Joseph Remembered: Philo Dibble

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Joseph Remembered: Philo Dibble

False spirits in early Kirtland church. Joseph predicts 1833 meteor shower. Man of sin revealed at first Kirtland conference (June 1831) §. Attends to Joseph after tarring and feathering (March 1832) §. Conversation between Joseph and Sidney during the D&C 76 vision §. Urges Joseph to ask General Atchison to be his attorney in Far West §.

Philo Dibble (1806–1895) was one of the first converts Kirtland. (He recalled his baptismal date as October 16, 1830, though the missionaries had probably not arrived by that date.) He was eighty-five when he contributed his recollections to the series of Juvenile Instructor articles titled "Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith."

		Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith	Juvenile Instructor 27, no. 1 (Jan. 1, 1892): 23.
False spirits in early Kirtland church	¶	There was a branch of the Church raised up in Kirtland before the Prophet came there, and at the time he arrived a variety of false spirits were manifested, such as caused jumping, shouting, falling down, etc. Joseph said, as soon as he came, "God has sent me here, and the devil must leave here, or I will." Those delusive spirits were not seen nor heard any more at that time.
Joseph predicts 1833 meteor shower	¶	On one occasion Joseph was preaching in Kirtland sometime in the fall of 1833. Quite a number of persons were present who did not belong to the Church, and one man, more bitter and skeptical than others, made note with pencil and paper of a prophecy uttered on that occasion, wherein Joseph said that "Forty days shall not pass, and the stars shall fall from heaven."
	¶	Such an event would certainly be very unusual and improbable to the natural man, and the skeptic wrote the words as a sure evidence to prove Joseph to be a false Prophet.
Unbeliever mocks	¶	On the thirty-ninth day after the utterance of that prophecy a man and brother in the Church, by the name of Joseph Hancock, who is yet living, in Payson, Utah, and another brother were out hunting game and got lost. They wandered about until night, when they found themselves at the house of this unbeliever, who exultingly produced this note of Joseph Smith's prophecy, and asked Brother Hancock what he thought of his Prophet now, that thirty-nine days had passed and the prophecy was not fulfilled.	Joseph Hancock was the son of Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward, b. March 18, 1800 in Springfield Massachusetts, buried July 8, 1893 in Payson. Eleven siblings, including Levi W. and Solomon Hancock. Ancestral File.
Joseph Hancock believes	¶	Brother Hancock was unmoved and quietly remarked, "There is one night left of the time, and if Joseph said so, the stars will certainly fall tonight. This prophecy will all be fulfilled."	"On the night of November 12–13 in 1833 probably the most dramatic meteor storm ever appeared. Huge displays were observed above the USA; during the 3 hours of maximum people fainted, believing the world would end, and that sunrise would be the start of Doomsday." Link to source, Leonids, at the European Association for Astronomy Education website.
Night of falling stars	¶	The matter weighed upon the mind of Brother Hancock, who watched that night, and it proved to be the historical one, known in all the world as "the night of the falling of the stars."
Unbeliever witnesses	¶	He stayed that night at the house of the skeptical unbeliever, as it was too far from home to return by night, and in the midst of the falling of the stars he went to the door of his host and called him out to witness what he had thought impossible and the most improbable thing that could happen, especially as that was the last night in which Joseph Smith could be saved from the condemnation of "a false prophet."
	¶	The whole heavens were lit up with the falling meteors, and the countenance of the new spectator was plainly seen and closely watched by Brother Hancock, who said that he turned pale as death, and spoke not a word.
Joseph visits	¶	After that event the unbeliever sought the company of any Latter-day Saint. He even enticed Mormon children to keep him company at his house. Not long afterwards, too, he sent for Joseph and Hyrum to come to his house, which they did, but with no noticeable results, for I believe he never received the gospel.
First conference in Kirtland	¶	I saw Joseph Smith the Prophet when he first came to Kirtland, and was with him in the first conference held in that place, which was in a small school house. When he arose in our midst he said that before the conference closed there were those present who should see the heavens open and bear record of the coming of the Son of Man, and that the man of sin should be revealed.	Juvenile Instructor 27, no. 10 (May 15, 1892): 303–304. Lyman's Vision and the Man of Sin
Lyman Wight, Harvey Whitlock	¶	While he talked he laid his hand upon the head of Lyman Wight. He then laid his left hand upon the head of Harvey Whitlock.
Lyman bears record		Lyman Wight stepped into the middle of the room and bore record of the coming of the Son of Man.
Harvey bound		Then Harvey Whitlock stepped into the middle of the room with his arms crossed, bound by the power of Satan, and his mouth twisted unshapely.
Hyrum: evil spirit	¶	Hyrum Smith arose and declared that there was an evil spirit in the room.
Joseph: don't be too quick	¶	Joseph said, "Don't be too hasty," and Hyrum sat down.
Hyrum commands spirits to leave, fails	¶	Shortly Hyrum rose the second time, saying, "I know my duty and will do it," and stepping to Harvey, commanded the evil spirits to leave him, but the spirits did not obey.
Joseph to Harvey: believe? Harvey's vision of second coming	¶	Joseph then approached Harvey and asked him if he believed in God. Then we saw a change in Harvey. He also bore record of the opening of the heavens and of the coming of the Son of Man, precisely as Lyman Wight had done.
Harvey Green fit Joseph forbids administration	¶	Next a man by the name of Harvey Green was thrown upon his back on the floor by an unseen power. Some of the brethren wanted to administer to him by laying on of hands, but Joseph forbade it. Harvey looked to me like a man in a fit. He groaned and frothed at the mouth. Finally he got upon his knees and came out of it.
