Lorenzo a Bachelor.--The Prophet instructs him.--He changes
tactics.--Marries.--Wives and Endowments.--In the Temple.--Wrath
of our Enemies.--Expulsion of the Saints.--Cross the Mississippi
River.--Intensely cold.--Snow storm.--Outfit.--Camp organized.--Moves
forward.--Song No. 1.--Song No. 2.
Up to this time my brother lived a bachelor. The great work in which he
was engaged as a missionary of the Gospel of salvation to the nations
of the earth, had so engrossed his mind and engaged the energies of his
soul, that virtually he had ignored the first commandment to "multiply
and replenish the earth." To devote his time, his talents, his all to
the ministry was his all-absorbing desire; and in consonance with this
desire, he had cherished the idea that domestic responsibility would
lessen his usefulness; and, until the law of Celestial Marriage was
fully explained to him by the Prophet Joseph Smith, in a prolonged
interview while the two were seated alone on the bank of the
Mississippi river, as before related, he had not conceived the idea
that marriage was one of the _duties_ of the great mission of mortal
life.
With him, this, as well as every other practical doctrine, was only
to be understood to be obeyed. It is one of his peculiarities to do
nothing by halves; and when convinced of the duty of marriage, and that
it was a privilege accorded him in connection with his ministerial
calling, he entered into it on an enlarged scale, by having two wives
sealed to him in the holy bonds of matrimony, for time and eternity,
at the same time; and not long after, another was added to the number,
and then another. Thus, all at once, as it were, from the lone
bachelor he was transformed into a husband invested with many domestic
responsibilities. Probably a realizing sense of the fact that he had
arrived at the mature age of thirty-one years in celibacy, suggested
to him the propriety of making up for lost time by more than ordinary
effort, and out of the old beaten track.
Previous to the administration of those sacred sealing ordinances, he
explained to each of the chosen ones the law, obligations and object of
Celestial Marriage, and that he might be expected to take others--that
the ceremony being precisely the same for each, they would all occupy
the same equal position, no one having a higher claim than another.
It was distinctly understood and agreed between them that their
marriage relations should not, for the time being, be divulged to
the world; but if circumstances should be such that he would wish to
acknowledge as wife, before the world, either one of them, he should be
permitted to do so.
Early in the winter of 1845-6, the Nauvoo Temple was so far completed
that the administration of the sacred ordinances of the Holy
Priesthood was commenced, and continued until about the first of
February--thousands of the Saints receiving endowments and sealings. My
brother and his wives, among the number, had their washings, anointings
and endowments, and were sealed at a holy altar, a privilege and
blessing which they estimated above all earthly honors. When Lorenzo
walked across the inner court of the Temple proceeding to the altar,
accompanied by his four wives, all stately appearing ladies, one of the
Temple officiates exclaimed, "_And his train filled the Temple_!"
The wrath and bloodthirsty spirit of our enemies, sustained and
encouraged by State authority, at this time predominated to that degree
that the labors in the Temple were closed, and the energies of the
Saints directed towards a hasty flight, to avoid impending extirpation.
Time and circumstances admitted of very little, and in many instances,
no preparation for a journey of an indefinite length; and to what point
we did not know, but _go we must_.
I crossed the Mississippi river on the 12th of February; my brother,
with a portion of his family, a few days later, after having made the
necessary arrangements for the others to follow. On the day in which
he crossed the river, the Nauvoo Temple took fire, but fortunately the
fire was extinguished before much damage was sustained.
We camped near the bank of the river, in a small grove. We were poorly
prepared for the journey before us, especially at this season of the
year. A heavy snowstorm occurred, after which the weather turned
intensely cold, and caused considerable suffering. My brother had two
wagons and a small tent, one cow and a scanty supply of provisions and
clothing, and yet was much better off than some of our neighbors in our
general encampment.
On the 7th of February, 1846, Brigham Young, our great leader under
God, organized the Camp in order for traveling. Lorenzo was, at this
time or soon after, appointed captain over the ten in which Parley P.
and Orson Pratt and their families were included. On the first day of
March, the ground covered with snow, we broke encampment about noon,
and soon nearly four hundred wagons were moving to--_we knew not where_.
As applicable to the circumstances, I here insert two poems which I
wrote in Camp:
CAMP OF ISRAEL.
No. 1.
Although in woods and tents we dwell,
Shout! shout! O Camp of Israel:
No "Christian" mobs on earth can bind
Our thoughts, or steal our peace of mind.
CHORUS.
Though we fly from vile aggression,
We'll maintain our pure profession--
Seek a peaceable possession,
Far from Gentiles and oppression.
We'd better live in tents and smoke,
Than wear the cursed Gentile yoke;
We'd better from our country fly,
Than by mobocracy to die.
CHORUS.--Though we fly, etc.
We've left the City of Nauvoo,
And our beloved Temple too;
And to the wilderness we go,
Amid the winter frosts and snow.
CHORUS.
Our homes were dear--we loved them well--
Beneath our roofs we fain would dwell,
And honor our great God's commands,
By mutual rights of Christian lands.
CHORUS.
Our persecutors will not cease
Their murd'rous spoiling of our peace,
And have decreed that we shall go
To wilds where reeds and rushes grow.
CHORUS.
The Camp, the Camp--its numbers swell--
Shout! shout! O Camp of Israel!
The King, the Lord of hosts is near,
His armies guard our front and rear.
CHORUS.
West side of the Mississippi, Feb. 19th, 1846.
CAMP OF ISRAEL.
No. 2.
Lo, a mighty host of Jacob,
Tented on the western shore
Of the noble Mississippi,
They had crossed, to cross no more.
At the last day-dawn of winter,
Bound with frost and wrapped in snow;
Hark! the cry is "Onward, onward!
Camp of Israel, rise and go."
All at once is life and motion--
Trunks, and beds, and baggage fly;
Oxen yoked, and horses harnessed,
Tents rolled up and passing by:
Soon the carriage wheels are moving,
Onward to a woodland dell,
Where at sunset all are quartered--
Camp of Israel, all is well.
Thickly 'round the tents are clustered,
Neighb'ring smokes together blend;
Supper served, the hymns are chanted,
And the evening prayers ascend.
Last of all the guards are stationed--
Heavens! must guards be serving here?
Who would harm the houseless exiles?
Camp of Israel, never fear.
Where is Freedom? Where is Justice?
Both have from this nation fled;
And the blood of martyred Prophets
Must be answered on it's head!
Therefore, to your tents, O Jacob!
Like our Father Abra'm dwell;
God will execute His purpose--
Camp of Israel, all is well.
March 1st, 1846.