The World of Joseph Fielding: Chapter 25 Fielding Siblings Learn of Mary Fielding Smi s Tragic Widowhood News of e murders reached England. Mons later, Mercy and Mary each wrote letters to eir siblings. Their broer James, a Christian minister, replied in a heartless fashion, writing a letter devoid of compassion: Your letter, I refer to Sister Mary s, came yesterday. Sister Mercy s several mons since. We had received e intelligence of J. and H. Smi some time before e arrival of Sister Mercy s letter. We were of course much struck when we heard of e event and sincerely sympaize wi Sister Mary in her bereavement. Still we cannot wi our own find news of e entire Mormon movement look upon it in any oer light an a special dispensation of Divine Providence. I am far from intending to insinuate at it was by e appointment of God at e murder of e Smis was perpetrated. I look upon e transaction as one of a most inhuman and disgraceful nature. But still I view it as a special permission wi license for a wise and useful end. 1 After e Martyrdom, Willard Richards and John Taylor Direct e Church Immediately upon Elder Taylor s return to Nauvoo, Willard Richards sent a letter to Brigham 2 Young in Boston, but he knew e letter would take some time to arrive. Until instruction from him was received, he and Elder Taylor met togeer at e latter s home where John was 3 recovering. From ere ey directed e continuing affairs of e Church. On July 4, for example, a large raft of lumber arrived from e pineries in Wisconsin, where many members of e Church lived wi eir families while ey cut lumber for e construction of homes and e temple in Nauvoo. Elder Richards took charge of e lumber when it arrived, which amounted to almost ninety ousand feet. Willard also advised some of e people to go out and harvest, and oers who stay to go on wi e Temple, and make work in e city. The two men also sent a letter detailing e Martyrdom to Reuben Hedlock, e British mission president. On occasion, John Smi, Samuel Smi, and William W. Phelps, who had replaced Robert Thompson as Joseph Smi s scribe, joined eir meetings. 4 Governor Thomas Ford sent two high-ranking members of his militia to Nauvoo to determine if e residents were planning vengeance. Willard Richards firmly responded at no aggressions by e citizens of said city shall be made on e citizens of e surrounding country. Elder Richards, who had only barely escaped what appeared to be e governor s treachery in Carage, also wrote, We highly approve of e present public pacific course of e governor to ally excitement and restore peace among e citizens of e country. 5 Mary Fielding Smi and Leonora Cannon Threaten an Apostate Ten days after e Martyrdom, Robert Foster returned to Nauvoo after being absent during e -397-
mons since his excommunication. He was protected by a small company of militia from Carage. Many, including John Taylor, firmly believed at Robert had conspired wi William Law in planning e murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smi. Mr. Foster stated he had business to handle in e city. However, during his stay, he appeared quite confident and pleased wi e deas of e two leaders and was rude to many people. Elder Richards and Elder Taylor wrote a letter to sympaetic military leaders in Carage asking at ey intervene and see at Mr. -398- Foster be removed from e city and his business handled by an agent. Before e military could respond, a committee of nine ladies led by Mary Fielding Smi and Leonora Cannon, waited upon Mr. R. D. Foster, and told him ey would not bear his taunts and insults any longer. They ordered him to leave e city forwi, or he would be visited by a stronger force e following day. Robert Foster left e city at night. 6 Parley P. Pratt Arrives in Nauvoo Leonora Cannon and Mary Fielding Smi led an unwelcoming committee for apostate Robert Foster. Parley. P. Pratt had been preaching e gospel in upstate New York, and, wi e oer apostles who were on e east coast at summer, campaigning for Joseph Smi s presidency. A few days before June 27, Elder Pratt had been constrained by e Spirit to start prematurely for home, wiout knowing why or wherefore. As he approached Chicago, he learned of e deas of Joseph and Hyrum Smi. Traveling on to Nauvoo, he became weighed down wi sorrow. He wrote: I had loved Joseph wi a warm of affection indescribable for about fourteen years. I had associated wi him in private and public, in travels and at home, in joy and sorrow, in honor and dishonor, in adversity of every kind. Wi him I had lain in dungeons and in chains; and wi him I had triumphed over all our foes in Missouri, and found deliverance for ourselves and e people in Nauvoo, where we had reared a great city. But now he was gone... As Elder Pratt pondered on ese ings, he was almost overwhelmed wi grief. He prayed aloud as he walked along. On a sudden e Spirit of God came upon me, and filled my heart wi joy and gladness indescribable.... Parley s course was made clear, at he should direct e people to take care of emselves, complete e temple, and make no movement in Church government to reorganize... until e return of e remainder of e Quorum of e Twelve. 7 8 Elder Pratt arrived in Nauvoo on Wednesday, July 10, two weeks after e Martyrdom. Shortly after Elder Pratt s arrival in e city, William Marks met wi Emma Smi in e council
