EFFORTS TO COUNTERACT THE WICKED INFLUENCE OF JOHN C. BENNETT--THE
PROPHET'S REAPPEARANCE AMONG THE PEOPLE--HIS DISCOURSE AT THE SPECIAL
CONFERENCE AND BEFORE THE RELIEF SOCIETY AT NAUVOO.
_Wednesday, August 24_.--At home all day; received a visit from
Brothers Newel K. Whitney and Isaac Morley.
_Letter of Governor Carlin to Emma Smith, anent the Prophet's
Difficulties in Missouri_.
QUINCY, August 24, 1842.
DEAR MADAM.--Your letter of this date has just been handed to me,
which recalls to my mind your great solicitude in reference to the
security and welfare of your husband; but I need not say it recalls
to my mind the subject matter of your solicitude, because that
subject, except at short intervals, has not been absent from my
mind. I can scarcely furnish you a justifiable apology for delaying
a reply so long; but, be assured, madam, it is not for want of
regard for you and your peace of mind that I have postponed, but a
crowd of public business which has required my whole time, together
with very ill health, since the receipt of your former letter;
and it would be most gratifying to my feelings now if due regard
to public duty would enable me to furnish such a reply as would
fully conform to your wishes; but my duty in reference to all
demands made by executives of other states for the surrender of
fugitives from justice, appears to be plain and simple, consisting
entirely of an executive, and not a judicial character, leaving
me no discretion or adjudication as to the innocence or guilt of
persons so demanded and charged with crime; and it is plain that
the Constitution and laws of the United States, in reference to
fugitives from justice, presumes and contemplates that the laws
of the several states are ample to do justice to all who may be
charged with crime; and the statute of this state simply requires,
"That whenever the executive of any other state, or of any
territory of the United States, shall demand of the executive of
this state any person as a fugitive from justice, and shall have
complied with the requisitions of the Act of Congress in that case
{131} made and provided, it shall be the duty of the executive of
this state to issue his warrant under the seal of the state to
apprehend the said fugitive," &c.
With the constitution and laws before me, my duty is so plainly
marked out that it would be impossible to err, so long as I abstain
from usurping the right of adjudication. I am aware that a strict
enforcement of the laws by an executive, or a rigid administration
of them by a judicial tribunal, often results in hardships to those
involved; and to you it doubtless appears peculiarly so, in the
present case of Mr. Smith.
If, however, as you allege, he is innocent of any crime, and the
proceedings are illegal, it would be the more easy for him to
procure an acquittal. In reference to the remark you attribute
to me that I "would not advise Mr. Smith ever to trust himself
in Missouri," I can only say, as I have heretofore said on many
occasions, that I never have entertained a doubt that, if Mr. Smith
should submit to the laws of Missouri, the utmost latitude would be
allowed him in his defense, and the fullest justice done him; and
I only intended to refer, (in the remark made to you, when at my
house) to the rabble, and not to the laws of Missouri.
Very much has been attributed to me, in reference to General Smith,
that is without foundation in truth: a knowledge of which fact
enables me to receive what I hear, as coming from him, with great
allowance.
In conclusion, dear madam, I feel conscious when I assure you that
all my official acts in reference to Mr. Smith have been prompted
by a strict sense of duty, and in discharge of that duty, have
studiously pursued that course least likely to produce excitement
and alarm, both in your community and the surrounding public; and
I will here add that I much regret being called upon to act at all
and that I hope he will submit to the laws and that justice will
ultimately be done.
Be pleased to present my best respects to Mrs. Smith and Miss Snow,
your companions when at Quincy, and accept of my highest regard for
yourself and best wishes for your prosperity and happiness.
Your obedient servant,
THOS. CARLIN.
_To Mrs. Emma Smith:_
[Sidenote: Plans for the Defense of the Church.]
_Friday, August 26_.--At home all day. In the evening, in council with
some of the Twelve and others. I gave some important instructions upon
the situation of the Church, showing that it was necessary that the
officers who could should go abroad through the states; and inasmuch
as a great {132} excitement had been raised, through the community at
large, by the falsehoods put in circulation by John C. Bennett and
others, it was wisdom in God that the Elders should go forth and deluge
the state with a flood of truth, setting forth the mean, contemptible
persecuting conduct of ex-Governor Boggs of Missouri, and those
connected with him in his mean and corrupt proceedings, in plain terms,
so that the world might understand the abusive conduct of our enemies,
and stamp it with indignation.
I advised the Twelve to call a special conference on Monday next to
give instructions to the Elders, and call upon them to go forth upon
this important mission; meantime that all the affidavits concerning
Bennett's conduct be taken and printed, so that each Elder could be
properly furnished with correct and weighty testimony to lay before the
public.
