We spent the evening after we arrived in Quincy in relating our adventures and escapes, while making our exit from the land of Missouri, and the following circumstance, during our evening’s conversation, was related by Samuel, who, in company with a number of others,² fled for his life before the enemy:—

he said that they suffered very much on their rout with hunger as there was several of them and they were pursued by their enemies for which cause they did not consider it safe to expose themselves to being seen by the inhabitants

He said that they travelled the most secluded route that they could find, as they considered it unsafe to be seen by the inhabitants of the country.

upon one occasion they became so faint that they were almost in despair after counseling together a short time they concluded to appoint samuel to receive the word of the Lord and then unite in prayer for that the Lord would communicate <to> them his will concerning what he would have them to do

Game being very scarce, they soon lacked for provisions, and finally ran out altogether; yet they pursued their journey, until they became so weak that they could proceed no further. They then held a council, in which Samuel was appointed to receive the word of the Lord, and they united in prayer to God, that he would make known to them the means and time of their deliverance.

After a short supplication, it was manifested to Samuel that they might obtain sustenance by travelling a short distance in a certain direction. This he made known to the company, and immediately set out with two others in quest of the promised food.

and after travelling several miles they came to an indians wigwam They told them by signs that they were hungry and the squaw made some cakes with all possible speed and baked them in a pan over the fire and gave each one of them 2 they then told her that there was more of their friends in woods far off and in a trice she made a quantity more of her wheat cakes and gave them to the brethren on a piece of birch bark She also gave them to understand by signs that she would send but she had but little and her papooses would be hungry if she let them have any more.

After travelling a short time, they came to an Indian wigwam, and made known to the Indians by signs⁴ that they were hungry. Upon this the squaw, with all possible speed, baked them some cakes, and gave each of them two; after which she sent the same number to those who remained in the woods, giving them to understand that she would send more, but she had very little flour, and her papooses⁵ would be hungry.

The brethren traveled on length of time af ter this but succeeded in getting sufficient food to sustain them in that none of the company perished

From this time onward, the brethren succeeded in getting food sufficient to sustain them, so that none of them perished.

in a short time they separated and took different routs through the country for Quincy where samuel arrived some time before we got there.

It was but a few days before samuel moved his family into another house this left rather more room for those who were lft but remained we has soon found that we had many kind neighbors in fact they were all kind one in particular I would mention who lived across the street from us by the name of Messer this man and his wife seemed to seek every opertunity to oblige us and while we were there they took care that we were accomodated with every thing that we needed which was at their command

In a few days, Samuel moved his family into6 another house, and we were then less crowded.⁷

We had not been in Quincy one week when Lucy my youngest daughter was taken very sick with a pain in her head and dreadful distress in her limbs and occasioned by her exposure in coming from Misouri She utterly refused from the first take any nourishment whatever I took care of her myself several days untill I was taken in a similar manner myself the day on which I was taken Mr Miliken a young man to whom she was engaged to be married came to see her and he was obliged to watched with her <all> that day for I my disease proved to be a very severe case of Cholera and although I suffered dreadfully with cramp which usually attends that complaint yet that was nothing in comparison to another pain which opperated upon the marrow of my bones and sometimes seemed to me to be almost bursting the bones themselves assunder

Soon after he left, Lucy was taken violently ill, and for several days she refused to take any kind of nourishment whatever. I had not long the privilege of taking care of her, as I was shortly seized with the cholera myself, and, although I suffered dreadfully with the cramp, which usually attends this disease, it was nothing in comparison to another pain, which operated upon the marrow of my bones. It seemed sometimes as though it would almost burst the bones themselves asunder.

Everything that could be obtained which was considered good for such diseases was administered in my case, but without effect.

⁸supposing that I could not live any length of time Lucy wanted to [… ine] see me but she was unable to stand on her feet and samuel carried her down the stairs in his arms several times before I got any better at last a young man who was a botanic physician⁹ was brought who gave me a kind of herb tea that releived me immediately so that I went to sleep very soon after I took it and and continued from that time getting better untill I recovered

At length we applied to a young botanic physician, who gave me some herb tea that relieved me immediately.

During my sickness, Samuel brought Lucy downstairs several times in his arms to see me, as they did not expect me to live any length of time, and they were willing that she should be gratified. When I recovered, I found that she had taken nothing but ice water, while I was sick, but her fever was broken, and, by careful nursing, she was soon able to walk about.¹⁰

Whilst we were sick, the ladies of Quincy sent us every delicacy which the city afforded; in fact, we were surrounded with the kindest of neighbours. One Mr. Messer and family, in particular, sought every opportunity to oblige us while we remained in the place.

and when I got better I found that since she was sick she had ate nothing but ice and drunk ice water but her fever was broken and in a little while by careful nursing she was able to walk about a little—

previous to this however Mr Smith had sent one brother Lumereaux to Missouri to see if any intelligence could be obtained concerning the prisoners this man received strict injunctions from the brethren not to return untill he saw my sons or knew Where they were he had now been gone a long time and no inteligence came of him or the prisoners

Previous to our sickness in Quincy, my husband sent brother Lamoreaux to Missouri, under strict injunctions¹¹ to see Joseph and Hyrum, or find out where they were before he should return.

when Lucy about the time that Lucy began to walk <go> about on her feet a little Brother Partridge and Brother Morley came from near Lima to see if Lumereaux had writen or returned and upon learning that he had not been heard of Bro Partridge was in despair he said that he never would consent to having another messenger sent on such buisness that he would go himself for says he you cannot get any body to do as they ought to do just then news came that Lumereaux had come back but had not seen Joseph or Hyrum upon this Brother Partridge felt worse than ever and blamed Lumereaux very much with non performance of duty—

About the time that Lucy began to walk about a little, brother Partridge and brother Morley came to our house from Lima, to see if brother Lamoreaux had either written or returned. When they came we had heard nothing of him, but while they were with us he arrived in Quincy, and sent us word that he had seen neither Joseph nor Hyrum. At this information brother Partridge was in despair, and said that when another messenger was to be sent, he would go himself, as it was hardly possible to find a man that would do as he was instructed.¹²

I listened to him some time in silence; at last the Spirit, which had so often comforted my heart, again spoke peace to my soul, and gave me an assurance that I should see my sons before the night should again close over my head. “Brother Partridge,” I exclaimed, in tears of joy,¹³ “I shall see Joseph and Hyrum before to-morrow night.”

No said he Mother Smith I am perfectly discouraged I do’nt know as we shall ever see them again in the world at any rate do not flatter yourself that they will be here as soon as that for I tell you will be disapointed I always believed every thing you told me before but I have no faith in what you say <for> I cannot see any prospect of your prophecy being fulfilled but if it proves to be true I will never dispute you again while I live

“No, mother Smith,” said he, “I am perfectly discouraged; I don’t believe we shall ever see them again in the world. At any rate, do not flatter yourself that they will be here as soon as that, for I tell you that you will be disappointed. I have always believed you before, but I cannot see any prospect of this prophecy being fulfilled, but, if it is so, I will never dispute your word again.”

I asked him if he would stay in town long enough to prove my sayings, whether they were true or false. He promised to do so. Brothers Partridge and Morley soon afterwards left the house, in order to get further information upon the subject.

that night upon lieing down upon my bed to go to sleep I saw my sons in vision on the prarie in Misouri they appeared to be very tired and hungry they had but one horse¹⁴ and I saw them stop and tie the horse to the burnt Stub of a sappling after which they laid down¹⁵ on the ground to rest themselves and as they lay there oh how pale and faint they looked I sprang up in bed oh Father <I> said I I see Joseph and Hyrum and they are so weak they can scarcly stand and now they are lying on the cold ground asleep Oh! how I want to give them something to eat

After falling asleep that night, I saw my sons in vision. They were upon the prairie travelling, and seemed very tired and hungry. They had but one horse. I saw them stop and tie him to the stump of a burnt sapling, then lie down upon the ground to rest themselves; and they looked so pale and faint that it distressed me. I sprang up, and said to my husband, “Oh, Mr. Smith, I can see Joseph and Hyrum, and they are so weak they can hardly stand.¹⁶ Now they are lying asleep on the cold ground! Oh, how I wish that I could give them something to eat!”

Mr Smith begged me to be quet saying I was nervous but it was impossible for they were still before my eyes and I saw them untill they had lain there near 2 hours then one of them went away to try to get something to eat and but did not succeed and

Mr. Smith begged me to be quiet, saying that I was nervous; but it was impossible¹⁷ for me to rest— they were still before my eyes—I saw them lie there full two hours; then one of them went away to get something to eat, but not succeeding,

they travelled on. This time Hyrum rode and Joseph walked by his side, holding himself up by the stirrup leather. I saw him reel with weakness, but could render him no assistance. My soul was grieved, I rose from my bed, and spent the remainder of the night in walking the floor.

the next day I commenced making preparations for their reception as confidently as though I had received word that they would be there to supper but at the day was so long so tedious I though

The next day I made preparations to receive my sons, confident that the poor, afflicted wanderers would arrive at home before sunset.

in the afternoon near sunset I went up stairs to consult with Lucy about my cooking and as we came down she was before me and when she came to bottom of the stairs she screamed out there is Mr Baldwin this man had been in prisoners with my sons Oh my brothers said she where are they—Mr. Baldwin told us that Hyrum and Joseph were then on their way over the river and would soon be in Quincy Lucy caught her bonnet and started for Hyrums house as hard as she could run but the excitement was not sufficient to keep up her strength and when she got to the door she fell prostrate on the floor after she had communicated the happy news to them

Some time in the afternoon, Lucy and I were coming down stairs—she was before me. When she came to the bottom of the steps she sprang forward, and exclaimed, “There is brother Baldwin. My brothers— where are they?” This was Caleb Baldwin, who was imprisoned with them. He told us that Joseph and Hyrum were then crossing the river, and would soon be in Quincy. Lucy, hearing this, ran to carry the tidings to Hyrum’s family, but the excitement was not sufficient to keep up her strength. When she came to the door she fell prostrate. After recovering a little, she communicated the welcome news.

she returned to assist me in my preparations. Hyrum and Joseph landed soon after and went immediately to see their families they withe their wives and the rest of the our connections spent the next day with us when the news went abroad that they smiths had been liberated and were now at home the Quincy Greys came down to our house and saluted them in the most polite manner our friends swarmed around us and we spent the day in eating and drinking and making merry

When Hyrum and Joseph landed, they went immediately to see their families, and the next day, they together with their wives and the rest of our connexions, visited us.¹⁸ The Quincy Grays also came to our house, and saluted my sons in the most polite manner.

During the afternoon, I asked Joseph and Hyrum, in the presence of the company, if they were not on the prairie the night previous in the situation which I have already related. They replied in the affirmative. I then asked brother Partridge¹⁹ if he believed what I told him two days before. He answered that he would for ever after that time acknowledge me to be a true prophetess. The day passed pleasantly, and my sons returned to their homes, happy in their freedom and the society of their friends.

Chaptor
At little subsequent to this we were visited by a man by the name of Miller from McDonough county who showed a very friendly disposition and requested us to informed us that he had a quantity of land where he lived and also a number of log houses that were somewhat out of repairs but if the brethren were disposed to settle on his premises they might have the use of the houses by repairing them.

We were much pleased with the disposition which he manifested and before he left samuel my sons Samuel and <Don Carlos and> Jenkins Saulsbury²² my son in Law agreed with him for a piece of Land sufficient for both of them to work that season Samuel returned with him and after making preparations for their families They removed them to that place

My sons were pleased with his offer, and Samuel, Don Carlos, and W. J. Salisbury, renting some land of him, moved upon his premises as soon as preparations could be made for their families.

we remained butsl but a short time in Quincy after they left as we were not ready to leave at that time but in a few days my sons sent a team after us to bring us from Quincy to commerce for my husband’s health was so poor that he was unable to tend to any kind of buisness and they wanted to have their father near them

Jacob Bigler came after us but when he saw how poor my husband’s health was he thought best to leave the heavy waggon which he had brought and get a carriage that would be more pleasant to travel in In this vehicle

The morning before we were started Mr. Messer came in and said that he could not go to work for he wanted to stay with us while here remained “this” siad [sic] Mr M “is the first time I ever left my work on account of a neighbor leaving the place.” He remained with us all the forenoon and in the afternoon returned with his wife and staid till near dark and when they I have always had the warmest attachment for this family and I pray God that his choicest blessings may rest upon them—

When our good friend, Mr. Messer, learned that we were about leaving Quincy, he came and spent a whole day with us.

The next morning we set out for commerce and proceeded about 20 [sic] miles when our carriage broke down and leaving us in the middle of the Prarie unable to proceed on our journey untill Brother Bigler some distance and get assisstance another waggon—here my husband and I sat in the burning sun nearly 3 hours before the necessary aid could be obtained

The next day we set out for Commerce. After proceeding about ten miles, our carriage broke down, and, although my husband was quite sick, we were compelled to remain in the sun at least three hours before another vehicle could be procured.

After this we started on, and soon arrived at Bear Creek, below Lima. We found this stream so high that it was dangerous to ford, especially for those who were unacquainted with the crossing place, but, fortunately, we took the right direction, and, with much difficulty, succeeded in getting across.

and arrived at sister Lawrence’s house near Lima just after dark here we staid over night and the next day came to commerce where we found those of our family who were there in good health

That night we stayed with sister Lawrence, and the next day arrived in Commerce where we found our children in good health.

We moved into a small log room near Joseph’s dwelling²⁶ here we might have enjoyed ourselves in quiet retirement but my husband’s health still failed and we found that medicines were of but little benefit for he was fast sinking into the consumption

We moved into a small room attached to the house in which Joseph was living. Here we might have enjoyed ourselves, but Mr. Smith continued to sink, his health constantly failing, until we found that medicine was of no benefit to him.

As the season advanced the brethren began to feel the effects of the hardships which they had endured, as also the unhealthiness of the climate in which we were then situated. They came down with agues²⁷ and bilious fevers to such an extent, that there were whole families in which not one was able to help himself to a drink of cold water.

