Journal Contents in Adobe Acrobat Format - Sample Page
Thanks to Kevin Merrell,
who has created a very usable new version of the journal. Here is a
screenshot that shows the sections split into time periods and
locations:
Journal Contents in HTML Format
Here are the the first 34 pages of the journal:
Editors note from Dr. Oliver Preston Robinson, the person who transcribed
the original journal:
This is a complete and as accurate a copy as possible
of the main journal of Joseph Lee Robinson, entitled "History of
Joseph Lee Robinson". The journal is beautifully handwritten and
reasonably legible. J. L. R. arranged it in sections according to dates
selected by himself. The pages, about 71- by 12 inches in size, are
colored with age with edges a bit frayed, due to considerable handling
by members of the family and some words are missing on page bottoms.
By assignment by the officers of the Joseph Lee
Robinson Family Organization, this copy has been dictated by Joseph
Lee's great grandson, Dr. Oliver Preston Robinson. Cousin Preston was
selected because he has had considerable experience as an editor and
writer. For many years he was general manager of the Deseret News Publishing
Company and editor of the Deseret News. While serving as president of
the British Mission in London, was editor of the Millennial Star.)
This dictation was commenced on the 10th of March,
1978 and continued over a period extending to October, 1980 The typing
was completed over this same period by Mary Robinson-Egan, a great,
great granddaughter. As each original page was completed and the dictation
carefully checked, the original journal page was inserted in a plastic
cover and the entire journal, fully preserved, has been deposited for
safekeeping in the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints. It is anticipated that sufficient copies of the
dictated journal will be made available to members of the family who
are interested in having a copy.
Joseph Lee Robinson handbound his journal using
the cardboard top of a box which had contained Martha Washington Genuine
Turkey Red H'dk'fs. He also used the bottom of this box and then bound
the whole journal together with a plaid cloth for the back, or spine,
of the book. This cover is interesting and has been preserved with the
original pages of the journal. Those wishing to examine it may do so
at the Historical Dept.
So all members of the family may see a sample of
J.L.R.'s handwriting, a slightly reduced copy of page 22 of his journal
which contains his impressive testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
page 23 in this dictated copy, has been included in the front of this
journal. Also from the bottom of page 10, to the top of page 112 in
this dictated copy, four pages in J. L.R.'s journal" written on
both sides of the sheets, his record has been dictated exactly as he
wrote it with his spelling and punctuation.
For some reason, J.L.R. wrote a second journal,
shorter and duplicative of his main one. [David
Nielsen Note: Maybe he was inspired by Mormon's inclusion of the
Book of Lehi AND the Small Plates of Nephi in the Book of Mormon. If
his one history were lost, there would be a second, albiet smaller history
to take its place. Just a thought.] This second journal has been
read carefully and any information in it not contained in his original
one, has been included in the dictated material.
It has been a privilege to have accomplished this
work of dictation so that members of this great family may have access
to the interesting and inspirational story of the life, activities and
fine selfless service of our great ancestor.
History Of Joseph Lee Robinson From Date Of Birth Until Five Years
Old Section I
I, Joseph Lee Robinson, was born of goodly parentage
in the town of Shaftsbury, Benington Co., St. of Vermont, February 18,
1811. My father's name is Nathan, his father's name was Joseph, his
mother's name was Rosanna.
My mother's name was Mary, her father's name was
Samuel Brown, his mother's name was Mary who was the wife of Joseph
Lee, after him I was named,
I feel very much interested in him according to
the workings of the spirit in me. I should say that the blood of the
Prophets courses largely in his veins. That he was a noble son of Joseph
who was the son of Jacob and of Isaac who was the son of Abraham, the
father of the faithful. He is through the loins of Ephraim so that when
he has an opportunity he will immediately receive the gospel even the
new and everlasting covenant for we shall do for him in holy temples
what he would have done for himself were he here in this our day so
that he may obtain the holy priesthood and be sealed with his holy wives
for time and eternity and exaltation in the kingdom of God.
Now with regard to my grandfather Samuel Brown,
I say but little at present. He was a pious and good man. A son of Abraham
through the loins of Joseph that was sold into Egypt. He also shall
receive the holy gospel, for we his noble sons and daughters shall take
great pleasure in performing all the ordinances in the House of God
for our father and son of the faithful and our noble mothers, the daughters
of Abraham and Sarah. Now my fathers, the Robinsons, were morally honest
and my own father was very religiously inclined, not so much of the
blood of Israel as upon my mother side, but they shall be saved in the
kingdom that is if they will believe.
My father sold his farm in Shaftsbury, Vermont
state, and moved his family into the state of New York the winter that
I was five years old.
But as I find in some of my writings, I have written
somewhat of my history from my birth until marriage so I will place
these writings at the commencement of this work and let it suffice for
the present. Therefore I will proceed to things of later years, in them
we mention the birth of our firstborn son, we named him Oliver Lee.
He was a very spritely little fellow, of him we are very proud and the
Lord smiled upon us very much and blessed our labors. We were very much
devoted to the cause of our dear Redeemer. That is, we served the Lord
the best we knew when we set up housekeeping we commenced our worship
by reading a portion of the scriptures and developed a family capacity
to kneel before the Lord and offer up our prayers of thankfulness and
gratitude. We offered both family and secret prayers and also were very
punctual in attending our meetings and always took an active part in
speaking and bearing testimony and all in which we took great delight
and we strove diligently to have our lives and conduct correspond with
our profession.
The Lord gave us the second son, we called his
name Ebenezer. He was a fine promising child, he was born October 19,
1835.
About these days my mind was wonderfully wrought
upon the Lord, the spirit constrained me, I prayed much and earnestly
unto the Lord for the people that God would pour out of his spirit and
cause a revival, or a reformation among the people, and I received a
testimony in the spirit, that the Lord would grant my request and that
I should see the day when the people should bow to the mild sceptre
of King lmmanuel.
