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Chapter 6.
On the seventh day of July I started for the Pacific mission field, and labored in Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska until the 19th with excellent success, and from the 21st engaged actively in prosecuting mission work throughout the Rocky Mountain region. In all our labors in the various parts of Utah and Idaho, we had to contend with and deplored the blinding effects of the servile bondage caused by the secret endowments forced upon the Utah Mormons, consisting of secret covenants, oaths, passwords, signs, grips, and robbings, etc., constraining us to believe that it was and is a modern plan of ancient Gadiantonism and a base corruption of Free Masonry. The masses of the people bound together by these, it was difficult to engage their attention and get them to freely and candidly investigate our teachings.
Governor Shaffer and other Government officials treated Brother Brand and myself with marked consideration and assured us that the power of the Government would be asserted if needed to protect us in our rights as American citizens. As time passed on we perceived that the Utah Mormon leaders and their sympathizers did everything in their power to hedge up our way, hinder our work, and prejudice the people against us.
On the tenth day of August Brother Brand and I, on their solicitation, had an interview with Reverend J. P. Newman and Doctor Sutherland
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relative to a proposed discussion between Orson Pratt and Reverend Newman. They sought our opinion as to the best methods by which to prosecute such discussion, and we replied that, inasmuch as they were confined to the Bible as the rule of evidence, it would be essential to assume, 1. That God in the beginning, in the creation of Adam and Eve, revealed his will that monogamy and not polygamy was heaven's plan in. respect to marriage. 2. That though the patriarchs, after the flood, practiced plural marriage, it was not by the commandment of God, but was contrary to his will as manifest in the putting away of Hagar by Abraham, which was done by direct commandment of the Lord. 3. That God suffered plurality of wives in the midst of his people under the Mosaic covenant because of the hardness of their hearts, as he did divorce, retaliation, and the like, at the same time manifesting his displeasure against it. 4. That when Christ, the perfect teacher of perfect truth, came and introduced the full light of God's will, he reaffirmed the will of God in the beginning, and taught that the having of two living wives at the same time constituted adultery. 5. That all the New Testament teachings were in favor of monogamy and strictly against polygamy. These, in substance, were our views, and we claimed that if they were maintained by the abundant proofs in the Bible the discussion would prove that the Bible did not sanction but condemned polygamy.
Mr. Newman did well in the discussion that followed until he and Mr. Pratt entered upon a learned
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contest as to the meaning of the Hebrew original of Leviticus 18:18. Almost an entire day - was frittered away by Mr. Newman in attempting to prove that the original for sister in the text meant wife; but Orson Pratt proved himself the better Hebrew scholar, that Mr. Newman's rendering was wrong, and he therefore obtained the mastery on that point. This was a serious setback to Mr. Newman, yet many of the points he made were so valuable and weighty that this gain of Mr. Pratt counted but little in the final issue.
Mr. Newman, as an orator, was far superior to Mr. Pratt; but the latter, as a logician, was much the superior of Mr. Newman. The discussion, with the honest, liberal, and intelligent thinkers, was very damaging to polygamy. One of the best, if not the very best, of all the points made by Doctor Newman was when he declared, as if by inspiration, that, while polygamy might do for monarchs who founded empires, and for princes who conquered kingdoms, and for priests who supported themselves in affluence by the money wrung from their people, it would not do for the poor man (who specially needed the favors and blessings of God), for he could barely support his one wife and little family; that polygamy increased and added burdens; but that the gospel of Jesus Christ lessened and lightened them; therefore, polygamy could not be of God.
On the 23d I went with Brother E. C. Brand to Corinne, whose citizens were anxious to have the Reorganized Church make that place and vicinity
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one of their strongholds, and there were some inducements, in a financial way, presented us in favor of it. But we declined to entertain anything favorable to it, and so passed on to Malad City, laboring there until September 5.
During the month of September we bestowed considerable labor in and about Ogden and on Weber River as far up as Echo City, meeting with much secret opposition, yet reaping valuable fruits for our labors.
On the 25th, at two o'clock, I preached in Independence Hall, Salt Lake City, and set forth the fact that the Spirit had revealed to us the downfall of Brighamism at an early day.
When in Providence, near Logan, in Cache Valley, so bitter were some of the Brighamites against us that they brazenly pelted the house with rocks where we were holding service, and at night stole a bur from our wagon, and when we started to leave in the morning one fore wheel ran off, causing anxiety and delay. But following the special promptings given us at the moment, we went to the little creek near by and at once saw in the midst of the crinkle grass the lost bur, and then we fixed up and proceeded on our way.
I spent the winter of 1870-71 chiefly in Salt Lake City and Ogden, but devoted considerable time in preaching the word in Idaho, Cache Valley, and on the Weber River, meeting with considerable success. Brethren E. C. Brand, J. W. Chatburn, Alexander McCord, and Samuel Wood rendered valuable
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aid at many of these points and elsewhere, and we gathered out many people.
January 31, 1871, 1 started for Battle Mountain and Austin, Nevada. Labored at these points, mainly at Austin, until the 22d, and a considerable number were added to the church.
