Missionary Efforts

of

Emanuel Masters Murphy

1809 – 1871

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‘thou must be diligent in preaching the Gospel’

Patriarchcal Blessing - 1838

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Emanuel Masters Murphy - Preaching, Teaching and Speaking

Often I have wondered what happened to our common ancestors – Emanuel Masters and Nancy Judd Estes Murphy – after they were baptized in Sep and Oct of 1836 in TN. Below - Representation of baptism of Emanuel M. Murphy in Sep by Abraham O. Smoot, with , Jeremiah and Levoniah Murphy looking on. Nancy E. Murphy (blue dress) will be baptized in Oct 1836.

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Did the ‘spirit of gathering’ touch Emanuel and Nancy Estes Murphy and cause them to gather with other Saints in MO? Where did they go? What were the conditions they and their family found themselves in? How sorely were they tested? Then what? Was a mission in Emanuel’s future? His Patriarchal Blessing foretells one.

What can we today gain from their courage, steadfastness and example? Let us turn to

4 other missionary journals and Church History records for answers. Unfortunately, Emanuel did not keep and personal or mission journal.

Trek to Far West (Zion)

The Emanuel and Jeremiah Murphy lived near Dresden TN, when they and wives were baptized by Abraham O. Smoot and Wilford Woodruff. Emanuel and Nancy were members of the Church about 6 months, when they heeded the call to ‘gather to Zion’ in Far West MO. Those who received and accepted the call began to make the preparations. Abraham O. Smoot and Henry G. Sherwood encouraged the Saints to join others gathering in MO from Kirtland OH and NY.

On Mar 13, 1837 Abraham O. Smoot was back in Tennessee. He walked two miles to Simpson Alexander's, and visited Brother Jeremiah Murphy, who had returned home that day from South Carolina. Jeremiah has been absent from home for six months, lacking ten days (he

5 served a mission in SC). Smoot returned to Elder Alexander's and spent the night.

On the 14th, he traveled 12 miles, on the 14th to Dresden, visited Brother Jeremiah Murphy and spent the night with Brother Emanuel M. Murphy. Jeremiah was 4 ½ years older than Emanuel.

On the 21st of March he traveled 10 miles, visited Brother Emanuel Murphy, and returned to Elder Alexander's and spent the night with him.

Henry G. Sherwood and Abraham O Smoot then formed a company of new Saints to the headquarters of the Church at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, after which Bro. Smoot continued his missionary journeys.

The trek to Zion (Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri) by this company is recorded in Bro. Smoot's journal:

Apr 24 (1837) Monday I started in company with Father S. Hendricks, R. Alexander, L. Brady who pitched their

6 tents for the land of Zion. We traveled 14 miles and pitched our tents 6 miles south of Mayfield County, Section of Graves County, KY. [SRM – north on Dresden TN] See the Map below:

April 27th, we traveled 8 miles and crossed the River Ohio at the Jerry Wilcox's Ferry, met the two Brothers Thomases, and Brother Smith and Brother Emanuel Murphy families, who were also journeying to the land of Zion [Far West]. We pitched our tents on the banks of the river and spent the night. On the morrow

7 we all took our tents and marched for the ‘Promised Land’. Traveled 10 miles on the road leading to Vienna from Wilcox Ferry.

May 5 – We camped and pitched tents in the edge of a prairie in South . On Sunday the 6th, he and Elder Sherwood preached to a respectable audience.

May 10 - Thursday - crossed the Mississippi into St. Louis. Traveled 10 miles.

May 20 - Sunday - Lay by at the above named place 4 miles west of Columbus and preached to a large and attentive audience conducted by me in the forenoon. Elder E. G. Sherwood in the afternoon.

June 1 - Thursday - Traveled 22 miles, arrived at Br. Camps on Long Creek, Caldwell County, Missouri.

On June 2, 1837 - Friday - Traveled 8 miles to reached Far West where I met with the greatest of pleasure many of my Brothers and Sisters in the Lord with whom I had a previous

8 acquaintance. Saw them situated in the land of Zion with peace & plenty which give joy to my soul. Elder Smoot reports:

“It was a great adventure for these emigrants, under the leadership of Henry G. Sherwood, to travel by wagon for 400 miles. They averaged about ten miles a day and pitched their tents each night for shelter.

