Mosiah Hancock Autobiography

Mormon History 1830-1844

Mosiah Hancock Autobiography (1)

Born in Kirtland in 1834, son of Levi Hancock—one of the first Seven Presidents of Seventy—and Clarissa Reed, Mosiah relates Missouri events in detail, probably based on well-rehearsed oral tradition where personal memory was lacking. This document is important as one of a handful of sources that trace the origins of plural marriage to 1831–1832.
The narrative is not without its problems, as RLDS church historian Richard P. Howard's pointed out in "The Need for Historical Perspective." Despite these weaknesses, the biographer of Joseph's plural wives, Todd Compton, ultimately accepts Mosiah's account. (Sacred Loneliness, 29–31).
Around the turn of the century it appears that Mosiah's daughters prepared a 111-page typescript of a 49-page holograph that was probably written in 1876. The last recorded event occurs in 1865.
At least three versions of the autobiography have been published, all lacking text contained in the holograph. We have compared the typescript to the "Journal of Mosiah Lyman Hancock," compiled by Naomi Melville Cottam and published in Chronicles of Courage, vol. 6 (1995). Text in red is missing in the Chronicles of Courage. Differences in capitalization and punctuation are ignored.
		Preface
Purpose: conversion		It is not my intent to treat much on my sufferings; suffice it to say that my part of suffering can go to the end of oblivion. . . . yet if the avenging angels take vengence on the guilty, I think the righteous will escape, for the assumption decreed is bound to sweep over the land as with the fire of destruction. Few of the children of men understand the nature of the fall and redemption of man. Therefore, if through my humble endeavors to place the truth before them I can persuade some to tread the path that leads to the tree of life and enter into the tent of the Lord, I shall be grateful to God for the privilege of so doing.	Ellipses in original.
Son of Levi Hancock and Clarissa Reed Puritan stock Revolutionary War veterans		I am the son of Levi Ward Hancock and Clarissa Reed Hancock. I shall not give our genealogy in this short history of mine at this time, for it is had in the Holy Temples so far as the work for our dead has been done. Suffice it to say: We are of the Old Puritan stock that was in Boston as early as 1632, and my ancestors fought for the freedom of our country. All laid down their lives of my Father's relatives in the war of the Revolution, except Thomas, my father's father, and he came out of the war honorably discharged when scarcely fourteen years of age. If our posterity can manage to be as true to the work of God, I shall be most truly happy.	Linkage of Revolution and Mormonism
Kirtland home Grandparents Aunts	¶	I was born in Kirtland, Ohio, on April 9, 1834. As I remember, our house was on a hill in Kirtland; it had two rooms. The room on the east was used as kitchen—it was about 20 by 12 feet. The front room had a cone roof about one-fourth pitch. It had a door open to the South, and often my mother would tell me to look and see if the sun shone vertical in the door and if so, it was time to set father's dinner. The front room mother used as a parlor, and a room to quilt and spin in. Often Grandmother mother Reed would be there; also mother's sisters, Rebecca and Laura. What joyful times they had carding and spinning.
Women of bygone days		The women used to spin in a different manner than they do nowadays. In those days they got the dinner ready on time. Now there are plenty of "she politicians" who take great pleasure in putting the devils in office.
Neighborhood	¶	We had a spring, perhaps four rods from our east door, which lay at the foot of a small hill where I used to go for water with a small tin bucket. There was a wagon shop across the street a little to the west of our house, run by some men by the name of Webb. I used to go there to see them work at the wagons and watch them paint. One of the men's name was "Pardon," and I used to think, "What a funny name."
Sisters	¶	On the fourteenth day of May, 1835, my sister Sarah was born. They said that six weeks before her time, father being on a mission, my mother had to milk the cow—the cow kicked mother, causing her to go over on her head,—Sarah lived only one day! On the fourteenth day of May, 1836, my sister Amy Elizabeth was born in Kirtland, Ohio.
