Title: History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 4
Creator: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Author: Jr. Joseph Smith
Editor: B. H. Roberts
Release date: November 16, 2019 [eBook #60708]
Most recently updated: October 17, 2024
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60708
Credits: Produced by the Mormon Texts Project (http://mormontextsproject.org)
PERIOD I.
History of Joseph Smith, the Prophet,
By Himself.
Volume IV.
An Introduction and Notes
By
B. H. Roberts
Published by the Church.
Salt Lake City, Utah,
1908.
The Departure of the Twelve for England—Manifestation of God's Power in Healing the Sick at Commerce.
The Prophet's Literary Methods.
Farewell to the Twelve.
The L. D. S. Hymn Book.
Administration to the Sick.
Discourses by the Brothers Pratt.
Prayer Meeting for the Sick.
Letter to Isaac Russell, reproving him for issuing Pretended Revelations to the Saints.
Conference in New Jersey.
Progress of the Work in England.
The Prophet's Letter to Isaac Galland—Nauvoo Affairs.
Brigham Young Starts on his Mission.
Departure of Elders Young and Kimball from Nauvoo.
Items of Doctrine, The Prophet.
Minutes of Conference at Commerce, Illinois, October 6th, 7th and 8th, 1839.
Death of John Young, Brigham Young's Father.
Hardships of the Elders of the British Mission.
The Prophet's Journey To Washington—The Petition Of The Saints To The Congress Of The United States For Redress Of The Wrongs Inflicted Upon Them In Missouri.
Departure of the Prophet for Washington.
Progress of the Twelve towards England.
Canadian Saints En Route for Nauvoo.
Elder Taylor Anointed in the Kirtland Temple.
Excerpt from Parley P. Pratt's Letter to the Prophet.
First Issue of the Times and Seasons.
The Elements Obey.
The Prophet's Adventure En Route to Washington.
The Saints' Petition to Congress.
The Prophet's Efforts at Washington to Obtain Redress of Grievances for the Saints--Affidavits on Missouri Affairs.
The Prophet's Letter to Hyrum Smith--Reporting State of Affairs at Washington.
Letter of the Prophet and Elias Higbee to the High Council at Nauvoo--Preliminary Hearing of Grievances.
Brigham Young in New York.
Letter of Hyrum Smith to Parley P. Pratt--On Printing the Book of Mormon in New York.
The Prophet in New Jersey.
Affidavit of Simon Carter on his Sufferings in Missouri.
Letter of Hyrum Smith to the Prophet and Judge Higbee.
Affidavit of William F. Cahoon--Missouri Wrongs.
Letter of C. Adams to the Prophet--Cause of the Saints before the Illinois Legislature.
Law Suits to be Abandoned.
Extract from Elder Orson Pratt's Letter to his wife--Reporting Movements of the Brethren in the Eastern States.
Letter from John B. Weber to the Prophet--On Supplementing the Latter's Effort to Obtain Redress from Congress.
Affidavit of John M. Burke--Missouri Outrages.
Affidavit of John Lowry--Ditto.
Affidavit of Jedediah Owen--Ditto.
Affidavit of T. Alvord--Ditto.
Affidavit of William Hawk--Missouri Affairs.
Affidavit of Timothy B. Clark--Ditto.
Affidavit of Urban V. Stewart--Ditto.
Affidavit of John Smith--Ditto.
Affidavit of Samuel Smith--Ditto.
Affidavit of Daniel Avery--Ditto.
Affidavit of James Powell--Ditto.
Affidavit of John Smith--Ditto.
Affidavit of Smith Humphrey--Ditto.
Affidavit of Henry Root--Ditto.
Affidavit of Joseph Clark--Ditto.
Affidavit of Thomas D. Casper--Ditto.
Affidavit of Jesse W. Johnston--Ditto.
Affidavit of Owen Cole--Ditto.
Affidavit of Ezekiel Maginn--Ditto.
Affidavit of Addison Green--Ditto.
Affidavit of John P. Greene--Ditto.
Affidavit of Asahel A. Lathrop--Ditto.
Affidavit of Burr Riggs.
Affidavit of Simon P. Curtis.
Affidavit of Elisha H. Groves.
Affidavit of Jacob Foutz.
Affidavit of Frederick G. Williams.
Statement of James Sloan.
Affidavit of David Shumaker.
Affidavit of Levi Richards.
Affidavit of Gibson Gates.
Departure of the Prophet from Washington--Labors of Elias Higbee Before the Senate Judiciary Committee--Report of the Committee.
Ministry of Brigham Young and George A. Smith at Richmond, New York.
Appointments in the British Mission.
Matthew S. Davis' Description of the Prophet, and a Report of his Washington Discourse.
The Prophet's Interview with Van Buren and Calhoun.
Elias Higbee's Letter to the Prophet, Reporting Progress in the Cause of the Saints before the Senate Committee.
Second Letter of Elias Higbee to the Prophet--Cause of the Saints before the Senate Committee.
Third Letter of Elias Higbee to the Prophet--Cause of the Saints before the Senate Committee.
The Fourth Letter of Elias Higbee to the Prophet--Announces that the Senate Committee's Report will be Adverse to the Saints.
The Prophet En Route for Nauvoo.
Death of James Mulholland.
Report of the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Case of the Saints vs. Missouri.
Affairs of the Saints before United States Senate--General Conference of the Church at Nauvoo--Action of the Church with Reference to Senate Committee's Report--Mission to Palestine.
