I will continue with Zerah's story in his own words:
"When we got into Illinois a few of our company stopped, and further on in Illinois, Joseph Young with others stopped. The remainder of us went on continually hearing reports that there was war in Missouri and if we went on we should be killed by the mob. But we went in good order, keeping guards all the time. When we arrived within five miles of Far West, which was the metropolis of the church in Missouri, there Joseph and Hyrum met us, greatly pleased that we had arrived with so large a company. They conducted us on to Far West and we camped around the temple cellar as they had it dug.
In the morning, the first of October, 1838, Joseph (Smith) came to me and said he wished me to take the company and go to Diahman, Daviess County, about twenty-five miles north, which would take us two days, and advised us to guard our wagons during the night. I informed him that his advice was good, but we had not been without a guard since we left Kirtland. However, we went on to the place appointed and found a few brethren there surrounded by numerous mobs. Being greatly rejoiced to see us come, we were as glad to get through, for we had been on the road with a large company from the fifth of July to the third of October. We suffered the perils of a hard journey for near one thousand miles among a hostile people, but the Lord had brought us to try us to see what our faith was made of. We expected we had got home where we could locate our families and prepare to build up Zion, therefore, we sold our loose property for improvements subject to free nation rights.
The people being much opposed to our faith decided to drive us out of the country and obtain their farms back again that we had paid for. To carry this out they began to burn their houses and then go to the governor and swear that we had driven them out of their settlements and burned their buildings.
Daviess County was a beautiful place situated on Grand River. First rate land and plenty of good timber where we supposed there had been an ancient city of the Nephites, as the hewn stones were already there in piles. Also the mound of altar built by Father Adam, where he went to offer sacrifices when he was old. Leaning on his staff, he prophesied the most noted things that should take place down to the latest generations. Therefore, it was called Adam-ondi-Ahman.
There we stayed about a month, being continually annoyed by mobs and thieves stealing everything that they could lay their hands upon that belonged to people of our church. In the time I was there I assisted to build sixteen houses and the longest that I lived in one was four days. I had a large family with an aged mother. I think I never slept many nights while I was there without having my sword and pistols by my bed and frequently I was called by the sound of the bugle to defend the people from mobs. Yet all the while we expected to stay there and by faith and works retain our places.
Then one day there came two messengers from Far West and informed us that Joseph, with others of the authorities of the church at Far West, were delivered into the hands of the mob. The mob had 3,000 men and the word from Joseph to us was that they would likely come here soon. He advised us to lay away our arms, go to work, and submit to anything that they should say. This struck us with great depression of spirit, not knowing how to comprehend the ways of God. We had expected to stay there, locate our families and preach the gospel, but we were disappointed, and right afront us we knew not and were left in a perfect state of suspence. But we knew nothing than to abide by the word of the prophet.
In this conflict of feeling, I walked away from the company where I had received the above information, toward the grove and said in the anguish of my soul, "Lord, what do all these things mean?" The answer to me was instantaneous, though inexpressed, "Be still and know that I am God." In a moment I was at rest and happy in my condition.
I returned immediatley back to the company that I had left and said to them, "Have no fear, for God will provide a way for our escape." So, we trusted in Him, but if we had not received word from Joseph we should have been very likely to have sent hundreds of them to hell, cross-lots, for there were about 130 of us well armed. There was but one place where they would be likely to cross the river in a line exactly in front of our cannons, well loaded with small slugs of iron. We had not only our houses, lands, wives, and children, but the house of God to fight for. But the Lord's, "Be still and know that I am God," was with us. Therefore, we were quiet, bearing the afflictions that were laid upon us."
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Family Trivia
Today I will be sending along just a few snippets of fun family history trivia. I needed a break from some of the more serious accounts from Zerah Pulsipher's journals.
As we study the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History this year in Sunday School it is interesting to think about our own ancestors and that they were all there with the main body of the Saints as they journeyed from place to place, from persecution to persecution. My mind is boggled really at the thought that a Governor of the United States of America could actually issue an extermination order for a large group of people. Today's media becomes irate at the least little speculation of someone's civil rights being trodden upon, and yet the Mormon pioneers were beaten, unlawfully jailed, raped, murdered, lost their homes to burnings, run out of town after town, etc. etc.
