STUDYING GRAMMAR--MEET ELDER PATTEN--GLORIOUS NEWS--LABOR WITH A. O.
SMOOT--TURNED OUT OF A MEETING HOUSE BY A BAPTIST PREACHER--PREACH IN
THE OPEN AIR--GOOD RESULT--ADVENTURE ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER--A NOVEL
CHARGE TO ARREST AND CONDEMN MEN UPON--MOB POISON OUR HORSES.
I spent the fore part of January, 1836, (the weather being very cold)
at the house of A. O. Smoot, in Kentucky, studying Kirkham's English
Grammar. I continued to travel and preach in Kentucky and Tennessee and
baptized all that would believe my testimony.
On the 26th of February we held a conference at the house of Brother
Lewis Clapp (father of B. L. Clapp). There were represented one hundred
and three members in that mission. I ordained A. O. Smoot and Benjamin
Boyston Elders, and Daniel Thomas and Benjamin L. Clapp Priests. I also
ordained one Teacher and two Deacons.
After conference I took Brothers Smoot and Clapp with me to preach.
The former traveled with me constantly till the 21st of April, when
we had the privilege of meeting with Elder David W. Patten, who had
come direct from Kirtland, and who had been ordained one of the Twelve
Apostles.
It was a happy meeting. He gave us an account of the endowments at
Kirtland, the glorious blessings received, the ministration of angels,
the organization of the Twelve Apostles and Seventies, and informed me
that I was appointed a member of the second quorum of Seventies. All of
this was glorious news to me, and caused my heart to rejoice.
On the 27th of May we were joined by Elder Warren Parrish, direct from
Kirtland. We had a happy time together.
On the 28th, we held a conference at Brother Seth Utley's, where were
represented all the branches of the Church in the South.
I was ordained on the 31st of May a member of the second quorum of
Seventies under the hands of David W. Patten and Warren Parrish.
At the close of the conference we separated for a short time. Elders
Patten and Parrish labored in Tennessee, Brother Smoot and myself in
Kentucky. On the 9th of June we all met at Damon Creek branch, where
Brother Patten baptized two. One was Father Henry Thomas, who had been
a revolutionary soldier under General Washington, and father of Daniel
and Henry Thomas.
A warrant was issued, on the oath of a priest, against D. W. Patten, W.
Parrish and myself. We were accused in the warrant of the great "crime"
of testifying that Christ would come in this generation, and that we
promised the Holy Ghost to those whom we baptized. Brothers Patten and
Parrish were taken on the 19th of June. I being in another county,
escaped being arrested. The brethren were put under two thousand
dollars bond to appear at court. Albert Petty and Seth Utley were their
bondsmen.
They were tried on the 22nd of June. They pleaded their own cause.
Although men came forward and testified they did receive the Holy Ghost
after they were baptized, the brethren were condemned; but were finally
released by paying the expense of the mob court.
There was one peculiar circumstance connected with this trial by a mob
court, which was armed to the teeth. When the trial was through with,
the people were not willing to permit more than one to speak. Warren
Parrish had said but few words, and they were not willing to let David
Patten speak. But he, feeling the injustice of the court, and being
filled with the power of God, arose to his feet and delivered a speech
of about twenty minutes, holding them spell-bound while he told them of
their wickedness and the abominations that they were guilty of, also of
the curse of God that awaited them, if they did not repent, for taking
up two harmless, inoffensive men for preaching the gospel of Christ.
When he got through his speech the judge said, "You must be armed with
secret weapons, or you would not talk in this fearless manner to an
armed court."
Brother Patten replied: "I have weapons that you know not of, and they
are given me of God, for He gives me all the power I have."
The judge seemed willing to get rid of them almost upon any terms, and
offered to dismiss them if their friends would pay the costs, which the
brethren present freely offered to do.
When the two were released, they mounted their horses and rode a mile
to Seth Utley's; but, as soon as they had left, the court became
ashamed that they had been let go so easily and the whole mob mounted
their horses to follow them to Utley's.
One of the Saints, seeing the state of affairs, went on before the mob
to notify the brethren, so that they had time to ride into the woods
near by.
They traveled along about three miles to Brother Albert Petty's, and
went to bed. The night was dark, and they went to sleep.
But Brother Patten was warned in a dream to get up and flee, as the mob
would soon be there. They both arose, saddled their animals, and rode
into the adjoining county.
The house they had just left was soon surrounded by the mob, but the
brethren had escaped through the mercy of God.
I was invited to hold a meeting at a Baptist meeting-house on the 27th
of June. On my arrival I met a large congregation; but, on commencing
meeting, Parson Browning ordered the meeting to be closed. I told the
people I had come ten miles to preach the gospel to them, and was
willing to stand in a cart, on a pile of wood, on a fence, or any other
place they would appoint, to have that privilege.
One man said he owned the fence and land in front of the meeting-house,
and we might use both, for he did not believe "Mormonism" would hurt
either.
So the congregation crossed the road, took down the fence and made
seats of it, and I preached to them one hour and a half. At the close
Mr. Randolph Alexander bore testimony to the truth of what had been
said. He invited me home with him, bought a Book of Mormon, and was
baptized, and I organized a branch in that place.
On the 18th of July, Brother A. O. Smoot and I arrived at a ferry on
the Tennessee river, and, as the ferryman was not at home, the woman
kindly gave us permission to use the ferryboat. We led our horses on
board, and took the oars to cross the river. Brother Smoot had never
used an oar, and I had not for some years, so we made awkward work of
it. Soon he broke one oar, and I let another fall overboard, which
left us only one broken oar to get to shore with. We narrowly escaped
running into a steamboat. We struck shore half a mile below the landing
place, tied up the boat, jumped on the bank with our horses, and went
on our way with blistered hands, thankful to get off so well.
On Sunday, the 31st of July, A. O. Smoot and I preached at Mr. David
Crider's, Weakly County, Tennessee. After the meeting Mr. Crider was
baptized. A mob gathered and threatened us, and poisoned our horses so
that the one I rode, belonging to Samuel West, died a few days after.
This horse had carried me thousands of miles while preaching the gospel.
I continued to travel with Brothers Smoot, Patten and Parrish in
Tennessee and Kentucky, and we baptized all who would receive our
testimony.
On the 2nd day of September we held a general conference at the Damon
Creek Branch. Elder Thomas B. Marsh President of the Twelve Apostles,
presided. All the branches in Tennessee and Kentucky were represented.
Brothers Randolph Alexander, Benjamin L. Clapp and Johnson F. Lane
were ordained Elders and Lindsay Bradey was ordained to the lesser
Priesthood.
I assisted President Marsh to obtain fifteen hundred dollars from
the Southern brethren, to enter land in Missouri for the Church. The
brethren made me a present of fifty dollars, which I sent by President
Marsh to enter forty acres of land for me. Elder Smoot and I were
released from the Southern mission with permission to go to Kirtland.