THE YEARS, 1852, '53, '54.
Discourse of Brigham Young on Sin.--The Descendants of Cain.--Edward
Hunter Chosen Presiding Bishop.--Parowan Stake Organized.--David
Patten.--Talk on Dancing.--Death of Willard Richards.--Jedediah M.
Grant Chosen Counselor to Brigham Young.--Journey South.--Walker, the
Indian Chief.--John Smith, Son of Hyrum Smith, Called To Be the Head
Patriarch of the Church.--Visit North.--Legislature.--Philosophical
Society.
The beginning of the year 1852 found Elder Woodruff actively engaged
in the legislative business of the new Territory. There was much to
be done. The foundation of a new commonwealth was being laid, and the
principles of civil government were emphasized and kept separate from
the religious organization. About three years and a half had elapsed
since the pioneers entered Salt Lake Valley. In 1852 the census
showed that there were all told in Utah, 11,354 souls. Counties were
established with proper organizations, and judges appointed for the
administration of laws therein.
Elder Woodruff kept in his journals the civil and religious movements
of those early days. Extracts from prominent sermons were written,
especially those delivered by President Young. The following is a
partial extract of a discourse by him on the subject of Sin. "If you
sin against God, go to Him for forgiveness, if that sin is not unto
death. There is a sin unto death which we are told we need not pray
to have forgiven. If you sin against your brother, go to him for
forgiveness. Ask forgiveness at the hands of the innocent. If you sin
against your family, your parents, your husband, your wife, or your
children, seek forgiveness at their hands; for what is done in secret,
He will forgive in secret. In seeking forgiveness for sins that are
secret, go no farther than is necessary to be forgiven of God. But
where sins are committed openly, forgiveness should be sought openly."
The Saints had not forgotten the troubles which their shortcomings and
neglect of the things of God had brought upon them in days gone by.
The leaders understood very well the necessity {351} of avoiding the
troubles of the past by keeping themselves in harmony with God's will.
They knew that sin meant trouble not only for the individual but for
the Church. The authorities felt that if the people could be kept from
sin there would be love and union and prosperity in the new homes which
they were establishing in the Rocky Mountains.
The attitude of the Saints on the question of slavery had been a source
of trouble to them in Missouri. There was naturally throughout the
United States some interest in the position which the new Territory
should take upon that question. In those days the influence of the
South was predominant, and the pro-slavery party was asserting itself
wherever possible. The lines were drawn more distinctly between the pro
and anti-slavery communities. In those days men might have regarded
it as good policy to keep friends with the South and the democratic
party. To be pronounced for or against slavery was sure to invite the
opposition of the North or of the South.
President Young felt it, however, to be his duty to make plain the
attitude of the Mormon people in Utah on the subject. In an address
to the legislature he said: "The Lord said I will not kill Cain, but
I will put a mark upon him, and that mark will be seen upon the face
of every negro upon the face of the earth; and it is the decree of
God that that mark shall remain upon the seed of Cain until the seed
of Abel shall be redeemed, and Cain shall not receive the priesthood,
until the time of that redemption. Any man having one drop of the seed
of Cain in him cannot receive the priesthood; but the day will come
when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which
we now have. I am opposed to the present system of slavery."
Elder Woodruff writes extensively in his journal of the teachings of
the President. In one of his discourses the Prophet declares that God
has passed through all the trials and experiences that we have, and the
Savior likewise. On another occasion, he speaks of the responsibilities
of parents; the desirability of a prayerful spirit that they may not
only receive the noble spirits from the spirit world, but that they may
enjoy the influence of the Holy Ghost which should be the inheritance
of every child born into the world.
From a report of the tithing in those days it also appears {352} that
from October 1848 to April 1852, there was paid in, $353,755.69, a
creditable showing when the hardships of those times and the limited
numbers of Saints are taken into consideration.
It was at this conference, April 1852, that Edward Hunter was chosen
and set apart as the Presiding Bishop of the Church. Many people will
remember the quaint words and sayings of Edward Hunter. When asked to
select his counselors, on that occasion, he arose and said: "I select
for my counselors Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball."