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One of our Burgess ancestors writes of holding her baby in her arms as she witnessed the mobs burning her small home to the ground. Can you imagine if that were to happen today! The persecution of the Saints as they traveled from Ohio, to Missouri, to Illinois and on to Iowa and eventually Utah is a minor footnote in todays history books. Remember that your ancestors were all a part of that horrible time and suffered much at the hands of the mobsters.
Even upon entering the supposed peace of the Great Salt Lake Valley they were once again threatened by the government, this time by the United States government. In 1857 Johnston's army was ordered to march on Salt Lake and take control of that pesky Brigham Young.
Sarah Pulsipher Alger, the daughter of Zerah and Mary Ann recounts a story from that time that involves her brother, Charles.
"My brother, Charles, was sent into the Johnstons's Army camp at night as a spy to find out what he could of their plans. He went at night wile Johnston and his men were around their camp fire with their wagons in a circle. Charles crept up in the darkness and crawled under a wagon until he reached the front of it and was huddled close to a small bush under the wagon tongue and double-trees. He was listening intently when he heard foot steps right close to him. He did not dare to move for fear he would be heard. The footsteps kept coming closer until they would have touched him if he had not been protected by the wagon tongue and double-trees. In a few seconds warm "water" commenced to trickle down over him. He took quite a sprinkling before the soldier had finished his job and went back to the fire. Charles decided he had heard all he wanted to for one night and was not long getting out of there."
Sarah Pulsipher, the young daughter of Zerah and Mary Ann went with Zion's Camp. She was ten years old at the time. None of her family were a part of the camp. I don't know why she went or in what capacity, but can you imagine how her mom must have felt sending that little girl on an unknown journey, supposedly into a war environment, not knowing when she would see her again.
Harrison Burgess, the brother of my third great grandfather, William Burgess, Jr. was also a part of Zion's Camp. Perhaps he helped watch over Sarah on the march as their families were very close, united by multiple marriages. I will later share some of Harrison's journal entries. He held his dearest friend, John Carter in his arms as he died from cholera during the march.
Another ancestor, David Pulsipher was a part of the Mormon Battalion. I am not yet sure of his relationship to Zerah but I believe he was a nephew. Zerah's brother also joined the church and traveled west with the Saints. When you go to the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center in San Diego you can look him up on their computer program and see a picture of him.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Exodus to Missouri Commences
"I think it was in the month of March that I was at work in the woods about nine o'clock in the morning when there appeared to be a mighty rattling of wagons at the south. I suppose it must be as much as a dozen wagons rattling on pebble stones. It continued to draw nearer till I discovered it to be in the air, and as it drew near I heard the sound of a steamboat puff. It passed immediately over our heads and went on about one mile to the Kirtland temple. There it appeared in the form of a steamboat loaded with passengers. Old Elder Beamen, who was the president of the Elders, had anointed them a few months before, but had been dead a short time, he was in the bow of the boat. He was singing and swinging his hat till it came in front of the temple. It then divided in two parts, the one was black and the other white. The white went west and the black went north. The explanation of the phenomenon we saw with much clearness. When within a few months from that time there was a division of the authorities of the church. A number of the twelve and first presidents of seventies descended (or apostatized) and led many after them, but the pure in heart went west.
We observed while we were atttending to our prayers in the temple from time to time there was a curious circumstace transpire. A Methodist meeting house stood a few rods from the temple which took fire one night. There was a brand of fire thrown into the temple at a window, but it went out. Most of the people being very hostile, the mob laid the charge of burning the house to the council of seventies. There was no doubt but that they fired it themselves hoping by that means to get a pretext for our destruction, but we knew we were innocent and trusted in God. We continued our course steadily along and paid no attention to them. There was a universal determination that we should never leave that place in a company and they knew as well as we that the poor could not go out alone. Therefore, they had a deep plot laid for our destruction.
