Chapter III (2)

_Affidavit of Henry Root--Ditto_.

Quincy, Illinois, 16th March, 1840.

This is to certify that I, Henry Root, am, and was a citizen
of {63} De Witt, Carroll county, Missouri, at the time of the
persecutions (known by the name of the "Mormon War") commenced and
terminated between the citizens of said state of Missouri and the
Mormons; that in the fall of 1838, in the month of September, a mob
(under no regular authority) headed by William W. Austin, Sen.,
consisting of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty men, came
into De Witt and ordered the Mormons to leave that place within
ten days from that time; that if they did not leave, they would be
driven from there by force.

The Mormons did not leave; the appointed time came, and the mob
came, armed and equipped for war. The Mormon citizens petitioned
to the governor of the state, but no relief came. They sent to the
general of the brigade [in that locality], who ordered the militia
to repair to De Witt to disperse the mob. On the arrival of the
militia, Brigadier-General Parks told me the Mormons had better
leave their property and go off, as his men were prejudiced against
them, and he could do them no good, nor relieve them. With that the
Mormons left.

Henry Root.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk of Circuit Court, Adams county,
Illinois.

_Affidavit of Joseph Clark--Ditto_.

Quincy, Illinois, March 16, 1840.

I, Joseph Clark, certify that I was a citizen of the state of
Missouri in 1838; and when peaceably traveling the highway, I was
shot at twice by Governor Boggs' exterminating militia, commanded
by Major-General John B. Clark.

Joseph Clark.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk of Circuit Court, Adams County
Illinois.

_Affidavit of Thomas D. Casper--Ditto_.

Quincy, Illinois, March 16th, 1840.

This is to certify that I, Thomas D. Casper, was a resident of
the state of Missouri in the year 1838. I was not a member of the
Church of Mormons or Latter-day Saints; but witnessed the following
acts of distress: As I was on business, I inquired for Perry
Moppin, and learned that he, with Samuel Snowden, Esq., had gone
after Mr. Wilson, a Mormon, and had threatened and sworn to take
his life if he did not tell his name; and they swore they had the
tool to take his life if he had not told them his name.

Further they agreed that the Mormons should leave the country of
Missouri except they would deny the faith, or their religion. And
I {64} heard Anthony McCustian say that he would head a mob in any
case, to prevent the lawyers from attending to any case of their
(the Mormons') grievances; and he was a postmaster. And I saw two
men that said they had been at Haun's mill at the murder; and one
by the name of White, and the other Moppin stated that he had slain
three Mormons. And I, Thomas D. Casper, witnessed other things too
tedious to mention; and solemnly swear, before God and men, that
what is here written is a true statement of facts relative to the
suffering of the Mormons in the state of Missouri.

Thomas D. Casper.

_Affidavit of Jesse W. Johnston--Ditto_.

Quincy, Illinois, March 16, 1840.

I, Jesse W. Johnston, certify that the following circumstances took
place in the State of Missouri, while I was a resident of that
state, viz.: I was taken prisoner by Governor Boggs' exterminating
militia. I saw one man killed belonging to the Mormon Church, and
was forced by them to take corn out of the fields of the Mormon
Church without leave. This was in the fall of 1838.

Jesse W. Johnston.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Adams
County, Illinois.

_Affidavit of Owen Cole--Ditto_.

Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1840.

This is to certify that I, Owen Cole, was a resident of Caldwell
county, state of Missouri, and while residing at my dwelling house,
the militia under Governor Boggs, and by his orders, plundered my
house, and shot me through my thigh. My damage sustained by the
militia, by being driven from the state, besides my wound, was five
hundred dollars. The militia men were quartered on the lands of the
people called Mormons, contrary to the laws and Constitution of the
state. I hereby certify this to be a true statement.

Owen Cole.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk Circuit Court.

_Affidavit of Ezekiel Maginn--Ditto_.

Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1840.

I, Ezekiel Maginn, certify that I was a citizen of the state of
Missouri in the year 1838, and was an eye witness to the following
facts--First, I saw the militia, called for by Governor Boggs'
exterminating order, enter the house of Lyman Wight, and take from
it a bed and bedding, {65} pillows, and dishes, personally known to
me to be his property.

Ezekiel Maginn.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk Circuit Court, Adams County.

_Affidavit of Addison Green--Ditto_.

Quincy, March 17, 1840.

