[Transcriber's note: Minor typos in text corrected and footnotes moved toend of text. ]

[Illustration: JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET. ]

[Illustration: HYRUM SMITH, THE PATRIARCH. ]

A Young Folks' History

OF THE

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

By NEPHI ANDERSON

 "_We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what Work thou didst in their days, in the time of old_"--_Psalm xliv:1_. 

Published by theDESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNIONSalt Lake City. Utah1916

_Copyright, 1889, By Nephi Anderson

Copyright, 1916, By Joseph F. Smith, For the Deseret Sunday School Union_. 

To Parents and Teachers. 

Studying the history of our country creates patriotism and engendersloyalty. For the same reason, a study of the history of the Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints will implant in our boys and girls a love forits heroes, a loyalty to its principles, and an appreciation of itsachievements. By a knowledge of the history of the Church, our young peoplewill prize more highly that heritage given them of God and preserved forthem by the sweat and blood of their fathers. 

The teacher using this little book will understand that it is notexhaustive, but rather suggestive. The teacher should be in possession ofmuch more history than is given here. He should fill in much of theundercurrent of heroism, faith, and devotion exhibited by the characters ofthe history, very little of which can be given in the text. The importanceof this larger knowledge on the part of the teacher will be understood byan examination of the review and questions at the end of each chapter. Theaim in these questions is not only to review the facts of the lesson, butby suggestions and reference to bring out more fully deductions andprinciples. 

It is believed that by combining the topical and the question methods thebest results may be obtained. The topics are to be assigned certain pupilsfor treatment. Questions should not be limited to those in the book. Theteacher should find many more to ask. 

Special attention is called to the maps. Have pupils locate each importantplace. Quite a number of dates are found in the text. It is not intendedthat the pupils should memorize them all. Most of them should be usedmerely in fixing the relative time between events. It is suggested that thepupils be encouraged to refer to the Church works and other books mentionedin the text. 

For further preparation the teacher is referred to "The History of theChurch, " "Cannon's Life of Joseph Smith, " "Whitney's History of Utah. " The"Faith Promoting Series, " Evan's "Hundred Years of Mormonism, " etc. , willgive much interesting and valuable information. 

CONTENTS

To Parents and Teachers

CHAPTER I. A Parable

CHAPTER II. The First Vision

CHAPTER III. The Angel Moroni

CHAPTER IV. The Sacred Plates

CHAPTER V. The Book of Mormon

CHAPTER VI. The Three Witnesses

CHAPTER VII. The Priesthood Restored

CHAPTER VIII. Organization of the Church

CHAPTER IX. Persecution of Joseph

CHAPTER X. The Mission to the Indians

CHAPTER XI. Removal to Ohio

CHAPTER XII. The Land of Zion

CHAPTER XIII. Persecution in Jackson County

CHAPTER XIV. Expulsion from Jackson County

CHAPTER XV. Zion's Camp

CHAPTER XVI. The Church at Kirtland

CHAPTER XVII. The Twelve Apostles--The Seventies--Kirtland Temple

CHAPTER XVIII. The Mission to England

CHAPTER XIX. Far West

CHAPTER XX. Haun's Mill Massacre

CHAPTER XXI. Driven from Missouri

CHAPTER XXII. In Missouri Prisons

CHAPTER XXIII. Nauvoo

CHAPTER XXIV. The Martyrdom

CHAPTER XXV. Expulsion from Illinois

CHAPTER XXVI. The Battle of Nauvoo

CHAPTER XXVII. Westward

CHAPTER XXVIII. The Mormon Battalion

CHAPTER XXIX. The Pioneers

CHAPTER XXX. Great Salt Lake City

CHAPTER XXXI. Growth of Utah and the Church

CHAPTER XXXII. The "Utah War"

CHAPTER XXXIII. The "Utah War" (Concluded)

CHAPTER XXXIV. Prosperity

CHAPTER XXXV. The "Crusade"

CHAPTER XXXVI. The Presidency of Wilford Woodruff

CHAPTER XXXVII. Temple Building

CHAPTER XXXVIII. The Presidency of Lorenzo Snow

CHAPTER XXXIX. The Presidency of Joseph F. Smith

APPENDIX. 

First Presidencies of the ChurchList of Twelve Apostles

MAPS. Fayette and KirtlandMissouri and IllinoisRoutes of Mormon Battalion and Pioneers

ILLUSTRATIONS. Joseph Smith, the ProphetHyrum Smith the PatriarchBrigham YoungThe Hill CumorahThe Three WitnessesSidney RigdonPresident Brigham YoungThe Kirtland TemplePresident Heber C. KimballHaun's MillThe Nauvoo HouseThe Nauvoo MansionCarthage JailA Pioneer TrainSalt Lake Valley in 1847The Old FortSalt Lake Tabernacle (Interior)Salt Lake Tabernacle (Exterior)President John TaylorPresident Wilford WoodruffThe Pioneer MonumentSalt Lake Temple and GroundsPresident Lorenzo SnowThe First Presidency, 1916Joseph Smith Monument and Memorial CottageChurch Office Building

A YOUNG FOLKS' HISTORY

OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

A PARABLE. 

Once upon a time the owner of a very large garden planted therein a tree, the fruit of which was very precious and of great value to all who ate ofit. For a time, the tree grew and bore much good fruit. But the owner ofthe garden had an enemy who went about secretly sowing seeds of weeds andall manner of briers and brush, that they might spread all over the gardenand kill out the good tree which the master had planted. The enemy alsopersuaded many of the workmen in the garden to neglect the good tree, andlet the briers and weeds grow up around it and so prevent its growth. Thusin time the once precious fruit of the good tree became wild and scrubby, no better than the enemy's trees which grew around it. 

Years passed, and the master, grieving that the precious fruit should havebecome so worthless, determined to plant the good tree once more in thegarden. He did not try to clear away a spot for it amid the old, overgrownparts of the land, but he called upon certain workers to go to a distantpart of the garden where nothing had been planted for a long time, andthere prepare the ground for the planting of the tree. 

These workers were faithful to their master and did as they were told. Veryfew of the enemy's noxious weeds were growing in the new soil, so it wasnot such hard work to clear the ground and prepare a place for the masterto plant his tree. 

To be better protected against the enemy, the master told his workmen tobuild a high, strong wall about that part of the garden. This was all done;and then one beautiful spring day the owner came with his servants. Theyhad with them the precious tree taken from some other garden where it hadgrown without hindrance from weeds. The tree was planted and put in chargeof other servants to tend it. The warm sun shone on it, the rains came fromheaven to water it, and the tree took firm root and grew. 

Now all the boys and girls who read this book will understand that thelittle story I have just told is what is called a _Parable_, meant to makeplainer some facts and truths. I can not tell you all about that tree here, how it grew and bore fruit, and how many people came and ate of itsdelicious fruit, notwithstanding the enemy came again and tried to checkits growth. I say, I cannot tell it to you in the form of a parable, butwill tell it as it actually happened. You may, if you like, imagine in yourown minds the rest of the parable, but the real story you will find moreinteresting than any made-up tale can be. 

First, let me explain to you the meaning of the parable. 

The garden means the earth, and the owner is the Lord, who came to theearth about nineteen hundred years ago to die for the sins of the world. Healso planted the good tree, that is, He brought the gospel and taught itto his followers. The enemy is the evil one, the devil, who stirred up mento work against the gospel and to kill those who obeyed it. He also mixedhis lies with Christ's truths, until in time the pure gospel was not to befound on the earth. 

This was the condition of the world for hundreds of years. Then the Lordwished to restore the true gospel and again establish his Church on theearth. He therefore chose a place where all would have the right to believethe truth and be protected in that liberty. The Lord, therefore, moved uponColumbus to discover this land of America. 

The servants spoken of, whom the Lord sent to prepare the land for theplanting, were all those great and good men whom you have read about inyour American history: Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and many others. You will remember how these men loved right and liberty, and how theyworked so hard for it; and in reading the history of these men we canplainly see that the Lord was with them and helped them. These men builtthe high wall, which means that they made just laws that would protect thepeople and let them worship God in any way they thought right. 

Thus was the way prepared for the gospel to be restored again to the earth;and the Lord himself came from heaven, also his servants Moroni, Peter, James, and John to bring the glad tidings to all who live on the earth. 

Then the Lord called some more servants to preach the gospel to the worldand build up his Church. The first and greatest of these servants is knownby the name of Joseph Smith, the Prophet. How the Lord called him to thisgreat work and delivered to him the gospel will be told you in the nextchapter. 

Topics. --1. The Parable. 2. Explanation. 

Questions and Review. --1. Name some of Christ's first disciples. 2: Tellhow some of them were killed. 3. How long was the world without the gospel?4. Tell how Columbus discovered America. 5. Who were the Pilgrims? 6. Whatwas the Revolutionary war about? 7. What is the Constitution of the UnitedStates? 8. Find out what it says about religious liberty. 9. Why is Americathe "Land of liberty?"

CHAPTER II. 

THE FIRST VISION. 

At the time when Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States, therewas born among the Green Mountains of Vermont a boy who was to become thegreat prophet of the last days. The hills and valleys of Vermont lookbeautiful in the summer, but at the time here spoken of they were no doubtcovered with snow, for it was the 23rd of December, 1805, in the town ofSharon, Windsor county, that Joseph Smith first saw the light of the world. 

Joseph was named after his father, whose name was Joseph. His mother'smaiden name was Lucy Mack. Joseph had five brothers and three sisters whosenames were Alvin, Hyrum, (then Joseph), Samuel, William, Don Carlos, Sophronia, Catherine and Lucy; so you see that there was a large family forthe father and mother to take care of. Joseph's parents were poor and hadto work hard for a living, so when the boys were old enough they had tohelp on the farm; this they willingly, did. For this reason Joseph did notgo to school much, but he learned to read, to write fairly well, and towork some examples in arithmetic. Though Joseph did not get much of aneducation at school, yet he was a great student; and then God became histeacher, so that before he died, as you will see, he became one of the mostlearned men in the world. 

When Joseph was ten years old they all moved from Vermont to Palmyra, inthe western part of the state of New York. Four years later they movedagain to the small town of Manchester, in Ontario, now Wayne County, NewYork. 

While the family was living at Manchester there arose a great religiousexcitement all through the country. The different religious sects held manymeetings and tried to get people to join them. Joseph was now in hisfifteenth year and he also became interested, as his parents had alwaystaught him to believe in God and the Bible. Joseph thought he would like tojoin the true church of Christ, but what troubled him was to know which ofall these sects was the true church. He could see that all of them couldnot be true, as God surely would not have a great many churches, onestriving against the other; also, no doubt, he had read in the Bible thatthere was but "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, " etc. , which the Lordaccepted. Joseph went first to one meeting, then to another. His mother andsome of his brothers and sisters had joined the Presbyterians, but Josephcould not make up his mind what to do. 

But there is a way by which anyone may find out which is the true churchand therefore which to join, and every boy and girl that reads this bookshould remember it. It is this: Ask God. Joseph did not know this until oneday while reading in his Testament he came to the fifth verse in the firstchapter of James, which reads as follows:

 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. "

This was just the thing. God had surely led him to read that verse. Josephcertainly lacked wisdom, and here was a way to find out what he wanted toknow about the sects. The Lord would tell him. All he had to do was to ask. How simple it was!

On a beautiful morning in the spring of the year 1820, Joseph decided toask the Lord for wisdom. He went out into a grove near his father's house, and after looking around to make sure that he was alone, he kneeled down onthe grass under the trees and began to pray. No sooner had he begun thansome awful power which he could not see took hold of him and made it nearlyimpossible for him to speak. It soon became dark around the boy, and Josephthought the unseen power would kill him; but he struggled hard and tried topray to God for help. 

Just at that moment Joseph saw a great light coming down from above, andthen the evil power left him. The light was brighter than the sun, and asit came down and touched the tops of the trees, Joseph wondered why it didnot burn them. Then it shone all around him, and in the light, standing inthe air above him, he saw two persons who looked like men, only they wereshining with a glory that can not be described. One of them, pointing tothe other, said to the boy:

"_Joseph, this is my Beloved Son; hear him_. "

Joseph then asked which of all the religions was right, and great was hissurprise when he was told that none was right; that they all had goneastray from the truth; and that he must join none of them. Joseph was toldmany other things, among which was that some day the true gospel would bemade known to him. Then they left him alone in the woods. 

What a wonderful thing! God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ hadactually come to Joseph. He had seen them and they had spoken to him. Thatsame Jesus of whom he had read in his Bible had come from heaven and hisFather had come with him to introduce him to the boy praying in the woods!

This was the first vision and the beginning of the gospel in our day; andby thinking carefully about this vision, we may see that it teaches us manythings. First, that God has a body like unto man's. Second, that the Fatherand the Son are two persons, not one, as many in the world believe. Third, that the many religions which man has made are not accepted by God. Fourth, that God has not ceased to give revelations to men on the earth. 

Topics. --1. Joseph's Boyhood. 2. The Vision. 3. What may be learned fromthe vision. 

Questions and Review. --1. When and where was Joseph Smith born? 2. Towhat places did Joseph move? 3. What led Joseph to ask God for wisdom? 4. Repeat James I:5. 5. Why can not all the sects in the world be right? 6. Did the Father and the Son come to Joseph solely because of this prayer?[1]7. Why did the evil one try to destroy Joseph? 8. What may we learn fromthis vision?

CHAPTER III. 

THE ANGEL MORONI. 

When Joseph told of his vision to some of his friends he was surprised tofind that they did not believe him, but made fun of what he said. Thestrangest thing to the boy was that the preachers of religion, instead ofbeing glad at such glorious news, told him it was from the devil, and thatGod did not give any more revelations from heaven. All such things hadceased with the apostles of old, they said. Another strange thing was thatthese preachers began to tell untruths about him, and seemed to hate himfor what he told. Still Joseph would not deny his story. "I have actuallyseen a vision, " he said again and again. "I know it, and I know that Godknows it, and I dare not deny it. "

So three years went by. 

On the evening of September 21, 1823, after Joseph had retired to his room, he prayed earnestly that the Lord would forgive him his sins and show himif he was yet accepted of him. While he was yet praying a very bright lightcame into the room, and immediately a person stood in the air by hisbedside. As this person was an angel--a being who had died and had beenresurrected with an immortal body--it is interesting to know how he looked. 

Joseph describes him as a man having on a robe whiter than anything he hadever seen. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above thewrists. His feet were also bare a little above the ankles. His head andneck were also bare. Not only was his robe very white but his whole personshone with great glory. The room was very light, but not so bright asclose around the angel's person. 

The angel called Joseph by name, and said that he was a messenger sent fromGod to him, and that his name was Moroni. He told Joseph that God had awork for him to do, and because of this work, good and evil would be spokenabout his name in all nations. The angel then told him of a record writtenon gold plates which were hidden in a hill not far away. This record was ahistory of the peoples who had lived on this continent, of whom the Indianswere a part. With the plates was an instrument called the Urim and Thummim, which God had prepared for the translating of the records. After a timethese things would be given to Joseph, but he must take great care of themand show them to no one except those to whom the Lord would direct. ThenMoroni showed Joseph, by a vision, the place, where the plates were hidden. 

After giving much other instruction, the light in the room began to gatherin towards the person of the angel, leaving the room again in darkness, except just around the heavenly visitor, who soon disappeared in a shiningpath into heaven. 

Three times that same night Moroni visited Joseph and told him nearly thesame things over again. About the plates Joseph was further told that hewould be tempted to get them for the purpose of getting rich, as the plateswere of great value; but he must not yield to that spirit as they weresacred, and he must have no other purpose in view than to do the will ofGod and build up his kingdom; otherwise he would not get them. At the closeof the third visit it was morning, and then Joseph knew that he had beentalking with the angel nearly all the night. 

That morning Joseph went as usual with his father to work in the field, but he was so weak that he could do but little. His father, seeing this, told him to go home. 

On the way, as he was climbing over a fence, Joseph fell helpless to theground. After that the first thing he knew was that some one was callinghim by name. Looking up he again saw the angel Moroni, who once more toldhim all that he had related the night before. He then told Joseph to goback to the field and tell his father of the vision and the commandmentswhich he had received. 

Joseph obeyed at once, and went back and told all he had seen and heard. His father believed all he said, and told Joseph to obey the angel, as theteachings and commandments were surely from the Lord. 

Topics. --1. Beginning of persecution. 2. Visit of the angel Moroni. 3. What Moroni told Joseph. 

Questions and Review. --1. What did people say of Joseph's first vision?2. Why did people persecute a young boy like Joseph? 3. Name the date ofMoroni's visit. 4. What is an angel? (See Doc. And Cov. Sec. 129, also Keyto Theology, Chap. 12. ) 5. Describe the Angel Moroni. 6. Why did the angelrepeat so often his instructions to Joseph? 7. How old was Joseph at thistime?

CHAPTER IV. 

THE SACRED PLATES. 

About two miles south of Joseph's home, in Manchester, is a large hill, thehighest in that part of the country. To this place Joseph went on themorning after the angel's visit, as this was the spot he had seen in hisvision. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, Joseph founda large, rounded stone, nearly covered with earth. Prying this up, he foundit to be the lid of a stone box which was buried in the earth. Raising thelid, he looked in, and there indeed were the sacred treasures about whichthe angel had told him. As he stood looking at them in wonder, the angelMoroni came to his side, and Joseph was taught many things about thefuture. He was shown in a vision the glory of the good and the darkness ofthe evil. 

[Illustration: THE HILL CUMORAH. ]

Joseph was about to take the plates from the box, when the angel forbadehim, telling him the time had not yet arrived, but that he should come tothe hill in one year from that date when the angel would meet him. This hemust do for four years, at the end of which time, if Joseph was faithful, the plates would be given to him to translate and publish to the world. 

True to the angel's instructions, Joseph went to the hill Cumorah on the22nd day of September of each year, at which time Moroni appeared to himand gave him many teachings about the word of God. 

During all this time Joseph had to labor hard on the farm, sometimes hiringout to work for others. In October, 1825, he worked for a man by the nameof Josiah Stoal, who took Joseph to the State of Pennsylvania, and set himwith other men, digging for a silver mine which he thought he could find. After working at it for some time, Joseph persuaded his employer to give itup. It was from this incident that Joseph's enemies sometimes called him a"money digger. "

While working for Mr. Stoal, Joseph boarded for some time with the familyof Isaac Hale. Here he met Emma Hale who became his wife, they beingmarried in the year 1827. 

The four years were now passed. On the 22nd of September, 1827, Joseph wenton his fifth visit to the sacred hill, and on that day the angel Moronidelivered to him the plates and the Urim and Thummim. He was told to takegood care of them as evil men would try to take them from him; but if he, Joseph, would do all he could to preserve them, the Lord would come to hisassistance when it would be needed. 

The records which Joseph received consisted of a great many gold platesnearly as thick as common tin. They were about seven by eight inches insize, and were bound together by three rings running through holes, in theedges of the plates. This made the plates like a book, so that they mightbe turned as the leaves of a book are turned. On each side of every platewere engraved beautiful letters, in a language which Joseph could not read. The book was about six inches thick. A part of it was sealed, and Josephwas told not to open it, as the time had not yet come for that part to bemade known to the world. 

The Urim and Thummim consisted of two transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in two rims of a bow. It was used in ancient times by the seers, andthrough it they received revelations of things past and future. You mayread about this instrument in the Bible, in Exodus, 28: 30; and Ezra 2: 63. 

As soon as it was known that Joseph had the plates, many evil-mindedpersons tried to get them from him, and he had to hide them in differentplaces to keep them safe. Mobs began to surround his house, men tried tocatch him on the roads or in the fields, and he was even shot at a numberof times. Joseph now saw how timely the angel's warning was. 

Living thus in constant fear, Joseph could not do anything towardstranslating the records; so he moved, with his wife, to her old home inPennsylvania. While on the way an officer overtook him and searched hiswagon for the plates, but could not find them. They were there, however, safely hidden in a barrel of beans. 

Arriving in Harmony, where his father-in-law lived, Joseph began totranslate some of the writings on the plates. As Joseph was a slow writerhe did not make much progress, and so he asked the Lord to send someone tohelp him. In answer to this request a man by the name of Martin Harris cameto him from Palmyra, New York. Now the work went better. Martin wrote whileJoseph translated. 

They had translated one hundred and sixteen written pages, when Martinasked Joseph to let him take the writings and show them to some of hisfriends. Joseph asked the Lord about it, and the answer was that he mustnot; but Martin kept on teasing Joseph till at last the Lord permitted himto show them to certain persons. But Martin showed them to others, and thewritings were lost. The Lord was displeased at this, and told Joseph not totranslate the same over again, but to write from another part of the plateswhich told about the same events. However, the Urim and Thummim was takenfrom Joseph for a short time, and when he received it again, his wife Emmawrote a little for him. 

Now the Lord sent another helper to Joseph. He was a young school teacher, named Oliver Cowdery, and these two men worked hard at the translation. Youwill remember that Joseph was poor, and it seemed they would have to stoptranslating and find other work whereby to earn means to live. They werenow also again annoyed by evil men and mobs. 

In the midst of this trouble the Lord sent aid again. A man named JosephKnight came to them with provisions, and soon after Joseph was visited by ayoung man named David Whitmer, who came to invite them to his father'shouse in Fayette, Seneca county, New York. This invitation was gladlyaccepted, and Joseph and Oliver went back with him. 

At the Whitmers' they lived and labored in peace until the work wascompleted. David, John, and Peter, sons of Peter Whitmer, Sen. , helped allthey could, and soon the book was ready to be printed. Martin Harris alsohelped Joseph in getting out the work. The first edition of five thousandcopies was printed in Palmyra, in 1830. Since then the book has beenprinted in many languages and read by many thousands of people. It iscalled THE BOOK OF MORMON. The next chapter will tell you why it is socalled, and a little of what it contains. 

Topics. --1. Joseph's visits to Cumorah. 2. Joseph in Pennsylvania. 3. Description of the plates and Urim and Thummim. 4. The translation. 

Questions and Review. --1. Where is the hill Cumorah? 2. What did Josephfind there? 3. Why did not Joseph carry away the plates the first time? 4. How many visits did he make to Cumorah? 5. Where did Joseph go to work? 6. Whom did he marry? 7. When did Joseph get the plates? 8. Describe theplates. 9. What was the Urim and Thummim? 10. Who first helped Joseph totranslate? 11. Who was Oliver Cowdery? 12. What help did the Whitmers giveJoseph? 13. When was the Book of Mormon published?

CHAPTER V. 

THE BOOK OF MORMON. 

You will all be interested in knowing what was written on the plates whichthe prophet Joseph Smith received from the angel Moroni, so in this chapterI will tell you very briefly. Some time you will want to read the wholebook, which of course is the better way. 

You have read in your histories and geographies that ruins of great citieshave been found in many places in America, showing that at one time therewere people here more civilized than the Indians. The writings on theseplates told the history of these peoples. 

Six hundred years before Christ was born, there lived in the city ofJerusalem a prophet by the name of Lehi. He had at that time four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. The Lord told Lehi that because of thewickedness of the city, it would soon be destroyed, and if he wished to besaved he must take his family and travel into the wilderness. This Lehidid. They went south-eastward until they got to the sea where they built aship in which to cross to a promised land. While camping in the wildernessLehi sent his sons back to Jerusalem to get some records of theirforefathers, and it was through the faithfulness of Nephi that this wasdone. 

After many days of sailing, they at last landed on the west coast of SouthAmerica in what is now called Chili. 

The two older boys, Laman and Lemuel were often disobedient to theirfather, and many times they brought trouble to the little company. Theyalso treated their younger brother, Nephi, badly because he would not agreewith them but tried to do as his father told him. 

When Lehi died, Nephi was chosen their leader, but soon Laman and Lemuelbecame dissatisfied and again began making trouble. The Lord then toldNephi to take all who would listen to him and leave the other brothers andthose who upheld them in their evil deeds. 

In this way there became two peoples in the land. Those who went with Nephiwere called Nephites, and those who remained with Laman became Lamanites. The Nephites built houses, planted fields, and lived as civilized people, and the Lord often revealed his will to them through prophets and holy men. The Lamanites became lazy, lived in tents in the forests, and killed wildanimals for their food. Their skins also became dark. 

The greater part of the Book of Mormon is about these two peoples, theirwars with each other, etc. The Nephites ought to have remained a goodpeople, because the Lord blessed them so much: yet they often did wrong. The Lord would prosper them until they became rich; then they would becomeproud and at last wicked. Then the Lord would allow the Lamanites to comeupon them, and there would be bloody wars. So the story goes for hundredsof years. 

Both nations became very large and occupied the greater part of North andSouth America. 

At times the Lord would raise up prophets who would preach to the wicked. Usually these teachers were Nephites, but sometimes they were Lamanites. Sometimes great numbers of Lamanites were converted to the Lord, and whenthey once accepted the truth, they did not fall away so easily as theirNephite brethren. At one time two thousand young men whose parents wereconverted Lamanites did valiant service for their country and theirreligion. There isn't room to tell you about the story here; but you mayread about it in the Book of Mormon, beginning with the 53rd chapter ofAlma. 

When Nephi separated from his brethren, he went north and settled in aplace they called the Land of Nephi; but after a time the Lamanites againannoyed them so much that the Lord told Mosiah, who was their leader thento take the more faithful part of the people and again go northward. Thisthey did, and found a city called Zarahemla which had been built by apeople who had also come from Jerusalem at the time that city wasdestroyed. The Nephites joined with the people of Zarahemla, and for a longtime this city was the capital of the Nephite people. 

In time the Lamanites occupied all of South America except a small part inthe north, on which the Nephites lived. The Nephites' land also extendedfar up into North America. 

A little over six hundred years after Lehi landed on this continent, Jesusappeared unto some of the righteous. Before this, however, there had been agreat storm all over the land, and many of the wicked had been destroyed. Jesus had been crucified at Jerusalem, had risen from the dead, and now hecame to the Nephites with his resurrected body. He taught them the samegospel that he had taught in Palestine and chose twelve disciples to preachand build up his church. For nearly two hundred years the people allbelonged to the Church of Christ, and peace was over all the land. Thenthey became wicked again. The Lamanites kept driving the Nephites furthernorth, until they reached what is now the United States. Around a hill inthe western part of the State of New York, then called Cumorah, what wasleft of the Nephites gathered for the last struggle. The Lamanites metthem, and there was a great battle in which all but a very few of theNephites were killed. Thus ended the Nephite nation, not quite four hundredyears after Christ, and the Lamanites or Indians have lived here eversince. 

During all this time the Lord had some good men keep a record of whathappened among the people. In those days they did not write on paper, sothese histories were recorded on plates of metal. These plates were handedfrom one man to another, until about the time of the last great battle, aprophet by the name of Mormon had all the records. He wrote a short accountfrom them called an abridgment. What he took from each man's record hecalled after the writer's name, as the Book of Alma, Book of Helaman, etc. , which we might call names of chapters in Mormon's book. Mormon gave all hiswritings to his son Moroni, who wrote a little more on the plates. Moronialso made a short account of another people who had lived in America beforethe Nephites. They were called the Jaredites. Their history is told in theBook of Ether. 

After Moroni had seen his people destroyed he hid all the records in thehill Cumorah. 

