On Oahu Again.--John Hyde's Apostasy.--I Meet Him in the Presbyterian
Church.--At Waialua.
On October 6, 1856, all the Elders of the mission met in conference at
Wailuku, island of Maui. Here I met my brother Franklin W. and John
Brown, an old playmate. They had just arrived from Zion. Our conference
was a truly happy one. I was appointed to labor on Oahu, under the
presidency of Edward Partridge.
October 12, 1856, with a large company of Elders, I walked over the
mountain, forty miles, without water, to Lahaina, getting there at 3
a.m. At 4 p.m. Elders Pack, Brown, Thurston, Cluff, Alma L. Smith, and
Franklin W. Young sailed on the Manuokawai (ocean bird) for Hawaii,
their field of labor for the next six months. At sunset President
Partridge and Elder West and I sailed on the John Boyle for Honolulu.
We went deck passage at two dollars each. The schooner being large, and
having but few passengers, we were not crowded into a jam, as often
happened. She was also dry on deck so we were quite comfortable.
On October 14th, at 8 a.m., having reached Honolulu, we learned that
Elder John Hyde was in the city. For some reason he had not reported
his arrival. On Friday, October 17, 1856, an article from John Hyde
appeared in the Polynesia, slandering the Latter-day Saints. I
therefore called on him demanding his Church recommends and his temple
clothes. He gave them to me, but was very bitter in his attitude toward
the Church. Sunday, October 26th, he delivered a public lecture in
the Seamen's Bethel, as he said, "Exposing Mormonism." The hall was
crowded, and the speaker was liberally applauded. To me it was a strong
testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.
Mr. Hyde was a bright, well-educated man. He had been in the Church
nine years, and much of the time he had been associated with some of
our ablest Elders. Surely, I thought, if there is a weak spot in our
Gospel armor, he has been able to detect it, and can expose the fraud
to a listening world. The people came, and he "tickled" them; but he
did it by repeating old tales, and sickly community gossip! Not one
sensible reason did he show for leaving the Church.
After the meeting, President Partridge called a council of the Elders
in our conference house, and it was decided that I should follow Mr.
Hyde, in his lecture tour around the island, and give him battle.
On Monday, October 27, 1856, eating an early breakfast, I shouldered
my pack, and walked forty miles to Waianae. I was warmly received by
Kaholokahiki and the Saints of that little branch; and great was my joy
at being again in the house where, when a boy, sick and afflicted, the
vision of God had comforted me, healed my eyes, and loosened my tongue.
On Wednesday, November 5, 1856, I met Mr. Hyde In the Presbyterian
Church at Waialua. Several clergymen and about fifty white people were
seated on the stand, while the body of the church was packed with
natives.
Mr. Hyde lectured on the "Evils of Mormonism." He commenced by saying:
"The Mormon Elder will tell you that plural marriage is a heaven-born
institution, calculated to bless and exalt the human family. If this
is true, why did not God in His infinite wisdom, make in the morning
of creation a dozen wives for Father Adam, and thus forever set the
question at rest? In France, Apostle John Taylor denied being a
polygamist. At that time he was the husband of five wives. As that
took place nine years ago, John Taylor stands before the world, a liar
of nine years standing. My Christian friends, what confidence can you
have in the testimony of a liar of nine years standing? (Prolonged
applause). I went to France, and converted thousands of the French
people to the Mormon faith. Alas, today, I awake, as from a dream, and
find Mormonism to be false."
During his long talk, which was interpreted by the Reverend Mr.
Emerson, a dry reed, many of the Kanakas had gone to sleep. When Mr.
Hyde closed, I sprang to my feet, and asked permission to reply. The
chairman refused to let me talk; but several gentlemen demanded fair
play. At length the chairman gave me fifteen minutes' time; requesting
me to speak in English and let Mr. Emerson interpret to the Kanakas.
This I refused to do for the reason that our Elders have visited the
homes of the white people, have borne testimonies to them, and have
given them tracts explaining the restored Gospel. I feel that we have
rid our garments of their blood; but we are under obligations to the
natives--I shall speak to them.