I, Addison Green, do certify that in the month of October, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, when I was peaceably
walking the highroad in Ray county, state of Missouri, I was
molested and taken prisoner by ten armed men, who took from me
one double-barrel fowling piece and equipage, threatening to blow
out my brains and swore that if I was a Mormon they would hang me
without further ceremony. They had previously been to my lodging
and taken my horse, saddle, and bridle. All was then taken into the
woods about one mile to Bogart's camp.

I was kept a prisoner until the next morning, when I was let go;
but have not obtained any part of my property, which was worth
about one hundred and fifty dollars.

A. Green.

Sworn to before John H. Holton, notary public.

_Affidavit of John P. Greene--Ditto_.

I, John P. Greene, was in company with several of my neighbors
walking the road in peace, when one of our company, a young man, by
name of O'Banion, was shot down at my side, being shot by a company
of mobbers; and soon after this we were fired upon again, and two
more were killed and several others wounded. This was about the
25th day of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight,
in the state of Missouri, and I do hereby certify the above to be
true according to the best of my knowledge.

John P. Greene

Sworn to before John H. Holton, notary public.

_Affidavit of Asahel A. Lathrop--Ditto_.

This is to certify that I, Asahel A. Lathrop, was a citizen of the
state of Missouri, at the time the difficulty originated between
the people called Mormons and the [other] inhabitants of the
aforesaid state, and herein give a statement of the transactions
that came under my observation, according to the best of my
recollection.

I settled in Missouri in the summer of 1838, in Caldwell county,
where I purchased land and erected buildings. The said land I now
have a deed of; and in the fall I purchased a claim on what is
called the East Fork of Grand River, together with a large stock of
cattle and {66} horses, sheep and hogs; it being some sixty miles
from the aforesaid county where I first located; and moved on to
the latter place, supposing that I was at peace with all men; but
I found by sad experience that I was surrounded by enemies; for in
the fall of 1838, whilst at home with my family, I was notified by
a man by the name of James Welden, that the people of Livingston
county, had met at the house of one Doctor William P. Thompson,
then living in the attached part of said county, for the purpose of
entering into measures respecting the people called Mormons; and
the same Welden was a member of the same, and also the aforesaid
William P. Thompson was a justice of the peace; and they all
jointly agreed to drive every Mormon from the state; and notified
me that I must leave immediately, or I would be in danger of losing
my life.

All this time some of my family were sick; but after listening to
the entreaties of my wife to flee for safety, I committed them into
the hands of God and left them, it being on Monday morning; and in
a short time after I left, there came some ten or fifteen men to my
house, and took possession of the same, and compelled my wife to
cook for them, and also made free to take such things as they saw
fit; and whilst in this situation, my child died, which I have no
reason to doubt was for the want of care; which, owing to the abuse
she received, and being deprived of rendering that care she would,
had she been otherwise situated. My boy was buried by the mob, my
wife not being able to pay the last respects to her child.

I went from my home into Daviess county and applied to Austin A.
King and General Atchison for advice, as they were acting officers
in the state of Missouri. There were men called out to go and
liberate my family, which I had been absent from some ten or
fifteen days; and on my return I found the remainder of my family
confined to their beds, not being able the one to assist the other,
and my house guarded by an armed force.

I was compelled to remove my family in this situation, on a bed to
a place of safety. This, together with all the trouble, and for
the want of care, was the cause of the death of the residue of
my family, as I have no doubt; which consisted of a wife and two
more children; as they died a few days after their arrival at my
friend's. Such was my situation, that I was obliged to assist in
making their coffins.

I will give the names of some of the men that have driven me from
my house and abused my family; those that I found at my house on
my return were Samuel Law, Calvin Hatfield, Stanley Hatfield, Andy
Hatfield; and those that were leading men were James Welden, Doctor
William P. Thompson, a justice of the peace, and William Cochran,
and many others, the names I do not recollect.

{67} I have also seen men abused in various ways; and that whilst
they were considered prisoners; such as the mob cocking their
guns and swearing that they would shoot, with their guns to their
face, and the officers of the militia, so called, standing by
without uttering a word; and in these councils they have said if a
Missourian should kill a Mormon he should draw a pension, same as a
soldier of the Revolution.

I was also compelled to give up my gun, and the terms were, I was
to leave the aforesaid state of Missouri, or be exterminated. My
property is yet remaining in said state, whilst I am deprived of
the control of the same.

Written this 17th day of March, 1840.

