Joseph Fielding Diary (1849

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Joseph Fielding Diary (1849–1859)

Losses during the winter of 1848–1849; Council of Fifty; defections to California gold fields; Amasa Lyman sent to the estranged in California; little importance in his life; despair; heart-breaking division in the family; wives not speaking; not well in mind; lives on weeds, summer 1856; reformation; polygamy a step toward godhood because of opposition; life too short to complete its purpose.

Last volume, manuscript pages 148–181.

Snow Cattle suffer Wolves	March 11, 1849 It is now the 11th of March and the Ground is coverd with Snow and Snow is falling. There is no Sign of Spring. The Corn and the Cattle are poor, and many [148] of the Saints find it very difficult to drain their Field with their Oxen. The Wolves have killed some few but not so many as last year.	J. Fielding diary
Indians took cattle, horses to Utah Valley Brigham Young sends men after them	The Indians have killed from 12 to 20 Cows and Oxen, near 2 Weeks ago A Company of 25 of our Brethren were sent by the President of the Church to get back if possible some Horses and Cattle taken by the Indians of the Eutaw Valley. They found 13 Skins and filled four of the Indians. This was the Direction of the President. They have killed 17 of our Cattle last year making in all 30 head.
Council of Fifty anniversary	[149] It is five years to Day that 11 of March, since the Council now called the Legislative Council was first formed by the Prophet Joseph Smith. It has met regularly through the Winter once A week or once in two Weeks and the God of Israel there teaches us the Principles of the Kingdom … [difference between church and kingdom, testimony]
Council of Fifty	March 18, 1849 (Sunday) [151]… Attended Council yesterday. It [is] near 7 Miles to walk. The Road was bad and I returned home at Night quite weary. A good Spirit seems to prevail in the Council. Much was said about Ira E. West. He is still at large …
Some going to gold fields Utah valley settlement	[153] … quite A number are going to the Gold Mines by their own Choice. A Company are also going to the Eutaw Valley to make A Location there by Council.
The Lord good to his people	April 15, 1849 The Weather is now fine, and our Spirits are cheared. I feel thankful the Lord is good to his people …
Some going to California, cursed	[154]… [Some going to California for gold, unworthy of the name Mormon, have gone with a curse instead of a blessing.]
Amasa Lyman tries to redeem Saints in the gold fields Society Islands	Elder Amasa Lyman, one of the 12 and Porter started directly after them to go to the Pacific Ocean, partly to counteract [155] the Effects of Apostates that may be produced in that Course and partly to visit the Islands of the Pacific, on which Bro Addison Pratt has labored. …	In the fall of 849 apostles Amasa Lyman and Carles C. Rich investigated the possibility of establishing way stations to the coast and bring estranged Saints in the gold fields back into the fold. [sanberdo], 27, 28. They did not go to the islands. Addison Pratt served missions to the Society Islands 1843–1848 and 1850–1852. Addison Pratt
Missionary assignments	October 8, 1849 All is going on well. Yesterday and the Day before we held our Conference. Several of the Elders have Appointments to other Nations.
Hannah Alice	[156] 1849 May 20th 5 Minutes past 10 o'clock PM Hannah Alice was born in our Log house on Mill Creek, in hard times of my Wife Hannah, And died April 8.
Little of importantce Owes tithing, source of grief	March 30, 1856 1/2 past 11 AM. As any time since the last date has been almost entirely taken up in working to support my Family there seems to be but little of importance to write … am now in Debt to the Tything Office from 1 to 200 Dollars. This is A [157] Source of much Grief to me but I do not see how I would have avoided it nor do I yet see how to extricate myself from this difficulty but yet I do expect to deliver myself from this Source of grief …
Family divided Received second anointings, now a source of pain Polygamy the source of troubles	… more hopeless is the Devided State of my Family. This has in A greate measure cut of my hopes as to my Family. When I reflect on my Blessings especially the time when I with my two Wives, in the Temple at Nauvoo received our second Anointing on which great things where sealed uppon us all, with the Power to Bless and to Curse [158] all these things but cause me Pain of Mind. Yet I cannot reflect on myself as the Cause of my Trouble in anything but my taking A second Wife.
Hard labor, poverty Years of grief, robbed of the Spirit	My hard Labor & Poverty aded to the above have caused me to mourn every Day, and the Contention in my Family has robbed me of the Spirit. This I felt for several years, but I will not here say who is the principle Cause of this.