Joseph Hyrums family were mostly sick My youngest daughter Lucy was also very sick and there was in fact but few of the inhabitants of the place who were well. Joseph and Emma had the sick sick brought to their house and took care of them there and they continued br have them brought as fast as they were taken down untill their home which consisted of four rooms was so crowded that they were under the necessity of spreading a tent in yard for the reception of that part of the family who were still on their feet Joseph and Emma devoted their whole time and attention to the care of the sick during this time of distress <trials>

Among the sick were Hyrum and his family, also my daughter Lucy. Joseph and Emma, seeing the distress, commenced taking the sick into their own house, with the view of taking care of them, and making them more comfortable. This they continued to do, until their house became so crowded that they were compelled to spread a tent for that part of the family who were still on their feet, in order to make room in the house for the sick.

(<Silas> Smith) <[illegible]> came up from Pike County to consult my husband upon some upon some church buisness and returned with the intention of bringing his family but was taken sick and died before he returned we ever saw him again here follows the stor

During this time of distress, Silas Smith, my husband’s brother, came up from Pike county, Illinois, to consult with Mr. Smith in relation to some Church business, and returned with the intention of bringing his family hither, but was taken sick and died before he could accomplish it, and we never saw him again.

William came from Plymouth and informed us that he had sent to Misouri for the remanminder our furniture and the provision which we left there and that nothing remained of all that we had left as they had been destroyed or disposed of in some other way—

My son William also came from Plymouth about this time, and informed us that he had sent to Missouri for our provisions and furniture, and that all had been destroyed by the mob.²⁹

When william returned he took Hyrum’s oldest daughter Lovina with him to plymouth—thinking that the ride and change of atmosphere would be a benefit to her but she grew much worse in <&> a little while she was supposed to be on her death bed and her uncle sent word to us that he was affraid that she would not live untill we could get there.

When he returned home, he took Lovina, Hyrum’s eldest daughter, with him, hoping, as she was sick, that the ride would be a benefit to her. In this he was disappointed, for she grew worse instead of better, so that in a short time he considered it necessary to send for her father, as she was not expected to live.

her father was not able to set up when the news came but Lucy and I started although Lucy was quite sick and I was myself unable to go had it not been in a case of estremity. We found her very low but some better than we expected for she had revived a little since the messenger had left her

As her father was not able to sit up when the messenger arrived, myself and Lucy went in his stead. On our arrival at Plymouth, we found Lovina better, and she continued to mend until she regained her health.

But the ague took a fresh hold on Lucy, and she remained completely under the power of the disease until the sickness in Commerce had so abated that Joseph was able to make us a visit.

Lucy was lying on the bed <up stairs> in a high fever when she heard her brother’s voice below but before he had time to get up the steps she met flew down as though she had been her in perfectly well. <and> she was so overjoyed to see her brother that and hear that her relatives were all alive <and> through <withe> the dreadful siege of sickness which they had suffered that the excitement performed an entire cure so that she did not have the ague again and soon got her strenght

When he arrived, Lucy was lying up stairs in a high fever. Upon hearing his voice below, she sprang from her bed and flew down stairs, as though she was altogether well, and was so rejoiced to hear that her relatives were all still living, and in better health than when she left them, that the excitement performed an entire cure. She soon regained her strength, and we returned home.

We soon returned to commerce and when the weather became cold the sallow faces of the community began to assume a more fresh and ruddy hue and all was bustle and buisness some building some fencing some hauling wood and indeed there was none who were Idle but all hands were as active in gathering around them the comforts of life as though they had never been disturbed from their possessions and had no reason to distrust the lasting friendship of those who professed to be their friends how often have I looked upon the <as> innocent cheerful countenances of our brethren and wondered at the difference which there was between them and the dark lowering wicked look of our persecutors who thronged our lovely city at the time when Joseph and Hyrum was taken prisoners The fact is our brethren when they have the spirit of the gospel upon them meditate no evil and consequently they fear no evil until they are taught to fear as the sheep is taught to fear the fierce wolf or tiger but they have had sufficient experience now I think to make them more warry than they once were so that they will be likely for the future calculate both ways and not look at [blank] Lick the hand just raised to shed their blood untill they look round them sharply for the murderous steel before they <fall> like some who have fallen beneath the stroke of Death—

It now became a duty for Joseph to attend to the fulfillment of a commandment which he received while in prison to go as soon as he was situated so that he could do so leave home to the city of Washington and petition congress for redress he at that if their was any virtue in the government that they might not fail to do justice for want of a correct understanding of the facts

accordingly Joseph set off with Sydney Rigdon Dr Foster Elias Higbee and Porter Rockwell for the seat of government they started on the [blank]³⁰

Accordingly, Joseph started, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Elias Higbee, Dr. Foster, and Porter Rockwell,³¹ to fulfil this injunction.³²

After arriving in Washington, Joseph and Sidney³⁴ waited upon his Excellency Martin Van Buren, but it was some time before they had an opportunity of laying their grievances before him;

At length however he concluded to listen to them and after hearing the entire history of our oppression and the abuse which we had received from the our commencement of our existence as a people until the slaughter of our brethren at Hauns Mill and our final expulsion from our own houses homes concluding with an appeal to him for his assistance as the principle officer of this mighty <great> republic—has not every one read our tale of woe if you have not make I beseech you to take the trouble to do so I have not told the half but if you will pruse a pamphlet entitled (Persecutions <Misouri>) you will then be able to appreciate this mighty and Magnanimous reply of this mighty ruler of a Mighty republic when his heart was under the fresh influence of the story of his people’s grief hear

Hear it ye nations Hear it oh ye dead. Gentlemen your cause is just but I can do nothing for you.

however, they at length succeeded in getting his attention. After listening to the entire history of the oppression and abuse, which we had received at the hands of our enemies, he replied,³⁵ “GENTLEMEN , YOUR CAUSE IS JUST ; BUT I CAN DO NOTHING FOR YOU ! ”³⁶

The matter was, however, laid before Congress. They, too, concluded that our cause was just, but that they could do nothing for us, as Missouri was a sovereign, independent state; and that the ‘Mormons’ might appeal to her for redress, for, in their opinion, she neither wanted the power nor lacked the disposition to redress the wrongs of her own citizens.

You that at the peril of your lives your fortunes and your sacred honor stepped forth and were placed your names upon the list attached to the declaration of independance back and nobly stood a targets for vengeance of the oppressor willing to sacrafice your own lives to save your coutrymen Look down upon Your children—Spirit of our departed Washington listen <but> for a <little> moment did you expect that sacred seat which you so lately occupied would and in which you dealt out even hande justice to all would so very soon be filled by one that can do nothing for even your ³⁷fellow soldiers when they are murdered upon the soil whi that you and they defended breast to breast—but we are your children we love the constitution and the law and we will abide the same we love those hearts who from whose pure depths that constitution emmanated we love the hands that fought for us in our infant years we have your brethren in our midst some who battled by your side we honor and we cherish them and will and <we> love them. The scheme of our national salvation we dearly love but Oh the hands in which they are placed they will not take them for their ensample—they have broken the Law—therefore we go mourning all the day long and the chain of the oppressor lays heavy on our necks our feet are fettered as our hands are shackled and behold we are cast into prison still we have Nor is this all we are even murdered and yet no one hathe raised the yoke but still we bow down and bear our gref— — —

Josep remained with his brethren in missouri f Washington untill a decision was had upon the subject while he was absent His father’s health was fe very feeble his cough increased and he became so weak that I often was often under the necessity of lifting from his bed t one night as I was raising him up and he said Mother I do’nt know by but I shall die here alone with you and perhaps in your arms while you are lifting me—Oh no Father said I you will not for when you die you will have all your chidren round you I will said he if you say so in real earnest I believe it will be so I told that it was impressed upon my mind thatsuch would be the case— and he was much comforted by this and <for> he had been very anxious to live untill Joseph returned of that he might bless him again before he died

On the [blank] day of [blank] I he having had a relapse was confined again to his bed and not able to help himself out it I was standing by the window and saw Joseph coming for he had just arrived from washington Mr S I told Mr Smith that Joseph was coming and cried for joy at the thought of being spared to see his face again Joseph came in immediately into the room and before he left him he laid hands on him and assisted him out of bed—

This was in the winter of 1840. Before spring he got some better, so that he was able to walk about a little, and attend a few blessing meetings, in one of which he blessed Mrs. Page,⁴⁰ the wife of one of the Twelve, and a young woman whom brother Page had baptized and confirmed on Bear Creek but a few days previous.⁴¹ In blessing the latter, Mr. Smith repeated a prophecy which had been pronounced upon her head in her confirmation, as precisely as though he had been present when it was uttered, stating that the spirit testified that these things had been predicted upon her head in her confirmation, which very much surprised her, as she knew that he had not received any intimation of the same, except by the Spirit of God.

In March, 1840, Joseph returned from the city of Washington. At this time Mr. Smith had suffered⁴² a relapse, and was confined to his bed. On Joseph’s arrival, he administered to him, and, for a short time my husband was better.

Joseph then went the <His> family were rejoiced to see him again for they had heard many reports of danger which threatened his person and they Emma had suffered much uneasiness on the account the church had were much also much rejoiced to meet him again but had they been yielded in their feelings to the influence of circumstances their joy would have been mingled with grief for the Se Senate of the U.<S.> sent back our brethren with documents from their councel Hall stating that a Misoury<i> was a sovereign and independent <the place where our difficulties occurred she> state she alone could exercise jurisdiction in the affair of our trouble. see report of the committee on the judiciary times and Seasons vol. 1, Page 74— and that whatever might be the outrages committed upon us by the [… eterate?] State of Missouri we had no hopes of [jearely?] antip we found <that> the state of Ilinois as should be inclined to award to us the justice which was denied by a higher atthority power we plainly discovered that murder was licensed and every outrage upon us permitted *<Here occurs the conference the arrival of H. Coray and his undertaking>⁴³ However we did not loose all hopes of resting from persecution for a season at least for The authorities of Ilinois had been very forward to give us every assurance of their favor and it is our motto ever to trust our friends untill they betray our trust and so we [deted?] in this instance resting perfectly secure upon the laws of which were then and for sometime after promptly executed in our favor

In the ensuing April [1840] a Conference was held in Nauvoo (formerly Commerce), during which the result of Joseph’s mission to Washington was made known to the brethren; who, after hearing that their petition was rejected, concluded, as they had now tried every court which was accessible to them on earth, to lay their case before the Court of Heaven, and leave it in the hands of the great God.

soon after Josephs arrival he had a house erected purposely for his father and we were soon very comfortably situated <here Howard Coray’s leg is broken and Emma’s and Joseph’s care and the revelation to build the Temple is given revise take notice>

Joseph, soon after his arrival, had a house built for us, near his own, and one that was more commodious than that which we previously occupied.⁴⁴

f and and my husband seemed to revive a little in the spring but when the heat of the ensueing summer came on he began to fail again this was in the summer of 1842 when Misouri again renewed her persecutions against us and sent her officers withe writs demanding 50 of our

When the heat of the ensuing summer came on, my husband’s health began to decline more rapidly than before. This was perhaps caused, in part, by the renewal of the Missouri persecutions, for our sons were now demanded of the authorities of Illinois, as fugitives from

justice. In consequence of which, they were compelled to absent themselves from the city, until the writs which were issued for their arrest, were returned.

about this time General John C. Bennet came into the city and undertook to effect something by devising a scheme that would result in the security of our brethren. I do not know what he did I only know that he seemed to be very much engaged about law as well Gospel but <my heart> I was then too full of anxiety about my husband to enquire much into matters which I did not understand and was as <our> Just as Joseph returned from Iowa (for they went into the teritory at this time)

About this time, John C. Bennett came into the city, and undertook to devise a scheme whereby Joseph and Hyrum, besides other brethren who were persecuted in like manner, might remain at home in peace. I do not know what he did, I only know that he seemed to be engaged in the law, as well as the Gospel. My heart was then too full of anxiety about my husband, for me to inquire much into matters which I did not understand; however, the result was, that Joseph returned from Iowa.⁴⁵

his father was taken with vomiting blood and This was the first time that I alowed myself to doubt but that he would soonner of [sic] later recover from his illness but I now began concluded that he was appointed unto death⁴⁶ I sent for the children who Joseph and Hyrum who when they came <gave> laid hands <gave him something to relieve his distress> on him and he became more easy this was on Saturday night. [a blank of about three lines follows.]

On the evening of his return, my husband commenced vomiting blood. I sent immediately for Joseph and Hyrum, who, as soon as they came, gave him something that alleviated his distress. This was on Saturday night.

The next morning Joseph came in and told his father, that he should not be troubled any more for the present with the Missourians; “and,” said he, “I can now stay with you as much as you wish.” After which he informed his father, that it was then the privilege of the Saints to be baptized for the dead. These two facts Mr. Smith was delighted to hear, and requested, that Joseph should be baptized for Alvin immediately,⁴⁷ and, as he expected to live but a short time, desired that his children would stay with him, as much as they could consistently.

to and they had all got here save Katharine wh who was detained by a sick husband and her children we Arthur His Mr Smith upon hearing this requested Arthur Miliken who was then in the city at this time Mr

They were all with him, except Catharine, who was detained from coming by a sick husband. Mr. Smith, being apprised of this, sent Arthur Milikin,48 who, but a short time previous was married to our

youngest daughter,⁴⁹ after Catharine and her children; but, before he went, my husband blessed him, fearing that it would be too late, when he returned. He took Arthur by the hand, and said:

he said He took him by the hand and said Arthur my son I have given you my <youngest> Darling <my youngest> child and will you be kind to her Yes Father replied he I will. And Arthur said you shall be blessed and you shall be great and in the eyes of the Lord and <if you will be faithful> you shall have all the desires of your heart in righteousness and Now will I want you to go out after my daughter Katharine for I know the faithfulness of your heart that you will not come back without her—

“My son, I have given you my youngest darling child, and will you be kind to her?” “Yes, father,” he replied, “I will.” “Arthur,” he continued, “you shall be blessed, and you shall be great in the eyes of the Lord; and if you will be faithful, you shall have all the desires of your heart in righteousness. Now, I want you to go after my daughter Catharine,⁵⁰ for I know, that because of the faithfulness of your heart, you will not come back without her.”