I then said in substance: "Mr. Hyde asks why did not God make a dozen
wives for Father Adam, and thus forever set the question of plural
marriage at rest. I am surprised that a man of Mr. Hyde's intelligence
should ask such a question. Your Bible, King James' translation, says
God made man from the 'dust of the earth,' then caused a deep sleep to
come upon him, and took a rib from his side, of which He made woman.
Now, I will answer Mr. Hyde's argument by asking him a question. If
God had taken twelve ribs from Adam, out of which to have made twelve
wives, would not Adam have been a weak reed for the twelve women to
lean upon?
"He says he went to France, and converted thousands of the French
people to the Mormon faith. I never knew before that thousands of the
French people were converted to the Mormon faith. I understand that our
Elders met with poor success; in fact, that they had to leave France to
avoid arrest. But grant for argument's sake, that Mr. Hyde converted
thousands of them. In the next breath he tells you that he has awakened
as from a dream, to find that Mormonism is false. So he confesses
that he persuaded thousands of people to believe a lie. My Christian
friends, what confidence can you place in a man who has persuaded
thousands of people to believe a lie?"
Here they interrupted me and closed the meeting. I walked across
the street, mounted a horse block, and preached for an hour to an
interested audience. This was my first experience in debate. Opposition
strengthened my faith, and added members to the Church.
On Sunday, November 9, 1856, two foreign gentlemen, evidently of the
wealthy class, called on me and asked if Joseph Smith and the Mormons
believe in a plurality of wives, and a plurality of Gods. I answered
yes; to which they replied: "The moral sense inherent in man compels
us to reject such doctrines." I answered that the moral sense in man
caused the pious Jews to reject Jesus Christ; yet He was the Son of
God, all the same. Mormonism, moreover, is the power of God unto
salvation to all who receive it.
In the afternoon meeting Brother Kiama asked forgiveness for having
starved me on my first arrival here. I forgave him, especially when he
explained that he had been living in Mr. Emerson's house, and that this
pattern of piety had threatened to turn him out if he kept me. I called
later upon the reverend gentleman, told him of his unchristian-like
conduct, and said, "If I get into the Kingdom of Heaven first, I will
stand at the door and keep you out until you make this thing right with
me."
On Friday, March 13, 1857, I made Mr. Goodale, my mother's cousin, a
present of a "Voice of Warning," and Spencer's Letters; I also baptized
a German by the name of John De Grais. On April 6th following, I
attended conference on the Island of Lanai. We had an enjoyable time.
Edward Partridge was appointed president of Maui, and his assistants
were William W. Cluff, John R. Young, William Naylor, Thomas Clayton,
and Robert A. Rose. Thus for the second time I had the privilege of
laboring under the presidency of the son of the first bishop of this
Church; a man who, like his father, was without guile: a righteous man
whom I learned to love.
In Maui it was our practice to hold meetings in the morning before
the natives went to their labors. On the morning of May 14, 1857, I
did the preaching; and after meeting we separated for active labor;
President Partridge remaining at Wailuku, Elders Cluff and Naylor going
to Waienae. Elder Rose to Kula to teach an English school, while I went
to Waiohue. My labors at this time required much walking, often forty
miles in a day; and frequently I had to swim the mountain streams,
which, when swollen by rains, were rapid and dangerous.
On May 27, 1857, in company with Elders Partridge, Cluff and Rose, I
visited the extinct crater of Haleakala. Its crest is eleven thousand
feet above sea level. Brother Kaleohano, with a pack horse, accompanied
us as guide. For commissary, he had a calabash of poi and a string of
red peppers. The ascent was steep, the soil rich, and vegetation rank
and beautiful.
An hour's walk brought us to the cloud belt, after which we were
enveloped in vapor, thick, cold, and chilly. At 5 p.m. we arrived at
the big cave, within a mile of the summit. Here we camped for the night.
As I stood upon a high cliff and gazed upon an endless ocean of white
clouds one thousand feet below me, I thought I had a vision of the
Christian's heaven, which, they say, lies "beyond the bounds of time
and space." Such a heaven would not suit me. The scene, strange and
sublime though it was, brought no joy,--rather a feeling of unrest,
mystery, and doubt; and I felt relieved, when the sun sank below the
horizon, for then the clouds settled down, and gave me a pleasing view
of West Maui, and the Island Lanai, Molokai, and Oahu.