Great distress prevails in England on account of the dull state of
trade.
_Saturday, 27_.--In the assembly room with some of the Twelve and
others, who were preparing affidavits for the press.
_Emma Smith's Letter to Governor Carlin.--Defense of the Prophet,
Arraignment of Missouri_.
NAUVOO, August 27, 1842.
_To his Excellency Governor Carlin:_
DEAR SIR:--I received your letter of the 24th in due time, and
now tender you the sincere gratitude of my heart for the interest
which you have felt in my peace and prosperity; and I assure you
that every act of kindness and every word of consolation have been
thankfully received and duly appreciated by me and my friends also;
and I much regret your ill health, but still hope that you will
avail yourself of sufficient time to investigate our cause, and
thoroughly acquaint yourself with the illegality of the prosecution
instituted against Mr. Smith. And I now certify that Mr. Smith,
myself nor any other person, to my knowledge, has ever, nor do
we, at this time, wish your honor to swerve from your duty as an
executive in the least.
But we do believe that it is your duty to allow us, in this place,
the {133} privileges and advantages guaranteed to us by the laws of
this state and the United States. This is all we ask; and if we can
enjoy these rights unmolested, it will be the ultimate end of all
our ambition; and the result will be peace and prosperity to us,
and all the surrounding country, so far as we are concerned. Nor do
we wish to take any undue advantage of any intricate technicalities
of law, but honorably and honestly to fulfil all of the laws of
this state and of the United States; and then, in turn to have the
benefits resulting from an honorable execution of those laws.
And now, your excellency will not consider me assuming any
unbecoming dictation; but recollect that the many persecutions that
have been got up unjustly and pursued illegally against Mr. Smith,
instigated by selfish and irreligious motives, have obliged me
to know something for myself. Therefore, let me refer you to the
eleventh section of our city charter--"All power is granted to the
city council to make, ordain, establish and execute all ordinances,
not repugnant to the Constitution of the State, or of the United
States, or, as they may deem necessary, for the peace and safety of
said city." Accordingly there is an ordinance passed by the city
council to prevent our people from being carried off by an illegal
process; and if any one thinks he is illegally seized, under this
ordinance, he claims the right of habeas corpus, under section 17
of the charter, to try the question of identity, which is strictly
constitutional.
These powers are positively granted in the charter over your own
signature. And now, dear sir, where can be the justice in depriving
us of these rights which are lawfully ours, as well as they are the
lawful rights of the inhabitants of Quincy, and Springfield and
many other places, where the citizens enjoy the advantages of such
ordinances without controversy?
With these considerations, and many more which might be adduced,
give us the privilege, and we will show your honor, and the world
besides, if required, that the Mr. Smith referred to in the demand
from Missouri, is not the Joseph Smith of Nauvoo, for he was not in
Missouri; neither is he described in the writ according as the law
requires; and that he is not a fugitive from justice. Why, then,
be so strenuous to have my husband taken, when you know him to be
innocent of an attempt on the life of Governor Boggs, and that he
is not a fugitive from justice?
It is not the fear of a just decision against him that deters Mr.
Smith from going into Missouri, but it is an actual knowledge that
it was never intended he should have a fair trial.
And now, sir, if you were not aware of the fact, I will acquaint
you with it now, that there were lying in wait, between this place
and Warsaw, {134} twelve men from Jackson county, Missouri, for
the purpose of taking Mr. Smith out of the hands of the officers
who might have him in custody. Also those two men from Missouri
that were here with Messrs. King and Pitman divulged the most
illegal and infernal calculations concerning taking Mr. Smith into
Missouri, the evidence of which we can furnish you at any time, if
required.
And, dear sir, our good feelings revolt at the suggestion that
your excellency is acquainted with the unlawful measures taken by
those engaged in the prosecution--measures, which, if justice was
done to others, as it would be done to us, were we to commit as
great errors in our proceedings, would subject all concerned in the
prosecution to the penalty of the law, and that without mercy.
I admit, sir, that it is next to an impossibility for any one to
know the extent of the tyranny, treachery and knavery of a great
portion of the leading characters of the state of Missouri; yet
it only requires a knowledge of the Constitution of the United
States and statutes of the state of Missouri, and a knowledge of
the outrage committed by some of the inhabitants of that state
upon the people called "Mormons," and that passed unpunished by
the administrators of the law, to know that there is not the least
confidence to be placed in any of those men that were engaged in
those disgraceful transactions.
