The Prophet's Sympathy for the Exiled Saints--Reasons for Their
Expulsion from Zion.
_A Letter from the Prophet Joseph Smith to the Exiled Saints in
Missouri_. [1]
Kirtland Mills, Ohio,
December 10, 1833.
_Edward Partridge, W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, A. S. Gilbert, John
Corrill, Isaac Morley, and all the Saints whom it may concern_.
Beloved Brethren:--This morning's mail brought letters from Bishop
Partridge, and Elders Corrill and Phelps, all mailed at Liberty,
November 19th, which gave us the melancholy intelligence of your
flight from the land of your inheritance, having been driven before
the face of your enemies in that place.
From previous letters we learned that a number of our brethren
had been slain, but we could not learn from the letters referred
to above, that there had been more than one killed, and that one
Brother Barber, and that Brother Dibble was wounded in the bowels.
We were thankful to learn that no more had been slain, and our
daily prayers are that the Lord will not suffer His Saints, who
have gone up to His land to keep His commandments, to stain His
holy mountain with their blood.
I cannot learn from any communication by the Spirit to me, that
Zion has forfeited her claim to a celestial crown, notwithstanding
the Lord has caused her to be thus afflicted, except it may be
some individuals, who have walked in disobedience, and forsaken
the new covenant; all such will be made manifest by their works
in due time. I have always expected that Zion would suffer some
affliction, from what I could learn from the commandments which
have been given. But I would remind you of a certain clause in one
which says, that after _much_ tribulation cometh the blessing. [2]
By this, and also others, and also one received of late, I know
that Zion, in the due time of the Lord, {454} will be redeemed; but
how many will be the days of her purification, tribulation, and
affliction, the Lord has kept hid from my eyes; and when I inquire
concerning this subject, the voice of the Lord is: Be still, and
know that I am God! all those who suffer for my name shall reign
with me, and he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it
again.
Now, there are two things of which I am ignorant; and the Lord will
not show them unto me, perhaps for a wise purpose in Himself--I
mean in some respects--and they are these: Why God has suffered
so great a calamity to come upon Zion, and what the great moving
cause of this great affliction is; and again, by what means He will
return her back to her inheritance, with songs of everlasting joy
upon her head. These two things, brethren, are in part kept back
that they are not plainly shown unto me; but there are some things
that are plainly manifest which have incurred the displeasure of
the Almighty. When I contemplate upon all things that have been
manifested, I am aware that I ought not to murmur, and do not
murmur, only in this, that those who are innocent are compelled
to suffer for the iniquities of the guilty; and I cannot account
for this, only on this wise, that the saying of the Savior has not
been strictly observed: "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it
out, and cast it from thee; or if thy right arm offend thee, cut it
off, and cast it from thee." Now the fact is, if any of the members
of our body is disordered, the rest of our body will be affected
with it, and then all are brought into bondage together; and yet,
notwithstanding all this, it is with difficulty that I can restrain
my feelings when I know that you, my brethren, with whom I have had
so many happy hours--sitting, as it were, in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus; and also, having the witness which I feel, and ever
have felt, of the purity of your motives--are cast out, and are
as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, exposed to hunger, cold,
nakedness, peril, sword--I say when I contemplate this, it is with
difficulty I can keep from complaining and murmuring against this
dispensation; but I am sensible that this is not right, and may God
grant that notwithstanding your great afflictions and sufferings,
there may not anything separate us from love of Christ.
Brethren, when we learn your sufferings, it awakens every sympathy
of our hearts; it weighs us down; we cannot refrain from tears,
yet, we are not able to realize, only in part, your sufferings:
and I often hear the brethren saying, they wish they were with
you, that they might bear a part of your sufferings; and I myself
should have been with you, had not God prevented it in the order of
His providence, that the yoke of affliction might be less grievous
upon you, God having forewarned me, concerning these things, for
your sake; and also, Elder {455} Cowdery could not lighten your
afflictions by tarrying longer with you, for his presence would
have so much the more enraged your enemies; therefore God hath
dealt mercifully with us. O brethren, let us be thankful that it is
as well with us as it is, and we are yet alive and peradventure,
God hath laid up in store great good for us in this generation, and
may grant that we may yet glorify His name.
