Morning Star

by Marian Wells

  “Sally told me before she killed herself that she couldn’t handle the guilt of deceiving her husband by allowing you to love her. There are many other women just as desperate.

  “Joseph, you’ve preyed on our fear of God and a deep desire to be holy; but more than that, I am aware of the strange attraction you hold for women, because I’ve felt it myself.

  “Once away from you, I’ve suffered guilt and wondered why I was so attracted. Joseph, it might be just you—but I don’t think so.

  “You know I had a talisman. Until I made up my mind to get rid of it, I felt an almost irresistible attraction in your presence. Joseph, you know I was involved in the craft for years. But what you don’t know is how it corrupted my life, twisting me with fear. I tried to escape that fear by being a good Mormon, but that didn’t help.

  “I soon discovered you and your church held me with bonds of fear. You’ve taught it is wrong to question and that we must give total submission to you and the church. You used the spiritual wife doctrine as a whip. And I know I wasn’t the only one. I’m certain you’ve used the same whip on other women, and with more success.”

  Jenny stopped to take a deep breath. “Joseph, I’ve come to ask you some questions. Because you see, I still don’t know the heart of you. Can you honestly say you are called of God? If the welfare of your church and your people are of the utmost importance to you, if you really love us, will you please get rid of the talisman?”

  For a moment he stared at her in astonishment. “I am certain,” she said, “that it is the link of Satan in your life, destroying us all with a doctrine that is from the evil one.” His face was beginning to soften into a grin.

  Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the talisman and held it up, balancing it on his fingertips.

  For a moment Jenny teetered on her toes, tempted to snatch it and fling it over the rooftop and into the inky night. Then she relaxed. The decision must come from him.

  He kissed the medal and slipped it back into his pocket. “No, my dear. I can’t live without the protection of the talisman.” Even in the darkness she could see the change on his face. His eyes were shadowed; the lines on his face and the timber of his voice spelled fear.

  Slowly and thoughtfully, he spoke as if he had forgotten her presence. “At times it seems I’ve collected more enemies than friends during my life. I fear they’ll never be satisfied until they have my blood. Could it be my days are numbered? No, it shall not be. The Lord has work for me to do. He’ll not call me home before my time.”

  He stirred, and the old arrogant grin returned. “Meanwhile, my dear, I intend to make the most of my time.” He reached for her.

  Jenny sidestepped. “I still have lungs,” she warned. “Joseph, that isn’t all I have to say. You told me to read my Bible as well as the Book of Mormon and the rest of the writings. I did. It wasn’t long until I found the Bible holding my complete attention.

  “Joseph, it was God speaking to me! I heard the love, I saw Jesus living, loving, teaching repentance, begging people just to reach out and accept the gift of himself. I wanted to be friends with that Man and I discovered that touching Him was touching God.

  “Joseph, I found it was utter arrogance to think I could earn my way to heaven. God says He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He doesn’t want our sacrifices. He wants our love.”

  Jenny stopped. She could see her words were wasted. “The talisman?”

  “I intend to keep it. I need all the protection and help it has to offer.”

  ****

  When Jenny reached Higbee’s store the meeting was over. She stood blinking in the lamplight while Mark dumped the warm, sleepy child into her arms.

  Chapter 40

  “Young man, if you don’t hold still I’ll never get you dressed, and your father will take you to Sabbath service wearing only a diaper.” Jenny paused to kiss John Mark’s upturned face. “There.” She set him on the floor.

  Mark was chuckling. “Remember last year? He was only a mite. Can hardly believe a year could do that to a baby.”

  Jenny straightened Mark’s collar and said, “It’s time to be thinking about another. She frowned at his expression. “You don’t like the idea?”

  “I think if we’re wanting to hear the sermons, we’d better get going.”

  “Church conference,” Jenny murmured. “Joseph won’t lose his opportunity to state what’s on his mind. Today the crowd will be the largest in months. Has Willian Law told you who the spies were at Higbee’s?”

  Mark shook his head. “Could come out in the sermon. Are you ready to leave?”

