Church. James Fielding used these attacks in his attempts to persecute the Mormons. In this 2

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1 The World of Joseph Fielding: Chapter 13 James Fielding Writes Hostile Letters to Joseph Fielding rd On August 3, 1838, Joseph Fielding referred to an American preacher named Richard Livesey, who had come from e United States has brought some old tales, etc. wi him against e 1 Church. James Fielding used ese attacks in his attempts to persecute e Mormons. In is 2 context, he wrote his broer Joseph early in August. Joseph described his missionary efforts in August of at year, and it s possible he wasn t in Preston to see or respond to e letter from James. On August 15 James wrote a second letter where he questioned tenets of e LDS Church. 3 James laid out his reasons for using letters to discuss his arguments against Mormonism. In writing ere is someing tangible and permanent and while us engaged e inking powers are more cool and regular and e faculty itself is expounded and improved. James was likely 4 referring to e Greek school of learning, Reason, Reckoning and Rhetoric, which he and Joseph would have bo learned in eir you. James en accused Joseph of not replying to his letter because Joseph s own principles would no longer allow him to preach Mormon doctrines. James en wrote: How strange it is at you and I would have been brought up in e same school as it were who have been in e habit of inking and speaking e same, should differ so widely upon e subject of Mormonism. You appear to be convinced of its divine auority. I on e oer hand am fully persuaded at it is a device of Satan. James mocked e Book of Mormon, stating at it was mass of incoherency and absurdity. His next comments ridiculed e practice of not showing e Doctrine and Covenants to ose who had not yet joined e LDS Church, as ough ere should be no harm in is. James had more candid observations but felt it unnecessary to write em until Joseph had responded to his queries. In evidence at ere was quite a rift between ese two broers, James wrote, I hope for conscience sake you will not represent me as turning my back upon my broer or being unwilling to have anying to do wi you. He also asked at Joseph would no longer assert at I am rejecting e tru. James en suggested a formal debate upon e subject of Mormonism, stating at ere is a far greater body of evidence against e Book of Mormon which he wanted to share from Mr. Livesey s recent pamphlet. James concluded e letter wi e words, I remain your affectionate broer. On Wednesday, August 23, Joseph met James in e Temperance Hall for a public debate. rd During at meeting, Joseph burned Mr. Livesey s pamphlet in front of eir audience

2 6 James sent a ird letter on e 27 of August, James was incredulous at Joseph had burned e pamphlet. James testified to Joseph at: Mr. Livesey is a man of deep piety and devotedness to God. He has wi him e most satisfactory credentials as to his moral and religious character...and e facts and circumstances to which he adverted were in my humble opinion (not to use your dogmatic way of speaking) such as no sensible man would ever attempt to refute or contradict. In part, Richard Livesey claimed at Parley P. Pratt had maligned e character of Joseph Smi. Two years later, in 1840, Elder Pratt would in fact choose to refute his words. At at future time he would write: Mr. Livesey s work contains a letter, purporting to come from me against Messrs. Joseph Smi, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon.... I take is opportunity to say at for ten years I have esteemed Messrs. Smi and Rigdon as men of God, and men who have suffered more for e testimony of Jesus, an any oer men now living. I have been a minister in connexion wi em for more an ten years I have been wi em in dungeons and in chains I have stood wi em as lambs among wolves, when we were sentenced to dea wiout trial by judge or jury and e deadly rifle aimed at our heads, and e dagger, already stained wi e blood of e Saints, pointed at our breasts, while we were helpless prisoners and uncondemned and now I bear witness, at ey are servants of e Most High God, for whom I would lay down my life if necessary. These letters from apostates and dissenters, are wicked lies and misrepresentations. 7 In his late August 1838 letter, James told Joseph at his arguments were too forceful, and at is was not how proper debates were conducted. From an LDS point of view today, James was not allowing any possibility for e Holy Ghost to confirm tru. According to James, e validity of e argument depended solely on tactics, not e Spirit, in contrast wi earlier letters James had written where he was waiting for a restoration of spiritual gifts. At is time he wrote: Your business was not to tell me in plain terms at e Book of Mormon was e word of God. This was assuming e ing. I want someing to convince my judgment. It appears at Joseph agreed to James s request for a second public debate, but in is letter, James declined to meet, telling Joseph at e challenge had come at a time when it was impossible for your opponents to furnish emselves wi facts and arguments against Mormonism. James en continued his letter to Joseph wi a discussion of what he saw as e actual root of e problem: Wi regard to your robbing me of my flock I abide what I said before we must proceed upon an acknowledged principle or date. Now I do not believe at all at you were sent of God to rend my little church to pieces.... Now, if God sent you as you say to preach 199