I also prayed earnestly that I might see my Savior,
that he would manifest himself tome, as I greatly desired to see him
in person. At this time I knew nothing of the work of God on the earth,
that he had revealed the holy gospel to man, that the angel had flown
through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach
to man on the earth, as John the Revelator prophecied should be away
in the future of his day. I did not understand that the holy gospel
had been taken - from the earth, that there was no man on the earth
that held the priest- hood of God, or that had authority from God to
administer the holy gospel. That is, to baptize for the remission of
sins and to confirm the same, members in the church of Christ, by the
laying on of hands and give to them the Holy Ghost, and also to heal
the sick. I knew nothing of this until my brother Ebenezer came to me
in the month of August 1836. He brought to me the holy gospel. He was
an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he opened
up the holy scriptures to me as I had never seen them before. I saw
the light of truth, I received it readily in a few days and believed
every word he said. I received it with great joy and he, my brother,
baptized me and confirmed me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints and in the name of Jesus Christ he gave to me the
Holy Ghost, for he had said to me as Peter said, to repent and be baptized
and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost that he shall know the doctrine
that it is of God. I believed his testimony and took him at his word
and in a few days I received the Holy Ghost and spake in tongues and
prophecied all which proved to me that he was called of God as was Aaron
that he had authority to preach the gospel and to give the Holy Ghost.
I received from him the Book of Mormon and a copy of the Book of Covenants.
I read them much and thanks to my Heavenly Father that I lived in this
day in the which God had spoken from the heavens and has committed the
dispensation of the fulness of times. That our God was about to gather
his people Israel from their long dispersions and built up his kingdom
in the earth and bring forth his Zion preparatory to the millennial
reign of Christ on earth which is to last for 1,000 years according
to the predictions of the holy prophets.
We received a periodical published by the Latter-day
Saints in Kirtland, Ohio but soon. the Saints were driven from that
place and they had settled in the state of Missouri. But soon their
enemies were upon them and the fall after the winter of ???? they, the
entire Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were driven from
the state of Missouri.
We had adopted the rule of attending to our family
prayers precisely at six o'clock in the evening and about this time
while the Saints were in this deepest trouble one Sunday evening after
reading a portion of the scriptures as usual, we knelt down to attend
to family prayers after addressing the throne of grace saying a few
words, we commenced to pray for the Saints in Zion. A heavenly vision
opened to my eyes and I saw a beautiful light which was before me and
was present in my sight.
Joseph L. Robinson, History Continued
From 5 Years Old To 15 From 1816-1826 Section 2
(The vision) was in shape and color of a rainbow
only the bow was down. It was perfect in shape and its motion was as
the pendulum of a clock. It moved back and forth with perfect exactness.
I gazed upon it for a length of time as it grew brighter and brighter
until it was the purest and brightest light I ever saw. Then as quick
as thought a very large building was present before my eyes. It was
far enough from me to have a good view. I gazed with wonder and astonishment
upon a very large and beautiful house built of hewn stone, gray rock
polished in blocks with white joints with large and beautiful window
and door sills and caps. I had a quarting view, more of a side view.
It was altogether the largest and beautifully imposing building I ever
saw.
As soon as the house appeared in sight this extraordinary
light was out of my sight. Presently the voice of the Good Shepherd
said to me "This house you see is the temple of the living God
that shall be built in this generation by the hands of the Latter-day
Saints upon the consecrated spot in Jackson County, Missouri."
Presently after this communication as quick as thought I found myself
standing in one room in that house. To me it was a heavenly place away
in front of me. In the end of the room there was a stand, a rich and
beautiful stand with cushions and curtains and over the stand this marvelous
light that had led me up to the Zion was waving magnificently. Then
again the voice of the Good Shepherd said to me again, "This is
the temple of the living God that shall be built by the hands of the
Latter-day Saints in this generation upon the consecrated spot in Jackson
County, Missouri and the pure in heart shall see the face of the Father
and live and this light you see is the glory of God that shall fill
the house again as quick as thought.
I was removed to my former position where I gazed
with wonder and amazement upon that wonderful house of God and while
I was gazing upon the exterior of the house that wonderful light was
not visible to me but I gazed with admiration upon the house until I
was removed from the house which seemed to be instantaneous. Then the
light in its glory, in its perfect motion, was waving before my eyes
and it continued to grow less until it went out or passed away which
seemed to occupy about the same length of time that I was going to the
temple. The vision closed, I then arose to my feet and dropped into
my chair, sitting, my face wet with tears exclaiming glory to God in
the highest, hallelujah. I have seen the temple of the living God. I
felt exceedingly happy, my wife smiled upon me saying, "Joseph,
I guess you will get to heaven."
I inquired of her how I had acted. She said after
I had said a few words that I remained quiet upon my knees a considerable
length of time, so that I have always known and have many times testified
and bore my testimony when preaching the gospel to the people that I
knew that I knew that whatever became of the Saints, the temple of the
living God should be built by the hands of the Latter-day Saints of
this generation upon the consecrated spot in Jackson County, Missouri.
Previously to receiving this heavenly vision, as soon as my brother
Ebenezer was gone, I read the revelation on the Word of Wisdom over
and over again. I believed it was the word of the Lord so I made a resolve
that I would leave off drinking my beer and keep the Word of Wisdom
strictly which resolve I have strictly lived up to until this day. But
it was with some difficulty that I got rid of my tea. My wife was a
lover of her tea and she did not like to drink it alone so she would
frequently set a cup on for me. After I drank one or two cups I saw
I had to say something desperate or I should never 7eave it off. I told
her if she set another cup on for me I would throw it out of the window
and break cup and saucer all to smash. The tea came no more.
We remarked that I had prayed earnestly to the
Lord and that I had received a testimony that God would pour out his
spirit and cause a reformation in this place which came to pass in a
few years after.
Also I saw the Lord in a bright vision soon after
I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It seemed to be just at night. I knew him as soon as I saw him. He turned
in and came to the house. He was a man as he was when he was upon the
earth. He was a beautiful, heavenly man. He had a new book white and
clean. He held some argument with some of the family. His appearance,
questions and answers was well worthy of the Son of God. After he had
been there a while I met him in the door and embraced him and kissed
him and he did me also. I asked him some questions. He answered them
very wisely and then he was gone. I was the only one that knew him but
I knew I had seen my Savior Jesus and I was glad.
I defended the truth which they called Mormonism
boldly and manfully and I was faithful, very much devoted to the cause
of God. My wife thought it too much a disgrace to be a Mormon. She opposed
me some two or three years but finally concluded that she had better
obey the gospel and be saved. But while she was standing out I told
her I should certainly go, or gather with the Saints to Zion. Then the
Lord opened the way. For the spirit of gathering with the Saints was
always upon me until she did obey the gospel. Some of her pretended
friends labored hard to save her from falling into the error of Mormonism.
