1891-02-The Contributor-Reminiscences of William C. Staines

REMINISCENCES OF WILLIAM C. STAINES.

The Contributor, v12 n4, February 1891

AMONG the journals and papers of Elder Staines, which we have been permitted to examine in the preparation of the Church emigration articles, we found several interesting papers partly prepared for publication. These, with scarcely any editorial modification, will be given to our readers under the above heading and they will doubtless be perused with eager interest.—EDITOR.

I.

I was born on the 26th of September, 1818, at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, England. Soon after my parents moved to Beddenham, near Bedford, about forty miles from London. Here I went to school, but did not learn or study as I should, until my parents became discouraged about my ever being a good scholar in consequence of my indifference to learn. At the age of thirteen years, I fell upon the ice while playing, and injured my spine, which caused my deformity and from which I suffered more or less pain for twenty years. My father regretted very much that I had no desire to learn and improve my mind. But weak as I was, I would rather work with our men in the garden than go to school any day. He told me I would be sorry for it, and I can truly say that I have been sorry ever since; for, had I taken his advice I might have been an educated man.

On the 26th of September, 1841, I first heard of Mormonism by hearing George J. Adams preach. I was convinced it was the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I heard several of the Saints speak in tongues and prophesy. Soon after this I joined the Church, and when confirmed was promised the gifts and blessings of tongues, interpretation, healing and prophecy. These I asked for, thinking I could not be a Latter-day Saint without these gifts. I continued to pray without receiving them, when I concluded I would fast as well as pray. I commenced that evening and continued two days and three nights. The third morning while I was pruning raspberry canes and alone in the garden, I commenced to experience a very happy feeling, and the spirit of prophecy rested upon me. I prophesied about the Church in that place, and also of the troubles that the Saints in Zion would encounter by mobs and so forth. No sooner had this spirit left me than I was visited by a very different one, informing me that I had been deceived and had not joined the true church; saying, if I had I should not have been led to speak and prophesy to a lot of raspberry canes, but should have waited until I had met with the Saints, that all might be edified. The spirit darkened my mind considerably for a time, when I concluded I would go into my tool house and pray. I did so, asking the Lord to rebuke this spirit, which he did. I nevertheless felt troubled more or less about the doubts which continued to be in my mind.

A few days after, I was invited to take tea at a friend's house. Apostle Lorenzo Snow was invited, and while there and alone with Brother Snow, I asked him whether a person belonging to the Church could have the spirit of prophecy, in the centre of a forty-acre field, where no one could hear him." He informed me that John had it while on the Isle of Patmos. He then asked me why I asked this question. I told him what had occurred. He said as a proof of its being from the Lord, some time when in meeting the same spirit would come upon me, and I would repeat the very words I had spoken when in the garden. This I did two Sundays after. This strengthened my faith so much that I have never doubted the truth of the Latter-day work since.

Just before leaving England I visited some friends in Sheffield, and met with Brother R. Rushton, who was on a mission from Nauvoo. He had been asked to visit a brother in the Church who was possessed of a devil. This was the first case of the kind I had heard of being in the Church, and I felt quite anxious to see the party so afflicted. While reflecting about it, Brother Rushton asked me to accompany him, which I cheerfully did, and what transpired I never shall forget. When we entered the room where he was sitting, he looked around and saw Brother Rushton whom he had met before, and with a coarse voice said: "So you have come again in the name of Jesus have you? Well you may come if you have a mind to. I know you came from Nauvoo where you are building a temple to get your endowments and more power. Well, get your power; and the more power you get the more power we'll get." Just as soon as he was through speaking Brother Rushton laid hands on him and rebuked the evil spirits that had possession of him, when the brother called out in a loud voice: "How did you know there was more than one?" Brother Rushton remarked calmly: "You said we." The brother then said, "We will go but we will come again." Two days after they did come again, and his wife sent for the President of the branch who was a very good quiet man. A young traveling Elder who had a good deal of confidence in himself, was in at the time the message came and asked the President to let him accompany him and administer to the brother, who at this time was breaking things in his house. When they reached the house they found him very much excited. He quieted a little when they entered, but soon became boisterous again, and they laid hands upon him, this young man being mouth. No sooner had he rebuked the spirits, commanding them to depart, than he became quiet and wished to lay down. But soon after, and when he appeared asleep, the young Elder said to the parties present, "There, I believed, I could quiet him." He at this time was sitting upon the side of the bed where the afflicted man was lying. The brother no sooner heard this remark than he raised himself up quietly and as soon as he got up, struck this young man such a blow that he was knocked to the other side of the room. This convinced me that the brother had better give the Lord the credit for such manifestations.