3 ese new covenant doctrines and wiout respect of persons, I cannot see on what grounds you can possibly justify yourselves in passing by Liverpool and coming hier first, besides had you opened your mission at Liverpool you might have avoided e charge of working wi a poor broer s materials. It would have seemed less of human and more like a work depending alone on e power of God for its success. James en counseled Joseph to awaken to e concept at he has been deceived: If your declarations should prove to have been grounded upon imagination, you are not e first who has been taken in. Thousands perhaps wi more piety an yourself have been entangled in e silken net of error....no one but God knows what I experienced during my affliction on your account e idea of e loss of your immortal soul seemed to exceed all my oer afflictions, and alo you may see no danger at present I assure you I see it and feel it most painfully. Sometimes I imagine after all at were it possible at your eternal welfare should rest wi one of your Elders, or wi your long-tried friend and broer, you would in such extremity raer hazard your soul in my hands an eirs. It appears at Joseph had requested at ey meet at e home of his broer-in-law Peter Watson, where James lived wi his sister Mara and her husband: Mr. Watson seems so averse to e subject of Mormonism being talked of at our meeting here I am afraid would cause uneasiness and as we are all of one mind upon e subject it would be a pity to endanger our quiet. It would certainly wound my feelings to meet you at e house of any of ose who have deserted me, but if you will name any oer house and e time, etc, I will meet you. Willard Richards Marries Jennetta Richards That fall in Preston, more an a year after arriving in England as a missionary, Willard Richards married Jennetta Richards at e Preston registry office, wi Joseph and Hannah Fielding as 8 witnesses. Joseph wrote: Broer Richards has got Sister Jennet Richards from her Parents to Preston. Her Faer is much displeased & will make e most he can of it. I fear it will make us some trouble, but believe it is right. Broer Kimball approved of e Match before he left. In mentioning Willard and Jennetta s marriage, Joseph reflected on his own marriage and said: I feel very ankful for my union. I believed e Lord has ordered all about it; he has given 200 Willard and Jennetta Richards married at Preston s registry office on nd e 22 of September, 1838, wi Joseph and Hannah Fielding present.

4 me a kind and loving Wife; I fear lest we should ink too much of each oer. The Lord is very good to us. 9 This copy of Willard and Jennetta Richards marriage register shows at Joseph and Hannah Fielding were witnesses to e marriage. For a time e two couples shared Ann Dawson s home at 21 Pole Street in Preston. Joseph and Hyrum Smi are Arrested in Missouri In Far West, after e difficulties of e Battle of Crooked River, Hyrum and Joseph Smi, along wi Sidney Rigdon and many oers, were arrested. Unable to secure a trial, ey were forced to wait five mons for a circuit judge. As a result ey were imprisoned in Liberty Jail in Independence, Missouri. Parley P. Pratt described being among e men dragged off as ey were being reatened wi eir lives, all while eir families were left in extreme circumstances. Before being separated from Joseph Smi, Elder Pratt heard him prophesy: Be of good cheer, breren, e word of e Lord came to me last night at our lives should be given us, and at whatever we may suffer during is captivity, not one of our lives should be taken. 10 In e midst of what historians admit, even today, was a terrifying and merciless time for e Mormons, Mary Fielding Smi gave bir to her first child, named after Joseph Smi and Joseph 11 Fielding, e baby s uncles. There is no record at Mary ever had an inkling at is tiny infant would one day become e six president of e LDS Church, or at his son, also bearing her broer s name, would become e ten president. 12 Not long after Joseph and Hyrum s imprisonment, a mob entered Mary s home. They broke open a trunk containing her personal items and stole e contents. In e midst of is search, one of e men lifted a fabric pallet for sleeping which had been on e floor and tossed it onto a bed so 201 Joseph and Hyrum Smi and oer men spent 4 mons in Liberty Jail in

5 he could look for possible valuables undernea. Unfortunately, Mary s infant son had been asleep on e bed. There he lay until e men left. Mary and Mercy searched until ey found him under e mattress, and alough he appeared to be dead, e two sisters were able to revive him. 13 Of is time Mercy, who wi her husband Robert Thompson shared a home wi Mary, wrote: To describe e sufferings and privations we endured while ere would be past my skill. My Husband wi many of e Breren being reatened and pursued by a Mob fled into e Wilderness in November, leaving me wi an Infant not 5 mons old. Three Mons distressing suspense Endured before I could get any intelligence from which time I staid wi my sister who having given Bir to a son... took a severe cold and was unable to attend to her domestic duties for four Mons. This caused much of e care of her family, which was very large, to rest on me. Mobs were continually reatening to massacre e Inhabitants of e City. At times I feared to lay my Babe down lest ey should slay me and leave it to suffer worse an immediate Dea. 14 Mary Fielding Smi would later write: My husband was taken from me by an armed force, at a time when I needed, in a particular manner, e kindest care and attention of such a friend, instead of which, e care of a large family was suddenly and unexpectedly left upon myself, and, in a few days after, my dear little Joseph F. was added to e number. Shortly after his bir I took a severe cold, which brought on chills and fever; is, togeer wi e anxiety of mind I had to endure, reatened to bring me to e gates of dea. I was at least four mons entirely unable to take any care eier of myself or child; but e Lord was merciful in so ordering ings at my dear sister could be wi me. Her child was five mons old when mine was born; so she had streng given her to nurse em 15 bo. Mary s strong fai sustained her. Five years earlier she had demonstrated her trust in e Lord when she wrote to Mercy: I believe bo you and I shall have many more [trials] to encounter but blessed be God, he has promised at his grace shall be sufficient for us and we have hierto found it, so oh, at his past goodness to us may encourage us still to trust in him and rely upon his promises Joseph Fielding Smi was born while his faer Hyrum was in jail in Missouri.