I feel thankful that there have no more denied the faith; I pray
God in the name of Jesus that you all may be kept in the faith unto
the end; let your sufferings be what they may, it is better in the
eyes of God that you should die, than that you should give up the
land of Zion, the inheritances which you have purchased with your
moneys; for every man that giveth not up his inheritance, though
he should die, yet, when the Lord shall come, he shall stand upon
it, and with Job, in his flesh he shall see God. Therefore, this is
my counsel, that you retain your lands, even unto the uttermost,
and employ every lawful means to seek redress of your enemies; and
pray to God, day and night, to return you in peace and in safety to
the lands of your inheritance: and when the judge fail you, appeal
unto the executive; and when the executive fail you, appeal unto
the president; and when the president fail you, and all laws fail
you, and the humanity of the people fail you, and all things else
fail you but God alone, and you continue to weary Him with your
importunings, as the poor woman did the unjust judge, He will not
fail to execute judgment upon your enemies, and to avenge His own
elect that cry unto Him day and night.
Behold, He will not fail you! He will come with ten thousand of His
Saints, and all His adversaries shall be destroyed with the breath
of His lips! All those who keep their inheritances, notwithstanding
they should be beaten and driven, shall be likened unto the
wise virgins who took oil in their lamps. But all those who are
unbelieving and fearful, will be likened unto the foolish virgins,
who took no oil in their lamps: and when they shall return and say
unto the Saints, Give us of your lands--behold, there will be no
room found for them. As respects giving deeds, I would advise you
to give deeds as far as the brethren have legal and just claims for
them, and then let every man answer to God for the disposal of them.
I would suggest some ideas to Elder Phelps, not knowing that they
will be of any real benefit, but suggest them for consideration. I
would be glad if he were here, were it possible for him to come,
but dare not advise, not knowing what shall befall us, as we are
under very heavy and serious threatenings from a great many people
in this place.
But, perhaps, the people in Liberty may feel willing, God having
power to soften the hearts of all men, to have a press established
there; and if not, in some other place; any place where it can
be the most {456} convenient, and it is possible to get to it;
God will be willing to have it in any place where it can be
established in safety. We must be wise as serpents and harmless as
doves. Again, I desire that Elder Phelps should collect all the
information, and give us a true history of the beginning and rise
of Zion, and her calamities.
Now hear the prayer of your unworthy brother in the new and
everlasting covenant:--O My God! Thou who hast called and chosen
a few, through Thy weak instrument, by commandment, and sent them
to Missouri, a place which Thou didst call Zion, and commanded Thy
servants to consecrate it unto Thyself for a place of refuge and
safety for the gathering of Thy Saints, to be built up a holy city
unto Thyself; and as Thou hast said that no other place should be
appointed like unto this, therefore, I ask Thee in the name of
Jesus Christ, to return Thy people unto their houses and their
inheritances, to enjoy the fruit of their labors; that all the
waste places may be built up; that all the enemies of Thy people,
who will not repent and turn unto Thee may be destroyed from off
the face of the land; and let a house be built and established unto
Thy name; and let all the losses that Thy people have sustained, be
rewarded unto them, even more than four-fold, that the borders of
Zion may be enlarged forever; and let her be established no more to
be thrown down; and let all thy Saints, when they are scattered,
as sheep, and are persecuted, flee unto Zion, and be established
in the midst of her; and let her be organized according to Thy
law; and let this prayer ever be recorded before Thy face. Give
Thy Holy Spirit unto my brethren, unto whom I write; send Thine
angels to guard them, and deliver them from all evil; and when they
turn their faces toward Zion, and bow down before Thee and pray,
may their sins never come up before Thy face, neither have place
in the book of Thy remembrance; and may they depart from all their
iniquities. Provide food for them as Thou doest for the ravens;
provide clothing to cover their nakedness, and houses that they may
dwell therein; give unto them friends in abundance, and let their
names be recorded in the Lamb's book of life, eternally before Thy
face. Amen.
