MISSION TO THE EAST, 1843.
Address of the Prophet on Constitutional Rights.--Orson Hyde's
Call to Russia.--Prophet Explains His Position with Respect to
Missouri.--Origin of Nauvoo Legion.--Political Explanation.--Departure
of the Twelve for the East.--Brigham Young's Fidelity.--Phrenological
Chart by O. S. Fowler.--Return of the Twelve to Nauvoo.--W. W. Sealed
to Wife.--Adultery.--Governor of Missouri Again Issues Requisition for
Prophet.--Endowments.
The people of Nauvoo during these exciting times were greatly agitated
over the safety of their Prophet and leader. In keeping with his
promise, Joseph Smith addressed the assembled multitude who anxiously
awaited the words which were to fall from his lips. There were no
stenographic reporters then, and Wilford Woodruff's account of what
was said is without doubt the fullest and most accurate statement on
record. The following is taken from his journal, wherein he recorded
the words of the prophet: "I meet you with a heart full of gratitude
to Almighty God, and you doubtless feel as I do. I hardly know how to
express my feelings. I feel as strong as a giant. I pulled sticks with
the men coming along, and with one hand I pulled up the strongest man
on the road, and two could not pull me up. I continued to pull till
I pulled them to Nauvoo. Notwithstanding the excitement, I feel cool
and dispassionate through it all. Thank God I am now in the hands of
those who preside over the municipal court, not in the hands of the
Missourians. Relative to our right of habeas corpus we have full power.
If there is not power in our charter and courts, then there is none in
the state of Illinois, nor in Congress, nor in the constitution of the
United States. Congress gave to Illinois her constitution, and Illinois
has given to Nauvoo the charter which protects us in our vested rights.
"I want you to learn, O Israel! what is for the happiness and peace of
this city and its people. Our enemies are determined to oppress us and
deprive us of our rights and privileges as they have done in the past.
If the authorities on earth will not give us that protection which the
laws and the constitution of the United {185} States and of this state
guarantee, then we will appeal to a higher power, to heaven, to God
Almighty, for our constitutional rights.
"The Lord, in my past troubles has raised up friends to me, though
they were strangers, and they would have lost their lives to deliver
me from my enemies and to protect my rights in this state. I have told
them to do no violence for I should be delivered by the power of God.
I have brought the men who arrested me to Nauvoo, and I have treated
them kindly. I have had the privilege of rewarding them, good for evil.
They took me unlawfully, treated me rigorously, strove to deprive me
of my right and would have carried me into Missouri to be murdered had
not Providence interposed. Now they are in my hands. I took them into
my home, set them at the head of the table, and placed before them the
best that my home afforded. They were waited upon by my wife whom they
deprived of seeing me when I was taken.
"There is a time, however, when forbearance ceases and when suffering
longer without resistance is a sin. I shall not bear it any longer, I
will spill the last drop of blood I have rather than endure it; and
all who feel that they will not bear it any longer say, 'Aye.' The
vast assembly shouted, 'Aye.' Whatever may be your feeling about the
heavy hand of oppression I wish you to restrain yourself from violence
against those men who have arrested me. My word is at stake, a hair of
their heads shall not be harmed.
"My life is pledged to carry out this great work, I know you are ever
ready to do right, you have done great things and you have manifested
your love for me in rushing to my assistance on this occasion, and I
bless you in the name of the Lord. I know the Almighty will bless all
good men, and may you not have to suffer as I have suffered heretofore.
However, I shall restrain you no longer, from this time forth. If
occasion require I will lead you to battle, if you are not afraid to
die and to spill your blood in your own defense you will not offend
me. Be not the aggressor. Bear until they strike you on one cheek and
then offer the other. They will be sure to strike that also; then
defend yourself and God will bear you off victorious. If I am under the
necessity of giving up our chartered rights, privileges, and freedom
for which our fathers fought and bled, and which the constitution {186}
of the United States as well as this state grants to us, I will do it
at the point of the bayonet and sword.
