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Joseph Smith's Arrival at Far West, March 1838

Joseph Smith left Kirtland, Ohio, hurridly on the evening of 12 January, about ten o'clock, forced to travel during an inclement season. Joseph and his family arrived in Far West, Missouri, in mid-March 1838. Despite his grand arrival, his party had left nearly everything behind. Some had become sick en route and tarried along the way. Joseph Smith wrote, "We left Pres. Rigdon 30 miles this side of Parris Illinois in consequence of the sickness of Br. G[eorge] W. Robinson[']s wife." The main party made it way to Huntsville, Missouri. In the forepart of March 1838, John P. Barnard, a blacksmith, traveled to Huntsville, Missouri, with his carriage" to carry Joseph and his family to Far West. [Elden J. Watson, Manuscript History of Brigham Young (Salt Lake City, UT: Elden J. Watson, 1968), 27]. Barnard brought the party to his home in Caldwell County. Barnard lived in the Lyon Brother's Settlement [later known as Salem] in Section 25 of Kingston Township. Joseph penned the following journal entry: "On the 13th day of March I with my family and some others arrived within 8 milds [miles] of Far West and put up at brother Barerds [sic] to tarry for the night." Barnard's provided a foretaste of their arrival among the Saints at Far West. Saints in the settlement eagerly them. Joseph continued, in addition, "Here we ware meet by an escort of bretheren [sic] from the town who came to make us welcome to their little Zion."
In the morning, the expanded party set out again. "On the next day as we ware about entering the town [and] Many of the bretheren came out to meet us[,] who also with [sic] open armes [sic] welcomed us to their boosoms [sic]. We were immediately received under the hospitable roof of George W Harris who treated us with all kindness possible. here we refreshed ourselves withe much sattisfaction [sic] after our long and tedious journey and the bretheren braught in such necessaries as we stood in need of for our presant [sic] comfort and necessities." [Joseph Smith, "Scriptory Book," 16-17, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah]
Two weeks later, Joseph sent word of his safe arrival to church leaders still in the Kirtland, Ohio, area.

Far West March 29th A. D. 1838
To the first Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kirtland
Dear & well beloved brotheren. Through the grace & mercy of our God, after a long & tedious journey of two months & one day, I and my family arrived in the City of Far West Having been met at Huntsville 120 Miles from this by brotheren with teams & money to forward us on our Journey When within eight miles of the City of Far West We were met by an escort of bretheren from the City Who were T. B. Marsh John Corril Elias Higby & Severel others of the faithfull of the West Who received us with open armes and warm hearts and welcomed us to the bosom of their Sosciety On our arrival in the City we were greeted on Every hand by the Saints who bid us welcom[e]; welcome; to the land of their inheritance. Dear bretheren you may be assured that so friendly a meeting & reception paid us will for our long Seven years of Servictude persecution & affliction in the midst of our enimies in the land Kirtland yea verily our hearts were full and we feel greatfull to Almighty God for his kindness unto us. The particulars of our journey brotheren cannot well be writen but we trust that the same God who has protected us will protect you also, and will sooner or later grant us the privilege of seeing each other face face & of rehersing all our sufferings… The Saints here have provided a room for us and daily necessary's which is brought in from all parts of the Co. to make us comfortable, so that I have nothing to do but to attend to my spiritual concerns or the spiritual affairs of the Church The difficulties of the Church had been Ajusted [sic] before [my] arrival here by a Judicious High Council with T. B. Marsh & D W Patten who acted as Pres. Pro. Tem. of the Church of Zion being appointed by the voice of the Council & Church Wm. W. Phelps & John Whitmer having been cut off from the Church, D Whitmer remains as yet[.]

John P. Barnard traveled to Huntsville, Missouri, with his carriage to carry Joseph and his family to Far West

The saints at this time are in union & peace & love prevails throughout, in a word Heaven smiles upon the saints in Caldwell. Various & many have been the falshoods writen from thence to this place, but have prevailed nothing, we have no uneasiness about the power of our enimies; in this place to do us harm Br Samuel H Smith & family arrived here soon after we did in go[o]d health.

Elder Daniel S. Miles [Mills], ca. 1870

Br B[righam] Young Br D[aniel] S. Miles & Br L[evi]. Richards arrivd here when we did. They were with us on the last of our journey which ad[d]ed much to our sattisfaction. They also are well They have provided places for their families & are now about to break the ground for seed…
After being here two or three days my Brother Samuel arrived with his family… [Dean Jessee, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 2002), 395-396]
Continuing in Joseph's words, "On yesterday br. Robinson arrived here who informed us that his fatherin Law (S. Rigdon) was at Huntsville detained there on account of the ill health of his wife, They will proba[b]ly be here soon, Choice seeds of all kinds of fruit also Choice breed of Cattle would be in much demand also best blood of horses garden seeds of every description also hay seed of all sorts, all of these are much needed in this place." [Personal Writing of Joseph Smith, 397].
Sidney and family reached Far West on 4 April 1838, "having had a tedious journey, and his family having suffered many afflictions."

Far West - a Welcome Place of Rest

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