Arthur then left and When his end drew near he Blessed his children beginning with Hyrum <laying his hands on their heads> to Hyrum he said

After he was gone he called us round all round his bed and addressed me first as Mother said he does you not know that you are the mother of the greatest family that ever lived upon the earth it is so and The world loves its own but it does not love us it hates us because we are not of the world⁵¹ therefore all their malice is poured out upon us— and they seek to take away our lives and when I look upon my children and realize that although they were raised up to do the Lord’s work yet they must pass through scenes of of trouble and affliction as long as they live upon the Earth it causes my heart is pained and I weep with <dread> to leave <them> you so surrounded by enemies⁵²

Arthur then left, and my husband next addressed himself to me:—

“Mother, do you not know, that you are the mother of as great a family as ever lived upon the earth. The world loves its own, but it does not love us. It hates us because we are not of the world; therefore, all their malice is poured out upon us, and they seek to take away our lives. When I look upon my children, and realize, that although they were raised up to do the Lord’s work, yet they must pass through scenes of trouble and affliction as long as they live upon the earth; and I dread to leave them surrounded by enemies.”

At this Hyrum bent over his father, and said:—“Father, if you are taken away, will you not intercede for us at the throne of grace, that our enemies may not have so much power over us?” He then laid his hands upon Hyrum’s head, and said:—

H My son Hyrum I seal upon your head your patriarchal Blessing which placed on your head before and for that shall be verified and [“and” is circled] in addition I now give you my dying blessing and [“and” is circled] you shall have a season of peace so that you shall have sufficient rest to accomplish the work which God has given you to do you shall be as firm as the pillars of heaven unto the end of your days and [“and” is circled] I now seal upon Your head the patriarchal power h and you shall bless the people [damaged] this is my dying blessing upon your head in the [damaged] Jesus even so Amen⁵⁴ —

“My son, Hyrum, I seal upon your head your patriarchal blessing, which I placed upon your head before, for that shall be verified. In addition to this, I now give you my dying blessing. You shall have a season of peace, so that you shall have sufficient rest to accomplish the work which God has given you to do. You shall be as firm as the pillars of heaven unto the end of your days. I now seal upon your head the patriarchal power, and you shall bless the people. This is my dying blessing upon your head in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

To Joseph he said:—
“Joseph, my son, you are called to a high and holy calling. You are even called to do the work of the Lord. Hold out faithful, and you shall be blessed, and your children after you. You shall even live to finish your work.” At this Joseph cried out, weeping, “Oh! my father, shall I.” “Yes,” said his father, “you shall live to lay out the plan of all the work which God has given you to do. This is my dying blessing on your head in the name of Jesus. I also confirm your former blessing upon your head; for it shall be fulfilled. Even so. Amen.”

⁵⁵— — Samuel you have been a faithful and obeidient child. by your faithfulness you have brought many into the church <and> the the Lord has seen your faithfulness and your are blessed in that the Lord has never chastized ent you but has called you home to rest and there is a crown laid up for you which shall grow brighter and brighter untill the perfect day Samuel I have seen your sufferings I have heard thy and when the Lord called you he said that samuel I have seen your <thy> sufferings have heard thy a [damaged] seen thy faithfillness and your skirts are [damaged] of the blood of this generation This is my dy [damaged] sing and all the blessings which I have [damaged] fore pronounced upon your I now seal [damaged] you again even so amen——

⁵⁶To Samuel he said:—
“Samuel, you have been a faithful and obedient son. By your faithfulness you have brought many into the Church. The Lord has seen your diligence, and you are blessed, in that he has never chastised you, but has called you home to rest; and there is a crown laid up for you, which shall grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

“When the Lord called you, he said, ‘Samuel, I have seen thy sufferings, have⁵⁷ heard thy cries, and beheld thy faithfulness; thy skirts are clear from the blood of this generation.’ Because of these things, I seal upon your head all the blessings which I have hitherto pronounced upon you; and this is my dying blessing, I now seal upon you. Even so. Amen.”

William My son Thou hast been faithful in declaring the word even before the church was organized and thou hast been sick yet thou hast traveelled to warn warn the people and when thou couldst not <walk> thou didst be sit by the way side and call upon the Lord untill he did provide a way for thee to be carried and thou wast sick and afflicted when thou wast away from thy fathers house and no one knew it to assist thee in thy afflictions nor <but> the Lord did see the honesty of thy heart and thou wast blessed in thy Mission and th

To William he said:—
“William, my son, thou hast been faithful in declaring the word, even before the Church was organized. Thou hast been sick, yet thou hast travelled to warn the people. And when thou couldst not walk, thou didst sit by the way side, and call upon the Lord, until he provided a way for thee to be carried. Thou wast sick and afflicted, when thou wast away from thy father’s house, and no one knew it, to assist thee in thy afflictions; but the Lord did see the honesty of thine heart, and thou wast blessed in thy mission. William,

thou shalt be blest, and thy voice shall be heard in distant lands, from place to place, and they shall regard thy teachings. Thou shalt be like a roaring lion in the forest, for they shall hearken and hear thee. And thou shalt be the means of bringing many sheaves to Zion, and thou shalt be great in the eyes of many, and they shall call thee blessed, and I will bless thee, and thy children after thee. And the blessings which I sealed upon thy head before, I now confirm again, and thy days shall be many, thou shalt do a great work, and live as long as thou desirest life. Even so. Amen.”

— — Carlos my Darling son
you remmember that when I blessed you your blessing never was written and I could not get it done. But now I want [damaged] to get my book which contains the blessings of my family and I want you to <take your pen and> fill out those parts of your blessing that were not written and you shall have the Spirit of the Lord and shall be able to fill up all the vacancies which were left by Oliver when he wrote it⁵⁸ you shall be great in the eyes sight of the Lord for he sees and knows the integrity of your heart and you shall be blessed and all that know you shall Bless you and your wife and your children shall also be blessed and you shall live to fulfill all that the Lord has sent you to do even so Amen

To Don Carlos he said:—
“Carlos, my darling son, when I blessed you, your blessing was never written, and I could not get it done, but now I want you to get my book, which contains the blessings of my family. Take your pen and fill out all those parts of your blessing which were not written. You shall have the Spirit of the Lord, and be able to fill up all the vacancies which were left by Oliver when he wrote it. You shall be great in the sight of the Lord, for he sees and knows the integrity of your heart, and you shall be blessed; all that know you shall bless you. Your wife and your children shall also be blessed, and you shall live to fulfill all that the Lord has sent you to do. Even so. Amen.”

To Sophronia he said:—
“Sophronia, my oldest daughter, thou hadst sickness when thou wast young, and thy parents did cry over thee, to have the Lord spare thy life. Thou didst see trouble and sorrow, but thy troubles shall be lessened, for thou hast been faithful in helping thy father and thy mother, in the work of the Lord. And thou shalt be blessed, and the blessings of heaven shall rest down upon thee. Thy last days shall be thy best. Although thou shalt see trouble, sorrow, and mourning, thou shalt be comforted, and the Lord will lift thee up, and bless thee and thy family, and thou shalt live as long as thou desirest life. This dying blessing I pronounce and seal upon thy head, with thine other blessings. Even so. Amen.”

After Arthur was after this he said rested some time and then said Katharine has been a sorrowful child trouble has She seen and the Lord has looked down upon her and seen her patience and has heard her cris and she shall be comforted when her days of sorrow⁵⁹ are ended Then shall the Lord look down upon her and she shall have the comforts of life and the good things of the world and then shall she rise up and defend her [cares?] and she shall live to raise up her family and in time and her suffering shall be over for the day is coming when the patient shall receive their reward and she shall rise over her enemies and she shall have houses and land and land and things around her to make her heart glad and she sha and I in this dying blessing confirm her Patriarchal blessing upon her head and she shall receive eternal life even so Amen

After this he rested some time, and then said:—
“Catharine has been a sorrowful child, trouble has she seen, the Lord has looked down upon her and seen her patience, and has heard her cries. She shall be comforted when her days of sorrow are ended, then shall the Lord look down upon her, and she shall have the comforts of life, and the good things of this world, then shall she rise up, and defend her cause. She shall live to raise up her family; and in time her sufferings shall be over, for the day is coming when the patient shall receive their reward. Then she shall rise over her enemies, and shall have horses and land, and things round her⁶⁰ to make her heart glad. I, in this dying blessing, confirm her patriarchal blessing upon her head, and she shall receive eternal life. Even so. Amen.”

To Lucy he said:—
“Lucy, thou art my youngest child, my darling. And the Lord gave thee unto us to be a comfort and a blessing to us in our old age, therefore, thou must take good care of thy mother. Thou art innocent, and thy heart is right before the Lord. Thou hast been with us through all the persecution; thou hast seen nothing but persecution, sickness, and trouble, except when the Lord hath cheered our hearts. If thou wilt continue faithful, thou shalt be blessed with a house and land; thou shalt have food and raiment, and no more be persecuted and driven, as thou hast hitherto been. Now continue faithful, and thou shalt live long and be blessed, and thou shalt receive a reward in heaven. This dying blessing, and also thy patriarchal blessing, I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus. Even so. Amen.

After this he spoke to me again, and said:—
“Mother, do you not know, that you are one of the most singular women in the world?” “No,” I replied, “I do not,” “Well, I do,” he continued, “you have brought up my children for me by the fireside, and, when I was gone from home, you comforted them. You have brought up all my children, and could always comfort them when I could not. We have often wished that we might both die at the same time, but you must not desire to die when I do, for you must stay to comfort the children when I am gone. So do not mourn, but try to be comforted. Your last days shall be your best days, as to being driven, for you shall have more power over your enemies than you have had. Again I say, be comforted.”⁶²

He then paused for some time, being exhausted. After which he said, in a tone of surprise, “I can see and hear, as well as ever I could.” [A second pause of considerable length.] “I see Alvin.” [Third pause.] “I shall live seven or eight minutes.”

he then straightened him self and laid his hands together and began to breath shorter and shorter untill at last his breath stopped without a struggle or even a sigh he departed so calmly that we could not believe for some time but that he would breath again—feelings—

Then straightening himself, he laid his hands together; after which he began to breathe shorter, and, in about eight minutes, his breath stopped, without even a struggle or a sigh, and his spirit took its flight for the regions where the justified ones rest from their labours. He departed so calmly, that, for some time, we could not believe but that he would breathe again.⁶³

I had lived together 44 years here the reviser will express sympathy evening after Catherine arrived he was buried the next day although katharine had not yet arrived The causes of our aparently hasty movements in this respect was that Joseph could not remain at home any longer as he was about to leave in order to conclude the arrangements which were making the to secure the Saints of the our city from Misouri invaders and his own person from assassination.

Catharine did not arrive until the evening of the second day;⁶⁴ still we were compelled to attend to his obsequies the day after his decease, or run the risk of seeing Joseph and Hyrum torn from their father’s corpse before it was interred, and carried away by their enemies to prison. After we had deposited his remains in their narrow house,⁶⁵ my sons fled from the city,

The evening after my husband was buried Katharine came bringing her husband on a bed sick with the ague when she remained with us some length of time for we felt so desolate that we could not endure to be separated more than was <could> possibly be avoided <3 months> soon after this the charter for a city with extensive priviledges was received and we rejoiced greatly in the favor, of the at this time Joseph became Lieut General

⁶⁶History rough manuscript continued from book 18 Page 8—

I am convinced that no one but a widow can imagine the feelings of a widow but my situation was worse than is not such as is common in similar cases my beloved companion who had shared my joy and grief for 44 years lay before me a cold lifeless corpse and the cold hand which I held in mine returned the pressure of my own no longer. My Fatherless children stood around me looking gazing […t… th…th] in agony upon those eyes which had <until> a few minutes previous always beamed upon them with the tenderest [blank line]

*This P. 9 This guard was composed of the same <a part of the> mob who had gathered at Carthage before the goveror came the and who returned a few days previous to how desolate indeed it then appeared to me for the the one who had shared it when there was but us two and with whom I had spent 44 years of my life was now buried beneath the cold clods of the vally and carrying with

*and I then thought that there was no evill left which for me to fear upon the Earth that I had experienced in the death of my beloved husband all the grief wthich to my nature could <was able> bear M that I could never again be called to suffer so great an affliction as I was <a> the at that time subjected to that and as I reflected upon the many years of happiness which I had spent with him and then⁶⁷

I then thought that the greatest sorrow which it was possible for any to experience had fallen upon me and although that portion of my life which lay before me seemed to be [page ends]

The gre My children were all there save Katharine Who did not arrive untill 2 days later <the evening of the 2nd day> but we were compelled to attend his obseques the day following that on which he died or run the risk of have Seeing Hyrum and Joseph torn from their fathers corpse and carried to prison and perhaps back to Misouri—by our enemies who had obtained another writ which they were hurrying to the city in order to serve upon my sons—for this cause My Husband was interred before Katharine arrived after which my sons again fled from the City and I returned to my desolate home.

[Beginning of an X’d-out passage with internal strike-outs as well:] Katharine arrived that evening bringing her husband on a bed sick with the ague she remained with us a length of time for we all felt so desolate that we could not bear to be seperated

My own heart was broken and I had but one consoluation at to a life which was as Mr Smith said in his dying moments that I might comfort my children <and> all that has passed with me since that time except the calamities which went before is my own family is like a shadow or a dream [end of X’d-out passage]

All that has transpired since that period <except the calamities of my own family> has been as though I looked upon it from another world <time> and as in a night vision every nerve of my mind being then drawn to its utmost tension was <not> left <to much relaxed to be> in a situation to be acted by any thing but a like circumstance—from this time I shall enumerate <the events of> my life as rapidly as possible and whilst shall endeavor to relate supress my feellings <altogether> untill I have related the remainder of what I have to tell the evening after my husband was buried Katherine […tics?] arrived at house at our house ⁶⁸bringing her husband upon a bed sick with the ague she remained with me some time and comforted me what she could

and I returned to my desolate home; and I then thought, that the greatest grief which it was possible for me to feel, had fallen upon me in the death of my beloved husband. Although that portion of my life, which lay before me, seemed to be a lonesome, trackless waste, yet I did not think that I could possibly find, in travelling over it, a sorrow more searching, or a calamity more dreadful, than the present. But, as I hasten to the end of my story, the reader will be able to form an opinion with regard to the correctness of my conclusion.