But we knew where our hope was grounded and kept our steady course preparing to go out in a company well organized. But as I related to the burning of that house, they raged to a great extent because most of them supposed that we had actually done it. But as the Lord dictated, the great leader of that mob, who had once been a Mormon and well calculated to carry out his devilish designs, was held by the power of God so that he had a vision and saw those that fired the house. He seemed to be greatly astonished for a while and then met with the mob and informed them that it was not the council that burned the house and knew who it was. But he dared not tell on account of the law because he could prove it only by vision, which they would not believe and still swore vengeance on us. But he swore by all the Gods that lived that he would have revenge on them if they lost a hair of our heads. He had a large store of goods and could swear and get drunk. He had some influence with them so that we were preserved by the hand of God.
We obtained money and clothing for the company and the fourth day of July this man that had led the mob invited me to take all our teams and company and camp in a clover field which was about one foot high. I thanked him and embraced the officer. The next day we all went out all in order as we said we would in the beginning with about sixty-five teams and seventy cows. Nothing transpired for some weeks until we got to Dutton and got out of money. The people would take nothing of us but money for our expenses, and at a high price too. We went into council and prayed to God for money and provisions. Accordingly the Lord sent a turn-pike jobber after us to get us to do a job for him. We therefore agreed with him for a job of twelve hundred dollars which we did in good order with his acceptance. He then wanted us to do another job.
It was then very dry and the wells were so low that it was difficult to get water for our animals in the dry part of the country if we should go on. But we inquired of the Lord for what was best and we were impressed to go on, not knowing what we should do for drink. The day following there fell such a flood of water that the low places in the country were filled and we got along very well."
I love Zerah's words, "but we knew where our hope was grounded" as it is such a powerful example to each of us as to know where our own hope is grounded. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must rely on the Lord to guide and direct our paths and put our complete faith and trust in Him. He will send the "floods of water" down on our own parched lives and souls and we will be filled and "get along very well." It may not transpire according to our calendar or time clock but it WILL transpire. I bear testimony of that to each of you.
We observed while we were atttending to our prayers in the temple from time to time there was a curious circumstace transpire. A Methodist meeting house stood a few rods from the temple which took fire one night. There was a brand of fire thrown into the temple at a window, but it went out. Most of the people being very hostile, the mob laid the charge of burning the house to the council of seventies. There was no doubt but that they fired it themselves hoping by that means to get a pretext for our destruction, but we knew we were innocent and trusted in God. We continued our course steadily along and paid no attention to them. There was a universal determination that we should never leave that place in a company and they knew as well as we that the poor could not go out alone. Therefore, they had a deep plot laid for our destruction.
But we knew where our hope was grounded and kept our steady course preparing to go out in a company well organized. But as I related to the burning of that house, they raged to a great extent because most of them supposed that we had actually done it. But as the Lord dictated, the great leader of that mob, who had once been a Mormon and well calculated to carry out his devilish designs, was held by the power of God so that he had a vision and saw those that fired the house. He seemed to be greatly astonished for a while and then met with the mob and informed them that it was not the council that burned the house and knew who it was. But he dared not tell on account of the law because he could prove it only by vision, which they would not believe and still swore vengeance on us. But he swore by all the Gods that lived that he would have revenge on them if they lost a hair of our heads. He had a large store of goods and could swear and get drunk. He had some influence with them so that we were preserved by the hand of God.
We obtained money and clothing for the company and the fourth day of July this man that had led the mob invited me to take all our teams and company and camp in a clover field which was about one foot high. I thanked him and embraced the officer. The next day we all went out all in order as we said we would in the beginning with about sixty-five teams and seventy cows. Nothing transpired for some weeks until we got to Dutton and got out of money. The people would take nothing of us but money for our expenses, and at a high price too. We went into council and prayed to God for money and provisions. Accordingly the Lord sent a turn-pike jobber after us to get us to do a job for him. We therefore agreed with him for a job of twelve hundred dollars which we did in good order with his acceptance. He then wanted us to do another job.
It was then very dry and the wells were so low that it was difficult to get water for our animals in the dry part of the country if we should go on. But we inquired of the Lord for what was best and we were impressed to go on, not knowing what we should do for drink. The day following there fell such a flood of water that the low places in the country were filled and we got along very well."
