[Anointed Quorum] Thursday evening prayer circle of apostles, Newel K. Whitney, and George Miller, "and prayed for rain; an abundant harvest; deliverance from our enemies and blessings on the saints" . (1)
-- Apr 11, 1845
At a meeting of the Council of Fifty plans to move west are discussed and John Taylor writes a song beginning: "The upper California, O thats the land for me / It lies between the mountains & the great Pacific sea, / The saints can be supported there / And taste the sweets of liberty; / With flocks & herds abounding, O thats the land for me / O that's the land for me, O that's the land for me (2)
-- Apr 11, 1845. Friday.
[William Clayton Journal] With the Council of Fifty all day taking minutes. President Young appointed J[onathan] Dunham, C[harles] Shumway, Lorenzo Young to go with Brother [Lewis] Dana on the Western Mission. It was decided to move the printing offme into three lower stories of Masonic Hall and commence the business on a larger scale. The Council all voting to do their utmost to sustain it. (3)
-- Apr 12, 1845
Hosea Stout writes in his diary: "At home until about two o'clock and then went with my wife to the Masonic Hall to a feast of beer and cakes prepared by the Old Police. The Old Police and wives and some of the Twelve were present; we had a joyful time, as much cakes and beer as we could eat and drink; we broke up about nine o'clock p.m. and I then came home." (2)
-- Apr 12, 1845 (Saturday)
A U. S. deputy marshal of Illinois arrived at Nauvoo, with writs for Brigham Young and others, but failed to arrest them. (4)
-- Apr 13, 1845
[Anointed Quorum] Sunday prayer circle of apostles at 4 p.m. . (1)
Lyman Wight: Instructed by letter from Quorum to return to headquarters 13 Apr. 1845, which he ignored (5)
Joseph Smith prophecies "the entire overthrow of this nation in a few years." (2)
Several officers-of-the-law attend a meeting in Nauvoo. "Elder [John] Taylor gave them to understand that if they made an attempt to serve writs on him it would cost them their lives, . . ." (2)
Lyman Wight: Arrived in Davenport, Iowa, 13 April 1845; there made preparations for overland journey. (6)
-- Sunday, April 13th, 1845
[Apostle John Taylor diary] I preached at the stand. A United States officer, the U.S. Deputy Marshall for the district of Illinois, came to Nauvoo with a writ with near twenty signatures attached to it and against whom process was issued. The debt was contracted about eight years ago, and property as I have understood, had been turned out to pay it; but whether it had been settled finally or not, I have not ascertained. A great many threats having been thrown out, by many of the mobbers around, we were jealous of him; and it was reported, that he stated at Bro. Young's being out of town, that if President Young did not give himself up, that he would employ other means. [p. 54] In my discourse I spoke plainly on these things, and said that he was a mobber, or he never would have used such language, and started that the saints would defend themselves and not suffer themselves to be imposed upon; and that if any mobbers came here, they came here at their own risk; that they had
shed innocent blood, and the murderers were still prowling around; but in the name of Israel's God, they should not do it again with impunity; and all the congregation said Amen. There was Captain Smith of the Carthage Greys, he was one of the greatest of the mobocrats; it was him that drew his company up within view of the jail, at the time of the murder, and went up to the murderers and saluted them. It was this man in the capacity of magistrate that made out a false mittimus to detain Bro. Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage. Also a man of the name of Bettersworth a constable, who was so very impatient to have Bro. Joseph and Hyrum secured, that he would scarcely wait, while I went to raise a guard to escort them to jail; and I had to use a great deal of exertion to muster a company; if this man comes to town, I want to be apprised of it, I have been told he has been in town since then. I am prepared to meet such men, I carry the instruments with me.
