Returning to Kanab, we found Hastele and his companion waiting for us.
It was thought advisable for me, with Brother A. M. Tenney as Spanish
interpreter, to visit the Indians on the east side of the Colorado
River, and go to Fort Defiance and have matters properly understood
there. We visited the Moqui towns, and had much interesting talk with
the people.
Arriving at the Navajo agency, we found there a Mr. Daniels, who had
been sent out by the government to inspect the Indian agencies. He had
called on the agent at Fort Defiance to report the condition of his
agency. Learning of the Utah difficulty with the Navajos, he made an
effort to throw the blame on the "Mormons."
The Indian who escaped wounded from the massacre in Grass Valley was
there. Mr. Daniels examined him very closely. He also heard the report
of Mr. Boyd, who accompanied Hastele, to learn the facts of the case.
All the facts elicited gave a favorable showing for our people. Mr.
Daniels was disappointed and evidently vexed. He gave me to understand
that I did not belong to the council, and was not wanted there.
As I left the room, a Rev. Mr. Trewax, who was there by government
appointment to preach to the Indians, invited me to his room, saying
that he would very much like to talk with me.
I replied that I had no objection to talking with him if his object was
to obtain correct information.
Being seated in his quarters, he asked what our religious faith was,
and from what source we had derived it.
I told him "We prove the truth of our religion by that book" (pointing
to a Bible that lay on the table). "If you will read what Christ
taught, you will learn what our principles are. They are from heaven."
"Is it possible," said he, "that your people believe the Bible?"
I replied, "We are the only people I have met during the last forty
years that do believe the Bible. Many profess to believe it, but when I
open and read it to them, I find they do not."
Said he, "My dear sir, I believe every word of it."
I replied, "Then we are brethren." I spent nearly half a day with him.
He assented to the principles of the gospel as expounded in the New
Testament and to the patriarchal order of marriage.
When asked to explain what was meant by the stick of Ephraim and the
stick of Joseph, in the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, he said he thought it
meant that both Judah and Ephraim should write. He believed the Bible
to be the stick of Judah, but where the stick of Ephraim was he did not
know. He had thought much about it, but it was a mystery to him.
I told him to wait a short time, and I would bring him the stick of
Ephraim. I went out and came back with a copy of the Book of Mormon,
which I had brought from home. He appeared much surprised, and grasped
the book with some energy. He examined the testimony of the three
witnesses, and said, "Surely this book is the best or worst thing that
ever was."
I permitted him to keep it. When I left the place he told me he had
read some thirty pages of it, and had not discovered anything in it
contrary to the Bible.
Matters were settled between the "Mormons" and Navajos on the basis of
our great peace talk at the same place, the 2nd November, 1871. The
truth was brought to light, and those who wished to throw the blame of
murdering the young Navajos upon the Saints were confounded.
This business was finally closed at Fort Defiance, on the 21st of
August, 1875. The Navajos expressed themselves as fully satisfied that
I had told them the truth when I visited them the previous winter.
I felt that the Lord had greatly blessed me in filling the mission
assigned me, of convincing the Indians that we had not injured them,
and thereby maintaining peace.
Doubtless a war had been prevented, and the faith of the Indians on the
east side of the Colorado greatly strengthened in our people.
It is evident to me that I was indebted to the special favor of my
Heavenly Father, for the preservation of my life to accomplish this
work. At the close of these labors I found myself three hundred miles
from home, rather jaded and careworn, but full of thanksgiving for the
happy termination of my labors.
On our way home we had some very pleasant visits with the Indians.
In the winter of 1874-5, I assisted in carrying on a trade with the
Navajos at Lee's Ferry. One of my sons was with me. I introduced the
boy to Ketch-e-ne, the father of two of the Indians killed in Grass
Valley. He turned away and wept, apparently much dejected. His friends
told me that the loss of his sons was killing him. I afterwards learned
that he died about two months after I saw him at the river.
The Navajos carried on quite an extensive trade with our people,
principally in exchanging blankets for horses.
In 1875, a number of brethren were called to again establish a mission
at Moancoppy.
The winter of 1875-6 I had the privilege of remaining at home. My
family was destitute of many things. Some mining prospectors came
along, and offered me five dollars a day to go with them, as a
protection against the Indians. To go with them could not injure the
interests of our people. It seemed like a special providence to provide
necessaries for my family, and I accepted the offer. I was gone sixty
days, for which I received three hundred dollars.