Upon my return home I found my family well. Work on the Temple
was progressing finely, every effort being made to push it ahead.
About this time a man named Bennett came on a visit to the
Prophet, and soon after joined the Church. At that time he
wielded quite an influence in government affairs. He grew in the
graces of the Prophet and became his right-hand man. He
endeavored in connection with Stephen A. Douglass to obtain a
charter for the city of Nauvoo.
Bennett organized the Nauvoo Legion, and was elected Major
General. Through his influence, backed by Douglass, arms were
obtained for the Legion from the government. A Free Mason's
lodge, and the privileges of Masonry, were extended to the
Legion. Judge Cleveland, of Springfield, was very friendly, and
frequently visited the Prophet. A fine Masonic lodge was built in
Nauvoo, and many were admitted as members. The Prophet Joseph and
Hyrum Smith held high positions in the brotherhood.
The institution flourished during our stay in Nauvoo, and was
frequently visited by the Grand Worshipful Master from Springfield;
lectures were given and a library established. I was librarian of
the order. I was also Wharf Master of the city, and held the
position of Major in the Nauvoo Legion; also, I commanded the
escort in the Fifth Infantry. I was made the general clerk and
reader for the Seventies, and issued the laws to that body. I
held the office of a Seventy, and was collector of the delinquent
military tax.
The same fall I was appointed on a committee, with Brigham as
counselor, to build a hall for the Seventies, the upper story to
be used for the Priesthood and the Council of Fifty. Previous to
my being appointed on the committee two committees had been
named, but accomplished nothing. We commenced without a dollar.
My plan was to build it by shares, of the value of five dollars
each.
Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch, told me that he would give the
Patriarchal Blessing to any that labored on the foundation of the
building. The Seventies numbered about four hundred and ninety
men. I was to create the material. That is, when I could get a
contract to take lumber from the river, as rafts would land at
the city, I would take common laboring men, and the portion of
the lumber that we got for our pay we piled up for the building.
In this way we got all the lumber needed. The bricks we made
ourselves, and boated the wood to burn them and our lime from the
island.
In the month of March, 1844, we had the building up on the west
side nearly two stories high. One day when the wall was built up
nine feet high and forty-five feet long, and was, of course,
green, a tornado blew the wall down, breaking columns and joists
below, doing a damage of several thousand dollars. I was inclined
to be down in the lip, but Brigham laughed at me, and said it was
the best omen in the world; it showed that the devil was mad,
knowing that the Seventy would receive the blessings of God in
that house; since they were to be special witnesses to the
nations of the earth, they would make his kingdom quake and
tremble. Brigham reminded me that when Noah was building the ark
he was mobbed three times; but he persevered, and finally his
tormentors said:
"Let the old fool alone, and see what he will accomplish."
"Just so with you," concluded Brigham. "Double your diligence and
put her up again. If you do not you will lose many a blessing."
After that I went to work with as many men as could labor to
advantage. We threw the wall down flat, and commenced a new one,
another brick thicker than the former. I borrowed fifty thousand
brick, and made them and returned them when the weather was fine.
By the 1st of May we had the Hall closed in.
During the winter Joseph the Prophet set a man by the name of
Sidney Hay Jacobs to select from the Old Bible such scriptures as
pertained to polygamy, or celestial marriage, with instructions
to write it in pamphlet form. This he did as a feeler among the
people, to pave the way for celestial marriage. Like all other
novelties, it met with opposition, though a few favored it.
The excitement among the people became so great that the subject
was laid before the Prophet. No one was more opposed to it than
was his brother Hyrum, who condemned it as from beneath. Joseph
saw that it would break up the Church should he sanction it, so
he denounced the pamphlet through the Wasp, a newspaper published
at Nauvoo, as a bundle of nonsense and trash. He said that if he
had known its contents he would never have permitted it to be
published.
At the same time other leading men were advocating it on their
own responsibility. The advocacy of polygamy by these leaders
pleased the Prophet Joseph, albeit for policy's sake he pretended
otherwise. Joseph said on the stand that, should he reveal the
will of God concerning them, they - pointing to President W.
Marks, P. P. Pratt, and others - would shed his blood. In this
way he worked upon the feelings and minds of the people, until
they feared that the anger of the Lord would be kindled against
them, and they insisted upon knowing the will of Heaven
concerning plural wives.
