THE APOSTASY AT KIRTLAND.
The spirit of apostasy referred to in the last chapter was by no means
confined to Missouri. It extended more or less throughout The Church,
but more especially at Kirtland. During the winter of 1836 and the
early summer of 1837, a wild spirit of speculation swept over the
United States, and the members of The Church had been carried away with
it.
Money had been plentiful, easy to borrow, and a spirit of reckless
extravagance and speculation had taken hold of the people. When the
reaction from this only seeming state of prosperity set in, financial
ruin stared the people in the face. As a result of these conditions
and the spirit engendered by them, "evil surmisings, fault-finding,
disunion, dissension and apostasy followed in quick succession" among
the saints in Kirtland. "It seemed," says the Prophet Joseph, in
speaking of the conditions existing in the early summer of 1837--"It
seemed as though all the powers of earth and hell were combining their
influence in an especial manner to overthrow The Church and make a
final end."
Many of the leading brethren became especially bitter against the
Prophet of God, as though he were the sole cause of the evils he was
striving against, and which were brought about by the brethren not
giving heed to his counsels. "No quorum in The Church," remarks Joseph,
"was entirely exempt from the influence of those false spirits who
were striving against me for the mastery; even some of the Twelve were
so far lost to their high and responsible calling, as to begin taking
sides, secretly, with the enemy." [A]
[Footnote A: History Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, Vol. 16, p. II]
Early in 1837 the Kirtland Safety Society Bank was organized. It was
one of the many banks which sprung up all over the United States
about that time, and which under the current banking laws issued bank
currency; and with hundreds of other similar institutions throughout
the land, went down in the financial maelstrom which swept over the
country in the latter part of 1837.
Among those disaffected at Kirtland there were some who held the
Prophet responsible for the failure of the Safety Society Bank. Some
charged that they had been given to understand that the bank was
instituted by the will of God, and that "it would never fail, let
men do what they would." [B] The Prophet disclaimed having made any
such statement, or having authorized any one else to make it. On the
contrary, he declared in open conference, held at Kirtland on the
3rd of September, 1837, that he had always said "that unless the
institution was conducted on righteous principles, it would not stand."
[C]
[Footnote B: A statement of this character was made by Elder Boynton,
one of the Twelve Apostles, at a conference held at Kirtland, September
3, 1837.]
[Footnote C: History Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, Vol. 16, p. 56.]
But notwithstanding his disclaimers, apostates in Kirtland held him
responsible for its failure; and by early January, 1838, the spirit of
these men became so bitter that the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon
had to seek safety in flight in the direction of Far West. They fled by
night from the city on horseback, but subsequently were joined by their
families in wagons and thus made the tedious journey with teams.
The weather was cold, and sometimes they were obliged to secrete
themselves in their wagons to escape their enemies, who followed them
for about two hundred miles from Kirtland. The mobbers frequently
crossed their track. Twice they were in the same house with the
brethren; and once they stopped at the same house over night, with
only a partition wall between them, through which the Prophet and his
companion could hear their oaths, threats and imprecations. They even
went into the room of the brethren, looked upon them, but concluded
they were not the men they were pursuing.
Part of the time the Prophet and Sidney traveled together, but for
greater security they sometimes traveled alone. At Terre Haute,
Indiana, they separated and did not meet again until they arrived at
Far West. Joseph reached the latter place on the 14th of March, and
Sidney Rigdon on the 4th of April following.
The saints at Far West received the Prophet and Elder Rigdon with every
demonstration of joy. Indeed, when they heard that Joseph was en route
for Missouri, a delegation of brethren with teams and money went to
meet him a hundred and twenty miles from Far West, and greatly assisted
him in completing a journey with dispatch and safety which had been
fraught with so many dangers.