They told her that they would assist her if she would not go with me
and that they would help keep the children. She went so far at one time
as to say that she would never go with me together with the Mormons.
I told her as the Lord lived, I should certainly gather with the people
of God when the time arrived and then if she did not wish to go with
me, that I would leave with her and the children the farm and all of
my property clear of encumbrances save enough to simply take me away
that I might be with the Church as I thought that a very liberal offer.
But she took it to heart severely and grieved and wept bitterly that
I would offer to go and leave her. I repented that I had been so faithless
that I had offered to leave her behind, I then told her I should never
make her such an offer again but that I should certainly go to the Saints
but I should never go without her and that I should not take her until
she wanted to go with me or when I wanted to gather with the Saints.
She also would want to go too and so it was that she was anxious to
go.
I remained alone (in the Church) for three years.
Only there were a few Saints about seven miles distant and I would sometimes
meet with them. We enjoyed ourselves remarkably well. The Lord was with
us. We contended earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints.
In the fall and winter of 1839, Elder James Blakesly came to our place.
He commenced to preach the gospel in one neighborhood and in the region
round about. He had a family, wife and several children at quite a distance
north of us. We wished to secure his services which we could do if we
would send for his family and take care of them. A neighbor of mine
by the name of Thomas S. Johnson, not yet a member of the Church, but
friendly offered a room if I would help him raise and plaster it so
that we could put his friend and his family in. This we did and the
Brother Chancy Nobley with team went and moved them in and I mostly
supported them for quite a length of time.
Elder James Blakesley was a very fluent, interesting
preacher and that was about all there was of him. The people all about
the country felt curious to hear what the Mormon had to say and would
open their meeting and school houses and in several of their dwelling
houses for him to preach in. He soon began to baptize and the consequence
was that Mormons sprang up all over the country. Soon there was a small
branch organized in the neighborhood where I resided and presently he
ordained me an elder and at his request the Saints there in our neighborhood
chose myself to preside over them which office and appointment I received
very reluctantly for I felt my weakness. It was so great I felt it was
almost more than I could bear but the Lord strengthened me, the Holy
Spirit helped me so that the burden was lightened and the task made
easier.
Now I realize and saw the spirit of God poured
out upon the people and that reformation that I had so anxiously prayed
for and received a testimony that I should soon see in my neighborhood,
for that was the kind of reformation that the Lord would get up that
will count. It consisted of the gospel in its purity preached by a man
or men having authority, people believing their testimony and yielding
obedience by going down into the water and being baptized for the remission
of their sins and their receiving the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which
we did certainly receive. Some received the gift of tongues and some
prophecied. I, your humble servant, did receive the gift of tongues
which I covet very much, particularly the gift to sing in tongues which
I did receive in a remarkable manner. Many times we sang in our congregations
for Saints, for the Lord did pour out his spirit abundantly upon me,
not only in singing in tongues, for we have seen strong men sit and
shake like a poppy leaf, also to the great edification and comforting
of the Saints. Not only that, but we have seen the sick healed. Not
only in singing and speaking in tongues and speaking also, but in preaching
the gospel, expounding the scriptures and in bearing testimony and in
prophesying as well as in healing the sick and in casting out devils
and also of visions and dreams and seeing also all which blessing we
testify in the name and in the fear of God. These blessings were poured
out upon and enjoyed by Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, in that neighborhood
which proves to us without a shadow of doubt the truth of the work of
God and his power attending his gospel and his servants on the earth.
There were many baptized and several branches of the Church were organized
in the regions round about by Elder Blakesley and others. Now with regard
to miracles in healing, we might mention many of healing the sick. We
will mention one.
There lived in our neighborhood a man by the name
of Bell. He has a wife, a very respectable, amiable woman. She was a
member of the Baptist Church in that place. She was taken very sick
with what is called the asthma, for a number of days. It was with difficulty
they kept her alive. They despaired of her life. They had an only son,
a young man grown, he was not a member of the Church but he had heard
me speak several times and was somewhat believing. He loved his mother
and felt very anxious and concerned for her. He pled with his mother
that she would consent to let him go for me as I was an elder, to administer
to her for her recovery. He believed that she might be healed but she
thought it 11 would such a disgrace to have a Mormon elder to come and
lay hands on her, it would hardly do. But he continued to tease and
entreat his mother, thus she consented, and also his father who was
a wicked man, he gave his consent. He came for me. I went with him and
found her sitting up as she felt a little easier since he went for me.
I had some conversation with her. It was with great difficulty that
she could talk at all. I asked her if she wished me to administer. She
replied that Henry, her son, was very anxious and that she had no objection.
I told her that I was a servant of the living God,
that I did not feel at liberty to administer to any person that was
not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, unless
they would covenant that inasmuch as they received a blessing and was
healed that they would obey the gospel and that if she would agree to
obey the gospel I would administer to her, in case her husband was willing.
He ascended and she promised to obey. I knelt with them and pray for
and with them. I then arose and anointed her head with holy oil in the
name of the Lord and laid my hands upon her head and prayed for her
and blessed her in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the authority
of the holy priesthood which I held. We sealed the holy anointing which
she had just received and rebuked the disease by which she was afflicted
and commanded it to depart. We told her that she should be healed and
would recover, live and not die. She was healed that night. The very
next morning she arose and dressed herself and went to work as usual.
She felt well, as well as she ever did but some weak. She thought of
keeping it a secret from the world, but the spirit of the Lord said
to her she must publish it to her church and to the world what great
thing the Lord had done for her and how it was done in one or two days.
After, it being the Sabbath day, she got their breakfast and did up
the work and dressed herself and walked on foot to her meeting three-fourths
of a mile. After the preaching, she asked liberty and bore her solemn
testimony to what God had done for her, that she had been healed and
that a servant of God had anointed her as Jesus and his apostles did
in their day and laid his hands upon her head and blessed her and healed
her. She said that she knew that God had blessed her and that she was
healed and that she would publish it loud and long. She wished then
to repent and obey the gospel. She then walked home, got her dinner
and walked three-fourths of a mile to the meeting of the Saints where
I presided. She there bore her testimony to what God had done for her,
restating for that meeting the circumstances of her sickness and to
how near death's door she was considered and how she considered herself,
how very sick she was and nigh unto death's door. That, through the
interposition and pleeding of her son, she had sent for me, elder of
the Mormon Church, and of the severe attack of the evil one, of the
mighty struggle she had with the devil and how the Lord delivered her
from the two or three days she was so very sick. But now she was well
and happy. She thanked her God with all her heart that she was not ashamed
now but felt proud to be called a Mormon. She declared herself a ready
and willing candidate for baptism. We will hear say it was but a few
days and I buried her in the waters of baptism unto Jesus Christ and
she became a humble and devoted follower of the meek and lowly Jesus.
