Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-12


Aug. 4, 1905.
Editor Deseret News:
Dear Sir--Seeing the testimony OF j..
w Rgdon in the Semi. Weekly News of
July g. ana being much interested IN
the subject and knowing that there
lived In this place man that was quite
familiar with the early scenes in
Church history especially those in and
about Far West, Missouri and having
heard him say that he had many times
visited his father and the Prophet Jo-
seph, while they were incarcerated In
Liberty jail. / went and interviewed
Orange l.. Wight eldest son of former
Apostle Lyman WighO, who Is now 81
years old and resides with his daughter,
Sister Harriet NJ. Earl. Brother Wight
Is quite feeble In body, but his mind
seems TO be as bright as ever
found Brother Wight In his usual
good humor, and seemed quite willing
to tax, IN fact, was pleased to do so.
Elder Wight" said /, "are you willing
TO make a statement for publication in
regard 10 what you know about Joseph
Smith, son OF the Prophet Joseph, being
ordained while IN Liberty Jail TO lead
Then" said /, lust write me out
brief statement covering those points
and | viii give it In your own words.
Following is Brother Wlghts state
ment:
I'm regard TO the statement Of John
w, Rigdon endorse II In every point
Brother John w. Rlgdon speaks of be-
ing In Liberty prison when the Prophet
led.
Smith, Lyman Wight and others, were
there (the others were Caleb Baldwin
and Alexander McRae). / also visited
the prisoners at or about the same time,
and slept with them many times at DIFF
ferent periods and / cannot reCollect
| OF ever hearing the subject of an ordi-
nation mentioned,
MY father. Lyman Wight, nor my
| mother never alluded to 1t during their
| life time I'm my presence 80 / take IL
for granted that Joseph the son OF the
| Prophet Joseph Smith, was not or
| dained TO fill the place OF his father, in
| the Liberty jail. / was born in the
state of New York Nov. 20, 1923, hence
| am about seven years older thar
Brother John w, Rigdon. And II an
| ordination OF young Joseph had oc-
| CURED in the prison, would likely have
| collect It.
Previous to this, while l was several
years younger, the Twelve Apostles
were organized and commissioned to
| assist In leading and governing the
| Church. | can recollect every detail
| distinctly, My acquaintance with the
| Prophet was from the year 1880 to his
martyrdom, and l can truly say he was
| a Prophet Of God and was appointed
| to the divine mission to organize the
| Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints, In this last dispensation,
| AS to the Prophets believing and
| practising polygamy, have as near a
| certain knowledge OF the fact, | may
say, az any man living I was we'll ac-
| quainted with most or all OF his wives.
and talked with them on the subject.
| at the same time my wife also talked
| with them.
| III there Is anything further that is
necessary for me TO communicate in re-
| gard to my recollection l will willingly
| do so.
| Respectfully,
ORANGE IT, WIGHT"
| Further talk with Brother Wight
brought out the following facts. He
| was baptized into the Church I'm the
| spring OF 1889, was with the Church
through all their troubles In the state
OF Missouri. Brother Wight filed a
thirteen months mission to the state
| OF Virginia In company with Jedediah
| NJ. Grant and others, was In Nauvoo
at the time that the Prophet was cap
tured at Dixon, Ill., and was one of
the crew that went up the Illinois river
on the steamer Maid Of Iowa to assist
in rescuing the Prophet
JOSEPH L EARL.