Mormon History, Jul 7, 1844

-- Jul 7, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ...On our return from meeting Luther & Rhoda & a number of friends stoped at father Carters for awhile. Rhoda felt anxious to go on west to Nauvoo. Spoke of Phebe & felt anxious to spend some time with her. Sister Foss seemed to be bound in such a way that it seems difficult for her to leave. (1)

Mormon leaders barely restrain Orrin Porter Rockewll from murdering apostate Robert D. Foster. William Clayton records: "I reasoned with Rockwell and tried to show him the folly of his conduct inasmuch as the Governor had said that if one of those men were assassinated the whole city would be held responsible, . . ." (3)
[Nauvoo Temple] In a Sabbath meeting Willard Richards counseled the grieving Saints "to go out and harvest, and the others who stay [in Nauvoo] to go on with the temple, and make work here in the city" The Saints voted to resume working on the temple. (4)
William Clayton Named as temporary trustee-in-trust for the church. (5)
-- Jul 7, 1844, Sunday
[William Clayton Writings] On the second Sabbath after the murder, the subject of the temple was brought into consideration, and the Church voted to commence work again and finish it as speedily as possible. (6)
[William Clayton Writings] Sunday 7th. At home writing this history which I now conclude again at 1 o clock P.M. 5 o clock went to council with the Quorum on the subject of appointing a Trustee in Trust. I was told on the way that R. D. Foster is in Nauvoo having a permit from the Governor to come and settle business. O.P. Rockwell, M. G. Eaton and Theodore Turley are raging and threaten his life is he tarry here, consequently the City Council have seant a Guard to take care of him. I reasoned with Rockwell & tried to show him the folly of his conduct inasmuch as the Governor had said that if one of those men were assassinated the whole city would be held responsible, and that President Joseph gave himself up into the hands of his murderers for the express purpose of saving the City from being Massacred. But no reasoning seemed to touch him. He swore bitterly he would have revenge and the Foster should not tarry here. I feel grieved at this conduct, for there is now a little
prospect that the public sympathy will turn in our favor if we keep still. I was late at the Council. The brethern had agreed not to appoint a Trustee untill the Twelve came home, and that I should act in the place of Trustee to receive property &c untill one was appointed. (6)
-- Jul 8, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 8th I wrote a letter to Phebe at Sister Foss's. The brethren went to Saco. We Parted with Br Parker & his wife who went to Mexico. We feel an anxiety about our families in Nauvoo in consequence of the Persecution that rages in that region. We are sensible that the Saints will have to be tried whether they will abide in the covenant of God or not even tried unto death. I am satisfyed that all things will work together for the good of the Saints, and when they are sufficiently tried they will be deliverd.
The Brethren returned from Saco bringing the latest news which sayes the mormon war had all fiz-zelid out. That the general with his officers had showed their white feathers, & left the field, before a gun was fired, & so their was nothing to be done but to disband the troops, as their is no fighting to be done when their is nobody to be fought. This report it seems comes from our enemies the warsaw message so we cannot tel what to depend upon whether it is War or peace. Time must deter-min. (1)
[Brigham Young] --8-- Attended three meetings in the hall of Salem; had a full congregation; Elders H. [Heber] C. Kimball, O. [Orson] Pratt, L. [Lyman] Wight, D. Spencer and J. L. Heywood were present. (2)


Footnotes:
1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple
5 - Smith, George D., An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, p.lxiii, A William Clayton Chronology, http://amzn.to/william-clayton
6 - 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

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