I reached Carson, Nevada, on February 24. Preached there and at Genoa, Mottsville, and Franktown up to March 29, and baptized a number. Spiritualism and infidelity were the chief obstacles we found in the way of progress.
The thirtieth day of March found us in Sacramento. - Our conference for the mission convened April 6 at Washington Corners, and we had a very excellent season. The reports of the mission field were mostly encouraging.
I visited San Bernardino early in May, attended district. conference on the 13th, and found that church interests were doing well in all that region. Spiritualism in these parts was putting on a very aggressive front, and on the 19th, by requests of numerous citizens, preached at half past seven, giving our views as to its origin, life forces, and as to its future work. While here the church received considerable accessions, and we found that the Saints were progressing in knowledge, and in influence with their neighbors, also in the gifts and graces of the gospel.
May 28, we began preaching in Watsonville and continued to labor there and at Santa Cruz until the seventh day of June, adding some to the membership of the branch at Watsonville. We then pro
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ceeded to San Francisco on the 7th, and preached the word there and at Washington Corners, Livermore Valley, and on the 25th baptized three at Washington Corners. At Stockton, July 1, two were added to the church, and on the 12th started to Franktown, Nevada.
During my labors this trip in California the Spirit of the Lord comforted me greatly and confirmed the work.
I spent twenty days in Washoe and Carson Valleys, meeting with fair success and adding five persons to the church by baptism.
August 8 found me in Salt Lake City. I continued my labors here and at other points in Utah until the sixteenth day of September and then went East and attended the semiannual conference at Park's Mills, near Council Bluffs, which convened the 20th, and from there proceeded home.
During the fall and early winter, my time was devoted in preaching throughout Northern and Central Illinois.
December 21, 1 began a series of meetings in Deloit and Denison, in Western Iowa, and was universally greeted with large and attentive congregations. I have sought to confine my efforts to the essential topics touching the plan of salvation, man's duty to God and his fellow men, the fulfillment of prophecy, and bearing testimony to the divinity of the Christian religion and the Reorganized Church of Christ. I was deeply impressed then, as I had been before, and have been since, that the world's great need is the religion of Jesus
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Christ precisely as taught by himself and his disciples, with all its spiritual graces and gifts and powers and promises and assurances of the Holy Spirit as set forth in holy writ. Special pains were taken to teach and illustrate the soul's personal identity, its accountability to God, and its conscious existence after death. At Galland's Grove, Little Sioux, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Crescent City, Plum Hollow, Nebraska City, and Manti, we labored with much satisfaction and excellent fruits until the twenty-ninth day of March, 1872. Considerable additions to the church were made.
I attended the General Conference, April 6, which convened in St. Louis, Missouri. Labored in St. Louis, Cheltenham, and Gravois, Missouri, also at Alton and Bloomington, Illinois, reaching home the latter part of April.
May 6, in a council composed of President Joseph Smith and Bishop I. L. Rogers, also Josiah Ells, E. C. Briggs, and W. W. Blair of the Twelve. Among other things, it was resolved: "That we consider it to be wrong, and tending to heresy, to teach, preach, or write against the avowed doctrine and order of the church,-the general conferences and high councils being the proper places in which to discuss and determine these matters." This action grew out of the reckless and antagonistic writings and teachings of some who assumed to be wiser than Joseph the Seer and the church councils and conferences in his time, or the church and its councils at the present. But this was not intended
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to either suppress or discourage legitimate, orderly discussion.
We visited and preached in Kewanee, Canton, St. David, Breed's Station, Amboy, Rochelle, Paw Paw, Streator, and Piper City, in Northern Illinois, up to July 10.
On the seventeenth day of June, on invitation, I met with the Board of Publication, at Plano. On that date, pursuant to previous arrangement, the the board took possession of the Herald Office and the property pertaining thereto, and assumed control of the publishing interests of the church.
From July 12 to September 2 1 preached the word in New Providence, Scottsville, Marietta, and other points in Indiana, which resulted in adding numbers to the church. Elders Goss, Mathes, and Treat figured to get up a discussion with us while in Scottsville, but for reasons known to themselves they failed to accept our propositions.
During October and November visited Princeville, Buffalo Prairie, Millersburg, and a few other points near them, set in order some branch affairs, and baptized a few.
Our conference in Kewanee, December 6 to 8, proved an excellent one. My diary minutes say, "The entire session of conference was greatly blessed by unity, peace, and the presence of the Holy Spirit." Remaining a short time, I then proceeded to Happy Hollow, Iowa, December 11, where Brother and Sister Adam Fletcher had aroused a spirit of investigation, and after preaching a few
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sermons there to fairly attentive listeners, proceeded to near Leon, Iowa, where I held a series of meetings in the Jennings' Schoolhouse, some of my hearers afterward uniting with the church.