At the waters of baptism when this sister was baptized,
there was a pretty large attendance. The solemnities of eternity rested
upon the audience, the ordinance and ceremony was beautifully performed.
In the countenances of some in the audience it
was plainly manifest by the heinous grin the displeasure of their master,
the devil, but there was no threats nor any violence offered. The spirit
of God was poured out, the reformation continued. For a season that
neighborhood was left exclusively to the Mormons or Saints. So there
were many that repented and were added to the Church by baptism. So
much so that in and through the winter of 1839 we kept a hole cut in
the ice of the creek where we baptized nearly all winter. The ice being
about three feet thick, the boys cut a hole in the ice about ten feet
long and wide enough. The congregation would gather all around the ice
and we would sing and pray. I would jump down into the water, they would
hand the candidate to me and they would come out like ducks. They would
help them out, then we would quickly go home. We might mention many
cases of healing during these baptismal ceremonies. ( J.L.R. tells of
Caleb Lampeirs baptism.) Soon after this they sent for me. We anointed
the child and laid our hands upon it and blessed it in the name of the
Lord and it was immediately healed and his wife was baptized that winter.
There were many believing the gospel that were
never baptized and some fell away but the devil soon waked up and persecuted.
Lies and slanders were soon got up and held against the Saints but this
was nothing strange, for so persecuted they the disciples of Jesus and
the true worshippers of God in all ages of the world.
In June 8, 1838 we had a daughter born to us. A
blessing from the Lord, a spritely beautiful child. My wife was still
not a member of the Church, but I had faith that she would someday join
for the Holy Ghost had told me that she would embrace the gospel. This
took place in April 1839. (Wife, Maria Wood, baptized)
It was a great satisfaction to me to have my precious,
bosom companion, one with me in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints for it came to pass that she did not dare to resist it to stay
out any longer for she believed that Mormonism was true and she was
afraid that God would smite her if she fought against it any longer.
She was baptized in a beautiful clear pool of water that came up on
my farm in April 1839, for which I thank my Lord and my God.
It came to pass that the Lord gave us another son.
We called his name Joseph. He was a very sober, intelligent looking
child. He was born October 31, 1840.
There were several families of Saints who came
from the north and settled about Boonville in the neighborhood about
us which made it more interesting for us. I was very industriously engaged
in the work of the Lord and preaching the gospel everywhere round about
for to go which way or where I would I could have a house to preach
in and the people to preach to and I never failed to bear my testimony
in the name of the Lord of the truth of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph
Smith, a prophet of the living God.
I took great pleasure in preaching the gospel for
I found it to be the power of God unto salvation for the holy spirit
was poured out so profusely upon me, the spirit gave me utterance and
my whole body was charged highly with the Holy Ghost so that my whole
body was full of joy, yea joy that tongue cannot describe.
I was almost always blessed with a good, quiet
attentive congrega-tion, so much as you could hear a pin if it should
fall upon the floor.
We will mention one circumstance of interest which
occurred where I held a Sabbath day meeting in a large stone schoolhouse.
It was filled to overflowing and it was among strangers. I was alone.
I had been preaching for nearly two hours and was about to close and
dismiss the congregation when a gentleman arose and wished me to permit
him to ask two questions. I said yes if the congregation was willing.
He said he would vouch for the congregation. His first question was
if we had a gold Bible. I answered no sir, and I gave him my Bible.
He said this is the English version. I said yes sir, but we have a book
we call the Book of Mormon. But sir, do you believe this Bible, said
I, He said yes sir. Then sir I can prove to the understanding of any
candid man by this Bible that a book should come forth like the one
the Book of Mormon purports to be. He wished me to give them the proof.
I said no I would not. That I should want two hours to do that subject
justice and that I had an appointment for that evening at a place where
I had held several meetings. I would take that subject at that meeting
if he or any other ones wished to come and hear.
The second question was if I would show them a
sign or perform a miracle. And it came to pass I said unto him, have
I not preached the gospel unto you today as it is recorded in this Bible.
Yes sir he said. A wicked and an adulterous generation, they seek a
sign. But no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet
and several other passages of Jesus' sayings to sign seekers. Then I
proceeded to work a miracle by saying unto him, sir, are you willing
to be struck dumb and remain dumb for a season in order that you may
know and that this people may know that I am a servant of the living
God and that the gospel that I have been preaching to you is the gospel
of miracles. Then you shall have a sign sir and now, I Joseph, repeated
this three times raising my voice each time. The third time speaking
with a great deal of emphasis and power probably such as he had never
heard before, for it was spoken under the influence and power of the
Holy Ghost. Then said I, you shall have a sign. He said no, no sir.
I say he was afraid it would come upon him. The house, notwithstanding
it was so very full of people, it was as still as death. Behold silence
reigned a short time. I gazed with a feeling of surprise upon the countenances
of the congregation and could read their feelings. We dismissed the
meeting, and the people withdrew. There was not a word spoken, not even
a whisper that I heard. Not a dog to move his tongue. They got into
their sleighs and upon their horses arm their feet and went home.
This was the most remarkable sight that I had ever
seen. My feeling I could not describe the reflection that I had been
preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ unto a people professing
Christianity who had the Bible in their hands and in their houses. That
they should ask for a sign and that I had boldly offered to strike a
man dumb, it produced a remarkable sensation in my mind. But my feelings
were mild and serene. I felt assured that I had done my duty, had born
my testimony and preached the truth and that the Lord was pleased with
me. I felt remarkably solemn and good, but felt to pity the poor unbelieving
Gentiles. God sends his kingdom unto them. His humble servants offer
them life and salvation in the name of the Lord but their stumbling
stone is so great they do not discern the day of their visitation. Therefore
they must remain in their sins and perish. Wo be unto us if we preach
not the gospel and wo be unto the Gentiles if they receive it not. For
the hour of God's judgement is at hand and beginning already to be born
out. I preached to a very attentive and good house that evening. I bore
my testimony to the truth and on my way home on Monday, visited the
grave of my mother reading the inscription on her gravestone. Looking
upon her grave we offered a prophecy that my mother should come forth
in the morning of the first resurrection and receive a crown of honor
and glory in the celestial kingdom of our God notwithstanding that she
had died without hearing the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
She was, in her day, a very exemplary, devout, praying woman. She was
a daughter of Abraham, an Israelite indeed in whom there was no guile,
a pure Ephraimite.