If the law was made for the lawless and disobedient, and punishment
instituted for the guilty, why not execute the law upon those that
have transgressed it, and punish those who have committed crime,
and grant encouragement to the innocent, and liberality to the
industrious and peaceable?
And now I entreat your honor to bear with me patiently while I ask
what good can accrue to this state or the United States, or any
part of this state, or the United States, or to yourself, or to any
other individual, to continue this persecution upon this people, or
upon Mr. Smith--a persecution that you are well aware, is entirely
without any just foundation or excuse?
With sentiments of due respect, I am your most obedient servant,
EMMA SMITH.
_Happiness_.[A]
[Footnote A: It is not positively known what occasioned the writing of
this essay; but when it is borne in mind that at this time the new law
of marriage for the Church--marriage for eternity, including plurity of
wives under some circumstances--was being introduced by the Prophet, it
is very likely that the article was written with a view of applying the
principles here expounded to the conditions created by introducing said
marriage system.]
Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be
the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this
path is virtue, {135} uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and
keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the
commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to
know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep
those we have already received. That which is wrong under one
circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another.
God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said, "Thou
shalt utterly destroy." This is the principle on which the
government of heaven is conducted--by revelation adapted to the
circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed.
Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although
we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events
transpire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things
will be added. So with Solomon: first he asked wisdom, and God gave
it him, and with it every desire of his heart, even things which
might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of
heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God
gave and sanctioned by special revelation.
A parent may whip a child, and justly, too, because he stole an
apple; whereas if the child had asked for the apple, and the parent
had given it, the child would have eaten it with a better appetite;
there would have been no stripes; all the pleasure of the apple
would have been secured, all the misery of stealing lost.
This principle will justly apply to all of God's dealings with
His children. Everything that God gives us is lawful and right;
and it is proper that we should enjoy His gifts and blessings
whenever and wherever He is disposed to bestow; but if we should
seize upon those same blessings and enjoyments without law, without
revelation, without commandment, those blessings and enjoyments
would prove cursings and vexations in the end, and we should have
to lie down in sorrow and wailings of everlasting regret. But in
obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed; and as God
has designed our happiness--and the happiness of all His creatures,
he never has--He never will institute an ordinance or give a
commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to
promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not
end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become
the recipients of his law and ordinances. Blessings offered, but
rejected, are no longer blessings, but become like the talent hid
in the earth by the wicked and slothful servant; the proffered good
returns to the giver; the blessing is bestowed on those who will
receive and occupy; for unto him that hath shall be given, and
he shall have abundantly, but unto him that hath not or will not
receive, shall be taken away that which he hath, or might have had.
{136} Be wise today; 'tis madness to defer:
Next day the fatal precedent may plead.
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time
Into eternity.
Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless
in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or
receive; and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of
iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more
ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose Him to
be. He will be inquired of by His children. He says: "Ask and ye
shall receive, seek and ye shall find;" but, if you will take that
which is not your own, or which I have not given you, you shall be
rewarded according to your deeds; but no good thing will I withhold
from them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all
things--who will listen to my voice and to the voice of my servant
whom I have sent; for I delight in those who seek diligently to
know my precepts, and abide by the law of my kingdom; for all
things shall be made known unto them in mine own due time, and in
the end they shall have joy.
_Sunday, 28_.--At home. James Whitehead, Peter Melling, Tarleton Lewis,
and Ezra Strong were received into the High Priests' quorum at Nauvoo.
The British convict ship, _Waterloo_, was wrecked at Cape Town, during
a gale. Two hundred lives lost.
_Monday, 29_.--
_Minutes of a Special Conference, held at Nauvoo_.
This being the day appointed for the conference referred to on the
26th instant, the elders assembled in the Grove near the Temple.
About 10 o'clock in the forenoon, President Hyrum Smith introduced
the object of the conference by stating that the people abroad
had been excited by John C. Bennett's false statements, and that
letters had frequently been received inquiring concerning the true
nature of said reports; in consequence of which it is thought
wisdom in God that every elder who can, should go forth to every
part of the United States, and take proper documents with them,
setting forth the truth as it is, and also preach the gospel,
repentance, baptism, and salvation, and tarry preaching until they
shall be called home. They must go wisely, humbly setting forth
the truth as it is in God, and our persecutions, by which the tide
of public opinion will be turned. There are many elders here doing
little, and many people in the world who want to hear the truth.
