by Marian Wells
She bent her head over it. “It says here in John that a man who doesn’t love Jesus doesn’t obey His teaching.” Looking out the window, she asked, “Do you suppose Joseph doesn’t know about that verse?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I sense so much of fear and fighting in him. Seems it’s in him more than the rest of us.”
He sat down beside her, and she felt his excitement. “You’ve caught that? What else have you seen?”
“I’m thinking of a verse, a question. ‘Are you foolish? After beginning with the spirit, are you made perfect by works?’ Then it goes on to say it was faith that saved Abraham, not doing, and that no man is justified by the law—yet this very day, Joseph talked about the sacrifice of Abraham.”
She studied her hands for a moment, then said, “There’s more. It says if you’re led by the spirit, you’re not under law. Mark, does it possibly mean even the type of law in the church—all the doing and . . .”
She couldn’t finish. Mark took her hands and pulled her close. “Jen—” He stopped. She saw the joyful expression on his face fade. Then caution swept over his features as he carefully said, “Even Joseph couldn’t object to the reading and learning you are doing. One of these days he’ll have to allow us to do some thinking on our own.”
Now she was brave enough to try the verse. “Mark, there’s something else. I think it’s a verse even you don’t know about.”
“What does it say?”
“That in Jesus there isn’t such as Jew or Greek, even men and women—we’re all the same.”
“I know about it.”
“Then you see what it means. Oh, Mark, I can hardly believe it!”
“That Jesus Christ doesn’t see you as less than me?”
She frowned and regarded him thoughtfully for a moment before slipping away from her original intention into the other thought the verse held. Slowly she said, “No, Mark, I was thinking of the baptism. Joseph teaches that baptism changes all of us who aren’t the literal descendants of the children of Israel, so that we have their Jewish blood in our veins.”
When Jenny slowly followed Mark up the stairs to their bedroom, she was wistfully thinking of the verse, wondering why she couldn’t push aside that amazing thought. All are alike in Jesus’ eyes. All have the same rights—to enjoy eternity, without having a man take them there.
What would Mark think of that? And what about having a man look at her with respect in his eyes, as if what she had to say was important?
As Jenny slipped into bed beside Mark, she saw the expression in his eyes and paused. Sometimes she felt as if Mark might feel that way. But what would he say right now if she were to pound her pillow and demand he say what he was thinking?
Chapter 32
“What is the mystery of God, of Christ?” Jenny pondered as she slowly turned the pages in her Bible. “In here there’s talk about the hidden wisdom which God set up before He created the world. Oh, what does this mean? ‘Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.’ Why? There’s something here so big, and I can’t understand it!”
She sat staring at the Book. “The Lord of glory, that’s Jesus Christ.” As she read further, the puzzle became more complex. When she put aside the Book and started her morning tasks, she mulled over the words which had dropped into her mind. “Eyes haven’t seen and ears haven’t heard. God has prepared great things for us who love Him! That means even Joseph doesn’t know—or does he?”
Those who love God. Did she love God? What did that mean? Joseph didn’t talk about doing because of love. He talked about earning eternal life by the righteousness of deeds.
Later as Jenny bathed John Mark and dressed him, a verse jumped into her mind whole, impossible to forget. At the most unexpected moments it bounded into her thoughts. “‘Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,’” she murmured, “‘but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.’” As she sat down to feed the baby, she considered the words that followed: “‘So the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit because they are foolish to him. Spiritually discerned.’ That’s why Joseph is so far above us.”
It was afternoon when Jenny carried the sleeping infant to the buggy. Feeling the sweet weight of him brought tears to her eyes. She squeezed him tight and he flung a tiny arm against her. When she bent to kiss the hand, her tears dampened it.
When Jenny reached Joseph’s office, Clayton was just leaving. He closed the door carefully and said, “Mark isn’t here right now. He’s made a trip to Carthage today.”
“I know. It’s Joseph I want to see.” The man looked uneasy and Jenny explained, “It’s religious counsel.” He reddened.
