Saints and
Stars: Eyewitness Accounts of Latter-day Saints of the Leonid Meteor
Shower, November 18, 2001 with a Parallel with the Saints' Accounts
of November 13, 1833
Compiled
and Edited by Scot Facer Proctor
Your experiences
a week ago with the Leonid Meteor Shower have been awe-inspiring
and fun to read. You took your families, you braved the early-morning-hours,
you didn't want to miss this remarkable phenomenon in nature.
The Saints had
a similar experience 168 years ago. Many of those early Saints saw
a similar shower because they had been thrust from their homes and
were being expelled from Jackson County, Missouri. Some of them
recorded their observations then. Some of you recorded your observations
now. Meridian's Science and Religion Editor, Dr. John P. Pratt,
enlightened us on this event in an article published last fall.
(Read http://www.meridianmagazine.com/sci_rel/001206meteor.html
)
David Perlman
of the San Francisco Chronicle reported the event this year in these
words: LEONID SHOWER DAZZLES OBSERVERS WORLDWIDE Shooting stars
flashed across the sky by the thousands and fireballs exploded in
bursts of brightness as the Leonid shower lived up to forecasts
across the United States and turned into a true meteor storm. In
the Bay Area, thousands of avid sky watchers jammed state parks
and remote hillsides to catch their first sight of the spectacle.
While newspaper
men and women gave various accounts for their papers across the
world, you, too, gave your accounts for Meridian Magazine, The Place
Where Latter-day Saints Gather online. We invite you to read through
the following accounts, both modern and antique. Your account might
be among them. We think you will find this quite fascinating.
Barbara
Ann Ewell Evans wrote:
"In 1833 we moved to Ray County, Missouri. There I witnessed the
falling of the stars, November 13, 1833." (1)
Kathryn
Wehunt recorded:
"My family and I live in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb just north
of Atlanta. After attempting in vain to wake our teenage daughter
and son, my husband and I, wrapped in blankets, headed for the back
yard and parked ourselves on the lounges by our pool. The meteor
shower was magical. There were streaks of light every few seconds.
Some were brilliant, some were faint. Although it was not as spectacular
as a fourth of July fireworks display, it was just as exciting,
if not more so! We were both awestruck, laughing, "oohing &
ahhing", and wishing our children were there experiencing this "once
in a lifetime" event. After almost an hour, dawn was fast approaching
and we held each other, gazing skyward, proud of ourselves that
we were still able and willing to enjoy and appreciate this moment
in time and space. It set an inspirational tone for the day, as
just two hours later we were in Stake Conference listening to Elder
Dallin H. Oaks address us. It was a day that we'll always remember!
AWESOME!"
Parley
P. Pratt wrote this from Missouri:
"About 2 o'clock the next morning [November 13th], we were called
up by the cry of signs in the heavens. We arose, and to our great
astonishment all the firmament seemed involved in splendid fireworks,
as if every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course,
and sent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright
meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long
trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several
hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun. Every
heart was filled with joy at this majestic display of signs and
wonders, showing the near approach of the coming of the Son of God."
(2) Parley even included an illustration in his history
showing the falling meteors all around the Saints' tents huddled
along the shores of the Missouri River. (3)
From
Marianne Bennett:
"Here in central Maine, we got up about 4 a.m. We went out to stand
and watch, but soon realized that our best vantage point would be
if we were laying down. The temperature was very cold -- my guess
is upper 20's to low 30's. So we laid down a double layer of blankets
and then we crawled under a layer of sleeping bags. There we were,
all five of us, and our dog walking over us watching a show that
was better than fireworks. It wasn't as bright as fireworks, nor
did the meteors appear as often as fireworks. But, it was spectacular.
We oooohh'd and aaaahh'd over and over. We saw a couple that were
so bright that they left trails across the sky. We saw one on the
lower western horizon that was so bright is lit up the sky with
its green and yellow tail. It was the best thing we have done together
in a long time. It was definitely worth missing out on a little
sleep. Reporting from my woods here in Maine."
The
Prophet Joseph recorded from northern Ohio:
"November 13. About 4 o'clock a.m. I was awakened by Brother Davis
knocking at my door, and calling on me to arise and behold the signs
in the heavens. I arose, and to my great joy, beheld the stars fall
from heaven like a shower of hailstones; a literal fulfillment of
the word of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, and a sure
sign that the coming of Christ is close at hand. In the midst of
this shower of fire, I was led to exclaim, 'How marvelous are Thy
works, O Lord! I thank Thee for Thy mercy unto Thy servant...
