Sunday, October 24, 2010

Tar and Feathering of the Prophet Joseph Smith

As of lately, I have been reading the Joseph Smith Papers. It is compilation of the words, writings, teachings, of Joseph Smith. I cannot express my great gratitude towards this man. It was his sacrifice that allowed us to receive the restored gospel in our day. I decided to write down the dramatic experience of Joseph's tar and feathering in Hiram, OH March 24th, 1832. Not too many people know about the specific details that went on. Thanks to the help of Susan Easton Black and some further research of my own, I compiled this amazing story of personal sacrifice of the prophet Joseph Smith. 



While Joseph Smith was in Hiram, OH he was betrayed by a fellow friend and member of the church, Symons Ryder. Symons fell away from the church after Joseph Smith spelled his name wrong which is still spelled wrong in today's edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. He began to be irritated with all that Joseph had going on for him, he was worried a temple would be built next to his farm and would not have anything of it. On March 24th, 1832 Symons says this is the night Joseph dies. He sends letters to places all around Hiram, to all those that despise the prophet and the Mormon church. The men that volunteer know that close to midnight, they are to meet in the brickyard of Hiram. When the men get to the brickyard, they become drunk with whiskey as to be out of their minds to accomplish their plans of murdering Joseph.

Because of jealousy, pride and anger sixty men plot to kill Joseph Smith in the night. Twelve men approach the house of Joseph and Emma. Joseph and Emma are laying in the front room with their two newly acquired twins who were ill. Suddenly Emma begins to hear what she thinks is knocking against the house, like a tree blowing in the wind. Within a few moments the twelve men broke through the front door into the front room and Emma wakes Joseph up by screaming "Murder!" After the scream the twelve men are now beginning to grab Joseph. One of the men, Warren Waste, whom had prior to this event bragged in the saloon about being able to take down Joseph, made a mistake. He grabs Joseph's right leg, which is the strong leg, and is kicked in the face so hard that knocks Mr. Waste out of the front bedroom out onto the front porch. Years later, Mr. Waste was asked if Joseph was a prophet. He said he didn't know about that but he knew that he was the strongest man he had ever tangled with in the Ohio's. Another man in the room, Carnit Mason, grabs Joseph's head and eventually grabs his hair. He pulls so hard on his hair that he pulls out part of Joseph's scalp. Years later, a short man and an ancestor of mine Levi Hancock, was walking the Streets of Nauvoo and saw Joseph. Levi said to Joseph, "Joseph, I understand you lost part of your hair in the tar and feathering, could you show me?" Joseph bends over and shows that yes, Joseph was missing part of his scalp. Levi Hancock is my ancestor. 

Eleven of the twelve men now succeed in taking Joseph outside. They get him out to the porch. Warren Waste is now standing up after being kicked in the face; he is bleeding tremendously from the wound. He notices the blood on his hands and is very upset. He chokes Joseph trying to strangle him; he does so until Joseph loses consciousness. The interesting part about this is that the other mobbers are the ones who stopped Mr. Waste from killing Joseph, because they wanted Joseph to die another way, they already planned a premeditated murder. Joseph is now taken about thirty yards farther from the house. When Joseph regains consciousness he now sees all sixty men around him and there he sees his stride, Sidney Rigdon. Sidney was pulled out of his home by his feet and hit his head on the frozen ice causing it to bleed profusely and was lying in a pool of his own blood; Joseph thought his friend Sidney was dead. For the first time now, Joseph speaks to his captors and says, "You will spare my life won't you?" At which point, they say, "Call unto your God for mercy, for we will show you none." 



They now take him 30 yards further and take off all of his clothing except his shirt collar. It used to be back then that men's shirts were flat without collars, but the important people would put on a collar to show respectability, much like we do when we enter church in a suit and tie. Joseph, once naked, is then put on boards and suddenly he is introduced to the man who had been determined to kill him, Dr. Dennison. Dr. Dennison was the doctor that delivered baby Joseph in Sharon, Vermont December 23rd, 1805. Dr. Dennison was known for saying, "If I had known what this baby would become I would have smothered the gus." Dr. Dennison was planning to kill Joseph by castrating him. He has a knife in his hand and comes close to Joseph. As he comes closer to Joseph, his hand with the knife begins to shake and he eventually drops the knife. This was the plan of the mob to have Joseph be killed by castration but they had back up plans in case their first plan did not work. Once the doctor drops the knife, he pulls out of his pocket a vile of nitric acid. The doctor's plan is to put this nitric acid into Joseph's mouth and have him swallow it. Once it is swallowed it causes a cruel death of burning the body from inside out. The doctor attempts to put this small vile into Joseph's mouth, but Joseph keeps his teeth clenched very tightly as to not let anything pass through. Between the clenched teeth and the pushing so hard with the vile, one tooth or another will be broken off. It is not until 1843, when a dentist joins the church in Nauvoo, Joseph will get his teeth fixed. From 1832 to 1843, you could always tell Joseph was preaching because he had a whistle. 

Once the vile was dropped, the mob wondered how do they kill him? All of a sudden you hear, "Symon, Symon, where is the tar bucket?" Some run to get a tar bucket, some break into the home of Sidney Rigdon and grabbed pillows. Joseph now describes that a man fell on him like a mad cat and scratched him well. When the tar is ready and the paddle is put into his mouth, Joseph has no fight left. He knows he is going nowhere and he is done. They splash the tar all over his body and throw the feathers from the pillows over the tar. The last Joseph heard was, "The Mormons are coming." When you say the Mormons are coming, you have Orin Porter Rockwell and similar members who are there to protect Joseph. The mob disperses and leaves Joseph for dead in the street. 