We want the official members to take their staff and go east {137}
(not west); and if a mob should come here, they will only have
women and children to fight with. When you raise churches, send the
means you get to build the Temple, and get the people to take stock
in the Nauvoo House. It is important that the Nauvoo House should
be finished, that we may have a suitable place wherein to entertain
the great ones of the earth, and teach them the truth. We want the
Temple built, that we may offer our oblations, and where we can ask
forgiveness of our sins every week, and forgive one another, and
offer up our offering, and get our endowment. The gospel will be
turned from the Gentiles to the Jews. Sometime ago, almost every
person was ordained, the purpose was to have you tried and ready to
receive your blessings. Every one is wanted to be ready in two or
three days, and I expect there will be a liberal turn out.
[Sidenote: Return of the Prophet to the People.]
Near the close of Hyrum's remarks, I went upon the stand. I was
rejoiced to look upon the Saints once more, whom I have not seen
for about three weeks. They also were rejoiced to see me, and we
all rejoiced together. My sudden appearance on the stand, under
the circumstances which surrounded us, caused great animation and
cheerfulness in the assembly. Some had supposed that I had gone to
Washington, and some that I had gone to Europe, while some thought I
was in the city; but whatever difference of opinion had prevailed on
this point, we were now all filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing.
When Hyrum had done speaking, I arose and congratulated the brethren
and sisters on the victory I had once more gained over the Missourians.
I had told them formerly about fighting the Missourians, and about
fighting alone. I had not fought them with the sword, or by carnal
weapons; I had done it by stratagem, by outwitting them; and there had
been no lives lost, and there would be no lives lost, if they would
hearken to my counsel.
Up to this day God had given me wisdom to save the people who took
counsel. None had ever been killed who abode by my counsel. At Hauns'
Mill the brethren went contrary to my counsel; if they had not, their
lives would have been spared.
{138} [Sidenote: The Saints' Weapons of Warfare.]
I had been in Nauvoo all the while, and outwitted Bennett's associates,
and attended to my own business in the city all the time. We want to
whip the world, mentally, and they will whip themselves physically.
The brethren cannot have the tricks played upon them that were played
at Kirtland and Far West. They have seen enough of the tricks of their
enemies, and know better. Orson Pratt has attempted to destroy himself,
and caused almost all the city to go in search of him. Is it not enough
to put down all the infernal influences of the devil, what we have
felt and seen, handled and evidenced, of this work of God? But the
devil had influence among the Jews, after all the great things they had
witnessed, to cause the death of Jesus Christ, by hanging Him between
heaven and earth. They would deliver me up, Judas like; but a small
band of us shall overcome.
We don't want or mean to fight with the sword of the flesh, but we will
fight with the broad sword of the Spirit. Our enemies say our charter
and writs of habeas corpus are worth nothing. We say they came from the
highest authority in the state, and we will hold to them. They cannot
be disannulled or taken away.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Plan of Campaign.]
I then told the brethren I was going to send all the elders away, and
when the mob came there would only be women and children to fight, and
they would be ashamed. I don't want you to fight, but go and gather
tens, hundreds, and thousands to fight for you. If oppression comes, I
will then show them that there is a Moses and a Joshua amongst us; and
I will fight them, if they don't take off oppression from me. I will do
as I have done this time, I will run into the woods, I will fight them
in my own way. I will send Brother Hyrum to call conferences everywhere
throughout the states, and let documents be taken along and show to the
world the corrupt and oppressive conduct of Boggs, {139} Carlin, and
others, that the public may have the truth laid before them.
Let the Twelve send all who will support the character of the Prophet,
the Lord's anointed; and if all who go will support my character, I
prophesy in the name of the Lord Jesus, whose servant I am, that you
will prosper in your missions. I have the whole plan of the kingdom
before me, and no other person has. And as to all that Orson Pratt,
Sidney Rigdon, or George W. Robinson can do to prevent me, I can kick
them off my heels, as many as you can name; I know what will become of
them.
I concluded my remarks by saying I have the best of feelings towards my
brethren, since this trouble began; but to the apostates and enemies, I
will give a lashing every opportunity, and I will curse them.
During the address, an indescribable transport of good feeling was
manifested by the assembly, and about 380 elders volunteered to go
immediately on the proposed mission.
Treaty signed between Great Britain and China, Chinese to pay
$31,000,000, throw open five ports for trade, and cede Hong Kong to
Great Britain.
_Tuesday, 30_.--At home through the day.
_Wednesday, 31_.--At home in the forenoon; afternoon rode to the Grove
with Emma, and attended the Female Relief Society's meeting.
The following minutes were reported by Miss E. R. Snow:--
_Minutes of the Female Relief Society's Meeting--Remarks of the
Prophet_.
President Joseph Smith arose and said, "I am happy and thankful for
the privilege of being present on this occasion. Great exertions
have been made on the part of our enemies to carry me to Missouri
and destroy my life; but the Lord has hedged up their way, and they
have not, as yet, accomplished their purpose. God has enabled me to
keep out of their hands. I have warred a good warfare, insomuch as
I have out-generalled or whipped out all Bennett's corrupt host.
