"Being thoroughly satisfied that the prisoners had escaped, we turned back towards Far West. When we arrived at Tenney"s Grove a man came to me and presented an order drawn on me by Joseph Smith for $500, saying it was for horses furnished him. I immediately raised $400, which I paid him, when he proceeded to Richmond, Ray County, where he paid out some of the money to secure lands that we had been driven from.
"Brother Roundy and myself started a few hours after for Richmond, being on our way to Far West, for the purpose of visiting Parley P.
Pratt and others, in jail. On our arrival at Richmond, I went directly to the prison to see Parley, but was prohibited by the guard, who said they would blow my brains out if I attempted to go near him. In a few minutes Sister Morris Phelps came to me in great agitation, and advised me to leave forthwith, as Parley P. Pratt had told her that a large body of men had a.s.sembled with tar, feathers and a rail, who swore they would tar and feather me, and ride me on a rail, suspecting I was the one who a.s.sisted Joseph and the other prisoners to escape. I immediately informed Brother Roundy, we jumped on our horses and fled towards Far West, which was distant; we rode all night, and reached Far West about the break of day, expecting Brother Brigham Young and the Twelve to arrive there that day."
April 26th, 1839, was the day appointed by revelation for the Apostles to take leave of Far West on the building spot of the Lord"s House. As usual, when times and seasons are given--for foreknowledge is power, with evil spirits as well as good--Satan had diligently sought to make the word of G.o.d of no effect. The mob, with their apostate allies who had betrayed to them the secrets of the kingdom, had sworn that this revelation should not be fulfilled; and having driven the Saints from their homes, leaving only a few scattered families in and around Far West, and imprisoned the Church leaders, they flattered themselves that their wicked oath had been verified.
Little knew they the men they were dealing with, still less that G.o.d whose word they had vainly sought to falsify; Him who hath said: "Heaven and earth shall pa.s.s away, but my word shall not pa.s.s away."
Heber continues: "I kept myself concealed in the woods, and pa.s.sed round the country, notifying the brethren and sisters to be on hand at the appointed time for the laying of the corner stone.
"April 25th. This night, which was a beautiful, clear moonlight, Elders Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and Alpheus Cutler, arrived from Quincy, Illinois, and rode into the public square early on the morning of the 26th. All seemed still as death.
"April 26th, we held a conference at the house of Brother Samuel Clark, cut off 31 persons from the Church, and then proceeded to the building spot of the Lord"s house, where, after singing, we recommenced laying the foundation, agreeably to the revelation given July 8th, 1838, by rolling a stone, upwards of a ton weight, upon or near the south-east corner.
"In company with Brother Brigham Young, we ordained Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith (who had been previously nominated by the First Presidency, accepted by the Twelve, and acknowledged by the Church at Quincy) members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, (who were liberated from Richmond prison on the 24th inst, where they had been confined about six months for the cause of Christ) Seventies. They sat on the south-east corner stone while we ordained them.
"The Twelve then individually called upon the Lord in prayer, kneeling on the corner stone; after which "Adam-ondi-Ahman" was sung.
"The brethren wandered among our deserted houses, many of which were in ruins, and saw the streets in many places grown over with weeds and gra.s.s.
"We went to Father Clark"s, breakfasted, and before sunrise departed.
I accompanied my brethren, riding thirty miles that day. We continued our journey to Quincy, where I found my family well and in good spirits, on the 2nd of May.
"On reading the words of inspiration which I had written, my wife bore record to the truth of that part which says, "trouble not thyself about thy family for they are in my hands; I will feed them and clothe them, and make unto them friends; for they never shall want for food nor raiment." I learned from her that my family continued with Brother Brigham until they crossed the Mississippi, to the town of Atlas, in Illinois, where, through the instrumentality of George Pitkin, my wife got introduced to a widow Ross, who let her have a very nice comfortably fitted up room, and who was as kind to her as an own mother or sister; here my wife tarried seven weeks. At the end of that time John P. Greene took his horses and wagon and carried my family up to Quincy, forty miles, and rented a good house, where I found her on my leaving Missouri. She had had no lack of friends, and had every comfort bestowed on her that she could have had among her own kindred.
And I can say in my heart, G.o.d bless them all, and my Brother Brigham for his great kindness in a.s.sisting them into Illinois. In relation to that part which said I should have many sons and daughters, she rather doubted that, as the thought had never entered into her head, or mine, that the Lord would establish in this Church the doctrine of plurality of wives, in my day; still I believed it would be restored to the earth in some future time.
"May 3rd, I went in company with Elder Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith, and rode four miles to Mr. Cleveland"s to visit Joseph and Hyrum, who were as glad to see us as we were to see them, once more enjoying their liberty. I spent the day with them, and it was one of the greatest days of rejoicing in my life, to once more have the privilege of conversing with the Prophet, in freedom.
