USA > Utah > Salt Lake County > Salt Lake > History of Salt Lake City > Part 117
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Joseph Young "received and rejoiced in the testimony," and returned home with his brother; and both immediately united themselves with the Saints.
Brigham was baptized April 14th, 1832, by Elder Eleazur Miller, who confirmed him at the water's edge, and ordained him to the office of an elder that same night.
About three weeks afterwards his wife was also baptized, but in the following autumn she died, leaving him two little children (girls). After her death he made his home at Heber C. Kimball's.
In the same month, with his brother Joseph and Heber C. Kimball, he started for Kirtland, to see the Prophet. Arriving at Kirtland, they found him, with several of his brothers, in the woods, chopping and hauling wood. " Here my joy was full," says Brigham, "at the privilege of shaking the hand of the Prophet of God, and receiving the sure testimony by the spirit of prophesy that he was all any man could believe him to be, as a true prophet. He was happy to see us, and bid us welcome. In the evening a few of the brethren came in, and we conversed together upon the things of the kingdom. He called upon ine to pray. In my prayer I spoke in tongues. As soon as we arose from our knees, the brethren flocked around him, and asked his opinion con- cerning the gift of tongues that was upon me. He told them it was the pure Adamic language. Some said to him they expected he would condemn the gift, but he said ' no it is of God ; and the time will come when Brother Brigham Young will preside over this Church.' The latter part of this conversation was in my absence.
After staying about a week in Kirtland they returned home, and then, with his brother Joseph, he started on a mission to Upper Canada, on foot, in the month of December, and returned home in February, 1833, before the ice broke up.
For a little while he made his home at Heber C. Kimball's, preaching in the neighborhood, but on the first of April he started on foot for Canada again, where he raised up branches of the Church, He then "gathered up" several families, and started with them to Kirtland about the first of July, where he tarried awhile "enjoying the society of the Prophet," and then returned to Mendon. . ...
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
Taking his two children, in the month of September, he "gathered " to Kirtland with Heber C. Kimball. Here he commenced working at his former trade.
When the elders "went up to redeem Zion," in Jackson County, a missionary expedition famous in Mormon history, the Prophet was particularly anxious that Brigham should go with him. Meeting the Prophet one day, in company with Joseph Young. Brigham told him his brother was doubtful as to his duty about going, to which the Prophet replied, " Brother Brigham and Brother Joseph, if you will go with me in the camp to Missouri, and keep my counsel, I promise you in the name of the Almighty, that I will lead you there and back again, and not a hair of your head shall be harmed ;" at which each presented his hand to the Prophet and the covenant was confirmed.
The organization of "Zion's Camp" being completed, they started for Missouri, where they arrived at Rush Creek, Clary County, on the 23d of June, when the camp was struck with the plague. Here they remained one week, attending to the sick and burying their dead. About seventy of the brethren were attacked with the cholera, of whom eighteen died.
The Prophet assembled the "Camp of Zion," and told the brethren that " if they would humble themselves before the Lord, and covenant that they would, from that time forth, obey his counsel, the plague should be stayed from that very hour;" whereupon the brethren, with uplifted hands, covenanted, "and the plague was stayed according to the words of the Lord through His servant. "
The journey to Missouri and back was performed in a little over three months, being a distance of about 2,000 miles, averaging forty miles per day, on foot, while traveling. On the return the brethren were scattered. Brigham and his brother Joseph arrived home safe, July 4, fulfilling the covenant made with them. He tarried in Kirtland during that Fall and Winter, quarrying rock. working on the Temple, and finishing the printing office and schoolroom.
On the 14th of February, 1835, the Prophet called a council of Elders, at which the quorum of the Twelve Apostles were selected in the following order :
Lyman E. Johnson, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, David W. Patten, William E. M'Lellin, John F. Boyington, William Smith, Orson Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh and Parley P. Pratt.
In May, Brigham Young was called to go and preach to the Indians. "This, " said the Prophet, "will open the doors to all the seed of Joseph." He started on his mission in company with the Twelve, returning to Kirtland in September, where he spent the Fall and Winter preach- ing, attending a Hebrew school, and superintending the painting and finishing of the Temple.
In March, 1836, the Temple, being nearly finished, was dedicated. " It was a day of God's power, " says the record ; " the glory of the Lord filled the house." It is known in the church as the Latter-day Pentacost, on which the Elders were specially " endowed with power from on high." The Twelve held the "solemn assembly," and received their "washings and anointings." The " washing of feet " was administered to Brigham by Joseph himself.
Soon after this, in company with his brother Joseph Young, he started on a mission to the Eastern States, traveling through New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. In the Fall and Winter of 1836, he was at home again with the Prophet, sustaining him through the darkest hour which the Church had yet seen.
