Mormon History, Dec 27, 1843

-- Dec 27, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 27th I spent the day at home. Their was a lecture deliverd on music By a stranger at Joseph store in the evening. (1)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Wednesday, December 27th At home. A little frost and ice in the river it having been clear some time past. [several lines left blank]

P.M. Bro[ther] Phelps called. I gave him a letter from Lewis Cass and one from John C. Calhoun. Ans[wer] to Letters I wrote them, and instructed him to answer them and shew them the folly of keeping p[e]ople out of their right[s] and that there was power in government to redress wrongs.

Mr. Keith gave a lecture and concert of music in the assembly room this eve. (2)

[Joseph Smith] The church's newspaper Nauvoo Neighbor advertises ale and beer from the Nauvoo Brewery. (3)

-- Dec 28, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 28th Mrs Woodruff was sick this morning. I went to the mill for my sheeting but did not get it. I attended meeting in the evening with Elder Young on the flat. We had the house full and a good time. The following are some of the items of doctrin that Elder Young presented:

+ Be subject to the powers that be. Our sufferings are that we may learn by experiance the principle of contrast between good and evil. In order to obtain Power never suffer anger to find a seat in your breast. Never get angry at all. Treat all mildly. Govern yourself your passions & it will give you power. When the Temple is done I expect we shall be baptized, washed anointed ordained, & offer up the keys & signs of the priesthood for our dead that they may have a full salvation & we shall be a saviors on mount Zion acording to the Scriptures.

/+ I Procured 65 subscribers for the T & S & Neighbor while east & 10 in Nauvoo making in all 75 subscribers./ [Asterisk is Woodruff's.] (1)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Thursday, December 28th 1843 At home. [several lines left blank] [Mr.] Keith lectured again in the Hall. (2)

Edwin D. Wolley polygamous marriage to Ellen Wilding (4)

-- Dec 29, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 29th I spent the time about town. (1)

-- Dec 29, 1843 (Friday)
Forty policemen were sworn into office in the city of Nauvoo. (5)

-- Dec 29, 1843
[Joseph Smith] W. W. Phelps gives Joseph and others a lesson on eloquence. Joseph relates his early revelations to Dr. Bernhisel and John H. Jackson (a man who recently became a close friend, but will soon turn against Joseph). Jackson states he is almost persuaded to join the Church. Joseph, as mayor, calls 40 extra policemen to be on guard throughout the city. Relating his fear that there are Saints in Nauvoo working against him, he tells the policemen, "My life is more in danger from some little dough-head of a fool in this city than from all my numerous and inveterate enemies abroad. I am exposed to far greater danger from traitors among ourselves than from enemies without. . . . I can live as Caesar might have lived, were it not for a right-hand Brutus. . . . Judas was one of the Twelve . . . and we have a Judas in our midst." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 6:149-52.) (6)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Friday, December 29th At home. In the forenoon Bro[ther] Phelps called and gave us a lesson on eloquence and read my appeal to the Green Mountain boys, and also a New Year's Hymn without rhyme.

3 P.M. I related to Dr. Bernhisel and Joseph H. Jackson my commencement in receiving Rev[elation]. Mr. Jackson [who the following year wrote an expose entitled A Narrative of the Adventures and Experiences of Joseph H. Jackson in Nauvoo, Disclosing the Depths of Mormon Villany] said he was almost persuaded to be one with me. I replied I would to God he were not only almost but altogether.

At 4 P.M. in City Council 40 Policemen [were] sworn [in], whom I addressed at considerable length. See minutes of Council. Two petitions for licensing spirituous liquors. [several lines left blank] Cool, freezing. (2)

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith pronounced a blessing on the Nauvoo Police and offered to pay twice the amount of any bribe offered to them for information about the briber. (7)

[Joseph Smith] At the organization of the Nauvoo police (former Danites), Smith authorizes them to kill "if need be" and says his life is endangered by "a little dough-head" and "a Brutus." (3)


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 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power
4 - Smith, George D (Spring 1994), "Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy, 1841-46: A Preliminary Demographic Report", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 27
5 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
6 - Conklin, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
7 - Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0


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