The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-24
WHAT JOSEPH SMITH SAID.
Aged Citizens Testify at Heber to
His Words.
Especial Correspondence

O0pCCld4 1Co4OA0CH
.Heber, Jan. 23.-Last evening the Y. Nj.
NJ. I. A. of Wasatch stake closed the two
days annual conference. The meetings.
with the exception of the first, have been
very largely attended.
A very impressing circumstance oc-
Cured on Sunday afternoon, which Will
"a a everlasting impression. upon the
: minds of all present. While Elder A T.
Duke was addressing the service on Sat
urday afternoon he spoke of the prediction
made by the prophet Joseph Smith, con-
corning the church of the Latter-day
Saints coming TO the. mountains: Inc
speaker said there were those IN the
meeting who heard the prophet predict
the Saints would go to the mountains.
where they would become a mighty peo-
pie.
while the tabernacle was crowded to its
full capacity, general secretary OF the y
NJ. M. 1. A, Thomas Hull. asked all VINO
heard the prophet Joseph predict the
come to the stand so the congregation
could see and hear them testify. For. said
Mr.. Hull, the ~reorganized church OF the
Latter-day Saints say that Joseph never
made such a prediction, and those who
came to the mountains under the leader
ship OF Brigham Young were following a
false prophet. Accordingly, about twelve
honorable. gray-haired ladies and gen.
tlemen. Nauvoo veterans, appeared on
the stand, creating a very imposing and
impressive effect upon the vast audience.
The first veteran speaker was Henry S.
Alexander, who used to be a steward on
board the Maid of Iowa, plying on the
Mississippi river. The speaker was wei
acquainted with Joseph Smith. He was
present when Joseph declared the church
would be driven from the confines of the
United States. and would be established in
the valleys of the. Rocky mountains,
where the members of the church would
become a great and a mighty people. 4
heard the prophetic declaration, said MI
Alexander, "and have lived TO see 1t ful-
filed &C we'll 9S manV other predictions
made"
Joseph S. Murdoch. another aged vet
eran, next addressed the congregation.
When a boy in company with a score
or more young men in a little meeting In
the city of Nauvoo. Patriarch Hyrum
Smith addressed them and said there were
young men in that meeting who would
live and go with the body of the church
to the Rocky mountains.
Mr.. Murdoch had heard Joseph and Hy-
rum both give this wonderful prophetic
prediction more han once. When the
prophet was on his way to Carthage jail
to deliver himself up to the, officers. OF
the law, Mr.. Murdoch approached him and
asked him his views on the situation,
and the prophet answered that he had no
very great light in the direction in which
he was going. The light he had was to-
ward the mountains.
The next to address the people was a
very aged lady from Midway. a Mrs. Gift.
She knew the prophet Joseph smith: Had
talked with him and dined with him IT
his table many many times; had often
heard him say the Saints would go to the
Rocky mountains, and Zio would become
a mighty people.
Mrs. Annie R. Duke was acquainted
with Joseph Smith, but was not present
at the public meeting where he made the
prediction concerning the Saints going to
the mountains. Her mother. however,
was at the meeting. Mrs. Dukes mother
is still living in southern Utah
There were many other aged, worthy
persons present who were ready to testify,
but time would not suffice.
The remainder of the time was occupied
by an interesting address by Elder
Thomas Hull of Salt Lake. After which
Mrs. Hull rendered a beautiful solo.
The conference just closed has been
a very interesting one THROUGHOUT.