A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAnderson, Nephi
Religion
A Young Folks' History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Anderson, Nephi
Latter Day Saint churches
And now came again Governor Boggs, of Missouri. He, it seems, had not had
enough, so he asked Governor Carlin to deliver to him Joseph and the other
brethren who had escaped from Missouri. Governor Carlin of Illinois, made
out the papers for the brethren's arrest, but the officer could not find
them when he went to Nauvoo. He therefore returned without his prisoners,
and nothing more was done in the matter until nearly a year later, when
Joseph was visiting the governor at Quincy. Governor Carlin treated Joseph
kindly, but as soon as the Prophet had left, some of the officers were sent
after him. They overtook Joseph and arrested him on the old charge from
Missouri. However, they went on to Nauvoo, where the sheriff, being sick,
was taken good care of by his prisoner. As it was Joseph's right by law to
be tried in Illinois, he was permitted to have a hearing before Judge
Stephen A. Douglas, in Monmouth, Illinois. There was great excitement at
the trial, some of his enemies trying to excite a mob against him. At the
close of the hearing Joseph was set free by the judge.
Dr. J.C. Bennett was the mayor of Nauvoo, and held other high positions;
but he proved to be a very wicked man. At one time, when the Legion was
having a sham fight, Bennett tried to get Joseph into a position that he
might be shot without anyone knowing who did it. This did not succeed. Then
he began to commit sin, and say that Joseph upheld him in it. Bennett was
of course cut off from the Church, after which he wrote many false things
against Joseph and the Saints and was the means of bringing much
persecution on them.
In May, 1842, Ex-Governor Boggs of Missouri was shot at and wounded by some
person in Independence. Although at this time they were hundreds of miles
from Independence, Joseph Smith and O.P. Rockwell were charged with this
crime, and again papers were issued for their arrest. They were tried in
Nauvoo and acquitted. As the Missourians were trying many schemes to take
Joseph to Missouri and there kill him, he went in hiding for a time. Every
effort was made to take Joseph, and rewards were offered for his capture.
Elder Rockwell was kidnapped and taken to Missouri, where he was
ill-treated, but at last escaped.
Thomas Ford now became governor of Illinois and to him Joseph went. The
governor prevailed upon Joseph to stand another trial, which was held at
Springfield, Illinois. Joseph was again proved innocent and released.
But the fiends from Missouri would not give up. Once again he was taken
while away from Nauvoo, by two officers, who abused him shamefully. I
cannot tell you all about his exciting adventures--that you must read in a
larger history--but at last he arrived safe again in Nauvoo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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