A PURCHASE MADE IN THE TOWN OF COMMERCE--JOSEPH THE PROPHET GOES TO
WASHINGTON--THE DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH, SENIOR.
In the spring of 1839, Joseph and Hyrum made a purchase of a tract of
land in Commerce, of one Mr. White, and after moving their families
thither, sent Brother Jacob G. Bigler back for Mr. Smith and myself.
When our good friend, Mr. Messer, learned that we were about leaving
Quincy, he came and spent a whole day with us. The next day we set out
for Commerce. After proceeding about ten miles, our carriage broke down,
and, although my husband was quite sick, we were compelled to remain in
the sun at least three hours before another vehicle could be procured.
After this we started on, and soon arrived at Bear Creek, below Lima.
We found this stream so high that it was dangerous to ford, especially
for those who were unacquainted with the crossing place, but,
fortunately, we took the right direction, and, with much difficulty,
succeeded in getting across. That night we stayed with Sister Lawrence,
and the next day arrived in Commerce, where we found our children in
good health.
We moved into a small room attached to the house in which Joseph was
living. Here we might have enjoyed ourselves, but Mr. Smith continued
to sink, his health constantly failing, until we found that medicine
was of no benefit to him.
As the season advanced, the brethren began to feel the effects of the
hardships which they had endured, and also the unhealthiness of the
climate in which we were then situated. They came down with the agues
and bilious fevers to such an extent that there were whole families
in which not one was able to help himself to a drink of cold water.
Among the sick were Hyrum and his family, also my daughter Lucy. Joseph
and Emma, seeing the distress, commenced taking the sick into their
own house, with the view of taking care of them, and making them more
comfortable. This they continued to do, until their house became so
crowded that they were compelled to spread a tent for that part of the
family who were still on their feet, in order to make room in the house
for the sick. During this time of distress, Silas Smith, my husband's
brother, came up from Pike county, Illinois, to consult with Mr. Smith
in relation to some Church business, and returned with the intention
of bringing his family hither, but was taken sick and died before he
could accomplish it, and we never saw him again. My son William also
came from Plymouth about this time, and informed us that our provisions
and furniture, all had been destroyed in Missouri by the mob. When
he returned home he took Lovina, Hyrum's eldest daughter, with him,
hoping, as she was sick, that the ride would be a benefit to her. In
this he was disappointed, for she grew worse instead of better, so that
in a short time he considered it necessary to send for her father, as
she was not expected to live. As her father was not able to sit up
when the messenger arrived, myself and Lucy went in his stead. On our
arrival at Plymouth, we found Lovina better, and she continued to mend
until she regained her health. But the ague took a fresh hold on Lucy,
and she remained completely under the power of the disease until the
sickness in Commerce had so abated that Joseph was able to make us a
visit.
When he arrived, Lucy was lying up stairs in a high fever. Upon hearing
his voice below, she sprang from her bed and flew' down stairs, as
though she was altogether well, and was so rejoiced to hear that her
relatives were all still living, and in better health than when she
left them, that the excitement performed an entire cure. She soon
regained her strength and we returned home.
It now became necessary for Joseph to take a journey to the city of
Washington, for he had been commanded of the Lord, while in prison, to
pray for redress at the feet of the President, as well as Congress,
when his family should be so situated that he could leave home.
Accordingly, Joseph started, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Elias
Higbee, Dr. Foster and Porter Rockwell, to fulfill this injunction.
After arriving in Washington, Joseph and Sidney waited upon his
Excellency Martin Van Buren, but it was some time before they had an
opportunity of laying their grievances before him; however, they at
length succeeded in getting his attention. After listening to the
entire history of the oppression and abuse, which we had received at
the hands of our enemies, he replied, "Gentlemen, your cause is just;
but I can do nothing for you!"