In the month of December, 1840, we received for Nauvoo, a city charter, with extensive privileges; and, in February of the same winter, charters were also received for the Nauvoo Legion, and for the University of the City of Nauvoo.

Not long after this the office of Lieutenant-General was conferred upon Joseph, by the vote of the people and a commission from the Governor of the state.⁶⁹

In the winter I went to bear creek on a visit to <[one]> Mr. Brother S A. Knowltons when I arrived there it was dark and I was very cold and in gitting out of the waggon stepped upon a some round substance which setling under my foot brought my round so sudenly that it in trying to save myself from falling I injured my right knee. The cold also settled in it and The cold settled in the injured part and the rhumatism set in I suffered considerable while there but I only remained absent one week and after I returned home my lameness increased and This with other sickness produced by the same cause kept me very low all winter and for 6 weeks I had watchers every night

In the early part of the same winter, I made brother Knowlton a visit on Bear-Creek. While there I had the misfortune to sprain one of my knees, in getting out of a waggon, and, a cold settling in the injured part, rheumatism succeeded. Soon after I returned home, I was confined to my bed, and for six weeks I had watchers every night.

Sophronia was then with me, her husband being absent on a mission, and she assisted Lucy and Arthur in taking care of me. They were indefatigable in their attentions, and by their faithful care I was enabled, after a long season of helplessness, to stand upon my feet again.

The succeeding summer <same winter> Mary Samuels wife was taken sudenly away to meet my husband where parting shall be no more her She had never been well since she was driven with her infant by the Misourians into Far West and that was the cause of her death.

On the 25th of January, 1841, Mary Smith, Samuel’s wife, died, in consequence of her exposures in Missouri.

⁷⁰on on the 5 of June 1841 Joseph went with several others on a visit to Quincy and as he was returning Gov Carlin sent one of the old writs of which have spoken and had him arrested for trial Joseph choosing to be tried in Monmouth returned the next day with the officers to Nauvoo and after procuring witnesses proceeded to Monmouth

On the fifth of June, the same year, Joseph went, in company with several others, on a visit to Quincy. As he was returning, Governor Carlin sent one of the Missouri writs after him, and had him arrested for murder, treason, &c., &c. Joseph, choosing to be tried at Monmouth, Warren county, the officers brought him to Nauvoo, and, after procuring witnesses, they proceeded to Monmouth.

Esquire Browning spoke in Joseph’s defence,⁷¹ and was moved upon by the spirit that was given him, in answer to the prayers of the Saints; and, suffice it to say, he gained the case.

The opposing attorney tried his utmost to convict Joseph of Murder Larceny and treason but before he had spoken many minutes he turned sick and vomited at the feet of the judge which circumstance joined to his advocating the case of <the> Misourians (who are called pukes) obtained to him the name of puke and he was a source of much amusement to the court—

The opposing attorney tried his utmost to convict Joseph of the crimes mentioned in the writ, but before he had spoken many minutes, he turned sick, and vomited at the feet of the Judge; which, joined to the circumstances of his advocating the case of the Missourians, who are called pukes by their countrymen, obtained for him the same appellation, and was a source of much amusement to the court.

the Church were rejoiced when joseph returned and many besaught him never again to leave the city

When Joseph returned, the Church was greatly rejoiced, and besought him never again to leave the city.

About the 1 of Agust Don carlos came to me and told me that his family were all sick and he feared that he should soon be brought down with a worse disease tha me and told me that he feared that he was going as his father did that he had for a long time suffered such distress in his side that he thought he that the same disease had fastened upon him and would sooner or later take him a way he was taken bedfast the same day and on the 7 day of august he died and on the 8 he was buried under the honors of War.⁷²

About the first of August, Don Carlos was taken sick, and on the seventh he died. The particulars of his death will be given hereafter.⁷³

On the first day of September, Robert B. Thompson, who was Hyrum’s brother-in-law, and partner to Don Carlos in publishing the Times and Seasons,⁷⁴ died of the same disease which had carried Carlos out of the world—supposed to be quick consumption.

Sept. 15 Joseph’s youngest son who was named after Don Carlos died after a long season of suffering sickness and distress

On the fifteenth of September, Joseph’s youngest child died; he was named Don Carlos, after his uncle.

September 24 Hyrum’s second son named Hyrum died of a fever <H Smiths sickness at Joseph’s>

On the twenty-eighth of September, Hyrum’s second son, named Hyrum, died of a fever.

Thus was I with my children were called to mourn friend after friend — untill Misouri again renewed her far devises and operation to accomplish our intire destruction.

The succeeding winter we were left to mourn over the ravages which death had made in our family, without interruption; but sickness ceased from among us, and the mob retired to their homes.

On the sixth of May, 1842, Lilburn W. Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, was said to have been shot by an assassin. And, in consequence of the injuries which we had received, suspicion immediately fastened itself upon Joseph, who was accused of having committed the crime. But, as he was on that day at an officer’s drill in Nauvoo, several hundred miles from where Boggs resided, and was seen by hundreds, and, on the day following, at a public training, where thousands of witnesses beheld him, we supposed that the crime, being charged upon him, was such an outrage upon common sense, that, when his persecutors became apprised of these facts, they would cease to accuse him. But in this we were disappointed, for when they found it impossible to sustain the charge in this shape, they preferred it in another, in order to make it more probable. They now accused my son of sending O. P. Rockwell into Missouri, with orders to shoot the ex-Governor; and from this time, they pursued both Joseph and Porter, with all diligence, till they succeeded in getting the latter into jail, in Missouri.⁷⁵

Joseph, not choosing to fall into their hands, fled from the city, and secreted himself, sometimes in one place, sometimes in another. He generally kept some friend with him, in whom he had confidence, who came frequently to the city. Thus communication was kept up between Joseph, his family, and the Church.⁷⁶

Brother Taylor lay very sick of a fever not able to stand upon his feet but Joseph told ⁷⁷that if he would rise and and go withe he would be able to ride the whole way and he should get well. They then Brother Taylor was by his own request assisted to dress and mount his horse—They set of [sic] after dark and traveled 50 miles during the night and the next morning.

At this time, brother John Taylor lay very sick of the fever, and was so reduced that he was not able to stand upon his feet. Joseph visited him, and, after telling him that he wished to start that night on a journey of fifty miles, requested brother Taylor to accompany him, saying, if he would do so, he would be able to ride the whole way. Brother Taylor believing this, they set out together, and performed the journey with ease.

They remained away 2 weeks and then Joseph made his family <and myself> a short visit after which he again left when winter came Governor Ford wrote Joseph a letter stating advising him to come to Springfield with a guard sufficient to secure himself against molestation and suffer himself to be tried for the crimes aledged against him— Joseph went and was tried before judge pope and honorably acquitted. when he returned there was a jubilee held throughout the City.

This time Joseph remained away two weeks; then made his family and myself a short visit, after which he again left us. In this way he lived, hiding first in one place, and then in another, until the sitting of the Legislature, when, by the advice of Governor Ford, he went to Springfield, and was tried before Judge Pope for the crime alleged against him; namely, that of being accessory to the attempted assassination of ex-Governor Boggs.⁷⁸ He was again discharged, and, when he returned home, there was a jubilee held throughout the city. The remainder of the winter, and the next spring, we spent in peace.⁷⁹

In the spring Joseph set out with his family for Dixon to see Emma’s sister Mrs Wasson but his little boy Frederick fell out of the carriage and got his leg broke which compelled them to return.⁸⁰ They remained untill the next summer and then went to made the intended visit to Dixon but while he was there the Misourians being aprized of his abscence from Nauvoo sent sheriff Reynolds to Gov Ford who gave him a writ with which he pursued Joseph to Dixon and took <and took him> him prisoner but did not read the writ. Consequently Jose but for abused him shamefully their proceedings being unlawful. Joseph took them in turn when he came to a place where he could do so and he was cleared [… s] <while> they were convicted

About the middle of June, 1843, Joseph went with his wife to visit Mrs. Wasson,⁸¹ who was his wife’s sister. Whilst there, an attempt was made to kidnap him, and take him into Missouri, by J. H. Reynolds, from that state, and Harmon Wilson, of Carthage, Hancock county, Illinois, who was a Missourian in principle. You have read Hyrum’s testimony, and can judge of the treatment which Joseph received at their hands. Suffice to say, he was shamefully abused. Wilson had authority from the Governor of Illinois to take Joseph Smith, junior, and deliver him into the hands of the before named Reynolds; but as neither of them showed any authority save a brace of pistols, Joseph took them for false imprisonment

He then obtained a writ of Habeas Corpus of the Master in Chancery of Lee county, returnable before the nearest court authorized to determine upon such writs; and the Municipal Court of Nauvoo being the nearest one invested with this power, an examination was had before said court, when it was made to appear that the writ was defective and void; furthermore, that he was innocent of the charges therein alleged against him. It was in this case that Hyrum’s testimony was given, which is rehearsed in a preceding chapter.⁸²

Not long after this I broke up house-keeping, and at Joseph’s request, I took up my residence at his house. Soon after which I was taken very sick, and was brought nigh unto death. For five nights Emma never left me, but stood at my bed-side all the night long, at the end of which time, she was overcome with fatigue, and taken sick herself. Joseph then took her place, and watched with me the five succeeding nights, as faithfully as Emma had done. About this time I began to recover, and, in the course of a few weeks, I was able to walk about the house a little, and sit up during the day. I have hardly been able to go on foot further than across the street since.⁸³

⁸⁴october 8 1843 Sophronia 2 On the third day of October, daughter of Don Carlos Smith died of the scarlet fever

This transaction <there> was <now> followed by a season of peace which lasted untill the winter of 1844 when the Police <of the city> was organized Joseph in addressing them said that if it there were not such men as brutus in the church he might live as long as ceasar would have lived but he feared

About the time that John C. Bennett left Nauvoo, an election was held for the office of Mayor, and Joseph, being one of the candidates, was elected to that office. I mention this fact, in order to explain a circumstance that took place in the winter of 1843 and 1844, which was as follows: Joseph, in organizing the city police, remarked, that, “were it not for enemies within the city, there would be no danger from foes without,” adding, “If it were not for a Brutus, I might live as long as Caesar would have lived.”

this was construed into an insinuation that som one of the brethren suspecting that Joseph had alluded to William Law mentioned it to an intimate friend this friend was of a very immaginative disposition turn of mind and his suspicions being roused he went to Law and told a tremendous tale which Law believed and when he asked Joseph about it a councill was call and Joseph proved what he did say was this satisfied Law and he said that believed that no harm was intended to him or any other person—

Some one, who suspected that Joseph alluded to William Law, went to the latter, and informed him that Joseph regarded him as a Brutus; and, that it was his own opinion, that he (Law) was in imminent danger. 87 Law, on hearing this tale, went immediately to Joseph, who straightway called a council, and had all that knew anything concerning the matter brought together, and thus succeeded in satisfying Law, that he intended no evil in what he had said.

[After the description of Joseph’s and Hyrum’s arrest described below in Lucy’s manuscript, ending with my editorial notation “[page ends here],” a much damaged page appears next in the microfilm of Lucy’s rough draft. It has pieces missing on the top, left, and bottom margins. Its quality of reproduction is equally poor. It seems to be a rapidly written outline of events, some of which were yet to be narrated or instructions for a revised version of Lucy’s manuscript, but Lucy’s narrative is missing from the point of Joseph’s arrest until after their deaths.]

[damaged] daughter could [damaged] nter—watches 6 <Joseph Joseph> [damaged] of Apple the trees [damaged] ied beacon of her [damaged] as flying from [damaged] june 1841 Joseph arrested see Times and seasons <Pages 447-to-449 reviser description of his release—the scene througout at Nauvoo […r…ery’s?] speech &c—<Mother Smith says many to her that the trial [con…] his Joseph was a prophet)> [damaged] [Rig] 1841 Don c Smith died see times and seasons Page 573—(his offices to be noticed church […and …at] [damaged] […p…] Joseph and Emma’s son D.C. Smith died [damaged] Sept. 1, 1841 death of R. B. Thompson see Times and Seasons, Page 518 vice versa [damaged] 2—little Hyrum died

The Boggs persecution Joseph taken for shooting Bogg continued (reviser will state the circumstances untill he went to springfield)—cleared—Jubilee— prospered throug the winter Joseph staid at home attended to his buisness untill they went <started> to Dixon Fredrick Broke his leg and theycame back [damaged] ned at home in peace till the next [damaged] the win-ter when the police was organized and the story was carried to Law and Law thought that the police was instructed to kill them guilt this was just bef about the time when [damaged] asked Hyrum for Lovina Hyrum [damaged] went to Joseph for his influence [damaged] efused W Jackson went to Law to stand by him in a plot [damaged] Hyrum heard of it. a [damaged] said he was affrai [damaged] wished me to spea [damaged] […es] [verso begins here:] against [damaged] the whole fam [damaged] after talking with Joseph [damaged] greater trouble than w [damaged] still went on going to [damaged] Laws and at conference <a meeting> Sydney exposed Eaton position testimony spoken of soon closed <them> Fosters ran to the Laws and held another meeting. Augustus Spencer went [damaged] his brother Orson and his Mother <again> with [damaged] story Orson told him he must stop […ors…] his mother so or leave the house—the first the grappeled—Augustus choked Orson [damaged] came to Joseph while we were at breakfast [damaged] a warrant—Joseph sent him to Foster—[damaged] not give one—Foster was brought before [damaged] Charles Foster tried to shoot Joseph—Joseph h [damaged] his hands and prevented him—They then continued their meetings untill the [burning?] of the press—The Apostates then left [...en] [damaged] They went before the Jury <Squire Smith> and swore that to those things which are writen so that Joseph went soon after went in <and the city [o…]> was […set] for [damaged] advantage of the habeus corpus—They co [damaged] the governor who came and sent for My sons upon the virtue of the Smith writ when they went and answered to the charges—and they was detained to answer to a charge of treason prefer [damaged] gustus spencer and were MURDERED Death Scene fines William ..s the [damaged] …oses dea Samuel’s death—<meeting at the 70s Hall> not [damaged] return—Carolines death—[damaged; curlicue line drawn across the page at this point] nce from the Eastern countries [damaged] the […ind]

about this a man by the name of Joseh Joseph Jackson who had been several months in the place asked Hyrum for his daughter Lovina for he wished to make a wife of her Hyrum not choosing to have his daughter marry a man who did not belong to the church refused for this and other reasons to give her to him this […] Jackson then asked Joseph to his influence with Hyrum to get the girl for him

Joseph refusing to do so Jackson went to Law to get his assistance in stealing Lovina from her father Hyrum heard of this and so asked me what he should do <came to me several times for anxiety he Said he was alarmed about her that he felt worse than he did when he was in prison—Jackson went from one to another wherever he could learn that any one had any feeling against our family and called <he had> Secret and meetings and till finally he succeeded in getting a number to join ⁸⁹in a conspiracy to Murder the whole smith family which

As Joseph refused to do so, he next applied to Law, who was our secret enemy, for assistance in stealing Lovina from her father, and, from this time forth, he continued seeking out our enemies, till he succeeded in getting a number to join him in a conspiracy to murder the whole Smith family. They commenced holding secret meetings, one of which was attended by a man named Eaton, who was our friend, and he exposed the plot.

while these things were going on a man by the name of Eaton who was a friend to got hold of their secrets and exposed them to many of the brethren he said that the Higbees Laws and Fosters were all connected with Jackson in his opperations this was proclaimed on the stand by Sydney Rigdon after⁹⁰

This man declared that the Higbees, Laws, and Fosters, were all connected with Jackson in his operations.