The Prophet Joseph anxiously desired polygamy, but he dared not
proclaim it, so it was taught confidentially to such as were
strong enough in the faith to take the forward step. About the
same time the doctrine of "sealing" for an eternal state was
introduced. Also the Saints were given to understand that their
marriage relations with each other were not valid, and that those
who had solemnized the rites of matrimony had no authority of God
to do so. The true priesthood had been taken from the earth with
the death of the apostles and inspired men of God. Since then
people were married to each other only by their own covenants,
and if their marriage had not been productive of blessings and
peace, and they felt it oppressive to remain together, they were
at liberty to make a new choice, as much as if they had not been
married. The Prophet taught that it was a sin for people to live
together and beget children in alienation from each other. There
should exist an affinity between the sexes, not a lustful one, as
the latter can never cement the love and affection that should
exist between man and wife.
Perhaps I should mention that Orson Hyde and W. W. Phelps turned
against Joseph in Missouri, and forsook him in time of peril and
danger and testified against him in the courts. After the
troubles were over, and Joseph was again in place in the midst of
the Saints, they both wished to be restored to fellowship and
standing in the Church, confessing their faults. Joseph laid the
case before the Church, and said that if God could forgive them
he ought to, and would do so, and give them another chance. With
tears he moved that we forgive and receive them back into
fellowship. He then sent Elder Hyde to the land of Palestine, to
dedicate that land for the gathering of the Jews. Also Hyde's
wife, with his consent, was sealed to Joseph for an eternal
state. Brigham's wife was likewise sealed to Joseph. Shortly
before the death of Joseph Brigham told me that Joseph's time on
earth was short, and that the Lord allowed him privileges that we
could not have.
There was trouble between Joseph and Brother Law, his second
counselor, on account of Law's wife. Law said that the Prophet
purposed making her his wife, and she so reported to her husband.
Law loved his wife and was devoted to her, as she was an amiable
and handsome woman, and he did not feel like giving her up to
another man. He exposed the Prophet, and from that time became
his enemy.
His brother, Wilson Law, sided with him. They were Canadians, and
wealthy and influential men. They, in connection with Foster and
Higbee, who were on the wane in the faith, established a paper at
Nauvoo, called the Expositor. They set the Prophet up without
mercy. They soon got after Brigham for trying to influence Martha
Brotherton to be sealed to Joseph. Her father found it out and
helped to expose them, which made it rather hot for them. The
next move of the Prophet and his friends was to get the City
Council to pass an ordinance declaring the Expositor to be a
nuisance, unless the proprietors would close it up.
When I moved to Nauvoo I had one wife and one child. Soon after I
got there I was appointed as the Seventh Danite. I had superiors
in office, and was sworn to secrecy, to obey the orders of my
superiors, and not let my left hand know what my right hand did.
It was my duty to do as I was ordered, and not to ask questions.
I was instructed in the secrets of the Priesthood, and taught
that it was my duty, and the duty of all men, to obey the leaders
of the Church, and that no one could commit sin so long as he
acted as directed by his Church superiors.
One day the Danite Chief came to me and said that I must take two
more Danites whom he named and watch the house of a widow woman
named Clawson. I was informed that a man went there nearly every
night about ten o'clock, and left about daylight. I was to
station myself and my men near the house, and when the man came
out knock him down and mutilate him; it would not be inquired
into if we killed him.
It was my duty to report unusual orders that I received from my
superiors to the Prophet, Joseph Smith, or in his absence, Hyrum.
I went to the house of the Prophet to report, but he was not at
home. I then called for Hyrum, and he gave me an interview. I
told him the orders I had received from the Chief, and asked him
if I should obey or not. He said to me:
"Brother Lee, you have acted wisely in listening to the voice of
the Spirit. It was the influence of God's Spirit that sent you
here. You would have been guilty of a great crime if you had
obeyed your Chief's orders."
Hyrum then told me that the man I was ordered to attack had been
sealed to Mrs. Clawson, and their marriage was a most holy one;
that it was in accordance with a revelation which the Prophet had
recently received direct from God. He explained to me fully the
doctrines of polygamy, wherein it was permitted, and why it was
right. I was greatly interested in the doctrine. It accorded
exactly with my views of the Scripture, and I at once accepted
and believed in the doctrine as taught by the revelations
received by Joseph the Prophet. As a matter of course I did not
carry out the orders of the Chief. I had him instructed in his
duty, and Mrs. Clawson's husband was never bothered by the
Danites. A few months after, I was sealed to my second wife. I
was sealed to her by Brigham, then one of the twelve.
In less than one year after I first learned the will of God
concerning marriage among the Saints, as made known by Him in a
revelation to Joseph, I was the husband of nine wives. I took my
wives in the following order: First, Agathe Ann Woolsey; second,
Nancy Berry; third, Louisa Free; fourth, Sarah C. Williams;
fifth, old Mrs. Woolsey (she was the mother of Agathe Ann and
Rachel A. - I married her for her soul's sake, for her salvation
in the eternal state); sixth, Rachel A. Woolsey (I was sealed to
her at the same time that I was to her mother); seventh, Andora
Woolsey (a sister of Rachel); eighth, Polly Ann Workman; ninth,
Martha Berry; tenth, Delithea Morris.
