After holding the discussion mentioned, Brother Young, of Jackson
County, Tennessee, wished me to go with him and join in a
discussion with a couple of Campbellite preachers. At first I
declined, as the distance was nearly one hundred miles, and my
labors in the ministry where I was were pressing. I had more
calls to preach than I could fill. However, I finally consented
to go and attend the discussion. On our arrival at the place
agreed upon I learned that all necessary arrangements had been
made. The subject was:
"Is the Book of Mormon of Divine authenticity, and has it come
forth in direct fulfillment of prophecy found in the Old and New
Testaments; and is Joseph Smith Divinely inspired and called of
God?"
There was a large concourse of people assembled. The discussion
lasted two days. At the close of the debate the judge decided
that the Mormons brought forth the strongest reasonings and
Scriptural arguments, and that the other side had the best of the
Mormons in sarcasm and abuse.
When I was about to leave, Brother Young exchanged horses with
me, he keeping my pony, and giving me a fine blooded black mare.
I was then built up, so far as a good outfit for traveling was
concerned. Brother Young traveled with me as far as Indian Creek,
Putnam County, twenty-five miles southeast, as report said that a
couple of Mormons had been there. We concluded to visit the place
and learn the facts.
This was about the 1st of March. It was Saturday when we arrived
there. We rode at once to the Methodist chapel. Here we found
several hundred people assembled - the most distressed and
horrified worshipers my eyes had ever beheld. Their countenances
and actions evinced an inward torture of agony. Some of them were
lying in a swoon, apparently lifeless; others were barking like
dogs; still singing, praying, and speaking in tongues - their
eyes red and distorted with excitement.
The chapel was situated in a yard surrounded with trees. I was so
overcome with amazement and surprise that I forgot I was on
horseback. The first I remember was that a man had led my horse
inside the gate and was pulling me off, saying:
"Come, get down, you are a Mormon preacher; we are having fine
times."
Presently a chair was set for me by some rational person, and I
leaned my head upon my hands and commenced praying. I was a
stranger, both to the people and to their religious exercises. I
was puzzled, not knowing what to do.
There was a young woman, about eighteen years of age, of handsome
form and features, in her stocking feet, her beautiful black hair
hanging down over her shoulders in a confused mass. She was
preaching what she called Mormonism, and warning the multitude to
repent and be baptized, and escape the wrath of God. In front of
her stood a young Methodist minister, to whom she directed her
remarks.
He smiled at her.
Of a sudden she changed her tack, and belted him right and left
for making light of what she said.
The next moment she confronted me, and shouted:
"You are a preacher of the true Church, and I love you!"
Thus saying, she sprang at me with open arms. I stretched forth
my hand and rebuked the evil spirit that was in her, and
commanded it to depart in the name of the Lord Jesus, by virtue
of the holy Priesthood in me vested. At this rebuke she quailed,
and turned away from me like a whipped child, left the crowd, and
went home, ashamed of her conduct. This gave me confidence in
God, and in Him I put my trust still more than I had ever done
before.
It was now about sunset, and we had had no refreshments since
morning. I arose and informed the multitude that we would preach
at that place on the morrow at ten o'clock. A merchant by the
name of Marshbanks invited us home with him, some of the leading
men accompanying us.
They informed us that a couple of men, brothers, from west
Tennessee, named William and Alfred Young, formerly members of
the Baptist Church, had joined the Mormons, and had been there
and preached; that they enjoyed spiritual gifts as the apostles
anciently did, and had baptized the people into that faith, and
ordained John Young, who was Receiver of the Land Office there, a
preacher; that he had been an intelligent, well-educated man, but
was now a fanatic; that their leading men were ruined and
business prostrated, and all through that impostor, Joe Smith.
They said he ought to be hanged before he did any more harm; that
their settlement was being ruined and all business stopped; that
if anyone would give John Young, or Mark Young, his father, who
was formerly a Methodist class leader, his hand, or let either of
them breathe in his face, he could not resist them, but would
come under the influence and join them. I told them that I had
been a member of this Church for a number of years and had never
seen or heard of anything of this kind.
The next morning about daybreak those two fanatics, the Youngs,
were at Marshbanks' house. They said they had had a glorious time
through the night, and had made a number of converts. I began to
reason with them from the Scriptures, but as soon as I came in
contact with their folly they began to whistle and dance, and
jumped on their horses and left.
Some time after, on our way to the chapel, my friend Marshbanks
indulged in a great deal of abuse of the Prophet Joseph. He told
me that I could not be heard among the fanatics at the chapel,
and had better return to his house and hold a meeting there. I
said to him:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I will preach there to-
day, and not a dog will raise his voice against me; you shall
bear witness to it."
"Very well. I will go with you and try to keep order," he
replied.
As we entered the chapel, the same scene of confusion prevailed
that we observed the day before. Some were stretched on the
floor, frothing at the mouth, apparently in the agonies of death.
Others were prophesying, talking in tongues, singing, shouting,
and praying. I walked into the pulpit as a man having authority,
and said:
"In the name of Jesus Christ, and by virtue and authority of the
holy Priesthood invested in me, I command these evil spirits that
are tormenting you, to be still, while I lay before you the words
of life and salvation."
As I spoke every eye was turned upon me, and silence reigned; the
evil spirits were subdued and made powerless.
There were two Presbyterian ministers present who asked leave to
take notes of my sermon, which I freely granted, telling them
they were at liberty to correct me if, in anything, I spoke not
according to the Law and Testimony of Christ. I preached a plain
sermon on the first principles of the gospel of Christ, as taught
by the apostles. I showed them that the house of God was a house
of order, and not confusion; that the Spirit of God brings peace,
joy, light, and complete harmony.