"Many lawyers contend for that which is against the rights of men,
and I can only excuse them because of their ignorance. Go forth, O ye
lawyers! and advocate the rights of the people, for we shall rise up
Washington-like and break off the fetters which bind us and we shall
not be mobbed."
After discussing at some length the charter of Nauvoo and the writ of
habeas corpus, he gave an interesting account of his recent arrest and
of the return to Nauvoo. He explained that he had prophesied to his
wife the day before his presence in the neighborhood, where the people
befriended him, that they were a good people, and that he knew it by
the spirit of God. "When Mr. Cyrus Walker, an attorney, came to me,
those who had arrested me said that I should speak to no man and they
would shoot any man who spoke to me. An old man came up and said that I
should have counsel and told them he was not afraid of their pistols.
My freedom began from that time."
Speaking of the law, the Prophet said: "Almighty God has taught me
the true principle of law and the true meaning of the writ of habeas
corpus. It is to protect the innocent and to prevent innocent men from
being dragged into other states and from being punished by the avowed
enemy.
"It did my soul good to witness the manifestation of your feelings and
love toward me. I thank God I have the honor to lead so virtuous and
honest a people, to be your law-giver as Moses was to the children of
Israel. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! to the most high God! I commend you
to His grace and may the blessings of Heaven rest upon you, I ask it in
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
July 1st the trial of the Prophet came off. There were present Brigham
Young, Hyrum Smith, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, and Sidney Rigdon.
They were all called as witnesses and duly sworn. They recounted the
history of the Missouri persecutions from the time they were driven
from Jackson County until their expulsion from Far West by force of
arms. "The recital of these scenes," says President Woodruff, "caused
my blood to boil and the spirit of war was awakened in me, even the
Gentile {187} lawyers were shocked, and in their speeches counseled the
people to stand by their rights whatever the issue might be."
The Fourth of July was at hand and great preparations had been made
for its celebration. About fifteen thousand people assembled in the
grove. Orson Hyde addressed the vast multitude. He had lately returned
from Palestine, and was then under appointment to carry the gospel to
Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the afternoon the multitude of Saints
was greatly augmented by three steamboat loads of visiting ladies and
gentlemen from St. Louis, Quincy, and Burlington. As the visitors
arrived they were escorted to the stand by the Nauvoo band, and their
presence welcomed by the firing of cannon. Parley P. Pratt spoke at
some length, and was followed by the Prophet Joseph, who took this
occasion to speak of himself. Elder Woodruff quotes him as follows:
"If the people will give ear a moment, I will address a few words
in my own defense. In the first place I will state to those who can
hear me that I never spent more than six months in Missouri except
the time I was in prison. While at Liberty, Missouri, I was at work
for the support of my family. I never was a prisoner of war during my
stay there, for I had not made war. I never took a gun, nor a pistol,
nor a sword and what has been said by our enemies on that subject is
false. I have always been willing to go to any governor, judge, or
tribunal where justice could be had and have the matter investigated.
I could not have committed treason as I had no control of affairs
except in spiritual matters. I was driven from Missouri by force of
arms under the exterminating order of Governor Boggs. I have always
been a peaceable citizen, yet there is scarcely a crime that can be
committed that is not laid at the door of Joseph Smith. I have been
dragged before the courts time and again on charges that were false and
every time I have been acquitted. As often as God sees fit for me to
suffer I am ready, but I am as innocent of those crimes imputed as the
angels in heaven. I am not an enemy to mankind, neither am I an enemy
to Missouri, its governor, nor its people.
