History of Joseph Smith

[Continued.]

On the 22nd, the presidency of the High Priesthood wrote from Kirtland to the brethren in Christ Jesus, scattered from Zion, scattered abroad from the land of their inheritance:-

Greeting:

We your companions in tribulation, embrace the present opportunity of sending you this token of our love and good will, assuring you that our bowels are filled with compassion, and that our prayers are daily ascending to God in the name of Jesus Christ in your behalf.

We have just received intelligence from you through the medium of Brother Elliott, of Chagrin, making enquiries [inquiries] concerning the course which you are to pursue. In addition to the knowledge contained in the above on this subject, we say if it is not the duty of the Governor to call out and keep a standing force in Jackson county to protect you on your lands, (which it appears, must be done, as we understand the mob are determined to massacre you, if the Governor takes you back upon your lands and leaves you unprotected;) it will become your duty to petition the Governor, to petition the President to send a force there to protect you, when you are reinstated.

The Governor proposes to take you back to your lands whenever you are ready to go, (if we understand correctly,) but cannot keep up any army to guard you; and while the hostile feelings of the people of Jackson county remain unabated, probably you dare not go back to be left unguarded. Therefore, in your petition to the Governor, set all these things forth in their proper light and pray him to notify the President of your situation, and also petition the President yourselves, according to the direction of the Lord. We have petitioned Gov. Dunklin in your behalf, and enclosed it in a printed revelation, the same of this, which we now send to you. The petition was signed by some thing like sixty brethren, and mailed for Jefferson City, one week ago, and he will probably receive it two weeks before you receive this.

We also calculate to send a petition and this revelation to the President forthwith, in your behalf, and then we will act the part of the poor widow to perfection, if possible, and let our rulers read their destiny if they do not lend a helping hand. We exhort you to prosecute and try every lawful means to bring the mob to justice, as fast as circumstances will permit.-With regard to your tarrying in Clay county, we cannot say; you must be governed by circumstances; perhaps you will have to hire out and take farms to cultivate, to obtain bread until the Lord delivers.

We sent you a fifty dollar, United States note some time ago, if you have received it, please acknowledge the receipt of it, to us, that we may be satisfied you received it. We shall do all that is in our power to assist you in every way we can. We know your situation is a trying one, but be patient and not murmur against the Lord, and you shall see that all these things shall turn to your greatest good.

Enquire [Inquire] of Elder Marsh and find out the entire secret of mixing and compounding lead and antimony, so as to make type metal, and write us concerning it. Joseph has sent you another fifty dollar note, making in all one hundred dollars; write us concerning it. There is a prospect of the eastern churches doing something pretty handsome towards the deliverance of Zion, in the course of a year, if Zion is not delivered otherwise.

Though the Lord said this affliction came upon you because of your sins, polluting your inheritances, &c., yet there is an exception of some, namely, the heads of Zion, for the Lord said your brethren in Zion began to repent, and the angels rejoice over them, &c. You will also see an exception at the top of the second column of this revelation: therefore, this affliction came upon the church to chasten those in transgression, and prepare the hearts of those who had repented, for an endowment form the Lord.

We shall not be able to send you any more money at present, unless the Lord puts it into our hands unexpectedly. There is not quite so much danger of a mob upon us as there has been. The hand of the Lord has thus far been stretched out to protect us. Doctor P. Hurlbut an apostate elder from this church, has been to the state of New York, and gathered up all the ridiculous stories that could be invented, and some affidavits respecting the character of Joseph, and the Smith family, and exhibited them to numerous congregations in Chagrin, Kirtland, Mentor, and Painesville, and fired the minds of the people with much indignation, against Joseph and the church.

Hurlbut also made many harsh threats, &c., that he would take the life of Joseph, if he could not destroy Mormonism without. Bro. Joseph

took him with a peace warrant and after three days trial, and investigating the merits of our religion, in the town of Painesville, by able attorneys on both sides, he was bound over to the county court. Thus his influence was pretty much destroyed, and since the trial the spirit of hostility seems to be broken down in a good degree, but how long it will continue so, we cannot say.

You purchased you inheritances with money therefore, behold you are blessed; you have not purchased your lands by the shedding of blood, consequently you do not come under the censure of this commandment, which says "if by blood lo your enemies are upon you, and ye shall be driven from city to city" give yourselves no uneasiness on this account.

Farewell in the bonds of the new covenant, and partakers in tribulation.

(Signed,) ORSON HYDE,

Clerk of the Presidency of the church.

On the evening of the 28th. Brothers, Oliver, Frederick, and myself, being agreed, bowed before the Lord, and united in prayer, that God would continue to deliver me, and my brethren from Doctor Hurlbut, that he may not prevail against us in the law suit that is pending; and also, that God would soften the hearts of E. Smith, J. Jones, Loud, and Lyman, also, Mr. Beardsley, that they might obey the gospel, or, if they would not repent, that the Lord would send faithful saints, to purchase their farms, that this stake may be strengthened, and its borders enlarged, O lord, grant it for Christ's sake: Amen.

