Mormon History, Feb 7, 1844

-- Feb 7, 1844
[Joseph Smith Diary] Wednesday, February 7th [several lines left blank] Evening met the Twelve [Apostles] and Hyrum at my office /at their request/ to devise means to promote the interest of the gen[eral] Government. (1)

-- about Feb 7, 1844
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith prayed that the Saints would be delivered from the harassment of Thomas Reynolds, governor of Missouri. (2)

-- Feb 8, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 8th It is still Cold. I spent the day at home But I met with a congregation of the Citizens in the room over Joseph Store for the purpose of hearing the views of General Joseph Smith given concerning the affairs of Government. His views were written & were read by Wm. W Phelps & were in the highest degree interesting. Gen Smith gave his reasons for permitting his name to go forth as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States which were as follows:

I would not have suffered my name to have been used by my friends on any wise as president of the united States or candidate for that office If I & my friends Could have had the privilege of enjoying our religious & civel rights as American Citizen even those rights which the Constitution guarantee unto all her Citizens alike. But this we as a people have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rooled upon our heads from time to time from portions of the United States like peels of thunder because of our religion & no portion of the government as yet has steped forward for our relief & under view of these things I feel it to be my right & privilege to obtain what influence & power I Can lawfully in the United States for the protection of injured innocence & If I loose my life in a good Cause I am willing to be sacrificed on the alter of virtue rightousness & truth, in maintaining the laws & constitution of the United States if need be for the general good of mankind.

Many other interesting remarks were made. He was followed by Elders Hide & Taylor, & a vote was taken whether the views of Gen Smith would be maintained by the assembly or not. The vote was universal in the affirmative. (3)

[Black History] Joseph Smith fines black men for attempted miscegenation, (4)

Nauvoo, Illinois. At a political meeting in the assembly room above the Red Brick Store, Joseph Smith gave his reasons for running for the office of president of the United States. (5)

Joseph Smith's only acknowledged polygamous child Josephine is born. Her mother Sylvia Sessions Lyon is legally married to Windsor P. Lyon with whom she is living, and so this is the first acknowledged polyandrous child. As chief justice of Nauvoo, Smith fines two African-Americans $25 and $5 for "trying to marry white women." (6)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Thursday, February 8th 1844 [several lines left blank] Court trial on 2 negroes trying to marry white women. Fined 1, $25.00 and 1, $5.00. Evening had a political Meeting in the assembly room and Br[other] Phelps publicly read my views of the Gen[eral] Government for the first time. Elders Hyde and Taylor made a speech and myself also. (1)

Josephine Lyon is born, the only known offspring from Joseph Smith's plural wives to have lived to adulthood. (7)

-- Feb 9, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 9th Br Mount Commenced putting in my windows in my house. I spent the day at home. (3)

Gov. Reynolds of Missouri shoots himself through the head, having written that although he has tried to carry out his duties, he has not been able to escape "the slanders and abuse of my enemies, which has rendered my life a burden to me." Many assume that Reynolds is referring to criticisms of him because he had not been able to return Joseph Smith to Missouri for trial. (Brigham Young University Studies (various issues), Sp '71, 292.) (8)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Friday, February 9th 1844 At home. [several lines left blank] 1 o['cloc]k P.M. held Mayor's Court in dining room, Nauvoo vs W[illia]m Withers for assault. Suit withdrawn. (1)

Joseph Smith teaches that heaven is inhabited by angels who are resurrected beings and "the spirits of just men made perfect. (See D&C 129.) (7)


Footnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://amzn.to/BYUStudies-JSChron
3 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
4 - http://www.xtimeline.com/events.aspx?q=Bif200802111550260291166
5 - Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0
6 - 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
7 - Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2011 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)
8 - Conklin, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology


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