| 22 to long for the hour of execution, while our friends and brethren, were beseeching a throne of grace on our behalf, and praying for our deliverance. The time at length arrived when their sentence was to be carried into effect, but in consequence of General Doniphan protesting against the unlawfulness of the proceedings, and at the same time, threatning [threatening] to withdraw his troops, if they should offer to carry into effect their murderous sentence, the court resigned their resolution, and thus their purposes were frustrated and our bitterest enemies were disappointed; the prayers of our friends were answered, and our lives spared. Notwithstanding the discomfiture of their plans, yet our distruction [destruction] was determined upon by a vast majority, who, thinking they could better carry into effect their purposes, ordered us to be conveyed to Jackson county, where they were well aware our most cruel persecutors resided.-Before starting I got permission to visit my family, but had only time to get a change of clothes, and then was hurried away from them, while they clung to my garments; they supposing it would be the last time they would see me in this world. While getting into the waggon [wagon] which was to convey us to our destination, four men rushed upon us, and leveled their rifles at us, seemingly, with a determination to shoot us, but this was not permitted them to do, no, their arms were unnerved, and they droped [dropped] their pieces and slunk away. While thus exposed I felt no tremour [tremor] or alarm, I knew I was in the hands of God, whose power was unlimited.
While on our way to Jackson county we excited great curiosity; at our stoping [stopping] places, people would flock to see us, from all quarters; a great number of whom would rail upon us, and give us abusive language, while a few would pity us; knowing that we were an injured people. When we arrived at Independence, the county seat of Jackson County, the citizens flocked from all parts of the county to see us, they were generally very abusive some of the most ignorant gnashed their teeth upon us: but all their threats and abuse did not move me, for I felt the spirit of the Lord to rest down upon me, and I felt great liberty in speaking to those who would listen to the truth.
Notwithstanding the determination of our enemies, they were not suffered to carry out their designs in that county, for after enduring considerable hardships, we were removed back as far as Richmond in Ray county, where for the first time in my life I was put into prison and my feet hurt with fetters: and remained in this situation for fourteen days. I endeavored to bear up under my sufferings and wrongs, but at the same time could not help but feel indignant at those who treated us with such cruelty, and who pretended to do it under the sanction of the laws. After many attempts to destroy us by the military, in all of which they were unsuccessful, we were at length delivered up to the civil law: soon after which a court of inquiry was held; a great deal of false testimony was given prejudicial to my brethren, but all the testimony they could produce against me was, that I was one of the Presidency of the church, and a firm friend to my brother Joseph. This the court deemed sufficient to authorize my committal to prison; I was then, with my brethren, removed to Liberty, in Clay county, where I was confined for more than four months, and suffered much for want of proper food, and from the nauseous cell in which I was confined: but still more so on account of my anxiety for my family, whom I had left without any protector, and who were unable to help themselves; my wife was confined while I was away from home, and had to suffer more than tongue can tell; she was not able to sit up for several weeks, and heigthen [heighten] my affliction, and the sufferings of my helpless family, my goods were unlawfully seized upon and carried off, until my family had to suffer in consequence thereof: nor, were the Missourians my only oppressors, but those with whom I had been acquainted from my youth, and who had ever pretended the greatest friendship towards me, came to my house while I was in prison, and ransacked and carried off many of my valuables, this they did under the cloak of friendship. Amongst those who treated me thus I cannot help making particular mention of Lyman Cowdery, who, in
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