6 Thomas Marsh would later write about is period, alough he was out of e Church for almost two decades before being rebaptized in Utah. About is time I.. could discover a mote in Joseph s eye, ough it was noing but a beam in my eye. I was so completely darkened Joseph Fielding Deals wi Apostasy in England As e members of e Church in Missouri were struggling wi apostasy, e Church in England was also suffering. Joseph Fielding wrote of new converts leaving e Church and aligning wi ose who preached against e breren. He spoke of having to excommunicate members but en wrote: My fai stands it much better an I could have expected. I intend to stand fast amidst all e Storms at may blow; I have to live by fai and trust in e Lord for my daily bread. 18 In November Joseph Fielding visited Alston, explaining he uncovered some mysterious instructions given by Isaac Russell before his departure: [The] Branch of e Church built up by Broer I. Russel, and it was at a time when ey needed help, partly owing to some Misunderstanding or misinformation. They had almost prepared for sending two of e Church off to Zion to purchase Land, etc. This was contrary to e Orders of directions given by Elders Kimball and Hyde, and was e instruction given to em by Bro. Russel perhaps for want of counseling wi his Breren. I have given em all e Instruction and Assistance I could, have had great Liberty in preaching etc. to em. The Lord has showed me almost every ing before hand which I have had to engage in; in Dreams more so an I ever experienced before. Ordained ree Priests and one Teacher; confirmed 10, blessed a number of Children. There are some true Latter-day Saints among em. I left em in good Spirits. 19 Joseph Fielding and Willard Richards are Forced to Find a New Home As winter approached in Preston, so did dark times for Willard and Joseph and eir wives. The home of Ann Dawson was no longer available, perhaps due to what seems to have been e poor heal of Willard and Jennetta, and Sister Dawson did not want to care for em. Joseph s wife Hannah had been working in a local factory, but e work was difficult and her heal could no longer abide e strain. By is time Hannah and Jennetta were bo pregnant. Finances were tight. Elder Richards was embarrassed to be seen in his only coat. Joseph was being fed by members in e outlying branches as he traveled, but he was still concerned about Willard, Jennetta and Hannah. However, wiin a week ey had found a new residence at 8 Kirkham Street where Hannah said she felt quite at home

7 News of Missouri Trials Reach England Just before Christmas of 1838 e missionaries learned rough a London newspaper, in great detail, of e tragedy at Haun s Mill. Fortunately e article was written wi indignation against e assailants upon e helpless Mormon families who had lived ere. Joseph and Willard waited anxiously to hear from eir breren in America, now aware of e dire straits of e situation ere : Joseph Fielding Hears from Church Leaders in Missouri st On January 1, 1839, Joseph wrote: Great and manifold have been e Blessings of God bestowed on me during e past year: good Heal, a great increase of e Spirit and Fai, and Knowledge. I have wanted for noing. The Lord has given me a truly kind and loving wife. 22 He en wrote, We have just received a Letter from Elder Kimball in Far West. It informs us of e great Afflictions of e Saints ere.... Joseph learned who had left e Church and at e First Presidency was captive in Liberty Jail. Mercy Fielding s Husband Works to Free Joseph and Hyrum Smi Joseph Fielding en wrote, Elder R. B. Thompson, who married my Sister Mercy, is one leaving his Wife wi a child 5 mons old wi my Sister Mary, whose Husband, Hyrum Smi is in Chains, and she wi a Child five days old. Robert Thompson worked relentlessly wi oers in trying to free Joseph and Hyrum. Mercy remained in Far West to care for Mary, who was too ill to travel or to take care of her child. Robert was in Quincy, Illinois by December where he worked as a clerk in e courouse ere making attempts to free e Church 23 leaders. Joseph also learned at John Goodson had apostatized and had burned e books he had taken back wi him. 24 During e winter of , Joseph and Hyrum Smi and oers were jailed in Liberty to await trial. Parley P. Pratt was imprisoned in Richmond. Mary Smi, Mercy Thompson and a large body of Saints were struggling in Far West and ultimately would flee 170 miles to Quincy, where ey would find safe haven. 204

8 That winter, ousands of Saints in Missouri were forced from eir homes. In late January of 1839, two hundred Mormon men signed a document stating ey would work togeer to evacuate everyone from Far West and e surrounding areas, leaving no one behind. Among e signatories were men whose descendants would later intermarry wi Joseph Fielding s posterity, such as Benjamin Freeman Bird, a convert from New York who had arrived in Kirtland in time to move rough it on his way to Far West. Anoer was Stephen Markham, who had joined e Church in Ohio in 1837, and who en sold all his belongings in order to provide e means for sixty oers to emigrate wi him to Far West. Many leaders who might have signed is document were unable to. Being specifically targeted by e mobs, ey had been forced to flee in order to save eir lives and not put eir families and oers in danger. Brigham Young, now e president of e Quorum of e Twelve, was in is category. Thomas Grover, a member of e high council, gaered his family and left wiin twenty-four hours after being reatened. Edward Partridge, e presiding bishop, and Amasa Lyman, who had initially been jailed in Richmond wi Joseph Smi and Elder Pratt, but had been released when Joseph 25 Smi was transferred to Liberty Jail, were among ose whose lives were in critical danger. 26 Apostle Parley P. Pratt would remained jailed in Richmond until e summer. However, David Rogers, e new convert from New York City, made a donation to assist his cause and to help 27 oers who had not yet been able to leave Missouri. Sidney Rigdon was released from Liberty Jail after pleading wi e judge at his heal was so poor he would likely die. 28 Isaac Russell Falls Away During is difficult time, Isaac Russell and Jacob Scott stayed in Far West. Unbeknownst to Church leaders in Missouri, Isaac had sent a letter to his cousin Jacob Peart and e branch in Alston, indicating at e Lord had chosen him and oers to remain in Far West to await a visitation by e Three Nephites mentioned in e Book of Mormon. According to Isaac s instructions, e members in Alston were to emigrate to Far West and meet his group, and to 29 ignore any information ey might hear about Isaac apostatizing. Joseph Fielding began hearing rumors from e British members at Orson Hyde had fallen, and rd en just a few days later, on February 3, he received a letter from e members in Alston who forwarded a letter from Isaac Russell who had written from Missouri. Joseph wrote: He states at e Presidency are all in prison, at Elder O. Hyde has apostatized as well as John Goodson. He himself was taken Prisoner but escaped. He gives e Church in Alston certain advice or counsel and says e rest shall be set in Order when ey come. He says noing to em of asking counsel of e Presiding Elders here