It was at this time that a "spirit of apostacy " manifested itself among the Twelve, and ran through all the quorums of the Church. It prevailed so extensively that it was difficult for many to see clearly the path to pursue.
On one occasion several of the Twelve, the " witnesses " to the Book of Mormon, and others of the authorities of the Church, held a council in the upper room of the Temple. The question before them was to ascertain how the Prephet could be deposed, and David Whitmer, who was one of the "witnesses, " appointed President of the Church.
" I rose up," says President Young, "and told them in a plain and forcible manner that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it ; and that they might rail at 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 which 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, say- ing, '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. The meeting was broken up without the apostates being able to unite on any decided measures of opposition. This was a crisis when earth and hell seemed leagued to over-
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BRIGHAM YOUNG
throw 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.
" Ascertaining that a plot was laid to way-lay Joseph for the purpose of taking his life, on his return from Monroe, Michigan, to Kirtland, I procured a horse and buggy, and took Brother Wm, Smith along to meet Joseph, whom we met returning in the stage coach. Joseph requested William to take his seat in the stage, and he rode with me in the buggy. We arrived in Kirtland in safety."
The strength of Brigham Young's character broke the tide of apostacy arising among the very leaders of the Church. There were in it no less than four of the Twelve Apostles, several of the " witnesses of the Book of Mormon," and many influential Elders. To this day it has been a won- der among "Gentile " writers that the Prophet dared to excommunicate so many of his first Elders at one grand sweep. It means that Joseph and Brigham, "with the Lord on their side, " were equal to anything. The part that Brigham Young acted then made him the successor of Joseph Smith.
About this time Brigham's cousins, Levi and Willard Richards, arrived in Kirtland. Willard, having read the Book of Mormon, came to enquire further concerning the book. His cousin invited him to make his home at his house during his investigation, which he did, and was baptized on the last day of the year 1836, in the presence of Heber C. Kimball and others, who had spent the after- noon cutting the ice to prepare for the ceremony. Willard Richards became one of the greatest men of the church.
On the first of June, 1837, Brigham's birthday, there were a few missionaries appointed to Eng- land, under the direction of Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde of the Twelve. Heber was very anxious that President Young should also go, but Joseph said he should keep Brigham at home with him. This was a sacrifice to the man who had so well earned the right " to unlock the dispensation " to foreign nations; but the moment was two critical for him to be spared. Before the mission to England started, Willard Richards was added to the number appointed. It is scarcely necessary to say that the opening of the mission to Great Britain has proved to be one of the most important events in the history of the Mormon church.
The policy of keeping Brigham home was soon apparent. "On the morning of December 22d," he says, " I left Kirtland in consequence of the fury of "the mob, and the spirit that prevailed in the apostates, who threatened to destroy me because I would proclaim, pulicly and privately, that I knew by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Most High God, and had not transgressed and fallen as apostates declared."
The prophet and Sidney Rigdon also fled and joined Brigham at Dublin, Indiana, where Joseph made enquiry concerning a job at cutting and sawing wood, after which he came and said: " Bro- ther Brigham, I am destitute of means to pursue my journey, and as you are one of the Twelve Apostles, who hold the keys of the kingdom in all the world, I believe I shall throw myself upon you, and look to you for counsel in this case."
"At first," says Brigham, " I could hardly believe Joseph was in earnest, but on his assuring me he was, I said, 'If you will take my counsel, it will be that you rest yourself, and be assured, Bro- ther Joseph, you shall have plenty of money to pursue your journey.'"
A providential sale of a tavern, owned by a Brother Tomlinson, brought the Prophet a gift of three hundred dollars, and he proceeded on his journey.
After a variety of incidents, Joseph and Brigham found themselves together in the Far West, but the Missourians soon commenced again to stir up the mob spirit, riding from neighborhood to neighborhood, making flaming speeches, priests taking lead in the crusade. This brought the exter- minating army of Governor Boggs, under Generals Lucas and Clark, to drive the Mormons en masse out of Missouri.
Some of the mob were painted like Indians. Gillum, their leader, was painted in a similar man- ner. He styled himself the "Delaware chief." Afterwards he, and the rest of the mob, claimed and obtained pay, as militia, from the State.
Many of the Mormons were wounded and murdered by the army, and several women were rav- ished to death. "I saw," says Brigham, " Brother Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight and George W. Robinson delivered up by Colonel Hinkle to General Lucas, but ex- pected they would have returned to the city that evening or the next morning, according to agree- ment, and the pledge of the sacred honor of the officers that they should be allowed to do so, but
HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
they did not so return. The next morning General Lucas demanded and took away the arms of the nulitia of Caldwell County (Brigham refused to give up his arms), assuring them that they should be protected ; but as soon as they obtained possession of the arms, they commenced their ravages by plundering the citizens of their bedding, clothing, money, wearing apparel, and every thing of value they could lay their hands upon, and also attempted to violate the chastity of the women in the pres- ence of their husbands and friends. The soldiers shot down our oxen, cows, hogs and fowls at our own doors, taking part away and leaving the rest to rot in the street. They also turned their horses into our fields of corn.'
