thine; + May thy family all be free from care, + And a husband's and father's plenty share; + May thy sun go down with glory rife, + And dying may'st thou burst into life; + And, when sleeping among the silent dead, + Have the blessings of millions on thy head; + And living with God, may'st thou be free, + And partake of an endless Jubilee. + +FINIS. + + +APPENDIX +------------------------ + +Soon after the last extract from his journal, President P. P. +Pratt left St. Louis for Arkansas, where he was followed by three +bloodthirsty wretches, who had previously declared their intention +to kill him. To aid them in their sanguinary designs they preferred +fictitious charges against him, from which he was honorably +discharged by a United States Court at Van Buren. These assassins +then followed him and murdered him in cold blood, near Van Buren, +Arkansas, May 13, 1857. + +We extract the following, in relation to his death, from _The +Mormon_ of May 30, published in New York, John Taylor, Ed.: + +ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT P. P. PRATT. + +"Our readers will doubtless be startled with the above +announcement; our heart is deeply pained to say it, but we have no +reason for doubting the sad intelligence that has reached us, +though, as yet, only by the way of the public press. A few days ago +we were advised of his apprehension near Fort Gibson; and, close +upon the receipt of that information, we learned, by telegraphic +despatch, that he had been assassinated near Van Buren, Arkansas, +May 13. * * * + +"As we have not the space this week that we require to enter +into details, and may, before another issue, receive additional +information on the subject, we shall only say, for the benefit of +those who are interested, that his assassins followed him some +twelve miles from the place of trial, and, taking advantage of his +lonely position, shot him. + +"Though we deeply deplore the loss to the Church of such a great +and upright man, and the bereavement to his family, yet we mourn +not. His life has been one of honor and faithfulness; his days +have been well spent in the service of his God; his name is revered +by thousands and tens of thousands, and will be honored by millions +yet unborn; while that of his cowardly assassins, and those who +have cheered them on to this damning deed, and who now rejoice over +their crime, will be loathsome, and a stink in the nostrils of God +and good men." + +The following is extracted from the _Millennial Star_ of July 4, +1857, and written by his brother, Orson Pratt, who was then Editor +of the _Star_: + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PARLEY P. PRATT. + +"This great Apostle and martyr of the nineteenth century was +born on the 12th day of April, 1807, in Burlington, Otsego county, +State of New York. He was the third son of Jared and Charity Pratt; +Jared was the son of Obadiah and Jemima Pratt; Obadiah was the son +of Christopher and Sarah Pratt; Christopher was the son of William +and Hannah Pratt; William was the son of Joseph Pratt; Joseph was +the son of Lieutenant William and Elizabeth Pratt, who were found +among the first settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, in the year +1639. They are supposed to have accompanied the Rev. Thomas Hooker +and his congregation, about one hundred in number, from Newtown, +now called Cambridge, Massachusetts, through a dense wilderness, +inhabited only by savages and wild beasts, and became the first +founders of the colony at Hartford, in June, 1636. + +"This ancient pilgrim, William Pratt, was a member of the +Legislature for some twenty-five or thirty sessions; and the +General Court gave him one hundred acres of land in Saybrook, +Connecticut, for service performed as lieutenant in the Pequot war; +he was one of the judges of the first Court in New London County. +Parley P. Pratt is a lineal descendant, of the seventh generation, +from that distinguished pilgrim and humble pioneer to the new +world. + +"The youthful days of Parley P. Pratt were characterized by the +soberness and thoughtfulness of manhood. Though from adverse +circumstances his education was extremely limited, yet he +displayed, even in youth, an originality of mind seldom exhibited. +In September, 1830, he, being led by the Spirit of the Lord from +his home in the State of Ohio, came several hundred miles eastward, +where he fortunately obtained a copy of one of the most remarkable +works of modern times--the Book of