I was unable to find any biographical or autobiographical information about Lovina to suggest whether she had been taken in by Jackson’s charms and whether Hyrum’s concerns about her security were well founded. Lovina would have been sixteen in the spring and summer of 1844, a susceptible age for a girl, especially one whose mother was dead. Thomas Gregg’s 1880 History of Hancock County calls Jackson “an adventurer of fine appearance and gentlemanly manners” (328). In a salacious and sensational exposé, Jackson himself claims that he had “commenced a correspondence with Hyrum Smith’s daughter, and so completely won her confidence, that she watched every movement and reported to me her observations” (27). Since such espionage would obviously be most successful if the relation between Lovina and Jackson were not known and since Hyrum did know about Jackson’s dubious attentions to Lovina, there is no particular reason to believe Jackson’s version, except for the concern Hyrum expressed to Lucy.

Jackson’s exposé goes on to accuse Joseph Smith of “murder and conspiracy, of counterfeiting, debauchery, spiritual-wifery, etc.”; but according to Gregg, “his little book made but slight impression” (328).⁹¹ Hyrum, Lorenzo Wasson, and Washington Peck all testified that Jackson was a counterfeiter; Wasson and Peck added that Jackson had not only admitted it but had also tried to entice them into stealing and counterfeiting. On 1 April 1844, Chauncey L. Higbee, according to the Warsaw Signal of 8 May, claimed that Joseph H. Jackson told him that Joseph Smith “had tried to hire him to murder … William Law” (Cook, Law, 54n41). Hyrum Smith, speaking of the defection of William and Wilson Law on 7 April 1844, a few days before they were excommunicated on 18 April, charged, “It was that rascal Jackson who presumred upon them. & I do not believe that the Mssrs. Laws would do any thing against me. it was the rascal Jackson who did it—he did it & I wold. not believe Jackson if he was to swear on a Stack of Bibles as big as Mount Etna” (Cook, Law, 50n26).

Jackson played a role, certainly, in the final days of the Smith brothers, but he seems to have been much less important than the better-known Fosters and Laws. Still, Jackson’s reputation in Nauvoo was nothing less than malignant. Thirty-five years later, Wilford Woodruff calls him “the murderous Jackson.” Writing from Colorado on 4 July 1879, he sent the Church Historian’s Office a memorandum about an incident reported to him that morning by John Oakley (1819-80), a sixty-one-year-old member living in Colorado who had converted and moved to Nauvoo in the spring of 1843. Joseph Smith, he said, referred him to Jackson as a land agent from whom to buy a farm. Jackson entertained Oakley during their drive out on the prairie with boasts about “shooting down Indians as wolves” and sleeping with rattlesnakes. Their business done, they were about to return when Joseph and William Clayton arrived in a buggy. Joseph sent Oakley and Clayton back in the buggy while he and Jackson “walked arm in arm on foot to Nauvoo.” William Clayton’s diary dates this event to Saturday, 20 May 1843 (George Smith, Intimate, 105).

Oakley continued:

In the winter following Joseph had a party at his house, & Jackson being present was sean to put his hand into a Box and took out a handful of money & put it in his pocket. Joseph being informed of it, accused him of it. Jackson replyd, said, Joseph Smith I have told you Evry secret that was in my Bosom, and you have never told me one. Jackson putting his hand to his breat [sic] as though He would draw a pistol. Joseph took up a chair & held it over him and said I will thrash you to the floor, if you move your hand another inch Jackson than [sic] hurried out of the door & this Break the Leage of friendship Between them and Jackson boasted afterwards that he had a hand in his martyrdom. (“John Oakley’s [1819-80] Testimony as to Joseph Smith and Jackson,” memorandum by Wilford Woodruff, 4 July 1879)

These two incidents, recounted in juxtaposition, may fit Joseph Smith’s pattern of establishing intense and immediate intimacies that could, just as quickly, go sour. In fact, Jackson had apparently only recently arrived in Nauvoo, posing as a Catholic priest; for Clayton, the same day, quotes Joseph Smith as saying that Jackson “appears a fine and noble fellow but is reduced in circumstances. The president feels disposed to employ him and give him a chance in the world. Jackson says he shall be baptized ere long.” Only three days later, however, Clayton records that Jackson precipitated a double crisis, first by his behavior toward Eliza Partridge and then, when Joseph was asking Eliza for particulars, with Emma who called and shoved on the door to the room in which the two were talking, while Joseph was holding it shut from the other side. In only three days, according to Clayton, Jackson had slipped from being a “fine and noble fellow” in Joseph’s estimation to being “rotten hearted” (George Smith, Intimate, 105-6.) When Clayton describes Jackson’s association with the cabal of conspirators against Joseph—notably the Laws, the Fosters, and the Higbees—he calls Jackson “a murderer” (ibid., 135).

According to Gregg, a warrant was issued for Jackson’s arrest after the murders; but the sheriff said Jackson was too sick to be arrested. Jackson then disappeared (305).

An odd anonymous letter, from a writer who signs himself only “Humanity,” to Emma Smith two months after Joseph Smith’s murder offers the writer’s assistance in “stopping the influence of J. H. Jacksons persecutions and slanderous reports” by reporting statements Jackson has divulged to him “that would sink him beneath the notise [sic] of every honest man.” The writer, formerly of Indiana and Ohio, had come to Hancock County only during the summer of 1843, and admits that he had “been a Strong AntiMormon but things has gone beyond humanity.” He instructed Emma to send a messenger within a specified number of days to McCabe’s Tavern in Westpoint, Illinois, and look for a man wearing “a Palm leaf Hat with a black Ribbon tied under the Chin” (“Humanity,” Letter to Emma Smith, 19 August 1844). There is no indication that Emma took any action on this proposal, although she obviously passed the letter on to someone who preserved it.

Agustus Spencer was also an inveterate enemy to Joseph but orson his brother a man of much inteligence formerly a baptist minister was one of Joseph’s warmest friends. Augustus was at this time in the habit of going into Orson’s house and abusing Joseph threatening his life &c at last Orson told he must stop this or leave the house but he refused to go and they grappled

In the contest, Orson was considerably injured. He went immediately to Joseph, and, stating the case, asked for a warrant. Joseph advised him to go to Dr. Foster, who was a justice of the peace. Accordingly, he went and demanded a warrant of Foster, but was refused. On account of this refusal, Foster was brought before Esquire Wells, and tried for nonperformance of duty.

here Joseph met Esqr. Fosters brother Charles who made an attempt to shoot him but Joseph caught his hands and prevented him and was compelled to hold him in this way above an hour in order to preserve his own life—

At this trial Joseph met Charles Foster, the doctor’s brother, who attempted to shoot him, as soon as they met, but was hindered by Joseph’s catching his hands, and holding him by main force, in which way Joseph⁹³ was compelled to confine him above an hour, in order to preserve his own life.

the Apostates with Jackson at their head continued to hold gather strengh untill finally they established a printing press in our midst through this organ the belched forth one continued the most intolerable & the blackest lies that was ever palmed upon a community

Jackson and the apostates continued to gather strength till, finally, they established a printing press in our midst. Through this organ they belched forth the most intolerable, and the blackest lies that were ever palmed upon a community.

This was before the spring circuit court was held in the spring of 1847 [1844]—

Being advised, by men of influence and standing, to have this scandalous press removed, the city council took the matter into consideration, and, finding that the law would allow them to do so, they declared it a nuisance, and had it treated accordingly.⁹⁶

At this the apostates left the city, in a great rage, swearing vengeance against Joseph and the city council, and, in fact, the whole city. They went forthwith to Carthage, and got out⁹⁷ writs for Joseph, and all those who were in any wise concerned in the destruction of the press. But, having no hopes of justice in that place, the brethren took out a writ of Habeas Corpus, and were tried before Esquire Wells, at Nauvoo.

With this the apostates were not satisfied. They then called upon one Levi Williams, who was a bitter enemy to us, whenever he was sufficiently sober to know his own sentiments, for he is⁹⁸ a drunken, ignorant, illiterate brute, that never had a particle of character or influence, until he began to call mob meetings, and placed himself at the head of a rabble like unto himself, to drive the “Mormons,” at which time he was joined by certain unmentionable ones in Warsaw and Carthage; and for his zeal in promoting mobocracy, he became the intimate acquaintance and confidential friend of some certain preachers, lawyers, and representatives, and, finally, of Joseph Jackson and the apostates. He, as Colonel Levi Williams, commands the militia (alias mob) of Hancock county. On this man, I say, they called for assistance to drag Joseph and Hyrum, with the rest of the council, to Carthage. Williams swore it should be done, and gathered his band together. Joseph, not choosing⁹⁹ to fall into the hands of wolves or tigers, called upon the Legion to be in readiness to defend the city and its chartered rights.

They then complained to the Governor who came to <being in> Quincy on buisness att the time came immediately to Carthage where he found a mob collected of several hundred men he took a vote from them to see if they would stand by him in such measures as he saw fit to adopt and they agreed to abide the Law he then sent to Nauvoo for those men whom the mob Hyrum and Joseph and several others by virtue of the smith writ as he did not choose to recognize the Habeous corpiss priveledge contained in our charter

Those called for in the warrant, made their appearance at Carthage, June 24, 1844. On the morning of the twenty-fifth, Joseph and Hyrum were arrested for treason, by a warrant founded upon the oaths of A. O. Norton and Augustine Spencer.

103I have now given a history of My life as far as I intend carrying it at this time¹⁰⁴ and I leave the world to at liberty to pass judgment upon what I havewritten as seemeth them good but but this much I will say that all that have written is true and will stand forever yes H it will stand before before God at that hour when I shall end and great I [s]hall appear to appear to answer at his bar for the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil—¹⁰⁵<… and> there will I testify meet the persecutors of the church my family who are the enemies of the church and declare with a voice that shall penetrate the ears of all every inteligence which shall be present on that momentuous occasion when <the spirits of the just and the unjust> Beggars and Lords Princes & Potentates Kings and Emperors Angels and Seraphs cherubims and gods be called before him who is the God of Gods and Lord of Lords yes yes in the presence¹⁰⁶ of all these will I declare concerning our persecutors that for eighteen years they hunted us like wild beast who were thirsting for the blood of their prey that without any just cause they drove me and my family from our home in New York and <that they> Maliciously cast my husband into prison and despitefully used him that they while my hus he was there they plundered my house and saught my son Hyrum that they might slay him That in consequence of their abuse we fled again before them and went to the state of Ohio here they they they dragged my son Joseph out of his bed at midnight and beat him untill life for a season departed from his body him and when after he recovered they still continued to pursue persecute him and the rest of my family so sorely that we <compelled to> flede to Misouri there they again renewed their hostilities against so my household and tore my son from their wives and from their little ones and from me and thrown them into prison and bound in chains and sentenced to be shot and all this when they my sons were ¹⁰⁷were guilty of no sin and had commited no crime or offence against the Law that after being in the hands of their adversaries for 6 months th My sons were compelled to fly from the state of misouri <into the state of Illinois> in order to save their lives for Governor Boggs and the passed a decree that all Saints found within his jurisdiction after a certain time should be slain by the sword. That in Illinois we were promised protection from Murderers and from mobs but he and we bought us homes and lived with them for a short like brothers of one family they were kind to us and we loved them but to the spoiler came again again the Misourians f and certain of who were not of our faith joined themselves with the rabble of Warsaw Carthage and green plains and they lied about us and scandalized us unto our friends which caused our friends to become luke warm and our enemies to increase untill at last they swore that my they again siezed my sons and cast them into prison and Murdered <slew> them Furthermore I will testify before him who slain in Kike [sic] manner that in consequence of all these wrongs that the gray hairs of my aged companion were brought in sorrow to the grave and caused him to weep over his children when he was even dying because of the wickedness of their enemies—that the cries of Widows and ophans have gone up to the councils of the great men of the land and the rulers of the Nation but they laugh at our calamities and still the hands of Murderers <were> are upon us and were threatened, oppressed and despoiled by our enemies that still we appealed to lawyers judges governors and President but they heeded not our cry their pledges were broken the Laws were trampled upon and the of states were tarnished and despite was done to the statutes <and ordinances> of the land in order to gratify Murders thieves and robbers who wished [page 14 ends]¹⁰⁸

This shall <will> be my testimony in the day of God Almighty and if it be true what will Gov Lilbourn W. Boggs, Thomas Carlin Martin Van Buren and Gov. Ford answer me in day when I shall appear where the prayers of the saints and the complaints of the widow and orphan come up before a just and righteous judge who will be is not only our judge but the judge of the whole Earth. [A lined-through passage begins here] will not the Lord then say unto those who have thus suffered us to be thus abused that have not bound up that which was broken neither brought again that which was driven away neither have ye saught that which was lost but with force and cruelty have ye ruled my people¹⁰⁹ Therefore they Them have ye ruled in unrighteousness because you have thot best to devour my people and murderers to put for the the faithless steel to <and> pierce the hearts blood <and …i …> of the defenceless in secret <prison> chambers and shall suffer fierce deamons to rush upon them with fire and with sword and to demolish their dwellings & destroy their substance because ye had power to preserve the innocent and did not do [end of lined-through passage] but you cannot answer because that you take do not take <care> your future destiny to heart. You suffered my husband & children to robbed imprisoned and murdered untill f the cries of 5 widows and 24 orphan children were lifted to <you> in vain and we are still chased before our a law less banditti of from one kingdom to another people although I am now 70 years of and a Native of the united states and although My Father and my brothers Fought hard and struggled manfully for to establish a government of liberty and eaqual rights upon this the home of my birth and notwithstanding I have violated no law yet I in common with many thousand qually¹¹⁰ equally innocent with me am commanded <by a mob> to leave the country at or stop here at the peril of our lives and last of all and most to be deplored the rulers of those who are chosen to enforce and execute the Law declare that the proceedings are outrageous but that we must of necessity submit to them for our countryman [sic] have all become so corrupt that there are none to defend and maintain the sacredness of the Law if this be so then let a well may I say with the poet.

