Preface
In presenting this work to the public, I not only fulfill the desires of my own heart and those of my kindred who have undertaken to publish what is here written and compiled, but likewise, I am persuaded, the wish of our departed ancestor. Laying the foundation for such a work while living (as the copious selections from his own writings will testify), he left its bringing forth as a sacred legacy to his posterity.
For many years this duty, unenjoined in words, but accepted by all in the light of a behest, was permitted to lie dormant. The death of President Kimball, on the 22nd of June, 1868, was a calamity so sudden and heavy in its effect upon his family, as to almost paralyze thought and effort. Though trained to independence and self-reliance, under his wise government, and never pampered in ease and luxury, they had ever looked to him for guidance and support, and had never known the weight of responsibility resting upon him as their parent and provider, only as from time to time he had taken certain ones into his confidence and permitted them to share his burdens.
In his absence they were as sheep that had lost their shepherd. “Who will provide for us now, and what shall we do to earn a livelihood?” Such were the thoughts presented to their minds, and the questions asked of their secret souls, as they looked around upon their temporal situation. The division of the parental estate had left them comfortable, though far from rich, None of his sons had trades, but all had been brought up to work. Realizing that a city life was no longer their lot, they resolved to separate, and, following the example of their ancestors for generations, go forth and colonize new regions. Some moved north, and others south, but few remaining in the city of their birth, and at the expiration of fifteen years, many had become almost as strangers to each other.
About the year 1883 a spirit of inquiry commenced to manifest itself among the members of the Kimball family, causing them to “feel after” and evince more interest in each other’s welfare. This sentiment increasing, some of the elder members at length opened a correspondence on the subject of a family reunion. By many this was deemed impracticable, owing to their scattered condition; some living in Idaho, some in southern Arizona, and others in California; and nearly all in circumstances which, it was thought, would hardly justify the necessary outlay. But the desire to meet and mingle with each other finally grew so urgent and so general among them—as though some unseen power were at work in their midst, with this object in view—that it was determined to hold the reunion, no matter what sacrifice it entailed.
During the summer of 1886, a number of the family met and appointed a Committee on Reunion, selecting for the day, June 14th, 1887, (the eighty-sixth anniversary of their father’s birth) and as the place of meeting, Fuller’s Hill Gardens, Salt Lake City. There came together on that memorable occasion, fully three hundred members and relatives of the Kimball family, with others who had been invited to take part in the celebration. A programme, previously arranged, consisting of speeches, recitations, readings, vocal and instrumental music, etc., was carried out to the satisfaction and enjoyment of all, and the remainder of the time spent in amusement, festivity and recreation. A spirit of peace and union, powerful and indescribable, pervaded the assembly and permeated the whole occasion, causing every heart to swell with love, and many an eye to glisten with tears of gratitude and joy. As though, indeed, the spirits of the departed were there, bringing with them the sweet influences of the celestial world, to weld anew, as links of a broken chain, the souls of those so long separated. It was, in truth, a day never to be forgotten.
There were present, of the family of President Kimball, nineteen sons, six daughters, and several of his widows, besides grand-children, and many other relatives, near and remote.
One of the features of the programme was a sketch of the life of Heber C. Kimball, written for the occasion and read by his grandson, the author of this work. This incident determined and united the family on a project mooted by its members and partly executed several years before. It was the publication of the life of Heber C. Kimball. On the evening of the day of reunion the male members of the family met and appointed a committee of five on publication. Several thousand dollars of undivided property, still in the estate, was devoted to the purpose, and the author hereof solicited, and by unanimous voice chosen and engaged to write the history.
Such, in brief, were the immediate causes of the coming forth of this volume.
In the execution of my task, I have felt strongly moved upon by the spirit of my grandsire, and verily believe that his presence, though unseen, has hovered near me.
This book is written from the standpoint of a Latter-day Saint. It makes no apology for the honest expression of views, which, however false or fanatical they may seem to others, are in the opinion of the author only such as ought to be entertained by every sincere believer and defender of the faith. It is issued with the humble and earnest hope that it may go forth as a messenger of Truth to help prepare the way for greater things that shall glorify God and redeem Zion. The life of a man like Heber C. Kimball, with its lessons of faith and humility, of virtue, courage and devotion, cannot fail, if prayerfully read, to do something in this direction.
