Sully Richardson stories

Sullivan Richardson stories

MORMON INDIAN RELATIONS

by Sullivan Calvin Richardson

8 THE DEMISE OF LIGHTNING

Quite a number of the Moquis were accustomed to come to the Order settlements ...many to glean in the wheat fields.

Two of them, Tochie and Lightning, we young folks especially liked. I really believed the stories told of Lightning (spoken of in the healing of James Cowley) that he would run thirty five miles to his farm, hoe his corn, and run back the same day.

One may easily be thought lacking mentally to credit such a tale, unless acquainted with the endurance for ages of a people bottled up by the Navajos. It was common knowledge that some of their men would run an antelope down until so fatigued it would allow the pursuer to come near enough to send an arrow through its heart. In one case this was witnessed by our folks. The antelope was so near its end that it passed with its tongue out frothing with fatigue, while the Indian smiled and motioned as he passed.

Lightning, as the name implies, was one of their fleetest, but was growing old. Then for a long time he was not seen by our people on the little Colorado.

Many of us asked for "Tochie" and him. Their dancing and so many things interested us so much, besides their smiling friendliness. At last, Lot Smith cornered one of their leading men and asked,

"Where is Lightning?"

He replied, "Oh, he's dead."

Lot asked, "What killed him?"

"O, he got old, couldn't do nothing ...so we bury him." he was told.

The answer was given in such a way, Lot was surprised, and asked, "Why, wasn't he dead?"

"Yes: He was a little dead. He was old. He no do nothing. We take 'im."

Lot asked, "Did he hang back?"

He was told, "Yes, a little. But we take ‘im.

Lot questioned until he learned they had dragged him off and buried him. The burial was described as being crowded into a hole with his knees up to his chin and covered up. Safety of the village in times of scarcity of food made this common fate of those who become too infirm and unable to get food. It made us rejoice that our missionary teachings have changed these conditions.

CHIEF CURLEY BEAR VISITS THE SPIRIT WORLD

Nephi A. Anderson has a copy of a story told by Curley Bear to Elders Frank Warner and Jack J. Galbreath on the 13th of March, 1917. It has the following as a preface:

In the early spring of 1917, Elder Frank Warner, a full blood Indian, made a visit to the Mormon colonies in Canada. He preached in each of the settlements in the Taylor Stake and then went to the Alberta Stake. After going around this stake, he hunted Jack J. Galbreath, another half blood Indian whose mother was the daughter of the chief of the Blackfeet Tribe, and his father a Scotchman.

Together they went to visit the Chief of the Blackfeet Indians in Montana.

Elder Warner was picked up after a skirmish between the whites and the Indians in the early settlement of Idaho. He was raised by the Mormon people and became a very faithful member. He has received his blessings in the temple and spent all the later part of his life preaching to both Indians and whites. He was about five feet two inches high and weighed about 125 pounds. At this time (1917) is an old man.

Elder Galbreath was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and married a Mormon girl. He was converted by the faithful life of his wife and the Book of Mormon. He is about 6'2" tall and weighs about 250 pounds, and at this time is about 35 years old.

When these two men visited Curley Bear he would not invite them into his house nor talk to them. After trying for some time to interest him, they started to leave.

As they were walking away, the Chief's son, White Calf, began to talk to his father, telling him that these men represented in appearance the men who were to bring them the book they had heard about from their friend.

At this, the Chief sent his son to call them back. As they were approaching him again, the Chief asked if they had a record of their people?

Elder Galbreath drew from his left pocket, with his right hand, the Book of Mormon and presented it to the Chief. After this they were invited into the house and were asked to tell the Chief and his son all about their religion. After this was done, the Chief told them a very unique story.

(After the visit, Elders Warner and Galbreath came back to Cardston, met the President of the Stake and the Patriarch. They related their experience and this story which was recorded and typed at this meeting.)

After telling them, "I know you have brought the truth for it was told to me four or five years ago that a book was coming in our midst and that you people were going to deliver the truth unto us." He told of a very dear friend who had always lived a worthy life and had been shown many things in regard to the other world, and of the World War, etc. He was told to come there again in a year (in 1914) which he did. He also came in 1915 and received more instruction. He was then given the following:

He was given instruction again, to be faithful and the next fall to go to the Rocky Mountains directly west of his home. He was told to bring his wife and daughter as witnesses with him. He was permitted to invite others to go with him, but they would not believe him or go.

