My visit to Salt Lake City--Introduction to Brigham Young--ordained a
Seventy--Judge Brochus' Speech.
My health became entirely restored. After coming to Provo I worked
wherever there was a demand for help, and after harvest was over I
concluded to go to Salt Lake City to have a rest and play the gentleman
for awhile. This did not last long. I arrived one Saturday, spent
Sunday in the city and on Monday morning started for a stroll through
town, met an acquaintance, Lyman Woods from Provo, and stood talking to
him in the street, when we were approached by a man who enquired of my
friend, if he knew of anyone he could get to help harvest twenty acres
of late wheat. He seemed anxious, saying he could find no one, and that
his wheat was going to waste. I told him I would help him. He looked at
me a moment, then said he wanted a man who could follow him, and rake
and bind what he cut. I replied that I could do it. Still looking at
me he commenced laughing and said, "Well, you will have to change your
clothing anyway." My friend then introduced me to Mr. Edmund Ellsworth,
President Young's son-in-law, and told him I was a good worker. Brother
Ellsworth told me to get ready and come on. I soon changed to buckskin
pants and hickory shirt and returned. He remarked, "You will do now." I
had never till this time thought dress made any difference in a man's
looks in regard to work. We finished up the wheat and returned to town.
On Saturday after supper. Brother Ellsworth said, "We will now go and
see Brother Brigham, who lives opposite, in the white house." I asked
him to wait until I changed my clothes. This he would not allow, but
insisted I should go as I was, adding that Brother Brigham did not
judge a man by his dress. I went and can say I was completely won by
President Young's manner. He asked me a great many questions, and I
was satisfied that he did not doubt my sincerity. He gave me a note
to Brother Joseph Young, directing him to ordain me a Seventy, saying
that he wanted me to preach the gospel wherever I had an opportunity,
especially to the people speaking the Spanish language. I went and was
ordained September 8th, 1851, by Joseph Young.
I remained in the city some time boarding with Brother Ellsworth. I was
present at the meeting where Judge Brochus delivered his famous speech,
in which he applied to the women of Utah for a block for the Washington
monument, telling them that before they contributed to so glorious a
work they must become virtuous, and teach their daughters to become
so. I sat and listened, looking at Brother Brigham who sat perfectly
still with his mouth twisted a little to one side. Beginning to lose my
respect for him and Mormons generally, I spoke to a man sitting next
to me. Brother Everett, telling him I would not allow such talk, if I
had a wife or mother there; that I would kick Brochus out of the stand.
Brother Everett, being more patient, told me to wait. When Brother
Brigham arose and answered Brochus, I understood why nothing had been
said to interfere with his speech. Brochus was given full liberty to
"empty himself." Then he got his dose, which so frightened him that he
and his companions left for the States in a few days. No one threatened
him or his associates, but he was simply told what he was and who the
people were that listened to his abuse. This did him up entirely.