Wherever possible, I have allowed the subject to speak for himself. In lieu of converting facts found of record in his Journal into “original matter,” I have presented them mostly in all their freshness and simplicity; as flowers of the field, with the dew and fragrance of their native meadow yet clinging to them. This has been done, not only out of deference to the wishes of his relatives, who desired that much of what their father had written should be incorporated in the book of his life, but because I have deemed it best to thus project upon the reader’s mental vision, by means of the most superior process, the portrait of the man and his mission as painted by himself.
I cannot close this introductory without expressing my deep sense of indebtedness to the kind friends who have aided and encouraged me in the bringing forth of this, my first book. Their name is legion, but limited space will only permit the mention of a few. To President Wilford Woodruff and others of the Apostles I am indebted for kind words and encouragement, and for the appointment of a committee, at my request, to read the manuscript and pass upon it critically, as to doctrinal and historical points, before placing it in the hands of the printer; to Elder George Reynolds, for his intelligent advice and labors as one of said committee; and to Edward W. Tullidge Esq., the veteran author, for a collection of facts relating to my subject, gathered during his extensive experience as historian and biographer. Last, but not least, in this limited reference, I am under obligations of gratitude to my uncle, Solomon F. Kimball, the chief promoter of this work, who first approached me on the subject of writing his father’s life, and who, in all the toils incident to such an undertaking, has proved my staunch and faithful friend.
My labor, I need hardly say, in conclusion, has been one of love and duty. I have fulfilled, imperfectly I know, conscientiously I am as certain, what I considered a sacred trust; the result of which I now lay at the feet of an indulgent public.
ORSON F. WHITNEY.
NOVEMBER, 1888.
Chapter I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
A Pre-existent Glimpse—God’s Noble and Great Ones—Heber C. Kimball
a Predestined Prophet—Opening of the Last Dispensation—Heber’s
Birth and Parentage—Early Incidents of His Life—Clouds and
Sunshine
A Romantic Episode—Heber’s Marriage with Vilate Murray—A Soldier and a Free Mason—His Stern Arraignment of the Ancient Order—Death of Heber’s Father and Mother Heber’s Poetic Nature—A Rough Diamond—Early Religious
Experience—Joins the Baptist Church—“Signs in the Heavens
Above”—Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young—The Everlasting Gospel
Heber Embraces Mormonism—A Baptism of Fire—Death of Miriam
Young—Vilate Kimball a Mother to the Orphans—Heber Ordained an
Elder—Resolves to Visit Kirtland
The Land of Shinehah—Arrival of Heber and Brigham in
Kirtland—Their First Meeting with the Prophet—The Kimballs and
Youngs Remove to Ohio—Vexatious Suits and Mob Violence—Fallen on
Perilous Times
The Gathering of the Titans—Heber’s Testimony of Joseph and the
Twelve—Their Mighty Mission—The Test of Faith—Zion’s Camp
The Redemption of Zion—Enoch’s City to Return—Object of The United
Order—Cause of the Jackson County Expulsion—The Wheat from the
Chaff
The Zion’s Camp Expedition—Joseph as a Prophet General—Finding of
the Bones of Zelph, the Ancient—Rebellion in the Camp—Joseph
Predicts a Scourge—Heber’s Failure as a Launderer—Zion’s Camp
Saved by a Storm
The Fishing River Revelation—Why Zion was not Redeemed—The Cholera in Camp—The Test of Faith Complete—The Shadow of a Coming Event Building the Temple—Joseph and Heber Working in the Quarry—The
Theological School—A Lesson on Faith—Call of the Twelve—Heber C.