  When they reached Nauvoo, Jenny stated, “It’s fortunate the weather’s clear and warm today. Look at the size of the crowd.”

  Mark’s voice was only a rumble and she leaned close to listen. “It’s a good time for strangers to mingle in with the Saints to get a feel of things.” He gave her a quick look and explained, “There’s enough to whet the curiosity of any number of people.”

  “Politics?”

  He nodded. “There’re thoughts floating around. John D. Lee’s been calling Joseph the salvation of the nation. The newspapers are rumbling about it, at least those who are seriously considering Joseph’s talk about running for president. They’re dropping phrases like ‘the monstrous union of church and state’ under Joseph.”

  “Is that good?”

  “Terrible—unless you want someone telling you which church to belong to.” Mark found a spot under the trees, helped Jenny out of the buggy, and picked up John Mark.

  Joseph and the elders marched to the pulpit. After a brief reference to Elder King Follett, who had been killed in an accident the week before, Joseph began his sermon. “There are few in the world who understand God. In order to help you along the way, we must go back to creation. We see the great Elohim sitting yonder as He did at the creation. Some call me a false prophet. I will prove them wrong by helping them know about God. If I can bring you to a knowledge of God, persecution against me should stop.

  “For now, I will go to the beginning. God himself was once as we are now. He is an exalted man, seated on His throne in the heavenlies. In addition, God the Father dwelt on earth, just as His Son Jesus did. As the Father had power to lay down His life, so also did the Son. As He had the power to take up life again, so did the Son. I tell you, my brethren, you have got to learn to be gods yourself.

  “The Father worked for His kingdom with fear and trembling; we must do likewise. Jesus treads in the footsteps of His Father, inheriting what God the Father did before Him. We shall all do likewise.”

  Joseph paused before adding, “I’ve been reading the Bible in Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and German. I find the German nearest to the translation the Lord gave to me. Now, I want you to hear me. It doesn’t say God created the spirit of man. It expressly says He put Adam’s spirit into man.

  “The mind or intelligence of man is coequal with God himself. God never had the power to create man’s spirit. That would be like God creating himself. Remember, intelligence is eternal.” As Joseph paused, his brooding eyes swept the people listening with upturned faces. “Some of you will reject this word. If I were a false teacher no man would seek my life. If a man thinks he is authorized to take away my life, let me say by the same token we are justified in taking away the life of every false teacher.

  “Knowledge saves a man. In the greater world to which the spirits go, a man can be exalted only by knowledge. I address you apostates; when a man turns against the work, he seeks to kill me. I warn you, such persons cannot be saved.”

  As Jenny and Mark turned to join the crowd making its way out of the temple grove, Jenny said, “Mark, there’s Tom!” She waved frantically, and they pressed toward each other through the tide of people. Jenny embraced Tom, saying, “You shall come home with us! We didn’t even know you were back.”

  They had nearly finished dinner when Mark asked, “Tom, what’s the Texas situation?”

  “Pretty hopef
ul, if Joseph’s serious about pulling up stakes. I can’t believe it, though. There’s been too much invested here.”

  “Might be necessary,” Mark added, reaching for more chicken.

  Tom squinted up at him. “That bad, huh?”

  “Yes, he’s worried. Nearly every time he speaks it comes out that he’s worried by the opposition. I think he reads every newspaper in the country.”

  Mark saw Tom’s quick look and said, “Yes, he’s confided in me, but I don’t think the Saints for the most part know how deeply concerned he is.”

  Jenny glanced at Mark and Tom said, “What’s going on?”

  “As close as you are to Joseph, I expected you to know.”

  “Don’t forget I’ve been out of town for over a month.”

  Jenny interrupted. “Let’s talk of something else. Tom, I’ve finally come to the point where I had to reject Joseph’s church.”

  “That comes as a shock right now. Any good reason?”

  “I’ve been reading the Bible and I’ve come to see either I go Jesus Christ’s way or Joseph’s. I can’t have both, because they are completely opposite each other.”

