Spire Music > Saints and Pioneers > Narration

NARRATOR: On the evening of June 27, 1844, a lawless mob overtook Carthage Jail. They rushed the stairs to where Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, and two friends were being held. Shots were fired. Hyrum was the first to fall. Then Joseph was hit and fell from the window to the ground below. Both the Prophet and Patriarch of the Lord were dead.

LUCY MACK SMITH: When I entered the room and saw my murdered sons extended both at once before my eyes and heard the sobs and groans of my family...it was too much: I sank back, crying to the Lord in the agony of my soul, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken this family!" A voice replied, "I have taken them to myself, that they might have rest...I then thought upon the promise which I had received in Missouri, that in five years Joseph should have power over all his enemies. The time had elapsed and the promise was fulfilled.¹

MARY ANN ANGELL YOUNG: My Dear Brigham...We are in great affliction at this time. Our dear Brother Joseph Smith and Hyrum [have fallen victim] to a ferocious mob. The great God of the Creation only knows whether the rest shall be preserved in safety or not... I hope you will be careful on your way home and not expose yourself to those that will endanger your life. If we meet no more in this world may we meet where parting is no more. Farewell.²

MUSIC: "Shall We Meet"

NARRATOR: As news of the death of Joseph and Hyrum reached Brigham Young and other members of the Quorum of the Twelve scattered across the world, each left immediately for Nauvoo. When most of the apostles arrived in early August, the Church was in crisis as to who should succeed Joseph. A few days later, a prayer meeting convened in the Nauvoo grove. Sidney Rigdon, an estranged leader of the Church, spoke first. For an hour and a half, he attempted to persuade the congregation that he should be appointed guardian of the Church. But his words inspired no emotion in the crowd. Then Brigham Young took the stand. His remarks were short, but as he spoke, he was miraculously transfigured before the saints.³

GEORGE Q. CANNON: If Joseph had risen from the dead and again spoken in their hearing, the effect could not have been more startling than it was to many present at that meeting,…not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard, but it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very person of Joseph which stood before them…The Lord gave His people a testimony that left no room for doubt as to who was the man chosen to lead them…The mantle of the Prophet Joseph had been left for Brigham.⁴

NARRATOR: The mobbers had attempted to destroy the Church by taking its leader. However, in the months following the Prophet's death, the "City of Joseph" flourished. Under the direction of Brigham Young, the missionary effort continued throughout the world, thousands of converts gathered to Nauvoo, and most importantly, the saints recommitted themselves to completing construction on the Nauvoo Temple. In October 1845, general conference was held in the partially finished edifice, where Brigham prayed: "Lord, we dedicate this house and ourselves, to thee."⁵ But, with the increased growth of the Church and the sustained progress on the temple, it became obvious that the Church would not die with its leader. And so, once again, the mobs began their relentless persecution of the saints.

JOHN PULSIPHER: Our enemies are not satisfied with what they have done, so they continue their depredations. In the small settlements in the country the mobs collected, drove our brethren from their homes, burned their houses and grain, and killed some who could not get out of the way. In the fall, the mob collected in the south part of the country and in about two weeks they burned 200 houses to ashes. The inhabitants had to flee to Nauvoo to save their lives. A great amount of grain and property was destroyed, cattle and hogs were stolen and killed almost without number. Old Father Durfee was shot and killed by the mob while he was trying to save his property from the flames. Many others died from exposure after being robbed and driven into the wood. Their sufferings were so great that they could not endure it.⁶

MUSIC: "How Long, O Lord?"

ZINA HUNTINGTON: When I cast mine eyes out, what do I behold, but every brother armed, his gun upon his shoulder to protect his family and brethren from the violence of the furious mob who are now burning all that falls into their way round about the country. O God, how long before thou wilt avenge the innocent blood that has been shed? How long must widows mourn and orphans cry before thou wilt avenge the Earth and cause wickedness to cease? Wilt thou hasten the day, O Lord, in thine own way?⁷

MUSIC: "How Long, O Lord?" (cont.)

