Chapter LI

THE POWER OF HUMAN HARMONY--CHANGING HELL TO HEAVEN--JOSEPH AS A SERVANT--HIS SKETCH OF THE CHURCH--A RINGING EDITORIAL--ORGANIZATION OF THE RELIEF SOCIETY--BENNETT BEGINS HIS PLOTS.

Upon one occasion, when the power of persecution was descending upon the people, a threat of the mobocrats was carried to the Prophet. It was this: "We are going to drive the Mormons to hell, this time, sure."

With an entrancing mildness of look and sweetness of voice, Joseph replied:

Never mind, my brethren, if they drive us to hell, we'll turn the
devil out and make a heaven of it.

This sentiment is at once a sermon upon unity and an epitome of the history of the Latter-day Saints. By their union and system of mutual help they have again and again redeemed wildernesses; every time demonstrating that the Prophet's view of the power of human harmony was correct--for where the love of truth and the concord of the Saints exist there is no room for Satan, and hell itself must be transformed into a region of bliss.

Joseph was putting these principles into practice at Nauvoo, and a beautiful city was growing out of a marsh; and institutions for human liberty and human advancement were growing out of the most adverse conditions.

Near the opening of 1842 the Prophet, with President Brigham Young and Bishop Newel K. Whitney, began to devise a plan, by which a cheap and expeditious conveyance of the Saints from the old world to Nauvoo might be secured through a united effort; and the mercantile interests of the people might be made to serve the general welfare and protect and help the poor. The Prophet himself did not hesitate to engage in mercantile and industrial pursuits; the gospel which he preached was one of temporal salvation as well as spiritual exaltation; and he was willing to perform his share of the practical labor. This he did with no thought of personal gain, for in opening the store at Nauvoo he said:

I rejoice that we have been enabled to do as well as we have, for
the hearts of many of the poor brethren and sisters will be made
glad with these comforts which are now within their reach.

In a letter to Brother Edward Hunter, under date of January 5th, 1842, the Prophet shows his humility and the love of his heart in these words:

The store has been filled to overflowing and I have stood behind
the counter all day, distributing goods as steadily as any clerk
you ever saw, to oblige those who were compelled to go without
their Christmas and New Year's dinners for the want of a little
sugar, molasses, raisins, etc.; and to please myself also, for I
love to wait upon the Saints and to be a servant to all, hoping
that I may be exalted in the due time of the Lord.

What a picture is here presented! A man chosen by the Lord to lay the foundation of His Church and to be its Prophet and President, takes joy and pride in waiting upon his brethren and sisters like a servant. The self-elected ministers of Christ in the world are forever jealous of their dignity and fearful of showing disrespect to their cloth; but Joseph never saw the day when he did not feel that he was serving God and obtaining favor in the sight of Jesus Christ by showing kindness and attention "even unto the least of these."

One Tom Sharp, editor of the Warsaw _Signal_, was devoting the greater part of his time and the greater part of his paper's space to slanders and misrepresentations of the Saints. The Prophet's comment upon this man, who afterward became a prominent factor in the persecutions against the people, was: "Let Sharp publish what he pleases: the faster he prints his lies the sooner he will get through."

There were signs of prosperity for the Saints and although they were not yet surrounded by comforts, they began to give freely of their substance to rear the temple, anxiously looking forward to its completion as a thing of mighty importance to the living and to the dead. With the rapid increase of their numbers, the politicians of the state sought their favor. The Prophet took occasion, during the gubernatorial contest of 1842, to announce that he would support without regard to their political predilections, the men who were devoted to humanity and equal rights--the cause of liberty and the law. And this was his text in every political campaign in which the people took part.

