Pillar of Light

by Gerald N. Lund

  They all swung around to see what it was that had caught his attention. From where they were standing, they could see past the first house and into Granger Street. A tall figure was walking toward them, evidently coming from the direction of the south river landing. He was tall, dressed in a black coat and hat, and carried a suitcase in one hand. Nathan leaned forward, staring in astonishment. Then he gasped. “Will?”

  At that moment Will Steed saw them as well. He was headed for his own home, which was across from Nathan’s, but he immediately changed directions, raising one hand to wave.

  “It’s Will!” young Joshua cried, darting away.

  “Oh, my word!” Benjamin breathed in astonishment. “It is Will. Will’s home.”

  Benjamin had been right. Exactly one year before, as he and Nathan had stood with the family around the piano singing Christmas carols, he had said that he fully expected that the next Christmas Eve would find them in that same place doing exactly the same thing. And so it had been. The previous night they had had their traditional Christmas gathering for the children. Now, on Christmas Day, the adults were getting their turn. Joseph and Emma invited about fifty couples to the Mansion House on Christmas Day for a sit-down dinner. As the evening wore on, the party continued. In the largest room, the furniture had been moved out and members of the Nauvoo Legion band played music while sets of couples danced the quadrille. It was a merry and noisy crowd that spilled over into almost every room on the main floor.

  When the Saints first came to Commerce in the early summer of 1839, Joseph and Emma had purchased an existing cabin on the south part of the great bend, right next to the river. They called it the Homestead and had lived there ever since. During that time, it had served as Church headquarters, family gathering place, hotel, and infirmary, as well as their residence. But the rapid growth of the Church was bringing Joseph Smith and the Mormons to the attention of the world, and more and more visitors were stopping off at Nauvoo. And the Homestead just wasn’t adequate to house them.

  With the temple taking the full efforts of the Saints, work on the Nauvoo House—the large hotel across the street from and a bit to the south of the Homestead—was stalled. In light of that, Joseph decided to build another residence, one that would better serve his family’s needs and his requirements as frequent host until the Nauvoo House could be completed. Kitty-corner to the northeast from the Homestead, the “Mansion House,” as it quickly came to be called, was a beautiful two-story frame building and had twenty-one rooms, including a spacious area for entertaining guests. Joseph and his family had moved in about the first of September. Emma Smith finally had a home worthy of the demands placed upon her as wife of the Prophet.

  Nathan looked around. Through the hall and into the next room he could see his own family dancing now. He saw Matthew and Jenny march by, with Rebecca and Derek opposite them. In the far corner Kathryn watched from her wheelchair, with shining eyes, clapping in time to the music. Jenny had her head tipped slightly back, and her long hair bounced lightly as she moved. Matthew looked down at her, handsome and smiling too. Rebecca was trying to look appropriately sober, but Derek was exaggerating his steps so that he looked very much like an English dandy and finally she couldn’t hold back—Nathan heard the burst of her laughter above the noise.

  “Who would have guessed that of Derek?” Lydia said, smiling beside him.

  “I guess the music brings out the boy in him,” Nathan said. And then as he looked around at the crowded room filled with laughing, smiling, chattering people, he frowned slightly. “It would have been so good for Melissa and Carl to be here.”

  Lydia instantly sobered too. “I know. Melissa really wanted to come and see the Mansion House.”

  The music stopped and applause filled the two rooms. As the next group of dancers moved out and took their places, Nathan saw Will with a young woman on his arm preparing to join the next set. Nathan smiled. Will had been gone for almost sixteen months, and yet in many ways it seemed as if he had aged five years. He was fully a man now, mature, wise, slow to speak unless he had something to say. As the music started, Will remained quite serious, obviously concentrating on the step. The girl, a daughter of a recently arrived family from the East, was gazing up at him with rapturous eyes. There was little doubt about what she was feeling, but Will seemed not to notice.

  Lydia was watching all of this too and laughed softly. “Will could about have his pick of any young lady in the city.”

