The following day we had a more amusing experience. One of the rabble who treated us so shamefully was the owner of the house we stopped at later that same night and asked for lodging. He was of a mind to reject us outright, but the customs of hospitality in this part of the country are strong and required otherwise of him. So he reluctantly gave us bed. The next morning, his wife had set a wonderful breakfast of bacon, eggs, and plenty of bread. Brother Miller and I had not seen such a meal in over a week and set to the task of removing it as quickly as possible from their sight.
The moment we began to eat, the man lit into us for being Mormons, swearing at us and Joe Smith and the gold Bible and every other thing he could bring to mind. His swearing did not hinder our eating, for the harder he swore, the faster we ate, until we got our stomachs full. We then arose from the table and took our hats and thanked him for the breakfast, him swearing at us the whole time we did so. The last we heard as we took our leave was him still calling after us, swearing as fast as his tongue could form the foul words. I trust the Lord will reward him for the breakfast!
But there are wonderful moments of success as well, Lydia, and my heart rejoices in the privilege of spreading the message of the Restoration throughout the earth.
One example will suffice to share with you the joy that is ours. As we came to another town, not far north of Lexington, we were told by several of the inhabitants not to attempt a meeting or any religious instruction, for the town was inhabited by a hardened and irreclaimable set of blasphemers and infidels, given to gambling, drinking, and cursing. Elder Miller was not at all discouraged by such a report. Before entering the town, we found a secluded spot and knelt in prayer. We cried mightily to the Lord that he would open our way and soften the hearts of the people.
We then entered the town and called at a hotel. We told the landlord that we had come in the name of Jesus Christ to preach the gospel, being sent by him without purse or scrip. “Well,” said he, “you are welcome to my house and such fare as we have, and we will meet together and hear your religion. If it proves to be better than ours we will embrace it.”
When I asked what religion he embraced, he smiled and replied, “Our religion is to fiddle and dance, and eat, drink, and be merry, and gamble and swear a little; and we believe this to be better than priestcraft.” A goodly crowd gathered, and we were treated with much hospitality and cordiality. Before we left the area we had baptized eight adults—men and women—and three children.
Well, my dearest Lydia, enough of this report. I long to know how things are with the family in Kirtland. I make mention of you always in my prayers. When I return I shall be much better prepared to speak with my father about the Church. I think I may also have some success with Melissa’s husband, Carl. I have learned the value of bearing testimony by the power of the Spirit. Though I seek not to boast, I think I can now sway their hearts with more success than before.
Four months ago I started with nothing but a small valise on my back and twenty-three cents in my pocket. I shall return with the same valise, now well worn, and my pockets with nothing but holes. But I rejoice that I have been called as a missionary, for you know of my longings to preach the gospel. I can now say that if other Elders have gone hungry in traveling without purse or scrip, so have I; if they have traveled with sore feet, so have I; if any have been seized and put outside in the freezing weather for preaching, so have I; if any have been obliged, because of the hard-heartedness of the people, to lie out of doors at night, so have I; if they have been mocked and ridiculed and spit upon, so have I. Like Ammon in the Book of Mormon, I feel to glory in my God for the privilege of being one of his emissaries in the latter days.
Love,
Nathan
14th of February Kaw Township, Missouri
Dear Steed family,
It still seems strange that I should write to you as my family, who I have never before met nor seen, except for Nathan. But as I said in my first letter to you, I feel close to you, like you were here. Your letter came about two weeks ago. I have read it over and over until I know it by heart. I wish I could write as good as you, Mother Steed. I am still learning and I read better than I write.
Thank you for telling me about each of the family members. It makes my heart happy and sad at the same time to think of Matthew and Rebecca and Melissa, my family that I may never see. Perhaps someday I can come to Ohio and meet all of you. That would make me very happy.
I have not heard anything from Joshua. My father finally confessed that he sent Joshua to Santa Fe with one of the wagon trains so he would not be arrested. That was foolish because I would not have made trouble for him. In a way, I understand him better than anyone and know what drove him to it. It grieves me that he has not written or anything to ask after me.