Woman's axe Accident	¶	About this time, I thought I would cut some wood. Mother had in those days what she called a woman's axe. I should think the handle was about three feet in length and the axe would weigh some seven to eight pounds. There were five nicks in it, I think. Mother had been chopping wood, and I felt sorry to see her do it, so when she had gone in the house with her wood I put the axe upon my shoulder and brought it down-first cutting my ear, and then my foot! Being bare-footed I soon sought mother for medical aid!
Age of gentility		Mother had taught me from my first re-collection that when I saw a woman chopping wood, I should take the axe and cut the wood for her. In so doing, I could thus prove my genteel blood! In late years I have been wonderously surprised to see young things that are termed men, from sixteen to twenty years of age, stand with silent complacency it were, and watch while their mothers, sisters, or grandmothers wielded the axe to get enough kindling to brown a piece of toast to satisfy their innocent's.
Polygamy 1831 Pure lineage	¶	I wish to write now of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord revealed to this Prophet as early as the year 1831 that in consequence of great wickedness which would come upon the earth in the latter days, it would be necessary for great men to take the noblest wives. The Lord had reserved the most noble of His choice spirits to come forth through a pure lineage, as the of His spirits were not willing to come through a lineage that was corrupt.	Royal Smith Lineage
Father and Joseph Kirtland apostasy Move to Far West	¶	Father nobly assisted the Prophet in his good work. Then the apostates tried with all their power to get Joseph down, but they only succeeded in throwing themselves out of the Church. They put the Prophet to a great deal of trouble, and he had to go to Missouri. We went with him, and it was there on the road to Far West that I learned to love the noble course of the Prophet Joseph Smith.	The Hancocks arrived at their destination just before Mosiah's 4th birthday.
Plurality of gods	¶	I went and asked father "Who made the father of our God?", and Brother Joseph answered, "Brother Levi, it is just as natural for God to have a father as it is for you or me to have one."	I do not believe this concept was developed until ca 1843.
Horses Tries to walk to Far West	¶	When we went to Far West we had a good team of horses. Father had bought a mare we called "Turk, the Arab Steed," Tom, her mate, we paid five hundred dollars for, was just as good a horse; so we had a fine team. As we were very heavily loaded while going to Far West, I tried to walk all I could to make it easier on the team.
Family		We had grandfather, grandmother, and father's brother, Thomas, with us. Uncle Thomas had fought in the War of 1812 and was at the storming of [blank]. Then there was father, mother, my sister Amy and myself going along too.	Incomplete sentence ends "at the storming of."
Barefoot		I was bare-footed; never knew the luxury of having a pair of shoes until I was seven years of age, then my Uncle Alvah made me a present of a pair.
Joseph's disposition to young and old	¶	It was the disposition of the Prophet Joseph when he saw little children in the mud to take them up in his arms and wash the mud from their bare feet with his handkerchief. And oh how kind he was to the old folks as well as to little children. He always had a smile for his friends and was always cheerful.
16 kids in a bed	¶	We had it tolerably good in our move to Far West. I remember that one night there were sixteen of we little children in one bed. We used to make our bed on the ground, but grandfather and grandmother and some of the children slept in the wagon.
Arrive Plum Creek, March 1838 8" snow House Bedstead	¶	We arrived at our place on Plum Creek about March 20, 1838. There was approximately eight inches of snow on the ground, and not having a tent we were forced to camp in the open for awhile. Father had bought a place from an old Missourian when he had come out of Zion's Camp some four years previous. There had been some round logs drawn up to the square. Father soon hewed the logs for building while grandfather made a wooden trowel and a hickory spade. Soon the house was daubed inside with clay, and chinked and daubed outside. Shakes were put on the roof; and a chimney was laid up of sticks and daubed inside and outside with clay mud. A pinion floor was made. A bedstead was made out of tree limbs and posts so that mother might be as comfortable as possible while her baby was being born.	Plum Creek was three miles from Far West.