"As for the military station I hold and the reasons for holding it I
have this to say: When we came here the state required us to bear arms
and to do military duty. As the Church had just {188} been driven from
Missouri and our people had been robbed of their property and their
arms had been taken from them, they, therefore, had no arms with which
to do duty, yet they were liable to a fine if they did not respond to
the orders of the state in the matter of military service even though
they had no arms. I advised them to organize into independent companies
and to ask the state for arms. This they did. There were, however, many
elders who had license to preach. They are exonerated by the law from
military duties. The officers, however, would not release them on those
grounds. I then told the Saints that although I was free from military
duty by law in consequence of a lameness in one of my legs I would set
them an example and do military duty myself. They wanted me for their
leader. From these circumstances and conditions the Nauvoo Legion came
into existence and I was made Lieutenant General. It was not because I
was seeking for power.
"There are those who say we all vote together and that our people vote
as I say, but I never tell any man how to vote nor whom to vote for.
Let me make a comparison. Suppose there were a Methodist society here,
and that outside of that society there were two candidates running for
office. One of them says: 'If you will elect me to the gubernatorial
chair I will take away the charter of your city and exterminate the
Methodists.' The other says: 'If I am elected all men shall be equal
before the law, and I will discriminate against no man or society.' Now
whom would the Methodists vote for? Certainly not for the man who was
their bitter enemy and who would not protect them in their rights. It
has been so with us. Joseph Duncan said if the people would elect him
he would exterminate the Mormons, take away their charter. Mr. Ford
made no such threats, but manifested a disposition to give every man
his rights. The people, therefore, voted for him and he was elected
governor. However, he has issued writs against me twice at the demands
of the Missourians; this has caused me much trouble and expense."
During these remarks much prejudice was removed. There was present a
vast multitude of about fifteen thousand people, many of whom were
not members of the Church. They gave the strictest attention and were
edified by what they saw and heard.
{189} On the morning of July 7th, 1843, Wilford Woodruff rose early,
blessed his wife and daughter, Phoebe, and in company with Brigham
Young and Elder George A. Smith, started on a mission to the East
to strengthen the branches of the Church there and gather funds for
the Temple and the Nauvoo House. They left Morrison's landing on the
steamer _Rapid_ and arrived in St. Louis the next day. Here Elder
Woodruff purchased supplies for the "Times and Seasons" and shipped
them to Nauvoo. The day following the missionary party boarded the
steamer _Lancet_ and went up the Ohio to Cincinnati, where they landed
on the 13th, their sixth day from Nauvoo. Enroute they obtained a view
of the tomb of President Harrison.
On the night of their arrival in Cincinnati, Elder Woodruff dreamed
that Joseph would again be arrested and tried in Illinois, and the same
night Brigham Young dreamed that the Twelve were called home. These
dreams were the preparation for coming events which cast their shadows
before. The hearts of those brave men and devoted missionaries were
receiving a preparation for the troublous times that were to come.
In Cincinnati Elder Woodruff made further purchases for the "Times
and Seasons." From that city they went on to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
with the steamer _Adelaide._ They reached the place at six p. m. and
immediately repaired to the Temperance Hall, where a meeting of the
Saints was convened. Here they met Elders Heber C. Kimball, Orson
Pratt, and John E. Page. The last named was preaching as they entered
the hall; and, contrary to the counsel of the Prophet, Elder Page was
making war upon sects of the day. Next day the Twelve held a council,
in which John E. Page was severely reproved by President Young for
disorganizing a branch in Cincinnati which three of the Twelve had just
before that time organized, and for disobeying the Prophet's counsel
in the matter of preaching against religious denominations. These acts
of disobedience to the counsels of his file-leaders had, no doubt,
something to do with his apostasy later on.
Elder Woodruff never forgets to put in his journal the historical
items of general interest and speaks of Pittsburg as a city which at
that time numbered about thirty-five thousand inhabitants. The city
had ninety-five churches, one hundred and twenty {190} preachers, and
twenty-one denominations. The Latter-day Saints numbered there at that
time seventy-five souls.
On Sunday, the 30th, six of the Twelve Apostles met in conference with
the Saints in Temperance Hall. They held three meetings and imparted
many valuable instructions to the Saints and visitors in attendance.
