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]
James L.
Burnham, age thirty-one, died. Hartley
Mercer and Jane Sly were married by James Wait.
History of
the Church, 7:470‑81; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,” 16‑17;
“Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 72; Holzapfel, Women of Nauvoo, 150
The
weather was turning colder. In the
morning, members of the Twelve met for prayer in the temple. They discussed plans to sell Nauvoo
property.
The
Seventies Quorums met together in conference.
They were addressed by President Joseph Young who counseled the brethren
to “pay strict attention to the call of their presidents and strongly exhorted
them to pray unto the Lord day and night, and trust in him for deliverance.”
It was
learned that General Hardin has pledged to the mob that he would go to Nauvoo
with his troops and either arrest Orrin Porter Rockwell and some others, or he
would “unroof every house in Nauvoo.” A
force of three hundred had volunteered to go with him.
In the
evening, brethren met in the temple for prayer. They prayed for the missionaries in the east, in the South
Pacific Islands, and among the Indians in the west. They asked the Lord to frustrate the plans of their enemies, to
cause confusion and disorder in their ranks.
They asked that the sick be healed and that union be preserved in the
Church. They asked that the temple and
font may be finished and dedicated, that the Saints could obtain their
ordinances.
Also in
the evening, many had a wonderful time attending a concert that was held in the
music hall.
Norton
Jacob wrote:
This night
at 12 o'clock I was called to come immediately to the temple. Colonel Scott and twelve or fifteen others
were there. We went to work and
prepared a place behind some large piles of lumber and stored away our four
pieces of artillery, having heard that General Hardin’s posse were coming in
from Carthage to demand all the persons that were in command of the Sheriff's
posse in the late disturbances that if they were not given up they would immediately
make war upon the city.
A son,
Mathew Scott Mikesell, was born to Hyrum and Ann Mikesell.[25]
History of
the Church, 7:481; Heber Kimball Journal in Woman’s Exponent,
11:185, “Hosea Stout Diary”. 2:73; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 25; “Norton Jacob
Autobiography,” 17‑8; Hallwas, Cultures in Conflict, 279
In the
morning, news arrived that troops were coming from Quincy. It was reported that a mob was with them who
swore that they would shoot Sheriff Jacob Backenstos for the killing of Frank
Worrell.[26] Albert P. Rockwood[27]
issued orders to Hosea Stout to have a cohort ready to be called into action at
a moment's notice. They would rally
when a flag was hoisted at the temple.
Later,
orders were given to have men stationed in various parts of the city. They were exhorted to pray to the Lord for
deliverance from their enemies. Hosea
Stout wrote: “From all appearance our
enemies were determined to fall upon us . . . we were determined not to let
them come in and arrest and take away our men to be murdered in cold blood as
had been done.”
Norton
Jacobs wrote: “From the tower of the temple with good glasses we were enabled
to overlook the prairies for 15 or 20 miles and not having seen any movement of
men during the day.”
No troops
arrived, but the city was on alert throughout the night.
A daughter,
Esther Coltrin, was born to Graham and Harriet Coltrin. A son, Hyrum Smith Sanders, was born to
Moses and Amanda Sanders.
“Hosea Stout Diary”,
typescript, 2:73‑5; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,” 18
Everything
was calm in the city during the morning.
Hosea Stout stood ready and reflected on the impending danger.
Should they
[the mob] attempt to arrest me, I felt determined to sell my life, life as dear
as I could and try and convince our enemies that the blood of the Saints was
not as easily shed as was our Prophets and Patriarch. I felt that I had served my maker as well as I knew and was
willing to hide and wait the full time of the Lord. But in the event of a battle I was resolved to come forth as a
lion from his thicket and roar upon our enemies as did the people of God always
and trust to him for the result. So I
am composed and as yet fear no evil.
By
afternoon, it was determined that no troops or mob was heading for Nauvoo.
Bishop
George Miller, Sheriff Backenstos, and others returned safely from Quincy. Sheriff Backenstos was free on $3,000 bail,
to await his trial for the death of Frank Worrell.
In the
evening, the Twelve met at Elder Taylor's for a council meeting. Brigham Young
was not feeling well, and did not attend.
They worked on the Conference Minutes and an “Epistle to the Church” scattered
abroad through the United States. The Saints were asked to prepare for the
exodus from the country.
You will
perceive from the foregoing interesting Minutes of the General Conference, just
held in the Temple in this place not only the unparalleled union of the great
body of the saints convened, but also that a crisis of extraordinary and
thrilling interests has arrived. The
exodus of the nation of the only true Israel from these United States to a far
distant region of the west, where bigotry, intolerance and insatiable
oppression lose their power over them‑‑‑forms a new epoch,
not only in the history of the Church, but of this nation. . . .
It is our
design to remove all the saints as early next spring as the first appearance of
thrifty vegetation. In the meantime the
utmost diligence of all the brethren at this place and abroad will be requisite
for our removal, and to complete the unfinished part of the Lord's House,
preparatory to dedication by the next General Conference. The font and other parts of the Temple will
be in readiness in a few days to commence the administration of holy ordinances
of endowments, for which the faithful have long diligently labored and
fervently prayed, desiring above all things to see the beauty of the Lord and
inquire in his holy Temple. We
therefore invite the saints abroad generally so to arrange their affairs as to
come with their families in sufficient time to receive their endowments, and
aid in giving the last finish to the House of the Lord previous to the great
emigration of the church in the spring. . . .
Wake up,
wake up, dear brethren, we exhort you, from the Mississippi to the Atlantic,
and from Canada to Florida, to the present glorious emergency in which the God
of heaven has placed you to prove your faith by your works, preparatory to a
rich endowment in the Temple of the Lord, and the obtaining of promises and
deliverances, and glories for yourselves and your children and your dead.
The epistle
was signed by Brigham Young. A “P.S.”
was added: “Let all wagons that are
hereafter built be constructed to the track of five feet width from center to
center. Families may properly travel to
this place during winter in their wagons.
There are said to be many good locations for settlements on the Pacific,
especially at Vancouver's Island near the mouth of the Columbia.”
A
daughter, Lucy Elvira Holmes, was born to Jonathan and Elvira Holmes.[28] A daughter, Susan Mosely, was born to
William and Mary Mosely.
An issue
of the New York Messenger was published. Orson Pratt gave counsel to the many sisters who were married to
non-member husbands. The sisters deeply
wanted to go with the Saints to Nauvoo.
Elder Pratt wrote: “Be Patient,
and not over anxious. Use every means
in your power to persuade your husbands to embrace the truth and gather with
the saints. Be kind and affectionate,
tender hearted and submissive, and withal exercise faith and prayer in their
behalf; perhaps their hearts may be softened.”
Elder Pratt also wrote to the Saints in Philadelphia. He explained to them that their leader,
Jedediah M. Grant, had been called back to Nauvoo, to attend to his duties in
the Seventies Quorum. “But be of good
cheer brethren, and pray for his successor, that a double portion of the spirit
that rested upon your former president, may rest upon him.”
