An
important and historic council meeting was held at the home of Elder John
Taylor. Along with members of the
Twelve,[1]
were leading citizens of Illinois, members of the Quincy committee, General
John J. Hardin (commander of the Illinois state militia), Judge Stephen A.
Douglas,[2]
and J. A. McDougal (attorney general of the state). The discussion centered on whether the Saints would be leaving
Nauvoo, an action which would appease the mob and bring an end to the
persecution, murders and house burning.
This committee felt that if the Saints did not leave, the mob would
raise up enough forces to overwhelm Nauvoo.
They were looking for some convincing proof to show the mob that the
Saints were really intending to leave Nauvoo.
Brigham
Young presented the Church's intentions to vacate the city. General Hardin liked the plans and promised
to do all in his power to help the Saints.
He approved of a proposed idea for the Saints to relocate to Vancouver
Island (Canada). Judge Stephen Douglas
commented that the island was claimed by the United States, and felt that there
would be no objection to settling there.
General Hardin suggested that there be appointed trustees to sell the
property in Nauvoo.
Brigham
Young wanted to make it clear that the Church had decided to leave the
city. He mentioned that the greatest
proof was that they were not planting winter wheat. Judge Douglas and General Hardin expressed satisfaction, but were
worried that it would be difficult to leave if the Saints could not sell their
lands. The committee asked to have the
brethren put their proposal to leave in writing. They would then bring it before the governor and the people of
the state.
The Twelve responded by sending a letter which explained that they were organizing into four companies of one hundred families for removal from Nauvoo.
That one
thousand families, including the twelve, the high council, the trustees and
general authorities of the church, are fully determined to remove in the
spring, independent of the contingency of selling our property; and that this
company will comprise from five to six thousand souls. . . . That we have some
hundreds of farms, and some 2,000 or more houses for sale in this city and
county, and we request all good citizens to assist in the disposal of our
property. . . . That we do not intend to sow any wheat this fall, and should we
sell, we shall not put in any more crops of any description. . . . That if all
these testimonies are not sufficient to satisfy any people that we are in
earnest, we will soon give them a sign
that cannot be mistaken; we will leave them!
While this
meeting was going on, about four hundred of the State troops paraded around the
city. They marched to the temple and entered
it. Hosea Stout, the chief of the
Nauvoo police, followed them closely. They took a Brother Caleb Baldwin
prisoner for a time but later released him.
Finally the troops returned to their camp. At night, the weather turned gloomy with wind, rain, lightning
and thunder.
The
citizens of Quincy passed a number of resolutions: (1) Accept the Mormon’s
proposition to leave the state in the spring with no obligation on the citizens
to purchase property. (2) They did not
believe the Mormons were a persecuted people.
Any problems they have had were well deserved. (3) It was too late to try to settle any difficulties. (4) If the Mormons did not remove as
promised, the anti-Mormons would be ready to use force. (5) Other counties should let them know if
they agreed with these resolutions. (6) Sheriff Backenstos should resign his
office. (7) All legal prosecutions in process related to the recent
difficulties should be dropped.
(8) The Mormons should appoint commissioners
to sell their property. (9) To help the
poor, widowed, and orphans in Nauvoo, a committee should be appointed to accept
donation to aid their removal from the city.
(10) No further arrests were to be made related to the recent problems.
(11) No court should be held in the county this fall. (12) A small military force should be stationed
in the county until spring. (13) A committee of five should be appointed to
raise a volunteer military force in Adams County to preserve peace. (14) The Quincy Committee was warmly thanked
for their service. (15) That the meeting could be adjourned. (16) That the
proceedings of the meeting be published with copies sent to the governor and
Church authorities in Nauvoo.
In their
convention minutes, they stated:
All the
disturbances in the county have grown out of the continual and unceasing
depredations of the Mormons upon the person and property of the other citizens
of Hancock . . . we are satisfied that no people, however, quietly disposed,
can live in the immediate neighborhood of the Mormons without being drawn into
collision with them, and without a resort to arms for self-protection. . . . We
are satisfied that peace and harmony can be restored to the county, only, by
the separation of the Mormons and the other citizens of the county; and
whereas, we are not willing to consent that the old citizens of the county,
(who are among the best citizens of the State,) shall be driven out, and a
community of thieves, robbers, and assassins retained in their stead. . .