Elder Woodruff took minutes of the meeting and noted especially the
teachings of President Young, as he attached most importance to the
words of the man standing highest in authority when giving an account
of what was said on any occasion. President Young on this occasion bore
a strong testimony to the divinity of the work and to the mission of
the Prophet Joseph. "Who," he said, "is the author of this work? God
is its author, Joseph Smith being the instrument in the hands of God.
He is the greatest man on earth. No other man of this age has power to
gather such a great people from all the nations of the earth and with
all their peculiar dispositions cement them together. This the Prophet
is doing by the power of God, as the Saints are led by the Holy Spirit
in their own hearts."
July the 30th the members of the Twelve made a tour of the city. They
visited the glass-works, the water-works, and other places of note and
interest. Speaking of the water-works, Elder Woodruff says: "Descending
the hill we had a view of the city water-works. The building was
patterned after Roman architecture. The works cost two hundred thousand
dollars. The building was designed by Elder Charles Beck, who was a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Elder Beck
was present at the visit of the Twelve to Pittsburg and showed them
every courtesy. He further paid the railroad fare of the six members to
Baltimore.
From there they proceeded to Philadelphia, where they arrived August
5th. The following day (Sunday) they met about three hundred Saints
in conference. Elder Jedediah M. Grant was also present and opened
the conference by prayer. President Young, Orson Pratt, and George A.
Smith occupied the principal part of the time in both of the meetings,
afternoon and evening. In the forenoon Elder Woodruff accompanied
President Young and others to hear the Reverend Mr. Litz, the Millerite
preacher. The reverend gentleman strongly contended that the Jews would
never be restored to the land of Palestine or be gathered together.
{191} On the 8th the Twelve took a steamboat excursion, and while
thus riding for their enjoyment, a number of subjects came up for
discussion. Among others the question: "Is the prosperity of any
religious denomination a positive evidence of the truth of its
contention?" John E. Page took the affirmative, and Elder J.M. Grant
the negative. President Young, who was chairman, decided in favor of
the negative.
During the stay of the Twelve in this historic city, Elder Woodruff was
very active in visiting the Saints, strengthening them in their faith
and laying before them the purpose of their mission. At intervals in
his labors he occupied himself in gathering a great variety of useful
information within his reach. His journal is, indeed, an interesting
history of the places visited by him in those early days. He speaks
of the visit of himself, Elders Young, Pratt, Smoot, and Hessy to
the state house, also of his visit to Independence Hall. "We saw,"
he remarks, "the room where the patriots signed the Declaration of
Independence. We sat in the chair occupied by John Hancock when he
signed that immortal instrument."
On the 14th, Elders Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, and William
Muir parted with the Saints in Philadelphia and went by steamer to
Schuylkill, then walked six miles to a Mr. Mosley's, where they
preached in the evening. For several days Elder Woodruff traveled and
preached in various neighborhoods of that vicinity. He visited the
scene of the Battle of Brandywine.
On the 21st the party returned to Philadelphia, where they learned that
the other apostles had gone on to New York. They remained two days,
then followed their companions. In New York they held a conference on
August 26th and 27th. At this conference many questions which are well
understood doctrines of the Church were commented upon in such a manner
as to show that they were not plain to the missionaries of those early
days, a fact, no doubt, due to the traditions and religious teachings
which men of those times brought with them into the Church. Among other
things, the question was asked whether a man could be deprived of his
priesthood and still retain his standing in the Church. President Young
answered decidedly, "No."