room on e second floor of her home. Emma was a close friend of William Marks and his wife. 9 There ey discussed e properties held by e Church and Emma s feelings of an immediate need for a trustee to be appointed. Elder Pratt wrote: I entered is council and heard Mrs. Emma Smi plead in relation to is matter, e great importance and absolute necessity of immediate action on is subject, as delay would endanger much property of a public and private character, and perhaps cause a loss of scores of ousands. After an apparent argument wi Emma and William Marks, Parley said, We could not and would not suffer e auorities and principles of e Church to be trampled under foot for e sake of pecuniary interest. The council finally broke up 10 wiout accomplishing anying. A few days later, on Friday, July 12, William Marks again pressed for a trustee to be called over e Church properties. He met wi William Clayton and Willard Richards, who bo reiterated 11 at it was premature. By e middle of July, Emma had traveled to Carage wi two lawyers seeking letters of administration on her husband s estate, even ough what belonged to her and what belonged to e Church was still in question. 12 Brigham Young Learns of e Martyrdom Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff had been proselyting and campaigning in Boston at e time of e Martydom. In e afternoon of June 27, while waiting for a train, Brigham felt a heavy depression of spirit.... Ten days later he began hearing rumors of e murders, but not until e middle of July did he and Orson Pratt receive confirming news from a letter sent by a Nauvoo resident. Elder Young wrote: Most of e apostles were on e east coast proselyting and campaigning for e presidency of Joseph Smi at e time of e Martyrdom. The first ing which I ought of was wheer Joseph had taken e keys of e kingdom wi him from e ear; broer Orson Pratt sat on my left; we were bo leaning back in our chairs. Bringing my hand down on my knee, I said e keys of e kingdom are right here in e Church. Wi e news of e prophet s dea confirmed, Brigham Young and Orson Pratt sought out e oer members of e Twelve. Heber C. Kimball and Wilford Woodruff were also in e Boston area. They waited a week for Lyman Wight to arrive and were en joined by Orson Hyde. During is period, ey preached on several occasions. -399-
Orson Hyde Prophesies of e Grow of e Church Before departing for Nauvoo, Orson Hyde kept an appointment he had made to speak in a hall on Washington Street on Thursday, July 18. He addressed e prevailing belief at e work is done, and will stop and die. He countered at by saying: I will prophesy at instead of e work dying, it will be like e mustard stock at was ripe, at a man undertook to row out of his garden, and scattered seed all over it, and next year it was noing but mustard. It will be so by shedding e blood of e Prophets it will make ten saints where ere is one now. 13 Before leaving Boston, Brigham Young wrote to e various leaders of e Church and called every man holding any position of auority to return to Nauvoo, at we may meet em in 14 council as soon as convenient.... Brigham Young and his associates did not arrive in Nauvoo 15 until August 6, six weeks after e martyrdom. Apostle William Smi, younger broer to Joseph and Hyrum, returned to Nauvoo late in e summer. In late July, several men, including Elder Pratt and Elder Richards, anointed and administered to Samuel Smi, who had become quite ill 16 from e injuries he received in Carage. Samuel, e faer of five living children, had been widowed in 1841 but had remarried. Apostle George A. Smi, e prophet s cousin, had been preaching in Michigan at summer. Upon learning of e deas of Joseph and Hyrum, he advised his associates at ey should return to Nauvoo. As soon as ey arrived, George, wi Willard Richards, visited Samuel 17 Smi, who, alough dying, expressed a strong desire to live. He died on July 30, wi an infant daughter following him in dea a few weeks later. Of e six adult sons of Joseph and Lucy Mack Smi, all but William were now deceased. William, an apostle who had frequently been in disagreement wi his broers Joseph and Hyrum, was wi Heber C. Kimball in New York, not having yet returned to Nauvoo before Samuel s dea. 18 Sidney Rigdon Attempts to Usurp Leadership of e Church rd On Saturday, August 3, Sidney Rigdon arrived from Pittsburgh, where he had been living since June, having left Nauvoo not long before e Martyrdom. Sidney had been a well-respected and knowledgeable man, a good friend to Joseph Smi since his conversion in 1831. Alough Sidney was e vice-presidential candidate on Joseph Smi s ticket for e presidential office at year, e fact was at Sidney and Joseph Smi did not agree on many ings. Sidney Rigdon made a strong attempt to take control of e Church after Joseph Smi s dea. -400-
During e previous fall Joseph Smi had attempted to release Sidney as a counselor in e First Presidency, but e majority of e Church membership, including Hyrum Smi, felt Sidney should remain in his position, and Joseph had acquiesced. However, Sidney had wanted to return to Kirtland for several years, remaining in Nauvoo only because Joseph had asked him to stay. Sidney s move to Pittsburgh, his home town, was in part made in order at Sidney could regain state residency in preparation for running for political office. 19 Elder Pratt, wi no attempt to disguise his feelings, wrote: Elder Rigdon arrived from Pittsburgh soon after my arrival, and wi e aid of Elder Marks, local President of e Nauvoo Stake, and oers, attempted to worm himself in as President of e whole Church. 20 John Taylor wrote at upon Sidney Rigdon s arrival in Nauvoo, he was invited to attend e meeting of e ree apostles early Sunday morning, e 4, but is he declined, as he had his own selfish ambition to gratify. 