Oh, for a lodge in some vast Wilderness some boundless contiguity of shade where rumor of oppression and deceit might never reach me more¹¹¹ let me leave the tombs of bones of my fathers and brothers who and the bones of my Martyrd children and go to a land where never man dwelt fare well my country. Thou that killest the prophets and hath exiled them that were sent unto thee once thou wert fair¹¹² once thou werte lovely <fair ye pure> wert pure and lovely. When thy legislators were Just men and law-givers saught to make <the good> the people <like unto themselves> was righteous and good men but now thou art fallen the life to which wisdom and justice and guilt debachery and […] reigns thy tables are filled with smut and filthiness and the hearts of people with rottenness and deceit but oh! if there is <yet> one in the midst of this sink of polution <corruption> in whose breast flows one feeling that warmed the heart of Washington come forth I pray you from <flee> Turn yourselves men did spurn or spot which so polution that nothing can cleanse it but judgements of H <him> who is a consuming fire [end of page]

The history of <Don Carlos Smith’s mission to the east and south>

I will not dwell upon the awful scene which succeeded. My heart is thrilled¹¹³ with grief and indignation, and my blood curdles in my veins whenever I speak of it.

My sons were thrown into jail, where they remained three days, in company with brothers Richards, Taylor, and Markham. At the end of this time, the Governor disbanded most of the men, but left a guard of eight of our bitterest enemies over the jail, and sixty more of the same character about a hundred yards distant. He then came into Nauvoo, with a guard of fifty or sixty men, made a short speech, and returned immediately. During his absence from Carthage, the guard rushed brother Markham out of the place at the point of the bayonet. Soon after this, two hundred of those discharged in the morning rushed into Carthage, armed and painted black, red, and yellow, and in ten minutes fled again, leaving my sons murdered and mangled corpses!!

In leaving the place, a few of them found Samuel coming into Carthage, alone, on horseback, and, finding that he was one of our family, they attempted to shoot him, but he escaped¹¹⁴ out of their hands, although they pursued him at the top of their speed for more than two hours. He succeeded the next day in getting to Nauvoo in season to go out and meet the procession with the bodies of Hyrum and Joseph,¹¹⁵ as the mob had the kindness to allow us the privilege of bringing them home, and burying them in Nauvoo, notwithstanding the immense reward which was offered by the Missourians for Joseph’s head.¹¹⁶

Their bodies were attended home by only two persons, save those that went from this place. These were brother Willard Richards, and a Mr. Hamilton;¹¹⁷ brother John Taylor having been shot in prison, and nearly killed, he could not be moved until some time afterwards.

After the corpses were washed, and dressed in their burial clothes, we were allowed to see them. I had for a long time braced every nerve, roused every energy of my soul,¹¹⁸ and called upon God to strengthen me; but when I entered the room, and saw my murdered sons extended both at once before my eyes, and heard the sobs and groans of my family, and the cries of “Father! Husband! Brothers!” from the lips of their wives, children, brother, and sisters,¹¹⁹ it was too much, I sank back, crying to the Lord, in the agony of my soul, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken this family!” A voice replied, “I have taken them to myself, that they might have rest.”¹²⁰ Emma was carried back to her room almost in a state of insensibility. Her oldest son approached the corpse, and dropped upon his knees, and laying his cheek against his father’s, and kissing him, exclaimed, “Oh, my father, my father!” As for myself, I was swallowed up in the depth¹²¹ of my afflictions; and though my soul was filled with horror past imagination, yet I was dumb, until I arose again to contemplate the spectacle before me. Oh! at that moment how my mind flew through every scene of sorrow and distress which we had passed together, in which they had shown the innocence and sympathy which filled their guileless hearts. As I looked upon their peaceful, smiling countenances, I seemed almost to hear them say,—“Mother, weep not for us, we have overcome the world by love; we carried to them the Gospel, that their souls might be saved; they slew us for our testimony, and thus placed us beyond their power; their ascendancy is for a moment, ours is an eternal triumph.”

I then thought upon the promise which I had received in Missouri, that in five years Joseph should have power over all his enemies. The time had elapsed, and the promise was fulfilled.

Contextual note: Sarah M. Kimball, writing a chatty and undated letter to her friend Serepta Heywood while Serepta’s husband Joseph was in Nauvoo, gave a rare and poignant glimpse of Lucy’s reaction immediately after the martyrdom. In the Mansion House, she went directly to the room of “the afflicted Mother Smith”:

She was seated in her armed chair near the far corner of the room she beconed me to come to her as I approached her she extended her trembling hand towards me which I clasped in silence she biteing her lips motioned me to be seated by her side I think for three minuts the silence was only broken by smothered sobs from various parts of the room during which time the presure of her trembling hand [—spoke] & the heaving of her swolen bosom spoke as it were volums to my heart it was then that I vainly wished for powers of speach to console the afflicted. at last I ventured to say mother Smith how are you to day s[he] replied “O I can’t tell for my poor heart does ache so how could they kill my poor boys O how could they kill them when they were so precious! I am sure they would not harm any boddy in the world but they would have done every boddy good there was poor Hyrum what could they kill him for he was always mild, then turning to Lucy (her youngest daughter) she said don’t you know Lucy how mild Hyrum always was &c &c. Br Heywood is now waiting for the his letter & I am obliged to close in the middle of my subject. (Kimball)

Almira Mack Scobey Covey, Lucy’s niece, wrote to her sister, whose little son had recently died, on 18 July 1844:

Your trouble, you think, is as much as you can bear; but it is not like Aunt Lucy’s What must have been her feelings at seeing two of her sons brought into the house dead? Murdered by wicked men. When your little boy was sick, you could be with him and administer to his wants, and when he was gone, you could bury him with decency. But this privilege she could not have. … These two of the noblest men on earth were slain, and for what? Was it for crimes they had committed? I answer NO, but it was because they professed the religion of Jesus Christ. (Bitton, 7-8)

I left the scene and returned to my room, to ponder upon the calamities of my family. Soon after this, Samuel said, “Mother, I have had a dreadful distress in my side ever since I was chased by the mob, and I think I have received some injury which is going to make me sick.” And indeed he was then not able to sit up, as he had been broken of his rest, besides being dreadfully fatigued in the chase, which, joined to the shock occasioned by the death of his brothers, brought on a disease that never was removed. On the following day the funeral rites of the murdered ones were attended to, in the midst of terror and alarm, for the mob had made their arrangements to burn the city that night, but by the diligence of the brethren, they were kept at bay until they became discouraged, and returned to their homes. In a short time Samuel, who continued unwell, was confined to his bed, and, lingering till the thirtieth of July,¹²² his spirit forsook its earthly tabernacle, and went to join his brothers, and the ancient martyrs, in the Paradise of God.

At this time, William was absent on a mission to the Eastern States. And he had taken his family with him, in consequence of his wife being afflicted with the dropsy, hoping that the journey might be a benefit to her. Thus was I left desolate in my distress. I had reared six sons to manhood, and of them all, one only remained, and he was too far distant to speak one consoling word to me in this trying hour. It would have been some satisfaction to me, if I had expected his immediate return, but his wife was lying at the point of death, which compelled him to remain where he was. His case was, if it were possible, worse than mine, for he had to bear all his grief alone in a land of strangers, confined to the side of his dying wife, and absent from those who felt the deepest interest in his welfare; whilst I was surrounded with friends, being in the midst of the Church; my daughters, too, were with me, and from their society I derived great comfort.

The Church at this time was in a state of gloomy suspense. Not knowing who was to take the place of Joseph, the people were greatly wrought upon with anxiety, lest an impostor should arise and deceive many. Suddenly, Sidney Rigdon made his appearance from Pittsburgh, and rather insinuated that the Church ought to make choice of him, not as President, but as guardian; for “Joseph,” said he, “is still President, and the Church must be built up unto him.” But before he could carry his measures into effect, the Twelve, who had also been absent, arrived, and assuming their proper places, all was set to rights.¹²³

William, however, did not return till the spring of 1845, when, with great difficulty, he got his wife to Nauvoo. She survived but a short time¹²⁴ after her arrival, for in about two weeks, to complete the sum of William’s afflictions, he followed her to the grave. Her disease was brought on by her exposures in Missouri, so that she was what might be termed an indirect martyr to the cause of Christ, which makes the sum of martyrs in our family no less than six in number.¹²⁵

Shortly after William’s return from the east, he was ordained Patriarch of the Church, in the place of Hyrum, who held the keys of that Priesthood previous to his death.¹²⁶

Here ends the history of my life, as well as that of my family, as far as I intend carrying it for the present. And I shall leave the world to judge, as seemeth them good, concerning what I have written.¹²⁷ But this much I will say, that the testimony which I have given is true, and will stand for ever; and the same will be my testimony in the day of God Almighty, when I shall meet them, concerning whom I have testified, before angels, and the spirits of the just made perfect, before Archangels and Seraphims, Cherubims and Gods;128 where the brief authority of the unjust man will shrink to nothingness before Him who is the Lord of lords and God of gods; and where the righteousness of the just shall exalt them in the scale, wherein God weigheth the hearts of men. And now having, in common with the Saints, appealed in vain for justice, to Lilburn W. Boggs, Thomas Carlin, Martin Van Buren, and Thomas Ford, I bid them a last farewell, until I shall appear with them before Him who is the judge of both the quick and dead; to whom I solemnly appeal¹²⁹ in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Coray: “ESCAPE FROM PRISON …”; GAS on Coray: “ESCAPE FROM PRISON <THEIR PERSECUTORS> …”

2. Coray: “several others …” This party consisted of five men, led by Charles C. Rich.

3. Coray: “subsistance”

4. Coray: “and made known to them by signs …” RLDS: “by signs made known to the Indians …”

5. Pratt and RLDS add a translation note: “children.” IE and Nibley do not.

6. Nibley: “to”

7. This was apparently about 6 March 1839. On that date, Don Carlos, who was “in misery” on the third day of a toothache, wrote a hasty note to Hyrum and Joseph reporting on the status of the family. Joseph Sr. and Lucy, he said, “stood their journey remarkable well. They are in tolerable health.” They shared the household with “Hyrum’s children and mother Grinold’s.” Their stepmother Mary Fielding Smith, still slowly recuperating, was living about half a mile away with baby Joseph F., her sister Mercy and Mercy’s husband, Robert B. Thompson, in a house “with old Father Dixon.” Emma and the children were staying with “Judge Cleveland” about three miles out of Quincy. Samuel’s wife Mary was in ill health. “We are trying to get a house, and to get the family together; we shall do the best we can for them,” promised Don Carlos (HC 3:272-73). William was living “forty miles away” and Don Carlos transmitted his anxiety “to have you liberated, and see you enjoy liberty once more.” William, who arrived before the letter was sent, added his apologies for not visiting Hyrum and Joseph at Liberty Jail, pleading both the press of business and also his anxiety lest an excessive number of visitors arouse the suspicions of the Missourians that the Saints “would rise up to liberate you … [and] make it worse for you.” He added, “We all long to see you and have you come out of that lonesome place,” and, like Don Carlos, promised, “Do not worry about them [your families], for they will be taken care of. All we can do will be done; further than this, we can only wish, hope, desire, and pray for your deliverance” (HC 3:274).

8. The order of the next several items (the Messers’ kindness, the stages of daughter Lucy’s illness, calling the botanic physician, and the recovery of both) differs between the Lucy and Pratt versions. The Pratt version follows the Coray manuscript.

9. Coray: “a kind of herb tea …” It is possible that this botanic physician was Willard Richards, a Thomsonian physician who frequently applied his “natural” remedies to Joseph Jr. and other members of the Smith family during the Nauvoo period. On the other hand, Richards was thirty-five, which is not particularly young. Arthur Millikin, whom Lucy calls “young” only a few sentences above, was twenty-two.

10. On 11 April 1839, Don Carlos, writing a letter full of “tenderness and brotherly affection” to his still-incarcerated brothers, reported that “my health and that of my family is good; mother and Lucy have been very sick, but are getting better. Your families are in better health now than at any other period since your confinement” (HC 3:314).

11. IE and Nibley: “instructions”

12. IE and Nibley: “he would go himself, as he was instructed.”

13. Nibley: “tears of joys”

14. Joseph III remembers that this horse, which Joseph and Hyrum had “stolen” from their guards by surreptitious purchase, was “a dark chestnut sorrel stallion, named Medley” (JS III, 6). According to Joseph’s account, the five prisoners—Joseph, Hyrum, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin—traveled together with two horses among the five and reached Quincy at the same time, as witness young Lucy’s joyous encounter with Caleb Baldwin below. However, Mother Lucy here mentions seeing only Joseph, Hyrum, and one horse.

