JOSEPH SMITH, SENIOR, AND DON CARLOS, VISIT STOCKHOLM.
In the summer after the Church was organized, my husband set out, with
Don Carlos, to visit his father, Asael Smith. After a tedious journey,
they arrived at the house of John Smith, my husband's brother. His wife
Clarissa had never before seen my husband, but as soon as he entered,
she exclaimed, "There, Mr. Smith, is your brother Joseph."
John, turning suddenly, cried out, "Joseph, is this you?"
"It is I," said Joseph; "is my father yet alive? I have come to see him
once more, before he dies."
For a particular account of this visit, I shall give my readers an
extract from brother John Smith's journal. He writes as follows:
The next morning after brother Joseph arrived, we set out together
for Stockholm to see our father, who was living at that place with
our brother Silas. We arrived about dark at the house of my brother
Jesse, who was absent with his wife. The children informed us, that
their parents were with our father, who was supposed to be dying.
We hastened without delay to the house of brother Silas, and upon
arriving there, were told that father was just recovering from a
severe fit, and, as it was not considered advisable to let him or
mother know that Joseph was there, we went to spend the night with
brother Jesse.
As soon as we were settled, brothers Jesse and Joseph entered into
conversation respecting their families. Joseph briefly related the
history of his family, the death of Alvin, etc. He then began to
speak of the discovery and translation of the Book of Mormon. At
this Jesse grew very angry, and exclaimed, "If you say another word
about that Book of Mormon, you shall not stay a minute longer in
my house, and if I can't get you out any other way, I will hew you
down with my broadaxe."
We had always been accustomed to being treated with much harshness
by our brother, but he had never carried it to so great an extent
before. However, we spent the night with him, and the next morning
visited our aged parents. They were overjoyed to see Joseph, for he
had been absent from them so long, that they had been fearful of
never beholding his face again in the flesh.
After the usual salutations, enquiries, and explanations, the
subject of the Book of Mormon was introduced. Father received with
gladness, that which Joseph communicated; and remarked, that he had
always expected that something would appear to make known the true
Gospel.
In a few moments brother Jesse came in, and on hearing that the
subject of our conversation was the Book of Mormon, his wrath rose
as high as it did the night before. "My father's mind," said Jesse,
"is weak; and I will not have it corrupted with such blasphemous
stuff, so just shut up your head."
Brother Joseph reasoned mildly with him, but to no purpose. Brother
Silas then said, "Jesse, our brother has come to make us a visit,
and I am glad to see him, and am willing he should talk as he
pleases in my house." Jesse replied in so insulting a manner, and
continued to talk so abusively, that Silas was under the necessity
of requesting him to leave the house.
After this, brother Joseph proceeded in conversation, and father
seemed to be pleased with every word which he said. But I must
confess that I was too pious, at that time, to believe one word of
it.
I returned home next day, leaving Joseph with my father. Soon after
which, Jesse came to my house and informed me, that all my brothers
were coming to make me a visit, "and as true as you live," said he,
"they all believe that cursed Mormon book, every word of it, and
they are setting a trap for you, to make you believe it."
I thanked him for taking so much trouble upon himself, to inform
me that my brothers were coming to see me, but told him that
I considered myself amply able to judge for myself in matters
of religion. "I know," he replied, "that you are a pretty good
judge of such things, but I tell you that they are as wary as the
devil. And I want you to go with me and see our sister Susan and
sister-in-law Fanny, and we will bar their minds against Joseph's
influence."
We accordingly visited them, and conversed upon the subject as we
thought proper, and requested them to be at my house the next day.
My brothers arrived according to previous arrangement, and Jesse,
who came also, was very careful to hear every word which passed
among us, and would not allow one word to be said about the Book of
Mormon in his presence. They agreed that night to visit our sisters
the following day, and as we were about leaving, brother Asael took
me aside and said, "Now, John, I want you to have some conversation
with Joseph, but if you do, you must cheat it out of Jesse. And if
you wish, I can work the card for you."
I told him that I would be glad to have a talk with Joseph alone,
if I could get an opportunity.
"Well," replied Asael, "I will take a certain number in my
carriage, and Silas will take the rest, and you may bring out a
horse for Joseph to ride, but when we are out of sight, take the
horse back to the stable again, and keep Joseph over night."
I did as Asael advised, and that evening Joseph explained to me the
principles of "Mormonism," the truth of which I have never since
denied.
The next morning, we (Joseph and myself) went to our sisters, where
we met our brothers. Jesse censured me very sharply for keeping
Joseph over night.
In the evening, when we were about to separate, I agreed to take
Joseph in my wagon twenty miles on his journey the next day. Jesse
rode home with me that evening, leaving Joseph with our sisters.
