History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

90 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
was appointed bishop, to receive and account for
church funds collected lyy the various elders. Many
of the elders who went to Missouri were by this time
at work in different parts of the east and the west. 21
On the lGth of February, 1832, while Smith and
Rigdon were translating the gospel of St John, they
were favored by a glorious vision from the Lord, 22 which
gave them great comfort and encouragement. The
revelations about this time were frequent and lengthy,
their purport being in great part to direct the movements
of missionaries. Simonds Rider and Eli, Edward,
and John Johnson now apostatized.
On the night of the 25th of March, Smith and
Rigdon were seized by a mob, composed partly of the
Campbellites, methodists, and baptists of Hiram,
twelve or fifteen being apostate Mormons. The cap-
tives were roughly treated, and expected to be killed;
but after they had been stripped, beaten, and well
covered with tar and feathers, they were released.
Smith preached and baptized as usual the next day,
Sunday, but Rigdon was delirious for some time afterward.
23
This broke up for the present the translation
21 'Thirty or forty elders were sent off in various directions in pursuit of
proselytes, and the year passed off with a gradual increase.' Howe's Mormonism
Unveiled, 128-9. The men, after baptism, are elders, and are empowered
to perform the ceremony upon others. Carvalho's Incidents of Travel, 148.
For names of apostates at this time, see Smucker's Hist. Mor., 77. For instances
of young women induced to unite with the sect about this time, see
Ward's Mormon Wife, 42—81. Mackay erroneously states that the number
of saints in Kirtlaud at this time, including women and children, was but 150.
The Mormons, 71-2.
22 In January it was revealed that the work of translating should be proceeded
with by Smith and Rigdon until finished; and that several of the
elders, among whom was Orson Hyde, a recent convert, should go forth in
various directions in pairs as before, and preach. Smith and some of the
ciders attended a conference at Amherst, Loraine Co., after returning from
which both himself and Rigdon were shown the devil in a vision, and had the
revelation of St John explained to them. In March it was revealed that
steps should be taken to regulate and establish storehouses for the benefit of
the poor, both at Kirtlaud and at Zion. More missionaries were sent out, and
word was received that the emigrants had safely reached Missouri. Times
and Seasons, v. 576-7, 592-6, 608-9.
23 Times and Seasons, v. 611-12. Mackay, Mormons, 68-71, erroneously
dates the outrage Jan. 25th. One account says aqua-fortis was poured into
Smith's mouth. Deseret News, Aug. 6, 1862. Smith says 'they tried to force
a vial into my mouth, and broke it in my teeth.' One reason assigned for
this treatment was that they were attempting to establish communism and