Kimball Ordained an Apostle
First Mission of the Twelve—Heber Revisits the Scenes of his
Childhood—Mobbing an Abolitionist—“The Accuser of the
Brethren”—Days of Repentance and Reformation
Heber’s Description of the Temple—Its Dedication—Angels
Administer—The “Beloved Disciple” John Seen—The Solemn
Assembly—The Elders Endowed with Power from on High—Heber’s Lone
Mission
The Worship of Mammon—The Temporal Above the Spiritual—The
Kirtland Bank—Financial Disasters—Apostasy—Heber Sorrows Over the
Degeneracy of the Times
Zion’s Ship Among the Breakers—“Something New Must be Done to Save
the Church.”—Heber C. Kimball Appointed to Open the British
Mission—Spiritual Things to the Front—Righting the Ship—Heber’s
Prophecy to Willard Richards—“Yea, in the Name of the Lord, Thou
Shalt Go With Me”—The Departure for England
Farewell to Native Land—“Upon the Wide, Wide Sea”—Heber’s Dream of
Joseph—A Ship Out of Her Reckoning—A Dying Child Healed—Apostle
Hyde Preaches on Board—Arrival at Liverpool—The Elders Leap Ashore
Strangers in a Strange Land—The Elders Led by the Spirit to
Preston—“Truth Will Prevail”—The Reverend James
Fielding—Wonderful Fulfillment of Heber’s Prophecies—A People
Prepared for the Gospel—The Elders Preach in Preston
Satan Alarmed—The Powers of Evil Conspire Against the
Elders—Chapels and Churches Closed Against Them—The Reverend Mr.
Fielding in his Real Colors—The Work Continues to Spread—An Army
of Demons Attack the Elders—The Dawn and Victory
The Reverend Mr. Fielding Forbids the Elders to Baptize their
Converts—Apostle Kimball’s Answer: “They are of Age and Can Act for
Themselves”—Premier Gladstone and Secretary Evarts—Free Agency and
Unrighteous Dominion—Heber C. Kimball Baptizes in the River
Ribble—A Miracle
The Elders Separate for the Better Prosecution of Their
Work—Jennetta Richards—The Preston Branch Organized—Heber Goes to
Walkerfold—Another Minister’s “Craft in Danger”—More of Heber’s
Prophecies—“Willard, I Baptized Your Wife To-day.”
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
The Mission of Elias—The Symbolism of the Universe—The Past
Preparatory to the Present and Future—The Way Prepared for the
Fullness of the Gospel—The “Lesser Lights” of England—Fielding,
Matthews and Aitken—The Stars Paling Before the Sun
The Temperance Reform in Preston—A Work Preparatory to the
Gospel—Preaching in the “Cock Pit”—Heber Writes Home an Account of
His Mission—The Work in Cumberland—Episode of Mary Smithies—“She
Shall Live to Become a Mother in Israel.”
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
Heber Writes to Willard in Bedford—The Elders Become Licensed
Preachers—The “Milk” and “Meat of the Word”—Rapid Spread of the
Work—Miracles—Heber’s Dream of the Bull and Field of Grain—A
Disappointed Mob
The Voice of the Good Shepherd—Heber Converts Whole Villages—The
Spirit of the Master Upon His Servant—The Christmas Conference in
Preston
The Work of God not Dependent upon Man—Humility a Source of Power—Every Man Chosen and Fitted for his Sphere—Example of Paul the Apostle—Heber “Hits the Rock” in Longton—The Apostles Visit the Branches Prior to Returning to America Condition of the Church at Home—Pruning off the Dead Branches—A
Day of Choosing—Apostates Conspire to Overthrow the Church—Flight
of the Prophet from Kirtland—Fall of Oliver Cowdery and other
Apostles—“Show Unto us Thy Will, O Lord, concerning the Twelve!”
