turn attended to the ceremony, and it was alike upon all occasions. They were to
purify their bodies by washing them entirely with pure water, after which they
were to wash each other's feet, and anoint each other with oil, pronouncing mutual
blessings during the performance. The sacrament was then administered, in which
tlaej partook of the bread and wine freely, and a report went abroad that some of
them got drunk ; as to that, every man must answer for himself."

Since that endowment, "bread and wine," anointings and prophesyings have
often cheered the hearts of the elders.



CHAPTER XL

FIEST GREAT APOSTACY. Joseph predicts that Brigham will be President of
the Church British Missions projected as a Strategic Measure One of Joseph's
own Counsellors rehels against him He is proclaimed "a Fallen Prophet''
Troubles again threaten i Missouri.

A CRITICAL period in the existence of the Church was now
reached. The endowments had been given and the Temple
had been dedicated, yet there was dissatisfaction among the
disciples. Their anticipations had not been realized. The
spirit of apostacy was abroad. But it was not the faith that
so much tried the people as it was Joseph's life. Everyone
had his own ideas of what a prophet should be. He was now
greatly changed. The humble plough-boy had merged in the
Prophet-ruler. The men who had devoted to him their best
abilities in the beginning, and had contributed to shape the
crude elements of his supernatural creations into form, thought
that they had a right to some part in " the kingdom." Joseph
saw in them only instruments subordinate to his own success
he was to be the head and front of everything. It was difficult
for free-born Americans cradled in democracy to comprehend
at once Joseph's theocracy. It takes time for men to strangle
their truest instincts. Joseph had none of that experience
himself, and he could not appreciate the cost of it in others.
All the^manliness of his ambitious nature found ample scope
in working out what he believed to be his divine mission, and
in announcements of faith. Nominally, he accorded the same
privileges to his brethren, but practically, it was the very oppo-
site. It was for him to speak ; it was for them to obey. He
was " the Lord's servant," and they had no right to criticise
him. If he erred, " the Lord " could correct him. The man who



68 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS.

dared to suggest was as impious as lie who in the ancient Israel-
itish story stretched forth his hand to steady the tottering ark,
and deserved the same punishment the judgment of Heaven.

It is asserted th^t when Joseph first saw Brigham Young
he prophesied that " the time would come when Brother Brig-
" ham should preside- over the Church." * "With such a predic-
tion ringing in his ears, it is not difficult to trace Brigham's
influence with Joseph, from the beginning of their acquaint-
ance, and to see therein laid the foundation of that unchal-
lenged authority which now characterizes his reign in Utah.
Nearly all the leading men during the first years of Mormon
history fell out with Joseph over his personal rule ; but Brig-
ham was among the very few who clung to him. He never
or, at the farthest, but once only challenged Joseph's right to
do as he pleased, and he permits none to dispute his own.

But the Saints grew weary, and it was necessary to direct
their attention away from home. So u the Lord " revealed to
Joseph that " in order to save His Church " a foreign mission
must be improvised, and Great Britain was selected as the new
field of labour. Republicanism was at war with theocracy, and
it became necessary to seek an element that had been cradled
with kings.

The Apostles Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde were ac-
cordingly chosen to introduce the Gospel to Europe. On the
12th of June, 183T, they left Kirtland, and thus began the first
foreign mission. These apostles were accompanied by other
elders, and in a few months were successful in converting great
numbers in England, and in doing so saved the Church in
America.

During the summer, Joseph, accompanied by Sidney Rig-
don and Thomas B. Marsh, the President of the Twelve
Apostles, made a tour through Canada, preaching and visiting
the Saints, while Brigham Young remained at home. But
troubles began to loom up again in Missouri, and apostacy
was coming to a crisis in Ohio.

On the return of Joseph from Canada, a special conference

* Some old Mormons relate that they heard Joseph also say some time before
his death : " If Brigham Young ever becomes President of the Church, he will lead
it to hell." Not a few believe the latter prediction to be as correct as the former.