When I drove into the neighborhood and where I
went to school where I was principally raised and in the evening the
schoolhouse that my father had helped to build, I there lifted up my
voice and preached to that people the first principles of the everlasting
gospel. This was the first time that they had ever heard the gospel
in its purity. At another time I preached in a schoolhouse that had
been built near the spot where the barn stood in which I had been visited
by the Lord, had received such a remarkable conversion. I preached to
a very full house and attentive congregation. It being the first gospel
sermon that was ever preached in that place, for there never was a man
before that dared to promise to the people the Holy Ghost on conditions
of repentance and baptism for the remission of sins.
The Lord had blessed me with a good sleigh and
horses and things of comfort. And it came to pass that I labored much
in traveling and preaching the gospel of the kingdom in the regions
around about besides preaching to our little flock at home. And it came
to pass that in every congregation of the wicked I bore a faithful and
solemn testimony to the restoration of the gospel of miracles, that
Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, that the Book of Mormon was
a revelation of God, a true history of a branch of the House of Israel
who was led to and lived on this continent. I testified that it was
true that it had sprung out of the earth as the prophet David had said
it would come and that it was certainly the book that the prophet Isaiah
said should be read and that the deaf should hear the words of the book,
that the blind should see out of obscurity and out of darkness and that
the poor among them and the meek of the earth should rejoice in the
Holy One of Israel. Some would believe my testimony but the great majority
would discard the idea of there being any more revelation. They had
the Bible and it was enough.
It came to pass that in the spring of 1841, as
I was visiting with a Brother Charles H. Lang and family, that he requested
me to bless him before I left him in the morning. We had had a very
interesting visit. I laid my hands upon his head in the name of the
Lord and began to bless him in my mother tongue. I had said a few words
and the spirit of the Lord rested upon me to talk in tongues. I broke
out in an-unknown tongue which I spoke to some length. Then, before
I took my hands from his head, I gave the interpretation of that tongue
in English. There were many good things said but among others a prophecy
was uttered. We said to him that the Lord should open up the way for
him and family that they should go up to Zion that season, as all the
Saints that could expected to go that season. As he was a poor man with
a wife and several helpless children, he had nothing else not so much
as one cow. It came to pass that I went up to Nauvoo that summer and
took my family and three other ' families also, namely Brother Vosburg
and family and Brother Thomas S. (R. L.) Johnson and family and a widow
Lincoln and two children. Some of these I had baptized, but I could
have taken Brother Lang (that name could be Oaug or Dany) and so fulfilled
that prophecy. But, I knew the Lord had promised him and I was confident
that he was able and that he was faithful to do all that he had promised.
It came to pass that the company in the branch where Elder Dany lived
(this name here looks like Dany but in any event it is the same person
whose first name, as above, is Charles H.) was making preparations to
start. The time had arrived within one or two days and as yet there
was no prospect. But, behold the Lord remembers his promises and is
faithful to perform. He sent Father Thayer to inform him, Brother Dang,
that he had a good team of horses and a wagon well covered and ready
for a move and that he could have the team to move his family to Zion.
He thanked him very much but said, you will have to send me some money
to bear my expenses, which he did. And it came to pass that Elder Dang
loaded his family and goods in and was ready to move with the company.
He came up all right in the fall of 1841 to Nauvoo. He was a happy man.
Now the circumstances were that Father Thayer had a crippled wife but
he thought to take her by land. Then it occurred to his mind that his
wife could not stand to go by land, that she would not live to get there.
Then said he, what shall I do with my team? It was immediately put into
his mind that Elder Lang (or Dang) had no team, though he lived several
miles from him. So he got his team taken to Nauvoo, but he charged him
$18.00 for the use of it.
He set sail or left the city of Rome, Oneida County,
New York, the 10th day of June 1841. We had a good journey, we travelled
pitching our tents by the way as the children of Israel did. We arrived
in Nauvoo in the month of August. We found the temple in progress of
building. The walls were protruding above the ground. The round or oval
windows were just forming above the surface of the earth. This temple
was commenced in the spring of 1841 on the 6th day of April. The cornerstone
was in the formation walls. The Saints were remarkably well in rearing
a house unto the Most High as God had commanded his Saints to build
a temple speedily in that place. I immediately set in (apparently Joseph
Lee means that he immediately began to work on the temple).
Now with regards to the Latter-day Saints, they
had built a temple in the land of Kirtland, Ohio and they had been driven
from there by mob violence and they settled in the state of Missouri
as the Lord had commanded them. Then, because they worshipped the true
and living God, the governor with the entire state formed a mob and
robbed the Saints of their arms and ammunition and then aimed to slaughter
the Saints, men, women and children. This mob had received exterminating
orders from the governor of the state but they modified it a little
and drove the Saints in mass from the state of Missouri from their homes
and their lands that they had bought and paid the government of the
United States and had received their titles for the same. This was done
in the winter. Several of our leadingmen, they imprisoned and purposed
to kill them, but the Lord delivered them. The Lord our God softened
the hearts of the people in the state of Illinois and they received
the Saints and showed friendship. The Lord had prepared a place for
them, the Saints, called Commerce. It was situated on the curve of the
east bank of the large, grand Mississippi River. A more beautiful sight
for a city there never was than this place that the Lord had prepared
for his Saints. It was sickly for the Gentiles, they had died there.
They had undertaken to build a town or city but they were scared to
stay there. Some men owned the land and they were glad to sell it to
the Mormons on very reasonable terms. They, the Saints, purchased the
land and moved directly there and commenced to build a city. The Lord
also softened and blinded the authorities of the State that they gave
them, the Saints, the most liberal charter that ever was given to any
people on the earth. It was a blessing from Almighty God to our people.
