Mormon History, Jul 4, 1844

-- Jul 4, 1844
There is no fourth-of-Jul celebration in Nauvoo. William Clayton writes: "Instead of celebrating with splendor with joy we celebrate her [the nation's] down-fall with grief and mourn for the loss of our prophet & Patriarch & pray to God to avenge their blood speedily." Through the "true order of prayer" during the regular Thursday meeting of the Anointed Quorum, "It seemed manifest" to William Marks, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds Cahoon, and William Clayton that Nauvoo's stake president William Marks should be the Trustee-in-Trust and church president. Emma Smith agrees. In Springfield, Illinois, 100 miles from Nauvoo, the SANGAMO JOURNAL reports only rumors of troubles in Hancock County. The telegraph is still a few years away. (1)

-- Jul 4, 1844, Thursday
[William Clayton Writings] Thursday 4th ... I went to Emmas and assisted Esqr Wood to examine Josephs affairs. The situation looks gloomy. The property is chiefly in the name of the Trustee in Trust while the obligations are condisered personal. Woods advised Emma to have all the Deeds recorded at Carthage for he says our Recorders office is not legal. This will cause trouble & much dissatisfaction P.M. in Council with brothers Marks Cutler & Cahoon at Mark's house. It seemed manifest to us that brother Marks place is to be appointed president & Trustee in Trust and this accords with Emma's feelings. Brother Taylor is at brother Mark's. I saw some of his wounds which ar bad but he is recovering (2)

[William Clayton Writings] ``Liberty is fled,'' he moaned, and the flag stained with innocent blood, for the nation had rejected the gospen and the prophets. There was no public celebration in Nauvoo: ``Instead of celebrating with splendor with joy we celebrate her [the nation's] down-fall with grief and mourn for the loss of our prophet & Patriarch & pray to God to avenge their blood speedily.'' (2)

-- Jul 4, 1844?
[Quorum of Twelve] George A. Smith — "there is an item of business to present to this conference in relation to Father Cutler after the Presidency left Pottowatomie there was a report that Fa. Cutler went to Jackson Co. to lay the foundation of another Temple; there is an influence existing there to draw away from the Valley & a great mystery hangs over their doings — the conference in Potawatomy [sic] Co. withdrew fellowship form Cutler Calkins & others — Calkins said there was no power there, to try him, as he was a Bishop.

We have had a motion of asking the good people now living in Jackson Co., Missouri, to petition us to go back again & build a Temple there, if the legislature will pass resolutions to protect us in our rights. Pres. Young said there is no mail before the Church concerning the Silver Creek branch, where Father Cutler resides — during the late war he was acquainted with many Indians in York State who went to Green Bay. They saw him again at Winter Quarters, when they urged him to go down & build mills & establish a school among them. I told him to go down, [wash or work] & get his outfit — this has been turned into an under current of fire. [?] destroyed his influence--

[This us an undated message. It is a letter apparently, for on the reverse side is a date stamp (KANE JUL 4 IOWA) addressed to "Brigham Young, Salt Lake City."]

From "Record of the Twelve Apostles in the Handwriting of Wilford Woodruff" (3)

-- Jul 5, 1844
[Nauvoo Temple] A raft with 87,732 feet of lumber arrived from the Wisconsin pineries; William Clayton took possession for the Trustees. A few days later another raft with 67,952 feet of lumber arrived. (4)

-- Jul 5, 1844, Friday
[William Clayton Writings] On Friday, the 5th of July, a large raft of pine lumber, containing 87,732 feet, was landed at the city for the temple. The brethern turned out liberally with their teams to haul it to the temple, where it was secured in a few days. In a few days afterwards another raft, of 67,952 feet was received and hauled to the temple. This gladdened the hearts of the Saints. (2)

-- Jul 6, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 6 th Scarboro Conference

According to appointment we met in the Tilton meeting house, at 10 oclock their being present Elders W. Woodruff S. B. Stodard M. Holmes, Elbridge Tufts & Samuel Parker. Conference opened by Prayer By W. Woodruff. Elders M. Holmes & W. Woodruff occupied the time in the fore part of the day, and Elders S. B. Stodard, & E. Tufts in the afternoon. Their was but few present.

I spent the evening with Sister Foss & Elders Holmes & Parker & the night at father Carters. The News paper stories concerning Nauvoo was pouring in like a flood, daily but the <[ ------ ]> Saints are inthe hands of God. (5)

-- Jul 6, 1844. Saturday.
[William Clayton Journal] ...Yesterday a raft of Pine Lumber arrived for the Trustee in Trust. [Lucien] Woodworth laid claim to it, but the brethren say it is my duty as agent for the Trustee to take charge of it. I have accordingly done so and ordered [Albert P.] Rockwood to Guard it till we can get it to the Temple. The greatest danger that now threatens us is dissensions and strifes amongst the Church. There are already 4 or 5 men pointed out as successors to the Trustee and President, and there is danger of feelings being manifest. All the brethren who stand at the head seem to feel the delicacy of the business. [W. W.] Phelps and Dr. [Willard] Richards have taken a private course and are carrying out many measures on their own reponsibility without council. (6)


Footnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries
3 - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Minutes of Meetings and Other Documents--Excerpts, 1835-1896, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
4 - Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple
5 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
6 - George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton


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