| 21 It would be unnecessary for me to enter into the particulars, prior to my settlement in Missouri, or give an account of my journey to that State; suffice it to say, that after having endured almost all manner of abuse, which was poured out upon the church of Latter Day Saints, from its commencement, by wicked and ungodly men; I left Kirtland, Ohio, the beginning of March 1838, with a family consisting of ten individuals, and with means only sufficient to take us one half the way; the weather was very unpropitious, and the roads were worse than I had ever seen them before. However, after enduring many privations and much fatigue, through the kind providence of God, I arrived with my family in Far West, the latter part of May. where I found many of my friends who had borne the heat and burthen [burden] of the day, and whose privations and sufferings for Christ's sake had been great, with whom I fondly hoped, and anticipated the pleasure of spending a season in peace, and have a cessation from the troubles and persecutions to which we had been subject for a number of years, the prospect was truly flattering, we were the owners, of almost the entire county; many of the brethren had already opened very extensive farms; nature was propitious, and the comforts of life would have soon been realized by every industrious person But notwithstanding these favorable auspices, a storm arose before whose withering blast our fair and reasonable prospects were blasted, and ruined; anarchy, and dismay, was spread through that county, as well as the adjoining ones, in which our brethren had found a resting place.
The inhabitants of the upper counties, jealous of the increasing number of the saints, thinking like some in ancient times, that if they were to let us alone we should take away their place and nation, soon began to circulate reports prejudicial to the saints, and after threatening us with mobs for some time, at last put their threats into execution, & proceeded to drive off our cattle, and burn down our houses, while helpless females with their tender offsprings, had to flee into the wilderness, and wander to a considerable distance for shelter; this state of things continued until, from false representations, and a wicked desire to overthrow the saints, the Governor called out the militia, and gave orders for our extermination.
Soon after the arrival of the militia at Far West, my brother Joseph, with several others, who were considered leading characters in the church, were betrayed into their hands, and the day after Colonel George Hinckle, who had always been a professed friend, but who had now turned traitor, came with a company of the enemy to my house, and told them I was the person whom they sought; ;they told me I must go with them to the camp.-I inquired when I could return, my family being in a situation, that I knew not how to leave them, but could get no answer, remonstrance was in vain, so I was obliged to go with them. I was aware of the hostile feelings of our enemies, and their hatred to all those who professed the faith of the church of Latter Day Saints; and I can assure my brethren, that I would as soon have gone into a den of Lions, as into that host, who had orders from the Executive of the state to put us to death, and who had every disposition to do so; however, I was enabled to put my trust in the Lord, knowing that he who delivered Daniel out of the den of lions, could deliver me from cruel and wicked men. When I arrived at the camp, I was put under the same guard with my Brother Joseph and my other friends, who had been taken the day previous.
That evening a court martial was held to consult what steps should be taken with the prisoners, when it was decided that we were to be shot the next morning, as an ensample to the rest of the church. Knowing that I had done nothing worthy of "death or of bonds," and feeling an assurance that all things would work together for our good. I remained quite calm, and felt altogether unmoved, when I heard of their unjust and cruel sentence "my heart was fixed, trusting in the Lord."
The next morning came on, when (according to the sentence of the court) we were to be shot. It was an important time, thousands were anticipating the event with fiendish joy, and seemed
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