Nightfall at Nauvoo

Brief synopsis of a book based on early LDS, Mormon, history

(Samuel W. Taylor, author)

For the chronology of Nightfall At Nauvoo, click here

For information and background on the author

Note: Six copies of this book are available at Brigham Young University. An interlibrary book loan can often be arranged to pick up a copy.

Introduction to this summary:

The LDS, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (or Mormon Church) has long suppressed historical data relating to the early history of the LDS Church.

Many historical books documenting early Mormonism are classified by the LDS Church as "Anti-Mormon." An "approved" Mormon book puts low priority toward essential truth and a high priority toward "uplifting spiritual" content. Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, himself, "...was not primarily interested in facts so much as in establishing a mythology of his church."

Suppression about many aspects on the early history of the church has been long known. The early Mormons made bad neighbors -- secret polygamist living generated a major problem to the surrounding communities. Worst, firm denial by the Mormon hierarchy of this practice and its ensuing coverup generated even more friction. Things only grew from bad to worse. One lie led to two... two to four. Even a secret society of the militant "Danites" was formed for the purpose of supporting and upholding the Mormon hierarchy. These men were sworn by oath to secrecy. The Danite clan was used to act as a strong deterrent to those who would not follow "the prophet's" dictates... and even kill those who were firmly against the prophet whether they be members, believers or not.

Additionally, the Mormons were involved with stealing, counterfeiting, and controlling of the voting. With these undercurrents, Mormons were literally chased out of town after town. In every case, they caused such irritation to the community that the governors of both Missouri and Illinois finally had to take action. The Mormons called it "persecution." The community called it, more correctly, lawlessness. In the case of Nauvoo, Illinois, the final town settled in the east by the Mormons, it earned the very unsavory reputation as the "cesspool of inequity."

Unfortunately many books, including a number published by Samuel Taylor, one of which -- "Nightfall at Nauvoo," is one, are labeled by the LDS Church as "Anti-Mormon." Sadly, much of the true history has remained unread, particularly by the Mormon membership. Mormons are "admonished not to read these books lest they lose their testimony."

While "Nightfall at Nauvoo" reads like a novel, it is based upon an enormous pool of documented fact.

The Book:

Sam Taylor notes at the end of the book that he has written the book as a writer. "The historian is concerned with fact -- who, what, where, when, how." In contrast, "... the writer has to know why." Mr. Taylor adds, "My research was not for proof or for fact, but for essential truth."

At the cornerstone of Mormonism is Joseph Smith. He was the self-proclaimed prophet who claimed to have received ancient golden plates from which the Book Of Mormon was translated. A very charismatic character of tall stature, blond hair, blue eyes and strong build, Joseph Smith easily captured the audience. "Joe Smith had size, vitality, magnetism, a powerful and persuasive manner, and was expert from long practice in extemporaneous debate." Thomas Ford, the governor of Illinois wrote of him, "He could as occasion required be exceedingly meek in his deportment; and then again rough and boisterous as a highway robber.... he was full of levity, even to boyish romping; dressed like a dandy, and at times drank like a sailor and swore like a pirate."

Joseph Smith had a slight limp, and after breaking off a tooth when tarred and feathered in Missouri, had been left with a noticeable sibilant whistle to his speech -- particularly when emotionally worked up during a sermon.

Shortly after the founding of the LDS, Mormon religion, rumors surfaced that Joseph and a few of the hierarchy were practicing "celestial marriage," a disguised term for plural wives ... or polygamy.

Joseph's first wife, Emma was opposed to polygamy from the beginning, and started up a women's group to help fight the practice. Polygamy was secretly practiced by Joseph Smith and several of the hierarchy for ten years before their settling of Nauvoo. All during this time, the practice was always openly and firmly denied from the pulpit, with even most of the saints not knowing of this deep held celestial secret beyond just being "a rumor." In fact in the original "Doctrine and Convenants," (doctrinal word of God) the practice was forbidden. All through these initial ten years, no written religious doctrine existed condoning the practice. Only upon prompting by John C. Bennett, a key player in early Mormon history, was the doctrine finally changed in printed form; .... but, then, still only given to a select few in the higher ranks of the LDS Church.

All through this time, Emma fought against Joseph's many affairs with new "wives." Many of these wives were not even known to Emma. Several clashes occurred between Emma and Joseph over his "celestial marriage," plural wives, practice. The practice soon was so out of hand that even wives of other men were fair game both as "earthly" and "celestial" plural wives.

All three of the original witnesses to the Book of Mormon were not convinced of the ethical practice of polygamy. Two of those first high ranking members of the Mormon church feelt that Joseph Smith was a "fallen prophet," and left the church. The other, Sidney Rigdon, tenaciously fought the idea of polygamy, but steadfastly remained a member -- perhaps because he was next in command to Joseph over the many years, and perhaps his ill health put fear into his heart should the religion just happen to be true.

