Morning Star (12 page)

Within a week, Mark's questions about the encounter were explained, but all Nauvoo seemed to know before the information reached Mark. As he rode homeward, hashing over the story, he mused, “Of all the gossip that's circulating around about Nauvoo concerning Joseph and the twelve misbehaving, I suppose I've come as close as possible to having the evidence squashed in my face by an irate victim.”

He paused, then reflected aloud, “So this is the little English lady who dared refuse the Prophet and Brigham, and even published their indecent proposals! The world knows now that there's one woman in Zion who didn't like the idea of being married to Brigham Young in this world or the next, especially since she wasn't the first one he'd approached with the same proposal.”

He continued on his way home, pondering the advisability of telling Jenny the story. She had a nebulous feeling of change about her. He considered again and then regretfully shook his head with a wry grin. “Hands off,” he muttered. “Much as I want to do it my way, I'll keep my mouth shut. Just as I was tenderly instructed by love, so Jenny must be.”

Chapter 11

On the day that news about the Boggs' shooting reached Jenny, she was with Sally.

After completing her shopping, Jenny had walked to Sally's home. For an hour she followed Sally around the kitchen as she worked, and it was nearly time for Andy to be home for his noon meal.

Jenny's chatter initially kept her from noticing how quiet her friend was. Finally, when Sally paused with hands on hips, Jenny asked, “What is it?”

Sally looked startled. “I was thinking—all this food, and only the two of us. Why don't you go after Mark?”

“Well, I suppose I could. He's carried a snack with him, but—” She paused, contemplating. “That's nice, Sally. I'll be back with him shortly.” Jenny swung out the door. With a sigh of relief, Sally followed her to the door.

Jane Law was just coming up the path and Sally saw her hold out the packet of papers. Jenny shook her head, pointing to Sally. Jane walked up the steps. “Jenny said to give these papers to you. She'll return with Mark.”

“Oh.” Sally looked from the papers to Jane, searching the face of the older woman. She took a deep breath. “Have you heard the latest?” She was surprised at the waver in her voice.

Jane glanced at her sharply. “No,” she said slowly. “Seems it's something you need to say.”

“Could be it's nothing more than gossip, but there's a letter.”

Jane's head came up. “From whom?”

Slowly Sally said, “Joseph. To Nancy Rigdon.”

Now Jane's curiosity surfaced. “What's in it?”

“Well, first, Ann Eliza told me she'd seen it herself.”

“They are friends,” Jane said slowly as she carried her tea to the table.

“Right off, Nancy Rigdon told her that Dr. Bennett warned her that Joseph was going to approach her with a proposal to become his spiritual wife.” Sally glanced sharply at Jane. She could see by the older woman's nod that she was familiar with the doctrine.

She took up her story. “Ann Eliza said when Joseph came to Mrs. Hyde's place—you know, the printing office where she and Dr. Richards live—”

“Together?” Jane was surprised. Sally took time to nod, and she began to wonder how much she should tell this woman. Right now she decided, eyeing her, it wouldn't be wise to tell her deepest secrets.

“Well, Nancy came to the printing office, but Joseph was busy. He had Richards tell her to come to the store later. But one of the men there leveled with her, told her what was going on and suggested she go ahead and find out.

“I'm guessing she didn't believe the fella at the time. Poor girl. Had confidence in him—Joseph.”

“What do you mean?”

“According to Ann Eliza, Joseph took Nancy into the office and locked the door. That kinda scared her. She told Ann Eliza she was glad Mrs. Hyde had gone with her. He started in about how the Lord had given Nancy to him, and so on. There sat Nancy, crying and fussing. He tried to kiss her and she told him to stop or she'd scream and get the whole town there. Seems to have done the trick, 'cause he unlocked the door for her.

“Ann Eliza told me confidential-like that if it weren't for the letter, she wouldn't have believed such an outlandish story. Have you ever heard the like?”

Jane shook her head. “What about the letter?”