On the 23rd of April, 1852, Wilford Woodruff accompanied the First
Presidency on a tour through the southern settlements as far south
as Cedar City, which they had visited once before. On this trip they
organized the Iron Company for the purpose of developing the iron
deposits of that region. The rodometer showed the distance from Salt
Lake to Cedar via Sanpete Valley to be 314 1/2 miles. It was on this
visit that the Parowan Stake was organized, with John L. Smith as
president, John Steele as first, and Henry Lunt as second counselor.
On the 28th of August, 1852, a special conference was held and about
one hundred missionaries were called to Europe and other parts of
the world. The following October witnessed the call of still other
missionaries. In speaking of their blessings President Woodruff
said: "The spirit and power of God rested upon us in a great degree.
The heavens were opened, and our minds were filled with visions,
revelations, and prophecy, while we sealed great blessings upon the
heads of the elders and foretold what would befall them by sea and by
land; that they would do a great work and gather many Saints and much
wealth to Zion."
Before the close of the year, there were special meetings of the
Council of the Twelve in which the importance of keeping a history
of the Twelve was emphasized, and Elder Woodruff was at that time
appointed to write a history of his Quorum. Speaking of the Twelve at
this time he says: "There has not been a death in the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles except that of David Patten, who fell a martyr to his
religion, according to the special request he made of the Lord that he
might die that death. I lament the fact that David Patten did not leave
a record of his life, for he was a true prophet, an apostle, and a fine
man. Many {353} miracles were wrought by him. He once told a rich man
in Tennessee who fought the work of God, that he and his family would
yet beg for their bread. Robert C. Petty saw that same man cry at a
blacksmith shop because the blacksmith would not sharpen his plough on
credit."
Speaking upon the principle of writing a history he said that since
he had been a member of the Church he had been inspired to write not
only of his own acts and life but to write the sermons, teachings, and
prophecies of the Prophet Joseph, President Young, and Council of the
Twelve Apostles as far as he was acquainted with their labors.
When the new year of 1853 opened Wilford Woodruff gave expression to
those noble inspirations which characterized his life. In his journal
he writes: "A new year in a new era! How time flies, and how wonderful,
how magnificent are the events which are borne upon its wings! It is
the opening of a dispensation that includes all other dispensations
since the world began. The events of the one thousand years past pale
into insignificance compared with the work of the present time."
On New Year's day Wilford Woodruff, with other members of his Quorum,
all being present, except Orson Pratt, marched in a body to the homes
of Presidents Young, Kimball, and Richards, and to the home of Father
John Smith, the patriarch, in the order named and with loving respect
wished them a happy and prosperous New Year. Each of the Presidency
and Father Smith pronounced their blessings, and in return the Twelve
blessed them. In the evening of that day, the Presidency and the Twelve
dedicated the Social Hall for social purposes, and with about two
hundred of the Saints joined in a dance with praise and thanksgiving to
the Lord.
The 14th of February, 1853, witnessed the dedication of the site of the
Salt Lake Temple. The Presidency and the Twelve broke the ground with
a pick. It was an occasion of great joy among the Saints, as a temple
meant so much to their hopes and faith. On April the 6th, the four
corner-stones were dedicated, and speeches were delivered. Forty years
thereafter, Wilford Woodruff, more than 86 years of age, presided at
its completion and dedication.
On the 25th of August Elder Woodruff went with members {354} of the
Twelve to locate a new Weber settlement. The people there were growing
dissatisfied and changed their location several times. At the October
conference, following, Wilford Woodruff and Ezra T. Benson were
appointed to select fifty families to settle in Tooele Valley. The work
in that valley engaged his time largely during the remainder of the
year until the 12th of December, when he again took up his work in the
House of Representatives.
The new year of 1854 dawned upon the Sabbath day. In the afternoon the
Saints were addressed by Apostle Woodruff. On the evening of the 2nd
there was a dancing party given in the Social Hall. The parties there
were attended by the leaders, and an effort was made to give to those
occasions an innocent joy and a high social quality that would uplift
the dance and make it a suitable place for Saints, and not allow it
to be the exclusive pastime of the sinners. In those early days there
was a much greater opposition on the part of the different religious
denominations of the world than there is today. This practice, from the
outset among the Latter-day Saints of taking their religion with them
into the social life was one of the alleged faults which the religious
world condemned. In those times when there were so many difficulties,
so many hardships different from those which the people had to
encounter in the East, the dance was about the only sort of amusement
which the Saints could enjoy.