Mormon. He read the same, was +convinced of its divine authenticity, and traveled in search of the +highly favored men of God who had seen angels and heard the voice +of the Almighty. He soon succeeded in finding some of them, from +whom he learned that about five months previous the first Church of +Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints had been organized. He +requested baptism, and was immediately thereafter ordained an +Elder. The same month he visited Canaan, Columbia County, New +York--the county where he had spent many of his youthful days--and +after preaching a few times in different neighborhoods, and +baptizing Orson Pratt, his brother, he returned to Seneca County. + +"Receiving a revelation through Joseph the Prophet, he, in +company with three or four others, performed a mission, some +fifteen hundred miles, to the western boundaries of the State of +Missouri, and was among the first of the Saints to stand upon that +choice land where the City of Zion is hereafter to be built, +preparatory to the second advent of our Saviour. + +"In the spring of 1831 he returned to the northern part of Ohio, +where he met Joseph the Prophet. In the summer he again performed a +mission through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, preaching, +baptizing and building up the Church. + +"In the autumn of 1833 he and about twelve hundred men, women +and children were driven by a murderous, furious mob from their own +houses and lands in Jackson County, Missouri. Two hundred houses +were burned, cattle shot, hay stacks and grain burned, many whipped +until their bowels gushed out; others killed, and the afflicted +remnant driven across the river into Clay County. + +"Soon after this Elder Pratt performed a long journey of about +fifteen hundred miles east, preaching repentance and strengthening +the Saints. + +"In 1834 he again returned to Clay County, Missouri, officiating +in his holy calling wherever he went. + +"In February, 1835, having returned to the northern part of +Ohio, he was chosen and ordained one of the Twelve Apostles of this +last dispensation, and the same year performed a lengthy journey +through Pennsylvania, New York, and several of the New England +States, and returned again to Ohio. + +"In 1836 he visited Canada, and established a large branch of the + Church in Toronto, and other branches in adjoining towns. + +"In 1837 he visited New York City, where he founded a large branch + of the Church. + +"In 1838 he removed to Caldwell County, in the western +boundaries of Missouri; and in the same year another dreadful +persecution commenced against the Saints, and they were again +driven from their own houses and inheritances, and their property +to the amount of millions was destroyed; some scores of defenseless +men, women and children were murdered; some scores of others were +incarcerated in dungeons, among whom was P. P. Pratt; the balance, +about fifteen thousand, were exterminated from the State, and found +refuge in Illinois. Elder Pratt was kept in prison, _without +trial_, about eight months, when, by the kind providence of +God, he made his escape on July 4, 1839. Immediately after gaining +his liberty he published a history of the Missouri persecution, +written while in prison. The first edition appeared in Detroit in +1839. + +"In 1840 he, in company with others of the Twelve, came to +England, and in the city of Manchester commenced the publication of +a periodical entitled the _Millennial Star_, which has continued +until the present time--this being the forty-eighth volume (1886). + +"In 1841 he was appointed the President over all the British +Conferences, and remained in this high and honorable station until +the autumn of 1842, during which he edited the _Star_, superintended +the Saints' emigration, and published several small but interesting +works. The following winter he returned to Illinois, where he +continued laboring in the ministry for one or two years. + +"About the beginning of the year 1845 he was appointed the +President over all the Churches in the New England and Middle +States, his headquarters being at New York City, where he +published a periodical entitled _The Prophet_. In the summer +he returned to Nauvoo. + +"In February, 1846, he was again driven from his home by a +ruthless mob. Some fifteen or twenty thousand Saints were also +driven from the United States about the same time, with the loss of +houses, and lands, and an immense amount of property, which