In 1847, while at Council Bluffs, Brigham sealed me to three
women in one night, viz., eleventh, Nancy Armstrong (she was what
we called a widow, that is, she had left her first husband in
Tennessee, in order to be with the Mormon people); twelfth, Polly
V. Young; thirteenth, Louisa Young (these two were sisters).
Next, I was sealed to my fourteenth wife, Emeline Vaughn. In 1851
I was sealed to my fifteenth wife, Mary Lear Groves. In 1856 I
was sealed to my sixteenth wife, Mary Ann Williams. In 1858
Brigham gave me my seventeenth wife, Emma Batchelder. I was
sealed to her while a member of the Territorial Legislature. In
1859 I was sealed to my eighteenth wife, Teressa Morse. I was
sealed to her by order of Brigham. Amasa Lyman officiated at the
ceremony. The last wife I got was Ann Gordges. Brigham gave her
to me, and I was sealed to her in Salt Lake by Heber C. Kimball.
She was my nineteenth, but, as I was married to old Mrs. Woolsey
only for her soul's sake, and she was near sixty years old when I
married her, I never considered her really as a wife. After 1861
I never asked Brigham for another wife. By my eighteen real wives
I have been the father of sixty-four children. Ten of my children
are dead and fifty-four are living.
To return to Nauvoo: The Prophet Joseph had written a letter to
Martin Van Buren, wishing to know his views in regard to the
grievances and wrongs of the Mormon people, and what would be his
action should he be elected President. He replied that he
believed their cause was just, and Congress had no right to
interfere; that it was a State matter, and must be left to the
Executive.
The Prophet addressed another letter to Wm. H. Harrison, on the
same subject. His answer was but little more satisfactory.
Joseph then drew up a statement of his own, of the power and
policy of the Government. A convention was called, and the
Prophet nominated as a candidate for the Presidency. He set forth
his views in the Nauvoo Neighbor, formerly the Wasp. He stated
that if the people would elect him President it would be the
salvation of the nation; otherwise, the Union would soon be
severed. The two political parties would continue to influence
the people until it would end in civil war, in which all nations
would take part, and this nation be broken up. At this convention
the elders were assigned missions to different States. I was sent
to stump the State of Kentucky, with ten elders to assist me.
"You had better shut up the Seventies' Hall and obey the last
call of the Prophet," Brigham said to me.
Things looked squally before I left, with little prospect of
growing better. I left Nauvoo on the 4th of May, 1844, with
greater reluctance than I had on any previous mission. It was
hard enough to preach the gospel without purse or scrip; but it
was as nothing compared to offering the Prophet Joseph to the
people as a candidate for the highest gift of the nation. I would
a thousand times rather have been shut up in jail than to have
taken the trip, but I dared not refuse.
About one hundred of us took the steamer Ospray for St. Louis.
Our mission was understood by all the passengers on board. I was
not long kept waiting before the subject was brought up. I had
made up my mind to banish fear and overcome timidity. I made the
people believe that I felt highly honored by my mission to
electioneer for a prophet of God. It was a privilege few men
enjoyed in these days. I endeavored to make myself agreeable by
mixing with the passengers on the steamer. I told them that the
Prophet would lead both candidates from the start.
There was a large crowd on the boat, and an election was
proposed. Judges and clerks were appointed and a vote taken. The
Prophet received a majority of seventy-five, out of one hundred
and twenty-five votes polled. This created a tremendous laugh,
and we kept it up till we got to St. Louis. Here the most of us
took the steamer Mermaid.
The change of steamers afforded me a new field of labor. I met a
brother of Gen. Atchison, one of the commanders of the militia
that served against the Church at Far West. He became interested
in me, and when we parted at Smithland he invited me to go home
with him and preach in his neighborhood.
My destination being Frankfort, I could not accept his
invitation. I started for Lexington, by way of Georgetown,
lecturing as I went. I finally got to the capital, put up at a
hotel, and endeavored to hire the State House to speak in, but
found it engaged.
My funds were low, and my hotel hill was four dollars per day.
After three days' trial I hired the Court House. The people said
that no Mormon had ever been able to get a hearing, though
several had attempted to do so.
When evening came I had to light up the house and ring the bell.
Elder Frost assisted me. Soon the hall was filled with juveniles,
from ten to fifteen years of age. I understood the trick. The
people supposed I would leave, but to their surprise I arose and
said I was glad to see the young ones out in such numbers; that I
knew they had good parents, or they would not be there; that if
they would take seats and be quiet we would sing them our Mormon
songs.