21 Charles C. Rich, above, and Thomas Grover, left, bo spoke out against e rush to appoint a guardian for e Church. e Nauvoo high council, proposed waiting to examine e revelation. William Marks, e acting Nauvoo stake president, supported Sidney Rigdon in his attempt to lead e Church. However, Broer Rigdon did speak at a church service at morning. He claimed to be e identical man at e ancient prophets had sung about, wrote and rejoiced over, and said ere must be a guardian appointed to build e church up to Joseph. Responding to is, Elder Pratt privately said, I am e identical man e prophets never sang nor wrote a word about. That afternoon William Marks announced a meeting for Thursday August 8 where e Church would choose a trustee or guardian. Thomas Grover, a member of Broer Marks replied at Broer Rigdon wanted to have e meeting on Tuesday, but he reluctantly agreed to wait until Thursday. He was away from his family, and ere were ousands and tens of ousands who would receive him, and he needed to be on his way. Charles Rich, anoer member of e high council, also stated his dissatisfaction wi e hurried movement of Elder Rigdon, at is seemed to be a plot laid to take advantage of e situation of e saints. -401-
Joseph Fielding wrote: Not long after e Dea of [Joseph and Hyrum], Elder Sidney Rigdon, who had long been one of Joseph s Counselors, came here from Pittsburgh and informed e Saints at he had an important Vision after long and earnest enquiry of e Lord, in which it was shown him at Joseph had died holding e Keys of is Kingdom, at he still held it, and would continue to do so in Eternity, at we as a People must build up e Kingdom to Joseph... at he himself stood next in Auority, and he was in haste to get e assent of e Saints in is Matter, as he said he must be in Pittsburgh in a short time. This all seemed right to some, but many felt as ough it was not e Voice of e Spirit. I felt doubtful about it partly because I considered he had not been faiful in his Office in a long time, and partly because e Spirit did not bear witness to it, but ere was a general desire at e 12 might come home first, before ey gave a Decision on e Subject, and so it came to pass, which soon gave a new face to ings. 22 On Tuesday, at eight o clock in e evening, about sunset, Apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt and Wilford Woodruff fortuitously arrived on e Mississippi dock at Nauvoo and were warmly greeted. The next morning ese four apostles, plus Elders Parley P. Pratt, Willard Richards, George A. Smi, and Amasa Lyman, who had arrived e previous week, met at John Taylor s home, where he was still recovering. That afternoon ey met at e Seventies Hall wi William Marks and Sidney Rigdon where Elder Rigdon explain e vision he had received. Sidney, who had been present wi Joseph Smi when e vision of e ree degrees of glory were received, now known as Doctrine & Covenants Section 76, stated at he had received a continuation of at vision, at Joseph was still e leader of e Church and all at was needed was a spokesman for Joseph. Sidney firmly stated at he had been consecrated as is 23 spokesman and was doing what God [had] commanded. Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon Speak to e Saints in e Grove The appointed meeting was held Thursday morning at ten a.m. in e grove near e temple. Brigham Young estimated at about five ousand saints attended. 24 Eight of e apostles and several quorum leaders sat on a wooden stand, wi John Taylor at home still recovering and e oer ree, John E. Page, William Smi and Lyman Wight having 25 not yet returned from eir missions. Because of e wind, Sidney Rigdon stood in a wagon about irty feet in front of e stand, where he harangued e saints for about one and half hours 26 upon choosing a guarding for e church. Alough ere were two meetings at day; Joseph Fielding summed e entire event: A Meeting was called, and Rigdon again addressed us, but seemed to have no Liberty or Power, after which Elder Brigham Young spoke to e People. He said he saw here a hurrying Spirit, shewd e true Organization of e Church, and called a Meeting again -402-
when all e Quorums of e Church should be placed in proper order. He said at if e People wished Elder Rigdon to be eir Guardian and Leader ey were quite at liberty to take him, but it must be passed in a regular and legal Manner by e separate Quorums. He had much Liberty and e Power of e Spirit in speaking, and at e said meeting he shewd at Rigdon, if he were to take his place as Councillor to Joseph, he must go beyond e Veil where he was gone, and e Saints soon began to see how ings were, and at e 12 must now hold e Keys of Power and Auority according to e Revelation which says e 12 are equal wi e first Presidency. Before is he asked e Church if ey wished to choose emselves a Guardian, but ey did not raise eir Hands, and it was now no hard ing to determine who should lead e Church. It was also shewn at Joseph had told e 12 after he had instructed em in all ings at on em would 27 rest e Responsibility and e Care of e Church in Case he should be taken away. Brigham Young spoke for a few minutes and en dismissed e congregation so ey could eat a mid-day meal. He asked em to return at two p.m. At at time, he stood to speak. Brigham Young s words at day were recorded in shorand and later transcribed. In part he said: We have a head, and at head is e Apostleship, e spirit and power of Joseph, and we can now begin to see e necessity of at Apostleship.... Think of ese ings. You cannot appoint a prophet; but if you let e Twelve remain and act in eir place, e keys of e kingdom are wi em and ey can manage e affairs of e church and direct all ings aright. 28 Many Saw Brigham Young Transformed as He Spoke Over 100 witnesses stated at as Brigham Young spoke to e crowd assembled at afternoon, e mantle of Joseph Smi fell upon him, signifying to e people at he was indeed e Lord s 29 chosen servant. Emily Smi Hoyt, e daughter of Joseph and Hyrum s uncle Asahel and erefore a cousin to Joseph Smi, wrote: As a young girl, Emily Smi Hoyt saw her cousin s countenance in e grove. President B. Y. arose from his seat... and addressed e audience. I Many saw e mantle of Joseph had been well acquainted wi Smi fall upon Brigham Young. Joseph e latter part of his life. We had been at his home many times...but e God of Heaven who had said it was his business to provide for his saints, sent President B. Young home just in time, and cloed him not wi e mantle of Elijah, but e spirit and power which had rested upon Joseph. I was an eye, and ear, witness. The manner of reasoning, e expression of e countenance, e sound of e -403-