JOSEPH PROCLAIMED A FALLEN PROPHET. G9




V

The Apostle Heber C. KimbaU.

was assembled at Kirtland, on the 3rd of September. Every-
thing was in confusion ; the devil was ravaging the flock.
Frederick G. Williams, one of Joseph's counsellors, and the
third man in the kingdom, was in rebellion ; Luke Johnson,
Lyman E. Johnson, and John F. Boynton, three of the Apos-
tles, " fell away." At the same time, Brigham Young was
exceedingly energetic, and attempted to neutralize the influence
of the apostates. The Missourians in Clay county had also
become dissatisfied with the Mormons, and asked them to leave
the county. They were obliged to move, and scattered into
Carroll, Davies, and Caldwell counties, founding in the latter
the City of Far West,

Joseph and Sidney visited Missouri in October, and re-
mained there some weeks, counselling and encouraging the
brethren and sisters in building up Zion. At the same t time it
was thought best to proceed no further with the great Temple
in Jackson county.

During Joseph's absence in the West, the leading " apos-
u tates " in Ohio proclaimed him " a fallen prophet " and his
followers heretics, and a warm time appeared to await him
wherever he went.
5



CHAPTEK XII.

THE PROPHET BECOMES A BANKER. Apostates and Capitalists bring him
to Grief Sidney Rigdon's Interesting View of a " Circulating Medium " He as-
sures Mr. Jones that the Bank-notes were never intended for Redemption The
Kirtland Safety Society Bank repudiated Joseph and Sidney fly to Missouri-
Pursued by Armed Men Extraordinary Escapes " The Lord" protects them.

SOME time preceding the apostacy, the Prophet had added
to his responsibilities that of being the cashier of a Safety So-
ciety Bank, of which his counsellor Sidney Rigdon was Presi-
dent. In connection with this some very hard stories are told
about Joseph and the leading men, and Joseph is in turn as
severe against the " apostates " and the Gentiles who con-
spired to break his bank and get him into trouble. The bank
was not a success ; indeed, it was altogether a failure, and Jo-
seph and Sidney were obliged, through the operations of
" apostates " and bankers, to leave very hurriedly for Missouri
" between two days." The evening of the 12th of January,
1838, found them on the wing ; and Brigham had left precipi-
tately three weeks before that. The necessity for flight was
somewhat pressing, as the historian states that the cashier and
president made about sixty miles the first night, and " their
" enemies " continued the pursuit for about two hundred miles.
The pursuers were often close upon the fugitives, and some-
times massed them on the road. On one occasion they stopped
with them all night in the same road-side inn, with only a thin
partition between the two parties, and once they even overtook
and examined them without recognizing their features. For
these wonderful escapes " the Lord " is duly credited. He
protected His servants, and blinded their pursuers.

This banking episode in Kirtland clearly shows the confi-



THE DEYIL AND APOSTATES CRUSH THE BANK. 71

dence which the " outside world " placed in the integrity of
the Mormon leader at that early period of his life. The notes
of the Safety Society Bank were received with greater confi-
dence than most of the bank paper then in circulation in the
West. The banks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois
no longer paid in specie, but were doing a " suspended business."
The Safety Society paper obtained a wide circulation; for,
however fanatical and deluded the people might be considered,
their honesty had up to this time never been questioned.

" The names of Joseph Smith as cashier and Sidney Kigdon as presi-
dent were signed to the beautifully engraved bank-notes. As these men
professed to be prophets of the Lord, having daily communion with angels,
with Christ, and even with God himself, no one supposed that they would
lend themselves to a fraudulent issue of bank paper. Those who saw the
notes to which their names were attached supposed the bank to be simply
a savings institution in which the Saints could deposit their earnings,
while they would be invested so as to pay interest, and that the notes rep-
resented actual money in bank, or the paper of good men." *

This kindly supposition was further extended, and the
Safety Society Bank paper became a favourite medium of circu-
lation with Saint and sinner. Bankers took it freely, and the
people preferred it because it was " safe," while so much other
paper 1 at that period was of very doubtful character. The out-
fitting of the Eastern Saints for Zion in the west, the purchas-
ing of cattle, wagons, farming and mechanical tools, and every-*
thing needed for a new home, afforded the paper, under such
a favourable reception, an extensive circulation. But a crisis
came which the Mormon historian charges to the wiles of the
devil aided by " apostates," the bankers being the direct in-
struments. Joseph accused the bankers of having combined to
crush him, and the bankers claimed that they only wanted to
be assured of the ability of the Safety Society Bank to meet
its liabilities b'efore they received too much of its paper, which
was surely not a very unreasonable precaution.