  He studied her face, reached for the plate of bread, and said, “I guess I’m not surprised, come to think of it. Mark’s a pretty strong talker.”

  She lifted her chin. “Mark didn’t influence me. I simply—” She stared at Mark, then looked at her brother. “Tom, after the fascination of everything else wore off, I just came back to where I belonged. I was going to say I chose, but I didn’t. It was more like the Lord had my hand and just pulled me back to where I belonged.

  “Once I decided, there was no alternative. I felt like I was home.” She leaned across the table to look at Tom. “Do you know the feeling?” When he shook his head, she said, “Well, I didn’t, either. I didn’t realize all the things I didn’t like inside of me would be the very things God would take away. Sin.”

  Tom said slowly, “You said ‘fascination.’ What do you mean?”

  She faced him without flinching. “Witchcraft, Mormonism. They were fascinating, you know. An obsession.”

  Mark followed Tom out to the barn and watched him saddle his horse. As Tom swung himself onto the mare, he said, “So Jen’s got religion. Did she ever tell you about jumping into the river?”

  “No,” Mark said slowly, “and after what happened to Sally, I’d never ask.”

  Mark was thinking, as Tom rode down the lane, that his brother-in-law looked as if there was another question he wanted to ask. Jenny and John Mark came out of the house, and Mark watched as the sun caught the baby’s bright hair and turned it into a halo.

  Mark struggled with thoughts he couldn’t allow. At times just knowing about the plural marriage seemed to make it more difficult. If she hadn’t told him, could he have put the whole thing out of his mind? He sighed and walked slowly toward his family.

  Tuesday evening when Mark rode into the yard, Jenny was sitting on the back steps while John Mark charged about the yard carrying his wooden spoon. She fluttered her fingers at him and he went on to the barn.

  When he carried the pail of milk into the kitchen, he said, “I thought you intended coming to the office after Relief Society meeting.”

  She looked startled. “Oh, I did. Just forgot. I hope I didn’t delay you.” Mark shook his head, wondering but not daring to question. As he put the milk in the kitchen, he added another question to the list in his mind.

  That night of the meeting at Higbee’s store, nearly frantic with worry, he had questioned her about the delay. She had been short when she answered his question. Briefly, she stated she had been on the roof with Joseph and Clayton.

  They were still sitting at the table after dinner when Jenny met his eyes and slowly said, “Today Emma passed around a statement which she had prepared and submitted to the Nauvoo Neighbor. Have you seen it?”

  He shook his head and waited. Jenny sighed deeply. “In essence it rails against Dr. John C. Bennett’s spiritual wife system. Mark, that wasn’t his idea!”

  “He’s accused of it, whether or not he’s to blame.”

  She continued, “Other than placing the blame on him, it was really a nothing statement. She mentioned polygamy, bigamy, adultery, and so on. One of the women whispered to me that she’d heard Dr. Bennett claim that all the Relief Society women were to be the Prophet’s wives.” Lifting her face, she said, “Mark, this is so terrible! There are so many women in the group.”

  As Mark blew out the lamp and they started up the stairs, he was miserably aware of the questions rising up in his heart. Why did she care how many there were? He watched as Jenny pulled the blanket over John Mark. Would he ever be totally free of the taint Joseph had left on his marriage? He needed that freedom in his life. Strange that it had to be dealt with every day.

  He paused in the doorway. “Jenny, I think I’ll go down and read for a while.” He turned away from the hurt question in her eyes.

  At the end of the week, as Mark rode into Nauvoo, William Law met him with newspaper in hand. “Well, friend,” he said heavily, “the guesses were right. There’s a neat little article here in the Nauvoo Neighbor detailing nearly everything we discussed at that first meeting at Higbee’s.

  “There’s even a fairly accurate account of Joseph’s attempted seduction of Mrs. Foster. No comment by Joseph in the article, just the sublime implication that he is being persecuted.” He shoved the paper into his satchel. “Brother, I think our hand is being forced.”

  “What is the next step?” Mark asked slowly.