Marion born in April as mob howls	¶	My little brother, Francis Marion, was born on the 16th of April, 1838. We were truly glad that we were in a house, for a mob was howling outside swearing that they would kill every man, woman, and child belonging to the Mormons. Mother was giving birth to Marion while this mob was in its fiendishness, like so many he-lions.
Baby found in a hollow tree		There were two young girls with mother at the time of the advent. One of the girls was fourteen, the other only twelve. They drove my little sister and me under the bed; and we, hearing a noise quite strange, started to see what was the matter, but were soon shooed back under the bed by the young ladies. I inquired of my folks where they found the baby, and they said, "In a hollow tree!" I went out thru the woods as far as I dared go, because the mob was still too close by to be appreciated by me, but I could not find anything like it in shape or size!
Bark, buds, pig weeds, strawberries, corn, plums, nuts	¶	We had it tolerably fair that spring. The elm-bark and bass-wood buds came in good at first, and for greens we used pig weeds and other weeds to eat. Father had bought three hundred hogs when he came out of Zion's Camp four years previous, so we had some seasoning for our greens. We also had plenty of straw-berries, green corn, and wild plums. In the fall, we had walnuts and hazelnuts. I gathered them with my grandfather, Thomas Hancock.
Wild hogs, bears Toys	¶	I would often go up to Far West to see the folks and have a good visit. Often I would see a bear during my journey; but I had more dread of wild hogs than of bears! used to take pleasure in making pop-guns and squirt-guns from small branches off the elderberry trees; those trees were plentiful in the land.
Methodist camp meeting Mormons intellectual Methodist anxious seat, shouts	¶	Once I was permitted to go to a Methodist Camp Meeting, and I used to think it funny to see them pass the hat to get money. I could not help contrasting the way they had of conducting their meeting to that of the Latter-Day Saints. While our meetings are conducted with singing and prayer and intellectual talks, theirs were conducted, "Come to the Anxious Seat", "Come to Jesus".
Mormons to be killed		I would liked to have seen which of the howlers was supposed to be Jesus. I being young could not understand, but being of an inquisitive mind, I desired to know, for it was told to me by one of the greatest shouters that if my parents would come to that meeting and join them, they would not be killed! I tried to get them over, but no, they would not go. I thought it too bad for I feared they would be killed!
Attends Methodist meetings to see Jesus		My parents told me that if I liked, I could go again to their meetings. I never knew why I went, but I did go four nights in succession. I used to think that if the Saints ranted and howled like these people, what a host of people we might have in our Church someday. I decided not to go but I changed my mind when a man told me that Jesus would be there tomorrow night, sure! I decided to go and see if he looked like the same one I had seen there before, and oh! the groaning, shouting, and hollering of "Amen"!
Experience of Jesus		One man said that Jesus would not fail to come this time. At last a woman came to the anxious seat and shouted "Glory", and the congregation said "Amen". Then the woman said she had the power, and a man grabbed her in his arms and said, "I've got him". The woman fell to the floor as limp as a dish-rag, then a man with a cloak on kicked the candle over. . . .	Ellipses in original
These people murderers? Sam Bogart		I went home wondering if those good religious people would kill us all. The noted, Sam Bogart, seemed to be the chief howler and cloak carrier in the whole congregation.
1838 harvest	¶	We had a good patch of corn this summer and fall, so again we had green corn boiled on the cob, and grated corn again, and hominy or milled corn.
4th of July	¶	This season we went up to Far West to celebrate the Fourth of July. Sidney Rigdon was the orator of the day. Just the day before the celebration the Prophet Joseph asked father to compose a song. He worked on it much in the night and had it ready for the occasion. Uncle Solomon Hancock helped Father sing the song. It is as follows:	¶ Order of the Day Sidney's Independence Day Oration

		Song of Freedom By Levy Ward Hancock, July 3, 18--
¶	1.	Come lovers of freedom, to gather, And hear what we now have to say. For surely we ought to remember The cause that produced this great day. Oh, may we remember while singing The pains and distresses once born By those who have fought for our freedom And often for friends called to mourn.