"The appearance
of these signs varied in different sections of the country: in Zion
[Missouri], all heaven seemed enwrapped in splendid fireworks, as
if every star in the broad expanse had been suddenly hurled from
its course, and sent lawless through the wilds of ether. Some at
times appeared like bright shooting meteors, with long trains of
light following in their course, and in numbers resembled large
drops of rain in sunshine. These seemed to vanish when they fell
behind the trees, or came near the ground. Some of the long trains
of light following the meteoric stars, were visible for some seconds;
these streaks would curl and twist up like serpents writhing. The
appearance was beautiful, grand, and sublime beyond description;
and it seemed as if the artillery and fireworks of eternity were
set in motion to enchant and entertain the Saints, and terrify and
awe the sinners o ft he earth. Beautiful and terrific in scenery,
it will not fully compare with the time when the sun shall become
black like sack-cloth of hair, the moon like blood, and the stars
fall to the earth (Revelation 6: 13)." (4)
Doug
Simpson wrote from Colorado:
"My wife Carol and I live in Lakewood, Colorado on Green Mountain,
6,000 ft above sea level. We set the alarm clock for 1:30a on Sunday
morning, jumped in the car and headed to the high plains east of
Denver in order to gain a view of the heavens without the obstructing
light of the metropolitan area. As we drove east we saw streaks
of light in the sky, which became more and more visible the further
we went from the city. Forty miles east of Denver we pulled the
car onto a country road in Strasburg, Colorado at the predicted
peak time for viewing the meteor shower--3:00a. We were fortunate
to have totally clear skies and at more than a mile above sea level
our view was spectacular! We could see the Milky Way in its full
glory. We could easily distinguish the various viewable constellations
including Leo, Cancer, and the Hydra, as well as the planet Mercury.
In brisk early morning temperatures around 30-degrees Fahrenheit,
we observed falling stars which at times came in clusters of six
or more. We focused our observations on the eastern horizon where
we expected to see the majority of meteors, but were surprised to
see many in all quadrants of the sky. They seemed to come from all
directions. We saw several large, colorful fireballs streak across
the heavens. Particles of their light seemed to linger, descending
for several minutes, almost like Fourth of July fireworks. In the
hour or so that we spent on that country road in eastern Colorado
we estimated that we saw 15-20 meteors per minute! It was an inspiring
and unforgettable lifetime experience. Carol says she now has wishes
stored up for a lifetime!"
Edward
Stevenson joined the church shortly after the event in his day:
"I witnessed the falling stars--which was the grandest and most
sublime sight eye ever beheld. No fear entered my mind, but joy
rather than awe; this was in the fall...If ever stars in the heavens
had been on the move, it could not have excelled the sight. It appeared
to me as some of the meteors, or stars, came down near to the surface
of Silver Lake, on the banks of which I stood. And what makes it
still more interesting was that a mob had assembled in Missouri
to mob the Latter-day Saints who had just been driven from Jackson
County, Missouri, and were in their tents, canopies, wagons and
etc. on the banks of the Missouri River. God frightened the mob
by this one of the signs of the last days so that great fear came
upon the people, and the mob fled saying that the judgment day had
come." (5)
Roy
Einreinhofer from the Cape Cod Ward wrote this:
"I went out at about 4:00 AM on Sunday to observe the meteor shower.
On Cape
Cod, Massachusetts we were blessed with an absolutely clear sky.
Although the temperature was in the 20s, I spent about an hour watching
the show. Everything from faint red streaks to brilliant white ones.
I was going to head for the town beach to get a better view, but
the level of traffic headed in that direction indicated that there
would be no parking spaces left. Speaking with friends on Monday,
that suspicion was confirmed.
Although we
didn't get the 4000+ per hour that had been predicted, the show
was still amazing. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle."