voice rilled my whole soul... I knew at Joseph was dead, and yet I often startled and involuntarily looked at e stand to see if it was not Joseph. It was not, it was Brigham Young and if any one doubts e right of Brigham to manage affairs for e Saints, all I have to say to em is is. Get e spirit of God and know for yourselves. The Lord will provide for his own. Eight-year-old Mary Field recalled: Moer had e baby on her knee, who was playing wi a tin cup. He dropped it, attracting our attention to e floor. Moer stooped over to pick it up, when we were startled by hearing e voice of Joseph. Looking up quickly we saw e form of e Prophet Joseph standing before us. Broer Brigham looked and talked so much like Joseph at for a minute we ought it was Joseph. Mary Field, shown here seated on e right wi her own family, was in e grove. George Romney, age irteen, who had emigrated ree years earlier wi his faer Miles, recalled his experience in e grove in 1919, seventy-five years after his experience: Young George Romney saw Brigham Young transformed. I shall never forget in is world or in e world to come e scene as Brigham Young arose....when Brigham got up e mantle of Joseph Smi fell upon him. It was Joseph s voice; it was Joseph s appearance, and I testify to you, if I never again do so on is ear, in e presence of God and angels, at is is verily e tru. This is true at e mantle of Joseph did fall upon Brigham Young and e people knew it. Seventeen-year-old George Q. Cannon was in e grove. He later wrote: It was e first sound of [President Young s] voice which e people had heard since he had gone east on his mission, and e effect upon em was most wonderful.... If Joseph had risen from e dead and again spoken in eir hearing, e effect could not have been more startling an it was to many present at at meeting. It was e voice of Joseph himself; and not only was it e voice of Joseph which was heard but it seemed in e eyes of e people as ough it was e very person of Joseph which stood before em. A more wonderful and miraculous event an was wrought at day in e presence of at congregation we never heard of. The Lord gave His people a testimony at left no room for doubt as to who was e man He had chosen to lead em. Apostle Orson Hyde had spent e last few weeks traveling wi Brigham Young. He wrote: I will tell you at as long as God has a Church on e ear, He will govern it. Now I will -404- George Q. Cannon, age 17, saw e mantle fall upon Brigham Young.
tell you a little of my feelings in relation to it. I know at when President Young returned wi e Twelve to Nauvoo, he gaered em around him, and said he: I want you to disperse among e congregation and feel e pulse of e people while I go upon e stand and speak. We went among e congregation and President Young went on e stand. Well, he spoke, and his words went rough me like electricity. Am I mistaken? said I, or is it really e voice of Joseph Smi? This is my testimony, it was not only e voice of Joseph, but ere were e features, e gestures and even e stature of Joseph ere before us in e person of Brigham. And ough it may be said at President Young is a complete mimic, and can mimic anybody, I would like to see e man who Apostle Orson Hyde testified of President Young s transformation. can mimic anoer in stature who was about four or five inches higher an himself. Every one who was inspired by e spirit of e Lord, felt it. They knew it. They realized it. Helen Mar Kimball, e fifteen-year-old daughter of Heber C. Kimball, wrote: Helen Mar Kimball, 15 at e time, saw e mantle fall on President Young. I can bear witness, wi hundreds of oers who stood at day under e sound of Brigham s voice, of e wonderful and startling effect at it had upon us. If Joseph had risen from e dead and stood before em, it could hardly have made a deeper or more lasting impression. It was e very voice of Joseph himself. In 1872, Apostle Wilford Woodruff, by en age sixty-five, spoke during e April general conference. He said: On e second day after our arrival August 8, 1844, we met in a special conference, all e quorums, auorities, and members of e Church at could assemble in Nauvoo. They were addressed by elder Brigham Young, e president of e quorum of e twelve. It was evident to e Saints at e mantle of Joseph had fallen upon him, e road at he pointed out could be seen so plainly, at none need err erein; e spirit of wisdom and counsel attended all his teachings, he struck upon a chord, wi which all hearts beat in unison. I know is work is of God. I know Joseph Smi was a prophet of God. I have heard two or ree of e breren testify about Broer Young in Nauvoo. Every man and every woman in at assembly, which perhaps might number ousands, could bear e same testimony. I was ere, e Twelve were ere, and a good many oers, and all can bear e same testimony. The question might be asked why was e appearance of Joseph -405- In 1872, Wilford Woodruff testified to e events in e grove.