The epizooty had smitten the horses at this time throughout all the West, and when unable to travel by railway we had to make the most of our journeys on foot. The twenty-third day of December found me at Brother William Hopkins', two miles southeast of where Lamoni is now located. The Order of Enoch had located a fine body of land in this region and were actively engaged in improving it. I was highly pleased with the general outlook of affairs and was confident that the Lord would here plant a work from whence would go forth the gospel of Christ to all peoples abroad, for the Lord had given us by night vision and the constraint of his Spirit most encouraging evidences on that point. The country then was very thinly settled on the Iowa side of the state line, and not a few of the inhabitant in that region and round about were bitterly prejudiced against the Latter Day Saints. Some of them said that the Lord, by dreams, had shown them that the Saints would settle there in large numbers, both before and after this time,-testified that the Lord, in an open vision, had shown him many years before, when in Washington, D. C., that the Saints would gather in large numbers on either side of the state line west of Pleasanton, and when in that vision he heard the voice of singing from heaven of this verse:
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"Give us room that we may dwell!
Zion's children cry aloud:
See their numbers-how they swell!
How they gather, like a cloud!"
(Hymn 939, Saints' Harp.)
The few Saints located there were dwelling in unity, and the gifts and blessings of the Holy Spirit were richly enjoyed. I preached in and around Pleasanton and then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where I preached in the court-house to full and attentive congregations, in the meantime setting in order some things needed- in branch affairs, resulting in better understanding and needed unity.
The sixteenth day of January, 1873, 1 began a series of meetings at Lees Summit, near Independence, Missouri, and while here saw myself with others at work cleansing and cleaning up a highway. The part cleared and put in order was beautiful indeed. There was coiled up near the highway a huge serpent, which I smote upon the head with my implements of labor.
On the 27th, by vote of eight members present, I proceeded to organize the Lees Summit Branch. The 30th, I went to Independence. Had quite a lengthy interview with the Hedrickites. They were then very sanguine that they would build up largely in that city and the country adjacent. We held a series of meetings in the German church . Some of the Gentile citizens and some of the Hedrickites sought tomake my stay among them agreeable. The time was then drawing nigh when some of the revelations of Granville Hedrick would be tested by the unfaltering, remorseless hand of time. He
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had predicted in 1864 that "the awf ul calamity of war and famine" would come upon the people of the Northern States, "beginning" in 1871; that at that time the sword would "fall heavily" upon the people, and that famine would quickly follow. This proving false, his pretensions to be a prophet of God should have been rejected by all. But some of his disciples still adhered to his claims, false though his prophecies and promises proved.
I was at Bevier, the fifteenth day of February, where I remained preaching until the 25th, blessed of the Lord, and having fair success. Afterward 1 labored in Bryant and Canton, Illinois, from March 1 to 18. My efforts there were blessed of God and resulted in the baptism of seven. The Saints were living in unity and enjoying the gifts in a very liberal degree. I also held a few interesting meetings in Kewanee from the 20th to the 27th, and on the 30th attended an excellent fast meeting with the branch in Sandwich.
The annual conference of 1873 met at Plano, April 6, and on the 7th President Joseph Smith placed in my hands a revelation to present to the Quorum of Twelve, part of which was given March 1, and the remainder on April 6, 1873. (See Doctrine and Covenants 117.) By this I was called to be one of the counselors in the First Presidency of the church. I had, not long prior to this, evidence given me of the Lord that I would be called to that position in the church, a position to which Jason W. Briggs would have been called had he been faithful. But of this matter no mention had been made to
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any one, for I was determined that, if the manifestation was of the Lord, which I did not doubt, the matter should be made public by others instead of myself.
Having now become associated with the First Presidency, it devolved upon me to assist President Joseph Smith in arranging and appointing the several missions of the Quorum of the Twelve, which we did on the 12th, suggesting also the missions of some of the seventy. On Sunday, the 13th, the congregations were very large, the church being packed to overflowing. The sermons were excellent, both in the morning and at night. At half past two o'clock, at the social-meeting, the Spirit of the Lord was poured out in power, cheering and confirming the hearts of the Saints. The gifts of the Holy Spirit were enjoyed to a great degree, and it is safe to say that but few services have been held in which there was a greater outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord than on this occasion.
On the 24th the Bishopric met in council with the First Presidency to consider matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the church.
May 3, 1 went to Canton, Illinois, and from that time until the 14th labored there and at Bryant and St. David, and then proceeded on to St. Louis, preaching there and at Gravois, also at West Belleville, Illinois. In all these places I found lively interest, and we added a few to the church. From the latter place I went to Wayne County, Illinois, to regulate church affairs. Preached in Jeffersonville, Cisne, Brush Creek, and other points, frequently in the
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groves, and generally to large and interested audiences. A few gave heed to the word preached and entered by the door into the fold. In all these places I found many noble, warm-hearted people, both in and out of the church. A branch of the church had been organized in this region in the days of Joseph the Seer and continued until they became identified with the Reorganized Church. This is a matter to be noted by the Saints, and especially by the ministry, for it has been claimed by some that all the organized branches at the death of the Seer followed the Twelve. But this is a mistake, for there were scores of them east and west, north and south, that never fell under the rule of Brigham Young and his fellows.
After spending a few days at Alma, I reached home the twenty-seventh day of June, and July 1 the First Presidency met in council to consider appeals to the High Council, matters relating to the Bishopric and the sending of Alexander H. Smith at once to California. Much of the time during the summer months I traveled and preached at various points in Northern and Central Illinois, also attending upon duties pertaining to the First Presidency.