Extract from the Minutes of the Iowa High Council.
Fifth Letter of Elias Higbee to the Prophet--The Affairs of the Saints at Washington.
Extract from Elder John Taylor's Letter--Affairs in British Mission.
Judge Elias Higbee's Course at Washington Approved.
Letter R. B. Thompson to Elias Higbee, Announcing Approval of the Church Authorities of the Latter's Course at Washington.
Letter of Horace R. Hotchkiss to Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith, Jun.,--Inquiring Concerning the Progress made before Congress.
Sixth Letter of Elias Higbee to the Prophet--Affairs of the Saints at Washington--Papers Withdrawn.
Letter of Horace R. Hotchkiss to Joseph Smith, Jun.,--Offering Tract of Land for Sale.
Letter of Sidney Rigdon to the Prophet.
Arrival of Brigham Young and Associates in England.
Minutes of the General Conference of the Church.
Development Of The Work In England—The Palestine Mission—Postoffice Name Changed From Commerce To Nauvoo.
Letter of Hon. Richard M. Young to Elias Higbee.
Orson Hyde's Credentials as a Missionary to Palestine.
Ordination of Willard Richards to the Apostleship.
Letter of Heber C. Kimball to the Saints of the United States—Affairs of the British Mission.
Council Meeting of the Twelve in England—Hymn Book and the Millennial Star Projected.
Letter of Brigham Young to the Prophet.
Mission opened in Scotland—Orson Pratt.
Letter of Robert Johnstone to Senator Young—Postoffice Name Changed from Commerce to Nauvoo.
Letter of Senator Young to Judge Elias Higbee—Postoffice Name, etc.
Letter of Wilford Woodruff to Don Carlos Smith—Success of Woodruff's Ministry.
Letter of Elders Hyde and Page to the Prophet—Plans for the Palestine Mission.
Letter of Brigham Young to the Prophet—Affairs of the British Mission.
Release of Elder Turley from Prison.
Letter of the Prophet to Elders Hyde and Page—Palestine Mission Considered.
Letter of Willard Richards to the Editor of the Millenial Star—Reporting Labors.
First Foreign Periodical Of The Church—The "Millennial Star"—The Prophet Seeks Release From Secular Responsibilities.
The Beacon Hill Conference.
A Letter of Heber C. Kimball, et al., Recommending English Saints to the Bishop of the Church.
Death of Bishop Partridge.
First Number of the Millennial Star.
The First Company of Saints from England.
Brigham Young's Dream.
Minutes of the Conference Held at Gadfield Elm Chapel, in Worcestershire, England, June 14th, 1840.
Memorial of Joseph Smith, Jun., to the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, June 18th, 1840.
Proceedings of the High Council on the Foregoing Memorial, June 20th, 1840.
Minutes of the Conference Held at Stanley Hill, Castle Froome, Herefordshire, England, June 21st, 1840.
Carpenter's Hall.
Minutes of the High Council.
Letter of William W. Phelps—Confessing Errors Committed in Missouri.
Letter of Elders Orson Hyde and John E. Page to Presidents Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Pleading for William W. Phelps.
Minutes of a Meeting of the Crooked Creek Branch of the Church.
Minutes of High Council at Nauvoo.
Reflections of the Prophet on the Action of Congress.
Important Conference of the Church in England—Kidnapping of Brown and Boyce by Missourians—Action of the Citizens of Nauvoo.
Conference of the Church in England.
A Council of Church Officers, Held at Manchester, England.
Extract from Elder Woodruff's Letter to the Editor of the Millennial Star—Detailing Incidents of his Ministry.
Special Instruction for High Councils.
The First Missionary for Australia.
Kidnapping of Alanson Brown and Benjamin Boyce—Affidavit of Daniel H. Wells.
Statement of James Allred.
Action of the Citizens of Nauvoo in the Matter of the Kidnapping of Brown and Boyce by the Missourians.
Report of the Committee on Resolutions.
Memorial to Governor Carlin.
The Return of a Prodigal—Conditions in Kirtland—Progress of the Work in Great Britain—The Coming of John C. Bennett—Australian Mission.
Extract of a Letter from Elder William Barratt.
The Prophet's Letter to William W. Phelps—Welcoming him back into the Church.
Credentials of Elders Samuel Bent and George W. Harris.
The Prophet's Letter to Oliver Granger—Dealing Chiefly with affairs at Kirtland.
Letter of John C. Bennett to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon—Announcing his Intention to Join the Saints.
Letter of John C. Bennett to Messrs. Smith and Rigdon—Making Further Tender of his Services to the Church.
Letter of the Prophet to Horace R. Hotchkiss—Rock River Lands and the White Purchase.
Letter of John C. Bennett to Messrs. Smith and Rigdon—Expressing Anxiety to be with the Saints.
A Voice from the Holy City—Rebuilding the Temple of Solomon—Recall of the People of God to the Land of Judah.
Circular.
Extract of a Letter from Wilford Woodruff to the Editor of the Millennial Star—Reporting Labors.
The Prophet's Letter to John C. Bennett—Bidding him Welcome to Nauvoo, to partake of—Poverty.
Letter of John C. Bennett to Messrs. Smith and Rigdon—Announcing that he will soon be in Nauvoo.
A Missouri Kidnapping—Continued Development of the Work in Great Britain—The Death of Joseph Smith, Sen., First Patriarch of the Church.
Settlement of a Difficulty.
The Kidnapping of Benjamin Boyce, Mr. Brown, et al.
The Beginning of Open-air Meetings.
The Electric Telegraph.
An Address by the First Presidency to the Church.
Minutes of the High Council Meeting, at the Office of Joseph Smith, Jun., Nauvoo, September 5th, 1840.
The Generosity of John Benbow.
Earthquake at Mount Ararat.
The Death of Joseph Smith, Sen.
Biography of Joseph Smith, Sen., Presiding Patriarch of the Church, by the Prophet, his Son.
The Discourse of Elder Thompson at the Funeral of Joseph Smith, Sen.
Threatening Portents in the Actions of Missouri—General Conferences in Nauvoo and England—The Doctrine of Priesthood.
Letter of Samuel Bent and George W. Harris to the Presidency—Reporting Labors.
Letter of John E. Page to the Presidency, Reporting Progress of Palestine Mission.
Extracts from Orson Hyde's Letter—Signs in the Heavens.
Elder Heber C. Kimball's Dream.
Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in Nauvoo, October 3d, 1840.
Report of the Presidency.
Minutes of a General Conference in England.
Minutes of a Council of the Twelve in England.
Progress of the Work in Great Britain—The Saints at Kirtland Reproved for Their Course During the Missouri Persecutions—The Prophet's Address to the Twelve and Saints in Great Britain.
Charge against Oliver Walker.
Minutes of the High Council.
Letter of Heber C. Kimball et al. to Messrs. Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith—Reporting Affairs in the British Mission.
"Remarkable Visions" by Orson Pratt.
Letter of Joseph and Hyrum Smith to the Saints in Kirtland—Reproving the Saints for Neglect of their Brethren and Sisters During the Missouri Persecutions.
An Epistle of the Prophet to the Twelve.
Introduction of the Gospel in the Isle of Man—The Nauvoo Charter.
Mormonism in the Isle of Man.
Opposition to the Work in England.
Excommunication of Sidney Roberts.
Letter of Brigham Young to the Presidency, Detailing Movements of the Mission in England.
Elder Taylor's Defense of the Work.
An Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo.
Of the Legislative Powers of the City Council.
Letter of John C. Bennett to the Times and Seasons—Announcing the Passage of the Act Incorporating Nauvoo.
Vale 1840—Enter 1841—List of Publications for and Against the Church—Whereabouts of the Twelve Apostles—"Election and Reprobation"—Proclamation to the Saints.
The Acquittal of R. D. Foster.
An Objector Put Down.
Brigham Young's Letter to the Prophet—Reporting Labors in England.
Election and Reprobation—by Brigham Young and Willard Richards.
A Proclamation of the First Presidency of the Church to the Saints Scattered Abroad, Greeting.
Reconstruction of Church Affairs at Nauvoo—Revelation—Municipal Organization of Nauvoo—Installation of Civic and Military Officers.
Reproof of John E. Page and Orson Hyde.
Revelation given to Joseph Smith at Nauvoo, January 19th, 1841.
Hyrum Smith Installed as Patriarch.
First Election of Municipal Officers in Nauvoo.
Joseph Smith made Sole Trustee of the Church.
Nauvoo City Council Organized.
The Mayor's Inaugural Address.
Minutes of the Meeting which Organized the Nauvoo Legion.
Nauvoo Council Opened by Prayer.
The Echo Company.
Minutes of the London Conference.
Ordinance.
Missouri's "White-washing."
Legion Resolutions.
Resolution.
Ordinance.
An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association.
An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo Agricultural and Manufacturing Association in the County of Hancock.
Division of Nauvoo into Municipal Wards.
Ordinance on Religious Liberty in Nauvoo.
An Ordinance in Relation to Public Meetings.
Committee Report.
Appointment of City Officers.
Letter of Brigham Young to the Editor of the Star—On Family Prayer.
Appointment of Joseph Smith Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Legion.
Organization of the Lesser Priesthood at Nauvoo.
The First Foreign Mission of the Church, 1837-1841.
History of the British Mission.
Celebration of the Twelfth Anniversary of the Organization of the Church—Order of Laying Corner-Stones of Temples—Council Meetings of the Twelve in England.
Staffordshire Conference.
Union of Commerce and Nauvoo Plats.
Letter of Wilford Woodruff to Don C. Smith—Relating to Affairs in England.
Minutes of a Council Meeting of the Twelve.
Council Meeting of the Twelve—Continued.
Council Meeting of the Twelve—Continued.
Twelfth Anniversary of the Organization of the Church.
Sidney Rigdon's Speech.
Conduct of the People.
Order of Laying Corner-stones of Temples.
Conference at Philadelphia.
Meeting of the Council of the Twelve in Manchester.
General Conference at Nauvoo—Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints in England—Difference Between Baptists and Latter-Day Saints.
Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in Nauvoo, Illinois, on the 7th day of April, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-one.
Report of the First Presidency.
Letter of George A. Smith to the Star—Report of Labors.
Conference in New York City.
An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, Greeting.
Difference Between the Baptists and Latter-day Saints, from the North Staffordshire Mercury.
The Difference Between the Baptists and the Former-day Saints.
Organization of the Nauvoo Legion—Notable Persons at Nauvoo—The Prophet's Sermon on Individual Responsibility for Sin and the Doctrine of Election.
The Twelve Embark for Home.
Changes in the Iowa Stake.
Organization of the Legion.
New Burying Ground for Nauvoo.
Nauvoo Legion Affairs.
Letter of the Prophet to the Times and Seasons—Visit of Notable Persons to Nauvoo.
The Prophet's Discourse.
Minutes of a Conference in London.
Arrival of Rochester at New York.
The Healing of one who was Deaf.
Rowdyism in New York Harbor.
Mob Violence in England.
Conference in Kirtland.
Letter of the Presidency to the Saints—Concentration at Nauvoo.
Legion Affairs.
Arrest of the Prophet on Demand of Missouri—Trial at Monmouth—The Acquittal.
The Prophet's Visit with Governor Carlin.
The Arrest of the Prophet.
Apostles in New Jersey.
News of the Prophet's Arrest Reaches Nauvoo.
The Prophet at Monmouth.
The Trial.
Honorable Conduct of Counsel.
Judge Douglas—Ditto.
A Letter from the Editor of the Times and Seasons to that Journal, Giving an Account of the Trial at Monmouth.
The Prophet Set Free.
The Mission to Jerusalem—Progress of Orson Hyde in His Journey.
Elder John E. Page—a Laggard.
Letter from Elder Orson Hyde to Presidency Joseph Smith—Recounting Incidents of his Journey en route for Jerusalem.
Elder Hyde's Letter to Rabbi Hirschell.
Conclusion of Elder Hyde's Letter to the Prophet.
Sundry Events at Nauvoo and Throughout the World—The Mission of the Twelve Noted by the Prophet.
Press Misrepresentations.
Imprisonment of Theodore Curtis.
Extract from a Letter in the Juliet Courier—Describing the Prophet's Trial at Monmouth, and Affairs at Nauvoo.
Revelation given to Joseph Smith, in the House of Brigham Young, in Nauvoo City, July 9th, 1841.
Liquor Selling Licensed in Nauvoo.
Manna Rain in Aleppo.
Press Falsehoods.
Letter of Elder Orson Hyde to President Smith—Detailing Events while en route to Jerusalem.
Death of Senator Little.
General Funeral Sermon.
The Prophet's Account of the Mission of the Twelve.
Letter of William Smith to President Smith—Land Transactions.
The Death of Don Carlos Smith—His Life and Labors—Special Conference at Nauvoo.
The Death of Don Carlos Smith.
The Visits of Don Carlos to Liberty Prison.
His Ministrations to the Sick.
Personal Appearance of Don Carlos Smith.
The Iowa Stake of Zion.
New Mission Movement Planned.
General Orders, Nauvoo Legion.
Depression of the Times.
Visit of the Sac and Fox Indians to Nauvoo.
Minutes of a Special Conference at Nauvoo—Important Action in Relation to the Twelve.
Hotchkiss Land Purchase Trouble—Death's Harvest, Oliver Granger, Robert B. Thompson—Important Action Relating to the Twelve—The Mission in Fox Island.
The Founding of Warren.
Letter of Horace R. Hotchkiss to Joseph Smith—Land Affairs in Nauvoo.
Letter of the Prophet to Horace R. Hotchkiss—Nauvoo Land Transactions.
Location and Character of the Hotchkiss Lands.
Death of Oliver Granger.
An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles to the Saints Scattered Abroad Among the Nations, Greeting.
Death of Robert B. Thompson.
Biography of Robert Blashel Thompson.
Minutes of a Council Meeting of the Twelve Apostles at the House of Brigham Young, Nauvoo.
Changes of Officers in the Legion.
Changes Among the Civil Officers of Nauvoo.
The Prophet on Medicine.
A Shower of "Flesh."
British-Chinese War.
Extract from Legion Minutes.
The Coming of Edward Hunter to Nauvoo.
Bitterness of D. W. Kilbourn.
Hitch Council Resolution.
Lumber for the Temple.
The Work on Fox Island.
Sentence Rendered by Pontius Pilate, Acting Governor of Lower Galilee, Stating that Jesus of Nazareth shall Suffer Death on the Cross.
The General Conference of the Church at Nauvoo—Doctrinal Sermon by the Prophet—Baptism for the Dead—Angels and Ministering Spirits—Epistle of the Twelve Reviewing Status of the Church.
Suit against Geo. M. Hinkle.
Minutes of the General Conference of the Church held at Nauvoo.
Minutes of a Meeting of the Council of the Twelve.
Copy of a Letter to Smith Tuttle, Esq.,—The Hotchkiss.
Land Troubles.
An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles, to the Brethren Scattered Abroad on the Continent of America, Greeting.
Affairs in Kirtland and Nauvoo—Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints in the British Islands—Orson Hyde's Prayer on the Mount of Olives, Dedicating the Holy Land Preparatory to the Return of the Tribes of Israel.
Extract from Orson Hyde's Letter.
Minutes of Conference held at Lima.
Extract of a Letter from Parley P. Pratt—Emigration of Saints, and Status of the Work in England.
Copy of a Letter of Attorney from Joseph Smith, "Sole Trustee-in-Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," to Reuben McBride, of Kirtland, Ohio.
Excerpt of Hyrum Smith's Letter to the Saints in Kirtland—Disapproving of Certain Plans for Building up Kirtland.
The Nuisance.
Reproof of William O. Clark.
Dedication of the Baptismal Font.
An Ordinance Concerning Vagrants and Disorderly Persons.
An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles to the Saints Scattered Abroad in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, and the Eastern Continent, Greeting.
Minutes of a Meeting at Ramus, Illinois—Alanson Brown et al., Disfellowshiped.
Baptisms for the Dead.
Elder Orson Hyde's Letter—His Prayer of Dedication on the Mount of Olives.
Prayer of Orson Hyde on the Mount of Olives.
Official Denunciation of Thieves at Nauvoo—The Moral Law of the Church—Abandonment of Ramus as a Stake of Zion—Baptism for the Dead, an Epistle.
Affidavit of Hyrum Smith—Denouncing Theft.
The Prophet's Estimate of the Book of Mormon.
The Prophet's Denunciation of Thieves.
Conference in New York.
Warning of the Twelve Apostles against Thieves.
Thieves.
Revelation.
Conference at Ramus.
The Prophet Proof Reads Book of Mormon.
Letter of the Prophet to Esquires Browning and Bushness—Payment of Notes.
The Prophet's Letter to Mr. Hotchkiss—Commerce Lands.
The Prophet's Difficulties in Writing the Annals of the Church.
Anti-Mormonism at Warsaw.
Further Trouble at Warsaw.
Baptism for the Dead. An Epistle of the Twelve Apostles to the Saints of the Last Days.
Kirtland vs. Nauvoo—Political Attitude of the People of Nauvoo Declared—Publications Mormon and Anti-Mormon For 1841—Close of the Year.
Decision in the Case of Almon W. Babbitt and Kirtland.
Affairs at Ramus.
Expressions of Gratitude to James Gordon Bennett and the New York Herald.
Minutes of a Meeting of the Twelve in the House of the Prophet.
The Prophet on the Attitude of the Saints in Politics.
The Prophet's Letter to Edward Hunter—Business Affairs at Nauvoo.
Revelation to John Snyder and Amos B. Fuller.
Revelation.
Work on Proclamation to Kings of the Earth.
Emigration Agency to England.
Xmas at Nauvoo, 1841.
Conference Minutes—New York and Maine.
Purpose of the Gift of Tongues.
Instructions to the Twelve.
Warren and Warsaw Affairs.
A Prophecy Respecting Warsaw.
Mormon Literature (pro et con) 1841.
The Opening of the Year 1842—Whereabouts of the Twelve Apostles—Correspondence of Elder Hyde From Trieste—Report of High Council on Affairs in Nauvoo—Events and Conditions in the British Mission.
Sundry Labors of the Prophet.
The Prophet's Letter to Edward Hunter—Reports Opening of the New Store.
Rejoicing of the Prophet.
Tithing and Consecrations for the Temple of the Lord.
Book of Mormon Corrections.
Meeting with the Twelve.
Highly Interesting from Jerusalem.
Excerpts from Elder Hyde's Letters.
The Prophet's Letter to Isaac Galland—On Settlement of Accounts.
Isaac Galland Affair.
Seventies' Quorum Affairs.
Revelation.
Report of High Council Committee.
Letter of G. Walker to Elder Brigham Young et al.—Affairs in England Since Departure of the Apostles.
Emigration of the Saints From England to Nauvoo—The Book of Abraham
Emigration.
Death of Laura Phelps.
Debates in Nauvoo.
Vindication of Daniel Wood.
Letter of Alfred Cordon to Joseph Smith—Reporting Affairs in England.
Confidence in the Nauvoo Charter.
Announcement of the Trustee-in-Trust for the Church Respecting Work on the Temple.
An Additional Word from the Twelve.
Letter of the Prophet to an Unknown Brother on Tithing.
Note of Robert Pierce—Expressing Satisfaction at Financial Settlement.
The Book of Abraham.
The Wentworth Letter.
The Bennett-Dyer Correspondence—The Prophet's Discourse on the Subject of the Resurrection, and the Salvation of Children—Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints in England Concerning Their Emigration to America.
Tax Controversy.
Attempted Settlement with Gilbert Granger,
Book of Abraham Fac-similes.
Letter of the Prophet to John C. Bennett—on Bennett's Correspondence Anent Slavery.
Correspondence Between Dr. C. V. Dyer and General J. C. Bennett.
Letter of John C. Bennett to Joseph Smith—Anent the Dyer-Bennett Correspondence.
Letter of the Prophet to Edward Hunter—Business Transactions.
Extract from the Legion Minutes.
Extract from High Council Minutes.
The Prophet Becomes Editor of the Times and Seasons.
Honor Among Thieves.
Origin of the Female Relief Society.
The Prophet's Sermon on Life and Death; the Resurrection and the Salvation of Children.
An Epistle of the Twelve to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in its Various Branches and Conferences in Europe, Greeting.
A Mason's Estimate of Nauvoo and the Prophet—Organization of the Female Relief Society—"Try the Spirits"—The Prophet's Editorial.
Nauvoo and the Mormons.
Extract from a Letter from Elder E. P. Maginn, Salem, Massachusetts.
Organization of the Relief Society.
Character of the Mormon Women.
Mission of John Snyder.
Synopsis of the Prophet's Sermon on Baptism for the Dead.
Letter of Lorenzo D. Barnes to Parley P. Pratt—Reporting Labors.
Synopsis of the Prophet's Remarks to the Female Relief Society.
"Try the Spirits"—The Prophet's Editorial in the Times and Seasons.
Special Conference of the Church at Nauvoo—The Prophet's Reproof of the Wicked—Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints in Kirtland—Status of the Church.
The Thirteenth Anniversary of the Organization of the Church.
Conference Minutes. Special Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, City of Nauvoo, April 6th, 1842.
Remarks of the Prophet at the Funeral of Ephraim Marks.
Synopsis of Remarks of the Prophet—Reproof of all Wickedness.
A Meteor Fall.
Council Meeting with the Twelve.
Council Meeting with the Twelve.
An Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints in America, Greeting.
Military Appointments.
The General Bankrupt Law—The Doctrine of Baptism for the Dead—The Prophet's Address to the Female Relief Society—The Keys of the Priesthood and the Nauvoo Temple.
The Bankrupt Law.
The Prophet Forced into Bankruptcy.
Baptism for the Dead.
Cause of the Prophet's Insolvency.
James Arlington Bennett Honored.
Repast Militaire.
The Rights and Privileges of Women in the Church Remarks of the Prophet to the Relief Society.
The Temple.
Five subjects may be said to form the outline of the chief events detailed in this volume of the History of the Church the Founding of Nauvoo; the Appeal of the Church to the National Government for redress of wrongs suffered in Missouri; the Mission of the Twelve Apostles to the British Isles; the Mission of Orson Hyde to Palestine; and the Doctrinal Development of the Church.
Preliminary Considerations.
Preliminary to a brief consideration of these several subjects, I desire to say a word as to the reception of the Latter-day Saints by the people of Illinois, and the conditions prevailing in that state at the time of their arrival. A knowledge of these conditions is necessary to the understanding of this whole Illinois period of the History of the Church.
Much has been made of the hospitality which the people of Illinois extended to the Latter-day Saints at the time of their expulsion from Missouri. A writer in the American Historical Magazine for July, 1906, says: "To the latter state [Illinois] they [the Saints] went in 1839, and were received with such open-armed hospitality as only a very generous and liberty-loving people can extend to those whom they honestly believe to be suffering from a wrongful oppression. The conduct of the Saints in five years turned this feeling of extraordinarily deep-seated sympathy, inducing great practical charities, into a feeling of very bitter hatred, threatening to break into mob violence." Far be it from me to depreciate the kindness of those who extended a helping hand to the Saints in the hour of their distress. Stripped and sorely wounded they fled from the violence of Missouri militia-mobs, and found for a time a peaceful asylum in Illinois. Many were the acts of disinterested kindness extended to them by the people in the western part of that state; and every such act I am sure was and is remembered, both by those who were the direct recipients of such acts of kindness and by their grateful descendants. But is responding to the calls of humanity so rare a thing in a Christian state, that it must needs be regarded as so exceptional in this case? Such was the condition of the Saints as they fled from Missouri, such the injustice to which they had been subjected in that state, that their situation would have appealed to the generosity of savages, how much more, then, to a civilized and Christian community! And then, speaking of this reception of the Saints en masse, by Illinois, and leaving out of consideration for the moment—since they have already been acknowledged—the individual acts of kindness bestowed upon the exiles, was this reception of the Saints by Illinois wholly disinterested? Were there not benefits which the Saints could bestow upon the state in return for the heartiness of the reception given? Would it not have been, under all the circumstances, the gravest of blunders for Illinois to have refused asylum to these exiles? Is it to be presumed that the public men of western Illinois were so blind to their own interests as not to see in these twelve or fifteen thousand people a mighty advantage to the state? It is true they were poor in this world's goods; but they were rich in labor-power, and their reputation for habits of sobriety and of industry had preceded them. Here were thousands of husbandmen seeking lands. Illinois had thousands of acres of unoccupied lands awaiting husbandmen. How shortsighted and unstatesman-like it would have been for the men of Illinois not to have welcomed these settlers into their state? With half an eye it is easy to see that the benefits of this reception of the exiled Mormons by Illinois is not by any means a one-sided affair; and it would be doing an injustice to the intelligence of the people of that state to suppose they were blind to these advantages. This will more fully appear when other conditions are taken into account. Illinois has an area of 56,650 square miles; and at the time of the advent of the Saints in that state a white population of less than four hundred thousand,[1] as against a present population of five and a half millions.[2] It will be seen, then, that in 1839, the year of the advent of the Saints into that state, Illinois was very sparsely settled, and needed above all things for her development and prosperity, people to subdue her wilderness and cultivate her rich lands, especially people desirous of making homes, and becoming permanent citizens. Moreover, Illinois had recently launched an extensive system of internal improvements by state aid. This system included the construction of 1,300 miles of railroads in the state, besides provisions for the improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia, Illinois, Great and Little Wabash, and Rock rivers. Also the construction of a canal from Lake Michigan to the navigable waters of the Illinois river, a distance of more than one hundred miles (from Chicago to Peru). To carry out this system of internal improvements the state legislature of 1836-7 had appropriated the sum of $12,000,000; and to raise the money state bonds were placed on the stock markets of the eastern states and in England. It is not my province here even to note the wisdom or unwisdom of this policy of wholesale state aid for these internal improvements; let the wisdom or unwisdom be what it may, these conditions emphasized Illinois' demand for population, and again makes it evident that it would have been the height of folly for the people of that state to do other than give hearty welcome to this body of population so rich in labor-power; so potent in wealth producing energy.