Smi given to Brigham Young? Because here was Sidney Rigdon and oer men rising up and claiming to be e leaders of e Church; and men stood, as it were, on a pivot, not knowing which way to turn. But just as quick as Brigham Young rose in at assembly, his face was at of Joseph Smi e mantle of Joseph had fallen upon him, e power of God at was upon Joseph Smi was upon him; he had e voice of Joseph, and it was e voice of e shepherd. There was not a person in at assembly, Rigdon, himself, not excepted, but was satisfied in his own mind at Brigham was e proper leader of e people, for [Rigdon] would not have his name presented, by his own consent, after at sermon was delivered. There was a reason for is in e mind of God; it convinced e people. They saw and heard for emselves, and it was by e power of God. I do not know if ere is any one present here tonight but myself who was ere at at conference. There are but few living who were present on at occasion... and when Brigham arose and commenced speaking, as has been said, if my eyes had not been so I could see, if I had not seen him wi my own eyes, ere is no one at could have convinced me at it was not Joseph Smi. Apostle Amasa Lyman spoke at e grove. After Brigham Young spoke in e Grove, Apostle Amasa Lyman addressed e congregation, saying, If Joseph Smi had any power to bear off e kingdom of God, e Twelve have e same. 30 Broer Rigdon en ask William W. Phelps to speak in his behalf. Broer Phelps stood to speak, but said: If you want to do right, uphold e Twelve.... I will sustain e Twelve as long as I have brea. 31 Elder Parley P. Pratt en spoke, Mobs and wicked men will cease when you cease to support em. 32 After Elder Pratt, Brigham Young stood again. He said: Elder Pratt spoke against Sidney Rigdon. Do you want Broer Rigdon to stand forward as your leader, your guide, your spokesman? President Rigdon wants me to bring up e oer question first, and at is, Does e church want, and is it eir only desire to sustain e Twelve as e First Presidency of is people? Because e response was unanimous, no vote was taken concerning Sidney Rigdon. President Young en said, There is much to be done... The foundation is laid by our Prophet, and we will build ereon. President Young asked, Is it e will of is congregation at ey will be tied until e Temple is finished, as ey have hierto been? That vote was also -406- William W. Phelps, asked by Sidney Rigdon to speak in his behalf, instead counseled him.
unanimous. Several more unanimous votes showed e support e congregation had for e 33 Twelve and missionary work. Sidney Rigdon Turns Against e Twelve Joseph Fielding described how Sidney turned against e Twelve. They invited Rigdon to eir Council, but he did not attend, and he soon began to use reatening Language against e 12, Joseph, etc., to say at he had known for some years at Joseph had not been led by e Spirit of God.... He seemed in no haste now to get to Pittsburgh, but labored hard to raise a Party to himself, and succeeded in some degree. Some few clove to him, and were in a short time cut off from e Church along wi him.... he and his Party soon left Nauvoo and went to Pittsburgh, where ey began to publish a Paper, chiefly to expose e Corruptions of e Church, but I soon began to hear but little of em.... 34 Wilford Woodruff Departs to Preside over e British Mission rd On August 23, Wilford Woodruff stopped at e home of e widow Emma Smi to pay his respects as he departed for England to replace Reuben Hedlock as e presiding auority. As he and his wife Phoebe visited wi Emma, she gave Wilford some of e wood from e boxes used in transporting Joseph and Hyrum s bodies from Carage. Wilford later cut his wood into a cane and kept it for e rest of his life. Wilford en stopped at Hyrum s home to see Mary Fielding Smi, who gave him several locks of hair from her husband and ree of his broers, Hyrum, Don Carlos and Samuel. As Wilford made his cane, he built a knob at e top where he put ese strands of hair and oers of e apostles which he collected. He painted e cane black. 35 Elder Woodruff was accompanied by Dan Jones, e Welsh captain of e Maid of Iowa, who would preach successfully in Wales. George Cannon Travels to St. Louis for Work Late in e summer, George Cannon left his children in Nauvoo under e care of his sister Leonora Taylor and his wife, Mary Edwards Cannon. He en returned to St. Louis where he was able to find temporary employment. Tragically, George died on Sunday, August 19. It had been a hot summer, and e speculation was at he died of heat stroke. His companions buried him, but wi his broer-in-law John Taylor in no condition to travel to St. Louis to seek furer information, furer details and George s final resting place were forever lost. Mary Edwards Cannon was expecting a child when George left for St. Louis. That fall, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice Cannon met Charles Lambert, a new convert from England who arrived in Nauvoo just a few mons before e Martyrdom. A skilled -407-
mason wi a fervent testimony of e gospel, Charles worked on e construction of e new temple. Charles, in his late twenties, felt it important to have his own home in case he should find a wife. Seeing Mary in a nice sunbonnet, he fell in love. After a few weeks Mary Alice had a dream where she was told to marry Charles, as he would be a willing Charles Lambert, e new husband of Mary Alice guardian for her younger siblings. The Cannon, became e legal couple was soon married by her uncle guardian of her younger John Taylor. Angus, David, and little siblings. Leonora who had just turned four moved into Charles home after he was appointed by e judge to be eir guardian. Charles often said: Our courtship was but a short one... We got married and done our courting after and had 37 not got rough wi it yet and wished to continue. George Cannon s widow was pregnant wi a baby who would be born six mons after his passing. Young George and Ann Cannon continued to live wi eir aunt and uncle, Leonora and John Taylor. Emma Smi Distances Herself from Brigham Young Not long after e decision to confirm Brigham Young as e new leader of e Church, Apostle Willard Richards called on Emma Smi, widow of e Prophet, to ask for e new translation of e Bible, which Joseph Smi had been working on at e time of his dea. However, Emma 38 said she did not feel disposed to give it up at present. In fact, Emma never released is work to e apostles. Emma was four mons pregnant wi her last child, David, when Joseph Smi was murdered. In e second half of e twentie century, a publication of is translation by e Community of Christ was studied and found to be 39 consistent wi e original papers. At at time, much of is translation was incorporated into e 1979 edition of e LDS scriptures, and over e decades a more cooperative relationship has developed between e two churches. Emma, who was pregnant wi her last child, was certainly concerned about e welfare of her young family. Emma s properties were tied up wi e Church s, and she resisted attempts by Brigham Young and e apostles to resolve e issues. She was accused of taking a portrait and a ring from Mary Fielding -408-36
