The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
At a subsequent meeting, similar in character to the one alluded to,
Elder Young offered this resolution: "_Resolved,_ That we this day
enter into a covenant to stand by and assist each other, to the utmost
of our abilities, in removing from this State, and that we will never
desert the poor who are worthy, till they shall be out of the reach of
the general exterminating order of General Clark, acting for and in the
name of the State." This resolution was adopted, and a committee of
seven appointed to superintend the removal of the saints. A committee
was also appointed to draft a covenant that should bind the saints in
an agreement to assist each other to the extent of their available
property to remove from the State of Missouri, in accordance with the
orders of the governor; this covenant was drawn up in due form and
signed by the faithful brethren. Elder Young secured eighty names to
this covenant the first day he took hold of it, and three hundred the
next. The Prophet Joseph, not willing to be behind the other brethren
in the good work, hearing what was going on through those who visited
him while in prison, from his gloomy dungeon at Liberty, sent the
brethren a hundred dollars to assist in removing the Saints.
Charles Bird was appointed to go down towards the Mississippi and
make deposits of corn for the use of the saints as they should make
their way out of the State. He was also to make contracts for ferriage
and arrange whatever else might be necessary for their comfort and
security. Thus all things were prepared for the exodus of The Church
from the unfriendly State of Missouri.
No sooner had these arrangements been perfected than Elder Young, whose
wisdom and activity had doubtless given offense to the enemies of The
Church, had to flee from Far West to escape the vengeance of the mob.
He went to Illinois. In his labors, Elder Young had been materially
assisted by the support and counsels of Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor
and the members of the various committees that had been appointed, to
whom was now left the execution of the plans that had been laid for the
removal of The Church.
I can not dwell upon all the details of that exodus. All I need say
here is that it was managed with consummate wisdom; and, in view of all
the difficulties in the way, with less suffering than could have been
expected.
By the twentieth of April nearly all the saints, variously estimated
from twelve to fifteen thousand, had left the State where they had
experienced so much sorrow; and found a temporary resting place in the
State of Illinois, chiefly in the city of Quincy and vicinity, but a
few settled in the then Territory of Iowa.
CHAPTER XLVI.
AGAIN THE PASSIVELY GOOD--PETITIONS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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