	2.	The lives and the fortunes together And honors all sacred and dear Were solemnly all pledged forever By our honored Forefathers here. Including the great and the noble Who in our behalf were so brave They offered their lives for our freedom When called for our country to save.
	3.	The parliment lords and the commons To gather their soldiers prepare And placed at their heads men to lead them Then over the ocean did steer. To fight with their foes? Oh, no, never! To deal with their enemies? No! But for some few fancied offenses Across the Atlantic did go.
	4.	T'was then a pardon was offered To all who would willingly yield, Excepting John Hancock and Adams, The fate of these men had been sealed. Thank God then, for good Patrick Henry And other men who with him dared To come out with heart rending speeches Against what these war lords declared.
	5.	The Tories were all crying "treason" Against those who called for their right, And they would not listen to reason But called on their forces to fight To gain for the lords and the commons, Who called for a tax without right Then often from morning to morning Contended for it with their might.
	6.	God armed our forefathers with power And Washington came to their aid; In wisdom he lead the great battle And soon made the Tories afraid. He raised up the Standard of Freedom And called for his brave volunteers Who all gathered quickly around him And from their bold enemy steered.
	7.	Hark! How the great battle rages. Behold! He undauntedly stands. The great cause for hereafter ages, He pleads with his sword in his hands. Behold, English lords then came bending, And from their high chairs soon fell down. And Tories and tyrants lay bleeding Before this great Man of Renown.
	8.	Great love then filled every bosom, And joy beamed upon every face, Where lingered the true seed of freedom, All willingly gave God the praise. They told the sad tale to their children, And told them the same to hand down To their children's children forever Until the great trumpet should sound.
	9.	To celebrate this day of freedom Don't let it ever be lost. Remember the wars of our Fathers And also the blood they have cost. Go children, and tell the same story To your children's children unborn, How English lords, tyrants, and Tories, Have once caused your fathers to mourn.
	10.	'Twas honor that nerved up your Fathers And caused them to go forth and fight To gain us this great day of freedom In which we can now take delight. Yes, daughters, you too have your freedom, You too have your country most dear, You love well your own Independence, Your Forefathers gained for you here.
	11.	Exalt then the standard of Freedom, And don't leave upon it a stain. Be firm and determined forever Your freedom and rights to maintain. Remember the God of your fathers. Ye sons and ye Daughters give ear; Then with you 'twill be well hereafter, And nothing you'll then have to fear.
	12.	Farewell, ye old venerable Fathers Who have stood for many a year. Ye, like the aged trees have fallen, Except just a few there and here. White locks plainly show they're soon going To earth-dust from whence we all came, To rest in the mansion of glory Beyond all the trials and pain.

Sing on cornerstone	¶	Uncle Solomon Hancock helped father sing this song on the southeast corner stone of the Far West temple. The stone was there, but was afterwards laid by the twelve apostles on April of the following year.	The cornerstones were laid April 26, 1839
Mormon virtues Treatment of blacks	¶	There were friends of the mobbers who would infringe upon the rights of we lovers of freedom. We rejoiced in building good homes, sheds, and corrals; and in teaching the proper rudiments, that all should be just and propitious to each other, and in teaching the principles of Gospel to the children of men. We rejoiced in the prospects of a good education. The natives called us abolitionists and supposed we sympathized with the Negro, I saw great cruelties made upon the Negro, but I am delicate to touch upon what I have seen performed.
Easterners clean, refined Missourians uncouth	¶	The eastern people held the name of Deity in sacredness. They kept clean door yards and other things in order, with sufficient out-buildings for sanitary purposes. They had beautiful gardens with everything calculated to please the eye and gladden the heart of the refined. The Missourian generally lived in a house of unhewed logs with no roof to speak of and no yard for his stock. He seemed to have no education, and it made him jealous of the Saints because of the superior excellence of their minds.
