PERILS OF THE PEOPLE--CHEERFULNESS OF THE SAINTS AMIDST THEIR
TROUBLES--VISIT OUR BRETHREN IN PRISON--APOSTLES ORDAINED--MOCK
DISTRIBUTION OF STATE APPROPRIATION--LETTER FROM JOSEPH SMITH
AND BRETHREN IN PRISON--INDIFFERENCE OF STATE OFFICIALS TO OUR
APPEALS--WORD OF THE LORD TO ME.
One afternoon, I sent my son William a short distance on an errand,
when, on his return, one of the guards drew up his rifle and threatened
to blow out his brains if he stepped one inch further towards the
house. Through the agency of some of my brethren, I was notified of it.
I went to the man and spoke to him in a friendly manner, and conversed
with him about the beautiful country, it being more beautiful than
England and the nations I had been traveling in.
He became very much interested, and in a short time I pointed out my
son William, who had stood still for some time after being warned not
to approach, and was cold, as it was then dusk and the weather severe.
Said I, "That is my son."
"Oh!" he said, "if that is one of your sons, he may pass; he may go
home."
Afterwards the man left his post and came to my house and spent the
evening and several times afterwards, and became very friendly, and
told me he wished I would leave the "Mormons," as he liked me, and
could not bear the thought of my following them with my family, for we
were too good for them.
I merely mention this to show the perils we were in, men, women and
children, with death and destruction waiting on us, and this spirit
aroused by apostates.
The murders, house burnings, robberies, rapes, drivings, whippings,
imprisonments, chainings and other sufferings and cruelties inflicted
upon the people of God under illegal orders of Missouri's executive,
have been only in part laid before the world, and form a page in
history unparalleled in the records of religious persecution. This
historic page alone can credit Lilburn W. Boggs and his minions with
feeding the ministers of the proscribed religion on the flesh of their
murdered brethren, the odium of which crime is shared fully by the
professed ministers of different denominations who participated in
these vile atrocities! If hell can furnish a parallel, where is it?
For me to undertake to write what I saw, and felt and realized, I
should utterly fail for lack of ability; I must let eternity reveal the
scenes of those days. I can say before God, angels, heaven and earth,
that I am innocent of violating any law of the State of Missouri, and
I can say that my brethren are as pure and clean as I am, innocent and
virtuous, true to their God and their country. With the measure they
meted to the Latter-day Saints, it shall be measured to them again, or
upon all those who had a hand in our persecution and expulsion, and
those who consented to it, four fold, full, pressed down, and running
over shall be their portion; and as the Lord God Almighty liveth, I
shall live to see it come to pass. [A]
[Footnote A: Elder Kimball lived to see the fulfillment of this
prophecy.]
When we walked up to sign the deeds of trust to pay these assassins for
murdering our brethren and sisters and their children, ravishing some
of our sisters to death, robbing us of our lands and possessions and
all we had on earth, and other such _services_, they expected to see
us cast down and sorrowful; but I testify as an eye-witness that the
brethren rejoiced and praised the Lord and kicked up their heels, and
thanked God, taking joyfully the despoiling of their goods. There were
judges, magistrates and Methodist, Presbyterian, Campbellite and other
sectarian priests who stood by and saw all this going on, exulting over
us, and it seemed to make them more angry that we bore our misfortunes
so cheerfully. Judge Cameron said, with an oath, "See them creatures
laugh and kick up their heels! They are whipped but not conquered."
I have no doubt that I would have been taken a prisoner had the mob
known me, but I had not been there but three weeks when the mobbing
commenced, and was only known by the brethren, and many of them I
had not seen during my brief residence there. The mob had not become
acquainted with Brother Brigham, either, as he lived three or four
miles from the city on Mill Creek.
After the mob departed, I accompanied Brother Brigham to Richmond
jail to see our brethren. We found Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney and others
chained together in one room, and others confined in other places among
the worst demons living out of hell. We scarcely had the privilege
of speaking to our brethren more than to say, "How do you do?" every
eye being upon us with suspicion. We put up at a public house for
the night, and I bear testimony, from our feelings and the spirit
manifested in that house, that there were legions of devils present. I
do not think that either of us slept any that night.
On the 13th of December, Elder Brigham Young and I reorganized the High
Council at Far West, when we expressed our fellowship with all those
who desired to do right, and filled the vacancies occasioned by those
brethren who had to flee from Missouri to save their lives.
On the 19th of December, 1838, Brother Brigham and I ordained Elders
John Taylor and John E. Page Apostles.
The legislature of the State of Missouri appropriated two thousand
dollars, to be distributed among the people of Daviess and Caldwell
Counties, the "Mormons" not excepted. Judge Cameron, Mr. McHenry and
others attended to the distribution. Judge Cameron drove in the hogs
belonging to the brethren (many of which were identified), shot them
down in the street, and without further bleeding, they were half
dressed, cut up and distributed by Mr. McHenry to the poor, at the rate
of four and five cents per pound, which, together with a few pieces
of refuse calicoes at double and treble prices, soon consumed the
appropriation.