On the 29th of that month Elder Woodruff went to Boston {192} with
Elders Davis and Wandell. This afforded him an opportunity to visit his
father and family in his old home at Farmington, Connecticut. On the
9th of September, after reaching Boston, he, with six other members of
the Twelve; namely, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt,
Orson Pratt, John E. Page, and George A. Smith, held conference in
Boylston Hall. From his notes the following is taken: "President Young
said: 'The spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a gathering spirit, and
its tendency is to gather the virtuous and good, the honest and meek of
the earth, in other words the Saints of God. Now is the set time for
the Lord to redeem Israel. He does not require every soul to leave his
home as soon as he believes, but requires him to hearken to counsel
and follow the counsel which the Lord points out to him. You say the
Lord may save us as well where we are. Yes, if the Lord says so, but
when He commands us to gather and we do not do it, He will not save us.
You might have been baptized seventy times in any other way than that
ordained of God and you would not have received the Holy Ghost. Can
you get an endowment in Boston? No, only in that place which God has
appointed. If you do not help to build the Temple and the Nauvoo House,
if you do not help to build up Zion and the cause of God, you will not
inherit the land of Zion. Be faithful or you will not be chosen; for
the day of choosing is at the door. Why be afraid of sacrifice? I have
given my all many times and would be willing to do so again. I would
be glad to hear the Lord say to His servant Joseph, "Let my servant
Brigham give all he has." I would obey in a moment if it took the last
coat from my back.'"
From a discourse of Heber C. Kimball the following is taken: "We do not
profess to be polished stones like some of the elders. The more we roll
through the forests and get the corners knocked off the better we are.
If we were polished and smooth it would deface us to have the surface
chipped off. This is the case with Joseph Smith, he never professed to
be smooth and polished. Rolling around among the rocks has not hurt him
at all, but in the end he will be as polished as any stone, while many
who were so very polished in the beginning will become badly defaced."
"Do the Saints of Boston know," said Parley P. Pratt, "that they are
identified in laying the foundation of so great and mighty {193} a
work that it will include all the great and glorious purposes of God
which are to be fulfilled in the dispensation of the fullness of times?
Millions will yet celebrate the day when the foundation of this work
was laid."
The Twelve little dreamed that when they would meet again in Boston
it would be on the sad 27th day of June, when the Prophet and the
Patriarch would be called upon to lay down their lives at the hands of
a murderous mob.
On the 12th Elder Woodruff left for Portland, Maine. The express
train conveying him to his destination was thrown from the track. The
engineer was killed and a lady passenger bruised; all the rest escaped
in a marvelous manner. From Maine Elder Woodruff wrote an account of
the wreck to the "Boston Bee" as well as to the "Times and Seasons" in
Nauvoo. He occupied some several days in visiting his wife's father,
Ezra Carter, and the family of Arthur and Lucy Milliken, the latter
being the youngest sister of the Prophet Joseph.
After his visit he returned to Boston, where he again joined the
members of this quorum. While there he and several members of the
Twelve were examined phrenologically by the noted Professor O. S.
Fowler. From his chart we take the following character delineation of
President Woodruff:
PHRENOLOGICAL CHART.
_"Wilford Woodruff:_ Is a man of great action, both physical and
mental; does up things in a hurry; lets nothing sleep in his hands;
great resolution; steamboat speed; loves his liberty; is not
disposed to be subject to the will or dictation of others; has great
independence; difficulties only stimulate him to increased action;
goes in for the largest liberty of the mass and is a democrat of the
old school; prefers utility to beauty and substance to show; highly
social and fond of family and friends; has but few secrets of his own
and tells the plain, unvarnished facts; fears but little danger; is
not irresolute, but decides and proceeds at once to action; his first
thoughts are always his best; he does his own religious thinking and
does not hang his hopes upon the faith of others. He believes but
little without proof; is a two edged sword--if he does not cut one way,
does another. He makes positive {194} friends or positive enemies--has
much severity; is sarcastic; bitter in reproaches; means to do right;
fears the force of moral obligations. His jokes have more vinegar than
molasses in them. He recollects and explains facts well; reasons by
inference from the facts, by analogy and induction; has good talking
talents, and is noted for his clear illustrations.
"Boston, September the 20th, 1843.
"(Signed) O. S. FOWLER.
