I, William Holmes Walker, as a young man beginning to establish myself, lived with the Prophet as a boarder and member of his family for three years in Nauvoo, Illinois, helping in his domestic affairs as needed. I was intimately acquainted with his demeanor toward all whom he encountered. “The more extensive my acquaintance and experience became with him, the more my confidence in him increased.”
“An incident shows the contempt he had for any person of questionable character. In regard to his private life, as to purity, honesty, virtue, charity, benevolence, liberality, refined and sensitive feelings, and nobility of character; his superior did not exist on earth.
“Not long after the Mansion was open as a hotel, a stranger came and registered. Just before supper he insulted on of the hired girls. The Prophet heard of it after the stranger had retired. The next morning he met him as he came down from his room and said, “Sir, I understand that you insulted one of the employees of this house last evening.”
“The stranger began to make all kinds of apologies, but nothing would answer the purpose. The Prophet told the stranger to get his baggage and to get, in a tone of voice that almost make his hair stand on straight on his head. The man offered to pay his bill.
“‘I want you to get. I want none of your money, or any other man’s of your stamp.’
“Upon that, the stranger struck a lively exit.”
This story shows the priority Joseph set on courtesy and respect that persons should exercise toward others, whatever their relationship should be.
William Holmes Walker was born in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont, August 28, 1820; baptized September, 1835; was a member of the Mormon Battalion, a missionary, a temple worker and a patriarch in the Church. (The office of Patriarch requires that the man so appointed shall be pure in heart and thus able to receive the word of the Lord for those in his stewardship.)
Hyrum L. Andrus, They Knew the Prophet, pp. 148-149.