HARRIS, Silas: YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO FIRE A GUN

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Silas Harris was born in Lawrence County, Indiana, on October 14, 1824. He was the son of Moses and Fanny Smith Harris. He was baptized a member of the CHurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Far West Missouri when he was 14 years old. When he was 22 years of age his family headed West for the Salt Lake Valley. When the company arrived at Council Bluffs, Silas tells us in his own words what happened next.

“Two or three days before our arrival at Council Bluffs, the news reached us that a battalion of our people had been called by the government to join the U.S. Army to fight Mexico, which country was threatening some of our territory.

Without any serious thought on the subject, I said I was going. The saying uttered lightly, proved prophetic.

I joined Company B under Captain Jesse Hunter and was with the Battalion sharing its fortunes until disbanded at Los Angeles in 1847.

At Fort Leavenworth I was taken sick with mumps. Rather than go on the sick list in the hands of an unfriendly doctor, I marched in the ranks, taking such care of myself as I could under the circumstances, and taking the advice of my Uncle William Hawk.

I did not recover until the Battalion reached Santa Fe. Much of the time during the march I acted as teamster.

Before we left for our long journey, President Brigham Young promised the Battalion boys, that if they would be faithful and not unnecessarily destroy property belonging to others as they passed through, and not destroy life, they would not have to fire a gun. This promise was realized by our Mormon boys.”

Silas returned to Utah in 1848. He went on to marry and have a large family. He served as a church leader. He establish Zion wherever he went. His faith to follow the counsel and guidance of a living Prophet is a testimony that the Lord will bless us when we obey.

Silas remained faithful to the Church and to the prophet Brigham Young. He learned, as we all must, the significance of what the Lord meant when He said, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:38)