Ch.12 p.98-103 The Memoirs of President Joseph Smith lll

The episode completes chapter 12 and relates to some wagon journeys that Joseph Smith lll had taken to and fro some conferences in the early days of him being called as President of The Reorganisation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Laterday Saints. The headings are: The Cutler Group, Another Prophecy, Camp Fare, In a Democratic Wagon, Elijah B Webb, Cooperation and By Stage. Some people that followed the Cutlerites believed that destruction was soon coming and Zion imminent, Joseph Smith lll gave counsel that this was not true, that the could take care of themselves, increase their living standards, hold of to land and sell it when prices increased and that they would have peace in Missouri. He relates that many ignored him but the ones who paid attention made money holding onto their land and selling later and those moving to Missouri had peace. He describes the Cutlerite leader as covered in tobacco spit, and incomprehensible of speech and that he was pained to see him like that. Joseph Smith lll was given some good food for the journey, mentioning half pig and sharing it with other travellers on the way who shared some buffallo meat with him which he had never tried before. He took turns driving the horses and prairie chickens were captured for cooking. A member who was to be made bishop and declared he was too ill to make the journey and Joseph Smith lll said if he was too poorly he would return him home after 1 day, but the member regained health and enjoyed the journey even though 2 weeks of it was rain. At some places rumours had been spread of Joseph Smith lll being a drunk driving the horses but as he had witnesses he was able to defy the lies, another occasion a man in favour of Sidney Rigdon being the president of the Restoration spoke out that in the Book of Covenants it said this, that Sidney Rigdon should take over ... Joseph Smith lll knew the Revelation and knew it did not say that, the word was 'Church' and he corrected the man and spoke it aloud for others to check in their own copy of Book of Covenants.