Morning Star (16 page)

“Joseph, I could stand here all night reading until my voice gives out. This Book is full of verses saying that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, come to this earth to die for our sins. Jesus also tells us that ‘God is spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.'”

Mark closed the Book and replaced it on Joseph's desk. Then he faced the Prophet. “There's another section, found in Romans 9 and 10. Paul is talking to the Gentiles about his countrymen, the Israelites, and the words show his heart is nearly breaking as he says Israel has pursued a law of righteousness, but it isn't working for them because they are doing it by works instead of faith. With their own proud hands they think they're working their way up to God. Paul admits the children of Israel are zealous for God, but their zeal isn't based on knowledge. Somehow they missed the point. We don't
make
righteousness; we
submit
to God's righteousness. Paul is practically shouting out the words on paper, ‘Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.'”

Leaning forward Mark continued, “Prophet, the Bible clearly says Christ delivers us from the law, yet you not only want the law, but you even want the sacrifice. What a kick in the face to the God who came to die on the cross!

“While we were in Missouri, Joseph, I began to understand that Jesus Christ wanted me to stick around the Mormon camp and say to everyone who would listen that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord bearing salvation to all who will
believe
. I'll go, Joseph, but I'll talk on my own terms, saying what I want to say. I'm just as curious as you to know what the people think.”

Chapter 15

It was late when Mark rode home. The long rays of the afternoon sun cut through the outcropping of trees bordering the bluff. The light laid bars of yellow across the pasture green, pointing to the cattle grazing there.

Still stunned by Joseph's order, he could think only of the unimportant. Who would plow the garden patch for Jenny when the last of the pumpkin was harvested? What would she do with the extra milk? What about her night fears?

And in the end, just before he reached his own lane, Mark knew his responsibility to Jenny demanded that the hard things, the unspoken, must be said before he could leave.

Jenny was reading when he walked in, so deeply absorbed she scarcely lifted her head. He saw the table set and the supper pot simmering on the back of the stove.

Taking a deep breath, Mark asked, “What are you reading?” He carried the kettle to the table as she lifted her face. He bent to kiss the bemused expression away.

She finally eluded his lips and said, “Oh, Mark, it's so fascinating! See, here's a drawing from the parchment. And right here's a list telling all about the meanings of the illustration.”

She pulled him over to the rocking chair, placed herself on his lap and began to point out the pictures and tell about them. Mark nuzzled her neck and tried to push aside the numbness in his mind.

“See?” Jenny pointed. “Did you know this star Kolob is a
governing
star? I didn't know there was such a thing. It's nearest to the place where God lives. Oh, Mark, think of that! It makes me feel high and lifted up, almost there beside God. Isn't that what people really want deep down inside? Joseph didn't say as much today, but I'm sure that's what he's feeling. Not just the need to know about God, but the need to be right there close to Him.”

Mark rested his head against the back of the rocker and watched Jenny's animated face. It was full of the sweep of mystery he had seen so often, but today there was a brightness, even hope, in the depths of her eyes. For a moment he felt his spirit move with uneasiness and then she pressed her cheek against his.

Holding her close, thinking of all that needed to be said, he mused aloud. “There's a section in Jeremiah that's running in my mind. God tells the people a man isn't to boast about riches or any such thing, but instead to boast that we know and understand God.”

Her curious eyes questioned, examining his face, and then she returned to the subject, saying, “There's more: I saw illustrations about Shinehah, the sun; Kokob, a star; Olea, the moon; the Kokaubeam, which stands for stars. Think of that! Not the stars so much, but that God and Abraham talked together, just like a couple of men. In fact, Abraham said he talked face-to-face with God. I guess that's one more instance where man saw God.”

“One more?” he asked puzzled.

“Well, Joseph saw God and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

“In several places in the Bible, it says no man has seen God; in fact, no man can see God
and live
. Jenny, doesn't it bother you that Joseph teaches so much that is in contradiction to the Book which he claims to accept as God's Word?”

“But he believes only insofar as it is correctly translated.”

“Jenny, we've gone over that before. Joseph is saying that the
Book of Mormon
is the most correct book on earth. It contains much from the Bible. Isn't he contradicting himself? It seems strange to think a God of power unable to keep His word safe for mankind. Seems particularly strange when that Book says His word will never pass away. I find myself having to accept either Joseph's word or God's word; I can't have both because they disagree.”

Jenny moved restlessly and he knew he was crossing the unseen line which they both knew existed. “Jenny, my dearest wife—” He paused to cup her chin in his hand and force her to meet his gaze. “I must tell you that Jesus Christ is God. He is God come to this earth for the purpose of reconciling men to himself. He did it by paying the blood sacrifice required for sin. Jenny, do you see? Sin is terrible—it isn't something we recover from, or overcome, it is something from which we must be rescued. God must swoop down like an eagle and snatch us up to himself.”

Jenny got off Mark's lap and walked to the stove. “Mark, I don't want to hear your ideas. You are throwing me into complete confusion. I've got to believe that God has put the right way within me and all I need to do is follow. Joseph has been helping me understand. I must admit, I've been miserably aware of my need for God. It started as a realization that I didn't have the power to control my life at all. Most certainly, I'll admit I've gone a curious route searching for God and the happiness which is my due. But in all my groping, I know I've found the right way now.”

He looked at her curiously, “What has convinced you it's right?”

“Because my spirit and his spirit are in harmony. There's none of this turmoil inside when he speaks.”

“Is it possible your spirits really are the same spirit? It sounds that way. If so, it's probable Joseph is just as unhappy and miserable on the inside as you are. Jenny, I've lived with you long enough to see the agony of your life. I've held back my words because you've rejected everything I've said to you, but now I must point out something you'll have to consider.”