History of
the Church, 7:481; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:76;
“Thomas Bullock Journal,” 25; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An
Intimate Chronicle, 185
A meeting was
held at the temple. Heber C. Kimball
and Parley P. Pratt spoke. Additional
Captains of Hundreds were appointed totaling twenty‑five, including: 1,
Brigham Young and the Twelve; 2, Samuel Bent; 3, Alpheus Cutler; 4, Isaac
Morley; 5, Shadrach Roundy; 6, Reynolds Cahoon; 7, Daniel Spencer; 8, Peter
Haws; 9, Joseph Fielding; 10, John D. Parker; 11, David Fullmer; 12, Charles
Shumway; 13, Charles C. Rich; 14, Jedediah M. Grant; 15, Erastus Snow; 16,
Benjamin F. Johnson; 17, Andrew H. Perkins; 18, George Coulson; 19, David
Evans; 20, Daniel C. Davis; 21, Jonathan H. Hale; 22, George P. Dykes, (in
Ottawa, Illinois); 23, Mephibosheth Sirrine, (in Michigan); 24, Hosea Stout;
25, William Huntington.
Hosea
Stout was informed that he had been appointed as a Captain of Hundred. Brigham Young told him that the “old police”
who he was in charge, would be assigned to his company.
Daniel S.
Miles,[29]
one of the First Presidents of the Seventies died at the age of seventy-three
in the home of Josiah Butterfield. He
had become sick during the previous Sunday meeting.
Samuel
Henry Alexander married Mary Virginia Marsteller by Jeremiah Hatch. A daughter, Mary Ann Burnham was born to
James and Mary Burnham.[30]
James J.
Strang, who professed to be the true successor of Joseph Smith, launched an
offensive attack against Brigham Young’s leadership. His followers agreed to start a publication to inform the Mormons
that Strang was the true prophet, had found some plates, and had translated
them.
“Hosea Stout Diary”,
typescript, 2:77; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 25; Jenson, LDS Biographical
Encyclopedia, 1:192, 4:260; Van Noord, King of Beaver Island,
37
The night
was frosty and leaves were falling from the trees during the day.
Brigham
Young and Heber C. Kimball met with two Indians who were members of the Church,
Joseph Herring and Lewis Dana. Joseph
Herring was ordained an Elder. The
brethren spoke with these men about Indian customs and traits.
In the
evening, Sheriff Jacob B. Backenstos and several others went to the home of
Heber C. Kimball, where they enjoyed listening to tunes played on the piano by
Sister Pitchforth.
A son,
Rais Bell Cassen R Cahoon, was born to Reynolds and Lucina Cahoon.[31]
Heber Kimball Journal
in Woman’s Exponent, 11:185; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 26
It was a
beautiful day in the city. Thomas Bullock met with William Clayton to go over
Brother Bullock's minutes of General Conference.
Major
William B. Warren came into the city with a detachment of state troops. The brethren prayed “that they might not be
permitted to do any injury to any of the saints; nor to interrupt our peace.” The troops only stayed in the city for a
short time. Hosea Stout wrote: “Hearing that some of the governor's
'Mobitia' had come in town again I went to see General [Charles C.] Rich but he
was in the country. I then went . . .
met with the company in the cellar of the [Nauvoo] temple to organize and make
some preparations for our contemplated journey next spring.”
Elder
Lewis Dana[32] was sealed
to Mary Gont by Brigham Young.
History of
the Church, 7:482; Heber Kimball Journal in Woman’s Exponent,
11:185; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:78
|
|
A very
severe frost fell over night. Leaves were
falling off of the trees fast. Brigham
Young received an “abusive” letter from William Smith.
In the
morning, Heber C. Kimball received a letter from Sheriff Jacob B. Backenstos
requesting an interview. Elder Kimball
wrote:
At two
o'clock, I met J. B. Backenstos at his room in the mansion. . . . He then and
there gave me his mind and views concerning the religion we professed to
believe, he firmly and positively believed it to be the truth, and he intended
to embrace it by going forward in the waters of baptism soon, and he would go
with us the whole extent to the expense of his life and all he possessed.
Sheriff
Jacob Backenstos issued a proclamation regarding the killing of Franklin A. Worrell
that was published this day in the Warsaw Signal. He was driving a carriage from Warsaw to
Carthage when several riders began to chase him.
The chase
lasted for a distance of about two miles, when I fortunately over‑took
three men with teams. I immediately
informed them that armed men were pursuing me, evidently to take my life. I summoned them as a posse to aid me in
resisting them. I dismounted and took
my position in the road, with pistol in hand.
I commanded them (the mobbers) to stop, when one of them held his musket
in a shooting attitude, whereupon one of my posse fired, and it is believed,
took effect on one of the lawless banditti.
We remained and stood our ground, prepared for the worst, for about ten
minutes. The mobbers, retreating some
little distance, made no further assault, but finally retreated. I then made my way to the city of Nauvoo,
where I am at this time. (Sept 16).[33]
Parley P.
Pratt married his seventh wife, Sarah Houston.
A son, Alvin Winegar, was born to Alvin and Mary Winegar.[34]
Heber Kimball Journal
in Woman’s Exponent, 11:185; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 26; Warsaw
Signal, October 15, 1845; Hallwas, Cultures in Conflict, 275
The
weather was fine. Hosea Stout met with
John Scott to discuss fitting out their company. Thomas Bullock spent the day copying letters and affidavits about
house burning incidents.
“Hosea Stout Diary”,
typescript, 2:78; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 26-7
Elder Orson
Hyde returned from the east with four to five thousand yards of “topsail Russia
duck” canvas that had been purchased for a tabernacle, but would now be used
for tents and wagon covers.
Brigham
Young wrote to James Arlington Bennet,[35]
inviting him to come to Nauvoo and make arrangement to go west with the Church.
At 2 p.m.,
the Twelve met at Heber C. Kimball's home.
The High Council met for the last time (officially) in Nauvoo,
History of
the Church, 7:482; Heber C. Kimball Journal in Woman’s
Exponent, 11:185
Hosea
Stout met with his company at 1 p.m. at the Masonic Hall. They made more preparation to fit out their
company. Thomas Bullock was feeling
quite sick. He went to Dr. John
Bernhisel's[36] for some
medicine.
“Hosea Stout Diary”,
typescript, 2:79; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 27; Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia,
1:723
Elder Hyde
preached at the temple. He shared with the Saints his experiences in the east
obtaining the canvas.
Norton Jacob
wrote:
After
Brother Hyde talked to us Brother Taylor read to the congregation two letters
written by William Smith‑‑he having gone to Galena, in which he
speaks evil of the Saints at Nauvoo and threatens Brigham Young. After the reading Brother Brigham made some
remarks showing the folly of his course, yea the wickedness of his conduct in
trying to injure his friends. It was
then unanimously resolved that William Smith be cut off from the Church and
given into the hands of the Lord.
At 4 p.m.,
Brigham Young's company met at the temple.
Captains of fifties and tens were appointed. The brethren were instructed to parch bushels of corn, dry
pumpkins, and make bags for clothing to take west.
William
Clayton dealt with some difficulties regarding some hurt feelings while working
with Bishop Newel K. Whitney.
As a
general thing the bishops have treated me as well as any other man but I
confess they treat me more like a servant than a brother. I have endeavored under all circumstances to
take as little notice as possible of all these things but they sometimes force
themselves on me and gall my feelings. . . . I
respect Bishop Whitney as I do my own father, but this does not make me
insensible of feeling to see so much of what I consider to be unjust
partiality.
A
daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Packer, was born to Jonathan and Angelene Packer.[37]
Elder
Leonard W. Hardy, a missionary in England, sailed for home. Before he left, Elder Hardy requested Elder
Wilford Woodruff to give him a blessing.
