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Show John Joshua and Nathan Join the Army 65 There was nothing very unusual about the trip, which took a little less than two months. The supplies, furnished by donations from generous church members like the Tanners, were bare neces sities, and there was some grumbling about food, but nothing more than the customary griping. Nathan commented that, "We performed our duty as such, the best we could, and enjoyed the trip and ac quaintances of the brethren. Here we had the pleasure of the com pany of the Prophet, Hiram, Brigham, Heber, Martin Harris, the Johnsons, Pratts and many make old Nathan has place to we cannot mention. lasting acquaintances." enjoyed his army life." In the camp is the Sounds like eighteen-year Rubbing shoulders in a rather intimate fashion and calling revered church leaders by their first names, must have been exciting to this farm boy who was just beginning to get acquainted with the church of the Latter-day Saints. His awe for the prophet as well as the charisma possessed by Joseph Smith are illustrated in an incident on the way. This is how Nathan tells the story: I had the pleasure of seeing him in vision when he saw the country which we had traveled in a high state of cultivation. This was while he was riding, and when we camped, he had a wagon run out in the middle of the corral of wagons, and got into it, and told what he had seen while in the spirit. It was glorious and grand to hear .10 over People men can who have wondered at the influence get a Joseph had over of his power as he captivated this impres while he stood in a wagon and told what he glimpse sionable young man had seen in the spirit. The spell was still upon Nathan fifty years later as 'he bore his testimony at a Tanner reunion in Payson, Utah. It is to be regretted that John Joshua, four years older than Nathan, did not leave us an account of his impressions. As the little army moved closer to Independence, the hostility of the Missouri inhabitants began to manifest itself. If the Mormons under any illusion that their movements were secret, this was dispelled. Only a flash flood in one of the Missouri River tribu taries prevented their being attacked by a superior force of Mis were now sourians. for the A short time later the camp was informed that the time 11 redemption of Zion had not yet come. The failure of Zion's Camp to achieve its objective in view high hopes of its members when it was assembled, is one of the most difficult things Latter-day Saints have to explain. At a of the |