Getting out of the rocking chair and going into the parlor, Mark picked up his Bible and returned to the kitchen. He murmured, “That's strange. I had a piece of paper here; it must have fallen out. No matter, I know the section well enough.” He thumbed through the pages, and read aloud. “It's in 2 Corinthians 11:4, ‘For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not received, or
if
ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with
him
.' Then Paul goes on in verse 13 to say, ‘For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.' The next verse says that Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” He closed his Bible and looked up.

Jenny was trembling, tears running down her cheeks, but her hands were clenched into fists. “Mark, you are trying to destroy every bit of soul peace I have. I will not allow you to tear me apart in this way.”

“Jenny!” He came and caught her hands. “I'm not forcing you. I have only this tremendous desire to say to you these words. You do with them as you see fit. God himself will not insist you take the right way, worship the right Christ. He gives you the freedom to choose, and I can do no less.”

Her eyes were moving, studying his face, seeking a confirmation, and he gave it. “Jenny, I love you, and I'll always stick by you, no matter what.”

“But why are you saying these things now, while our dinner is getting cold?”

“Jenny, Joseph has given me a job to do which will take me out of Nauvoo for a time.”

She was silent for a while, searching his face. “Will I be able to go with you?”

“No. I'll probably be gone for months. There are still two weeks of July left, and he wants me to leave immediately. He mentioned my being back by December.”

He watched a cloud of dread move over her face. “We could go back to Springfield,” he said gently.

She was shaking her head, managing a smile. “No, Mark, it's best. Without Joseph's help and counsel, I am fearful I'll miss the way. Soon they'll have the baptismal font open at the temple. You know how they feel about this ordinance. I must be here to participate. Besides I—” Her chin trembled and she flew into his arms. “Mark, oh, Mark, please—”

She could say no more, and Mark folded her close. The time was so short.

Within the week Mark had settled his affairs at the office. He turned over detail work to Clayton, Joseph's secretary. The legal affairs went to Higbee, who would handle Joseph's petition for bankruptcy.

Tom volunteered to move in with Jenny. Still heart-sore, Mark saw the arrangement satisfactory to the point where he wondered whether he would be missed.

Finally at the stage stop, Jenny's white face and trembling hands made him turn to Tom with genuine warmth. “I don't know what I'd do without you.”

Tom grumped around the farm for the first few days, and Jenny was grateful for his sympathy as she listened to his discourse on the subject. “‘Church widows,' they call them,” he said. “Seems like every man in the church gets the tap sooner or later. Take John Lee. He'd only been back in the area a couple of months. Didn't even have time to complete his house before the presidency was tapping him on the shoulder ready to send him out. He went, too.”

“I'm surprised they haven't sent you out.”

“I'm too dumb to talk and convince.”

“That group waiting for the stage didn't impress me as being overly educated. Seems all it takes is a
Book of Mormon
under the arm.” Jenny sighed and turned away, but she was grateful for Tom's presence.

Mark had been gone only a week when Jenny took the horse and buggy into Nauvoo. She was scheduled for another meeting with Joseph Smith in his office. As she set out, she glanced at her satchel to make certain it held the list of questions, the
Book of Mormon
and the new
Book of Abraham
.

Continuing on her way, she mulled over the questions.
What was Jesus referring to when He said He'd come so that we might have life more abundantly?
Jenny sighed and addressed the horse's back. “There I go again, asking questions about the Bible when I should be remembering he said—”

As Jenny went up the stairs to Joseph's office, she tried to put a pleasant smile on her face, tried to feel anticipation. Her thoughts were wrapped around Mark, wondering where he was and what he was doing. She swallowed the miserable lump in her throat.

She tapped on Joseph's door and heard a feminine voice call, “Come.” Jenny stepped into the room. There was a tiny woman in Joseph's chair.

She grinned impishly at Jenny, saying, “Surprise! The Prophet had to be out of town today, seeing it's time for his petition for bankruptcy to be filed. Since he said I could do the job as well as he could, well, here I am.”

“Oh,” Jenny said, disappointed. “We were to be studying the doctrine of the church and the books. I could come later.”

She shook her head, saying, “I'm Patty Sessions, midwife and mother in Israel.”

“What does that mean?”

Taking a deep breath, Patty said, “Well, the job's a new one, but Joseph's expecting those of us who have the teaching to start instruction with the young women of the church who will be learning the doctrine of the priesthood.”

“I thought that was for the men only.”

“Well, the priesthood is, but some of the ordinances involve the women.”

Jenny placed her satchel on the floor and sat down. “I've been hearing from Sarah and some of the others that the men are being initiated into the endowments right now. Seems it's not fair, when the women want the privileges, too.”

“Won't be much longer before the women are included. One of the rites is what I want to talk to you about today.”

She came around the desk and Jenny studied her, remembering that she had seen her at the Relief Society meetings. Patty was a tiny, slender woman; with her quick movements and bright eyes, she reminded Jenny of a sparrow.

She smoothed her graying hair and then folded her delicate hands over her gray calico dress. “Much of what I'll teach today has already been said from the pulpit and discussed at Society meeting. Jenny, there are three degrees of heaven. You know that in order for a man to enter into the highest degree and thereby be granted the privilege of having his own kingdom, he must enter the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. If he does not, there will be no possibility of having a kingdom and he shall have no increase.”

“What of those who won't live up to their religion?” Jenny asked softly, thinking of Mark.

Patty shrugged. “There's no possibility. If it's your spouse and there's no chance of winning him to the church, you best be looking farther afield; otherwise you'll be left out, too.”