Morning Star (38 page)

“Joseph, why is it so much easier for people to do something for their own salvation rather than just believe in an unseen gift?” She didn't wait for his answer.

“Remember? I told you to leave me alone or I would tell Emma.”

“Go right ahead. She won't believe you. Emma chooses to see only what she wishes to see. She will deny the spiritual wife doctrine.”

He was still waiting and smiling, confident now.

Jenny turned and walked toward the door. “Joseph, I want you to hear this. I renounce the church, your revelations, your gold book. I renounce the doctrine of spiritual wives. Just as God tenderly led me to the place where I shed the fear of the spirits and was able to renounce witchcraft, now I am being led to renounce you and all you stand for.

“I tremble with fear—you've put that into me. But I also cling to Jesus Christ. In reading God's Word, I can't see that He wants anything of me except my belief, and that seems such a little thing to do for Him. But I have to trust in the
littleness
of my doing, and believe if there's more He wants of me, He'll tell me.”

“You've nothing to go on,” Joseph said, his face glowing as he lifted it. “I've the personal revelation of the Lord.”

“I had the personal revelation of a beautiful woman who disappeared when I clung to the name of Jesus Christ.” She paused and thoughtfully said, “I know that when I started reading the Holy Bible and reaching out toward Jesus, I found out about the One who was God, the Savior who died for my sins—all of them—so that I didn't need to die—”

Joseph turned away. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Apostate. Totally and completely apostate. Jenny, I'll give you until the middle of June to repent, and I will not come to you begging. When you repent, let me know.”

Chapter 38

Jenny was nearly home before the brooding heaviness settled down over her spirit. She had sailed out of Joseph's office with the sure knowledge that she had taken a firm step in the right direction. But as she rode homeward the troubles swept over her. Sally was gone. Andy was stunned, alone. Dark, fearful undercurrents swept through Joseph's kingdom, and she had just told him she wanted no part of it.

But she had a part. A document still existed with her name beside Joseph's. He had issued his warning.

What possible action could he take against her? The spiritual wife doctrine was being denied right and left. For a fact she knew there were few in Nauvoo who had been instructed in the celestial marriage doctrine. He dared not reprimand her publicly.

She dismissed the question and went back to the other worries. A barrier stood between her and Mark. She closed her eyes, trying to avoid thinking of what she had surrendered when she burned the talisman.

He came out to the buggy to meet her. “I was worried,” he said as he cradled John Mark in his arms. “Did you have trouble?”

“No. I went to the office to find you and stayed to talk to Joseph.” Shadows came into his eyes, full of unasked questions. At the same moment, she sensed that nudge she was beginning to recognize.
Tell Mark
.

She shook her head and sighed. He held her arm as she stepped out of the buggy. “Take the baby. I'll handle the rig.”

At the end of the week Mark carried home the news that Andy was leaving Nauvoo. She asked, “You mean leaving the church?”

He took a deep breath. “I went to see him. He's one angry man. Blames everyone except himself for Sally's death. I'd been worried about her for some time, but I'd guessed there was trouble between the two of them. How do you step into a situation like that?”

Keeping her silence, Jenny shook her head. He added, “He didn't say he was leaving the church, but I wouldn't be surprised. You know there's been a goodly number who've left.”

Jenny wanted to question Mark about that, but she didn't dare. He picked up the milk pail and added, “Tomorrow there's to be a meeting over Higbee's store. William Law told me it's important and suggested you come.”

“Higbee? Is he in on the rumbling? I thought he was one of Joseph's attorneys.”

“He is, and he also has much to be disturbed about.” Jenny looked at Mark as he headed for the door.

As the door closed behind him, Jenny said, “Something tells me, husband, that there's a lot going on that you keep to yourself.”

John Mark began to bang his wooden spoon on the oven door and Jenny scooped him up. “Diapers, ugh!” As she headed for the stairs, she picked up Mark's jacket. A newspaper tumbled out. She kicked it out of the way and continued up the stairs.

Jenny forgot about the paper as she hurried to prepare their evening meal. When Mark came in, she asked. “Do you mind feeding him these mashed carrots?”

He grinned and kissed her cheek. “Tell you what. Let me go out and chase Indians out of the pasture while
you
feed him carrots.” He picked up John Mark and said, “One spray and you get them raw.”

At dinner he said, “My coat. Did you see a paper in it?” She nodded and carried it to the table.

“There's two here. Joseph said they weren't his, so I brought them home to read.”

“Why don't we subscribe?”

“These are the
Warsaw Message
. After reading a couple, I decided I didn't like the tenor of them. Now I'm not so tender-skinned.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You've heard enough about and from Warsaw to guess the type of coverage they give the Saints.”

“Well, I know they've done enough complaining about us; there's a constant stream of tales about Saints taking their cows and everything else.”

Later, while Jenny washed dishes, Mark read the papers and commented. “This January 17 paper is really ranting. Says some in their area are talking about exterminating the Mormons. Sounds like Missouri. They're saying that thousands of women and children must be driven out. ‘Scattered like leaves before the storm' is his phrase. I get the feeling he's quoting some ruffians with the express purpose of frightening us.”

Jenny had hung the dish towel when he added, “The other article isn't quite so benign. He's quit dodging with nice talk, saying, ‘Your career of infamy cannot continue but a little longer! Your days are numbered!' No wonder.”

“What?”

“Oh, I was thinking it's no wonder Joseph is getting serious about emigrating westward.” Jenny lifted her hands in dismay and hastily Mark said, “Don't fret. There's nothing substantial to the talk yet. You know Tom was in on the looking around last fall. Above all, don't be guilty of starting rumors. That's the last thing this community needs right now.”

“Mark, you tell me so little. But I get the feeling there's much rumbling going on.”

“You'll find out at the meeting. Unfortunately I've been so busy myself I haven't been able to pass the time of day with the grumblers. Might be that's an advantage. Joseph's getting sharp with the troublemakers.”

Late the next afternoon, on the way to Higbee's store for the meeting, Mark and Jenny rode past the Morgan house.

Already there were signs of neglect. Jenny winced and Mark reached for her hand, tugging her close to him. Feeling as if her heart would break with weight of unspoken feelings, she looked at him. Strangely, the white line around his lips made her heart lift. Perhaps Mark wasn't totally indifferent to their problems.

The sun was setting as they walked up the stairs at the back of the shop. There were several people in the room. Jenny was conscious of the wary glances the men exchanged while the women continued to sit apart.

When the stairs creaked again they all turned. Jane Law was unwinding the heavy black veil as she followed her husband into the room. Soon another veiled woman entered and Law got to his feet.

“There's no need to advertise our presence with loud talk. Please pull your chairs together.” When the rustle had subsided, he continued, “I've talked with a number of you. There have been enough problems and ugly situations arise that several of us decided it was time to take matters into our own hands, to bring together some of the Saints who've expressed a desire to see reformation in Nauvoo before matters are completely out of control.”

He paused and then added, “I want you to understand, I'm not trying to destroy the church. I only want to see it brought back to its original purity. I continue to believe that Joseph Smith is a prophet sent from God. However, I believe he's a prophet fallen from grace.

“As a brother, I believe it is my duty to warn him and to go about instigating reformation in the church. If you are in agreement, please lift your hands.”

Again he continued, “There are a number of things we need to discuss. We've made plans to assemble for just this purpose. I realize it's an act which will be considered treason by Joseph if it comes to his ears. But if we are united in body and purpose, he will be forced to listen to us.”

“Brother,” came a voice from the back of the room. “I've been praying for this since Kirtland days. Now we are fighting for our lives as a church body. Reformation or nothing.”

A babble of voices rose, and in dismay, Jenny listened to the catalog of wrongs being named. There were labor disputes mentioned and William Law growled out his protests against the edict the Prophet had issued to excommunicate any wealthy man buying land without his permission. Dr. Foster protested the wholesale hording of building materials for the construction of the temple and the Nauvoo House. “We've people living in tents because we can't buy lumber!” His voice was rising and William rumbled out a warning.

And in the end, there was abrupt silence. Slowly William got to his feet, reluctantly he said, “It seems we've still the main point to cover, one which burdens our hearts, and in some way has touched us all.

“I tried my best to handle this problem just between the Prophet and me. He would not listen to me, nor would he seek counsel from elders in the community. In a stormy session I suggested to him that we must have reformation. As deeply as it was needed in Martin Luther's time, we need it in this new church now, before it is too late.

“I pointed this out to Joseph. I remonstrated, even threatening to go before the High Council myself if he didn't do it voluntarily. I insisted he confess his sins and promise repentance or I would expose his monstrous seductions to the world. He told me that he would be damned before he would do so, since that would cause the overthrow of the church.

“Sadly, I believe he has no recourse. The matter must be resolved in a godly manner. It is utterly impossible to think of any other course of action.”

Suddenly Dr. Robert Foster jumped to his feet. At the sound of his wavering voice, Jenny turned and saw the shocked face of his wife one second before she buried it in her handkerchief. He was saying, “Brother, you force me to tell you the problems we've had. Unexpectedly one day last winter I arrived home to find my wife and Joseph enjoying a fine meal together. It was the Prophet's bold friendliness and my wife's obvious dismay that alerted me.

“After the Prophet left I insisted my wife tell me what was going on. Of course, in an effort to protect the Prophet, she refused. It was only after a great deal of painful argument and even threats”—he paused to clear his throat before continuing—“that I was able to get the story out of her. It seems the Prophet had been endeavoring to talk her into unlawful intercourse with him by saying the Lord had commanded it. He called it the spiritual wife doctrine.”

In the silence, Higbee got to his feet. “You are all aware of the smear of adultery the Prophet falsely spread around my name. I know of others who have been dealt the same blow in an effort to hide the Prophet's sins. My brother is one. William Law's wife has been subjected to pressure and insult. Kimball's wife Sarah has been likewise insulted.”

Chauncey Higbee stood. “My brother is right. Let me add that I know for a fact that some of the leading elders have up to ten or twelve wives apiece. These righteous men, flaunting their holiness, are leading a secret life of sin, and at the same time denying it.

“Let me tell you about the
Book of the Law of the Lord
. This book is kept nice and handy at the home of Hyrum Smith, ready to be revealed to unsuspecting women, who are told that it was the Lord himself who instructed that the names hidden under those seals be placed there. Many a young woman has discovered her own name there when she has opened it in the presence of the Prophet.”

With an angry shout, Jackson got to his feet. “I must inform you that there's good evidence of a conspiracy in Nauvoo which could well cost Smith his life. If it is not too late, reformation could help, otherwise . . .”

It was late that night, while Jenny was stuffing the sleepy baby into his nightgown, when Mark gently asked, “Jenny, you are about to cry. Do you need to talk?”

She shoved John Mark into his arms and ran from the room.

Mark kissed the boy and tenderly tucked him into his bed. Although he could hear Jenny's sobs, he lingered until he knew the child was asleep.

Jenny was in the rocking chair. Mark picked her up and sat down, cradling her as gently as if she were John Mark.

When the crying ended, he mopped her eyes and cuddled her face against his shoulder. “You wouldn't do that if you knew!” She cried again.

Finally she could stand the tension no longer. “Oh, Mark, I was one of those women opening the book!”

His heart sank, but he held her close as she sobbed. “I know,” he said.

And then out of a long silence, she asked, “You do?”

He spoke quickly, “Jenny, look. I have forgiven you. That's all I have to say. I can't control your life, but I can forgive, and only that is necessary. I won't ask anything, and I'd rather not know.”