The painting by Nancy Harlacher depicts Oliver Cowdery preaching
to Chief William Anderson and his braves as Parley P. Pratt and
Frederick G. Williams listen.
In the Autumn of 1830, about six months after the
organization of the Church, Joseph Smith, Jr., received three
revelations from God (Doctrine
and Covenants 27, 29, and 31) instructing Oliver Cowdery,
Peter Whitmer, Jr., Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson to preach
the gospel to the Indians (Lamanites). In October of that year
in response to the commandments of God, these four men left Fayette,
New York on foot to go to Indian Territory. They had embarked
on the Church's first missionary effort west of the State of New
York. As they traveled, they preached along the way converting
many to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. After being very
successful in Kirtland, Ohio, they, along with Dr. Frederick G.
Williams of Kirtland, proceeded to Indian Territory on the western
boundary of the State of Missouri. The following is an account
by Parley P. Pratt of their mission to the Indians as found in
Church History 1:178–183.
In the beginning of 1831 we renewed our journey; and, passing
through St. Louis and St. Charles, we traveled on foot for three
hundred miles through vast prairies and through trackless wilds
of snow—no beaten road; houses few and far between; and
the bleak northwest wind always blowing in our faces with a
keenness which would almost take the skin off the face. We traveled
for whole days, from morning till night, without a house or
fire, wading in snow to the knee at every step and the cold
so intense that the snow did not melt on the south side of the
houses, even in the midday sun, for nearly six weeks. We carried
on our backs our changes of clothing, several books, and corn
bread and raw pork. We often eat [ate] our frozen bread and
pork by the way, when the bread would be so frozen that we could
not bite or penetrate any part of it but the outside crust.
After much fatigue and some suffering we all arrived in Independence,
in the county of Jackson, on the extreme western frontiers of
Missouri, and of the United States.
This was about fifteen hundred miles from where we started,
and we had performed most of the journey on foot through a wilderness
country, in the worst season of the year, occupying about four
months, during which we had preached the gospel to tens of thousands
of Gentiles and two nations of Indians; baptizing, confirming,
and organizing many hundreds of people into churches of Latter
Day Saints.
This was the first mission performed by the elders of the Church
in any of the States west of New York, and we were the first
members of the same which were ever on this frontier.
Two of our number now commenced work as tailors in the village
of Independence, while the others crossed the frontier line
and commenced a mission among the Lamanites, or Indians.
Passing through the tribe of Shawnees we tarried one night
with them, and the next day crossed the Kansas River and entered
among the Delawares. We immediately inquired for the residence
of the principal chief, and were soon introduced to an aged
and venerable looking man, who had long stood at the head of
the Delawares, and been looked up to as the Great Grandfather,
or Sachem of ten nations or tribes.
He was seated on a sofa of furs, skins, and blankets, before
a fire in the center of his lodge; which was a comfortable cabin,
consisting of two large rooms.
His wives were neatly dressed, partly in calicoes and partly
in skins; and wore a vast amount of silver ornaments. As we
entered his cabin he took us by the hand with a hearty welcome,
and then motioned us to be seated on a pleasant seat of blankets,
or robes. His wives, at his bidding, set before us a tin pan
full of beans and corn boiled up together, which proved to be
good eating; although three of us made use alternately of the
same wooden spoon.
There was an interpreter present and through him we commenced
to make known our errand, and to tell him of the Book of Mormon.
We asked him to call the council of his nation together and
give us a hearing in full. He promised to consider on it till
next day, in the meantime recommending us to a certain Mr. Pool
for entertainment; this was their blacksmith, employed by government.
The man entertained us kindly and comfortably. Next morning
we again called on Mr. Anderson, the old chief, and explained
to him something of the Book. He was at first unwilling to call
his council; made several excuses, and finally refused; as he
had ever been opposed to the introduction of missionaries among
his tribe.
We continued the conversation a little longer, till he at last
began to understand the nature of the Book. He then changed
his mind; became suddenly interested, and requested us to proceed
no further with our conversation till he could call a council.
He despatched a messenger, and in about an hour had some forty
men collected around us in his lodge, who, after shaking us
by the hand, were seated in silence; and in a grave and dignified
manner awaited the announcement of what we had to offer. The
chief then requested us to proceed; or rather, begin where we
began before, and to complete our communication. Elder Cowdery
then commenced as follows:
“Aged Chief and Venerable Council of the Delaware nation;
we are glad of this opportunity to address you as our red brethren
and friends. We have traveled a long distance from towards the
rising sun to bring you glad news; we have traveled the wilderness,
crossed the deep and wide rivers, and waded in the deep snows,
and in the face of the storms of winter, to communicate to you
great knowledge which has lately come to our ears and hearts;
and which will do the red man good as well as the pale face.