Mosiah learns to fight	¶	In the spring when we first came to our place, I often used to go borrow a little fire, for in those days there was no matches that we knew of. Our flint and steel was missing, so I had to borrow fire and I would go bare-footed and in my shirt tail. When I got to some houses they would refuse to let me have fire or to let me in, and they would set their boys on me and I would have to run and stand them off the best I could. It was not long before I could stand my ground, for my father came along one day and saw how a boy was treating me. Up to that time my father had taught me to run when anybody wanted to fight me, and I had fulfilled the command of my father until I was as cowardly as a hen-pecked husband. This time however, seeing the condition of affairs, he said, "Mosiah, if you do not whip that boy, I will whip you". I knew my father meant what he said, therefore waltzed right into my foe. Father did not need to whip me, and ever after, that boy had a high regard for me even though he was a year older than I. However, the boy's father and another smarty started to make short work of my father. But, when I saw my father tripping off a horn-pipe on their bodies, I took courage. When my father had finished his business, he said to me, "Mosiah, I give you leave after this to defend yourself and friends". After that, our enemies knew how to respect us.
Only defensive action	¶	By my parents kind endeavor to instill in me the doctrine of Christ, I was always kind to those with whom I came in contact, and never to my knowledge have I been guilty of striking a first blow.
Patriots from New England and the East	¶	Now I return to our fourth of July celebration. The mobocrats tried to make it appear that the Mormons were disloyal to the government; as well might a toad declare that an eagle had no freedom. None of those but the most ignorant of humanity ever said that of a Saint. The Prophet Joseph, his brother Hyrum, and all of our kindred, were from Eastern or Puritan stock, and the songs of liberty and freedom were on every tongue. As well might a vulture sing of the imperfections of a dove, as for the mobacrats to croak about the Saints. The mobacrats were known to say that the law could not reach the Saints, but that powder and ball could!
Lightning strikes liberty pole	¶	The lightning struck the liberty-pole and made it a mass of splinters, and Brother Joseph said, "There goes the liberty of the people".	Other sources?
Written in 1876		Now after sixty-three years have passed, these are my thoughts concerning the liberty of the Saints.	1838 + 38 = 1876
Daniel in the lion's den Keep covenants	¶	That which the prophet, Daniel, said has surely come to pass concerning the trials of the Saints. No Saint, male or female, has any need to break the high and Holy Covenants with God. The prophet Daniel was cast into the lion's den and he did not do it. We should study more of Daniel.
Fiery furnace		Also, the three Hebrew children did not deny God when they were thrown into the fiery furnace! All the Holy Prophets from Adam to the present time did not forsake God—they have continued to keep the sacred commandments and covenants with Him. Christ, whom Satan supposedly thought was in his power, had no time to bargain for the glories of Satan, and He carried out His mission of the redemption of man.
Winged beast to overcome Saints is U.S. currency	¶	In my reflection on the power of this beast with eagle's wings who was to overcome the Saints; and of their worship of the beast, I asked myself, "How far are we justified in worshiping the image of this beast?" To be sure, all the money of this nation is stamped with the eagle, and I know that it is handy to have cash!	"Hancock, poverty-stricken, wrote bitterly about the power of the wealthy in the church."
	¶	I now go back to our celebration of the Fourth of July.
Joy on the 4th		. . . . The noble Prophet gave vent to his feelings of joy for the restoration of the Gospel, and for it being set up in this chosen land of liberty. We all felt very happy on that joyful day.	Ellipses in original.
Missourians shoot, blame Mormons		When we returned home, we found that the mobocrats had begun to exercise their hatred toward the Saints. They were shooting and killing their hogs, sheep, cows, and chickens; they would shoot the Saints from behind trees, houses, banks and thickets, or from wherever they could hide themselves; and then raise the cry that the Saints were doing these things. We being few in number, had to tolerate to some extent their power.
Battle of Crooked river	¶	I well remember when brother David Patten and brother Carter were killed at the battle of Crooked River; and also several of the brethren wounded.	Chronicles of Courage has "[badly wounded]" in place of "literally hacked to pieces."