Mormon missionaries were constantly being sent to Great Britain to bring new members from overseas. Hundreds of new members emigrated to Nauvoo with the promise of owning land and gaining riches in the new world. Nauvoo soon found it's existence hinged not upon natural economic factors at work, but instead, a false economy that was driven by the money of the scores of incoming immigrants. Hundreds of skilled workers came to Nauvoo with no work to be found in their specialized skill. They soon found that farming was their only means of existence, and failed crops made this even tentative.

To add to the complication of polygamy, a John C. Bennett found Mormonism to fit his liking. "Bennett rose quickly in the church, soon becoming assistant to the President, next to Joseph. He was both a doctor of medicine and doctor of laws. His past consisted of involvement in the founding of four universities, and acting as president for one of them. At this time he was accused of selling medical degrees to anyone who could raise $10". But Bennett shrugged off this charge because back in the 1830's with or without a degree; "being a doctor was akin to being a preacher -- one got the 'call'." Bennett, before coming to Nauvoo had left his wife.

"He had written a number of articles for medical journals, and had been employed to raise funds and to organize a medical faculty at Willoughby University of Lake Erie. He was at Willoughby only a few months, then moved on, as he had moved on from other ventures. It seemed that he was forever running away from something. Through ability, quick wit, good looks, charm, and a gift for flattery, he found it easy to open doors to opportunity. But he never stayed long."

He quickly found favor from Joseph Smith and was escalated quickly into the hierarchy of the Mormon church within only months of joining. Joseph was attracted to Bennett's bold, wide gesture speaking style, and even copied it for his sermons. Bennett not only ended up second in command to Joseph, but was additionally put in charge of the Nauvoo Legion, turning it into a "crack city militia." "His legal and political experience would, he assured Joseph, get the Saints everything they wanted -- and more...."

Unfortunately, Sidney Rigdon's daughter put a monkey wrench in the overall workings. Nancy was a very beautiful girl. Nancy Rigdon became the apple of Bennett's eye -- "sparkling eyes, bewitching smile, tiny waist, and swelling bodice...." With the God ordained secret practice of polygamy -- "celestial marriage" --- for the chosen few, Nancy became a girl that Bennett aimed to conquer.

At first, Joseph was "delighted by his eager new convert," Bennett, and "was the first man he'd ever found who would do exactly what he wanted done, and do it at once."

"The Saints were exhorted to gather together, to come to Nauvoo, to leave the world of sin and come to their own island in the sea of iniquity. They were constantly told that while they lived in the world, they must keep apart from it, be not of it. Their own world, being the kingdom of God on earth, was perfect; the outside world was of the Devil. A Mormon had no faults; a Gentile (non Mormon) could have no virtues."

Bennett also had some good common sense. It was Bennett's realization that the Saints must be pulled down from their too lofty position to a more realistic one in agreement with the law of the land. Yet, Joseph insisted on independent control and rule. Bennett, reluctantly, took the bill fashioned by Joseph Smith to the legislature in Springfield and walked it through. "At Springfield he said little about the provisions of the charters, but bore down heavily on persecutions of the Saints." The bill would grant a charter to the city of Nauvoo, to the Nauvoo Legion, and to the University of the City of Nauvoo.

The following section is taken directly from the book,

But the happy Saints paid little heed to his warning. The Times and Seasons derided a paragraph in the Illinois Democrat that made a cloud in their sky no larger than a man's hand:

"THE DELUDED and INFATUATED MORMONS WERE MUSTERED LIKE so many regular soldiers," to the polls, it said, "by that INFAMOUS IMPOSTER JOE SMITH." The Saints paid no heed to the tract written by William Harris and published in Tom Sharp's Warsaw Signal, accusing Mormons of voting as their leaders dictated. It was a free county, wasn't it-a man could follow counsel if lie wished, couldn't he? The Quincy Whig was indignant that Lincoln's name had been scratched. Well, that was politics, wasn't it?

At one o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, January 2, 1841, citizens gathered at the store of William and Wilson Law, near the river on Water Street, where Dr. John C. Bennett addressed them "in relation to the municipal election." At this time candidates were put in nomination for the mayor, aldermen, and city council. The slate listed only one candidate for each position; the subsequent vote would merely sustain the ticket. John C. Bennett, nominated for mayor of the newly incorporated city, automatically would be elected.

The energetic and debonair doctor had indeed made progress within a short period of four months.

After elections, Nancy Rigdon listened raptly to the new mayor's inaugural address, thrilled at his grasp of local problems and his masterful presentation of solutions. But when she spoke enthusiastically of it on the way home, her father brought her up short. She wasn't getting interested in Bennett, was she? Face burning, she denied interest in a married man. But she pointed out they had an obligation to the doctor for the improvement in Sidney's health. Granted, Rigdon said; but they must maintain reserve toward a man with an inherent character defect. When Nancy asked what he meant, Sidney refused further comment.