Depressed, wants to die Mind not strong	My Spirit is down and I often feel to long to go and be with Joseph. I feel the Effect of years. My Mind is not [159] strong and I feel affraid at time[s] I shall be destroyed.
Disillusioned Wives not speaking to each other	To one who appreciates the Priesthood as I do and has looked forward to Blessings to come endeavoring to teach my Children the same it is A great Disappointment. What the End of it will be I cannot guess. My Wives have not spoken to each other for many months.
Church condition fair	As to the work of God it [is] fair. Many are faithful but there [are] some of all Sorts. The Tabernacle is well filled. We receive much Instruction. …
Not well in mind, nothing important to report	May 3, 1857 [161] It is more than A year since I wrote any in my Journal. there are several Reasons why I do not write more than I do one has been that I have not felt well in my Mind and this from the Reasons before stated. Another has been the Lack of Opportunity, and another is the lack of Importance in my Experience.
Rachel married	On the 28 of March 56 Our Daughter Rachel our first born, was married to William Walton Burton A young Man of good Characture.
Summer 1856 grasshoppers, drought Live on weeds	The last Summer was indeed A hard time with the poor Saints through the Lack of Bread. We lived chiefly [162] on Weeds which we gathered from the Fields or the Roads. This was oweing to the destruction caused by the Grasshoppers the previous year. We had not the usual supply of Water. I sowed about 13 Acres of wheat took much Pains with it gave it all the Water I could get for it but did not reap more than 70 bushels from it, and planted 3 Acres of Corn but did not get more than 40 Bushels.
Lord has withheld blessings 2–3 years	This was in the Harvest of 56, but our hardest time was previous to it. The Pastures were dried up so that it was very difficult to sustain our Cattle. It [w]as as though the Lord had commanded the Clouds that they should not rain. [163] In short the Lord has withheld his wanted Blessings from us for the last 2 or 3 years but still I did not see the Cause of it
Reformation Sacrament withheld Curse for lying about Reformation questions	till Brother Brigham began to call upon us to repent, declaring he would have A Reformation. His Councilors took the same then the 12 and others joined in Cry[ing] Repent, make Restitution. Then the Sacrement which before has been administered every Sabath, was withheld, and there was no Preaching but Repentence, and Reformation, even to all, for all had sinned and were sleeping and that on the Brink of Destruction; all must make Restitution inasmuch as we [164] had injured anyone, in any way. Some Questions were offered to us by which we might try our selves and which we were required to answer and A Curse pronounced on anyone that should lie …
Genealogy	[165] [Genealogy: Sarah Ann born May 19, 1851 5 am in log house in 16th ward of the city; May 20 1849 10:30 p.m. Hannah born, died April 8, 1857.]
	[March 29 ‘47 Hyram Thomas born 8 pm in Winter Quarters, died there August 4 in the morning. John born Winter Quarters September and died on the 16th of the same month. Josephine born January 7, 1849 in Millcreek Ward.]
Pays back tithing	[168] [in spirit of reformation pays old debts, back tithing of $100]

	[169] January 23, 1859 [Gentiles, army, etc.]
Unusually cold	[175 ] … February 27, 1859 we have had some of the coldest Nights this winter that we have had since we came to the Valley, and it has been the same in the States …
Enemies within and without seek the blood of the Saints Drunks, gamblers	We are surrounded by Enimies, and some in our midst, A number of whom would not be pleased better than to have the privilege to shed the Blood of the Saints, especially [176] that of Brother Brigham. Yet we have had no trouble except in the City where many Malihsmen or Police have been employed, and with great Care and diligence they have kept in order the Drunkards Gamblers …
Polygamy a step toward godhood—opposition	[180] It appears that when A Man enters on the System of Plurality of Wives, he takes on Step toward the Godhead. In most Cases, he tastes of the Opposition to which the Gods will forever be subject from their great and forever increasing Families, we must know Good and Evil to be Gods …
The Life of Man is but short for the important Work assigned him	March 27, 1859 Yesterday was my birthday. … I wish I could spend my [181] time to better purpose. The Life of Man is but short for the important Work assigned him. … my Property here is worth near tou [two] Thousand Dollars. … [Last entry.]	Joseph Fielding passed away in Salt Lake county, December 19, 1863.
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