History of
the Church, 7:449-53;
Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 1:280; Hosea Stout
Diary, typescript, 2:66-8; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 22; Comprehensive
History of the Church, 2:183; Hallwas, Cultures in Conflict, 306
The Twelve
and others met in a council meeting with General Hardin’s staff. The general left around 11 a.m. for
Carthage. Brigham Young and Heber C.
Kimball went to visit the sick and also went to the temple. A floor was being laid in the lower level
for the upcoming general conference. In
the evening, a council meeting was held at Willard Richards’ home where “great
union prevailed.”
A funeral
was held for Daniel Spencer’s[3]
wife, Sarah Lester Van Schoonoven
Spencer.
Austin
Cravath died at the age of thirty-nine.
A son, Joseph Smith Worthen, was born to Samuel and Sarah Worthen.[4]
The Quincy
committee of John J. Hardin, William B. Warren, Stephen A. Douglas, and J.A.
McDougal, wrote a letter to the leaders of the Church. They reported that since their meeting on
the previous day, they had gone to the anti-Mormon camp and had an open
conversation with them. They had read
the Church’s statement that the Saints would vacate Nauvoo. The anti-Mormons told the Quincy committee
of their resolution to accept the Church’s proposition to leave.
The
committee believed that such a crisis had been reached that it would be
impossible for the Church to remain in the country. “Should you not do so, we are satisfied, however much we may deprecate
violence and bloodshed, that violent measures will be resorted to, to compel
your removal, which will result in most disastrous consequences to yourselves
and your opponents, and that the end
will be your expulsion from the state.”
The
committee recommended that the governor leave an armed force in the county to
preserve that peace. They asked Church
leaders “to prevent them [Church members] from committing acts of aggression or
retaliation on any citizens of the state.”
The
anti-Mormons had also resolved to force all Mormon or Mormon sympathizing
office holders to relinquish their county offices.
History of
the Church, 7:450-51; Heber Kimball Journal in Woman’s
Exponent 11:178; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:68; Andrus, Mormon
Manuscripts to 1846: Guide to
Lee Library, BYU
The Church
leaders received a copy of the resolutions made by the anti-Mormon citizens of
Quincy.
Thomas
Bullock[5]
had a conversation with Elder Willard Richards at the temple. Elder Richards told him that he was going to
leave Nauvoo and asked Thomas Bullock to go with him. Brother Bullock said he would. Elder Richards instructed him to
sell his property. Thomas Bullock
returned home and shared the exciting news with his wife that they would be
leaving for California. He also told
Stephen Nixon[6] who
expressed interest to go too.
Hosea
Stout met with Shadrach Roundy[7]
who informed him that Brigham Young had asked Brother Roundy to raise a company
of one hundred men to emigrate to California.
This number would include members of the “old Police” from the Nauvoo
Legion. Brother Stout went to the
temple and asked John D. Lee if Brother Roundy’s statement was true. Brother Lee confirmed it, saying that he was
present when President Young gave this order.
Brother Lee speculated that President Young was probably dissatisfied
with the “old Police” and this was a way to give them a new assignment.
Orson
Pratt wrote a letter to Samuel Brannan reporting that he had just returned from
a short mission to Boston, Lowell, and Peterboro. “I found the saints in those places, united and firm in the cause
of truth, rejoicing in the increased light and knowledge of this great
dispensation.” The Saints were
enthused about the progress of the Nauvoo House and the Nauvoo Temple. “They look forward with joy to the time when
they shall meet with the thousands of Saints, to receive the necessary
preparations, knowledge, and endowments, for the exaltation of themselves,
together with their progenitors and children.”
The Saints in the east had responded to a call to purchase canvas for a
tabernacle in Nauvoo.
