Morning Star (35 page)

“Seems to me Joseph's gone to meddling when it involves marriage.”

“He has the keys and the revelations. The pamphlet put out by Jacobs shows people aren't ready for deep teaching. You weren't at council meeting when Joseph said, pointing to William Marks and Parley Pratt, that if he were to reveal the will of God concerning them at that moment, they'd feel called upon to shed his blood. 'Course, he went on to say they should be surrendering themselves to God.

“From the looks on the faces and the consequential action some of the brethren took,” Lee continued, “I'd say he managed to give them a mind sensitive to the fear of the Lord. I'm glad to see some of them went marching right up to find out the will of God for them.

“He's not proclaiming it in public now, but there's no need. Having the book of the law of the Lord and just following what the Lord instructs is keeping the Prophet and the Saints pretty busy. But then the Prophet made it pretty clear our obligation. There's just no way, without plural marriage, that man can attain to the fullness of the gospel. Joseph's made it clear that we've got to learn to be gods ourselves, especially in order to be equal with our Savior.”

Lee paused a moment and then added, “Personally, I think some of those who were not living up to their religion took it pretty hard when Joseph advised their spouses that their marriage relations weren't valid on account of not having an authority to hear their vows. He did give them liberty to go if they wanted. This living together and having children when there's alienation between the two is just plain sin. The pamphlet made that clear.”

John Lee got to his feet to leave and then turned to Mark. “How do you feel about all this talk of Joseph running for president of the United States?”

“I guess I haven't heard enough to give it much thought,” Mark said slowly.

Joseph came stomping into the office, shaking snow from his clothes. “Well, the High Council's just started pressuring me to throw my hat into the ring. I couldn't take them seriously for a time. Seems now I'll have to, just to keep peace among the brethren.” He chuckled and threw himself into Mark's chair.

“First off, there's a need to get feelers out. I intend to send out letters to every candidate and see just how they'll stand on the Mormon question. Mark, that's where I'll need your help. I need a little touch of culture to the whole affair. If it doesn't go any further than raising a little dust, at least by the time it's all over, Congress will see we're a force that merits respect and recognition.”

“Joseph,” Mark argued mildly, “you can't raise enough votes to do anything except make a fool of yourself.”

“I intend to claim two hundred thousand. With the converts we're adding to the church, I'm certain of this number.” He jumped to his feet and headed out of the room.

“There's less than twelve thousand people living right in Nauvoo,” Mark objected.

He looked at John D. Lee's long face as he started to leave Mark's office. “Here I go again,” he muttered. “I can see me stomping. It's hard enough to preach the gospel out there without a cent to keep me going, not to mention the ridicule I get. But to go out there and build up Joseph for president of the United States with the kind of reputation he has . . .” He was still shaking his head when he closed the door behind himself.

Mark was still sitting at his desk, staring at Joseph's papers and thinking, when the Prophet returned to his office. “By the way, Mark, gird up your loins. Within the next month or so the organization of the Council of Fifty will get off the ground. I want you in it, and I won't take no for an answer.”

Mark looked up at him. “I was just sitting here wondering what other mountain you'll climb. President of the United States . . .” He paused to shake his head and then held up his fingers. “At this time you are mayor of Nauvoo, judge of the municipal court, merchant of the biggest store in town, hotel-keeper, head of the temple building committee, real estate agent, contractor; you handle the recording of deeds in town; you own a steamboat; you are the sole trustee for the financial affairs of the church, lieutenant-general of the Nauvoo Legion, spiritual advisor, and head of the church.”

“You can't guess what will be next?” Joseph chuckled, “Stay close, Mark, you'll see. You know the Lord has willed this church to be spread around the world. I aim to see that happen.”

“You're an ambitious man, Joseph.”

“I have my failings. But I'm also a tried man. There's a constant warfare between the two natures of man.”

