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The Revised and
Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother
Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor
Editors’
note: The Revised and Enhanced History of
Joseph Smith by His Mother is a copyrighted
work and is protected under the copyright
laws of the United States of America. None
of this edited work is in public domain and
cannot be published or republished in any
form.
Chapter 46
Mob action increases in Kirtland;
apostasy is rampant. Mob threatens to burn the Egyptian mummies.
Joseph prophesies of the Lord’s promise of protection on his
life. Joseph flees Kirtland to Missouri. Constable Luke Johnson
arrests Joseph Smith Sr., then allows him to escape with son
Hyrum. Most of the Smiths move temporarily to New Portage,
Ohio, to await removal to Missouri.
Summer 1837 to spring 1838
I will now return to the mob,
for we have said little of their proceedings for some time,
principally because they were not of sufficient importance
to demand attention. They had become discouraged and ceased
their operations, when they found that despite their best
endeavors, we had built the house of the Lord, and that we
had seen prosperity in everything to which we had set our
hands. But suddenly, seeing that there was a division in our
midst, they began to renew their diligence to effect the desire
of their hearts, which was our overthrow. [1]
Their first movement was to sue
my son Joseph for debt and, with this pretense, seize upon
every piece of property which they could have the least pretext
to lay hold upon. [2] They
considered it quite sufficient if the article in question
belonged to any member of the family. Joseph then had in his
possession four Egyptian mummies, with some ancient records
that accompanied them. These, the mob swore, they would fetch
from the Mormon meetinghouse and burn. They devised every
invention to get these things into their possession, hoping
to destroy the only then existing evidence in writing of the
Book of Mormon
[3] which was accessible to the world. Accordingly
they levied an execution upon them, claiming that they belonged
to Joseph, and that he owed them a debt of fifty dollars.
This was an unjust demand, for we did not owe any man out
of the Church anything, but by various stratagems, we were
able to keep them out of the hands of the rabble, who were
joined by the apostates.
The persecution became so hot,
that Joseph regarded it as unsafe to remain any longer in
Kirtland and began making arrangements to move to Missouri. [4] He was preparing for
his journey when the first effort was made to get the mummies
and their attendant records.
One evening he was at our house,
speaking with the brethren of various things he wished to
have them do in case he left. When it was quite late, he rose
to go home, but as he was about leaving, he turned to the
company and said, “Well, brethren, one thing more. I do not
want you to be concerned about me, for I shall see you again,
let what will happen, for I have a lease of my life for five
years anyway, and they will not kill me till after that time
is expired.” [5]
That night he was warned by the
Spirit of immediate danger and to make his escape as speedily
as possible. Therefore, he set out in the night with his family,
beds and bedding, and sufficient clothing to make them comfortable. [6] When we came to hear
from his house the next morning, he had gone on his journey.
Emma’s oldest son was then only five years old. [7]
Soon after Joseph left, the constable,
Luke Johnson [8] (who had formerly been a member of
the Church), came to our house and served a summons on Mr.
Smith which requested him to go to the magistrate’s office.
Johnson said that no mischief was intended, and that it was
of a peaceable nature.
Mr. Smith was then sick, and
I begged Johnson not to take him away among our enemies, for
I knew by experience that their design was generally false
imprisonment, and that their civil writs too often proved
to be very uncivil. Johnson paid no attention to what I said.
Indeed, nothing else would satisfy those very “civil” men
but his going into a crowd of apostates and mobocrats and
running the risk of what treatment he might receive at their
hands.
After Mr. Smith arrived at the
office, he was soon informed of the cause of his being arrested,
and what would be necessary to escape from imprisonment. He
was taken before Esquire Cowdery for marrying a couple. As
the apostates and the mob did not consider him a minister
of the gospel, they contested his right to perform such a
ceremony, and he was fined the sum of three thousand dollars,
and in case he should default of paying this, he was sentenced
to the penitentiary. Luke Johnson bustled about and seemed
to be very much engaged, preparing to draw writings for the
money and making other arrangements such as were required
of him by the party to which he belonged. But at the first
opportunity, he went to Hyrum (who had not yet set out for
Missouri) and told him to take his father into a room which
he pointed out to him. Luke said, “I will manage to get the
window out, and he will be at liberty to jump out and go when
or where he pleases.”
Hyrum and Mr. Smith left the
company, and Luke told the mob that they had gone to consult
together about raising the money. By deceiving them in this
way, he kept them still until Mr. Smith crept out of the window,
with the help of Hyrum and John Boynton (who said he was our
friend at this time).
He traveled about four miles
and stopped with Brother Snow, [9] who is the father of Miss Eliza Snow,
the poetess. The old man said he would secrete him and forbade
his family from saying to anyone that Father Smith was there.
When Luke supposed that my husband
was out of their reach, he started up and ran into the room
where he had left him, saying that he must see after the prisoner.
