fit for the
people in these last days."

At this time the Mormons were at war with the United States, and
the orders to the Mormons were to kill and waste away our
enemies, but lose none of our own people These emigrants were
from the section of country most hostile to our people, and it
was the will of every true Mormon that the enemies of the Church
should be killed as fast as possible, and inasmuch as this lot
had men among them that had helped kill the Prophets in the
Carthage jail, the killing of them would be keeping our oaths and
avenging the blood of the Prophets. I will give my talk with
Brother George A. Smith.

In the latter part of the month of August, 1857, about ten days
before the people of Capt. Fancher, who met their doom at
Mountain Meadows, arrived at that place, Gen. George A. Smith
called on me at one of my homes in Washington City, Washington
County, Utah Territory, and wished me to take him round by Fort
Clara, via Pinto Settlements, to Hamilton Fort and Cedar City. He
said:

"I have been sent down here by Brigham, to instruct the brethren
of the different settlements not to sell any of their grain to
our enemies. And to tell them not to feed it to their animals,
for it will all be needed by ourselves. I am also to instruct the
brethren to prepare for a big fight, for the enemy is coming in
force to attempt our destruction. But Johnston's army will not be
allowed to approach our settlements from the east. God is on our
side, and will fight our battles for us, and deliver our enemies
into our hands. Brigham has received revelations from God, giving
him the right and the power to call down the curse of God on all
our enemies who attempt to invade our Territory. Our greatest
danger lies in the people of California - a class of reckless
miners who are strangers to God and His righteousness. They are
likely to come upon us from the south and destroy the small
settlements. But we will try and outwit them before we suffer
much damage. The people of the United States who oppose our
Church are a mob, from the President down, and as such it is
impossible for their armies to prevail against the Saints who
have gathered here in the mountains."

Gen. Smith held high rank as a military leader. He was one of the
twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, and an inspired man. His orders were sacred commands,
which it was my duty to obey, without question or hesitation.

The day