“Well, first off, Nancy told her pa and he confronted Joseph. Then Ann Eliza said Joseph kept denying everything until they waved the letter in front of him.

“First, the letter said that happiness was the object of existence, and that the path to happiness is virtue, faithfulness and holiness, and so on, including keeping all the commandments of God—which led him to explain
the
commandment. He also said a thing which was wrong under one circumstance was right under another. Ann Eliza said he was meaning you-know-what. So then he said everything God requires is right, no matter what it is. And that God is more liberal than we are ready to believe.

“Nancy told Ann Eliza this was all explaining what he'd told her in the office, about how she was to be his wife, because God had given her to him.” Sally stopped and looked at Jane who was staring into her teacup.

After a long moment Jane lifted her head. “I don't know what to say; it's just so unbelievable.” As Jane stood to leave, Sally saw again the dark question in her eyes.

Leaning against the doorjamb, waiting for Jenny and the men, Sally whispered. “She doesn't believe me!” But as she turned back to the kitchen, the ache around Sally's heart was easier. She wondered, if in time, she also would come to disbelieve the story.

Jenny was through the door first, “Oh, Sally, you just can't imagine! The prophecy has come to pass!”

Sally turned with the tureen of soup in her hands. Carefully placing it on the table she asked, “What?”

“Boggs has been shot. Already they're blaming Joseph.”

Andy came through the door as Sally cried, “Oh, is he in trouble?”

The men were both shaking their heads and Andy said, “Joseph's preparing a statement for the newspaper. He'll admit to the prophecy—after all, he's a prophet. His statement will show his belief that Boggs was a victim of a political opponent, backing it up with the declaration that his hands are free from the stain of murder.”

As they ate the soup, Mark said, “There are rumbles that Porter Rockwell is missing. If he's innocent of Boggs' blood, he'll save a lot of trouble for the Prophet if he just stays missing.”

Later, Mark and Andy headed back to town together. They walked over the hill and through the temple grove, pausing to inspect the work at the site. Andy had recently been appointed as superintendent of the temple construction. Mark turned to Andy and said, “I know that Law's working independently, on houses and such. Is there a conflict between you?”

“Naw, my tasks keep me close to the office.” Slowly Andy said, “I often wonder how long Joseph will tolerate a man of Law's stature. He's closer to being real competition than any other man around, even Brig.”

As the men walked around the excavation, Mark remarked, “Since you and Law were at the house, you've been appointed to supervise the temple work. How do the complaints Law made that day affect you?”

“That's a strange question. You know I dare not let them if I am to work in peace and harmony with the Prophet.”

“Does that disturb you?”

“No. I value my standing. Also, Joseph is ultimately responsible both to God and the people for any wrongdoing.”

“That's small comfort when a man's hungry and can't provide for his children.”

“Seems Joseph's doing the best he can.”

“Seems—if you don't look at his resources and the comfort of his own life.”

“Mark, he said, for all to hear, that if a man's hungry he can come to the Mansion House for dinner.”

The two turned away from the temple and started down the hill. Mark was lost in thought when Andy said, “The temple reminds me that I need to say something to you.

“Mark, when do you intend to follow through? You realize, being as close to Joseph as you are, that everybody's watching your life. It doesn't speak well for a man's success when his attorney doesn't go along with the teaching.”

“You're saying?”

“Every man in town who amounts to a hill of beans has joined the Lodge. Except for you.”

Mark moved his shoulders uneasily. “Andy, I know. I'll admit I don't know too much about the Masons, but the Holy Spirit is warning me that something's wrong. I know it's a secret organization, but if you're my friend and you're serious about my joining, I need to know what I'm getting into.”

“Well, it can't be bad,” Andy's voice was rueful. “The ritual closely parallels the temple endowments.”

Mark frowned. “That seems strange, particularly since the endowments came soon after the Lodge was started. Are you saying there's real religious influence in Masonry?”

