Far West
by Becky Cardon Smith
print version

click here to find out more about books by Becky Cardon Smith

As you stand at the temple site in Far West, it is hard to imagine that this was once the largest Mormon settlement in Missouri. All that visually remains are the four cornerstones of the temple site, the only tangible reminders of what was once a flourishing community. When the Prophet Joseph Smith came here to live in March of 1838, Far West became the headquarters of the Church. Hyrum and Joseph both had sons born while living here, one, Joseph F. Smith, who would become the 6th President of the Church.

HISTORY OF FAR WEST

After their forced exodus from Jackson County in 1833, the majority of Church members relocated to Clay County. In a few years, however, the citizens of Clay County were anxious for the Saints to move on. Alexander Doniphan, a representative from Clay County in the state legislature, helped to create two new counties in December 1836. Doniphan named one of them “Caldwell County” in honor of a friend and Indian scout named Matthew Caldwell. The second county he named “Daviess County” after Colonel Joseph H. Daviess, a friend of his father who had been killed in battle. In Caldwell County, Church members were allowed to create their own community. They named it Far West and it became the county seat of Caldwell.

The Prophet made a brief visit to Far West in November 1837. Then, in March of 1838, he relocated in Far West with his family. His forced exodus from Kirtland, Ohio and his long and difficult journey made his enthusiastic welcome by the Saints even more appreciated. With the arrival of Joseph, the Church headquarters was relocated from Kirtland to Far West. For the first two months, Joseph and Emma stayed with George and Lucinda Harris. They then moved into their own home near the temple lot (exact location is unknown). Three months after their arrival, Emma gave birth to a son, Alexander Hale Smith, on June 2, 1838. Hyrum and Mary were also blessed with a son, Joseph F. Smith, born on November 13, 1838.

Far West and the surrounding communities grew rapidly. By the spring of 1838, close to 5,000 Saints resided in and around Far West. Within Caldwell County itself, there were over 8,000 Saints. Far West had grown to include a schoolhouse, a church, 2 hotels, 3 grocery stores, 4 dry good stores, 6 blacksmith shops and over 150 homes. Additional nearby settlements were created and flourished. They included Haun’s Mill (Caldwell County), Adam-ondi-Ahman (Daviess County), and De Witt (Carroll County).

Though the Prophet lived in Far West for less than eight months, he received many important revelations here. They are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants sections 113-115 and 117-120.

Hopes for a peaceful co-existence were short lived. Persecution and hostilities soon developed in nearby areas. A fight on election day in Gallatin and the Battle of Crooked River again fueled more anti-Mormon sentiment. Persecution fully erupted when the extermination order was issued by Governor Boggs on October 27, 1838. Three days later, survivors from the Haun’s Mill Massacre sought refuge in Far West. A large mob assembled in Richmond, anxious to carry out the infamous order, while Church members gathered in Far West, praying for peace but prepared to defend themselves.

With the city surrounded by state militia, Major General Samuel Lucas sent word to Church leaders, requesting negotiations. The Prophet and other leaders, anxious to re-establish peace, left the protection of Far West to meet with the officials. But Joseph had been betrayed by former Church leaders. Once outside the city, Joseph and the others were taken prisoners by the state militia. On November 1, 1838, during a secret and illegal court-martial, military officers found the prisoners guilty. The punishment of death by firing squad was ordered for 9:00 the next morning in the public square at Far West. The order to execute the prisoners was given by General Lucas and directed to Brigadier-General Alexander W. Doniphan. Doniphan’s response to this order is recorded in both the History of the Church and in the history of Caldwell County: “It is cold-blooded murder. I will not obey your order. My brigade shall march for Liberty tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock; and if you execute these men, I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God” (HC 3:190). The prisoners were subsequently taken to Independence, later to the Richmond jail, and finally to Liberty jail.

Peaceful coexistence was no longer possible. Soon the Saints, led by Brigham Young, were again forced to leave their homes in hope of finding the elusive peace and freedom of religious expression they so earnestly sought. Their exodus from Far West began in the winter of 1838 and continued into the spring of 1839.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

On the monument located at the Far West temple site, reference is made to several of the revelations that the Prophet received here. Though his stay was short, some of the revelations were extremely significant. They concern the Lord’s naming of his Church (D&C 115:4), the command to build a temple in Far West (D&C 115:8), the instruction that the Twelve Apostles were to depart from the temple site on a specific date (April 26 1839) to begin their missions to England (D&C 118:5), and the law of tithing (D&C 119:4).

• A Temple in Far West – On April 26,1838, the Prophet received instructions from the Lord concerning building a temple. In this revelation, now D&C 115, Joseph was commanded to build a temple in which Church members could gather and worship. Accordingly, the cornerstones were set and the temple site was dedicated on July 4,1838. The temple was never built. It would only be a few months before the Saints were forced to leave. Walk by each of the corners, view the stones, and read what each represents. Notice that the dimensions of this temple are almost the same dimensions as the Nauvoo Temple.