As he neared the mountains, he found a lot of good feed and water and started to unhook his team. While he was doing so, the same small figure appeared, and he said to his wife, "Here is the figure I have told you about. He has come to meet me. Now hurry up and pitch our teepee."

After this was done, the small figure said, "I am going to take your husband for a long trip. He cannot take his body with him this time, as we are going to my Father's house. We are going to leave his body here. You must keep it well wrapped and Protected, but do not be alarmed. He will be as if dead for two days. When the body quivers, it will be a sign that the spirit is leaving.

He felt himself leaving his body and the teepee and looked back, but felt the same as before. They traveled until they got to the first heaven with the wicked Indians (spoken of in the first part).

He looked all over it and then was permitted to go on to the next one. The figure said, "This will show you the different heavens you may obtain by being faithful.

Coming to the second heaven they found things brighter and found different stages of progression. They traveled for some time at a good speed. The Indian's eyes were closed. He was permitted to open his eyes. There he beheld a marvelous sight: flowers blooming everywhere, beautiful buildings covering a large country. One was pointed out as the Father's home, which represented a chandelier with diamonds hanging around it and was so brilliant he could hardly look at it.

The people's countenances were so bright he could hardly look at them. There came to him a woman. The figure said, "You are permitted to talk to her and she to you." The woman's countenance was very bright. She said, "Do you know me?"

He said, "No."

She said, "I am a Blackfeet Indian woman. I was very faithful and my husband is on the first world where the wicked are. We have got to help these people all we can. You can do a wonderful work for our people. The Son will give you further instructions. My husband cut off my ears, disfiguring me for committing adultery as he claimed, but I was not untrue."

The little figure told him this was the high Heaven where all the people go by being faithful to their God.

These things were in evidence of a book that was going to come amongst them. There will be a book delivered to you people giving instructions to you of an unpopular religion. But they are for your safety and protection. He told them to obey the commandments which are in this book, and they must do all they could to help and gain knowledge. He was told to go to his people and to the Blackfeet and tell them about this which was surely to come.

Neither White Calf nor Curley Bear could read or write.

(Copied by Sullivan Calvin Richardson as written. August 13, 1930. "I have not verified this, but I believe it. It is so near what we believe that I accept it and add it here among the testimonies.)

The "LIAHONA" of June 19, 1909 (p. 1276) has under

DID JESUS VISIT THE INDIANS?

From the "Outlook" of the 5th by Clara D. True, Woman Indian Agent, some interesting data in regard to Indians. (The emphasis in capitals is my own ...S.C.R.)

"The Indians have a religious life all their own, of which few white people are aware. I think the majority of the Indians have not departed very far from the old beliefs, even though most of the people are members of Christian churches. There is much that is beautiful in the so called pagan religion. In fact, among some of THE MORE HIGHLY DEVELOPED TRIBES there appears to be little difference between the teachings of the Indian divinity and those of Christ.

One is tempted, upon intimate knowledge of some of the old people, TO WONDER WHETHER THE SON OF MAN APPEARED TO THE INDIAN ALSO, or WHETHER THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM BY SOME UNFORGOTTEN PAUL GENERATIONS AGO, was forgotten. The more one knows of the Indian as he really is, NOT AS HE APPEARS TO THE TOURIST, THE TEACHER, or the PREACHER, the more one wonders.

The remnant of knowledge that the Red Brother has is an inheritance FROM A PEOPLE OF HIGHER THOUGHT than we have usually based our speculations upon.

It is to be regretted that in dealing with the Indian we have not regarded him worthwhile until it is too late TO ENRICH OUR LITERATURE and traditions with the contributions he could so easily have made.

We have regarded him as a thing to be robbed and converted rather than a being with intellect, sensibilities, and will, all highly developed, the development being on different lines from our own as necessity dictated.

The continent was his college. The slothful student was expelled from it by President Nature.

Physically, mentally, and morally, the North American Indian BEFORE HIS DEGRADATION AT OUR HANDS was a man whom his descendants need not despise.

The Liahona also adds: A few decades ago these great truths were accepted by practically none except the L.D.S. and they numbered only a few thousand souls.

Now millions of people in many lands are becoming convinced that the Gospel of Christ was preached many centuries ago on the American continent.

There is almost universal reluctance to admit such conclusions as it would be to admit that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.

(Gathered July 3, 1930 by S.C.R.)