JOYFUL MEETING WITH JOSEPH--FIRST CONFERENCE IN ILLINOIS--FIRST VISIT
TO COMMERCE--MY IMPRESSION CONCERNING THE NEW GATHERING PLACE--MY
RECOMMEND--STRUGGLE WITH EVIL SPIRITS--JOSEPH SMITH'S EXPERIENCE
WITH EVIL SPIRITS--P. P. PRATT'S ESCAPE FROM PRISON--BUILDING
HOUSES--PROSTRATED WITH SICKNESS--REMARKABLE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFT
OF HEALING.
On the 3rd of May, 1839, in company with Elders Brigham Young, O.
Pratt, John Taylor, W. Woodruff and George A. Smith, I rode four miles
to Mr. Cleaveland's, to visit Joseph and Hyrum, who were as glad to see
us as we were to see them once more enjoying their liberty. I spent the
day with them and it was one of the greatest days of rejoicing in my
life to once more have the privilege of conversing with the Prophet in
freedom.
The next day I attended a general conference of the Church near Quincy,
at which the Saints from all the regions round about assembled. It was
a time which will long be remembered by the Saints, being the first
conference held after their expulsion.
The cases of Brothers William Smith and Orson Hyde were brought up. I
had previously informed Brother Hyrum Smith of Orson Hyde's feelings
of repentance, and desire to return to the Church. Hyrum partook of
the spirit, and when Joseph presented the name of Orson Hyde before
the Church, Hyrum and I plead for him according to the spirit that was
in us. Joseph then remarked, "If my brother Hyrum and Heber C. Kimball
will defend Orson Hyde, I will withdraw my motion."
The conference granted them the privilege of appearing personally
before the next conference of the Church, to give an account of their
conduct, but required that in the meantime they both be suspended from
executing the functions of their office.
The conference sanctioned the proceeding of the Twelve on the temple
block at Far West, on the 26th of April, and also the intended mission
of the Twelve to Europe.
The conference continued for three days, and a most agreeable time was
enjoyed. Elder Rigdon was appointed delegate to go to Washington and
lay the grievances of the Saints before the general government, and it
was also resolved that a number of Elders should accompany the Twelve
on their mission to Europe.
On Sunday, the 12th of May, I went up to Commerce, in company with some
of the Twelve, in a wagon.
On the 25th I crossed the river with several of my brethren and
spent the day in council with Joseph and others. While crossing the
Mississippi, I was standing by the railing of the boat, looking at the
beautiful site of Nauvoo, and remarked, "It is a very pretty place, but
not a long abiding place for the Saints."
These remarks reached the ears of Elder Rigdon and family, and caused
them to feel somewhat sad, as they were well situated in a nice stone
house. When we met in council, in the house of Joseph Smith, Elder
Rigdon said he had some feelings toward Elder Kimball, and added, "I
should suppose that Elder Kimball had passed through sufferings and
privations and mobbings and drivings enough to learn to prophesy good
concerning Israel."
I saw that I was likely to receive quite a chastisement from Elder
Rigdon, and knowing his peculiar temperament, I arose and said,
"President Rigdon, I'll prophesy good concerning you all the time if
you can get it!"
On hearing that, Joseph had a hearty laugh with the brethren, and Elder
Rigdon yielded the point.
I here insert a recommend from the Presidency:
"_To the Saints Scattered Abroad, to the Nations of Europe and to the
World_:
"Be it known unto you that Heber C. Kimball is fully authorized to
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his testimony can be relied on.
He is a man of unexceptionable character, and received his authority
and Priesthood from under the hands of the presiding authorities of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were called by actual
revelation from God. Therefore, God will bless him, and bear record by
His power, thereby confirming his word and ministry. Thus testifieth
your humble servants,
"SIDNEY RIGDON,
"HYRUM SMITH,
"JOSEPH SMITH, JR.
"QUINCY, ILL., June 3, 1839."
I wrote to P. P. Pratt, giving him the particulars of our conference
at Far West on the 26th of April, and the resolution that the Twelve
should have their shackles taken off, that they might go forth into
the world to preach the gospel, and that the Bishops were to provide
for our families, etc. I also added, "The Presidency feel well towards
you. They say you must come out of that place, and so I say; for I do
not feel as though I can go to England until I take you by the hand.