Asahel A. Lathrop.

Sworn to before D. W. Kilburn, J. P., Lee county, Iowa Territory.

_Affidavit of Burr Riggs_.

I, Burr Riggs, of the town of Quincy, and state of Illinois, do
hereby certify that in the year 1836, when moving to the state of
Missouri, with my family and others, we were met in Ray county, in
said state, by a mob of one hundred and fourteen armed men, who
commanded us not to proceed any further, but to return, or they
would take our lives; and the leader stepped forward at the same
time, and cocked his piece. We turned round with our team; and the
mob followed us about six miles and left us.

Some time after this I moved to Caldwell county, in said state, and
purchased about two hundred acres of land, and a village lot, on
which I erected a dwelling house, staked, and commenced improving
my land, and had, at the time I was driven away, about forty acres
of corn, vegetables, etc.; and in the year 1838, in the month
of November, was compelled to leave my house and possessions in
consequence of Governor Boggs' exterminating order, without means
sufficient to bear my expense out of the state.

Given under my hand at Quincy, Illinois, 17th March, 1840.

Burr Riggs.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Adams
county, Illinois.

_Affidavit of Simons P. Curtis_.

I, Simons P. Curtis, a resident of Quincy, Adams county, Illinois,
certify that in the year 1838, I was a citizen of Caldwell county,
Missouri, residing in the city of Far West. Also that I went in
search of {68} a lost steer; and passing by Captain Bogart's camp,
while he was guarding the city, I saw the hide and feet of said
steer, which I knew to be mine; the flesh of which I suppose they
applied to their own use.

I also certify that Wiley E. Williams, one of the Governor's aids,
who was gunkeeper, caused me to pay thirty-seven and a half cents
to him. I also paid twenty-five cents to a justice of the peace
to qualify me to testify that the gun was mine. The said Wiley E.
Williams is said to be the one that carried the story to Governor
Boggs, which story was the cause of the exterminating order being
issued, as stated by the Governor in said order.

Simons P. Curtis.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk Circuit Court, Adams County,
Illinois.

_Affidavit of Elisha H. Groves_.

I, Elisha H. Groves, of the town of Quincy, and state of Illinois,
upon oath say, that I was a resident of Daviess county, in the
state of Missouri, and that on the 16th day of November, in the
year of our Lord, 1838, Judge Vinson Smith and others came to my
house and ordered myself and family, Levi Taylor, David Osborn and
others, to leave our possessions which we had bought of Government
and paid our money for the same, saying we must within three days
leave the county or they would take our lives, for there was no law
to save us after that time. In consequence of those proceedings,
together with Governor Boggs' exterminating order, we were
compelled to leave the state of Missouri. Furthermore this deponent
saith not.

Given under my hand at Quincy, the 17th day of March, A. D. 1840.

Elisha H. Groves.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk Circuit Court.

_Affidavit of Jacob Foutz_.

Quincy, Illinois, March 17, A. D. 1840.

This is to certify that I was a citizen, resident of Caldwell
county, Missouri, at the time Governor Boggs' exterminating order
was issued; and that I was quartered on by the mob militia, without
my leave or consent at different times, and at one time by William
Mann, Hiram Cumstock, and brother, who professed to be the captain;
also Robert White; and that I was at the murder at Haun's mill,
and was wounded; and that I was driven from the state, to my
inconvenience, and {69} deprived of my freedom, as well as to my
loss of at least four hundred dollars.

Jacob Foutz.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk Circuit Court.

_Affidavit of Frederick G. Williams_.

I do certify that I was a resident of Caldwell county, in the
State of Missouri, in the year of our Lord 1838, and owned land
to a considerable amount, building lots, etc., in the village of
Far West; and in consequence of mobocracy, together with Governor
Boggs' exterminating order, was compelled to leave the state under
great sacrifice of real and personal property, which has reduced
and left myself and family in a state of poverty, with a delicate
state of health, in an advanced stage of life. Furthermore this
deponent saith not.

Given under my hand at Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1840.

Frederick G. Williams.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods, Clerk Adams county, Illinois.

_Statement of James Sloan_.

James Sloan made affidavit at Quincy, that the officers of the
militia under the exterminating order of Governor Boggs in Missouri
in 1838, took possession, carried off and destroyed a store of
goods, of several hundred dollars' value, belonging to the people
called "Mormons," in Daviess county; that his life was threatened,
his property taken, and he was obliged to flee the state with his
family, greatly to his disadvantage.

