The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
The reader will pardon me if I anticipate sufficiently to say that this
remarkable prophecy was verily fulfilled: not one of their lives was
sacrificed.
The same day this prophecy was made, the prisoners reached the Missouri
River, and were hurried across into Jackson County, for General Clark
had sent word to Lucas to bring the prisoners to him at Richmond; but
Wilson was determined to exhibit the prisoners at Independence. On the
journey Wilson became more friendly towards his prisoners and conversed
freely with them in relation to the disturbances which had taken place
in Jackson County, in 1833. General Wilson, it must be remembered, was
the man who kept a store about one mile west of Big Blue, and seven or
eight miles west of Independence; and who was active in driving the
saints from Jackson County and burning their homes. Of the part he took
in these proceedings he boasted as if it was some laudable work he had
accomplished, though he admitted that he and his associates then, and
now, were the aggressors, and that the manner of life followed by the
saints was blameless.
On the fourth the prisoners and their guards arrived at Independence,
and though it was raining, the prisoners were driven about the streets
for the purpose of exhibiting them to the crowds which had come
together to see them. They were placed in an old, vacant house where
many came to see them during that and the following day. Among those
who came on the first day was a lady, who innocently inquired which
one of the men it was the "Mormons" worshiped. Joseph was pointed out
to her as the one, and she inquired of him if he professed to be the
Lord and Savior. To which he replied that he "professed to be nothing
but a man, and a minister of salvation, sent by Jesus Christ to preach
the Gospel." This astonished the lady and her eager questions brought
from the prophet, ever willing to preach the gospel either in freedom
or in bondage, a discourse on the principles he was sent to teach. The
lady broke down in tears, and left their dingy prison with a prayer
for their safety and deliverance. Joseph's native eloquence and the
truth he advocated had gained another triumph, for not only was the
lady overcome with what she heard, but it had its effect upon all who
listened.
In a day or two the prisoners were removed from their miserable
quarters where the floor had been their bed and blocks of wood their
pillows, to the best hotel in the city, where they were treated kindly
and allowed to move about pretty freely, with a small guard to watch
their movements. Subsequently, however, they had to pay their own
expense at this hotel, and exorbitant charges were made for every
comfort afforded them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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