Topics. --1. What history and geography prove regarding the Book ofMormon. 2. The Lamanites. 3. The Nephites. 4. Mormon. 5. Moroni. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who was Lehi? 2. Name his sons. (Jacob andJoseph were born after he left Jerusalem. ) 3. Tell about Laman and Lemuel. 4. What kind of boy was Nephi? 5. Why did they leave Jerusalem? 6. Why didLehi want the records of his forefathers? 7. Who were the Lamanites? 8. Describe them. 9. Tell about the Nephites. 10. In what land did thesepeople live? 11. Why were the Nephites destroyed? 12. What is the Book ofMormon? 13. Who wrote it? 14. Who had charge of the plates? 15. Where werethey hidden? 16. Who translated them into the English language?

CHAPTER VI. 

THE THREE WITNESSES. 

All who read this book ought to turn to one of the first pages of the Bookof Moromon and read a paragraph signed by three men whose names are OliverCowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. You will notice in thatparagraph that these men bear a most solemn witness that the book is true;that an angel of God came to them with the plates and laid them beforetheir eyes; and that they were translated by the gift and power of God. 

The three names signed to this testimony are so important that I wish totell you something about these men. You have learned a little about themalready, but here is a good place to tell you something more about theirlives. 

[Illustration: THE THREE WITNESSES. ]

Martin Harris was a farmer who became acquainted with Joseph about the timehe received the plates. You will remember that Martin visited Joseph inPennsylvania and did some writing for him. Martin Harris was the man whotook some of the writings copied from the plates, with their translation, to the city of New York, and showed them to a learned man named ProfessorAnthon. The professor seemed pleased with what was shown him, and gaveMartin a certificate that the writings were true characters. He alsooffered to assist in translating the plates, but when Martin told him thatan angel had given Joseph the plates, and that part of the book was sealed, he took back the certificate and tore it up, saying "I can not read asealed book. "

If you wish to read something in the Bible that will remind you of thisincident you may find it in Isaiah, 29th chapter, beginning at the 10thverse. 

Oliver Cowdery became acquainted with Joseph's family, while he boardedwith them one winter when he was teaching school. Hearing of Joseph inPennsylvania and the work he was there doing, Oliver prayed to the Lord forlight regarding the matter. Receiving a testimony that it was true, Oliverwent to visit Joseph, and there, as we have seen, he wrote for him. 

David Whitmer was a friend of Oliver's, and the latter told David manythings regarding Joseph. While he was in Pennsylvania, Oliver wrote toDavid telling him to come down and see them. David came, found everythingas had been told him, and took the two young men back to his father's home. 

While translating the plates, Joseph came to the passage where it says thatthere should be three witnesses to these things. (Book of Mormon, II Nephi11:3; also 27:12. ) On learning this Oliver, David, and Martin asked Josephto enquire of the Lord if they might be these witnesses. Joseph did so, andtheir request was granted. They, with Joseph then went out into the woodsand prayed so earnestly that an angel came and showed them the sacredtreasure exactly as they have testified. 

For some years these three men continued to take a prominent part in theaffairs of the Church as you will see in future chapters. 

In April, 1838, Oliver Cowdery was cut off from the Church for a number ofthings that a Latter-day Saint should not do. He became a lawyer, and wentto Michigan. For ten years he remained away from the Church; but during allthat time he never once denied his testimony that the Book of Mormon istrue. Often men tried to have him deny it, but he stood firm to that truth. 

At a meeting held in Kanesville, Iowa, October 21, 1848, Oliver Cowderyspoke and bore a strong testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon andthe work of God. Shortly after he asked to be baptized into the Churchagain. He did not ask for position or honor, he wanted simply to be amember of the Church. His wish was granted and he was baptized. 

While on his way to Utah, Oliver stopped at Richmond, Missouri, to visithis friends, the Whitmers. While here he died. David Whitmer said of theevent:

 "Oliver died the happiest man I ever saw. After shaking hands with the family, and kissing his wife and daughter, he said, 'Now I lay me down for the last time; I am going to my Savior;' and he died immediately with a smile on his face. "

Martin Harris also left the Church. He was rejected at Kirtland, in 1837, and remained away from the Church for over thirty years; but all this timehe testified to the truth of the Book of Mormon. In 1870, through thelabors of Elder Edward Stevenson, Martin Harris came to Utah and was againbaptized into the Church of Christ. For five years he continued to tell ofthe truth of the work of God in the meetings of the Saints in Utah. He diedJuly 10th, 1875, at Clarkston, Cache county, Utah. On the afternoon of hisdeath, he sat propped up in his bed with a Book of Mormon in his handbearing his testimony to its truth to those around him. 

David Whitmer, after being with the Saints until 1838, apostatized inMissouri. He moved to Richmond, Ray county, and lived there to the day ofhis death, January 25, 1888. He never rejoined the Church; but he alwaysbore a strong testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. On his death bedhe said to those around him:

 "I want to say to you all that the Bible and the record of the Nephites (Book of Mormon) are true, so that you can say that you heard me bear my testimony on my death-bed. God bless you all. My trust is in Christ forever, worlds without end. Amen. "

The world can not deny these three men's testimony. Though they left theChurch and in their darkness they opposed the prophet of the Lord, yetnever did they deny what the angel had shown them. On the same page thatthe testimony of the three witnesses is recorded, you will also find thenames of eight others who testify to having seen the plates from which theBook of Mormon was translated. 

Topics. --1. The testimony of the three witnesses. 2. Martin Harris. 3. Oliver Cowdery. 4. David Whitmer. 5. The eight witnesses. 

Questions and Review. --1. Where is the testimony of the three witnessesfound? 2. What does that testimony say? 3. What other testimony is found inthe Book of Mormon? 4. How did the three get their testimony? 5. Tell ofMartin Harris. 6. Of Oliver Cowdery. 7. Of David Whitmer. 8. Name somethings that make their testimony strong. 9. Name the eight witnesses. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE PRIESTHOOD RESTORED. 

When Joseph and Oliver were engaged in translating the Book of Mormon theycame to a passage which told of baptism in water for the remission of sins. This was not quite plain to them. They knew, of course, something of themany kinds of baptism practiced by the various sects of the day, but if thereligions on the earth at that time were not accepted of the Lord as Josephhad been told, none of the ministers would have a right to baptize;besides, the passage in the Book of Mormon said that baptism was for theremission of sins. The preachers did not teach it this way, though theycould read that it was taught in the same manner by the apostles inChrist's time. (Acts 2:38. )

This right or authority to do things in the name of the Lord is calledPriesthood. The apostles and prophets of old had it, but where were they tolook for this power now?

So Joseph and Oliver on the 15th day of May, 1829, went into the woods toask the Lord about it. Their prayer was answered by an angel who told themthat his name was John, called John the Baptist, who had baptized Jesus inthe river Jordan. He said he had come to restore a portion of the holyPriesthood, even that part which would give them power to baptize for theremission of sins, but not to lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. He promised them that if they were faithful this other power would begiven them later. 

The angel then laid his hands on their heads and ordained them to theAaronic Priesthood. He told Joseph to baptize Oliver, after which Oliverwas to baptize Joseph. Then Joseph was to ordain Oliver and Oliver to dothe same to Joseph. All this they gladly did, and immediately they werefilled with great joy. 

Thus was the power to baptize for the remission of sins again given to theearth. Think what a great event it was! None in all the world had thispower, save two unknown young men in the woods of Pennsylvania. Greatthings often have small beginnings. Now there are thousands who have thisblessed power, and no doubt the elder that baptized each of you can tracehis ordination which gave him the authority to do so back to Joseph orOliver and from them to John the baptist. 

Sometime in June, 1829, the promise which John made to the young men wasfulfilled. The ancient apostles Peter, James, and John, who held the keysof this higher power came to Joseph and Oliver and ordained them to theMelchizedek Priesthood. This gave them the power to lay on hands for thegift of the Holy Ghost, and also to go forth and administer in theordinances of the gospel. 

Topics. --1. Priesthood. 2. Visit of John the Baptist. 3. Visit of Peter, James, and John. 

Questions and Review. --1. What led Joseph and Oliver to ask the Lordabout baptism? 2. What is baptism for? 3. How is it performed? 4. How didJoseph and Oliver get the authority to baptize? 5. Who was John theBaptist? 6. What is Priesthood? 7. Name the two grades of Priesthood. 8. Who baptized you? 9. How did he get the authority to baptize? 10. Who werePeter, James, and John? 11. What did they do? 12. Give the date of John'svisit. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH. 

By this time many people came to Joseph, some out of curiosity, some to betaught of the wonderful truths which he had received, and some, I am sorryto say, came to do him harm. As Joseph and Oliver now had power to baptize, a number of those who believed were baptized by them. 

The time had now come to organize the Church and the Lord revealed toJoseph that it should be done on the 6th day of April, 1830. Accordingly onthat day six men who had been baptized met at the house of Peter Whitmer, Sen. , at Fayette, Seneca county, state of New York. Their names were JosephSmith, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr. , Samuel H. Smith, and David Whitmer. 

Joseph tells us what was done at this meeting as follows:

"Having opened the meeting by solemn prayer to our Heavenly Father, weproceeded to call on our brethren to know whether they accepted us as theirteachers in the things of the kingdom of God and whether they weresatisfied that we should proceed and be organized as a Church according tothe commandments we had received. To this they all consented. I then laidmy hands upon Oliver Cowdery and ordained him an elder of the Church ofJesus Christ; after which he ordained me also to the office of an elder ofsaid Church. We then took bread, blessed it, and broke it with them; alsowine, blessed it, and drank it with them. We then laid our hands on eachmember of the Church present, that they might receive the gift of the HolyGhost and be confirmed members of the Church of Christ. The Holy Ghost waspoured out upon us to a very great degree--some prophesied, whilst we allpraised the Lord and rejoiced exceedingly. "

Thus was the true Church of Christ again on the earth. During the hundredsof years when the world had lain in darkness, not a man could have beenfound who had the authority to confirm a member of the church; but nowthere was a beginning, a very small beginning it is true, but the promiseis that it will grow and increase until it shall fill the whole earth. 

The first public meeting after the Church was organized was held five dayslater at the same place. At this meeting Oliver Cowdery preached the firstpublic discourse. He explained the principles of the gospel, and quite anumber believed and were baptized. 

Shortly after this time Joseph went to a town called Colesville, in Broomecounty, N. Y. , not far from Pennsylvania to visit his friend Joseph Knightwho had aided him when he was at work on the Book of Mormon. Joseph held anumber of meetings in this place and made some friends. Among those whoattended these meetings was Newel Knight, son of Joseph Knight. This youngman had many talks with Joseph about the gospel, but still he kept puttingoff doing his duty in being baptized. Because of this the evil one gotpower over him and treated him so badly that the prophet was sent for. WhenJoseph arrived he found his friend Newel acting strangely. His face andbody twisted in an awful manner and at last he was actually caught up fromthe floor and tossed about. Many of the neighbors now came in, but theycould do nothing to help the suffering man. 

[Illustration: Map of Fayette and Kirtland]

When Joseph managed to get hold of Newel's hand, he became still and spoketo Joseph, asking him to cast the devil from him. 

"If you know that I can, it shall be done, " replied Joseph, whereupon hecommanded the evil one in the name of Jesus Christ to depart. Newel becameall right again at once, and was greatly blessed by the Spirit of God. Thepeople present wondered greatly at what they had seen, and many of themafterwards joined the Church. 

This was the first miracle performed in the Church. Jesus had said to hisapostles in his day: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. * ** And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name shall theycast out devils, " etc. Thus we see the same signs following the believer inour day the same as in the days of the first apostles. 

On the first of June, 1830, the first conference, of the Church was held inFayette. There were about thirty members present besides many others whocame to hear. The Spirit of God was greatly enjoyed at this meeting. Manyprophesied, while others had beautiful visions of the heavens opened totheir eyes. 

Topics. --1. Organization of the Church. 2. First meeting, sermon andconference. 3. First miracle. 

Questions and Review. --1. When and where was the Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints organized? 2. Name the first six members. 3. What wasdone at that meeting? 4. How many members are there in the Church today? 5. How did you become a member of the Church? 6. Describe the first miracle. 7. How was the evil one cast out in former days? (See Acts 16: 16, 18. ) 8. What proof was given that Joseph and his brethren were true believers. (SeeMark 16: 16, 17. ) 9. When was the first conference of the Church held?

CHAPTER IX. 

PERSECUTION OF JOSEPH. 

By this time you will see that when the Lord set his hand to begin thegreat latter-day work, the evil one was also present, trying to hinder itsprogress. At the very beginning there were only Joseph and a few friends towork against, but now the Church was fast becoming established in the land, and if it were to be stopped some strong effort would have to be made. Sothe evil one inspired men to gather in large crowds or mobs to annoy and doharm to the members of the Church and their friends. 

Shortly after the conference mentioned in the last chapter, Joseph and anumber of other elders went to Colesville to hold meetings and baptize somebelievers. The brethren built a dam in a creek on Saturday where they wereto baptize on Sunday, but during the night a mob tore the dam away. However, meeting was held on Sunday, and early on Monday morning the damwas repaired and the baptisms were attended to; but before they werethrough, the mob gathered and followed the Saints to their homes, makingall kinds of threats. That evening as they were going to hold a meeting, aconstable arrested Joseph Smith on the charge of making disorder, settingthe country in an uproar by preaching the Book of Mormon, etc. 

The constable was a good man, and told Joseph that the mob was going to tryto take him and perhaps kill him; but he would protect Joseph. In drivingto another town where the court was to be held, the mob lay in waiting bythe road, but the constable whipped up his horse and they got away. 

The next day when Joseph was called to be tried, there was a large crowdand much excitement as many wished to see and hear the young prophet. Thetrial commenced and many persons who knew Joseph were called to tellsomething about him. Among the number was Mr. Stoal, for whom Joseph hadworked. 

"Did not the prisoner, Joseph Smith, have a horse of you?" was asked of Mr. Stoal. 

"Yes, sir, " was the answer. 

"Did not he go to you and tell you that an angel had appeared unto him andtold him to get the horse from you?"

"No; he told me no such story. "

"Well, how had he the horse of you?"

"He bought him of me as another man would do?"

"Have you had your pay?"

"That is not your business. "

The same question was asked again. 

"I hold his note for the price of the horse, " replied Mr. Stoal, "which Iconsider as good as the pay, for I am well acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr. , and know him to be an honest man, and if he wishes, I am ready to lethim have another horse on the same terms. "

Many other witnesses were called, but the above is a fair sample of thequestions and the answers received. Nothing wrong was proved against Josephand he was discharged. 

But no sooner was Joseph released than another constable appeared andarrested him again. This officer mistreated Joseph shamefully. He wouldgive him nothing to eat, and he allowed a crowd of men to spit upon him andotherwise abuse him. 

The next day Joseph was tried again, this time at Colesville. His friendsagain gathered around to protect him while his enemies tried harder thanever to have him convicted of some crime. Many witnesses were called whotold untrue stories of Joseph, but when they were questioned theycontradicted each other so that everybody, including the court, could seethey were not telling the truth. 

Newel Knight was called as a witness. 

"Did the prisoner, Joseph Smith, Jr. , cast the devil out of you?" asked thelawyer who was against Joseph. 

"No, sir, " was the reply. 

"Why, have you not had the devil cast out of you?"

"Yes, sir. "

"And had not Joe Smith some hand in its being done"

"Yes, sir. "

"And did he not cast him out of you?"

"No, sir; it was done by the power of God, and Joseph Smith was theinstrument in the hands of God to do it. He commanded him out of me in thename of Jesus Christ. "

The lawyer could make nothing out of him or the others who were called totell of some supposed wrong Joseph had done. Nothing could be found againsthim that would send him to prison, and I suppose the judge thought thateven casting the devil out of a man was not such a great crime. So Josephwas once more released and a free man. 

But of course the mob was not satisfied, so they laid a plan to captureJoseph and tar and feather him; but now the constable who had treated himso badly, saw by the trial that he was innocent, and came to Joseph andasked his forgiveness. He told the prophet of the mob's intentions andhelped Joseph to get safely away home. 

So the Lord was with his servants and helped them out of the hands of thosewho would harm them. The Lord was also kind to the Saints and gave theChurch many revelations which you may find in the book called "Doctrine andCovenants, " which contains the revelations given to the Church throughJoseph the Prophet. 

Topics. --1. Persecution of the Saints. 2. The arrests and trials ofJoseph. 3. The Doctrine and Covenants. 

Questions and Review. --1. What did Jesus say about persecution? (See St. Matthew 5:10, 12. ) 2. Where is Colesville? 3. What was Joseph's errand inColesville? 4. What did the mob do? 5. For what was Joseph arrested? 6. Tell about his first trial. 7. Who testified at the second trial? 8. Afterhis discharge what did the mob intend to do to Joseph? 9. Who helped him toescape? 10. What is the Doctrine and Covenants?

CHAPTER X. 

THE MISSION TO THE INDIANS. 

In the month of September, 1830, a young man came to the house of JosephSmith, at Fayette, and asked to see the prophet. As Joseph was absent, hewas referred to his brother Hyrum who explained to him what he wanted toknow about the Book of Mormon, the revelations of the Lord to his brother, and the establishing of the Church. The young man was a preacher of thesect called Campbellites, and his name was Parley P. Pratt. On his journeyfrom his home in Ohio to New York he had obtained a copy of the Book ofMormon, had read it, and had been deeply impressed with its beautifultruths. Wishing to know more about this new revelation of God, he hadsought out Joseph. 

Parley P. Pratt joined the Church and soon became one of its leading men, working with Joseph and his brethren with great energy. He became one ofthe Twelve Apostles, traveled in many parts of the earth preaching thegospel, wrote many fine books, and at last was killed by a wicked man inthe state of Arkansas. 

Some day you will want to read a full account of this great man's historyas he wrote it himself, but here I will give you but a few of theseinteresting events, because they have much to do with the Church at thispoint of our history. 

You will remember that the Book of Mormon tells about the early history ofthe Indians. In this book it is predicted that some day the gospel shouldbe preached to them, and the record of their forefathers should also bebrought to their knowledge. At the second conference of the Church held inFayette, September 1st, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson andPeter Whitmer, Jr. , were called to go on a mission to the Indians. Theywere to go into the wilderness through the western states and into theIndian Territory, preaching by the way whenever a chance afforded. 

It was late in October when these four elders started on this the firstimportant mission of the Church. They preached to some Indians near thecity of Buffalo, presented them with the Book of Mormon, and proceeded ontheir journey into the state of Ohio. In the northeastern part of thisstate is the town of Kirtland where Elder Pratt had some friends. Theystopped here for some time and preached the gospel to the people. Greatinterest was aroused, many believed and were baptized. Among these wasElder Pratt's former teacher, Sidney Rigdon, who also became one of theChurch's leading men. Others who joined the Church at this time were EdwardPartridge who became the first bishop in the Church, Newel K. Whitney whobecame the second, Lyman Wight who became an apostle, and many others. In afew weeks the missionaries had raised up a large branch of the Church atKirtland. 

Having done this good work, the elders went on their way westward. Oneevening they were stopping at the house of one Simeon Carter not far fromBrother Pratt's old home. They were just about to read to him from the Bookof Mormon when an officer entered and arrested Elder Pratt. The elders lefttheir book with Mr. Carter and went with the officer to a sort of court, where Brother Pratt was ordered to pay a large sum of money or go toprison. The prisoner paid no attention to these demands, which made hispersecutors very angry. It was now about midnight, but the elders took itquietly and sang a hymn or two. Then Elder Pratt said that if the witnesseswho had told false things about them and the judge who had abused andinsulted them, would repent of their evil words and acts and would allkneel down together he would pray that God might forgive them. 

"My big bull-dog pray for me!" said the judge. 

"The devil help us!" cried another. 

Next morning as Elder Pratt and the man placed to guard him were walking inthe road, the elder asked the officer if he was good at a race. 

"No!" was the reply, "but my big dog is. I have trained him and he willtake any man down at my bidding. "

"Well, " continued Bro. Pratt, "you have given me a chance to preach andhave given me lodging and breakfast. I thank you for your kindness, but Imust be going. Good-day, sir. "

With that Elder Pratt left the man and his dog, and had got quite adistance before the officer had recovered from his surprise. Then he camerunning after him, clapping his hands and shouting to his dog. 

"Stu--boy, stu--boy, take him Watch, lay hold of him! Down with him!" Atthe same time pointing in the direction of the fleeing elder. Just as thefierce animal was about to overtake him, Elder Pratt began clapping hishands and shouting like the officer, pointing into the woods just ahead. The dog bounded past him and was soon lost to sight in the forest, whilethe missionary got safely away. 

Mr. Carter read the Book of Mormon the elders had left. He believed, wentfifty miles to Kirtland, was baptized, returned home, began to preach, andsoon there was a branch of sixty members in that place. 

In western Ohio the missionaries found another tribe of Indians with whomthey stayed a few days. They then went to Cincinnati and from that city tothe mouth of the Ohio river by boat. It was now very cold, and the riverwas so blocked with ice that the boat could go no farther. The missionariestherefore walked the rest of the distance to St. Louis and from thereacross the state of Missouri to its western boundary. 

The snow was deep, there were no beaten roads, the houses were few and farbetween, and the wind blew fierce and cold. For days they had nothing toeat but corn bread and frozen pork; but at last they reached the town ofIndependence, in Jackson county, Missouri, which was then near to theIndian country. 

The elders now took up their labors among the Indians. They were kindlyreceived, and the chief called a council which Oliver Cowdery addressed. The Book of Mormon was presented to them and explained, and they becamevery much interested. The sectarian preachers heard about this andcomplained to the Indian agent, who ordered the elders off the Indianlands. So after but a few days of preaching the elders had to leave. Theywent back to Jackson county and preached to the white settlers, some ofwhom believed the word of God and were added to the Church. Four of theelders remained at Independence, while Bro. Pratt was sent back to Kirtlandto report their labors. 

Topics. --1. Parley P. Pratt. 2. The first mission to the Indians. 3. AtKirtland. 4. Journey to Independence and preaching to Indians. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who was Parley P. Pratt? 2. Name some of thebooks he wrote. 3. Give a brief sketch of his life. 4. Name those who wenton the first mission for the Church. 5. What was the special object of thismission? 6. About how far is it from Fayette to Independence, Mo. ? 7. Whereis Kirtland? 8. What leading men were converted there? 9. How did Bro. Pratt escape from the officer? 10. How did people travel in those days? 11. Why were the missionaries forbidden to preach among the Indians?

CHAPTER XI. 

REMOVAL TO OHIO. 

The scriptures often speak of a time in the latter days when the people ofGod shall be gathered together to build up the Lord's kingdom and preparefor his second coming. The gospel should be preached to all the world, andthose who would believe should go out from Babylon, or the wicked world, and came together with the people of the Lord. Every elder who has been ona mission will tell you that as soon as persons accept the gospel, a desirecomes to them to gather with the main body of the Saints. Thus the Lordputs the spirit of gathering into the hearts of the believers, and hispurposes are fulfilled. 

The Lord told the prophet Joseph that the time for this gathering had come, and that the central gathering place for the Saints on this land wassomewhere in the West, though at first the exact location was not told him. 

In December, 1830, the word of the Lord came to Joseph that the Saintsshould gather to Ohio. This was westward and in the proper direction. Thewestern missionaries had raised up large branches in Ohio, so it was notlike going into a new place. The Church was growing steadily, and manyrevelations were given to the Saints. We might say the Lord was assigninglessons for us, which we have not yet learned very well. 

Preparations were made for this removal by holding the third conference ofthe Church at Fayette and setting its affairs in order. 

One day, about the 1st of February, 1831, a sleigh containing two men andtwo women, drove through the streets of Kirtland, Ohio, and stopped at thedoor of Gilbert and Whitney's store. One of the men alighted, and springingup the steps, walked into the store where one of the owners was standing. 

"Newel K. Whitney, thou art the man!" exclaimed the visitor, extending hishand as to an old friend. 

"You have the advantage of me, " replied the storekeeper, "I could not callyou by name as you have me. "

"I am Joseph, the prophet, " said the stranger, smiling. "You've prayed mehere; now what do you want of me?"

Mr. Whitney, you will remember, had joined the Church sometime before, andof course he was delighted to see the prophet. Joseph and his wife, Emma, stayed at Brother Whitney's house for some time. Shortly after this, NewelK. Whitney was called to be bishop at Kirtland, and later he became thesecond presiding bishop of the Church. 

Early next spring, 1831, the Saints from New York began to come to Ohio, buying land in and around the town of Kirtland. 

Before leaving Fayette, Joseph had been visited by a young man who hadwalked two hundred miles to see him and have the prophet tell him what hisduty was. This young man was Orson Pratt, brother of Parley P. Pratt. Joseph received a revelation in which Orson was called to preach the gospelto the world; and this duty Orson Pratt did all his life. 

[Illustration: SIDNEY RIGDON. ]

Elder Pratt became one of the Twelve Apostles. He went on a great manymissions in this country and to Europe, during which time he crossed theocean sixteen times. He became one of the most learned men in the Church, and wrote many books on gospel subjects. Read the title, or first page ofthe Book of Mormon and the book of Doctrine and Covenants and see what theysay of Orson Pratt. Elder Pratt was one of the pioneers, he and ErastusSnow being the first two men of that company to enter Salt Lake Valley. 

Another man who came to see Joseph while yet at Fayette was Sidney Rigdon, a former Campbellite preacher whom Parley P. Pratt had baptized atKirtland. Elder Rigdon also became a prominent man in the Church, beingfirst counselor to President Joseph Smith during the life time of theprophet. He took an active part in all the affairs of the Church up towithin a few months of the prophet's death. He was greatly disappointedbecause he was not chosen to succeed Joseph as the leader of the Church, and soon after apostatized. He died outside the Church. 

Thomas B. Marsh was the name of a man who came to Kirtland with the Church. He became a leader among the Saints and was president of the first quorumof Twelve Apostles. Elder Marsh did much missionary work and suffered withthe Saints in their persecution; but in 1838 he became dissatisfied and didsome wicked things against his brethren. He was therefore cut off from theChurch. Nineteen years after he came back and was baptized again. He cameto Utah and lived at Ogden, where he died, a poor, broken-down man. 

Topics. --1. The gathering. 2. The move to Ohio. 3. Orson Pratt. 4. SidneyRigdon. 5. Thomas B. Marsh. 

Questions and Review. --1. What is meant by the gathering? 2. Quote somescriptural passage on the gathering. 3. Where was the first gatheringplace? 4. Locate Kirtland. 5. Tell about Joseph's first visit to Kirtland. 6. Who was Newel K. Whitney? 7. When did most of the Saints move toKirtland? 8. Tell what you can about Orson Pratt? 9. Name some of hisbooks. 10. What high position did Sidney Rigdon hold? 11. Why did he leavethe Church? 12. Tell about Thomas B. Marsh. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE LAND OF ZION. 

The Book of Mormon (13th chapter of Ether) tells us that this land ofAmerica is a "choice land above all other lands;" and the Lord has saidthat the people who lived here must serve him or in time be destroyed. Thisyou will remember was proved so often in the history of the Nephites. 

