Mormonism: Its Rise, Progress, and Present Condition. Embracing the Narrative of Mrs. Mary Ettie V. Smith, of Her Residence and Experience of Fifteen ... the "Elders" in Utah, by Vice President

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 ...watch Smith had given me, telling Lizzie and my mother I was going over to Howard's; and bidding them as I went "good-bye," I set out, as I supposed, for California. After all, it was not an easy matter to leave my young and nnocent sister, and almost helpless old mother, in such a place, and I half relented when once in the street, and out of sight of them. But I thought first of Smith, and then of my Mormon Prison, and went on, determined if possible tc make my escape, as I could do them no good by remaining I had gone but a short distance, when a man whom I had never seen before, evertook me, and with a smile which disclosed at once how much he knew of my business, said, "Good morning, Mrs. Smith. The Prophet wishes to see you at his office at ten o'clock." I stood petrified with horror and astonishment, wondering how the Prophet could have been informed of my intentions. When I looked up at length, the stranger was still looking me full in the face,much delighted at my embarrassment. His quizzical intelligence as to my personal affairs, threw me off my guard, and I said, with an anguish I have no means of describing, "Great God! I am defeated again!" The stranger satisfied with his work, turned and left me, without further reply. Oh! had there been pity in Heaven, or on earth, at that moment for any human being, certainly I was a proper object for its exercise. Crushed by this failure, and half doubting Mormonism, and yet awed by an overshadowing fear of the Divine power of the Prophet, I knew not where to turn. Brigham had told me often if Smith was not a true Mormon, my love for him was illicit, and for the moment, an oppressive sense of shame came over me, as the bare possibility that Brigham Young was, after all, the tr...