Elder Woodruff consented, and in the blessing told him that he should
arrive home to his family and friends in safety. He told him also he should spend his last days as one of the
leading bishops in the land of Zion. At
the close of the blessing Elder Hardy remarked: "Brother Woodruff, I always thought you were a man of truth. I can comprehend arriving home in safety,
but I cannot comprehend being a leading Bishop in Zion." And he said it came nearer trying his faith
than anything that ever happened to him in the flesh. Elder Woodruff told him to wait and see, and if it did not come to
pass, he would acknowledge that the spirit that dictated it was not the spirit
of truth.[38]
History of
the Church, 7:482; Heber C. Kimball Journal Woman’s Exponent,
11:185; “Thomas Bullock Journal,” 27; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An
Intimate Chronicle 187; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,” 19; Jenson, LDS
Biographical Encyclopedia
Norton
Jacob recorded: “On the morning of the 20th
I put my name in Brother M. Serrine's company to go West. He was just starting for Michigan to gather
up the brethren and appointed me one of a committee of three to attend to the
business of the company in his absence.
In the evening I met with the company it was agreed that I should go the
next day in search of timber for wagons.”
Hosea Stout wrote: “This morning
a lot of teams met at my house to go with some hands to cut draw some timber
for cribs, etc. for grain.”
In the
evening, the Twelve met in council at John Taylor's home. James Arlington Bennet had arrived in the
city. He met with the Twelve and
expressed his views that the Church should not leave Nauvoo. He believed that the Saints should stay and
fight. William Clayton commented in his
journal, “I should judge him to be a very ambitious and aspiring man.”
History of
the Church, 7:483; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,” 19; “Hosea
Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:79
Early in
the morning, General Hardin’s troops marched up Mulholland Street on their way
back to Carthage. They were singing and
shouting, using “imprudent language to grate on the feelings of the Saints.”
During the
day, Brigham Young gave General James Arlington Bennet a tour of the temple. He
was very pleased with it.[39]
Brigham
Young received a letter from the sheriff, Jacob B. Backenstos in Carthage
informing him that the judge there “has so far decidedly shown himself in favor
of the mob faction, and has so far disgusted very many of the respectable
persons at court, I confess I am perfectly displeased with such judicial `humbugs'.” The court started a session on the day
before, and a grand jury that was previously chosen was set aside because of a
complaint made by Michael Barnes Jr., one of the known murderers of Joseph and
Hyrum Smith. A new grand jury was
chosen by men who favored the mob.
Willard
Richards sent for Hosea Stout. He asked Brother Stout to send a policeman to
the council meeting that day because General Bennet was to be there. Also,
since it was a court week, people were likely to try to disturb them.
In the
evening, the Twelve and others met at John Taylor's home for prayers. They
wrote a letter to Judge James Ralston inviting him to come to Nauvoo. Mr.
Ralston had said that he thought he could bring one hundred Catholic families
to Nauvoo, to buy the Saints’ properties.[40]
The Missouri
Reporter stated that William Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith, was in St.
Louis and had been “compelled to flee Nauvoo.”
Clark, Messages of
the First Presidency, 1:266; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An
Intimate Chronicle; “Thomas Bullock Journal”; History of the Church,
7:483; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:79‑80; Stanley B. Kimball, BYU
Studies, 13:4:503; Lyndon W. Cook, BYU Studies, 19:2:247
The
Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles, written by Wilford Woodruff, originally
issued in the United States in April, was published in the Millennial Star.[41]
“It constitutes one of the great prophetic utterances of the last dispensation,
outlining as it does future developments of the Kingdom of God in both the
Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The prophetic proclamation addressed to all
the Kings of the World; the President of the United States; the Governors of
the several States; and to the Rulers and People of all Nations covers some of
the preparations that are expected to be made throughout the world as a preface
to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign on the earth.”
It was
another cold day. Hosea Stout and others met at the Masonic Hall in the morning
and then left to go across the river after wagon timber. They were able to
start a wagon shop.
General
Bennet and Mr Booth (the editor of the Quincy Herald) met at Willard Richards’
house and talked about the Saints moving west. Mr Booth mentioned that a number
of (non‑Mormon) Quincy residents were considering moving west with the
Saints. Mr. Booth offered to publish in his paper anything to help the saints
to sell their property.
Brigham
Young received a letter from Edward Warren of Boston, portraying the Bay of San
Francisco as one well adapted for a place for the Saint to settle.
In the
evening, the Twelve met at Elder John Taylor's house for a council meeting.
They read a letter from Reuben McBride[42]
(a member in Kirtland), stating that apostates (Rigdonites) were doing
everything that could be done to injure the Saints. They had broken into the
Kirtland Temple and had taken it over. They were also trying to take possession
of the church farm.
A son,
Edward Lucius Whiting, was born to Edwin and Elizabeth Whiting.[43]
Jesse B.
Harmon and John Lytle, who were charged with destroying the Expositor press,
were tried before Judge Norman H. Purple. The judge decided in his charge to the
jury, that the defendants acted under the municipal authorities of Nauvoo. They acted without authority, and if it
could be proven that they had taken any part in the destruction of the press,
they were to be found guilty. The main witness could not clearly identify the
policeman who had destroyed the press. The jury brought in a verdict of “not
guilty” and the defendants were acquitted. The official History of the
Church states: “Thus were the words of the Prophet Joseph fulfilled, who
told the police (when they reported to him that they had abated the nuisance)
that not one of them should ever be harmed for what they had done, and that if
there were any expenses consequent he would foot the bill.”
Improvement
Era 52:149, 176‑177 (March, 1949); Clark, Messages of the First
Presidency, 1:252; History of the Church, 7:485; Smith, ed., Heber
C. Kimball Journal in An Intimate Chronicle; “Thomas Bullock Journal”;
“Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 2:80; Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia,
4:690; Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1243
The
weather was “fine.” A detachment of the
governor's troops came in from Carthage to search for a counterfeit money
press. They searched Lucien Woodworth's house but couldn't find anything. The Nauvoo
Neighbor mocked this effort: “On Thursday morning last, (for the ninety‑ninth
time) notice was given that the Governor's troops, or Spanishly speaking, Don
Quixote, Sancho Panza, and a few Viajantes . . . were out in search of
adventures. About 1 p.m. they arrived in the city, and attacked not a windmill,
but a dwelling house.”
Hosea
Stout and others were called to attend the council meeting at John Taylor's
House that evening. It was decided to call out the troops to guard the nearby
country to protect it from the “depredations of the men whom the governor had
sent here to maintain the 'Supremacy of the Law.'” As late as 11:49 p.m., word
was being passed around Nauvoo for men to meet at the temple at 7 a.m.
Orson
Spencer, with the sanction of the Twelve, wrote an angry letter to the governor
of Illinois, Governor Ford. Orson Spencer had earlier in the year received
assurances from Governor Ford that he would never use his power to oppress or
exterminate the saints. In his October 23 letter, Orson wrote: “Has Governor
Ford become another Boggs?” He recounted how the governor's troops have
protected the mob as they murder and burn homes. He stated, “The only
difference between your troops and the mob is like the difference between a keg
of arsenic and a keg of choice flour fatally flavored with arsenic. The mob we
dare to resist where they are purely mob: but the state force, though equally
fatal we are obliged to submit to because of legal authority.” He closed his letter by pleading, “Sir, for
humanity's sake, speedily withdraw these troops, and allow us peace long enough
to attend to our sick and prepare for a general departure in the spring.”