NARRATOR: Determined to drive the Mormons away, the mobs called a mass meeting in nearby Quincy, Illinois to unite in action against the Church. The meeting resulted in a resolution demanding that the Saints leave the state as quickly as possible. Long before his death, Joseph had prophesied that "the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains," where they would "become a mighty people." Thus, Brigham Young responded that the Saints would leave the country the following spring for some remote place.⁸

BRIGHAM YOUNG: The Lord designs to lead us to a wider field of action, where there will be more room for the Saints to grow and increase …and where we can enjoy the pure principles of liberty and equal rights. We are not our own, we are bought with a price, we are the Lord's; If my heart is not fully given up to this work, I will give my time, my talents, my hands, and my possessions, until my heart consents to be subject; I will make my hands labour in the cause of God, until my heart bows in submission to it.⁹

MUSIC: "We Must Sing"

NARRATOR: The evacuation of Nauvoo was originally planned for April 1846, but new threats of arrest and rumors of federal troops being sent to wipe out the Mormons prompted an early, hasty exit in the bitter cold of winter.

JOHN R. YOUNG: In our home since early morning, all has been hurry and bustle; two wagons stand in our front yard, and my father [and] two other men…are carrying out our household goods. My mother looks pale, and when I ask her, "What is the matter?" She takes me in her arms, kisses me, and says, "We are going to leave our home and will never see it again!" …Our fathers and mothers knew no fear, but trusting in God they crossed the river into the dark beyond, knowing that a conflict awaited them, yet feeling beforehand…that theirs would be the victory, they left their homes in the dead of winter, seeking a better home, but when or where, they know not!

MARTHA ANN SMITH: I was five years old when we started from Nauvoo. We bid goodbye to our dear old feeble grandmother, Lucy Mack Smith. I can never forget the bitter tears she shed when she bid us goodbye for the last time in this life. She knew it would be the last time she would see her son's family.

WILFORD WOODRUFF: I left the city of the Saints feeling that most likely I was taking a final farewell of Nauvoo for this life. I looked upon the temple and City as they receded from view and asked the Lord to remember the sacrifices of his Saints.

MUSIC: "Come Go With Me"

NARRATOR: The first leg of the Saints' journey toward Zion proved to be the most difficult. Their hasty departure left much of the "Camp of Israel" ill-prepared for the bitter journey ahead. Lack of food, freezing temperatures, incessant rains, terrible mud, and widespread illness forced a slow movement across the Iowa Territory. The company took 131 days to travel the first 300 miles.¹⁰ For those left behind in Nauvoo due to financial or physical ailments, conditions were even worse. In September 1846, hundreds of these remaining "poor saints" were violently forced out of the city and across the river by the mobs, in what became known as the "Battle of Nauvoo."

"Scenes of destitution, misery and woe met the eye. Families were hurrying away from their homes, without a shelter, without means of conveyance, without tents, money or a day's provision, with as much of their household stuff as they could carry in their hands. Sick men and women were carried upon their beds, weary mothers with helpless babes dying in their arms hurried away-all fleeing." Thomas Bullock and his family were among them.¹¹

THOMAS BULLOCK: I have been shaking every day for the last month and can scarce write any…Even my little boy says, "Dadda I wish we were out of this country, for when I've done shaking I can get nothing to eat"…it will almost be a miracle if you see little Willard alive for he has fallen away dreadful this week-and if you was to see me and my family at this moment, you would say we had either been whitewashed or had risen out of our graves-we have not the least idea where our next meal is to come from. I do not write these things to harass your mind-but to tell you my situation, and to shew you that I am really desirous to come to you…

MUSIC: "Unanswered Yet?" verse 1

THOMAS BULLOCK (cont.): …Yesterday I exerted all my strength to go and see Benson and Lucy. She is also confined to her bed with fever-Benson looks a skeleton…he says [it's] impossible for him to get [food or teams] for his journey to the West…. There have been many Saints who have gone to the grave preparing as fast as they could to go to the west. Many literally dying for want-whole families are sick-and not one to help the other-two or three dying in a house-there is not one house in this neighborhood, but there has been sickness in it-there appears to me to be more sick now than when Nauvoo was crowded with Saints…¹²

MUSIC: "Unanswered Yet?" verse 2

NARRATOR: The Lord did answer their prayers. On the very day the Battle of Nauvoo broke out, several men volunteered to leave the Camp of Israel and make the 327-mile trek back across Iowa to save as many Saints as possible.

THOMAS BULLOCK: Here we are exiled from the United States and without a home, dwelling in tents and wagons exposed to the weather. Like the Saints of old, having no abiding city, we are wanderers and pilgrims on the earth. But we count the present suffering not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to his Saints.

MUSIC: "With All the Power of Heart and Tongue"

NARRATOR: In the late summer of 1846, a stream of thousands of Saints stretched across the Iowa territory, wearied by the journey and sick with disease. They had left behind their homes, their warm fires, their beautiful city, and their magnificent temple. Theirs was a remarkable faith. Faith in their leaders, and faith in God. Faith that He would lead them to their promised land. Faith that would not falter.