The semiannual conference convened in the grove at Park's Mills, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, September 3. The attendance was very large. An excursion car conveyed a large number from Plano and Sandwich, Illinois, under the management of Elders Elijah Banta and Bishop I. L. Rogers. This session was a very important one. The number in attendance was variously estimated at from five
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thousand to ten thousand people, probably the former was nearer the correct number. Reports from nearly all the mission fields were encouraging. The clerk of the conference reported through the Herald as follows:
"This conference was the largest ever held by the Reorganized Church. The attendance was large from the beginning; the interest and attention never flagged; there was the profoundest peace, the completest good humor, and most perfect order prevailing ever before observed. The camp was carefully cleansed on Saturday morning; the police, under the management of Brother Thomas Chatburn, devised and quietly enforced admirable and efficient measures to secure peace and good order during the entire session. An adequate. conception of the nature and number of the crowds attending conference can not be conveyed by us, but some opinion may be formed by the following: At noon, on Sunday, there were on the grounds four hundred and eighty-one wagons, buggies, and carriages that were stationary, and one hundred and twenty-one that were in motion. There were also one hundred and twelve tents pitched around the stand and the circle inclosing the seats. . . . It is said by those resident there that our conference was the largest religious gathering ever assembled in the West; and by those whose opinion is entitled to consideration it is pronounced to have been the most orderly and peaceful they ever attended. There was but little sickness, and some administrations to those sick were
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followed by immediate relief. So cares the Lord for his people."
I remained laboring throughout Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska, assisted for a time by Brother J. R. Lambert. On the 21st, I began a series of meetings in the court-house at Harlan and continued till the 27th, having large congregations and good interest.
On the 28th, I began a series of meetings at Galland's Grove and had crowded congregations to the close.
On the sixth day of October I went with Elder Thomas Dobson to Camp Creek and Lake City where we remained until the 10th, preaching a series of sermons in the latter place. Here we were attacked in an ungentlemanly manner by a Reverend Birch and his confederate, who sought to disconcert us and break up our meetings. The people resented this, and the editor of the Calhoun County Pioneer told us that Reverend Birch and Reverend McDaniels of the so-called Christian Church, with others, arranged to break up our meetings, but that public sentiment was against them, and the better class of citizens were desirous of learning our faith. This gentleman and other prominent citizens assured us that they and others of that place held the Brethren Dobsons, Masons, and other Latter Day Saints at Deloit and near there, in the highest esteem, for a few years before, when crops were ruined by early frosts, these Latter Day Saints, who chanced to have good stocks of old corn and wheat on hand, furnished the few citizens of Calhoun County
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with breadstuff and seed at moderate prices, giving those who needed it ample time to make payment, and that they were assured by these acts, as well as by common report, that these Saints were practically a worthy people.
The branch of the church at Deloit we found to be growing in numbers, enjoying the peace and gifts of the Holy Spirit, dwelling together in unity, and they were building a nice brick church, and were liberally aided by their neighbors.
Returning to Galland's Grove I began a series of meetings on Sunday, October 12, during which a number were added to the church. The 16th I met Brother J. R. Lambert at Council Bluffs, where we labored until the 19th, when I visited Omaha, and with Brother James Caffall held three services. At the half past two o'clock meeting, when at prayer, I was strongly impressed to ask the Lord to bind and cast out very evil spirit present, and just as. I uttered the words one of the congregation was seized with a power which sought to prostrate him upon the floor, throwing him into spasms and frightful contortions, with groaning and trembling that threw the congregation into a state of consternation, and immediately rising up I exhorted the Saints to composure and quietude, and Brother Caffall, Brother Hatt and myself proceeded to rebuke the evil spirit, and instantly the man was released, quiet was restored, and the services proceeded under the favor of the Lord.
This same man, during the conference at Park's Mills, had a similar spell and was administered to
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by President Joseph Smith and others, and after patient, persistent, and faithful ministration he was relieved; but it was a long and fearful struggle.
The 23d found me at Little Sioux, Iowa, and I there met with an old member of the church, Brother Ira Miles, who resided in Utah. He said Brigham Young was then trying to cheat him out of a lot in Salt Lake City, on First East South Street, worth twenty thousand dollars, one which lie obtained soon after the city was platted. He related that W. W. Phelps, at Far West, Missouri, in 1838 and 1839 placed a stolen side-saddle at Sister Emma Smith's house unknown to her. She told a Brother Watson, when she learned the fact, to return the saddle to Phelps. This act on the part of Phelps created no little scandal and trouble, for Phelps was then in fellowship with apostates and mobbers. Miles also stated that the "school of the prophets" in Utah, about two years before, voted Brigham Young about one million dollars, that being a part of Young's indebtedness to the various funds of the church over which he presided. Miles said lie was in the meeting at the time that was done. He further said Brigham had taught aforetime that young Joseph would preside over the church. He further said that Jesse C. Little told him that he went to Washington, District of Columbia, by instruction of Brigham and his fellows and requested of the Government the privilege of enlisting men for the Mormon Battalion in 1846.