So our people gathered and rallied and commenced to build a city with
a will. It went up like magic, a house of God as well. Thank God this
city is situated upon the east bank of the Mississippi River. There
was a large curve in the river. The river was three-fourths of a mile
wide and there was a large bottom in this side with gravel rising to
a bench which made it very sightly or beautiful. In this bottom there
was a marsh or swampy place. The Saints drained that swamp and the same
became healthy. The Saints builded houses and had good rich gardens
on the same.
It came to pass that the Lord gave to the prophet
Joseph a very lengthy and important revelation with regard to that place
and building a temple to the most high God. He, the Almighty, also instructed
him to build a Nauvoo House and gave him directions with regard to the
organization of the Church. As a most chosen and perfect organization
of the same, naming many and giving them for officers in the Church
of Jesus Christ. He was instructed in many more things of importance,
saying that this place, Nauvoo, should become a cornerstone to Zion,
giving the Saints a set time to build that temple. He said that if it,
the temple, was not builded in or within the said time, that this people
should be rejected with their dead. Knowing this to be the word of the
Lord, it inspired the Saints to exert themselves exceedingly to use
all due diligence to build that house. They soon proceeded to organize
this city into wards, ordaining bishops, placing one to preside over
each ward.
Now we will return to our history when we arrived
into the city of the Saints. I soon found my brother Ebenezer. He had
a house for us to go into. It was a log house and very near the printing
house, himself, Brother Ebenezer, being the printer of the Church as
he was editing the Church's organ. He had built himself a good house
with two stories. He used the second for a printing office. It was near
the river.
In that house the worst enemy we found or that
found us was the rat. The long tailed rat which bit our little children,
biting their lips and trying to eat their noses off while sleeping at
night.
Our beautiful temple that we were building was
situated on the bench, an eminence, a beautiful sight about the center
of the city near a beautiful grove in which we had our public meetings
in-summers.
It came to pass that I, Joseph Lee Robinson, purchased
a lot with a small log cabin on it of a brother in the Church and moved
my family into it late in the fall of 1841. It was situated about three-fourths
of a mile southeast of the temple on Warsaw Street, between Mulhollon
and Parley Street. We had for neighbors Martin H. Peck, Ezra Taft Benson,
John Pack, George Pitkin, Elisha Edwards, James Pace, John D. Lee, Joseph
Horn, Thomas Graver, Dunbar Wilson, Father Thayer, Brother Carico, Bishop
Jonathan H. Hale, and a great many others. We found ourselves in rather
a new and strange country, subject to somewhat different diet, but we
never looked back nor wished ourselves back to Babylon from whence we
had come, but we greatly appreciate the blessings and privilege of being
gathered and associated with the Saints and to assist in building holy
temples and of being taught in the ways of the Lord and of enjoying
the blessings of the holy gospel that we might receive our washings
and anointings and endowments and sealings and baptisms for our dead.
That we may hear the prophet's voice. That we might see eye to eye and
bring forth the Zion of our God and carry the gospel to the nations
of the earth, gather the-Saints abroad on the earth to the place of
gathering in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times according
to the testimony of holy prophets.
We are now living in the day of prophets and apostles
and evangelists. Yea, a day of vision and dreams of revelations of miracles
and tongues.
We have long since believed and verily known that
Joseph Smith was a fine and humble prophet of God, but now our eyes
to see him and our ears hear his voice, which is like the voice of the
mighty thunder of heaven. Yet his language is meek and instructive.
It edifieth much, but there is a power and majesty that attends his
words and preaching that we never beheld in any man before. For he is
a mighty prophet. A holy man of God. He had seen the Father and Son
and heard their voices and had seen holy angels and heard their voices
at sundry times and in divers places. He truly had been educated in
the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He was highly charged with
the Holy Ghost which was a constant companion and had seen many holy
prophets and apostles and had been ordained under their hands and by
the gift and power of God had translated the Book of Mormon, which is
the best of all books and the work of this translation was done under
the most trying circumstances.
He had received many revelations from Almighty
God on very important matters, had organized the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints according to the apostolic order with prophets
and apostles and patriarchs. With high priests and seventies and elders,
bishops, priests, teachers and deacons, with all the gifts and graces
that adorned the ancient church of Christ. And to all this we do bear
our solemn testimony in the fear of God and in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. I, Joseph Lee Robinson, do verily know it is true so help
me God.
My love for the prophet Joseph was truly stronger
than death. It was greater than for any man that ever lived except Jesus,
the first begotten of the Father.
We heard him say a great many good things. One
was that if the Latter-day Saints would hold fast to him or to his garments
that he would pack or carry them safe into the celestial kingdom of
God. We never doubted his word. We also heard him say that God had revealed
unto him that any man that ever committed adultery in either of his
probations that that man could never be raised to the highest exaltation
in the celestial glory and that he felt anxious with regard to himself
that he inquired of the Lord that the Lord told him that he, Joseph,
had never committed adultery. This saying of the prophet astonished
me very much. It opened up to me a very wide field of reflection. The
idea that we had passed through probations prior to this and that we
must have been married or given in marriage in those probations, or
there would be no propriety in making such an assertion, and that there
were several exaltations in the celestial kingdom of our God. The highest
exaltation we suppose to be the godhead and we conclude there are several
grades of exaltations in servants to the Gods.
Be this as it may, this is what he said and we
will all know the truth of the matter some day.
We will mention several of his sayings - there
is not one key or one power to be bestowed on the Church to lead the
people into the celestial gate, but I have given you, showed you, and
talked it over to you. The kingdom is set up. You have the perfect pattern
and you can go and build up the kingdom and go in at the celestial gate
taking your train with you.
Joseph Smith's instructions to the Quorum of the
Twelve before his death. Again "though we or an angel from heaven
preach any other gospel or introduce an order of things other than those
things which ye have received and are authorized to receive from the
First Presidency, let him be accursed" Joseph Smith.
Again we heard the prophet Joseph Smith say upon
the stand in Nauvoo in a grove near the temple when he was speaking
to a large assemblage of Saints. With many other things he said, "That
if I should reveal the things that God had revealed to me, there are
some on this stand that would cut my throat, or take my heart's blood."