Finally, brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all until His coming in His kingdom. Amen.
Joseph Smith, Jun.
[Sidenote: Expulsion of Saints from Van Buren County.]
_December 12_.--An express arrived at Liberty, from Van Buren county,
with information that those families, which had fled from Jackson
county, and located there, were about to be driven from that county,
after building their houses and carting {457} their winter's store of
provisions, grain, etc., forty or fifty miles. Several families are
already fleeing from thence. The contaminating influence of the Jackson
county mob, is predominant in this new county of Van Buren, the whole
population of which is estimated at about thirty or forty families. The
destruction of crops, household furniture, and clothing, is very great,
and much of their stock is lost. The main body of the Church is now in
Clay county, where the people are as kind and accommodating as could
reasonably be expected. The continued threats of deaths to individuals
of the Church, if they make their appearance in Jackson County, prevent
the most of them, even at this day, from returning to that county, to
secure personal property, which they were obliged to leave in their
flight.
[Sidenote: Sad Condition of the Saints.]
The following is an extract of a letter to me, from Elder Phelps,
dated--
Clay County, Missouri.
December 15, 1833.
The condition of the scattered Saints is lamentable, and affords
a gloomy prospect. No regular order can be enforced, nor any
usual discipline kept up; among the world, yea, the most wicked
part of it, some commit one sin, and some another (I speak of
the rebellious, for there are Saints that are as immovable as
the everlasting hills), and what can be done? We are in Clay,
Ray, Lafayette, Jackson, Van Buren and other counties, and cannot
hear from one another oftener than we do from you. I know it was
right that we should be driven out of the land of Zion, that the
rebellious might be sent away. But, brethren, if the Lord will, I
should like to know what the honest in heart shall do? Our clothes
are worn out; we want the necessaries of life, and shall we lease,
buy, or otherwise obtain land where we are, to till, that we may
raise enough to eat? Such is the common language of the honest, for
they want to do the will of God. I am sensible that we shall not be
able to live again in Zion, till God or the President rules out the
mob.
The Governor is willing to restore us, but as the constitution
gives him no power to guard us when back, we are not willing to go.
The mob swear if we come we shall die! If, from what has been done
in Zion, we, or the most of us, have got to be persecuted from city
to city, {458} and from synagogue to synagogue, we want to know it;
for there are those among us that would rather earn eternal life on
such conditions than lose it; but we hope for better things, and
shall wait patiently for the word of the Lord.
Our people fare very well, and when they are discreet, little or
no persecution is felt. The militia in the upper counties is in
readiness at a moment's warning, having been ordered out by the
Governor, to guard a court martial and court of inquiry; but we
cannot attend a court of inquiry, on account of expense, till we
are restored and protected.
(Signed) W. W. Phelps.
_December 16_.--I received the following:
_Revelation_. [3]
1. Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been
afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their
inheritance,
2. I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them,
wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their
transgressions;
3. Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I
shall come to make up my jewels.
4. Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as
Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son;
5. For all those who will not endure chastening but deny me, cannot
be sanctified.
6. Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions,
and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among
them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.
7. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God,
therefore the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers,
to answer them in the day of their trouble.
8. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but,
in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.
9. Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are
filled with compassion towards them: I will not utterly cast them
off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.
10. I have sworn, and the decree hath gone forth by a former
commandment which I have given unto you, that I would let fall the
sword of mine indignation in behalf of my people; and even as I
have said, it shall come to pass.
{459} 11. Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure
upon all nations, and this will I do when the cup of their iniquity
is full.
12. And in that day all who are found upon the watch tower, or in
other words, all mine Israel, shall be saved.
13. And they that have been scattered shall be gathered;
14. And all they who have mourned shall be comforted;
15. And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be
crowned.
16. Therefore let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all
flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.
17. Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her
children are scattered;
18. They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and
come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of
everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion;
19. And all these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.
20. And, behold, there is none other place appointed than that
which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other place
appointed than that which I have appointed, for the work of the
gathering of my Saints,
21. Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them;
and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and
they shall be called Stakes, for the curtains or the strength of
Zion.
22. Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and
worship me according to mine everlasting Gospel, should gather
together and stand in holy places,
23. And prepare for the revelation which is to come, when the veil
of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the
earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together.
24. And every corruptible thing, both of man, or of the beasts of
the field, or of the fowls of the heavens, or of the fish of the
sea, that dwells upon all the face of the earth, shall be consumed;
25. And also that of element shall melt with fervent heat; and all
things shall become new, that my knowledge and glory may dwell upon
all the earth.
26. And in that day the enmity of man, and the enmity of beasts,
yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face.
27. And in that day whatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given
unto him.
28. And in that day Satan shall not have power to tempt any man.
29. And there shall be no sorrow because there is no death.
30. In that day an infant shall not die until he is old, and his
life shall be as the age of a tree.
{460} 31. And when he dies he shall not sleep (that is to say in
the earth), but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and
shall be caught up, and his rest shall be glorious:
32. Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall
come, He shall reveal all things--
33. Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man
knew--things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose
and the end thereof--
34. Things most precious--things that are above, and things that
are beneath--things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and
in heaven.
35. And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in
faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake,
yet shall they partake of all this glory.
36. Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy
is not full, but in me your joy is full.
37. Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body;
but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul;
38. And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may
possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.
39. When men are called unto mine everlasting Gospel, and covenant
with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the
earth, and the savor of men;
40. They are called to be the savor of men. Therefore, if that salt
of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for
nothing, only to be cast out, and trodden under the feet of men.
41. Behold, here is wisdom concerning the children of Zion, even
many, but not all; they were found transgressors, therefore they
must needs be chastened.
42. He that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that abaseth
himself shall be exalted.
43. And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my
will concerning the redemption of Zion.
44. A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said
unto his servants, Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very
choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees,
45. And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one
may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower,
that mine olive trees may not be broken down, when the enemy shall
come to spoil and take unto themselves the fruit of my vineyard.
46. Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord
commanded them; and planted the olive trees, and built a hedge
round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.
{461} 47. And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof,
they began to say among themselves, And what need hath my lord of
this tower?
48. And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves, What
need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?
49. Might not this money be given to the exchanges? for there is no
need of these things!
50. And while they were at variance one with another they became
very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of
their lord,
51. And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge, and the
servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and
the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.
52. Now behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon
his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this
great evil?
53. Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and--after
ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and
set watchmen upon the walls thereof,--built the tower also, and set
a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not
have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?
54. And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the
enemy while he was yet afar off, and then ye could have made ready
and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved
my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.
55. And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants, Go
and gather together the residue of my servants, and take all the
strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and
they that are of middle-age also among all my servants, who are the
strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to
tarry;
56. And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem
my vineyard, for it is mine, I have bought it with money.
57. Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the
walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their
watchmen.
58. And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of
mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine
house, and possess the land.
59. And the servant said unto his lord, When shall these things be?
60. And he said unto his servant: When I will; go ye straightway,
and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;
{462} 61. And this shall be my seal and blessing upon you--a
faithful and wise steward in the midst of mine house, a ruler in my
kingdom.
62. And his servant went straightway, and did all things whatsoever
his lord commanded him, and after many days all things were
fulfilled.
63. Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in
me concerning all the churches, inasmuch as they are willing to be
guided in a right and proper way for their salvation,
64. That the work of the gathering together of my Saints may
continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon holy places;
for the time of harvest is come, and my word must needs be
fulfilled.
65. Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the
parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured
in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with
celestial glory when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father, to
reward every man according as his work shall be,
66. While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and the their bands
made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire.
