Persecutions Intensify

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."