In the Footsteps of the Fathers

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FATHERS. BY FRANK Y. TAYLOR, PRESIDENT OF THE GRANITE STAKE OF ZION. The integrity of the early Latter-day Saints, in remaining true to the gospel when a crucial test came, has always strength- ened my faith; and I wonder if the boys fully appreciate the in- tegrity of our parents. I desire to call the attention of our young people to a few incidents that have come under my observation, and the reasons why these people remained true. There was a young man living in one of the villages of Sweden who had grown to manhood and was a respected member of his father's family, and an honored member among the young people of the village. He had received a liberal education, and finally secured a lucrative position in a near-by city. He had not been located long in the city until he was a recognized leader among the young people of the place. As he was walking down the street one evening, he was attracted into a building where some "Mormon" elders were preaching the gospel. He was so im- pressed with the truth of what he had listened to that he invited one of the elders to his room, investigated further, and finally accepted the truth, was baptized, had the hands of the elders laid upon him, and received the Holy Ghost. When he received this witness for himself, he was so over-joyed that he could not rest until he had persuaded one of the elders to go with him to his father's home, and to take the glad tidings to those he loved best on earth. One cold, stormy day, the new convert and the elder started for the home of this young man who was delighted at the thought that his dear parents were going to receive the truth. He told

374 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the elder that he had one of the most honorable fathers, a kind and loving mother, brothers and sisters that he loved, and what a welcome they would receive when they arrived; there would be a warm fire to dry their wet clothes, and a choice supper would be cooked by mother; and he told how glad all would be to receive them; and, best of all, they would receive the gospel. Finally they arrived, cold, wet and hungry, but this was soon forgotten in the hearty reception they received. After the first greetings were over, they gathered around the warm fire, and the delighted mother was soon busy in the kitchen preparing the even- ing meal, and savory odors soon permeated the room. The young man was so over-joyed at the prospect of his parents receiving the gospel that he could not wait for supper to be served, or for them to get their wet clothes dried; but, being filled with that happiness that a knowledge of the gospel brings, told his father that his companion was a "Mormon" elder, and that he himself had accepted the gospel, and had brought the elder to bring the glad tidings to those he loved best on earth. But what a change those simple words produced! The father arose from his chair, called his wife and family around him, and said, "There is the boy we have doted on; the one we have looked upon to bring honor to his father's household; and, instead, he has brought shame and disgrace upon us." Then walking to the door, he opened it; and, pointing to the storm outside, he said: "My son, we all love you; we have looked forward with pleasure to the honor you would add to our name; but choose ye between the love of father, mother, brothers and sisters, the fireside of your youth and your honorable name, and this detestable religion, the storm and the night, and the casting of you out from our hearts and our homes!" The young man looked for sympathy, but the same cold stare met him from each one present, and he was stunned and chilled to his heart. Then came upon him the many happy scenes of his youth, the love of father, mother, and all the tender ties of home; but, with tears in his eyes, and a lump in his throat, he buttoned his coat, put on his hat, and walked out into the night, an outcast from all that he loved best on earth. Why did the young man make this kind of a choice? Was he not human? Did he not love father, mother, brothers and sisters,