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XL
CHAPTER XLI
CHAPTER XLII
CHAPTER XLIII
CHAPTER XLIV
CHAPTER XLV
CHAPTER XLVI
CHAPTER XLVII
CHAPTER XLVIII
CHAPTER XLIX
CHAPTER L
CHAPTER LI
CHAPTER LII
CHAPTER LIII
CHAPTER LIV
CHAPTER LV
CHAPTER LVI
CHAPTER LVII
CHAPTER LVIII
CHAPTER LIX
CHAPTER LX
CHAPTER LXI
CHAPTER LXII
CHAPTER LXIII
CHAPTER LXIV
CHAPTER LXV
CHAPTER LXVI
CHAPTER LXVII
CHAPTER LXVIII
APPENDIX
Heber’s Farewell to Chatburn—An Affecting Scene—His Sympathy for
the Poor of England—The April Conference in Preston—Two Thousand
Saints Assemble—Joseph Fielding Appointed to Preside over the
British Mission
Departure for Liverpool—Heber’s Letter to the Saints in Chatburn and Downham—His Prediction concerning Thomas Webster—Its Strict Fulfillment The Elders Sail for Home—A Storm at Sea—How Heber Found Favor with
the Steward—Arrival at New York—The “Garrick” again
Victorious—Journey to Kirtland—On to Far West—Happy Meeting with
Joseph and the Brethren
The Land where Adam Dwelt—The Saints Impelled Toward their
Destiny—Persecution Revives—Adam-ondi-Ahman—The Altar of the
Ancient of Days
Times that Tried Men’s Souls—The Mob Gathering Against Far
West—Battle of Crooked River—Death of David W. Patten Days of
Darkness and Disaster
The Fall of Far West—Joseph and his Brethren Betrayed to the
Enemy—Heber Facing the Traitors—His Fearless Denunciation and Firm
Testimony—Atrocities of the Mob—Heber’s Prophecy of
Retribution—He Visits the Prophet in Richmond Jail
Memorial to the Missouri Legislature—A Chapter of Infamy—How
Missouri Redressed the Wrongs of the Suffering Saints—Brigham and
Heber Setting in Order the Church—Arranging for the Exodus
The First Presidency Instruct the Apostles—Brigham Young Chosen
President of the Twelve—The Exodus Begun—Heber Tarries in Missouri
to Minister to his Imprisoned Brethren—His Faithful but Fruitless
Efforts for their Release—The Lord Speaks to Heber
A Word for the Fallen—Only God Knoweth the Wherefore and Why—Orson
Hyde’s Repentance and Return to the Church—Heber C. Kimball and
Hyrum Smith his Champions—Isaac Russell’s Apostasy—Heber Writes to
the Church in England
The Brethren in Liberty Jail—Judge King’s Coup D’Etat—The Mob
Again Threaten Far West—Fiends in Human Form—The Prophet Regains
His Freedom—The Apostles Fulfill Revelation—First Conference of
the Church in Illinois
Nauvoo the Beautiful—Heber’s Prediction Over the Fated City—Elder
Rigdon’s Alarm—Heber’s Second Encounter with Evil Spirits—Parley
P. Pratt Escapes from Prison, Fulfilling Heber’s Prophecy
An Epidemic of Disease—Joseph Heals the Multitude—Brigham and
Heber Start on their Mission to England—Sickness by the Way—Heber
Poisoned—His Life Saved by Brigham
On to Kirtland—Miraculously Supplied with Money—Condition of
Affairs at the Old Church Headquarters
The Apostles Sail for England—Growth of the British Mission During
Heber’s Absence—Labors of Elders Woodruff and Taylor—First Council
of the Twelve Among the Nations—Willard Richards Ordained an
Apostle
Heber Visits the Branches Raised up During His Former Mission—His
Report of their Condition and Standing—First General Conference at
Manchester
Founding the London Conference—Apostles Kimball, Woodruff and Smith
Chosen for the Work—Seeking for a Man with the Spirit of God—The
First Convert—The Elders Hold Open-air Meetings in Tabernacle
Square
Father Corner Baptized—The Apostles Visit the Reverend Robert
Aitken—Heber Attacked with Cholera—The Work in other Parts—Second
Conference at Manchester—Brigham Accompanies Heber to
London—Conversion of the Rev. James Albion
Opening of the Year 1841 in London—Encouraging Success of the
Elders—Heber C. Kimball Blesses the Queen of England—The Woolwich
Branch Organized—Organization of the London Conference—The
Prospect of War Between Great Britain and the United States Hastens
the Return of the Apostles to America
Heber Organizes the Birmingham Conference—Meeting of the Apostles in Manchester Prior to Returning to America—Orson Hyde Present on his way to Palestine—The Extensive Work of One Year The Apostles Sail for Home—Arrival at New York—Heber’s Letter to the “Millennial Star”—Happy Meeting With the Prophet and the Saints at Nauvoo—Labors Spiritual aid Temporal—Heber’s Phrenological Chart Revelation of Celestial Marriage—Secrecy the Price of Safety—