_Affidavit of David Shumaker_.

Quincy, Illinois, Adams County, March 18, 1840.

I, Jacob Shumaker, do certify that I went back to the state of
Missouri about the first of October last, with the calculation to
live with my family, but finding it impossible, as the mob, say to
the amount of twenty or thirty of them, surrounded my house, and
whilst they were quarreling about me, what they should do, and in
what way they should dispose of me, I crept out of the back window
and made my escape; and leaving my family to their most scandalous
abuses; my wife and oldest daughter barely escaping from their
unholy designs.

I was thus a second time obliged to leave the state, or remain
at the risk of my life. The former alternative I chose. My loss
sustained by the above-mentioned abuses was not less than three
hundred dollars. A lot of land containing forty acres, for which
I paid four dollars per acre, situated in Caldwell county, was
unjustly and unlawfully taken {70} from me, and is still retained
by some person or persons to me unknown. I hereby certify that the
above is a true statement.

Jacob Shumaker.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods.

_Affidavit of Levi Richards_.

I, Levi Richards, a resident of Quincy, Adams county Illinois,
practitioner of medicine, certify that in the year one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-eight, I was a citizen of Far West,
Caldwell county, Missouri, and that in the fall of said year, I
saw the city invaded by a numerous armed soldiery, who compelled
its inhabitants to surrender, give up their firearms, and submit
to their dictation. They then set a strong guard around the city,
thereby preventing egress or ingress, without special permission.
Then they collected the citizens together upon the public square,
formed around them a strong guard of soldiers, and then at the
mouths of their rifles, compelled them to sign what was termed a
deed of trust, thereby depriving them of all their property and
civil rights.

This occupied several days of most inclement weather, when they
were brought to the same order by General Clark, and I judge some
forty or fifty were made special prisoners by him. At this time he
delivered his speech to the "Mormons," which has been published,
and which is substantially correct. I was compelled by a company
of men armed with rifles, to leave my house, and go to captain
Bogart's camp, (he commanded, as I understood, a part of the guard
which surrounded the city,) upon an indirect charge or insinuation;
was detained a prisoner two days, examined, and liberated. I
then asked the clerk of the company, who had been my keeper, the
following questions, which he readily answered:

Were those men who massacred the "Mormons" at Haun's mill, out
under the Governor's order, or were they mobbers?

A. Mobbers.

Are Captain Cornelius Gilliam and his company out by legal
authority, or are they mobbers?

A. Mobbers.

Where are those mobbers now?

A. They have joined the army.

This company [Gilliam's] at the surrender of Far West were painted
like Indians. The army wore a badge of red (blood). I saw a large
amount of lumber and timber destroyed, and used for fuel by the
soldiers. The destruction of cattle, hogs, etc., seemed to be their
sport, as their camp and the fields testified when they withdrew.
An excellent gun was taken from me, which I have never seen or
heard of since. A {71} gun that was left in my care was taken at
the same time, which I afterwards found with Wiley E. Williams of
Richmond, (reputed one of the Governor's aids,) to obtain which
I had to prove property, affirm before a magistrate and pay said
Williams fifty cents.

I was called to extract lead, dress the wounds, etc., for several
persons (Saints) who were shot in the above siege, two of whom
died. Immediately previous to the above transactions, and for a
long time before, the citizens of Caldwell, and particularly Far
West, were called upon to watch for mobs by day and guard against
them by night, till it became a burden almost intolerable.

Levi Richards.

Sworn to before C. M. Woods. Clerk Circuit Court, Adams county,
Illinois

_Affidavit of Gibson Gates_.

I, Gibson Gates, do hereby certify that I was residing in Jackson
county, Missouri, in the fall of the year, 1833, and had been
for the space of about one year. I was at a meeting one day for
worship, when a man by the name of Masters came to us, stating that
he was sent by the mob to inform us that if we would forsake our
religion, they were willing to be our brethren and fight for us;
"but if not," said he, "our young men are ready, and we can scarce
constrain them from falling upon you and cutting you to pieces."

