THE ANCIENT ORDER OF BLESSINGS--THE PROPHET'S FATHER--THE
PATRIARCH'S MOTHER--HIS FATHER--KIRTLAND HIGH SCHOOL--APOSTASY AND
PERSECUTION--EXODUS OF THE CHURCH.
Concerning affairs at Kirtland subsequent to the dedication of the
temple, and people and incidents of those times, Eliza R. Snow
continues: With the restoration of the fullness of the gospel came
also the ancient order of patriarchal blessings. Each father, holding
the priesthood, stands as a patriarch, at the head of his family,
with invested right and power to bless his household, and to predict
concerning the future, on the heads of his children, as did Jacob of
old.
Inasmuch as many fathers have died without having conferred those
blessings, God, in the order of his kingdom, has made provisions to
supply the deficiency, by choosing men to officiate as patriarchs,
whose province it is to bless the fatherless. Joseph Smith, Sr., was
ordained to this office, and held the position of first patriarch in
the church. He was also, by appointment, president of the Kirtland
stake of Zion, consequently the first presiding officer in all general
meetings for worship.
A few words descriptive of this noble man may not be deemed amiss
in this connection. Of a fine physique, he was more than ordinarily
prepossessing in personal appearance. His kind, affable, dignified and
unassuming manner naturally inspired strangers with feelings of love
and reverence. To me he was the veritable personification of my idea of
the ancient Father Abraham.
In his decisions he was strictly just; what can be said of very
few, may be truly said of him, in judging between man and man: his
judgment could not be biased by either personal advantage, sympathy,
or affection. Such a man was worthy of being the father of the first
prophet of the last dispensation; while his amiable and affectionate
consort, Mother Lucy Smith, was as worthy of being the mother. Of her
faith, faithfulness and untiring efforts in labors of love and duty,
until she was broken down by the weight of years and sorrow, too much
cannot be said.
I was present, on the 17th of May, when a messenger arrived and
informed the prophet Joseph that his grandmother, Mary Duty Smith, had
arrived at Fairport, on her way to Kirtland, and wished him to come for
her. The messenger stated that she said she had asked the Lord that she
might live to see her children and grandchildren once more. The prophet
responded with earnestness, "I wish she had set the time longer." I
pondered in silence over this remark, thinking there might be more
meaning in the expression than the words indicated, which was proven by
the result, for she only lived a few days after her arrival. She was in
the ninety-fourth year of her age--in appearance not over seventy-five.
She had not been baptized, on account of the opposition of her oldest
son, Jesse, who was a bitter enemy to the work. She said to Mother Lucy
Smith, "I am going to have your Joseph baptize me, and my Joseph (the
patriarch) bless me."
Her husband, Israel Smith, died in St. Lawrence county, New York, after
having received the Book of Mormon, and read it nearly through. He had,
long before, predicted that a prophet would be raised up in his family,
and was satisfied that his grandson was that prophet. The venerable
widow was also well assured of the fact.
The next day after her arrival at the house of the prophet, where she
was welcomed with every manifestation of kindness and affection, her
children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren--all who were residents
of Kirtland, and two of her sons, who arrived with her--came together
to enjoy with her a social family meeting; and a happy one it was--a
season of pure reciprocal conviviality, in which her buoyancy of spirit
greatly augmented the general joy. Let the reader imagine for a moment
this aged matron, surrounded by her four sons, Joseph, Asael, Silas
and John, all of them, as well as several of her grandsons, upwards
of six feet in height, with a score of great-grandchildren of various
sizes intermixed; surely the sight was not an uninteresting one. To her
it was very exciting--too much so for her years. Feverish symptoms,
which were apparent on the following day, indicated that her nervous
system had been overtaxed. She took her bed, and survived but a few
days. I was with her, and saw her calmly fall asleep. About ten minutes
before she expired, she saw a group of angels in the room; and pointing
towards them she exclaimed, "O, how beautiful! but they do not speak."
It would seem that they were waiting to escort her spirit to its bright
abode.
But to return to the temple. After its dedication, the "Kirtland High
School" was taught in the attic story, by H. M. Hawes, professor of
Greek and Latin. The school numbered from one hundred and thirty to
one hundred and forty students, divided into three departments--the
classics, where only languages were taught; the English department,
where mathematics, common arithmetic, geography, English grammar,
reading and writing were taught; and the juvenile department. The
two last were under assistant instructors. The school was commenced
in November, 1836, and the progress of the several classes, on
examinations before trustees of the school, parents and guardians, was
found to be of the highest order.
Not only did the Almighty manifest his acceptance of that house, at
its dedication, but an abiding holy heavenly influence was realized;
and many extraordinary manifestations of his power were experienced on
subsequent occasions. Not only were angels often seen within, but a
pillar of light was several times seen resting down upon the roof.
