History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 5Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 5
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
There are several small companies of men in Montrose, Nashville,
Keokuk, &c., in search of Joseph, they saw his horse go down the
river yesterday, and were confident he was on that side. They
swear they will have him. It is said there is a reward of thirteen
hundred dollars offered for the apprehension and delivery of Joseph
and Rockwell, and this is supposed to have induced them to make
search. The sheriff and deputy have uttered heavy threats several
times; saying that if they could not find Joseph they would lay the
city in ashes. They say they will tarry in the city a month, but
what they will find him.
Great freshet in Virginia, Indian murders in Florida, and riots in
Canada are reported in this day's _Wasp_.
_Sunday, 14_.--Spent the forenoon chiefly in conversation with Emma on
various subjects, and in reading my history with her--both felt in good
spirits and very cheerful. Wrote the following letter to Wilson Law
(who was officially reported to have been duly elected to the Office of
major-general of the Nauvoo Legion) as follows:
{93} _Letter of the Prophet to Wilson Law--Directing the Latter How
to Proceed on Certain Contingencies Arising_.
HEADQUARTERS OF NAUVOO LEGION, August 14, 1842.
_Major-General Law_:
DEAR GENERAL:--I take this opportunity to give you some
instructions how I wish you to act in case our persecutors should
carry their pursuits so far as to tread upon our rights as
free-born American citizens. The orders which I am about to give
you, are the result of a long series of contemplations since I
saw you. I have come fully to the conclusion both since this last
difficulty commenced as well as before, that I never would suffer
myself to go into the hands of the Missourians alive, and to go
into the hands of the officers of this state is nothing more or
less than to go into the hands of the Missourians; for the whole
farce has been gotten up unlawfully and unconstitutionally, as well
on the part of the Governor as others, by a mob spirit, for the
purpose of carrying out mob violence, to carry on mob intolerance
in a religious persecution. I am determined, therefore, to keep
out of their hands, and thwart their designs, if possible, that
perhaps they may not urge the necessity of force and bloodshed
against their own fellow citizens, and loyal subjects [of the
state], and become ashamed and withdraw their pursuits. But if they
should not do this, and shall urge the necessity of force; and if
I by any means should be taken, these are therefore to command you
forthwith, without delay, regardless of life or death, to rescue me
out of their hands. And further, to treat any pretensions to the
contrary, unlawful and unconstitutional, and as a mob got up for
the purpose of a religious persecution to take away the rights if
men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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