We arose early the next morning, having passed a sleepless night. The
air was damp and cold, the mountain being swathed in heavy clouds.
Our pack horse was gone. Fortunately for us, a strong wind sprang
up, and soon we had a clear view of Maunakea on Hawaii, rearing its
snow-crowned crest nineteen thousand feet above the sea.
There are nine pots, or cone chimneys to this ancient crater.
We descended into one of them; and having spent half a day in
explorations, returned tired and hungry to the cave where we rested
until Kaleohano broiled a bird that he had snared. For our ravenous
appetites it proved only a morsel. On our way down the mountain, a
rainstorm completely drenched us, and we were glad to reach our guide's
hospitable home, and enjoy the rich treat of standing before a cheerful
fire while our wet garments dried.
On Saturday, May 30th, I accompanied President Partridge, on horseback,
to Honuaula, where we met Elder Kanahunahupu. He had been one of the
first six to embrace the Gospel on these islands. He was a firm,
intelligent man and an eloquent speaker. Our meeting the next day
was well attended. President Partridge, Kanahunahupu, and I spoke,
and a good spirit prevailed. Before closing, Brother Partridge,
arising a second time, said he was impressed to make a few remarks on
the mysteries of the Kingdom. You know we all love to hear things.
_Pohihihi_! "Well," said he, "Elder Young needs a pair of shoes, and
that is something that you do not seem to comprehend."
I want to finish this shoe story. I went barefoot for several weeks,
actively engaged in preaching, and sometimes to large congregations,
when Brother Poaono of Kipahule gave me a pair of Russian leather
slippers. They were two inches too long for me, as hard as a board, and
as tough as iron. Some of the Saints scolded the old man for giving
them to me; but I checked their fault-finding, then laid my hands upon
his head and blessed him.
That night Elder Cluff slept with me. Toward morning I had a curious
dream. A person came to me, and taught me several trades. At last
he said there was one more trade that I should learn--shoe making.
"Suppose you have a pair of shoes that are too long. It is the simplest
thing in the world to cut them in two and splice them short."
When I awoke it was just breaking day. I reached at once for the shoes,
and taking my pocket knife, cut them in two. Then during the day I made
a last, and a pegging awl out of a horseshoe nail, using a piece of
lava rock for a file. I next made some pegs, and spliced them up short;
and that pair of shoes, and the pair I traded them for, lasted me until
I reached my father's home in Salt Lake City.
One incident more, then I am done with these little temporal matters.
I was traveling with Elder William Naylor, of Salt Lake City. I still
had in my care a little mule that Brother George Raymond had furnished
me. In going from place to place in the mission, we would take turns
riding. In that way the patient animal was of great help to us.
One day it was raining hard, and the creeks soon became swollen. On
coming to a large stream, we were confronted with the awkward fact
that Brother Naylor could not swim. Near by, however, stood a Catholic
village and I went from house to house, beseeching the people to let
us stay until the water went down. But they all refused, saying their
priest had told them we were false prophets, and that God would be
displeased if they took us into their homes.
Coming back to our outfit, I took our hats, coats, and shoes, and tying
them firmly to the saddle, fastened one end of my stake-rope around the
mule's neck; then going up stream the length of the rope, I plunged
in and swam across. Brother Naylor held to the mule's tail with both
hands, while I pulled both mule and missionary through the rushing
flood, much to the amusement of a hundred people who had come to see us
make the dangerous passage.
Brother Naylor had on a pair of white linen pants, which had too long
done good service. As we walked on in our wet clothes, I noticed
that his trousers were bursting in strips. They soon looked like a
bifurcated dishrag, and taking them off, he threw them away. For the
next week we had but one pair of pants between us. He was five inches
taller than I; and when he would put on my nether garments to take the
air, as he did every day he would look comical.
Want of clothing was not our only privation those days; we often
suffered for want of food. I have walked many a day along the sea
shore, gathering moss off the rocks to satisfy my hunger. But these
things were as trifles to us; for we were rich in the Spirit of the
Lord.