February 1st. Every expedient preparation was making by the church in Kirtland, and Clay county to have those who had been driven from their possessions in Jackson county, returned.

Governor Dunklin wrote to the brethren as follows:

"City of Jefferson, Feb. 4, 1834.

Gentlemen:

Your communication of the 6th of December, was regularly received, and duly considered; and had I not expected to have received the evidence brought out on the inquiry ordered into the military conduct of Col. Pitcher, in a short time after I received your petition, I should have replied to it long since.

Last evening I was informed, that the further enquiry [inquiry] of the court was postponed until the 20th instant. Then, before I could hear any thing from this court, the court of civil jurisdiction will hold its session in Jackson county, consequently I cannot receive any thing from one preparatory to arrangement for the other.

I am very sensible indeed, of the injuries your people complain of, and should consider myself very remiss in the discharge of my duties, were I not to do every thing in my power consistent with the legal exercise of them, to afford your society the redress to which they seem entitled. One of your requests needs no evidence to support the right to have it granted; it is that your people be put in possession of their homes from which they have been expelled. But what may be the duty of the Executive after that, will depend upon contingencies.

If upon enquiry [inquiry] it is found that your people were wrongfully dispossessed of their arms, by Col. Pitcher, then an order will be issued to have them returned; and should your men organize according to law, which they have a right to do, (indeed it is their duty to do so, unless exempted by religious scruples,) and apply for public arms, the Executive could not distinguish between their right to have them, and the right of every other description of people similarly situated.

As to the request for keeping up a military force to protect your people and prevent the commission of crimes and injuries, were I to comply, it would transcend the power with which the Executive of this state is clothed.-The Federal Constitution has given to Congress the power to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrection, or repel invasion; and for these purposes, the President of the United States is authorized to make the call upon the executive of the respective states, and the laws of this state empower the "commander-in-chief in case of actual or threatened invasion, insurrection or war, or public danger, or other emergency, to call forth into actual service such portion of the militia as he may deem expedient." These, together with the general provision in our state constitution that "the Governor shall take care that the laws are faithfully executed," are all this branch of Executive powers. None of these, as I consider, embrace the part of your request. The words, "or other emergency" in our militia law seem quite broad, but the emergency to come within the object of that provision, shall be of a public nature.

Your case is certainly a very emergent one, and the consequences as important to your society, as if the war had been waged against the whole state, yet, the public has no other interest in it, that the laws be faithfully executed, thus far, I presume the whole community feel a deep interest, for that which is the case of the Mormons to day, may be the case of the Catholics to-morrow, and after them any other

sect that may become obnoxious to a majority of the people of any section of the state. So far as a faithful execution of the laws is concerned, the Executive is disposed to do every thing consistent with the means furnished him by the legislature, and I think I may safely say the same of the judiciary,

As now advised, I am of the opinion that a military guard will be necessary to protect the state witnesses and officers of the court, and to assist in the execution of its orders, while sitting in Jackson county. By this mail I write to Mr. Reese, enclosing him an order on the captain of the "Liberty Blues," requiring the captain to comply with the requisition of the circuit attorney in protecting the court and officers and executing their progress of these trials. Under the protection of this guard your people can, if they think proper, return to their homes in Jackson county, and be protected in them during the progress of the trial in question, by which time facts will be developed upon which I can act more definitely. The attorney general will be required to assist the circuit attorney, if the latter deems it necessary.

On the subject of civil injuries, I must refer you to the court; such questions rests with them exclusively. The laws are sufficient to afford a remedy for every injury of this kind, and, whenever you make out a case, entitling you to damages, there can be no doubt entertained of their ample award. Justice is sometimes slow in its progress, but is not less sure on that account.

Very respectfully, your ob't s'v't

(Signed,) DANIEL DUNKLIN

To Messrs. W. W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, John Whitmer, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, and A. S. Gilbert.

On the 9th, a conference of high priests, elders and officers of the church of Christ in New Portage, Medina county, Ohio, was called at the house of Brother Kirlins, which I attended. It had been suggested that Elder Rigdon might remove from Kirtland to New Portage, but after listening to the proceedings of a previous conference, in Portage, from Brother's Palmer and Bosworth, it was decided that Elder Rigdon should not remove; and that the brethren in New Portage should assist all in their power to build the Lord's House in Kirtland; and that the brethren erect only a temporary or cheap place for meeting in Portage, as that was not to be established as a stake at present, and that course would enable them to do more for the House in Kirtland; and that the brethren erect only a temporary or cheap place for meeting in Portage, as that was not to be established as a stake at present, and that course would enable them to do more for the house in Kirtland.