Continuing Zerah's story in his own words:
"I borrowed another horse and went to Illinois with my family and then returned for the remainder. We went into Bear Creek timber, and with one horse and our hands, built three homes, cleared thirteen acres of land and put it into crops, but we had nothing to live on until the crops were ripe. Brother Burgess (William Burgess, Sr.) and boys (William's sons) were strong to work out, but I was not able to do so on account of the exposure that I had past. Therefore, I could not do a days work in a day. I knew not how to obtain food for my family.
While hesitating upon these things, I dreamed that I was going to make boxes and measures, and also dreamed that my women and children were making baskets, and that I went to sell them. In the morning I went and found some excellent timber for that purpose and made the frame according to the pattern that I had seen and also found some suitable timber for baskets. The women went to work according to their direction from me. We soon obtained a small load and went out into the settlement and sold them directly for every kind of provisions that we wantd to live upon and some money. In this way we got along until harvest."
Isn't that awesome? He was able to get answers to his dilemma through this dreams. What I love about this account is that he exercised his faith by going out and getting that timber and then proceeding in the manner he had been shown in his dream. Through that faith, he was able to provide for his family until their crops were able to be harvested. I know that prayers are answered in many different ways and that we too can find answers and receive blessings as we exercise our faith today.
I am off to a genealogical conference up in Odgen so will write more later.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
Exodus to Illinois
Zerah's story continues:
"We went to our labors. Soon after this, I, with other people, went across the river three miles to gather corn, when 800 of the mob were seen coming upon us. As they came up to the gate where we were at work, they halted and sent a messenger to inform us that we were their prisoners. I happened to be on a load the nearest to them. They directed their attention to me and said we must go wtih them. I observed to them that we were there gathering for our families and cattle which they were in view of. They then said we might fill our wagons, get some boys to drive them home, and go with them.
Accordingly we did. They went about a mile and halted. We were surrounded by a strong guard for some time and then discharged and sent home to await their trip into town. We had not gone more than fifty or one hundred rods before we heard a volley of guns fired. I would think from fifty to one hundred. The balls came there among us. We looked around and saw a company supposed to be one hundred men paraded a little to the south of the main camp. They also gave a second shot. We kept a sturdy walk as though nothing had happened, for they hurt none of us. We went home the same day into Diahman, took all arms from the people and then put a strong guard around us.
In that time we were often insulted by scoundrels. One of them in the shape of me (in my image) which brought us near a fight, but the commander stopped it. However, he prowled around there for a number of days and then gave us ten days to get out of that place or the mob would be set loose upon us. This had been the case all the time, but now we had nothing to defend ourselves with. Besides, there were many poor people that had no teams and many widows that had nothing but small children.
I immediately got my horses shod and took my family, a widow and family, and another family all to one lead, moved to Far West, then returned back after another family. These were among the last that went out while the mobs were prowling about stealing all they could find, but although I was alone, the last night I lay down by the side of my horses and saved them and went the next day and got the other family and carried them to Far West. This was the last of November. We were all destitute for grain or feed for our teams. Our fields of corn were twenty miles off among the mobs as was also what few cattle we had. But the most of our corn was destroyed before we could get it. We therefore had hard living through the winter. After I had obtained a little meal for my family I went away up to the Platt country with my team to get work for money to move out of the state in the spring as the edict of the governor was that we should never raise any more crops in that state.
I obtained some money and returned to my family, but while I was gone I was obliged to stay at a mob tavern one night, alone,where they were very hostile. I did not like their appearances, but I was obliged to stay there or run the risk of freezing on the great cold prairie. Therefore, I had to watch as well as pray. But in the later part of the night I heard people in the lower part of the house in much commotion. I heard them saying they never saw such things before. They seemed to be much astonished at what they saw in the heavens. I raised myself up in bed and looked out and saw a very bright circle around the moon with a very bright half circle at the outside of that with a very bright spot at the side of that nearly as big as the sun. Then another apparent sun was in the northwest with another in the southwest, which gave a very extraordinary appearance. This gave them such a fright that they could pay no more attention to me, so I went on in peace.
I prepared to move to Illinois. I took my horses and rode to Richmond to get my gun that they took from me at Diahman in the war. I obtained it and prepared to move in March. I buried my mother (Elizabeth Dutton Pulsipher, 1752-1838) there on a divide near Plum Creek. We succeeded in moving to Gurney where I found rents on houses so high that it would be hard for a poor man with a large family as I had to obtain a living and get anything ahead. Therefore, I took my horse up the river to Lyma and found a forest of about eleven miles square and considerable game in it. I went into the timber with Brother Burgess (William Burgess, Sr.) I lost one horse moving from Missouri. My son-in-law lost one too, and had to stop among strangers with my daughter who had given birth to a child on the prairie.