When the tar was put into his mouth, Joseph fell unconscious. He regains himself and rips out the tar of his mouth, when he does so he loses consciousness again. Joseph later regained consciousness and crawled back to the front porch of his home. He discovers Emma and the future Relief Society sisters walking and worried on the porch. Joseph is not happy to have company. Joseph now yells to Emma, "Throw me a blanket." Emma is sure it is Joseph and looks towards the direction of the voice spoken, she sees the tar on him and concludes that it is blood and faints straight onto her back. Emma is helped by the other sisters there and Joseph receives his blanket. Many men come to find Joseph and see him at his home. The men then excuse the ladies from helping Joseph and send them to take care of the sick children. They then pull out their knives and begin to scrape away the tar off Joseph's body. These were not normal knives, they were corn husker knives, thick bladed and dull. 

The next day is church and Joseph speaks as usual, no matter what happens to him, it seems he preaches the gospel. After church, they break the ice on the river and Joseph baptizes three people. In coming days, Joseph and Emma lose one of their twins very likely because of the freezing air that entered the home when the mob came. Joseph and Emma had already lost three children prior to this child. 

Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. No greater man has ever lived and done a greater work, save Jesus Christ alone. I love Joseph; he is my brother and friend. Through the song, "Praise to the Man" (my favorite), we learn that "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." Joseph sacrificed everything to do the will of God, to bring the restoration of the gospel in this last and great dispensation. And now we see the blessings in this church because of what Joseph sacrificed. What can we learn from Joseph? What are we doing to sacrifice so that we too may have the blessings of heaven unto ourselves and unto the rest of the world? 
Millions truly have come to know who Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God and millions and millions more will still come to learn. Praise to the man Joseph Smith and his endless glory with the almighty God.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The "Magical" Slinky

Before I left back for Utah, my nephews Jack and Elliott were fighting over who got to play with this small slinky. I of course intervened and decided to stop it by putting it away, up high to where they couldn't see it. They didn't seem to notice that I put it away but after a little while I realized that we could have a little fun with this slinky after all. So I grabbed the slinky running up to Jack and Elliott and said, "Jack, Elliot. This is a magical slinky, one that can take us to anywhere in the world. But only if we are kind to each other and work together to overcome the hard things we have to go through." Their eyes lit up as they got excited when I began to say we were swimming in the ocean when all of a sudden a shark started to circle us. "Oh know!" Jack said. "We must get to the boat so the shark can't get us." So we all quickly ran into a bedroom and closed the door. It was a place of protection; a place where nothing could get us. "Phew, we're safe. Nothing can get us in here" I said. "I'm going to go outside and stop that shark" Elliott said with determination in his face, fists clenched with one on each side of his face as if he were going to try to intimidate the shark. So we left the room, creeping foot by foot down the hall way until Jack, who was holding the "magical" slinky, said "Oh no! An angry set of Vampires had shown up at the front door wanting to come in. We quickly ran to push against the door so they couldn't get in. The vampires were too many for us, they pushed the door wide open. Elliott jumped back and began to be scared running in circles. Jack ran and grabbed his hand yelling for us to all run back to the safe room. So we did. And we barely made it, too. "Ok guys" I said, "we now each have to take a hold of the slinky and pray that all will begin to disappear, that everything will be peaceful again in the house." Jack began to offer a real prayer. We went back outside and guess who showed up? Grandma Gemmell :)
When it was time for me to leave for Utah shortly after that experience I remember Jack wanting to play with the "magical" slinky again. Sadly I didn't have time as I had briefcase in hand. But they can be sure to count on it when I get back.


Elliott and Jack looking at a june beetle


Elliott and Jack raking the leaves with grandpa


Sometimes we fret too much in this life and not put enough trust in God. Ezekiel 37

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be 
though envious against the workers of sin...
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:
fret not thyself because of him who pospereth in his way,
because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake the wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Ezekiel 37: 1, 7-8

Yesterday I was reading Nephi's prayer and desire to have no more sin in his life. He says this:

O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh;
my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am emcompassed about, 
because of the temptations and the sins which easily do beset me. 
And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins;
nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted...
Behold, he hath heard my cry...and by day have I waxed bold in
mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; 
and angels came down and ministered unto me...
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart,
and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
2 Nephi 4: 17-19, 23-24, 30

There is much more to it but I think you get the point. Trust in God no matter what; whether it is your fault or because of someone else's fault that things go wrong, because that's just how the world works. During time here in college you can get very stressed. (Just like any other phase in life it seems.) And when you are stressed you are not often very happy. Not very joyous and excited for others. This last weekend was general conference. It was a wonderful conference, I was privileged to watch it with a few friends and roommates. I learned a lot about trusting in God and believing Him. To believe Him you must humble yourself. I've learned that my mistakes are from my pride. But I know that God can forgive you and I if we are but believing - trusting - hopeful - happy - not fretting (or worrying). Nephi states this: "O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!" We can put on that robe of righteousness each day. I think I will buy robes for my kids and give it to them during a Family Home Evening and teach them the importance of righteousness. 

As my nephews and I played with the "magical" slinky we found out we had a place of refuge from all hardships. I have come to find that to be my Savior and keeping His commandments. 

For a current update: Life is great, I have so much to do but I am really happy. Sure, I don't have everything I would like, some of those make me sad, but it's a great time to come rely upon God more. That's the whole purpose, right? Classes are fascinating, I am learning a lot about my field of studies. I love the Middle East and it's rich culture. I am still social through library study gatherings. I started doing the P90X with a friend in my ward each morning at 6 AM. That really is some hard work but I think it will eventually pay off. I do it to be active, I don't need the muscles but I also don't want to be super skinny. My ensemble groups are getting better, I love being able to still play music. I love and miss my mission tremendously. And most of all I still love and miss my family.