The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901Linn, William Alexander
History
The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901
Linn, William Alexander
Latter Day Saints -- History; Utah -- History
Smith never laid aside his natural inclination for good fellowship, nor
took himself too seriously while posing as a mouthpiece of the Lord.
Along with the entries recording his predictions he notes such matters
as these: "Played ball with the brethren." "Cut wood all day." A visitor
at Nauvoo, in 1843, describes him as "a jolly fellow, and one of the
last persons whom he would have supposed God would have raised up as a
Prophet."* Josiah Quincy said that Smith seemed to him to have a
keen sense of the humorous aspects of his position. "It seems to me,
General," Quincy said to him, "that you have too much power to be safely
trusted in one man." "In your hands or that of any other person," was
his reply, "so much power would no doubt be dangerous. I am the only man
in the world whom it would be safe to trust with it. Remember, I am a
prophet." "The last five words," says Quincy, "were spoken in a rich
comical aside, as if in hearty recognition of the ridiculous sound they
might have in the ears of a Gentile."**
* This same idea is presented by a writer in the Millennial Star,
Vol. XVII, p. 820: "When the fact of Smith's divine character shall
burst upon the nations, they will be struck dumb with wonder and
astonishment at the Lord's choice,--the last individual in the whole
world whom they would have chosen."
** "Figures of the Past;" p. 397.
Smith makes this entry on February 20, 1843: "While the [Municipal]
Court was in session, I saw two boys fighting in the street. I left the
business of the court, ran over immediately, caught one of the boys and
then the other, and after giving them proper instruction, I gave the
bystanders a lecture for not interfering in such cases. I returned
to the court, and told them nobody was allowed to fight in Nauvoo but
myself."
In January, 1842, Smith once more became a "storekeeper." Writing to
an absent brother on January 5, 1842, he described his building, with a
salesroom fitted up with shelves and drawers, a private office, etc.
He added that he had a fair stock, "although some individuals have
succeeded in detaining goods to a considerable amount. I have stood
behind the counter all day," he continued, "dealing out goods as
steadily as any clerk you ever saw."*
* Millennial Star, Vol. XIX, p. 21.
The following entry is found under date of June 1, 1842: "Sent Dr.
Richards to Carthage on business. On his return, old Charley, while on
a gallop, struck his knees and breast instead of his feet, fell in the
street and rolled over in an instant, and the doctor narrowly escaped
with his life. It was a trick of the devil to kill my clerk. Similar
attacks have been made upon myself of late, and Satan is seeking our
destruction on every hand."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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