But now for the best news of all. On the 24th of January, I gave birth to a healthy and strong little baby girl. She weighed about seven pounds and has dark hair. She is a Steed and not a Roundy. She has Joshua’s long fingers, also his nose and mouth. She is a miracle and I have never known such joy in all my life. Grandpa Roundy is as proud as if he had given birth himself. The labor was long but not hard and there were no problems. I am feeling fine again now and back to helping the Lewises. That is the family that I live with.
When Nathan returns home, tell him for me what has happened. Also tell him that I thank God every night and morning for his coming to Missouri. He came to find Joshua and failed. But if he had not come, I would not have little Rachel now. (I shall name her Rachel after my mother who died when I was eight years old.) Now each day as I look at my little miracle, tears come to my eyes, something that has not happened to me very much in my life, only now they are always tears of joy.
In my first letter I had so many questions for you, I said little about how the work of the Church is going here. I should like to say more of that now, though I know that Brother Cowdery and Brother Pratt and others of the brethren have written of these matters.
It has not been an easy winter. As you know, by the time the group from Colesville and the others arrived, it was too late to put in crops for that season. We did spend much time cutting hay for the cattle and storing it for winter. The men worked hard to build cabins, but even with all their industry, they were not able to provide shelter for all. About ten families had to share an open, unfinished log room, without windows, and nothing but the frozen ground for a floor. Our food has consisted mainly of beef and a little bread, made of coarse cornmeal, made by rubbing the ears of corn over a tin grater.
Brother Parley was one of those who shared the open cabin and has been ill much of the winter. Yet his humor never lessens. When I asked him one day how they did it, ten families in one room, cold, no furniture, and him ill, he merely replied that it was an inconvenient way for a sick person to live.
But we have also enjoyed many happy seasons in our prayers and other meetings, and the Spirit of the Lord has been poured out upon us many times. Even some of the children—those eight, ten, or twelve years of age—have spoken and prayed and prophesied in our meetings or in our family worship. Yes, it has been hard, but there has been a spirit of peace and union, and love and goodwill manifested in our little Church in the wilderness. My faith feels like a seed that is growing so fast inside me that I cannot contain it.
Well, I must close. Please write again soon. You and the Saints here have now become my family. If we cannot see each other, at least we can get to know each other better through our letters.
With much affection,
Jessica Steed
3 March 1832 Jackson County, Missouri
Dear Joshua,
I have high hopes that this letter will eventually reach you. I hope you check the post from time to time in Santa Fe, if you are still there. As you know, I do not read nor write very well, so I am asking Judge Lucas to help write this for me. It is urgent that you get this and return to us as soon as possible. Yes, that is right. I am asking that you return at once. There are two reasons for this.
Wilson Everett, the gambler, left town before the turn of the year and has not returned. I trust he has gone to where there are richer pickings. He never learned anything about our device, and I shall say no more of that matter, if you get my meaning. The constable has dropped all charges and there is no more writ out for your arrest. Jessica does not want to make trouble and refuses to ask for vengeance. So you are not facing trouble if you return.
Mr. Cornwell, your foreman, has done a most praiseworthy job with the freight company. We had to sell much of the stock and all but four of the wagons to pay off your debts, but they did not take everything as we feared, and he has kept what you have left busy and profitable. I hear that you have used the wagons and teams that had already gone to Santa Fe to good service and are prospering there as well. That is good, but this is the place for you. New settlers continue to arrive almost daily, and the need for goods brought in from the East is great. Mr. Cornwell must be commended, but to be honest, he has not your sense of business nor your ability to organize. We need you. All is not lost as we first thought.
The second reason you must come back has to do with Jessica. As I said, she is not after revenge and will not press charges further. She lives out in Kaw Township with the accursed Mormons, and I regret to tell you that she has become one of them. Your brother Nathan came out last July seeking you. He arrived a short time after your flight. I understand that it was he who baptized her. I see her from time to time but she is not cordial, especially when I try to tell her that she has made a great mistake.