Strictly speaking, the whole of America is the land of Zion, but the Lordrevealed to Joseph that there should be a "center place, " where a greatcity should be build which should be called the city of Zion, or the NewJerusalem. This city will be the capital or in the center of a largedistrict of country full of people who serve the Lord. A grand temple willbe built in the central city, and the glory of the Lord will rest upon itby day and by night. Then shall there be peace in the earth for a thousandyears, and the Saints will be busy working to save all the people who liveor have ever lived on the earth. Jesus with his angels will no doubt visitthe earth from time to time to look after his work at this glorious period. 

Now all this was to have a beginning, one of these small beginnings we havespoken about. 

June 7th, 1831, the Prophet Joseph received a revelation instructing himand twenty-eight other elders to go on missions. They were to travel twoand two by different routes through the Western states, preaching thegospel and building up the Church on the way. They were to meet in thestate of Missouri about a thousand miles from Kirtland and there hold aconference. At this time, if they were faithful, the Lord would reveal tothem the location of the central place and the spot where the temple shouldsometime stand. 

The brethren went on their missions as they had been instructed, and Josephand his party arrived at Independence, Missouri, about the middle of July, 1831. Oliver Cowdery and the other brethren who had been sent on themission to the Indians, you will recollect, stopped at Independence. Theywere very glad to meet Joseph and his companions again. 

Shortly after the prophet's arrival, the Lord made known the exact spot forthe city of Zion. It is where the town of Independence is located, inJackson County, Missouri, and the site for the temple was pointed out aslying westward on a lot not far from the court house. 

Some of the Saints now moved to Jackson county, the first to arrive beingwhat was called the Colesville Branch of the Church. These Saints had comefrom Colesville, State of New York, having stopped but a short time nearKirtland. 

The first step towards the founding of Zion was taken on the 2nd day ofAugust, 1831. On that day twelve men, of which Joseph was one, carried andplaced the first log for the first house. This was in Kaw township, twelvemiles west of Independence, where the Colesville branch was locating. Sidney Rigdon then dedicated the land. The next day eight of the brethrenwent to the temple lot, and Joseph dedicated that sacred spot. 

Shortly after, Joseph with some of the other brethren went to Kirtland. 

The Saints were now instructed to buy land in the region around that theymight possess it for an inheritance. At that time Missouri was not thicklysettled. There was much government land which could be bought for onedollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Sidney Gilbert was appointed anagent to receive money and purchase land, and Bishop Edward Partridge waschosen to divide the land among the Saints. The rich were told to dividewith the poor that all might have land. 

The Saints were especially warned that they must keep all the commandmentswhich the Lord gave to them or they would not be allowed to remain andbuild up Zion at that time, but they first would have to go through muchtribulation, and be "scourged from city to city. " You will see presentlyhow this prediction was fulfilled. 

The first winter the Saints were not very comfortably housed, as they hadarrived too late to raise crops or build good houses. The next spring, however, many Saints arrived, and they soon had growing fields and gardens. The Prophet visited them again early in the spring, held meetings, andgreatly encouraged the Saints. In June, 1832, the first paper published bythe Latter-day Saints was begun at Independence. It was called _The Eveningand Morning Star_, and was the only paper in that part of the country. 

Thus the Saints prospered; but a time of persecution, long and fierce, wasbefore them. 

Topics. --1. The center place of Zion. 2. Gathering to Missouri. 

Questions and Review. --1. Where is the land of Zion? 2. What is said inthe Book of Mormon about this land? 3. Where is Jackson county? 4. Whatplace is now nearly the center of the United States? 5. What river flows byJackson county? 6. Where will the New Jerusalem be built? 7. What kind ofcity will it be? 8. When, where, and how was the foundation of Zion laid?9. Where is the temple lot? 10. Who dedicated it? 11. What was theColesville Branch? 12. How were the Saints to obtain the land of Zion? 13. What were the duties of Sidney Gilbert and Edward Partridge? 14. When didJoseph visit Jackson county the second time?

CHAPTER XIII. 

PERSECUTION IN JACKSON COUNTY. 

A great many of the old settlers of Jackson county, meaning those who werethere before the Saints, were of a shiftless, ignorant class from theSouthern States. They made but little improvement in their homes, beingcontent to live in small, log huts, many of them without windows or boardfloors. They all believed it right to have negro slaves. They were alsoeager to hold public office. 

At that time there were also many persons in western Missouri who had fledfrom the east on account of crimes which they had committed. Being near theboundary line of the United States, these persons would need only to crossthe line into Mexico to be safe if an officer should come after them. 

You will readily see by this what kind of neighbors the new settlers had. Of course the Saints could not join with these wicked people in their horseracing, Sabbath breaking, idleness, drunkenness, and other things which theMissourians took delight in. Most of the Saints were from the Eastern andNorthern States and did not believe in slavery. They worked hard, and asthe land produced good crops, they were soon prospering, while their idleneighbors remained in poverty. 

All this naturally led the Missourians to hate the "Mormons, " and as earlyas the spring of 1832 they began to molest them by throwing stones intotheir houses, etc. That same fall mobs began to come against the Saints, burning some of their hay and shooting into their houses. 

In April, 1833, the mobbers held a meeting at Independence to discuss planswhereby they could rid the county of the "Mormons. " However, the meetingbroke up in a row. July 20th, they held another meeting which was moresuccessful. An address was read to the people wherein the Saints werefalsely accused of all manner of wrong doings. It also set forth that nomore "Mormons" must settle in Jackson county; that the "Mormons" alreadythere should be given a reasonable time to sell their property and thenremove; that the printing of their paper must cease; that the stores of theSaints must close up their business as soon as possible; and that theleading brethren should use their influence to have the Saints comply withthese requests. The meeting agreed to all this and a committee wasappointed to wait on the leaders of the Saints to see what they would doabout it. When the committee called, the brethren asked for time toconsider the matter, but fifteen minutes only were given them. Nothingcould be done in that short time, so the committee went back to the meetingand reported. 

The mob then broke loose, yelling like a band of wild Indians. They went tothe house and printing office of W. W. Phelps, forced Mrs. Phelps and thechildren, one of whom was sick, out of the house and threw the furnitureout in the street. They then destroyed the printing press and tore theoffice down. Then they went through the town hunting for the leadingbrethren. They caught Bishop Edward Partridge and Charles Allen, draggedthem to the public square, stripped most of their clothes off, and thensmeared tar all over their bodies. This ended that day's work, and thefrightened women and children who had fled to the woods came back to theirhomes. 

The third day after this a mob of five hundred men came into Independence. They were armed with guns, knives, and whips, and they swore they wouldkill or whip all who would not agree to leave. The leading brethren, seeingthat it was no longer of any use to plead or resist, made an agreement withthe mob that they with their families would leave the county by the firstof January, and that they would use their influence in trying to induce therest of the Saints to leave, one-half by January 1st, the rest by April1st, 1834. They were also to use all the means they could to prevent moreof the Saints from settling in the county. The mob for their part agreednot to persecute the Saints while this was being done. 

The mob, however, did not keep this promise, but daily broke into housesand abused the inmates. 

The Saints now appealed to the highest officer of the state, GovernorDunklin, for protection. He told them that the laws were able to protecteverybody in their rights, and advised the Saints to have those arrestedwho threatened them, and have them tried in court for their misdeeds. 

This, seemingly, was very good advice, and would have worked all rightunder other circumstances; but when it is remembered that the veryofficers--the constable who would have to do the arresting, the judge whowould try the cases, and in fact all concerned--were men who werethemselves leaders of the mob, you will see how useless such a course wouldbe. However, the Saints engaged four lawyers to protect them in the courts. 

This made the mobbers more angry than ever, and they made preparation forfurther action against the Saints. 

"We will rid Jackson county of the "Mormons", " they said, "peaceably if wecan, forcibly if we must. If they will not go without, we will whip andkill the men; we will destroy the children, and abuse their women. "

The Saints now resolved to defend themselves, and the men gathered in smallbodies, armed with guns. 

On the night of October 31, 1833, a mob marched to the Whitmer settlementof the Saints where they whipped several of the brethren to death, drovethe women and children into the woods, and tore the roofs from about adozen houses. 

The next night an attack was made upon the Saints living at Independence. Aparty of brethren went to the aid of the Saints, and found a mob tearingdown the store of Gilbert, Whitney & Co. The mobbers fled, but the brethrencaptured one of them in the act of throwing brick-bats through the window. They brought him to a justice of the peace to have papers made out for themobber's arrest. The justice would not do it, so the man was released. Three days after, this same mobber had the brethren arrested. It was notrouble for him to get papers from the same justice. As one of the brethrenremarked at the time, "Although we could not obtain a warrant against himfor breaking open the store, he had gotten one for us for catching him atit!"

Topics. --1. The character of the early Missourians. 2. Mobbers' meetingsin Independence. 3. Work of the mob. 

Questions and Review. --1. From what sections did most of the earlysettlers of Missouri come? 2. From what section did the Saints come? 3. What difference of opinion existed between the people of the north and thepeople of the south? 4. Why did the Missourians hate the "Mormons?" 5. Whydid many outlaws come to Missouri? 6. What did the mobbers want the Saintsto promise? 7. What advice did Governor Dunklin give? 8. Why did the lawnot protect the Saints? 9. How was Bishop Partridge abused? 10. Tell aboutthe arrest of the four brethren. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

EXPULSION FROM JACKSON COUNTY. 

In this small history, an account of all that happened in Missouri duringthose cruel times can not be given; but enough can be told to show you whatthe Saints had to endure in the early days of the Church. If you will butthink of the sufferings the boys and girls must have gone through when themobs tore the roofs from their houses, drove them out on the prairies to gohungry and cold, and killed or whipped their fathers, you may thenappreciate God's blessings to you who live in peace and comfort. 

The persecutions, which began in earnest October 31st, 1833, continued dayafter day. On November 2nd a mob attacked a settlement on Big Blue River. They unroofed one house and were beating a brother by the name of Bennett, who was sick in bed, when a party of brethren came to the rescue. There wassome firing of guns between them, and a mobber was wounded in the leg. 

On November 4th as a band of mobbers started out to make a raid on theSaints, word was sent to the brethren, and thirty of them soon gathered towithstand the mob. A battle ensued in which two of the mobbers were killed. One of the brethren was so badly wounded that he died the next day. BrotherPhilo Dibble was shot and severely wounded, but he was administered to andsoon got well. 

The whole country was now aroused. Word was sent broadcast that the"Mormons" had got the Indians to help them, and that they had taken thetown of Independence. 

Next morning people flocked into the town and there was great excitement. 

And now we must name one of the most cruel and wicked men of that time, Lilburn W. Boggs. He was lieutenant-governor, which is next to thegovernor, the highest officer in the state. Boggs permitted the mob toorganize themselves into a militia and thereby become regular soldiers ofthe state. The mob leaders seeing that the Saints had decided to protectthemselves and fight if necessary, raised this militia so that if theSaints opposed them that they could be classed as law breakers. 

The branches of the Church west of Independence having heard that the mobwas going to kill some of the brethren in that town, raised about onehundred men to go to their rescue. While on the way they heard that therewas no immediate danger, and that the militia had been called out. At thisthey were going back to their homes; but just then the militia came up, ledby Colonel Pitcher. He demanded that the "Mormons" give up their arms, butthey would not unless the mob, or militia as it was called, would do thesame. This Colonel Pitcher agreed to have done, and then the brethren gaveup their arms, consisting of fifty-nine guns and one pistol. 

No sooner was this done than the most awful scene took place. The mob didnot give up a gun, but bands of them roamed over the country searching forthe Saints. Houses were torn down and burned, men were tied up and whipped, women and children were driven out into the fields and forests. Many of thecounty's leading men took part in these crimes, and even ministers, preachers of the gospel as they called themselves, were seen leading mobsfrom place to place. 

The cold winter was now coming on, it being the month of November. At oneplace a company of one hundred and ninety--all being women and childrenexcepting three old men--was driven thirty miles across a burnt prairie, the ground being coated with sleet. Their trail could be easily followed bythe blood which flowed from their feet. 

You will see by the map that Clay county lies north of Jackson, just acrossthe Missouri river. As the Saints were driven from their homes, most ofthem made their way to Clay county whose people received them kindly. Soonthe shores of the river were lined with men, women and children, goods, boxes, wagons, etc; The ferrymen were kept busy taking them over the river. At night the place had a strange appearance. Hundreds of people could beseen in every direction; some in tents and some in the open air around thefires. The rain descended in torrents. Husbands were asking for their wivesand wives for their husbands, parents for children and children forparents. Some had managed to escape with a little provisions; many had lostall their goods. 

There were at this time about twelve hundred Saints in Jackson county, soit took many days for them all to get away. Some of the poorest of theSaints who could not get away at first were driven out during the coldstorms of that winter. 

Early next spring when nearly all the Saints had left, the mob set fire tothe deserted homes. One of the brethren reported that two hundred and threedwellings and one grist mill were destroyed. 

Topics. --1. Contrast between present conditions and past. 2. Mobbingcontinued. 3. Saints driven from Jackson county. 

[Illustration: Map of Missouri and Illinois]

Questions and Review. --1. What experiences did the Latter-day Saint boysand girls of Jackson county pass through? (Read the story, "Grandmother'sRocking Chair, " in the Contributor, Vol. 11, page 242. ) 2. What happened inNovember, 1833? 3. What is the state militia? 4. Why was the Jackson countymilitia raised? 5. What happened after the brethren had given up theirarms? 6. Tell about the scene on the banks of the Missouri river. 7. Whereis Clay county? 8. What happened in the spring of 1834?

CHAPTER XV. 

ZION'S CAMP. 

In the spring of 1834 Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight were sent asmessengers from the Saints in Clay county to Kirtland to tell the Prophetwhat had happened and to ask for further advice. Joseph, you may be sure, was very grieved to hear about the sufferings of the Saints, and heenquired of the Lord what should be done. In answer, a revelation was giveninstructing Joseph to gather the young and middle aged men of the Churchand organize them into a company which was to march to Missouri to bringaid to the Saints and to assist them to again get possession of theirhomes. Five hundred men were to be obtained, but one hundred would do if nomore could be raised. 

Accordingly, Joseph and seven other brethren went two and two through thevarious branches in the east asking for means and volunteers for thismission. 

New Portage, a village about sixty miles south-west from Kirtland wasselected as a gathering place, and from this point on the 8th of May, 1834, one hundred and fifty men started for Missouri. They were organized inregular army order, having officers to see that everything on the marchwas done properly. Joseph was the leader. 

The distance from Kirtland to Missouri is one thousand miles. That longjourney was not an easy one. The wagons were heavily loaded, and as theroads were poor there was very little riding. Often the men would have tohelp drag the loads over the bad places. Every Sunday the camp rested andheld meetings. Sometimes the people, suspecting they were "Mormons" wouldannoy them, so that guards had to be placed around the camp. People werealso curious to know what this strange company of men was and where it wasgoing. Spies followed the company for many miles. There were some boys incamp, and the inquisitive people thought it an easy matter to find outeverything from the boys. 

"My boy, where are you from?" they would ask. 

"From the east, " was the answer. 

"Where are you going?"

"To the west. "

"What for?"

"To see where we can get land cheapest and best. "

"Who leads the camp?"

"Sometimes one, sometimes another. "

"What name?"

"Captain Wallace, Major Bruce, " etc. 

The Prophet Joseph believed in being kind to all animals, and he instructedhis brethren in Zion's camp to kill none except for food. Man must firstbecome peaceful, before animals will lose their fierceness. Not long afterthis instruction had been given, a brother became very tired by travelingand lay down on the ground to sleep. When he awoke, what should he see buta rattlesnake coiled up not more than a foot away from his head. Just thensome of the brethren came up and wanted to kill the snake; but the brothersaid, "No, I'll protect him, for he and I have had a good nap together. " Heremembered what Joseph had said. 

On June 7th the company having crossed the Mississippi river, camped onSalt river in Missouri. More of the brethren had joined the company on theway, and now it numbered two hundred and five men. From this point ParleyP. Pratt and Orson Hyde were sent to Governor Dunklin at Jefferson city, asking him to use his power as the highest officer in the state to have theSaints brought back to their homes in Jackson county. The governor said hethought it right that the Saints should get back their lands, yet he wasafraid if they tried to go back or if he called out soldiers to help themget their homes, there would be a terrible war and many people killed. Sothe governor would do nothing to help them. 

While Zion's camp was making its way to the Saints in Clay county, ameeting was held in Liberty where some mobbers from Jackson county tried toarouse the people against the Saints. Nothing being done at this meeting, aparty of fifteen men started for Independence to raise an army large enoughto destroy Joseph and the camp. 

One of the leaders of this band was James Campbell. As he pushed hispistols into the holsters before starting, he said with an oath: "Theeagles and turkey buzzards shall eat my flesh if I do not fix Joe Smith andhis army so that their skins will not hold shucks before two days arepassed!" As he and his companions were crossing the Missouri river theirboat sank. Seven of them were drowned and among them was Campbell. What wasleft of his body was found three weeks after lodged on a pile of driftwood. The "eagles and turkey buzzards" had eaten the flesh from his bones. 

On the 19th the camp passed through Richmond. They expected to reach Claycounty that night, but were so greatly hindered by accidents that theycamped for the night between two forks of Fishing river. A large mob hadgathered, bent on destroying the camp. A boat containing forty mobbers hadbeen sent over the river, when a storm arose. The rain fell in torrents, the lightning flashed, the thunder shook the earth. Great hail stonesdestroyed the corn in the fields and stripped the trees of leaves. The mobscattered in confusion. The river rose nearly forty feet, which made itimpossible for anyone to cross. The brethren took shelter in a schoolhouseand escaped the storm. Thus again the Lord preserved his people from theirenemies. 

The next day the camp moved five miles out on the prairie. While here, someof the leading men of Ray county called on the brethren to learn what theirintentions were. Joseph told them how the Saints had been persecuted inJackson county; and that they had come one thousand miles with clothing andprovisions for their brethren; that they had no intentions of harming anyone, but their mission was to do good, and if possible help their brethrento get their lands back again. At the close of their talk, the visitorspromised to do what they could to prevent the mobs from disturbing them, which promise they kept. 

The next day, June 22nd, Sheriff Gillium of Clay county came into camp. Healso wanted to know what the camp was going to do. Joseph explained to him. In order to get back their lands and live in peace, the Saints proposed tobuy the lands from those who could not live with them in Jackson county, but nothing came of this and other offers that were made to settle thetrouble. 

This same day an important revelation was given through the prophet. Thebrethren were told that the Lord did not want them to fight, and that theymust wait for a time before Zion should be redeemed. 

During the march of the camp, some of the brethren had found fault and hadnot listened to the counsels of the prophet. Joseph had told them that ifthey did not repent, sickness would come into the camp and many would die. This was now fulfilled. On June 22nd, that dread disease called the choleraappeared in the camp. When you are told that during the next four or fivedays sixty-eight of the brethren took the disease and thirteen died, youmay perhaps imagine what a terrible time they had. 

On June 23rd they marched into Clay county and camped on Rush creek, wheretwo days later the camp was disbanded. For two weeks Joseph labored amongthe Saints and then he returned to Kirtland. Most of the others also wentback to their homes in the east about the same time. 

Topics. --1. Organizing Zion's camp. 2. March of Zion's camp. 3. The campon Fishing river. 4. The scourge. 

Questions and Review. --1. What was Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight'smission to Kirtland? 2. What instruction did the Lord give them? (See Doc. And Cov. , sec. 103. ) 3. How was Zion's camp organized? 4. What was itsobject? 5. Through what states did it march? 6. What were Joseph'steachings about kindness to animals? 7. What was the fate of JamesCampbell? 8. How were the brethren saved from their enemies on Fishingriver? 9. What did the brethren propose to the citizens of Jackson? 10. Whydid the scourge come upon the camp? 11. What revelation was given onFishing river? 12. Where and when was Zion's camp disbanded?

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE CHURCH AT KIRTLAND. 

During the time that the Saints were having such a hard time in Missouri, the Church in and around Kirtland was growing in numbers and strength. Joseph with many of the elders went on missionary trips to various parts ofthe United States and Canada, and many new branches of the Church wereorganized. 

In September, 1831, Joseph moved to the town of Hiram, about thirty milesfrom Kirtland. While living here, he was busy translating the scriptures, preaching the gospel, and holding meetings. Thirteen of the revelationsfound in the Doctrine and Covenants were given at Hiram. One of theserevelations, called the Vision, tells of the three glories which are instore for the children of God, besides many other grand teachings whichsome day you will want to read. (Section 76. )

But wicked men continued to tell false things about Joseph and the Church. Many people believed these stories, and the result was that the brethrenwere often annoyed and badly treated. On the night of March 25th, 1832, Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were dragged from their homes by an angry mob intothe woods. Sidney was so misused that he was left for dead. Joseph wasbeaten and stripped of his clothes, and his body was covered with tar. Themob also tried to force poison from a bottle into his mouth, but in thisthey failed. Notwithstanding this ill treatment, Joseph was able the nextday, it being Sunday, to preach to a large meeting and to baptize three newconverts. 

Shortly after this, Joseph made his second visit to Missouri. After hisreturn, he settled again at Kirtland, where he continued to receive manyrevelations and to do much for the building up of the Church. 

On December 25, 1832, Joseph received a revelation wherein it was statedthat the time would come when there would be a great war between theNorthern States and the Southern States. Even the place of its beginningwas told, namely, South Carolina. 

In February, 1833, a school was opened in Kirtland for the elders of theChurch. It was called the "School of the Prophets, " and there the brethrenmet and were instructed in the principles of the gospel. 

A revelation called the Word of Wisdom was given on the 27th of the samemonth. You will find it in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 89, andevery one of you should read it. 

On March 18th a very important meeting was held in Kirtland. On that dateJoseph ordained Sidney Rigdon to be his first counselor, and Frederick G. Williams to be his second counselor, and these three now became the FirstPresidency, which is the highest authority in the Church. You have beentold something of Sidney Rigdon. Elder Williams held his position nearlyfive years, when he apostatized, and Hyrum Smith was chosen in his stead. At the death of Joseph Smith, Sen. , who was patriarch of the Church, Hyrumwas chosen to fill his position and William Law was called to the office ofsecond counselor to Joseph. Law held this position until about two monthsbefore the Prophet's death when he was cut off from the Church. 

February 17, 1834, the first high council of the Church was organized. Thisbody consists of twelve men who must be high priests, over which the stakepresidency presides. It is a kind of court. When members of the Church havetrouble one with another which neither they, nor the teachers, nor thebishop can settle, it is brought before the high council to be adjusted. 

Each stake of Zion now has a high council. Here are the names of the firstone organized: besides the First Presidency, Joseph Smith, Sen. , JohnSmith, Joseph Coe, John Johnson, Martin Harris, John S. Carter, JaredCarter, Oliver Cowdery, Samuel H. Smith, Orson Hyde, Sylvester Smith andLuke Johnson. 

It was shortly after this that Zion's Camp was organized and made the tripto Missouri, of which you were told in the last chapter. 

After his return Joseph was again busy performing his many duties aspresident of the Church. 

Topics. --1. Joseph at Hiram. 2. Prophecy on War. 3. Word of Wisdom. 4. The first presidency. 5. The high council. 

Questions and Review. --1. To what two places were the Saints nowgathering? 2. Where is Hiram? 3. What did Joseph do there? 4. Tell aboutthe mobbing at Hiram. 5. When was the prophecy on war given? 6. How longafter was it fulfilled? 7. What led to the war between the North and theSouth? 8. What was the "School of the Prophets?" 9. In the Word of Wisdom, what does the Lord say is not good for the body? 10. What does He say isgood? 11. What promise is made to those who keep the Word of Wisdom? 12. What is the First Presidency? 13. Who were the first to fill this position?14. Who are the present First Presidency? 15. What is the duty of the highcouncil? 16. Name some members of the high council of your stake. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE TWELVE APOSTLES--THE SEVENTIES--THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE. 

[Illustration: PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG. ]

On the 14th of February, 1835, Joseph called together the brethren who hadgone with him to Missouri in Zion's Camp. He spoke to the meeting and toldthe brethren the Lord had not forgotten them, but had remembered theirfaithfulness in answering the call of duty, and now he had a blessing forthem. 

Joseph then said the time had come when twelve apostles should be called. It was the duty of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon to selecttwelve men for this high calling, and these three brethren were thenblessed for this purpose by the First Presidency. The following were thenselected to be the first quorum of Twelve Apostles in the Church: Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Wm. E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke Johnson, William Smith, Orson Pratt, JohnF. Boynton and Lyman E. Johnson. 

It is the duty of the Twelve Apostles to build up the Church and regulateits affairs in all the world under the direction of the First Presidency;also to open the door of the gospel to all nations. 

On the 28th of February there was another meeting held, at which the firstquorum of seventy was organized. You will remember that the Savior, afterHe had chosen Twelve Apostles to preach the gospel, chose also seventy toaid the Twelve in their work. So in our day, twelve men could not do allthe work of spreading the gospel, so it was necessary to call other men. Inthis body of men seventy form a quorum. The first quorum was organized fromthe brethren who were members of Zion's Camp. 

It is the special duty of the Seventies to travel and preach the gospelunder the direction of the Twelve. 

As early as May, 1833, the Lord told Joseph that the Saints should build ahouse to his name. July 23, the foundation was laid. The Saints in Kirtlandwere not many, neither were they rich, and it was therefore a great taskfor them to build such a house as the temple. However, they gave donationsof what they had and worked willingly with all their might, until at lastit was finished and dedicated to the Lord on Sunday, March 27, 1836. 

[Illustration: THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE. ]

During the meetings many glorious blessings were received. Angels were seenby many of the Saints, Brigham Young spoke in tongues, others prophesied, and many saw glorious visions. At the evening meeting George A. Smith aroseand prophesied, when a noise was heard like the sound of a mighty windwhich filled the temple. All the people arose at once and the ProphetJoseph told the Saints that the temple was filled with angels, as he couldsee them. The people living near the temple, seeing a bright light restingon the building and hearing a strange sound within, came rushing up to seewhat was the matter. 

Nearly every day there were meetings held in the temple. The next Sundayafter the dedication, Joseph and Oliver were praying in the sacred housewhen the Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto them. He stood on the breastworkof the pulpit, and Joseph describes Him as a most glorious personage. Jesustold them that He had accepted the temple and promised them great blessingsif they would continue to keep his commandments. 

After this vision had closed, Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared unto themand each of them gave to Joseph and Oliver many blessings concerning thegospel. 

You would think that after all these blessings from the Lord the Saintswould never turn away from the truth; but sad to say this was not the case. During the years 1837 and 1838 many of the brethren in Kirtland began tobuy and sell land and set up stores and banks for the purpose of makingmoney. Now, there would have been nothing wrong in all this if they haddone all their business honestly; but the trouble was that many wanted toget rich so fast that oftimes they would cheat each other. This of coursewas inspired by the evil one, who did his best to stop the progress of theChurch. It was a very hard trial for Joseph and those of his brethren whostood by him to see so many leading men fall away into wickedness. 

Again, you may also wonder how men who have been in the company of theProphet and who have seen angels and heavenly visions can deny the faith, but the fact is they sometimes do. The whole secret is this:

No matter how much a person has seen or how much he knows, if he sins anddoes not repent, the Spirit of God will leave him, and he will be in thedark. It then becomes an easy matter for him to fall away from the Church. 

