RLDS Church History Search

Chapter Context

RLDS History Context Results

Source: Church History Vol. 1 Chapter 17 Page: 470 (~1834)

Read Previous Page / Next Page

470 received much information concerning the situation of the fixed determination of our enemies to drive or exterminate them from that county.

"The next day when we moved into the country we saw that the hail had destroyed the crops and we saw that it had come in some directions within a mile, and in other directions within half a mile, of our camp. After passing a short distance the ground was literally covered with branches of trees which had been cut off by the hail. We went a distance of five miles on a prairie to get food for our horses, and also to get provisions for ourselves; and to get into some secure place, where we could defend ourselves from the rage of the enemy. We stayed here three or four days until the rage of the people was allayed.

"On the 21st Colonel Searcy and two other leading men from Ray County came to see us, desiring to know what our intentions were; for said he, 'I see that there is an Almighty power that protects this people, for I started from Richmond, Ray County, with a company of armed men, having a fixed determination to destroy you, but was kept back by the storm and was not able to reach you.' When he came into the camp he was seized with such a trembling, that he was obliged to sit down in order to compose himself. When he desired to know what our intentions were, Brother Joseph arose and began to speak, and the power of God rested upon him. He gave a relation of the sufferings of our people in Jackson County, and also of all our persecutions and what we had suffered by our enemies for our religion; and that we had come one thousand miles to assist our brethren, to bring them clothing, and to reinstate them upon their own lands; that we had no intentions to molest or injure any people, but only to administer to the wants of our afflicted brethren; and that the evil reports, which were circulated about us, were false, and were circulated by our enemies to get us destroyed.

"After he had gotten through and had spoke quite lengthily, the power of which melted them into compassion, they arose and offered him their hands, and said they would

(page 470)

Read Previous Page / Next Page

Amazing Testimony: When a NON-Christian finds the Book of Mormon..

RLDS Church History Search