We wondered if it was possible that that saying
could be true. And again while speaking to the people in that place
he supposed a case, he said suppose we send one of our elders to Turkey
or India or to a people where it was lawful to have several wives. Where
they practiced polygamy and suppose he should say to them your laws
are not good, you should put away your plural wives. What would they
do to him? They would kick him out of their realm. Said he, what right
has he to speak against their laws and usages. Said he, God doesn't
care what laws they make if they will live up to them. What shall they
preach? Said he, they shall preach the gospel and nothing but the pure
gospel and some will believe and be baptized. He shall say nothing about
the gathering but confirm them members in the Church and give to them
the Holy Ghost and he shall pass along, preaching and baptizing and
a man shall receive the Holy Ghost, and that shall teach him of a land
of Zion and of the gathering, and when the elders shall come around
again, this brother shall accost him thus saying, elder, is there not
a land of Zion, a place where the Saints should gather to? The elder
should not lie to him. He shall say, yes, brother, there is a land of
Zion where Saints of God are required to gather to. Then, said he, to
the elder, I have five wives and I love one equally as well as I do
the other and now what are the laws in that land? Can I bring my five
wives there and enjoy them there as well as I can here? Said the prophet,
yes the laws in Zion are such that you can bring your wives and enjoy
them here as well as there, the elder shall say to that brother.
The prophet went on preaching the gospel of the
kingdom as if he had not said anything strange or awful, but this to
me was the first intimation that I ever received that polygamy would
ever be practiced or lawful with this people.
The prophet went to his dinner and as it might
be expected, several of the first women of the Church collected at the
prophet's house with his wife and said thus to the prophet Joseph. Oh
Mr. Smith, you have done it now, it will never do for it is all but
blasphemy. You must take back what you have said today. It is outrageous.
It would ruin us as a people.
The prophet knew it would not avail anything to
contend with the sisters. Said he, I will have to take that saying back
and leave it as though there had been nothing said. For he was aware
it was a very large pill for them or the people to swallow. But, as
the Lord had revealed the principle of plural marriage to him and had
informed him that the time had fully come that that doctrine should
be taught and practiced by his people, the Latter-day Saints, as it
was a very important item pertaining to the fulness of the gospel. He
deemed it wisdom to throw out something for the people to reflect upon
that they might begin to digest that very important doctrine which belongs
to the dispensation of the fulness of times. But prior to this, he had
besought the Lord to take this instruction from him that he might not
have the responsibility of introducing and putting into practice that
order of things because of the great opposition it would meet because
of the traditions of the people.
But it came to pass the Lord instead of releasing
him from that burden, he sent an holy angel with a drawn sword unto
him, saying unto him, Joseph, unless you go to and immediately teach
that principle (namely polygamy or plural marriage) and put the same
in practice, that he, Joseph, should be slain for thus saith the Lord,
that the time has now come that I will raise up seed unto me as I spoke
by my servant Jacob as is recorded in the Book of Mormon, therefore,
I command my people.
Now with regard to other sayings of the prophet,
but a short time before the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph as he was
Lieutenant General of the Nauvoo Legion, he called the Legion together
and addressed them in a very affectionate and powerful manner as he
was standing before a little frame near his mansion with the Legion
and a great many others around him. He addressed us with regard to many
things and several of his sayings I shall always remember. He says,
do you love me? We answered in a loud affirmative, yes. He says, will
you die for me? Yes, with loud acclamation the Legion responded, heartily
responded yes. Then said he I will die for you. You are my boys and
you shall be my boys through all eternity. He unsheathed his sword and
raised it towards heaven and said with, a voice like thunder, he said,
in the name of the Lord God that if there was one drop of innocent blood
shed by our enemies in this time of persecution (as he was at that time
under an arrest as the officers had served a writ on him and he would
have to go immediately to Carthage to be tried and it looked gloomy
and dark) that he would never sheath his sword again until victory was
won for the Saints. That he would fight them with the thunder of heaven
with lightenings, whirlwinds, hailstones and pestilence and devouring
flames until they, his enemies, should be wasted until there was not
a dog to move his tongue against Zion. And, as he was on his way to
Carthage he said, I go as a lamb to the slaughter. I die innocent, I
have a conscience void of offense toward God and men. Suffice it to
say that he was slaughter) in Carthage Jail so that he never returned
alive to Nauvoo. We shall say more of him hereafter.
We will now return to his preaching in favor of
polygamy. In the morning he declared the law in Zion should favor plural
wives. It surprised) me much. It was the first intimation that I ever
had as we remarked in favor of polygamy. I retired to my dinner. Several
of the brethren stopped] into my house and we talked about the preaching.
I remarked to them that it was not likely that we should have the privilege
of getting more wives but that the law would be framed so that they
that had several wives could retain them and they did not know any better.
We attended the meeting in the afternoon. The prophet
Joseph came upon the stand. He arose to address the meeting. He said
brethren and sisters, I take back what we said this morning and leave
it as though there had nothing been said. It amused me somewhat, but
did not take with me for I was satisfied that he meant what he had said
in the morning. The meeting passed and the day also and two or three
days passed away and it was in my mind constantly. I felt satisfied
it was of God for the spirit bore testimony, and it came to pass that
on Wednesday morning following as I was working with E. T. Benson, I
received the first revelation upon that subject. It came as a flash
of lightening to my mind. I stopped short, saying I have received a
revelation. I said this to Brother Benson. What is it, said he. I will
tell you inasmuch as the Lord reveals the law that shall give the brethren
a right to bring his five wives and enjoy them in Zion and inasmuch
as you and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, in full fellowship,
it cannot prohibit us from having more than one wife and be just. Said
he, that is true.
That was the first revelation that I received on
polygamy and also the first that Brother Ezra T. Benson received, except
what the prophet said the sabbath before, but it was not the last that
I received for it continued to reveal to me from time to time as the
scriptures sayeth, the Lord giveth line upon line, precept upon precept,
a little and there a little, and so He leadeth His Saints along from
step to step. But that one word from the prophet gave me a starting
point. It was as Alma in the Book of Mormon explained. The word implanted
in my heart as a good seed sown in good ground. It was received in faith.
It commenced to swell and it sprouted and grew from faith to a perfect
knowledge so that I can say, as Paul, if any man or an angel from heaven
preacheth any other gospel than we have preached and ye have received,
let him be cursed. So, I can say with propriety, if any man or an angel
from heaven comes and preaches any other doctrine than what the prophet
Joseph did preach. If he says that polygamy is not of God I do verily
know he lies, therefore let him be accursed.
