CONTENTS. SKETCH OF AN ELDER'S LIFE.

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CHAPTER I.

Birth and Parentage of Elder John Tanner—Himself and Two Children are Bitten by a Mad Dog—They are Healed—He Becomes Wealthy—Afflicted With Unknown Disease—Physicians Fail to Cure Him—"Mormon" Elders Visit Him—He is Converted—Is Miraculously Healed—Goes to Kirtland—Freely Gives Money for the Benefit of the Church—His Elder's Certificate.

CHAPTER II.

Receives Blessings in Temple—Assists With "Kirtland Bank"—Starts for Missouri—His Daughter Dies—Is Attacked by Mob—Nearly Murdered—Retained as a Prisoner—Released—Removes to Iowa—Receives the Prophet's Blessing—Goes to the Rocky Mountains—Loses His Property by Fire—Thrilling Indian Adventure—At Death's Door—Remarkable Escape—His Death.

INCIDENTS OF EXPERIENCE.

CHAPTER I.

Account of My Ancestors—My Birth—Remarkable Vision—Its Effect Upon Those Who Heard of It—My Father and Grand-Father Become Interested in Reading the Scriptures—My Grand-Father's Prophecy—His Dislocated Shoulder Replaced by the Power of God—My Grand-Father's Vision and Death—"Mormon" Elders Visit the Neighborhood—I Go to Hear Them Preach—Believe Their Doctrines—My Father Opposed to the Elders.

CHAPTER II.

My Covenant With the Lord—My Sister Desires Baptism—My Brother's Threat—Visit of Hyrum Smith—My Sister Baptized—I Break My Covenant—My Father's Dream—My Baptism—Exhortation to the Young—Spiritual Gifts Received—Meeting Disturbed by Mobs—After Talking to Them They Become Quiet and Leave the Place—Some of the Mob Join the Church—The Leader of the Mob Dies Suddenly—Mobbings Cease.

CHAPTER III.

Ordained to the Priesthood—Invited to Preach—I Make Up a Sermon on my Way—Sermon Apparently a Failure to Me—My Hearers Satisfied With It—Abused by a Baptist Minister—He Desires a Sign—A Sign Promised and Fulfilled—Blessings Received in the Kirtland Temple—Words of the Prophet Joseph—Their Fulfilment—An Incident in Missouri—Literal Fulfillment of a Prediction Uttered by Joseph Smith—His Patriotism—Strange Phenomenon—Its Effect.

CHAPTER IV.

A Case of Palsy Healed—Its Effect on the People—Mr. Bridge's Unbelief—The Case of Widow Cade—She is Partially Cured by Faith—Tempts the Lord and Dies—I am Called on a Mission to Europe—Terrible Sea-storm—The Prayers of the Elders are Heard and the Winds Cease—We Arrive Safely in a Badly-Shattered Ship.

CHAPTER V.

I Go to Switzerland—God's Power Manifested in My Behalf—A Prophecy Fulfilled—Condition of the Swiss Mission—Where Elders were Expelled Evil Spirits Take Possession—Karl G. Maeser Writes Me a Letter—I Return it, Thinking it is a Ruse to Entrap Me—I Receive it Again— Brother Maeser's Faith and Baptism—Elders Partake of Poisoned Food—Are Restored to Health—My Mission Ends.

NEWEL KNIGHT'S JOURNAL.

CHAPTER I.

My Birth and Parentage—My Father's Business—He Employs Joseph Smith, Jun.—Character of this Youth—I Start in Business for Myself—My Health Compels Me to Change Occupation—Joseph Smith, Jun., a Constant Visitor at My House—He Relates His Experience—His Statements Leave no Room for Doubt in Me—He is Bitterly Persecuted.

CHAPTER II.

Joseph Smith's Perseverance—Organization of the Church—Joseph Smith Visits Me—His Own Account of His Visit—He Asks Me to Pray—I Refuse—I Go to the Woods and Try to Offer up Prayer—Am Attacked by a Devil—Curious Actions while thus Afflicted—The Prophet Casts the Devil Out—The Spirit of God Shows Me Glorious Things—This Miracle Witnessed by Many Persons.

CHAPTER III.

I am Baptized—First Conference of the Church—Remarkable Visions—The Prophet Visits the Colesville Branch—Holds Meeting—Persecution Begins—A Presbyterian Preacher Tries to Mislead My Sister-in-law, but Fails—Baptisms—Mob Gathers—Joseph Arrested by a Constable—Wicked Men Lie in Ambush for Him—He is Delivered from the Mob by the Constable—His Unjust Trial—He is Acquitted.

CHAPTER IV.

Joseph's Second Arrest—Cruelty of His Guard—His Trial—I, with Others, am Called as a witness—Chagrin of Prosecuting Attorney—Eloquence of Joseph's Lawyers—The Constable Begs Joseph's Forgiveness for His Cruel Conduct—He Delivers the Prophet from the Hands of the Mob—The Acquittal—At My House Our Leaders are Again Persecuted—Their Escape—Names of Our Leading Opponents.

CHAPTER V.

I Visit Joseph at Harmony—Revelation Concerning the Sacrament —Persecutions at Harmony—The Brethren Visit Me—God Blinds the Eyes of Their Enemies—The Prophet Moves to Fayette—False Revelation—Bogus Stone—False Doctrine Overcome—Hyrum Smith Visits Me—I Labor in the Ministry with Him—My Aunt's Affliction—Remarkable Manifestation of God's Power.

CHAPTER VI.

Sidney Rigdon's Conversation—Third Conference of the Church—The Saints Commence to Gather—An Accident—My Aunt's Dream—Its Fulfillment—Missouri Chosen for a Gathering Place—My Mother's Wish—Reflections on the Past and Present—Temple Site Located—Labors Commence—The First Death.

CHAPTER VII.

My Appointment—A Visit from Joseph—According to Joseph's Promise, My Wife Bears Me a Son—New Revelations—My Aunt Overcome by the Evil One—She Misleads Many—Her Anguish and Restoration.

CHAPTER VIII.

Mr. Pixley's Bitterness—Our Enemies Make Plans for Our Overthrow—Their Resolutions—Our Printing Office Destroyed—Brethren Tarred and Feathered—Our Appeal to the Governor—His Advice—Saints Driven—Unexpected Engagement—Several Killed and Wounded.

CHAPTER IX.

McCarty's Case—Justice Denied Us—The Sufferings of the Saints—The Brethren Disarmed—Joseph's Opinion of Governor Boggs—Correspondence Between the State Officials and Our People—Our Petition to the Governor.

CHAPTER X.

Court in Jackson County—Officers Awed by a Mob—Zion's Camp—Mob Meeting—"A Man Stabled"—Campbell's Horrible Fate—God Interposes in behalf of Zion's Camp—The Cholera—I Go to Kirtland—My Labors There —Return to Clay County.

CHAPTER XI.

Saints Move to Caldwell County—Persecutions Begin Anew—Captain Bogart and His Mob—The Battle—Hawn's Mill Massacre—Colonel Hinkle's Treachery—The Brethren Imprisoned.

CHAPTER XII.

I Move to Commerce—No Safety for the Saints—John C. Bennett's Wickedness—Threats of the Mob—We Start for the West—Death of the Author.


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