But here is the news that will be pleasing to you. As you know, Jessie was with child when you left. Always before, she could not carry a baby full term. But according to her, your brother gave her some kind of prayer and the laying on of hands. I don’t believe any of that, but she does, and that seems to have been enough to change things. That’s right! What I am trying to say to you is that Jessica carried the baby the full time and did not lose it. She gave birth to a baby girl about five weeks ago now. You are a papa! She has named the child Rachel, for my deceased wife.
For those two reasons, please return to us. All is well here.
Clinton Roundy March 16th, Kirtland, Ohio
Dear Mother,
I have little hope that you will acknowledge the receipt of this letter, or respond. I have written you and Papa many times in this last year, but you have never answered. I know I have hurt you deeply, but I still find it hard to understand why you cannot even write a short note to let me know if all is right with you and Papa.
It would be so good to hear from you, even a line or two. These last five months since Nathan has been gone have been very difficult ones for me. I told you in my last epistle that I am with child again. I am now in my sixth month, and this time it has been more difficult for me. I am often sick and find it hard to care for young Joshua. Fortunately, Mother and Father Steed are wonderful with him and do much to lift the burden. I believe I told you in my last post that when Nathan left I moved into town to live with his family. I am glad, for that breaks the loneliness somewhat, though Melissa has married now and I miss her companionship.
It seems like an eternity since Nathan left me. More and more at night now I cannot sleep. I get so lonely and often break into tears. I know the Lord needs him and that I shouldn’t resent his absence, but I need him too! Little Joshua needs him! He is growing up without his father.
I need you too, Mama, and Papa. I know you can never condone my joining the Church, but it still hurts terribly to think that you will never even speak to me again. Sometimes, when I think of that day when Nathan and I were married and Papa was so cruel, it hurts inside so badly that I wish I could die.
I’m sorry. I did not start out to make this letter sound so discouraging. It’s just that I can’t talk to Mother Steed about this. Not now. She believes that Nathan has to answer God’s call, even though it makes it difficult for his family.
Please write, Mama. Please!
All my love,
Your only daughter, Lydia
30th March, 1832, Hiram, Ohio
My dear Nathan,
When I was up last week visiting in Kirtland, your dear wife, Lydia, shared with me your recent letter from Lexington. How thrilling it was to hear your report of the missionary work! May the Spirit continue to accompany your labors and bring you the fruits of a bounteous harvest. I hope this letter reaches you before your departure to return to us. I look forward to sitting down with you and hearing of your labors firsthand. I will be leaving for Missouri the day after tomorrow, but should return to Kirtland not long after you get back, if not before.
I can report that all is well with your family. Lydia is now in the sixth month of her pregnancy and seems fine. She does get discouraged from time to time, but your return will do much to help that, I’m sure. She and Emma have become quite close. Emma seems to be able to cheer her up. Melissa and her new husband are very happy. Though he seems to have no inclination toward spiritual things, he is a man of integrity and gentleness. Perhaps in time he will change.
And speaking of change, your father continues to amaze us all. No, he hasn’t consented to baptism, but he is now one of us in most other ways. He attends worship services regularly, and has been a great help to Bishop Newel K. Whitney in organizing the bishops’ storehouse for the poor, as has Lydia. Her experience in her father’s store has been most helpful.
Things here in Hiram have been both wonderful and terrible. Let me share some of the better news first, knowing that you have had no communication from us since your departure. Since we moved here to live with Brother John and Sister Elsa Johnson in Hiram, the work on the translation of the Bible has moved forward in good speed. We have also been busy compiling the revelations for publication, which now number over sixty. Last fall I instructed Brother W. W. Phelps to stop in Cincinnati on his way to Zion and purchase a printing press, which he did. In November last we held a conference for the purpose of making final plans for the publication of the revelations. The Lord was gracious and gave a revelation that is to serve as the preface to the book, which we shall call “The Book of Commandments,” a phrase taken from the preface aforementioned.