I received the following letter from the Prophet and his brethren while
they were in prison.
"LIBERTY,
"Jan. 16th, 1839.
"BROTHERS H. C. KIMBALL AND B. YOUNG:
"_Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, prisoners for
Jesus' sake, send greeting_:--In obedience to your request in your
letter, we say to you as follows: It is not wisdom for you to go out
of Caldwell with your families yet for a little season; until we are
out of prison; after which you may act at your pleasure; but though you
take your families out of the State, it will be necessary for you to
return, and leave as before designed, on the 26th of April.
"Inasmuch as we are in prison, for a little season, if need be, the
management of the affairs of the Church devolves on you, that is the
Twelve.
"The gathering of necessity is stopped; but the conversion of the world
need not stop, but under wise management can go on more rapidly than
ever.
"Where churches are built, let them continue where they are, until
a door is open to do otherwise, and let every Elder occupy his own
ground, and when he builds a church, let him preside over it, and let
not others run in to trouble him; and thus let every man prove himself
unto God, that he is worthy. If we live, we live; and if we die for the
testimony of Jesus, we die; but whether we live or die, let the work of
God go on.
"Let the churches in England continue there till further orders--till a
door can be opened for them, except they choose to come to America, and
take their chance with the Saints here. If they will do that, let them
come; and if they choose to come, they would do well to send their wise
men before them, and buy out Kirtland, and the regions round about, or
they may settle where they can till things may alter.
"It will be necessary for you to get the Twelve together, ordain such
as have not been ordained, or at least such of them as you can get,
and proceed to regulate the Elders as the Lord may give you wisdom. We
nominate George A. Smith and Lyman Sherman to take the places of Orson
Hyde and Thomas B. Marsh.
"Brethren, fear not, but be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might. What is man that the servant of God should fear him, or the
son of man, that he should tremble at him. Neither think it strange
concerning the fiery trials with which we are tried, as though some
strange thing had happened unto us. Remember that all have been
partakers of like afflictions. Therefore, rejoice in our afflictions,
by which you are perfected and through which the Captain of our
Salvation was perfected also. Let your hearts and the hearts of all
the Saints be comforted with you, and let them rejoice exceedingly,
for great is our reward in heaven, for so the wicked persecuted the
prophets which were before us. America will be a Zion to all that
choose to come to it; and if the churches in foreign countries wish
to come, let them do so. Say to brother P. P. Pratt that our feelings
accord with his; he is as we are, and we as he. May peace rest upon him
in life and in death.
"Brethren, pray for us, and cease not till our deliverance comes, which
we hope may come. We _hope_, we say, for our families' sake.
"Let the Elders preach nothing but the first principles of the gospel,
and let them publish our afflictions--the injustice and cruelty
thereof, upon the house tops. Let them write it and publish it in all
the papers where they go. Charge them particularly on this point.
"Brethren we remain yours in hope of eternal life,
"SIDNEY RIGDON.
"JOSEPH SMITH JR.
"HYRUM SMITH.
"N. B. Appoint the oldest of those of the Twelve, who were first
appointed, to be the president of your quorum.
"J. S.
"S. R.
"H. S."
On the 7th of February, 1839, I accompanied Brother Brigham to Liberty,
to visit Joseph and the brethren in prison. We had the privilege of
going in to see and converse with them. We stayed at Liberty over
night, and the next morning we were permitted to visit the prisoners
again, while they were at breakfast. We returned during the day to Far
West.
When we left there, Lyman Sherman was somewhat unwell, and in a few
days after our return he died. We did not notify him of his appointment.
I fitted up a small wagon, procured a span of ponies, and sent my wife
and three children out of the State in company with Brother Brigham
Young and his family, and several others, who left Far West February
14th. Everything my family took with them out of Missouri, could have
been packed on the backs of two horses; the mob took all the rest.
Being a stranger in Missouri, I was requested by Joseph, Brigham and
others to tarry and assist the committee in getting the brethren and
families out of the State, and in waiting upon those brethren who were
confined in prison.
On the 12th of March, I wrote to Joseph Fielding, Liverpool, England,
saying: "I have only received two letters from you since I have come
here. If you knew the feelings I have for the welfare of that people,
your pen would not be so idle. May God stir you up to diligence to
feed the sheep of God; for they are children of my begetting through
the gospel. Think it not strange that I speak thus; for you know the
feelings that a father has for his children.
"Now, brethren, be faithful and visit the churches, and exhort the
Saints to be faithful in all things, and not lay down their watch for
a moment; for there is great danger of falling beneath the powers of
darkness. Don't think hard of me, brethren, for my plainness, for I
am a plain man, and God requires it of me, and the same of you. Don't
keep the Saints in ignorance of those things I have made you acquainted
with--that is, our sufferings, for they will know them when I come, and
they will have to pass through similar scenes. Don't be selfish; for it
will not impoverish you to tell them all that I tell you.
"Your sister Mary left here about eight weeks ago, also the rest of the
wives of the prisoners, thinking that they would be out in a few days.