Joseph opened the door. “Come in, Jenny.” His eyes brightened, and for just one moment Jenny remembered the last time she had been alone with him.
“I need instruction,” she said loudly as she entered. She heard the shuffle of feet as Clayton went back to his office. Joseph closed the door and motioned for Jenny to be seated.
“Your sermon. About sealing for posterity’s sake.”
“Yes, what about it?”
She bit her lip. “Mark won’t. He says he doesn’t believe in it. What shall I do?”
“Jenny, you don’t understand the teachings. You’ve already been sealed to me. When there’s a sealing for eternity, the offspring of the wife is automatically credited to the spiritual mate. Your baby belongs to me for all eternity.”
The facts lined up in Jenny’s mind as she looked at Joseph. John Mark was safe for all eternity. He would have an opportunity for eternal progression, under Joseph. John Mark no longer belonged to Mark; in the sight of God he was Joseph’s baby.
She could only stare at Joseph as he leaned back in his chair and made a tent of his fingers. His face was pulled down into a troubled frown. “However, Jenny, I must remind you. Our marriage, with all the rights attested to it, still awaits validation. Until it is consummated, your little one is no better off than an infidel.”
John Mark pulled her finger into his mouth and began to suck on it. As she stared down at him, he grinned and waved a pudgy fist. Her heart sank. “Joseph, I must think some more.”
She rose to leave. He was still watching and she thought of all she had been saving to ask him. Slowly Jenny said, “I’ve had so many questions. You are our contact with God. The spirit tells you, and the rest of us only wonder.”
“Perhaps you’d understand better if you were to obey the light you have. Jenny, you are not obedient to the gospel.”
“The Bible says the blood of Jesus frees us from things the law couldn’t. What?”
“The crucifixion purchases resurrection from the dead. This is for all people.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. It is only through obedience to the true church that we have the right to the highest heaven and all that implies: kingdoms, godhood, eternal progress. It makes the troubles we endure down here seem insignificant, doesn’t it?”
“Then, Joseph, what is the mystery of Christ?”
Jenny felt as if her head whirled with knowledge. But her heart was even heavier than it had been when she had first entered the office.
She shifted John Mark to her other arm and hesitated. Joseph waited. “You tell us the Bible isn’t translated correctly,” Jenny said. “You give us so much wisdom and knowledge, spirit direction. But, Joseph, I don’t understand it all.
“Why is it that when I read the Bible, the words sing through me? I can’t forget some of them. God so loved us that He gave, that whosoever might have eternal life just by believing in Jesus. Aren’t we ‘whosoever’? Joseph, who was Jesus? Why does He say we must be born again?”
Clayton was at the door waiting to come in. Apologetically he said, “I don’t mean to bother, if you need more time.” Jenny shook her head, but her eyes were studying the books and the large ch
arts he held. He shuffled through them and lifted one. “’Tis of the heavens. The Prophet and I have been seeking the ancient knowledge of the heavens. My, what amazing things we’ve discovered.”
“About the universe?” Jenny questioned.
“No, about the influence of energy and the stars. Of their magnetic force released on the people of the earth. Did you know we are under these influences?”
Feeling even more confused, Jenny shook her head and left the office. As she got into the buggy she murmured, “I still don’t understand the mystery of Christ. Why wouldn’t the princes have crucified Him?”
“Being a mama is harder on a lady than I thought.”
Jenny looked up. Tom was standing beside the buggy, grinning at her and reaching for his nephew. “Hey, big fella. When we goin’ huntin’ together?” John Mark drooled and reached for Tom’s beard.
“I’m sorry; I just didn’t see you. Where are you headed? Do you want a ride?”
“Going up to Nauvoo House. Emma’s all set to take off on the steamboat, bound for St. Louis to buy some fancies for the place.”
Jenny exclaimed, “Oh, the luck! I wish I were going, too. New clothes and new furniture, oh, my! But where do you fit in?”
