by Marian Wells
Aghast, she considered his reaction—the horror on his face, the disappointment, and finally the rejection. With regret she shook her head.
To be done with the guilt, even the possibility of being forced to honor that contract, was a temptation she dared not consider. As attractive as the thought was, she could not risk losing Mark. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, “Joseph has not one hold on me. He knows I would tell Emma. I am no longer afraid of him.”
When Jenny heard Mark’s horse late that afternoon, she knew he was angry. Standing in the doorway she watched Mark slide from the horse and yank off the saddle and bridle. He impatiently pulled open the gate and slapped the mare across the rump.
As he came up the steps she said, “What’s wrong?”
“Speech in the temple grove. You know election is coming up next week. Joseph promised his vote to Cyrus Walker when he was arrested. Well, Hyrum had a revelation. He said he’d asked God how the people should vote. The answer was that God wanted the people to vote for Hoge, on the Democratic ticket. Quite a sensation, this abrupt reversal of what we’d been led to expect. Especially considering Hyrum had previously promised the Democrats the Mormon vote if they would promise him a seat in the state legislature next year.”
Jenny paused to think for a moment; then with a sigh and shake of her head, she said, “Well, come have a cool drink and tell me more about it.”
He pulled the buttermilk from the well where it had been chilling. She began preparing dinner as he talked.
“When Cyrus Walker took Joseph’s case against the Missouri charge, it was done with Joseph’s promise of support in the upcoming election. Well, Walker’s the Whig candidate for Congress. Remember the rumor floating down from Springfield?”
Slowly Jenny said, “You mean the trip J. B. Backenstos made to confer with Ford? About the promise in exchange for the Mormons’ vote on the Democratic ticket? Didn’t they say Joseph would have nothing to fear from the governor? Mark, are you saying there’s a possibility Joseph will be voting for the Democrats to keep from being arrested?”
“You know how strong the people lean on revelations.” He went to pick up John Mark. “William Law was irate. He got to his feet and chewed out Hyrum, reminding everyone that only Joseph was entitled to have revelations. Then he reminded them Joseph had pledged Walker the Mormon support.”
“So what did Joseph say?”
“Only that he was pledged to support Walker, and unless he had a revelation to the contrary, they should support him too.
“Oh, my,” Jenny murmured. “Sabbath-day sermon should be interesting.”
At the end of the sermon the following day, Mark leaned toward Jenny and said, “You were right, my dear.”
She nodded, her eyes riveted on the pulpit. Joseph was saying, “I’ve no intention of telling you how to vote. I don’t have a revelation concerning the election. Matter of fact, I don’t believe in troubling the Lord about politics. I gave my word to Walker when I hired him to handle my case against Reynolds, but I didn’t pledge him the votes of all the Saints. Now Hyrum advises us that he has a revelation from the Lord instructing that the Saints should vote for Hoge.” He paused for a moment and then slowly said, “I must admit, I’ve never known Hyrum to have a revelation that failed.”
William Law was standing beside Mark, and as the congregation began to move toward their wagons and carriages, William fell into step with Mark. Jenny saw his shoulders droop in discouragement as he said, “I wonder if he believes he can get away with this? I’m afraid Joseph’s just garnered himself a pack of enemies.” At Mark’s quick glance he said, “Oh, I still believe in him. I just think he’s making a terrible mistake right now.”
Sarah and Orson Pratt caught up with them. Orson said, “Law, I heard what you said. Seems we ought to be discussing the situation. Maybe we could get together this afternoon?”
“If you’ve carried your dinner, bring it and come,” Sarah invited. “We’ve plenty of trees for shade and the breeze off the river hits us just fine.”
While the men stood in the shade of the trees on the Pratt farm, the women spread their food across the table.
Looking at the dishes, Sarah said slowly, “When I remember the time we had in Missouri, just getting wheat milled and enough to eat, I’d be grateful for just a speck of this.”
Jenny looked at the table. There was snowy bread, creamy butter, ham, fried chicken, a joint of venison, garden vegetables baked into a thick custard, cucumbers floating in vinegar and spices, applesauce, and fried pumpkin chips. The pies looked like apple and peach. Jenny’s spice cake, heavy with raisins, released a fragrance of molasses and cinnamon.
Jenny looked from Sarah to Jane. Addressing Jane, she said, “Except for what you’ve heard from the pulpit, you don’t know what it was like.”
“I’ve been fed a constant dose of the stories of the persecutions ever since we’ve arrived,” she said; then she raised her head and added in a rush, “Seems Joseph is bound to not let it die. It cuts a picture of a man not big enough to let by-gones be. Will he hold a grudge forever? I was raised to believe in the importance of forgiving those who sin against us. Even though we’re Latter-day Saints, seems there’s still a few Christian virtues that need to be retained.”
The men came to the table and the conversation turned lighthearted until the table had been cleared.
When William Law leaned back in his chair he addressed Pratt. “Orson, do you believe Joseph’s statements today will have an effect on the election?”
“I should hope so,” Orson replied. Jenny glanced at Mark. When he sighed heavily, she knew he had an objection, but she also guessed he would save his irritation for her ears. Pratt continued, “We’ve a responsibility toward these people. They need instruction until they’ve accepted all that will be given to them to achieve the knowledge necessary for salvation.”
“You think knowledge gives salvation?” Mark asked, looking surprised.
“Of course. The Prophet gave that to us.”
Mark was asking, “What about the truth concerning God as revealed in the Holy Bible?”
Orson moved impatiently. “In the Bible there’s not a thing you can believe in with surety except what is contained in the original. What we have nowadays is a corrupted translation, given out by uninspired men without the authority to translate. I tell you, there’s no part that we can accept with certainty as the Word of God. I declare to you that what we have is only the words of men, not the true Word. It is only the skeleton—the mutilated, the changed, the corrupted.”
William Law was leaning forward; there was a perplexed frown on his face. “Then what do you trust?”
“The Prophet. He has been given the keys to the kingdom. Through the direct revelation of God himself, we know Joseph is to be trusted.”
“But, Pratt, we have only Joseph’s word for it,” Mark said.
“That’s true,” Pratt admitted. “But he’s also told us to ask God to give us a testimony of the rightness of all this. There’s not a man in the church who’s asked, who hasn’t received.”
Law’s frown remained. Slowly he said, “One of the things that’s really nagged at me has been the willingness of the people to rely on emotion. I’ve heard things like, ‘I feel this is right. I know by the spirit, I’ve been caught up in the spirit. I saw a great light when I prayed. I felt a burning in the bosom.’ I’m a practical man; I don’t like to go by hunches. I want facts. Why can’t we rely on the Word?”
“What word?” Mark asked. “If you’re talking about the Book of Mormon, then please tell me what I should depend upon. I’ve been listening to Joseph long enough to realize little of his beliefs come from his holy book, the Book of Mormon.”
“Well, you can’t rely upon the Bible. The Book of Mormon clearly sets forth that the Christian church, referred to as the ‘abominable church’ has taken from the Bible the most plain and precious parts of the gospel,” William said.
“God deliver us f
rom ever calling ourselves Christian,” muttered Orson.
“I suppose there would be some merit in living by the doctrine of the Book of Mormon,” Mark added. “I saw in the second book of Nephi the thirteenth verse where old Nephi urges relying completely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for salvation, urging the people to feast upon the word of Christ. It doesn’t say a church will save us.”
In the silence Mark continued, “But there’s more. This hits right at the priesthood. Chapter one of the book of Jacob calls it a wicked practice, this having many wives.”
Orson’s voice was brittle. “Anything else, Brother Cartwright?”
“I’ve noticed the book refers to Christ as God, the Father of all things. That isn’t consistent with Joseph’s saying Christ is our elder brother. I kinda like it where it says God came down and took upon himself flesh and blood and that He shall redeem His people. Sure beats any salvation I can earn for myself through the church.”
William and Orson were on their feet when Mark added, “Have you noticed? The book of Alma says that Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Mark and Jenny were in the buggy headed for home before Jenny dared say, “Mark, you worry me. If Joseph were to hear about this—”
“I’d be labeled apostate.” He turned to smile at her, saying, “But the strange thing is, although this goes against his teaching, I’m only giving his words back to him.”
In a moment he added, “If I were to ask if—” The smile disappeared and he turned to flick the reins along the mare’s back.
“Jenny, I believe there’s a move on among the people to break out of the bondage Joseph has placed upon them. There’re some intelligent men in the camp who are beginning to think for themselves. One of these days they are going to demand that Joseph give way and take stock of the teaching which he claims comes from God.
“Have you noticed? Back in Kirtland days there was a new revelation just about every time Joseph took a breath. Now it’s seldom we get one. Nowadays it’s just a matter of Joseph saying jump and the people jump. One of these days they won’t.”
Chapter 31
“The end of August is as hot as July. Here in the temple grove this Sabbath, there’s not a whisper of a breeze,” Jenny murmured as she settled on the bench in front of the pulpit and tried to fan the squirming John Mark.
“You might as well forget that,” Mark said. “He’s generating more wind with his bouncing around. I don’t think he’s minding the heat as much as his mother.”
“I nearly wish I’d stayed home with him. He’s getting so strong, and I think he’s going to have a tooth soon.”
Jenny continued to struggle with the squirming baby as the Sabbath service began. She had nearly lost the thread of the message when John Mark went to sleep. While Mark adjusted the blanket across their legs and eased the baby onto his lap, Jenny became aware of the Prophet’s words.
Briefly he referred to the death of the Higbee child, and then said, “The time of the endowments in the temple is drawing nigh. The sad death this past week shows the importance of this ordinance. When the parents of a child have been sealed in the temple, their posterity is secured. For all eternity this child is theirs, saved through the virtue of the covenant of the father.”
Jenny was still mulling over that information when the Prophet moved on, proclaiming, “I received information which indicates that Sidney Rigdon has given oath to Governor Carlin of Missouri to bind over my life to the Missourians. At this time, I desire to withdraw the hand of fellowship from Sidney Rigdon, and I put this up to the vote of the people.”