the mob +are in the unmolested possession of until the present day. After +wading through unparalleled sufferings with his family, he and the +suffering Saints succeeded in reaching the Indian country at +Council Bluffs, and being called by the Holy Ghost, through the +Prophet Brigham Young, to go to England, he left his family upon +the broad prairie, without house or scarcely any food, to comply +with the word of the Lord. He arrived in England, assisted in +setting the Churches in order, and in strengthening the Saints +throughout the British islands. + +"In the spring of 1847 he returned to his family and brethren; +and in the summer and autumn of that year he removed to Great Salt +Lake Valley, and suffered incredible hardships until the harvest of +1848. + +"He assisted in forming a Constitution for the Provisional +Government of Deseret, and was elected a member of the Senate in +the General Assembly; and was afterwards elected to the Legislative +Council when Utah became a Territory of the United States. + +"The year 1851 he was sent on a mission to the Pacific islands +and to South America. + +"In the summer of 1855 he returned over the Sierra Nevada +mountains to his home, and occupied a part of his time in preaching +in the various settlements of Utah, and at other times laboring +with his own hands in the cultivation of his farm. The following +winter he officiated as chaplain in the Legislative Council at the +State House in Fillmore City. + +"In the autumn of 1856 he accompanied about twenty missionaries +across the plains to the States. During the winter and part of the +following spring he visited the Saints at St. Louis, Philadelphia, +New York and other places, preaching, writing and publishing the +glad tidings of the kingdom of God. + +"And finally, on the 13th of May, 1857, he fell a noble martyr +for the cause of truth, which he had advocated with such untiring +perseverance for nearly twenty-seven years. + +"Among the numerous writings of this martyred Apostle may be +mentioned first, the 'Voice of Warning,' printed in New York in +1838, and which has since passed through many editions, and been +translated into several foreign languages; second, his 'History of +the Missouri Persecutions;' third, his 'Poems;' fourth, his 'Key to +Theology;' a masterly production, lately published. 'The History of +his Life,' up to near the time of his martyrdom, was written by +himself, and is now about ready for the press; this will doubtless +prove to be one of the most interesting works proceeding from his +pen. + +"O, how pleasant is the death of a righteous person! he lays +down his body with a sure and certain hope of coming forth from the +tomb in the morning of the first resurrection, to reign as a mighty +King and Priest of the Most High God, to sit enthroned in eternal +glory, ruling with power and dominion for ever and ever. + +"O, kind hearted, affectionate brother! how dearly we loved +thee in life I how joyous to our soul were the words of life which +flowed from thy mouth by the pure spirit of inspiration! how +lovely still is our remembrance of thee! We weep not for thy +death, for it was glorious! Thou hast left us only for a short +moment, and we shall soon embrace thee again! Thy fiftieth year had +but just rolled away, and now thy Jubilee has come! Rest in thy +Father's house, with all the noble martyrs of the nineteenth +century, until the Jubilee of the earth shall also come; then shalt +thou return and reign triumphantly with all the redeemed of Adam's +race." + +From the following letter, written only about four months prior +to his martyrdom, he plainly indicates that his pilgrimage and +"personal history in this world,"' were near their close: + +"New York, United States, + January 2d, 1857. + +"Dear Brother Orson--I received your kind letter on the 30th +December, 1856. I was thereby glad to hear from you and of your +welfare. + +"I am well; I spent about a month in St. Louis; I then came on +to Cincinnati and stayed four days, drawing full houses. I arrived +in Philadelphia the day before Christmas--was present next day at a +grand party in that city in Washington Hall. It was a fine time. +Sunday last I preached three times to a full house. + +"I arrived here on Wednesday last; found Presidents Taylor and +Smith as well as usual. + +"Yesterday I attended a party here, in the Saints' Hall; it was +an interesting affair, some four hundred persons being present. We +were entertained with