MUSIC: "Come, Come Ye Saints"

NARRATOR: With so many struggling to catch up, so many sick and destitute, with the shortage of supplies and the unexpected delays in crossing Iowa, it seemed likely that the Saints would have to winter at the Missouri River. This decision was made final when Captain James Allen rode into camp and requested five hundred volunteers to enlist in the war with Mexico. After all the Saints had endured with little or no assistance from the government, "to be called on for five hundred of the strength of Israel, seemed cruel and unjust indeed." But the Brethren saw the request as an opportunity to secure confidence with the government and to raise the funds necessary to complete their journey. And thus, the "Mormon Battalion" was born.

WILLIAM HYDE: When this news came I looked upon my family, and then upon my aged parents, and upon the situation of the camps…, and my soul revolted. The thoughts of leaving them at this critical time were indescribable. But when I came to learn the mind of the Lord, and on learning the offering had to be made,…when our beloved President came to call upon the saints to know who among all the people were ready to offer for the cause; I said, "Here am I, take me."

NARRATOR: It was a bitter scene as young husbands and fathers bid farewell to their families. Mobs had forced them to leave their homes, but with loved ones at their side, they were able to cross the wilderness with strength and resolve. Now, as they were torn from those loved ones, as their very hearts seemed to burst under the weight of it, those faithful Saints tried to express words of comfort and courage at their parting.

MUSIC: "You Have Nothing to Fear"

MUSIC: "Fill My Soul With Peace"

NARRATOR: With the departure of the 541 men of the Mormon Battalion, the decision to spend the winter on the banks of the Missouri was final. But another terrible winter awaited them there…

MARGARET PHELPS: Winter found me bed-ridden, destitute, in a wretched hovel which was built upon a hillside; the season was one of constant rain; the situation of the hovel and its openness gave free access to piercing winds, and water flowed over the dirt floor, converting it into mud two or three inches deep; no wood but what my little ones picked up around the fences, so green it filled the room with smoke; the rain dropping and [soaking] the bed which I was powerless to leave.¹³

NARRATOR: Illness, hunger, and poor living conditions plagued the encampment at Winter Quarters, where the Saints buried over 300 of their company.

MUSIC: "You Have Nothing to Fear (reprise)"

MUSIC: "Come, Ye Disconsolate"

NARRATOR: The winter passed, and with the arrival of spring, Brigham Young set out for the West from Winter Quarters with an advance company of 143 men, 3 women, and 2 children. Traveling in pleasant summer weather, the remaining 1,050 miles of their journey were relatively easy, considering what lay behind them. On July 24, 1847, almost a year and a half after first crossing the Mississippi River, Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley, surveyed the scene, and announced, "This is the right place. Drive on."

Less than a month later, Brigham and several others turned and headed back to aid the Saints in Winter Quarters. Within weeks, a constant stream of wagons was traveling both directions on the trail. After being driven from their homes, enduring unimaginable hardship, and burying many of their own, the Saints had finally reached their promised land.

HOSEA STOUT: How often in anguish have I said in my heart when shall my trials and tribulations end. But amid all these heart-rending trials not once yet have I ever regretted that I set out to follow the council of the people of God and to obey the voice of the spirit….¹⁴

MUSIC: "Come, Come Ye Saints (reprise)"

¹ Smith, Lucy Mack. Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother. Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor. Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1996, pp. 457, 458.

² Mary Ann Angell Young to Brigham Young, 30 June, 1844, dated at Nauvoo, Illinois, housed at Church Historian's Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

³ Church History in the Fulness of Times (CHFT), p. 291

⁴ Cited in Kate B. Carter, comp., Heart Throbs of the West, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1943, 4:420

⁵ CHFT, p. 302

⁶ Autobiography of John Pulsipher

⁷ online, Zina Huntington journal

⁸ Mary Fielding Smith, p. 179

⁹ History of the Church 7:464, DBY, 176; DNW, 5 Jan. 1854, 2

¹⁰ CHFT, pp. 309-10

¹¹ Witness to the Battle of Nauvoo

¹² Thomas Bullock to Willard Richards, Sept. 1846, Brigham Young office files, Family and Church History Department Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

¹³ As quoted in Richard E. Bennett, Mormons at the Missouri, 1846-1852: "And Should We Die . . . " [1987], 79-80

¹⁴ Hosea Stout journal