I will mention another case of laying on of hands which I think will be interesting to my young brethren. I had often asked the question in my mind why it was that Elders were to be called to lay hands on the sick. Why would not one answer? While in St. Louis I called upon an acquaintance, who was in the Church, and found him quaking with the ague, which he had had for three weeks. He requested me to administer to him, which I did, rebuking the disease in the name of the Lord. I afterwards sat down and asked him how he felt. He informed me that he was healed, that the chill had left him. He had no sooner said this than I commenced to quake with a chill. I told him I had got his complaint and wished him to lay hands on me. He refused saying he had had it for three weeks. This convinced me of the necessity of having two or more to perform the ceremony.

I arrived in Nauvoo, April 12th, 1843. The next day the Prophet Joseph preached to us and blessed us. I had seen him in a vision while crossing the sea; and when I saw him that day he had on the same hat and coat that I saw him in when at sea. I heard him preach a number of times, and saw him in and around the city, giving counsel, and I always believed in him from my first seeing him until his death; that he was the leader of this dispensation and God Almighty's Prophet. I worked in the Temple while it was being plastered, having charge of the fires; received my endowments in January, 1846, and left Nauvoo on the fifth of February, 1846, with the first company that crossed the river, driving a team in Charles Shumway's company.

I was six months with the Ponca Indians in the winter of 1846, and eighteen weeks without bread or vegetables of any kind. During this time I suffered with the scurvy, having all my right side covered with boils from the size of a pea to a hazel nut, and so close that they touched each other. While these were gathering I suffered much pain, and when they had broken and the scabs got hard, I suffered with the most terrible itching, and when sufficiently healed I would go into some ravine on a sunny day, strip off my clothes, and with a flat stick scrape off the scabs, at times in sufficient quantities to fill a quart measure or more. This to me was a great pleasure, and I often thought that if Job felt as well as I did while performing a like operation, there was no need of sympathy, he having the advantage over me in having a potsherd, which was much better for the pupose than my stick. My stay with these Indians was a very interesting and instructive one, for it taught me many lessons. I found the Lord was there to hear my prayers, and notwithstanding my afflictions, I had sufficient strength to my day.

I reached this Salt Lake Valley September 15th, 1847, and was appointed to take charge of the endowment rooms in the Council House in January, 1851. I commenced giving endowments February 28th, 1851, and continued in charge until I was called to go on a mission to England in December, 1860, where I stayed until 1863.

While upon this mission I received a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I was speaking to a large congregation, bearing my testimony to the truth of the Gospel, when I lifted up the Book of Mormon saying: "I know that this book I hold in my hand—the Book of Mormon—was translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith, and will go to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, as a testimony of the truth of the Gospel." This was the first testimony I had ever had of its truth.

On the Tuesday morning following, about six o'clock, while I was reading the third chapter of the Second Book of Nephi, I felt a remarkably happy feeling come over me, such as no one can explain but those who experience it. Immediately the following was given to me: "Thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant. I was well pleased with your testimony concerning the book you now hold in your hand called the Book of Mormon, for it was given unto you by the gift of faith. Now will I give it unto you by the power of my Spirit. Thus saith the Lord unto you my servant: That book you hold in your hand called the Book of Mormon was translated from plates by the power of my Spirit through Joseph Smith, and shall be a testimony to every nation, kingdom, tongue and people upon the earth, and cursed be those who obey not the same; thus says your Lord and your Redeemer! Amen."

While these words were passing through my mind I fancied I saw the plates, and as soon as I said amen, (for I was speaking these words aloud) everything passed from my mind as though I had never spoken, but this heavenly feeling continued. I should think I remained in this state about a minute, when I commenced to speak again saying the same words as before. This I never forgot. I had often wondered how it could be possible for the Prophet Joseph to need the visitation of an angel three times telling him the same thing every time. I had thought that if an angel was to visit me and tell me as much once, I never would forget it. Here I was convinced of my error.

II.