During the two years named above, four of the Twelve Apostles and many ofthe leading men apostatized; and then, not satisfied with so doing, theybegan to join the mobs who persecuted Joseph and the Saints. This led theChurch leaders to remove to Missouri, and soon after nearly all the Saintsfollowed them to the land of Zion. 

Topics. --1. The calling of the Twelve Apostles. 2. Calling of theSeventy. 3. The Kirtland Temple. 4. The apostasy at Kirtland. 

Questions and Review. --1. From what body were the first Twelve Apostlescalled? 2. Who chose the names? 3. Name the first Twelve Apostles? 4. Namethe present Twelve. 5. What is the duty of the Twelve? 6. What is the dutyof the Seventies? 7. How many Seventies' quorums are there in the Church?8. Tell about the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. 9. Who appeared toJoseph and Oliver in the temple? 10. What causes many to fall from theChurch? 11. What is the only safe way to remain faithful. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE MISSION TO ENGLAND. 

In the year 1837, when the evil one was trying with all his might tooverthrow the Church both at Kirtland and in Missouri, the Lord told Josephthat the time had come for "something new" to be done. This was to sendmissionaries to England and open the gospel door to that people. 

Elder Heber C. Kimball was chosen to take the lead of this mission, andwith him went Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, Joseph Fielding, John Goodson, Isaac Russell, and John Snider. 

This was the first mission to any foreign country, and in those days ofslow travel, a trip to Europe was no small matter. The brethren set out ontheir journey without purse or scrip, but the Lord opened up their way, andat last they landed in Liverpool, England, July 20, 1837. 

They were in a strange country, had no money, no friends. 

[Illustration: PRESIDENT HEBER C. KIMBALL]

"Go to Preston, " said the Spirit of the Lord to them. Preston is a citythirty miles from Liverpool, and there they went. Joseph Fielding had abrother living in the city, who was a preacher, and on his invitation themissionaries held their first meeting in his chapel. This was the firstSunday after their arrival. The people listened eagerly to what the elderssaid, for it seems that a great many honest souls had been waiting for justsuch a message. 

After the third meeting, the Rev. Mr. Fielding would not let the elders usehis church, as he was afraid they would take away his congregation. Fromthat time he opposed the missionaries, and was soon joined in this by otherpreachers. 

However, the people had received a taste of the gospel and they wantedmore, so meetings were held in private houses. On the eighth day after thearrival of the elders in England, nine persons were baptized into theChurch by Elder Kimball. 

Thus was the door opened, and the gospel soon spread in a wonderful manner. The elders now separated and went to different towns, preaching, baptizing, and organizing branches of the Church. Great crowds came out to hear them, especially in and around the city of Preston. It was a most glorious timeand full of interesting events which this little book cannot tell youabout; but here is a sample:

One day Elder Kimball told some of the brethren that he thought of going toa place called Chatburn, to hold meetings. He was told that it would do nogood, as it was a very wicked place, and the people there would havenothing to do with preachers. Elder Kimball went, however, and large crowdscame out to hear him. While teaching the people the need of repenting oftheir evil doings and being baptized for the remission of their sins, Brother Kimball felt someone pulling at his coat:

"Please sir, will you baptize me?" asked one. 

"And me, and me!" exclaimed a dozen voices. 

So Elder Kimball went down into the water and baptized twenty-five persons. As the elders were walking out of the village, the young folks of the placeran to meet them, the older people stood in their doors to greet and blessthem, while the children ran ahead, hand in hand, singing their songs ofgladness. 

At a conference held in Preston, April 8, 1838, there were reports fromtwenty-six branches of the Church. The total number of souls in the Churchwas reported to be about two thousand; and all this was done in the shortspace of eight months. 

The next day Elders Kimball, Hyde, and Russell left for home, leavingWillard Richards to preside over the mission. Many were the sad partingsthese brethren had with the Saints, for a great love grows up between theSaints in the world and the elders who have brought them the gospel. 

January 11, 1840, Elders John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff landed inEngland. Brother Woodruff was led by the Spirit to go into a part ofEngland called Herefordshire. Here he found a religious body of peoplecalled United Brethren. They had withdrawn from the Church of England, andwere now praying that the Lord would send them more light. These peopleheard Elder Woodruff gladly, and with joy they received the gospel. Withinone month he baptized all their preachers, forty-five in number, and onehundred and sixty of their members. In eight months time Elder Woodruffbrought eighteen hundred souls into the Church, including all the sixhundred United Brethren, save one. 

At one time just as Elder Woodruff was about to begin a meeting, aconstable came to arrest him for preaching. The officer was asked to take aseat, and was told that after the meeting Elder Woodruff would be at hisservice. The constable was very much interested in the sermon. At the closeof the meeting seven persons asked for baptism, and the constable was oneof the number. After this, two clerks of the Church of England were sent asspies to find out what the Mormon elders preached. Both of these menbelieved and joined the Church. 

Now came others of the Apostles to England to roll on the work. BrighamYoung, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, and George A. Smitharrived on April 6, 1840. At a conference held in Preston on the 14th, Willard Richards was ordained an Apostle, so that now there were eight ofthe Twelve together. At this meeting it was decided to print a paper to becalled _The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star_. This paper has beenpublished from that day to this, it being the oldest publication in theChurch. 

The Church now grew rapidly. Branches were organized in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and in many of the large cities in England. At a conference held inthe city of Manchester, April 6, 1841, it was found that there were aboutsix thousand members of the Church in Great Britain. Eight hundred Saintshad emigrated to America during the year. At this conference, nine of theTwelve were present, Orson Hyde having arrived on his way to Palestine, where he was going to dedicate that land for the gathering of the Jews. 

Shortly after this conference, the apostles left England to return home, leaving Parley P. Pratt in charge of the mission. From that time the workhas continued in Great Britain, and many honest souls have come to theknowledge of the gospel. 

Topics. --1. The first mission to England. 2. Wilford Woodruff'sexperience. 3. Mission of the eight Apostles. 

Questions and Review. --1. When were the first missionaries sent toEngland? 2. Who were they? 3. Where was the first sermon preached? 4. Howdid the people receive the elders? 5. What happened at Chatburn? 6. Whatwas accomplished in eight months? 7. Who were the second missionaries toEngland? 8. Who were the United Brethren? 9. Tell of President Woodruff'swork among them. 10. Who composed the third party of missionaries? 11. Whatwas done at the conference held April 14, 1840. 12. What is the MillennialStar? 13. What was Orson Hyde's mission to Palestine?

CHAPTER XIX. 

FAR WEST. 

We must now leave the pleasant scenes of preaching the gospel in England, and go back to the more troubled times among the main body of the Saints inthe State of Missouri. 

You will remember that when the Saints were driven from Jackson county, they found a place to rest in Clay county just north across the river. Thepeople of Clay received them kindly, and the Saints stayed for about threeyears in that county. During this period, they tried many times to regaintheir homes by asking the governor and even the president of the UnitedStates to enforce the laws and see that their lands and homes were givenback to them. Governor Dunklin talked very pleasantly about the rights ofthe Saints, but in the end he did nothing to protect the people or helpthem to gain possession of their property. 

At a large meeting held in Liberty, the county seat of Clay county, on the16th of June, 1834, in order to try to settle the trouble between theSaints and the Jackson county people, the following offer was made by theJackson men to the Saints:

The Jackson people offered to buy all the land of the "Mormons" in Jacksoncounty, paying them a high price for it within thirty days, or the peopleof Jackson offered to sell all their lands to the "Mormons" at the samehigh price to be paid for in thirty days. This offer may seem to be fair, but when it is remembered that the Lord had revealed to them that the cityof Zion should be built in Jackson county, and had told the Saints to buyand not sell, it will be seen that this offer was not meant in good faith. Again, the Saints could not buy out all the mobbers' land in Jackson, muchas they would have liked so to do, as there was so much of it, and they hadno money to pay for it in thirty days. The Saints therefore could not agreeto this, but they made an offer to buy out the lands of those who could notlive in peace with them, and pay them in one year. 

Nothing came of these offers. 

And now the people of Clay county asked the Saints to remove from theirmidst. The country was again getting excited about the "Mormons, " and theClay county people were afraid that the mobs would come to disturb them; soin order to be on good terms with the people who had been friends to them, the Saints again left their homes and traveled north-east, away out intothe country where there were hardly any settlers. Here they began to builda city which they called Far West, and after a time they had a county laidoff which was named Caldwell. 

This movement began in September, 1836, and by the next summer nearly allthe Saints had left Clay county. 

You will call to mind that the Prophet Joseph, with the brethren in Zion'sCamp had visited the Saints while in Clay county. In the spring of 1838Joseph arrived at Far West from Kirtland, and from that time on the Prophetremained with the main body of the Saints in Missouri and Illinois. 

The Saints now had peace again for a season. They gathered to Far West andsurrounding places from Kirtland and other eastern localities. Farms weremade, houses built, towns laid out, and it seemed as if the Saints could atlast live and enjoy their rights as Americans. 

Joseph was busy setting the Church in order and in receiving the word ofthe Lord for the guidance of the Saints. 

One of the most important revelations given at this time was regarding thelaw of tithing. This law says that the Saints should first put all theirsurplus property into the hands of the bishop to be used for the benefit ofthe Church, and then after that, they should pay one tenth of all theymade, as a tithing to the Lord; and the Lord further said that if theSaints did not keep this law, the land whereon they dwelt should not be aland of Zion unto them. 

In the year 1838 the Saints in and around Far West numbered about twelvethousand. Thus you see they began to be a power in the land, especiallywhen it came to voting for officers of the state and county. At these timesthe Saints would of course vote for good men, men who were their friends, and this often made the Missourians angry. 

At an election in Gallatin, the county seat of Daviess county, August 6, 1838, a mob of Missourians tried to prevent the brethren from voting. Ageneral fight was the result, in which the "Mormons" defended themselveswith umbrellas, sticks, whips, and their stout fists. 

Reports came to Joseph and the people in Far West that some of the brethrenhad been killed and that the mobbers would not let their bodies be buried. At this, Joseph, with about twenty armed men, rode towards the scene oftrouble. On the way he learned that the report was not true. They thencalled on a justice of the peace, named Adam Black. Mr. Black promisedJoseph that he would not aid the mob, but would enforce the laws justly. Next day Joseph and his party held a meeting with some leading men of thecounty, wherein both parties promised to keep the peace, and if any personbroke the law in this respect he was to be given up to the officers of thelaw and punished. 

Some twenty days after Mr. Black had made such good promises, he and someothers had papers made out for the arrest of Joseph Smith and Lyman Wightfor coming into Daviess co. , and doing all kinds of wicked deeds. When theconstable called on Joseph at Far West, Joseph said he was willing to standtrial, but he wanted it to be in Caldwell, instead of Daviess county, as inthe latter there existed too much excitement and ill-feeling. The officerdid not arrest the Prophet at this time, but the report spread that Josephhad resisted the officer and would not be arrested. To prove how false thiswas, Joseph with his brother Hyrum and some others, went to Daviess countyfor trial. At this trial Mr. Black swore to some wicked falsehoods, andalthough four witnesses told the truth of the matter, Joseph and Lyman werebound over, that is, they were to be ready to stand trial when the regularcourt should meet. 

False reports now flew far and wide again, and the mobs began to gatherfrom other counties to "help drive the Mormons from the State. " Some of themob painted and dressed themselves up as Indians. The Saints, especially inthe smaller settlements, were attacked, until they had to flee to Far Westfor protection. The Saints now thought it time to protect themselves fromthe mobs, so they organized a company of state militia. Lyman Wight was anofficer in this militia and he commanded the men. He succeeded in drivingthe mob from Daviess county, but this of course, only made the excitementthe greater. 

On the evening of October 24, 1838, news reached Far West that a Methodistpreacher by the name of Bogart was leading a mob to destroy the property ofthe Saints on Log Creek. That same evening a company of about seventy-fivemen led by Captain David W. Patten mounted their horses and rode to thescene of trouble. Early the next morning, just as it was getting daylightthe mob was found encamped on Crooked River. The Far West Militiadismounted and marched on to the enemy. A battle took place. The mob tookrefuge behind the river bank, while the brethren charged them sword inhand. The enemy was soon put to flight across the river. As they werefleeing, one of the mobbers wheeled around from behind a tree and shotCaptain Patten, who instantly fell. A number of brethren were badlywounded, and two died the next night. One was Patterson O'Banion, and theother Captain Patten. 

Brother Patten was a member of the first quorum of Twelve Apostles. He hadtaken an active part in the affairs of the Church up to the time of hisdeath, having filled many missions and done many great works in the name ofJesus Christ. Apostle Patten was one of the first martyrs of the Church. Ofhim Joseph the Prophet said at his funeral:

"There lies a man who has done just as he said he would; he has laid downhis life for his friends. "

Topics. --1. The Saints in Clay county. 2. Removed to Caldwell county. 3. The beginning of trouble. 4. The Crooked River battle. 5. Apostle David W. Patten. 

Questions and Review. --1. From Jackson county where did the Saints go? 2. How did they try to get their homes again? 3. What did Governor Dunklin do?4. What offer did the Jackson people make to the Saints? 5. Why did notthe Saints accept this offer? 6. What did the Saints offer to do? 7. Whydid the people of Clay county wish the Saints to leave them? 8. When andwhere did the Saints then go? 9. What is the law of tithing? 10. What wasthe case of the new trouble between the Saints and the Missourians? 11. What came of Joseph's trip to Daviess county? 12. Describe the CrookedRiver battle. 13. Tell about David W. Patten. 

CHAPTER XX. 

THE HAUN'S MILL MASSACRE. 

In this chapter I wish to tell you about one of the saddest events thathappened in all that sad time of persecution in Missouri. 

It occurred on October 30, 1838, during the time of great excitement, whenbands of armed men roamed over the country doing what damage they could tothe homes of the Saints. 

At a point on Shoal Creek, about sixteen miles from Fat West, a brother bythe name of Haun had built a flour mill. Besides the mill there were ablacksmith shop and half a dozen houses. About thirty families lived here, some of which had just arrived from the Eastern States and were yet campingin their tents. 

This little body of Saints had been threatened by mobs a number of times, but on the 28th, a treaty of peace was made in which each party agreed notto molest the other. Before this, however, Joseph had advised the Saints atHaun's Mill to move into Far West, which advice they had not taken. 

October 30th was a beautiful autumn day. The air was warm, and the breezestirred the fields of wheat and rustled the corn. The children were playingon the banks of the creek, and their merry laugh was echoed by the birds inthe forest close at hand. All seemed peaceful and lovely. 

[Illustration: HAUN'S MILL. ]

About four o'clock in the afternoon, a company of two hundred and fortymen dashed up to the clearing. Brother David Evans who had command of thefew brethren, ran out to meet them, swinging his hat and crying, "Peace, peace. " The leader of the mob told all who desired to save their lives andmake peace to run into the blacksmith shop. Some of the brethren did this, but in a few seconds after, a volley was fired into the shop. The bulletswent between the logs, which were far apart, and in at the open door, killing and wounding the brethren within. Some few shots were fired back, but the brethren soon saw it was useless to resist, so they tried to savethemselves as best they could. Men, women and children scattered in everydirection taking refuge in the woods, while the bullets of the mobbers flewthick and fast among them, wounding and killing. 

The mob kept on firing at the shop until they thought all within werekilled; then they went about the place killing all they could find alive, and robbing the houses of everything they could carry off. They evenstripped the dead and dying of their clothes. They went into the blacksmithshop for this purpose, and there they saw dead men lying in piles, andwounded men groaning in pain, while pools of blood stood on the floor. Alittle ten year old boy named Sardius Smith had crawled under the bellows, trying to hide from the wicked mobbers; but one of them saw him and draggedhim out. Then putting the muzzle of his gun to the boy's head he killed himinstantly. Sardius' little brother, Alma, seven years old had a great holeshot in his hip; but he lay still, fearing that if he moved they wouldshoot him again. Another boy by the name of Charles Merrick was discovered. He pleaded with the mobbers not to kill him: "I am an American boy, " hesaid "O! don't kill me!" The mobber heeded not, but blew out his brains. 

Thomas McBride, an old, gray-haired man who had fought in theRevolutionary War under Washington, gave up his gun to a mobber, and thenpleaded for his life. The cruel mobber took the gun and shot the old mandead, and then another mobber cut him to pieces with an old corn cutter. 

Thus it continued. I cannot tell you half of the horrible things whichhappened. At last the mobbers departed, and night came on. Then, lowly andfearfully, the women and children and what few men were left crept out oftheir hiding places to see what had been done and to help as best theycould. Perhaps you can imagine what they saw and how they felt during thatlong, dark night in the midst of dead and dying husbands, brothers andsons. 

Next morning it was found that nineteen men and boys were dead, or woundedso badly that they could not live, and about fifteen others were wounded. What to do with the dead was the question. There were not men enough to diggraves; besides, the mob might come back again and finish their awful work;so the best they could do was to put the nineteen bodies into a large, drywell that was close by. This was done, and straw and earth placed on top. 

Sister Smith, mother of Sardius and Alma, has told some of the experienceswhich she passed through during that awful time. Her husband and one sonwere killed, while another son had his hip nearly shot away. During thatfirst night she says that she prayed to God to know what to do for herwounded boy, and the Lord distinctly whispered to her what kind of poulticeto put on the wound and how to treat him. 

"I removed the boy to a house next day, " she says, "and dressed his hip, the Lord directing me as before. "

"'Alma, my child, ' I said, 'you believe that the Lord made your hip?'

"'Yes, mother. '

"'Well, the Lord can make something there in place of your hip, don't youbelieve he can, Alma?'

"'Do you think that the Lord can, mother?'

"'Yes, my son, ' I replied, 'He has shown it all to me in a vision. '

"And then I laid him comfortably on his face and said: 'Now you lay likethat and don't move, and the Lord will make you another hip. '

"So I laid Alma on his face for five weeks, until he was entirelyrecovered, a flexible gristle having grown in place of the missing jointand socket. "

Alma grew up to be a man and became a useful member of the Church. 

Topics. --1. The massacre at Haun's Mill. 2. Sardius and Alma Smith. 

Questions and Review. --1. Where was Haun's Mill. 2. What advice didJoseph give the Saints who lived there? 3. What happened October 30, 1838?4. Tell about the Smith boys and Charles Merrick. 5. Tell about ThomasMcBride. 6. How many were killed?

CHAPTER XXI. 

DRIVEN FROM MISSOURI. 

Wild reports now went over the country about the "Mormons;" and to makethese reports seem true some of the mobbers actually set fire to their ownlog cabins and then accused the Saints of the act. 

In a previous chapter, mention was made of Lilburn W. Boggs. This man wasnow governor of the state, and we shall see how he used his power againstthe "Mormons, " whom he hated so much. 

The reports that the "Mormons" were burning houses and driving people fromtheir homes, reached the governor, and he believed, or pretended tobelieve, all these false stories. So he gave orders to the officers of thestate militia to organize an army of 2, 000 men, march to the scene of thetrouble, and see that the people whom the "Mormons" had driven from theirhomes were returned to them. Note how eager the governor was to restorethese few presumably abused people to their lands--but it was all rightthat twelve hundred "Mormons" should be driven from their property!

The next day after the governor had issued this order, the news of theCrooked River battle reached him, so he changed his instructions to thecommanding officer, General Clark. This order, given October 27, 1838, isknown as Governor Boggs' exterminating order, and is one of the mostdisgraceful and wicked commands known in history. Exterminate means todestroy utterly, to root out completely, and this is what a governor of astate said should be done to twelve thousand innocent people if they didnot leave the state. 

Companies of Missouri militia now came marching from various parts of thestate into Caldwell and other counties nearby. Soon Far West was surroundedby an army. Niel Gillium was there with his band of men in Indian costume, who whooped and yelled like true savages. On the evening of October 30th, aparty of men came fresh from the awful massacre, at Haun's Mill, eager formore blood. Thus the town was surrounded, and as it seemed, doomed todestruction. 

The few brethren in Far West prepared to defend themselves as best theycould. It might appear useless for a handful of men to oppose an army, butwhen men are fighting for their homes, their liberty, their wives and theirchildren, a few can do mighty deeds. 

But they were not to fight. Traitors were in the camp of the Saints andthey now betrayed their brethren into the hands of the enemy. ColonelGeorge M. Hinkle was the commander of the Far West militia, and he went tothe mob commanders and promised to deliver up to them the Church leaders. He also made an agreement with them that the Saints would deliver up theirarms, sign away their property to pay the expenses of the war, and thenleave the state. This was all done without the knowledge of the "Mormons"or their leaders. 

On the evening of October 30th, Colonel Hinkle told Joseph Smith, SidneyRigdon, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, and George W. Robinson that theofficers of the mob-militia wanted to consult with them and try to arrangematters. Next morning these brethren went with Hinkle some distance out ofFar West where they were met by General Lucas, and soon most of the mobcame up. Lucas ordered his men to surround the brethren, when Hinklestepped up and said:

"General Lucas, these are the prisoners I agreed to deliver to you. "

The brethren were then marched into the camp of the mob-militia where theywere received with great shouts, curses, and yells. All that night theywere compelled to lie on the cold ground, and it rained before morning. Thenext day Hyrum Smith and Amasa M. Lyman were brought as prisoners intocamp. 

That day General Lucas demanded the arms of the "Mormons, " promising themprotection, and the return of their guns after the trouble was over; but nosooner had the mob obtained possession of the arms then they began stealingand carrying away everything they could lay their hands on. They alsodestroyed much property and abused innocent women and children. Those ofthe brethren that had property were compelled to sign it away to the mob. 

On the evening of November 1st, General Lucas held a court in which Josephand his brethren were to be tried. This court was composed of seventeenpreachers and some army officers. None of the prisoners were present, andknew nothing of what was going on. The brethren were found guilty andsentenced to be shot next morning at eight, o'clock, on the public squarein Far West. When the sentence was passed Generals Doniphan and Graham saidit was murder, and they would have nothing to do with it. This checkedLucas in his evil designs and so they decided to take the prisoners toJackson county and kill them there. Before starting, they were allowed togo to their homes and see their families, but they were not permitted tospeak to them. Their wives and children clung to them, crying in theirdespair, and were only separated by the cruel swords of the guards. 

Fifty-six of the leading brethren were now taken prisoners and sent to thetown of Richmond. Most of them were released shortly after. 

On November 6th General Clark made his famous speech to the Saints in FarWest, wherein he told them that he had come to carry out the governor'sorders to destroy them, but he would be lenient and give them a little timeto get out of the state. He advised the Saints to be like other people andnot organize themselves with bishops, presidents, etc. It was a veryfoolish, conceited speech. 

About twenty-five miles north of Far West was a beautiful settlement ofthe Saints. Joseph said it was the place where our father Adam had blessedhis children, and where he will come again to visit his people. So theplace was called Adam-ondi-Ahman. The people here had suffered with therest of the Saints, and now in the cold month of November they were drivenfrom their homes and took refuge for the winter in Far West. 

During that hard winter and time of trial when Joseph and many of hisbrethren were in prison and many others had apostatized, one name comes tothe front as that of a faithful man. It is Brigham Young. He was ever trueto the Prophet, and Joseph could rely on him. With him were such noble menas Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, and many others. Brigham was nowpresident of the Twelve, and it was his duty to take the lead in lookingafter the affairs of the Church during the absence of the First Presidency. 

In January, 1839, Brigham Young called a meeting to consider what should bedone in aiding the poor Saints to remove from Missouri. President Youngpresented a resolution that the brethren should never desert the poorSaints, but that they should help them to escape from their persecutors. Agreat many brethren agreed to this, and that winter and spring the moveeastward to Illinois continued. They did not travel in large bodies, but insmall companies as they got ready. Not one family who wished to go was leftbehind. 

The sufferings of that winter journey cannot be told you here. Many died onthe way through exposure and hardships. The mobs would not let them aloneeven when they were leaving as fast as they could. Mobs often rode into FarWest, abused the people, stole horses, drove off cattle and took anythingthat pleased them. The Saints traded their farms for horses and wagons inwhich to get away. Sometimes fine farms were nearly given away. It is toldof one brother that he sold forty acres of good land for a blind mare and aclock. 

July 8, 1838, the Lord gave a revelation wherein he called the TwelveApostles to go on a mission to England. The Twelve were to take leave ofthe Saints at the temple site in Far West, April 26, 1839. (Doc. And Cov. , Sec. 118. ) This time had now come, but it seemed impossible that it couldbe carried out, as most of the Saints had left Far West and the mobbersswore that this was a revelation that should not be fulfilled. They wouldkill the first Apostle that came into the place, they said. 

However, seven of the Twelve arrived at Far West the night before the 26th, and early next morning they went to the temple lot, rolled a large stone tothe southeast corner of the temple grounds as a foundation, and thenproceeded to hold a meeting. Elders Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smithwere then ordained Apostles, the brethren prayed and sang and thendismissed the meeting, bidding good-bye to the eighteen Saints present. Nota mobber was astir that morning, and the word of the Lord was againfulfilled. 

Topics. --1. Governor Boggs' exterminating order. 2. Betrayal of Josephand his brethren. 3. Adam-ondi-Ahman. 4. Departure from Far West. 5. Themeeting of the Twelve at Far West. 

Questions and Review. --1. How did the mob make the people believe thatthe "Mormons" were burning houses, etc. ? 2. What reports were brought toGovernor Boggs? 3. What was the exterminating order? 4. What kinds of"soldiers" surrounded Far West? 5. What did Colonel Hinkle do? 6. What kindof court did General Lucas have to try Joseph and his brethren? 7. What wastheir sentence? 8. Why was it not carried out? 9. What did General Clarksay in his speech? 10. Where was Adam-ondi-Ahman? 11. Why was it so called?12. What did Brigham Young now do? 13. Tell about the meeting held at FarWest, April 26, 1839. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

IN MISSOURI PRISONS. 

From Far West Joseph and his brethren who had been taken prisoners weremarched towards Jackson county. At first General Wilson who had them incharge treated the brethren badly, but as they proceeded on their journeyhe became quite friendly, and told the prisoners that he was just going toshow the people of Independence what a "set of fine fellows you are. "

While on the march the Lord comforted Joseph, and he spoke to the otherprisoners as follows: "Be of good cheer, brethren; the word of the Lordcame to me last night that our lives should be given us, and that whateverwe may suffer during this captivity, not one of our lives shall be taken. "

After they had crossed the Missouri river into Jackson county, many peoplecame to see these wonders, the "Mormons. " One lady came up and asked theguards which of the prisoners the "Mormons" worshiped. Joseph was pointedout to her. She then asked the Prophet if he professed to be the Lord andSavior. Joseph said he was only a man sent by Jesus Christ to preach thegospel. Quite a crowd had gathered around, and Joseph went on explainingthe principles of faith, repentance, etc. Thus Joseph preached a sermon inJackson county in fulfillment of a prediction he had made some monthsbefore. 

At Independence their treatment was not bad. The people seemed curious tosee them, and the brethren spent their time in talking with people who cameto them. 

General Clark, who also wanted some of the "honor" of having these notedprisoners, now ordered them to Richmond, in Ray county, where the generalhad a talk with them. Shortly after this, some guards came into the jailhouse and fastened the seven prisoners together by means of a chain andpad-locks. In this way they lived in a room without chairs or beds, sleeping on the hard, cold floor at nights. Guards with loaded guns stoodwatch over them, and talked to each other of the wicked deeds they had doneat Far West and other places near by. About these horrible acts theyboasted in glee while the prisoners had to lie and hear it all. 