The matter was, however, laid before Congress. They, too, concluded
that our cause was just, but that they could do nothing for us, as
Missouri was a sovereign, independent state; and that the "Mormons"
might appeal to her for redress, for, in their opinion, she neither
wanted the power nor lacked the disposition to redress the wrongs of
her own citizens. During Joseph's absence, Mr. Smith was at times very
weak, and coughed dreadfully, so that some nights we had to lift him
out of bed. On one occasion of this kind he expressed a fear that he
should die with me alone. I told him that this would not be the case,
for it was impressed upon my mind that, when he died, he would have his
children around him. This comforted him much, for he was very anxious
to live until Joseph should return, that he might bless him again
before he should die.
This was in the winter of 1840. Before spring he got some better, so
that he was able to walk about a little, and attend a few blessing
meetings, in one of which he blessed Mrs. Page, the wife of one of the
Twelve, and a young woman whom Brother Page had baptized and confirmed
on Bear Creek but a few days previous. In blessing the latter, Mr.
Smith repeated a prophecy which had been pronounced upon her head in
her confirmation, as precisely as though he had been present when it
was uttered, stating that the Spirit testified that these things had
been predicted upon her head in her confirmation, which very much
surprised her, as she knew that he had not received any intimation of
the same, except by the Spirit of God.
In March, 1840, Joseph returned from the city of Washington. At this
time Mr. Smith had suffered a relapse, and was confined to his bed.
On Joseph's arrival, he administered to him, and, for a short time,
my husband was better. In the ensuing April a Conference was held in
Nauvoo (formerly Commerce) during which the result of Joseph's mission
to Washington was made known to the brethren; who, after hearing that
their petition was rejected, concluded, as they had now tried every
court which was accessible to them on earth, to lay their case before
the Court of Heaven, and leave it in the hands of the great God.
Joseph, soon after his arrival, had a house built for us near his own,
and one that was more commodious than that which we previously occupied.
When the heat of the ensuing summer came on, my husband's health began
to decline more rapidly than before. This was perhaps caused, in part,
by the renewal of the Missouri persecutions, for our sons were now
demanded of the authorities of Illinois, as fugitives from justice. In
consequence of which, they were compelled to absent themselves from the
city, until the writs which were issued for their arrest, were returned.
About this time John C. Bennett came into the city, and undertook to
devise a scheme whereby Joseph and Hyrum, besides other brethren who
were persecuted in like manner, might remain at home in peace. I do
not know what he did, I only know that he seemed to be engaged in the
law, as well as the gospel. My heart was then too full of anxiety
about my husband, for me to enquire much into matters which I did not
understand; however, the result was, Joseph returned from Iowa.
On the evening of his return, my husband commenced vomiting blood. I
sent immediately for Joseph and Hyrum, who, as soon as they came, gave
him something that alleviated his distress. This was on Saturday night.
The next morning Joseph came in and told his father, that he should
not be troubled any more for the present with the Missourians; "and,"
said he, "I can now stay with you as much as you wish." After which, he
informed his father that it was then the privilege of the Saints to be
baptized for the dead. These two facts Mr. Smith was delighted to hear,
and requested that Joseph should be baptized for Alvin immediately;
and, as he expected to live but a short time, desired that his children
would stay with him, as much as they could consistently.
They were all with him, except Catharine, who was detained from coming
by a sick husband. Mr. Smith being apprised of this, sent Arthur
Miliken, who, but a short time previous, was married to our youngest
daughter, after Catharine and her children; but, before he went,
my husband blessed him, fearing that it would be too late when he
returned. He took Arthur by the hand, and said:--
My son, I have given you my youngest, darling child, and will you
be kind to her? "Yes, father," he replied, "I will." Arthur, he
continued, you shall be blessed, and you shall be great in the
eyes of the Lord; and if you will be faithful, you shall have all
the desires of your heart in righteousness. Now, I want you to
go after my daughter Catharine, for I know, that because of the
faithfulness of your heart, you will not come back without her.