History of
the Church, 7:450-51; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:68-9;
“Thomas Bullock Journal,” 22-3; Watson, The Orson Pratt Journals, 289-90
It was a
gloomy, rainy day. Hosea Stout awoke in
the morning to discover that his cows had broken into his garden and nearly
destroyed all of his cabbage. Thomas
Bullock spied a flock of thirty‑three geese flying south for the winter.
A General
Council meeting was held at Seventies' Hall.
On the way to the meeting, Elder Willard Richards prophesied to other
members of the Twelve that they would be able to find the means to move all of
the poor from Nauvoo.
The
resolutions from the citizens of Quincy were read to the Council. Brigham Young recommended that they cease
publishing the Church periodical, Nauvoo Neighbor. The circulation of the newspaper could no longer
reach the honest in heart outside of Nauvoo.
The paper should be saved for other uses. Extras and circulars could still be printed. The Times and Seasons would also be
shut down.
A
committee of three, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Spencer and William W. Phelps,[8]
was appointed to gather the statements in the press about the Church. They were to write a document about the
persecutions received from the United States.
A report
was generated to circulate what the requirements would be for a family of five
adults to journey across the plains.
They would need a good covered-wagon, three yoke of oxen, two or more
cows and other farm animals. One
thousand pounds of flour, a bushel of beans, one hundred pounds of sugar, a
musket or rifle for each man, twenty‑five pounds of salt, a few pounds of
dried beef or bacon, a tent for two families, ten to fifty pounds of seed,
farming tools, clothes, bedding, cooking utensils, and many other useful items.
An
artillery of cannons and ammunition would be taken west. It was thought that the journey of about two
thousand miles, all the way to the coast, would take only four or five months.
Ralph
DeLong, age forty-two, died. Also,
Samuel C. Stevens, age fifty died.[9] A boy, Myron Canfield, was born to Cyrus and
Clarissa Canfield. A daughter, Emily
Jane Woodward was born to Jedediah and Emily Woodward.
New York City, New York:
Orson
Pratt wrote an epistle to the Saints in the Eastern and Middle States. He reported about the severe persecution
raging around Nauvoo.
Again the
flocks and herds, wheat, and other kinds of grain--the hard earnings of an
industrious, though much injured people, are destroyed by the desolating
ravages of the MURDERERS OF OUR PROPHET AND PATRIARCH. Again hundreds of families are deprived of a
shelter and forced to flee, at the point of the bayonet, from the smoking ruins
of their own houses, to seek refuge in other parts. . . . now dwelling in exile
in this boasted land of freedom.
Elder Pratt
asked the Saints to donate their means to the cause,in addition to the tithing
that they were already paying.
One of the
most useful weapons of self defense is the Six Barrelled Pistol, about 5 or 6
inches in length. Let the saints in
every branch in the east, obtain large quantities of these for the purpose of
self defense. . . . the weapons shall be purchased, and forthwith forwarded by
some safe conveyance to the proper authorities in the West, that they may have
the means of self defense.”
History of
the Church, 7:453‑55; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript,
2:69; Watson, The Orson Pratt Journals, 291-92
There was
a severe frost overnight. The leaves
were turning yellow on this very historic day in Nauvoo when the first public
meeting was held in the Nauvoo Temple. The official History of the Church
reads,
It
certainly afforded a holy satisfaction to think that since the sixth of April,
1841, when the first stone was laid, amidst the most straitened circumstances,
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had witnessed their bread cast
upon waters, or more properly, their obedience to the commandments of the Lord,
appear in the tangible form of a Temple, entirely enclosed, windows in; with
temporary floors, pulpits and seats to accommodate so many persons preparatory
to a General Conference; no General Conference having been held for three years
past, according to the declaration of our martyred Prophet:
'There
shall be no more baptisms for the dead, until the ordinance can be attended to
in the font of the Lord's House; and the church shall not hold another General Conference,
until they can meet in said house. For
thus saith the Lord.’
Brigham
Young opened the services with a dedicatory prayer, presenting the Temple, as
much as was completed, “as a monument of the saints.” He prayed, “Lord, we dedicate this house and ourselves, to thee.”