At this time General Clark delivered his noted speech. He said :
"GENTLEMEN : You whose names are not attached to this list of names, will now have the priv- ilege of going to your fields and of providing corn, wood, etc., for your families. Those that are now taken will go from this to prison, be tried, and receive the due demerit of their crimes; but you except such as charges may hereafter be preferred against, are at liberty, as soon as the troops are removed that now gurd the place, which I shall cause to be done immediately.
" It now devolves upon you to fulfill the treaty that you have entered into, the leading items of which I shall now lay before you. The first requires that your leading men be given up to be tried according to law; this you have complied with. The second is, that you deliver up your arms; this has also been attended to. The third is, that you sign over your properties to defray the expenses that has been incurred on your account ; this you have also done. Another article remains for you to comply with, and that is that you leave the State forthwith. And whatever may be your feelings concerning this, or whatever you innocence is, it is nothing to me. General Lucas, whose military rank is equal with mine, has made this treaty with you; I approve of it. I should have done the same had I been here, and am, therefore, determined to see it executed.
" The character of this State has suffered almost beyond redemption, from the character, con- duct and influence you have exerted ; and we deem it an act of justice to restore her character by every proper means.
"The order of the Governor to me was, that you should be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the State. And had not your leaders been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied with, before this time your families would have been destroyed and your houses in ashes.
" There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which, considering your circumstances, I shall exercise for a season. You are indebted to me for this clemency. I do not say that you shall go now, but you must not think of staying here another season, or of putting in crops; for the mo- ment you do this the citizens will be upon you, and if I am called here again in case of your non- compliance with the treaty made, do not think that I shall act as I have done now. You need not expect any mercy, but extermination, for I am determined that the Governor's order shall be ex- ecuted.
" As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not let it enter into your minds that they will be delivered and restored to you again, for their fate is fixed, the die is cast, their doom is sealed.
"I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so many apparently intelligent men found in the situation that you are ; and oh! if I could but invoke that great spirit of the unknown God to rest upon and de- liver you from that awful chain of superstition, and liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound-that you might no longer do homage to man !
" I would advise you to scatter abroad, and never again organize yourselves with bishops, priests, etc., least you excite the jealousies of the people and subject yourselves to the same calamities that have now come upon you.
"You have always been the aggressors. You have brought upon yourselves these difficulties, by being disaffected, and not being subject to rule. And my advice is, that you become as other citi- zens, lest by a recurrence of these events, you bring upon yourselves inevitable ruin."
" I was present," says Brigham, "when that speech was delivered, and when fifty-seven of our brethren were betrayed into the hands of our enemies as prisoners.
"General Clark said that we must not be seen as many as five together; 'if you are,' said he, the citizens will be upon you and destroy you; you should flee immediately out of the State. There is no alternative for you but to flee ; you need not expect any redress; there is none for you.'"
" With respect to the treaty mentioned by Gen. Clark, I have to say that there never was any treaty proposed or entered into on the part of the Mormons, or any one called a Mormon, except hy Col. Hinkle. And with respect to the trial of Joseph and the brethren at Richmond, I did not
5
BRIGHAM YOUNG.
consider that tribunal a legal court but an inquisition. The brethren were compelled to give away their property at the point of the bayonet.
"In February, 1839, I left Missouri with my family, leaving my landed property and also my household goods, and went to Illinois, to a little town called Atlas, Pike County, where I tarried a few weeks; then moved to Quincy.
"I held a meeting with the bretbren of the Twelve and the members of the Church in Quincy, on the 17th of March, when a letter was read to the people from the committee, on behalf of the Saints at Far West, who were left destitute of the means to move. Though the brethren were poor and stripped of almost everything, yet they manifested a spirit of willingness to do their utmost, offering to sell their hats, coats and shoes to accomplish the object. We broke bread and partook of the sacrament. At the close of the meeting $50 was collected in money, and several teams were subscribed to go and bring the brethren. Among the subscribers was the widow of Warren Smith, whose husband and two sons had their brains blown out at the massacre at Haun's Mill. She sent her only team on this charitable mission."
It was Brigham Young who superintended the removal and settling of the Mormons in Illinois. for the Prophet was now in prison with Parley P. Pratt and others.
A revelation had been given the previous year, July Sth, 1836, in answer to a petition : "Show us thy will O Lord, concerning the Twelve." The answer came thus :
" Verily thus saith the Lord, let a conference be held immediately. Let the Twelve be organized, and let men be appointed to supply the places of those who are fallen. Let my servant Thomas remain for a season in the Land of Zion to publish my word. Let the residue continue to preach from that hour, and if they will do this in all lowliness of heart, in meekness and humility, and long- suffering, I the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families, and an effectual door shall be open for them from henceforth; and next spring let thein depart to go over the great waters, and there promulgate my gospel, the fulness thereof, and bear record of my name. Let them take leave of my Saints in the city of Far West, on the 26th day of April next, on the building spot of my house, saith the Lord.