Arthur then left, and my husband next addressed himself to me:--
Mother, do you not know, that you are the mother of as great a
family as ever lived upon the earth? The world loves its own, but
it does not love us. It hates us because we are not of the world;
therefore, all its malice is poured out upon us, and they seek to
take away our lives. When I look upon my children, and realize,
that although they were raised up to do the Lord's work, yet they
must pass through scenes of trouble and affliction as long as
they live upon the earth; and I dread to leave them surrounded by
enemies.
At this Hyrum bent over his father and said:--"Father, if you are taken
away, will you not intercede for us at the throne of grace, that our
enemies may not have so much power over us?" He then laid his hands
upon Hyrum's head and said:--
My son, Hyrum, I seal upon your head your patriarchal blessing,
which I placed upon your head before, for that shall be verified.
In addition to this, I now give you my dying blessing. You shall
have a season of peace, so that you shall have sufficient rest to
accomplish the work which God has given you to do. You shall be
as firm as the pillars of heaven unto the end of your days. I now
seal upon your head the patriarchal power, and you shall bless the
people. This is my dying blessing upon your head in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
To Joseph he said:--
Joseph, my son, you are called to a high and holy calling. You are
even called to do the work of the Lord. Hold out faithful and you
shall be blest and your children after you. You shall even live
to finish your work. At this Joseph cried out, weeping, "Oh! my
father, shall I?" Yes, said his father, you shall live to lay out
the plan of all the work which God has given you to do. This is my
dying blessing on your head in the name of Jesus. I also confirm
your former blessing upon your head; for it shall be fulfilled.
Even so. Amen.
To Samuel he said:--
Samuel, you have been a faithful and obedient son. By your
faithfulness you have brought many into the Church. The Lord has
seen your diligence, and you are blessed, in that he has never
chastised you, but has called you home to rest; and there is a
crown laid up for you, which shall grow brighter and brighter unto
the perfect day.
When the Lord called you, he said, "Samuel, I have seen thy
suffering, and heard thy cries, and beheld thy faithfulness; thy
skirts are clear from the blood of this generation." Because of
these things I seal upon your head all the blessings which I have
heretofore pronounced upon you; and this my dying blessing, I now
seal upon you. Even so. Amen.
To William he said:--
William, my son, thou hast been faithful in declaring the word even
before the Church was organized. Thou hast been sick, yet thou hast
traveled to warn the people. And when thou couldst not walk, thou
didst sit by the wayside and call upon the Lord, until he provided
a way for thee to be carried. Thou wast sick and afflicted, when
thou wast away from thy father's house, and no one knew it to
assist thee in thy afflictions; but the Lord did see the honesty of
thine heart, and thou wast blessed in thy mission. William, thou
shalt be blest, and thy voice shall be heard in distant lands, from
place to place, and they shall regard thy teachings. Thou shalt
be like a roaring lion in the forest, for they shall hearken and
hear thee. And thou shalt be the means of bringing many sheaves to
Zion, and thou shalt be great in the eyes of many, and they shall
call thee blessed, and I will bless thee, and thy children after
thee. And the blessings which I sealed upon thy head before, I now
confirm again, and thy days shall be many, thou shalt do a great
work, and live as long as thou desirest life. Even so. Amen.
To Don Carlos he said:--
Carlos, my darling son, when I blessed thee thy blessing was never
written, and I could not get it done, but now I want you to get my
book, which contains the blessings of my family. Take your pen and
fill out all those parts of your blessing which were not written.
You shall have the Spirit of the Lord and be able to fill up all
the vacancies which were left by Oliver when he wrote it. You
shall be great in the sight of the Lord, for he sees and knows the
integrity of your heart, and you shall be blessed; all that know
you shall bless you. Your wife and your children shall also be
blessed, and you shall live to fulfill all that the Lord has sent
you to do. Even so. Amen.