One night, says P. P. Pratt, he lay next to Joseph, listening to all thisvile talk, when suddenly Joseph arose to his feet and spoke in a voice ofthunder, or as the roaring lion, these words:

"'_Silence! ye fiends of the infernal pit! In the name of Jesus Christ Irebuke you, and command you to be still. I will not live another minute andhear such language. Cease your talk, or you or I die this minute_'

"He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty, chained andwithout a weapon; calm, unruffled, and dignified as an angel, he lookeddown upon the quailing guards, whose weapons dropped to the ground, whoseknees smote together. " The ruffians instantly became still, and were veryglad when a change of guard came so that they could get away. 

General Clark tried hard to find some law by which he could have Josephtried by an army court, but he failed in this and therefore he handed theprisoners over to the civil authorities. 

Another farce of a trial was now had. About forty men, mostly apostates, testified against the prisoners. The brethren had no witnesses, and whenthe mobber Bogart was sent to Far West for some, he simply arrested themand put them in prison. The result of the hearing was that Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwinwere sent to Liberty, Clay county, to jail. Parley P. Pratt and others wereto remain in Richmond jail, while some others were released. 

Joseph with his fellow-prisoners remained in Liberty jail from November 28, 1838, to April 6, 1839. During all this time they suffered the hardships ofprison life, together with abuses not usually imposed on common prisoners. It is claimed by some that they were offered human flesh to eat. Duringthis time of trial Joseph was cheerful and told the brethren they would getout safe. He wrote many letters of instruction to the Saints, bidding themto be faithful to their religion. The brethren who were at liberty were notidle. They were appealing continually to the judges and the governor forjustice for their brethren, but it was of little use. At one hearing, Sidney Rigdon was released but he had to go back to jail for a time becausethe mob threatened to kill him. 

Seeing that it was useless trying to be released lawfully the brethrendecided to try to escape. The evening of February 7, 1839, when the guardshould come with their supper, was fixed as the time to try; but Hyrumwanted to be sure about the matter so he asked Joseph to enquire of theLord if it was wisdom for them to make the attempt. Joseph did so and wasinformed that if they were all united they would be able to escape thatevening. Therefore all but Lyman Wight agreed to the plan. He wanted towait till the next day, and as the brethren would not go without him, theydecided to wait. 

That evening the guard left the door wide open and gave them a good chanceto escape, but they did not try. The next evening the jailor brought adouble guard with him, and six of the brethren came to see the prisoners. Though it was a very poor chance to escape, they meant to try. When theguard went to close the door the prisoners followed and tried to preventhim, but they did not succeed. All but one of the visiting brethren werealso locked in, and he had a narrow escape from the mob outside who sooncollected and made all kinds of threats against the prisoners. 

The visitors now thought that they also were in great danger, but Josephtold them not to fear, as not a hair of their heads would be injured. Thispromise came true, because at a trial they had next day they were all setfree and nothing was taken from them. 

April 6, 1839, the prisoners were ordered to Gallatin, Daviess county. After their long confinement the brethren were weak, and it was hard tostand the long journey. On the 9th they had another trial or hearing. Thejury consisted mainly of men who had taken part in the Haun's Millmassacre, and most of the time during the trial they were drunk. Thepresiding officer, Judge King, was also as bad as the jury. This mock trialcontinued for several days. Men who sat on the jury during the day acted asguards at night, where they boasted of their murders, thefts, etc. , to theprisoners. This trial resulted in the brethren being held for "murder, treason, burglary, arson, larceny, theft, and stealing. "

The prisoners now asked for a change of venue, that is, a change of placeof trial. This was granted, and on April 15 they started for Boone countyunder guard of the sheriff and four men. On the night of the 16th thesheriff told them he was going to take a drink of grog before going to bedand they could do as they pleased. The sheriff and three of the guards wentto bed drunk, and the other guard helped the brethren saddle the horses andget away. They traveled day and night, and after much suffering Josepharrived at the city of Quincy, Illinois, April 22, 1839, where he wasgladly welcomed by his family and friends. 

Topics. --1. Prisoners taken to Independence. 2. In Richmond jail. 3. InLiberty jail. 4. The attempt to escape. 5. Their last trial and escape. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who were taken as prisoners to Independence? 2. What prediction did Joseph make while on the way? 3. How did Joseph fulfillhis own prophecy in Jackson county? 4. Where were they taken next? 5. Howwere they treated in Richmond jail? 6. Describe Joseph's rebuke. 7. Wherenext were they sent? 8. How long were they in Liberty jail? 9. Why was theattempt to escape a failure? 10. Where were they next taken? 11. Describetheir last trial. 12. How did they escape?

CHAPTER XXIII. 

NAUVOO. 

From his prison in Missouri, Joseph had advised his brethren to buy land inthe state of Illinois and Iowa. Towards these states, therefore, the Saintshad fled, leaving merciless, blood-stained Missouri to the judgment of God. 

Twenty years afterwards when the great war broke out between the North andthe South, Missouri was one of the fiercest battle grounds, and its peoplesuffered terribly for the misery and bloodshed they had brought upon theSaints. 

The people of Illinois received the homeless Saints kindly, and sold themland upon which to live. At a small place called Commerce, situated on theeast bank of the Mississippi river, Joseph bought land, and there hedecided to locate the headquarters of the Church. The place was beautifullysituated in a bend of the river. Here a city was laid out and calledNauvoo, meaning beauty and rest, and Joseph invited the Saints to settleand build up the place. It was no small task to gather the scattered Saintsinto one body again, but early in the summer of 1839 a number of houseswere erected in the new city. 

[Illustration: THE NAUVOO HOUSE. ]

Now came another trouble. Commerce was not a healthful place, but theSaints were promised that that would be changed; however, it was not longbefore a great many of the Saints became sick. Nearly every house wasafflicted, and Joseph himself also took the fever. On the morning of July22nd, Joseph arose from his bed and commenced administering to the sick. Hebegan with those in his own house, then went to some camping in his yard. The Prophet commanded the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ toarise from their beds and be made whole, and the sick were healed on everside. He then went from house to house and from tent to tent upon the bankof the river, healing the people. Many wonderful healings were performed. Joseph would take the sick person by the hand, or stand in the door of thetent and command the afflicted person to arise and be made whole. TheProphet with some of the brethren who were now with him crossed the riverto the place where Brigham Young was lying ill. President Young was soonhealed and followed with the rest. As there were many whom the Prophetcould not reach, the Twelve were sent to administer to them. Joseph gaveWilford Woodruff a silk handkerchief which he was to use in healing somechildren. President Woodruff kept the handkerchief to the day of his death. 

After this, there was very little sickness in Nauvoo. During the summer andfall of 1839 the city grew rapidly. About this time seven of the Twelveleft for their mission to England, of which you have been told, and theEnglish Saints soon began to gather to Nauvoo. 

Late in October, 1839, Joseph went to the city of Washington to lay thetroubles of the Church before the authorities of the nation. Joseph madethe acquaintance of many leading men, among them John C. Calhoun, andHenry Clay. Martin Van Buren was president, and to him Joseph told of thewrongs they had suffered from the people of Missouri. It was then that thepresident made the famous remark: "Your cause is just, but I can do nothingfor you. " His meaning, no doubt, was that the president of the UnitedStates had no right to interfere with the affairs of a state; but that allsuch troubles should be settled by the state itself. 

[Illustration: THE NAUVOO MANSION. ]

So Joseph returned without any help. Meanwhile, Nauvoo grew into a largecity. Ten wards were laid off and organized. April 6, 1841, the cornerstone of the temple was laid. Many public buildings were erected. Goodhouses were built, and beautiful gardens soon bloomed around them. On theoutskirts of the city, fields of grain stretched as far as the eye couldreach. In 1842 there were 20, 000 people in the city, and Nauvoo promised tobe one of the largest cities in the West. 

The fame of Joseph and the "Mormon" city spread, and many people came tosee the wonder. Missionaries were sent out to preach, the _Times andSeasons_ published by the Church, printed many Gospel truths and muchimportant history. The militia was organized and the city had awell-drilled body of men called the Nauvoo Legion. Peace and prosperitysmiled upon them for a season, and it seemed that at last there would be apermanent stake of Zion established. 

But it was not to be. The hate that burned in the hearts of evil men hadnot grown less, but was only waiting for a chance to show itself. Troubleagain arose. It would not be easy to understand the many causes that led tothese troubles, but a few may be noted. 

The Saints now had great power at the polls, the same as in Missouri. The"Mormons" would not vote for men who would not give them their rights, andso many of these politicians became their enemies and stirred up the peopleagainst the Saints by their many lies. Then, there were the jealousies ofthe sectarian preachers; and perhaps worse than all, the evil work ofapostates. Then it happened that a band of thieves troubled theneighborhood, and of course the "Mormons" were blamed. It was not a hardmatter to find excuses for a further persecution of the Latter-day Saints. 

And now came again Governor Boggs, of Missouri. He, it seems, had not hadenough, so he asked Governor Carlin to deliver to him Joseph and the otherbrethren who had escaped from Missouri. Governor Carlin of Illinois, madeout the papers for the brethren's arrest, but the officer could not findthem when he went to Nauvoo. He therefore returned without his prisoners, and nothing more was done in the matter until nearly a year later, whenJoseph was visiting the governor at Quincy. Governor Carlin treated Josephkindly, but as soon as the Prophet had left, some of the officers were sentafter him. They overtook Joseph and arrested him on the old charge fromMissouri. However, they went on to Nauvoo, where the sheriff, being sick, was taken good care of by his prisoner. As it was Joseph's right by law tobe tried in Illinois, he was permitted to have a hearing before JudgeStephen A. Douglas, in Monmouth, Illinois. There was great excitement atthe trial, some of his enemies trying to excite a mob against him. At theclose of the hearing Joseph was set free by the judge. 

Dr. J. C. Bennett was the mayor of Nauvoo, and held other high positions;but he proved to be a very wicked man. At one time, when the Legion washaving a sham fight, Bennett tried to get Joseph into a position that hemight be shot without anyone knowing who did it. This did not succeed. Thenhe began to commit sin, and say that Joseph upheld him in it. Bennett wasof course cut off from the Church, after which he wrote many false thingsagainst Joseph and the Saints and was the means of bringing muchpersecution on them. 

In May, 1842, Ex-Governor Boggs of Missouri was shot at and wounded by someperson in Independence. Although at this time they were hundreds of milesfrom Independence, Joseph Smith and O. P. Rockwell were charged with thiscrime, and again papers were issued for their arrest. They were tried inNauvoo and acquitted. As the Missourians were trying many schemes to takeJoseph to Missouri and there kill him, he went in hiding for a time. Everyeffort was made to take Joseph, and rewards were offered for his capture. Elder Rockwell was kidnapped and taken to Missouri, where he wasill-treated, but at last escaped. 

Thomas Ford now became governor of Illinois and to him Joseph went. Thegovernor prevailed upon Joseph to stand another trial, which was held atSpringfield, Illinois. Joseph was again proved innocent and released. 

But the fiends from Missouri would not give up. Once again he was takenwhile away from Nauvoo, by two officers, who abused him shamefully. Icannot tell you all about his exciting adventures--that you must read in alarger history--but at last he arrived safe again in Nauvoo. 

Persecution continued. Mobs now gathered around Nauvoo. Threats were madethat mobs would come from Missouri, and join with those of Illinois, against the "Mormons. " There was great unrest. When Joseph was spoken toabout the danger he was in, he said he was not exposed to as much dangerfrom outside enemies as from traitors within. "_We have a Judas in ourmidst_, " he said. 

Thus ended the year 1843. 

Topics. --1. Settlement at Nauvoo. 2. The healing of the sick. 3. City ofNauvoo. 4. Attempts to take Joseph to Missouri. 

Questions and Review. --1. Locate Nauvoo. 2. What was its name before itwas called Nauvoo? 3. Relate how Joseph healed the sick. 4. When did Josephgo to Washington? 5. What was his mission there? 6. What answer didPresident Martin Van Buren make? 7. Why was it useless to expect justicefrom Missouri? 8. What kind of city did Nauvoo become? 9. What was theTimes and Seasons? 10. What was the Nauvoo Legion? 11. Name some of thecauses that led to the new persecution. 12. Who was Dr. Bennett, and whatdid he do? 13. Tell of the efforts to get Joseph to Missouri. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE MARTYRDOM. 

On January 29, 1844, Joseph Smith was nominated for President of the UnitedStates. Neither he nor his friends had much hopes of his election, but itgave the citizens of Nauvoo at least a chance to vote for an honest man whowas their friend. Brethren were sent to various parts of the country tomake speeches in his favor, and Joseph published his views on how thegovernment should be conducted. One of his ideas was that the governmentshould set the negro slaves free, paying their masters for them. PresidentAbraham Lincoln, twenty years later, also favored this plan. 

Meanwhile, Nauvoo prospered and the Church grew. When the weather wouldpermit, meetings were held in a grove near the temple, there being no roomlarge enough to hold the large crowds of people. Joseph continued to givemany glorious truths to the Church about the nature of God, the land ofZion, baptism for the dead, and many other things. 

The Prophet's prediction that there was a Judas in their midst soon provedtoo true; and there were more than one. William Law, Joseph's secondcounselor, William Marks, president of the Nauvoo Stake, with many otherleading men proved themselves false to Joseph and the Church. They evenplanned with Joseph's enemies to have him killed. They were also provedguilty of other sins and were therefore cut off from the Church. Afterthis, these men said Joseph was a fallen prophet, and so they organized achurch of their own. It did not amount to anything, however. 

Joseph's periods of peace were not many. Apostates were his worst enemies, and they were all the time annoying him by having him arrested on allmanner of false charges. These men were very bitter, and they howled aroundhim like a pack of wolves, eager to devour him; but Joseph trusted in theSaints and they in him, for those who were faithful to their duties knew bythe Spirit of God that Joseph was not a fallen prophet. 

In June, 1844, the enemies of the Saints began to publish a paper inNauvoo, called the _Expositor_. Its purpose was to deprive the people ofNauvoo of their rights, so it boldly said. One paper was printed, and thatwas so full of false statements and abuse against the city officials thatthe city council declared it a nuisance and had the press, type, etc. , destroyed. 

This raised great excitement among the enemies of the Church. Joseph andseventeen others were arrested, tried before a court in Nauvoo, andacquitted; but this did not satisfy the mobbers. On the advice of theUnited States judge for that district, Joseph and his brethren allowedthemselves to be arrested again and have a trial before Justice Daniel H. Wells, then not a "Mormon. " They were again discharged as innocent ofcrime. 

Now mobs began to threaten again, but the Nauvoo Legion was ready to defendthe city. As the Legion was drawn up in front of Joseph's house one day--itwas the 18th of June--he got upon a platform and spoke to the soldiers. That speech was long remembered by those who heard it. It thrilled themthrough and through and at the word they would gladly have marched and metthe mob in battle; but that was not Joseph's way. He was always willing tohave the laws carried out even if he suffered thereby, so that his enemiescould have no just excuse. That was the Prophet Joseph Smith's last publicspeech. 

During the excitement Governor Ford arrived at Carthage, a town abouteighteen miles from Nauvoo, and the county seat of Hancock county. Thegovernor sent word to Nauvoo that he wanted some explanation of thetrouble, so Joseph sent some of the brethren to him. The governor treatedhis callers rudely. Carthage was full of mobs, and the governor seemed tobelieve all they told him about the "Mormons. " He organized the mobs intotroops. Joseph asked the governor to come to Nauvoo and investigate thewhole matter; but no: Joseph must go to Carthage. The governor said hewould protect him if he would go. 

It was on the evening of June 22nd. Joseph and Hyrum had called somebrethren together: "All they want is Hyrum and myself, " said the Prophet. Joseph and Hyrum both seemed certain that if their enemies got them intheir power again they would be killed. Joseph then proposed that he andHyrum should escape to the Rocky Mountains. Preparations for this trip weremade and they were rowed over the river to Iowa, when Joseph's wife sentsome of the brethren to plead with him to return. Some brethren also foundfault with him in running away to "leave the flock to the wolves. "

Joseph replied, "If my life is of no value to my friends, it is of none tomyself. " So they went back, Joseph saying, "We shall be butchered. "

On the morning of June 24th Joseph and eighteen brethren set out forCarthage to be tried again on the old charge. As he rode out the Prophetmade many expressions of goodby to his friends. Four miles from Carthagethey met a company of militia going to Nauvoo with an order from thegovernor that the Nauvoo Legion give up its arms. Joseph rode back withthem to see that this was done. Twice he bade his family farewell. His facewas pale, and he was suffering. 

"I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, " he said, "but I am calm as asummer morning. "

At Carthage they were received with oaths and threats by the troops. Apostates and soldiers swore that the brethren would never leave Carthagealive. 

The next day the governor paraded the prisoners before the troops, whoinsulted them as they passed along. Then they were placed in the jailawaiting their trial. 

[Illustration: CARTHAGE JAIL. ]

The day following, the prisoners were marched to the court house, guardedby the troops; but the trial was postponed until the next day, and thebrethren were taken back to jail. 

This was the 26th of June. That night Joseph was lying on the floor withsome of the brethren. Brother Dan Jones was on one side and Brother John S. Fullmer on the other. 

"Lay your head on my arm for a pillow, Brother John, " said Joseph, andthen he talked with him in a low tone. Joseph expressed a desire to see hisfamily again and preach to the Saints once more. 

To Brother Jones he whispered, "Are you afraid to die?" When Brother Jonessaid he was not, Joseph replied, "You will yet see Wales, and fulfill themission appointed you, before you die. " (Dan Jones did a wonderfulmissionary work in Wales. )

The next morning the guards frequently told some of the brethren that ifthey did not wish to be killed they had better get away from Joseph. Thiswas told to Governor Ford, but he paid no attention to it. 

At 10:30 that morning, June 27, the governor with the most friendly of thetroops left for Nauvoo, and the brethren were left to their fate. 

In an upper room of Carthage jail, Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and WillardRichards were spending their time in writing letters, singing, talking, andpraying. In the afternoon Joseph asked Elder Taylor to sing the hymn, commencing:

"A poor wayfaring man of grief. "

And when it was done he asked him to sing it again. Brother Taylor said hecould hardly sing it, he felt so sad, but he sang the hymn again. 

About 5 o'clock in the afternoon a mob of about two hundred men surroundedthe jail. They had blackened their faces with powder and mud. Then thefiring began. The mob rushed up the stairs, shooting into the room wherethe four brethren were. The prisoners sprang to the door to close it butthe guns of the mob forced it open. Elders Taylor and Richards tried topush the guns aside with their canes. The bullets flew like hail into theroom. One ball came through the door and struck Hyrum in the head. Fourothers hit him, and he fell back saying:

"_I am a dead man_. "

Joseph gazed on his brother and exclaimed: "Oh! dear brother Hyrum!"

Elder Taylor now tried to jump from the window. A ball struck him, and hewas about to fall from the window, when another bullet from the outside hithis watch in his vest pocket and threw him back into the room. Here he washit by two more balls, and he rolled under the bed. 

Then Joseph went to the open window intending to leap out. Two bulletsstruck him and he fell outward, exclaiming:

"_O Lord, my God_!"

As soon as he had struck the ground a mobber set him against a well curb afew feet from the jail, and then, by order of Col. Levi Williams, a mobberand Baptist preacher, four men sent bullets into his body. 

Then the mob fled, and the whole town of Carthage with them, fearing thevengeance of the people of Nauvoo. But vengeance is the Lord's. 

Willard Richards was not hurt. That night he spent in attending to hiswounded brother, John Taylor, and watching over the dead bodies of theProphet and Patriarch. 

Joseph's earthly work was done, and the Master had called him away from thehaunts of mobs and wicked men. He sealed his testimony with his blood. Hehad spent his life in working for the salvation of his fellowman, and evenyet in a freer and grander sphere he is working for the cause of Christ andthe Church. 

Topics. --1. Joseph nominated for president. 2. Traitors. 3. TheExpositor. 4. Joseph goes to Carthage. 5. The martyrdom. 

Questions and Review. --1. When was Joseph nominated for President of theUnited States? 2. What were his ideas of slavery? 3. Where were the largemeetings in Nauvoo held? 4. Who proved false to Joseph? 5. How did theSaints know that Joseph was not a fallen prophet? 6. What was the NauvooExpositor? 7. Why was it destroyed? 8. Why did Joseph object to being triedin Carthage? 9. On what occasion did Joseph deliver his last speech? 10. Why did not Joseph go west to the mountains? 11. What did Governor Fordpromise? 12. Give some expressions of the prophet on going to Carthage. 13. Who were with Joseph in jail? 14. Tell about the martyrdom. 15. When did ittake place? 16. How old was Joseph when he was killed?

CHAPTER XXV. 

EXPULSION FROM ILLINOIS. 

When the bodies of the martyred Prophet and Patriarch were brought fromCarthage, they were met by thousands of the Saints from Nauvoo who weptaloud for the loss of their beloved leaders. The scene was a very sad one. Elder Willard Richards spoke to the people and advised them to remainpeaceable as they had always been, and let the Lord avenge the murder oftheir loved ones. 

The bodies of Joseph and Hyrum were buried privately at Nauvoo so thattheir enemies might not disturb them. 

And now the Saints were a little confused about who should be theirleaders. Joseph, the President of the Church, and Hyrum, one of hiscounselors, were dead, and Sidney Rigdon, the other counselors, had somemonths before got tired of affairs at Nauvoo and had gone to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was an apostate at heart, though he had not yet been cutoff from the Church. Most of the Twelve Apostles were away on missions, andword was sent for them to return as soon as possible. 

Though at first there was some misunderstanding among the Saints, the Lorddid not intend his Church should go to pieces because its leader had beentaken away. The Church had been set up never to be thrown down or left toother people. The Gospel had been given to the earth "for the last time andfor the fullness of times. " The Saints had a promise that the kingdom wastheirs "and the enemy shall not overcome. " It would be a poor church, indeed, that would go to pieces every time its chief officer died. No; theLord, through Joseph, had organized the Church so well that this could notbe. There was a quorum in the Church that had been given all the powernecessary to carry on the work of the Church in case the First Presidencywas taken away. That quorum was the Twelve Apostles. Now that there was noFirst Presidency, it was the duty of the Twelve to preside and regulate theaffairs of the Church until such time that there should be anotherpresident appointed. Brigham Young was the president of the Twelve, so inreality he was the leading man in the Church. 

But now came Sidney Rigdon from Pittsburg. He wanted to be appointed theleader of the Church, or as he called it, a "guardian. " He, with someothers, tried to have a meeting of the Saints before the Twelve could gethome. This meeting was appointed for the 8th of August, 1844. On the 6th ofAugust President Young and five of the Apostles arrived at Nauvoo. 

The meeting was held at the grove, and Sidney Rigdon and some of theTwelve spoke. When Brigham Young arose to address the meeting, it seemed tothe Saints that both in appearance and speech he was like the ProphetJoseph. This certainly was a sign to them. At this meeting Sidney Rigdonwas rejected and the Twelve Apostles were upheld as the quorum to lead theChurch. 

Sidney Rigdon did not like this. He got a few followers and tried toorganize another church. A number of others did the same, but all thesemovements did not amount to much. The Saints kept on under the direction ofthe Twelve, building the temple and other public edifices in Nauvoo. 

The enemies of the Church were disappointed. They had thought that if theycould get Joseph out of the way that would be the end of "Mormonism. " Ofcourse they did not understand that "Mormonism" is the Lord's work and doesnot depend for its success on one or two men. He can raise up any number ofmen to carry on his work, and now Brigham Young and his brethren were themen who could and would carry it on. 

In May, 1845, some of the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum were tried, and bya jury pronounced innocent. This gave the mobbers more courage, and theygathered again. In the small settlements outside of Nauvoo many houses wereburned and the inmates driven into the fields. These Saints were advised tomove into Nauvoo for protection. 

Some time before his death, Joseph had predicted that the Saints would yetmove to the Rocky Mountains; and he had even begun the movement by holdingcouncils and asking for volunteers from the brethren to go ahead and locatea place to which the Church might gather. President Young and the Twelvenow began preparing to carry this plan out. They could plainly see that itwas useless to try to live in peace in Illinois. The mobs grew larger andfiercer. The people living in the counties surrounding Hancock county, threatened to drive the "Mormons" from the state; and the officers whoseduty it was to enforce the laws would not do so if it was to protect the"Mormons. "

So in August, 1845, it was decided to select three thousand men who, withtheir families, were to go to Upper California. All this western countrywas then called Upper California. The authorities of the Church promisedthe mob leaders that if they would not molest them they would all leave thestate early the next spring. 

But the mobbing did not cease at this; so the sheriff of the county, a Mr. Backenstos, organized a posse, that is, a company of men to help himenforce the laws and keep order. The sheriff kept after the mob to preventthem from burning houses, etc. , and this made the mobbers very angry. Oneday some of them tried to kill the sheriff, but he was saved by two"Mormons" coming to his rescue. Thus during the summer and fall of 1845there was much trouble between the mobs, the "Mormons, " and the militia. 

All this time the Saints had worked hard to finish the temple. It had beendecided to do this even if they had to work with the "trowel in one handand a sword in the other. " October 5th the temple was near enough finishedthat a conference was held in the building. No general conference had beenheld for three years, as Joseph had said none should be convened until itcould be held in the temple. 

After this the work on the building still went on, and in a short time itwas so far completed that it was dedicated, and a great many of the Saintsreceived their endowments within its sacred walls. 

All that winter, (1845-46) Nauvoo was like a big workshop. Everybody thatcould was preparing for the great move westward. Farms and houses wereoffered for sale. Wagons were built, and as iron was scarce, many of themhad wooden tires. Horses and cattle were gathered. It was to be the sixthmove of the Saints from their homes, and it was no small undertaking now asthere were many thousands of people, and they were to go to a wild, unknownland among the deserts and mountains of the West. 

The move began on February 4, 1846, and from that date on there was acontinuous stream of wagons crossing the Mississippi river to the Iowaside. A camp was made on Sugar creek, nine miles from Nauvoo, where theSaints gathered. Towards the last of the month the weather became verycold, the river froze over so that teams could be driven across on the ice. It was a bad time of the year to begin such a move. Many of the Saints werepoorly clad, some had no tents or wagon covers, and in the snow and coldthere was much suffering; but on the Saints went, looking with sad heartson their deserted homes; but rather would they face the winter storms andcold than to live in constant dread of cruel mobs. 

Topics. --1. Presiding authority in the Church. 2. The Twelve sustained. 3. Action of Sidney Rigdon. 4. Mobbings. 5. The removal. 

Questions and Review. --1. Where were Joseph and Hyrum buried? 2. Whatwere the feelings of the Saints? 3. Why were the Saints troubled about aleader? 4. Where were most of the Twelve at the time of the martyrdom? 5. When the First Presidency is taken away, what is the next presidingauthority in the Church? 6. What did Sidney Rigdon want? 7. What testimonywas given the Saints at the meeting on August 8th? 8. What became of SidneyRigdon? 9. What did the enemies of the Church expect to do by killingJoseph Smith? 10. Who first planned the move to the mountains? 11. Tellabout the work of the mobs. 12. Why did the Saints work so hard to finishthe temple, knowing they would have to leave it? 13. When did the movewestward begin?

CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE BATTLE OF NAUVOO. 

Leaving the main body of the Saints traveling westward, in this chapter Iwish to tell you about what happened to those who remained in Nauvoo; andby the way, this is the last chapter of this little history in which mobswill play an important part. 

In the summer of 1846 there were about six hundred Saints in Nauvoo, mostof whom had been unable to get away. Many were poor, some were sick, andthere were many old people and children. Many non-"Mormons" had boughtproperty from the Saints who had left, and had moved into the city. The mobcalled these friendly citizens "Jack Mormons. "

Naturally, one would think that these few Saints would be left to get readyto move in peace; but not so. If there is any doubt of the brutal characterof the mob, what they now did will remove that doubt forever. 

On July 11, eight brethren were engaged in cutting grain in a field twelvemiles from Nauvoo. A mob surrounded them, and then taking them one by one, whipped them severely. Two of these mobbers were afterwards arrested, andto get even for this, the mob carried away five other brethren who wereabused by the mobbers for twelve days before they were released. 

The next move of the mob was to get writs of arrest for many persons inNauvoo. A John Carlin was unlawfully appointed a constable to serve thesewrits, that is, make the arrests, and he raised a large body of men to helphim; but behind all this, the real object was to drive the remaining"Mormons" from the city. 

Governor Ford was now notified of the actions of these mobbers, and he sentMajor Parker to Nauvoo, who was to raise volunteers and defend the city. Four companies of troops were organized by the governor's order; butinstead of treating the invaders as they truly were, a mob, Major Parkermade a treaty with their leader in which it was agreed that the "Mormons"would leave the state within sixty days. The mob leader thought this fairenough, but the mobbers did not. At this, their leader resigned and a manby the name of Brockman took command of the crowd. He gave the order tomarch towards Nauvoo, which they gladly did. 

On the morning of September 10th, 1846, the watchman in the tower of thetemple gave notice that the enemy were coming 1, 000 or 1, 500 strong. Theyhad cannon, plenty of ammunition, and came like an army ready for battle. Many of the new citizens fled, and the little band of defenders numberedonly one hundred and twenty-three men. 

Meanwhile, a committee had come from Quincy to try to settle the troubleswithout bloodshed. Although with them were Major Flood, sent by thegovernor, and Mr. Wood, mayor of Quincy, the mob paid no attention to them, and so they could do nothing. 

There seemed no prospect but that the citizens would have to defendthemselves as best they could. Benjamin Clifford took command of thevolunteers, and Captain William Anderson organized a small body ofsharpshooters called the Spartan Band. As cannon were badly needed, thebrethren got two hollow steamboat shafts, cut them in two, plugged up oneend, and thus made some cannon. They had no cannon balls, but they usedscraps of iron and lead tied up into bags. 

On Friday, the 11th, the mob drew up to the city and began firing. Theywere met by the "Mormon" troops with their home-made cannon, whichsurprised the mobbers very much, and they were compelled to stop theiradvance. 

On Saturday, the 12th, a flag of truce was brought into the city, and withit a note to the commander at Nauvoo, stating that if they did notsurrender they would have to take the consequences. Major Clifford repliedthat he had been sent by the governor to uphold the laws and that he wasgoing to do it, advising Brockman to disband his men. 

The Nauvoo citizens had held their position during the night and had thrownup some breastworks. The next day the battle waged fiercer than ever, butthe Nauvoo boys held their ground and the mob could not get in. Twelvemobbers were wounded. The first one killed among the defenders was AugustusAnderson, a "Mormon" boy fourteen years old. He left his mother thatmorning saying he would fight for her, and went along with his father, Captain William Anderson. Augustus was struck by a cannon ball, and died ina few minutes. Shortly after Captain Anderson was also hit. 

"I am wounded, " he cried. "Take my gun and shoot on. "

David Norris was also killed, and a number of other brethren wounded. 

For six days that little band of brave defenders kept the mob at bay; andeven when it was seen to be useless to keep the fight up longer, many werein favor of doing so. 

On the 16th a treaty was made. The city was to surrender. The citizens werenot to be molested, and the sick and helpless were to be protected. The"Mormons" were to leave as soon as possible. 

The mob forces entered the city on the 17th; but it was the same old story. They thought no more of promises or of the treaty. Bands of men wentthrough the city, stealing, insulting, and in every way abusing the people. A gang went through the temple and up to the tower where they rang thebell, yelled and shouted. A preacher who was in the mob went up to the topof the tower and cried in a loud voice:

"Peace! peace! peace! to the inhabitants of the earth, now the 'Mormons'are driven!"

The poor Saints had to get away as fast as they could. Some went north, some south, but most of them crossed the river and camped on the lowbottoms of the Mississippi in Iowa. I shall not attempt to tell you of thesufferings of these poor people; weak, sick hungry, cold, and wet. It wouldmake your heart ache to see the picture, one of the saddest in all ourhistory. 

At this time, when it seemed as though these people would starve to death, a strange thing happened. Great flocks of quail came flying into camp. Theyflew against the wagons with such force that they were killed or stunned, so that they could be picked up. They also alighted all over the camp andwere so tame that they could be taken by the hand. Thus the Lord sent foodto his hungry children. 

If you wish to read a very interesting account of this removal from Nauvoo, read Colonel Kane's lecture, found in many of our larger histories. [2]

Topics. --1. Nauvoo after the main body of Saints had left. 2. The Battleof Nauvoo. 3. The remnant driven out. 

Questions and Review. --1. About how many Saints were left in Nauvoo? 2. Who were the "Jack Mormons?" 3. Tell of the mob's doings. 4. Who was JohnCarlin? 5. What did he do? 6. Who was Major Parker? 7. What did he haveorders to do? 8. Describe the mobbing party. 9. Tell about the Nauvoovolunteers. 10. Who were William and Augustus Anderson? 11. How long didthe defenders hold out? 12. What was agreed upon in the treaty of peace?13. Describe the actions of the mob in Nauvoo. 14. To where were the Saintsdriven? 15. What was their condition? 16. How were they fed? 17. Who wrotean interesting account of this exodus?

CHAPTER XXVII. 

WESTWARD. 

The moving of a nation! What a task it must have been!

Most of you have had some experience in moving, it may be only a familymoving from one house to another, and you know what a lot of worry and workthere are in such a small affair; but here was a nation moving!

This great exodus was very much like the time when the children of Israelwent from under the oppression of Egypt out into the wilderness to journeyto the promised land. When at Nauvoo, Brigham Young said to the Saints: "Toyour tents, O Israel, " they knew they had another Moses to lead them fromtheir persecutors. 

The camp at Sugar creek grew larger every day through the arrival of exilesfrom Nauvoo. Many did not bring provisions enough with them, so that theywere forced to go to the neighboring farms and settlements and work forcorn. 

The first move the camp made was on March 1, 1846, when four hundred wagonsstarted forward. Five miles only was traveled that day, and when theycamped, the snow had to be shovelled away where they pitched their tents. 

From that time the Saints moved slowly westward across the territory ofIowa. As they advanced, the spring rains came and often drenched thetravelers through. The ground now became very muddy, and it was so hard forthe poor teams that some days only a few miles were traveled. Sometimestheir camping places were so wet that they who slept on the ground wouldhave to lay on branches of trees so that they would not sink into the mud. 

At first there was very little feed for their animals, and they had to liveon the bark and twigs of trees, with what, corn could be spared for them. Many horses were traded for oxen, as they could stand such hardship better. Trips were made to the nearest settlements to buy food. Those who had nomoney traded what they could spare, such as dishes and feather beds forcorn. 

For the first few weeks there was not much order in their way of traveling;but on March 27th the Saints were more perfectly organized. Brigham Youngwas sustained as president of the whole camp. Then captains were appointedover hundreds, over fifties, and over tens. Clerks were chosen to keep therecords, etc. , and men were called to see to the buying and distributing ofthe food. Thus every one had something to do and everything was done inorder. 

[Illustration: A PIONEER TRAIN. ]

Often in the evening when supper had been eaten, the logs were piled on thebonfire, a space was cleared, the musicians brought out their instruments, and the sorrows and hardships of the day were forgotten in the innocentdance. 

The camp always rested on Sundays, and if the weather would permit, meetings were held. 

On April 24th a point on Grand river was reached, one hundred andforty-five miles north-west from Nauvoo. Here it was decided to form asettlement--to build houses and plant crops, that those who came afterwould have food and a stopping place. The settlement was called GardenGrove. Soon it was as lively as a hive of bees. Hundreds of men were busymaking fence rails and fences, building houses, digging wells, clearingland, and plowing. Meetings were held often and the people were instructedand encouraged. Parley P. Pratt and a small company were sent ahead to findanother location for a settlement. They found a beautiful place aboutthirty miles from Garden Grove, which they called Mount Pisgah. Here houseswere also built, and farms and gardens planted. As many of the Saints werepoor and sick they rested at these two settlements while the main body wenton. 

From Mount Pisgah the country was wild Indian lands, there being no whitesettlements or roads. The spring rains had now moderated so that the roadswere better. On June 14th President Young and the leading companies arrivedat the Missouri river, where a stop was made. Most of the companies came upin July. A camp was made on the east side of the river on some high landcalled Council Bluffs. 

This was on Indian land, but the travelers were received kindly and givenpermission to stop. 

President Young intended to send a body of picked men into the RockyMountains as soon as possible to locate a gathering place. They were topush on ahead that summer and put in crops. Arrangements were being madeto this end, when something happened that put a stop to the plan. This wasthe call for the Mormon Battalion, about which I will tell you in the nextchapter. 

After five hundred of their best men had marched away to fight the battlesof their country, it was impossible for the Saints to get to the mountainsthat year. So it was decided to make a third stopping place and remainthere during the winter. 

There being a good location for a town on the west bank of the Missouririver, that place was selected and named Winter Quarters. The town was laidout regularly into streets, and log houses were built. Some made dugouts inthe sides of the hill, which were quite comfortable during the cold winter. As the Indians were troublesome on that side of the river a stockade wasbuilt around the town. By December, 1846, five hundred and thirty-eight loghouses and eighty-three sod houses were built, inhabited by three thousandfour hundred and eighty-three people. The town was divided into twenty-twowards, each presided over by a bishop. A large log house was built in whichmeetings and parties were held. 

The food of the people that winter consisted largely of corn-bread andpork. President Young had a grist mill built, but before that time many ateboiled wheat, and ground their corn in coffee mills. 

Because of hardships and poor food there was much sickness at all thesettlements. Graves marked the prairie for hundreds of miles. At WinterQuarters alone over six hundred were buried. 

The poor Saints who were left at Nauvoo were not forgotten. After they hadbeen driven from Nauvoo, they were met by teams from Winter Quarters, andall who wished to go were taken to the camps of the Saints. 

Perhaps you may get an idea of this great move when you are told thatduring that summer there were about two thousand wagons and ten thousandSaints on the way between Nauvoo and Council Bluffs. 

Topics. --1. From Nauvoo to Garden Grove. 2. Garden Grove and MountPisgah. 3. Winter Quarters. 

Questions and Review. --1. What might this last move of the Saints belikened to? 2. After leaving Nauvoo where was the first stopping place? 3. When did the camp start west? 4. What hindered the traveling? 5. How wasthe camp organized? 6. What did the Saints do for amusement? 7. Where wereGarden Grove and Mount Pisgah? 8. What was the object in making thesesettlements? 9. What prevented a band of pioneers from going to themountains that summer? 10. Where was Winter Quarters? 11. Describe theplace. 12. About how many people were traveling across Iowa that summer?

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

THE MORMON BATTALION. 

During the summer of 1846 the United States was at war with the republic ofMexico. A number of battles had been fought in Texas. What is nowCalifornia, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona belonged to Mexico, and as PresidentPolk desired to get this large district of country for the United States, he sent soldiers westward to the Pacific ocean. 

The "Mormon" people traveling from Nauvoo had asked President Polk forassistance in their journey to the west. They said they wanted to remainunder the protection of the government, and were willing to aid in holdingthe western country for the United States. 

In the month of June, 1846, Captain James Allen, an officer of the UnitedStates army arrived at Mount Pisgah, Iowa. What he wanted was five hundredmen with which to form a battalion and march across the continent toCalifornia, and take part in the war with Mexico. 

This was startling news indeed. The Saints had not expected this kind of"help" in their journeying through the wilderness. Many of the Saintslooked upon the call as a plan to destroy them. You can hardly blame themfor that, can you, knowing some of their past history?

But President Young and the leading brethren told the officer he shouldhave his men. They thought it was a test to see if they were true to theircountry. Though it was a pretty hard test, thus to take their best andstrongest men away from such a camp as theirs, yet the "Mormon" peoplewould show to the government and to the whole world that they were loyal totheir country, even though that country had failed to protect them in theirrights to live in peace and worship God. 

At a meeting held at Council Bluffs it was decided to raise the men askedfor. Brigham Young and the Twelve took an active part in gettingvolunteers. Word was sent to the different settlements of the Saints. Thestars and stripes were hoisted to a tree top, and the work of enrollmentbegan. Within three days the little army was organized and ready for themarch. Then they had a grand farewell party, held, not in some beautifullylighted ball room, but in a bowery, where the ground had been packed hardby the tread of many feet. There fathers and mothers and brothers andsisters and sweethearts said their goodbyes to each other. 

And then the long, dreary march began. The story of that march would filla book, so of course very little of it can be told here. If you would liketo read more about it, you will find it in Brother Tyler's "History of theMormon Battalion. "

There were five hundred and forty-nine souls in the Battalion. CaptainJames Allen was the commander. They started on their march July 20, 1846, to Fort Leavenworth, where they received their guns and other thingsnecessary for an army. At this point Captain Allen died, which made the menfeel bad, as he was a good, kind officer. 

The Battalion began to move from Fort Leavenworth on the 12th of August. You may see their line of march by looking at the map on page 128. Aftersuffering much hardship, they reached Santa Fe, October 9th. Here ColonelCooke took the command. As many of the soldiers as were too sick to go onwere sent to Pueblo, where they remained all winter, and traveled to SaltLake valley the next summer. The main body of the Battalion left Santa Fe, October 19th, for California. At Tucson they expected to have a battle withsome Mexican soldiers, and prepared for it, but they marched through thecity without being disturbed. From Tucson they continued over the deserts, and arrived at San Diego, January 29, 1847, where they saw the broad, blue, ocean, many of them for the first time. 

The Battalion remained in and around San Diego for about two weeks. Asthere was no fighting to be done, the men built houses, dug wells, madebrick, and helped build up the town. On March 19th most of them marched toLos Angeles, and on the 16th of July they were mustered out, having servedtheir full time--one year. 

Of this great march Colonel Cooke their commander wrote:

"History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry;nine-tenths of it through a wilderness, where nothing but savages and wildbeasts are found, or deserts, where for want of water, there is no livingcreature. There, with almost hopeless labor we have dug deep wells. Withouta guide we have crossed the wilderness, we have ventured into tracklessprairies, where water was not found for several marches. With crowbar andpickax in hand we have worked our way over mountains, which seemed to defyaught but the wild goat, and hewed a passage through a chasm of rock, morenarrow than our wagons. "

After their release, most of the men took up their march for home. Perhapsit would be more correct to say to find their families and friends, as theydid not have any home yet. They journeyed northward in California and thencrossed the mountains to Salt Lake valley where most of them arrived inOctober, 1847. From there many went right on to Winter Quarters to theirfamilies. 

A number of the Battalion men remained in California to earn a littlemoney. Some got work with a Captain Sutter who had a large ranch on theAmerican fork of the Sacramento river. The "Mormons" with some others wereset to work building a mill, and it was here while digging in the mill racethat gold was discovered in California. Some of the brethren carried away afew hundred dollars' worth when they went to Salt Lake Valley the nextsummer. 

Topics. --1. The call for the Mormon Battalion. 2. Its march. 3. Discoveryof Gold. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who was Captain James Allen? 2. What did hewant of the "Mormons?" 3. What was the Battalion wanted for? 4. What didPresident Young say? 5. What did many of the Saints think of the call? 6. Why was it a hardship on the Saints at that time to furnish five hundredsoldiers? 7. Describe the line of march of the Battalion. 8. How long didit take them? 9. How far was it? 10. What kind of journey was it? 11. Whatdid Colonel Cooke say about it? 12. What did the Battalion men do inCalifornia? 13. What happened at Nauvoo in the summer of 1846, when theBattalion was on the march?

CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE PIONEERS. 

While the Saints were in Winter Quarters during the winter of 1846-7 theywere busily preparing for the march to the mountains next spring. Men forthe advance company were selected, and on April 7, 1847, they began to moveout of Winter Quarters to a place westward, where they were to gather. Tendays later the first or pioneer camp, was ready for marching. The idea wasto have twelve times twelve men, but one became sick and had to return, sothat left one hundred and forty-three. There were besides the men threewomen and two children. They had seventy-two wagons, ninety-three horses, fifty-two mules, sixty-six oxen, nineteen cows, seventeen dogs, and somechickens. 

For three months and seventeen days this company traveled westward overplains and mountains. During the first part of their journey they sometimesfollowed a wagon road to Oregon, and sometimes they made new roads. Theshallow rivers they forded, the deep ones they built bridges over, and thelarge ones they crossed in ferry boats which they built. After theseferries had been built the pioneers sometimes took over companies on theirway to Oregon and received provisions for their pay. 

[Illustration: MAP OF PIONEER ROUTE. ]

The map will show you the route they took better than can be told here. 

The pioneers did not know exactly where they were to locate. It was to bein some valley of the Rocky mountains where they could live in peace, freefrom mobs. When President Young was asked as to their destination, all hecould say was that he would know the place when he should see it, and thatthey should continue to travel the way the Spirit of the Lord directedthem. 

On their journey they often met scouts and trappers. One of the best knownof these was Col. James Bridger. He had been all through the valley of theGreat Salt Lake, he said, and he told the pioneers that they could not livethere, as nothing would grow. So sure was he of this that he offered togive a thousand dollars for the first bushel of corn they could raise inthat valley. President Young simply said, "Wait a little and we will showyou. "

When they left the plains and got up in the mountains some of them becamesick with the mountain fever. Among those ailing was President Young. Hebecame so bad that he could not travel, so when they were in Echo canyon heinstructed Orson Pratt to take the main company on and he with a few menwould remain for a few days. 

The main company, therefore, went on down Echo canyon, up Weber valley, andacross the mountains, coming down into Salt Lake valley through Emigrationcanyon. President Young had told them that when they got to the opencountry on crossing the mountain they were to go to the north and stop atthe first convenient place for putting in their seeds. This the companydid, and on the 23rd of July they camped on the ground where now stands thebeautiful city and county building in Salt Lake City. After offering uptheir thanks to God for his preserving care, they at once got out theirtools and began to work. The season was so far advanced that if they wereto raise anything they must hurry. When they tried to plow the land, theyfound it so dry and hard that some of the plows were broken. What couldthey do? Then the thought came to turn the water in the creek over the landand soak it up. This was done, and then there was no trouble to plow andplant. This was the beginning of irrigation in this western part of theUnited States. 

President Young and his party followed the next day. President WilfordWoodruff was with him and we will let him tell of it:

"On the 24th I drove my carriage, with President Young lying on a bed init, into the open valley. When we came out of the canyon into full view ofthe valley, I turned the side of my carriage around, open to the west, andPresident Young arose from his bed and took a look at the country. Whilegazing on the scene before us, he was enwrapped in vision for severalminutes. He had seen the valley before in vision, and now he saw the futureglory of Zion and of Israel as they would be, planted in the valleys ofthese mountains. When the vision had passed, he said:

"'It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on. '"

On August 26th, President Young and a company of one hundred and sevenpersons, started on the return trip to Winter Quarters. On the Sweetwaterriver they met two large companies of Saints on the way to the valley, following the trail of the pioneers. There was great rejoicing, as theSaints now for the first time knew where they were to locate. Thesecompanies arrived safely in Salt Lake valley in September and October. 

President Young and company arrived at Winter Quarters October 31. All waswell with the Saints, and they were prospering. 

And now a very important event took place. From the death of Joseph theProphet up to this time the Church had been led by the Twelve. Now it wasdecided to reorganize the First Presidency, and at a meeting held in WinterQuarters, December 5, 1847, the Twelve chose Brigham Young as President ofthe Church. He chose Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards as hiscounselors, and these now became the First Presidency. This action of theTwelve was sustained at a conference of the Church on the 27th. 

Thus the work prospered. Many meetings were held, and the Church was set inorder. Missionaries were sent to the world, and the Saints, now that theyhad another gathering place, began to flock towards the new Zion in themountains. Winter Quarters was deserted and a new settlement founded acrossthe river. It was called Kanesville (now Council Bluffs) in honor of ThomasL. Kane who did many kind acts for the Saints. 

In the spring of 1848 the Saints on the Missouri river were busy gettingready for the move to the mountains. They started about the beginning ofJune, organized into three large companies, all led by President Young. Altogether there were 2, 417 people, 793 wagons, herds of horses and cattle, a great many sheep, pigs, chickens, etc. Here was surely, if not a nation, a whole city moving. They followed in the trail of the first companies andarrived in Great Salt Lake valley in September and October. 

Topics. --1. The march of the pioneers. 2. Arrival in Salt Lake valley. 3. The reorganization of the First Presidency. 4. The main companies. 

Questions and Review. --1. How many persons were in the first or pioneercompany? 2. What was the object of the company? 3. How long were they onthe journey? 4. Describe their route. (See map). 5. What did trappers andhunters say of Salt Lake valley? 6. When did the main body reach Salt Lakevalley? 7. When did President Young arrive? 8. What did he say about theplace? 9. Why did the pioneers know very little about irrigation? 10. Whoreturned to Winter Quarters? 11. Whom did they meet? 12. What took placeDecember 5, 1847? 13. Where was Kanesville? 14. What took place during thesummer of 1848?

CHAPTER. XXX. 

GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. 

The 25th of July, 1847, came on a Sunday, therefore the pioneers rested andheld meetings. 

Monday morning work began in earnest. Plowing and planting had to behurried. Exploring parties were also sent out in different directions tobecome acquainted with the country. 

On the evening of July 28th President Young, accompanied by the Apostles, went some distance from the camp to select a spot from which to beginbuilding the city. Arriving at a good location, President Young stopped, and, striking his cane in the earth, he said: "Here will be the temple ofour God"--and on that spot the temple stands today. It was then decided tolay out the city north, east, south, and west from the temple site, in tenacre blocks, the streets to be eight rods wide and the sidewalks twentyfeet. Some time after this it was named Great Salt Lake City. 

You will call to mind that some of the Mormon Battalion, owing to sickness, did not march through to California. This company, together with someSaints from the state of Mississippi, arrived at the pioneer camp on July29th, thus making quite an addition to the company. The first building ofany kind erected in the valley by the Saints was a bowery built on thetemple block by the Battalion men. This was used for some time in which tohold meetings. 

It was decided not to settle on the city lots at first, but build a fortwith houses in as a protection from the Indians. The houses were built oflogs, and stood in a row, close together, which formed one side of thefort. The other three sides were built of adobe walls. The roofs of thehouses were made of soil. The windows and doors faced the inside. Thoughbetter than living all the winter in tents and wagons, you may imaginethese houses were not very comfortable, especially when the rain camethrough the roofs onto beds, tables, stoves, etc. 

[Illustration: SALT LAKE VALLEY IN 1847. ]

A conference was held in the bowery on Sunday, August 22nd, whereconsiderable business was attended to. The Salt Lake Stake of Zion wasorganized, with John Smith as president. It was shortly after this thatPresident Young and his company went back to Winter Quarters. 

The next addition to the settlement was the Mormon Battalion fromCalifornia. 

At the coming of winter all moved into the fort. That season the winter wasmild, so quite an amount of work was done outside. 

The spring of 1848 opened with fine prospects ahead. Five thousand acres ofland were planted, and the grain was growing rapidly; but another trial wasat hand. In May and June great swarms of crickets came from the mountainsand began to devour every growing thing. The settlers fought them as bestthey were able, but what could be done with such countless millions ofinsects! It seemed hopeless. Their crops were fast disappearing, and withthem their means of living through the next year. Remember, they were athousand miles from any other people, with mountains and deserts betweenthem. They could not get food from other places. They would have to raiseit or to starve. 

When they had about given up hope, there came great flocks of white birdsfrom the lake. They settled on the fields and began eating the crickets. They would eat all they were able, then vomit, and eat again. This they didday after day until the crickets were destroyed and part of the crop wassaved. 

[Illustration: IN THE OLD FORT. ]

That fall President Young with the main body of Saints arrived from theEast. There were now about five thousand people in the valley, andprospects were not very encouraging, owing to the small crop raised. Foodwas scarce, as also was clothing. Many people lived for weeks on "greens"and the roots of the sego and thistle. A kind of soup was made by cookingraw-hides. Yet in the midst of these times Heber C. Kimball declared in apublic meeting that it would not be three years before "states goods" wouldbe sold in Salt Lake cheaper than in St. Louis. No one at that time couldsee how it could be possible, but the prophecy was fulfilled within a year, and it was in this way: That winter gold was discovered in California, andearly the next summer great companies of men came flocking from the east ontheir way to the gold mines. Salt Lake City was a sort of half way house. These gold seekers were heavily laden with all manner of goods, but beinganxious to get to California as soon as possible they traded to the peoplein Salt Lake City their goods for lighter wagons, fresh horses, etc. Thus agreat deal of merchandise was brought to the valley, and Brother Kimball'sprophecy was fulfilled. 

The city had now been laid out into blocks, and lots were given to thesettlers. Some built houses and moved in that fall, but most of the peopleremained in the fort until the spring of 1849. 

The city now began to grow rapidly, as companies of Saints were continuallycoming from the east. In February, 1849, the city was divided into nineteenwards and a bishop appointed over each. On the 12th of the same month thefour vacancies in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles were filled by thecalling of Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards to the apostleship. 

Thus the Church was firmly established again, this time in the peacefulvalleys of the mountains, away from the persecution of its enemies and theanger of mobs. 

Topics. --1. Locating the temple and city. 2. The fort. 3. The cricketsand gulls. 4. Hard times. 5. Heber C. Kimball's prophecy. 

Questions and Review. --1. How did President Young locate the templespot? 2. How was the city laid out? 3. What was the first building in thevalley? 4. Describe a bowery. 5. What was the fort? 6. Describe it. 7. Whowas the first stake president in Utah? 8. What happened in the spring of1848? 9. How were the crops saved? 10. Why was food so scarce in 1848? 11. What kinds of food were eaten? 12. What was Heber C. Kimball's prophecy?13. How was it fulfilled? 14. How was the city built up? 15. What apostleswere chosen February 12, 1849?

CHAPTER XXXI. 

GROWTH OF UTAH AND THE CHURCH. 

As you were told in the last chapter, among the first things done by thepioneers was to send exploring parties out to find other locations forsettlement. They knew that thousands of Saints would follow them to theirnew home, and room must be had for them. 