“Even though the converts were called "Saints", they were not always “Saintly.” In addition to the many physical problems of sickness, bad weather, lack of proper food for both man and beast, there was the persistent problem of getting along with each other socially, as they traveled in this very close association. New families, who joined the group as they moved along, only aggravated the problem of keeping unity in the company.”

Again, we are indebted to Martha P. Thomas for her fine account of this movement, and more especially, the description of the social problems that existed on the trek.

9 ‘We are now started for Zion. After three days' journey I was sick with a disease called sun pain. Crossed the Tennessee River, laid over one day. The pain in my head was so severe I thought I would die. Mr. Thomas came to the tent and said, "Mother! What can I do for you?" "Oh! I don't know. Can you ask Brother Sherwood to administer to me?" "Yes." Now was something new to us for we had not seen anyone healed. He went and spoke to him: "Certainly," he said, "I was thinking about it, but though I would let her call on me."

“He came in the tent with Brother Smoot and others. They laid their hands my head. I felt a calm, quiet spirit go from my head to my feet. He said that I should be healed from that moment; so I was. The pain and soreness of my eyes were all gone. I got out of my bed, washed, ironed, baked, and ready for my journey next day.

“We started — it was something very new to us to be led by anyone and obey in all things. In this we did not fill the bill very well. It not did take him long to tell us sharply that if we

10 did not harken to his counsel better, the wind storms would overtake us. That night I thought we would be destroyed by the falling timber, but no one was hurt.

‘I acknowledge the hand of God, for the fallen timber lay all around us. We commenced studying our duty to our God and our leader. We traveled on quietly for several days. A few families fell in with us, going to Zion the same as we, though strangers to us. Brother Sherwood asked them join our company and he would lead them. They said, No, they would lead themselves! Our leader called them Judas' company; they never got fairly out of sight, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind.

‘One day it was very hot; both man and beast were suffering for water. Our leader went ahead and found running water, "but you must not noon he said: "Loose your cattle, let them drink all they want and you can pack enough for your dinner." We did not like the idea, but we not forgotten the wind storm. We all moved except one family. Sister Margaret Atkinson

11 was with them. She did not like to stay back, but she did.

‘It was about a quarter of a mile to the edge of the grass. There was neither a tree nor a bush to shade us. Brother Sherwood had crawled under our wagon, I thought he was asleep. Old Father Hendricks came walking up to our wagon, harmless as a child, saying "I don't see why we can't travel without a leader as the Judas' company does. They get along as well as do." I wish you could have seen our leader (Brother Sherwood) roll out from under wagon and call the attention of the company.

‘We soon got it (the word) for he spoke with such power we were fairly paralyzed. I cannot think of the hundredth part, but he said if we did not do better acknowledge him as our leader; the judgments of God would come down "Now hitch up your teams and start.’

Our beloved sister Margaret, who was back with the family at the water, saw us were starting and thought she would overtake us, as it was lone to be so far behind. The sun was very hot. She had a large umbrella she

12 usually carried when walking. When she was over half way between wagon and the company she noticed a black cloud rising very fast. We were all watching it. It was but a few minutes when we were in the most severe storm that I ever saw.

It thundered, the lightning was so vivid that it almost blinded us. The rain and hail came down with such force and the wind was so strong the teamsters had to stand with their oxen to keep the wagons quartered with the wind, for fear we might all go rolling together.

But where is Sister Margaret (later become Margaret F. Smoot of Provo)? Brother Allen, I think it was, looked back and saw her sitting in the middle of the road. He went to her as quickly as he could, helping her up out of the mud and water. Her umbrella was wrong side out; the wind and hail were so strong she could not stand up. Where she sat down in road, the mud and rubbish drifted around her. Her skirt, where it was gathered, was full of mud and rubbish. She was frightened nearly to death.

13 Where the storm came from I do not know, whether it was called down from above or up from below we could not say, but we all acknowledged the hand of God in our deliverance.

Dear reader, I do not mean you to think I am finding fault with our leader. We had all confidence in him as a leader and a good man. His fireside teachings were good and noble. We all fasted with the best of feelings and he pronounced great blessings on the faithful. The fault was in ourselves. We did not know how to be led, thought we might lead part of the time.