I spent the fall and early part of the winter at various points in Western Iowa, and at White Cloud,
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Kansas; also at St. Joseph, Missouri, with good results; on the eighth day of November I baptized nine. President Joseph Smith came on the 10th, and on the 11th we issued to Elder D. H. Bays a certificate of appointment to the Texas Mission. I then preached a few sermons in Atchison, Kansas, where there was a thriving branch of the church, and then passed on to Cherokee, and labored in that region and in Galesburg and Joplin.
Near the latter place I tarried with Brother Alexander Williams, an eccentric and at one time a noted man in the church. In his talk over experiences in church affairs he related that in a council in Nauvoo soon after the death of Joseph the Seer, Brigham Young said, "We will stick together in a mass and behave ourselves until God speaks to young Joseph." This was said in respect to the anticipated calling of Joseph to the presidency of the church. Brother Williams further said that "in the camp near Laramie, when moving west, Brigham Young and others counted up young Joseph's age, and Brigham said Joseph would come by the call of God when he should get to be about twenty-one years of age"; and to this Brother Williams added, "Brigham often, in Utah, said much the same in regard to Joseph, and" that "such was the faith of the Utah church until Brigham Young changed it." He further said Brigham Young afterwards preached against young Joseph, calling him a drunkard, a pettifogger, and an associate with his father's murderers; also that Joseph had forfeited his right, and that David Hyrum would lead
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the church; but that when David composed the song beginning, "Little Herald, stop a moment," Brigham then said the Smith boys had forfeited their rights, and from that time on he took special pains to belittle and abuse Emma and her sons.
Brother Williams related that his son Thomas, once a lawyer and a wealthy merchant of Utah, was without doubt slain by Brigham's secret police, with Brigham's knowledge and connivance, and that after that affair he (Williams) found it essential to his own peace and safety to get out of Utah, and that by a crafty move he succeeded in getting up, first among the apostates at Malad City, and after that he located in Gallatin County, Montana, where he resided until he moved to Missouri.
Brother J. T. Davis and I held services in the theater in Joplin, having excellent attention and interest. Continued in this region until December 10, preaching the word and adjusting church affairs. A few persons were added to the church.
When at Brother I. L. Rogers', December 25, in company with Brethren Joseph and David Smith and Emma, their mother, also H. A. Stebbins and some others, Sister Emma incidentally mentioned that she once told Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball to their faces that the first two principles of their religion were deception and lying. And she remarked further that herein was the cause for Brigham Young's saying that she taught her children to lie.
During the month of January, 1874, and the first part of February following, I was engaged in pre
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paring tracts for the church on the first three principles of the gospel, preaching in the meantime as opportunity offered. The latter part of February I labored in Southern Wisconsin at Sandusky, Willow Branch, and other points; also setting in order some church affairs.
Preached in Galien, Michigan, and vicinity, and in Northern Illinois during March and until the session of General Conference, April 6, in Plano. The conference was small, owing to a misunderstanding of a recent Herald editorial.
President Joseph Smith at this conference "spoke of the fact that elders often complained of not being supported when they have gone over fields that others have exhausted. Said that often no account was given of means received. The elders are required to prove the world, or try the world. They should try new fields. Try and turn a new furrow. If it is practicable that the elders should go into the field, it is also practicable that means should be supplied." After the close of conference I continued my labors in assisting to prepare tracts for the church. Father Z. H. Gurley and I held a series of meetings in Mission the first days of May, resulting in the baptism of a goodly number.
On my way to St. Louis, June 10, 1 called at Nauvoo and learned with sorrow that Brother David H. Smith had become deranged in mind, and we advised mental rest and relaxation.
On the 14th, at ten o'clock, district conference convened in the city of St. Louis. My diary notes of that date read: "Met Brother James Whitehead
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in the hall, and when I grasped his hand the Holy Spirit fell upon me and witnessed that he was indeed a brother in the Lord." This was my first acquaintance with him.
This session of conference was a very spiritual and profitable one.
On the 16th Brother Whitehead related to me that Joseph the Seer "took young Joseph on the stand, in a public meeting, and putting his hand on his head he said to the Saints: I am no longer your prophet. This (referring to young Joseph) is your prophet. I have finished my work and am going to rest."
Brother Whitehead said that young Joseph was ordained by Joseph and Hyrum in the council room in the brick store. He also said he was Joseph's clerk at that time and after. He also said that he heard Joseph say, in public, that if Brigham Young had the lead of the church he would lead it to hell.
I spent some time preaching in and about St. Louis, and over in Illinois at Caseyville, Alma, and West Belleville. Some additions were made to the church by baptism.
On the eleventh day of July I went to Wayne County, Illinois, and in company with Brother G. H. Hilliard entered upon active ministerial labor near Jeffersonville, and the Lord added to the church a few there.
From the twenty-third day of July to September 8, 1 preached the word and looked after church interests in Floyd, Clark, Crawford, and Ripley Counties, Indiana, baptizing a number; also labored
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some in and near Amanda, Ohio. The little branch at this point was united and spiritual under the watchcare of Brother M. B. Williams.