When this takes place my joy will be full. Be of good cheer, brother; a
few days now, and you shall see the salvation of God; and I shall see
you in other lands, publishing peace to the captives. My determination
is to be a man of God, and to try to save souls from their sins, let
others do as they may. I will try to keep my eye on the mark, that is,
Christ, the Son of the living God, His grace assisting me. The Twelve
have all left Quincy. Orson is about twenty-five miles from here.
Whatever you do, do quickly!"
Joseph advised those of the Twelve whose families were not at Commerce
to remove them immediately to the new gathering place. I accordingly
went to Quincy and removed my family up to a place belonging to Brother
Bozier, about one mile from Commerce, where I pulled down an old stable
and laid up the logs at the back end of the Bozier house, putting a
few shakes on to cover it; but it had no floor or chinking. In this
condition I moved my family into it. Whenever it rained the water
stood nearly ankle deep on the ground in the house. There were some
half-a-dozen families in the Bozier house.
The 25th, 26th and 27th of June I spent in council with the Presidency
and Twelve, and received much valuable instruction from the Prophet. At
this conference Orson Hyde appeared, made a humble confession, and was
restored to the Priesthood.
One night I was awakened out of my sleep by my wife making a noise as
though she was nearly choking to death. I inquired the cause, and she
replied that she had dreamed that a personage came and seized her by
the throat and was choking her. I immediately lit a candle and saw that
her eyes were sunken and her nose pinched in as though she was in the
last stage of the cholera. I laid hands upon her and rebuked the evil
spirit in the name of Jesus, and by the power of the holy Priesthood
commanded it to depart. In a moment afterwards I heard some half a
dozen children in different parts of the Bozier house crying as if in
great distress. The cattle also began to bellow, the horses neighed,
the dogs barked, the hogs squealed, the hens cackled and roosters
crowed, and everything around seemed in great commotion. In a few
minutes afterwards I was sent for to lay hands upon Sister Patten, the
widow of David W. Patten, who was living in the room adjoining mine,
and who was seized in a similar manner to my wife.
My wife continued quite feeble for several days from the shock.
One day while visiting Joseph, he took me for a walk by the river side,
when he requested me to relate the occurrence at Brother Bozier's.
After I had done so, I also told him the vision of evil spirits in
England, on the opening of the gospel to that people. After I had done
this, I asked him what all these things meant, and whether or not there
was anything wrong in me. He said:
"No, Brother Heber; at that time, when you were in England, you were
nigh unto the Lord, there was only a veil between you and Him, but you
could not see Him. When I heard of it, it gave me great joy; for I then
knew that the work of God had taken root in that land. It was this that
caused the devil to make a struggle to kill you."
Joseph then said the nearer a person approached to the Lord,
the greater power would be manifest by the devil to prevent the
accomplishment of the purposes of God.
He also gave me a relation of many contests that he had had with Satan,
and his power that had been manifested from time to time since the
commencement of bringing forth the Book of Mormon.
I will relate one circumstance that took place in Far West, in a house
which Joseph had purchased, which had been formerly occupied as a
public house by some wicked people. A short time after he had moved
into it, one of the children was taken very sick. He laid his hands
upon the child, when it got better. As soon as he went outside, the
child was taken sick again. He again laid his hands upon it, so that
it again recovered. This transpired several times, and Joseph inquired
of the Lord what it all meant, when he had an open vision, and saw
the devil in person, who contended with Joseph face to face for some
time. He said it was his house, it belonged to him, and Joseph had no
right there. Then Joseph rebuked Satan in the name of the Lord, and he
departed and troubled the child no more.
On the 2nd of July, I went with Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney and others over
the river to Montrose, after which we rode four miles and looked at
the site for the town of Zarahemla. We dined at Brother Woodruff's.