  “Yes,” Nathan agreed.

  “Well, I could name you half a dozen that would like him to pick them,” a deep voice said behind them.

  They turned and Joseph and Emma were there. Joseph laid a hand on Nathan’s shoulder and peered into the next room. “What a fine young man. The reports from the brethren in England about him were very complimentary.”

  “And he’s so handsome,” Emma said. “He looks so much like Joshua.”

  “I know,” Nathan said. “It’s hard to remember that they aren’t actually father and son.”

  “By the way,” Joseph said, “I was told that Joshua and Caroline are expecting another baby this summer.”

  “Yes,” Lydia said, “about mid-July. They are so pleased. Little Charles will be four in February. Caroline was starting to worry that they might not be able to have another one.”

  “And how’s my little namesake doing now?” Joseph said to Lydia.

  “Doing fine.” She grimaced. “Except he’s the biggest little pig you’ve ever seen. I may have to run home here in a bit to feed him again, even though I fed him just before we left.”

  “And he’s how old now?”

  “He was born on the eighteenth of June,” Nathan answered, “so just six months.” The little boy they had lost to the ague in the summer of 1839 had been named Nathan Joseph Steed and they had called him little Nathan. That tragedy was now far enough in the past that Lydia had decided she wanted to use the name again when their baby turned out to be a boy. It was Nathan Joseph, only in this case they called him little Joseph instead.

  “And how is Jessica doing with her new little one?” Emma asked. “I heard there were problems.”

  “There were for a time. The poor little thing wouldn’t eat, kept throwing up whatever she did. But Solomon and Father Steed gave her a blessing and that seemed to do it. She’s fine now. Cute as can be. She’s just a month younger than little Joseph.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Joseph said. “I’m so glad they’re happy.”

  “They are,” Nathan agreed. “I’ve never seen Jessica happier. They wanted to come over here for Christmas so badly, but with the baby they thought maybe it was better if they didn’t.”

  Emma turned, going up on her toes. “Oh, it looks like we need to get some more cake out.”

  “I’ll help you,” Lydia said.

  As they moved away, Joseph looked around the room, his demeanor sobering. “I noticed that Carl and Melissa didn’t come tonight. And of course no Joshua.”

  Nathan shrugged. “Carl told Melissa he didn’t mind if she came, but she wouldn’t come without him. If Caroline waited for Joshua to come with her, she’d never come to anything.”

  “I’ve noticed Melissa at worship services again from time to time.”

  “Yes, I think she really missed not coming. She’s still troubled by everything, but she’s trying. In fact, Rebecca thought it might be a good idea if they had Mary Fielding come over and talk with Melissa. To my surprise, Melissa’s agreed to that.”

  “Really? That’s good. There aren’t many finer women than Mary Fielding Smith.”

  “I know. Melissa told Carl and he didn’t seem to mind. I think he’s hoping it won’t change her mind, but you know Carl. He’s always been very open about her following her own conscience.”

  “Carl’s a fine man,” Joseph said earnestly. “A fine man. Benjamin told me that the rest of the family were finally told all that was going on.”

  Nathan nodded. “The adults, anyway. We d
ecided they needed to know so they’d understand what had changed Melissa and Carl all of sudden, but we haven’t told any of the children, not even Olivia or Kathryn.”

  There was a sadness now in Joseph’s eyes. “Did you know that if Joshua sees me coming up the street, he’ll turn and go the other way, or cross to the other side?”

  That surprised Nathan and his face showed it.

  “Oh, if he knows that I’ve seen him, he’ll say hello, but even then I can feel the coolness in him. I don’t think he’s forgiven me for sending Will to England.”

  “Probably not, and yet he admits it was probably the best thing for Will. After being in England, Will has decided he doesn’t want the life of a sailor.”

  “Yes, that’s what he told me as well.”

  Just then a man and a woman came up to shake hands with Joseph. Nathan touched Joseph’s arm. “I’d better find Mother and Father and see how they’re doing.” And with that, he moved off.