I love his advice that we must "watch as well as pray." Being aware of our surroundings both spiritually and physically can be very beneficial to us all. Add that awareness to prayer and there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Are any of you familiar with the celestial happenings he describes above? If so, share with us what it might possibly have been.
Happy Labor Day to you all. Our ancestors "labored" greatly to make the lives we enjoy today possible. I hope you will remember them in your prayers of thanksgiving today.
"We went to our labors. Soon after this, I, with other people, went across the river three miles to gather corn, when 800 of the mob were seen coming upon us. As they came up to the gate where we were at work, they halted and sent a messenger to inform us that we were their prisoners. I happened to be on a load the nearest to them. They directed their attention to me and said we must go wtih them. I observed to them that we were there gathering for our families and cattle which they were in view of. They then said we might fill our wagons, get some boys to drive them home, and go with them.
Accordingly we did. They went about a mile and halted. We were surrounded by a strong guard for some time and then discharged and sent home to await their trip into town. We had not gone more than fifty or one hundred rods before we heard a volley of guns fired. I would think from fifty to one hundred. The balls came there among us. We looked around and saw a company supposed to be one hundred men paraded a little to the south of the main camp. They also gave a second shot. We kept a sturdy walk as though nothing had happened, for they hurt none of us. We went home the same day into Diahman, took all arms from the people and then put a strong guard around us.
In that time we were often insulted by scoundrels. One of them in the shape of me (in my image) which brought us near a fight, but the commander stopped it. However, he prowled around there for a number of days and then gave us ten days to get out of that place or the mob would be set loose upon us. This had been the case all the time, but now we had nothing to defend ourselves with. Besides, there were many poor people that had no teams and many widows that had nothing but small children.
I immediately got my horses shod and took my family, a widow and family, and another family all to one lead, moved to Far West, then returned back after another family. These were among the last that went out while the mobs were prowling about stealing all they could find, but although I was alone, the last night I lay down by the side of my horses and saved them and went the next day and got the other family and carried them to Far West. This was the last of November. We were all destitute for grain or feed for our teams. Our fields of corn were twenty miles off among the mobs as was also what few cattle we had. But the most of our corn was destroyed before we could get it. We therefore had hard living through the winter. After I had obtained a little meal for my family I went away up to the Platt country with my team to get work for money to move out of the state in the spring as the edict of the governor was that we should never raise any more crops in that state.
I obtained some money and returned to my family, but while I was gone I was obliged to stay at a mob tavern one night, alone,where they were very hostile. I did not like their appearances, but I was obliged to stay there or run the risk of freezing on the great cold prairie. Therefore, I had to watch as well as pray. But in the later part of the night I heard people in the lower part of the house in much commotion. I heard them saying they never saw such things before. They seemed to be much astonished at what they saw in the heavens. I raised myself up in bed and looked out and saw a very bright circle around the moon with a very bright half circle at the outside of that with a very bright spot at the side of that nearly as big as the sun. Then another apparent sun was in the northwest with another in the southwest, which gave a very extraordinary appearance. This gave them such a fright that they could pay no more attention to me, so I went on in peace.
I prepared to move to Illinois. I took my horses and rode to Richmond to get my gun that they took from me at Diahman in the war. I obtained it and prepared to move in March. I buried my mother (Elizabeth Dutton Pulsipher, 1752-1838) there on a divide near Plum Creek. We succeeded in moving to Gurney where I found rents on houses so high that it would be hard for a poor man with a large family as I had to obtain a living and get anything ahead. Therefore, I took my horse up the river to Lyma and found a forest of about eleven miles square and considerable game in it. I went into the timber with Brother Burgess (William Burgess, Sr.) I lost one horse moving from Missouri. My son-in-law lost one too, and had to stop among strangers with my daughter who had given birth to a child on the prairie.
I love his advice that we must "watch as well as pray." Being aware of our surroundings both spiritually and physically can be very beneficial to us all. Add that awareness to prayer and there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Are any of you familiar with the celestial happenings he describes above? If so, share with us what it might possibly have been.
Happy Labor Day to you all. Our ancestors "labored" greatly to make the lives we enjoy today possible. I hope you will remember them in your prayers of thanksgiving today.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
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."
"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."
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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