Hide injured Joseph Holbrook		Brother Joseph Holbreck was literally hacked to pieces, and he was brought to our home about the first of April. My mother nursed him for about three months. He had to remain in the hay loft all this time until he was able to get out of the state.	Off-site link to Joseph Holbrook autobiography.
Bogart searches for Holbrook		One evening, old Sam Bogart and two other men came hunting him. He was hid in the hay loft covered with flax. The men were heavily armed, and they searched the premises around before they came up to the house late at night.
Prepare axes for defense		I would have all who read this to understand that my parents were not people of blood; yet there had been so much murder, rapine, and crimes perpetrated by the mob, that my father did not know how to treat the "Christians" of Missouri. Father got his broad axe and the "woman's" axe for mother and said, "We will set the bench before the fireplace for them to get warm—then if they start any trouble, I will grab the broad axe and you take the other axe and we will sell our lives as dearly as possible. We have brother Holbreck and the three children to defend!"
		The axes were placed behind the door, then father stood in the door way and mother stood with rifle in hand . . . . the bandits made their approach on the outside. Said Sam Bogart, "I have a search warrant for Joseph Holbreck".
		Father asked them to come in, but Bogart said he didn't believe Holbreck was there. So they went away.
Mosiah witnessed	¶	I cannot attempt to describe my feelings as I stood on the floor in front of the fire while those three dark figures stood outside our door. I felt sure my mother would get one of them even if they killed my father. I shudder to think of those dark times. I wish all to understand that these things did happen in mobocratic Missouri—in that christian land close to where the so-called Christians held their Christian meetings . . . right here in the land of the brave and the free! I am a witness of these things, and no one can deny them!
Far West prayer meeting	¶	This fall we went over to Far West. I was always glad to see the Prophet and the noble brethren associated with him. What good meetings we had in Far West! I well remember the enjoyment we had at a prayer meeting. One evening I heard brother Tubbs bear his testimony of the truth of the Gospel, and his daughter Betty also bore her testimony.
Mob surrounds Far West Hinkle Tongues Betty Tubbs	¶	There was a mob of 1600 camped in the vicinity of Far West. Judas Iscariot Hinkle came in and reported the state of affairs in the camp of the mobbers. A person destitute of the Spirit of Christ might think there was something sweet about Hinkle. Someone got up and spoke in tongues; and Betty Tubbs spoke, saying that she well realized that the time had come for all to put their trust in God and not on man,' and for every tub to sit on its own bottom,' then she sat down!
Hinkle's treachery		A few days later, Hinkle formed a brotherhood in a hollow square, and made them cast their arms of defense on the ground. He then delivered the Prophet over to the mob!	This occurred October 31, 1838.
Prisoners without food		After they had taken the arms from the brethren, they kept the brethren in the square for three days and two nights without food.
Mob free to rape		The mob became very brave after they had taken the brethren's arms. One of their officers complimented the men on their bravery, and said, "Now you can go and do as you please with their women."
Prisoners revolt Mob shoots men, women, children		Many of them left with the intention of committing rapine. When the terrified women ran out to escape those brutal fiends, it was more than the men in the square could stand! They ran out to protect their loved ones; then the mobbers turned loose and shot down men, women, and children! They shot the children because they said that "Nits Make Lice".	In Women of Mormondom, 171, Amanda Smith is reported to have said that one of the mobbers said, "''It was a d—d shame to kill those little boys.' "''D—n the difference!' retorted the other; 'nits "make lice!'"
Flag of truce		I saw C. C. Richardson going from Far West with a white flag of truce. As he and his companions approached the camp, they were fired upon by the mobbers. Luckily, none of the brethren were hit and a truce was patched up.