Governor
Ford wrote a reply, a week later:
Sir: I
return your letter of the 23rd instant as not being respectful: as containing
undeserved censure and as being in many particulars false and libellous: When
were the Mormon people exterminated by my order? It is acknowledged on all
hands that there are some thieves in your city as in all other cities. These
your people say, you have no power to restrain and punish for want of a city
government and court. If you cannot restrain them I can and will. This is not
extermination, or following in the footsteps of Governor Boggs. I am very
respectfully Your obedient servant, [Signed] THOMAS FORD.
A son,
Francis Boggs, was born to Francis and Evelina Boggs.[44]
Earlier in
the week, part of the mob went to Nathan Bigelow's house and ordered him to
leave before Thursday because they were coming to burn his house. He sent his
son to Nauvoo, asking for advice. His son was told to go to Carthage and make
the matter known to Major Warren. There, he was told that the state troops were
away and there wasn't anyone else that could help. He was advised to tell his
father to defend his house and ask his neighbors for help.
On this
day, Nathan's son still had not returned to Camp Creek. After Major Warren
consulted with the state attorney, he sent five of his men to Camp Creek.
Lieutenant Charles W. Everett was in charge and he did not know the way to the
house, which was about four miles from La Harpe. They became lost and did not
arrive until 11 p.m. After they tied
their horses, Lieutenant Everett went straight to the door and tried to enter
without knocking. Brother Bigelow asked who it was, but did not get an answer.
He thought it was one of the mob. Lieutenant Everett opened the door and
Brother Bigelow fired his pistol loaded with buckshot. He then shot him with a
musket in the hip. Everett called out, “Do not shoot me to pieces, we are not a
mob‑‑but have come to protect you.” The other troops came in and Brother Bigelow discovered his
mistake. He exclaimed, “In God's name, why did you not tell me so before?” He made a fire and took Lt. Everett into his
care during the night.
General
James Arlington Bennet was in Carthage, apparently trying to mediate between
the Saints and the mob. Heber C. Kimball records that he was “was hissed out of
Carthage.”
History of
the Church, 7:485, 502‑505; “Hosea Stout Diary”,
typescript, 2:80‑1; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,” 19; “Thomas Bullock
Journal”; Quincy Whig, 29 Oct 1845; Nauvoo Neighbor, Oct 29,
1845; Heber C. Kimball Journal in Woman’s Exponent, 11:185; Jenson, LDS
Biographical Encyclopedia, 3:322
In the
morning, Nathan Bigelow was brought as a prisoner to Carthage for shooting Lt. Everett
the previous evening.[45] In court, the mob was very active. Witnesses
were brought in and examined before the grand jury regarding Sheriff
Backenstos' involvement with the killing of Frank A. Worrell. In the afternoon,
about forty witnesses appeared in Carthage to enter their complaints against
the house‑burners for arson, larceny and other crimes. They knocked at
the grand jury room door, asking to be heard, and pled with individual jurors
to hear their complaints. But nothing could be done. The grand jury had decided
that no evidence should be heard against any of the Anti‑Mormons, whether
for murder, burning houses, or other activities.
It was another
cold day. In the morning about 8 a.m., a large group of men assembled at the
parade ground near the temple. Hosea Stout took a company toward Carthage and
stopped on a large mound about half way there. J.D. Parker took a company and
went in the direction of Camp Creek. Theodore Turley went down the river to
protect that part of the country. Others went out by fours onto the prairie.
The whole country was guarded. The men had an “entertaining time” doing this.
At about 3 p.m., Hosea Stout brought his company back to Nauvoo, dismissing the
men at 5 p.m.
At 5 p.m.,
a council meeting was again held at the home of John Taylor. Brigham Young was
somewhat miffed because the Council had to sit in the home without a fire. The
situation regarding Nathan Bigelow was discussed and they all felt that the
Lord would free Brother Bigelow. Prayers were offered in his behalf. The
Council decided that Emma Smith could have all the wood she wanted off of
church land. It was also decided that an agency would be established near the
river to receive and take care of the tithing grain during the winter, which
would then be taken with them when would leave Nauvoo in the spring. John E.
Page was appointed to serve on the agency. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and
some of the police later went to the Hall to attend to some business.
A
daughter, Minnie Elizabeth Carlson, was born to John and Elvira Carlson.[46] A son, Charles Harper Moor, was born to
Thomas and Mahala Moor.
History of
the Church, 7:484‑6; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript,
2:81; “Thomas Bullock Journal”; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An
Intimate Chronicle; Roberts, Black, Membership of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter‑day Saints: 1830‑1848
The
weather continued to be pleasant. In
the morning at 7 a.m., Hosea Stout and John Scott stationed themselves at the
mound, halfway to Carthage, and sent a few men four miles north and south to
detect any hostile movements toward Nauvoo.
They again had a “joyful time of it.”
At about 3
p.m. Major Warren, Judge Purple, and others headed toward the city with a
detachment of troops. On the way, they noticed Hosea Stout's company and
demanded to know why there were there. They told him nothing except that they
were there to convey news between Carthage and Nauvoo. Major Warren became very
angry and asked why they wore sidearms. He was told by Hosea Stout that he
always wore one, ever since Joseph and Hyrum were murdered while under the
protection of the governor's troops. This of course angered Warren even more
and he carefully counted how many men were there and left.
When Major
Warren arrived at Nauvoo, he demanded an explanation for the fifteen or twenty
men he saw on the prairie. At the Masonic Hall, Brigham Young explained clearly
why they were there and Major Warren went into a rage and declared he would put
the county under martial law on Monday. Elder Taylor gave a “spirited” reply
regarding the foul treachery of the governor's protection. He accused them of
being nothing more than a “legalized mob.”
He said: “We lack confidence in
the governor's troops under your command while hundreds of murderers, robbers
and house‑burners roam at large unwhipped of justice. We shall take measures to protect
ourselves.” Elder Orson Hyde tried to
calm the tempers and soon nerves were calmed.[47]
During the
day, the steamer Sarah Ann passed up the river with apostates, Lyman E.
Johnson,[48] and Dr.
Robert Foster[49] on board.
When the boat landed, Brother Robert Jackson Redding was standing nearby and
talked with Lyman Johnson about his father. Dr. Foster had a number of men from
the boat try to haul Brother Redding on board and kidnap him. Brother Redding knocked the first man down
and a few of the brethren ran to help him. With sticks and stones they soon
drove the whole crew on board. After the boat quickly left, Dr. Foster shot his
pistol at the brethren, but no one was hurt except a brother who was cut on the
back of his neck from a stone.
At 4 p.m.,
Almon W. Babbitt brought word to Nauvoo that the grand jury refused to hear
their testimony regarding the house‑burners. On this day, Brother Enos
Curtis made the following affidavit:
On or about
the eighteenth day of October A. D. 1845, in the Morley Settlement in said
county he saw two houses and three stables burning and also saw two mobbers
armed with guns going away from the same. And the deponent further saith that
on Monday the twenty‑first inst. he saw another house burning, said to
belong to the widow Boss containing her potatoes and other vegetables.
In the
evening, the Council met at Elder Taylor's home. They prayed that the Lord
would soften Major Warren's heart, that martial law would not be declared. And
if not, that the Lord would not allow him to bring trouble upon the Saints.
Brigham Young did not look well that evening.
Witnesses
were brought in and examined before the grand jury regarding the Sheriff
Backenstos case. At about 11 a.m., the
grand jury came into court and presented a bill against Sheriff Backenstos for
the murder of Frank Worrell, and also several bills against the Twelve. The court adjourned until Monday when
Sheriff Backenstos was to be tried. Judge Purple then went to Nauvoo with Major
Warren, intending to arrest the Twelve.
In the New
York Messenger, Orson Pratt published a letter to the Saints in the eastern
and middle states. He informed them of
the official decision to leave Nauvoo.
“This wholesale banishment of the Saints from this American Republic
will no doubt be one of the grandest and most glorious events, yet witnessed in
the history of this Church.” He
proclaimed that this would be a fulfilment of prophecies both in the Book of
Mormon and in modern revelations. The
Saints in the east were desirous to obtain their endowment in the temple. He explained that the temple was almost
complete enough to permit hundreds of Saints to receive their ordinances during
the winter. He explained, “But if the
saints are to be driven from Nauvoo and from the Temple, as soon as it is
finished, or even before, some weak minded saint may inquire, why the Lord
should command us to build him a house, and then suffer us to be immediately
driven from it? He pointed to a
revelation in the “Book of Covenants”: “. . .I command you again to build a
house to my name, even in this place, that you may prove yourselves unto me
that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless
you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.” (D&C 124:55)
History of
the Church, 7:486‑8, 494; “Hosea Stout Diary” typescript,
2:82‑3; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An Intimate Chronicle;
“Thomas Bullock Journal”; Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:9;
Watson, The Orson Pratt Journals, 303-05
At 7 a.m.,
men gathered again at the parade grounds, but were told not to assemble that
day. In the morning, Bishop George
Miller gave Judges Purple and Ralston a tour of the temple. At 8 a.m. the seventies met in the temple
and organized the 31st Quorum, with Amos P. Rogers as the president. Many of the Saints gathered at the temple
for the Sunday meeting at 10 a.m. Elders Hyde and Pratt spoke on the subject of
leaving for the west. The meeting
concluded at noon.
An
apostate, Oliver Olney, published in the Warsaw Signal an attack against the
Church and its leaders. He claimed
that a group of Mormon recently broke up the court in Carthage. He wrote about Major Warren’s visit to
Nauvoo the day before. His article
included:
The Judge
of the court in company with some of the lawyers of the county, visited Nauvoo
to inquire the reason of the breaking up of the court in such a manner, but
received nothing satisfactory, except a tirade from John Taylor, one of the
twelve, which, he the judge carried away rankling and festering in his own
bosom.
In the afternoon,
the Council of the Twelve met at Elder John Taylor's home. Orson Spencer again
drafted a letter to Governor Thomas Ford on behalf of the Twelve. The letter recounted the burning of homes a
week earlier and the threats on Camp Creek. He noted that Major Warren had not
provided sufficient protection. He recounted the experience with Major Warren
the day before and that Warren had vowed to put the whole county under martial
law on Monday. He informed the governor that “if the major should impose martial
law upon the county, it would be a matter greatly to be deplored.” He let the governor know that if this did
happen, it would obstruct their plans to leave in the spring and he asked him
to withdraw the troops. He mentioned that some of the house burners are in the
posse of state troops. Bishop George Miller and E.A. Bedell (the justice of the
peace) left at 8 p.m. to take the letter to Governor Ford. The “night was dark”
so they lost their way twice. They finally
reached Crooked Creek where they stayed overnight. Brigham Young talked with
Judge Ralston regarding selling their properties to the Catholics. The judge encouraged President Young to sell
to and said he would use his influence with the Catholics. A council meeting was held at John Taylor's
home that evening.
A
daughter, Julia Ann Vilate Young, was born to Joseph and Jane Young.
History of
the Church, 7:489‑90; “Hosea Stout Diary” 2:83; Smith,
ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An Intimate Chronicle; Thomas
Bullock Journal; “William Huntington autobiography,” typescript, 41;
Hallwas, Cultures in Conflict, 315
Brother Bedell
and Bishop Miller reached Macedonia early, took breakfast with William G.
Perkins, changed horses and went on their journey to deliver the letter to the
governor.
Sheriff
Jacob Backenstos appeared in court, ready with his lawyer, and desired an
immediate trail. He was able to obtain a change of venue to Peoria for a trial
in five weeks. He was released on $3000 bail. The sheriff was in good health
and spirits. Many of the Saints worried
that the mob would try to assassinate the sheriff, so they stayed very close to
him. The court adjourned until next
May.
The
weather again was fine. Many men continued to work on getting timber for wagons
and several wagon shops were opened. At 4 p.m., Almon W. Babbitt brought word
to Nauvoo from Carthage that a Dr. Abiather Williams testified before the
judges of Iowa that the Twelve made bogus bills at his house in Iowa. They
demanded that the governor of Illinois arrest the Twelve. This is why Major
Warren had come to Nauvoo on Saturday, but he “chickened out” in making the
arrests. He had intended to come with more troops on the next day
(Tuesday). The brethren expressed their
feelings together that the Lord would overrule this matter for the good of the
Saints. They were very thankful to the
Lord for the protection that they received on Saturday. The Twelve decided to leave their homes on
this night so that if the posse came during the night, there would be no danger.
Sometime
during the month of October, Eliza R. Snow wrote her famed poem, “My Father in
Heaven” which later was put to music as “O My Father.”
General James
Bennet, probably now back in New York, wrote a letter on this day to the New
York Sun which was later printed in the newspaper. He told paper that the
church would be leaving the United States and would become a mighty people. He stated that within one year they would
number two hundred thousand in the Bay of San Francisco. “There are already
organized twenty‑five companies of one hundred families each, to be
filled up during the winter, for the march to California. Each family of ten
persons will have a wagon drawn by four oxen, and supplied with everything
necessary for the journey.” He boasted
that they wished him to come with him “and I presume, if I did, I would have
the first military command in the camp of the saints. They certainly require a leader
with a military and mathematical head, and one who has seen active service; but
I am too old to settle in the West.”
History of
the Church, 7:494; Smith, ed., Heber C. Kimball Journal in An
Intimate Chronicle; “Norton Jacob Autobiography,” 19; “Luman Shurtliff
Autobiography,” typescript, 65; Times and Seasons, 6:1039, 1052;
“William Huntington autobiography,” typescript, 41
The Twelve
remained in hiding all day. In the
morning, other Church leaders met at John Taylor's home to pray. In the afternoon, Brigham Young was notified
through Sheriff Backenstos that Major Warren wished to speak to him. Major
Warren and his troops had arrived in the city and were staying at the Mansion
House. At 3 p.m., Brigham Young and
Heber C. Kimball met with him at Willard Richards’ home. Major Warren's heart had been softened. He
no longer intended to arrest the Twelve because he realized that it would
hinder them in their plans to move west.
He told President Young that he was going to Springfield on the next day
in part to get his friends and relatives to come to Nauvoo to purchase farms
from the Saints. Major Warren was relieved when President Young told him that
the Twelve held no official office in the city or the county, that they only
governed the matters pertaining to the Church. He left at 5 p.m. with pretty
good feelings.
Truman
Angell[50]
writes on this date that the work on the Nauvoo Temple was progressing very
rapidly. It was fully enclosed and the inside work was taking place. The attic
was finished and being made ready for the endowment, while work on the lower
rooms, basement, and lower hall was going on.
Bishop
Miller and Brother Bedell traveled all the previous night, by the light of
brush fires on the prairie. In the
morning, they delivered the affidavits to Governor Ford. He read to them letters from different parts
of the state insisting on government troops maintaining order during the
winter. The brethren urged him strongly
to disband the forces stationed in Hancock County because they were a greater
curse on the Saints than the mob.
Governor Ford was friendly and said privately that he thought the whole
state was a mob and could not be trusted. Their interview lasted three hours.
He concluded that he would go to Hancock County and take a conciliatory course
of action so as to prevent a collision until the saints left in the spring.
Then he would bring the house‑burners and murderers to justice and hang
every one of them. They conversed with other Springfield citizens who were very
sympathetic with the injustices happening in Hancock County. They expressed sorrow that Sheriff
Backenstos did not kill five hundred of them instead of just one.
The St.
Louis American reported on this day that William Smith, the excommunicated
brother of the Prophet, was to lecture in the Mechanics Institute on Third
Street on “the corruption of the Twelve in Nauvoo.”
Heber C.
Kimball Journal in Woman’s Exponent, 11:185; History
of the Church, 7:492‑3; Stanley B. Kimball, BYU Studies,
13:4:503; Thomas Bullock Journal; “Truman Angell autobiography,” in
Pioneer Heritage 10:200; “William Huntington autobiography,” typescript, 41
The
weather was “dull.” Brigham Young was
still in hiding, but the city was peaceful and many of the emigrating companies
were making rapid progress obtaining timber for their wagons. Brigham Young was visited by Brothers Henry
G. Sherwood and John S. Fullmer. Brothers
Sherwood and Fullmer had just returned from their mission to the west,
to visit the Emmett Expedition.[51]
Brothers
Fullmer and Sherwood gave their report to Brigham Young who was hiding at
Albert P. Rockwood's home. They also gave him some interesting information
regarding the best route to travel west.[52]
Also
discussed in the afternoon, was a rumor that William Smith, the excommunicated
brother of the prophet, was working with others to influence the president of
the United States to prevent the Saints from going west. It was reported that he had already written
to the president on the subject, claiming that the Twelve were guilty of
treason. The New York Sun later ran an editorial based on the
accusations being voiced by William Smith. The article stated that he said the
Church leaders, “with hate in their hearts” were planning to move west to build
up a tyranny, purge their people of all American feeling, enrich themselves
from the toil of their people, and set up an independent government. The
editorial called on the government to take action:
With angry
and fanatical feelings such as the Mormons would carry with them, our own
citizens would find them troublesome customers, let the tide of emigration be
diverted to Oregon or to California. . . . The United States will hardly be
justified in the eyes of the nations, in amending the constitution, so as to
prevent the Mormons from living in the confines of Democracy, or emigrating to
a region (without).
In the
evening, the Twelve met at John Taylor's. They read a letter from a man stating
that he intended to form the United States of the West and warned the Saints
that they would need to deal with him. The
Twelve considered the letter absurd and discounted it. It was one of many letters that Brigham
Young received from corrupt men. Also
at the council meeting came Elder Joseph Herring (a Shawnee) who came for
counsel about going home to his tribe, on a mission. Because the state troops left the city without making arrests,
the Twelve were able to return to their families that night.
On this
day, the last edition of the Nauvoo Neighbor was published by John
Taylor, discussing much of the activity regarding the house‑burners, the
court session, and the actions of the state troops.
A son,
Joseph Smith Jones, was born to James and Mary Jones.[53]
Hartley, My Best
for the Kingdom; History of the Church, 7:494‑500; Smith, ed., Heber
C. Kimball Journal in An Intimate Chronicle; Thomas Bullock Journal;
Times and Seasons, 6:1052
The weather
was cold, and it started to rain at 10 a.m.
There was high wind around noon, but it cleared up later. Bishop George
Miller and Brother Bedell returned from Springfield in the morning, and
reported to Brigham Young regarding their interview with Governor Ford on
October 28. A council meeting was held
in the morning at Albert P. Rockwood's home.
Further arrangements were made for the Herrings to return to their
tribe.
In the
evening Hosea Stout visited Henry G. Sherwood and heard him tell about his
mission to the Emmett company. He reported that all was well but Emmett was
“yet as untempered mortar.”
A son,
Edward Partridge Young, was born to President Brigham Young and his fifth wife,
Emily Partridge Young.
Governor
Ford wrote a long letter to Bishop Miller in response to letters he received
the day after Bishop Miller and Brother Bedell left Springfield. The Governor
again defended himself against Orson Spencer's charges that he is another
Governor Boggs. He stated that if he would not have sent his troops, the Anti‑Mormons
would have raised a mob of four or five thousand men, and thus he saved the
city of Nauvoo. He mentioned that a man
was missing in Nauvoo. He had
suspicions that this man was murdered by order of the leaders in Nauvoo, or at
least that was what he had heard.
Stolen property had been found in Nauvoo and he discussed his belief
that there was a gang of thieves in Nauvoo as there is in any city of its
size. He felt that some who lost their
homes by fire, stole to make up for their losses. All he really knew was that stolen property had been found in
Nauvoo. For these reasons he felt justified to send and keep troops in the
county during the winter, to provide protection for the saints and to prevent
the stealing. If not, he felt the Saints would be driven from the state during
the winter. He closed by stating that his health was bad, so he could not leave
for Hancock County on Wednesday as he had planned.
History of
the Church, Vol.7:502, 507; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript,
2:85, “Thomas Bullock Journal”
The
weather was fine, with slight thunder and rain in the evening. Brigham Young visited the Tithing Office and
wrote a letter to Brother Vincent Shurtliff[54]
to receive tithing and donations in the east which would be used to help the
poor leave. President Young also received three letters from different
individuals recommending locations in California for the saints to move.
Work in
constructing wagons continued as a high priority task in Nauvoo. Police guards continued
to be posted at the homes of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.
In the
evening, the Council met at Elder John Taylor's house and wrote a letter to
Reverend Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati telling him that the Saints would be
leaving early in the spring. They
invited the Catholic Church to send agents to visit the city, that they might
negotiate a sale of property. They promised to delay extensive sales to other
communities until a reply was heard from Bishop Purcell. The Council also
discussed rumors that the United States would try to prevent them from leaving
by taking out writs on the Council of Fifty. Plans were devised to defeat this
effort if it was undertaken.
A son,
Hyrum Wright, was born to Jonathan and Rebecca Wright.[55]
Orson
Pratt wrote a letter to Brigham Young, informing him that he was working to
purchase the arms that he had requested to be used for self‑defense. Previously raising money had been difficult
because of the push for donations toward the tabernacle canvas, but he said
that “the recent troubles in the west have put new life and zeal into the
Saints in the east, they are very anxious to assist all they can, and to gather
westward.” He mentioned that he has
been visited several times by the infamous Robert Owen, and that Elder Pratt
was trying to persuade him to buy their houses and lands in Illinois. Owen was
seriously thinking of relocating his group there.[56]
Elder
Pratt also mentions that Samuel Brannan did not think he could leave and take
his printing press with him because of debts and was suggesting that the church
buy the press.[57]
Elder
Pratt concluded his letter by stating: “Since I heard of your persecutions and
resolutions to leave Nauvoo in the spring, I can hardly contain myself. I want
to fly upon the wings of the wind and be with you, where you go, I want to go,
where you stop, I want to stop.”
Clark, Messages of
the First Presidency, 1:266, 2:90; History of the Church, 7:508‑510;
“Luman Shurtliff Autobiography,” typescript, 61; Collected Works of Hugh
Nibley, 9:509; B. H. Roberts, Defense of the Faith and the Saints,
2:193; B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, 3:255; Andrew Jenson, Conference
Report, April 1917, 100; “Hosea Stout Diary”, typescript, 85‑6;
“Thomas Bullock Journal”; Heber C. Kimball Journal; Watson, The Orson
Pratt Journals, 305-06; Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 3:287‑88
[1]After the death of Joseph
Smith, the Church was led by the Twelve Apostles. Brigham Young was the President of this quorum. At this time there were thirteen members of
this quorum. The other members of the
Twelve were: Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William Smith (away in the east),
Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff (on
mission in England), George A. Smith, Willard Richards, Lyman Wight (on the way
to Texas), and Amasa M. Lyman. There
were thirteen members of the quorum because Amasa M. Lyman had been serving in
the First Presidency when Joseph Smith was killed. He returned to the quorum of the Twelve in August, 1844.
[2]This is the same
Stephen A. Douglas who later served in the United States Senate and ran for president
against Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Joseph
Smith had prophesied to him in May, 1843:
“Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and if
you ever turn your hand against me or the Latter‑day Saints, you will
feel the weight of the hand of the Almighty upon you; and you will live to see
and know that I have testified the truth to you; for the conversation of this
day will stick to you through life.”
Douglas did later turn his hand against the Church and did lose his
presidential election bid.
[3]Daniel Spencer Jr.
was the brother of Orson Spencer.
Daniel had served as the mayor of Nauvoo. He would later serve as a bishop in Winter Quarters.
[4]Samuel Worthen
joined the Church in 1839. He was a
farmer and Stonemason. The family later
settled in Panguitch, Utah.
[5]Thomas Bullock had
served as a clerk to Joseph Smith. At
this time he was serving as a clerk to the Twelve.
[6]Stephen Nixon grew
up in Leek, England with Thomas Bullock.
He also married Harriet Rushton, first cousin of Thomas Bullock’s wife,
Henrietta. The Nixons were baptized in
1840.
[7]Shadrach Roundy
joined the Church in 1831. He had
served as the captain of the police for Joseph Smith. Shadrach Roundy would later be one of the three men who plowed
the first furrow in Great Salt Lake valley.
[8]William W. Phelps
had been excommunicated from the Church in 1838, but was received back into
fellowship in 1841.
[9]Samuel C. Stevens
joined the Church in 1843. He was a
school teacher and merchant.
[10]Luman and Eunice
Shurtliff joined the Church in 1836. He
kept an interesting journal during the 1845-46 period. The Shurtliff family later settled in Ogden,
Utah.
[11]John and Julia Pack
joined the Church in 1836. John would
later be in the original pioneer company of 1847. He helped to build Chase’s mill at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City
and the first dancing hall in Utah.
Julia was a Relief Society teacher and First Counselor to the president
of the Relief Society in Salt Lake City, 17th Ward. In 1856 The Packs helped to settle Carson Valley (Nevada).
[12]Andrew Hunter Scott
joined the Church in 1843. In 1845,
together with Jedediah M. Grant, he re‑organized the Woodstown branch,
New Jersey, which had been visited by Sidney Rigdon, who persuaded all the
members to follow him as leader and guardian of the Church. Andrew Scott helped a company of Saints
gather to Nauvoo. He later settled with
his family in Provo, Utah.
[13]Lyman Wight, one of
the Twelve had left Nauvoo with 64 saints in 1844. For some time he had desired to see the church relocate to Texas.
He felt Joseph Smith had commissioned him for this mission. He refused to take the counsel of the
brethren to stay, and in August 1844, the Twelve gave him permission to leave.
[14]Almon W. Babbitt
served as the president of the Kirtland Stake from 1841 to 1843. He was a lawyer and frequently defended the
Saints in court. He would be appointed
as one of the Nauvoo Trustees in 1846.
[15]Brother Orton had
been a member of Zion's Camp, but had not been very active since it was
discharged in 1834.
[16]Joseph Harrison
Tippits joined the Church in 1832.
Later he would settle his family in Brigham City, Utah.
[17]The Quincy Whig
later reported that on October 3, the house of Harrison Crawford had been
robbed. On this day, the state troops
apprehended Thomas King as he attempted to drive some stolen cattle towards
Nauvoo. King pointed the posse to the
house of Daniel Smith where more of Crawford’s property was found. Other men were arrested who tried to flee.
[18]Luman Shurtliff was
baptized in 1866 by Sylvester Pitt.
Luman would remarry a month later to Altamire Gaylord. The family would settle in Ogden, Utah. Luman would later work as vice-president of
Z.C.M.I.
[19]William Wallace
Casper joined the Church in 1834. He
would later serve in the Mormon Battalion.
He settled his family in Mill Creek, Utah. Sarah Bean Casper joined the Church in 1841, thee years before
their marriage.
[20]Edmund Lowell
Ellsworth joined the Church in 1840. He
married Brigham Young’s daughter, Elizabeth Young, in 1842. He later served a mission to England and on
his return led the first handcart company to Utah. He settled his family in Salt Lake City, and West Weber,
Utah. Later they moved to Prescott,
Arizona.
[21]Oliver Cowdery was
one of the Three Witnesses to The Book of Mormon. In 1838, Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated by the High Council in
Far West, Missouri. He withdrew from
the Saints and practiced law in Ohio.
In 1848, he was re-baptized into the Church.
[22]Unfortunately,
neither Mother Smith nor her surviving children, Sophronia, Catherine, Lucy,
and William, would accompany the Saints to the west. Lucy Mack Smith would die on May 5, 1855
[23]See Doctrine &
Covenants Section 55.
[24]Governor Thomas Ford
later recorded that Daubenheyer’s body was found buried near a campsite on the
Carthage road “with a musket ball through the back of the head.”
[25]Hyrum Washington
Mikesell joined the Church in 1839. He
was a stonemason and helped to build the Nauvoo Temple. Later, he would settle his family in Salt
Lake City.
[26]In September, 1845,
Sheriff Backenstos was being pursued by about twenty men. He enlisted the help
of three men to resist his pursuers and one of his deputies ended up killing
Frank Worrell who was the person in charge of the Carthage Greys at the prison
when Joseph and Hyrum were murdered.
[27]Albert P. Rockwood
joined the Church at Kirtland, in 1837.
In 1845, he was a general in the Nauvoo Legion and a municipal officer
in Nauvoo.
[28]Lucy died in
1847. Jonathan’s second wife, Elvira
was sealed to Joseph Smith. Lucy Elvira
was later sealed to her mother and the Prophet Joseph Smith. Jonathan Harriman
Holmes joined the Church in 1832.
Jonathan Holmes later served in the Mormon Battalion. He settled his family in Farmington, Utah.