  Hyrum and his wife, Mary Fielding Smith, were standing with Derek and Rebecca and Mary’s sister, Mercy Fielding Thompson, in the parlor. Hyrum was only half listening. His eye was on the band leader in the next room. As the song finished and the dancers applauded, the leader turned his head, looking around for someone. Hyrum raised his hand and waved. When the man saw him he mouthed one word. “Now?”

  Hyrum nodded, and the leader whispered something to the others and they started to set aside their instruments. Hyrum nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Mercy. “He’s going to stop now for a minute or two. Are you ready?”

  She brushed her hands against her dress, looking slightly flustered. “Yes, I suppose so.”

  Hyrum and Mercy moved out into the center of the room and Hyrum raised his arms. “Could I have your attention please?” he said loudly. He waited and the noise began to drop off. People shushed one another and started to move into the room where Hyrum and Mercy were. Some crowded into the hallway between the two rooms so they could hear better.

  “Hyrum’s got an announcement to make,” Mary said to Rebecca. “I think you’ll be surprised. And pleased.”

  “Brothers and sisters,” Hyrum said in a loud voice, “if I could have your attention, we have a special announcement.”

  All eyes were on Hyrum now. He looked around, smiled, and then began. “Brothers and sisters, as you know, not long ago I was asked to serve on the building committee for the temple. Work there is progressing well, but there is still much to do.”

  That started heads nodding up and down.

  “We’ve reached the point where we soon will need to purchase glass for the windows. And once we start on the roof, we are going to need many nails. Neither of those items comes cheaply, nor are they things which we can do ourselves, simply because we don’t have sufficient funds.”

  Now there were murmurs of assent. Cutting stone and timber, hauling rock to the temple site, putting the great walls up—all of these were difficult, but the Saints could do them on their own. Making nails by hand in the blacksmith shops would be tedious and very expensive. Kegs of ready-made nails were also expensive. And glass—that was almost as precious as gold.

  “I have worried much about this,” Hyrum was saying, “and I suppose it became evident to my family that I was greatly weighed down by my anxiety. My sister-in-law, Mercy Thompson, has come up with a wonderful idea. She has discussed it with me and with Brother Joseph, and we give our hearty approval to the idea. I should like her to tell you what she has in mind.” He turned to Mercy and nodded for her to begin.

  “Thank you, Hyrum,” she said, smiling at him.

  The Fielding sisters were handsome women, dark, tall, with striking eyes and open features. Mercy was the younger of the two by six years, but the loss of her husband, Robert Thompson, two and a half years before had aged Mercy noticeably and so the sisters looked closer in age than they were. Both still spoke with their distinct British accents in clear, precise tones.

  “Brothers and sisters,” Mercy began, “Brother Hyrum is right. I think we have a wonderful idea, but it is not mine. I want to make that clear. Recently my sister and I were discussing what we might do to help out with the temple. We are as anxious as you are to see it completed so that we can have the blessings of the temple for all of us. I was so concerned about the matter that I began to earnestly seek to know from the Lord if there was anything I could do. One day, as I was praying, a most pleasant sensation came over me. And then the following words came into my mind: ‘Try to get the sisters to subscribe one cent per week for the purpose of buying glass and nails for the temple.’ ”

  That brought a low murmur from the group as the idea struck them. They began to nod their approval and whisper one to another. She waited until it was quiet again. “I went immediately to Brother Joseph and told him I had felt what I thought were the whisperings of the still small voice. He agreed and told me to proceed and the Lord would bless me. So next I came to Hyrum and we decided that we should make a public announcement.”

  She stepped back, blushing slightly as the applause broke out again.

  Hyrum raised his hands until it quieted. “With this announcement, let the subscription begin. Here is a way for the sisters to have a direct part in building the house of the Lord. I know that many of you are in poverty. But this is only one cent per week, fifty cents per year. It is not much, but if we can get two thousand subscribers, in a year we shall have a thousand dollars. Mary and Mercy shall keep a careful record of all who subscribe and the amounts given. And I tell you, all of you who subscribe shall have your names recorded in the book of the Law of the Lord and you shall be blessed.”