Soon after this there came a large company of men, armed, to my
place, and with much threatening and profane words, ordered me to
be gone by the next day, or they would kill me and my family; in
consequence of which threatening, we quit our house in the month
of November, leaving most of our effects; suffering very much with
cold, fatigue and hunger, we took [set out] on the prairie, and
went southward twenty miles or more, where we stayed a few weeks.
But still being threatened by the mob, we removed to Clay county,
where we lived in peace until the fall of 1838, when a mob arose
against the people of the Church of Latter-day Saints, when we were
again obliged to leave our home, and seek safety in another place
for a few weeks. When we returned our house had been broken open,
and the lock of a trunk broken open, and the most valuable contents
thereof taken away; the most of our bedding and furniture was
either stolen or destroyed; and we were then ordered to leave the
state.

Gibson Gates.

Sworn to before David W. Kilbourn, J P.

_Affidavit of David Pettigrew_.

This is to certify, that I, David Pettigrew, was a citizen of
Jackson county, Missouri, and owned a good farm, lying on the Blue
river, six miles west of Independence, and lived in peace with the
inhabitants until the summer and fall of 1833, when the inhabitants
began to {72} threaten us with destruction. I was at work in my
field, and a man by the name of Allen, and others with him, came
along and cried out, "Mr. Pettigrew, you are at work as though
you were determined to stay here, but we are determined that you
shall leave the county immediately." I replied that I was a free
born citizen of the United States, and had done harm to no man.
"I therefore claim protection by the law of the land," and that
the law and the Constitution of the land would not suffer them to
commit so horrid a crime. They then replied that "the old law and
Constitution is worn out, and we are about to make a new one."

I was at a meeting where we had met for prayer, and a man by the
name of Masters came and desired an interview with us; he then
stated that he was sent by the mob to inform us, that if we would
forsake our "Mormon" and Prophet religion, and become of their
religion, they, the mob, would be our brothers, and would fight for
us; "but if you will not, we are ready and will drive you from the
county."

A few days after this, a large mob came to my house, commanded by
General Moses Wilson, Hugh Braziel and Lewis Franklin, and broke
down my door, and burst into my house, armed with guns, clubs and
knives; some of them were painted red and black. This was in the
night, and my family was much frightened. They threatened me with
immediate death if I did not leave the place. After much abuse they
left us for the night, but in a few days they returned and drove me
and my family into the street, not suffering us to take anything
with us. I saw that we must go or die; we went south to Van Buren
county, in company with eighty or ninety others. In a short time
after, I returned to my farm and found my house plundered, my grain
and crop, stock, and all my farm and farming tools laid waste and
destroyed; and shortly after my house was burned to ashes.

I called on Esquire Western, of Independence, and inquired of
him if he could inform me what all this mobbing and riot meant,
informing him of the destruction and plundering of my house; to
which he gave me no satisfaction, but insulted me and treated
me roughly. Governor Boggs lived in the county, and I have seen
him passing through among us in our great distress, and gave no
attention to our distresses. He was then Lieutenant-Governor of the
state. On my return to my family in Van Buren county, I was much
abused by a man by the name of Brady; he said he would kill me if I
ever attempted to go to my farm, or if he saw me passing that way
again. I returned to my family, and in a few days after, a company
of men came where we lived and said they would spill my blood if I
did not leave the place immediately. The leaders of this company
were John Cornet, Thomas Langley, and Hezekiah Warden; they lived
in Jackson county.

{73} This was in the cold winter, and our sufferings were great. I
fled across the Missouri river to Clay county, where I lived three
years; in which time I often heard Judge Cameron and others say,
that "you Mormons cannot get your rights in any of the courts of
the upper country;" and I had not the privilege of voting as a free
citizen.

I moved to Caldwell county, bought land and opened a good farm,
and lived in peace until the summer and fall of 1838, when mobs
arose in the counties round about, and I with the rest was obliged
to take up arms in self defense; for the cry was, that mob law
should prevail, if we stood against them, until the army came and
took us all prisoners of war. I with the rest was obliged to sign
a deed of trust at the point of the sword, I with sixty others was
selected out and marched to Richmond, in Ray county, by the command
of General Clark, where they kept us a number of weeks, pretending
to try us as treasoners and murderers. At length I obtained my
liberty, and returned to my family in Caldwell county: and I found
that there was no safety there, for there was no law, but all a
scene of robbing, and plundering, and stealing. They were about to
take me again, and I was obliged to leave my family and flee to
Illinois. In about two months my family arrived, having suffered
much abuse and loss of health and property. Soon after the arrival
of my family my son, a young man, died; and I attribute his death
to the cruel barbarity of the mob of Missouri, he being a prisoner
among them, and having suffered much because of them.