And now my dear readers, while I am on this subject,
I propose to make known to you in my weak and clumsy way of writing
how the Lord revealed to me the truth of the doctrine of plural marriage,
or polygamy.
I had been talking to some confidential persons
on polygamy. As we have remarked, I never had received one word from
any man living except that one word from the prophet, only as the Holy
Ghost taught me and it also taught me some of the future destiny of
this people.
As I remarked to some, being interrogated, what
will become of this people, this being soon after the martyrdom of Joseph
and Hyrum? As the remarkable vision, also which, or in which the Lord
revealed to me, unworthy me, the certainty or truth of that very remarkable
sacred, interesting doctrine, pertaining to the fulness of the gospel
of the Son of God, which had to be revealed in the dispensation of the
fulness of times or at the commencement of that dispensation. The Father
had a large number of spirits, very intelligent, noble spirits, spirits
that had been kept back, kept in reserve because they were needed to
come forth to be born under or in the priesthood to perform a certain
very important work. This is what the Lord meant, when I will raise
up seed unto me. I will command my people. The time now has fully arrived
and it became necessary to command His people. I feel very, very thankful
to my Father and God that he thought enough of me or thought me worthy
to reveal unto me His will and a knowledge of that sacred doctrine.
Now one word with regard to the future of this
people as we should have remarked in answer to that question. I told
some of them that the Lord would take this people and lead them way
west into a goodly land and plant them and multiply them and discipline
them and bring them under the rod and into the bonds of the covenant
and make them a great and mighty people and that they should never come
under the Gentile yoke again as they had been or that this kingdom should
never be given into the hands of another people to drive them again.
I will now proceed to relate a heavenly vision
and revelation which was given to me, Joseph L. Robinson, on the subject
of polygamy in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois in the year 1844 or
1845. As we remarked, my mind was exercised upon that subject after
hearing the prophet of God declare it should become a law in Zion. The
Lord chastened me in the spirit for the space of about 20 hours in a
manner or more severe than I had ever been chastened before. But behold
the cloud of darkness passed away and the sun of righteousness did beam
forth. My mind became calm and serene as the summer morning. I felt
exceedingly happy in my mind. I was alone in my shop and I was a chair
maker. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon and I was standing
at my turning lathe, the sun shining brightly.
The vision opened on this wise. Presently before
me there was a light, straight as straight and narrow, very narrow,
its color very bright and beautiful. The lower end of this remarkable
light, or path, was about three feet from the earth before me and its
elevation some 30 degrees and it extended away out of sight into the
heavens. Presently there came a voice in the spirit, saying, this light
you see is the straight and narrow path that leads to life. A pause
for a few moments between each sentence. Polygamy is an institution
of heaven, as pure a principle as ever emanated from the gods. It is
for the purpose of raising up seed unto the Lord. No man has the right
to crook a finger or wink an eye or do anything whatever to court a
second wife until he first obtains permission from him that holds the
keys of the kingdom of God upon the earth.
Any man that enters into this holy order in any
other way other than upon the principle and with an eye single to the
glory of God, he is damned. Also, a man should be very careful not to
interfere with the rights of any good man as this would be handling
sharp edged tools.
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld multitudes
of people upon the earth. They looked very much like a swarm of bees
as they were buzzing and all seemed searching altogether after the things
of the earth, as I could see myriads of them and could not discover
one of them searching after God or the things of God. I then saw things
in a clearer light than I ever had before. It was then that I quaked
exceedingly with fear and trembling before having my eyes on the straight
and narrow path and being so exceedingly straight and narrow and the
only chance to get to life was to find that and follow it, whilst the
way was so broad that leads to death and the multitudes seemed to be
travelling therein.
There was a pause of a few moments between each
sentence and through this entire vision this remarkable straight and
narrow light was before my eyes and as Paul said, I did not know whether
I was in the body or out of the body, I could not tell.
The vision closed. I found myself standing by my
turning lathe. I had seen a vision and received revelation from Almighty
God through the medium of the Holy Ghost so that I did know that polygamy
was of God and learned of its purpose and design and learned how to
proceed in that holy order. Now with regard to this doctrine, of the
truth and certainty of the same, I never did nor never can doubt again.
As we remarked, we moved into a small log cabin
with our little family in the fall of 1841, but our little son Joseph
was taken sick and remained sickly until he died which was in August
25th, 1842. It was quite a sorrow and grief for us but we felt to kiss
the rod and acknowledge the hand of God in it. We tried hard to save
him. He was such a bright, spritely promising child.
The Prophet Joseph Smith came to me on some business
whilst this child was sick. I had him in my arms and I went out to talk
with him as he sat upon his horse. He remarked, your child is sick,
said he, you should get some bitters for him. I then asked the prophet
what my tithing was. Said he, your tithing is one-tenth of what you
have when you commence to pay tithing. After that, one-tenth of your
entries annually.
Through the blessings of God and with my little
means and hard labor and management, I soon built me a good brick house
with three rooms one above the other with a good fireplace in each room.
One was a cellar kitchen with three windows, a good fireplace and a
brick oven. The third, or upper room, the entire size of the house,
16 by 24, with a good fireplace and windows, suitable for a schoolroom.
I fitted it up for a school, put in benches and writing tables and benches
and table and water bucket and broom. I got it all in readiness with
my own hands and means and I hired a good female teacher or sister in
the Church. I agreed to pay her, I then informed the neighbors that
a school would start at my house on Monday morning next and I wanted
them to send their children to school and those that could I wanted
them to help me pay the teacher while them that were not able to pay,
that it should be free and that they should send their children to school
just the same.
Monday morning came and children also. They filled
the room and all the teacher could do justice by. We had a good school
and in the fall I hired a good man teacher on the same principle and
the house full to overflowing and it continued to be so until the burning
took place in Lima, a town about 30 miles distant. The mob swore that
the Mormons should not stay there. They gathered in bands nightly and
set fire to their houses and hay and grain stacks and upset their lives
and played regular smash with them the Saints in that town.
The Journal of Joseph Lee Robinson - basic version
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DESCRIPTION: Complete transcription of Joseph Lee Robinson's
journal.
FORMAT: Adobe
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PAGES: 490
SIZE: 2.61 MB (about a 30 minute download via modem)
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