I HEARD the first sermon on Mormonism preached by Geo. J. Adams, in September 1841. I was convinced that it was true, and was baptized in November following. I left England on the sailing ship Swanton, with a company of Saints in charge of Brother Lorenzo Snow. At this date there were no steamships crossing the ocean, prepared, as they are now, to carry emigrant passengers, with every facility for cooking and serving meals. At the time I crossed, our cooking was all done upon deck, upon two large iron grates, with iron bars in front to hang our pots and saucepans upon, each having a hook attached for that purpose.

[Several pages of Elder Staines' manuscript have been lost, and we are prevented from giving to our readers an interesting account of his voyage across the sea. Upon the lost pages he also wrote his impressions regarding American slavery; how, from his earliest recollection, he had heard exaggerated accounts of its cruelties, causing him to make sacrifices in helping to enlarge the fund being raised for emancipation. He thus continues, giving his personal observations of slavery, which we print in his own language.—ED.]

I also had been informed that all slaves worked in chains upon rice and sugar plantations. I felt so bad about it that I quit eating or using sugar when I was nine years old, for which my mother gave me twenty cents every week, which I put in a fund that was being raised in England to emancipate the slaves. Here, to my surprise, I found them driving fine mule teams, being trusted with cart loads of valuable merchandise, taking the same to all parts of the city and country, apparently equal to the white man (except in their being slaves and owned by some one). I found the same class of men working as porters in the stores. While getting some groceries in a large store, a gentleman came in for some bottled wine, and a negro was sent to the wareroom for it. That same day our company left on the large steamboat Amaranth and to my surprise I found four negroes and three white men employed as firemen. I soon learned that the colored men were slaves. I asked my informant where their master was, and he said he resided about fifty miles from New Orleans. I watched for an opportunity to speak with these colored men and the next morning, while they were at breakfast, I ventured to do so. Seeing some fishing tackle lying on deck near them, I commenced by asking what kind of fish they caught. Catfish, I was told. I had never heard of such a fish, and at first thought he was fooling me, but he soon enlightened me on this point by telling me what kind of a fish this catfish was, as well as many other kinds that were in the river. While conversing about fish and fishing I was looking at the food they were eating, as regards its quantity and quality, compared with that the white men were eating on the other side of the boat from them, and found it to consist of good wheat and corn bread, beef steak, ham and eggs, potatoes with plenty of coffee and sugar, and from what I could see as good as that being eaten by the white men. I must confess this surprized me, and I regretted, for the first time, that I had quit eating sugar to save the money to free the negro from slavery, he having all the sugar he needed, and a better breakfast than any farm laborer in England could afford to eat. They informed me that they all belonged to one master who lived about fifty miles from New Orleans and he allowed them to work out, and gave them two-thirds of all they earned, which was twenty dollars, leaving eight dollars for themselves. They said they had a good master and did not want to leave him. This eight dollars per month with board was better wages than a man working on a farm in England could get at this time.

I soon learned that what I had been told about slaves must have been exaggerated, or if true had probably occurred to a few disobedient ones on the plantations where the sugar cane and cotton were raised; and those I became acquainted with were the other extreme, or at least better off than many of their fellows. I nevertheless was pleased to find a brighter side of the picture I had formed in my own mind from what I had been told about slavery when a boy.

I have said more here than I should have done—had not slavery been abolished in this country—that my young readers may know a little of what I saw and felt on this subject. I was as much deceived about the country as I was about the negroes and slavery. I found it much larger, and the rivers much longer and wider than I ever dreamed of; and although our company was very much crowded for room on the boat, we had a very delightful trip. We found fruits, vegetables and eatables of all kinds in plenty and cheap: chickens, ten cents; eggs, ten cents per dozen; ham, ten cents per pound; sugar, nineteen pounds for one dollar; coffee, eleven pounds for one dollar. The weather was fine, with a full moon, and we enjoyed ourselves in the daytime viewing the beautiful scenery as we passed along; and in the evening we would sing the songs of Zion, which was pleasing to us and interesting to the Gentile passengers—a number of whom were in the cabin, while we were on the upper and lower decks of the boat.

At about 3 p. m. on the twelfth of April, we came in sight of the long looked-for city of Nauvoo, the home of the Prophet and the Saints, and soon to be ours. We traveled several miles in sight of the city before we reached the place for landing; and we could see very plainly the people running in our direction to meet us and give us a hearty welcome. I shall not attempt to describe our feelings to my readers for I should fail in such an attempt. Some cried with joy, others laughed and shouted while many prayed, thanking the Lord for his preserving care over us, and allowing us the privilege of reaching Zion in safety. At the time of landing several hundred had arrived at the pier, anxiously awaiting to shake their friends by the hands. Parents met their children, and friends met again their friends after years of absence. I, being alone, envied, for a moment, those who had relatives, but the thought soon passed away; for I, too, was a Latter-day Saint, and knew that as long as I remained one I would have all the friends I would need, and that the Lord would provide them for all who put their trust in Him.