The
temple’s motto was: “Holiness to the Lord.”
Other leaders spoke, giving instruction, teachings and bearing
testimony. They included, Patriarch
John Smith, Parley P. Pratt, and Willard Richards. John Taylor expressed the hope that peace would now be
established to let the Saints finish the temple and move in a body next
spring. Norton Jacob recorded that
Elder Taylor stated that “he would feel to rejoice when he had got beyond the
bounds of the Christians for he would not then have to carry his six-shooter in
his pocket all the time as he had since the blood suckers tried to suck his
blood in Carthage Jail.”
In the
afternoon, at 2 p.m., another meeting was held in the temple. Brigham Young organized four emigration
companies under the leadership of members of the Twelve. The members were “called out,” told to take
certain seats, and then given instructions.
Captains were also appointed.
Five teams were called out of each company to work on the temple. The meeting concluded at 5 p.m.
Luman
Shurtliff’s[10] wife,
Eunice, was very sick, heavy with child.
She had chills and fever.
Brother Shurtliff sent for the Elders to bless her, but she did not
improve.
A
daughter, Julia Pack, was born to John and Julia Pack.[11]
Jedediah
M. Grant wrote to Orson Pratt. He
reported that the Saints in that area were doing well and donating money to
help him return to Nauvoo. He wrote, “May
the God of Joseph and Hyrum bless them for their kindness to me and my
family.” He planned to leave in the
morning with Brothers Andrew H. Scott,[12]
James H. Flanigan, and others. He
reported that the news of persecution
around Nauvoo “gives new energy to the saints here.” There had been eight new converts since his last report, making a
total of one hundred baptisms during his stay in Philadelphia.
History of
the Church, 7:247; “Joseph Hovey Autobiography,” 72; “Norton Jacob
Autobiography,” 15; “Luman Shurtliff Autobiography,” 65; “Thomas Bullock
Journal,” 23; Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 2:7
The General
Conference of the Church was convened in the morning, in the Nauvoo
Temple. Brigham Young presided with
five other members of the Twelve Apostles also present. The conference was opened with singing by
the choir and the prayer offered by Elder Parley P. Pratt. The choir “occupied a gallery at the west
end, opposite the stand.”
Elder
Willard Richards first addressed the congregation and encouraged them to be
more punctual. President Young had
waited from 9:30 a.m. to almost 11 a.m. for the Saints to gather. Elder Richards stated that there was much
important business to addressed during the conference. He asked that all the Saints who had
recently had property destroyed or buildings burned by the mob, to make out an
affidavit before the justice of the peace as soon as possible.
Patriarch
John Smith, the president of the Nauvoo stake, was asked to present the
authorities of the Church for sustaining vote.
He presented the Twelve Apostles as the Presidents of the whole church. Each member of the Twelve was sustained
individually. When Elder William
Smith's name was presented, Elder Orson Pratt arose and stated, “I have an
objection to Brother William continuing in that office. I feel, as an individual, that I cannot,
conscientiously, uphold and sustain Brother William as one of the Twelve
Apostles, until he thinks different from what he does now. . . . I have proof
positive that he is an aspiring man; that he aspires to uproot and undermine
the legal Presidency of the Church, that he may occupy the place himself.” The official conference minutes record, “The
motion being seconded, a vote was then taken to sustain him, but was lost
unanimously.”
When Elder
Lyman Wight's[13] name was
presented, Almon W. Babbitt[14]
stated that he could not conscientiously vote to sustain him. He felt that Elder Wight had sought to
divide the Church and was not united with the Twelve. Elder Heber C. Kimball arose and stated that at the last
conference they had voted to retain Elder Wight, to see what course he would
take. Since that time, Elder Wight had
been away with a small company of Saints and they did not know where he was or
what he was doing. “Whereupon it was
moved, that we let the case of Brother Lyman Wight lay over for the present
until we hear from him. Seconded and
carried unanimously.”
Isaac
Morley then arose to present William Smith as the patriarch of the Church. The vote was “seconded and lost
unanimously.”