In the first company that followed the pioneers was Peregrine Sessions. He, with some others, moved north from the pioneer camp and settled in what isnow Davis county. Further north, at the junction of the Weber and Ogdenrivers, there lived, before the pioneers came, a trapper and trader by thename of Goodyear. He claimed a large area of land, nearly all of what isnow Weber county, saying that the Mexican government had granted it to him. This claim he sold in 1847 to Captain James Brown of the Mormon Battalionfor the sum of $3, 000. In the spring of 1848, Captain Brown with his sonsmoved to the new location and began putting in crops. They were told thatfrost would kill the corn before it could ripen, but they worked on, and inthe fall reaped a large harvest. Soon other families moved in, to whomCaptain Brown gave land. Thus Ogden city and Weber county had theirbeginning. 

Early in the spring of 1849, the first settlers moved south from Salt LakeCity. They consisted of thirty families led by John S. Higbee, one of thepioneers. They settled on Provo river, built a fort for protection, andthen began plowing and planting. There were quite a number of Indians inthat part. Their head chief was Sowiette, and under him was Chief Walker. The first was a kind Indian who wished to live in peace with the whites;but not so with Walker who delighted in stealing and fighting. 

For some months everything went well with the Provo settlers, but in thefall the Indians began stealing, and once in awhile an arrow cameuncomfortably near some settler when away from the fort. At length a partyof men who were out searching for stolen cattle, had a fight with a band ofIndians in which five of the savages were killed. 

The settlers in the fort were now continually annoyed, until in February, 1850, a company of militia was sent from Salt Lake City to their aid. Afierce battle ensued, in which a number were killed on both sides, and theIndians were scattered to the mountains. 

It was President Young's policy not to harm the Indians if possible, sayingthat it was cheaper to feed them than to fight them. But even this kindpolicy did not altogether prevent trouble with these wild people. In 1853, the Indians, led by Chief Walker, made war on the southern settlements, with the result that about twenty whites and a great many Indians werekilled. 

At the close of the war with Mexico all this western country became a partof the United States. At a convention held in Salt Lake City, March 4, 1849, the people asked Congress for a territorial organization. Later, apetition was sent asking to be admitted into the Union under the name of"The State of Deseret. " Until Congress could act, a temporary governmentwas formed which existed for nearly two years. President Young was electedgovernor, and there were the other officers usually found in a state. September 9, 1850, Congress passed an act organizing Utah Territory. President Millard Fillmore appointed Brigham Young as governor. Out of thesix other officers, three were "Mormons, " and three non-"Mormons" from theEast. 

At a conference held in Salt Lake City, October 6, 1849, a number of elderswere called to new mission fields. John Taylor, Curtis E. Bolton, and JohnPack were sent to France; Erastus Snow and Peter O. Hansen to Denmark; JohnForsgren to Sweden; Lorenzo Snow and Joseph Toronto to Italy; AddisonPratt, James S. Brown, and Hiram H. Blackwell, to the Society Islands. Brother Pratt had but recently returned from a five years mission to theseislands, where twelve hundred souls had been baptized into the Church. 

At the April conference, 1851, Edward Hunter was chosen to succeed Newel K. Whitney as bishop of the Church. There were at that time about thirtythousand people in Utah. 

President Young and the Apostles traveled much throughout the Territory, locating settlements, organizing wards and putting the Church in order. Atthe October conference, 1853, some of the leading brethren were called tolocate in different parts of the Territory. Among them were Elders GeorgeA. Smith and Erastus Snow with fifty families who were called to strengthenIron county, and Elder Lorenzo Snow with fifty families to go to Box Elder. 

In the summer of 1854 the grasshoppers did much damage to the crops, andagain in 1855 in many parts these insects took every green thing. Thisbrought on another scarcity. There was much suffering and again the peoplewere compelled to live on roots. A number of the brethren had stored upsome grain which they now shared with those who had none. In this way allfared very much alike and the hardships were shared by all. 

In the winter of 1856 a very sad thing happened. That year some emigrantscame to Utah in handcart companies. Small, two wheeled carts were made atthe place of starting in Iowa. On these carts were loaded baggage andprovisions, and the men and boys pulled them across the plains. Sometimesthe women and girls helped. A few ox teams usually hauled the heaviestloads in wagons, and in this way the Saints walked and pulled their cartsover the thirteen hundred miles of their journey. This plan succeeded verywell for those who started early and reached the valley in good time, but anumber of companies started too late and were caught in fierce snow stormsin the mountains. Many of these poor travelers died from hunger and cold, and if it had not been for some of the brethren who came out from Salt Laketo their help, no doubt most of them would have perished. 

Topics. --1. Making settlements. 2. Trouble with the Indians. 3. Organizing Utah Territory. 4. Famine of 1855-6. 5. The handcart companies. 

Questions and Review. --1. Where was the second settlement in Utah made?2. When and by whom was Ogden settled? 3. Tell about the settlement ofProvo. 4. What trouble did the Provo settlers have? 5. What was PresidentYoung's Indian policy? 6. Who was Chief Walker? 7. What was done March 4, 1849? 8. What did the people wish to name the state? 9. When was UtahTerritory organized? 10. Who was the first governor? 11. Name the firstmissionaries to France; to Denmark; to Sweden; to Italy; to the SocietyIslands. 12. Tell something about these missions. 13. Tell about the workof the Church leaders in making settlements, etc. 14. What was the cause ofthe famine in 1855-6? 15. What were the handcart companies?

CHAPTER XXXII. 

THE "UTAH WAR. "

The president of the United States appoints the leading officers of aterritory. Many of the officers sent to Utah by the president were good menand did justice to "Mormon" and Gentile alike; but some were men who couldsee no good in the Saints, and were therefore always trying to oppressthem. Such men were Judges Stiles and Drummond, and Secretary Ferris, whowere in Utah in 1856. At last they left the territory and sent in a reportto the president. In it Judge Drummond said that the "Mormons" weretraitors to the United States, and would not obey its laws; that they had asecret organization whose duty it was to murder all who opposed them; thatthe court records had been burned; that the government officials were indanger of their lives, etc. Like reports were made by other persons, andthe result was that a strong feeling was created in the East against thepeople of Utah. 

On the 24th of July, 1857, the people of Salt Lake City were having a grandcelebration in Big Cottonwood canyon. They were having a happy time. Theband played, the choirs sang, the cannon roared, while the Stars andStripes waved from trees and mountain peaks. Suddenly four dusty travelersrode into the camp. They brought news from the East, and startling news itwas: the president of the United States had sent an army to Utah toestablish law and order among the "Mormons!"

In the evening the Saints were called together, and the news was told them. President Young spoke with power. "We have transgressed no law, neither dowe intend to, " said he; "but as for any nation coming to destroy thispeople, God Almighty being my helper, it shall not be. "

Two thousand five hundred soldiers were on the march to Utah. GeneralHarney was appointed commander, but he was succeeded by Colonel AlbertSidney Johnston. With the army came the new set of officers which thepresident had appointed for the territory. 

In the commander's orders it was stated that the people of Utah were inrebellion against the United States, and that it was the duty of the armyto restore the authority of the government and aid and protect the newofficers in the discharge of their duties. On the 8th of September CaptainVan Vliet arrived in Salt Lake City from the army. He told President Youngthat their intentions were not to harm the people in any way. PresidentYoung replied that he had had experience with military bodies in Missouriand Illinois, and he knew what the "Mormons" could expect. The captaintried to show President Young how useless it would be for a few "Mormons"to resist a nation like the United States. Even if they prevented the armyfrom entering the valley that year, more soldiers would be sent in thespring. 

"We are aware that such will be the case, " replied the president; "but whenthose troops arrive they will find Utah a desert; every house will beburned to the ground, every tree cut down, and every field laid waste. "

The captain was deeply impressed, but such were really the intentions ofthe Saints. They could not trust the troops, and they did not intend tosubmit tamely to such scenes as they had passed through in Far West andNauvoo. They were not in rebellion, and if the president had simply sentsome one to investigate, he would have found out that truth; but he hadacted on the spur of the moment, and the troops were already far on theway. If they could be checked for a time until the truth could be learned, the danger of a conflict might be averted; but if not, then, said PresidentYoung, and the people were with him, their homes, fields, and gardens wouldbe destroyed by fire and the Saints would flee to the mountains. 

The army continued its march towards Utah. Col. R. T. Burton was now orderedby Gen. Daniel H. Wells, commander of the Utah militia, to take a smallbody of men and guard the emigrant trains that were coming in. The militiato the number of 2, 500 men was called into service, and in September, 1857, Gen. Wells and staff went to Echo canyon and there made their headquarters. Active preparations were now made to stop the enemy. Echo canyon, throughwhich the troops would have to pass, was fortified by trenches and theloosening of rocks on the hill sides. 

By this time the army was in what is now Wyoming, and was making for Echocanyon. Small companies of Utah men were sent out to meet them. They wereinstructed to annoy the invaders as much as possible, to burn the grass, drive off their cattle, etc. , but they were to shed no blood if it werepossible to prevent it. These orders were followed, and many excitingencounters and narrow escapes took place. Major Lot Smith, with a smallcompany of men, at one time rode up to a large wagon train carryingsupplies for the army. After capturing the drivers, they set fire to anddestroy the whole train. Herds of cattle were driven off to Salt Lakevalley, where they were kept during the winter and taken back to thesoldiers in the spring. 

Winter came early that year, and in the mountains where the armies were, the weather became very cold, with snow and sleet. The government troopsmade but little progress. They tried hard to reach the valley; but at lastthey were compelled to stop for the winter in the mountains of westernWyoming. 

This was all the Utah leaders wanted. Now there would be time for findingout the truth. Most of the militia returned home, leaving fifty men as aguard in Echo canyon. 

When the government at Washington heard the news from the seat of the "war"there was considerable excitement, and Congress voted to send another armyto aid the first one. Meanwhile the people of Utah were anxiously waitingfor spring and preparing for the conflict which they thought must thencome. 

Topics. --1. Character of some territorial officials. 2. The army forUtah. 3. What the "Mormons" thought of the army. 4. How the army wasstopped. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who was Judge Drummond? 2. What report did hemake to the government about Utah affairs? 3. What led President Buchananto send an army to Utah? 4. What was the object of sending this army? 5. When did the Saints first hear of it? 6. What did the "Mormons" resolve todo? 7. Why could they not trust the army? 8. What did the Utah militia do?9. What was the object in annoying the troops? 10. What hindered the troopsfrom entering Salt Lake valley that year?

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE "UTAH WAR, " (CONCLUDED. )

When that friend of the Latter-day Saints, Colonel, afterwards GeneralThomas L. Kane, heard of the troubles in Utah, he left his home inPhiladelphia and went to Washington to see the president. Though feeble inhealth, he offered to go to Utah and try to settle the difficulties in apeaceable manner. The offer was accepted. Colonel Kane arrived in Salt LakeCity in February, 1858, where he was gladly received. In the cold and snowof that winter he went to the camp of the army and had a talk with the newgovernor whom the president had appointed to take Brigham Young's place. Colonel Kane told the officers with the army that they would be welcomed inthe valley and kindly treated, but the troops must not locate in or nearany settlement of the territory. The Colonel also convinced GovernorCumming that he had no need of an army to help him take charge of hisoffice, and even prevailed on him to go back to Salt Lake City with him. 

To this, General Johnston of the army was very much opposed. The presidenthad sent him with an army to put the governor into his office, aided bysword and cannon; but now, if the governor could enter peaceably upon hisduties there would be no need of him or his soldiers. The general didn'tlike it a bit; but nevertheless, Governor Cumming went with Colonel Kane toSalt Lake City in charge of some of the Utah militia. 

Governor Cumming was received with the respect due such an officer, andduly installed into his position. He found the records and books of thecourts safe, and learned that the reports which had led the president tosend the army were not true. 

The new governor was a good man. He said the troops would have to come intothe valley in the spring, but the people's rights would be respected, andno harm should be done to any of them. The Saints, however, could not trustthe army. They remembered the scenes of the past, and resolved that theyshould not be enacted over again in the valleys of Utah. So, early in thespring, the order came for all the Saints to pack up their goods, gettogether their stock, and move southward, leaving their deserted homes inthe care of a few guards who were to set fire to everything should the armyattempt to locate in the settlements. 

On seeing the Saints thus leaving their hard-earned homes, the kind-heartedold governor entreated them not to do so, promising them full protection. When his wife arrived from the camp of the army and saw the towns lonelyand deserted, she burst into tears and pleaded with her husband to bringthe people back. The governor, however, could do nothing. The 30, 000 peoplein Salt Lake City and northward took all their goods and moved south, mostof them into Utah Valley. 

President Buchanan, now having learned the true condition of affairs, senttwo gentlemen to arrange for peace. They arrived in Salt Lake in June andhad a number of meetings with the leading brethren who came from the southfor that purpose. A letter was read from President Buchanan which, aftertelling of the many crimes committed by the "Mormons" against thegovernment, offered to pardon all who would submit to the laws. In replyPresident Young said that he and his brethren had simply stood up for theirrights, and they had done nothing to be pardoned for, except, perhaps theburning of some government trains, and for that act they accepted thePresident's pardon. President Young then said they were willing the troopsshould come into the country. They might march through the city but theywere not to make a camp less than forty miles away. "No mobs shall live inthe homes we have built in these mountains, " said the president. "That'sthe program, gentlemen, whether you like it or not. If you want war, youcan have it; but, if you want peace, peace it is; and we shall be glad ofit. " After the meetings the brethren went back to the Saints in the south. 

June 26, 1858, "Johnston's Army, " marched through Salt Lake City. All daylong the troops and trains passed through the city. The only sounds heardwas the noise made by the horses' hoofs and the roll of the wagons. Thecity seemed as if dead. Hardly a person was seen on the streets. Quietlyand orderly the soldiers marched on. Colonel Cooke, once the commander ofthe Mormon Battalion, bared his head as he rode through the streets inhonor of the brave "Mormon" boys who had marched under his command. 

The army camped that night across the Jordan, and then continued its marchto Cedar Valley, thirty-six miles south of the city. About two years later, the soldiers went back to the east where they took part in the great CivilWar. The commander, Albert Sidney Johnston, fought on the side of thesouth, and fell in the great battle of Shiloh. 

The Saints returned to their homes in July, 1858. Thus again, the Lordpreserved his people, and protected them from their enemies. 

Topics. --1. The mission of Colonel Kane. 2. Governor Cumming installed. 3. Meeting with peace commissioners. 4. The move south. 5. The entrance ofthe army. 

Questions and Review. --1. What did Colonel Kane do at Washington? 2. What was his mission to Utah? 3. Where was the army camped? 4. Who wasGovernor Cumming? 5. What did Colonel Kane get the governor to do? 6. Whatdid the governor find in Salt Lake City? 7. Why did the Saints move south?8. What did they propose doing if the army came to harm them? 9. What wereGovernor Cumming's feelings? 10. Tell about the meeting with the peacecommissioners. 11. Describe the march of the army through Salt Lake City. 12. Where did the soldiers camp? 13. When did they leave Utah, and wheredid they go?

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

PROSPERITY. 

The action of the "Mormons" in again leaving the homes they had newly madein the wilderness of the West, called the whole world's attention to them. Many honest people began to see what a mistake it had been to send armedsoldiers against an innocent people. 

When the army was withdrawn, peace once more prevailed, and the Church wasagain busy preaching the Gospel to the world and gathering the honest fromthe nations. Many missionaries were sent out and new fields were opened. 

From Europe the Saints came by the thousands. Sometimes a whole ship wouldbe engaged to take a company of Saints across the ocean, in charge of oneof the Apostles or some leading elder. From the sea, they would travel intrain loads to the end of the railroad, where companies of teams and wagonswould take them the remainder of the journey to Utah. 

Now came the telegraph line westward. October 17, 1861, it was completedto Salt Lake City, and the next day President Young sent the first messageeast. At this time the war between the north and the south was beginning, and in this first telegram President Young said that Utah had not seceded, but was firm for the Union. 

[Illustration: SALT LAKE TABERNACLE (INTERIOR. )]

Following the telegraph came the railroads. The Union Pacific was beingbuilt from the east, while the Central Pacific came from the west. May 10, 1869, the two roads met in Northern Utah near the Promontory, and the lastspike was driven with much ceremony. Thus was completed the first iron roadacross the continent. 

But true to the past history of the Latter-day Saints, peace was not ablessing they were permitted to enjoy for many years at a time. 

[Illustration: SALT LAKE TABERNACLE (EXTERIOR. )]

In the year 1869 a number of prominent elders in the Church opposedPresident Young and the authorities, and were cut off from the Church. Oneof these elders was Wm. S. Godbe, therefore those who followed him weresometimes called "Godbeites. " These men joined with the anti-"Mormons" andformed what was called the Liberal Party. It was the object of thisorganization to oppose the "Mormons, " and they were aided in this by theofficers sent to Utah by the government. It had been the policy ofPresidents Lincoln and Johnson to let the "Mormons" alone, but when GeneralGrant became president he changed the program and at once sent officers toUtah to "straighten out" the "Mormons. " President Grant, no doubt obtainedmuch of his information about the "Mormons" from his friend, the Rev. J. P. Newman. This minister had held a three days' discussion in the Tabernacleat Salt Lake City with Apostle Orson Pratt on the subject of polygamy. Elder Pratt seems to have got the better of the argument, and it can wellbe imagined what kind of information this preacher gave to the president. 

The Saints never had more bitter enemies than some of these territorialofficers, especially Governor Shaffer and Chief Judge McKean. For yearsthese officials, aided by the Liberal Party, tried to run affairs their ownway; and you can easily understand that they could do a great many hatefulthings against the "Mormons, " having the officers of the law, if not thelaw itself, on their side. Especially was their hate directed towardsPresident Young and the leading brethren who were accused of all manner ofcrimes. They were arrested, tried, and placed in prison in many unlawfulways. 

Notwithstanding all these annoyances, the Church continued to grow instrength and numbers. The Sunday Schools, the first of which was organizedin 1849, by Elder Richard Ballantyne, in the Fourteenth Ward of Salt LakeCity, had by this time grown to be a strong institution. The MutualImprovement Associations were organized in 1875, and soon did much goodamong the young. 

President Young and his brethren were busy organizing stakes of Zion, setting the quorums of the priesthood in order, directing the building oftemples, laying out towns and cities, and attending to the general dutiesof the Church. Thus Zion grew and became stronger day by day. 

Brigham City is named after President Young. August 19, 1877, thepresident was at that place and the Box Elder Stake of Zion was organized. Shortly after his return home, he was taken ill and died August 29th, atthe age of seventy-six. 

Thus passed away the second president of the Church. Joseph had laid thefoundation deep and strong. Brigham had built upon it. For thirty years hehad stood at the head of the Church and had led the Saints through some ofthe most trying scenes of their history. Brigham Young was the leadingspirit in the removal from Nauvoo, in the march across the wild prairiesand mountains, in the building up of a great state in the desert valleys ofthe Rocky Mountains; and his name will be ever honored as the great pioneerof the west. 

Topics. --1. Prosperity of the Saints. 2. The telegraph and railroad. 3. The Liberal Party. 4. Death of President Young. 

Questions and Review. --1. How did the Saints come from Europe in earlydays? 2. Tell about the overland telegraph line in Utah and the firsttelegram. 3. Tell about the railroads. 4. Who composed the Liberal party?5. What was its object? 6. How did President Grant treat the "Mormons?" 7. Tell about the Newman-Pratt discussion. 8. Why could the Utah officialsgreatly annoy the Saints? 9. Who organized the first Sunday School? 10. Where and when was it? 11. Tell of the death of President Young. 12. Tellwhat you can of his life. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

THE "CRUSADE. "

Those who did not understand the true nature of "Mormonism" thought that atthe death of Brigham Young, the Church would go to pieces; but they soonfound out that the work of God does not depend on any one man. The Twelveagain became the leading quorum in the Church, with John Taylor at itshead. Three years after the death of President Young, October 10, 1880, theFirst Presidency was again organized. John Taylor became President, and hechose George Q. Cannon as first and Joseph F. Smith as second counselor. 

[Illustration: PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR. ]

President Taylor was seventy-two years old at this time. He had been withthe Church nearly from the beginning, having been an Apostle for forty-twoyears. He had filled many missions both in the United States and in Europe, had written much on gospel subjects, and was in reality as some called him, the "Champion of Liberty. " You will remember that he was with Joseph andHyrum at the time of their martyrdom in Carthage jail and was then severelywounded. 

The year 1880 was the jubilee year of the Church, being fifty years sinceit was organized. As was the custom in ancient Israel, it was a time offorgiveness. The Church remitted many debts of the poor, besides givingthem many sheep and cattle. "While God is blessing us, let us bless oneanother, " said President Taylor; and thus much good feeling was manifestedamong the Saints. 

But another storm was coming. A trial of another kind was in store for theChurch. 

In the days of Nauvoo, in 1843, Joseph the Prophet had received arevelation from God, saying that it was right for good men holding thepriesthood to have more wives than one. By the time the Church had been inUtah a few years, quite a number of the Saints had obeyed this law andentered plural marriage. The enemies of the Church call this practice agreat sin, even though they can read in the Bible that good men of old whomthe Lord loved had many wives. In 1862 Congress passed a law against pluralmarriage or polygamy. As many thought it was an unjust law, it was notenforced for many years. Elder George Reynolds offered to be arrested andtried under the law in order to have it tested. This was done, and ElderReynolds was convicted and sent to prison. His case was taken to theSupreme Court of the United States where the law was decided to beconstitutional. 

But this law was not hard enough on the "Mormons" to suit their enemies. Sectarian preachers and politicians who wanted some office began to spreadfalsehoods all over the country about Utah and its people, all of which hadits effect on Congress. Notwithstanding the protest of the "Mormons, "another law was passed against them, (March, 1882), called the Edmunds Act. This law provided that no polygamist should vote or hold office; and iffound guilty of polygamy a man might be fined five hundred dollars and putin prison for three years. If a man lived with more than one wife, he couldbe fined three hundred dollars and imprisoned for six months. 

Officers were now sent to Utah to enforce this law, and what is called the"Crusade" began in earnest. "Mormons" were not allowed to sit on juries orhave anything to do with the courts, so it was an easy matter to convictall "Mormons" who came to trial. 

Arrests now followed fast, and it was indeed a sad time for many of theSaints. Officers, called deputy marshals, were sent into all thesettlements of the Saints to spy out and arrest those supposed to beguilty. Many of the brethren left the country or went away in hiding toavoid being arrested, leaving the women and children to manage as best theycould. In Idaho no "Mormon" was allowed to vote or hold office, no matterwhether he had broken the law or not. Three brethren were sent from Arizonato the penitentiary at Detroit, Michigan. Nearly all the leading brethrenwere in hiding; and, as they could not speak to the people in theirmeetings, they wrote epistles which were read to the Saints at theirconferences. 

For a number of years this persecution went on. Seemingly, the strongestanti-"Mormons" should have been satisfied. But no; they asked Congress tomake yet stronger laws to put down the "Mormons. " Accordingly, in 1887, another law was passed, called the Edmunds-Tucker Bill. This law, amongother things, provided that the property of the Church should beconfiscated, that is, taken from the Church. United States officers went towork at once and took from the Church nearly $800, 000 worth of property. After the officers had gotten some good salaries out of it, the propertywas at last given back to the Church. 

During the time of this crusade thirteen hundred persons suffered fromfines or imprisonment. 

July 25, 1887, President John Taylor died at Kaysville, Davis County, Utah. He had been in exile for over two years; but the brave spirit was now awayfrom under the power of persecutors, and the Saints could but look on thepeaceful form and face of their beloved leader. 

Topics. --1. President John Taylor. 2. Plural marriage. 3. The EdmundsBill. 4. The "Crusade. " 5. The Edmunds-Tucker Bill. 

Questions and Review. --1. Why was there no danger to the Church at thedeath of President Young? 2. When was the First Presidency organized again?3. Who composed it? 4. Tell what you can about John Taylor. 5. Tell aboutthe Jubilee year. 6. When and where was plural marriage revealed to theChurch? 7. When was the first law passed against this practice? 8. What ismeant by a law being constitutional? 9. What was the Edmunds Bill? 10. Howwas it enforced? 11. What was the Edmunds-Tucker Law? 12. When and wheredid President Taylor die?

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

PRESIDENCY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. 

At the April conference, 1889, the First Presidency was again organized. Wilford Woodruff was chosen president and he called the former counselorsto act also with him. President Woodruff was eighty-two years old when thishigh calling was placed upon him, but he was still quite strong andactive. His life had been devoted to God and his cause. He joined theChurch in 1833, so you see he had been with it from the beginning. He hadbeen an Apostle for fifty years. It will give you an idea of how busyPresident Woodruff had been when you are told that from 1834 to 1895 he hadtraveled through twenty-eight States of the Union, three of the countriesof Europe, and six islands of the sea. He had held 7, 555 meetings, preached3, 526 discourses, organized fifty-one branches of the Church, besides doinga great deal of other work in the Church. 

[Illustration: PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF. ]

President George Q. Cannon, first counselor in the presidency, came withhis father's family from England to Nauvoo in the year 1842, and from thattime had been an active worker in the Church. In 1850 he, in company withother missionaries, went to the Sandwich Islands. Here Elder Cannontranslated the Book of Mormon into the native language, and sometime afterhe had it printed. He labored as an editor and a publisher of Church papersin San Francisco, in Liverpool, and at home with the _Deseret News_. In1860 he was ordained an Apostle. In 1866 he began to publish the _JuvenileInstructor_. He spent many years in Washington as delegate from Utah. President Cannon was the General Superintendent of Sunday Schools to thetime of his death. 

The second counselor in the presidency, Joseph F. Smith, was born November13, 1838, in Far West, Missouri, a few days after the time when his fatherHyrum Smith was taken by the mob and ordered to be shot. As a nine-year-oldboy he drove his mother's yoke of cattle across the plains with an emigranttrain. President Smith has filled many missions to Europe, to the SandwichIslands and to various parts of the United States. 

He was ordained as one of the Twelve Apostles July 1, 1866. 

During the first few years that Wilford Woodruff was president of theChurch, the persecution against those who had more than one familycontinued to rage; yet the enemies of the Saints were not satisfied. Thoughmany of the people had been deprived of the right to vote and hold office, yet there were enough left to outvote the anti-"Mormons, " many of whom wereeager to get into some office. These kept urging Congress to pass otherlaws against the "Mormons, " and at last a number of bills were introducedin Congress for the purpose of disfranchising the "Mormons, " that is, taking away from them the right to vote and to hold public office. 

During all this trouble the authorities of the Church were asking the Lordto show them the right thing to do. In answer to these pleadings, the Lordinspired President Woodruff to issue what is called the manifesto. In thisdocument President Woodruff, among other things, said:

"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding pluralmarriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court oflast resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and touse my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside tohave them do likewise. 

". . . And I now publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints isto refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land. "

At the general conference of the Church held October 6, 1890, PresidentWoodruff's action was sustained by the vote of the conference. 

The enemies of the Church now had no excuse for their persecutions, so, after a time, peace came once more. The two political parties, the"Liberal" and "People's" which had been for many years fighting each otherat the polls, now disbanded, and "Mormons" and non-"Mormons" joined eitherthe Democratic or the Republican party. 