"Let my servant, John Taylor, and also my servant, John E. Page, and also my servant, Wilford Woodruff, and also my servant, Willard Richards, be appointed to fill the place of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their appointment."
Bụt the Saints were now in banishment, and the Twelve could only return to Far West at the imminent risk of their lives. Many of the authorities urged that the Lord would not require the Twelve to fulfill this revelation to the letter, but would take the word for the deed. "But I felt differently," said Brigham, " and so did those of the quorum who were with me. I asked them. individually, what their feelings were upon the subject. They all expressed their desire to fufill the revelation. I told them the Lord had spoken and it was our duty to obey, and leave the event in his hands, and he would protect us."
There was a world of wisdom in this decision. The revelation was a special one concerning the Twelve Apostles themselves, and the success of their mission "across the great waters." Brigham was the master spirit of the Twelve. It would not do for that revelation to fail, now that the Church was resting on the shoulders of the Twelve; and Brigham Young was not the man to let it fail !
The Twelve started. Far West was reached in safety. They hid themselves in a grove. The mob came into Far West to tantalize the committee, boasting that this was one of Joe Smith's rev- elations which could not be fulfilled, and threatened the committee themselves if they were found in Far West the next day.
Early on the morning of the elect day, April 26th, the Twelve held their conference, " cut off" 31 persons from the Church, and proceeded to the building spot of the " Lord's House," where El- der Cutter, the master workman of the house, recommenced laying the foundation by rolling up a large stone near the southeast corner. There were present of the Twelve, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, and John Taylor, who proceeded to ordain Wilford Wood- ruff and George A. Smith to the office of the Twelve, in place of those who had fallen. The quorum then offered up vocal prayer, each in their order, beginning with President Young, after which they sang "Adamn-on-di-ahman," and took leave of the Saints according to the revelation.
"Thus," says the President, "was this revelation fulfilled, concerning which our enemies said, if all the other revelations of Joseph Smith came to pass, that one should not be fulfilled, as it had date and place to it."
After being in prison in Missouri about six months, the Prophet, with Parley P. Pratt and others, made their escape.
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
" It was one of the most joyful scenes of my life," says Brigham, "to once inore strike hands with the Prophet, and behold him and his companions free from the hands of their enemies; Joseph conversed with us like a man who had just escaped from a thousand oppressions, and was now free in the midst of his children."
The Prophet was highly pleased with Brigham and the Twelve for what they had done; and at a conference which he immediately held at Quincy, resolutions were passed expressing the approval of the whole church.
Joseph and the Twelve next founded Nauvoo at a place then called Commerce, in Hancock County, Illinois, and soon again the Mormons gathered together as a people.
But the unhealthy labor of breaking new land on the banks of the Mississippi, for the founding of their city, invited pestilence. Nearly every one " was down " with fever and ague. The Prophet had the sick borne into his house and door-yard, until his place was like a hospital. At length, even he succumbed to the deadly contagion, and for several days was as helpless as his diciples. He was a man of mighty faith, however, and " the spirit came upon him to arise and stay the pestilence."
" Joseph arose from his bed," narrated the President, "and the power of God rested upon him. He commenced in his own house and door-yard, commanding the sick in the name of Jesus Christ to arise and be made whole ; and they were healed according to his word. He then continued to travel from house to house, and from tent to tent, upon the bank of the river, healing tlie sick as he went, until he arrived at the upper stone house, where he crossed the river in a boat, accompanied by several of the quorum of the Twelve, and landed in Montrose. He walked into the cabin where I was lving sick, and commanded me, in the name of Jesus Christ, to arise and be made whole. I arose and was healed, and followed him and the brethren of the Twelve into the house of Elijah Fordham, who was supposed, by his family and friends to be dying. Joseph stepped to his bed-side, took him by the hand and commanded him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to arise from his bed and be made whole. His voice was as the voice of God. Brother Fordham instantly leaped from his bed, called for his clothing and followed us into the street. We then went into the house of Joseph S. Nobles, who lay very sick, and he was healed in the same manner! And when, by the power of God granted unto him, Joseph had healed all the sick, he recrossed the river, and returned to his home. This was a day never to be forgotten."
While yet emaciated from their recent sickness, the Twelve started on their mission to England.
President Young started from his home in Montrose on the 14th of September, 1839. Being still feeble, he was carried to the house of Heber C. Kimball, where he remained till the 1Sth. Kimball was in a similar condition; but these two chief apostles, nevertheless, resolutely set out for England, visiting Kirtland by the way.
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