The following are the words of President Young which give his views of
the ball room, and which he gave on the evening of the 2nd: "I consider
this a suitable place to give some instructions. The world considers it
very wicked for a Christian to hear music and to dance. Many preachers
say that fiddling and music come from hell, but I say there is no
fiddling, there is no music in hell. Music belongs to heaven, to cheer
God, angels, and men. If we could hear the music there is in heaven, it
would overwhelm us mortals. Music and dancing are for the benefit of
holy ones, and all those who come here to-night who are not holy and
righteous and do not worship God have no right to come here."
Men and women were taught that in all they did on the week day as upon
the Sabbath they should honor God. If, {355} later on, excesses in
dancing and its improper practice were corrected by a Prophet of God,
John Taylor, it was because of the excesses and the improprieties of
certain classes, and not because of the ball room itself. To him, there
was great objection in permitting the dance room to become a financial
scheme.
In the year of 1854 President Willard Richards was suffering from
palsy, and the attention which he received at the hands of Elder
Woodruff was characteristic of the latter's tender regard and loving
administration for those whom he esteemed. Besides giving his attention
to the sick, he also began the work of teaching and preparing the young
men for their duties in the office of the lesser priesthood. He was
especially solicitous of the training of his young sons, especially
Wilford junior.
Those were days of extreme sociability and neighborly love. In his
journal Elder Woodruff writes of a visit to his home of Ann Whitney and
Eliza R. Snow: "I read over several of the old sermons of Joseph that
were not recorded anywhere except in my journal. We passed a pleasant
evening together, and before they left they sang in tongues in the pure
language which Adam and Eve spoke in the Garden of Eden. This gift
was obtained in the Kirtland Temple through a promise of the Prophet
Joseph Smith. He told Sister Whitney if she would rise upon her feet
she should have the pure language. She did so, and immediately began to
sing in tongues. It was nearer to heavenly music than anything I ever
heard." This beautiful gift Sister Whitney retained throughout her life
time, and upon appropriate occasions exercised it to the edification
and joy of the Saints.
In those days Elder Woodruff found some time in the midst of public
duties to devote to the reading of good books, among them was the first
volume of the life of Benjamin Franklin, and into his journal he copied
Franklin's rules of perfection. Whatever was high-minded, choice, or of
value as discipline, Wilford Woodruff cherished.
On the 11th of January of that year President Willard Richards died.
He had been a sufferer for many years, but through faith his life had
been prolonged. Of him Elder Woodruff writes: "He is the first of the
Twelve or of our Presidency who has died in the faith a natural death.
All who have gone before in full fellowship have died martyrs." He and
President {356} Richards had formed a strong attachment for each other,
and they had traveled together quite extensively in their missionary
labors and pioneer work. At the time of President Richard's death,
President Young was too ill to attend the funeral.
The following month of March Elder Woodruff visited Tooele City,
Grantsville, and other places in Tooele Valley, the colonization of
which had been largely intrusted to himself and Elders Benson and
Maughan.
On the 27th of that month, he returned to Salt Lake City and met with
the Twelve at his home. Here, the missionaries who were going to
England had been set apart, and Franklin D. Richards was called to
preside over the European mission.
The April conference which followed was one of considerable importance.
It became necessary to select someone to fill the place made vacant
by the death of Willard Richards. President Young asked the Twelve to
suggest some man for the place, but they considered it his privilege
to choose his own counselor, and so informed him, at the same time
promising to endorse his selection. When the authorities were
sustained, Jedediah M. Grant was taken into the First Presidency of the
Church. He had been a faithful and distinguished elder, and was loved
by all the Saints.
It was at this conference that the question of Consecration was
presented. Speaking of that subject, President Kimball said: "I want
all I have to be secured in the Kingdom of God." They knew the dangers
and temptations of wealth, the selfishness which it begets, as well as
its destruction of brotherly love.
