Morning Star (15 page)

Jenny blinked and through stiff lips murmured, “Oh, Sarah Pratt mentioned the
Book of Abraham
is finished. I thought I'd just pick up a copy.”

“Joseph's just taken the entire batch. You'll have to see him for a copy.” With a flounce she moved away and because Jenny couldn't think of anything to say, she turned and left the office.

On the street she realized her mind was a jumble of confusion. Bible verses were flying around in her head, along with the sure decision that she must tell Joseph about the ones he hadn't read. And she thought of Nancy Marinda Hyde kissing Willard Richards right under Joseph's feet as he talked. Jenny's forehead pricked into a troubled frown.

Slowly she whispered, “I'd thought all the gossip was just a way to pass the time of day. Now I wonder. How do I tell Joseph without getting Nancy into trouble?”

Chapter 14

Jenny still hesitated on the street, her mind a jumble of confusion. But as the beauty of the summer day intruded, she took a deep breath and looked around, delighting in what she was seeing. The buildings revealed the mix of brick and lumber, the smell of old and new; on the streets she saw the contrast of growing greenery and busy people.

Nauvoo was becoming a respectable city. Respectable? She cringed. The new brewery was being built under the sanction of Joseph Smith, while in the background the temple was being erected as quickly as possible.

At Relief Society, when Emma wasn't within hearing distance, there had been a great deal of criticism of the brewery. Mrs. Ingersoll had summed up the discussion by saying, “'Tis either right or wrong. According to the word of wisdom, 'tis wrong. We'll have to throw out the brewery or the temple.”

Jenny looked at the lorries and buggies moving briskly down the street and tried to forget the problem of the brewery. The lumber and kegs of hardware the lorries carried spelled prosperity, as did the buggies loaded with gaily dressed women and serious men.

On the bluff overlooking the river the Nauvoo House was rising. Very soon the hotel would be ready for the first occupants—the Prophet and his family.

At the other end of town, on the hill overlooking the city, the new temple was being built. The limestone gleamed in the noon brilliance, making Jenny blink.

As she shaded her eyes and turned away, Joseph Smith came out of the store and started up the stairs to his office. She hurried after him. Hearing her steps, he turned to wait. “I've sent Mark to Carthage to register land sales.”

“It's you I've come to see.” Jenny was surprised when his face brightened.

In his office, she was suddenly caught by memories. Silently she studied the room, thinking of the poor cubbyhole of an office in Kirtland. This office was spacious, and there were other rooms on this floor—probably offices for Mark and Mr. Clayton.

Jenny turned to meet Joseph's quizzical expression and blurted out, “It's been a long time, hasn't it—that we've known each other. Since Bainbridge days.”

“Yes, Jenny it has. You were such a scrawny thing, bony legs and arms and big eyes.” He looked around his office with satisfaction. “We've both come a long way. I'm here with more of this world's goods than I ever expected to have and you—” He studied her until she felt her face warm.

“Little Jenny has become a beautiful woman, a very beautiful one, who, I imagine, could have anything she wanted. What do you want, Jenny?”

“The
Book of Abraham
.”

For a moment he looked astonished and then began to laugh. “How in character, and how much I've forgotten! Are you still the serious little girl inside?”

Jenny considered and finally admitted, “I suppose I am. Somehow there's never been that much to laugh and frolic over.” She thought for another moment and the jumble of her mind began straightening itself. “I guess I'm too much caught up with the things happening under the surface of life.”

“What do you mean?”

“The wondering about all that makes life move on—God, and what He's about. More than anything, what I can do about it all. Power. You used to be like this; don't you ever think this way anymore?”

He settled lower in his chair and seemed to forget her presence. “Yes, but the whole situation is changing for me. The power is there; now my problem is learning how to harness it up like an old team and plow my own field just the way I want it. Jenny, I have power in abundance.”

“Do you still want to give it out to people?”