Joseph Tests Heber and Makes him his Confidant—How Vilate Kimball
was Converted—Heber and Vilate give their Daughter Helen to the
Prophet in Celestial Marriage
John C. Bennett’s Apostasy—Heber and the Twelve sent out to Refute
his Slanders—Heber’s Famous Sermon: “The Clay in the Hands of the
Potter”—Inception of the Relief Society—Vilate’s Vow and Heber’s
Prayer
Heber’s Last Mission to the Gentiles—Joseph Smith a Candidate for the Presidency of the United States—The Apostles his Electioneerers—The Martyrdom—Return of the Twelve to Nauvoo Choice of Joseph’s Successor—A Miracle—The Mantle of Joseph Falls
Upon Brigham Young—Heber C. Kimball his Right Hand Man
The Work Moves on in Spite of Persecution and Apostasy—The Nauvoo Temple Finished and Dedicated—The Saints Prepare for their Removal to the Rocky Mountains The Exodus—Heber’s Prophecy Fulfilled—Evacuation of Nauvoo—The
Camp of Israel on Sugar Creek—Brigham and Heber Lead the Church
Westward—Arrival at the Missouri River
Destination of the Saints—The Call for the Mormon Battalion Heroic
Response of the Exiles—Brigham, Heber and Willard as Recruiting
Sergeants—Departure of the Battalion—The Camp of Israel Goes into
Winter Quarters—The Fall of Nauvoo
The Word and Will of the Lord Concerning the Camp of Israel—The
Pioneers Start for the Rocky Mountains—Names of the
Heroes—Incidents of the Journey West
Arrival at Grand Island—The Pioneer Buffalo Hunt—Heber Kills his
First Bison—The Spirit of Levity Rebuked—The Pioneers Reach Fort
Laramie
The Pioneers Cross the Platte—Governor Boggs and the
Missourians—Col. Bridger—“A Thousand Dollars for a Bushel of
Wheat”—The Pioneers’ First Glimpse of the Valley of the Great Salt
Lake
The Pioneers Enter the Valley—Exploring and Colonizing—A Renewal of Covenants—Selection of Inheritances—Return of the Leaders to Winter Quarters The First Presidency Reorganized—Heber Attains to “The Honor of the
Three”—Second Journey to the Mountains—Sickness and
Distress—Heber’s Character as a Colonizer
The Cricket Plague—Saved by the Gulls—Heber’s Famous Prophecy—“States Goods” Sold in Great Salt Lake City Cheaper than in New York Heber C. Kimball Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of
Deseret—In the Legislature—Laying the Corner Stones of the Salt
Lake Temple—Heber’s Consecration Prayer—His Prophecy in Relation
to the Temple—He Predicts Another Famine
The Famine of ’56—Heber a Second Joseph—A Savior to his
People—Vilate a Ministering Angel—A Strange Piece of
Counsel—President Kimball’s Letters Descriptive of the Famine to
His Son William, in England
The Hand-cart Emigration—Perishing in the Snow—Heroic Conduct of
William II. and David P. Kimball—President Kimball’s Plea and
Exertions in Behalf of the Sufferers—The Utah War—The Great
Rebellion
Some of Heber’s Family History—A Patriarchal Household—Names of
his Wives and Children—Episode of Abram A. Kimball—Peter, the
Child of Promise—Heber at Family Prayers—David H. Kimball’s
Story—Heber P. and Solomon F. Kimball in the Black Hawk War
Anecdotes and Reminiscences of Heber C. Kimball—The Man as Others
Knew him—Golden Grains from the Sands of Memory
Gems from the Words of Heber—Spirit Rappings—Address at the Funeral of Mary Fielding Smith—Love, Unity and the Courage of the Righteous—Joseph and the Keys of the Kingdom—Cultivation of Spirits—Heaven and Hell—Administration of Angels and the Spirits of the Ancients—The Resurrection—The Spirit World—The Clay and the Potter—A Cause of Apostasy—A Miraculous Cane—The Church in Heaven Gems from Heber’s Words Continued—His Striking View of Time and
Eternity—His Words and Works at the Last Conference Preceding his
Death—His Last Sermon
Death of Vilate, the Wife of Heber’s Youth—President Brigham Young
Preaches her Funeral Sermon—His Feeling Tribute to her
Memory—Heber Prophesies of his Own Death
Death of Apostle Kimball—All Israel Mourns—Expressions in Honor of the Illustrious Dead Obsequies of President Kimball—Tributes and Testimonies of his
Brother Apostles—“He was a man of as Much Integrity as Any Man who
Ever Lived”—Earth Returns to Earth and the Spirit Unto God Who Gave
it
A Glimpse of the Great Beyond—Thrilling Experience of David Patten
Kimball—Lost in the Desert—Communing with the Spirits of the
Departed—David Predicts his own Death and the Death of Four
Others—The Fulfillment