“Joseph just wants me to settle the lady in. So I’ll go up and drive her in the carriage to the wharf.”
“Come out for supper with Mark.”
He shook his head. “Lee’s outta town. Joseph’s tapped me for duty at the house tonight. I do want to see Mark; you might let the word drop. I got a lot on my mind, and I want his advice.”
“Love or finances?” Jenny teased. Tom glared, and she laughed. “Well, come when you can. It’s been a month since you’ve been out.”
“Yeah.” He paused. “I heard Mark ruffled Pratt’s feathers a couple of weeks ago.”
“It’s been around,” Jenny mused. “Seems Mark’s having a harder time keeping quiet lately. Tom, I’m worried for him. He won’t sign up for the endowments. You heard the sermon. What does that mean to John Mark?”
“Maybe nothing at all.”
Tom stood watching his sister drive out of sight. Her slender figure in the dark calico seemed especially vulnerable, fragile; he wondered at his uneasiness.
Walking back to the stables behind Nauvoo House, Tom was pondering the effect of the summer’s assignment on his feelings. “A body can’t help being influenced by it all.” He muttered, thinking of what he had seen and heard during the past months.
“One thing’s for sure. I’ll be very happy to chuck this job and go back to tending horses. They don’t give me no surprises.”
But later, as Tom settled himself on the cot in the back hall of Nauvoo House, he advised himself, “Can’t complain about this assignment.” Joseph had been finished with his calls early. The two of them had been back at Nauvoo House before ten o’clock. After a quick nightcap, Joseph had gone upstairs, leaving Tom to the devices of the kitchen maids.
New ones, they were, and he missed the friendly Partridge girls. He was still chuckling over the two as he settled himself to sleep close to the foot of the stairs.
The creak of the stairs awakened Tom. Dawn touched the windows with a rosy glow. As he sat up on the cot, Tom saw the heels of Brother Rushton, the steward, disappearing up the stairs. Realizing the man was going after the keys, Tom started up the stairs after him.
By the time Tom reached Joseph’s door, Rushton had already tapped and pushed open the door. Tom was behind Rushton as the startled young woman sat up in bed. “Oh!” She pulled the sheet higher and smiled at the two. “My, you startled me nearly as much as I startled you!” She turned and reached for the keys. “Well, for this week, you’ll just have to pretend I’m sister Emma.”
Tom saw the bedcovers heave, and another head appeared. Joseph sat up. Tom’s fascinated gaze froze on the brilliant red nightshirt the Prophet was wearing. After several silent seconds, the Prophet added, “You heard the lady—now be off.”
He was still glaring at Tom as Brother Rushton closed the door behind them. “Tom,” Brother Rushton said, “I have an idea the General would rather we didn’t mention seeing him under these circumstances. Particularly since we’ll have to put up with sister Emma being gone all week.” Tom watched him go slowly down the stairs, shaking his head.
When Tom reached the farm the next evening, Mark was in the barn milking. He said, “For a young fella without the burden of land and family, you sure do look down in the mouth.”
“Might say I am. Might be ’cause I’m fearing what you’ve indicated.”
“Aw, it isn’t so bad, dear brother-in-law,” Mark was laughing until he lifted his head from the cow’s flank. Then his face sobered and he said, “It is? Better pull up a log and tell me about it.”
“It’s this priesthood thing. I suppose you’ve heard the rumors, even if you haven’t been tapped for it yet.”
“I’m on the council. I’m guessing. It’s the everlasting covenant of marriage, isn’t it.”
Tom nodded. “I don’t even have one wife, and can’t say I’m overanxious for one. Now Joseph is saying I do or be damned. Mark, I’ve been right happy with the church all along, seemed a jolly way to have religion, even in the rough times.”
“Even in Missouri?”
“Aw, that was rough on the women and children. But most of the fellas managed to tough it through.”
“Not minding it?”
“How do I say it? When you listen to a fella like Joseph, you manage to swallow the questions and just get on with it.” He looked at Mark. “Sure, I know with a family there’s fears a body wouldn’t have otherwise.”
