THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS'
M I L L E N N I A L S T A R.
"Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it." -- ISAIAH.
No. 47, Vol. XXVI. Saturday, November 19, 1864. Price One Penny.
[pg. 742]
HISTORY OF ORSON HYDE.
"I, Orson Hyde, son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorp, was born in Oxford, New Haven County and state of Connecticut, January 8, 1805. At the age of seven years, my mother, a pious and godly woman, according to the light that then was, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died soon after being delivered of a son, named Ami. Having given birth to eight sons and three daughters in the following order, according to my best recollection: Abijah, Harry, Laura, Nathan, Sally, Asahel, Horatio, Maria, Charles, Orson and Ami. . . .
At this early age, I was placed in the care of a gentleman by the name of
Nathan Wheeler . . .
[pg. 743]
. . . Mr. Wheeler removed . . . purchased a farm in Kirtland, and sent for me and his nephew, Nathan Wooster, to come out the next spring. . . . Mr. W.[heeler] then sent to the east for the balance of his family, who
came on the next season in the care of Captain Isaac Morley, a resident of
Kirtland, where they arrived in safety. The farm being a new one, and
heavily timbered, it was the hardest kind of labor to prepare it for
cultivation. . . . on the 8th day of January, 1823, I went forth from my old home to carve out my fortune and destiny under my own guidance, for ought I then knew. My first strike was to hire out for six months to Grandison Newel, at 6 dollars per month, to work in a small iron foundry . . .
I next went into the store of Gilbert and Whitney in Kirtland to serve as
clerk, where I continued for a year or two, then hired two carding machines
to run for one year . . . During this season I paid my hired help,
and also my rent, and cleared about 600 dollars in cash. This I thought was
doing very well for a boy. When winter came on, I went into Gilbert and
Whitney's store again, under moderate wages, and continued there until the
spring. Then in 1827, business being rather slack in the store, I went to
work for the same parties, making pot and pearl ashes. This season there was
a Methodist camp meeting about six miles distant from Kirtland, which I
attended, and became a convert to that faith. I enjoyed myself as well as
the light and knowledge I then had would allow me. I believe that God had
mercy and compassion upon me, and that if I had died at that time, I should
have received all the happiness and glory that I could appreciate or
[pg. 744]
enjoy. The revival that began at that camp meeting spread much in Kirtland. A class was formed there, and I was appointed class-leader.
About this time some vague reports came in the newspapers that a "golden
bible" had been dug out of a rock in the state of New York. It was treated,
however, as a hoax. But on reading the report, I remarked as follows -- "Who
knows but that this `golden bible' may break up all our religion, and change
its whole features and bearing?" Nothing more was heard of it for a long time in that section.
Not long after this, the Campbellite doctrine began to be preached in Mentor
and in Kirtland. Elder S. Rigdon was its chief advocate there.
Being forcibly struck with the doctrine of immersion or baptism for the remission of sins, and many other important items of doctrine which were advocated by this new sect, and which were passed over by the Methodists as not essential, I left the Methodists and became a convert to this new faith.
Feeling that one day I might be called to advocate it, and feeling my great
deficiency in learning, I resolved to go to school. Accordingly, I took up
my abode in Mentor, in the house of Elder Sidney Rigdon, and began the study of English grammar under his tuition. Elder Rigdon took unwearied pains and care to instruct me in this elementary science."
[pg. 760]
. . . spent one season with a young man by the name of Matthew J. Clapp, at his father's house, where the public library was kept. Here I read history and various other works, scientific and literary; and in the fall of the year was ordained an Elder in this new church, and went on a mission with Elder Rigdon to Elyria, Loraine County, and also to Florence in Huron County. There we baptized a great number of people into the new faith, organized several branches of the church, and returned again to Mentor. This I think was in the fall of 1829.
Early in the spring of 1830, I returned to Elyria and Florence, and became
the pastor of the churches raised up the fall previous. During the fall and
winter of 1830, I also taught school in Florence. During this fall, Samuel
H. Smith, Ziba[r] Peterson, F. G. Williams and Peter Whitmer came along through that section, preaching the 'golden bible' or 'Mormonism,' I encountered them; but perceiving that they were mostly illiterate men, and at the same time observing some examples of superior wisdom and truth in their teaching, I resolved to read the famed 'golden bible,' as it was called.
Accordingly, I procured the book and read a portion of it, but came to the
conclusion that it was all a fiction. I preached several times against the
`Mormon' doctrine or rather against the 'Mormon' bible. On one occasion, the people of Ridgeville, near Elyria, sent for me to preach against the
`Mormon' bible. I complied with the request, and preached against it. The
people congratulated me much, thinking that 'Mormonism' was completely
floored; but I, for the first time, thought that the 'Mormon' bible might be
the truth of heaven; and fully resolved before leaving the house, that I
would never preach against it any more until I knew more about it, being
pretty strongly convicted in my own mind that I was doing wrong. I closed up
my school and my preaching in that section, and resolved to go to Kirtland
on a visit to my old friends. Elder S. Rigdon, Gilbert and Whitney, and many others of my former friends had embraced the 'Mormon' faith. I ventured to tell a few of my confidential friends in Florence my real object
[pg. 761]
in visiting Kirtland. The Prophet, Joseph Smith, jun., had removed to that
place. My object was to get away from the prejudices of the people, and to
place myself in a position where I could examine the subject without
embarrassment.
