Scraps of Biography: Tenth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints

In Short

This volume serves as a collection of personal accounts from early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through sketches of lives like those of John Tanner and Newel Knight, the book chronicles conversions, miraculous healings, and the violent displacement of a growing religious community in 19th-century America. It is designed to inspire the younger generation by highlighting the sacrifices made by their predecessors. The text provides a window into a specific religious culture, emphasizing the endurance of faith through displacement, loss, and the promise of a peaceful future.

The Story

The narrative begins with the quiet, domestic lives of individuals who, upon encountering missionaries, undergo profound spiritual transformations. John Tanner, a man of means, finds himself bedridden and suffering from a chronic ailment that baffles physicians. His life takes a sharp turn when he hears the message of the gospel; his immediate healing and subsequent baptism mark the beginning of a life defined by radical devotion. He liquidates his property and ventures into the harsh winters of the mid-1830s to join the community in Kirtland, leaving behind the skepticism of neighbors who view his actions as madness.

The narrative arc soon shifts from the internal joy of conversion to the external pressures of a hostile environment. As the community gathers in Missouri, these individuals find themselves targeted by mobs and legal authorities alike. The story details the harrowing realities of this era: homes are unroofed, families are driven into the elements during severe winter storms, and lives are lost in brutal conflicts such as the massacre at Hawn’s Mill. Through these dark passages, the central figures are forced to rely on their faith as their primary defense. They describe encounters where they manage to survive through the intervention of sympathetic neighbors, legal counsel, or what they perceive as divine protection.

The accounts follow these pioneers through repeated cycles of displacement. They move from Missouri to Iowa and eventually toward the Rocky Mountains. The narrative does not shy away from the exhaustion of these journeys, noting the loss of family members to disease and the suddenness of death. For figures like Newel Knight, the trials are constant, yet the goal remains focused on the survival and growth of the community. Even when facing the collapse of property or the loss of loved ones, the survivors maintain a sense of purpose. The stories conclude with the final passing of these early believers, framing their deaths as a peaceful transition after a life of service. Lydia Knight’s account of her husband’s final days provides a poignant end to the chronicle, emphasizing a quiet, faith-filled departure that contrasts sharply with the earlier turbulence of their lives. These biographies serve as a testament to the belief that, while the world may offer persecution, the internal life of the believer remains fortified by the conviction that their suffering serves a higher, enduring cause.

How It Unfolds

The call to belief Ordinary individuals, some suffering from physical ailments or searching for greater meaning, encounter missionaries. They report immediate spiritual awakenings that lead to the abandonment of their former lives and habits.

The gathering of the faithful The newly converted commit their resources and futures to the collective movement. They travel long distances, often through dangerous winter conditions, to join the growing church in the West.

The shadow of conflict As the community establishes itself, it faces immediate suspicion and aggression from local populations. The narrative documents the legal harassment of leadership and the physical violence perpetrated by organized mobs.

The struggle for survival The accounts detail the systematic destruction of property and the forced migrations of families. The survivors face exposure to the elements, starvation, and the loss of friends and children in acts of violence.

The final journey The records transition from the era of intense persecution toward the settlement of new lands. The final chapters focus on the aging of the original converts and their eventual deaths, often marked by a serene reflection on their life's work.

The People

John Tanner appears as a man of immense generosity and physical resilience. His transformation from a wealthy, sickly man to a dedicated, wandering advocate for his faith demonstrates the power of his conviction. He is willing to sacrifice his worldly security, repeatedly losing property to fire or mob violence, yet he never waivers in his commitment to the church.

Newel Knight acts as both a participant and a chronicler. He is a man of deep introspection who struggles with his own fears and the external pressures placed upon him by family members and hostile neighbors. He seeks to provide spiritual guidance to his branch, even when faced with the agonizing task of witnessing the suffering of those he loves. His wife, Lydia Knight, emerges as a figure of quiet strength, documenting the final, peaceful moments of a life defined by displacement and struggle.

Joseph Smith is portrayed through the eyes of his followers as a prophet whose presence brings both intense comfort and significant peril. He is the catalyst for their movement, and his ability to withstand the "sworn enemies" who seek his life provides the spiritual and emotional core that keeps the others moving forward. These individuals are not presented as flawless, but as people who believe they are chosen to carry a specific burden, finding their identity through their trials.

In Its Own Voice

I arose, threw down my crutches, and walked the floor back and forth--back and forth, praising God, and I felt as light as a feather.

John Tanner describes his sudden, miraculous healing that convinces him to immediately change his life and join the movement.

My soul was drawn out in pity for her, yet I knew not what to do.

Newel Knight describes his internal struggle when he is asked to provide spiritual relief to an aunt who is suffering from the spiritual turmoil of apostasy.

The next night he awoke with a severe pain in his right side, a fever had also set in, and he expressed himself to me that he did not expect to recover.

Lydia Knight recounts the final days of her husband, Newel, marking the peaceful end of a life spent in service to his faith.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the triumph of faith over adversity. The book argues that spiritual conviction is not merely a belief system, but a practical, active force that sustains individuals through the most extreme circumstances. It asks the reader to consider whether true belief can endure when that belief invites poverty, persecution, and displacement. The text also explores the tension between the "truth" held by the faithful and the "fiction" or "witchcraft" perceived by their neighbors. It serves as a study in how a community creates and reinforces its own history in the face of widespread public hostility, framing its survival as proof of its divine favor.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American religious movements will find this book an essential, if challenging, primary document. It offers an unfiltered look at how 19th-century converts articulated their own experiences, complete with the period-specific language, intense moral certainty, and the often-jarring accounts of violence that defined their era. The reading experience is visceral; one feels the cold of the winter journeys and the fear of the mob attacks described in the text.

However, the modern reader should be prepared for the book's distinct bias and didactic tone. It is not an objective history, but a series of testimonials intended to mold the character of the youth of its time. The prose is earnest and sometimes repetitive, reflecting the conversational style of mid-19th-century diarists. Despite these hurdles, the book remains a striking example of how a group of people maintained their identity through total systemic collapse. What stays with the reader is the stark contrast between the domestic quiet of a family meal and the sudden, explosive violence that could—and often did—shatter it. It is a haunting, often somber reminder of the extreme costs that have been paid in the name of belief.