15. Coray: “tie him to the stub of a burnt sapling, then lay down …”

16. Coray: “scarcely stand …”; RLDS: “can hardly endure …”

17. RLDS: “it seemed impossible …”

18. Coray: “visited with us.”

19. Coray omitted “Partridge,” which GAS inserted.

20. Nibley note: “Joseph and Hyrum arrived in Quincy about May 1, 1839.”

21. RLDS: “who is now (1844) the second bishop of the Church …”; RLDS (1912, 1969)

Note: “George Miller was called to succeed Edward Partridge, presiding bishop (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:8). At the October conference of 1844, N. K. Whitney was made first bishop and George Miller second. There is no evidence that he was relegated to second place in the lifetime of Joseph Smith. —H.C.S.”

22. Coray: “J. W. Saulisbury”; GAS: “W. J. Saulisbury”

23. RLDS: “Joseph and Hyrum made purchase …”; Nibley note: “Forty miles north of Quincy”

24. IE and Nibley: “Jacob G. Bigler.” Jacob G. Bigler, however, is Jacob Bigler’s son and was only nine in 1839, making him an improbable choice for a teamster. Jacob, the father, was forty-six in 1839.

25. Here appears a curious symbol, something like a rectangle set diagonally on its lower left corner and containing the letter X or Y.

26. According to Joseph Smith III, Lucy and Joseph Sr. lived first in “a small log house on the west side of the frame attachment to the block house” constructed by Hugh White. Joseph and Emma lived in the White house (Homestead). Joseph III remembered it as “a double house with a half story above”—a two-room house of squared logs to which Joseph and Emma added a living room with a fireplace on the back, thereafter using the two original rooms as bedrooms. This house, which stood on the “east side of Main Street, on the northwest corner of the block in which the Nauvoo House stands and across Water Street, south, from the Nauvoo Mansion,” was where Joseph Sr. died (JS III, 5). In 1843 the church built the Mansion House, planned as an L-shaped, two-story structure of twenty-two rooms with stabling for thirty horses and vehicles. The family moved in on 31 August 1843. Five months later, Joseph rented the Mansion House to Ebenezer Robinson to manage as a hotel. The terms were $1,000 a year plus “board for myself and family and horses.” The Smith family occupied six rooms (Miller and Miller, 121-23).

27. IE and Nibley: “with the agues,” usually considered to be malaria.

28. A curlicue line separates this instruction from the text that follows. “Aunt Mary” is Mary Atkin/Aikens Smith, Silas’s wife.

29. Coray: “William also came from Plymouth, about this time, and informed us that he had sent to Missouri for our provisions and furniture, and that all had been destroyed by the mob”; IE and Nibley: “informed us that our provisions and furniture, all had been destroyed in Missouri by the mob.”

30. At this point in Lucy’s manuscript, she tells the story of Don Carlos’s printing venture in Nauvoo and subsequent death; see Appendix, after Don Carlos’s first letter to Agnes. The order of events in the Pratt document follows the Coray manuscript.

31. GAS on Coray: “<Orin> Porter Rockwell”

32. Nibley note: “Joseph and party left for [sic] Nauvoo on October 29, 1839.”

33. New page: “17” is handwritten at the right and left top margins.

34. Nibley note: “Joseph and Judge Higbee called on Martin Van Buren. Sidney Rigdon was ill and could not accompany them.”

35. Coray: “he wisely replied”; GAS: “he wisely replied”

36. Lucy referred again to this incident in her October 1845 conference address: “Joseph then went to the City of Washington as he had a revalation to importune at the Governor’s feet and Presidents feet & the Lord said—if they would not heed him He would vex the nation—When he got home he preached down between Mr. Durfee’s and the Mansion House he told the brethren & sisters that he had done all he could for them says he they are determined we shall not have justice while we stay in Nauvoo—But says he keep good courage you shall never suffer for bread as you have done before & what is recorded here is recorded in Heaven— … Now says he I am going to lay this case of their taking away our property &c I am going to take it up before the Highest Cort in Heaven he repeated it 3 times—little did I think he was going to leave us so soon to take this case to heaven—we never could get justice till he took it there” (Lucy Smith, Minutes, Bolton version, pp. 12-13).

37. New page: “18” is written at the right and left top margins.

38. IE and Nibley: “we”

39. A negative view of Joseph and Lucy during this period is the recollection of William Law, who had become second counselor in the First Presidency in January 1841. Interviewed in 1887 at age seventy-eight, he recalled: “Old Lucy was in her dotage at that time; she seemed a harmless old woman. Old Joe sold blessings, so much a head, always in the same style—that my sons should be emperors and my daughters mothers of queens, and that everybody should have as many children as there was sands on the shore. Old Joe was an old tramp” (Cook, Law, 121).

40. Coray: “Mrs. Mary Page”

41. This young woman is Martha Jane Knowlton Coray. See “The Textual History of Lucy’s Book.”

42. Coray: “taken”

43. See “The Textual History of Lucy’s Book” for Howard Coray’s arrival at Nauvoo in the spring of 1840.

44. Joseph III remembers his grandparents living in only two houses: the Homestead (Hugh White house) and the Mansion House. However, he may have forgotten the lean-to room against the White house in which they first lived; in that case, this newly constructed dwelling would have been the small log house in which Joseph Sr. died.

45. GAS on Coray: “however, the result was, Joseph returned <home> from Iowa.”

46. For “appointed to death,” see Psalms 102:20, 1 Cor. 4:9. Joseph Sr. was dying of “consumption,” probably tuberculosis. When his brother John saw him for the last time on 27 August 1840, he wrote sorrowfully: “My brother to all human appearance is nigh unto death. But a few days have passed away since we were seven brothers—boys in the vigor of youth now three are not [Silas, Stephen, and Samuel]—one in unbelief [Jesse] in the state of New York. Three of us in the Church [Asael, Joseph, and John] and it seems that our days are few.” Clarissa, John’s wife, became ill with malaria in early September, a condition that lasted for the rest of the month. Thus, when Joseph Sr. died on 14 September at 3:00 A.M., John was unable to attend because he needed to care for his wife. Being unable to pay his last respects to his brother “is a grief to me,” he wrote, “but we must all die, but we will live again beyond these scenes of sorrow to meet to part no more” (Jarvis, 21).

47. According to M. Guy Bishop, “Emma Smith was baptized in behalf of her father, Isaac Hale; Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph’s mother, performed the ordinance for her parents, Solomon and Lydia Mack, and for her sister, Lovisa Tuttle; Joseph’s brother Samuel was baptized for Uncle Daniel Mack; and Hyrum Smith acted as proxy for his brother Alvin, whose earlier vision to Joseph had initiated baptisms for the dead. Interestingly, Joseph Smith’s name never appears on the Nauvoo records as a proxy … The Prophet officiated on at least one occasion when he performed the baptisms for 105 persons in the Mississippi River (“What,” 92).

48. RLDS: “Arthur Millikin”

49. Nibley note: “Lucy was married to Arthur Millikin in June, 1840.”

50. Nibley note: “Catherine was living at Plymouth.”

51. See John 15:19: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

52. Coray: “live upon the Earth, my heart is pained and I dread to leave them so surrounded by enemies.”

53. In the blessings that follow, “you” and “thou” are used interchangeably in both Lucy’s and Coray’s manuscripts, while Pratt standardizes second-person singular pronouns to the correct nominative, objective, and possessive cases: “thou,” “thee,” and “thy/thine.”

54. Coray: “I now seal upon your head the patriarchal power, & you shall bless the people. In the name of Jesus. Amen.” GAS on Coray: “I now seal upon your head the Patriarchal power, & you shall bless the people <(See book)> in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

55. At this point, Lucy’s rough draft has Don Carlos’s blessing, followed by Samuel’s, William’s, Sophronia’s, Katharine’s, and Lucy’s. Pratt follows the order in Coray, which lists all of the sons in birth order, followed by all of the daughters. No blessing is recorded at this time for any son- or daughter-in-law except for Arthur Milliken, although Robert B. Thompson, during his sermon at Joseph Sr.’s funeral, said that the patriarch also blessed his grandchildren (HC 4:195).

56. IE omits the blessings on Samuel, William, Don Carlos, Sophronia, Katharine, and Lucy with the summary: “He then in turn pronounced blessings upon Samuel, William, Don Carlos, Sophronia, Catharine, and Lucy.” Nibley likewise excludes these blessings, although he includes Samuel’s (not those of the daughters or William) in a biographical appendix (339-40).

57. Nibley: “thy sufferings, and …”

58. Joseph Sr. is referring here to the family blessing meeting of 9 December 1834. This “blank” blessing was not unique. Wilford Woodruff later recalled that he asked the dying Joseph Sr. for a blessing “so it might be written as he had blessed me several times & it was not written but Father Smith told me to write down every thing that I could think of in my heart or imagin & he would sign it & it should come to pass but He said a man must keep the Commandments of God in order to obtain the blessings” (Woodruff 4:487). Emma Smith also asked Joseph Jr. for a blessing before his fatal departure to Carthage; harried for time, Joseph “told her to ‘write out the best blessing [she] could think of and he would sign the same on his return.’” She did so on 24 June (Newell and Avery, 190-91).

59. Coray: “when the days of her sorrow …”

60. Nibley: “things around her …”

61. A new page begins here; it is a half page of sixteen lines, recto and verso.

62. RLDS (1912, 1969) note: “In the blessing recorded above observe that Hyrum and Samuel who were themselves faithful men received no promises for their children. Their families afterward went with the exodus to Utah. Joseph and William received promise not only for themselves but also for their children. Neither of these families went to Utah but both were identified with the Reorganized Church. —H.C.S.”

63. Nibley note: “Joseph Smith, Sr., died September 14, 1840.” Joseph Sr.’s peaceful and lucid death is fully in the tradition of Christian resignation that Lucy has described in other family death scenes, and Robert B. Thompson, Hyrum’s brother-in-law, stressed in his funeral sermon: “There were no reflections of a misspent life—nor fearful forebodings of a gloomy nature in relation to the future; … the principles of the Gospel which, ‘bring life and immortality to light,’ nobly triumphed in nature’s final hour, which is not only a consolation to the immediate relatives, but to the Church at large” (HC 4:195-96).

64. Coray: “second day after his decease Still we …”

65. Coray: “his last remains in its narrow house …”

66. New page begins here. It has a curlicue design but no number in the upper right margin.

67. A curlicue line is drawn across the page here.

68. New page: “2” is written at the head of the sheet.

69. Coray: “a commission from the Governor. In the …” GAS on Coray: “… by the vote of the Nauvoo Legion …” RLDS (1912, 1969) note: “The organization of the Nauvoo Legion was authorized by act of the Legislature of Illinois in 1840. Signed by the governor December 16, 1840. Joseph Smith and other officers of the Legion were elected by the militia who were to compose said Legion on February 4, 1841, and subsequently commissioned by the governor. —H.C.S.” Joseph III stresses the same point, apparently to defuse the idea that the Nauvoo Legion was an extralegal military group. However, he mistakenly believed, based on the 1853 Pratt edition, that Lucy had claimed Joseph was elected to that office. He clarifies: “The Legislature of the State created the office, … [and] Father was invested with the title and office by virtue of the same ordinance which authorized the organization of the Legion as an independent body under the militia laws” (JS III, 24). The Nauvoo Legion had one cohort of cavalry and another of foot, each with its own staff and brigadier general. Don Carlos was one; Wilson Law the other. Joseph Smith as lieutenant-general presided over both with, as his general staff, a major general (John C. Bennett) and “such officers as chief musician, adjutant, and others.” Governor Thomas Carlin gave Joseph his commission, then the nation’s highest office of military rank. The legion began with six companies; by September 1841, it included sixteen, comprising 1,490 officers and men. Eventually membership topped 2,000 (Miller and Miller, 96-98).

70. New page: “3” is written in the top center margin.

71. RLDS note: “Afterwards Honorable O. H. Browning, and Secretary of the Interior under President Lincoln.”

72. New page: “4” written at the top center margin. See additional rough draft material on Don Carlos’s printing and final illness in Appendix 1.

73. Nibley note: “Don Carlos died August 7, 1841. It is thought that the cause of his death was pneumonia.”

74. Coray: Thomson; RLDS: “and partner with Don Carlos …” GAS on Pratt, IE, and Nibley: “Thompson, who was Hyrum’s brother-in-law, and partner to <Associate Editor with> Don Carlos of the Times and Seasons …”

75. Joseph Smith III, interviewing Alexander Doniphan in Richmond, Missouri, in 1884, asked him point-blank whether he thought Porter Rockwell had attempted to assassinate Boggs and was thoroughly convinced when Doniphan “emphatically” answered: “‘No, indeed! There was not one scintilla of evidence to connect him with it in any way, or to prove he ever had knowledge of it. The only thing they had against him was that he was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church. … He was honorably acquitted.’” After the courtroom appearance, Doniphan took Rockwell home to dinner, persuaded him, much against Rockwell’s inclinations, to leave town that very night, and gave him a “ten-dollar gold piece” toward his expenses in putting Independence behind him (JS III, 35).

76. Writing to Emma on 16 August 1842 when hard-pressed by efforts to arrest him, Joseph expresses his appreciation for her “interesting and consoling visits,” considers the possibility of moving with his family to Wisconsin, and adds a reassuring message for Lucy and the rest of his family: “Tell Mother Smith that it shall be well with her son, whether in life or in death; for thus saith the Lord God. Tell her that I remember her all the while, as well as Lucy, and all the rest. They all must be of good cheer” (HC 5:105).

77. New page: “5” is written at the top center margin.

78. RLDS (1912, 1969) note: “There was not a trial for accessory to attempted assassination but an inquiry before Judge Pope to determine if there was sufficient cause to deliver up Joseph Smith to the officers of Missouri upon the requisition of Missouri’s Governor. The decision was that he should be discharged and not be delivered up for trial in Missouri.”