"May 4th, I attended a general conference of the Church near Quincy, at which the Saints from all the regions round about a.s.sembled. It was a time which will long be remembered by the Saints, being the first conference held after their expulsion. The cases of Brothers William Smith and Orson Hyde were brought up. The conference granted them the privilege of appearing personally before the next conference of the Church to give an account of their conduct, but in the meantime they were suspended from exercising the functions of their office. The conference sanctioned the proceedings of the Twelve on the Temple block at Far West, and also sanctioned the intended mission of the Twelve to Europe.
"The meetings continued for three days. Elder Rigdon was appointed delegate to go to Washington and lay the grievances of the Saints before the general government. It was also resolved that a number of Elders should accompany the Twelve on their mission to Europe."
CHAPTER x.x.xVI.
NAUVOO THE BEAUTIFUL--HEBER"S PREDICTION OVER THE FATED CITY--ELDER RIGDON"S ALARM--HEBER"S SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH EVIL SPIRITS--PARLEY P.
PRATT ESCAPES FROM PRISON, FULFILLING HEBER"S PROPHECY.
The scene now changes to Commerce, afterwards named Nauvoo, the famous gathering place of the Saints in Illinois. Situated in a graceful bend on the east bank of the Mississippi, on an eminence commanding a n.o.ble view of the broad river and beyond, Nauvoo, even as the site of the lovely city it soon became, well merited its appellation of "the Beautiful."
It was forty miles above Quincy, in which hospitable town the exiled Saints had found a resting place and kindly welcome, after their expulsion from Missouri.
In this region the Saints had commenced gathering, and, having purchased lands, were now busily engaged building up the new stake of Zion. The Church had been purified by its baptism of fire, and much of its human dross "burnt and purged away." Most of its members that remained were of the pure gold, refined by suffering, and throughout the community a better feeling prevailed than ever before.
Heber"s first visit to Commerce was on Sunday the 12th of May. On the 25th he again went up the river, with several others of the Twelve, and spent the day in council with Joseph and the brethren. While on the water, standing by the railing of the boat, gazing in admiration at the beautiful site of Nauvoo, Heber observed: "It is a very pretty place, but not a long abiding home for the Saints."
This remark was carried to the ears of Elder Rigdon and his family, who were comfortably quartered in a nice stone house built by Dr.
Isaac Galland, from whom the Saints had purchased some of their lands.
Heber"s reputation as a prophet was by this time pretty well established in Israel, and Sidney, who had had about as much persecution as he could stand, and was in nowise hankering after a repet.i.tion of the Missouri scenes, was considerably alarmed at his words, dreading their prophetic potency. At the council, which was held at the house of the Prophet Joseph, Sidney remarked that he had some feelings against Elder Kimball, and then, referring to the prediction of the latter in relation to the city of the Saints, said, petulantly:
"I should suppose that Elder Kimball had pa.s.sed through sufferings and privations and mobbings and drivings enough, to learn to prophesy good concerning Israel."
With a mixture of meekness and humor, Heber replied:
"President Rigdon, I"ll prophesy good concerning you all the time--if you can get it."
The retort amused Joseph, who laughed heartily with the brethren, and Elder Rigdon yielded the point.
Joseph now advised the Apostles, such as had not done so already, to move their families up to Commerce. Says Heber:
"I immediately went and moved my family up in a wagon, to a place belonging to Brother Bozier, about one mile from Commerce, where I pulled down an old stable, and laid up the logs at the back end of the Bozier house, putting a few shakes on to cover it; but it had no floor nor c.h.i.n.king; and in this condition I moved my family into it; whenever it rained, the water stood near ankle deep on the ground.
There were some half dozen families in the Bozier house.
"One night I was awakened out of my sleep by my wife making a noise as if choking; I asked what was the matter; she replied that she had dreamt that a personage came and seized her by the throat and was choking her. I immediately lit a candle, and saw that her eyes were sunken and her nose pinched in, as if she was in the last stage of the cholera. I laid my hands upon her and rebuked that spirit in the name of Jesus and by the power of the holy Priesthood, and commanded it to depart. In a moment afterwards I heard some half a dozen children in different parts of the Bozier House crying as if in great distress; the cattle began to bellow and low; the horses neighed and whinnied; the dogs barked, and hogs squealed; the hens cackled, and the roosters crowed, and everything around was in great commotion. In a few minutes afterwards I was sent for to lay hands on Sister Bentley, formerly the wife of David W. Patten, who was seized in a similar manner to my wife. My wife continued quite feeble for several days from the shock.
"One day while visiting Joseph, he took me a walk by the river side, when he requested me to relate the occurrence at Brother Bozier"s.