I attended the fall conference, September 18, at Park's Mills, near Council Bluffs. At this conference Brother Joseph Smith exhorted the Saints to steadfastness in strict adherence to the principles they had espoused, being satisfied that the work was one which God would bless. He was with his people in heart, the object sought of the work being eternal life with rest and peace. The Saints were warned against giving too much heed to reputed revelations, far too often siren songs and not from the Lord. He wanted to be sure that it is the Lord that speaketh before he obeyed; further stating that it is a serious thing to belong to the Church of Christ; that we should be careful and honest about our fellowship; that forbearance is due to each other, and that we are nearer together in unity than what we were."
On the 23d I was chosen a member of the Board of Publication in place of Brother Elijah Banta, resigned.
October 17 1 met in council at Plano with Brethren Joseph Smith, I. L. Rogers, and J. W. Briggs in relation to the latter taking a mission to Utah and publishing a periodical in the interests of the church there, also in respect to selecting some centraI business location for the church and the press. On the 19th, in the same council, with Brother Elijah Banta added, met at Brother 1. L. Rogers' to consider the same matters, and, after prayerful delib
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eration, it was resolved that the southwestern part of Decatur County, Iowa was the most eligible business center for the future business center of the church and that Brethren I. L. Rogers, David Dancer, and Elijah Banta be a cornmittee to raise funds, purchase lands, and locate the site.
November 13 1 -as with Elder Henry A. Stebbins at Brother Ormond Dutton I s near Janesville, Wisconsin, to arrange for a discussion with Elder William Sheldon' of the Advent Church, who had expressed a desire in public to discuss with any representative manin respect to the conscious con-dition of the soul after death; and after seeking for two days to get him to either acccept or make chal-lenge, he left for his home at Broadhead, Brother Stebbins and I engaged in preaching in that vicinity and at Burlington and Rochester, Wisconsin. On the fifteenth day of December I wrote a challenge to Elder Sheldon, covering all the essential points of difference betweeen us, and sent to him at Broadhead, inviting him by the courtesy of President Joseph Smith, to come to Plano and discuss
the points invoIved. Shortly after, I received an answer declining or reason that at Plano we had a large churh and the sympathies of the citizens. I then invited him, by the courtesy of presiding elder, Elijah Banta to meet us in dis-cussion in the city of Sandwich offering to furnish hall, board, and incidentals, free. To this he made a similar reply. I immediately wrote him proposing to discuss the propositions of Broadhead, where he resided. To this he made
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no reply, but not long afterward he began publishing of letters in the World's Crisis, of Boston, against the issues presented in the propostions. This gave occasion Herald, and in due time, for the publication of Joseph the Seer. It had been shown me, when with Brother Stebbins at Mission, Illinois, that Mr. Sheldon would not abide a discussion, but would skulk away, not daring to meet the issues.
During the month of January and up to Febru-rary 21, 1875, 1 held a series of very interesting meetings at Pecatonica, Illinois, had large and attentive audiences, was blessed of the Spirit, made many friends to the church, some additions resulting therefrom in due time. On the 23d, by courtesy of Brother Joseph Smith, I read a letter to him from Doctor R. D. Foster, Ocala, Iroquois County, Illinois' it will be remembered by many that he figured prominently with the Laws and others at Nauvoo in the persecutions against Joseph and the Saints in 1844.He now seemed deeply concerned and interested concerning the latter-day work, and bore strong testimony to the prophetic mission of Joseph the Seer. Some of his testimonies were afterward printed in the Herald. From this time forward I assisted in matters pertaining to the Board of Publication until conference convened, April 6, at Plano.
May 1, attended conference at Binghampton, Wisconsin, and on the 2d assisted in dedicating a church erected by the Saints at that place, after which I preached at Shiocton and Oshkosh. My labors throughout Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illi-
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nois Up to the sixteenth day of June were rewarded with a number of substantial accessions to the church. Preached in Galien, Michigan, from the twenty-first to the twenty-eighth days of June, three of Brother Blakeslee's family being added to the church by baptism. The last days of July and up to the seventeenth day of August I preached at various points in the vicinity of Lawrence, Michigan, resulting in the addition of a few by baptism. While here I met with the family of Brother Seth P. Bass and learned that their daughter (now Mrs. Columbus Scott) had been miraculously healed by the administration of the elders when physicians had pronounced her beyond the help of medical skill. My next point was Coldwater, Michigan, and its vicinity. I labored here and over in the edge of Indiana from the 18th to the 30th, and found the church in that region in a fairly prosperous condition.
On the eighth day of September met with the fall conference at Park's Mills, near Council Bluffs, and when returning home to Illinois, labored a short season in Decatur County, Iowa.
The twenty-first day of November found me in the city of St. Louis. I remained there preaching, and in its vicinity, and also at various points in Illinois until the ninth day of February, 1876, and found as a general thing, the work of the church progressing fairly. A number of additions were made to the church and the Spirit of the Lord was manifested in the midst of his people. An incident worthy of mention occurred in the city of St. Louis.
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During the session the Rules of Order was presented and adopted by conference as a manual of practice for the church.
The Adventists, under the lead of W. C. Thurman, had lately been waiting at Lewiston, Maine, in a hall decorated for the purpose, for the coming of the Savior. Elder Thurman felt quite sure that Christ would make his second advent April 19, 1875. These failures are a piece with a score of other times appointed by the various bodies Adventists, which proves that they know but little, if anything, in respect to the subject of the second advent.