Brigham
Young presented the name of Elder Willard Richards to serve as Historian for
the Church and General Recorder. John
Smith was sustained as the President of the Stake along with his counselors,
Isaac Morley and Charles C. Rich. The
High Council was sustained with Samuel Bent as its president. George Miller was sustained as the president
of the High Priest's Quorum along with his counselors. Joseph Young was sustained as the Senior
President of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Other Presidents of the Seventy were sustained.
George A. Smith
expressed concern that Roger Orton,[15]
who had been called as one of the seven Presidents a year earlier, still had
not stepped forward to serve in his calling.
Brigham Young arose at said, “I say if men will not act and magnify
their calling, let more honorable men be appointed.” It was then moved and sustained that Brother Orton be dropped
from this calling.
The
conference next sustained the Elder's Quorum presidency, the Bishops, the
Teacher's Quorum Presidency, and President Young moved that a quorum of Deacons
be selected with a president over them, under the direction of the Presiding
Bishops. This session of the conference
was then adjourned until 2 p.m.
In the
afternoon, Elder Parley P. Pratt addressed the Saints. He discussed why the Saints were building
houses and a temple even though they planned to leave the city. “The people of God always were required to
make sacrifices, and if we have a sacrifice to make, [I am] in favor of its
being something worthy of the people of God.”
Nauvoo would be left as a monument to the people. “The people must enlarge‑‑in
numbers and extend their borders; they cannot always live in one city, nor in
one county. . . . In short, this people are fast approaching that point which
ancient prophets have long since pointed out as the destiny of the saints of
the last days.”
Elder
George A. Smith spoke on the same subject.
He looked forward to leaving Nauvoo and finding a place where they could
live in peace. He encouraged the Saints
to be united. “When we were to leave
Missouri the saints entered into a covenant not to cease their exertions until
every saint who wished to go was removed, which was done.”
President
Brigham Young prophesied: “If you will
be faithful to your covenant, I will now prophesy that the great God will
shower down means upon this people, to accomplish it [moving all the Saints out
of Nauvoo].”
The
conference session was closed with prayer by W.W. Phelps. Warren Foote wrote of
the day's conference:
We went to
Nauvoo to attend Conference which was held in the Temple. The immense room was crowded with eager
listeners. Our persecutions and present
situation were dwelt upon by the Twelve Apostles, and there being no prospect
for anything better for the future, it was voted unanimously that the Church en
masse move from the United States, where we have had nothing but persecution
from the beginning, and go to a country far to the west where we can serve God
without being molested by mobs.
Not
everyone could attend this conference.
Luman Shurtliff cared for his wife as she became very ill in the late
stages of her pregnancy. He wrote:
She was no
easier and no one could tell what the cause of the pain was. She rolled from side to side in her bed,
groaning and screaming, apparently in as great pain as a human being could
endure. I called in two of the most
skilled female doctors in the city but they could do nothing for her. She was in such distress that she could not
tell us where it was the worst.
A son,
Heber Chase Tippits, was born to Joseph and Amanda Tippits.[16]
History of
the Church, 7:457‑66; “Warren Foote Autobiography,”
typescript, 72; Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:284; “Luman Shurtliff
Autobiography,” 65; Helen Mar Whitney, Woman’s Exponent 11:169;
Holzapfel, Women of Nauvoo, 150
The
General Conference of the Church reconvened at 10 a.m. Elder Heber C. Kimball addressed the
Saints. “I am glad the time of our
exodus is come; I have looked for it for years. It is necessary for us to be faithful and humble, and if we
listen to counsel we shall prosper. . . . There may be individuals who will
look at their pretty houses and gardens and say, `it is hard to leave them';
but I tell you, when we start, you will put on your knapsacks, and follow after
us.” Elder Kimball gave a bold prophecy: “I will prophesy in the name of Heber C.
Kimball, that in five years, we will be as well again off as we are now.”
He
mentioned that many of the people had been coming to the Twelve, begging to be
in the first company with the Twelve. Some
were worried that the Twelve would leave them behind. He assured them,
We will be
with all of you. . . . When men come in here to divide you, and when the mob
came, did we flee? No! No!
