The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-08


tercst until lie had finished. when he /
said; Brother Harris. ! would advise !
You not to attend those meetings. nor /.
paw any attention To them. You may tell /
The boys. however, that ] would like 10 |
nave them 90, but I want them 10 be !
sure Ia come and see me before the !
meeting lakes place. ! wish TO give them
some counsel
Subsequent events showed the wisdom
ol Joseph In advising Brother Iimir llar-
iiS not TO attend the meeting and select.
Ing Young men 90 do the work he wished |
To have accomplished. Brother Harris
returned and told the BOYS what Joseph de-
sired them 10 do. and they readily agreed |
to comply with his request Accordingly,
ON The next Sunday before the secret meet
ing took place. Robert and Denlson called
at the house OF Joseph To learn what he
wished them TO do. He told them that
II" desired that they should attend the
lnteung, pay strict attention and report
20 llm all their proceedings, al the FIRST
favorable opportunity. Hc moreover eau
TONED them to have as lIttlc TO say as
possible. and TO avoid giving any offence.
Ihey attended the meeting. desired,
lhore were quite q pumbcr present and
lho time was mostly occupied In plan
ming how 10 get Mt things the best and
eject an organization. Strong speeches
were also made against the prophet. and
many Hes were told TO prejudice the
minds OF those present against him. This
porllon oi tho proceedings was not a dif-
icult task, for the clement ot which the
audience was composed was only too sus-
ccpttblc to such evil Impressions, and
arouslng feelings Of eumitv toward the
prophet that they nigh, wish to use in
accomplishing his overthrow 1t seems
that the immediate cause OF these wicked
proceedings was the fact that Joseph
had recently presented the revelation of
tclcSl1I marriage 10 the high council for
their approval. and certain members were
most bitterly opposed to IL. and denounced
! Joseph as fallen prophet. and were de-
termlned 10 destroy him.
The meeting adjourned to convene
again on the following Sabbath, and the
Two young men were invited TO attend
to tell soul of what had transpIred at
! The first one. At the first suitable op-
/ pcrtunity they called upon Joseph, re
lated lated TO him what had taken place, and
| gave him the names OF those who had
taken part In the proceedings. The lead
! ing members among the consplrators. FOR
such they really were. were William and
Wilson Law. Austin A. Cowles, Francis
and Chauncy HiCbec Robert Foster and
| his brother, two Hicks brothers, and two
merchants Fmche and Robinson, who
were enemies of the church, After hear
! ing their report and asking several ques
! TONS, which they answered to the best
! OF their knowledge, Joseph said Boys
! | would INK" you 10 accept their invita-
! uon and attend the second meeting, But
| come To me again next Sunday. before
! their meeting convenes. as / may have
something more TO say 10 you before
| YOU go"
! At the expiration OF a week they again
went to see Joseph. who gave them tho
|
| 10 the meeting. This time the Conspira-
tors were stlli more vehement in their
| abusive remarks about Joseph. New
| crimes that he had committed had been
| discovered, and the old ones were much
! maGnllicd. Their accusations were not
only against MIN. but this brother IIyrum
! and other prominent men In NauYoo.
| There seemed to be no end to the wicked
! ness of which these good men were ac-
! cused, as most Of the time until late
! hour was occupied by different ones in
! dcnouncns and accusing Joseph and his
| friends OF the most heipous crimes. Be-
! fore the meeting adjourned. however II
! was agreed that they should all endeavor
BILE during the week, that something def
mite, might he accomplished toward ef-
! fcctlne more complete organiza ton
| Without further delay. The meeting was
| 10 convene again on the following Sun
day, As the boys had kept quiet and
said nothing against any of their pro-
ceedlnss. IT was supposed. OF course, that
they were in sympathy with the move
| ment, and an invitation was accordingly
extended for them to attend the next
! meeting.
As on the previous occa sion, the young
men watched hitting opportunity of re
suspicion Of any that attended the meet
Ing He listened attentiYcy 10 the re-
cital OF all that had taken place at the
| ..ComS to me aeaIn poyt Simday e Wish
YOU TO attend the next meeting also.
The hoys promised to do so, and left the
/
connection with them. however a pro
found secret from the rest OF their
friends and al the appointed time again
went TO the house OF Joseph to receive
their usual instructions This time he
said TO them, with very serious coupte-
nance This Will he your last meeting
NIT YOU into their councils They will
come 10 some determination, BE sure.
he continued. that you make nc
covenants. nor enter into any obligations
| vii gfr ~ raS RI % al
make no promise either to consptrc
against me OF any portion OF the COM
munity. Be silent and do not take any
part in their deliberations After a
pause of some moments. he added: Boys
this will bc their last meeting, and they
may shed your blood but | hardly think
do. J WILL. BE \ LION IN THEIR
PATH. Don't finch. II you have TO die
die like men; you will be martyrs TO the
cause. and your crowns can be no greater
But" said he, again. II hardly think they
VIII shed your blood"
This Interview was j long one. Jo-
scphs sensitive feelings we're touched 10y
the faith generosity and love manifested
by these young men I'm their willingness
To undertake such hazardous enterprise
at his bidding He blessed them and made
them precious promises for their sacrl'
fee, and told them il their lives were
taken their reward would be all thC
greater After leaving Josephs home
with his sincere wishes for their safety
the boys waited anNiouslY for the time
OF meeting TO arrive. They fully realized
tho dangers into which they We're about
To plunge themselves. yet they did not
shrink They knew il was their duty
and they determined to attempt il at al
haza rdS. They were now familiar with
the names OF the persons conspirine
against Joseph. the object they had III
View, and many of their plans for nc
complishing that object. Moreover they
were supposed by the would be mur-
dercrS to be in perfect sympathy with al
their heish designs; and II, by any cir
cumstance. they should arouse the sus
plcion that they were present at Jo-
scphs request, or even with his knoUl.
edge. their lives In such crowd would
indeed be OF little value. They deter
minted To trust in the Lord and die
rather than bctray the priesthood. Thei,
feelings may perhaps be imagined as tho
time of meeting drew near. and. thcS
started of in the direction of Williar
Laws house. where it WAS to be held
They certainly displayed faith that every
young man in Israel should cultivate.
on arriving at the rendczvous thcS
found To their surprise and discontinue
that the entrance to the house was
guarded by mcn armed with muskets apo
bayonets. After being scrutinzcd from
head TO foot, and carefully cross-ques-
toned. they succeeded In passing tn,
guards and gaining admittance. From
this it will be seen thai ErSa. care was