May 11, a council composed of the First Presi
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dency, Bishopric, and Board of Publication met in the Herald editor's room, in Plano, where it was resolved that I. L. Rogers, David Dancer, and W. W. Blair be a committee to arrange for locating the business center at some other point than Plano. In answer to letters we wrote to various parties at various points; we received many communications; and on the sixth day of June the "locating board" decided to fix the business center of the church in the southwestern corner of Decatur County, Iowa, as soon as practicable. David Dancer, John Scott, and W. W. Blair were made an executive committee to procure means, buy lands, and locate the business center.
I labored in the ministry throughout Northern Illinois, so far as my other duties permitted, up to the sixteenth day of June, and then went to Piper City and Roberts, preaching there for a season, reaching St. Louis the latter part of the month. Continued my labors there and at West Belleville and vicinity until the sixth day. of July, when I started for the Eastern States, making a short call at Amanda Branch, near Middletown, Ohio. From there I went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where I labored until the 26th. During this time I baptized and confirmed some in Pittsburg. From here I went, in company with my wife, to Philadelphia, attended the Exposition, and on the third day of August we proceeded on to Newark, New Jersey.
The fifth day of August found me at Fall River, Massachusetts, laboring in the midst of the Saints, from whence I proceeded to New Bedford and then
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to Providence, Rhode Island, preaching and look-ing after the interests of the church. I continued in the Massachusetts District, where I was joined by Brother Elijah Banta, preaching and holding council meetings until the 31st, when I returned to Philadelphia. I found the Saints in the Massachusetts District in a united and prosperous condition, enjoying the gifts and blessings of the Spirit in a large measure. Among other confirming testimonies of the Holy Spirit, I learned of the miracu-lous healing of an old lady (a Mrs. Atwell, I believe), before she became a member of the church. a short time before, at Providence, of internal cancer, said to be such by her physicians, who con-fessed that they could do nothing to effect her recovery.
I spent a prosperous and pleasant season preaching the word and visiting among the Saints and friends in Hornerstown, New Egypt, and other points in New Jersey.
While in Philadelphia, about the twentieth day of September, I was shown that I should go to the fall conference in Western Iowa, which hitherto I had not intended to do, and on the sixth day of October I met with the conference at Park's Mills, near Council Bluffs. President Joseph Smith was absent in the Pacific Mission, the attendance was large, reports from all quarters were generally good, and showing a large increase in numbers and interest. At one of the services was witnessed what many ??? whom we thus write was birth, but Scotch by descent, and was named by his
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by the withdrawal of the Spirit of God, to stop preaching in the midst of what promised to be a very entertaining discourse. This is one of the peculiarities attaching to the preaching of the word by ministers among the Latter Day Saints, and many of the elders have had experience in this direction. The Lord said to Jeremiah, "Thou there-fore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I co mmand thee; be ye not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them." The Lord did similarly with Ezekiel and others of his servants, and yet the Lord said to the latter, "I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be to them a reprover. . . . But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them," etc.
The Lord did similarly with Zacharias (Luke 1: 20, 22), and with Moses (Exodus 4: 10-12), all of which prove that such are the servants of God, and that he exercises over them immediate control, and is one of the peculiar and strongly confirmatory evidences of the special government of God, and of the divinity of the latter-day work. We repeat it, that many of the ablest, most eloquent, and popular ministers of the Latter Day Saints, have experienced this special control of the Lord, and experienced thereby that the Lord holds the reins of his work in his own hands. It would seem that such occasions are designed of God to teach his people the great fact that without him we can nothing, a fact essential for all to know.
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On the nineteenth day of October I met with E. H. Pierce, a Brighamite elder, and never had a keener sense of the cunning craftin Brighamism, and never saw the importance fact so clearly, that the simple, unadorned of Jesus Christ was, and is, and is to be, the of God unto salvation to every one who accepts it. This Brighamite elder made plural marriage and the Brighamite endowments essential to salvation, as his leaders and fellow ministers also had done. and in this way were beguiling and blinding the people, causing them to put their trust for salvation, not purely and alone in the gospel of Jesus Christ, but in these added, hurtful, and heretical theories, thus casting contempt upon the gospel and saying in effect that it was not the power of God unto salvation to those who believe it.
I remained in Western Iowa and North Missouri until the middle of December following, preaching the word, having fair success. The balance of the winter of 1876, and 1877, 1 devoted in preaching at various points in Northern Southern Wisconsin, and Eastern Iowa, and in looking after the interests of the committee on location and duties of the First Presidency.
The thirtieth day of December, I performed the sad service at Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, o ing the funeral-sermon of Brother William Aldrich. He united with the Reorganized Church in 1859 and had been an active worker and a liberal helper with his means in building up the church of Christ. He was held in high esteem among the saints and
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by his neighbors near Burlington, where he had resided for nearly thirty years. While in that vicinity Brother John Montgomery, his wife's brother, related to me how he was healed in New Hampshire, a few years before, of a stiff knee-joint from which he had suffered from his boyhood. Brother Samuel Powers and Brother Aldrich administered to him in a meeting when East on a mission. He stated that as he returned home from this meeting, when passing his pasture, he got out of his carriage, opened the gate and drove some stock out, and as he returned to shut the gate, he for the first time perceived that his lameness and stiffness of the kneejoint has passed away, and that he could walk with the utmost ease.