A man of the name of James Ivins had considerable property, and wished to part with it, for the purpose (as he said) of placing his sons at some business, not having an opportunity in this place; the conclusion I came to, from his actions, was, that he was disaffected. He leaned towards Law when he was cut off; when Rigdon went the same way he had such another leaning. In consequence of these the people lost all confidence in him, and he knowing it, was desirous of leaving. He had a first rate large brick house, brick store, and large pine board barn, on a half acre of land on Main street, corner of Kimball, which he had offered to me for three thousand two hundred dollars although the buildings had cost twice that sum. I asked the brethren what their counsel was upon the subject; they said go ahead and get it. I took measures forthwith to procure it, not that I wanted to build myself up; but my idea in getting it was to keep it out of the hands of our enemies, as it was
offered so cheap; and I thought the store would suit us for a Printing office. My feelings after I had traded for this were the same as ever, I felt like sacrificing all things when called upon, my heart is not set upon property, but the things of God: I care not so much about the good things of this life, as I do about the fellowship of my brethren, and to fulfilling the work the Lord has called me to do; and the favor of the Lord, and securing to myself, my family, and friends an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Moved into the house May 10th, 1845. On Saturday evening, May 10th, 1845, a shocking murder was committed, in Lee County, Iowa, some three or four miles from West Point.
A Dutchman from Pennsylvania, by the name of Miller and his son-inlaw Hizen, had recently moved into the county, and it was currently reported through the neighborhood that the old man had brought a large sum of money into the place. The murderers entered the house (supposed to be three in number) with their hands and faces blacked, and demanded what money there was; and struck the old man over the head as he lay in bed, he immediately jumped up and seized a gun, struck one of the villains over the head, and felled him, while engaged in this, another one stabbed him in the breast, cutting the heart; he fell and died on the spot. The sonin- law on hearing the scuffle jumped up, and grappled one of them, and knocked him down, and received a pistol ball through his right breast, and a cut over the left eye which fractured his skull; he also received a stab on the left side of his back. He has since died.
Some men immediately started in search of the murderers and traced two to Nauvoo; some of our citizens went immediately to the house where they were, (they were two of a family named Hodges notorious for thieving; the Father and Mother had joined Rigdon, and had gone to Kirtland, one of the sons named Amos, was one of the Presidents of the Seventies, he was the only Mormon in the family.) they made a desperate resistance and swore they would shoot any one who attempted to enter; they went in and took Amos, William, and Stephen into custody. They kept them in custody two days, there was great excitement round. The Grand Jury for Lee County being in session indicted William and Stephen for the murder.
They were brought before Squires Johnson and Higbee, (there being no evidence against Amos he was released,) who surrendered them to the Sheriff of Lee County, who immediately secured them in the penitentiary at Madison.
On the 15th of May, I with some others of my brethren had to secrete ourselves, to escape the hands of mobbers, who would have murdered us, if they had us in their power; they with the design of entrapping us, had made out writs against us to appear at this session of the Court to answer to charges preferred against us. We went to Brother Hunter's, and afterward to Bro. Pierce's to hide; and were employed in correcting and preparing Church history for the press. On the morning of Saturday, May 24th, 1845, we repaired to the Temple with great secrecy for the purpose of laying the corner stone, there were but few that knew about it; the band playing on the walls and the people hearing it, hurried up. About six o'clock A.M., the brethren being assembled, we proceeded to lay the stone; at quarter past six the stone was laid; after which Bro. Young prayed, his voice being heard distinctly, by the congregation below; and the congregation shouted Hossanna, Hossanna, Hossanna to
God and the Lamb, Amen, Amen, and Amen. Bro. Kay sung a song composed for the occasion by W. W. Phelps, called the capstone. Although there were several officers watching for us to take us; yet we escaped without their knowledge; when the singing commenced we left unnoticed, and they had not an opportunity of seeing us.
A hole being made in the stone for the reception of several articles, I sent 5 volumes of the Times and Seasons, (1st volume commencing November 1st, 1839) and seven numbers of the sixth volume, ending April 15th, 1845. A file of Neighbors from January 1st, 1845, to May 28th, 1845, inclusive; also a copy of my history of the Missouri persecutions; and three pamphlets I printed in the Isle of Man, one entitled Methodism, weighed in the balance and found wanting; the other two entitled Calumny refuted and Truth defended.
Sunday, June, 1st, 1845. Attended a meeting at the stand. Bros. Kimball, Young, and myself preached on the present prospects of the Saints. In the evening attended a meeting of the priesthood. (7)
Footnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - 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
4 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
5 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power
6 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith
7 - 'The John Taylor Nauvoo journal, January 1845-September 1845,' BYU Studies 23:3 (1983) edited by Dean C. Jessee
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