I VISIT JOSEPH AT HARMONY--REVELATION CONCERNING THE
SACRAMENT--PERSECUTIONS AT HARMONY--THE BRETHREN VISIT ME--GOD BLINDS
THE EYES OF THEIR ENEMIES--THE PROPHET MOVES TO FAYETTE--FALSE
REVELATION--BOGUS STONE--FALSE DOCTRINE OVERCOME--HYRUM SMITH VISITS
ME--I LABOR IN THE MINISTRY WITH HIM--MY AUNT'S AFFLICTION--REMARKABLE
MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S POWER.
In the beginning of August I, in company with my wife, went to make a
visit to Brother Joseph Smith, Jun., who then resided at Harmony, Penn.
We found him and his wife well, and in good spirits. We had a happy
meeting. It truly gave me joy to again behold his face. As neither
Emma, the wife of Joseph Smith, nor my wife had been confirmed, we
concluded to attend to that holy ordinance at this time, and also to
partake of the sacrament, before we should leave for home. In order
to prepare for this, Brother Joseph set out to procure some wine for
the occasion, but he had gone only a short distance, when he was met
by a heavenly messenger, and received the first four verses of the
revelation given on page 138, of the Doctrine and Covenants (new
edition), the remainder being given in the September following at,
Fayette, New York.
In obedience to this revelation we prepared some wine of our own make,
and held our meeting, consisting of only five persons namely, Joseph
Smith and wife, John Whitmer, and myself and wife. We partook of the
sacrament, after which we confirmed the two sisters into the Church,
and spent the evening in a glorious manner. The Spirit of the Lord
was poured out upon us. We praised the God of Israel and rejoiced
exceedingly.
About this time the spirit of persecution began to manifest itself
against us in the neighborhood where Joseph lived, which was commenced
by a man of the Methodist persuasion who professed to be a minister
of God. And so crafty was he, that he succeeded in influencing Mr.
Hale, father-in-law to Joseph, so that he would no longer give him
protection, although he had promised to do so.
Brother Joseph intended visiting the Saints at Colesville on Saturday
the 21st of August, and on my return, arrangements were made for the
brethren and sisters to meet on that day, if possible, without letting
our enemies know anything about it. But Brother Joseph was prevented
from keeping his engagement on this occasion, but wrote a letter in
which he explained the cause of his not coming: the conveyance in which
he intended to make the journey did not arrive from "the west;" and
the distance was too great to walk. He exhorted the Saints, in a very
excellent letter to remain faithful and true to God, and prophesied
that the wrath of God should soon overtake their wicked persecutors.
On the 29th, however, Brothers Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and John and
David Whitmer came to fill the before-mentioned appointment to hold
meeting and to confirm those who had been baptized in June previous.
As they well knew the hostilities of our enemies in their quarter,
and also knowing it was their duty to visit us, they called upon
our Heavenly Father in mighty prayer that He would grant them an
opportunity of meeting with us; that He would blind the eyes of their
enemies that they might not see, and that on this occasion they might
return unmolested. Their prayers were not in vain. A little distance
from my house they encountered a large company of men at work upon the
public road, among whom were found some of our most bitter enemies who
looked earnestly at the brethren but not knowing them, the brethren
passed on unmolested.
That evening the Saints assembled together and were confirmed, and
partook of the sacrament. We had a happy meeting, having much reason to
rejoice in the God of our salvation, and sing hosannas to His Holy name.
Next morning the brethren set out on their return home, and although
their enemies had offered a reward to any one who would give
information of their arrival at our place, they got clear out of the
neighborhood, without the least annoyance, and arrived home in safety.
It was not long, however, after the brethren had left us, when the mob
began to collect together and threatened and abused us in the most
shameful and disgusting manner during the remainder of the day.
Soon after this I took my team and wagon to Harmony to move Joseph
and his family to Fayette, New York. Mr. Whitmer having heard of the
persecutions which had been raised against Joseph in Harmony, had
invited the prophet to go and live with him. About the last of August,
Joseph arrived at Fayette amid the joy and congratulations of friends
and brethren.
Our business affairs did not suffer materially although we had met with
so much opposition and persecution, and we were still able to live and
aid the work of God.
