History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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tance, baptism for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost &c &c, amongst our audience were those who had torn down our dam and who seemed wishful to give us trouble, but did not untill after the meeting was dismissed, when they immediately commenced talking to those whom they considered our friends, to try to turn them against us and our doctrines.
Amongst the many present at this meeting was one sister to the of . The Revd Mr [John] Shearer, a divine of the presbyterian faith, who had considered himself her pastor, came to understand that she was likely to believe our doctrine, and had a short <​time​> previous to this, our meeting, came to labor with her, but having spent some time with her without being able to persuade her against us, he endeavored to have her leave her s house, and go with him to her father’s, who lived at a distance of at least [blank] miles off: For this purpose he had recourse to stratagem; he told her that one of her brothers was waiting at a certain place, wishful to have her go home with him; he succeeded thus to get her a little distance from the house when, seeing that her brother was not in waiting for her, She refused to go any further with him; upon which he got hold of her by the arm to force her along; but her , was soon with them; and the two women were too many for him and he was forced to sneak off without his errand, after all his labor and ingenuity. Nothing daunted however he went to her Father, represented to him something or other, which induced the Old Gentleman to give him a power of Attorney, which, as soon as our meeting was over, on the above named sunday evening, he immediately served upon her and carried her off to her father’s residence, by open violence, against her will. All his labor was in vain however, for the said , in a short time afterwards, was baptized and confirmed, a member of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.”
However, early on Monday morning we were on the alert, and before our enemies were aware we had repaired the dam, and proceeded to baptize, when the following thirteen persons were baptized under the hands of viz: , and wife, and —William Stringham and wife— Aarron [Aaron] Culver and wife—Levi Hale [Hall]— and Julia Stringham.—
Before the baptism was entirely finished, the mob began again to collect, and shortly after we had retired, they amounted to about fifty men. They surrounded the house of (where we had retired to) raging with anger and apparently wishful to commit violence upon us. Some asked us questions, others threatened us, so that we thought it wisdom to leave and go to the house of .
There also they followed us, and it was only by the exercise of great prudence on our part, and reliance on our heavenly Father that they were kept [p. 43]
tance, baptism for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost &c &c, amongst our audience were those who had torn down our dam and who seemed wishful to give us trouble, but did not untill after the meeting was dismissed, when they immediately commenced talking to those whom they considered our friends, to try to turn them against us and our doctrines.
Amongst the many present at this meeting was one sister to the of . The Revd Mr [John] Shearer, a divine of the presbyterian faith, who had considered himself her pastor, came to understand that she was likely to believe our doctrine, and had a short time previous to this, meeting, came to labor with her, but having spent some time with her without being able to persuade her against us, he endeavored to have her leave her s house, and go with him to her father’s, who lived at a distance of at least [blank] miles off: For this purpose he had recourse to stratagem; he told her that one of her brothers was waiting at a certain place, wishful to have her go home with him; he succeeded thus to get her a little distance from the house when, seeing that her brother was not in waiting for her, She refused to go any further with him; upon which he got hold of her by the arm to force her along; but her , was soon with them; and the two women were too many for him and he was forced to sneak off without his errand, after all his labor and ingenuity. Nothing daunted however he went to her Father, represented to him something or other, which induced the Old Gentleman to give him a power of Attorney, which, as soon as our meeting was over, on the above named sunday evening, he immediately served upon her and carried her off to her father’s residence, by open violence, against her will. All his labor was in vain however, for the said , in a short time afterwards, was baptized and confirmed, a member of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.”
However, early on Monday morning we were on the alert, and before our enemies were aware we had repaired the dam, and proceeded to baptize, when the following thirteen persons were baptized under the hands of viz: , and wife, and —William Stringham and wife— Aarron Aaron Culver and wife—Levi Hale Hall— and Julia Stringham.—
Before the baptism was entirely finished, the mob began again to collect, and shortly after we had retired, they amounted to about fifty men. They surrounded the house of (where we had retired to) raging with anger and apparently wishful to commit violence upon us. Some asked us questions, others threatened us, so that we thought it wisdom to leave and go to the house of .
There also they followed us, and it was only by the exercise of great prudence on our part, and reliance on our heavenly Father that they were kept [p. 43]
Page 43