At the same conference, President Kimball spoke on Plural Marriage and
declared its divine origin. "Many of you have fought it," he said,
"you may continue to fight it until you go down into your graves, and
it will still continue to be the work of God, and will still continue
through all Eternity."
At that time Elder Parley P. Pratt was appointed to establish a stake
of the Church at Horner's ranch in California. Erastus Snow was called
on a mission to St. Louis, and Orson Pratt to Cincinnati. Joseph F.
Smith, then a boy less than 16 years of age, was called upon his first
mission to the Sandwich Islands.
On the 3rd of May, a party of the leaders, of which Elder Woodruff was
one, started on a tour of the southern settlements. {357} Their first
day's drive was to Union Ward, where the Saints had been counseled to
build their homes within a fort, as a protection against the Indians.
It appears that to some extent this counsel had been ignored by the
people there. In speaking of that fact President Young said: "I am
responsible for the counsel I give. If you want to know any more
concerning it--do right; pray to the Lord, that you may have His mind
revealed and may understand the truth and know for yourselves what lies
before you--then you will not question these things, but will go to
work and do them with all your might."
In those days there was a special anxiety to protect the people, who
were scattering out to form new settlements, against the attacks of the
Indians. The people noted the special supervision of their leaders who
were constantly directing the settlements which were in time to come to
be the strongholds of the Latter-day Saints. Every detail was thought
out, and nothing escaped the vigilant watch-care of their Prophet. In
his journal Elder Woodruff recorded the remarks of President Young
spoken to the people of Pleasant Grove: "Your stacks are so placed that
one Indian could fire the whole place, and others could shoot you down.
While you were fighting the fire they could kill every man, woman, and
child in this place."
The party continued the journey from here to Provo, Springville, and
Payson. When they reached Payson they were approaching the Indian
country, and the Indian question was discussed. President Young
counseled the Saints to feed the Indians and treat them kindly. When
the company reached a place about fifteen miles south of Payson an
organization was effected: Robert T. Burton was made captain of the
guard; W. Woodruff, historian; Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor,
chaplains; Edward Hunter, chief bishop; and Dr. Sprague, physician and
surgeon.
After leaving Nephi, Elder Woodruff makes this interesting record:
"The next day, May 11th, we rode to Chicken Creek and spent the night
near Walker and his band. President Young and council tried to talk
with him, but he was sulky and not disposed to talk. When we first
formed our corral within forty rods of his camp, he gathered all of his
warriors and made quite a display, but we did not go to meet them, so
they turned their horses out and went to their tents.
{358} "When we called upon Walker, he lay down in the dirt and was
averse to talking. Brother Young manifested great patience even when
almost any other man would have been exhausted. He went to him and
lifted him out of the dirt and finally drew from him a conversation.
Walker said he had no spirit, he had no heart, he did not wish to
talk. 'I want to sit still and hear President Young and others talk.'
President Young gave him some tobacco. The chief said when he had
plenty of tobacco all his friends would come and smoke with him, but
when he had no tobacco they would stay away from him. President Young
then said: 'I have brought some beef cattle for you. I want one killed
so you can have a feast while we are here.' Walker then wanted the
Mormons to sing before the parties took a smoke. The chief said, 'Ezra
T. Benson came, and his heart was good. Diminick Huntington came, and
his heart was running.' We then sang, and when this was done Walker
said, 'I have not got the spirit of the Lord. If there is anyone here
who can give me the spirit of the Lord I wish he would do it.' Speaking
further, the old chief said, 'White people in heaven are happy.' An
Indian by the name of Tulpidge then spoke amid much crying and tears.
He was the Indian who had his wife killed. He said Diminick Huntington
had been good to him, and he had not seen him since his child's death.
He said: 'We now have good hearts and the Mormons who are now here have
good hearts. We can lie down in peace without fear, and I want to live
in friendship with this people.'
"We now left the Indian camp and returned to our wagons, but President
Young had another talk with Walker the same day. On the following day
we again visited Walker's tent, but the chief was still sulky and would
not talk. He left his tent and went into the willows while the others
talked. The Indians had a sick child which they wished the elders to
administer to. President Kimball with Elders Benson and Wells did so,
and Dr. Sprague left some medicine for the child and for others who
were sick. The Indian said if his sick child died he would have to
kill an Indian child or a Mormon child to go with it--this is their
tradition. The interpreter told him he must not do it as that was
wrong; that when a Mormon child died we did not kill another to go with
it and they must not do it. The Indian said that {359} if the child got
well, he would go with us. He said Walker was a great chief, and that
President Young was a great chief.