The Pittsburg bankers deputed a Mr. Jones, one of their
number, to visit Kirtland, and with a well-packed satchel he
found himself in due time in the presence of the inspired bank-
ers. Mr. Jones's recital of that interview is very touching.

* Extract from a letter by a Pittsburg banker to the Author.



72 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS.

He first enquired about the success of " the Lord's cause," and
how it prospered everywhere, and evinced considerable interest
in the Latter-Day religion in general. This he claims was a
matter of courtesy, but it was unfortunate, for on opening the
satchel and producing huge bundles of the Safety Society
Bank paper, the whole proceeding was regarded by brother
Rigdon, the President, as " the march of a wolf in sheep's
" clothing," which opinion Sidney unhesitatingly announced
to the astonished Jones. Brother Rigdon must have very
largely mingled humour with his severity, for he is reported to
have told the Pittsburg banker that the paper had been put
out as a " circulating medium for the accommodation of the
" people," that it would be an injury to them for the paper to
come home and be redeemed, that it could only benefit them by
remaining out. The bank redeemed nothing. Mr. Jones pleaded
for a deviation from the rule in his case, and pledged himself
never to return with Safety Society paper, if only this time
he could get the cash or convertible paper of other banks.
Sidney was, however, faithful to the programme of the 'bank,
exasperating Mr. Jones with- the information that they "had
" never asked him or anyone else to take the paper," and re-
ferring him to that important epoch' when the profession to
which Mr. Jones belonged were scourged and driven out of the
Temple at Jerusalem. Mr. Jones returned to Pittsburg, and
when the bankers heard the above report from their represen-
tative, no more of the Safety Society Bank paper was taken.
Silence was maintained for a time, and, acting out the saying
" dog eat dog," much of the unredeemed paper was put out, but
at the same time much of it was forced back into the hands
of the bankers by those who received it from them.

That Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon contemplated in
that experiment a deliberate swindle, is very inharmonious
with their life and programme at that period. The large
number of Saints who were looking to them for direction, sug-
gested the bank as a protective measure against the frequent
losses by the failures of that period ; and with the credit of a
good name, which is admitted on all sides to have existed, the
Prophet established the Kirtland Bank. Had not trouble
arisen among themselves, and the usual amount of detraction



FLIGHT OF THE PROPHET-BANKERS. 73

ensued, which weakened the confidence of the Saints, and led
them to present their own bank paper for redemption, it is very
probable that Mr. Jones would have got his money. But this
precautionary combination of bankers at Pittsburg, coming as
it did at an untoward moment, killed the Prophet's institution.
As some one must be abused, it is very natural that the respon-
sibility of that inevitable fiasco should be relegated to the
shoulders of his Satanic Majesty. It was well known to the
Saints that he was the guilty party, and was trying to break
up " the kingdom."




The Prophet-Bankers on the Wing.

All these troubles were spoken of by Joseph as "persecu-
" tion." Of his flight from Kirtland he writes :

" A new year dawned upon the Church at Kirtland in all the bitterness
of the spirit of Apostate Mobocracy, which continued to rage and grow
hotter and hotter, until Elder Rigdon and myself were obliged to flee
from its deadly influence, as did the apostles and prophets of old, and as
Jesus said, * When they persecute you in one city, flee ye to another ; ' and
on the evening of the 12th of January, about 10 o'clock, we^eft Kirtland
on horseback, to escape mob violence which was about to burst upon us,
under the colour of legal process to cover their hellish designs, and save
themselves from the just judgment of the law. The weather was ex-
tremely cold, and we were obliged to secrete ourselves sometimes, to
elude the grasp of our pursuers, who continued their race more than two
hundred miles from Kirtland, armed with pistols, etc., seeking our lives. 1 '

After this, the Prophet never returned to Kirtland, but he
appointed an agent for the settlement of his own unfinished



74 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS.

business in Ohio. In different parts of his autobiography he
publishes cards from business men expressive of their satisfac-
tion at the manner in which the agent had adjusted the ac-
counts. The Prophet disclaimed any responsibility for the
failure of the bank, and charged one of the brethren with dis-
honesty, which produced this result. He was evidently proud
of a good commercial name.