I love Zerah's words, "but we knew where our hope was grounded" as it is such a powerful example to each of us as to know where our own hope is grounded. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must rely on the Lord to guide and direct our paths and put our complete faith and trust in Him. He will send the "floods of water" down on our own parched lives and souls and we will be filled and "get along very well." It may not transpire according to our calendar or time clock but it WILL transpire. I bear testimony of that to each of you.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Kirtland Experiences
Soon after accepting the gospel, Zerah packed up his large family and sold everything they owned. Mary Ann gave up all the conveniences they had enjoyed as an established, settled family. They willingly sacrificed all they had to move to Kirtland to be with the Prophet, Joseph Smith and the other saints living there.
Again, it was here that the Pulsipher family first became acquainted with the Burgess family and from here on out they are always together, through the good times as well as the bad. There are maps of both Kirtland and Nauvoo that show who owned property and exactly where those lots were located. I have those maps in my posession but when you go to Kirtland and Nauvoo you can get copies for yourselves if you desire. If anyone wants a copy just let me know and I will get them to you, eventually. Our ancestors show up on both of those maps.
I am not an expert in Church History so I cannot tell you exact dates and places of where many of these events transpire, but I will include some experiences from Zerah's personal history. The Pulsipher's and the Burgess's helped to build the Kirtland Temple and they were all present at the dedication. I like to read D&C 109 and imagine how our ancestors must have felt as they listened to the incredible blessings and promises issued in that powerful dedicatory prayer, knowing they had played an important role in the building of the temple.
Eventually, the members in Kirtland began to suffer from the persecutions heaped upon them from the mobs and haters. Zerah gives us an insight into what it was like.
"The season following there arose a great persecution. The saints were able to escape in the best manner they could. Joseph was carried away in a box nailed on an ox sled to save his life. Old father Joseph was taken out of a window in the night and sent away horseback. After the most of the saints were gone to Missouri, I remained in Kirtland with about four of the First Presidents of the Seventies. (In D&C 124:138 Zerah is called to be one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy. At the time that the persecutions became unbearable Joseph Smith took the majority of the saints and escaped to Missouri. He requested that Zerah and the other presidents of the Seventy stay and figure out a way to get the remaining 600 or so of the saints to Missouri. It was quite a challenge as these people were almost destitute and did not have the financial means to make the journey. Later in this post I will share with you one of my favorite accounts from Zerah's life, the visitation from a Heavenly messenger and how they were helped in solving their dilemma.)
We continued to hold our meetings in the temple. Accordingly, while at a meeting one Sunday, we took a notion to put our property together and remove in that way, when, notwithstanding the great inconvenience we labored under for want of means. We lacked means to move ourselves and many poor that were yet remaining that had neither clothing nor teams to go with. But when they heard that we were going together and would help one another they wanted to join us and get out of that hell of persecution. Therefore, we could not neglect them, for all there was against them was that they were poor and could not help themselves.
We continued to receive them till we got between five and six hundred on our hands. According to our covenant we had got them to move or stay there with them so we found we had got a job on our hands. We counseled together from time to time on the subject and came to the conclusion that we could not effect the purpose of the priesthood. Therefore, we concluded it best to go into the temple in the attic story and pray that our Father would open the way and give us means to gather with the saints in Missouri, which was nearly a thousand miles away. Accordingly, one day while we were on our knees in prayer, I saw a messenger apparently like an old man with white hair down to his shoulders. He was a very large man nearly seven feet high, dressed in a white robe down to his ankles. He looked on me then turned his eyes on the others and then to me again and spoke and said, "Be one and you shall have enough." This gave us great joy. We immediately advised the brothers to scatter and work for anything that they could get that would be useful in moving to a new country. Some went to making staves to sell on the lake shore, among which I was one." If you ever go to the Kirtland Temple you can go up to the third floor, the attic story, where this event actually transpired. Gary and I had meetings there one year and actually had one of our training sessions in that room. It was so awesome to be there and feel of the Spirit. Our church does not own that temple but the Spirit is still there, Gary and I can both bear witness of that.
(A stave is a narrow strip of wood or iron placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a barrel.)
The saints all went out and found whatever work they could and then they all pooled their money and resources so that they were eventually able to leave Kirtland.
I still have some more accounts from Zerah of Kirtland events that I will share in the next post. Devin and his family and Sara and her family are here with us this week so it may be a while before I get back to the blog. Grandpa and Grandma Higginson were here last Saturday for the blessing of their 54th(?) great grandchild, Violet Ruth Delozier (Devin's daughter) and they will be back in town this coming Sunday for Kingston Matua's mission farewell (Kingston is their first great grandchild and the son of Jennifer Kolowich and Seti Matua.)