John Wentworth, proprietor of the Chicago _Democrat_, wrote to the Prophet early in 1842, asking for a sketch of the Church and its founder, stating that he desired the data for a Mr. Barstow who was writing the history of New Hampshire. Joseph very willingly complied with this request and gave a succinct history of the founding of the Church, its progress and persecutions; with a statement of the faith of the Latter-day Saints. The Prophet's own words cannot fail to be of intense interest to students of his life; and as his account shows masterly condensation and completeness, it is here presented in full:

I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the
23rd of December, A. D. 1805. When ten years old my parents removed
to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from
thence we removed to the town of Manchester. My father was a farmer
and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of
age I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for
a future state, and upon inquiring upon the plan of salvation,
I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if
I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another
to another; each one pointing to his own particular creed as the
_summum bonum_ of perfection; considering that all could not be
right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I
determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if
God had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that
if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one
set of ordinances, He would not teach another principles that were
diametrically opposed.

Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of
James--"If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth
to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given
him." I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call
upon the Lord; while fervently engaged in supplication, my mind
was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded,
and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious
personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and
likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the
sun at noonday. They told me that all the religious denominations
were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was
acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom; and I was expressly
commanded to "go not after them;" at the same time receiving a
promise that the fullness of the gospel should at some future time
be made known unto me.

On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, while I was
praying unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious
promises of scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only
of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst
into the room: indeed the first sight was as though the house was
filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that
affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me
surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was
already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an
angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings, that the covenant
which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled,
that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was
speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel, in
all its fullness, to be preached in power unto all nations, that a
people might be prepared for the millennial reign.

I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands
of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious
dispensation.

I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this
country, and shown who they were and from whence they came; a brief
sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments,
of their righteousness and their iniquity, and the blessings of God
being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known unto
me. I was also told where there were deposited some plates on which
were engraven an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets
that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three
times the same night, and unfolded the same things. After having
received many visits from the angels of God, unfolding the majesty
and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on
the morning of the 22nd of September, A.D. 1827, the angel of the
Lord delivered the records into my hands.

These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance
of gold. Each plate was six inches wide and eight long, and not
quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings
in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the
leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole.
The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part
of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were
small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many
marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art
of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument,
which the ancients called "Urim and Thummim," which consisted
of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a
breastplate.

Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record,
by the gift and power of God.

In this important and interesting book the history of ancient
America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that
came from the tower of Babel at the confusion of languages, to
the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are
informed by these records that America in ancient times had been
inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called
Jaredites, and came directly from the tower of Babel. The second
race came directly from the city of Jerusalem about six hundred
years before Christ. They were principally Israelites of the
descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time
the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the
inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race
fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant
are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also
tells us that our Savior made His appearance upon this continent
after His resurrection, that He planted the gospel here in all its
fullness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had
apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists; the same
order, the same Priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers and
blessings as were enjoyed on the eastern continent; that the people
were cut off in consequence of their transgressions; that the last
of their prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an
abridgment of their prophecies, history, etc., and to hide it up
in the earth, and that it should come forth and be united with the
Bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last
days. For a more particular account I would refer to the Book of
Mormon.

As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false
reports, misrepresentations and slander flew as on the wings of
the wind in every direction; the house was frequently beset by
mobs and evil-designing persons. Several times I was shot at and
very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the
plates away from me, but the power and blessing of God attended me,
and several began to believe my testimony.

On the 6th of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints was organized in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, state
of New York. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of
revelation and prophecy, and began to preach as the Spirit gave
them utterance, and, though weak, they were strengthened by the
power of God, and many were brought to repentance, were immersed
in the water, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on
of hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils were cast out,
and the sick healed by the laying on of hands. From that time the
work rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were soon
formed in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Missouri; in the last named state a considerable
settlement was formed in Jackson County; numbers joined the Church,
and we were increasing rapidly; we made large purchases of land,
our farms teemed with plenty, and peace and happiness were enjoyed
in our domestic circles and throughout our neighborhoods; but
as we could not associate with our neighbors--who were, many of
them the basest of men, and had fled from the face of civilized
society to the frontier country to escape the hand of justice--in
their midnight revels, in their Sabbath breaking, horse racing and
gambling, they commenced at first to ridicule, then to persecute,
and, finally, an organized mob assembled and burned our houses,
tarred and feathered, and whipped many of our brethren, and finally
drove them from their habitations, who, houseless and homeless,
contrary to law, justice and humanity, had to wander on the bleak
prairies till the children left the tracks of their blood on the
prairie. This took place in the month of November, and they had no
other covering but the canopy of heaven, in this inclement season
of the year. This proceeding was winked at by the government, and
although we had warrantee deeds for our land, and had violated no
law, we could obtain no redress.