. . . Let us become passive as clay in the hands of the potter: if we don't we will be cut from the wheel
and thrown back in the mill again, like the Fosters, Higbees, and others. They want to come into Nauvoo again; but we
won't let them, until we have all the good clay out, and have made it into
vessels of honor to our Heavenly Father:
then they may come and be ground.
Elder
Amasa Lyman was the next speaker. He
remarked that the people were undergoing a change, that they were becoming
unified in their interests. “When they
[this people] first heard the gospel, they hailed and cherished it with joy;
and they have come up here to receive additional instruction: yet perhaps, they have made but a limited
calculation of how far they would have to go, in obedience and sacrifices, and
to how much persecution and suffering they would be subject.” He testified that the Saints would leave in
the spring. They had outgrown Nauvoo
anyway and needed a place to expand.
Elder John
Taylor made some remarks in behalf of the suffering poor in the north end of
Nauvoo and asked for all to come forward to aid the bishops in supplying these
poor families. Patriarch John Smith
appointed four bishops to stand at the door, to take a collection for the
benefit of the poor. The choir sang and
the meeting was dismissed until 2 p.m.
All the single men who wanted to travel in the first company or company
of the Twelve, were notified to give in their names during the intermission.
At 2 p.m.,
President Brigham Young came to the stand and dismissed the meeting until the
next day because a body of armed men had suddenly entered the city. All the brethren were requested to go to
their homes and prepare for any emergency.
Soon it was determined that there was no real threat, that Major William
B. Warren, leading some state troops, had come into the city on business to
search for stolen property. President
Young still sent the people home and concluded his remarks with, “Be ye also
ready.”
The troops
had come into town and surrounded the city cannon which was hidden in some corn
fodder. John Scott would not let any of
the troops touch it. Soon the guard
increased and the troops backed down.
Another company of troops found some property that a house-burner had
claimed was stolen from him. Two men
were taken into custody.[17] Charles C. Rich had been worried that the
troops were going to try to arrest the Twelve, so he sent word to the
temple. After the people left the
temple, the troops left town.
In the
evening, the Twelve met at Willard Richards’ home. They offered up prayers to the Lord that the Governors troops
would leave the County and that the Saints would be protected from the ravages
of the mob.
During the
morning, Sister Eunice Shurtliff delivered a dead child. Her husband, Luman wrote: “About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we saw
she was dying in as much pain as ever.
I said to her, ‘Eunice, I am afraid you are going to leave us.’ She replied readily, ‘No, I'm not.’ This was the last word she spoke and in a
short time breathed her last. Thus, on
the 7th of October, 1845, I buried my wife Eunice and daughter Lucy Amarilla
(her child) in one grave and in one coffin.”[18]
A
daughter, Sarah Jane Casper, was born to William and Sarah Casper.[19] A son, Edmund William Ellsworth, was born to
Edmund and Elizabeth Ellsworth.[20] A son, Samuel Alexander Kelsey, was born to
Samuel and Jennet Kelsey. He died the
next day. A daughter, Mary Emma
Stewart, was born to John and Nancy Stewart.
Oliver
Cowdery[21]
wrote a letter to Brigham Young advising him to seek aid from the United States
government and he offered his services as agent to see President Polk on the
subject of removal westward if the council desired his assistance.
History of
the Church, 7:466‑70, 482; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,”
16; Heber Kimball Journal in Woman’s Exponent 11:185; “Luman Shurtliff
Autobiography,” typescript, 65; “Hosea Stout Diary” typescript, 70-2; “Thomas
Bullock Journal,” 24; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An Intimate
Chronicle, 185
The
General Conference of the Church continued in the morning. Brigham Young opened by denouncing those who
had been caught stealing the day before.
Sister Lucy Mack Smith, mother of Joseph Smith, wished to address the
conference. She was invited on the
stand and spoke for an hour. She stated
that she was truly glad that the Lord had let her see such a large
congregation. She gave a short history
of her family and then gave some advise to the parents present. She warned parents that were accountable for
their children's conduct and counseled parents to keep them from idleness. She advised the Saints “never to do in
secret what they would not do in the presence of millions.”
