Page:History of Utah.djvu/248



196 BRIGHAM YOUNG SUCCEEDS JOSEPH.

and took refuge at Dublin, Indiana, where he was soon afterward joined by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Thence, in company with the former, he went to Mis- souri, arriving at Far West a short time before the massacre at Haun's Mill. Once more Brigham was compelled to flee for his life, and now betook himself to Quincy, where he raised means to aid the destitute brethren in leaving Missouri,^ and directed the first settlement of the saints in Illinois, the prophet Joseph, Parley P. Pratt, and others being then in prison.

By revelation of July 8, 1838,*' it was ordered that eleven of the quorum should " depart to go over the great waters, and there promulgate my gospel, the fulness thereof, and bear record of my name. Let them take leave of my saints in the cit}^ Far West, on the 26th day of April next; on the building spot of my house, saith the Lord." As the twelve had been ban- ished from Missouri and could not return with safety, many of the church dignitaries urged that the latter part of this revelation should not be fulfilled. '^But," says Brigham, " I felt differently, and so did those of the quorum who were with me." The affairs of the church were now in the hands of the twelve, and their president was not the man to shrink from danger. " The Lord had spoken, and it was their duty to obey."

The quorum started forth, and reaching Far West toward the end of April, hid themselves in a grove. Between midnight of the 25th and dawn of the 26th

of the mob, and the spirit that prevailed in the apostates, who threatened to destroy me because 1 would proclaim publicly and privately that I knew, by the power of the holy ghost, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the most high God, and had not transgressed and fallen, as apostates declared.' Id. , 84.

^ ' I held a meeting with the brethren of the twelve and the members of the church in Quincy, on the 17th of March, when a letter was read to the people from the committee, on behalf of the saints at Far West, who were left destitute of the means to move. Though the brethren were poor and stripped of almost everything, yet they manifested a spirit of willingness to do their utmost, offering to sell their hats, coats, and shoes to accomplish the object. At the close of the meeting $50 was collected in money and several teams were subscribed to go and bring the brethren. ' Id. , 89-90.

^This is the date given in Doctrine and Covenants, 381 (ed. S. L. City, 1876). See also Linforth''s Route from Liverpool, 112, note. TuUidge givea July 8, 183G. Life of Brigham Young, 90.