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FATHERS. 375 and home? Why did he not say to that elder; "I was mistaken; there must be something wrong with a religion that will cause a person's loved ones to forsake him, and I prefer the love and honor of my home." But he did not do that, and the reason he did not, was because of that testimony that burned into his very being, and compelled him to admit that the gospel was true, and he could not deny it. His employer, learning that he had joined the Church, dis- charged him. His friends and companions no longer recognized him as they met him on the street. Why was this? Changes were taking place with other people. Many joined the Catholic, Presbyterian, and other religions, and their friends did not forsake them. Why should his forsake him, because he joined the "Mor- mons?" and, at this stage, why did he not turn back? He remem- bered the saying of the Savior: "He that will not forsake father and mother," etc., and the testimony remained with him, and he remained true to the faith. The experience of this young man has been, more or less, the experience of hundreds and thousands of others who have embraced this peculiar faith. Men and women have been honored members of society in the home, village, or city, in which they lived; a "Mormon" elder came along, they accepted the truth, and the same change takes place as with the young man; their former friends now hate them. Many have thought that when they moved to America they could worship as they chose; but they were sadly mistaken, and you know how our parents were driven from Kirtland to Independence, Far West, and from Nauvoo, and other localities, all for this same faith that burned in their bosoms. I recently listened to a brother tell of his experience, as a boy, being driven, with his parents, from Far West. His parents were among the last to leave that ill-fated place. The mob at- tacked their home while his mother was in confinement, and as the bullets whistled through the building, he, a little bare-footed boy of seven years, shivered with fright under the bed. After a parley with the mob, the father agreed to move on as soon as his wife's health would permit, which they did. All that was left from the ravages of the mob, was an old blind horse, which the father hitched to an old cart. The box of

376 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the cart was filled with cob corn; a little sister was placed in the cart; the father led the horse; the mother, with the new baby in her arms, followed on foot, and the little bare-footed boy clung to the skirts of his mother; and thus through the snow they started on their long journey. When evening came, they made a fire, roasted a few ears of corn, and, with any wild game that was killed during the day, they ate their evening meal; morning came, more roasted corn; another day's tramp through the snow! He said: "Well do I remember the sores coming on mother's feet, how she suffered from cold; and thus, day after day, we wended our way to Nauvoo." This is one instance among many others that befell our fathers and mothers. Did this man not love his family? Why did he not say to the mob: "I will be one of you; I will join some other relig- ion; I have had enough of Joseph Smith and "Mormonism," and I want peace and some place to relieve the suffering of my family?" But he did not, and the reason he did not was that he knew Jos- eph Smith was a prophet of God, and that "Mormonism" is true. And did this family get rest when they arrived at Nauvoo? Yes; for a season, and then mob violence broke forth in greater fury. They were again driven. Colonel Thomas L. Kane, in a lecture upon the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo, before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, says: The people of Iowa have told me that, from morning to night they passed westward like an endless procession. They did not seem greatly out of heart, they said; but at the top of every hill, before they disap- peared, were to be seen looking back, like banished Moors, on their aban- doned homes and the far-seen temple and its glittering spire. * * * What became of the driven Mormons? Where were they? They had last been seen, carrying in mournful train their sick and wounded, halt and blind, to disappear behind the western horizon, pursuing the phan- tom of another home. Hardly anything else was known of them; and people asked with curiosity, what had been their fate— what their for- tune. As this band of sick and destitute followers of this peculiar faith looked upon this beautiful city of their own making; as they beheld the ripening grain reaching out as far as the eye could see,

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FATHERS. 377 the orchards loaded with fruit, the comfortable homes they them- selves had erected, and the beautiful temple crowning it all; as they looked upon it for the last time, and then contemplated their fu- ture, the phantom in the west, a desert, infested with wild ani- mals and savage men, why did not their hearts fail them, and why did they not abandon this religion and return to the city of Nauvoo to become one with the world, and live in peace? The reason is the same as given by the young man, as he left his father's home; they knew this work was true; and, come life or death, their lot must be cast with the people of God. You all know the history of the trials of our people from Nauvoo to the valley, and how nobly they stood the test; how they redeemed a desert and made it blossom as the rose. Do the young people appreciate it all? Do we know what it cost? Were our parents mistaken? Were they following a phan- tom? Is this religion true? You young men answer this for yourselves. What are we going to do to repay them for the work they have done for us? I am happy to say, I had a father who passed through the trials of pioneer "Mormonism," and if he were here, and I should ask him what I could do to repay him for all he had done for me, I know what he would say: "My son, I want you to become conversant with the arts and sciences of the world, but above all things, I want you to be an humble and true Latter-day Saint, following after the faith of your father." I do not know what the youth of Israel intend to do, but I pray the Lord that he will bless you and me with sufficient faith, so that, should a test come to us, we will not falter, but be found following in the footsteps of our fathers.