Eludes mob to warn Adam-ondi-Ahman		But the mobbers were not to be trusted. After the brethren had delivered up their arms, father mounted his horse Turk, and rode off to Adam-On-Diahmon. A party of forty-two of the mob's cavelry started in pursuit of Father. A whisper came to him, "Go thru the Hale thicket, then turn to the left". This he did, and it brought him in the rear of the gang that was pursuing him. He said to one of the men in the rear, "Where has that fellow gone?" "I don't know", was the answer, "but we will soon catch him". Father stopped his horse and pretended to tighten his saddle-girth, and then he escaped from his pursuants.
16 guns withheld	¶	The night before the surrender, mother had run 250 bullets for father's rifle. Father and his brothers, and a few others, did not give up their rifles. There were 16 guns that were not surrendered. The owners taking their 16 guns into the thicket caused more consternation against the mob than all the mobber's guns caused against the Saints.
America makes war on the Saints		But trouble had started! The nation with "eagle wings" was to make war on the Saints and overcome them. The Saints soon had to start forth to please the State of Missouri.	nation: 1857 anachronism
Defiant mother	¶	One day about twenty women met in the home of the mother of Prophet Joseph Smith. Some said, "Now that the mob has taken our guns, what shall we do?" I remember part of the speech my mother spoke, "We can do as the Carthage women did when the Romans took the arms off their husbands; we can pull the hair out of our heads so the men folks can make bowstrings."
Hancocks protect 600 in the woods	¶	It is a fact which should be remembered. . . . . Hancock brothers, Levi, Joseph, and Solomon, with their guns guarded and fed 600 men, women, and children while camped in the woods after they had been driven from their homes. They were waiting for an opportunity to get away.	Ellipses in original. Chronicles of Courage has a comma instead of ellipses.
Sees Joseph marched away		I saw the Prophet marched away; and I saw, oh, the scenes I witnessed! I do not think people would believe them, so I will forbear.
Mob in uniform Brethren make 300 tomahawks		The howling fiends, although they wore the uniforms of the U.S., they were not to be trusted! So some of the brethren made three hundred tomahawks for protection.
Infanticide		I can hold it no longer—and I tell the truth when I say. . . . . I saw a thing in the shape of a man grab an infant from its mother's arms and dash it's brains out against a tree!	Ellipses in original.
Raped		Two men got hold of me and had it their own way for awhile; but before they commenced, they told me I could pray. I rehearsed a part of a piece spoken by a young Indian, "The sun sets at night and the stars shun the day; but glory remains when twilight fades away. Begin ye tormentors, your threats are in vain; for the son of Alnasmak will never complain".
Near-death experience		They showed me no mercy! . . . I could look upon my body, and I was far above them and was glad; for behold, I saw a personage draped in perfect white who said to me, "Mosiah, you have got to go back to the earth, for you have a work to do"! How I ever came back I can never say!
Rape young woman	¶	I saw the fiends tie a young person to a bench—she was scarcely sixteen years of age—and fourteen things in human form performed "that" upon their victim which would cause a hyena to revolt at their fiendish orgies! It continued long after their fainting victim had become unconscious. This with other things too numerous to mention were enough to cause the Saints to pause and consider the dismal surroundings confronting them.
Saints determined	¶	And they, the Saints, having descended from the mighty Abraham, went forth by the spirit of God to deliver their friends—and the mobocrats melted before them as the dew before the sun. Can you wonder then that these loved ones who were devoted to each other and to those enduring ties of love, freedom, and religious liberty—by right of their own, can you wonder then that they could no longer trust their captors, and were determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible?
300 stayed by Joseph's word		There were some three hundred men and women determined to march forth with spears and battle axes in hand to have their liberty, and to have their Prophet restored to them again. But, the word of the Lord came through the Prophet that the Brethren should have the Saints be patient.
Spartan Group		The Prophet's Brethren were a few staunch men in the Church known as the Spartan Group. Their words were few; but their works were great; and their faith was far reaching. They were of the old honest stamp, and if anyone could make a home or heaven in hell, they could! They were true to the Prophet of God and to the virtues and graces; and they never wanted to hold the fat position that Hinkle and some of the others tried to get. In fact, they seemed to be content with their lot as honest Saints.
