The Rocky Mountain Saints/Chapter 5
CHAPTER V.
On the 1st of June, 1830, the first conference was held, at which only thirty members were represented, though many others—either believers or such as were anxious to learn—were present. At this time the testimony of Joseph and his brethren did not extend far from his father's residence and the neighbourhood where his wife's family resided. About the beginning of August, the attention of Parley P. Pratt was drawn to the movement, and soon after he was converted and baptized. Parley, who had been a local preacher of some denomination, was fluent of speech and in every way calculated to be a zealous disciple of the cause. Soon after his own conversion, he visited and converted Sidney Rigdon, a very able Campbellite preacher then residing in Ohio, and Sidney immediately assumed the task of converting his flock to the new faith. Orson Pratt was also numbered among the early disciples, and Joseph soon found himself surrounded by those men of talent who gave the Biblical arguments in favour of Mormonism which it has ever since retained.
In common with all who believe themselves to be entrusted with a special mission, Joseph's faith was great and he anticipated wonderful results from his preaching. The conversion of the world was now a very urgent matter, as "the Lord" had informed him that "He was going to cut short His work in righteousness in the last days." Consistently, therefore, with the publication of the Book of Mormon as a historical record of the ancient inhabitants of America, the Indians on the western frontier were the first to be honoured with a special mission, and a number of the elders were set apart for this work and sent forth "without purse or scrip" to preach to the "Lamanites."[1]
In addition to the instruction which Joseph claims to have received from the angels who frequently visited him, he was also endowed with the "gift of revelation," by which he was able to give "the word of the Lord" on every subject and to everybody. Men were called, chosen, ordained, and sent on missions by the commandment of revelation; they were blessed, honoured, reproved and cursed by it as the case might require, and Joseph, as frequently as any one else, got his full share of rebuke and chastisement. Jesus Christ is said to be the author of the numerous revelations given to the Mormon Church through Joseph Smith, and in this way the early disciples were directed in all their affairs, whether spiritual or temporal. Joseph became, in the language of one of the hymns, "the mouthpiece of God," and henceforth his address to the Saints in all matters of importance was: "Thus saith the Lord."
Sidney Rigdon was successful with many of his congregation and "the people round about," so that Ohio became the object of the Prophet's attention. In December, 1830, Rigdon paid a visit to the Prophet and prolonged his stay till January, aiding him in his inspired translation of the New Testament, after which the Prophet returned with him to Ohio. During this visit "the Lord commanded the Saints in the State of New York to gather in Ohio," and instructions to that effect were promulgated and obeyed. In a few months they were comfortably situated in the northern portion of that State. But all this was only temporary. Joseph had ever present in his mind the "New Jerusalem" that was to be built up somewhere in the last days, but where that was to be he had not yet learned. "The Lord," who guided Joseph, would appear to have resolved to keep the locality of the New Jerusalem secret as long as possible and therefore only spoke of it in vague terms. "In February, 1831, the Saints were commanded to ask the Lord and he would in due time reveal unto them the place where the New Jerusalem should be built and where the Saints "should eventually be gathered in one." On the 7th of March they were commanded to gather up their riches with one heart and one mind to purchase the inheritance which "the Lord" would point out to them. Of this inheritance they knew nothing definite, but were told that it was somewhere on the western frontiers. In June, about thirty elders were sent out westward on a preaching tour. They were to go out by twos, and were to build up branches of the Church wherever the people would listen to them, and were eventually to meet together when the place of the New Jerusalem would be made known to them.
About the middle of July, Joseph and several of the elders met at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, and then at length the revelation about the New Jerusalem was forthcoming. It was very explicit concerning the great things "the Lord" would do in this generation, but, as will presently be seen, that troublesome devil, who never to the moment of his tragic death forsook Joseph, was determined to thwart the purposes of "the Lord" and lead the Prophet and his brethren into fearful affliction.
By the light of facts which have since transpired, the following revelation of "the Lord" on the gathering to Missouri becomes intensely interesting, showing as it does the measure of confidence which the world can place in modern revelation, and inculcating a salutary lesson to the Mormons themselves now under the prophetic guidance of Brigham Young.
"Verily this is the Word of the Lord, that the City New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the Saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the Temple, which Temple shall be reared in this generation, for verily this generation shall not pass away until an house shall ~be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord which shall fill the house."[2]
"Hearken, O ye elders of my Church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together according to my commandments in this land, which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints; wherefore this is the land of promise and the place for the City of Zion. And thus saith the Lord your God, If you will receive wisdom, here is wisdom. Behold the place which is now called Independence is the centre place, and a spot for the Temple is lying westward upon a lot which is not far from the court house."[3]
This revelation is dated, "Zion, July, 1831." In another, given September 22, 1832, it is stated that the place was "appointed by the finger of the Lord," and the gathering of the Saints and the building of the New Jerusalem are again assured. The succeeding history of the Mormons in Missouri exhibits anything but the fulfilment of these promises: on the contrary it relates only the overthrow of the hopes of the unfortunate believers.
The few Saints from Colesville, Broome county, New York, who had been commanded to gather to Ohio and afterwards to Missouri, had now arrived, and on the 2nd of August the foundation of the first house was laid, twelve miles west of Independence, twelve men taking part in laying that foundation in honour of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The land of Zion on that occasion was dedicated unto the Lord by prayer, and on the following day the Temple lot was dedicated in the presence of eighteen men. Next day the first conference was held in the land of Zion. A few days afterwards, Joseph and Sidney left Independence to return to Kirtland, where they arrived on the 27th of August, and immediately afterwards Joseph had an abundant outpouring of revelation.