The
conference minutes state:
She wished
to know of the congregation whether they considered her a mother in Israel
(upon which President Brigham Young said:
all who consider Mother Smith as a mother in Israel, signify it by
saying yes!‑‑‑‑One universal `yes' rang
throughout). She remarked that it was
just eighteen years since Joseph Smith the Prophet had become acquainted with
the contents of the plates; and then in a concise manner related over the most
prominent points in the early history of her family.
Norton
Jacob recorded in his journal: “She
said it was eighteen years ago last Monday since he commenced preaching the
gospel, [she] being called upon by Joseph to go and tell Martin Harris and
family that he had got the plates and he wanted him to take an alphabet of the
characters and carry them to the learned men to decipher.”
She
testified:
I feel as
though God was vexing this nation a little, here and there, and I feel that the
Lord will let Brother Brigham take the people away. Here, in this city, lay my dead; my husband and children; and if
so be the rest of my children go with you, and would to God they may all go,
they will not go without me; and if I go, I want my bones brought back in case
I die away, and deposited with my husband and children.
President
Brigham Young then arose and said “Mother Smith proposes a thing which rejoices
my heart: she will go with us. I can answer for the authorities of the
church; we want her and her children to go with us; and I pledge myself in
behalf of the authorities of the church, that while we have anything, they shall
share with us. We have extended the helping
hand to Mother Smith. She has the best
carriage in the city and while she lives, shall ride in it when and where she
pleases.” He went on to pledge that
Mother Smith's desires would be granted.
The meeting was then adjourned.[22]
At 2 p.m.,
the conference reconvened. The choir
sang, “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning.” Elder John Taylor addressed the conference. Elder Taylor discussed discontinuing
printing the Times and Seasons soon.
He said the conference minutes would be published. He proposed that The Nauvoo Neighbor,
which printed information on temporal matters, be discontinued.
Elder
Kimball moved that they discontinue the Nauvoo Neighbor after one more
issue and that the Times and Seasons continue from time to time, until
the current volume was complete.
The next
item of business was to appoint committees to sell houses, farms, and
lots. Elder Kimball proposed that
school books be printed for educating their children. W.W. Phelps pointed out that he had been appointed by revelation
in 1831 to print books for schools.[23] The conference sustained the motion to have
Brother Phelps do this work.
Elder
Kimball proposed that all people, including the Twelve, settle with the
Trustees of the Church, so they would not go away in debt to the Lord. Debts must be settled before endowments
could be given in the temple.
Elder
George A. Smith expressed concern that too many guns were being fired and
powder wasted.
You cannot
wake up in the night, but you hear them cracking away. You can hardly walk the streets, but
sometimes a bullet will whistle over your head. Men say they are afraid their guns won't go off, it is wet; then
I am in favor of getting something to draw (the charge from) them; I hope there
will be no more firing. If there was a
mob in sight, you have time enough to load your guns and fire on them. I want the powder and lead saved.
Elder
Kimball addressed another problem. Some
people had been shooting their neighbors' cattle which wander into their
fields. “I am ashamed of a man who will
do such things. The man that will
destroy his neighbor's property in that way, I will prophesy that the hand of
God will be upon him until he makes restitution, and he will not prosper.” It was moved that any who were found guilty
of this crime would be cut off from the Church unless they make restitution.
Brigham
Young related with sadness, “Someone, on the Friday following shot my only
cow. I would have given five half
eagles to bring her back again. She was
reared by my wife, while I was on my mission to England, and was so gentle that
my children could sit under her and milk her and play between her horns without
fear of being hurt.”
The
General Conference of the Church was adjourned until April 6, 1846. Hascall Pomeroy wrote to her parents in New
England, “O! Such a glorious meeting.”
In the
evening, Hosea Stout reported to the Twelve that a mob party had found the body
of one of their men who they claimed had been missing, Andrew Daubenheyer. They said the body was found buried in the
bottom of a ditch. The mob was swearing
that the Mormons in a nearby settlement would atone for this death.[24]