“Of course, in a kind of oblique way. It's about God. It's religion without being a religion. It focuses on an individual helping himself, not keeping churchy rules.”

Mark studied Andy's face for another moment. There was that second unanswered question. He plunged. “Andy, tell me about the Council of Fifty.”

His lips twisted, “John D. Lee refers to it as the council of gods. Mark, it's all related to the kingdom.” He paused and studied Mark's face intently before saying, “You know Joseph's received the revelation about setting up the kingdom. Nothing official's been done. There's a need to wait. Right now the time isn't ripe to reveal it.

“You'd have been in on it all, just like I've been, except you've bucked authority. It's common knowledge that Joseph's favorite attorney's saying things that makes it hard to talk to him. In a place like Nauvoo, particularly after the troubles the Saints have gone through, the disagreements are hard to take.”

Mark sighed, “Andy, going back to the Masonic Lodge, I don't know the teachings. I only buck it because the
Book of Mormon
is against secret societies. Seems there's an awful lot of secrets suddenly cropping up in Joseph's church. If what Joseph claims about the
Book of Mormon
is true, then how dare he teach something that goes against God's word to him?”

“But there are other things that stick in the man's craw about you.”

“Name a few.”

“For one, why does it trouble you that Joseph wants to be called
General Smith
instead of
president
? The men were calling him
squire
while we were in Missouri. And why buck the Nauvoo Charter? Seems if Joseph's going to push the kingdom in another year or so, we might as well have the legal advantage to begin with.”

Mark knew his face was reflecting surprise, and Andy studied him thoughtfully for a moment. “You know I'm talking when I have no business doing so.”

Nodding, Mark said, “I don't ask you to betray confidence. But all this muttering and rumbling I hear in the background makes me uneasy. From a legal point of view, the charter's passing is nearly ludicrous. I can't believe the state legislators did that.”

The two men finished the walk in silence and parted at the store. Mark slowly climbed the stairs. Joseph lifted his head as Mark walked into the room. “Must have been a heavy meal you had. Sounded like you weighed a ton walking up those stairs.”

Abruptly Mark said, “Tell me about the Lodge. Why did you apply for a lodge in Nauvoo? I'm aware of the
Book of Mormon
stance against secret societies. What advantage is there to your going against it?”

Joseph leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers together while he gazed out the window. He was silent for so long, Mark thought he had forgotten him. When he finally glanced up, he wore a brisk, friendly grin.

“Mark, you're nearly apostate, you've bucked me so much. Do you realize what would happen to your family if I were to follow through according to what you deserve?”

Frowning Mark said, “I don't believe I understand you.”

“You've questioned my judgment for years, even during the times I've functioned as a prophet. You won't go along with council to join the Lodge like the rest of the men. Your walking behind light is crippling your chance to gain the power of the priesthood.”

“I am aware you are initiating some of the men into the higher teachings of the priesthood,” Mark responded, “but Joseph, I haven't asked for that concession. In truth, just like Masonry, I'd question it deeply before I'd consent to being a part of it. It goes against the grain to say yes and then find out I don't like what I bargained for.”

Joseph said heavily, “That isn't faith—either in the Lord or in me as prophet. If all of my members were like you, where would the church be?”

“If all the church members had the freedom to question and even make an ecclesiastical error without endangering their salvation,” Mark countered, “perhaps you'd have an exhibit of more love and less fear.”

Joseph thought for a minute and then settled back. The dreamy expression was back on his face. “All right, I'll tell you. I've felt for some time that the Lord was leading me to investigate Masonry. You saw me in Springfield. I was talking with Grand Master Jonas. I've discovered more than I'd guessed.”

Again he was silent. When he looked up his face was radiant and for a moment Mark was caught, understanding for a clear moment the compelling charm of the man.

Joseph leaned forward and his voice was soft as he said, “Mark, my friend, for one thing I've discovered that just as God's Word has been distorted and filled with errors by the hand of those transcribers who had not the gift and calling from God, so Masonry has suffered.