songs, prayers, preaching, praying, +recitations, eating, drinking, etc. + +"In the midst of our evening's enjoyment the news arrived of the +arrival of the Columbia, with a ship load of Saints from England. +To-day we accompanied brother Taylor to see them. All well, but a +rough passage; no deaths. The weather is mild here, and the winter +so far very fine. + +"I have not yet seen the Pratt family, of whom you speak, but I +think I will visit them in a day or two. + +"You ask how long I will stay in the States. I answer, till +spring. I will then go home, if God will, if I have to go with a +hand cart. This country is no place for me; the darkness is so +thick I can literally feel it. I cannot obtain the least assistance +here for my family; a tight match to obtain travelling expenses. + +"I have heard nothing from home since October 1st, but I hope to +hear soon. I congratulate you on the marriage of your first born, +and hope you will soon become a grandfather. + +"_Now, dear brother Orson, be of good courage--our pilgrimage +will soon be over, and our personal history in this world will +naturally come to the word_ FINIS. + +"As to my history, I have it now complete from my birth up to +to-day. It will contain about as much reading as the Book of +Mormon. I would publish it, in part or in full, if gold was +plentiful. * * * + +"I have written to Nelson Pratt and received an answer; he is +well. I am going there soon, if all is well. + +"I am to start from St Louis for home just as early in the +spring as the weather will permit. Farewell! God bless you. + +"I am your own brother, + +"P. P. Pratt." + + +GENEALOGY +------------------------ + +The following correspondence, extracted from a letter from my +brother, Orson Pratt, Sen., dated at Washington, D. C, March 10th, +1853, throws a clear light upon our ancestry, back as far as the +earliest settlements of the Pilgrim Fathers in Saybrook and +Hartford, Conn. + +"_My dear brother_ Parley--I embrace the present opportunity to +write a few lines to you. * * * + +"It affords me much joy to be able to inform you that I have +obtained the names and some knowledge of our ancestors back for many +generations. + +"The genealogy runs thus: Our father, Jared Pratt, was the son +of Obadiah, who was the son of Christopher, who was the son of +William Pratt, who was the son of Joseph Pratt, who was the son of +Lieutenant William and Elizabeth Pratt, who is supposed to have come +with his brother, John Pratt, from Essex County, England, about the +year 1633, who were found among the first settlers of Hartford, +Connecticut, in the year 1639. They are supposed to have +accompanied the Rev. Thomas Hooker and his congregation, about one +hundred in number, from Newton, now called Cambridge, Massachusetts, +through a dense wilderness, inhabited only by savages and wild beasts, +and became the first founders of the colony at Hartford, Connecticut, +in June, 1636, and thence to Saybrook about the year 1645. + +"The way I came by this information is as follows: Seeing a +short editorial in some of my exchange papers, that there was an +attempt being made to search out the lineal descendants of +Lieutenant Wm. Pratt, and that the Rev. Frederick W. Chapman, of +South Glastenbury, Conn., was engaged in that work, I immediately +addressed a letter to him, giving him the names of Jared, Obadiah +and Christopher, and asking him for all the information he was in +possession of in relation to our ancestors. He immediately sent me +a letter and two printed circulars. The following is a copy of the +letter: + +South Glastenbury, _March 5th_, 1853. + +"Dear Sir--I have just received your favor. It affords me +pleasure to be able to show you the connecting links between your +grandfather, Obadiah Pratt, and the first settler, William Pratt, +who came with the company that located at Hartford, Conn. He +received a portion of land in the first distribution in February, +1639. He married Elizabeth Clark, daughter of John Clark, of +Milford, Connecticut, about the same time. He had eight children. +Of these, two were born in Hartford. He removed to Saybrook in +1645. His third child, Joseph Pratt, born at Saybrook, August 1st, +1648. + +SECOND GENERATION. + +Joseph Pratt & Sarah Chapman, Married September, 1686. + +Thirteen children--five by a former wife. William one of the +children. + +THIRD GENERATION. + +William Pratt & Hannah Hough, Married October 8, 1700. + +Six children, viz: + Joseph, born April 13, 1103. + Ephraim, born