In 1893 the great World's Fair was held in Chicago. In September of thatyear the Tabernacle choir of Salt Lake City, led by Evan Stephens, went toChicago, accompanied by the first presidency and others. The choir gaveconcerts in some of the large cities on the way, and at Chicago carried offthe second prize of one thousand dollars for the best singing. 

During the World's Fair there was held what was called a Parliament ofReligions. Meetings were convened where people of all religions wereinvited to speak and tell of their beliefs. Men came from every part of theworld. There were Catholics and Protestants; there were followers of Brahmaand Buddha from India; there were Greeks and Mohammedans; there wereJapanese, Chinese, and negroes--but, among them all there was one religionand one church lacking, and that was the Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints. It had not been invited, and when Elder B. H. Roberts wassent to Chicago to get a hearing for the Church of Christ, he was treatedin an ungentlemanly manner and was not allowed to properly present theclaims and doctrines of the Church. The Savior once said: "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from theircompany, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for theSon of Man's sake. " May we not draw a great lesson from all this?

On January 4, 1896, President Grover Cleveland signed the paper whichadmitted Utah into the Union as a state. Celebrations in honor of theevent were held in all the towns and cities of the State. 

Fifty years from the time the pioneers entered Salt Lake Valley, July 24th, 1897, a grand celebration was held in Salt Lake City to honor the event. 

[Illustration: THE PIONEER MONUMENT. ]

This celebration began Tuesday, July 20, 1897, and closed on the night ofSaturday 24th. On the 20th the Pioneer Monument, which is surmounted by abronze statue of President Brigham Young, and situated near the Southeastcorner of the Temple block, Salt Lake City, was dedicated by PresidentWilford Woodruff. The same day, at a reception held in the Tabernacle, allsurviving pioneers of 1847, were presented with a golden badge. Memorialservices in honor of the deceased pioneers were held in the Tabernacle onSunday 25th. 

When the war with Spain broke out the next year, a call was made on Utahfor five hundred volunteers. Utah's young men, many of them sons of thepioneers and old settlers, heeded the call, and the men were promptlyraised and sent to the seat of war. 

President Wilford Woodruff while on a visit to the Pacific coast, tooksuddenly ill and died in San Francisco, September 2, 1898. 

Topics. --1. Wilford Woodruff. 2. George Q. Cannon. 3. Joseph F. Smith. 4. The "Manifesto. " 5. The Parliament of Religions. 6. Death of PresidentWoodruff. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who constituted the fourth First Presidency ofthe Church? 2. Tell something of President Woodruff. 3. Name some positionsPresident Cannon has held. 4. Tell about President Smith's boyhood. 5. Whatfurther laws did the enemies of the "Mormons" wish passed against them? 6. What is the "manifesto?" 7. How came it to be issued? 8. When was itaccepted. 9. Tell about the Tabernacle choir's trip to Chicago. 10. Whatwas the Parliament of Religions? 11. How was the Church treated in thatbody? 12. Give some reasons for this treatment. 13. When was Utah admittedas a state? 14. Tell about the Utah volunteers. 15. When and where didPresident Woodruff die?

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

TEMPLE BUILDING. 

God's goodness, mercy, and watch-care reach to all his children, whetherthey be white or black, bond or free; whether they live now or livedthousands of years ago; yes, whether they are alive or dead. Death is but achange from one sphere of action to another, and as God is everywhere, itis not alone in this life that his loving care is manifested. The gospelalso is everlasting. It did not begin with this world, neither will it endwith this life, but its purifying, uplifting power is felt throughout alltime and place. 

Salvation is to get from under the powers of sin and death, and liveforever in the hereafter, growing in wisdom and in power, and becoming moreand more like unto our Great Father, God. This salvation is obtained byobeying the principles of the gospel and performing the ordinances requiredtherein. You all know what the first of these principles and ordinancesare. One of the ordinances is that a person must be baptized by water forthe remission of sin. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, "said the Savior. This must of course be performed here on earth, and by aservant of God having authority to do so. 

Now, by thinking about it a moment, you will know that there are a greatmany of the human race who have not been baptized with this kind ofbaptism. Millions there are and have been who never heard of the gospel orof Jesus Christ. Many others there are and have been who have had a kind ofbaptism but not performed by one with authority. What will then become ofall these people?

Many religions of the day teach that there is no chance for people afterthey leave this life; if they are not saved when they die, they never canbe afterwards. Can you not see what a cruel thought that is? Think of themillions who have not had a chance! Surely God would not punish people fornot doing something they had no chance to do. 

[Illustration: THE TEMPLE BLOCK. ]

Now all this was made plain to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord told himthat all those who died without repentance and baptism would have a chancein the next world. Christ, while his body lay three days in the tomb, wentand preached to the spirits in prison. Likewise, many of the servants ofGod have, and are now preaching the gospel to the children of God in thespirit world. They can there believe and repent, but can not be baptized. That must be done for them by someone on the earth. This ordinance can beperformed in any place that God directs, but he has commanded that holybuildings be erected wherein baptisms for the dead can be performed. This, then, is one use of our temples. Marriages, sealings and other holyordinances are also performed in these buildings. 

The first temple site was dedicated in Jackson county, Missouri, August 3, 1831, but, as you have been told, no work was done to erect a building. TheKirtland temple you also have been told about. After the Saints leftKirtland the building was neglected. Then it came into the possession ofthe Reorganization or "Reorganites, " as they are sometimes called, areligious body founded, and built up for the most part by apostates fromthe Church. The Kirtland temple is still standing. 

Ground was dedicated for a temple at Far West July 3, 1837, but owing tothe Saints being driven away, no work other than digging the foundation wasdone. 

The next effort was at Nauvoo. This temple was begun April 6, 1841, anddedicated April 30th and May 1, 1846. You will remember how the Saintstoiled to complete this building. It was a large, beautiful structure, oneof the finest in the west, and cost about one million dollars. About twoyears after the Saints had left Nauvoo, the temple was destroyed by fire. 

The Salt Lake temple was begun in 1853, but while it was being built threeothers were completed. The first of these is the St. George temple. It wasbegun the 9th of November, 1871, and dedicated April 6, 1877. The Logantemple was begun May 18, 1877, and completed May 17, 1884. The cornerstones of the temple at Manti were laid April 14, 1879, and the buildingwas dedicated May 21, 1888. All these temples are beautiful buildings, andmany are the blessings the Saints have received in them. 

Those of you who have not seen the Salt Lake temple may get a good idea ofits beauty by the picture. It is built of hewn blocks of gray granite, ahard, beautiful stone. It was forty years in building. The last top stoneon the towers, called the capstone, was laid April 6, 1892. There were atleast forty thousand people on the temple grounds on this occasion. Aplatform had been erected on the south side of the temple, whereon theauthorities of the Church were seated. There were services of singing, prayer, and speaking, and then President Woodruff touched a button whichsent an electric current up a wire to the top of the tower. The electricityset free the capstone which settled into its place. President Lorenzo Snowled the vast audience in giving the grand Hosanna shout. 

President Woodruff was anxious to live to see the completion of the temple. It was therefore voted by the large audience present that the inside of thebuilding be finished in one year. 

To accomplish this, means were donated liberally by the Saints, and thework went on rapidly. On the 6th of April, 1893, the temple was completed, and on the morning of that day the first meeting was held in the building. President Woodruff offered the dedicatory prayer. In the afternoon anothermeeting was held, and this continued day after day until thirty-onemeetings had been held. Seventy thousand of the Saints witnessed thededication exercises, besides thirteen thousand Sunday School children, forwhom special services were held. 

Some of you who read this book may have been in one of our temples. Did younot notice what a calm, sweet feeling came over you while there? Surely, the Spirit of God is in these sacred buildings, and those who labor thereinfor the living and the dead enjoy its blessed influence. Let every one ofyou so live that your life may be pure and clean, so that some day you maybe worthy of entering the House of God and partaking of the blessings instore for you. 

Topics. --1. Salvation for the dead. 2. The temples. 3. Salt Lake temple. 

Questions and Review. --1. What is salvation? 2. Is salvation limited tothis life? 3. How is salvation obtained? 4. Name some of the firstprinciples of the gospel. 5. Name some of its first ordinances. 6. Whathave some preachers of religion taught regarding salvation? 7. What did theLord reveal to Joseph Smith on this subject? 8. Where did Jesus go whilehis body lay in the sepulchre? (I Peter 3:18, 20. ) 9. What are some of theuses of temples? 10. How many temples have been built by the Church? 11. Locate each. 12. Tell something about the Nauvoo temple. 13. Describe theSalt Lake temple. 14. When was it dedicated? 15. What great blessings areto be had in a temple?

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

PRESIDENCY OF LORENZO SNOW. 

September 13, 1898, the quorum of Twelve Apostles met at Salt Lake City andchose Lorenzo Snow President of the Church. President Snow chose George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as his counselors. 

President Snow was born in Ohio, April 3, 1814. While yet a young man, hewent to Kirtland, where he became acquainted with the Prophet Joseph. Joining the Church, he was soon in the field as a missionary, travelingthrough the States preaching the gospel. From Nauvoo, he went on a missionto England, returning in 1843 with a large company of Saints. He wasordained a member of the Twelve Apostles, February 12, 1849, at Salt LakeCity. Shortly afterwards he was called on a mission to Italy. His labors, however, were not confined to that country, as he organized many branchesof the Church in other European lands. 

[Illustration: PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW. ]

In 1853, President Snow removed to Brigham City, where for many years heunited the people in a system of co-operation, which rapidly built up thecountry. At the completion of the Salt Lake temple he was called to presidein that sacred building. 

Though so far advanced in years when called to stand at the head of theChurch, President Snow was quite strong in body and in mind. During thesummer of 1899, with a party of Apostles and, other leading men, he visitedmany of the stakes of Zion in their conference gatherings. President Snowsaid he had a special message to deliver to the Saints which was that theyshould in the future more fully observe the law of tithing. This law hadbeen neglected in the past, but now, the Prophet said, the Lord expectedthe Saints to observe this commandment. It is pleasing to state that mostof the Saints heeded the timely instruction and warning, and there wasgreat improvement in keeping this law of the Lord. 

When President Snow took charge of the affairs of the Church, it waslargely in debt, owing to the troubles incident to the confiscation of itsproperty by the government some time before. Now, because of theimprovement in the payment of tithes and offerings, the First Presidencywere able to pay some of the debts of the Church, and make arrangements forthe payment of others as they became due. 

President Snow put new life into many departments of the Church. The Schoolsystem which the Church had established received much attention. TheLatter-day Saints' University at Salt Lake City was established, and one ofits buildings was erected. Many other Church buildings were planned andbegun. 

At an election held in the fall of 1898, Brigham H. Roberts was elected torepresent Utah in Congress. At this election the people, as they had donemany times before, voted as either Democrats or Republicans, and both"Mormons" and non-"Mormons" were elected to office. Now, however, someanti-"Mormon" newspapers, assisted by many of the Utah sectarian preachers, made a great stir. The enemies of the Saints continued to send a flood offalsehood all over the country. Much excitement was worked up and adetermined effort was made to keep Utah's representative out of Congress. 

Representative Roberts fought bravely for his own and his people's rights, but once more hatred against "Mormonism" overcame better judgment, and hewas refused admission to the seat to which he was fairly elected, on theground that he had obeyed the law of plural marriage. 

August 19, 1899, the Utah volunteers returned from the Philippines wherethey had proved themselves valiant soldiers in the service of theircountry. A grand celebration was held in Salt Lake City in their honor. 

On April 12, 1901, President George Q. Cannon died at Monterey, California, where he had gone for his health. This great and good man had done much forthe Church, and he was greatly beloved by the Saints. 

Elder Heber J. Grant, with Horace S. Ensign, Louis A. Kelsch, and Alma O. Taylor, left Salt Lake City July 24, 1901, for a mission to Japan. Theylanded in that country August 12, and at once set to work learning thelanguage. September 1, of that year, Elder Grant dedicated the land for thepreaching of the Gospel. Since that time a good beginning has been made inthe distribution of the printed word, and the Book of Mormon has beentranslated into Japanese and printed. 

President Snow died after a brief illness at his home in Salt Lake City, October 10, 1901. He was not president of the Church long, but during thethree years of his presidency, the Lord blessed him and gave him power todo much good. 

Four days before he died, President Snow addressed the Saints assembled inconference in the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City. The burden of this, hislast message was, "God bless you. " He urged the presidents of stakes andthe high counselors to take upon themselves more of the responsibility oflooking after the affairs of the Church, so that the Twelve could devotetheir time to their special work of preaching the gospel. 

Topics. --1. Lorenzo Snow as President. 2. Election of B. H. Roberts toCongress. 3. The Mission to Japan. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who constituted the fifth Presidency of theChurch? 2. Tell what you can about Lorenzo Snow. 3. What is the law oftithing? 4. What message did President Snow deliver regarding the law oftithing? 5. Why was the Church in debt? 6. Who opened the Japanese mission?

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

PRESIDENCY OF JOSEPH F. SMITH. 

The First Presidency of the Church was reorganized for the sixth timeOctober 17, 1901. Joseph F. Smith was chosen president, and he selected forhis counselors, John R. Winder and Anthon H. Lund. At a special conferenceheld in Salt Lake City November 10, 1901, this presidency was sustained bythe vote of the Church. 

From his boyhood President Smith has been an active, earnest member of theChurch over which he now presides. His father was Hyrum Smith thePatriarch, brother to the Prophet Joseph. You will remember how these twobrothers were so closely together in the beginning of the Church, and howthey were both killed in Carthage jail. 

Joseph was thus left fatherless when he was a boy six years old. As a boyhe had not the privilege of going every day to school or of playingpeacefully in the door-yard of his home. Mobs drove them out of Missouri, and then out of Nauvoo. They had little peace. Two years after his fatherhad been killed, Joseph's mother, with her family, had to leave her home, along with the Saints, and undertake the long westward journey. AlthoughJoseph was only eight years old at the time, he successfully drove a teamof oxen for three hundred miles over the rolling prairies of Iowa. This wasnot an easy task for the boy, for the road was often steep or muddy, andmany older drivers had breakdowns on the way. 

In chapter 27 of this history you are told of the Saints stopping for atime at Winter Quarters, getting ready to move westward. Joseph and hismother were with them. Most of his time was spent in herding his mother'scattle. And he was a good herdboy, too. He saw to it that none of them waslost. There were Indians in that country then, and often they would stealcattle and horses. One day Joseph had a narrow escape. It happened thisway:

Joseph and another boy had driven their cattle to the herd-grounds, andthey were having a good time on their horses which they rode. Suddenly, they heard the whoop of Indians. On looking up, they saw a band of aboutthirty savages riding toward them. They were naked, their bodies daubedwith clay and their hair and faces painted! Joseph's first thought was notabout himself, but about his cattle. If the Indians should drive off hiscattle, the family would not be able to go to the Valley next spring. So, off he rode to try to save his stock, the Indians coming in the samedirection. They whooped and yelled so that the cattle ran off in greatfright. Then the Indians singled out Joseph, for they wanted his horse, which was a good one and could run. The chase was now on in earnest. Josephturned. Some of the Indians followed, while others slacked to head him off. Soon he was between two parties of Indians. After a time they closed in onhim. One of the Indians took him by the arm, and another by the leg, andlifted him from his horse, letting him fall to the ground. The horsesjumped over him, but did not hurt him. The Indians rode off with the horse, but did not get the cattle. 

This is only one of the many thrilling incidents in the life of PresidentSmith as a boy. When his mother was ready to move West, Joseph drove twoyoke of oxen hitched to a heavily loaded wagon across the plains, adistance of one thousand miles. He drove into Salt Lake City September 23, 1848. 

In those early days, even the boys had to work hard to help make a livingin the new country. Joseph again herded cattle, besides doing work on thefarm and in the canyon. How, then, did the boy get his education? Crossingthe plains, when they were resting in the tent or by the camp fire, Joseph's mother taught him to read the Bible, and from that day to this, hehas been reading good books. You see, he started early in the reading ofthe best books, and that means a lot. Joseph's mother was a very good andwise woman, and he says that much of his success in life is due to herteachings, and the fact that he heeded her counsels. 

[Illustration: ANTHON H. LUND, JOSEPH F. SMITH, CHARLES W. PENROSE

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY, 1916]

When Joseph was fourteen years old his mother died. When he was fifteen hewent on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands. He worked a number of months inCalifornia to earn money to pay his passage to the Islands. He was greatlyblessed on this mission. 

This small history cannot tell you of the many missions President Smith hasfilled since that first one. Many times he has been back to the HawaiianIslands, and many times to the States and to Europe. Every boy and girlought to read the detailed story of President Smith's life. President Smithis still with us. Most of the Sunday School boys and girls have seen himand heard him speak. He is a great and good man. He is the prophet of theLord to us. Let us be thankful that we live in a day when we can have suchmen with us to show us by the example of their lives how to be good boysand girls, good men and women. 

President John R. Winder was born at Biddenden near London, England, December 11, 1821. He joined the Church when he was a young man andemigrated to Utah in 1853, since which time he took an active and leadingpart in Church matters. In the year 1877 he was chosen to be the secondcounselor to Presiding Bishop Wm. B. Preston, which position he held untilhe was called to the First Presidency. When the Salt Lake Temple wasnearing completion, he was given special charge of the work, and at thededication of the Temple he became the first assistant to President Snow. He died March 27, 1910. He lived to a good old age, active and strong tothe last. He claimed that this was due to his having obeyed the laws ofGod, especially those contained in the Word of Wisdom. 

President Anthon H. Lund came from Denmark. He was born in the city ofAalborg in that far-away country May 14, 1844. Many interesting stories aretold of him as a boy-preacher of the gospel in his native land. When he wascalled upon to give his first report at conference he was lifted upon atable that he might be better seen and heard. He came to Utah when eighteenyears old, and settled in Sanpete county. He was made an Apostle in 1889. He has filled a number of foreign missions, and at one time he presidedover the European mission. He has also been president of the Manti Temple. 

At the death of President Winder, President Lund was chosen First Counselorto President Smith, and Elder John Henry Smith, one of the quorum of theTwelve, was called to be the Second Counselor. He was born at Carbunca, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, September 18, 1848. His father was George A. Smith, at one time Counselor to President Brigham Young. He came to Utah inearly days, and filled many missions at home and abroad. He died Oct. 13, 1911. President Smith, during his life, became known and well-beloved farand near. He was always kind and cheerful, and he had a way with him whichwon the hearts of all who came to know him. 

Elder Charles W. Penrose, of the Council of the Twelve, was chosen tosucceed John Henry Smith in the First Presidency, December 7, 1911. President Penrose was born February 4, 1832, at Camberwell, London, England. When he was four years old he could read the Bible. At eighteen hejoined the Church, and being so well versed in the scriptures he was sooncalled on a mission. For ten years he traveled about his native landpreaching the gospel, healing many of the sick and organizing branches ofthe Church. He suffered from hardships and persecution, but he kept righton until he was released, when he emigrated to Utah. Since then PresidentPenrose has filled many missions. He is a clear, forceful speaker, and hehas written much on doctrinal subjects. He was for many years editor of the_Deseret News_. He wrote a number of our best songs. He was called andordained to be an apostle and set apart as one of the Twelve, July 7, 1904. He presided over the European Mission from December, 1906, to June, 1910. 

In January, 1903, Reed Smoot was elected Senator to represent Utah in theCongress of the United States at Washington. As he is a leading official inthe Church, some anti-"Mormons" objected to his retaining the office towhich he was elected. They sent a protest to the Senate, and that bodyappointed a committee to investigate the charges made. President Smith andmany of the brethren were summoned to Washington to give their testimony. All of this led to much agitation and misrepresentation against the Church. Senator Smoot retained his seat. 

During recent years the Church has been growing both at home and abroad. Property is being acquired in many parts of the world, and mission housesare being erected. Carthage Jail, in Illinois, the farm containing thebirthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a large part of the Templegrounds at Independence, Missouri, have been purchased by the Church. 

In the year 1905 a monument of polished granite was erected and acomfortable and commodious cottage was built on the site of the Prophet'sbirth, on the farm purchased by the Church, in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont. The monument is 50 feet and 10 inches high and weighs nearly 100tons. The shaft is 38-3/4 feet long, each foot corresponding to one yearof the Prophet's life. The cottage is built around the original hearthstoneof the old Smith home. On December 23rd, 1905--the one hundredthanniversary of the birth of the Prophet--this cottage and monument werededicated by President Joseph F. Smith, who, with a number of the leadingbrethren of the Church and a few Saints, had gone to Vermont for thatpurpose. The monument contains a written description of the Prophet'stestimony and stands as a silent witness of the great work he was calledupon by the Lord to perform. 

[Illustration: JOSEPH SMITH MONUMENT AND MEMORIAL COTTAGE. ]

For many years past, the Saints had been making settlements in Mexico, andestablishing themselves there in good homes. In the year 1912 thedisturbances in the country broke out into civil war, and because of thedangers attendant on the fighting between various factions, most of theLatter-day Saints had to leave the country and their possessions and cometo the United States. 

Two new Temples are now being erected, one in Alberta, Canada, and anotherat Laie, on the island of Oahu, Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands. Work on theCanadian Temple was begun in 1913, and the one at Hawaii was commenced inthe summer of 1915. The building of these Temples indicate that the greatwork for the dead is being energetically carried out by the Church. 

In the summer of 1914, the great European war broke out, which has causedthe death and crippling of millions, and brought misery untold to thenations engaged in it. Very likely this war is the greatest the world hasever known. Nearly all our missionaries have had to be withdrawn fromGermany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, and France, and very fewhave been left in Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries. Wesympathize with all these nations, and can only hope that the Lord willmake it possible, after the war, that the missionaries will be better ableto reach the people with the gospel of peace and salvation. 

At this writing (December, 1916) there are seventy-three stakes of Zion inthe Church, and over eight hundred wards. The quorums of the Priesthoodhave been more thoroughly organized, and have regular courses of study intheir classes. The helping organizations of the Church, such as the SundaySchools, the Mutual Improvement Associations, and others are doing asplendid work. The Church has recently completed a beautiful Church officebuilding in Salt Lake City. The first and second floors of this buildingare occupied by the First Presidency and other Church officials. The thirdfloor is devoted to the Historian's work, and the large collection of booksand Church records. The fourth floor is used by the Genealogical Society, an organization whose purpose is to help people with their records, andgather a library of genealogical books, which will help them do the work inthe Temples for their dead. 

[Illustration: CHURCH OFFICE BUILDING]

 * * * * *

Here ends our history for the present. The little tree (mentioned inChapter I) planted by God and nurtured by his servants, has in the space ofeighty-six years grown to a large, beautiful tree, whose branches, as itwere, protect thousands of people, and whose fruit nourishes a multitude. The enemy has striven hard to uproot and destroy it, but every effort hasonly made it cling more firmly to the nourishing earth. 

The Church is growing in strength and power to save the human family. Thatis its mission. It will never be overcome, or left to other people. "Nounhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, " said the ProphetJoseph, "persecution may rage; mobs may combine; armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, andindependently till it has penetrated every continent; visited every clime, swept every country; and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of Godshall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. "

And now let all the boys and girls who read this book remember what theLord expects of them. He must have men and women to carry on the great workbegun so nobly and so well. If He is to use you, you must make your livesworthy; you must grow in wisdom and power and faith and goodness; be pureand strong in mind and body; be studious, earnest, prayerful, noble, andbrave to do the right; then God will be pleased to use you, and youyourselves will become makers of a glorious future history. 

Topics. --1. President Joseph F. Smith. 2. John R. Winder. 3. Anthon H. Lund. 4. John Henry Smith. 5. Charles W. Penrose. 6. The trouble in Mexico. 7. The great war in Europe. 8. Progress of the Church. 

Questions and Review. --1. Who was President Joseph F. Smith's father? 2. Describe some of his boyhood surroundings. 3. Tell about his adventure withthe Indians. 4. How did he cross the plains? 5. Tell of his missions. 6. How long has he been President of the Church? 7. How many of you have seenhim and heard him speak? 8. Name President Smith's counselors. 9. Tellsomething about each of them. 10. What historical places has the Churchpurchased and improved? 11. Why have the Saints had to leave Mexico? 12. Review the great European war. 13. What might be the outcome of this war?14. Where are new temples being built? 15. How many stakes and wards arethere now in the Church 16. What did the Prophet Joseph Smith say about thefuture of the Church?

FIRST PRESIDENCIES OF THE CHURCH. 

 First. --1833-1844. 

_President. _ _First Counselor. _ _Second Counselors. _ Frederick G. Williams. Joseph Smith. Sidney Rigdon. Hyrum Smith, William Law. 

 Second. --1847-1877. 

_President. _ _First Counselor. _ _Second Counselors. _ Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Brigham Young. George A. Smith, Jedediah M. Grant, John W. Young. Daniel H. Wells. 

 Third. --1880-1887. 

_President. _ _First Counselor. _ _Second Counselors. _John Taylor. George Q. Cannon. Joseph F. Smith. 

 Fourth. --1889-1898. 

_President. _ _First Counselor. _ _Second Counselors. _Wilford Woodruff. George Q. Cannon. Joseph F. Smith. 

 Fifth. --1898-1901. 

_President. _ _First Counselor. _ _Second Counselors. _

Lorenzo Snow. George Q. Cannon. Joseph F. Smith. 

 Sixth. --1901-

_President. _ _First Counselor. _ _Second Counselors. _ John R. Winder. Anthon H. Lund. Joseph F. Smith. Anthon H. Lund. John Henry Smith. Charles W. Penrose. 

NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 

SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH. 

1 Thomas B. Marsh, 2 David W. Patten, 3 Brigham Young, 4 Heber C. Kimball, 5 Orson Hyde, 6 William E. McLellin, 7 Parley P. Pratt, 8 Luke S. Johnson, 9 William Smith, 10 Orson Pratt, 11 John F. Boynton, 12 Lyman E. Johnson, 13 John E. Page, 14 John Taylor, 15 Wilford Woodruff, 16 George A. Smith, 17 Willard Richards, 18 Lyman Wight, 19 Amasa M. Lyman, 20 Ezra T. Benson, 21 Charles C. Rich, 22 Lorenzo Snow, 23 Erastus Snow, 24 Franklin D. Richards, 25 George Q. Cannon, 26 Joseph F. Smith, 27 Brigham Young, Jun. , 28 Albert Carrington, 29 Moses Thatcher, 30 Francis M. Lyman, 31 John Henry Smith, 32 George Teasdale, 33 Heber J. Grant, 34 John W. Taylor, 35 Marriner W. Merrill, 36 Anthon H. Lund, 37 Abraham H. Cannon, 38 Matthias F. Cowley, 39 Abraham O. Woodruff, 40 Rudger Clawson, 41 Reed Smoot, 42 Hyrum M. Smith, 43 Geo. Albert Smith, 44 Chas. W. Penrose, 45 George F. Richards, 46 Orson F. Whitney, 47 David O. McKay, 48 Anthony W. Ivins, 49 Joseph F. Smith. Jun. , 50 James E. Talmage. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: Not. --If we say that the Father and the Son came to Josephbecause of his prayer, we might conclude that every boy who prayed shouldreceive such a visit. No; the time had come for the ushering in of a newdispensation, etc. To bring out this thought is the idea of this question. ]

[Footnote 2: Jensen's Historical Record, page 838. Whitney's History ofUtah. Vol. I, page 274. ]