  When Emma, Lydia, and Caroline finally came back out after replenishing the refreshment tables once again, they found Joseph and Nathan standing with Brigham Young, John Taylor, and Benjamin. Lydia saw Mary Ann in the next room in a circle with Matthew and Jenny, Derek and Rebecca, Hyrum, Mary, and Mercy, and excused herself to go and join them. Caroline did the same and went with her. Emma moved off to visit with their guests, giving Joseph a look that suggested that he shouldn’t spend too long in one place either.

  Benjamin watched her go, then turned to Brigham. “Have you had any response to your letters to the presidential candidates?”

  Brigham nodded in disgust. “Henry Clay suggests we go to Oregon Territory. John C. Calhoun was not any better. The rest have said nothing.”

  “What is this?” Nathan asked.

  Brother Taylor explained. “Back in November, in a meeting with the Twelve, Joseph asked us to consider writing to each of the five leading candidates for president of the United States to see where they stand on protecting our rights and getting us redress for what happened in Missouri.”

  “Really?” Nathan said, surprised at that.

  “Yes,” Joseph answered. “With the brethren’s help, I wrote to each of them.” He started ticking the names off on his fingers. “John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Martin Van Buren, Richard M. Johnson, and Lewis Cass.”

  “And Calhoun answered?” Benjamin said. “I hadn’t heard that.”

  “If you can call it an answer,” Brigham snorted. “He said that redress of the wrongs against the Saints does not come under the jurisdiction of the federal government.”

  “And he’s right,” John Taylor said dryly, “unless of course you believe that upholding the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America comes under the jurisdiction of the federal government.”

  “Are you going to answer him back?” Nathan asked.

  Joseph gave an emphatic nod of his head. “I am. I shall answer him in the strongest terms.”

  “Like what, Joseph?” Brigham asked.

  “I shall remind him that his oath as a United States senator binds him to support the Constitution, which protects all creeds and religions alike. I should like to ask him that if his statement about our government having limited jurisdiction is true, then does he also agree that a state can at any time expel any portion of
her citizens with impunity and the government can do nothing for them, because it has no power? Why not? For the renowned senator from South Carolina, Mr. J. C. Calhoun, says the powers of the federal government are so specific and limited that it has no jurisdiction over the case.”

  He stopped and grinned a little sheepishly. “As you can tell, Mr. Calhoun’s brief note has got me considerably exercised.”

  “Rightly so,” Brigham said. “Rightly so.”

  Joseph sobered again. “Well, I will tell you this much. We have petitioned the executive branch, we have petitioned the Congress, we have sought redress in the courts of this land, and we have received no satisfaction. In most cases, we have not even had so much as a sympathetic hearing. But I tell you, if the Latter-day Saints are not restored to all their rights and paid for all their losses, according to the known rules of justice, judgment, reciprocation, and common honesty, I say that God will come out of his hiding place and vex this nation with a sore vexation. Yea, the consuming wrath of an offended God shall smoke through the nation with much distress and woe.”

  A hush had now fallen over the room and every eye was on Joseph, whose eyes were blazing. “I will go further. I will go so far as to prophesy, by virtue of the holy priesthood vested in me and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that if Congress will not hear our petitions, they shall someday be broken up as a government.”

  “My goodness, Joseph,” Emma said a moment later as she pushed through the hushed crowd to stand by his side. “What have you done to get all these people so serious?”

  He smiled and slipped an arm through hers. “Brigham and John got me talking politics,” he said apologetically. “They should know better than that. But I shall desist now and—”

  At that moment, there was a noise behind them, in the hallway that led to the front door of the Mansion House. “I beg your pardon, sir,” a man’s voice said loudly, “but this is a private party.”

  There was a scuffling noise, and a gruff voice shouted, “Let me pass!”