"B. J. GRAY, Secretary."
Soon after this the Twelve began their return to Nauvoo. They met
in Philadelphia, and on the 5th of October continued their journey
homeward. The same day a large company of Saints left by rail to gather
with the Saints in Illinois. On the 19th they crossed the Alleghanies
by means of an incline which hoisted the car, passengers, and freight
from one elevator to another until the summit, nearly fifteen hundred
feet above, was reached. They were let down on the other side in the
same manner. In those days this was a novel contrivance, and the
mechanism employed not being so perfect as that of today was attended
with many dangers. "The whole passage across the mountains was a
constant scene of danger, and I called upon God in my heart to preserve
our lives. Even while on the level we were running on the edge of a
precipice a hundred feet above the bottom of a chasm. In conversation
with a mate in the evening upon the subject of our passage across the
mountains, he said that we were not aware of one-half the dangers we
had encountered."
At Pittsburg Elder Woodruff took passage for St. Louis and thence up
the river to Nauvoo, which he reached November 4th. On the 7th he met
in council with the Twelve. He was appointed to raise five hundred
dollars for the purchase of paper upon which to print the "Doctrine and
Covenants." On the 11th President Hyrum Smith sealed Wilford Woodruff
and Phoebe Woodruff for time and eternity according to the patriarchal
order of marriage which had previously been revealed to the Prophet
Joseph Smith.
About this time the Prophet delivered a strong discourse on the sin
of adultery and kindred crimes. The discourse was the result of the
action taken in the case of John C. Bennett, who, with {195} other
prominent men, had been adjudged guilty of adultery. The Saints were
warned against such crimes. The Prophet thought that the example made
of John C. Bennett and others was sufficient to show the fallacy of
those who advocated or justified such a course. He condemned adultery
in unqualified terms and warned those present against its commission.
It was also about this time that General Fryeson came to Nauvoo and met
with the Prophet and Twelve to arrange for a memorial to congress in
behalf of the Latter-day Saints. Affidavits on the Missouri atrocities
were given by Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, P. P. Pratt, Lyman Wight,
George W. Pitkin, and Sidney Rigdon.
Trouble was again fomented about this time by the Missourians. A
messenger had just arrived from St. Louis informing the brethren
that the governor of Missouri had issued another requisition for the
Prophet. Joseph had just made a touching appeal to the Green Mountain
boys of Vermont, his native state, for assistance in obtaining
redress for the wrongs heaped upon the Saints in Missouri. The appeal
was published in pamphlet form and sent to the authorities of the
government in Washington. A few days later a man named Elliot was
arrested and proven guilty of kidnapping brethren and of threatening
the life of the Prophet. Notwithstanding the guilt of this man, Joseph
forgave him, and he subsequently left in peace. A warrant was also
issued for the arrest of Colonel Williams, the leader of the kidnapping
party. He, however, gathered a mob and resisted the officers.
December 2nd on the Sabbath morning P. P. Pratt, Orson Hyde, Wilford
Woodruff, and Orson Spencer received their anointings; and on December
23rd they met in Joseph Smith's home, where endowments were given to
Elder Marley and wife, Orson Pratt, Mrs. Lot, Fanny Murray, Phoebe
Woodruff, Bathsheba Smith, Sister Orson Spencer, and Sister Phelps.
Christmas day of 1843 was spent by Elder Woodruff with his old-time
friend, A. O. Smoot. They paid a visit to the Saints who had come from
Tennessee to Nauvoo. Part of that day Elder Woodruff worked upon his
house and discharged many duties of a home nature. Thus another year
in his life was closed. During 1843 he had traveled in thirteen states
over five thousand {196} miles, held many meetings, baptized a half
dozen persons, reported several sermons, endured a severe sickness,
encountered dangers by rail and by water, and closed an eventful year
with feelings of gratitude, and with the fullest recognition of God's
tender mercies in his behalf.
{197}