After a forty days' journey (April 24, to June 2, 1837), the emigrants from the South arrived in Far West and began clearing the timber off the land to commence farming. They worked hard to make a new permanent home, believing that they would not be called upon to make another move. Little they realize the travels and journeys they would have to make, as persecuted Latter- day Saints.

14 With arrival in Far West Mo on the 2th of June, 1837, Emanuel and family set about clearing land of brush and trees, building a log cabin, removing roots and tree stumpws and planting food crops for the upcoming winter months. Nancy bore a child, Mark Bird Murphy, on July 6. We don’t know of whether oxen or horses were used for the trek to Far West. Oxen were preferable to remove stumps and grub the tough sod.

Throughout 1838, in the south of MO, the Saints were greatly troubled by raids, burnings and mob actions by Missourians. The ‘Extermination Order’ of Governor on the 27 Oct 1838 gave all the lawless elements in all of MO license to plunder and attack the Saints where ever they lived.

One notable event occurred in Far West MO. Both Emanuel and Nancy Murphy received their Patriarchal Blessings by the hands of , Sr. Attached is a copy of Emanuel’s blessing, but Nancy’s has not been found yet.

15 We don’t know when the Murphys fled MO, whether it was later in 1838 or early 1839. But, they did return their plantation home in TN, rather go to IL with the body of the Saints. Their lives as Saints continued. They appeared to not have been too discouraged by the harsh treatment and loss of property and goods to the Missourians.

Missionary Labors

Within about a year they moved to SC where Emanuel taught the Gospel to family and friends. Nancy bore another child, Louisa Jane, in SC. From there they moved to GA, continuing his missionary efforts. The Emanuel Murphy family moved to Fayetteville, GA sometime between after June 1840 and before February 1842, referencing the birth of children. Four more children were born in GA. They returned to TN by May 1851, evidenced by birth records of Charles Murphy’s birth there.

Emanuel Masters Murphy appears to have been one of the first Latter-day Saints to do

16 missionary work in the states of Georgia and South Carolina. Lysander M. Davis, an Elder laboring in Cross Keys, Union District, South Carolina, wrote to Nauvoo in 1840; his letter was published in the Times and Seasons (Vol. 1, No. 4, February, 1840

“I have been here more than a month, and preached in various parts of the district. On my first arrival, I found Bro. Emanuel E. Murphy, whom you are acquainted; and with whom I have found an asylum the present time. Here also, I found a few; who through the instrumentality of Bro. E. M. Murphy and the use of his books, were believing in the Gospel.

I preached a few discourses, and baptized four persons.

“Many others are believing. Since that, I have continued preaching two or three times a week, and do not know how long continue. There are plenty of priests here, plenty of

17 professors plenty of all kinds of religions, that of Jesus Christ except preaching of the Gospel here produces the same effects, that preaching of the same doctrine has in all places, and in all the world, viz: all manner of abuse from hypocrites and vagabonds.

“Nevertheless, a tribute of thanksgiving and gratitude, is due to the Author of all good, for in all my travels, during the last six months, through as many as eight different states, extending from the Mississippi to the Atlantic; He has not at any time left me at night without a place to lay my head; nor without a sufficient of food, to supply the demands of nature.”

Emanuel's mission call came by direct appointment of Joseph Smith, whom Emanuel visited in the Liberty Jail [MO] sometime between November 1838 and April 1839. Prophet Joseph urged Bro. Murphy to return

18 to South Carolina and Georgia and tell his family and friends of the disasters prophesied in D&C 87 that were to befall the people of South Carolina [and the South]. (LaMar Berrett, History of the Southern States Mission, 1831-1861, p. 168)

Emanuel later recounted his visit with the Prophet, and his mission to Georgia and South Carolina, in a meeting in the Tabernacle. The Evening News of December 20, 1860, reported:

The weather was pleasant in Great Salt Lake City. Two meetings were held in the Tabernacle. Elder Emanuel M. Murphy preached in the forenoon and Elder and Pres. preached in the afternoon.

Of that meeting, the History of Brigham Young records:

‘Meeting in the Tabernacle - Elder E.M. Murphy preached in the morning. He gave an account of his receiving the Gospel—his gathering to Missouri—his

19 visit to Joseph in prison—the advice of Joseph the Prophet to him to go to South Carolina and Georgia and warn his friends of the war and desolation impending on the people in that country, and to gather his friends to Zion, for the rebellion and war would break out in South Carolina.’

