Erastus had no formal affiliation with any religion until spring 1833,
when Elder John F. Boynton brought him word of the "restored gospel." He
read the Book of Mormon, was converted, and was baptized 11 November
1833, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, together with his wife and three of his
children. A fourth child, Sanford, was baptised there on 18 November.
Erastus was the only one of his father's family to join the Church, but
his wife's father and her brother, Jacob, also joined. In spring 1836
Erastus sold his farm, and in the following June he traveled with his
family (accompanied by Willard Snow and others) to Kirtland, Ohio. The
family stayed there until September, 1836, then continued the journey to
Far West, Missouri, arriving on 4 November 1836. Erastus rented a farm
on Shoal Creek, about two and a half miles from Far West, and built a
log house, into which he moved his family. The following spring he
fenced his farm, which he cultivated until Fall 1838, when Governor
Lilburn W. Boggs issued the exterminating order that forced him and the
rest of the Saints to leave Missouri.
At Far West, in January 1839,
Church leaders named Erastus a member of the committee to orchestrate
the exodus. Other members of this committee were John Taylor, Alanson
Ripley, Brigham Young, Theodore Turley, Heber C. Kimball, John Smith,
Don Carlos Smith, Elias Smith, Stephen Markham, and James Newberry. "On
motion of President Brigham Young," says the record, "it was resolved
that we this day enter into a covenant to stand by and assist each other
to the utmost of our abilities in removing from this State, and that we
will never desert the poor, who are worthy, till they shall be out of
the reach of the exterminating order of General Clark, acting for and in
the name of the State."
Leaving Far West toward the end of March, Erastus and his family
arrived in Hancock County, Illinois, in April, 1839.
For more information on facilities and events at the Far West Cultural Center, follow these links:
