The City of the Mormons; or, Three Days at Nauvoo, in 1842Caswall, Henry
History
The City of the Mormons; or, Three Days at Nauvoo, in 1842
Caswall, Henry
Latter Day Saints -- Illinois; Nauvoo (Ill.)
On the following morning (Monday, April 18th), I took my venerable Greek
manuscript of the Psalter, and proceeded to the ferry to obtain a
passage. The boatman, being engaged to take over a family emigrating to
Nauvoo, had provided himself with a heavy flat-boat, which promised us a
long voyage. The family soon came on board. It consisted of a
simple-looking American, his wife, and a numerous progeny. They had with
them two oxen, two cows and a calf, bedding, tables, chairs, and a
wooden clock. As we were about to push off, a traveller on horseback
came on board, whom I found to be one of the numerous "Gentiles" induced
by curiosity to visit the "Zion" of the West. The father of the family
stated that he had become confounded by the conflicting doctrines of the
sects, and imagined that in Mormonism he had finally discovered the only
true Church. Our heavy boat was rowed up about a mile close to the Iowa
shore. Having proceeded considerably above Nauvoo, the ferryman and his
men began to venture out into the broad stream, in order to cross. As I
was in haste to get over, I was permitted to take the small skiff
alongside, and, in company with the emigrant, to pull over to Nauvoo. On
the way, I held some conversation with my companion, and found him to be
thoroughly wedded to his delusion. Arriving at the city, I passed along
a straggling street of considerable length bordering on the strand.
Perceiving a respectable-looking store (or shop), I entered it, and
began to converse with the storekeeper. I mentioned that I had been
informed that Mr. Smith possessed some remarkable Egyptian curiosities,
which I wished to see. I added that, if Mr. Smith could be induced to
show me his treasures, I would show him in return a very wonderful book
which had lately come into my possession. The storekeeper informed me
that Mr. Smith was absent, having gone to Carthage that morning; but
that he would return about nine o'clock in the evening. He promised to
obtain for me admission to the curiosities, and begged to be permitted
to see the wonderful book. I accordingly unfolded it from the many
wrappers in which I had enveloped it, and, in the presence of the
storekeeper and many astonished spectators, whom the rumour of the
arrival of a strange book had collected, I produced to view its covers
of worm-eaten oak, its discoloured parchments, and its mysterious
characters. Surprise was depicted on the countenances of all present,
and, after a long silence, one person wiser than his fellows, declared
that he knew it to be a revelation from the Lord, and that probably it
was one of the lost books of the Bible providentially recovered. Looking
at me with a patronizing air, he assured me that I had brought it to the
right place to get it interpreted, for that none on earth but the Lord's
prophet could explain it, or unfold its real antiquity and value. "Oh,"
I replied, "I am going to England next week, and doubtless I shall find
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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