  “Depends,” Law said. “You haven’t been suspected yet. So far as Joseph knows you’re untainted. That’s good, since you’re his attorney. I’d like to suggest you keep it that way for the sake of the free flow of information, which we’ll need badly.”

  “Sooner or later the Angels will be able to link us.”

  “Probably, but let’s play for time. There’s to be a meeting tonight at Higbee’s. Stay home, I’ll bring you up-to-date later. If need be, I’ll ride out to your place.”

  He started to turn away and then said, “By the way, Mark, I still believe in the Prophet. I intend with every power of persuasion at my disposal to call Joseph to genuine repentance.”

  “It’s a waste without confession—at least to the brethren, if not to the whole church. He’s in too deep to profess change without it.”

  “That could be nasty. What about the presidential election?”

  “It would ruin any hopes,” Mark added.

  “Nevertheless, it must be done.”

  “You’ve been threatened before.”

  “You’re referring to the Destroying Angels?” Mark nodded. “Then let me tell you what I intend. Since Joseph won’t take my call for reformation seriously, I intend to set up a church of my own. I feel this will force his hand. I’ve also ordered a printing press. Joseph and I’ll be trading tit for tat before June rolls around.

  “Also, if there isn’t immediate action on Joseph’s part, I intend to sue, charging him with adultery.”

  Slowly Mark said, “William, you are a very brave man. I’ll help you as much as I can. Are you certain I’ll be most valuable by keeping my mouth shut?”

  He nodded. “By the way, Higbee’s suing Joseph for five thousand dollars, charging him with slander.”

  Chapter 41

  When Mark entered the livery stable that blustery April afternoon, Tom was at the forge and William Law was with him. “Heading for home?” Law asked. Mark nodded as he threw the saddle on his mare, and Law added, “Well, I’d ride with you, but I’ve an errand that will detain me about fifteen minutes.” His eyes held Mark’s.

  “I’ll see you some other time,” Mark said, leading his horse out. He looked at Tom. “If you’re out our way tomorrow, stop for supper.” Tom nodded and reached for a nail.

  Mark lingered on the trail until William caught up with him. “Why the secrecy? Tom can keep his mouth shut.”

  “Can’t risk the
information I have. Foster’s been gathering a bunch of witnesses to use against Joseph in this trial called against him. Seems Joseph got wind of it and set up a secret council meeting. The outcome? Foster, Wilson, Jane, and I were all excommunicated. Without a hearing,” he added. Mark watched him silently as he slowly shook his head.

  “It was really a blow,” Law continued, “but not a one of our group is willing to back down now.”

  Slowly Mark said, “By rights I should have been on that council; Joseph didn’t say a word to me.”

  “The first meeting of our new church will be this next Sabbath,” Law said. “I just wanted you to know, but don’t put in an appearance. We still need you where you are.”

  By the time Mark reached home, he had decided to say nothing to Jenny for the time being. He kissed her and said, “There’s a big parade and speeches in Nauvoo tomorrow. If it isn’t too blustery, would you like to go?”

  Her face lighted, “Oh, Mark, how nice! What are we celebrating?”

  “Nothing that I know of. I think it’s just a show of force. You know the Prophet is getting ready to announce his candidacy for the presidency. A parade will raise everyone’s spirits.”

  The following day was warm and sparkling from the nighttime shower. As they joined the wagons and buggies streaming into Nauvoo, Jenny said, “This parade must be more important than you thought. Look at the people.”

  “Finding a place to leave a buggy is getting to be a problem,” Mark said. “I’ll let you and John Mark off here in front of the Nauvoo Mansion. Walk toward the business section, and I’ll meet you.”

  Carrying John Mark, Jenny hurried across the street. A flurry of activity at the front door of the hotel caught her eye, and she paused to watch. Emma, followed by her children, was being helped into a handsome new carriage.

  “The grand lady is going to be in the parade too,” the wizened, gray-haired lady at her elbow said. “Do you know when the Prophet’s mother will return to Nauvoo? I knew her back in Palmyra days. I’d surely like to visit with her.”