There are ten in prison; they are all well and in good spirits. I am
going to see them to-morrow if the Lord will.
"Mobs are common in this country; it is getting so that there is no
safety anywhere in this land. Prepare yourselves for trouble wherever
you go, for it awaits you and all others that love the Lord and keep
His commandments.
"Brethren, I want you to go to the north where Brother Russell labored,
and see what situation the Saints are in, for I have some fears about
them. Go and strengthen them in the name of the Lord. * * * * * *
"Brethren, I can truly say that I have never seen the Church in a
better state since I have been a member of it. What there are left are
firm and steadfast, full of love and good works. They have lost all
their earthly goods, and are now ready to go and preach the gospel
to a dying world. We have ordained about one hundred Elders into the
Seventies. There are about one hundred and fifty who have gone into the
vineyard this winter to preach the gospel, and many more will go in the
spring, and several will come to England with me in the summer or fall.
Elder Rigdon was bailed out of prison, and has left Missouri. About ten
thousand had gathered to this State. By the 1st of May next there will
not be one left who has any faith. Not one-fourth part had any teams to
move with, and we had two hundred miles to travel before we could get
out of the State. I think their deliverance is a great miracle."
About this time, Orson Hyde came to me, feeling very sorrowful for the
course he had pursued the past few months. He said it was because of
fear, and that he lamented his folly, and he asked me what he should
do. I told him to give up his school, remove his family and gather with
the Church. He wanted to know if I thought the brethren would forgive
him. I said, "Yes."
He then asked, "Will you defend my case?" and I promised him I would.
On the 15th, the Prophet Joseph and others petitioned Judge Tompkins,
or either of the supreme judges of the State of Missouri, for a States
writ of _habeas corpus_, that he and his brethren might be brought
before either of those judges, that justice might be administered. I
was requested by Joseph to go to Jefferson and present the petition.
Theodore Turley accompanied me. We took copies of the papers by which
the prisoners were held, with the petition to the supreme judges, and
immediately started a distance of three hundred miles. We visited the
judges, and laid the whole matter before them individually, according
to our best ability. Neither of them would take any action in the
case, although they appeared friendly and acknowledged that they were
illegally imprisoned. We also presented a petition to the secretary of
state, the governor being absent. He appeared very kind, but like the
other officers, he _had no power to do good_.
We immediately returned to Liberty, where we arrived on the 3rd,
and made Joseph and the prisoners acquainted with the result of our
mission--through the gate of the dungeon, as we were not permitted to
enter the prison.
Joseph told us to be of good cheer, for the Lord would deliver him and
his brethren in due time. He also told us to advise the brethren to
keep up their spirits, and get all the Saints away as fast as possible.
In company with Brother Turley, I visited Judge Austin A. King, who was
vexed at us for presenting his illegal papers to the supreme judges. He
treated us very roughly.
I returned to Far West April 5th, and remained a few days. My family
having been gone about two months (during which time I heard nothing
from them), our brethren being in prison, and death and destruction
following us wherever we went, I felt very sorrowful and lonely. While
in this condition, the following words came to my mind, and the Spirit
said unto me, "write." I obeyed by taking a piece of paper and writing
on my knee, as follows:
"FAR WEST,
"April 6, 1839.
"_A Word from the Spirit of the Lord to My Servant Heber C. Kimball_:
"Verily, I say unto my servant Heber, thou art my son in whom I am
well pleased; for thou art careful to hearken to my words, and not
transgress my law nor rebel against my servant Joseph Smith; for thou
hast a respect to the words of mine anointed, even from the least to
the greatest of them; therefore, thy name is written in heaven, no more
to be blotted out forever, because of these things; and this spirit and
blessing shall rest down upon thy posterity forever and ever; for they
shall be called after thy name, for thou shalt have many more sons and
daughters, for thy seed shall be as numerous as the sands upon the sea
shore. Therefore, my servant Heber, be faithful; go forth in my name
and I will go with you, and be on your right hand and on your left,
and my angels shall go before you and raise you up when you are cast
down and afflicted. Remember that I am always with you, even to the
end; therefore, be of good cheer, my son, and my Spirit shall be in
your heart, to teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom. Trouble
not thyself about thy family, for they are in my hands; I will feed
them and clothe them and make unto them friends. They never shall want
for food nor raiment, houses nor lands, fathers nor mothers, brothers
nor sisters; and peace shall rest upon them forever, if thou wilt be
faithful and go forth and preach my gospel to the nations of the earth;
for thou shalt be blessed in this thing. Thy tongue shall be loosed
to such a degree that has not entered into thy heart as yet, and the
children of men shall believe thy words, and flock to the water, even
as they did to my servant John; for thou shalt be great in winning
souls to me, for this is thy gift and calling. And there shall be no
gift withheld from thee, if thou art faithful; therefore, be faithful,
and I will give thee favor in the eyes of the people. Be humble and
kind, and thou shalt obtain kindness; be merciful, and thou shalt
obtain mercy; and I will be with thee even unto the end. Amen."