April 1, 1705 + Margaret, born April 1, 1708 + Christopher, born Nov. 4, 1712 + Elizabeth, born Jan. 20, 1717 + Experience, born Sept. 28, 1720 + +FOURTH GENERATION + +Christopher Pratt, Sarah Pratt, Married June 14, 1739 + +Children: + Stephen, born June 30, 1740, at Saybrook. + Obadiah, born Sept. 14, 1742, at Saybrook. + Sarah, born March 28, 1745. + Hannah, born Aug. 6, 1747. + Chalker, born Feb. 14, 1750. + Samuel + +"I want very much to get all the descendants of the last six. +Your letter was the first clue to any of them which I have +received. It is more difficult to trace the descendants of Joseph +than any other of the six children of William Pratt. In fact, they +seem to have disappeared from Saybrook about a century ago. + +"I have already collected about two thousand of the descendants +of William Pratt. There are probably not less than five thousand. +Robert Chapman, my ancestor, was married about two years after +William Pratt. I have collected over five thousand of his +descendants, and the work--a volume of three hundred to three +hundred and fifty pages--is nearly ready for the press. I shall be +able to collect most of the descendants of William if those whom I +address will answer my letters and lend a helping hand. + +"May I rely on you to aid me in collecting the descendants of +Christopher Pratt? + +"Is your father living? If so, he may be able to inform you +where the brothers and sisters of his grandfather, Christopher +resided--or, perhaps, give the post-office address of one of the +descendants of each family. + +"He can, of course, give me some account of his uncles and +aunts. Please write immediately and inform me. I want the marriage +of Stephen, when and to whom--and of Obadiah, when and to whom, and +the names of their children--dates of birth; and so of Sarah and +the others. + +"You can, of course, give me a list of your grandfather's +children. Also give the name of your mother, and date of your +father's marriage, with a list of all his children. + +"I enclose two circulars. There is a Pratt, ex-Governor of +Maryland; I know not his address; if you can ascertain, please +forward one. Let me hear from you soon. Respectfully yours, + +Frederick W. Chapman. + +"Now, my dear brother Parley, when I received the foregoing +letter I wept like a little child; I was so overjoyed that I could +not refrain from weeping. + +"There are none among all the descendants of our ancestor, +Lieutenant William Pratt, who have so deep an interest in searching +out his descendants as ourselves. We know that the God of our +fathers has had a hand in all this. He it was who brought our +ancestor William from England, and established him in this choice +land of promise, given to us by virtue of the covenant made with +our ancient father, Joseph, the son of Jacob. + +"The Lord God of our fathers has multiplied them in this land, +and made them almost a nation within a nation. Blessed be the name +of our God, for He remembereth his covenants forevermore. + +"He has wrought upon the hearts of his servants, our relations, +though unknown to them, to inquire out the genealogy and history of +our fathers upon the promised land. Yea, blessed be the name of the +Lord God of Joseph and of Israel, for he hath given into our hands +the keys of the priesthood and the doctrines of salvation, that we +might stand as saviors upon Mount Zion, in behalf of our ancestors +and their lineal descendants. Let us, my dear brother Parley, take +hold of this matter in earnest and assist our kindred in the +laudable enterprise which they have undertaken. + +"I have no records with me and my memory is weak. Therefore, I +hope you will search up all the family records, and all the verbal +information within your reach--with names, dates, births, places, +marriages and deaths, and forward without delay. + +"Does our father's sister, aunt Lovina Van Cott, or yourself +know anything about the descendants of Stephen, Sarah and others, +the brothers and sisters to our grandfather, Obadiah? How shall we +get a clue to them? Is It possible to find out any descendant of +either of the brothers or sisters of Christopher Pratt, of +Saybrook, our great-grandfather? Who and when did our grandfather, +Obadiah, marry? How many children had Obadiah? Whom did they marry, +and when? How many children had each of our uncles and aunts, the +brothers and sisters of our father? And how many children and +grandchildren has each of these cousins? In short, all the +descendants