Morning Star (10 page)

“Jen, that's the Old Testament.”

“But everything else we believe comes from there, doesn't it? The law and the sacrifices? Joseph himself said that the sacrifices of animals is to start up again soon as the temple is finished. I know for a fact that they did some sacrifices in Kirtland temple.”

“Well, 'tis so, the law and sacrifices.” Tom paused to scratch his head. “But there's Jesus Christ. He's New Testament.”

“So far I can't understand where He fits in. Mark talks about Jesus being the only important part. The Atonement, he calls it.”

After Tom left, Jenny sat in the rocker beside the window and watched the robins building their nest. Her dishwater was cooling, but she couldn't move away from the thoughts. She sighed. Her reading was bringing up questions, some of them as irritating as pebbles in her shoe.

When Jenny finally returned to her tasks, she was thinking about the melodious words she had read; they sang through her, and she wondered why she'd never discovered the beauty in the Bible before. At the very back of the book, she had found the words, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: . . . And I will give him the morning star.”

As she went to dust the table holding the Bibles, she whispered, “The morning star. I've seen it—bright, promising, I—” She stopped and cocked her head. “That section talks about power over the nations, but I like the part about the morning star.”

She was sweeping the porch when she began to ponder the rest of the verse. Leaning on the broom, she murmured, “I wonder if that's where Joseph got his power. I'd like to ask him what works it's talking about.”

Chapter 9

The warmth of the April sunshine made the clearing in front of the temple uncomfortably hot. Jenny loosened the shawl from her shoulders and shifted her feet.

She nudged Mark with her elbow. “There's Dr. Bennett. With all the fuss he's generated, I'm surprised to see him.”

He frowned. “Are you referring to the newspaper articles?”

Jenny tilted her head to see his face. “Then there's something else?” The muscle in his jaw tightened, and she recalled the gossip, most of it unsavory, that had started at Relief Society. “There are whispers at Society about the way he takes advantage of women,” she murmured.

“Jenny, let's talk later,” he whispered, looking uncomfortable.

William Law stopped beside him. Jenny looked up into his stern face as he touched his hat, “Ma'am.” Then addressing Mark, he asked, “Have you succeeded with Joseph?”

Mark started to reply just as the line of dark-coated men walked toward the crowd. He paused and said, “Law, why don't you stop by this afternoon? Seems best, considering.”

He nodded and moved away as Heber C. Kimball began to address the crowd. Jenny's attention wandered away. She watched as William Law returned to his place beside his wife. Jane Law gave Jenny a quick glance and nod.

Jenny's gaze shifted across the crowd, nodding to the other restless ones, and then she studied the pile of limestone which would be the temple.

She thought of the promises Joseph had made about the temple—the promises and the warning. Baptism for the dead. Although she'd heard often enough about the rite from Brigham Young, she still felt uneasy.

Heber C. Kimball's words caught her attention. “Brethren, sisters, in the Lord. We are all concerned with how we get right with our God. But don't let this uneasiness possess your soul. I will tell you—it is knowledge. We must all increase in wisdom in order to gain salvation. The very act of believing on another man's testimony helps us increase in knowledge. Thereby we gain wisdom and the power of God. As for your leaders, my advice is simply this: Whatever you are told to do—do it. If our advice leads you astray, the burden will be upon our shoulders, not yours.”

Joseph Smith stepped forward and Jenny felt the tension and excitement grow. Unexpectedly Jenny found herself responding, leaning forward to catch his words.

More soft-spoken today, Joseph repeated words they had all heard before, but even Jenny acknowledged the need to hear them again. “My people, I must remind you that the ordinances you have received, and more, will be multiplied and increased for your good in the days which lie before you. But these are not new. In the beginning, the ordinances of the priesthood were passed on to Adam. This sacred trust was given to him at the creation, even before the world was formed. Remember that Adam is Michael, the archangel. Do not forget that Noah himself is Gabriel. When Daniel speaks of the Ancient of Days, he is referring to the oldest man who lives, our Father Adam. I will not keep you long this Sabbath day. I want only to remind you again that Father Adam presides over the spirits of mankind. He is our God.”

The crowd was breaking apart, drifting homeward, when Sally and Andy hurried toward them. Sally threw her invitation across the people. “Come home with us?”

Mark shook his head and Jenny called, “You come with us; there's chicken in the oven.”

When the Laws arrived, Sally and Jenny had just finished the dishes. As they came into the house, Jenny stood awkwardly in the doorway, suddenly shy and inadequate. She spoke tentatively, “Shall I prepare tea?” Jane Law glanced at her husband as she slowly drew off her gloves.

William frowned, but Mark said, “Some of us will enjoy a cup.”

As Jenny turned into the kitchen, she was very conscious of Sally's trill of excited laughter. “
Kitchen maid
,” she muttered to herself, cringing as she reached for the teacups. She had heard that Jane and William Law were wealthy. She peeked through the doorway. The Canadians' British accent was nearly as intimidating as their fine clothes. Jenny eyed the fluffy gray fur edging Jane's brocade cape before she turned to load her tray.

Graciously Jane accepted the cup of tea. “Lovely china,” she murmured with a smile. “My favorite pattern.”

Tamara cuddled close to her mother, and her solemn blue eyes watched every move Jane made.

The conversation between the men cut through Jenny's thoughts. As she brought Mark tea, she lingered beside his chair. William was saying, “I'm fearful of what will happen if Bennett's excesses aren't curbed. I've tried talking to the man.”

“Bennett?” Sally's laughter interrupted and the men turned, “But the council took care of him when they pushed his brothel into the gully last autumn!”

“Unfortunately that isn't the scope of his endeavors.” William rumbled on. “Women aside, his biggest threat right now is the image he's projecting of the Saints.”

“You're referring to the articles?” Mark asked. Jenny knew he was talking about the series the
Times and Seasons
had published.

Jenny couldn't hold back the words, “I wondered why the Saints' newspaper printed them.”

William scrutinized Jenny before he said, “I wondered too—certainly there was nothing good to be accomplished.”

“What were they about?” Sally asked.

“Well,” Jane replied, “most certainly he informed the world at large that Joseph is a power to be reckoned with, that he now has at his disposal the power to avenge the wrongs inflicted upon his people in Missouri. He has demanded satisfaction for wrongs, and hinted Missouri land must be restored to the Saints.”

William added, “We weren't in the States when this all happened and, to be certain, the information we've had is limited, but nevertheless we saw it as a war cry.”

Heavily Mark said, “I'm afraid it was intended to be. I tried to get Joseph to stay Bennett's hand, but . . .”

Andy continued, “He's too powerful. He had Joseph eating out of his hand. Now it's too late to curb the man. Our only hope is that he will tire of the game and go home.”

William frowned. “You seem convinced the man is insincere. Is there a possibility he's warping the mind of the Prophet?”

“A man of God being warped by a mere mortal?” Mark snorted, and Jenny, studying his face, saw how ludicrous the idea was. A secret question which had its birth in the articles slipped away and she sighed with relief. Obviously Joseph didn't support the articles. She caught Mark's sharp glance; then William began speaking again, his voice rumbling slowly and thoughtfully.

“Mark, it's a different problem that plagues me today. You know Foster and I are engaged in trying to put up homes in Nauvoo as quickly as possible. Some of these poor people spent the winter in wagons and shanties. That ought not be so. You also know Joseph is determined the temple and his precious Nauvoo House will be built first. There's a real tug-of-war taking place. I'm here to ask your intervention.”

Mark replied bitterly, “What makes you think I have any more influence with Joseph Smith than you?”

The man sighed, “I'd hoped.” When he spoke again his voice was thoughtful. “He threatened to excommunicate any man who bought land without consulting him. I don't like some of his financial ventures, such as publishing his revised Bible. I honestly feel he's misusing the money he has collected to build the temple and the Nauvoo House.”

Mark's shoulders straightened. “Law,” he said sharply, “that's a serious charge.”

“I know. Right now I wouldn't make it in court, but there're indications he's invested the funds in real estate and then sold at a profit.”

“Is that all that's bothering you?” Mark asked.

“No. I'm deeply disturbed because of the workers on the temple site. They're living on parched corn. There's no income for the work, and they're practically starving.”

Andy added, “These are the men who bought land on the Iowa side and then lost everything when the deeds proved to be fraudulent.”

“Foster and I are fighting to get the materials to erect houses before winter. Now Joseph is saying the Nauvoo House must be built, that our salvation depends upon this happening.” For a time, William sat with his head bowed to his chest. When he finally sighed and straightened, he looked around the room and muttered, “I tried to remonstrate with him about some other things. I can't tell you all, but I was sorely tried when he informed me in a lighthearted manner that if the results were as I feared, we could both go to hell, and that hell is by no means the bad place it's been pictured. To the contrary, Joseph thought it was a pretty agreeable place.”

Jenny felt the shock of the statement, but Mark's eyes holding hers made her shiver even more. The question in their depths could not be avoided: he was challenging her commitment to Joseph. She turned away from them all with a tired sigh, but even then she knew the questions couldn't be avoided any longer.

That Monday when Mark guided his mare out to the main road, he had put William Law's conversation behind him. As he faced the sunshine cresting the rolling hills of Nauvoo, he thought of the blank page of the week stretching out before him. He knew of the items that needed to be placed on the page, he also knew of the problems that were pressing him, demanding their rightful place. His lips twisted in a rueful smile as he thought of the Prophet. With his usual pleasant smile, he would sweep Mark's page clean and dump another load upon it.

When Mark reached the office, Joseph was there. He was sitting behind his desk, and Mark immediately recognized that this was the day for confrontation. Joseph's suit for bankruptcy had been pushed aside for the last time.

After the polite words had passed between them, Mark took a deep breath and said, “The answer is
no
. Morally, for you to declare bankruptcy is wrong. If you insist on this line of action, you'll need to find another attorney to represent you.”

Joseph's level gaze was unwavering. Mark was conscious of all the implications of his decision. What about Jenny's spiritual groping? Would her wavering spirit be crushed by leaving Nauvoo with her questions still unanswered?

Even as Mark realized he must push the hard questions at Joseph, he was aware of the risk he was taking.
Excommunication
. “Joseph, I feel I must warn you that there's a great risk to be taken in following this course of declaring bankruptcy. Are you prepared to subject your personal life to legal scrutiny?”

Joseph leaned back and grinned. “I see you've been listening to gossip.”

“Is it gossip? I thought it common knowledge that you've begun teaching something the brethren are calling the spiritual wife doctrine. I—”

Joseph's chair thumped to the floor and with a scowl, he leaned toward Mark. “I've inquired of the Lord. Of course I knew the gossip. The Lord assures me that I
have not
committed adultery. Mark, judge not. If you are to remain in the good graces of the church, sooner or later you must receive this doctrine. The spirit tells me you are not sufficiently righteous to receive it now. Until that time, I suggest you join the Lodge and take up your religion.”

“What are you referring to?”

“I've been advised you display no interest in becoming acquainted with the endowments and, specifically, baptism for the dead.”

“You know I don't believe that way.”

For a moment Mark was pierced by Joseph's questioning look. Then the Prophet said, “Mark, I'm considering sending out another group of missionaries. It's being made clear to me that I'm to gather money from all the people before the Nauvoo House can be completed.”

Mark jumped to his feet, anger surging through him. Joseph's message was very clear. As Mark opened his mouth, there came the clear picture of Jenny's ravaged face and terror-filled eyes. Slowly he turned to pace the room.

On his second trip back across the room, there was a tap on the door as it was shoved open. William Smith stood there, wearing a wide, lazy grin. “Gentleman wantin' to see my esteemed brother, the Prophet. Better not keep him waiting; he looks important.”