“Tom,” Mark said slowly, “do you ever get the idea we might be heading the same direction now?”
“As Missouri? I hate having you put it out in words.”
“Maybe it’s time for all of us to get our heads out of the sand.” Mark had finished the milking and fed the pigs before he asked, “What’s on your mind?”
Tom looked astonished, “I thought I said.”
“I had the feeling it was something more.”
“Aw, I busted in on Joseph and the wife of one of the elders.” Mark said nothing, and so Tom added, “At six in the morning they weren’t discussing the doctrine of the church.”
“I understand there’s quite a bit of that thing going on.” Mark’s voice was muffled as he pitched straw into the corner of the barn.
“You don’t act too concerned.”
“Let’s say there’s little one fellow can do. If you want to join a committee for reform, you just might find a bunch of husbands around who are willing.”
Tom shook his head. “I have the feeling Joseph will be converting the husbands faster than we can.”
“Meanwhile, there’s your problem,” Mark said soberly. “You want to make it in the hereafter, but on your own terms—which differ somewhat from the Prophet’s.”
“Aw,” Tom grinned sheepishly, “you don’t make me sound so good. Matter-of-fact, I guess my big problem is I’m starting to have some questions about the whole deal. I guess I’ll just have to find somewhere to sit tight until I get a few answers. I’d hate to decide I’d made a big mistake about Joseph, the church, and his new ideas about the kingdom of God, and wake up to find I have four wives and sixteen kids.”
“Matter-of-fact, Tom, that’s about the wisest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” He slapped Tom on the shoulder. “Let’s go have some supper.”
Chapter 33
Jenny was peering out the window when Mark came into the kitchen. “Last night’s storm blew the rest of the leaves off the trees,” she said, “and now it looks like it’s going to snow.”
“I’m not too crazy about you and tyke out on the road, especially just for Relief Society meeting.”
“I hate to miss. Not just the quilting for Nauvoo House, but the gossip. I never imagined this fall and winter would be shoving up such things to talk about.”
“Like?”
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nbsp; “Orson Pratt and another fellow are headed for Washington, carrying a petition to Congress. Sarah told me a little about it. She says it’s pushing our plea to be made into an independent federal territory. Joseph’s also asked that the Nauvoo Legion be incorporated into the United States Army and that the mayor of the Nauvoo be given authority to call out the United States troops whenever necessary.” She stopped suddenly and Mark looked up. “You know all this; why are you getting me to talk?”
“Maybe I wanted to hear what was going around in Relief Society.”
“Do you think we’re getting things differently?”
“Yes. In fact, I have a feeling you ladies are adoring slaves of the Prophet, and that he can convince you to say anything.”
Speechless, Jenny looked at Mark. Finally she said, “It’s a good thing your eyes are twinkling, otherwise—”
“What?” Now she saw his eyes were very serious.
“Mark!” She rushed to him, and he caught her tight against him. “Oh, Mark, what’s happening to us? It isn’t just to us two, it’s everyone.”
“You tell me.” His voice was flat, and she leaned back to look at him. Slowly she raised herself on tiptoe and put her arms around his neck. He met her lips, but she saw the shadows in his eyes. He was first to turn away. “Maybe this early storm has more significance than we guessed. Could be a barometer of Nauvoo.”
“A gathering storm in Nauvoo?” She paused, then insisted, “But—loyalty to the church. Mark, you just don’t give up on a thing because the going is rough.”
“Jenny, are you trying to convince yourself?”
She whispered, “Let’s have a happy Christmas. Last year was wonderful because of the excitement of a baby coming. This year let’s celebrate and celebrate. Let’s invite everyone we can think of.”
“Jenny,” he chided with a smile, “this isn’t Nauvoo House. There are limits to the number of people who’ll fit into this house.”
Jenny made her Christmas plans. But life in Nauvoo continued to change. Before Christmas Joseph Smith’s petition to Congress had been rejected.