Upon finding that the prisoner had fled, he made a great parade,
calling out that he was gone and hunting in every direction
for the fugitive. He came to me and inquired if Mr. Smith
was at home. This frightened me very much and I exclaimed,
“Luke, you have taken my husband away and given him into the
hands of the mob and they have killed him.” This he denied
but gave me no explanation. In a short time, however, I found
out where my husband was and sent him money and clothes to
travel with. He started in a few days for New Portage with
Carlos, my youngest son, and Brother Wilber. By this time
handbills were stuck up on every public or private road, giving
a description of his person, and no means which ingenuity
could invent was left untried to prevent his escape. Runners
were sent through the country to watch for him with authority
to bring him back in case they found him. But despite their
utmost exertions, he eluded them and succeeded in getting
to New Portage, where he remained with Brother Taylor. Don
Carlos, having accompanied his father to the above-named place,
returned home again to his family; but immediately discovering
that the mob contemplated taking him for the same offense,
he moved with his family to New Portage, and was there with
his father, until the rest of the family were ready to remove
to Missouri. Hyrum had already moved there with his family.
Shortly after they left, a man
by the name of Edward Woolley came to Kirtland to see Mr.
Smith, and not finding him there, he went to New Portage and
persuaded my husband to accompany him home.
After Mr. Smith had remained
with Mr. Woolley about two weeks, we became very uneasy about
him, not having received any intelligence of him since he
left us. Accordingly, William resolved to go in pursuit of
him to see how he was situated; whether he had met with friends
and was comfortably provided for, or had fallen into the hands
of his enemies and been murdered by them, for we had as much
cause to fear the latter as to hope for the former.
When William arrived at New Portage,
now called Norton, it was some time before he could learn
exactly where his father had gone. But as soon as he obtained
the necessary intelligence, he went immediately to him and
had the pleasure of finding him in good health, although in
great anxiety about the family, for he did not know how we
were situated, nor where we were, since we had designed moving
to Missouri soon after he left us.
As soon as it was known that
William was in the place, a part of the inhabitants were very
anxious that he should preach, and he agreed to do so. [10] But there were a few
that declared that if he did preach, they would tar and feather
him. One of these was Mr. Bear, a man of extraordinary size
and strength. Besides him were three others, no less than
he. As these men came in, William was just taking his text,
which was, “The Poor Deluded Mormons.” The singularity of
this text excited their curiosity so much that they stopped
in the door, saying, “Wait, let’s see what he will do with
his text,” and they waited so long that they either forgot
what they came for, or they changed their minds, for they
made no further move towards making use of tar or feathers,
and when he got through preaching, Mr. Bear frankly confessed
his conviction of the truth and was baptized soon afterwards. [11]
William told his father that
we should set out for Missouri soon, and we wished him to
be ready to go with us. William then returned home and his
father went again to New Portage. Here he remained with Don
Carlos until we were ready to go to Missouri. [12]
Notes
[1] Benjamin
F. Johnson gave a detailed description of these precarious
days in Kirtland: “At this time, town property and real estate
went up to almost fabulous prices, and a general rush was
made into business of all kinds. Members of the Quorum of
the Twelve and Elders on missions hastened home, bringing
merchandise and means for general trade, while the Kirtland
Bank issued its paper apparently with full confidence in the
future. Goods were sold upon credit with great hope of better
times; and ‘Why be deprived of luxury and fashion today,’
seemed to be the spirit of the hour. But when goods bought
on credit were to be paid for, and notes became due for lands
bought at great prices, then began a reaction. Disappointment
engendered feelings which reacted upon fellowship, and men
in high places began to complain of and reproach each other,
and brotherly love was found smothered by the love of the
world. The Bank having issued its currency in the same confidence
now began to comprehend that its specie vaults were empty,
with no possibility to realize upon collateral to replenish
them. The spirit of charity was not invoked, and brethren
who had borne the highest priesthood and who had for years
labored, traveled, ministered and suffered together, and even
placed their lives upon the same altar, now were governed
by a feeling of hate and a spirit to accuse each other, and
all for the love of Accursed Mammon. All their former
companionship in the holy anointing in the Temple of the Lord,
where filled with the Holy Ghost, the heavens were opened,
and in view of the glories before them they had together shouted
‘Hosanna to God and the Lamb,’ all was now forgotten by many,
who were like Judas, ready to sell or destroy the Prophet
Joseph and his followers. And it almost seemed to me that
the brightest stars in our firmament had fallen. Many to whom
I had in the past most loved to listen, their voices seemed
now the most discordant and hateful to me. From the Quorum
of the Twelve fell four of the brightest: Wm. E. McLellin,
Luke and Lyman Johnson and John Boynton; of the First Presidency,
F. G. Williams; the three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon,
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris. Of other
very prominent elders were Sylvester Smith, Warren Cowdery,
Warren Parrish, Joseph Coe and many others who apostatized
or became enemies to the Prophet. I was then nineteen years
of age, and as I now look back through more than fifty years
of subsequent experience, to that first great Apostasy, I
regard it as the greatest sorrow, disappointment and test
through which I have ever passed; the first real experience
among false brethren, the greatest sorrow and test for the
faithful. But with all my faults I did not forget the Lord
nor His chosen servants. And in this day of great affliction
and separation by apostasy, I felt to call mightily upon His
name, that He would never leave me to follow these examples,
but that He would keep me humble, even though in poverty and
affliction, so only that I fail not. This prayer of my youth
I have never forgotten, neither do I feel that it is forgotten
by Him to whom it was made.” (My Life’s Review [Independence,
Mo.: Zion’s Printing and Publishing, 1947], pp. 27–29.)