Smi, which Emma felt belonged to e Smi family. She denied at Joseph Smi had ever taught about polygamy. She allied wi William Marks, who believed Sidney Rigdon was e 40 rightful heir to lead e LDS Church after Joseph s dea. In e end, when e main body of e Church moved west and followed Brigham Young to e Great Basin, Emma stayed behind. A mon after Elder Woodruff s visit to Emma, Brigham Young, Elder Heber C. Kimball and 41 Elder George A. Smi visited wi Mary Fielding Smi and where ey were warmly received. Mary s fai in God had been a streng to her roughout her life. Eleven years earlier, Mary, still in England, had written Mercy and Joseph, who by at time were in Toronto. They had asked her to join em, but Mary did not have e means. She prayed,... if it is [God s] will at I should ever come to you, [at He would] open e way and make plain before me if is 42 route be e case.... Mary s pattern had been to lean on e Lord for direction, and even rough is extremely difficult time, Mary chose to trust in e Lord who had brought her across e world to find a church wi e spiritual gifts which she had sought. The Widow Mary Fielding Smi Marries Apostle Heber C. Kimball It was during is period of extreme trial, in September of 1844, ree mons after her husband s dea, at Mary consented to become e plural wife of apostle Heber C. Kimball. Mary and Heber were bo forty-ree years old. It does not appear at Mary changed her residence, or at is marriage was public. However, e responsibility of Mary s welfare now fell to Heber. 43 An in-dep study of plural marriages during is period shows a great degree of concern for e widows and faerless. During e mon following his marriage to Mary, Heber took two more plural wives, bo of whom had been widows. Heber had a son by one of ese women, Mara, e widow of Vinson Knight. Vinson, a faiful member of e Church, had died in Nauvoo of typhoid fever in 1842. Brigham Young Holds e First Church Conference After e Martyrdom That fall, on October 6, ousands of saints assembled on e grounds near e temple for a conference. In e same grove where e dramatic events had occurred two mons previously, Brigham Young addressed e congregation during e morning session: The church is built up by revelation, given from day to day according to e requirements of e people. The Lord will not cease to give revelations to e people, unless e people trample on his laws and forsake and reject him. I request at e Latter-day Saints may pray at we may have e outpouring of e Spirit at we may hear, and I wish em to pray for me at I may have streng....the question arises wi some: Who has e right to revelation?....every member has e right of receiving revelations for emselves, bo male and female. It is e very life of e church of e living God, in all ages of e world.... No man ever preached a gospel discourse, nor ever will, unless he does it by revelation.... It is e right of an individual to get revelations to guide himself. It is e right of e head of a family to get revelations to guide and govern his family.... You are not going to be led wiout revelations. 44-409-
John Taylor, who only had recently recovered from his injuries sustained in Carage, spoke in e afternoon session. He addressed e completion of e temple, and he encouraged ose who felt a need to perform baptisms for eir deceased ancestors to wait until e temple was completed. He also mentioned at clerks who oversaw e baptisms, in some cases, had denied e privilege to ose who did not pay eir tiing. Elder Taylor addressed is by saying: It is our duty to pay our tiing, one-ten of all we possess, and en one-ten of our increase, and a man who has not paid his tiing is unfit to be baptized for his dead.... It is our duty to pay our tiing. If a man has not fai enough to attend to ese little ings, he has not fai enough to save himself and his friends. 45 On Monday morning, e conference continued. President Young took care of church business, sustaining men to positions. He told e saints to focus on building e temple and e business 46 before em, and not to be in a hurry to move on, out of Nauvoo. At is conference, it was proposed at William Marks be sustained as e president of e Nauvoo Stake, a position in which he had been acting for several mons. The vote on e congregation was against is action, acknowledging at Broer Marks still supported Sidney Rigdon. Those currently holding positions were again sustained, such as Brigham Young as e president of e Quorum of e Twelve Apostles. The Nauvoo high council members were sustained, including Thomas Grover and Ezra T. Benson. Newell K. Whitney was sustained as e presiding bishop. Joseph Smi s uncle Asael Smi was sustained as a patriarch. Joseph s last living broer, William Smi, held e right to e office for e entire church. However, as an apostle, he was not acting in at office. 47 Parley P. Pratt spoke after e business portion of e meeting. He reminded e congregation at when Sidney Rigdon had addressed em in e grove two mons earlier, he had spoken of Queen Victoria, great battles and e Mount of Olives, but he did not mention caring for e poor or completing e temple. Elder Pratt assured em, at as ey were still listening to e Lord s chosen servants, ey would be sustained [in Nauvoo] until we shall complete e Temple and 48 receive our endowments. The conference continued rough Tuesday and was en ajourned. Joseph Fielding recorded details about e conference in his journal: In October 44 a Conference was held, and was very numerously attended. Much Instruction was given by Elder B. Young on e Priesood, etc., and e High Priests were appointed to seek out new Locations, many of em all rough e Country, and make gaerings of e People togeer. They came forward readily in Expectation of going out at once, but Bro. Young told us ey need not be in a Hurry about it, and it appears ey will not go out till e Temple is finished, but he felt a Burden on him and he wished to get it off. I never attended a Better Conference for union and Business. A Number of 70s were also organized, and a good feeling prevailed. 49 The new locations Joseph mentioned concerned departing from Nauvoo. Before his dea, Joseph Smi had considered moving a body of e Saints to Texas, which had seceded from its parent country, Mexico. Wi e United States reatening war wi Mexico, Sam Houston, -410-