My father was a soldier, and served in the Revolutionary War,
under the great Washington, but I have not had protection on
my own lands; and I have not been permitted to see my farm in
Jackson county, Missouri, in seven years. Soldiers were stationed
or quartered in different parts of Far West; and they treated us
roughly, threatening to shoot us, and making use of anything they
pleased, such as burning house, timber, and rails, and garden
fences, and stealing and plundering what they pleased.

When I was at Richmond, a prisoner before Judge King, we sent for
many witnesses; and when they came, they were taken and cast into
Prison with us, and we were not permitted to have any witnesses.
The day I came out of prison, they compelled me to sign a writing
which was not true or remain in prison.

David Pettigrew.

Sworn to before D. W. Kilbourn, J. P.

[Sidenote: Comment of the Prophet on the Foregoing Affidavits.]

Thus I have given a few of the multitude of affidavits which might be given to substantiate the facts of our persecutions and deaths in Missouri. When the brethren left Missouri, {74} they were poor, having been plundered of everything valued by mobs. Much of the plundering was done under the eye of the government officers, according to the foregoing affidavits; and all by the sanction of the state of Missouri, as the acts of her legislature testify. [5] The Saints, being so numerous, were obliged to scatter over the state of Illinois and different states to get bread and clothing--so that but few accounts against Missouri could be collected without unreasonable exertions. About 491 individuals gave in their claims against Missouri, which I presented to Congress--amounting to about $1,381,044.00; leaving a multitude more of similar bills hereafter to be presented, which, if not settled immediately, will ere long amount to a handsome sum, increasing by compound interest.

Footnotes:

1. This epistle is of interest as showing the spirit of the Church government at that time, (1839) and the recognition of the rights of individuals. For these reasons it is quoted here:

_To the Saints scattered abroad, in the region westward from Kirtland, Ohio_:

Beloved Brethren:--Feeling that it is our duty, as the servants of God, to instruct the Saints from time to time, in those things which to us appear to be wise and proper--therefore we freely give you a few words of advice at this time.

We have hear it rumored abroad, that some at least, and probably many, are making their calculations to remove back to Kirtland next season.

Now brethren, this being the case, we advise you to abandon such an idea; yea, we warn you, in the name of the Lord, not to remove back there, unless you are counseled to do so by the First Presidency, and the High Council of Nauvoo. We do not wish by this to take your agency from you; but we feel to be plain, and pointed in our advice for we wish to do our duty, that your sins may not be found in our skirts. All persons are entitled to their agency, for God has so ordained it. He has constituted mankind moral agents, and given them power to choose good or evil; to seek after that which is good, by pursuing the pathway of holiness in this life, which brings peace of mind, and joy in the Holy Ghost here, and a fulness of joy and happiness at His right hand hereafter; or to pursue an evil course, going on in sin and rebellion against God, thereby bringing condemnation to their souls in this world, and an eternal loss in the world to come. Since the God of heaven has left these things optional with every individual, we do not wish to deprive them of it. We only wish to act the part of a faithful watchman, agreeably to the word of the Lord to Ezekiel the prophet, (Ezekiel 33 chap. 2, 3, 4, 5, verses,) and leave it for others to do as seemeth them good.

Now for persons to do things, merely because they are advised to do them, and yet murmur all the time they are doing them, is of no use at all; they might as well not do them. There are those who profess to be Saints who are too apt to murmur, and find fault, when any advice is given, which comes in opposition to their feelings, even when they, themselves, ask for counsel; much more so when counsel is given unasked for, which does not agree with their notion of things; but brethren, we hope for better things from the most of you; we trust that you desire counsel, from time to time, and that you will cheerfully conform to it, whenever your receive it from a proper source.

It is very probable, that it may be considered wisdom for some of us, [i. e. at Nauvoo], and perhaps others, to move back to Kirtland, to attend to important business there: but notwithstanding that, after what we have written, should any be so unwise to move back there, without being first counseled so to do, their conduct will be highly disapprobated.

Done by order and vote of the First Presidency and High Council for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at Nauvoo, December 8, 1839.

H.G. Sherwood, Clerk

_Times and Seasons_, Vol. 1, p. 29.