After arranging my affairs at home, I again set out for Fayette, to
attend our second conference, which had been appointed to be held at
Father Whitmer's, where Joseph then resided. On my arrival I found
Brother Joseph in great distress of mind on account of Hyrum Page, who
had managed to get up some dissension of feeling among the brethren
by giving revelations concerning the government of the Church and
other matters, which he claimed to nave received through the medium
of a stone he possessed. He had quite a roll of papers full of these
revelations, and many in the Church were led astray by them. Even
Oliver Cowdery and the Whitmer family had given heed to them, although
they were in contradiction to the New Testament and the revelations of
these last days. Here was a chance for Satan to work among the little
flock, and he sought by this means to accomplish what persecution
failed to do. Joseph was perplexed and scarcely knew how to meet this
new exigency. That night I occupied the same room that he did and the
greater part of the night was spent in prayer and supplication. After
much labor with these brethren they were convinced of their error, and
confessed the same, renouncing the revelations as not being of God,
but acknowledged that Satan had conspired to overthrow their belief
in the true plan of salvation. In consequence of these things Joseph
enquired of the Lord before conference commenced and received the
revelation published on page 140 of the Doctrine and Covenants, wherein
God explicitly states His mind and will concerning the receiving of
revelation.
Conference having assembled, the first thing done was to consider
the subject of the stone in connection with Hyrum Page, and after
considerable investigation and discussion, Brother Page and all the
members of the Church present renounced the stone, and the revelations
connected with it, much to our joy and satisfaction. The sacrament was
then administered, a number were confirmed, many were ordained, and a
great variety of Church business was transacted.
During this time we had much of the power of God manifested among us
and it was wonderful to witness the wisdom that Joseph displayed on
this occasion, for truly God gave unto him great wisdom and power,
and it seems to me, even now, that none who saw him administer
righteousness under such trying circumstances, could doubt that the
Lord was with him, as he acted--not with the wisdom of man, but with
the wisdom of God. The Holy Ghost came upon us and filled our hearts
with unspeakable joy. Before this memorable conference closed three
other revelations besides the one already mentioned were received from
God by our prophet, and we were made to rejoice exceedingly in His
goodness.
Soon after this conference Brother Hyrum Smith, wife and family came to
Colesville, to live with me, but most of his time, as also that of my
own, was spent in the villages around, preaching the gospel wherever we
could find any who would listen to us, either in public or private. A
few believed and were baptized, among whom was Emer Harris, brother to
Martin Harris, who proved to be a useful laborer in the vineyard.
Many raged and persecuted us, doing all in their power to stop the
progress of the work. But we moved steadily ahead, putting our trust in
the Lord God of heaven.
On the 14th of October, Brother Hyrum Smith and I held a meeting at
my uncle Hezekiah Peek's. Brother Hyrum had great liberty of speech,
and the Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon us in a miraculous
manner. There was much good instruction and exhortation given, such
as was calculated to encourage and strengthen the Saints in this
their infantile state. At this meeting, four persons came forward and
manifested their desire to forsake all, serve their God in humility,
and obey the requirements of the gospel.
After the close of the meeting, Brother Hyrum and myself intended
going to spend the night with one of the brethren who lived a short
distance from my uncle's, but as we were ready to start, the Spirit
whispered to me that I should tarry there at my uncle's all night.
I did so, and retired to bed, where I rested till midnight when my
uncle came to my room and desired me to get up, saying he feared his
wife was about to die. This surprised me, as she was quite well when I
went to bed. I dressed myself, and having asked my Heavenly Father to
give me wisdom, and power to rebuke the destroyer from the habitation,
I went to the room where my aunt lay. She was in a most fearful
condition; her eyes were closed, and she appeared to be in the last
agonies of death. Presently she opened her eyes and bade her husband
and children farewell, telling them she must die for the redemption of
this generation, as Jesus Christ had died for the generation in His
day. Her whole frame shook, and she appeared to be racked with the
most exquisite pain and torment; her hands and feet were cold, and the
blood settled in her fingers; while her husband and children stood
weeping around her bed. This was a scene new to me, and I felt she was
suffering under the power of Satan--that was the same spirit that had
bound and over-powered me at the time Joseph cast him out. I now cried
unto the Lord for strength and wisdom that we might prevail over this
wicked and delusive power. Just at this time my uncle cried aloud to
me, saying: "O, Brother Newel, cannot something be done?" I felt the
Holy Spirit of the Lord rest upon me as he said this, and I immediately
stepped forward, took her by the hand, and commanded Satan, in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, to depart. I told my aunt she would not die,
but that she should live to see her children grown up; that Satan had
deceived her, and put a lying spirit in her mouth; that Christ had made
the only and last atonement for all who would believe on His name; and
that there should be no more shedding of blood for sin. She believed
and stretched forth her hand, and cried unto me, and Satan departed
from her.
After laboring for some time in this vicinity, we returned to my home,
found our wives well and in the enjoyment of the Spirit of the Lord. We
also found Brother Orson Pratt awaiting us, who had been called by the
prophet to labor with us in the ministry.