[2] Mary Fielding
Smith, sister-in-law to Joseph the Prophet, described the
conditions in Kirtland in the summer of 1837: “I do thank
my Heavenly Father for the comfort and peace of mind I now
enjoy in the midst of all the confusion and perplexity, and
raging of the devil against the work of God in this place.
For although here is a great number of faithful, precious
souls, yea, the salt of the earth is here, yet it may be truly
called a place where Satan has his seat. He is frequently
stirring up some of the people to strife and contention and
dissatisfaction with things they do not understand… I pray
God to have mercy upon us all and preserve us from the power
of the great enemy, who knows he has but a short time to work
in… I believe the voice of prayer has sounded in the house
of the Lord some days from morning till night, and it has
been by these means that we have hitherto prevailed, and it
is by this means only that I for one expect to prevail.” (Mary
Fielding Smith to her sister Mercy, September 1, 1837, in
Kenneth W. Godfrey, Audrey M. Godfrey, and Jill Mulvay Derr,
Women’s Voices: An Untold History of the Latter-day Saints,
1830–1900 [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982],
pp. 63-64.)
[3] This statement
comes from the Preliminary Manuscript and could have been
referring to the fact that with the mummies were not only
the writings of Abraham but also some of the writings of Joseph
of Egypt (some of his prophecies are included in the Book
of Mormon). Concerning the mummies that had been purchased
from Mr. Michael Chandler, and some scrolls that were with
them, Joseph recorded: “I commenced the translation of some
of the characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found
that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham, another
the writings of Joseph of Egypt, etc., — a more full account
of which will appear in its place, as I proceed to examine
or unfold them. Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to
reveal the abundance of peace and truth.” (History of the
Church 2:236.)
[4]
Brigham Young, whose heart never wavered, attended a meeting
in the midst of this terrible time in Kirtland. Many of the
apostates had gathered and were criticizing the Prophet. Brigham
recorded: “I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told
them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they
might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, they could
not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could
only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound
them to the Prophet and to God and sink themselves to hell.
Many were highly enraged at my decided opposition to their
measures, and Jacob Bump (an old pugilist) was so exasperated
that he could not be still. Some of the brethren near him
put their hands on him, and requested him to be quiet; but
he writhed and twisted his arms and body saying, ‘How can
I keep my hands off that man?’ I told him if he thought it
would give him any relief he might lay them on... This was
a crisis when earth and hell seemed leagued to overthrow the
Prophet and Church of God. The knees of many of the strongest
men in the Church faltered. During this siege of darkness
I stood close by Joseph, and, with all the wisdom and power
God bestowed upon me, put forth my utmost energies to sustain
the servant of God and unite the quorums of the Church.” (Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 1801–1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson
[Salt Lake City: Elden Jay Watson, 1968], pp. 16–17.)
[5] This would
be from January 1838 until January 1843.
[6] Joseph fled on the night of Friday, January 12, 1838.
[7]
Joseph Smith III was born Tuesday, November 6, 1832. By this
time, Joseph and Emma had lost four children (Alvin, Thaddeus,
Louisa, and adopted Joseph Murdock Smith). In addition to
Joseph III, eighteen-month-old Frederick Granger Williams
Smith, born Monday, June 20, 1836, and six-year-old Julia
would travel to Missouri with them.
[8] Luke Johnson
had been one of the original Twelve Apostles. In May 1837
he filed a charge against the Prophet Joseph for speaking
reproachfully against the brethren. He was disfellowshipped
on September 3, 1837, and excommunicated in December 1838.
He was rebaptized on March 8, 1846, by Orson Hyde, married
Orson Hyde’s sister-in-law, had eight children, came west
with the Saints, and died in Salt Lake City, December 9, 1861.
(See Cook, Revelations, pp. 110–11.)
[9] Oliver
Snow was the father of Eliza and also Lorenzo Snow (who would
become the fifth prophet of the Church).
[10] It should
be remembered that William Smith, younger brother of the Prophet
Joseph, was one of the original Twelve Apostles called and
ordained in February 1835.
[11] This story
about Mr. Bear is not included in the 1902 Improvement
Era series, nor in any later editions of Lucy’s history.
George A. Smith and Elias Smith may have edited it out because
it portrays William Smith in such a favorable light, or because
they questioned its authenticity. George A. Smith wrote in
the left margin of his 1853 edition: “Bear says this is a
mistake” (George A. Smith, Edited 1853, p. 218). A handwritten
note at the bottom of the page in the 1845 manuscript edited
by the Corays reads, “John Bear story stricken at his request.”
[12] Lucy
also tells us in the Preliminary Manuscript that here in New
Portage, while they were waiting to move to Missouri, Don
Carlos’s second child, Sophronia, was born.
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