Heber C. Kimball Missionary CertificateRecommendation for Heber C. Kimball to serve as missionary in England, signed by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith
At a Conference
of the Elders and heads of the Church of "Latter Day
Saints" held in Kirtland, Geauga, Ohio, on the Second day of
June in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand Eight
Hundred and Thirty Seven, Elder Heber C. Kimball, The
Bearer of this, was unanimously appointed, set apart
and ordained to go on a mission to England to proclaim the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of that Nation as
it is believed and practiced by us.
From the long
acquaintance which we have had with, this, our worthy
Brother, his integrity and zeal in the cause of truth, we do
most cheerfully and confidently recommend him to all
candid and upright people as a Servant of God and a
faithful Minister of Jesus Christ.
We do furthermore
beserch [beseech] all people who have an opportunity of
hearing this, our brother declare the doctrine believed by
us, to listen with the attention to the words of his
mouth.
J. Smith, Jr.
Sidney Rigdon
Hyrum Smith
(Presiding Elders
of the Church of Latter Day Saints)
Brigham Young Collection, February 17, 1847Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young, his successor, and counseled he and the Saints to have the Spirit of God to lead them in right paths.
themselves just as they
were organized by our Father in Heaven before they came into
the world. Our Father in Heaven organized the human family,
but they are all disorganized in great confusion." Joseph
then showed me the pattern, how they were in the beginning.
This I cannot describe but I saw it, and saw when the
Priesthood had been taken from the earth, and how it must be
joined together, so that perfect chain from Father Adam to
his latest posterity.
Joseph again said "Tell
the people to be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and
follow it and will lead them just right."
Susa Young Gates, Lydia Knight's History, 1883Lydia Knight's conversion and reminiscence of Joseph Smith mission to Canada in 1833.
Susa Young Gates, Lydia Knight's History, 1883Lydia Knight's conversion and reminiscence of Joseph Smith mission to Canada in 1833.
Susa Young Gates, Lydia Knight's History, 1883Lydia Knight's conversion and reminiscence of Joseph Smith mission to Canada in 1833.
Nauvoo Temple Drawings, circa 1841–1846William Weeks was the architect of the Nauvoo Temple and worked with Joseph Smith in its design.
Joseph Smith Office PlaqueVal Brinkerhoff, 2004
"No one shall be
appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this
church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun" (D&C 28:2).
Characters from the Gold PlatesVal Brinkerhoff, 2004
"And now, behold, we
have written this record according to our knowledge, in the
characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian,
being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner
of speech" (Mormon 9:32).
Asael Smith's Will, April 10, 1799Asael Smith, Joseph Smith's paternal grandfather, writes his religious feelings to his posterity about Christ.
That there is one god,
and one mediator, between God and man the man Christ Jesus
who gave himself aransome for all, to be testifyed in Due
time. And when you Believe this you will Enter into his rest
and when you enter into his rest you will know what the rest
is, and not before, and having gotne this Evidence that god
is true be still adding to your evidence and enjoy you
present assurance; Do all to God as to your father, for his
love is ten thousand times great toards you, than ever any
earthly fathers could to his offspring.
Susa Young Gates, Lydia Knight's History, 1883Lydia Knight's conversion and reminiscence of Joseph Smith mission to Canada in 1833.
Joseph Smith's SignatureVal Brinkerhoff, 2004
"[Joseph Smith] left a
fame and name that cannot be slain" (D&C 135:3).
Extermination OrderGovernor Lilburn W. Boggs, 1838
"And all they who suffer
persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they
are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall
they partake of all this glory" (D&C 101:35).
Susa Young Gates, Lydia Knight's History, 1883Lydia Knight's conversion and reminiscence of Joseph Smith mission to Canada in 1833.Susa Young Gates, Lydia Knight's History, 1883Lydia Knight's conversion and reminiscence of Joseph Smith mission to Canada in 1833.
Brigham Young Collection, February 17, 1847Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young, his successor, and counseled him and the Saints to have the Spirit of God to lead them in right paths.
[Page in clerk's handwriting]
Brigham. While sick,
and asleep on my pillow, at noon day of the 17th of February
1847. I dreamed that I went to see Joseph. He looked
perfectly natural, sitting with his feet on the lower round
of his chair, leaning back, in a large Window, in a South
West direction. I took him by the right hand and kissed him
many times, and said to him, Why is it that we cannot be
together as we used to be? You have been from us a long
time, and we want your society; and I dont like to be
separated from you.
Joseph, rising from his
chair, and looking at me with his usual, earnest,
expressive, and pleasing countenance replied "It is all right."
Brigham. I do not like
to be away from you.
Joseph. "It is all
right; We cannot be together yet; We shall be by & by;
but you will have to do without me a while, and then we
shall be together again."
Brigham. I then
discovered there was a hand rail between us, Joseph stood by
the Window, and to the South West of him it was very light.
I was in the twilight, and to the north of me it was very
dark; and I said Brother Joseph, the Brethren you know well,
better than I do; you raised them up, and brought the
Priesthood to us. The Brethren have a great ansciety to
understand the law of adoption, or sealing principles; and
if you have a word of council for me, I should be glad to
receive it.