Leman Copley flies into room	¶	Next thing I saw a man came flying through the window from outside. He was straight as a man's arm as he sailed into the room over two rows of seats filled with men, and fell on the floor between the seats and was pulled out by the brethren. He trembled all over like a leaf in the wind. He was soon apparently calm and natural. His name was Lemon Copley. He weighed over two hundred pounds. This I saw with my own eyes and know it is all true, and bear testimony to it.	Leman Copley
1832 tarring event	¶	I was with Joseph the next morning after he was tarred and feathered by a mob in the town of Hiram. After he had washed and dressed in clean clothes, I heard him say to Sidney Rigdon, who was also tarred and feathered, "Now, Sidney, we are ready to go on that mission," having reference to a command of God to go to Jackson County, Missouri, and which they had deferred to comply with until they should have accomplished some work which they had planned, but never did accomplish.	In 1839 Joseph dated the event on March 25, 1832. Sidney remained delerious for several days. Joseph left for Missouri with Newel K. Whitney, Peter Whitmer, and Jesse Gause on April 2. Sidney joined them in Warren, Ohio, and they continued to Jackson county. Papers 1:374–378; ¶ Luke S. Johnson (h)
Present during D&C 76 vision	¶	The vision which is recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants was given at the house of "Father Johnson," in Hiram, Ohio, and during the time that Joseph and Sidney were in the spirit and saw the heavens open, there were other men in the room, perhaps twelve, among whom I was one during a part of the time— probably two-thirds of the time,—I saw the glory and felt the power, but did not see the vision.	D&C 76, February 16, 1832. After the Amherst Conference, "I resumed the translation of the scriptures … it was apparent that many points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible … that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds donein the body, the term 'heaven,' as intended for the Saints eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly … while translating St John's gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following VISION [D&C 76]." Papers 1:374. Is D&C 88:1–126 another instance of a shared revelation? See Minutes of December 27, 1832
	¶	The events and conversation, while they were seeing what is written (and many things were seen and related that are not written,) I will relate as minutely as is necessary.
"What do I see?" "I see the same."	¶	Joseph would, at intervals, say: "What do I see?" as one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, "I see the same." [304] Presently Sidney would say "what do I see?" and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, "I see the same."
Vision lasts an hour	¶	This manner of conversation was repeated at short intervals to the end of the vision, and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision.
"Sidney is not used to it as I am."	¶	Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, "Sidney is not used to it as I am."
Moves to Missouri		I moved to Jackson County, Missouri, from Kirtland, Ohio, in 1832, and was driven from Jackson to Clay County in 1833. Afterwards I, with others who had been driven from their homes, settled in Caldwell County.	Juvenile Instructor 27, no. 11 (June 1, 1892): 345.
Stroll with Joseph		I was privileged one day to take a stroll with the Prophet on the prairie. Difficulties and troubles were gathering thick around us as a people, and as was natural became the subject of conversation.
Philo suggests Atchison for lawyer		As we walked along I suggested to Joseph to send for General Atchison, who was then at Liberty, Clay County, forty miles distant. "He is General of the third division of the state of Missouri; not only a general, but a lawyer; and not only a lawyer, but a friend to law," I remarked.
		Joseph made no reply. We soon turned about and were traveling towards home in the town of Far West.
Atchison arrives with 100 men		Within half an hour after we got home, a man on the best horse in town was speeding his way towards Liberty, and before the close of the next day General Atchison was in Far West with one hundred men.
Trial between Far West and Gallatin		About this time a law-suit was pending, in which Joseph was to be tried for some alleged infraction of law or mob politics, it's hard to tell which. It was agreed in some way and by some parties that this trial should take place in a grove of timber about half way between Far West and Gallatin, a little town about twenty miles distant, where there was no house. That such a place should be selected for a trial before some civil tribunal leaves room for suspicion and doubt as to the "civil" part of the performance about to take place.	On September 2, 1838, Joseph and Lyman Wight were charged with resisting arrest in Daviess county (north of Far West). That evening Joseph sent for Atchison to disperse the crowd that, since the election day brawl on August 6, had been gathering in Daviess from all over the state. HC 3:69.
Atchison insists no body guard		General Atchison was employed by Joseph as his lawyer, and in laying his plans for the expected trial, he said to Joseph, "I want no man to go with us—you and I must go alone."	Atchison and his partner, Alexander Doniphan were retained on September 4. HC 3:69.
		This proposition rather staggered Joseph, which was perceived by Atchison, who promptly added, "My life for yours, let it be as I want it."
Trial in woods		Joseph consented, and they went to the woods designated as a proper place to try a prophet. There they found an armed mob in waiting. On seeing only Atchison and Joseph, the attendants at court began cursing, swearing and threatening.	The trial was held September 7 at the home of a Mr. Ragline, half a mile from the Caldwell/Daviess border, Judge A. A. King from Daviess presiding. A company of Mormon men were stationed at the county line in the event of trouble. HC 3:72–73.
		Atchison said, "Hold on, boys; if the first gun is fired there will not be one of you left."
Joseph innocent		The mob took this to signify that they were surrounded by Atchison's troops. They cooled down, let the trial proceed, in which Joseph was proven innocent of any infraction of law, and came away unmolested.	Joseph and Lyman posted a $500 bond, thoughGeorge W. Robinson later overheard the judge say "that there was nothing proven against us worthy of bonds." HC 3:73.
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