I MOVE TO COMMERCE--NO SAFETY FOR THE SAINTS--JOHN C. BENNETT'S
WICKEDNESS--THREATS OF THE MOB--WE START FOR THE WEST--DEATH OF THE
AUTHOR
Again I prepared to leave my home and with my family gather to
Commerce, which was the place that had been chosen for the future
location of the Saints. Some few families had already gone there and a
nucleus of a "Mormon" town had been formed.
I soon selected a piece of ground and commenced to build a home for
myself, but before many days had passed I was advised by Brother Joseph
to assist in the erection of a flouring mill, so that the Saints might
thereby be benefited. I therefore ceased my own operations and began
the new labor to which I had been assigned. From that time until I left
Nauvoo with the Saints to find a home in the barren wilds of Western
America, I was engaged more or less in the building and working of
grist and saw mills for the benefit of the Saints. Sometimes I was
without the necessaries of life, being bereft of the food and clothing
which my family needed; sometimes I was surrounded by not only the
necessaries but also the comforts of life; sometimes I rejoiced in the
society of my friends, and sometimes enemies surrounded me, seeking my
destruction because of my religion. But in the midst of these varied
circumstances I never felt to doubt the truth of the gospel or the
divinity of Joseph Smith's mission.
The persecutions of the Saints in Missouri soon began to be re-enacted
in Illinois, where large numbers of our people had settled and built
up the beautiful city of Nauvoo. Our enemies of the former place would
not allow us to enjoy peace in the latter, but did everything in their
power to arouse public indignation against us. Men who professed to be
members of the Church also turned away from the truth and sought to
injure the work. Notable among this latter class was John C. Bennett.
He came to Nauvoo and joined the Church; with considerable ostentation
he brought himself before the people, and seemed to enter into the
work with a whole-heartedness which was quite commendable. He was
instrumental in obtaining the charter for Nauvoo, the legion and the
university; was elected mayor of the city, major general of the legion,
and chancelor of the university. He defended the Prophet Joseph by
writing over the _non de plume_ of "Joab, general in Israel," and was
altogether a popular man, and run a rapid race. But he was only an
adventurer, and his deeds of evil were eventually brought to light; for
no sooner had he attained to these responsible positions than he sought
to use the influence they gave him to accomplish his evil designs,
and gave himself up to practices, not only diabolical in themselves
but ruinous to the souls of those he entrapped. Thus he brought great
scandal upon the Church, by seeking to destroy the innocent and
virtuous; and when his acts were questioned by his intended victims
he asserted that Joseph taught and sanctioned such doings. If his own
assertions were not sufficient then he called on some of his tools--men
he had in league with him--to bear testimony to his base lies. In this
manner his deeds were brought to light, and then he used all his power
to injure those whom he had before defended, and sought to bring about
a renewal of the persecutions.
Through the instrumentality of persons of this class, the sufferings
of the Saints were renewed. Many of the brethren were kidnapped from
their homes and were abused in a most shameful manner, while others
suffered imprisonment on trumped up charges that could not be sustained
in court. One day the arrest of an apostate--Augustine Spencer--for
an assault on his brother, Orson, was attempted in the neighborhood
of Brother Joseph's home. Some trouble ensued and in the same Charles
Foster attempted to shoot the prophet, who was near at hand. Both he
and Higbee said they would consider themselves the favored of God if
they could but kill "Joe Smith." Thus was our leader in constant danger
for the sake of his religion, and from this time until his death, the
horrors of which are known to all, on the 27th of June, 1844, his
life was one continued scene of trial, hardship and persecution. His
followers found no rest from their oppressors; they had no rights,
according to popular judgment, that should be respected, and after we
had agreed to leave Nauvoo and go to the Rocky Mountains, the mob would
not leave us unmolested so that we could arrange our business. One man
by the name of Bostwick came to the city to warn Amos Davis and others
living there, but who did not belong to us, to move their stores out
of the place if they wanted to save them, "for," said he, "this city
shall be laid in ashes; and Brigham Young shall be taken if I have to
go to hell to raise troops enough to take him." In this affair the Lord
overruled in behalf of His people, for as this wicked man was returning
to Madison he fell through the ice and was drowned; and as he was the
leading man among our enemies around Madison it put an end to their
operations.
The troops of Carthage, with the United States marshall at their head,
were almost constantly in our city, with warrants for the apprehension
of the twelve and others of the brethren. These warrants had been
sworn out under false pretention, being nothing else but malicious and
vexatious proceedings. But in vain did they search, for the Lord was
our shield and our protector.
At one time these men attempted to search the temple, but the glory of
God was there, and came upon them insomuch that they were glad to get
out again.
Surrounded by such circumstances the Saints were glad to flee from
their homes, feeling that it was much better to be at the mercy of the
elements than that of a ruthless mob. Those therefore, who were able
soon fitted themselves out and started to traverse the barren prairies
in the west. I was blessed of the Lord insomuch that I was among the
first to leave Illinois in search of another home.
We had, however, scarcely got beyond the reach of our enemies before
an improper spirit began to manifest itself among the Saints caused
by the actions of Wm. Miller who was a bishop in the Church. His
conduct finally became so improper that he was called up before the
high council and was censured for his unrighteous deeds, but this had
scarcely any effect upon him, and he did not heed the counsels of his
brethren at all. He finally returned to the companies that were behind
us. He shortly afterwards apostatized.
We were, at this time, in a country which was claimed by the Indians,
and where law and restraints were unknown. It was therefore necessary
for us to use the utmost caution, so as not to enrage the owners of
the soil. The Pawnees, Poneas, Sioux and other Indian tribes permitted
us to pass through the country almost unmolested. We sought their
friendship and they gave it, and many friendly meetings were held with
our Lamanite brethren.
Brother Knight's journal ends here, his wife, Lydia, adding the
following:
"On Monday morning, January 4th, 1847, Brother Knight, whose health had
been failing for some time, did not arise as usual, and, on my going to
him, he said, 'Lydia, I believe I shall go to rest this winter.' The
next night he awoke with a severe pain in his right side, a fever had
also set in, and he expressed himself to me that he did not expect to
recover. From this time until the 10th of the month, the Elders came
frequently and prayed for my husband. After each administration he
would rally and be at case for a short time and then relapse again into
suffering. I felt at last as if I could not endure his sufferings any
longer, and that I ought not to hold him here. I knelt by his bed side,
and with my hand upon his pale forehead asked my Heavenly Father to
forgive my sins, and that the sufferings of my companion might cease,
and if he was appointed unto death, and could not remain with us, that
he might be quickly eased from pain and fall asleep in peace. Almost
immediately all pain left him, and in a short time he sweetly fell
asleep in death, without a struggle or a groan, at half past six on
the morning of the 11th of January, 1847. His remains were interred at
sun-set on the evening of the day he died.
"It was the 3rd of October, 1850, before I had the privilege of
entering the valley, but my joy in arriving here has been unbounded."
Transcriber's Note
Some apparent errors in punctuation (e.g. missing quotation marks) have
been corrected as seemed appropriate.