67. Therefore, a commandment I give unto all the churches, that
they shall continue to gather together unto the places which I have
appointed;
68. Nevertheless, as I have said unto you in a former commandment,
let not your gathering be in haste, nor by flight; but let all
things be prepared before you:
69. And in order that all things be prepared before you, observe
the commandment which I have given concerning these things,
70. Which saith, or teacheth, to purchase all the lands with
money, which can be purchased for money, in the region round about
the land which I have appointed to be the land of Zion, for the
beginning of the gathering of my Saints;
71. All the land which can be purchased in Jackson county, and the
counties round about, and leave the residue in mine hand.
72. Now, verily I say unto you, let all the churches gather
together all their monies; let these things be done in their time,
but not in haste; and observe to have all things prepared before
you.
73. And let honorable men be appointed, even wise men, and send
them to purchase these lands;
74. And the churches in the eastern counties; when they are built
up, if they will harken unto this counsel, they may buy lands and
gather together upon them, and in this way they may establish Zion.
75. There is even now already in store sufficient, yea, even an
abundance, to redeem Zion, and establish her waste places, no more
to {463} be thrown down, were the churches, who call themselves
after my name, willing to hearken to my voice.
76. And again I say unto you, those who have been scattered by
their enemies, it is my will that they should continue to importune
for redress, and redemption, by the hands of those who are placed
as rulers, and are in authority over you,
77. According to the laws and constitution of the people which I
have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the
rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy
principles,
78. That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to
futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto
him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day
of judgment.
79. Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage
one to another.
80. And for this purpose have I established the constitution of
this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very
purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.
81. Now, unto what shall I liken the children of Zion? I will liken
them unto the parable of the woman and the unjust judge (for men
ought always to pray and not to faint) which saith,
82. There was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither
regarded man.
83. And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him,
saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
84. And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within
himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this
widow troubleth me I will avenge her, lest, by her continual coming
she weary me.
85. Thus will I liken the children of Zion.
86. Let them importune at the feet of the Judge;
87. And if he heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the
Governor;
88. And if the Governor heed them not, let them importune at the
feet of the President;
89. And if the President heed them not, then will the Lord arise
and come forth out of His hiding place, and in His fury vex the
nation,
90. And in His hot displeasure, and in His fierce anger, in His
time, will cut off those wicked, unfaithful, and unjust stewards,
and appoint them their portion among hypocrites, and unbelievers;
91. Even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing,
and gnashing of teeth.
92. Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your
{464} cries, that I may be merciful unto them, that these things
may not come upon them.
93. What I have said unto you, must needs be, that all men may be
left without excuse;
94. That wise men and rulers may hear and know that which they have
never considered;
95. That I may proceed to bring to pass my act, my strange act, and
perform my work, my strange work, that men may discern between the
righteous and the wicked, saith your God.
96. And again, I say unto you, it is contrary to my commandment,
and my will that my servant Sidney Gilbert, should sell my
storehouse, which I have appointed unto my people, into the hands
of mine enemies.
97. Let not that which I have appointed be polluted by mine
enemies, by the consent of those who call themselves after my name;
98. For this is a very sore and grievous sin against me, and
against my people, in consequence of those things which I have
decreed and which are soon to befall the nations.
99. Therefore, it is my will that my people should claim, and hold
claim upon that which I have appointed unto them, though they
should not be permitted to dwell thereon;
100. Nevertheless, I do not say they shall not dwell thereon; for
inasmuch as they bring forth fruit and works meet for my kingdom,
they shall dwell thereon;
101. They shall build, and another shall not inherit it; they shall
plant vineyards, and they shall eat the fruit thereof. Even so.
Amen.
Footnotes
1. This letter was, as will be seen by the text of it, written after
the first definite and detailed account of what had taken place in
Missouri reached the Prophet's hand. We know of nothing written by him
that better manifests the nobility of his soul, or the gentle sympathy
of his nature, than this communication.
2. Page 191, verses 3 and 4.
3. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. ci. The revelation explains why the
Saints were driven from Zion.
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