[29]Daniel S. Miles was
baptized in 1832. He was among the
first settlers of Commerce (later Nauvoo) Illinois. He is mentioned in D&C 124:138. Joseph Young described Elder Miles as “a man of good faith,
constant in his attendance at the meetings of the council, until the time of
his death, which occurred at quite an advanced stage of his life.”
[30]Mary Ann Burnham
would grow up and marry James P. Freeze.
She was the mother of nine children.
Late in her life she served as a member of the General Board of the
Y.L.M.I.A. She was one of the first
missionaries to serve on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
[31]Reynolds Cahoon was
an early member of the Church. He was
baptized in 1830. He served as a
counselor in the Adam‑ondi Ahman Stake, in Missouri. He later settled in Salt Lake City.
[32]He was the first
Lamanite to be sealed for time and all eternity to his wife. Elder Dana had also been the first Lamanite
ordained to the office of Elder, four years previous.
[33]Thomas C. Sharp
wrote a much different account. He
claimed Worrell and the others were ambushed by Backenstos and others who were
hiding in bushes. He named the trigger
man to be Orrin Porter Rockwell.
[34]Alvin (Sr.) Joined
the Church in 1833. He would settle his
family in Salt Lake City, where he later worked as a stonecutter on the Salt
Lake Temple.
[35]James Arlington
Bennet was appointed Inspector‑General of the Nauvoo Legion in 1842 and
was Joseph Smith's first choice as a Vice‑Presidential running mate in
the 1844 election. He joined the church
in 1843.
[36]John Milton
Bernhisel joined the Church in the early days in New York. In 1841 he was set apart as a Bishop in New
York City. He practiced medicine for
many years. He was a trusted friend of
Emma Smith. In 1851 he was elected as
Utah’s first delegate to Congress.
[37]Sarah Packer would
later die in Winter Quarters on December 19, 1845.
[38]Leonard Wilford
Hardy later served as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of the Church in
1880-84.
[39]A few days later
Bennet would tell church leaders he would “cross the Rocky Mountains” with the
Saints. But after Brigham Young refused to appoint him the head of the Nauvoo
Legion, Bennet returned to New York.
[40]The Roman Catholic
Church did subsequently purchase some of the L.D.S. properties which aided the
church in their move west.
[41]This is probably the
proclamation Joseph Smith was commanded in 1841 to issue. (See D&C 124:1‑11)
[42]Reuben McBride
joined the Church in 1834. He later served as a member of Zion’s Camp. When the Saints left Kirtland, he was left
in charge of the temple and other property in Kirtland, Ohio.
[43]Edwin Whiting was
baptized in 1838 by Thomas B. Marsh. He
later settled his family in Manti, Utah and served on the Utah legislature.
[44]Francis (Jr.) would
later die in Winter Quarters on January 23, 1847. Francis (Sr.) was one of the original pioneers of 1847. He settled his family in Springville, Utah.
[45]No other information
is found regarding what happened to Nathan. However, I believe this was really
Nahum Bigelow, a member of the church who had a large family and lived in
Hancock County. Nahum later received his temple ordinances in December and two
of his daughters later married Brigham Young. Nahum died in 1851, in
Farmington, UT at the age of 65
[46]John Carlson joined
the Church in 1832. He later settled
his family at Fairfield, Utah.
[47]The Twelve did not
know this at the time, but Major Warren had come to Nauvoo to serve arrest
warrants on all of the Twelve for “treason.”
When Elder Taylor made this speech, Major Warren became afraid to serve
the papers and changed his mind.
[48]Lyman Eugene Johnson
was one of the original Twelve Apostles and served from 1835 to 1838. He fell away from the Church during the
difficult time in Kirtland. He later
drowned in the Mississippi River in 1856.
[49]Dr. Robert Foster
was excommunicated from the Church in April, 1844. Afterwards, he fought against the Church and is among those who
was blamed for the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
[50]Truman O. Angell was
baptized into the Church in 1833. He
helped to build the Nauvoo Temple. Later, when the architect William Weeks left
Nauvoo, Truman Angell was left in charge to complete the temple. In 1848 he was chosen to replace William
Weeks as the Architect for the Church.
Brother Angell would design many of the important buildings in Utah
including the temples in St. George and Salt Lake City.
[51]The James Emmett
Expedition was a group of 150‑200 saints who left Nauvoo in 1844 for the
west. James Emmett had been appointed by Joseph Smith for a western expedition.
Even after the death of the prophet, James Emmett continued with his efforts to
recruit people to leave Nauvoo. In August of 1844, Brigham Young tried to stop
the movement to leave Nauvoo. The Twelve counseled Emmett to stay, but he was
determined. He left in September with
150‑200 people, most of whom were very faithful members. They following
Emmett because they believed Joseph Smith had ordered the venture, they wanted
to escape the persecutions, they felt they were taking the gospel to the
Indians, and they felt they were preparing the way for the Church as a whole to
move west. In March of 1845, Apostle
Amasa Lyman visited the group and found about 150 souls “in a deplorable
condition” of poverty and hunger. Emmett was rebuked for some of his actions.
Earlier in the year, Brigham Young had disfellowshipped Emmett. With Apostle
Lyman's visit, many in the Emmett group realized that Emmett had blinded them,
however they were too ashamed regarding their state of poverty to return again
to Nauvoo. Emmett moved his group and later in the summer, then left them to
return to Nauvoo and report their location. Emmett pledged his loyalty to the
Twelve and was given again his place in the Church. James S. Fullmer and Henry G. Sherwood had been appointed to
return with Emmett to the group in August of 1845. They were then located in present-day South Dakota. (See Hartley,
My Best For the Kingdom).
[52]It had taken them a
full month to reach the Emmett camp, because of Emmett's poor guidance,
arriving September 13, 1845. They found
about one hundred people in a better condition than they expected. Fullmer and Sherwood arrived with the flu,
so Emmett took advantage of this and tried to convince the camp that their
illness was because the Lord was displeased with them. However, they recovered and explained that
they were instructed by the Twelve to take over the leadership. Emmett opposed this, but the Saints accepted
their leadership. Brothers Fullmer and Sherwood needed to return to Nauvoo.
Because they were still weak, they asked John Butler to guide them back to
Nauvoo.
[53]James Jones joined
the Church in 1838. Mary Partridge
Jones joined the Church in 1839. The
family later settled in Payson, Utah.
[54]Vincent Shurtliff
was an appointed agent for the church who was working to gather the poor to the
main body of the Church.
[55]Jonathan Wright was
baptized in 1843 by Hyrum Smith. He
served for a time as the city marshal in Nauvoo. He settled his family in Brigham City, Utah, where he served as a
counselor to Elder Lorenzo Snow in the presidency of the stake.
[56]Robert Owen was
referred to as “the English Communist” who brought his utopian ideas to America
and established a society in New Harmony, Indiana in 1828. He established the first
kindergarten, first trade school, first free library and first public schools
in America. In 1829, he had a famous debate with Alexander Campbell (Sidney
Rigdon's associate) on the “Evidences of Christianity”. Owen did not believe in
the Bible. B.H. Roberts would later call Campbell's defense against Owen “as
the grandest defense ever made of historic Christianity.” .
[57]This printing press
was being used to print a paper in New York called the “New York
Messenger.” Brannan later did take this
press with him on the ship Brooklyn which brought a group of Saints to San
Francisco and printed the first real newspaper in California called “California
Star.”