General Sam Houston John C. Fremont president of e newly created Republic of Texas, was looking for residents to strengen her borders. John C. Fremont, a well-known American explorer, had already made two expeditions to e American west and was planning a ird. For almost ten years pioneers had been crossing e Continental Divide rough a pass in e Rocky Mountains and heading rough Fort Hall in what is now Idaho, and on to Oregon. President Young intended to be ready to move e Saints out of e boundaries of e current United States if at became necessary, but for e time being he was devoting his energies to completing e temple. However, apostle Lyman Wight insisted at he be allowed to lead e members of e Church who had worked wi him at e Wisconsin Pineries to Texas, where ey 50 wanted to relocate. Brigham Young was able to delay eir departure for about a year. The Pine Company, as it was known, returned to Wisconsin and felled enough wood to complete e temple. Joseph Fielding s Opinion of Lyman Wight Joseph Fielding did not hold a high opinion of Lyman Wight. It appears at Elder Wight had condemned Governor Ford, accusing him of involvement wi e martyrdom and calling him a little pusillanimous Devil. Joseph s belief was at e men involved wi e Pinery company considered: at we were too corrupt for em to keep e Commandments of God amongst us. This is stated by one of his Party. His Conduct was contrary to e Mind of e rest of e 12, and was reproved by em. He left us and took all he could of Men and Means just at a time when it was necessary to stand firmly togeer. In e fall of 1844, 30 sun stones were placed atop e capitals. Joseph Fielding referred to ose who had chosen to follow Sidney Rigdon, and to oer apostate groups, by saying, These... have caused some to say at Nauvoo has had a Mighty Puke, and it is e bad Stuff at is rown up. 51 That fall e irty capital stones of e temple were raised, 52 some weighing over two tons. Brigham Young felt at e Lord held up e storms and e cold for our advantage, until is important piece of labor has been accomplished to our utmost satisfaction and delight. Fifteen carpenters were hired rough e winter -411-
to prepare e timber for e temple interior. Miles Romney, e 1841 British emigrant, was among ese men. 53 Joseph Fielding wrote: 1841 immigrant Miles Romney worked on e interior of e temple. Soon after e Dea of Joseph and Hyrum, e building of e Temple was resumed wi great Vigor, and proceeded more rapidly an it had ever done before, so at before e next Winter all e Faces of e Capitals were up and all but six of e Windows turned, so at we began to feel encouraged, and to anticipate e completion of e Work of which Joseph laid e Foundation. The Work of building Houses also in e City has of late gone well, and our City is becoming large and populous. We have also obtained more Arms to defend ourselves wi, and many of our Men are diligently learning e use of e Sword. 54 Brigham Young Requests e Penny Fund From Mary and Mercy In early December President Young met wi Elder Kimball, Presiding Bishop Newel K. Whitney and members of e temple committee. Funds were needed to pay church debts on land, and while ere were options, such as borrowing money, e committee didn t want to have to pay interest. After a long discussion, ey agreed to ask Mercy and Mary for e Penny Fund, which at is point amounted to five hundred dollars. While e money wouldn t be used at is time for e intent for which it was raised, e committee was certain ey could raise e money to replace e funds for glass and nails by e time it would be needed. 55 In December of 1844, President Young formally asked Mary Fielding Smi and Mercy Fielding Thompson for e accumulated monies in e Penny Fund. -412-
The next day Brigham Young wrote a formal letter making e request. To Mrs. Mary Smi & Mercy R. Thompson Dr Sisters, We are under e necessity of raising a considerable sum of money for e use of e Church wiin a few days. We have counseled togeer on e subject and have considered it wisdom to call upon you for e money in your hands donated by e sisters as penny subscriptions. You will erefore please deliver e same to Bishop Whitney when he presents is order. Done by order of e Quorum of e Twelve for and in behalf of e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Presiding Bishop Newel K. Whitney was among e leaders who felt it time to ask to use e Penny Fund. Nauvoo Decr 5 1844 Brigham Young Prest of e Quorum Of e Twelve Wiin ree weeks Mary and Mercy gave five hundred and twenty-six dollars to Bishop Whitney, much of e money being retrieved from where it was hidden in a pile of bricks behind eir shared home, bricks Hyrum had intended to use to build an addition. Three mons later ey gave e bishop an additional eighty-five dollars, likely funds which had arrived from British sisters. 56 Chapter 25 Endnotes Pages 397-413: 1.James Fielding to My dear Sisters and Broer, was dated 14 January 1845. In is letter, James goes on to state at he is now married and e faer of a daughter. He gives oer family news and ends by stating at he is preaching in a church erected by Reverend Aitken s followers. It is e ten and last letter in e Fielding Family Letters Collection. 2.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 147-148. 3.Life of John Taylor, page 157. 4.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 168-175, 192, 200. 5.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 149-151. 6.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 169, 176. 7.Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pages 292-294. 8.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 176. 9.Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, page 358. Emma Smi was a close friend of e Laws and of William and Rosannah Marks. -413-