SRM Note: Section 87 of the D&C to read the prophecy. It was given to Joseph Smith on 25 Dec 1832, 29 years before the Civil War started.

Below is an excerpt from the History of Brigham Young, for December 30, 1860 Church Historical Department, Salt Lake City, Utah).

‘Meeting in the Tabernacle - Elder E. M. Murphy preached in the morning. He gave an account of his receiving the Gospel – his gathering to Missouri – his visit to Joseph Smith in prison – the advice of Joseph the Prophet to him to go to South Carolina and Georgia and warn his friends of the wrath and

20 desolation impending on the people in that country, and to gather his friends to Zion for the rebellion and war would break out in South Carolina.’

The talks that same afternoon dwelled on the same subject, the secession of South Carolina as the fulfillment of the war prophecy of D&C 87. Wilford Woodruff's Journal, under the date Dec. 30, 1860, also summarizes those addresses of E. M. Murphy, John Taylor and Brigham Young. (Note: the American Civil War started just over three months later with South Carolina firing upon Federal Fort Sumter on 12 April 1861).

That Emanuel visited Georgia is also documented in the Deseret Evening News, February 18, 1869, in a report of Georgia immigrants in the company of Emanuel's son, Jesse E. Murphy, and Bishop W.C.A. Smoot:

Bro. E.M. Murphy sent teams to the terminus of railroad for the company. Bro. Jesse Jeanes, who designs practicing medicine, was the first person

21 baptized into the church in Georgia, having been baptized by E.M. Murphy when on a mission in that region of the country twenty-two years ago.

In 1857, Emanuel M. Murphy and Hyrum H. Blackwell were called as missionaries to gather up Saints in Tennessee and arrange to bring them to Utah. (, Encyclopedic History of the LPS Church, p. 867.)

The Move West

In 1857, Emanuel Masters Murphy sent his oldest son, Jesse E., then 25 years old, to Utah, to prepare the way for the later arrival of the family. Emanuel family continued traditional southern plantation life.

In 1860, Jesse returned to Florence, Nebraska, where he met his family. Together they made the wagon trek to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The story of this is told later in this history of Emanuel Masters Murphy,

22 under the life of son, Jesse E. Murphy. (Blue Book)

Arriving in Salt Lake City, Emanuel and his son purchased property on South Street. Emanuel built a home on the site across from the present St. Mary Cathedral.

Later, in 1864, Emanuel purchased 80 acres from Brigham Young on Mill Creek, in the area of the present Murphy's Lane: 35th South, between Highland Drive 13th East. Here Emanuel lived until his death.

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Service on the Salt Lake Stake High Council

Emanuel Masters Murphy was a close acquaintance of many of the prominent Church leaders in Salt Lake City: Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and many others. His faithful service to the Church was well recognized. In 1864, he was called serve on the Salt Lake Stake high council. The Salt Lake Stake "the center stake."*

*Before the general priesthood reform of 1877, initiated by Brigham Young (a year of his death), officers in the priesthood quorums of the Salt Lake Stake were sustained semi-annually at General Conferences of the Church. In fact, quorums of the Salt Lake Stake were something like General Authorities over corresponding quorums in other stakes of the Church.

However, with the organization of complete stake presidencies; Melchizedek and Aaronic

24 priesthood quorums at the stake level; and Aaronic priesthood quorums the ward level, all stakes in the Church came to enjoy independent autonomy from the Salt Lake Stake. That Stake no longer enjoyed the preeminence it had in early years in the Salt Lake Valley. (For historical background on this point, see "The Priesthood Reorganization of 1877: Brigham Young's Last Achievement,” by Wm. G. Hartley, BYU Studies, Vol. 20, No. 1, Fall, 1979—the lead article.)

The minutes of the Saturday afternoon, October 8 semi-annual Conference of 1864 read as follows:

The congregation was called to order, and the choir sang the hymn on the 73rd page. Elder Wilford Woodruff offered prayer, after which the choir sang, "0, my Father, thou that dwelleth."

President then presented the Authorities of the Church, each Quorum of whom was unanimously

25 sustained by the vote of the Conference.