Brother Aldrich had stated to me in conversation relating to the latter-day work, the cruel, unprovoked mobbings and robbings that he, in common with others of the Saints, had endured in Caldwell County, Missouri, in 1838 and 1839, and the distress he and his family suffered in consequence, and how he suffered a spirit of vindictiveness and bitterness to inspire him against the Missourians, and that this continued with him until he heard and united with the Reorganized Church in 1859. When I met him in California, in 1871, he told me that on passing through Salt Lake City, and meeting with Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and many others whom he had formerly known intimately in Kirtland, Far West, and Nauvoo. they still retained the same spirit of hatred and retaliation, and that he could make great allowance for them, for he had
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been under the same influences till he renewed his covenant in the Reorganized Church.
The month of January following, I labored in the ministry at Burnside and vicinity in Illinois with fair success, baptizing a number. While here I learned some of the tactics of the anti-Mormons from 1843 to 1846. 1 was told by persons not members of the church, that the persecutors stole and hid away their own stock and charged it upon the Mormons in order to create prejudice and bitterness against them, so as to drive them out of the country, that they might obtain their lands and other property at a great sacrifice. One of these gentlemen told me that immediately after the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo, he was at Fountain Green and heard some of the persecutors, who were warm and unguarded with strong drink, boast and laugh about their getting their neighbors' cattle and horses out of the pastures into the highway, and then arousing these neighbors by their cries that the Mormons were driving off their stock to Nauvoo, after which they would skulk into the corn-fields or brush so as to avoid detection. In this and similar ways many honorable and fair-minded people were made to believe that the Mormons were very bad citizens and thus turning their influence against them.
While at Burnside I was told by Brother Solomon Salisbury of this remarkable conversion. He had been an infidel and a very worldly-minded man, and was given to intemperance, frolicking, gambling, and the like. At length he was smitten with
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disease which terminated in what was supposed to be quick consumption. He grew worse rapidly until he was said to be beyond the power of medical skill. At this time he dreamed and was told in the vision to send for his cousin, President Joseph Smith, and that if he did so the latter would administer to him and he should be healed. Conscious that the manifestation was one of mercy from God, he immediately sent a telegram to President Smith, at Plano, upon which the latter came, talked with him on gospel topics, and then, though the weather was extremely raw and chilly, on Brother Salisbury's urgent demand, he was taken in a wagon to a stream of water near by, was baptized, and in a short time was radically cured and made a new creature in Christ Jesus spiritually and bodily, and from that time forward to the present he has been a gospel helper and a witness for the truth.
I had occasion during the month of February to write in defense of the perfect prophetic character of the Prophet Ezekiel which had been hurtfully assailed by one of our leading ministers. The article may be found in Herald for March 1, 1877. During the latter part of the month I held a series of profitable meetings in Burlington, Iowa, and on the 26th instant baptized and confirmed six persons, among them Brother Frederick Johnson and wife and son.
Annual conference convened at Plano, April 6. The committee on location reported their efforts, and were heartily sustained by the conference. The session lasted seven days and the meetings for busi-
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ness, prayer and testimony, were attended by the Holy -Spirit richly, and much important business was done.
Brethren Joseph Luff and J. J. Cornish, of Canada, attended this session, and on request of Brother I. L. Rogers to supply preachers for our branch at Sandwich on Sunday, the 8th, I secured these brethren to speak at the morning and evening services. They were strangers to our people, young in years, new members of the church, and some thought I had made a mistake in my selection for it was expected that many of the leading of Sandwich would attend our services. I assured the anxious and doubting ones that no mistake had been made. At eleven o'clock our chapel was packed with intelligent and eager listeners. After the preliminary exercises, I introduced Brother Cornish who, in a meek but trustful way, entered upon his sermon, and from beginning to close the Spirit of the Lord rested upon him with much grace and power while he discoursed upon these words of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians: " 'Our gospel came unto you not in word only, but in power, and in, the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." Probably that text never had a clearer exemplification of the sentiments it contains than in the effort of Brother Cornish. All were pleased, and many were anxious he should preach the sermon in the evening. - The doubters' fears had fled away.
In the evening, Brother Joseph Luff was the speaker. It was feared by some that he would no
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be equal to the occasion, and these suggested that Brother Cornish or myself occupy the hour, but I assured them again that no mistake had been made in selecting the speakers for the occasion, and so it proved, for Brother Luff preached a most timely, spiritual, and effective discourse, and just such as was needed for the occasion. These young ministers were living witnesses and exemplars of what the Lord does in enlightening and sustaining even the young and inexperienced minister who trusts him faithfully and serves him in spirit and in truth. One such experience is greater proof of the divinity of the Christian religion and of the latterday work than all the learned, uninspired treatises and sermons and lectures ever put forth by uninspired men, for God puts his manifest seal oil their efforts.
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