1839.
PRISONERS IN LIBERTY JAIL SEEK THEIR LIBERTY--TAKEN TO GALLATIN FOR
TRIAL--ORDERED TO BE TAKEN TO BOONE COUNTY--THEIR ESCAPE FROM THE
GUARDS--CONFERENCE AT FAR WEST--A PROPHECY FULFILLED--LAST OF THE
SAINTS LEAVE MISSOURI.
To keep the Prophet and his companions in prison and to refuse their
many appeals to be tried by a fair court was so plainly unjust that
some of them wished to escape if the Lord was willing. Joseph enquired,
and the answer came that if all were agreed to leave that night the
way should be opened for them. Lyman Wight, however, was fearful, and
persuaded them to wait until the following night before trying to
escape. They did so, but the Lord punished them for waiting. That night
the jailor came in alone, leaving the doors open behind him, and they
could easily have run out. The next night he came with a double guard,
and also with some visitors, and when the brethren tried to escape they
were stopped, and their visitors were locked up with them. When the
Lord directs He wishes us to act at once. As soon as the people of the
neighborhood learned that the prisoners had tried to break jail, they
came rushing together and were very angry; but Joseph promised that no
harm should be done, and their visiting brethren should not lose even a
saddle blanket. This proved to be true.
On the 6th of April, 1839, the captives were taken from Liberty to
Gallatin, Daviess county, for another trial before Judge King. They
did not hope for justice from him. He was a brother-in-law to Hugh
Brazeale, one of the men killed in the battle between the Saints and
the mob in Jackson county, on the 4th of November, and he had a keen
hatred for the Mormons. At this time, too, fifty men of Daviess county
had sworn that they would neither eat nor drink until they had slain
Joseph Smith. Some of the brethren feared to go, but Joseph promised
that if they would but trust in the Lord He would preserve them, and
they would receive better treatment than they had heretofore.
On reaching the courthouse the mob rushed upon them, but Joseph stepped
out boldly and said, "We are in your hands. If we are guilty, we do not
refuse to be punished by the law." Hearing this, the leaders held back
their men. Joseph's promise came true. They were shown more kindness
and were not injured, but the trial did them no good. Judge King and
the whole jury were drunk. Brother Stephen Markham, who had borne true
witness, had to leave Gallatin in the night to save his life.
Judge King ordered that the prisoners be taken to Boone county, and
on the way the guards became helplessly drunk. This time the brethren
felt that the Lord had opened the way for them to escape. There was no
justice in the courts for them. THey had been put in prison and held
there contrary to law, and they had a perfect right to escape and save
their lives. This was on the 16th of April, and slowly and painfully
they made their way toward the Mississippi. They traveled mainly at
nights, crossed swollen streams, suffered for food and shelter, but
through the mercy of God at length reached Quincy in safety, where they
found most of the Saints.
A little before this last trouble for the Saints in Missouri began, on
the 8th of July, 1838, Joseph enquired to find out the will of the Lord
concerning the Twelve. He said that they should meet on the building
spot of His house at Far West, on the 26th of the following April, and
there take leave of His Saints. The apostates and enemies, knowing of
this prophecy, swore that it never could be fulfilled. Far West was in
their hands. There were few Saints there, and the enemies threatened to
kill any of the Twelve if they made their appearance.
Brigham Young called the Apostles together and told them that they must
fulfill the word of the Lord. They set out bravely for Far West, and
on April 26th, 1839, before their enemies were awake, they met at the
building spot of the Temple and held conference. They ordained Wilford
Woodruff and George A. Smith to the Apostleship, cut thirty-one persons
off the Church, and dismissed their meeting. After saying good-by to
the Saints, they set out for Quincy. They had fulfilled a prophecy
which the apostates sneeringly said would prove Joseph a false prophet.
The remaining Saints now moved at once to Illinois, and the great crime
against liberty was complete. They had come to the new state full of
hope and faith; they left it bowed down in sorrow, but with faith
unchanged. They parted from their homes and possessions, worth in all
many millions of dollars. They left the rough graves of their dear
ones, whose bodies were buried in many cases without coffins and whose
souls were crying from under the altar for the vengeance of God.