“It isn't so much giving it out; it's teaching people how to lay hold of it for themselves.” He shot her a quick look.

“You said once that knowledge leads to salvation. I think that was what you were referring to when you told me to read the Scriptures. But power—” She stopped abruptly.

Joseph sat up and leaned forward. “What is it, Jenny?”

“I'm saying all the things I
didn't
want to say. I came here to talk about the Scriptures and all that's going on in Nauvoo, not about power.”

“Have you been reading? Tell me what's troubling you.”

“The Bible, Joseph. It says that having Christ doesn't do us any good if we're justified by law; it only means we've fallen from grace. Then I found something about the mystery of Christ which I don't quite understand. The Bible talks about the Israelites trying to establish their own righteousness by law instead of by faith. The same section says the Gentiles have reached righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Joseph, it's so confusing! It all seems just the opposite of what we are learning.”

“Then it's obvious, my dear, if it's confusing you, it's wrong. I've told you the Bible hasn't been correctly translated. Why don't you just follow the teachings of the
Book of Mormon
and forget about the confusion?”

“But you said to read the Scriptures, and that's what the Bible is. There's even parts of it in the
Book of Mormon
and the church accepts it. And something else. The Bible talks about our being adopted by God. That doesn't sound like we're children of God to begin with. Then it talks about how the law can't clear the conscience, that the law isn't reality; it's only a shadow of reality. Joseph, sometimes I feel so confused and frightened.”

“Seems you need some help understanding.”

“I suppose.”

“Maybe for right now you'd better stop the reading.”

“But the strange part is,” Jenny said slowly, “that as confusing as it is, it is also very appealing. I
want
to read it. If you could just answer my questions.”

“Which ones?”

“Well, these. But I want to bring more. I want to read the new book and then talk about it.”

Jenny got to her feet and moved restlessly around the room. “Joseph, I must admit, I just don't fit in around here. I've tried to belong. But the rest of the women, well, they seem so serene and happy in their religion. All my religion does for me is send me looking for more. I guess besides power I want to be content like these women, feeling like they do, like the queens of heaven.”

“Jenny, be patient! The Lord has given us much in the priesthood that will help you reach the contentment you desire.” For a moment he studied her with a frown and abruptly Jenny was aware of her impudence. This was the Prophet Joseph Smith and she was treating him like the young'un in South Bainbridge.

She moved to apologize, but he continued, “What you are referring to will in these last days be realized, but not in an abstract way.” He leaned forward and placed his hand on hers. “Jenny, it isn't a vision or a promise on paper. Our kingdom and the manifestation of it will be real. You talked about the law being a shadow of reality. Well, very soon the reality of the unseen next world will be revealed to you.

“Jenny, God will make me to be God to you in His stead. Now, will that suffice? I will take you to heaven with me if you will keep all the ordinances of the gospel. I will be your salvation and you shall be queen of heaven.”

He got to his feet and paced around the room. “Jenny, I am certain that the Lord is preparing you to accept the teaching; the evidence of that is indicated by your restless spirit. Remember, the Lord wants to show you the way to feel like a queen of heaven. Let this suffice for now.”

When Jenny left Joseph's office, she carried a copy of the
Book of Abraham
under her arm. Her head was still full of all Joseph had said, particularly the exciting story the new book carried.

She had nearly reached home before she realized that all Joseph had told her had completely chased the puzzling scriptures from her mind.

It was midafternoon when Mark returned to Nauvoo. He carried the receipts directly to Joseph's office. Walking into the room, he found the Prophet pacing his office. With a nod, he said, “Come in, Mark, give me some advice.”

After Mark settled in the chair, Joseph said, “I've been going over this Bennett situation. The tide of feeling is arising against the Saints in an alarming fashion.”

“Like Missouri?” Mark asked, watching the man's face. Today Joseph was dressed in a manner befitting his prophet role. Mark noticed that his stiff white collar pointed to the beginnings of a fleshy second chin. He also decided that Joseph's sensuous lips and smooth hands were more noticeable when his face was relaxed and his usual dominant nature bent to another voice.

