Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"Smith, Joseph Fielding
History
Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
"But, alas! the devil, not satisfied with his defeat (at the first
trial) stirred up a man not unlike himself, who was more fit to
dwell among the fiends of hell than to belong to the human family,
to go to Colesville and get another writ, and take him to Broome
County for another trial. They were sure they could send that boy
to hell, or to Texas, they did not care which; and in half an hour
after he was discharged by the court, he was arrested again, and on
the way to Colesville for another trial. I was again called upon by
his friends to defend him against his malignant persecutors, and
clear him from the false charges they had preferred against him.
I made every reasonable excuse I could, as I was nearly worn down
through fatigue and want of sleep, as I had been engaged in law
suits for two days, and nearly the whole of two nights. But I saw
the persecution was great against him; and here, let me say, Mr,
Chairman, singular as it may seem, while Mr. Knight was pleading
with me to go, a peculiar impression, or thought struck my mind,
that I must go and defend him, for he was the Lord's anointed. I
did not know what it meant, but thought I must go and clear the
Lord's anointed. I said I would go, and started with as much faith
as the apostles had when they could remove mountains, accompanied
by Father Knight, who was like the old patriarchs that followed the
ark of God to the city of David. . . . We got him away that night
from the midst of three hundred people without his receiving any
injury; but I am well aware that we were assisted by some higher
power than man; for to look back on the scene, I cannot tell how we
succeeded in getting him away. I take no glory to myself; it was
the Lord's work and marvelous in our eyes" (_Times and Seasons_
5:549-552).
Inspiration of the Attorneys
At the trial the Prophet's lawyers, who were not members of the Church,
spoke with an inspiration that caused their enemies to quake before
them. So powerful were their words that many of the assembled multitude
were pricked in their hearts. The constable who had been so vicious
came forward and apologized for his ill-treatment and misbehavior, and
revealed the plans of the mob who were then prepared to tar and feather
the Prophet and ride him on a rail. By the aid of the constable, Joseph
was able to escape and make his way in safety to his sister's home,
where he found his wife awaiting him.
The Mob Threatens Joseph and Oliver
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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