Accordingly, in the summer of 1831, I went to Kirtland, and under cover of
clerkship in the old store of Whitney and Gilbert, I examined 'Mormonism.' Read the 'Mormon' bible carefully through, attended meetings of the 'Mormons' and others, heard the arguments pro and con., but was careful to say nothing. I prayed much unto the Lord for light and knowledge, for wisdom and spirit to guide me in my examinations and investigations. Often heard the Prophet talk in public and in private upon the subject of the new religion; also heard what the opposition had to say. Listened also to many foolish tales about the Prophet -- too foolish to have a place in this narrative. I marked carefully the spirit that attended the opposition, and also the spirit that attended the 'Mormons' and their friends; and after about three months of careful and prayerful investigation, reflection and meditation, I came to the conclusion that the 'Mormons' had more light and a better spirit than their opponents. I concluded that I could not be the loser by joining the 'Mormons,' and as an honest man, conscientiously bound to walk in the best and clearest light I saw, I resolved to be baptized into the new religion. Hence, I attended the Saints' meeting in Kirtland, Sunday, October 30, 1831, and offered myself a candidate for baptism, which was administered to me by the hands of Elder Sidney Rigdon; was confirmed and ordained an elder in the Church on the same day under the hands of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and Sidney Rigdon . . .
[pg. 774]
"A few days after this, I attended a conference in the town of Orange, at
which I was ordained a high priest under the hands of Joseph Smith, and
appointed on a mission to Elyria and Florence in connection with Brother Hyrum Smith. In these places we were the means of converting and baptizing many of my old Campbellite friends, raised up and organized two or three branches of the Church, laid hands on several sick persons and healed them by prayer and faith. After confirming the Churches and bearing a faithful testimony to them and to all people, in the midst of much opposition, we returned again to Kirtland. I found Brother Hyrum a pleasant and an agreeable companion, a wise counsellor, a father and a guide.
Soon after our return to Kirtland, I was sent on another mission, in company with Brother Samuel H. Smith, a younger brother of the Prophet, who was a man slow of speech and unlearned, yet a man of good faith and extreme integrity. We journeyed early in the spring of 1832, eastward together, without 'purse or scrip,' going from house to house, teaching and preaching . . .
[pg. 775]
. . . in Westfield, New York, we preached to a crowded audience. I was
speaker. After the discourse, a gentleman rose up and requested that a brief
history of Joseph Smith be given to the people previous to his finding the
plates. I remarked that I was not acquainted with the early history of
Joseph Smith, and consequently was unable to comply with the request, but
observed that his younger brother was present who might, if he felt
disposed, favor them with an account of the early life of his brother.
Samuel arose and said, that as it was the early history of his own brother
that they required, it might be thought that, in consequence of his near
kin, his statements might not be free from partiality, and respectfully
declined the task. . .
[pg. 776]
. . . we returned to Boston; and from thence we went to Providence,
Rhode Island, and there baptized some ten or fifteen persons amid most
violent opposition. We had to flee in the night, sleep under the fence and
under an apple tree. Went back to Boston and then started for home, where we arrived late in December. . . .
In the spring of 1833, I, in company with Hyrum Smith, went on a mission to
Elk Creek township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, where we labored several
weeks, and baptized a number of persons into a branch of the Church,
previously raised up there by the ministry of John F. Boynton and others. We also preached considerably in North East Township, Ohio, and in other places while passing to and fro, baptizing some few by the way. Returned to Kirtland in the summer."
[pg. 790]
During this same summer I was appointed to go up to Jackson county,
Missouri . . . expulsion seemed inevitable. The Saints began to flee over the river to Clay County, and we, having done all we could, took a steamer for St. Louis on our return home. We arrived home in Kirtland in the month of November 1833.
In the winter and spring of 1834, I took another mission to Pennsylvania,
Elk Creek, in company with Elder Orson Pratt, to preach the gospel and to call a company to go up that summer to Missouri. We went as far east as Genesee, New York. . . .
[pg. 791]
. . . On the 4th day of September [1834] following, I was married, in Kirtland, to Miss Marinda N. Johnson, daughter of John and Elsa Johnson, by Elder Sidney Rigdon.
This winter the Twelve Apostles were chosen, and I, being one of that
number, was appointed, with the entire quorum, to take a mission through the states, and hold conferences in all the churches. . . .
[pg. 792]
. . . [in the] Spring of 1837, went on a mission to England, in company with Elders Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, John Goodson, Isaac Russel, John Snider and Joseph Fielding. Labored in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and baptized about fifteen hundred souls . . . In the month of October, 1838, with me it was a day of affliction and darkness. I sinned against God and my brethren; I acted foolishly. I will not allude to any causes for so doing save one, which was, that I did not possess the light of the Holy Ghost. I lost not my standing in the Church, however; yet, not because I was worthy to retain it, but because God and his servants were merciful. Everlasting thanks to God, and may his servants ever find mercy. Brothers Hyrum Smith and H. C. Kimball, men of noted kindness of heart, spake to me words of encouragement and comfort in the hour of my greatest sorrow. But Hyrum is gone! Peace to his ashes and blessings upon his posterity. Heber lives, and may he and his posterity live to tread upon the necks of the enemies of God. I seek pardon of all whom I have offended, and also of my God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. . . .
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