9 About is time, Heber C. Kimball had a quiet revelation rough e Spirit at Isaac Russell was trying to lead away e converts in Alston. Elder Kimball wrote Joseph Fielding in Preston and asked him to see to it. Alough e letter was not received for several mons, Joseph was already aware of e disruption Isaac was causing. However, Elder Kimball s letter would prove to be providential. 31 Faiful Members of e Church Flee Missouri During e first few mons of 1839, e majority of e faiful Saints in Missouri moved one hundred and seventy miles east, across e Mississippi River and out of Missouri, where many of em found refuge in Illinois. In particular, e residents of Quincy were horrified at e brutality of e Missourians and offered work to e men and opened eir doors to e Mormon families. Thomas s Grover s wife Caroline was close to delivering her six child. A farmer and his wife welcomed eir large family into eir home in March. The only payment ey requested was at e farmer s wife be allowed to name e new baby, which she did, giving her e name of Eliza Ann. 32 However, at winter Mary Fielding Smi and her household remained in Far West, as did Mercy Thompson, until e time drew near when ey had to leave Missouri. In February of 1839 arrangements were made for Mary to visit Hyrum, as he had never seen his newborn son Joseph. Mercy wrote of eir visit to Liberty Jail: About e first of Febr 1839, by e request of her Husband, my Sister was placed on a bed in a Wagon and taken a journey of about 40 Miles to visit him in e Prison. Her infant Son Joseph F. en being about 11 Weeks old. I had to Accompany her, taking my own Babe along en Eight mons old. The weaer being extremely cold we suffered much on e journey. We arrived at e Prison in e Evening. We were admitted and e Doors closed upon us. A Sight never to be forgotten. A sleepless night. I nursed e darling Babes, and in e Morning prepared to start for home wi my afflicted Sister, and as long as memory lasts will remain my recollection of e Creaking Hinges of at door which closed upon e noblest Men on Ear. Who can imagine our feelings as we travailed homewards? But would I sell e honor bestowed upon me of being Locked up in jail wi such characters for gold? No. No. 33 After visiting e prison, Mary Smi, wi her household, and accompanied by her sister s family, left Missouri and found living arrangements in Quincy. There a branch of e Church was established, 34 wi William Marks as branch president and Robert Thompson as clerk. Broer Marks had joined e Church in 1835 and had served on e high council in Kirtland. William Marks served as e branch president in Quincy, wi Robert Thompson as a clerk. 206

10 From Liberty Jail, Hyrum Smi Writes to His Wife Mary Fielding Smi in Quincy After e last of e members of e Church left Far West, Hyrum longed to hear how his family was doing. On March 16 he wrote his wife Mary in Quincy and sent e letter wi one of e breren who was heading ere. In part, he wrote of a plan ey had created for eir escape: We have Done all we could to make our escape from is prison & not to Endanger our lives. There are a few religious bigots at are Kept to guard us & Such are willing to Shoot us if ey could. Yet a Chance, we have to be very careful what we do. The last Exertion we made some friend put some augers in e window & an iron bar. We made a hole rough e logs in e lower room & rough e stony wall, all but e out side stone which was sufficiently large to pass out when it was pushed out, but we were hindered for want of handles to e augers. The logs were so hard at e handles would split & we had to make new ones wi our fire wood. We had to bore e hole for e shank wi my penknife which delayed time. In spite of all we could do e Day of Examination came on in e afternoon. That Evening we were ready to make our Escape & we were Discovered & prevented of making our Escape. There appeared to be no hard feelings on e part of e Sheriff and Jailor, but e old Baptists & Presbyterians & Meodists have become very much excited. They turned out in tens as volunteers to guard e Jail till it was mended. Since en ere has been a guard Day & night. It has not made any Difference in our treatment oerwise an for e better. Hyrum continued is letter giving Mary advice about e wisdom of moving to a farm. He told her who had his joiner tools and was sure is man would make Mary a bed. He en concluded wi a prayer for her: When I ink of your trouble my heart is weighed down wi Sorrow. To ink at I cannot render you any assistance it still adds Sorrow upon Sorrow, but what can I do or what can I say O God, how long shall we suffer ese ings? Will not Thou Deliver us & make us free? Still, y will be Done, O Lord. May e Lord bless you & give you streng to Endure all ese ings. Hyrum wrote his wife Mary several letters from Liberty Jail. She, being continually told he would be soon freed and would not receive her letters, did not respond, leading Hyrum to believe e worst. O Lord God will Thou hear e prayer of your Servant. Wilt Thou O God in e name of y Son preserve e Life & heal of my bosom Companion & may she be precious in 207