Eliza
Lyman recorded this from Missouri:
"The next day we crossed the river into Clay County.... It was here
that I saw the stars fall. They came down almost as thick as snowflakes
and could be seen until the daylight hid them from sight. Some of
our enemies thought the day of judgment had come and were very much
frightened but the Saints rejoiced." (6)
Sylvia
McMillan Finlayson wrote this from California:
"The meteor show was fantastic. Paul and I agree that the only other
thing we've done, astronomically speaking, that comes close to this
was the total eclipse we saw in Helena, Montana way back when. A
total eclipse is quite different from a 99.9% eclipse, which quite
surprised me at the time. Sunday morning as I snuggled in my -40
degree sleeping bag, I saw as many as 4 meteors at a time. It wasn't
a massive rain shower of light, rather streaks of glory racing across
the sky. One here, one there. We even saw one skip off the atmosphere
and come back in for a second run. Orange, red and white lights.
There was a feeling of playfulness and light-heartedness. Something
one doesn't normally associate with such a grand event. The anticipation
of waiting for the where and when of the next grain of sand to trail
a path across the sky was exhilarating. Equally fun was listening
to our group of close friends 'ooh' and 'aah' with excitement and
wonder at what they were witnessing. Off in the distance were some
party boys hooting and hollering every time a new flash went off."
Philo
Dibble, a prominent member of the church, recorded the following
observations made by Joseph Hancock, the brother of Levi Hancock,
near Kirtland, Ohio, on that night:
"On one occasion Joseph was preaching in Kirtland, sometime in the
fall of 1833. Quite a number of persons were present who did not
belong to the Church, and one man, more bitter and skeptical than
others, made note with pencil and paper of a prophecy uttered on
that occasion, wherein Joseph said that 'Forty days shall not pass,
and the stars shall fall from heaven.'
"Such an event
would certainly be very unusual and improbable to the natural man,
and the skeptic wrote the words as a sure evidence to prove Joseph
to be a false prophet.
"On the thirty-ninth
day after the utterance of that prophecy, a man and brother in the
Church, by the name of Joseph Hancock,... and another brother were
out hunting game and got lost. They wandered about until night,
when they found themselves at the house of this unbeliever, who
exultingly produced this note of Joseph Smith's prophecy and asked
Brother Hancock what he thought of his prophet now that thirty-nine
days had passed and the prophecy was not fulfilled.
"Brother Hancock
was unmoved and quietly remarked, 'There is one night left of the
time, and if Joseph said so, the stars will certainly fall tonight.
The prophecy will all be fulfilled.'
"The matter
weighed upon the mind of Brother Hancock, who watched that night,
and it proved to be the historical one, known in all the world as
'the night of the falling of the stars.'
"He stayed
that night at the house of the skeptical unbeliever, as it was too
far from home to return by night, and in the midst of the falling
of the stars, he went to the door of his host and called him out
to witness what he had thought impossible and the most improbable
thing that could happen, especially as that was the last night in
which Joseph Smith could be saved from the condemnation of a 'false
prophet.'
"The whole
heavens were lit up with the falling meteors, and the countenance
of the new spectator was plainly seen and closely watched by Brother
Hancock, who said that he turned pale as death and spoke not a word."
(7)
Rao
Canham wrote this from the Los Altos Ward in Silicon Valley, California:
"At 2:25 I awoke to see if the meteors had arrived and if the clouds
would permit my wonderful wife, Mercedes, and I to watch the predicted
show. Having confirmed that the show was indeed on, I went in to
gently wake her up. We went out into the chill at 0230 and enjoyed
a fantastic show. Neither of us had ever seen such a spectacular
sky phenomena.
"No more than
45 seconds went by without us seeing meteors painting the sky with
a bright silver line. The meteors were appearing in all directions.
Some were low on the horizon and others darted right over our heads.
In the 20 minutes we watched we saw over 50 meteors. The evening
was made all the more special by Elder and Sister Canham (my dad
and his wife), full-time missionaries in the San Jose mission, being
able to join us.
"We all enjoyed
the work of the master in a special artistic display. We are thankful
for such beauty in our world and its skies. It truly was a marvelous
work and a wonder."
Included
as a footnote in the History of the Church is this:
"Stephens in his History of the United States (page 455),
thus speaks of the same event: "During the fall of 1833 occurred
a natural phenomenon of a most wonderful character. This was on
the night of the 13th of November. It was what is known as the 'meteoric
shower,' or the 'falling of the stars.' It was witnessed with amazement
and astonishment throughout the entire limits of the United States."
(8)
Linda
Hissong recorded this from Adamsville, Tennessee:
Our home is near the Tennessee River. I awoke around 3:30 a.m.,
went outside to see if anything had started. It was in the forties
that morning, not cold, just brisk. I soon began to see the fireworks
starting. One here, then another behind me, then one to the side.