After I had done so, I also told him of our vision of the evil spirits in England, on the opening of the Gospel to that people. He then gave me a relation of many contests that he had had with Satan, and his power that had been manifested from time to time since the commencement of bringing forth the Book of Mormon. I will relate one circ.u.mstance that took place at Far West, in a house that Joseph had purchased, which had been formerly occupied as a public house by some wicked people. A short time after he got into it, one of his children was taken very sick; he laid his hands upon the child, when it got better; as soon as he went out of doors, the child was taken sick again; he again laid his hands upon it, so that it again recovered.
This occurred several times, when Joseph inquired of the Lord what it all meant; then he had an open vision, and saw the devil in person, who contended with Joseph, face to face, for some time. He said it was his house, it belonged to him, and Joseph had no right there. Then Joseph rebuked Satan in the name of the Lord, and he departed and touched the child no more.
"July 2nd, I went with Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney and others, over the river to Montrose; rode four miles and looked out the site of the town of Zarahemla. We dined at Brother Woodruff"s. After dinner we all went to Brigham Young"s, when Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith were blessed as two of the Twelve Apostles; and Theodore Turley was blessed as a Seventy. Brother Hyrum gave the Twelve some good advice on the nature of their mission; to practice prudence and humility in their preaching, and to strictly hold on to the authority of the Priesthood.
Brother Joseph taught many glorious and important principles to benefit and bless them on their mission; teaching them to observe charity, wisdom, and a fellow feeling for each other, and love one towards another, in all things, and under all circ.u.mstances, unfolding keys of knowledge, to detect Satan, and preserve us in the favor of G.o.d."
Some time before Heber had written to Elder Parley P. Pratt, who was still in prison in Missouri, giving him the particulars of the conference at Far West, on the 26th of April, with the resolution of the Priesthood that the Twelve should have their shackles stricken off, and go forth preaching the Gospel to the world, leaving their families to be provided for, in their absence, by the Bishops. He added:
"The Presidency feel well towards you. They say you must come out of that place, and so I say; for I do not feel as though I can go to England until I take you by the hand. When this takes place my joy will be full. Be of good cheer, brother; a few days now, and you shall see the salvation of G.o.d; and I shall see you in other lands, publishing peace to the captives. My determination is to be a man of G.o.d, and to try to save souls from their sins, let others do as they may. I will try to keep my eye on the mark, that is, Christ, the Son of the living G.o.d, His grace a.s.sisting me. The Twelve have all left Quincy. Your brother Orson is about twenty-five miles from here.
Whatever you do, do quickly!
"July 10th," continues the prophet Heber, "Elder Parley P. Pratt arrived from his imprisonment in Missouri. When I heard that he was in Quincy I went there and a.s.sisted him and Orson Pratt up to Commerce.
His escape caused much rejoicing among the Saints. A few days afterwards he and I purchased five acres each, of woodland, from Hyrum Kimball. They lay adjoining each other, one mile from the river. He and I went to work to cut each a set of logs fourteen by sixteen feet in length, which we cut in one day. We then invited some of the old citizens, viz., Brother Bozier, D. H. Wells, Lewis Robison and others to come and a.s.sist us to put them up; as our people were mostly prostrate by sickness. We drew them and put them up the next day. I got a man to a.s.sist me to hew puncheon for the floor, and to make some shakes to cover the roof, which were similar to a shingle, or a stave for a barrel. I drew the rock and built a chimney, and just got to the ridge of the house, when I was taken down prostrate by the chills and fever. My wife was also laid prostrate. In the meantime Brother Orson Pratt moved his family into the little shanty with me."
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
AN EPIDEMIC OF DISEASE--JOSEPH HEALS THE MULt.i.tUDE--BRIGHAM AND HEBER START ON THEIR MISSION TO ENGLAND--SICKNESS BY THE WAY--HEBER POISONED--HIS LIFE SAVED BY BRIGHAM.
Twelve months had elapsed since the word of the Lord came for the Apostles to depart and "go over the great waters" to promulgate the Gospel. They had fulfilled the revelation in so far as to take leave of the Saints in Far West, at the time and place appointed, but the toils and trials incident to settling their new home had unavoidably delayed their departure from America.
One of these trials was an epidemic which swept over Nauvoo and the neighboring towns, prostrating many of the inhabitants with sickness; partly due, no doubt, to the moist, malarial nature of the soil in and around the lower portions of the new settlement, but greatly enhanced by the physical weakness of the Saints, resulting from their recent privations and sufferings in Missouri. So general and widespread was the sickness that scarcely a family in Nauvoo or the vicinity entirely escaped the scourge.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Joseph Smith]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Hyrum Smith]