Before I dismissed the meeting I asked my Presbyterian friends if
they wished to reply to me. They said they did not; that they
were much pleased with my remarks, which were Scriptural and
reasonable.
Now I concluded to return to the branch at Rutherford County and
continue my labors there. A delegation came to me from the
assembly and said:
"Mr. Lee, your discourse has turned us upside down. You have
convinced many of us that we are going astray. Do not, for
mercy's sake, leave us in this situation. We are persuaded that
many are honest-hearted and will obey the truth." I replied:
"My mission is to preach the truth, to call erring children to
repentance."
With that I appointed a meeting, and preached that evening at the
house of David Young, a brother of Mark Young, the Methodist
class leader, to a large body of inquiring minds.
The following day I preached by the side of a clear running
brook. After the preaching many demanded to be baptized. I went
down into the water and baptized twenty-eight persons, among whom
were two well educated young men. One was a nephew of Gov.
Carlin, of Illinois; the other was Brother McCullough, now a
bishop at Alpine City, Utah.
Elder Samuel B. Frost had been laboring in DeKalb County, east
Tennessee, where he baptized about thirty converts. As he was on
his return to Nauvoo, I asked him to tarry with me a few days,
and assist me, as Brother Young had returned home. Those of the
people who had been under the power of the spirit of darkness had
become alarmed, and dared not trust themselves away from us. We
fasted and prayed three days and three nights, pleading with the
Father, in the name of the Son, to give us power over those evil
spirits.
And here I will say that up to the time of my witnessing what I
have narrated I was skeptical on the subject of our power over
evil spirits. I had heard of such manifestations, but had never
seen them with my own eyes. My experience here impressed me with
the fact that we could attain such power, and showed me the stern
necessity of living near to God; for man, in and of himself, is
nothing but a tool for the tempter to work with.
As I said, the people dared not trust themselves away from us.
Once we were in a large room at Mark Young's house. I was sitting
by a desk writing in my diary. Adolphus Young, the chairman of
the delegation which had waited on me and requested me to remain
with them and set them right, was walking to and fro across the
room. As he came near me I noticed that his countenance changed,
and as he turned he cast a fearful glance at me. I kept my eyes
upon him as he walked away from me. When near the center of the
room he wilted down and exclaimed:
"O God, have mercy on me!"
Without a word spoken, Elder Frost and I sprang to him. Laying my
hands upon him I commanded the evil spirits, by virtue of the
holy Priesthood, and in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of
him.
As I spoke these words I felt as if a thousand darts had
penetrated my mouth, throat, and breast. My blood ran cold in my
veins; my pulse stopped beating; in a word, I was terror-
stricken. I saw a legion of evil spirits in the vision of my
mind. And what was still more, they had fastened their fangs in
me. I was about to give up the contest, when another influence
came to my relief, and said to my spirit:
"Why yield to the powers of darkness? You hold the keys over evil
spirits. They are subject to your bidding in the name of Jesus,
through faith."
This last comforting assurance relieved my fears, strengthened my
faith, and gave me power to overcome the evil spirits. I was only
a minute or two in this situation, but during that time I endured
more agony, torture, and pain than I ever did before or since.
The man was restored, and bore witness to the power of God in his
deliverance, and was to the day of his death an honorable, good
citizen.
During my stay here I added to this branch of the Church until it
was more than fifty members strong. My friend, Elder Frost,
agreed to wait in Overton County until I could revisit the branch
in Rutherford County and set things in order there. Then I was to
accompany him home to our families in Nauvoo, the City of Joseph.
I ordained Brother William Pace in the office of the lesser
Priesthood, to take charge of the Saints there. We also ordained
Brother Adolphus Young to preside over the branch at Indian
Creek, Putnam County.
After calling on Brother Young. I joined my friend, Elder Frost,
and drove to Nauvoo for him six jacks and jennets to exchange for
land, that on his coming he might have a place to dwell. We had a
pleasant journey to Nauvoo, as the weather was fine. On arriving
in the city I met my family, all in good health. I traded some of
my stock with Hyrum Smith, the Prophet's brother, for land.
It was now June, 1842. In the summer and fall I built me a two-
story brick house on Warsaw street, and made my family comfortable.
I enclosed my ground and fixed things snug and nice. I then took
a tour down through Illinois. H. B. Jacobs accompanied me as a
fellow companion on the way. Jacobs was bragging about his wife,
what a true, virtuous, lovely woman she was. He almost worshiped
her. Little did he think that in his absence she was sealed to
the Prophet Joseph.
We raised up a branch of the Church in Clinton County. Among
others whom we baptized, were the Free sisters, Louisa and
Emeline; also the Nelsons. Emeline Free was afterward sealed to
Brigham, and her sister Louisa to myself.
In Randolph County, the home of my youthful days, I baptized my
cousin Eliza Conners, with whom I had been raised. I also
baptized Esther Hall, the sister of my old friend Samuel Hall,
with whom I lived when I was first married. I was kindly received
in my own county. Few, however, cared to investigate the
principles of Mormonism, as the most of them were Catholics.
In all my travels I was agent for our paper, the Nauvoo Neighbor,
and collected means, tithings, and donations for the building of
the Temple. I returned home by steamboat.
Through the winter Joseph selected forty men for a city guard,
from the old tried Danite veterans of the cause. I was the
seventh man chosen. These men were to be the life guard of the
Prophet and Patriarch and of the twelve apostles. My station as a
guard was at the Prophet's mansion. After his death my post was
changed to the residence of Brigham, he being the acknowledged
successor of the Prophet. From the time I was appointed until we
started across the plains, when at home I stood guard every
night; and much of the time in the open air, one-half of the
night at a time, in rain, hail, snow, wind, and cold.