"Peteetnet spoke and said they would be good and not steal, neither
would they kill anybody, and that anyone could go alone and not be
killed. Walker wished President Young to write a letter that he might
show to the people and let them know that we were at peace with each
other. This, President Young did. Dr. Sprague gave them some medicine,
and after a talk of peace and good will from the old chief we shook
hands and smoked the pipe of peace. Walker received his presents. We
killed a beef and made a great feast for the Indians. They traded
blankets for horses and bought two Indians who were prisoners. After
making peace we left them and rode on to Sevier River. Walker,
Squashead, and many others went with us and spent the night on the
Sevier. We made a raft and took our wagons over in an hour and a half.
Next day we reached Fillmore, a distance of thirty-five miles."
From Fillmore the party passed through Beaver and Parowan to Cedar
City. Here they visited the Iron Works and saw some of the products.
Erastus Snow was present and explained to them the difficulties to
be contended with in the manufacture of iron, as they were so far
from railroads. During this trip the company visited Harmony and then
returned to the North, reaching Salt Lake the 30th of the month, having
traveled a distance of 574 miles.
June the 27th, 1854, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and
Hyrum, was observed. The Church held a general conference, according to
previous appointment. Elder John Taylor was called on a mission to New
York, while other elders were called to different parts of the world.
John Smith, son of Hyrum Smith, was on that day called to the position
of presiding patriarch of the Church. He was the fourth to occupy that
place in this dispensation.
During those busy times of travel and teaching, Elder Woodruff also
found time to farm his land. He records that on that year he raised 369
bushels of wheat, 400 bushels of potatoes and 200 bushels of corn.
On November 27th, he set out upon a visit to the settlements in the
north. On the 2nd of December, he paid his first visit to Ogden,
where he found a large colony of Saints on the east side {360} of the
Weber River. Here he counseled the people respecting the payment of
their tithing, the Poor Fund, the establishment of schools, also the
building of a wall around the city for protection against attacks by
the Indians. At this time he also visited North Ogden, then called
Ogden Hole, seven miles north of Ogden City. It was at that time one of
the most flourishing settlements north of Salt Lake City. There were
forty-seven families and a school with fifty pupils. The people here
raised in 1854, 16,000 bushels of wheat.
On the 4th of December, Elder Woodruff visited Willow Creek, now
Willard. From there he went to Box Elder, later known as Brigham City,
which was then chiefly settled by Saints from Scandinavia and Wales.
Returning, he reached home December 9th. On the next day he listened to
Charles C. Rich, who gave an account of the rise and progress of the
settlement of the Saints in San Bernardino.
On the 11th of December the legislature met. The Council then consisted
of four members: Heber C. Kimball, Daniel H. Wells, Orson Pratt, and
Wilford Woodruff. The House had nine members: Albert Carrington,
Leonard E. Harrington, Aaron Johnson, Isaac Morley, John A. Ray, Geo.
A. Smith, Lorin Farr, and Erastus Bingham. At that time there were only
seven counties, viz., Salt Lake, San Pete, Millard, Iron, Davis, and
Weber.
On Christmas day of that year, there was some excitement created by a
drunken brawl among the soldiers who were quartered in the heart of
the city. Some of the citizens became mixed up with it. Some of the
soldiers fired upon the people who threw stones at them. The officers,
however, with the aid of the marshal and mayor restored peace. In the
evening, Col. Steptoe and Judge Kinney gave a ball and invited the
Presidency and Twelve. Of the occasion Brother Woodruff writes: "It was
a splendid affair. We had a good supper and a splendid dance."
In order to give some intellectual pastime, a Philosophical Society was
organized to which the leaders gave special attention and encouragement
to those who were anxious to improve their minds.
Closing his journal for that year Elder Woodruff notes that he traveled
over 1,800 miles, attended 47 meetings, and preached 44 discourses. He
also attended two general conferences, and passed twenty days in the
legislature.
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