11 y sight & all e little Children & at is pertaining to my family & hasten e time when we shall meet in Each oers Embrace is e prayer of your husband & friend. 35 David White Rogers Locates Property for Nauvoo In e meantime, many sought to find a solution for e refugees. David Rogers, wi auorization from Joseph Smi, worked wi a land agent. They located ousands of acres for sale just fifty miles nor near Commerce, Illinois. This property was across e Mississippi River from empty army barracks in Iowa Territory still 36 standing from e Sioux and Black Hawk War in These barracks wouldn t house all of e displaced, but it was a good place to start. Broer Rogers had received a letter from e land agent in February which in part read: Isaac Galland, a land agent assisting e Mormons after e Missouri tragedy, would later join e Mormon Church. I have conversed wi a friend of mine, who has also conversed wi Governor Lucas, of Iowa territory, in relation to your Church and people. Governor Lucas says at e people called Mormons were good citizens in e state of Ohio, and at he respects em now as good and virtuous citizens, and feels disposed to treat em as such. I wish also to say, rough you to your people, at... e attorney-general of Iowa territory... [has] e utmost endeavors to protect you from insult or violence. 37 The agent, Isaac Galland, went on to write at e Church would be better protected in a territory raer an under a state government... where e greatest villains often reach e highest offices. Mr. Galland offered any help he could give e Mormons, and urged em not to delay. Wi spring approaching, e time for renting farms was almost upon em: Deserted army barracks from e Sioux and Black Hawk War in 1832 still stood in Montrose, Iowa. Isaac Galland arranged e sale of land in Commerce, across e Mississippi River, 47 miles nor of Quincy. 208 I feel at I am assuming a very great responsibility in is undertaking.... Accept, dear sir, for yourself and in behalf of e Church and people, assurance of my sincere sympay in your sufferings and wrongs, and deep solicitude for your immediate relief from present distress, and future triumphant conquest over every enemy. Many members of e Church assembled at a meeting held in Quincy in February and discussed e property. According to e History of e Church, it was:

12 Twenty ousand acres... at two dollars per acre, to be paid in twenty annual installments wiout interest. A committee had examined e land and reported very favorably respecting it. Broer Rogers en made some statements, and gave information respecting e land. However, due to e extreme poverty of e people, e vote to purchase e property did not carry at at time. These men were unaware at a recommendation from Joseph Smi would arrive in e next few days requesting at ey make e purchase. 38 The next week, Bishop Partridge gave a letter to David Rogers who was traveling from Quincy back to Liberty Jail. In is letter Bishop Partridge sent news to e prisoners of eir families: The people here receive us kindly; ey have contributed near $100 cash, besides oer property, for e relief of e suffering among our people. Broer Joseph s wife lives at Judge Cleveland s.... Broer Hyrum s wife lives not far from me. I had been to see her a number of times; her heal was very poor when she arrived, but she has been getting better.... This place is full of our people... Some of e leading men [of e area] have given us an invitation to settle in and about is place. 39 Don Carlos Smi, broer to Hyrum and Joseph, also sent a letter wi Broer Rogers which apprised e men of eir families: Emma and e children are well; ey live ree miles from here and have a tolerably good place. Hyrum s children and moer Grinnell are living at present wi Faer; ey are all well. Mary has not got her heal yet, but I ink it increases slowly. She lives in e house wi old Faer Dixon; likewise Broer Robert B. Thompson and family; ey are probably a half mile from faer s.... Dear breren, we just heard at e governor says 40 at he is going to set you all at liberty. I hope it is true. Mary Fielding Smi was hearing is same information. Believing Hyrum was soon to be freed, she did not answer his letters. Hyrum Smi Again Writes His Wife Mary Fielding Smi During is period Hyrum Smi wrote several letters to Mary. Unaware of e rumors she was hearing of his escape, he had not heard from her since she left Missouri. He became very worried, not just about her heal, but about her love for him. He sent a second letter: I was some what Disappointed at I did not hear from you & e family by your own pen.... I am confined & feel very anxious to hear from you. I have been informed at you are separated from e family, e family on is side of e river & you on e oer. Since I have heard at e family has crossed over & yet you are separated my feelings & anxiety is such at my sleep has departed from me. My fai understanding & Judgement is not sufficient to overcome ese feelings of Sorrow. A word from you might possibly 209

13 be satisfactory [in relieving] my feelings of anxiety at sleep may return & perhaps some kind angel or brooding spirit may manifest all ings to me by Dream or Vision. God has said at he would Deliver us from e power of our Enemies in his own Due time. We try to be as patient as possible. I Desire to hear from you by your own pen if it is possible or your heal will admit of it. Give me e pertinents of your Journey & heal & e Circumstances of all e family... You must excuse my poor writing, my nerves are somewhat affected & my hands are is Evening quite swollen & fingers are still & painful wi e rheumatism. We have appealed to e supreme Judges of e state for a visit of habeas corpus. We ink ey will set us free. Pray for us. Pray for me, my prayer for your is incessant, yours in e bonds of true friendship & love till Dea. 41 When still no letter arrived from Mary, Hyrum wrote a ird letter: The reason at I have not written more particulars is because we have ought at we should have been at liberty before is time & I would have been wi you before is time. Our guards are very strict & have been ever since Elder Rigdon went away from here. The people have been suspicious at he would send a strong force to set us at liberty, so ey have been more strict & kept a guard Day & Night, but our freedom is close at hand. God is wi us and we Know e will of God. The People, our Enemies, must be left wiout Excuse. Those at Seek our hurt will see eir folly sooner or later. I ought it strange at you did not send one word to me when I ought you knew I was so anxious to hear from you. If you have no feelings for me as a husband you can send or caused to be sent some information concerning e little babe or ose little children at lie near my heart. Alough my heart feels wounded today whilst I write yet my heart is tender like at of a child s, notwistanding my Experience, Manhood & age, e tears do obstruct my writing. Pardon my weakness. My desire has been to make you as comfortable as possible but you know I have been prevented be assured you have my warmest affections & Even will till Dea & my prize I am an never fading friend & all is will be attested when God sits to Judge bo quick & Dead and my works shalt prove it in time to all at shall become acquainted wi me. This broer... learned by oers at your heal was improving, is fact was good news. Time will bring about all ings & we must be patient in tribulation & wait. The will of God be Done. I have no fears of my salvation. God is my Judge. Committee Visits Illinois to See Land for e Saints After Joseph Smi s letter arrived auorizing e land purchase, a committee comprised of David White Rogers, Sidney Rigdon and oers traveled forty-seven miles nor to Commerce, 42 Illinois, to look at e property in question. In e meantime, Heber C. Kimball and Theodore Turley, one of Isaac Russell s Canadian converts, alough a native Englishman, visited e judge in Missouri who had e power to 210

