Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-06
Scraps From An Old Timers Journal

prophet appointed me to go to New
York on q mission.
The prophet said there were others
10 take missions, but they would be
taken up in their quorums.
AT this conference there were
great many others appointed on mis-
sions; they were to go home and get
ready as soon as possible.
On the Goth of May 7 was ready
TO go with Brigham Young. But
some of my friends, who came to zee
me off, in looking over my farm. per-
s,laded me to stay lntil after / had
harvested fold of new kind of
fine. Well, / consented to stay, but
when we went to cut the grain. there
was not a kernel to be found In the
entire field. 1t was all blasted.
/ got ready the second time, June
3, 1874, TO go on my long-planned
mission to New York. Arrived in
Nauvoo June 10. to find all excite
ment over the destroying OF the Maui
WOO Expositor l went Immediately TO
see the prophet, reported as ready for
my mission, and to learn how and
where l was to join Brigham Young.
The prophet said he was glad l had
come, but he wanted to change my
mission, and take me with him to
find place for the saints
not build up the Church in the states
but would have to go and find place
in the mountains. whore they could
fnd place TO live in peace and in
five years they would not be disturbed
or be driven away again" He said
he had a company made up, hut he
wanted me especially. as ! had been
west on the Indian land to the Mis-
souri, river.
Late in the evening of June %, Jo-
seph and Hyrum Smith, and Willard
Richards left Nauvoo and crossed the
Mississippi river 10 find the place for
the saints.
] had very fine horse. the prophet
wanted TO buy and he offered S200 for
II. / told him | would not sell the
horse, but would make him a present
Of II. He then asked me IL had 9th
or horses to ride and pack and could
III out myself for the trip proposed?
1 told him j could, and was glad 20
go west instead of east to New York.
During the time stayed in the
city, ] called ON the prophet every
day, and was introduced to some OF
the company who had agreed to go
with him. 1 don't know but one
man now living or that COM
pGny. He Is Samuel Richards. ] was
so surprised that we would have TO
go into the mountains. or wilderness
ana lehNe tnul great city ana lno tenn
pie that was being built. because OF his
anxiety TO get the temple built, and
give endowments before We left.
The plan the prophet proposed WAS
this ] was to so home 70 Fox River,
90 miles west, on the road from Nauvoo
10 the mountains. take the horse had
given him, get ready, and he would
cross over the Mississippi river with n
few men, come TO my place the frst
night, and the next night go on. for
at that time IL was only - miles 70
the Indian boundary land, which was
outside OF the United states. He said
he would start In about q week, and
the company could come on later This
was on June ~, 1874.
went home, taking the horse Win
me, and got ready for the trip 10 the
mountains.
l heard that the prophet had crossed
the river for the mountains and ex.
pected him every night until ! learned
that hH was martyred. ! Immediately
started for Nsuvoo; while on the west
side OF the river, ! stopped with my
old trends, who said that Joseph ana
Hyrum Smith ana Willard Richards
had got as far as their place, but their
suppueed friends who had followed
them, had persuaded them 20 return,
When Joseph left he said, Il leave
void of offense toward God and man.
/ have no lease Of my life. go as u
lamb H. the slaughter" He said many
other words la that strain,
went on 90 Nauvuo, arrlVing AZ me
close Of Joseph and Hyrum enlllhf
funeral. ANDREW j. STEWART
Api b. 1905