Intimate Chronicle: The Journals Of William Clayton

William Clayton is best remembered today for his hymns, especially "Come, Come Ye Saints." Less known are his contributions as a church scribe, especially where large portions of his journals have been silently incorporated into LDS scripture and history. His impressions of day-to-day activities in Illinois and early Utah are equally significant.

In ministering to the infirm, for instance, Clayton anointed with perfumed oil and rum. He performed baptisms to heal the sick. He testifies of people speaking in tongues, others "almost speaking in tongues." When introduced to plural marriage, he was reluctant but eventually became an enthusiastic husband of ten women and father of forty-two children.

Since polygamy was secret, Clayton spent much of his time putting out fires of innuendo and discontent. He caught his first plural wife rendezvousing with her former fiance; later, when she became pregnant, her overwrought mother who knew nothing of polygamy attempted suicide. Joseph Smith reassured him: "Just keep her at home and brook it and if they raise trouble about it and bring you before me I will give you an awful scourging and probably cut you off from the church and then I will set you ahead as good as ever." Clayton was also the object of Emma Smith's attentions, allegedly part of a jealous wife's plan for revenge.