Description

Kissed the Ground

October 25, 1838, Parley P. Pratt followed his fellow apostle, David W. Patten, into the fray at the Battle of Crooked River. Both men had come to rescue friends from a mob. Moments later, Elder Patten was shot and before the day was through he was dead. Parley said of him:

“All wept… He was the only member of the Quorum of the Twelve who had as yet found a martyr’s grave. He was a great and good man, and one who chose to lay down his life for the cause of truth and right.”

October 31, 1838, Parley rode with Joseph Smith and others out to meet Missouri Militia General Samuel D. Lucas to negotiate terms of surrender that the surrounded Saints of Far West be not massacred. Parley said,

Then, suddenly “The haughty general rode up and, without speaking to us, instantly ordered his guard to surround us. They did so very abruptly, and we were marched into camp surrounded by thousands of savage looking beings…These all set up a constant yell, like so many bloodhounds let loose upon their prey….If the vision of the infernal regions could suddenly open to the mind, with thousands of malicious fiends, all clamoring, exulting, deriding, blaspheming, mocking, railing, raging and foaming like a troubled sea, then could some idea be formed of the hell which we had entered.”

The next day Parley was marched into Far West to say goodbye to a sick wife and family.

“My wife burst into tears;” he said, “I spoke a few words of comfort, telling her to try to live for my sake and the childen’s…She promised to try to live. I then embraced and kissed the little babes and departed. Till now I had refrained from weeping; but, to be forced from so helpless a family… at the approach of winter, was more than nature could well endure. I went to Gen. Moses Wilson in tears and stated the circumstances of my sick, heart-broken and destitute family…But I was only answered with an exultant laugh, and a taunt of reproach by this hardened murderer.”

While Joseph and Hyrum were in prison in Liberty Jail, Parley was sent to Richmond where he would remain for more than six months. Then, Parley was transferred to Columbia, Missouri to await trial. On July 4, 1839, Parley escaped during the celebrations of freedom. With men and dogs in raging pursuit, Parley ran, his only thought–reaching Illinois–and freedom.

“My road lay nearly northward,” he said, “and upwards of a hundred miles of a wild country, peopled only by enemies, still lay between me and a State where the principles of freedom yet prevailed in a sufficient degree to insure my safety.”

Parley ran by night and hid by day. All the countryside was ablaze of his escape. Finally, 5 days later, he reached the Mississippi River and described what he saw.

“As the rays of the morning began to expand with increasing light, the dark outlines of the wooded bottoms of Illinois were distinctly visible. I had now seen with my eyes the land of peace, and a land which contained family, friends, and all that was dear to me; but oh, if I should be intercepted…. I now knelt down and prayed fervently to God for deliverance.”

Parley found a boy willing to row him across the great River at a price. After a difficult crossing, Parley came ashore in Illinois.

“I immediately stepped a few paces into the woods,” he said, “and kneeling down, kissed the ground as a land of liberty, and then poured out my soul in thanks to God.”

At two o’clock the next morning Parley searched out the home where his wife and children sheltered.

“[I] dismounted and gave a gentle knock at the door,” he said. “[My wife] had watched for four successive nights and most of the fifth, and had now just lain down and given up all for lost. On hearing the knock she sprang from bed and opened the door, and in another instant I had clasped her in my arms.”

It was not long after these trying events that Parley wrote a poem that would later be set to music. Considering all that he endured for the Lord’s sake, it gives these words great power!

Come, O Thou King of Kings

Come, O thou King of Kings!
We’ve waited long for thee,
With healing in thy wings,
To set thy people free.
Come, thou desire of nations, come;
Let Israel now be gathered home.
Come, make an end to sin,
And cleanse the earth by fire,
And righteousness bring in,
That Saints may tune the lyre
With songs of joy, a happier strain,
To welcome in thy peaceful reign.
Hosannas now shall sound
From all the ransomed throng,
And glory echo round
A new triumphal song;
The wide expanse of heaven fill
With anthems sweet from Zion’s hill.
Hail! Prince of life and peace!
Thrice welcome to thy throne!
While all the chosen race
Their Lord and Savior own,
The heathen nations bow the knee,
And ev’ry tongue sounds praise to thee.