After dinner we all went to President Brigham Young's, where Brothers
Woodruff and George A. Smith were blessed as two of the Twelve
Apostles. Brother Hyrum Smith gave the Twelve some good advice on
the nature of their mission--to practice prudence and humility in
their preaching, and to strictly hold on to the authority of the
Priesthood. Brother Joseph taught many glorious things and important
principles to benefit and bless them on their mission; advising them to
observe charity, wisdom and a fellow feeling for each other under all
circumstances. He also unfolded the keys of knowledge, to detect Satan,
and preserve us in the favor of God.
On Sunday, the 7th of July, I was present at a large meeting of the
Saints in the open air to listen to the farewell addresses of the
Twelve. Many were present who did not belong to the Church. After the
meeting was dismissed three persons went forward and were baptized and
confirmed.
On the 10th of July, Elder P. P. Pratt returned from his imprisonment
in Missouri. When I heard that he was in Quincy I went there and
assisted him and his brother Orson up to Commerce. His escape caused
much rejoicing among the Saints.
In a few days afterwards he and I purchased from Hyrum Kimball five
acres each of woodland, situated one mile from the river, and went to
work to cut each a set of logs to build a house 14 by 16 feet, which
we cut in one day. We then invited some of the old citizens, such as
Brother Bozier, 'Squire Wells, Louis Robinson and others, to come and
assist us to put them up, as our people were mostly prostrate with
sickness. I got a man to assist me to hew puncheons for the floor,
and to make some shakes, that is, strips of timber similar to barrel
staves, with which to cover the roof. I also drew the rock and built
a chimney, and just got it built to the ridge of the house, when I
was stricken down with the chills and fever. My wife was also laid
prostrate with the same.
A great amount of sickness prevailed among the inhabitants of Commerce,
in consequence of the sufferings and hardships to which they had been
subjected in being driven from Missouri; so that the time of those
who were able to be about was generally spent in administering to the
sick. Some had faith and were healed; to those who had not faith we
administered mild herbs and nursed them as well as possible under the
circumstances; but many died.
On the morning of the 22nd, the Prophet Joseph Smith arose from his
bed of sickness, when the power of God rested upon him, and he went
forth administering to the sick. He commenced with the sick in his
own house, then visited those who were tenting in his door-yard,
commanding the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to arise from
their beds and be made whole, and they were healed according to his
words. He then went from house to house and from tent to tent, on the
bank of the river, healing the sick by the power of Israel's God as he
went among them. He did not miss a single house, wagon or tent, and
continued this work up to the "Upper Stone House," where he crossed
the river, accompanied by P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, John Taylor, John E.
Page and myself, and walked into the cabin of Brother Brigham Young,
who was lying very sick, and commanded him in the name of the Lord
Jesus to arise and be made whole. He arose, healed of his sickness,
and accompanied Joseph and his brethren of the Twelve. They went into
the house of Brother Elijah Fordham, who was insensible and considered
by his family and friends to be dying. Joseph stepped to his bedside,
looked him in the eye for a minute without speaking, then took him by
the hand and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to arise from
his bed and walk. Brother Fordham instantly leaped out of his bed,
threw off all his poultices and bandages, dressed himself, called for
a bowl of bread and milk, which he ate, and then followed us into the
street.
We then went into the house of Joseph B. Noble, who was also very sick,
and he was healed in the same manner.
Joseph spoke with the voice and power of God.
When he had healed all the sick by the power given unto him, he went
down to the ferry boat, when a stranger rode up almost breathless and
said he had heard that "Jo" Smith was raising the dead and healing all
the sick, and his wife begged of him to ride up and get Mr. Smith to
go down and heal his twin children, who were about five months old.
Joseph replied, "I cannot go, but will send some one." In a few minutes
he said to Elder Woodruff, who lived in Montrose, "You go and heal
those children. Take this pocket handkerchief, and when you administer
to them, wipe their faces with it, and they shall recover." Brother
Woodruff did as he was commanded, and the children were healed.
The mob leaders when they saw men, whom they thought were dying, arise
from their beds and pray for others, stood paralyzed with fear, yet
those same men would have killed Joseph and his brethren if they had
had an opportunity.
Joseph recrossed the river and returned to his own house, and I went to
my home, rejoicing in the mercies and goodness of God.
This was a day never to be forgotten by the Saints, nor by the wicked,
for they saw the power of God manifest in the flesh.