THE FIRST WESTERN MISSION--JOSEPH SMITH, JUNIOR, MOVES TO KIRTLAND.
I mentioned, in a foregoing chapter, that when Joseph and Emma left
Manchester, they went to Macedon. Here, he commenced his ministerial
labors, and continued, for some time, to preach successively, in
this place, Colesville, Waterloo, Palmyra, and Manchester, till,
finally, he sent to Pennsylvania for his goods, and settled himself in
Waterloo. Soon after which, a revelation was given, commanding Parley
P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson, Peter Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery, to take a
mission to Missouri, preaching by the way. As soon as this revelation
was received, Emma Smith, and several other sisters, began to make
arrangements to furnish those who were set apart for this mission, with
the necessary clothing, which was no easy task, as the most of it had
to be manufactured out of the raw material.
Emma's health at this time was quite delicate, yet she did not favor
herself on this account, but whatever her hands found to do, she did
with her might, until she went so far beyond her strength, that she
brought upon herself a heavy fit of sickness, which lasted four weeks.
And, although her strength was exhausted, still her spirits were the
same, which, in fact, was always the case with her, even under the
most trying circumstances. I have never seen a woman in my life, who
would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to
month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and
patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had
to endure--she has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty--she has
breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and
devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman. It may be,
that many may yet have to encounter the same--I pray God, that this
may not be the case; but, should it be, may they have grace given them
according to their day, even as has been the case with her.
As soon as those men designated in the revelation, were prepared to
leave home, they started on their mission, preaching and baptizing
on their way, wherever an opportunity afforded. On their route they
passed through Kirtland, where they preached a short time, and raised
up a branch of twenty or thirty members. Before leaving this place,
they addressed a letter to Joseph, desiring him to send an elder to
preside over the branch which they had raised up. Accordingly, Joseph
despatched John Whitmer to take the presidency of the church at
Kirtland; and when he arrived there, those appointed to go to Missouri,
proceeded on their mission, preaching and baptizing as before.
In December of the same year, Joseph appointed a meeting at our house.
While he was preaching, Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge came in
and seated themselves in the congregation. When Joseph had finished
his discourse, he gave all who had any remarks to make, the privilege
of speaking. Upon this, Mr. Partridge arose, and stated that he had
been to Manchester, with the view of obtaining further information
respecting the doctrine which we preached; but, not finding us, he had
made some inquiry of our neighbors concerning our characters, which
they stated had been unimpeachable, until Joseph deceived us relative
to the Book of Mormon. He also said that he had walked over our farm,
and observed the good order and industry which it exhibited; and,
having seen what we had sacrificed for the sake of our faith, and
having heard that our veracity was not questioned upon any other point
than that of our religion, he believed our testimony, and was ready to
be baptized, "if," said he, "Brother Joseph will baptize me."
"You are now," replied Joseph, "much fatigued, brother Partridge, and
you had better rest to-day, and be baptized tomorrow."
"Just as Brother Joseph thinks best," replied Mr. Partridge, "I am
ready at any time."
He was accordingly baptized the next day. Before he left, my husband
returned home from prison, bringing along with him considerable
clothing, which he had earned at coopering in the jail yard.
The latter part of the same month, Joseph received a letter from John
Whitmer, desiring his immediate assistance at Kirtland in regulating
the affairs of the church there. Joseph inquired of the Lord, and
received a commandment to go straightway to Kirtland with his family
and effects; also to send a message to Hyrum to have him take that
branch of the Church, over which he presided, and start immediately for
the same place. And my husband was commanded, in the same revelation,
to meet Hyrum at the most convenient point, and accompany him to
Kirtland. Samuel was sent on a mission, into the same region of
country, while I, and my two sons, William and Carlos, were to be left
till the ensuing spring, when we were to take the remainder of the
branch at Waterloo, and move also to Kirtland.
It was but a short time till Joseph and Emma were on their way,
accompanied by Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, Ezra Thayre, and Newel
Knight. When they were about starting, they preached at our house on
Seneca River; and, on their way, they preached at the house of Calvin
Stodard, and likewise at the house of Preserved Harris. At each of
these places, they baptized several individuals into the Church.
On Joseph's arrival at Kirtland, he found a church consisting of nearly
one hundred members, who were, in general, good brethren, though a few
of them had imbibed some very erroneous ideas, being greatly deceived
by a singular power, which manifested itself among them in strange
contortions of the visage, and sudden, unnatural exertions of the body.
This they supposed to be a display of the power of God. Shortly after
Joseph arrived, he called the church together, in order to show them
the difference between the Spirit of God, and the spirit of the devil.
He said, if a man arose in meeting to speak, and was seized with a kind
of paroxysm that drew his face and limbs in a violent and unnatural
manner, which made him appear to be in pain; and if he gave utterance
to strange sounds, which were incomprehensible to his audience, they
might rely upon it, that he had the spirit of the devil. But, on the
contrary, when a man speaks by the Spirit of God, he speaks from the
abundance of his heart--his mind is filled with intelligence, and even
should he be excited, it does not cause him to do anything ridiculous
or unseemly. He then called upon one of the brethren to speak, who
arose and made the attempt, but was immediately seized with a kind of
spasm, which drew his face, arms, and fingers in a most astonishing
manner.
Hyrum, by Joseph's request, laid hands on the man, whereupon he sunk
back in a state of complete exhaustion. Joseph then called upon another
man to speak, who stood leaning in an open window. This man also
attempted to speak, but was thrown forward into the house, prostrate,
unable to utter a syllable. He was administered to, and the same
effects followed as in the first instance.
These, together with a few other examples of the same kind, convinced
the brethren of the mistake under which they had been laboring; and
they all rejoiced in the goodness of God, in once more condescending to
lead the children of men by revelation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.