Joseph stepped towards
me, and looking very earnestly, yet pleasantly said, "Tell
the people to be humble & faithful, and be sure to keep
the Spirit of the Lord & it will lead them right. Be
careful & not turn away the still small voice, it will
teach you how to do & where to go, & it will yield
the fruits of the Kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their
hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes
to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can
tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other Spirits; it will
whisper peace and joy to their Souls; it will take malice,
hatred, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their
whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness
and build up the Kingdom of God. Tell the Brethren if they
will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right. Be
sure to tell the people to keep the Spirit of the Lord; and
if they will, they will find"
Joseph Smith Collection, 27 June 1844Willard Richards and John Taylor were two apostolic witnesses at Carthage Jail during the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith by a mob.
their muzzles with a
stick: while they continued to reach their guns into the
room, probably left handed, and aimed their discharge so far
around as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to
where we retreated and dodged, and then I recommenced the
attack with my stick. Joseph attempted as the last resort,
to leap the same window from whence Mr. Taylor fell, where
two balls pierced him from the door, and one entered his
right breast from without, and he fell outward exclaiming O
Lord my God!' As his feet went out of the window my head
went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his left
side a dead man. At this instant the cry was raised, He's
leaped the window,' and the mob on the stairs and in the
entry ran out. I withdrew from the window, thinking it of no
use to leap out on a hundred bayonets, then around Gen.
Smith's body. Not satisfied with this I again reached my
head out of the window and watched some seconds to see if
there were any signs of life, regardless of my own,
determined to see the end of him I loved; being fully
satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near the body
and more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting
a return to our room I rushed towards the prison door, as
the head of the stairs, and through the entry from whence
the firing had proceeded, to learn if the doors into the
prison were open. When near the entry, Mr. Taylor called
out, "Take me;" I pressed my way till I found all doors
unbarred, returning instantly caught Mr. Taylor under my
arm, and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon, a nicer?
prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a
bed in such a manner as not likely to be perceived,
expecting an immediate return of the mob. I said to Mr.
Taylor, this is a hard case? to lay you on the floor, but if
your wounds are not fatal I want you live to tell the story.
I expected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the
door awaiting the onset.
Willard Richards
While Willard Richards
and John Taylor were in the cell, a company of the mob again
rushed up stairs, but finding only the dead body of Hyrum,
they were again descending the stairs, when a loud cry was
heard "The Mormons are coming!" which caused the whole band
of murderers to flee precipitately to the woods.
The following
communication was written and sent to Nauvoo:
Carthage Jail, 8
o'clock 5 min P.M.
June 27th 1844
"Joseph and Hyrum are
dead. Taylor wounded, not very badly I am well. Our guard
was forced, as we believe, of a band of Missourians from 1
to 200. The job was done in an instant, and the party fled
towards Nauvoo instantly. This is as I believe it. The
citizens here are afraid of the Mormons attacking them; I
promise them No!"
W Richards
Joseph Smith Collection, 27 June 1844Willard Richards and John Taylor were two apostolic witnesses at Carthage Jail during the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith by a mob.
Possibly the following
events occupied near three minutes, but I think only about
two, and have penned them for the gratification of many
friends.
Cartage, June 27th 1844
?
A shower of musket
balls were thrown up the stair way against the door of the
prison in the second story, followed by many rapid
footsteps. While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr.
Taylor, and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed
the door of our room against the entry at the head of the
stairs, and placed ourselves against it, there being no lock
on the door and no catch that was usable. The door is a
common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at the stairs
head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed between
us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes, and, and
we must change our position. Gen. Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor,
and myself sprang back to the front part of the room, and
Gen. Hyrum Smith retreated two thirds across the chamber
directly in front of and facing the door. A ball was sent
through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his nose
when he fell backwards extended at length without moving his
feet. From his holes in his vest, (the day was warm and no
one had their coats on but myself,) pantaloons, drawers and
shirt, it appears evident that a ball must have been thrown
from without, through the window, which entered his back on
the right side and passing through lodged against his watch,
which was in his right vest pocket completely pulverizing
the cyrstal and face, tearing off the hands and smashing the
whole body of the watch, at the same instant the ball from
the door entered his nose. As he struck the floor he
exclaimed emphatically; "I'm a dead man." Joseph looked
towards him, and responded "O dear! Brother Hyrum!" and
opened the door two or three inches with his left hand,
discharged one barrel of a six shooter (pistol) at random in
the entry from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and
entering his throat, passed into his head, while other
muskets were aimed at him, and some balls hit him. Joseph
continued snapping his revolver, round the casing of the
door into the space as before, three barrels of which missed
fire, while Mr. Taylor with a walking stick stood by his
side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets which were
constantly discharging through the door way, while I stood
by him, ready to lend any assistance, with another stick,
but could not come within striking distance, without going
directly before the muzzle of the guns. When the revolver
failed, we had no more fire arms, and expected an immediate
rush of the mob, and the door way full of muskets half way
in the room, and no hope but instant death from within. Mr.
Taylor rushed into the window which is some fifteen or
twenty feet from the ground. When his body was nearly on a
balance, a ball from the door within entered his leg and a
ball from without struck his watch, a patent lever, in his
vest pocked near the left breast, and smashed it into pi'
leaving the hands standing at 5 o'clock 16 minutes, and 26
seconds the force of which ball threw him back on the floor,
and he rolled under the bed which stood by his side, where
he lay motionless, the mob from the door continuing to fire
upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as
large as a man's hand, and were hindered only by my knocking
down
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