A rustle of indignation spread through the audience. Catcalls accompanied the lifting of hands. Joseph acknowledged their remarks with a smile and continued, “We’ve voted unanimously to remove his name, and we will revoke his license. I will advise you that, regardless of the schemer’s plans, all the powers of hell or earth together cannot put down this old boy. I have promises from the eternal God.”
John Mark awakened when the shouting began. Jenny was juggling him into quietness when Joseph began talking about the Melchizedek priesthood. “The sectarians have never professed to have the priesthood. In consequence, it is impossible for them to save anyone. They’ll all be damned together. Only the priesthood gives power for endless lives.”
He paused, and bending forward, said, “I will remind you of the power of the priesthood. You know the sacrifice of Abraham. These everlasting covenants cannot be broken! When God gives knowledge or blessing to a man and he refuses to accept, he shall be damned.”
Service was over. Jenny got to her feet, stumbling as she followed Mark. Those words filled her mind. John Mark didn’t have a chance to even begin to earn his position in the eternities unless his daddy would accept Joseph’s way.
****
“Jenny, what are you thinking?”
“Oh . . .” Jenny blinked against the sunshine and looked up at Mark. The Sabbath day was nearly over. John Mark was still napping while the two of them leaned over the pasture fence.
“That the world is beautiful and that I love our farm.” How conscious she was of evading the real thoughts, even as she turned to glance up at him!
She was aware of his eyes, with those curious flecks of color, watching her. Watching them, aware of their candor, she realized how often in these past weeks Mark had gently probed, urging her to talk. She began to giggle.
“What’s that about?”
“I was thinking back to some of the silly talking we’ve been doing in the past weeks.”
“About the girls who are trying to entrap Tom?”
“And the new fall fashions and whether poke bonnets should be allowed in the temple.”
Mark’s grin faded, “Like the unimportant.”
The breeze swept a yellow leaf past Jenny and she whispered, “What, Mark? What is it you want—a piece of my soul?”
“Is that too much?”
“It is until I understand it myself.”
“You’ve changed, you know. I find myself wondering.”
She searched his face, not daring to ask: for good or bad? She simply said, “All of life is changing. It’s nearly autumn. The tourists have gone. Joseph’s church is still fumbling and restless. The Saints will soon be worshiping in the temple. There will be new teachings, the endowments.” She was still watching him as he turned away.
Softly now she said, “Do you realize, Mark, even between us there’s so much that can’t be said? We had new teaching today. Joseph said that if we’re to be having little John Mark for eternity, if he’s even to have a chance at eternity, you must fulfill the requirements of the gospel. There must be endowment.”
He turned away, “I’m sorry, Jenny. When a person doesn’t believe, he can’t live a lie—even for the dearest person on earth.”
Jenny contemplated the pasture, the brilliance of the day. All too soon the bronze, copper and gold of autumn would be here, and then the snow. Where were their lives together leading them? She couldn’t face that answer.
The peeled log railing of the fence had whitened with age. She ran her hand over the smooth surface, wondering how long it would be until the smoothness turned to slivers.
“So?”
“See, so smooth now. You peel back the bark and it’s vulnerable, Mark, like us. How long before it all turns to splinters?” Watching she realized, in the darkening of his eyes, there was pain in the unprobed depths of her husband. Deeply she felt the answer from her own heart even as she bit her lips and turned away.
He held out his arms, and in them she was conscious of passion drowned in a desire for union deeper than physical. It must be the call for endowment. Her sigh was as heavy as she felt. When he finally dropped his arms, she heard his sigh of regret. “We’d better see if the tyke is awake.”
That evening, when Mark stepped into the circle of her lamplight, he asked, “What are you reading?”
She brought her thoughts back and
lifted her face. “The Bible. Mark, what is God’s love?”
He came into the light and sat down. “I suppose what we see of God and understand as love. Salvation instead of what we deserve. Even just holding the world together. If He were to take away His hand, we’d disappear. Certainly considering sin and disobedience, we don’t deserve more than that. But He handles us very gently. This should bring us running into His love. I guess God’s love is a place where we are to dwell.”
In a moment he quoted, “‘But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.’ Jenny, this chapter in Romans says we’re justified by faith, not works like Joseph says. It tells us this is a free gift.”
She knew he saw her trembling hands. As she shook her head he stopped abruptly. “Mark, it sounds so nice, but I am afraid. Now there’s another one to fear for. The fear sends me running; I’ll be faithful to my church to the best of my ability. I’ll also work to bring some of these teachings of the Bible into our church. We need the best of both. But, please don’t ask me to give up the security of this. I’ve already given up so much.”
She saw the curiosity in his eyes and braced herself to answer the words which she had unintentionally let slip.
“Do you regret it?”
Jenny caught her breath. It wasn’t what she had expected. He meant unsaid things they had never talked about. The craft. For a moment she looked at Mark, seeing clearly how much he had comprehended even while he held his silence. She whispered, “No, never. I’ve traded ugliness for God’s church.” Mark turned away and Jenny returned to the Book.