I was so excited to see the beautiful sight before me. I went back
into our home. My husband was awake and asked me where I had been.
I told him that I had been watching fireworks. I asked him if he
would like to go back with me? He stated that he would love to.
I said, "You're joking. At 4:00 a.m.?" He said, "No, I am not, and
would love to join you." So, here the two of us, walk to the back
of our property, in our pajamas, and set together enjoying the wondrous
sight before us. We could not keep up with them, coming across in
such an array. Some would streak, others leave tails behind them,
but all were beauty to behold. But, most of all, as we walked back
to our house, holding hands, we were thankful and grateful to have
been a part of this night, together."
And
Coral Anna Foster wrote this from Mt. Solon, Virginia:
"Down
here in Mt. Solon (oops, you blinked), Virginia, the view was spectacular.
"I regularly
am an early riser, so it wasn't difficult to shed the warm bed for
the less than welcome, decidedly cold, morning air outdoors. Grabbed
my parka & trotted on out. I had thought that maybe I'd see
one or two streaks across the sky. Ha! Then, the eyes adjusted to
what was playing across the star-studded heavens.
"I lay down
on the grass, feet to SW and these lights were scudding across from
NE - SW. But, wait, there were an errant few, skittering from E
- W and a few others gamboling back the other way. Cris-crossing
amongst the others, like calves weaving in and out of a herd of
cattle.
"Some were
very large and one could see their "tails" for at least 20 - 30
seconds, and also see that tail vanish into a puff of grey smoke.
Most others seemed fairly short-lived.
"Out here in
the county, in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains, all was
so still around me, occasional dog bark, rustle in the woods across
to my right - some creature on a morning forage. But, I lay there
in awe of this crossing of celestial paths.
"The strangest
part of witnessing all the firelights, was that there was no sound!
I kept thinking that I was missing the audio from the pyrotechnics.
Solitary as I was, it was difficult not to "ooh", and "oh, wow",
and "aaaaah" out loud.
"How puny man,
how vast is His Dominion, and how thankful we should be that we
have eternity to perfect ourselves."
Sue
Vohsen wrote this from the East Coast:
"I watched the meteor shower from the perspective of my front steps
in the mountains of North Carolina. The skies were perfectly clear.
I sat on the bottom step and laid back on the upper steps and watched
with awe. Since this was my first Sunday as music leader in Primary
I knew I couldn't stay up long and function so I only stayed out
for 15 minutes, but counted 27 meteors in that time. It was lovely."
Douglas
C. Pierce was so moved by the Leonid shower that he observed from
his mountain retreat he wrote this poem some days later:
METEOR
------
Rock of ice, rock of might,
Streak so silent though the night.
While I in stupor wonder gaze
At thy herald light.
Rock of ice, midnight blaze,
Burn the shadow of the days.
Render skies with tongue of flame
And bask in mortal's praise.
Rock of fire, rock of flame,
Rock of ice, what is thy name?
For I in stupor wonder gaze
Am drawn to play thy wishing game.
Do wishes fall upon thee sir,
To meet a fate of fire?
Canst thou hear the prayers of men
In melancholy choir?
Rock of ice, this selfish game
That thou stage with careful aim,
Laughs at men a thousand fold,
Rock that doth deserve no name.
For what power dost thou hold?
Wherein lies thy wond'rous gold?
And how can thou these wishes grant,
O proclaimer of a myth so bold?
But even as I so recant,
I feel the haunt that myths enchant.
O rock of ice, thou brazen soul,
Hear my wish, this prayer I chant!
My wish shall fall upon thee sir,
To meet thy glorious fire!
O rock of ice, thou twisted master,
Grant me my desire!
Notes
1. Madsen, Carol Cornwall. Journey to
Zion: Voices from the Mormon Trail [Salt Lake City: Deseret
Book Co., 1997, 272.
2.
Pratt, Parley P. Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, Revised
and Enhanced Edition. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City,
2000, p121.
3.
Ibid, p. 122.
4.
Smith, Joseph. History of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, 1980,
Vol 1: 439-40.
5.
J.G.Stevenson, editor, Autobiography of Edward Stevenson,
(1986), p 5.
6.
Eliza Lyman, BYU-S, p.4.
7.
The Juvenile Instructor ,
27 (Jan. 1892), p. 23.
8.
History of the Church, 1: 440.
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