Not Danites	¶	Some people tried to class the Mormons with the Danites. The Danites were of a different stripe, however. The Danites tried to hold an outward friendship for the Prophet, and for the teachings of the Savior, but it was not skin deep. They tried to get a hog's office among the Saints, which proved their love for ‘loaves and fishes'. They usually got a few traps that no decent devil would be justly proud of.
Danites and apostates		Oft times they would locate a dwelling in a neighboring town on the prairie or in the woods. There they would let their bottom door swing in for all sorts of low-down characters to meet; where they could always boast of a deck of cards and a candle; and felt themselves safe from official scrutiny. They usually had plenty of horses when needed; and they were quite able to get up and speak in prayer meeting. They were hale fellows, well met with the black-legs and the apostates of the country.
Danites nominal Mormons		They would pay some tithing in order to pave the way for them to get benefits; and they would say, "Hurrah! for Mormonism" when they were around the Saints, and then some black-leg who belonged to the same gang would bawl out, "I'm a Mormon"! They have always been a clog in the Church and a clog in the country wherever they have been.
3-day notice	¶	After we left Far West, we were left alone for awhile. The mob worried to know where my father was. One day a deputation of men came to our place and generously gave father three days to get away, which pleased us very much for we certainly had no desire to stay.
Build cart		Father was an expert in everything he tried to do, and he rigged up a foot lathe and soon had two hubs turned out. It didn't take us long to build a cart, and soon we were traveling off with the cart box filled with corn.
Deep snow		The snow was deep enough to take me to the middle of the thigh, and I was bare footed and in my shirt tail. Mother had made me a tow shirt in Kirtland, and the shirt still stuck to me, or rather, I still stuck to the shirt.
Family marching order		We had old Tom hitched to the cart, and father drove the horse and carried the rifle on his shoulder. Mother followed the cart carrying my little brother, Francis Marion in her arms. I tried to follow in her tracks.
Mother cries Shoes		We finally stopped to rest and get something to eat, but mother said she could not stand it much longer. She cried . . . . . and father said, "Cheer up, Clarissa, for I prophesy in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ—you shall have a pair of shoes delivered to you before long, in a remarkable manner"! After we had made our fire and eaten of our roasted corn on the cob, mother reached down on the side to get her old shoes, and held up a new pair! Father answered, Clarissa, did I not tell you that God would provide you a pair in a remarkable manner?"
Bed		We continued on until dark when we found a good sized log to build our bed by. Our cart was filled with ears of corn, so we could not make our bed in it. We made a bed of leaves and put a quilt on top of them, then we covered ourselves with what loose garments we could spare—we were not oversupplied with clothing in those days.
Clothes		Father had what was called in those days a coat; I had my shirt; and mother had one dress made of the same material as my shirt. She had made them in Kirtland, and since that time hadn't had the opportunity to spin or weave because the mob would not give us time to get anything together. We even had to leave our flax after we had raised it! Father cut down a basswood tree for Tom to graze on during the night.
Elmbark, wild potatoes at the Mississippi	¶	We gathered elmbark to eat with our corn on the cob—elmbark and buds helped us get along until we came to the Mississippi river. There we camped for the night because we didn't know how to cross the river. Oh! what a cold night that was! Tom had some buds and limbs to browse on; and we still had some corn left. We found some herbs growing on strings which we discovered to be wild potatoes—they were good roasted, but I was glad to eat what I could find raw. We also had elmbark which was a luxury with corn.
Cross on ice in the nick of time	¶	The next morning the river was frozen over with ice—great blocks of frozen ice all over the river, and it was slick and clear. That morning we crossed over to Quincy, Illinois. I, being bare-footed and the ice so rough, I staggered all over. We finally got across, and we were so glad, for before we reached the other side, the river had started to swell and break up. Father said, "Run, Mosiah", and I did run! We all just made it on the opposite bank when the ice started to snap and pile up in great heaps, and the water broke thru!