• The Twelve Apostles were called on missions “over the great waters.” – In D&C 118, the Lord promised that the families of the Twelve would be provided for as they served their missions. A specific date and place for departure was given. It was to be April 26,1839, from the temple site. But before that date arrived, the Saints had been driven from Far West. It was obvious that coming back to the temple site would be very dangerous for the Twelve. Joseph was still in Liberty Jail and the enemies of the Church would be happy to discredit the revelation by preventing its fulfillment. Nevertheless, in March of 1839, Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and others departed from Quincy, Illinois headed for Far West. While traveling, they were joined by John Page, Heber C. Kimball, and several others. On Friday, April 26, 1839, the appointed date, the brethren arrived at Far West, fully aware of the threats against them if they came back. As the Quorum gathered on the temple site, a large stone was rolled near the southeast corner of the site, and the hymn “Adam-ondi-Ahman” was sung. As recorded in HC 3:339, “Thus was fulfilled a revelation of July 8, 1838, which our enemies had said could not be fulfilled, as no “Mormon” would be permitted to be in the state.” These men, at great personal sacrifice, left their families to serve missions in Great Britain. Many converts, including several future Church leaders, were the fruits of their labors. Wilford Woodruff alone was instrumental in bringing over 1,500 people into the Church.

• Joseph F. Smith, nephew of the Prophet Joseph Smith, was born on November 13, 1838, in Far West. Included at the end of this article is a brief synopsis of his life. Learning more about this wonderful prophet at his birth site is a great opportunity.

OTHER SITES TO SEE IN THIS AREA

• Charles Rich Cabin – The log home of Charles C. Rich, leader of the “Rich Branch,” has been recently discovered. Charles Rich was born in Kentucky. He participated in Zion’s Camp, moved with the Saints to Caldwell County and fought in the battle of Crooked River. After moving to Nauvoo, he served in the Nauvoo Legion, was a member of the Nauvoo city council, and later served as an Apostle of the Church. Charles went west with the Saints and was instrumental in establishing several settlements including the Bear Lake region. A county in Utah is named for this man. His former cabin is located less than five miles south of the Far West temple site. While on Country Road D, watch for the Rich Cabin sign indicating a turn at Broadway Road (heading west). Continue for ½ mile on this gravel road and follow the signs to the nearby cabin. Admission to the site is free.

• Haun’s Mill Stone – A mill stone believed to be from Haun’s Mill is located in the nearby Breckenridge City park.

• John Whitmer Grave – John Whitmer, one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon is buried in the nearby Kingston Cemetery.

JOSEPH F. SMITH

The first time Hyrum ever saw his son, Joseph F. Smith, was behind bars. Hyrum was confined in Liberty Jail with his brother Joseph, when Mary Fielding gave birth to their son. It was not until Joseph F. was almost three months old that Mary Fielding felt well enough to bring him to see his father. On a later visit to Liberty Jail, Mary Fielding left Joseph F. at home with an aunt. A mob came to the house and while ransacking it, turned a mattress over on top of Joseph F., nearly suffocating him.

In later life, Joseph F. fondly remembered the love the Prophet Joseph showed towards him when he visited their home. Once, when Joseph F. was about six, Joseph set him on his knee. He asked Hyrum why Joseph F. looked so pale and encouraged Hyrum to feed the boy more solid foods. But the family was so poor and food so scarce that there was little but milk for nourishment.

Joseph F. Smith was only six when he last saw his father alive. As he left for Carthage with Joseph, Hyrum reached down from his horse and gave his son a hug and kiss good-bye. It was late at night, several days later, when a neighbor knocked on the window to tell the family that the Prophet and Hyrum had been martyred. Joseph F. would always remember the screams of his mother when she heard that her husband had died. Joseph F. adored his father. “The favorite hymns he sang as a grown man were the ones his father had taught him as a little boy” (Boys Who Became Prophets, p. 36).

At age 8, Joseph F. had to assume the responsibilities of a man. He drove his mother’s ox team across 1,000 miles of plains to the Salt Lake Valley. Once during their trek, a gang of Indians tried to steal the cattle as Joseph and the other boys were guarding them out in a pasture. Joseph F. managed to stampede the cattle so they would not be stolen but he lost his own horse in the process. Several of the Indians rode up on either side of him, and after lifting Joseph F. up, the Indians threw him to the ground and took off with his horse. He had saved the cattle, but he was very angry about losing his horse! He was 10 years old when they reached the Salt Lake Valley. His mother, Mary Fielding, passed away when he was just thirteen.

Joseph F. was only 15 when he was called on a mission to Hawaii. While returning home from his successful mission, Joseph F. was camping one night with some other missionaries. Suddenly, a group of unruly men rode into camp, swearing and saying that they would kill any Mormons they could find. One of the men pointed at Joseph F. and asked if he was a Mormon. The other missionaries had run and hidden but Joseph F. was not afraid. He answered, without hesitation, “Yes siree; dyed in the wool; true blue through and through.” The men were surprised at his forceful answer. They exclaimed that he was the bravest man they had ever met and departed.

By the time Joseph F. was 25, he had already served seven years on missions. He eventually would serve three times in Great Britain and again in Hawaii. Called to be an Apostle in 1866, at the age of 28, he later served as a counselor in the First Presidency to Presidents John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow. He was sustained President of the Church on October 17, 1901. During his Presidency, he started the seminary program and introduced the family home evening program. Joseph F. Smith died on November 19, 1918, in Salt Lake City at the age of 80.

Resources to help you learn more about our latter-day prophets include Presidents of The Church, (Student Manual Religion 345) published by the Church and Boys Who Became Prophets by Lynda Cory Robinson.

Editor’s Note:

For additional information on these church historical sites see The LDS Family Travel Guide – Independence to Nauvoo by Becky Cardon Smith. Also available: The LDS Family Travel Guide – Sharon, Palmyra and Kirtland.