THE MISSION TO THE INDIANS.
In the month of September, 1830, a young man came to the house of Joseph
Smith, at Fayette, and asked to see the prophet. As Joseph was absent, he
was referred to his brother Hyrum who explained to him what he wanted to
know about the Book of Mormon, the revelations of the Lord to his brother,
and the establishing of the Church. The young man was a preacher of the
sect called Campbellites, and his name was Parley P. Pratt. On his journey
from his home in Ohio to New York he had obtained a copy of the Book of
Mormon, had read it, and had been deeply impressed with its beautiful
truths. Wishing to know more about this new revelation of God, he had
sought out Joseph.
Parley P. Pratt joined the Church and soon became one of its leading men,
working with Joseph and his brethren with great energy. He became one of
the Twelve Apostles, traveled in many parts of the earth preaching the
gospel, wrote many fine books, and at last was killed by a wicked man in
the state of Arkansas.
Some day you will want to read a full account of this great man's history
as he wrote it himself, but here I will give you but a few of these
interesting events, because they have much to do with the Church at this
point of our history.
You will remember that the Book of Mormon tells about the early history of
the Indians. In this book it is predicted that some day the gospel should
be preached to them, and the record of their forefathers should also be
brought to their knowledge. At the second conference of the Church held in
Fayette, September 1st, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson and
Peter Whitmer, Jr., were called to go on a mission to the Indians. They
were to go into the wilderness through the western states and into the
Indian Territory, preaching by the way whenever a chance afforded.
It was late in October when these four elders started on this the first
important mission of the Church. They preached to some Indians near the
city of Buffalo, presented them with the Book of Mormon, and proceeded on
their journey into the state of Ohio. In the northeastern part of this
state is the town of Kirtland where Elder Pratt had some friends. They
stopped here for some time and preached the gospel to the people. Great
interest was aroused, many believed and were baptized. Among these was
Elder Pratt's former teacher, Sidney Rigdon, who also became one of the
Church's leading men. Others who joined the Church at this time were Edward
Partridge who became the first bishop in the Church, Newel K. Whitney who
became the second, Lyman Wight who became an apostle, and many others. In a
few weeks the missionaries had raised up a large branch of the Church at
Kirtland.
Having done this good work, the elders went on their way westward. One
evening they were stopping at the house of one Simeon Carter not far from
Brother Pratt's old home. They were just about to read to him from the Book
of Mormon when an officer entered and arrested Elder Pratt. The elders left
their book with Mr. Carter and went with the officer to a sort of court,
where Brother Pratt was ordered to pay a large sum of money or go to
prison. The prisoner paid no attention to these demands, which made his
persecutors very angry. It was now about midnight, but the elders took it
quietly and sang a hymn or two. Then Elder Pratt said that if the witnesses
who had told false things about them and the judge who had abused and
insulted them, would repent of their evil words and acts and would all
kneel down together he would pray that God might forgive them.
"My big bull-dog pray for me!" said the judge.
"The devil help us!" cried another.
Next morning as Elder Pratt and the man placed to guard him were walking in
the road, the elder asked the officer if he was good at a race.
"No!" was the reply, "but my big dog is. I have trained him and he will
take any man down at my bidding."
"Well," continued Bro. Pratt, "you have given me a chance to preach and
have given me lodging and breakfast. I thank you for your kindness, but I
must be going. Good-day, sir."
With that Elder Pratt left the man and his dog, and had got quite a
distance before the officer had recovered from his surprise. Then he came
running after him, clapping his hands and shouting to his dog.
"Stu--boy, stu--boy, take him Watch, lay hold of him! Down with him!" At
the same time pointing in the direction of the fleeing elder. Just as the
fierce animal was about to overtake him, Elder Pratt began clapping his
hands and shouting like the officer, pointing into the woods just ahead.
The dog bounded past him and was soon lost to sight in the forest, while
the missionary got safely away.
Mr. Carter read the Book of Mormon the elders had left. He believed, went
fifty miles to Kirtland, was baptized, returned home, began to preach, and
soon there was a branch of sixty members in that place.
In western Ohio the missionaries found another tribe of Indians with whom
they stayed a few days. They then went to Cincinnati and from that city to
the mouth of the Ohio river by boat. It was now very cold, and the river
was so blocked with ice that the boat could go no farther. The missionaries
therefore walked the rest of the distance to St. Louis and from there
across the state of Missouri to its western boundary.
The snow was deep, there were no beaten roads, the houses were few and far
between, and the wind blew fierce and cold. For days they had nothing to
eat but corn bread and frozen pork; but at last they reached the town of
Independence, in Jackson county, Missouri, which was then near to the
Indian country.
The elders now took up their labors among the Indians. They were kindly
received, and the chief called a council which Oliver Cowdery addressed.
The Book of Mormon was presented to them and explained, and they became
very much interested. The sectarian preachers heard about this and
complained to the Indian agent, who ordered the elders off the Indian
lands. So after but a few days of preaching the elders had to leave. They
went back to Jackson county and preached to the white settlers, some of
whom believed the word of God and were added to the Church. Four of the
elders remained at Independence, while Bro. Pratt was sent back to Kirtland
to report their labors.
Topics.--1. Parley P. Pratt. 2. The first mission to the Indians. 3. At
Kirtland. 4. Journey to Independence and preaching to Indians.
Questions and Review.--1. Who was Parley P. Pratt? 2. Name some of the
books he wrote. 3. Give a brief sketch of his life. 4. Name those who went
on the first mission for the Church. 5. What was the special object of this
mission? 6. About how far is it from Fayette to Independence, Mo.? 7. Where
is Kirtland? 8. What leading men were converted there? 9. How did Bro.
Pratt escape from the officer? 10. How did people travel in those days? 11.
Why were the missionaries forbidden to preach among the Indians?