There were many sick, who were thus inhumanly driven from their
houses, and had to endure all this abuse, and to seek homes
where they could be found. The result was, that a great many of
them, being deprived of the comforts of life and the necessary
attendance, died; many children were left orphans, wives widows,
and husbands widowers. Our farms were taken possession of by the
mob, many thousands of cattle, sheep, horses and hogs were taken,
and our household goods, store goods, and printing press and type
were broken, taken or otherwise destroyed.

Many of our brethren removed to Clay, where they continued until
1836, three years; there was no violence offered, but there
were threatenings of violence. But in the summer of 1836 these
threatenings began to assume a more serious form; from threats,
public meetings were called, resolutions were passed, vengeance and
destruction were threatened, and affairs again assumed a fearful
attitude. Jackson County was a sufficient precedent, and as the
authorities in that county did not interfere, they boasted that
they would not in this, which, upon application to the authorities,
we found to be too true, and after much violence, privation and
loss of property, we were again driven from our homes.

We next settled in Caldwell and Daviess counties, where we made
large and extensive settlements, thinking to free ourselves from
the power of oppression by settling in new counties with very
few inhabitants in them; but here we were not allowed to live in
peace, for in 1838 we were again attacked by mobs; an exterminating
order was issued by Governor Boggs, and under the sanction of
law organized banditti ranged through the country, robbed us of
our cattle, sheep, horses, hogs, etc. Many of our people were
murdered in cold blood, the chastity of our women was violated,
and we were forced to sign away our property at the point of the
sword; and after enduring every indignity that could be heaped
upon us by an inhuman, ungodly band of marauders, from twelve to
fifteen thousand souls--men, women and children--were driven from
their own firesides, and from lands that they had warrantee deeds
of, houseless, friendless and homeless, in the depth of winter,
to wander as exiles on the earth, or to seek an asylum in a more
genial clime and among a less barbarous people.

Many sickened and died in consequence of the cold and hardships
they had to endure; many wives were left widows, and children
orphans and destitute. It would take more time than is allotted
me here to describe the injustice, the wrongs, the murders, the
bloodshed, the theft, misery and woe that have been caused by the
barbarous, inhuman and lawless proceedings of the state of Missouri.

In the situation before alluded to, we arrived in the state of
Illinois in 1839, when we found a hospitable people and a friendly
home; a people who were willing to be governed by the principles
of law and humanity. We have commenced to build a city called
"Nauvoo," in Hancock County. We number from six to eight thousand
here, besides vast numbers in the county around, and in almost
every county of the state. We have a city charter granted us, and
a charter for a legion, the troops of which now number 1,500. We
have also a charter for a university, for an agricultural and
manufacturing society, have our own laws and administrators, and
possess all the privileges that other free and enlightened citizens
enjoy.

Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only
added fuel to the flame, it has spread with increasing rapidity:
proud of the cause which they have espoused, and conscious of their
innocence, and of the truth of their system, amidst calumny and
reproach, have the Elders of this Church gone forth, and planted
the gospel in almost every state in the Union; it has penetrated
our cities, it has spread over our villages, and has caused
thousands of our intelligent, noble and patriotic citizens to obey
its divine mandates, and be governed by its sacred truths. It has
also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales; in the year
1840, where a few of our missionaries were sent, over five thousand
joined the Standard of Truth; there are numbers now joining in
every land.

Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in
Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies and other places,
the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can
stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may
combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth
of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent, till it has
penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every
country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall
be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ,
and in the Holy Ghost.

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not
for Adam's transgression.

We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be
saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

We believe that these ordinances are 1st: Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ; 2nd, Repentance; 3rd, Baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.

We believe that a man must be called of God by "prophecy and by
laying on of hands" by those who are in authority, to preach the
gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive
church, namely, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists,
etc.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelations, visions,
healing, interpretations of tongues, etc.

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the
word of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,
and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important
things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the
restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this
continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and
that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to
the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same
privilege, let them worship how, where or what they may.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and
magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and
in doing good to_ all men_; indeed we may say that we follow the
admonition of Paul "we believe all things, we hope all things,"
we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all
things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report, or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Respectfully, etc.,

JOSEPH SMITH.

In February of 1842, Joseph became the editor of the _Times and Seasons_, assisted by Apostle John Taylor. The Prophet continued to carry this responsibility for nearly a year when a press of other business, combined with the persecution of his enemies, compelled him to relinquish the task into the hands of his assistant, Elder Taylor, who was then formally announced as the editor. During 1842, Joseph gave many instructions of precious truth through that periodical to the Saints, and published, with engravings made by Elder Reuben Hedlock, his translation of the Book of Abraham.

In the issue of the _Times and Seasons_ for March 1st, 1842, appears the Prophet's first editorial article. It is significant and strong:

"HONOR AMONG THIEVES."

We extract the following from the New York _Tribune_:

"The paymaster of the Missouri militia, called out to put down the
Mormons some two years since, was supplied with money some time
since and started for western Missouri, but has not yet arrived
there. It is feared that he has taken the saline slope."

We are not surprised that persons who could wantonly, barbarously
and without the shadow of law, drive fifteen thousand men, women
and children from their homes, should have among them a man who
was so lost to every sense of justice, as to run away with the
wages for this infamous deed; it is not very difficult for men
who can blow out the brains of children; who can shoot down and
hew to pieces our ancient veterans that fought in the defense
of our country and delivered it from the oppressor's grasp; who
could deliberately, and in cold blood, murder men, and rob them
of their boots, watches, etc., and whilst they were yet weltering
in their blood and grappling with death, and then proceed to
rob their widowed houses. Men who can deliberately do this, and
steal nearly all the horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and property of
a whole community, and drive them from their homes _en masse_,
in an inclement season of the year, will not find many qualms of
conscience in stealing the pay of his brother thieves, and taking
the "saline slope."

The very idea of government paying these men for their bloody
deeds, must cause the sons of liberty to blush, and to hang their
harps upon the willow; and make the blood of every patriot run
chill. The proceedings of that state have been so barbarous and
inhuman that our indignation is aroused when we reflect upon the
scene.

We are here reminded of one of the patriotic deeds of the
government of that state, which, after it had robbed us of
everything we had in the world, and taken from us many hundred
thousand dollars worth of property, had its sympathies so far
touched (_alias_, its good name,) that it voted two thousand
dollars for the relief of the "suffering Mormons," and choosing two
or three of the state's noblest sons to carry the heavenly boon,
these angels of salvation came in the plenitude of their mercy, and
in the dignity of their office, to Far West. To do what? to feed
their hungry, and clothe their naked with the $2,000? Verily nay!
but to go into Daviess County and steal the Mormons' hogs (which
they, [the Mormons] themselves, were prohibited from obtaining,
under penalty of death) to distribute among the destitute, and to
sell where they could obtain the money. These hogs, thus obtained,
were shot down in their blood, and not otherwise bled; they were
filthy to a degree. These, the Mormons' own hogs, and a very few
goods, the sweepings of an old store in Liberty, were what these
patriotic and noble-minded men gave to the "poor Mormons," and
then circulated to the world how sympathetic, benevolent, kind and
merciful the legislature of the state of Missouri was in giving two
thousand dollars to the "suffering Mormons." Surely, "the tender
mercies of the wicked are cruel."

