History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CHAPTER IV.
THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
1830-1835.
Parley Pratt's Conversion—Mission to the Lamanites— The Mission-
aries AT KlRTLAND—CONVERSION OF SlDNEY RiGDON—MORMON SDC-
cess at Kirtland—The Missionaries in Missouri—Rigdon Visits
Smith—Edward Partridge—The Melchisedec Priesthood Given—
Smith and Rigdon Journey to Missouri — Bible Translation—
Smith's Second Visit to Missouri—Unexampled Prosperity—Causes
of Persecutions—Mobocracy—The Saints are Driven from Jackson
County—Treachery of Boggs—Military Organization at Kirtland
—The Name Latter-day Saints—March to Missouri.
One evening as Hyrum Smith was driving cows
along the road toward his father's house, he was
overtaken by a stranger, who inquired for Joseph
Smith, translator of the book of Mormon. "He is
now residing in Pennsylvania, a hundred miles away,"
was the reply.
"And the father of Joseph?"
"He also is absent on a journey. That is his house
yonder, and I am his son."
The stranger then said that he was a preacher of
the word; that he had just seen for the first time a
copy of the wonderful book; that once it was in his
hands he could not lay it down until he had devoured
it, for the spirit of the Lord was upon him as he read,
and he knew that it was true; the spirit of the Lord
had directed him thither, and his heart was full of joy.
Hyrum gazed at him in amazement; for converts
of this quality, and after this fashion, were not common
in those days of poverty and sore trial. He
was little more than a boy, being but twenty-three,