To Sophronia he said:--
Sophronia, my oldest daughter, thou hadst sickness when thou wast
young, and thy parents did cry over thee, to have the Lord spare
thy life. Thou didst see trouble and sorrow, but thy troubles shall
be lessened, for thou hast been faithful in helping thy father and
thy mother in the work of the Lord. And thou shalt be blessed, and
the blessings of heaven shall rest down upon thee. Thy last days
shall be thy best. Although thou shalt see trouble, sorrow and
mourning, thou shalt be comforted, and the Lord will lift thee up,
and bless thee and thy family, and thou shalt live as long as thou
desirest life. This dying blessing I pronounce and seal upon thy
head, with thine other blessings. Even so. Amen.
After this he rested for some time, and then said:--
Catharine has been a sorrowful child, trouble has she seen, the
Lord has looked down upon her and seen her patience, and has heard
her cries. She shall be comforted when her days of sorrow are
ended, then shall the Lord look down upon her, and she shall have
the comforts of life, and the good things of the world, then shall
she rise up, and defend her cause. She shall live to raise up her
family; and in time her sufferings shall be over, for the day is
coming when the patient shall receive their reward. Then she shall
rise over her enemies, and shall have horses and land, and things
around her to make her heart glad. I, in this dying blessing,
confirm her patriarchal blessing upon her head, and she shall
receive eternal life. Even so. Amen.
To Lucy he said:--
Lucy, thou art my youngest child, my darling. And the Lord gave
thee unto us to be a comfort and a blessing to us in our old
age, therefore, thou must take good care of thy mother. Thou
art innocent, and thy heart is right before the Lord. Thou hast
been with us through all the persecution; thou hast seen nothing
but persecution, sickness and trouble, except when the Lord hath
cheered our hearts. If thou wilt continue faithful, thou shalt be
blest with a house and land; thou shalt have food and raiment, and
no more be persecuted and driven, as thou hast hitherto been. Now,
continue faithful, and thou shalt live long and be blessed, and
thou shalt receive a reward in heaven. This dying blessing, and
also thy patriarchal blessing, I seal upon thy head in the name of
Jesus. Even so. Amen.
After this he spoke to me again, and said:--
Mother, do you not know, that you are one of the most singular
women in the world? "No," I replied, "I do not." Well I do, he
continued, you have brought up my children for me by the fireside,
and when I was gone from home, you comforted them. You have brought
up all my children, and could always comfort them when I could
not. We have often wished that we might both die at the same time,
but you must not desire to die when I do, for you must stay to
comfort the children when I am gone. So do not mourn, but try to
be comforted. Your last days shall be your best days, as to being
driven, for you shall have more power over your enemies than you
have had. Again I say, be comforted.
He then paused for some time, being exhausted. After which he said, in
a tone of surprise, "I can see and hear, as well as ever I could." [_A
second pause of considerable length_] "I see Alvin." [_Third pause_.]
"I shall live seven or eight minutes." Then straightening himself, he
laid his hands together; after which he began to breathe shorter, and
in about eight minutes, his breath stopped, without even a struggle
or a sigh, and his spirit took its flight for the regions where the
justified ones rest from their labors. He departed so calmly, that, for
some time, we could not believe but that he would breathe again.
Catharine did not arrive until the evening of the second day; still we
were compelled to attend to his obsequeis the day after his decease,
or run the risk of seeing Joseph and Hyrum torn from their father's
corpse before it was interred, and carried away by their enemies to
prison. After we had deposited his last remains in their narrow house,
my sons fled from the city, and I returned to my desolate home; and
I then thought that the greatest grief which it was possible for
me to feel, had fallen upon me in the death of my beloved husband.
Although that portion of my life which lay before me, seemed to be a
lonesome, trackless waste, yet I did not think that I could possibly
find, in traveling over it, a sorrow more searching, or a calamity
more dreadful, than the present. But, as I hasten to the end of my
story, the reader will be able to form an opinion with regard to the
correctness of my conclusion.