Historical Sketch of James HENDRICKS and Drusilla DORRIS
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Martyrdom of Joseph Smith

"Interior of Carthage Jail" by C.C.A. Christensen. © Copyright by the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University. Used by permission for educational, personal use.

In the year that the Prophets Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed, I was forced again to turn to something else as our family needed everything and had nothing. In the Spring before the Prophets were killed, I took a notion to go to St. Louis. I asked some of the brethren what they thought about it and they said they thought I had better stay at home. My family was then living on a half bushel of meal a week and nothing else with it and we had lived that way for eight weeks. We were destitute of clothing, so I went to Mother Whitney for I knew she had had her endowments and told her what I was thinking of doing and asked her her advice. She told me to go and then blessed me. I went home and began to fix to go but I had no money to take me there. On Sunday the boat come up the river and was to go down on Tuesday and I was to be ready. I prayed to the Lord and asked him if it was right that I should go that He would open the way for me to get the money necessary to take me there. On Monday morning a Lawyer who had been owing me for board for eighteen months, (who I thought had left the country) came in and paid me the money, then I had money to pay my way. I took my second daughter with me and we were gone eight weeks and I secured clothing until we were pretty comfortable besides sending home tea, sugar and other comforts.

"Exterior of Carthage Jail" by C.C.A. Christensen. © Copyright by the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University. Used by permission.

The Prophets were killed on Thursday, June 27, 1844. I could well bear witness to the feelings of the brethren, who were on missions at that time for my feelings were such that I prayed the Lord to take them from me for it was more than I could stand, then the load was made lighter, according to my prayer, so that I could attend to my business.

Sister Booth and I came home together, we started Friday, June 28. We did not know that the Prophets were killed only by our feelings until we got out about six miles and met another boat. They hailed each other and then we were told who was killed, saying they had the hour and minute that he was killed. Then from the Captain to the last hand on deck came running to us with the news to see how we felt. We could not have felt worse. When we reached home everything was in mourning.

It was not long before Sidney Rigdon called a meeting in order to present his claims to the Presidency of the Church. Some of the Twelve had returned from their missions and the day the meeting was held and while it was in session, Brigham Young (President of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles) and others, slipped up to the stand and said nothing until Sidney Rigdon was through, he was standing near the center of the audience in a wagon. As the meeting was in the Boury. Then Pres. Brigham Young began to speak. I jumped up to look and see if it was not Brother Joseph for surely it was his voice and gestures. Every Latter-day Saint could easily see upon whom the priesthood descended for Brigham Young held the keys. Sidney Rigdon led off a few, but where are they now. They have dwindled away in unbelief and have come to naught.

Historical Sketch of James HENDRICKS and Drusilla DORRIS
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Sunday, 08-Aug-2004 19:32:49 MDT