2. This communication of Hyrum Smith's adds nothing to his very elaborate statement of the wrongs suffered by himself and the Saints in Missouri already published in Volume III, pp. 403-424, except his testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon; and as he was one of the Eight Witnesses to the fact of the existence of the Nephite plates from which the record was translated, the paragraphs relating to that testimony are give here:

"Having given my testimony to the world of the truth of the Book of Mormon, the renewal of the everlasting covenant, and the establishment of the kingdom of heaven, in the last days; and having been brought into great afflictions and distresses for the same, I thought that it might be strengthening to my beloved brethren, to give them a short account of my sufferings, for the truth's sake, and the state of my mind and feelings, while under circumstances of the most trying and afflicting nature. * * * * I had been abused and thrust into a dungeon, and confined for months on account of my faith, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. However I thank God that I felt a determination to die, rather than deny then things which my eyes have seen, which my hands had handled, and which I had borne testimony to, [all in plain allusion to his testimony to the existence of the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated] wherever my lot had been cast; and I can assure my beloved brethren that I was enabled to bear as strong a testimony, when nothing but death presented itself, as I ever did I my life. My confidence in God, was likewise unshaken. I knew that He who suffered me, along with my brethren, to be thus tried, that He could and that He would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies; and in His own due time He did so, for which I desire to bless and praise His holy name."--_Times and Seasons_, Vol. 1, pp. 20 and 23.

3. This treatise on the "Regeneration and Eternal Duration of Matter," was written by Elder Pratt while in Columbia prison, Missouri. He explains that it "was more calculated to comfort and console myself and friends when death stared me in the face, than as an argumentative or philosophical production." This article has for some time been out of print, yet it has much that is instructive in it. The author states as a basic principle in his treatise the following: "Matter and spirit are the two great principles of all existence. Everything animate and inanimate is composed of one or the other, or both of these eternal principles. I say eternal, because the elements are as durable as the quickening power which exists in them. Matter and spirit are of equal duration; both are self-existent,--they never began to exist, and they never can be annihilated. * * * * Matter as well as spirit is eternal, uncreated, self existing. However infinite the variety of its changes, forms and shapes;--however vast and varying the parts it has to act in the great theater of the universe;--whatever sphere its several parts may be destined to fill in the boundless organization of infinite wisdom, yet it is there, durable at the throne of Jehovah. And eternity is inscribed in indelible characters on every particle. Revolution may succeed revolution;--vegetation may bloom and flourish, generation upon generation may pass away and others still succeed--empires may fall to ruin, and moulder to the dust and be forgotten--the marble monuments of antiquity may crumble to atoms and mingle in the common ruin--the mightiest works of art, with all their glory, may sink in oblivion and be remembered no more--worlds may startle from their orbits, and hurling from their spheres, run lawless on each other in conceivable confusion--element may war with element in awful majesty, while thunders roll from sky to sky, and arrows of lightning break the mountains asunder--scatter the rocks like hailstones--set worlds on fire, and melt the elements with fervent heat, and yet not one grain can be lost--not one particle can be annihilated. All these revolutions and convulsions of nature will only serve to refine, purify, and finally restore and renew the elements upon which they act. And like the sunshine after a storm, or like gold seven times tried in the fire, they will shine forth with additional luster as they roll in their eternal spheres, in their glory, in the midst of the power of God." On this theory of the indestructibility of matter the author proceeds to consider the reality of the resurrection from the dead and the future life of man in a sentient, tangible existence. "The resurrection of the body is a complete restoration and reorganization of the physical system of man; * * * * the elements of which his body is composed are eternal in their duration; * * * * they form the tabernacle--the everlasting habitation of that spirit which animated them in this life; * * * * the spirits and bodies of men are of equal importance and destined to form an eternal and inseparable union with each other."

4. This affidavit, it will be observed, was given some time after the others of this group, and appears in the Ms. of the Prophet's History under date of March the 5th, but it is brought forward here, with all those that follow in this chapter, that it may appear in connection with the others of its kind.

5. That is to say, the legislature had appropriated two hundred thousand dollars to meet the expenses of the mob-militia in unlawfully dispossessing the Saints of their lands and other property, and then expelling them from the state. While on the other hand, it refused to give any consideration worthy of the name to the petition of the Saints for redress of their grievances; and so far was the legislature from giving the Saints any assurance of re-instatement in the rightful possession of their lands and other property and maintaining them in peaceful possession of them, that it finally refused even to investigate the justice of their claims. Under these circumstances the Prophet is undoubtedly justified in using the language of the text. (See Vol. III, chaps. xv, xvi.)

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