Daniel Spencer, President of the Stake of Zion, and and George B. Wallace, his Counselors. High Council: William Eddington, John V. Long, John L. Blythe, George Nebeker, John T. Caine, Joseph W. Young, Howard 0. Spencer, Claudius V. Spencer, John Squires, William B. Folsom, Emanuel M. Murphy, Thomas E. Jeremy, members the High Council. (Journal of Church History)

Emanuel M. Murphy was the eleventh councilman sustained.

On Saturday, April 8, 1865, he was the tenth councilman sustained; likewise on 1865. On Saturday, April 7, 1866, he had moved to eighth place, where he remained on Tuesday, October 8, 1866, and through the following four conferences (Monday, April 8, 1867; October, 1867; Wednesday, April 8, 1868; October 7, 1868).

26 From April, 1869 through May, 1870, Emanuel was seventh on the council; then moved six on October 8, 1870. He continued service on the Salt Lake Stake until his death.

It is recorded that Emanuel Murphy spoke to the School of the Prophets, following remarks by Brigham Young, Brigham Young Jr., and A. Milton Musser, on July 11, 1868.

Emanuel Masters Murphy, my (our) great, great grandfather, passed away the 23 July 1871, almost 62 years of age. He left 4 wives and 12 children, including his oldest child and our common ancestor – Jesse E. Murphy. He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

We have to search widely to find a better known ancestor in the Church than Emanuel Masters Murphy. It gives us pride and satisfaction, as descendents, in the obstacles overcome and accomplishments achieved by this worthy and faithful ancestor.

27 By careful inspection of the gravestone you will note that Nancy Judd Estes, wife of Emanuel Masters Murphy, was born 200 years ago. Happy Birthday, Great, Great Grandmother!

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Married missionary in SC and GA - High Councilman in Salt Lake Stake

؏؏؏؏؏

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31 Wife of Emanuel & Mother of Jesse Jesse E. Murphy as Missionary

32 Emanuel M. Murphy’s Patriarchal Blessing

His blessing is unusual in six aspects: 1] it was given by Joseph Smith Senior, father of the Prophet, 2] ‘Thou must stand up and bless thy children for thou shalt be a Patriarch to them’, 3] ‘thou must be diligent in preaching the Gospel’, 4] ‘thou shalt have power to receive visions of heaven’, 5] ‘thou shalt preach to the spirits in prison’, 6] ‘have the honor to preach to thy father

33 and mother and bring them into the kingdom’. SRM

It is understandable why he was such a committed missionary!

Emanuel M. Murphy’s Patriarchal Blessing

Book of Patriarchal Blessings, 1834-1838, Vol. 1. p. 145

A Patriarchal blessing pronounced by Joseph Smith, Senior upon the head of Emanuel Masters Murphy, son of Mark Murphy, was born in Union district, South

34 Carolina, September 15, 1809. Given at Far West, Mo., Sept 20, 1838.

Brother, by the authority of mine office and in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, I lay my hands upon thy head to bless thee and all the blessings thou art able to bear shall be given to thee, the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall be upon thee, and I bless thee with the same blessing which thy father should have blessed thee, if he was a righteous father upon earth. Inasmuch as thou hast come into the new covenant, thy life shall be long in the land which the Lord has given thee.. All the powers of thine enemies shall not harm thee, and no weapon shall prosper which is formed against

35 thee. thou must be diligent in preaching the Gospel; thou shalt be blessed with the blessings of heaven. Thou must stand up and bless thy children for thou shalt be a Patriarch to them.

Thou shalt have all the blessings of the Priesthood, thou must be diligent in preaching the Gospel and thou shalt be the means of doing good; thou hast already done much good. Thou art of the blood of Jacob and of the seed of Ephraim and if thou art faithful, prisons shalt not hold thee, walls cannot contain thee, thou shalt stand with the hundred and forty and four thousand, if thou wilt receive the Priesthood, be patient and prayerful, pray in the groves and in

36 the forests and thou shalt have power to receive visions of heaven, and thou be a Priest in time and eternity and thou shalt preach to the spirits in prison and have the honor to preach to thy father and mother and bring them into the kingdom.

I seal the seal of God upon thy forehead, and seal thee unto eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ, even so, amen. C. Robinson, Secretary Recorded by Rob. L Campbell September 29, 1860 S. L. City

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Sheldon R. Murphy - Oct 2013

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