14 dismiss e charges against eir breren. There ey learned at a large group of men had vowed to kill Joseph Smi. Broer Turley was reatened and in at context e men reminded him of e prophecy Joseph Smi had made e previous July about e apostles leaving in April from Far West for eir mission to England. The Missourians insisted Theodore recant his belief at Joseph Smi was a prophet, since e Mormons had fled Missouri and it was not possible for e apostles to assemble in Far West. John Whitmer, standing wi e Missourians, hung his head and said, If e Twelve come, ey will get murdered. 43 In late March, 1839, Bishop Partridge received a letter from Joseph Smi, written from Liberty Jail. The letter contained revelations received over e course of a five-day period. D&C Sections 121, 122, 123 were recorded on March 20, 1839, from Liberty Jail. These sections, received under e most dire circumstances, are still, one hundred and seventy-five years later, often quoted in Sunday School classes and general conferences. Joseph s pleadings to e Lord are evident after mons in confinement, O God, where art ou? The Lord s response began wi e words, My son, peace be unto y soul; ine adversity and ine afflictions shall be but a small moment. Verses in e rest of e lengy passages are used not just by priesood leaders, to whom ey were directed, but to everyone, No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of e priesood, only by persuasion, by longsuffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned Mary Fielding Smi Replies to Hyrum Smi In April, after receiving several letters from Hyrum Smi at one time, Mary felt compelled to respond to him: My dear Husband, I received yesterday a large packet of Letters &c from you which took nearly all my pleasure time to read rough e day, which I did wi mingled feelings of pleasure and grief. I assure you I had ought it very long before I heard from you. Your first Letter only came to hand a little more an a week ago, and is was while Broer Brunson was as I supposed on his way to Liberty wi a fixt determination never to return wiout you. As I know is to be e case and had sent a message by him, I ought it would be useless for me to write as my Letter might be going whilst you were coming homeward. But I was not a little disappointed a few days ago to find him returned wiout having seen you and bringing no intelligence respecting you at was any way satisfactory. I now begin to feel dissatisfied wi myself and especially since I read all your Letters I cannot but reproach myself wi a degree of neglect notwistanding e hindrances at stood in my way, and e flattering prospects at have from time to time been held out to be respecting your being at home, which I hope you will consider as a sufficient apology for such neglect. I am sure if I could have known at you would be in confinement so long I should by no means have omitted to write to you often alo I might have to do it while 211

15 oers slept as I am now doing, not knowing at if it will ever come to you. But as you requested me to write on e receipt of yours I feel disposed to do so even if you should come home before I can finish a Letter. The report is now here at you are out of prison, but as so many false reports have been circulated on at subject I know not what to believe. If you are now according to your expectation in Davies County you are indeed in e midst of a host of ferocious enemies who like greedy Wolves are irsting for your blood. If indeed ere was no God I should never expect to see you again in is world, but in him is all my trust, and I hope and believe at you will be delivered out of eir cruel hands and be restored to e society and bosom of your Family, who greatly desire to see you once more in e flesh. I must here, my beloved Companion, advert to some remarks you make in your last relative to my having forsaken you which gave me feelings not to be described. I cannot bear e ought of your having any such suspicions. Surely you had not, if so you are yet unacquainted wi e principles of my heart. What: should I forsake a Friend and a bosom Friend in e time of adversity and affliction when all e sympay and affection I am capable of feeling is called for, to soo and comfort as far as possible under such circumstances as you were placed in. No: reason, religion and honor and every feeling of my heart forbids such a ought to enter ere. How: I cannot help asking can ings have been represented to you so as to indicate any such ing: surely an enemy must have done is: For if you had known e tru, and e endeavours and intentions of my heart towards your family from e time you left me - to e present moment you would I do agree you have had no cause for anxious oughts, or sleepless nights on is account. It has been my desire and aim to do in your absence bo by em and for em as in your presence or even more knowing your great carefulness and concern for our general welfare.... O Hyrum, I am obliged to stop here and take a view of e past. So many ings crowd upon my mind which I should like to tell you but cannot in is way. That I long to see you, at I may explain all ings to you as I wish to do. As Elder Rigdon told me some time ago at he had given you an account of our situation, I shall pass over many ings and leave em to be explained when I have e pleasure of seeing you. I will now endeavour to give you some information respecting our present situation and circumstances. I am now rough e great mercy of God towards me enjoying good heal, am fast recovering my streng which is greatly needed after near 5 mons sickness in which I have been entirely unable to take care of household affairs. All e rest of e family are in excellent heal except little Sarah. She has a severe cold and cough. She has gone alone for e last mon and begins to talk and she walks. The baby Joseph, she and all e children seem very fond of him. He grows fast and is very strong. He had 2 tee when a little more an 3 mons old. You may not ink him handsome but to me intelligence seems to come for in his eyes and countenance. He begins to show signs of a good mind which in my estimation is of much greater importance an beauty. I ink you will be surprised to see Jerusha. She has grown very strong and stout but she says she 212

