History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 5Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 5
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
Mr. Sollars stated that James Mullone, of Springfield, told him as
follows:--"I have been to Nauvoo, and seen Joe Smith, the Prophet: he
had a gray horse, and I asked him where he got it; and Joe said, "You
see that white cloud." "Yes." "Well, as it came along, I got the horse
from that cloud." This is a fair specimen of the ten thousand foolish
lies circulated by this generation to bring the truth and its advocates
into disrepute.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Illustration.]
What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with
a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence
of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world. But, said Mr.
Sollars, "May I not repent and be baptized, and not pay any attention
{219} to dreams, visions, and other gifts of the Spirit?" I replied:
"Suppose I am traveling and am hungry, and meet with a man and tell
him I am hungry, and he tells me to go yonder, there is a house of
entertainment, go and knock, and you must conform to all the rules of
the house, or you cannot satisfy your hunger; knock, call for food, sit
down and eat;--and I go and knock, and ask for food, and sit down to
the table, but do not eat, shall I satisfy my hunger? No. I must eat.
The gifts are the food; and the graces of the Spirit are the gifts of
the Spirit. When I first commenced this work, and had got two or three
individuals to believe, I went about thirty miles with Oliver Cowdery,
to see them. We had only one horse between us. When we arrived, a mob
of about one hundred men came upon us before we had time to eat, and
chased us all night; and we arrived back again a little after daylight,
having traveled about sixty miles in all, and without food. I have
often traveled all night to see the brethren; and, when traveling to
preach the Gospel among strangers, have frequently been turned away
without food."
Thus the evening was spent in conversation and teaching, and closed
by singing and prayer, when we parted, and Elders Hyde, Richards and
myself lay down upon a bed on the floor, and enjoyed refreshing rest
till morning.
[Sidenote: Conversations with Prominent Men.]
_Tuesday, 3_.--After breakfast, called on Sister Crane, and blessed
her little baby, Joseph Smith Crane, and returned to Judge Adams',
where we conversed with Messrs. Trobridge, Jonas, Browning, and others,
on my old Missouri case of treason. At half-past nine, went to the
court-room, and had conversation with Messrs. Butterfield, Owen, Pope,
Prentice, and others.
At twelve, returned and spent the afternoon at Judge Adams'. At
dusk, the marshal called with subpoenas for my witnesses. Spent the
evening with the brethren at Judge Adams' in a very social manner,
and prophesied in {220} the name of the Lord that no very formidable
opposition would be raised at my trial on the morrow. Slept on a sofa
as usual while at Springfield.
[Sidenote: Procedure of Trial.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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