REMOVAL TO KIRTLAND--WORK UPON THE TEMPLE--A
LESSON--SICKNESS--PRONOUNCED INCURABLE BY DOCTORS--HEALED IN ANSWER
TO PRAYER--CURED OF LAMENESS--REMOVAL TO MISSOURI--COMMENCEMENT OF
HOSTILITIES--SURROUNDED BY A MOB--FACE DEATH--RESCUED.
In March, 1833, I removed to Kirtland. The Kirtland Temple committee
was appointed June 6th, 1833. About that time, I took with my team
Brothers Hyrum and Joseph Smith, Reynolds Cahoon and my brother
Brigham, to look at a stone quarry, and see if the rock was suitable
for the walls of the temple. It was decided that it would do, and a
part of a load was put on the wagon. We all returned to town, and the
rock was unloaded on the temple ground. As near as I recollect, this
was the first rock hauled for that building.
From that time I worked with the brethren, as occasion required, until
the temple was completed. On the 17th of February, 1834, those holding
the Priesthood were called together to organize a High Council. I was
one of the number. On that occasion I committed a great error. That
it may be a lesson for others, is my reason for relating it here. The
Prophet requested me to take a seat with other brethren who had been
selected for this Council.
Instead of doing as requested, I arose and plead my inability to
fill so responsible a position, manifesting, I think, considerable
earnestness in the matter. The Prophet then said that he really desired
that I should take the place.
Still excusing myself, he appointed another to fill it. I think this
was the reason the Prophet never again called me to fill any important
position in the Priesthood during his life.
I have since learned to go where I am called, and not set up my
judgment against that of those who are called to lead in this kingdom.
When the temple was enclosed, in a meeting of the brethren, called to
consult about its completion, the Prophet desired that a hard finish
be put on its outside walls. None of the masons who had worked on the
building knew how to do it. Looking around on the brethren, his eyes
rested upon me; he said, "Brother Lorenzo. I want you to take hold and
get this finish on the walls. Will you do it?"
"Yes;" I replied; "I will try." The following day, with horse and buggy
I went to Cleveland, twenty-two miles, determined, if possible, to
find a man who understood the business of putting a hard finish on the
walls. I had been there but a short time, inquiring after such a man,
when I met a young man who said he understood the business, had just
completed a job, and wanted another. I employed him at once, put him
and his tools into the buggy, and returned to Kirtland.
We soon had the materials and fixtures on hand to make the mortar. In a
short time the finish was being put upon the walls.
I made a suitable tool and, before the mortar was dry, I marked off the
walls into blocks in imitation of regular stone work. When the finish
was on I commenced penciling.
It was then the last of November, and the weather daily grew colder. A
Brother Stillman assisted me a day or two, but said that he could not
stand the cold, and quit the work.
I continued, day after day, determined, if possible, to complete the
job. When I got badly chilled I went into my house, warmed myself and
returned again to the work.
I completed the task in the fore part of December, but was sick the
last two days. I had caught a bad cold, had a very severe cough, and,
in a few days was confined to my bed.
My disease was pronounced to be the quick consumption. I sank rapidly
for six or seven weeks. For two weeks I was unable to talk. Dr.
Williams, one of the brethren, came to see me, and, considering my case
a bad one, came the next day and brought with him Dr. Seely, an old
practicing physician, and another doctor whose name I have forgotten.
They passed me through an examination. Dr. Seely asserted that I had
not as much lungs left as would fill a tea saucer. He appeared a
somewhat rough, irreligious man. Probably, with what he considered a
good-natured fling at our belief in miracles, he said to my father, as
he left the house:
"Mr. Young, unless the Lord makes your son a new pair of lungs, there
is no hope for him!"
At this time I was so low and nervous that I could scarcely bear any
noise in the room. The next morning after the visit of the doctors, my
father came to the door of the room to see how I was. I recollect his
gazing earnestly at me with tears in his eyes. As I afterwards learned,
he went from there to the Prophet Joseph, and said to him: "My son
Lorenzo is dying; can there not be something done for him?"
The Prophet studied a little while, and replied, "Yes! Of necessity, I
must go away to fill an appointment, which I cannot put off. But you go
and get my brother Hyrum, and, with him, get together twelve or fifteen
good faithful brethren; go to the house of Brother Lorenzo, and all
join in prayer. One be mouth and the others repeat after him in unison.
After prayer, divide into quorums of three. Let the first quorum who
administer, anoint Brother Young with oil; then lay hands on him, one
being mouth and the other two repeating in unison after him. When all
the quorums have, in succession, laid their hands on Brother Young and
prayed for him, begin again with the first quorum, by anointing with
oil as before, continuing the administration in this way until you
receive a testimony that he will be restored."
My father came with the brethren, and these instructions were strictly
followed. The administrations were continued until it came the turn of
the first quorum the third time. Brother Hyrum Smith led. The Spirit
rested mightily upon him. He was full of blessing and prophecy. Among
other things, he said that I should live to go with the Saints into the
bosom of the Rocky Mountains, to build up a place there, and that my
cellar should overflow with wine and fatness.