As Joseph did not expect to see Jesse again, when we were about
starting, Joseph gave Jesse his hand in a pleasant, affectionate
manner, and said, "Farewell, brother Jesse." "Farewell, Jo, for
ever," replied Jesse, in a surly tone.
"I am afraid," returned Joseph, in a kind, but solemn manner, "it
will be for ever, unless you repent."
This was too much for even Jesse's obdurate heart. He melted
into tears; however, he made no reply, nor ever mentioned the
circumstance afterwards.
I took my brother twenty miles on his journey the next day, as I
had agreed. Before he left me, he requested me to promise him, that
I would read a Book of Mormon, which he had given me, and even
should I not believe it, that I would not condemn it; "for," said
he, "if you do not condemn it, you shall have a testimony of its
truth." I fulfilled my promise, and thus proved his testimony to be
true.
Just before my husband's return, as Joseph was about commencing a
discourse one Sunday morning, Parley P. Pratt came in, very much
fatigued. He had heard of us at considerable distance, and had traveled
very fast, in order to get there by meeting time, as he wished to hear
what we had to say, that he might be prepared to show us our error. But
when Joseph had finished his discourse, Mr. Pratt arose, and expressed
his hearty concurrence in every sentiment advanced. The following day
he was baptized and ordained. In a few days he set off for Canaan, N.Y.,
where his brother Orson resided, whom he baptized on the nineteenth
of September, 1830.
About this time Joseph's trouble commenced at Colesville with the mob,
who served a writ upon him, and dragged him from the desk as he was
about taking his text to preach. But as a relation of this affair is
given in his history, (see _Times and Seasons_, vol. IV., pp. 40 and
61. _Supp. to Mill. Star_, vol. XIV., p. 31) I shall mention only one
circumstance pertaining to it, for which I am dependent upon Esquire
Reid, Joseph's counsel in the case, and I shall relate it as near in
his own words as my memory will admit:--
I was so busy at that time, when Mr. Smith sent for me, that it
was almost impossible for me to attend the case, and never having
seen Mr. Smith, I determined to decline going. But soon after
coming to this conclusion, I thought I heard some one say to me,
"You _must_ go, and deliver the Lord's Anointed!" Supposing it
was the man who came after me, I replied, "The Lord's Anointed?
What do you mean by the Lord's Anointed?" He was surprised at
being accosted in this manner, and replied, "What do you mean,
sir? I said nothing about the Lord's Anointed." I was convinced
that he told the truth, for these few words filled my mind with
peculiar feelings, such as I had never before experienced; and I
immediately hastened to the place of trial. Whilst I was engaged in
the case, these emotions increased, and when I came to speak upon
it, I was inspired with an eloquence which was altogether new to
me, and which was overpowering and irresistible. I succeeded, as
I expected, in obtaining the prisoner's discharge. This the more
enraged the adverse party, and I soon discovered that Mr. Smith was
liable to abuse from them, should he not make his escape. The most
of them being fond of liquor, I invited them into another room to
drink, and thus succeeded in attracting their attention, until Mr.
Smith was beyond their reach. I knew not where he went, but I was
satisfied that he was out of their hands.
Since this circumstance occurred, until this day, Mr. Reid has been a
faithful friend to Joseph, although he has never attached himself to
the Church.
After escaping the hands of the mob, Joseph traveled till daybreak
the next morning, before he ventured to ask for victuals, although he
had taken nothing, save a small crust of bread, for two days. About
day-break he arrived at the house of one of his wife's sisters, where
he found Emma, who had suffered great anxiety about him, since his
first arrest. They returned home together, and immediately afterwards
Joseph received a commandment by revelation, to move his family to
Waterloo.
Joseph had at this time just completed a house, which he had built on
a small farm, that he had purchased of his father-in-law; however, he
locked up his house with his furniture in it, and repaired with Emma,
immediately to Manchester. About the time of his arrival at our house,
Hyrum had settled up his business, for the purpose of being at liberty
to do whatever the Lord required of him: and he requested Joseph to ask
the Lord for a revelation concerning the matter. The answer given was,
that he should take a bed, his family, and what clothing he needed for
them, and go straightway to Colesville, for his enemies were combining
in secret chambers to take away his life. At the same time, Mr Smith
received a commandment to go forthwith to Waterloo, and prepare a place
for his family, as our enemies also sought his destruction in the
neighborhood in which we then resided, but in Waterloo he should find
favor in the eyes of the people. The next day, by ten o'clock, Hyrum
was on his journey. Joseph and Emma left for Macedon, and William went
away from home in another direction, on business. Samuel was absent on
a third mission to Livonia, for which he had set out on the first of
October, soon after the arrival of my husband and Don Carlos from their
visit to father Smith. Catherine and Don Carlos were also away from
home. Calvin Stodard and his wife, Sophronia, had moved several miles
distant, some time previous. This left no one but Mr. Smith, myself,
and our little girl, Lucy, at home.