Before this period, and when all was pleasant in Ohio, it
was announced that " the Lord " had accepted the Saints there
and had established his name in Kirtland for the salvation of
the nations. But this honour was short-lived. Kirtland was
soon abandoned for ever. Joseph and Sidney as fugitives took
their families with them to Missouri, and overtook Brigham
Young and his family before they reached the promised land.
The experience of the prophets and apostles had been any-
thing but pleasant in the East ; it was destined to be worse in
the West. They arrived in Far West on the 12th of March,
1838, and in less than a month they had to cut off from the
Church two of the most important witnessess of the Book of
Mormon.



CHAPTEE XIII.

CUTTING OFF APOSTLES. Witnesses of the Book of Mormon expelled from
the Church Joseph denounces the "Lord's Chosen" as " Blacklegs, Thieves,
Liars, and Counterfeiters " More Apostles dethroned The Prophet locates the
Garden of .Eden in Missouri It was there that Adam and Eve sported in Inno-
cence More Trouble looming Eigdon's famous Declaration of Independence.

ON the 6th of April, 1838, the eighth anniversary of that
organization in which he so much rejoiced, and was so much
favoured, Oliver Cowdrey was destined to find himself cast out
of the Church and consigned to the tender mercies of Satan.
After those extraordinary experiences with heavenly beings
had all been rehearsed, Oliver still persisted in rebellion, and
was formally " turned over to the buffetings of the devil."
But Cowdery was not alone ; another rebel was found in the
person of David Whitmer, the second witness to the Book of
Mormon. Martin Harris, the third witness of this remarkable
production, had already been consigned to the infernal regions,
and thus the excommunication of Oliver Cowdery and David
"Whitmer during the conference completed the work of apostacy
among those who had seen the angel, and heard the testimony
about " the plates," and their translation into English. From
the beginning, the devil had desired -that he might possess
these " witnesses," and at last u the Lord " made the transfer,
with the understanding and instruction that his Sable Majesty
was to heap upon the rebels all the agony under which they
could wriggle.

The modern prophets trench pretty closely upon u Anathe-
"ma Maranatha " of the ancient Sanhedrim, and evidently
consider that it js the correct thing. A Mormon Bishop cursing



76 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS.

an " apostate " is a perfect realization of the prayer of Burns's
"Holy Willie:"

" Curse thou his basket and his store,

Kail and potatoes.



Thy strong right hand, Lord, make it bare

Upo' their heads ;

Lord, weigh it down, and dinna spare
For their misdeeds."

From this time Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer are
handed down to posterity in Mormon Church history charged
with being " connected with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves,
" liars, and blacklegs of the deepest dye,'' and with " cheating
"and defrauding the Saints." In the formal list 'of charges
for Cowdery's excommunication was another : tk Seeking to
" destroy the character of Joseph Smith, Jr., by falsely insinu-
" ating that he was guilty of adultery." Martin Harris had
previously been catalogued with " negroes who wear white
" skins," and he and his associates were " so far beneath con-
" tempt that a notice of them would be far too great a sacrifice
" for a gentleman to make." * Hyrum Smith, the brother of
the Prophet, after his deliverance from a Missouri prison,
charges the brothers Oliver and Lyman Cowdery with going
to his house while he was " held in durance vile," and robbing
him of his valuables under the cloak of friendship. Such were
the men whom " the Lord " had selected as witnesses to the
divinity of the Book of Mormon.

During this conference the apostles who were in rebellion
at Kirtland were formally excommunicated, viz. : Luke John-
son, Lyman E. Johnson, and John F. Boynton. Another apostle
was added to the list of apostates William E. McLellin ; and
William Smith, another apostle, and brother of the Prophet,
had a narrow escape from expulsion. This was a trying time
to the Saints, and many left the Church, but Joseph was in-
domitable. It was during his severest trials and in the face of
approaching danger that Joseph displayed the greatest faith in
his mission. At this moment he saw the shadows of coming

* " History of Joseph Smith."



THE GARDEN OF EDEN IN MISSOURI. 77

events that would try men's souls, but be would make no com-
promise witb " tbe rebels." He was resolved on victory or
martyrdom. His confidence was heroic : in himself he had
unbounded faith.