The organization of the Female Relief Society at Nauvoo began under the Prophet's direction on the 17th of March, 1842, and was completed on the 24th day of that month. The purpose of the society was to comfort the poor and relieve the destitute and sustain the widow and the orphan. The sisters among the Saints had always been signalized for their acts of kindness; but the cruel usage they had received in Missouri had prevented their extending the hand of charity as they desired. Yet even in the midst of their persecution, when the bread was torn from the mouths of their offspring by the oppressors, they had always been willing to open their doors to the weary travelers and to divide their pittance with the stranger. With the growing prosperity of the Church, the Prophet felt sure that the sisters would concentrate their efforts to ameliorate the condition of the suffering stranger, to pour oil and wine into the wounded heart of the distressed, to dry up the tears of the orphan, and make the widow's heart to rejoice.

On the 20th day of March, 1842, after a sermon in the grove near the temple, the Prophet went down to the river and baptized eighty persons for the remission of their sins. Fifty of this number received their confirmation under his hands later in the day. One week afterward he baptized one hundred and seven people in the Mississippi.

At the conference of the Church held at the city of Nauvoo on the 6th day of April, 1842, the twelfth anniversary of its organization, Apostle Page made explanation of the delays through which he failed to accompany Elder Orson Hyde to Jerusalem.

The Prophet decided that Elder Page should be restored to his fellowship; he took the occasion to instruct the Elders that when they went forth as companions they were to adhere to each other as Elisha and Elijah of old.

During this conference two hundred and seventy-five Elders were ordained under the hands of the Apostles.

On Saturday, the 9th day of April, 1842, the Prophet attended the funeral of Ephraim Marks, a son of William Marks, president of the Nauvoo Stake. President Wilford Woodruff's journal of that date records that Joseph addressed the funeral assemblage, and in the course of his remarks said:

Some of the Saints have supposed that "Brother Joseph" could not
die; but this is a mistake. It is true that there have been times
when I have had the promise of my life to accomplish certain
things; but, having now done these things, I have no longer any
lease of my life. I am as liable to die as other men.

This sermon is like a premonition of his own fate. At the time it was uttered his surroundings had never been so propitious since the day when he first received the plates from the Hill Cumorah. But soon after he made this declaration, his enemies began again to pursue him vindictively, and they continued until his death a little more than two years after he delivered that sermon.

In the spring of 1842, the Nauvoo Legion of the Illinois state militia consisted of twenty-six companies, comprising about two thousand troops. On the 7th day of May the staff of the Legion dined at the house of the commander-in-chief. Other guests were there, including Judge Stephen A. Douglas, who had adjourned the circuit court, then in session at Carthage, that he and the lawyers might visit Nauvoo and witness the parade of the Legion. A sham battle between the two cohorts under Brigadier-Generals Wilson Law and Charles C. Rich was a feature of the day. The battle and the parade were brilliant; and the visitors expressed their admiration of the energy and the patriotism of the Prophet and his brethren who had organized and trained this large body of loyal troops to be in readiness for their country's call.

It was during the sham battle of this day that the Prophet became assured that John C. Bennett was a wicked man--impure and traitorous. The proper place for the Lieutenant-General commanding, was upon an eminence where, surrounded by his staff and the ladies and distinguished visitors, he could review the contest between his cohorts. But Bennett made several endeavors to draw Joseph down into the battle; failing in that, to get him separated from his staff and party and in the rear of one of his forces. Joseph might have yielded to some of these requests but the Spirit whispered him that treachery was meditated. A little later the purpose of Bennett was made manifest. He had intended to get Joseph into such a position that he could be killed by a shot and no one be able to identify the assassin. Bennett no doubt had accomplices in this plot, and his plans were shrewdly laid; but this was not the hour nor this the method for the Prophet's death.

In recording the events of this day in his journal, Joseph develops Bennett's treachery and predicts that the wicked doing of the traitor will soon be made manifest before the world. The prophecy was fulfilled.