Description
Such A Time of Mourning
Lucy Walker Kimball Smith: “We had just retired on the night of the 27th, when there came a loud rap at the door below. ‘News’ I cried and I fled downstairs to open the door. A messenger quietly said Joseph and Hyrum had been murdered. I seemed paralyzed with terror, had no power to speak or move. Agnus called out, ‘what is the news?’ Receiving no answer, she came rushing down to learn the awful truth. Now, at length we returned to our chamber, and on bended knees poured out the anguish of our souls to that God who holds the destinies of his children in his own hands. For a time, it seemed utterly impossible that he would allow his prophet to be slain by his foes. Never was such a night spent since the crucifixion of our Savior. The dogs barked, the cattle bellowed, and all creation was a stir. We knelt by the open window with our arms around each other until the dawn. Witnessing the terrible commotion and the calling to mind the prophetic words, my soul sickens as I recall the anguish of the whole people as they crowded around the lifeless body and that of his noble brother Hyrum.”
Benjamin Johnson: “To attempt to delineate the feeling of woe and unutterable sorrow that swelled every heart too full for tears, I need not attempt. I stood up dazed with grief. I could groan, but could not weep. The fountain of tears was dry. ‘Oh God, what will thy orphan church and people now do?’ Was the only feeling or thought that burst out in groans. I did not go to see their mutilated bodies. I had no wish to look into their grave. I knew they were not there.”
Sally Randall: “If you can imagine for yourselves how the apostles and saints felt when the Savior was crucified, you can give something of a guess of how the saints felt here when they heard that their prophet and patriarch were both dead and murdered by a lawless mob. Never has there been such a horrible crime committed since the day Christ was crucified. It seems that all nature mourns, that the earth is deprived of the two best men there was on it. They have sealed their testimony with their blood.”
Carolyn Crosby “The news of Joseph and Hyrum’s massacre was spread through the length and breadth of the city. We would not believe the first report, but finally it was confirmed to us beyond a doubt. 25:04:12 And all the sorrow and sadness of that day, many were made sick by the intelligence, others deranged, many walked the streets mourning and wringing their hands. I lost my strength and appetite. I could not attend to any business for several days.”
Willard Richards “Oh, Americans, weep, for the glory of freedom has departed. …Brethren, think, think, and think again before you act.”
Joseph III “I remember the gathering of the crowd at the Nauvoo mansion, and recall seeing Dr. Willard Richards…And the congregations of thousands that gathered to listen to him and others detailing something of the tragedy and counseling quiet resignation. I did not hear his speech, or if I did, I did not remember it, as my mother and we children were in the living room in the mansion. Mother overwhelmed with grief, and we children sympathizing as children will without fairly comprehending the importance of such an event.
“Notwithstanding the grief and the oppression of the hour, the darkness of which I can feel even now, I recall the attitude of my mother. After leaning over the coffin, she placed her hand upon the cheek of my father, and in grief-stricken accent said, ‘Oh Joseph Joseph! Oh my husband, my husband! Have they taken you from me at last?’
Almira Mack Covey: “Such a house of mourning as was that I never beheld before…. A dry eye I did not behold…. It was enough to rend the heart of a stone to behold two prophets of the Lord laid prostrate by those who were once their friends.”
Lucy Mack Smith: “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’….As I looked upon their peaceful smiling countenances, I seemed almost to hear them say, ‘Mother, weep not for us, we have overcome the world by love; we carried to them the Gospel, that their souls might be saved; they slew us for our testimony and thus placed us beyond their power; their ascendancy is for a moment, ours is an eternal triumph.’”
Newell Knight: ”O how I loved those men, and rejoiced under their teachings! It seems as if all is gone, and as if my very heart strings will break, and were it not for my beloved wife and dear children I feel as if I have nothing to live for, and would rejoice to be with them in the Courts of Glory. But I must live, and labor, and try to do good, and help to build up the kingdom of our God here on the earth. And I pray God my Father that I may be reconciled unto my lot, and live and die a faithful follower of the teachings of our Murdered Prophet and Patriarch.”
Governor Thomas Ford: “I could not believe that so much stupidity and baseness, as was necessary for such an enterprise as the murder of defenseless prisoners, could be mustered in Hancock County.”
Thomas Sharp: “Is it not better that the blood of two guilty wretches, whose crimes had long awaited the vengeance of heaven, has been shed and thus by cutting off the fountain head to dry up the stream of corruption?”
Thomas Ford: It is to be feared, that in the course of the century, some gifted man like Paul, some splendid orator… will make the name of the martyred Joseph ring aloud and stir the souls of men so that Sharon, Palmyra, Manchester, Kirtland, Far West, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Ramus, Nauvoo and Carthage Jail may become holy and venerable names, places of classic interest. “Then the author of this history, the humble Governor of an obscure state who would otherwise be forgotten stands a fair chance like Herod and Pilate to be dragged down to posterity with immortal shame.”