16 shall sit on Faer s knee when he comes. John & Hyrum also grow very fast. They often talk of doing great ings to e men for keeping Faer away so long. Lovina often expresses a great desire to see you Joseph Fielding Continues to Lead Missionaries in England In March of 1839 Joseph Fielding recorded at a Mormon missionary employed by e railroad, James Lea, had successfully preached in Exton and Ba in e souwestern parts of England, and was soon heading to Scotland. He en wrote about William Clayton s missionary work in Manchester, a large and populous Town where a large door is opened... Spent ree Sabbas ere very happily. Among eir converts were several from e congregation of Robert Aitken. 46 At is time, Joseph wrote very frankly in his diary about Willard Richards: He is, I ink, well qualifyed to keep e Church in order, far more so an myself, but he is too severe (I ink) and raer unaccommodating in his Manners and his treatment of oers he does not make sufficient allowance for eir Weakness, but attributes eir defects to an evil Spirit, which he cannot bear. In is same context, Joseph described e situation: Some of e Saints in Preston are taking a great dislike to Broer Richards. This troubles me much. I desire to be one wi him, and wi em. It is not e first time at I have had to stand between 2 contending Parties. I have a great love of Peace. I ink I see faults, as is commonly e case, on bo sides. Joseph en described part of e problem, being at Willard s wife Jennetta owned some nice pieces of cloing, a veil for her face, and a hand muff which she wore in e winter. Feeling poorly because of her pregnancy, she had tried to take longish walks, but she was not well enough to sit rough church meetings. The members were critical of her, and also critical of Willard for spending too much time caring for his ailing wife. 47 Joseph en described personal problems of his own. Wi Hannah six mons pregnant, she wept before he left to take care of Church business in Manchester. Elder Richards had not approved of Hannah s behavior and suggested at Joseph should leave wiout saying good-bye. Joseph wrote: I feel very anxious to establish Peace. I cannot live in e Midst of Confusion.... My Mind is very weak, and ese ings trouble me much and weaken my Fai, yet my heart is set to do e Will of God in all ings. Joseph wrote in his journal at his broer James was also weighing on his mind, who had left his congregation in Preston after its decline in membership: 213

17 My Dream is now fulfilled which I had on e ocean. His was e first Church at heard e Gospel and it is e first to be demolished by it. Oers are on e way to e same end. Joseph concluded e day s entry by writing, There is much concern about Elder Hyde, 48 indicating he had received letters from Missouri describing Orson s behavior against Church leaders. Chapter 14 Endnotes, Pages : 1.This man, who Joseph later names Livesey, was Richard Livesey, a Meodist minister from Massachusetts, who brought testimony from apostates who maligned e character of Joseph Smi. Joseph refers to Livesey several times in his journal in August, 1838, pages On August 9 Joseph spoke of Livesey s Pamphlet in e Evening to a large Number of People and shewd em e Frontispiece in e Book called Mormonism unveiled; e effect was good. 2.The letter of August 15 refers to is earlier letter, but I do not have a copy. 3.This letter, dated August 15, 1838, is part of e Joseph Fielding Correspondence at BYU Special Collections, MSS The Three R s, which most Americans believe to be: Reading, Writing, and Arimetic, were originally ree different words which came to us from e Greek school of ought: Reading, Reckoning and Rhetoric. These skills were taught to English school boys of e day and affected not only how ey used logic to arrive at conclusions, but how ey persuaded oers to see eir point of view. It is clear to me at James did not believe at his broer Joseph, whom he knew was schooled by is approach, was playing by e rules. 5.James referred to is incident in his August 27 letter , 27 August, James Fielding to Joseph Fielding. Letter housed in LDS Family History Library, MS 749 f This excerpt is from A Reply to Mr. Thomas Taylor s Complete Failure, &c., and Mr. Richard Livesey s Mormonism Exposed. This was printed in Manchester in 1840 when Elder Pratt served as e British Mission President. nd 8.My British friend Bryan Skelton gave me e information on is marriage, which occurred e 22 of September, He has advised me on marriage issues in England, which are handled differently an in America. The 1836 marriage act allowed for non-conformist marriages to occur in eir local buildings if e building was licensed and if a registrar was present, but at was not e case here. Bryan, a resident of Hull, England, had a copy of e Richards marriage record in hand, which he shared wi me. In Tru Will Prevail, page 91, Willard Richards is quoted in his journal of September 24 as saying, Most truly do I praise my Heavenly Faer for his great kindness in providing me a partner according to his promise. I received her from e Lord and hold her at his disposal. I pray my Heavenly Faer he will bless us forever, amen. This record from Willard s journal has been e accepted date of eir marriage for more an a century, but it is now clear at he wrote ese words two days after e wedding. nd 9.Joseph Fielding Diary, pages Joseph clearly states at Willard and Jennetta were married on e 22 of September. 214