“Do you believe the Lord wants that?” Mark asked. “The Bible says we are to live above sin, to not be entangled in the things that hold us slaves to sin.”

“Every man has equal chance at salvation. It is true, however, that some men have a greater capacity of improving their minds and controlling their passions through denying unrighteousness and cultivating the principles of purity. We all have our free agency. It lies with the power of mankind to rise above and claim eternal life—if only man will be faithful to God's will and obey the priesthood in these last days.”

That evening when Mark reached home, Jenny was at the door to meet him. She brushed snow from him and anxiously searched his face. “Did . . . did—how was your day?”

“Fine. Uneventful, unless you consider it exciting to hear the Prophet threaten to blow up the steamboats in the harbor and admit he's considering running for the office of president of the United States.”

Jenny stared at him for a moment and then slowly said, “I knew you would be tired; I milked the cows.”

Chapter 35

It was a bright February day. The clouds were scooting across the sky like kites and the air was filled with the smells of spring. Jenny spent the day airing bedding and washing linens. A new lamb wobbled in the pasture and she carried John Mark out to see the little creature.

Loath to return to her kitchen tasks, she lingered at the pasture fence, balancing the baby and letting the wind rip through her hair. What a sense of freedom the blithe wind gave!

Watching the air billow her skirt and apron, she closed her eyes and pretended she was a kite. John Mark drooled on her neck and she laughed at him. “You will remind me that I'm only your dinner ticket! But that's all right.” She fell to musing over the contrasts in her life.

The thoughts made Jenny shiver. Less than two years ago she had been Jenny the witch. Closing her eyes she contemplated the darkness of that time, measuring it by thinking her way back into the pattern of that life, with its promises and desires.

She considered the charms, even the talisman. “Is it possible?” she gasped. “Was I really like that?” For a moment she clung to the thought of the talisman. She had told Tom she regretted getting rid of it, for one reason—Mark. As she thought of their early love, she began to yearn for the power the talisman had given. “Face it, Jenny,” she whispered. “Without that talisman, Mark would have never married you.”

For a long time Jenny stared out across the pasture, scarcely aware of the pattern of bright green and yellow. When, with a sigh, she turned toward the house, she was caught up short. The weather-beaten house seemed tiny and dismal, but instead of the peeling gray paint she saw sharp views of the life it had sheltered for nearly three years now.

“Then there were two, now there are three. Then there was Jenny the witch, now—” Abruptly she recalled Mark's face. Did the light in his eyes, the tender smile, tell her something about herself that she had failed to see?”

With her eyes closed she considered herself now—the questions, the Bible. Now her eyes popped open, recalling: “The Lord is my shepherd; . . . I lie down in green pastures: I am come that they might have life, more abundantly. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. For God so loved that he gave his Son. For by grace are ye saved through faith, the gift of God.” John Mark pressed his head against her and she opened her eyes and smiled down at him. And then in a moment the sweet peace of the words moved away from her.

“Beautiful words,” she whispered, “but I don't understand them. God, are You there listening? Please—”

With a troubled sigh she turned and walked to the house. The thoughts contained in that Book were bigger than life and beyond her understanding. But even worse than not being able to understand were all the fearful things Joseph had threatened.

In the pasture the mare whinnied and she looked toward the road. A buggy was coming, moving rapidly down the lane toward her. She waited, fearful and uneasy, then her eyes widened. It was William and Jane Law. As they got out of the buggy, William appeared troubled. “Come in,” she said slowly.

“Is Mark at home?”

“No, but he will be soon. I'll fix some tea for us.”

As soon as Jenny placed John Mark on the floor, he began to cry. Jane Law picked him up and carried him into the parlor.

The teakettle was throwing steam into the air and Jenny was placing cups and saucers beside the plate of cookies when Mark walked in. She heard the surprise in his voice as he welcomed the Laws.

Just as she carried the tea tray into the parlor, William offered Mark a newspaper, saying, “Have you seen this?”