79. On 11 February 1843, recorded Joseph Smith, “Mother came to my house to live” (HC 5:271). His journal for the same date notes that he was “changing the furniture in the house to receive Mother Smith in the family” (Faulring, 303). Two weeks later, she fell ill “with inflammation of the lungs,” possibly bronchitis or pneumonia. “I nursed her with my own hands,” wrote Joseph, until she “was somewhat easier.” Four days later he accepted an invitation to dinner at Orson Hyde’s (HC 5:290). According to his journal on 3 March, “Mother Smith [is] better” (Faulring, 313). Lucy was still living in the Mansion House when the bodies of her slain sons were brought back from Carthage in June 1844.

80. This accident was during the summer of 1842; the arrest she describes next occurred on a second visit in June 1843.

81. RLDS: “Mrs. Wasson, (ten miles southeast of Dixon, Illinois,) …”

82. Willard Richards, Joseph’s clerk and diarist, captures a vivid vignette of Lucy’s affection for her son. After Joseph’s success in evading extradition to Missouri, he and his party returned to Nauvoo on 10 January 1843, where “his family and friends assembled” at his home, singing “The Mormon Jubilee” as a song of welcome. “Soon after, his mother came in and got hold of his arm before he saw her which produced a very agreeable surprise on his part and the olde Lady was overjoyed to behold her son free once more.” The next day, Lucy, along with Lucy and Arthur Millikan, Samuel and his second wife, Levira Clark Smith, and Hyrum and his second wife, Mary Fielding Smith, were among the friends invited to “a dinner party” at Joseph’s and Emma’s in celebration of his deliverance. Samuel and Levira must have joined Joseph’s party on Monday, 9 January; they were residing at Plymouth, and Joseph stopped to visit him there and have supper with them (Faulring, 291-92).

83. In the Grandin reprinting of the 1853 version, the bottom part of “the street” is cut or broken off.

84. New page: The number “203” is handwritten at the top left margin with “6” about an inch to its right. The first sentence, about Sophronia’s death, is written in smaller script than the rest of the sheet but it seems to be in the same hand.

85. According to Cook, Nauvoo, 71: “Sophrona [sic] C. Smith [died] sometime between 2-9 October 1843 at Nauvoo 5 years 4 months and 9 days old; scarlet fever.”

86. Coray: “ … MURDERED.”

87. Coray: “in iminent danger of loosing his life.” William Law wrote in his journal on 2 January 1844: “This day I learn from remarks made by J. Smith before the city council and police, I am suspected of being a Brutus and consequently narrowly watched, and should any misconceive my motives my life would be jeopardized.” The Nauvoo City Council minutes report that Law had heard from a policeman (Daniel Carn) via Eli Norton, that “there was a Judas in General Smith’s cabinet,—one who stood next to him; and he must be taken care of … and he was not only a dough-head and a traitor like Judas, but an assassin like Brutus.” When Law was dropped from the First Presidency (excommunicated on 18 April 1844), he recorded mixed feelings: “I confess I feel annoyed very much by such unprecedented treatment for it is illegal, inasmuch as I was appointed by revelation … but I feel relieved from a most embarrassing situation I cannot fellowship the abominations which I verily know are practiced by this man, concequently I am glad to be free from him and so vile an association” (Black, Who’s Who, 175; Cook, Law, 39, 46; HC 6:165).

88. Coray: “Joseph Jackson, who had been in the place several months, became enamored of Miss Lovina Smith, Hyrum,s oldest daughter, and asked her father’s permission to marry her. Being refused, he went and requested Joseph to use his influence in his (Jacksons) favor. This Joseph refused to do. He next applied …”

89. New page: “17” is written at the top left margin with “204” at the right top margin.

90. M. G. Eaton made an affidavit summarizing a meeting on 17 March 1844, apparently organized by Joseph H. Jackson and attended by Robert D. Foster and Chauncey Higbee on the subject of “spiritual wifery.” Foster said that he had found an individual having dinner with his (Foster’s) wife and had extracted the information from her at gunpoint that the guest had been trying to persuade her to participate in spiritual wifery. He does not identify the guest, but it was presumably Joseph Smith. The three men expressed a resolve to “put a stop to such things,” by causing an insurrection in the city and relying on help from Carthage citizens. Two months later on 25 June, Dan Jones heard Wilson Law and Joseph H. Jackson declare that they would keep Joseph Smith imprisoned at Carthage no matter what legal pretext they had to use. Jackson, indicating his pistols, reportedly said: “The balls are in there that will decide his case” (History of the Church, 6:279-80, 579).

91. Jackson claims to have impressed Joseph Smith by not blinking when Joseph tried to stare him down and by presenting himself as a fugitive from justice from Georgia. He also claims to have arranged with Harmon T. Wilson, deputy sheriff in Carthage, to “find out Joe’s plans and measures and at a proper time, if I found him to be as base as represented and as I believed him to be, disclose all to the world” (5). Among the crimes he attributes to Joseph were an offer of $3,000 to kill Boggs and release Rockwell from jail, an incestuous attempt to have Lucy Smith Millikin (his sister), and Lovina (Hyrum’s daughter) sealed to him as spiritual wives (Jackson misspells their names as Milligan and Lavina respectively), an attempt to seduce William’s wife Caroline for which William gave him “a grand flogging,” Hyrum’s disclosure that he was married to both Mary and Mercy Fielding (which was true), and the offers of both men to give him various women as spiritual wives (Jackson 5-6, 24, 26-30).

92. RLDS: “leave he [sic] house …”

93. Coray: “but was prevented by Joseph’s catching his hands, … and in this way he was compelled …”

94. New page: “8” is written at the top center of the page.

95. Lucy seems to be mistaken about both the opinions of “gentlemen from the East” and about the city council taking action “finally.” Joseph’s history reports no consulations or efforts to seek counsel outside the city council, and they took action over a weekend. The first issue of the Expositor was published on Friday, 5 June. The city council, of which Joseph was the mayor, met for six and a half hours Saturday and for eight on Monday. Joseph does not mention speaking to any non-Mormons except passengers from St. Louis and Quincy who arrived Saturday afternoon by boat and took lodgings at the Mansion House. The council passed an ordinance against libel and another declaring the Expositor a nuisance on Monday afternoon. Marshal John P. Greene reported by 8:00 P.M. that he had destroyed the press (HC 6:430-49).

96. RLDS (1912, 1969) note: “This publication was the famous Nauvoo Expositor.” According to William Law, who with Wilson Law had underwritten most of the cost of the Expositor (about $2,000), a thousand copies were printed and 500 were immediately mailed out. On 10 June, William and Wilson Law went to Carthage with Robert Foster and Charles Ivins to deliver a lecture “on the subject of Nauvoo legislation usurpation &c. &c.” William describes his remarks as “strongly urg[ing] the policy and necessity of being patient, and allowing the law to have its course in all cases … I was told that our press would be destroyed, but I did not believe it. I could not even suspect men of being such fools, but to my utter astonishment tonight upon returning from Carthage to Nauvoo I found our press had actually been demolished.” In a later reminiscence, he graphically recalled driving into the city over the scattered type and the fragments of his broken furniture. When he learned on 11 June that the city had passed a libel ordinance that would allow fining and imprisoning “any person who speaks disrespectfully of the City Charter, or any ordinance of said City, or any citizen of said city,” the brothers spent the night packing and moved their families within twenty-four hours. Two days later, Jane Law gave birth to her fourth child. William learned of the assassinations two days later. He told an interviewer in tears many years later that he would have tried to stop the vigilante action if he had been there so that the law could take its course, but he still strongly felt that “the judgment of an offended God had fallen upon them. During the latter part of their lives they knew no mercy, and in their last moments they found none” (Cook, Law, 55-57, 60, 126, 130).

97. Coray: “swore out”

98. IE and Nibley: “was”

99. IE and Nibley: “wishing

100. Nibley: “Carthage”

101. Nibley: “and so organized”

102. Coray: “… in our city charter.)”

103. New page: “13” is written at the top center margin.

104. Lucy’s narrative from this point differs drastically from Pratt’s (although compare the common phrases in the Coray/Pratt concluding paragraphs below) suggesting strong revisions in the lost intermediate manuscript. Pratt follows Coray in organization and content, the relatively few exceptions appearing in the notes.

105. Compare Moro. 10:27 (“ye shall see me at the bar of God”), 3 Ne. 26:4 (“shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil”), and JST 2 Cor. 5:10 (“deeds done in the body … whether good or bad”).

106. Here appears a drawing of a hand with a finger pointing to the next word.

107. New page: “14” is written at the top center.

108. On the microfilm, the next page is hand-numbered “16” at the top center margin, suggesting that sheet 15 is missing; and indeed, there is obviously text missing between the bottom of 14 and the beginning of this page. It was evidently not found by the microfilming arranger.

109. See Ezek. 34:4: “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.”

110. New page: “16” [sic; should be “17”] is handwritten at the top center margin.

111. These lines are quoted exactly from the popular English poet William Cowper (1731-1800), The Task, Bk. 2, lines 1-5. My thanks to Brent Corcoran for finding this source.

112. Compare Matt. 23:37 (“thou that killest the prophets”) and Morm. 6:17 (“O ye fair ones”).

113. Nibley: “filled”

114. Coray: “he succeeded in escaping …”

115. Coray: “Joseph and Hyrum …”

116. Samuel’s daughter, Mary Bailey Smith Norman, who was seven that summer of 1844, has left a memoir, much of which must have come to her second-hand, that differs from Lucy’s version primarily in timing. Lucy says that Samuel did not reach Carthage until the day after the murders; Mary says he arrived immediately after the killers had dispersed. According to her story, Samuel left Nauvoo to join his brothers at Carthage, taking a fourteen-year-old boy with him, by team and wagon. When a mob barred the road, Samuel sent the boy and wagon on to Hamilton House at Carthage, returned home, got a fast horse, and set out again unarmed. On the road, he met a man and woman in a buggy “who told him that Joseph and Hyrum had been killed. The terrible shock was too much for him, and for an instant he reeled in his saddle and they expected him to fall.” Then as the necessity of “immediate action flashed across his mind, he steadied himself, saying, ‘God help me! I must go to them,’ and he again pressed forward.” Two riflemen pursued him firing, one bullet passing “thru the top of his hat” (Norman, 1).

117. Samuel, Willard Richards, Artois Hamilton, and two of Hamilton’s sons also accompanied the bodies.

118. Coray: “every faculty energy”

119. RLDS: “wives, children, brothers, and sisters”; IE: “wives, children, brothers, and sisters”; Nibley: “wives, children, brother, and sisters”

120. Eunice Billings, a young woman who was present and who wrote her recollections sixty-six years later in the Woman’s Exponent, reported: “I shall never forget the impression made upon me when the Prophet’s mother saw the bodies of her dead sons. Falling on her knees and clasping her hands she cried out, ‘O God, why were my noble sons permitted to be martyred?’ Then controlling herself with a mighty effort, she said, ‘Thy will, not mine, O Lord, be done’” (Richard Anderson, “Emotional,” 135).

121. RLDS: “in the depths …”

122. Nibley: “July 1844”. Rumors later circulated that Hosea Stout poisoned Samuel on orders from Willard Richards. Frank Cooper and Edward Chidester, editors of a Strangite paper, listed Samuel among “inhumanly murdered” martyrs, claiming that he “died from the effect of poison administered to him within one month after the martyrdom of his brothers” (“Martyrs of the Latter Day Saints,” Gospel Herald 4, no. 33 [1 Nov. 1849]: 168). My thanks to William Shepard for providing this reference. Michael Quinn documents that Samuel, in a meeting on 10 July 1844 with Willard Richards, W. W. Phelps, and John Smith, reminded the brethren that he was Joseph’s designee as president if Joseph and Hyrum both died. Richards argued successfully that a decision should be postponed until the full quorum returned. According to William Clayton, on 2 July 1844, only a week after the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum, Emma was troubled because “Mother Smith is making disturbance about the property in Josephs hands. Mother Smith wants Samuel to move into Nauvoo and take the Patriarchs office and says the church ought to support him” (G. Smith, Intimate, 136). When Samuel died on 30 July, John M. Bernhisel told William Smith that he had been poisoned; Samuel’s widow told William that Hosea Stout, who was attending Samuel, administered a “white powder” to him daily. According to Samuel’s daughter, Arthur Millikin was receiving the same treatment, although she attributes it to “the same doctors,” rather than to Stout; but he recovered after Lucy Millikin threw the medicine into the fire (Quinn, Origins of Power, 152-53, 383). William did not make this claim of poisoning until 1892 although, as the 1849 publication of the rumor shows, he did not originate it. Since he seemed to have willingly believed the worst of the Twelve and to have seized uncritically on anything to their discredit, his fifty years of reticence is unusual. I found no documentation that Lucy ever considered Samuel’s death to be murder, except in a general sense as a result of persecution.

123. Coray: “… assuming their proper place …” RLDS (1912, 1969) note: “At the time this was written Brigham Young and the members of his quorum who sustained him had not assumed the position of presidency in the sense that they subsequently did. The resolution passed on August 8, 1844, as published in Times and Seasons volume 5, page 638, read as follows: ‘All in favor of supporting the Twelve in their calling (every quorum, man and woman,) signify it by the uplifted hand.’ Of course Mother Smith would not object to this and might be expected to say it was right; but it is well known that she refused to follow them afterwards. —H.C.S.”

124. Coray: “he arrived with his wife in Nauvoo; but she lived only a short time …”

125. The six are probably Joseph Sr., Joseph Jr., Hyrum, Samuel, Caroline Grant Smith, and Mary Bailey Smith.

126. Coray: “previous to his death; after which, by right it belonged to Samuel; but in consequ<ence> of his sudden death, this office was confered upon William; which fact will conclude my history.” A horizontal line is here drawn the width of the page.

127. Coray: “Having carried the history of my life, as well as that of my family, as far as I intend to do for the present, I shall leave the world to judge concerning what I have written as seemeth them good.”

128. RLDS: “seraphim, cherubim and God …”

129. Coray: “I now bid them a last farewell … and to whom I now do solemnly appeal”