Jacob Hamblin: A Narrative of His Personal Experience as a Frontiersman, Missionary to the Indians and Explorer, Disclosing Interpositions of Providence, Severe Privations, Perilous Situations and Remarkable Escapes: Fifth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series, Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day SaintsHamblin, Jacob
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Jacob Hamblin: A Narrative of His Personal Experience as a Frontiersman, Missionary to the Indians and Explorer, Disclosing Interpositions of Providence, Severe Privations, Perilous Situations and Remarkable Escapes: Fifth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series, Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Hamblin, Jacob
Frontier and pioneer life -- Utah; Hamblin, Jacob, 1819-1886; Indians of North America -- Utah; Latter Day Saint churches -- Utah
I mention this as one of the many circumstances that have come under my
notice, which prove to me that many of the Indians, and especially the
honest-hearted, are blessed with much of the spirit of revelation and
discernment.
The following morning, when arranging to visit the spot where the
Navajos were killed, Hastele spoke as follows: "I am satisfied; I
have gone far enough; I know our friends, the 'Mormons', are our true
friends. No other people we ever knew would have taken the trouble they
have to show us the truth. I believe they have good hearts. Here is
Jacob; he has been traveling about to do good all winter and spring,
and is going yet. When I get home I do not intend my tongue to lay idle
until the Navajos learn the particulars of this affair."
Hastele started for Kanab; Brothers Thurber and Pratt, a Mr. Boyd,
who was sent by the agent at Fort Defiance to accompany the Navajo
delegation, the two Navajo interpreters and I went to Grass Valley,
to see the place where the Navajos were killed. Having satisfied the
interpreters, we returned by way of Richfield.
CHAPTER XXIII
Returning to Kanab, we found Hastele and his companion waiting for us.
It was thought advisable for me, with Brother A. M. Tenney as Spanish
interpreter, to visit the Indians on the east side of the Colorado
River, and go to Fort Defiance and have matters properly understood
there. We visited the Moqui towns, and had much interesting talk with
the people.
Arriving at the Navajo agency, we found there a Mr. Daniels, who had
been sent out by the government to inspect the Indian agencies. He had
called on the agent at Fort Defiance to report the condition of his
agency. Learning of the Utah difficulty with the Navajos, he made an
effort to throw the blame on the "Mormons."
The Indian who escaped wounded from the massacre in Grass Valley was
there. Mr. Daniels examined him very closely. He also heard the report
of Mr. Boyd, who accompanied Hastele, to learn the facts of the case.
All the facts elicited gave a favorable showing for our people. Mr.
Daniels was disappointed and evidently vexed. He gave me to understand
that I did not belong to the council, and was not wanted there.
As I left the room, a Rev. Mr. Trewax, who was there by government
appointment to preach to the Indians, invited me to his room, saying
that he would very much like to talk with me.
I replied that I had no objection to talking with him if his object was
to obtain correct information.
Being seated in his quarters, he asked what our religious faith was,
and from what source we had derived it.
I told him "We prove the truth of our religion by that book" (pointing
to a Bible that lay on the table). "If you will read what Christ
taught, you will learn what our principles are. They are from heaven."
"Is it possible," said he, "that your people believe the Bible?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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