“Once the red men were many; they occupied the country
from sea to sea—from the rising to the setting sun; the
whole land was theirs; the Great Spirit gave it to them, and
no pale faces dwelt among them. But now they are few in numbers;
their possessions are small, and the pale faces are many.
“Thousands of moons ago, when the red men’s forefathers
dwelt in peace and possessed this whole land, the Great Spirit
talked with them, and revealed His law and His will, and much
knowledge to their wise men and prophets. This they wrote in
a Book; together with their history, and the things which should
befall their children in the latter days.
“This Book was written on plates of gold, and handed
down from father to son for many ages and generations.
“It was then that the people prospered, and were strong
and mighty; they cultivated the earth; built buildings and cities,
and abounded in all good things, as the pale faces now do.
“But they became wicked; they killed one another and
shed much blood; they killed their prophets and wise men, and
sought to destroy the Book. The Great Spirit became angry, and
would speak to them no more; they had no more good and wise
dreams; no more visions; no more angels sent among them by the
Great Spirit; and the Lord commanded Mormon and Moroni, their
last wise men and prophets, to hide the Book in the earth, that
it might be preserved in safety, and be found and made known
in the latter day to the pale faces who should possess the land;
that they might again make it known to the red man; in order
to restore them to the knowledge of the will of the Great Spirit
and to His favor. And if the red man would then receive this
Book and learn the things written in it, and do according thereunto,
they should be restored to all their rights and privileges;
should cease to fight and kill one another; should become one
people; cultivate the earth in peace, in common with the pale
faces, who were willing to believe and obey the same book, and
be good men and live in peace.
“Then should the red men become great, and have plenty
to eat and good clothes to wear, and should be in favor with
the Great Spirit and be his children, while he would be their
Great Father, and talk with them, and raise up prophets and
wise and good men amongst them again, who should teach them
many things.
“This Book, which contained these things, was hid in
the earth by Moroni, in a hill called by him, Cumorah, which
hill is now in the State of New York, near the village of Palmyra,
in Ontario County.
“In that neighborhood there lived a young man named Joseph
Smith, who prayed to the Great Spirit much, in I order that
he might know the truth; and the Great Spirit sent an angel
to him, and told him where this Book was hid by Moroni; and
commanded him to go and get it. He accordingly went to the place,
and dug in the earth, and found the Book written on golden plates.
“But it was written in the language of the forefathers
of the red man; therefore this young man, being a pale face,
could not understand it; but the angel told him and showed him,
and gave him knowledge of the language, and how to interpret
the Book. So he interpreted it into the language of the pale
faces, and wrote it on paper, and caused it to be printed, and
published thousands of copies of it among them; and then sent
us to the red men to bring some copies of it to them, and to
tell them this news. So we have now come from him, and here
is a copy of the Book, which we now present to our red friend,
the chief of the Delawares, and which we hope he will cause
to be read and known among his tribe; it will do them good."
We then presented him with a Book of Mormon.
There was a pause in the council, and some conversation in
their own tongue, after which the chief made the following reply:
“We feel truly thankful to our white friends who have
come so far, and been at such pains to tell us good news, and
especially this new news concerning the Book of our forefathers;
it makes us glad in here"—placing his hand on his
heart.
“It is now winter, we are new settlers in this place;
the snow is deep, our cattle and horses are dying, our wigwams
are poor; we have much to do in the spring—to build houses,
and fence and make farms; but we will build a council house,
and meet together, and you shall read to us and teach us more
concerning the Book of our fathers and the will of the Great
Spirit."
We again lodged at Mr. Pool’s, told him of the Book,
had a very pleasant interview with him, and he became a believer
and advocate for the Book, and served as an interpreter.
We continued for several days to instruct the old chief and
many of his tribe. The interest became more and more intense
on their part, from day to day, until at length nearly the whole
tribe began to feel a spirit of inquiry and excitement on the
subject.
We found several among them who could read, and to them we
gave copies of the Book, explaining to them that it was the
Book of their forefathers.
Some began to rejoice exceedingly, and took great pains to
tell the news to others, in their own language.
The excitement now reached the frontier settlements in Missouri,
and stirred up the jealousy and envy of the Indian agents and
sectarian missionaries to that degree that we were soon ordered
out of the Indian country as disturbers of peace; and even threatened
with the military in case of non-compliance.
We accordingly departed from the Indian country, and came over
the line, and commenced laboring in Jackson County, Missouri,
among the whites. We were well received, and listened to by
many; and some were baptized and added to the church.
Thus ended our first Indian Mission, in which we had preached
the gospel in its fullness, and distributed the record of their
forefathers among three tribes, viz.: the Catteraugus Indians,
near Buffalo, New York, the Wyandots of Ohio, and the Delawares
west of Missouri.
We trust that at some future day, when the servants of God
go forth in power to the remnant of Joseph, precious seed will
be found growing in their hearts, which was sown by us in that
early day. (Autobiography of
Parley P. Pratt, pp. 54–61).