Joseph saw the necessity of a new gathering place. Kirt-
land was gone ; a few of the Saints only were conditionally
tolerated in Jackson county, and in the other counties of Mis-
souri whtere they had taken refuge a continuance of peace was
very doubtful. A new city was to be laid out on the north
side of Grand Kiver, twenty miles distant from Far West.
The brethren called the new location Spring Hill, but Joseph
had a revelation naming it Adam-Ondi-Ahman*

There has always been some mystery about the exact loca-
tion of the. Garden of Eden, the early residence of the inno-
cent progenitors of the human race Darwin aside but it has
generally. been supposed to have been somewhere on the east-
ern continent. On the occasion of naming this new gather-
ing place, Joseph was informed that the Garden of Eden, with
all the rich incidents of the morning of creation, was localized
in Jackson county, Missouri, and that this new spot selected
for the gathering of the Saints and named Adam-Ondi-Ahmari
was the identical region where Adam and Eve betook them-
selves after the expulsion from the historical garden. Joseph
also gives with considerable minuteness a statement about a
great gathering or conference held there of the leading men
of Adam's posterity about three years preceding the departure
of that first patriarch from this mundane sphere. In that par-
ticular valley the Saints were now commanded to gather in
the last days ; but this heavenly intelligence changed in noth-
ing the hearts of the Missourians toward the Mormons.

Governor Dunklin had advised the expelled Mormons to
seek redress in the courts for their losses in Jackson county ;
and, ever ready to assert their claims, the Saints failed not to
follow the suggestion thus offered. The consequent prosecu-
tion of some of the leading "mobocrats" was a constantly-
recurring element of strife, which, added to the growing po-
litical influence of the Saints, afforded politicians and anti-
Mormons the opportunity of combining against the com-

* " The valley of God in which Adam blessed his children."



78 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS.

mon enemy, as they claimed to regard the followers of the
Prophet.

The Kirtland Colony was now entirely broken up, and the
eastern Saints poured into Missouri. Proud of their growing
strength, and chafing under past persecutions, Sidney Rigdon
in the Fourth-of-July oration delivered a Mormon " Declaration
" of Independence," informing the Missourians that they must
cease their oppression and persecution of " the Saints of the
" Most High God." It was the enunciation of an enthusiast's
programme, and just such a foolish speech as the Missourians
wanted to hear. It set the country on fire, and hostile action
was resolved upon. The anti-Mormons were waiting for a pre-
text, and Sidney furnished it. His language on that occasion
is thus reported :

" We take God and all the holy angels to witness this day that we
warn all men in the name of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more for ever.
The man, or the set of men, who attempts it does so at the expense of
their lives. And the mob that comes on us to disturb us, it shall be be-
tween us and them a war of extermination, for we will follow them till the
last drop of blood is spilled, or else they will have to exterminate us ; for
we will carry the seat of war to their own nouses and their own families,
and one part or the other shall be utterly destroyed. Eemember it, then,
all men ! ..." No man shall be at liberty to come into our streets, to
threaten us with mobs, for if he does he shall atone for it before he leaves
the place, neither shall he be at liberty to vilify and slander any of us, for
suffer it we will not in this place.* We therefore take all men to record
this day, as did our fathers, and we pledge this day to one another, our
fortunes, our lives, and our sacred honours, to be delivered from the per-
secutions which we have had to endure for the last nine years, or nearly
that. Neither will we indulge any man or set of men in instituting vexa-
tious law suits against us, to cheat us out of our just rights ; if they
attempt it, we say woe be unto them. We this day, then, proclaim ourselves
free, with a purpose and a determination that can never be broken, No,
never ! No, never ! ! No, never III"

* This oration is known as " Sidney's Salt Sermon." It was inspired by ven-
geance, and breathed not only death to the Missourians, but also to the brethren
who, still having control of their reason, dissented from the fire-and-sword doctrine
that was preached against their neighbours. These were immediately designated
" apostates," and for their special edification Sidney chose the text : " If the salt
have lost its savour, it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trod-
den under foot of men." That he meant this as literally as language could express,
there was no doubt. The people who heard it, and to whom it was addressed by
implication, so understood it, and in Buch a neighbourhood and at a time when



SIDNEY RIGDON'S "SALT SERMON." 79

The elections were at hand, and the old settlers saw in the