Finally, if honor dignifies an honest people, if virtue exalts a community, if wisdom guides great men, if principle governs intelligent beings, if humanity spreads comfort among the needy, and if religion affords consolation by showing that charity is the first, best, and sweetest token of perfect love, then, O ye good people of Missouri, like the woman in Scripture _who had lost one of her ten pieces of silver_, arise, search diligently till you find the lost piece, and then make a feast, and call in your friends for joy. With due consideration, I am the friend of all good men, JOSEPH SMITH. Nauvoo, Ill., March 8, 1843. Surely this was going as far in the interests of peace as men or God could require him to go; but alas! there was to be no peace. Footnotes 1. Matt. x: 34-40. 2. August, 1833, Doc. & Cov. Sec. xcviii. CHAPTER XXXVI. "IN PERIL AMONG FALSE BRETHREN." THE winter of 1843-4 was big with events affecting the destinies of Nauvoo. During that winter were set on foot conspiracies which culminated in the destruction of Nauvoo. Men who stood nearest to the Prophet Joseph, and who were bound in honor to defend his life, not bare the knives that were to strike him down, combined together in secret covenant for his overthrow. Owing to the constant efforts of the Prophet's enemies in Missouri, to capture him and drag him to Missouri where he might be murdered with impunity, the force of police in Nauvoo was increased by the appointment of forty night-guards to patrol the city. These made it less convenient for the conspirators, who worked, as men ever do when engaged in such business--in the darkness. The night guards several times came in contact with men moving about the city in a manner which, to say the least, was suspicious; and soon complaints were made by these same parties that the city government was arbitrary and oppressive; they claimed that these night-watchmen threatened their peace and even started rumors that Joseph had appointed them for the purpose of intimidation.