Joseph didn't answer Mark's question. As he continued to pace the room, he picked up a newspaper and said, “I've been so caught up reading the good articles about myself that I've nearly been caught short.”

“What do you mean?”

He struck the newspaper. “Since Bennett was ousted, he's gone to fighting through the papers. I fear that vile tongue. All lies, but we can't afford the luxury of letting them poison the minds of the public. We've too much at stake.”

“You're speaking of the upcoming state election?”

“Yes, that and more. Perhaps I was too hasty back in January when I let it drop that we'd vote Whig this election. There's much to risk.” He paused to look at Mark and added, “If only you were part of the Lodge and the planning committee, I'd feel free to confide in you.”

With amusement, Mark said, “I thought attorneys enjoyed a higher level of confidentiality.”

He was shaking his head, “Not when matters of the Lord are at hand.”

Mark decided to level. “You know, Joseph, it's that very thing which seems so wrong to me—perhaps the biggest reason why I can't go along with this. A church should be the last institution on earth to be restricted or secret.”

“That isn't the only problem.” He tossed the newspaper to Mark. “See this? Seems we had a military officer witness the drilling of the Legion. He questions our excellence as if it were monstrous, asking if we intend to take over the States. He goes on to prophesy that we'll be a fearful host with the intent of subverting the Constitution of the United States, implying we'll roll over them all. He's calling us religious fanatics, intent on shaking the country to its center.”

Joseph reached for more papers, and Mark said, “You've been saving these?”

“Of course. Now, listen to this one. This is a January 1842 paper from Springfield. I won't read it all, but the important criticisms are against the Army of Israel with the warning that I should let someone else lead the army, and stick to church business. Here's the quote: ‘His situation in Illinois is . . . more dangerous than ever it was in Missouri. . . .'” He lowered the paper. “Mark that's a threat. Do you see? I have a job for you.

“Now here's another. The
Alton Telegraph
is complaining about my issuing a proclamation. They're saying: ‘commanding his followers to vote . . . bold stride against despotism.'” The expression he turned on Mark for just a moment was one of bewilderment. In that brief flash, Mark was astonished. Joseph didn't see in himself any of the attributes of a despot.

With a sigh, Mark said, “I suppose you've decided I should write rebuttals to all these articles.”

“No,” Joseph folded the papers and tucked them in a drawer. When he stood up, he looked at Mark and said, “I want you to go on a goodwill tour for me. There're a few things I have on my mind that need to be presented to Washington before next session. You might as well deliver these papers in person. Stop in Springfield and anywhere else you think this is necessary. Just let it be known you are the attorney of General Joseph Smith and then let them do the talking and the questioning. A goodwill trip like this will be more valuable to me right now than a million dollars.” Mark was still staring at him, not believing what he was hearing. Joseph continued, “Go talk to John D. Lee; he might have some suggestions for you.”

Mark's voice was flat and even as he said, “You command me to go on a goodwill trip for you, to dig up all the information I can about how people are seeing the Mormon movement. You expect
that
when you know what my views are? Joseph, I suppose you expect me to defend you and build up your cause in Washington and Springfield and every hamlet in between.”

“I expect it,” Joseph said calmly.

“Then you listen to me first. Laying aside all the stories about the visions and the gold plates and the revelations, you haven't a leg to stand on in front of God. Yet you want me to build up the church in the eyes of those fellows out there.”

Curiously Joseph looked at Mark, “Why do you say I haven't a leg to stand on?”

Mark reached across Joseph's desk and picked up the Prophet's Bible. “Listen to what God's Word says and then compare it to what you are saying God says.” He took a deep breath and turned the pages of the Bible.

“For a starter, Matthew 5:44 says: ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you . . . that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.' And then the words of Jesus in 7:17, ‘Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.' A few verses on He says the corrupt tree will be burned.