Elder Frost was a charming singer. We sang two or three songs.
Our juvenile hearers seemed delighted. I then knelt down and
prayed. By this time the hall was crowded with grown men, and I
begged them not to crowd out my little friends. I then spoke an
hour and a half upon the constitutional rights of American
citizens. I spoke of the character of the Southern people; how
they were noted for their generous treatment of strangers; but I
feared from the treatment I had received, I had missed my way in
Kentucky. My sires were of Southern birth; my father was a
relative of the Revolutionary Lee, of Virginia; my uncle was from
Lexington, Kentucky, I had come a stranger into their midst, but
I felt confident the right of speech would be extended to us, who
were ministers of the gospel, dependent upon the generosity of
the people for food and raiment. Nor did we preach for hire. If
they wished, we would remain there and lecture, and if it met the
approbation of the people they could have the gospel preached to
them without money and without price.
The first man that spoke up was a saddler. He said he was a poor
man, but we were welcome to his house, giving the street and
number. About twenty more responded in like manner, among them
the most wealthy men of the county. We went home with a rich
farmer, and continued our labors, having more calls than we could
fill.
We were sent for by a rich planter who lived about twenty miles
away. I was anxious to extend our labors as much as was
advisable. On our way to the planter's we found it difficult to
obtain dinner. The orthodox people did not like to associate with
Mormons. I finally asked them to direct me to where some infidel
or gambler lived. They wanted to know what on earth I wanted of
such. I replied:
"To get something to eat. Infidels and gamblers are too liberal-
minded to turn a stranger away from their door. The Saviour ate
with publicans and sinners - for the very reason that we do, for
the Scribes and Pharisees would not feed Him."
They pointed us to the next house, where we were kindly received
and entertained. The gentleman informed us that he belonged to no
Church, but had an interest in a church, and said we were welcome
to preach there. He made an appointment for us to preach.
We preached, and were received with kindness. I soon began to
baptize, and calls came in from every side, when one day the
papers brought us the news of the assassination of the Prophet
Joseph and his brother Hyrum.
We returned immediately to Frankfort, as I expected the elders
there, to learn what to do. We all retired to Maple Grove, on the
Kentucky River, and kneeled in prayer and asked the Lord to show
us whether or not these reports were true. I was the mouth-in-
prayer, but received nothing definite in answer to my prayer. I
told the elders to follow their own impressions, and if they
wished to do so to return to Nauvoo. Each of them made his way
back. I spent the evening with a Mr. Snow. He claimed to be a
cousin of Brother Erastus Snow, and was favorable to us. We spent
the evening talking over the reported deed.
The next morning about ten o'clock my mind was drawn out in
prayer. I felt as though the solemnity of eternity was resting
with me. A heavenly, hallowed influence fell upon me, and
continued to increase until I was electrified from head to foot.
I saw a large personage enter the door and stand before me. His
apparel was as white as the driven snow and his countenance as
bright as the noonday sun. I felt paralyzed, and was speechless
and motionless. He remained with me but a moment, then receded
through the door.
This bright being's influence drew me from my chair and led me
south about three hundred yards, into a plot of clover and blue
grass, and under a persimmon tree, which afforded a pleasant
shade. I fell prostrate upon my face. While here I saw Joseph the
Prophet and Hyrum the Patriarch, and the wounds by which they had
been assassinated.
This personage spoke to me in a soft, low voice, and said that
the Prophet and Patriarch had scaled their testimony with their
blood. Our mission was like that of the apostles, and our
garments were clear of the blood of the nation; I should return
to Nauvoo and wait until power was granted us from on High; as
the mantle of priesthood fell upon the Apostle Peter, so should
it rest with the twelve apostles of the Church for the present.
Thus the vision closed, and I gradually returned to my native
element.
Rising up I looked at my watch and saw that I had been there an
hour and a quarter. Returning to the house my friend Snow asked
me if I was ill. I replied in the negative. He said I was very
pale, and that he saw my countenance change while I sat in my
chair; that when I went out of doors it was as though every drop
of blood had left me, or been changed. I then told him that the
reports in the papers were true, and the two Saints, the Prophet
and the Patriarch, were no more. I asked him to take me to the
landing; I wished to get the evening packet, as my labors were
done in that country. He importuned so hard that I told him what
I had seen.
He saddled a horse for me and one for himself, and we started, in
company with several others, for the landing. When we were about
to embark on the steamer Mr. Steele, a brother of the captain,
introduced me to the captain. About eight persons demanded
baptism; I could not stop, but advised them to come to Nauvoo.
Among them was my friend Snow. I had a cabin passage free. When I
reached Nauvoo I found excitement at highest point.