History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph F. Smith
preparations were made with the guns, etc. Some fears were entertained for the teams and families yet crossing the creek, and it was thought advisable to send back a company, among whom was Luke S. Johnson, to guard and assist them over. He then took the flag or standard—as he had previously carried it—and gave the word to move forward, and the teams immediately began to follow. After the company had come upon the prairie, himself and Elder Roger Orton received an order to call on Lyman Wight to place a strong guard around the camp that night; but he (Wight) refused doing anything further, because he supposed that he (Hyrum) had ordered the camp on to the prairie without an order from the commander of the company. He was then informed by Brother Joseph that it was by his (Joseph's) order that the camp moved on to the prairie. He was present when Brother Joseph reproved Lyman Wight and Sylvester Smith, and saw the transactions concerning the trumpet or horn; and as to Brother Joseph's intention or design to throw it at Sylvester, he had no such thought at the time, nor could he have had such thought since; that at the time when Joseph had finished his remarks to Lyman Wight and Sylvester Smith he threw the horn on the ground, and Brother Wight told him the next day that he had had a jealousy existing in his mind against him (Hyrum) for some days, but now his mind was satisfied, and he now had no hardness or jealousy. He further said, that when he received the order for moving the camp on the prairie, Brothers Lyman and Sylvester were near by.
Adjourned to one o'clock p. m.
Council met according to adjournment. The clerk called the names of the councilors and parties, when business was resumed.
Elder Brigham Young said, that he was in company with President Joseph Smith, Jun., from about twenty-seven miles of this place (Kirtland) till they arrived in Clay county, Missouri; that at the time the difficulty occurred on the Twenty-five Mile Prairie, when the camp was divided, he concurred in what Brother Hyrum had said, and that he could not relate it any more circumstantially than he had done. He further said that he had not seen anything in President Smith's conduct to justify the charge previously made by Brother Sylvester "that his heart was corrupt." So far from this, he had not seen the least shadow of anything of the kind. He had not seen anything in his (Joseph's) conduct, during his journey to the west, unbecoming his profession as a man of God.
Question by Sylvester Smith.—Did you not think that my character was injured in the minds of the weaker part of the camp in consequence of those reproofs and chastisements which were given me by Brother Joseph?
Answer.—I did not.
Elder Young further said in regard to a certain difficulty over a dog, that on a certain evening after crossing the Mississippi river, Brother Sylvester came up with the remaining part of the camp, when the dog came out and barked at him; he knew not whether the dog bit him or not. The next morning, after hearing considerable complaint and murmuring concerning the dog, President Smith spoke to several brethren present and said, "I will descend to that spirit that is in the camp, to show you the spirit you are of, for I want to drive it from the camp. The man that kills that dog, (or my dog), I will whip him." He thought that about this time Brother Sylvester came up, and said, "If that dog bites me I will kill him." Joseph replied, "If you do, I will whip you." Sylvester said, "If you do, I shall defend myself the best way that I can!" Brother Joseph then said that he "would do it in the name of the Lord."
President Smith then asked the brethren if they were not ashamed of such a spirit. Said he, "I am."
He then proceeded to reprove them for condescending to that spirit; that they ought to be above it; that it was the spirit of a dog; and men ought never to place themselves on a level with the beasts; but be possessed of a more noble disposition. He (Joseph) then said, he had condescended to that spirit, in order to show the spirit which was among them.
Elder Young further said, that this explanation gave general satisfaction, and the most of the brethren saw that he had only made these remarks for the purpose of instructing them, and warning them against such a spirit or disposition.
Elders Lyman E. Johnson and Heber C. Kimball concurred.
Elder David Elliot said he was not present when those reproofs were given in the morning; that the circumstances were related to him afterwards, which unfavorably affected his mind, and gave him some disagreeable feelings; that at noon he heard President Joseph give a further explanation, which perfectly satisfied him.
He further said, that during the forenoon he learned there were many of the brethren dissatisfied with President Smith's remarks in the morning concerning the dog, but that after the explanation at noon so generally given, he thought that every one in the camp might have understood President Smith's purpose.
Elder Lorenzo Booth concurred in the statement of Elder Young; though he was not present in the morning when the reproofs were given concerning the dog; that he was with President Smith from twenty-seven miles from this place (Kirtland) to Missouri, and a part of the way home; that he did not see anything in President Smith's character derogatory to a man professing religion; that he was present during a certain transaction which occurred during their journey home, respecting certain articles of bedding: that he had heard since his return that President Smith and Ezra Thayer had fought; that he was present during the whole transaction, and there was no fighting.
He further said, in relation to a certain report which had come to his knowledge since his return from Missouri, that President Smith had taken a bed quilt which was not his property; that while at New Portage, Ohio, on their way to Missouri, one of the brethren gave him (Joseph) two bed quilts, which he (Booth) had charge of, as he was the individual who drove the team for President Smith, and had charge of the baggage; that before leaving Clay county, Missouri, he (Booth) took them to be washed, and after starting for home he put them on board of the wagon, the baggage of which he had the charge during their journey home; that he brought the same back with him, has seen them since, and knows that the one which was said to be the property of another individual, is the one which was given President Smith at Norton.
Counselor Frederick G. Williams said, while at Norton certain articles were handed him to mark, among which were two bed quilts, which he marked with common ink; has seen certain bed quilts since his return, and has no doubt but this one in question is the one he marked.
Elder Brigham Young further said relative to a difficulty about some bread, that Elder John S. Carter, on their journey to Missouri, on the line between Ohio and Indiana, said to President Smith, "Is this thing right?" "What thing?" "Concerning Parley P. Pratt's asking Brother Sylvester for some bread for supper."
He then learned that Brother Pratt had asked Brother Sylvester for some bread; that Sylvester had bread at the time, but directed Brother Pratt to some one else, who he (Sylvester) said had sufficient; that Elder Pratt called upon that individual, and could not obtain any; that he was present when President Smith told Brother Sylvester that he had not acted right in the matter, that he ought to impart when he had it instead of directing one where he was not certain he could obtain, that by so doing some might be deprived of food at times.
He further said, that Brother Sylvester contended he had been right, and justified his own conduct in the matter; that Joseph reasoned with Sylvester to convince him that he (Sylvester) was in fault; but he continued to justify his course till President Smith reproved him sharply.
He frequently heard the brethren speak of this circumstance, and all whom he had heard say anything on the subject, manifested a satisfaction with President Smith, and thought his observations correct, and the principles which he advanced, just.
Elder Lyman Sherman said that he concurred in Elder Young's statement concerning the bread; that he thought it was generally known that Elder Pratt, in consequence of Brother Sylvester's not furnishing him with bread, was deprived of bread that night; that at the time he (Joseph) told him (Sylvester) that Brother Parley did not obtain any bread in consequence of Brother Sylvester not supplying him with it.
Elder Jacob Bump said, that since the brethren's return from the west he had gone with Sylvester to Elder Rigdon to advise concerning the adjusting of certain complaints which were in circulation respecting President Joseph Smith's conduct on the journey to and from Missouri; that Brother Sylvester told Brother Rigdon that Elder