Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith rode into Nauvoo for his hearing, where he wept tears of joy together with his family and friends and was greeted with a band and processional. (1)
[Joseph Smith] Arrives at Nauvoo. (2)
[Lucy Mack Smith] Arrives back in Nauvoo. (3)
[Sermon] Joseph Smith: The Constitutions of the United States and Illinois - Nauvoo Charter and Municipal Court - Writ of Habeas Corpus, JD 2:163 - 169 (4)
-- During Jun 1843
[Polygamy] Exact date unknown - sometime in Summer 1843 Marriage - Joseph to Hanna Ellis, age 29 ,. SOURCE: John Benbow affidavit, see Historical Record 6:222-23, 234 (5)
[Polygamy] Elvira Cowles Holmes (Age 29, already married to Jonathan Holmes): Austin Cowles was living in New York in 1830, when he and his family joined the church. By 1839 the Cowles family, including Austins daughter Elvira, were living in Nauvoo, where Austin was soon selected to be a counselor in the Stake Presidency.
In the spring of 1840 Elvira secured work in the home of Joseph Smith, perhaps as a nanny and a maid. There Elvira would become friends with several other women who would also become wives of Joseph: Emily and Eliza Partridge, Lucy Walker, Eliza R. Snow and Desmodona Fuller. Elvira would also meet Jonathon Holmes, a long time friend of Joseph Smiths. In September 1842, Elvira and Jonathon became engaged. Joseph Smith performed their wedding ceremony a few months later, and Elvira moved out of the Smith home. In honor of the new couple, Eliza R. Snow penned:
Conjugal, To Jonathan & Elvira.
Like two streams, whose gentle forces
Mingling, in one current blend-
Like two waves, whose onward course
To the oceans bosom tend-
Like two rays that kiss each other
In the presence of the sun-
Like two drops that run together
And forever are but one,
May your mutual vows be plighted-
May your hearts, no longer twain
And your spirits be united
In an everlasting chain.
In June 1843, six months after her marriage to Jonathan, Elvira married Joseph Smith. It is unclear if Jonathan was aware of the marriage, however he would know by 1846. As the Nauvoo temple neared completion, Josephs wives would re-perform their marriages, or sealings, to him within its walls. Since Joseph had been killed in 1844, Jonathan would stand proxy as Elvira was sealed to Joseph for eternity. Jonathan would be Elviras earthly companion, eventually surrendering Elvira and their children to Joseph Smith in the eternities. Many years later, as she lay sick and dying, Jonathan would ask Elvira, what reports she would give to the Prophet Joseph. She replied, Only the best report. You have always been a kind and devoted husband and father.
Elviras father, Austin, opposed polygamy and resigned as counselor in the Stake Presidency, He also helped write the Nauvoo Expositor which revealed the secret practice, but Elvira continued to love him: [He spent] a long life in making the world better, an example to all who knew him, with charity for all and malice toward none. (6)
[Polygamy] to 27 Jun 1844 Marriage - Joseph to Hanna Ellis, age 29 ,. Exact date unknown - sometime in Summer 1843 SOURCE: John Benbow affidavit, see Historical Record 6:222-23, 234 (7)
-- Jul 1, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] July 1st 1843 The Municipal Court opened at 8 oclock AM. President Joseph Smith made some remarks to the lawyiers his Council As he was a prisioner before the Court. President Joseph Smith then called upon Hiram Smith, Brigham Young P P Pratt Lyman Wight & Sidney Rigdon who were duly sworn & gave in their testimony, which occupied most of the day. They went through the whole seene of the persecution from Jackson county to the time of their expulsion from the State by force of Armes & it was Certainly the most heart rending seene or rehearsal of it that ever saluted the ears of any tribunal in a cifilized government. It would have disgraced an arab or Hotentot.
Not ownly theft, Arson, Burgalry, prisons Chains, expulsion rape & Murder were practiced upon the Saints without any redress. But even President Joseph Smith with his companions in prision loaded with chains were FED with nothing for FIVE Days in succession but the Flesh of their OWN BRETHREN which was actually cooked & given to them to eat & while hearing this part of the testimony my Blood boiled within & the spirit of war rested upon me for the space of two days. The Lawyiers were shocked to the soul. Each one made a speach at the close of the testimony & they exhorted us to stand for our rights. Stand or fall sink or swim live or die the whole testimony will be published to the world in pamphlet form & probably other wise & will stand as a history to future generations of the unparelled persecution of the State of Missouri against the Saints of the last days.
July 2d Sunday Met at the grove near the temple. A large Congregation assembled & was addressed in an interesting manner by Elder O Hyde from the 3 ch. of the Epistle of John the Divine 2, 3 & 4 verses & said much to the edifycation of the people.
After elder Hyde Closed, Mr Walker & three other Lawyers spoke in rotation & upheld President Joseph Smith in his procedings & spoke of the unlawful conduct of his enemies.
July 3d A special conference of elders was Called & one or two appointed to go to each county in the State of Illinois. An address was deliverd to the Elders By President Rigdon who made some useful remarks. Among others he Said, all that greatness consisted in in public speaking with any man was in delivering a chain of Ideas that the man had well matured speaking of things that he knew & not of things that he did not know. For should he speak of things he does not know he would set a trap to be caught in. But when a person understands the subject thorougholy upon which he is speaking he knows how to defend it. This is all the greatest man on earth can do is to tell the truth & speak of things he knows. The Elders were also addressed by Elder B Young. (8)
Footnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
2 - Scott H. Faulring, An American Prophet's Record, 'A Joseph Smith Chronology'
3 - Proctor, Scott and Maurine Jensen, editors, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother: Revised and Enhanced
4 - Journal of Discourses, http://jod.mrm.org
5 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
6 - Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith, http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/
7 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
8 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993
LDS History Timeline
About this site: http://bit.ly/mhist
No comments:
Post a Comment