18 10.Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pages Elder Pratt s description of e actions of e Missouri militia is graphic and tragic. 11.Pioneer Magazine, published by e Sons of e Utah Pioneers, November 2014, page 37. After e premature bir of Mary s baby, her faer-in-law sent word to Hyrum Smi, who was in jail, informing him of Mary s delivery. The word came back... his name would be Joseph to honor his younger broer and Mary s older broer, Joseph Fielding. At eight days of age, e baby was carefully dressed by Phoebe Morton Angell, Mary s midwife, and placed in e arms of his grandfaer to receive a name and a blessing. 12.To avoid confusion, ese two prophets today are known as Joseph F. Smi and Joseph Fielding Smi. Joseph F. Smi had children by five plural wives, wi Joseph Fielding Smi, born in 1879, being his six son. Two oer sons were named Joseph Richards Smi and Alvin Fielding Smi. 13.Our Pioneer Heritage, by Kate Carter, Volume 14, pages Reminisces by Minerva Smi Miller, daughter of Joseph F. Smi. 14.Autobiographical Sketch of Mercy Rachel Fielding Thompson. 15.Letter from Mary Fielding Smi to Joseph Fielding, 1839, June, Commerce. This letter is part of e Joseph Fielding Letters Collection at Brigham Young University, MSS March 1833, Letter from Mary Fielding to Joseph and Mercy Fielding. 17.Millennial Star, No. 24, Vol, XXVI, Saturday June 11, This quote is on page 406, but e biography of Thomas Marsh seems to be spread across several issues. 18.Joseph Fielding Diary, page Joseph Fielding Diary, page 29. Joseph is clearly unaware at a letter will soon be on its way from Isaac Russell telling ese Saints in Alston at he is going to remain behind in Far West, or Zion, and wait for em to meet him ere. My perception is at Isaac laid e groundwork for his actions before he left England. 20.Joseph Fielding Diary, pages On December 15, 1838, Joseph wrote, Things look very dark.... We have been stopping at Sister Ann Dawson s in Preston chiefly since we came here, but... she is inking of taking a less [smaller] House, we suppose to get rid of us, perhaps because of e Affliction of Bro. Richards and his Wife; and sister R. is not able to leave e House at present. We know not which way e Lord will direct us, but we trust in him. 21.Joseph Fielding Diary, page 30, dated in December, 21 Friday. 22.Joseph Fielding Diary, page Mercy Fielding wrote at her husband Robert arrived in Quincy, I believe, in December, where he engaged as clerk in e court house, and remained ere until e liberation of Joseph and Hyrum from prison. This detail came from Robert s obituary, which Mercy wrote, and which is included in e History of e Church, Volume IV, page Joseph Fielding Diary, page History of e Church, Volume III, pages I was amazed as I read rough ese lists of names, names of men and women who I recognized as mine or my husband s ancestors, but also names of ancestors who my friends have mentioned or whose names I recognize as being eir ancestors. The steadfastness of ese early 215

19 members of e Church has carried down rough many generations. Just reading eir names on e pages was a powerful testimony to me. 26.The Extraordinary Life of Parley P. Pratt, Ensign, April While imprisoned, Parley had a dream in which his first wife, Thankful, comforted him and promised his eventual release. His broer Orson helped him escape, fittingly, on Independence Day, July 4, This was quite an exciting event, where e prisoners planned and en executed each detail, overcoming eir jailer and fleeing into e woods where Orson waited wi horses. Separated from all of his associates, Parley traveled by night on foot for days, until he finally reached Illinois. There, wi e help of members of e Church, he was delivered to Quincy and to safety. 27.History of e Church, Volume III, pages 323. Elder David W. Rogers made a donation of money to remove e poor from Missouri. 28. Wiin e Walls of Liberty Jail, by Justin R. Bray, found online at: 29.History of e Church, Volume III, pages Isaac s letter, later retrieved by Willard Richards, is quoted verbatim. While e History of e Church does not indicate at Joseph Fielding knew any of is, Joseph s journal is quite clear at he did know. 30.Joseph Fielding Diary, page History of e Church, Volume III, page Joseph Fielding Diary, pages Dated June of 1839, Joseph received a letter from Heber C. Kimball directing a member of e presidency to visit e Alston Branch. Willard Richards followed up on is and learned at Isaac had sent ree letters. The first was already in e possession of e mission presidency, but two more letters were written, e ird being sent in January of 1839, about e time Heber had a revelation at Isaac was causing trouble. 32.This tender bit of information was remembered by Emeline Grover, an older sister to Eliza Ann, and later a plural wife of Apostle Charles C. Rich. 33.Autobiographical Sketch of Mercy Rachel Fielding Thompson. 34.History of e Church, Volume III, page March 1839 Hyrum Smi to Mary Fielding Smi. This letter is e first in e Hyrum Smi and Mary Fielding Smi Collection MS David White Rogers is one of my ancestors. David s role in acquiring e land is covered in History of e Church, Volume III, pages 260 and en rough e next hundred pages or so. The connection of Faer Rogers and Joseph Fielding is quite distant, alough my pedigree goes rough bo men. David s granddaughter Mara Telle married George Q. Cannon. A daughter-in-law of Mara and George was Ida May Burton, my grandmoer. She was a great-granddaughter of Joseph Fielding. 37.History of e Church, Volume III, pages History of e Church, Volume III, pages 260, 273. Edward Partridge wrote to Joseph Smi, Your letter respecting e trade wi Galland was not received here until after our return from his residence...if Broer Rigdon were not here, we might, after receiving your letter, come to a different conclusion respecting at trade. There are some here at are sanguine [optimistic] at we ought to trade wi e Doctor [Galland]. 39.History of e Church, Volume III, page