Another thing to be noted is the fact that about the time of the advent of the Saints into Illinois, political parties were just taking form in that state, and it is within the record of facts in the case, as well as of great likelihood, that a desire for obtaining political advantage was at least in the background of motives prompting the heartiness of the reception given to the Saints.
Illinois was admitted into the Union in 1818, but it is a matter of common knowledge that in the early years of her history as a state, her officers were elected not on any well defined political party principles, but chiefly on the strength of the personality of the candidates and the special things for which they individually stood. Indeed, it was not until 1830 that anything like party lines were drawn in the state, and that it became a battle ground for the two great national parties, Whigs and Democrats. It was a committee from a Democratic party organization in Quincy, Illinois, that took the initiative in welcoming the Saints into the state, and strive how one may, it is difficult to think there was not some political advantage sought through this action. On the other hand, the Whigs were not slow to urge upon the incoming exiles that it was a Democratic state and a Democratic administration in that state which had not only permitted, but had really ordered their expulsion from Missouri, and that doubtless the injustice they had suffered was owing to Democratic ideas of the administration of government. Nor were there wanting those among the Saints who were willing to believe that such was the case. Indeed, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, found it necessary to gently reprove some of his people who were rapidly making the question of their expulsion from Missouri a political party question in Illinois. This effort to win the Saints to one political party or the other, continued to be a factor in their affairs so long as they remained at Nauvoo. It was owing to this rivalry for their support that doubtless made it possible for the Saints to obtain larger grants of power for their city government, and greater political privileges and influence in the State than otherwise could have been obtained by them. It also was this rivalry for their favor, as the events in this, but more especially in the succeeding volume will prove, that made them alternately fulsomely flattered and heartily disliked; fawningly courted, and viciously betrayed.
A knowledge of these circumstances, I say, is essential to the right understanding of the Nauvoo period of the Church's history.
The founding of the city of Nauvoo was an event, the interest of which extends beyond the people immediately concerned in it. It was a unique movement in its way, and may yet suggest a policy in reference to the government of large cities from which great benefits may arise. Very naturally after the experiences of the Mormon people in Missouri, the Prophet was anxious to environ them with conditions that would insure protection to the community, hence for Nauvoo he secured as large concessions of political power as it was possible to obtain, and an examination of the Nauvoo charter proper with its attendant charters providing as they did for an independent educational system, from common schools to a University; an independent military organization with a lieutenant-general as its commander;[3] a large grant of commercial as well as municipal power, demonstrates how well he succeeded. Commenting upon the charter immediately after its passage by the state legislature had been formally announced, he said: "The City Charter of Nauvoo is of my own plan and device. I concocted it for the salvation of the Church, and on principles so broad, that every honest man might dwell secure under its protective influence without distinction of sect or party."[4] On another occasion when defending the right of the city to issue writs of habeas corpus, even against processes of the state, he held: "If there is not power in our charter and courts, then there is not power in the State of Illinois nor in the Congress or Constitution of the United States; for the United States gave unto Illinois her Constitution or Charter, and Illinois gave unto Nauvoo her charters conceding unto us our vested rights which she has no right or power to take from us. All the power there was in Illinois she gave to Nauvoo. * * * The municipal court has all the power to issue and determine writs of habeas corpus within the limits of this state that the Legislature can confer. This city has all the power that the State courts have, and was given by the same authority—the legislature. * * * The charter says that the City Council shall have power and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute such ordinances not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, or of this State, as they may deem necessary for the peace, benefit and safety of the inhabitants of said city.[5] And also that the Municipal Court shall have power to grant writs of habeas corpus in all cases arising under the ordinances of the City Council. The City Council have passed an ordinance 'that no citizen of this city shall be taken out of this city by any writ without the privilege of a writ of habeas corpus.' There is nothing but what we have power over, except where restricted by the Constitution of the United States. 'But,' says the mob, 'what dangerous powers!' Yes—dangerous, because they will protect the innocent and put down mobocrats. There is nothing but what we have power over, except where restricted by the Constitution of the United States. * * * If these powers are dangerous, then the Constitution of the United States, and of this State are dangerous; but they are not dangerous to good men; they are only so to bad men who are breakers of the laws. * * * The lawyers themselves acknowledge that we have all power granted us in our charters, that we could ask for—that we had more power than any other court in the State; for all other courts were restricted while ours was not."
Such views in relation to an ordinary municipal government would unquestionably be stamped as preposterous. No such powers as are here claimed are accorded to ordinary city governments in Illinois or any other of the states of the American Union. What then may be said of the Prophet's claims in respect to the municipal powers of Nauvoo? Nothing in way of defense, except that Nauvoo was not an ordinary municipality; that Joseph Smith had sought for extraordinary grants of power for the city of Nauvoo and had obtained them; that his personal experiences and the experiences of his people, both in Ohio and Missouri, had taught him the necessity of having officers charged with the duty of administering government wherein his people were concerned, who were friendly disposed and whose interests were largely identical with those of the Saints: that the things which both the Prophet and his people had suffered justified both him and them in seeking for and obtaining such power as had been conferred by charters upon the city of Nauvoo; that the Prophet was wholly within the lines of right conduct when he invoked the municipal powers in his own protection against the aggressions of his old enemies in Missouri and his new betrayers in Illinois. But whether the legislature of Illinois was fully aware of the extraordinary powers they were conferring upon the city of Nauvoo, or being aware of the import of their action the party in control of the legislature was willing to grant the extraordinary powers in the hope of currying political favor with the Saints, may not now be determined; but in any event these extraordinary powers were granted; and wittingly or unwittingly a "city-state" had practically been established within the state of Illinois. Nothing short of this descriptive term can adequately set forth the municipal government of Nauvoo. It seems to be an unconscious reversion. In an incipient way, to the "city-states" or "city-republics" of the old Greek confederations; or the "free-towns" of medieval times, when the cities were more potent than nations in commerce and even in politics. Whether or not the state courts of Illinois and United States courts would have sustained the Nauvoo charters if the matter of their validity had been referred to them for adjudication, may not be determined; but one can scarcely suppress the thought that the likelihood is that they would not have been sustained; on the contrary they would have been most likely declared anomalous to our system of government as it then stood, and now stands. But certainly if the experiment of such a municipal government had not been interrupted in its progress, it might have been an instructive object lesson in the government of cities; and even as it is, the founding of Nauvoo, the "city-state," suggests an important idea which may work out great practical reforms in municipal government in our country.