In two hours all had landed, and those having friends had left with them, while others rented rooms or houses where they were made comfortable. That same evening Brother Parley P. Pratt's company arrived. This company left England in the fall before us, and was compelled to remain in St. Louis on account of the Mississippi being frozen, on their arrival. We were all requested to meet on the Temple Block the next morning at ten o'clock, when the Prophet, Joseph Smith, would address us.

I got an early breakfast and left my lodgings for a walk through the city, and this was one of the happiest moments of my life. It was a beautiful spring morning. The grass was green, the trees were just in leaf, the cow herds were being driven from the city to the pastures, their bells tinkling as they trotted along, which was music to my ears, for everything to me looked and felt its best; even the dogs that passed me, when spoken to, seemed to give an extra wag of the tail to welcome me to this city.

I had only been a member of the Church a little over two years, but I had confidence in my leaders and my religion, for all I had been told by them had proven to be true. I had been informed by the first Elder I ever heard (Geo. J. Adams) that if I obeyed the Gospel and was faithful, I should have testimonies of the truth of what he preached. I obeyed, and soon had the testimony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and that the Gospel revealed by him was of God. These things caused me to leave my native land and gather to the city I was then in. I knew I was right in doing so, and for this I felt happy.

At ten o'clock the two companies of fresh arrivals, with a number of citizens, assembled in the Temple, the walls of which were about twenty feet high. I well recollect the blessing of the Prophet. After stating that he had been anticipating the pleasure of seeing us for a long time, and was thankful the Lord had answered his prayers in bringing us so far in safety, he said: "Blessed are they who have seen me and obeyed the Gospel; but more blessed are you who believed and obeyed without seeing me, and I bless you all in the name of Israel's God, and say you shall be blessed in your labors, and enjoy in due time all the blessings of the faithful; not only in the salvation of yourselves, but also your dead." These few words may be read now with but little feeling, but it was with very different feelings we received them; for we all knew that the one who spoke was a Prophet of God, and had power to bless, being clothed upon with the Holy Priesthood. Knowing this, and hearing the above spoken by such a man, we felt it, and knew we were blessed by the Lord as well as by His prophet. He gave us a great deal of good advice concerning our future in settling and making ourselves comfortable in our new homes.

I soon became acquainted with a number of the Saints who had been in the Church for many years, some of whom had been driven from their homes several times, and were still wearing a black ribbon or a piece of crape as a badge of mourning for some dear one they had lost when being driven by mobs, or by traveling the wilderness in midwinter, when too poorly fed and clothed. While listening to these fearful tales, tears would freely flow down the cheeks of both speaker and hearer; for even at this date, which was over six years after these troubles had occurred, one or more in many families were suffering from the effects of leaving their homes in winter, to bed and board on the prairies. I could not help but admire these people for their integrity, and the faith they had in the cause they had espoused; for, notwithstanding the troubles and losses they had passed through, they continued strong in their faith, and were confident that the Lord would sustain His people and build up the kingdom upon the earth. I looked at them and thought: "What a lesson is here for me to learn! Have I so lived and learned the Gospel that I would pass through as much sorrow, suffer the losses, and be, after it all, so humble and faithful as they?" To me this was an imporant question and one I could not answer, only by being convinced or assured that if I could not, I would never be a good Saint. I left them with these reflections, and turned into a small grove near the Temple, where I knelt down and prayed to the Lord that he would so strengthen my faith that I might be prepared for all things that might await me: "Come life or death, come poverty or riches, come evil or good report, come bonds or imprisonment, come all or part of these, O Lord give me faith and Thy Holy Spirit sufficient, that I may continue to serve Thee and assist in building up Thy kingdom." I have not forgotten the spirit I enjoyed while offering up this prayer, and I felt that the Lord had heard my prayer and would answer it.

III.

FROM this time up to the fall, everything appeared to prosper with the people. The fields were filled with growing crops of wheat and corn. A large number of good houses were being built. The Temple had over one hundred men employed upon it—all of which gave an abundance of work for those who needed it. The Prophet Joseph would preach to us, as well as the Apostles, who, being filled with the spirit of their calling, inspired our hearts, and filled us full of gladness.