Again, it was here that the Pulsipher family first became acquainted with the Burgess family and from here on out they are always together, through the good times as well as the bad. There are maps of both Kirtland and Nauvoo that show who owned property and exactly where those lots were located. I have those maps in my posession but when you go to Kirtland and Nauvoo you can get copies for yourselves if you desire. If anyone wants a copy just let me know and I will get them to you, eventually. Our ancestors show up on both of those maps.
I am not an expert in Church History so I cannot tell you exact dates and places of where many of these events transpire, but I will include some experiences from Zerah's personal history. The Pulsipher's and the Burgess's helped to build the Kirtland Temple and they were all present at the dedication. I like to read D&C 109 and imagine how our ancestors must have felt as they listened to the incredible blessings and promises issued in that powerful dedicatory prayer, knowing they had played an important role in the building of the temple.
Eventually, the members in Kirtland began to suffer from the persecutions heaped upon them from the mobs and haters. Zerah gives us an insight into what it was like.
"The season following there arose a great persecution. The saints were able to escape in the best manner they could. Joseph was carried away in a box nailed on an ox sled to save his life. Old father Joseph was taken out of a window in the night and sent away horseback. After the most of the saints were gone to Missouri, I remained in Kirtland with about four of the First Presidents of the Seventies. (In D&C 124:138 Zerah is called to be one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy. At the time that the persecutions became unbearable Joseph Smith took the majority of the saints and escaped to Missouri. He requested that Zerah and the other presidents of the Seventy stay and figure out a way to get the remaining 600 or so of the saints to Missouri. It was quite a challenge as these people were almost destitute and did not have the financial means to make the journey. Later in this post I will share with you one of my favorite accounts from Zerah's life, the visitation from a Heavenly messenger and how they were helped in solving their dilemma.)
We continued to hold our meetings in the temple. Accordingly, while at a meeting one Sunday, we took a notion to put our property together and remove in that way, when, notwithstanding the great inconvenience we labored under for want of means. We lacked means to move ourselves and many poor that were yet remaining that had neither clothing nor teams to go with. But when they heard that we were going together and would help one another they wanted to join us and get out of that hell of persecution. Therefore, we could not neglect them, for all there was against them was that they were poor and could not help themselves.
We continued to receive them till we got between five and six hundred on our hands. According to our covenant we had got them to move or stay there with them so we found we had got a job on our hands. We counseled together from time to time on the subject and came to the conclusion that we could not effect the purpose of the priesthood. Therefore, we concluded it best to go into the temple in the attic story and pray that our Father would open the way and give us means to gather with the saints in Missouri, which was nearly a thousand miles away. Accordingly, one day while we were on our knees in prayer, I saw a messenger apparently like an old man with white hair down to his shoulders. He was a very large man nearly seven feet high, dressed in a white robe down to his ankles. He looked on me then turned his eyes on the others and then to me again and spoke and said, "Be one and you shall have enough." This gave us great joy. We immediately advised the brothers to scatter and work for anything that they could get that would be useful in moving to a new country. Some went to making staves to sell on the lake shore, among which I was one." If you ever go to the Kirtland Temple you can go up to the third floor, the attic story, where this event actually transpired. Gary and I had meetings there one year and actually had one of our training sessions in that room. It was so awesome to be there and feel of the Spirit. Our church does not own that temple but the Spirit is still there, Gary and I can both bear witness of that.
(A stave is a narrow strip of wood or iron placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a barrel.)
The saints all went out and found whatever work they could and then they all pooled their money and resources so that they were eventually able to leave Kirtland.
I still have some more accounts from Zerah of Kirtland events that I will share in the next post. Devin and his family and Sara and her family are here with us this week so it may be a while before I get back to the blog. Grandpa and Grandma Higginson were here last Saturday for the blessing of their 54th(?) great grandchild, Violet Ruth Delozier (Devin's daughter) and they will be back in town this coming Sunday for Kingston Matua's mission farewell (Kingston is their first great grandchild and the son of Jennifer Kolowich and Seti Matua.)
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