The founders of our Government dealt with conditions that were very simple in comparison with the complexity of the conditions which government in its various forms, municipal, state and national, is confronted with today. The Municipal problems which now vex the people had not then arisen above the horizon of their experience. The American commonwealths of the early decades of the nineteenth century were practically rural commonwealths. At the time of Washington's inauguration (1789) the population of New York was but thirty-three thousand; Philadelphia forty-two thousand; Boston but eighteen thousand; Baltimore thirteen thousand; Brooklyn one thousand six hundred, and more village than town. Now compare these cities with their present population. New York has a population of over four millions;[6] Philadelphia a population of one and a half millions;[7] Boston more than half a million;[8] Baltimore over five hundred thousand;[9] Brooklyn is absorbed in New York, but as a borough of the larger city it has a population of nearly one and a half millions;[10] Chicago, which in 1840 had but four thousand inhabitants, much smaller than Nauvoo, has now a population of more than two millions;[11] St. Louis which in 1840 had a population of but 16,469, has now a population of three quarters of a million.[12] Nothing like the growth of urban population within the United States during the last fifty years has been known in the history of the world, and it has brought to the inhabitants of these cities problems undreamed of by the founders of our government. Every year discloses more and more distinctly the fact that between these condensed communities and the town, village, and rural population of the states in which they are located, there are very distinct interests and governmental problems of widely differing character. The differences which justify distinct local governments in the state of New York and the peninsula of Florida are not more insistent than the differences between the great commercial city of New York and the state of the same name. Without entering upon elaborate discussion of these questions (a discussion which is foreign to the character of this writing) I venture the suggestion that separate and complete state governments for our large cities, or the elevation of them into what I have called "city-states," such as Nauvoo was, in an incipient way, will be the solution to most of the problems of municipal government in our very large cities. It would greatly enlarge in them the governmental powers essential to their more perfect peace, security, and prosperity. Also it would separate them from embroilment in those questions of the state governments under which they are now located, and in which they have so little interest—often indeed, there is even sharp conflict of interests, engendering bitterness and strife which hinders progress for both city and state. Besides, granting complete statehood to our larger cities would be but a proper recognition of the right of those great aggregations of citizens with their varied industries, their immense wealth and distinct interests, to that measure of influence in our national affairs which their numbers and intelligence and interests justly demand.
The Appeal of the Church to the National government for Redress of Wrongs Suffered in Missouri.
The Prophet Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Judge Elias Higbee were chosen as the committee to present to the National Congress the petition of the Saints for a redress of their grievances, suffered in Missouri. This journey to the nation's Capital was of importance quite apart from the immediate purpose for which it was undertaken; namely, it brought the Prophet in contact with the leading statesmen of the United States. While in Washington, he was brought in contact with and interviewed such men as Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, President Martin Van Buren, different members of the Cabinet, Senators, and Representatives. Such contact enabled him to take new measurements, not only of a different class of men from those with whom he had been accustomed to associate, but new measurements of himself by comparison and contrast of himself with those leading spirits of the nation. Comparisons which could not result otherwise than in advantage to him; and I think it must be conceded by all students of the Prophet's character, especially to those who have been at all close observers of its development, that after this trip to Washington, which afforded the above noted opportunities of comparison and contrast, the Prophet's growth was immeasurably greater than at any time before that journey.
In some respects however it was unfortunate that the Prophet was not more cosmopolitan in his training and in his views of life on the occasion of this visit to the nation's capital; for lack of such training and views of life led him to the formation of rather hasty judgments as to the character of our nation's public men at that time. He undoubtedly had sticking to him as yet, some of the prejudices of his New England and New York sectional training; and at the time of his visit the spirit of the public men of the nation at Washington was largely influenced by the Southern character and spirit. Bourbon Democracy was at its height. The gentlemen of the South with their extreme notions of chivalry and polite deportment, predominated. In those days men were held to strict account for their manner of address one to another. An improper word, a slight, magnified into an insult, meant a challenge to mortal combat on "the field of honor," and this sense of personal responsibility for utterances begot, no doubt, an extreme politeness in personal deportment which seemed puerile to those reared in another atmosphere and influenced by other sentiments than those which resulted from education in the South. Joseph Smith's judgment upon manners and customs in Washington, was doubtless New England's judgment upon Southern customs with which it had no patience, much less sympathy. It is only from these considerations that the rather harsh judgment of the Prophet in relation to conditions in Washington can be properly understood.