Rumors were continually in circulation, that writs were out for the arrest of some of our leaders; and occasionally a posse of mounted men would come to the city professing to have authority to arrest some one, but generally went away without them. Our city was builing up so fast, and the people so prospered in their labors, that our enemies became jealous of us. Large farms were being cultivated for miles east of the city, by the Saints who had but recently left their native soil to gather with the people of God.

In the spring our enemies published all manner of false reports about the Prophet Joseph, concerning the power and influence he had over the Saints. A number of missionaries were called to go to every State in the Union; most of the Twelve were appointed to go to the States and to England, to preach the Gospel, gather the Saints, and remove prejudice as much as possible.

At this time a great many of the people were sick with fever and ague; money was scarce; the farmers had an abundance of corn, but this was worth but ten cents a bushel in store pay. I remember Brother Benbow, who lived a few miles out of the city, telling me that he put fifty bushels of corn into his wagon, hitched on three yoke of oxen, took it to town and sold it for a pair of boots valued at five dollars. I worked myself for fifty cents a day and was glad to get it in store pay. I often have thought of the first offer I had to work after my arrival. As I was going along one afternoon, passing a new house that was just having the chimneys finished, one of the masons asked me to help mix mortar for him, for which he would pay me potatoes. I felt a little indignant at the offer, made some excuse, and passed on. I soon after wanted potatoes, and found them difficult to get with my kind of pay—work. This learned me my first lesson on labor and wages, and I never after refused anything I could use for my work; at times I worked for my board and lodging, and was glad to get it rather than be idle, and would do the same to-day were I in need; but I have seen many of our young men refuse work in these valleys unless they could get high wages and cash for their labor, and remain idle for months in consequence. I hope my young readers will remember my first experience in this regard and never refuse a job of work when unemployed, on account of the small amount offered. If it is the best you can do, take it and you will find by so doing you will be far better off than those who refuse such offers, for such are too often seen at the corners of our streets, idling away their time.

On the twenty-seventh of June, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered in Carthage Jail and President John Taylor received four bullets in his body, but afterwards recovered. I doubt much whether these brethren ever would have gone to jail had the governor of the state not promised them protection, for the Saints all knew that they would be killed if not protected, as our enemies had been heard to say that "Joe Smith" would be killed in less than a year, and I heard the Prophet Joseph say myself that they, the mobs, were anxious to spill his blood. The governor failed to protect them, and a mob of masked men accomplished the bloody deed. The news soon spread through the town and county. I was in St. Louis at the time the news arrived and well recollect my feelings. I could not speak to the party who informed me, for nearly a minute. I learned immediately that it was reported that Carthage, Nauvoo and Quincy, and the country around were in danger of being destroyed with all the inhabitants by the Mormons who already were making preparations to start the work of revenge. This was false! A company of volunteers were raised the next day and left for Quincy. While this was being done the Saints in Nauvoo were mourning over their martyred prophet and patriarch, who by this time had reached the city of Nauvoo. It was a terrible loss to the relatives and Latter-day Saints; and none can imagine the sorrow and grief of the people but those who witnessed the scenes when their bodies were brought to the city for burial. It was not the mourning of a family only, or of a few friends following a dear relative to the grave.

I have seen England mourning for two of her kings, and for the husband (Prince Albert), of the present Queen Victoria, in London, when every shop was closed; when every church bell tolled; when every man who drove a coach, cab, or conveyance of any kind had a piece of crape tied to the handle of his whip. Accompanied by Bro. Amasa Lyman, I rode for miles through the city of London while the burial servics were being performed at Windsor Castle. It was indeed a solemn sight. I have seen this nation mourn for its chief magistrate Lincoln, but the scene in Nauvoo at the time mentioned, was far more affecting than these. The grief and sorrow of the Latter-day Saints were heartfelt. It was the mourning of a whole community, of many thousands—all of whom revered these martyred brethren as their fathers and benefactors; and the sight of their bleeding bodies—for their blood had not ceased to flow as they lay in their coffins—was a sight never to be forgotten. The mourning I witnessed for kings, and our nation's chieftian was only here and there manifested by tears; but for the two who suffered for their religion and their friends, the whole people wept in going to and from the scene; all, all were weeping.