Besides being devoted to general meetings for worship and the
celebration of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week, the
temple was occupied by crowded assemblies on the first Thursday in each
month, that day being observed strictly, by the Latter-day Saints, as a
day of fasting and prayer. These, called fast-meetings, were hallowed
and interesting beyond the power of language to describe. Many, many
were the pentecostal seasons of the outpouring of the spirit of God
on those days, manifesting the gifts of the gospel and the power of
healing, prophesying, speaking in tongues, the interpretation of
tongues, etc. I have there seen the lame man, on being administered to,
throw aside his crutches and walk home perfectly healed; and not only
were the lame made to walk, but the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the
dumb to speak, and evil spirits to depart.
On those fast days, the curtains, or veils, mentioned in a preceding
chapter, which intersected at right angles, were dropped, dividing the
house into four equal parts. Each of these sections had a presiding
officer, and the meeting in each section was conducted as though no
other were in the building, which afforded opportunity for four persons
to occupy the same time. These meetings commenced early in the day
and continued without intermission till four P.M. One hour previous
to dismissal, the veils were drawn up and the four congregations
brought together, and the people who, in the forepart of the day were
instructed to spend much of the time in prayer, and to speak, sing and
pray, mostly in our own language, lest a spirit of enthusiasm should
creep in, were permitted, after the curtains were drawn, to speak or
sing in tongues, prophesy, pray, interpret tongues, exhort or preach,
however they might feel moved upon to do. Then the united faith of the
saints brought them into close fellowship with the spirits of the just,
and earth and heaven seemed in close proximity.
On fast days, Father Smith's constant practice was to repair to the
temple very early, and offer up his prayers before sunrise, and there
await the coming of the people; and so strictly disciplined himself
in the observance of fasting, as not even to wet his lips with water
until after the dismissal of the meeting at four P.M. One morning,
when he opened meeting, he prayed fervently that the spirit of the
Most High might be poured out as it was at Jerusalem, on the day of
pentecost--that it might come "like a mighty rushing wind." It was not
long before it did come, to the astonishment of all, and filled the
house. It appeared as though the old gentleman had forgotten what he
had prayed for. When it came, he was greatly surprised, and exclaimed,
"What! is the house on fire?"
While the faithful saints were enjoying those supernal privileges, "the
accuser of the brethren" did not sleep. Apostasy, with its poisonous
fangs, crept into the hearts of some who but a few months before were
in quorum meetings, when heavenly hosts appeared; and where, in all
humility of soul, they united with their brethren in sublime shouts of
hosanna to God and the Lamb. And now, full of pride and self-conceit,
they join hands with our enemies and take the lead in mobocracy against
the work which they had advocated with all the energies of their souls.
What a strange and fearful metamorphosis! How suddenly people become
debased when, having grieved away the spirit of God, the opposite takes
possession of their hearts! We read that angels have fallen, and that
one of our Saviour's chosen twelve was Judas, the traitor. Inasmuch
as the same causes produce the same effects in all ages, it is no
wonder that Joseph Smith, in introducing the same principles, should
have to suffer what was to the philosophic Paul the greatest of all
trials--that among false brethren.
Illegal, vexatious lawsuits, one after another, were successively
instituted, and the leading officers of the church dragged into court,
creating great annoyance and expenditure. This not being sufficient to
satisfy the greed of persecution, the lives of some of the brethren
were sought, and they left Kirtland, and sought safety in the West.
At this time my father was residing one mile south of the temple. About
twelve o'clock one bitter cold night he was startled by a knock at the
door, and who should enter but Father Smith, the patriarch! A State's
warrant had been served on him for an alleged crime, and the officer in
whose custody he was placed, although an enemy to the church, knowing
the old gentleman to be innocent, had preconcerted a stratagem by which
he had been let down from a window in the room to which he had taken
him, ostensibly for private consultation but purposely to set him at
liberty, having previously prepared a way by which he could reach the
ground uninjured. He also told him where to go for safety, directing
him to my father's house. The officer returned to the court-room as
though Father Smith followed in the rear, when, on a sudden, he looked
back, and not seeing his prisoner, he hurried back to the private room,
examining every point, and returned in great apparent amazement and
confusion, declaring that the prisoner had gone in an unaccountable
manner, saying, ludicrously, "This, gentlemen, is another Mormon
miracle." No vigorous search was made--all must have been convinced
that the proceedings were as unjust as illegal. To return to my
father's house: We were proud of our guest, and all of the family took
pleasure in anticipating and supplying his wants. He remained with us
two weeks, and in the meantime settled up all his business matters,
and, having been joined by his youngest son, Don Carlos, and five other
brethren, whose lives had been threatened, he bade a final adieu to
Kirtland, at one hour past midnight, on the 21st of December, 1837. The
night was intensely cold, but, as they had no conveyance except one
horse, they had sufficient walking exercise to prevent freezing. They
found a few Latter-day Saints in a southern county of Ohio, where they
stayed till spring, when they left for Missouri.
The pressure of opposition increased, and before spring the prophet and
his brother Hyrum had to leave; and, in the spring and summer of 1838,
the most of the church followed; leaving our homes, and our sacred,
beautiful temple, the sanctuary of the Lord God of Hosts.