My feelings at the present time are that, inasmuch as the Lord
Almighty {140} has preserved me until today, He will continue to
preserve me, by the united faith and prayers of the Saints, until
I have fully accomplished my mission in this life, and so firmly
established the dispensation of the fullness of the priesthood in
the last days, that all the powers of earth and hell can never
prevail against it.
This constant persecution reminds me of the words of the Savior,
when He said to the Pharisees, "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I
cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third
day I shall be perfected." I suspect that my Heavenly Father has
decreed that the Missourians shall not get me into their power; if
they do, it will be because I do not keep out of their way.
I shall triumph over my enemies: I have begun to triumph over them
at home, and I shall do it abroad. All those that rise up against
me will surely feel the weight of their iniquity upon their own
heads. Those that speak evil of me and the Saints are ignorant or
abominable characters, and full of iniquity. All the fuss, and
all the stir, and all the charges got up against me are like the
jack-a-lantern, which cannot be found.
Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs that I am charged with
doing: the wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature,
like other men. No man lives without fault. Do you think that even
Jesus, if He were here, would be without fault in your eyes? His
enemies said all manner of evil against Him--they all watched for
iniquity in Him. How easy it was for Jesus to call out all the
iniquity of the hearts of those whom He was among!
The servants of the Lord are required to guard against those things
that are calculated to do the most evil. The little foxes spoil
the vines--little evils do the most injury to the Church. If you
have evil feelings, and speak of them to one another, it has a
tendency to do mischief. These things result in those evils which
are calculated to cut the throats of the heads of the Church.
When I do the best I can--when I am accomplishing the greatest
good, then the most evils and wicked surmisings are got up against
me. I would to God that you would be wise. I now counsel you, that
if you know anything calculated to disturb the peace or injure the
feelings of your brother or sister, hold your tongues, and the
least harm will be done.
The Female Relief Society have taken a most active part in my
welfare against my enemies, in petitioning to the governor in my
behalf. These measures were all necessary. Do you not see that I
foresaw what was coming, beforehand, by the spirit of prophecy?
All these movements had an influence in my redemption from the
hand of my enemies. If these measures had not been taken, more
serious consequences would {141} have resulted. I have come here
to bless you. The Society have done well: their principles are to
practice holiness. God loves you, and your prayers in my behalf
shall avail much: let them not cease to ascend to God continually
in my behalf. The enemies of this people will never get weary of
their persecution against the Church, until they are overcome. I
expect they will array everything against me that is in their power
to control, and that we shall have a long and tremendous warfare.
He that will war the true Christian warfare against the corruptions
of these last days will have wicked men and angels of devils, and
all the infernal powers of darkness continually arrayed against
him. When wicked and corrupt men oppose, it is a criterion to judge
if a man is warring the Christian warfare. When all men speak evil
of you falsely, blessed are ye, &c. Shall a man be considered bad,
when men speak evil of him? No. If a man stands and opposes the
world of sin, he may expect to have all wicked and corrupt spirits
arrayed against him. But it will be but a little season, and all
these afflictions will be turned away from us, inasmuch as we
are faithful, and are not overcome by these evils. By seeing the
blessings of the endowment rolling on, and the kingdom increasing
and spreading from sea to sea, we shall rejoice that we were not
overcome by these foolish things.
A few very important things have been manifested to me in my
absence respecting the doctrine of baptism for the death, which I
shall communicate to the Saints next Sabbath, if nothing should
occur to prevent me.
President Smith then addressed the throne of grace in fervent
prayer.
The prayers of the society were requested in behalf of Mr. Repshaw.
President Joseph Smith remarked that Mrs. Repshaw had long since
been advised to return to her husband. It has been ascertained, by
good evidence, that she left her husband without just cause--that
he is a moral man and a gentleman. She has got into a way of having
revelations, but not the revelations of God. If she will go home
and do her duty, we will pray for her; but, if not, our prayers
will do her no good.
President Smith said, "I have one remark to make respecting the
baptism for the dead to suffice for the time being, until I have
opportunity to discuss the subject at greater length--all persons
baptized for the dead must have a recorder present, that he may
be an eyewitness to record and testify of the truth and validity
of his record. It will be necessary, in the Grand Council, that
these things be testified to by competent witnesses. Therefore let
the recording and witnessing of baptisms for the dead be carefully
attended to from this time forth. If there is any lack, it may be
at the expense of our friends; they may not come forth."
Closed with prayer by Elder Derby.
{142}