of our great-grandfather, Christopher, are wanting. + +* * * Send all the information you can gather to Mr. Chapman. It +might not be amiss to send him your 'History of the Persecution,' +your 'Voice of Warning,' and such other works as you may be the +author of; and also, if you see proper, a biographical sketch of +your life I have forwarded to him all of my works. * * * I have +also sent him all the information in my power concerning our +kindred. * * + + +"I sent a letter last evening proposing to take some fifty or a +hundred dollars worth of the records as soon as published. These +will supply myself and brothers and our rising families. I also +proposed to search out, if possible, the ancestors of William +Pratt, in England. I expect to visit England in April or May, and +shall probably be absent two or three months. + +"This from your younger brother, + +"Orson Pratt." + +After receiving the foregoing, I gathered the little information +I could, in so new a country as Utah Territory, and adding it to +that which I knew myself, the result or summary of the whole is as +follows--for a portion of which I am indebted to the family records +of my aunt Lovina Van Cott, and to her memory, she being still +living, and near my residence in Salt Lake City. + +Our great-grandfather, Christopher Pratt, of Saybrook, Conn., +had six children, as follows, viz: + +Stephen, born June 30, 1740, at Saybrook. + Obadiah, born Sept. 14, 1742, at Saybrook. + Sarah, born March 28, 1745. + Hannah, born Aug. 6, 1747. + Chalker, born Feb. 14, 1750. + Samuel + +Our grandfather, Obadiah Pratt, son of Christopher and Sarah +Pratt, born in Saybrook, Conn., September 14, 1742, received in +marriage Jemina Tolls, born in New Haven, Conn., August 11th, 1754. +Date of marriage not known. He died in Canaan, Columbia County, New +York. March 2, 1797. His wife died in Washington, Dutchess County, +New York, Nov 24, 1812. + +Eleven children, as follows: + Jared, born in Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y., November 25, 1769. + Barnabas, " " " " " " " March 4, 1771. + Samuel, " " " " " " " February 2, 1773. + Rhoda, " " " " " " " May 30, 1775. + William, " " " " " " " May 21, 1777. + Sarah, " " " " " " " September 3, 1781. + Obadiah, " " " " " " " July 30, 1784. + Lovina, " " " " " " " August 6, 1787. + Ira, " " " " " " " October 10, 1789. + Ellis, Twin sister of Ira, lived five days. October 10, 1789. + Allen, born in Canaan, Columbia County, N. Y., May 3, 1793. + +Our father, Jared Pratt, son of Obadiah and Jemima Pratt, +received in marriage Mary Carpenter, daughter of Samuel Carpenter, +of New Lebanon, N. Y. She bore him one daughter, named Mary, and +afterwards died. This daughter married a Mr. Brown, of New Lebanon, +and bore one son, named Jerome Brown. She afterwards lost her +husband, and was married to Samuel Bigalow, of New Lebanon; they +may be still living at that place. + +Our father, Jared, afterwards received in marriage Charity +Dickison, daughter of Samuel Dickison, of Bolton, N. Y. I remember +seeing him once (Dickison) when a small boy. + +Our father, Jared, died at Detroit, Michigan, of a fever, +November 5, 1839, being near seventy years of age. He died in the +house of his eldest son, Anson, who buried him some three or four +miles north or northeast from Detroit, in Michigan. + +Our mother, Charity, died of cholera in the house of her son +Anson, at St. Joseph, Missouri, May 20, 1849, and was buried in the +graveyard of that town, and a tombstone erected to her memory. + +Their children, five in number, were as follows: + + Anson, born January 9, 1801, died May 26, 1849. + William D., born September 3, 1802, Town of Wooster, New York, + died September 15, 1870, Salt Lake City. + Parley P., born April 12, 1807, in Burlington, Otsego County, + New York. + Orson, born September 19, 1811, in Hartford, Washington Go. New + York. + Nelson, born May 26, 1815. + + +Transcriber's Note +------------------------ + +This text was prepared by Tom Nysetvold, based on public-domain +materials including a text available from the Book of Abraham Project +and text and scans available from Archive.org. It is intended to +reproduce the 1888 Chicago edition. Email tomnysetvold@gmail.com with +corrections or to participate in proofreading of similar early books of +The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Autobiography of Parley Parker +Pratt, by Parley Parker Pratt + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44896 *** |