“No, I haven't.”

William read aloud: “‘You and your followers have considered yourselves a separate nation just as much as any foreign nation. Because of this, and because your tribe indicates a desire to cast off all ties relative to the government, while at the same time you take it upon yourself to create a new one more to your liking, we consider this action treason.' This is the
Warsaw Signal
, February 15, 1844.” While the men were still looking at each other, William spoke again. “You know Joseph has supported his own ideas by saying any people trying to govern themselves under laws of their own making are in direct rebellion against the kingdom of God.”

Slowly Mark said, “We find ourselves, by following the Nauvoo Charter, being regarded as guilty of treason.”

William Law added the next thought. “Yet to fail to do so puts us in jeopardy of our souls.”

Mark continued, “If, in fact, the Nauvoo Charter is God's will.”

William Law took a deep breath and said, “Nearly a year ago I approached Joseph and accused him of engaging in practices which the Christian church has always regarded as iniquity. I challenged him to reform himself and the doctrine he is pushing on the church. I tried to force him into confessing his sins and cleaning up the church, with the threat that I would reveal his acts to the world if he failed to do so. He refused.”

Mark said heavily, “We'd all guessed you and the Prophet were having troubles, particularly when he referred to you as the Judas. What are you going to do about this?”

“I don't know, Mark. It deeply troubles me.”

“Have you considered leaving the church?”

Jenny saw the way both of the Laws reacted to the question. William said, “Mark, I blame most of these troubles on Dr. John Bennett. Joseph isn't a false prophet. I believe he's fallen from grace and I'll do anything in my power to help him and restore truth and integrity to the church. But leave? I can't, for the sake of my soul.”

Mark leaned forward. “I wish I could persuade you otherwise. From reading the Bible, seeing the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, I believe Joseph is deluded, walking completely away from the biblical foundation of truth and righteousness in Jesus Christ. With all my heart I would like to see you, and others who feel the same, leave.”

“What about you?”

“Someday, but not now.”

“Mark!” The exclamation burst from Jenny and he turned to look at her. His eyes were pleading but she felt only the sensation of being wind-tossed away from a sure foundation.

William admitted, “There are others like us—a group who have reason to be unhappy and uneasy under Joseph's changing role. Mark, we want you to meet with us and let's attempt to find a solution to the problem. It isn't to be a gripe session, although one purpose will be candor with each other. None of us realizes the depths to which the other has suffered under the controls Joseph has put upon us. Will you come next week to the meeting at Higbee's store? Bring your wife and son.”

When the Laws stood to leave, William said, “You realize, don't you, that these problems won't be resolved immediately? We may be months hearing grievances and trying to come to a solution.”

Slowly Mark said, “I honestly wonder if we will have that much time.” He tapped the newspaper William held.

****

It was Relief Society day. The mild February weather encouraged Jenny to make the trip into town. “Three months since we've been to meeting,” Jenny informed the laughing John Mark as she bundled him and tied him to the seat beside her. He crowed with delight as the mare smartly clipped off the miles into town.

At meeting, Jenny had just settled down with her quilt block when Sally came into the room. Jenny waved at her friend and made room for her on the bench. “You're looking poorly; you've lost weight,” she whispered with a worried frown. Sally nodded without answering. Jenny watched her slowly assemble her quilt block and began to stitch.

Jenny leaned forward to whisper, “You caught?”

Sally's eyebrows lifted but she shook her head. “Just feeling poorly. Like I can hardly drag.”

“Why don't you come home with me? I'll fix supper for us all and you can rest.”

Sally shook her head. “Tamara. She'll be out of school before Andy's home. You come to us.”

Sally continued to answer in monosyllables. Feeling more compelled than curious, Jenny followed Sally home.

When she saw the disarray of Sally's house, Jenny turned to Sally with a worried frown. “I think you are very ill, or there's something desperately wrong somewhere. Will you please talk to me?”