10.Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, page 295. 11.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 183. 12.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 194, Wednesday July 17 Mrs. Emma Smi, in company wi Messrs. Woods and Wasson (lawyers) went to Carage for letters of administration on e estate of her deceased husband, Joseph Smi. 13.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 197-198. 14.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 198-199. 15.Brigham Young: American Moses, by Leonard J. Arrington, Chicago: 1986, pages 111-112. 16.History of e Church Volume VII, page 202. 17.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 212. 18.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 177, 211, 212, 213, 215, 216. Samuel, e ird person to be baptized in is dispensation after Joseph Smi and Oliver Cowdery, was one of e eight witnesses to e Book of Mormon, and was one of e six present at e organization of e Church on April 6, 1830 who signed as incorporators. Samuel was e missionary who gave a Book of Mormon to John P. Greene, e broer-in-law to Brigham Young. This was e copy which Brigham Young and en Heber C. Kimball read. That particular book was later given to Joseph F. Smi, and en Joseph Fielding Smi. Samuel s moer Lucy Mack Smi bore two sons who died as infants. Alvin was considered e eldest. He died in 1823 at e age of twenty-five. Don Carlos, e youngest son, had died in 1841 at e age of twenty-five. Hyrum and Joseph died in June, 1844. William would outlive all his broers, dying at e age of eighty-two in 1893. Three sisters in e family, Sophronia, Kaerine and Lucy, all lived long lives. 19.Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, page 429. I have not dealt wi Joseph Smi s run for office in is biography. 20.Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pages 294-295. 21.Life of John Taylor, page 157. Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, page 429. 22.Joseph Fielding Diary, page 136. 23.History of e Church Volume VII, pages 224-230. 24.Brigham Young: American Moses, by Leonard J. Arrington, University of Illinois: 1986, page 114. 25.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 231-243. This record states at Orson Hyde had not yet returned, alough he was wi Brigham Young and e oers in Boston after ey received news of e murders. However, Orson Hyde bore testimony to e experience he had in e grove during e meeting on August 8, so I have included him in e count of apostles in Nauvoo at is time. 26.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 231. 27.Joseph Fielding Diary, page 137. 28.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 231-236. 29.The testimonies of e mantle of Joseph falling upon Brigham Young were excerpted from The Mantle of e Prophet Joseph passes to Broer Brigham: A Collective Spiritual Witness, Volume 36:4. -414-
30.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 237. 31.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 238. 32.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 239. 33.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 240-241. 34.Joseph Fielding Diary, pages 136-137. History of e Church, Volume II, pages 268-268. 35.Daughter of Britain, pages 174-175. The cane is on display in e Daughters of e Utah Pioneers Museum in Salt Lake City wi no mention of its origins or history. 36.History of David H. Cannon from a presentation given during a meeting wi e Daughters of e Utah Pioneers in St. George, 19 February, 1922. My oldest sister was married to a man by e name of Charles Lambert. My sister, Ann, was also living wi John Taylor. Judge Stiles appointed Charles Lambert as guardian over my broer Angus, myself, and Leonora and we lived wi em until e time we left Nauvoo. 37.Biography of Charles Lambert 1816-1892, easily found online. 38.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 260. The date given was Monday, August 19. On Friday, September 4, (page 283), part of is day s entry reads, I [Brigham Young] went up to e Temple in e forenoon. Attended council wi e Twelve, e bishop and e Temple Committee at Sister Emma Smi s and expressed our feelings and intentions to her. 39.Emma Smi ultimately gave e papers to e Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which was headed by her son, Joseph Smi III. In 2001 e name of is church was changed to e Community of Christ. 40.Brigham Young: American Moses, pages 117-118. 41.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 270. 42.18 March 1833, Mary Fielding to Joseph Fielding and Mercy Rachel Fielding. 43.Life of Heber C. Kimball, by Orson F. Whitney, page 425. Mary Fielding Smi is named as one of twenty-two women who Heber married in order to provide for eir welfare, but it is not believed at he ever lived wi ese particular women. 44.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 284-287. 45.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 292-293. 46.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 293. 47.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 301. 48.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 299. 49.Joseph Fielding Diary, page 137. 50.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 248. Elder Wight felt he had been given a mandate by Joseph Smi to settle in Texas and he never wavered from is belief. Ultimately he would take several hundred faiful members of e Church to Zodiac and its surrounding areas near San Antonio. Over e succeeding decades LDS -415-
missionaries and apostles visited em. Some of Elder Wight s followers returned to e main body of e LDS Church in Utah. Many allied wi e Reorganized Church. I studied e records of ese people when I researched my ancestor Benjamin Freeman Bird, whose son Phineas and his family moved to Texas wi Elder Wight. At at time, I also dealt wi e Mexican War and e annexation of Texas and Canada, which fit at biography because my ancestor William Bird was part of e Mormon Battalion. 51.Joseph Fielding Diary, page 137. Joseph named James Emmett who had led a group out of Nauvoo. Brigham Young sent missionaries to find e Emmett group, many of whom were by en living in extreme poverty, to invite em to return to Nauvoo. Some did. 52.History of e Church, Volume VII, pages 323-324. 53.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 326. 54.Joseph Fielding Diary, pages 137-138. 55.History of e Church, Volume VII, page 322. 56.The letter, dated 5 December 1844, is in Folder 7, part of e Mary Fielding Smi Letter Collection, MS 2779. A transcript of is letter is also in e History of e Church, Volume VII, page 322. On e page, likely in e hand of William Clayton, are e two receipts acknowledging e money contributed. -416-