At that time, I had not heard about the Saints going to the Rocky
Mountains; possibly Brother Smith had. After he had finished he
seemed surprised at some things he had said, and wondered at
the manifestations of the Spirit. I coughed no more after that
administration, and rapidly recovered.
I had been pronounced by the best physicians in the country past all
human aid, and I am a living witness of the power of God manifested in
my behalf through the administration of the Elders.
I continued to live in Kirtland, labored for the support of my family
and went on missions until September, 1837. At that time there was
considerable persecution, and many Saints left for Missouri. In company
with Brother Isaac Decker and family, I started for that place.
On account of sickness in my family, I laid by at Dublin, Indiana. I
remained there until January, 1838.
I went to Cincinnati. While absent, my brother Brigham, and Brothers
Joseph and Samuel Smith, with their families, came along on their way
to Missouri. They were accompanied by Brother Daniel Holman and Brother
Miles. I returned to Dublin, and, in February, we continued our journey
together.
On the way, in jumping from a wagon, I fell and split my knee pan on a
sharp stone. The injury was both painful and dangerous.
Riding over rough roads in a loaded wagon was very painful to me. At
Terre Haute, Indiana, my leg was examined by a surgeon. He said even if
I got well, my leg would always be stiff. However, my faith was that I
should again have the use of it. It was still over four hundred miles
to our destination. I suffered much, but got the use of my leg the
following summer. I attribute this result to the blessing of the Lord
through the administration of the Elders.
On our way, we crossed the Mississippi river at Quincy, Illinois, on
the ice. We were the last to cross in that way that season. When near
the west side, on account of the weakness of the ice, we took the
horses from the wagons and laid down planks to run the latter to the
shore.
In March, Brother Isaac Decker and I arrived in Davis County, Missouri.
I purchased a quarter section of land and went to work to make me a
home. Brother Decker rented a farm. The remainder of the company went
on to Far West, twenty-two miles farther.
We labored diligently at our business during the summer, usually having
meetings on the Sabbath. Matters remained quiet until election day,
August 6th, 1838, when the Missourians determined that the "Mormons"
should not vote. On the other hand, the brethren asserted their rights,
and a fight took place at Gallatin, as related in Church history. I
did not feel like attending election, and did not go. This was the
beginning of our troubles in Davis County.
I lived eighteen miles from Adam Ondi-Ahman. About this time, I left
my family on my place and went there and stood guard some two weeks.
Brother Decker accompanied me. After completing our term of military
service, Brother Decker and I started for home. We had but one horse,
and we alternately rode and walked. As we passed through the town of
Gallatin, about eight miles from home, it was my turn to walk, and
Brother Decker was ahead of me on the horse. There was a company of
Missourians stationed about twenty rods from the road, near a whisky
saloon. As I was passing nearly opposite them, a party of men stepped
in front of me and the leader ordered me to stop. He was armed with a
sword. There were twenty-two of the party, mostly armed with rifles.
Nothing was said to Brother Decker, although he halted and sat on his
horse a short distance off and watched the proceedings.
The captain of the party asked me where I had been, where I was going,
and if I was a "Mormon," with many other questions which I answered
truthfully.
After answering one of his questions, with a profane epithet he called
me a liar. After this, I kept my mouth closed and answered no more of
his questions. He was about half drunk, as were probably some of his
men. He became much irritated at my silence, and used very profane and
abusive language. Said he: "You have probably been robbing and burning
in this section, and ought to be killed. Anyhow, I will make you open
your mouth." He then ordered his men to form in a half circle a little
distance from me, evidently to concentrate their fire. He then ordered
them to "Make ready! Aim!"
Every rifle was drawn on me. I prayed in my heart, and felt
considerable assurance that they would not be permitted to kill me. My
life trembled in the balance awaiting the leader's order to fire, or
recover arms. The latter order came. He then said excitedly: "Now will
you talk?" But I remained silent.
This performance was repeated. He became filled with wrath, and
commanded his men, the third time, "Make ready! Aim!" It looked surely
as though my time had come. At this moment, a man in military garb, and
armed with a sword, came running from the camp near the grocery. When
near enough to to be heard, he cried out, "Hold on!"
The men dropped their pieces, and there was respite for me again. As he
approached he demanded, "What are you doing?"
The officer who had been abusing me, replied with a profane epithet, "I
am going to kill this Mormon!"
The other officer ordered him to take his men to the camp.
As he did not move readily, his superior drew his sword, stepped in
front of him, and declared with an oath, if he did not move at once he
would take his head from his shoulders. His tone and manner indicated
that he meant business, and the captain moved off with his men at once.
The officer who released me, declared that the other was drunk and did
not know what he was doing. He asked me many questions similar to what
the other had done, but in a gentlemanly manner, and I answered them
frankly and truly. His heart was softened towards me. He bade me go on
my way, and added, "Mr. Young if you are ever in trouble in this war,
and can do so, send for me, and you shall not be hurt, unless it is
over my dead body." I made a memorandum of his name, military title,
etc., but regret to say that in my many moves since have lost it.
Again was the prophetic promise of my mother fulfilled, and my life
lengthened out for some wise purpose. Brother Decker and I went on
home. He immediately removed to Far West, Caldwell County.