AT SUNRISE, cannons boomed in Nauvoo. It was April 6, 1841, the great day in Israel. For the past week wagons had been arriving, setting up camp on the plains surrounding the city. Ferries had been transporting visitors from up, down, and across the river. Now there were some 12,000 people gathered from far and near for the laying of the cornerstone of the Nauvoo temple, and the commencement of the eleventh annual conference of the church.

- And of all this throng, perhaps the most exalted was Joseph Bates Noble, bishop of the Nauvoo Fifth Ward. In his bosom, burning with incredible joy, was the greatest secret of the new and everlasting covenant. He had been the instrument through which the practice of celestial marriage had been restored as in the days of Abraham. Only four people knew of this event, and Bishop Noble was humble to have been chosen to officiate.

As he shaved at the washbasin on the back porch, guiding the razor over the firm upper lip and carefully outlining the granite chin while leaving the fan of whiskers below, Bishop Noble met the reflection of his clear eyes in the mirror with humble serenity. He had tried hard to deserve the prophet's trust, but hadn't dreamed of being singled out for such a blessing and honor.

Joseph Noble was thirty-one years old, with a high forehead surmounted by a heavy thatch of wavy hair. Eight years ago he had been running a flouring mill at Penfield, New York, when three Mormon Elders stopped to preach at the neighboring town of Avon. Attending the meeting where Brigham Young, his brother John, and Heber C. Kimball spoke, Noble felt the spirit of God poured out in great measure; the young miller realized that he'd found the true gospel. To the consternation of his family, he left his mill to join the Saints.

Since then, he had been through the troubles at Jackson County, Missouri, at Kirtland, at Far West; he had twice been cured from what seemed fatal sickness by the laying on of hands; he had witnessed the visitations by celestial beings at the dedication of the Kirtland temple; he had gone on a mission for the church; and he had married Mary Beman, whose father, Alva, had actually handled the golden plates of the Book of Mormon, in helping Joseph hide them from a mob.

All this seemed preparation for an autumn day when Joseph, hiding from Missouri sheriffs as a result of the Tully affair, dropped in unannounced at Montrose and stayed for supper with the Nobles, filling the kitchen with his vitality and good humor. Noble was awed and thrilled by the presence of the prophet at his table, and noted how his wife, Mary, and her younger sister, Louisa, who was staying with them, were rapt, stars in their eyes, so overwhelmed that they scarcely paid attention to their plates.

Later, Joseph helped with the chores, and after bringing the milk in for Louisa to strain and put into pans, he turned abruptly and suggested to Noble that they take a walk.

It was a walk that Noble never forgot. The hardwood forest was ablaze with autumn colors, and as they strolled over the carpet of falling leaves the prophet talked about the restoration of the gospel of ancient times, the new and everlasting covenant. He talked of restoration of the priesthood; of organizing the church in this day according to how it was in the time of Jesus; of the opening of the heavens, with God speaking again to his chosen people, as of old; and of the fullness of the gospel as in the days of Abraham.

They had walked and talked for an hour or more, before Noble realized that the prophet was laying the groundwork for something so astonishing that an iron band seemed to constrict Noble's chest. Since he had first joined the church, there had been rumors of polygamy among the Saints, and Joseph had furiously denounced it time and time again, rooting out and cutting off sinners engaged in such hellish practices. And yet now, as he and the prophet walked through the woods in their autumn glory, Joseph was saying that if one believed the gospel of Abraham, one must do the works of Abraham, that the prophets of Abraham's time had many wives, and that the prophets of the restored gospel, to receive their fullest blessings, must do likewise.

Noble was appalled. He broke into the prophet's discourse, crying that this must be of the Devil. Then, grasping at a straw, he suggested that Joseph was merely putting him to the test, saying the most outrageous thing the mind could comprehend, to see if his faith was sufficient to accept whatever came from the lips of the prophet.

Joseph declared solemnly that he never had been more serious. He himself had refused to believe the Lord's word, until an angel with drawn sword had appeared, who had told him the gospel could not progress one single step farther until this commandment was accepted.

Accepted? Noble clutched at the word. Accepted in principle, but not practiced in this world. Perhaps in the hereafter ...

No, Joseph said, practiced here and now, practiced at Nauvoo in the nineteenth century. Then he asked Noble if there could be anything, anything at all, that was harder to accept as a religious practice, in modern America. No, Noble admitted, there couldn't be. This, Joseph pointed out, was proof of its divine origin as a test of faith. Confronted by the test, the weak would fall away by the thousands, leaving only those purified by the fire. Yet, having accepted the new and everlasting covenant, was there anything more difficult to live correctly than the principle of the plurality of wives? What would be required of him, if Noble were to tell Mary of the principle, and prepare her to accept another wife into the family?

Noble cringed at the prospect. He could never do this to Mary. Of course it was human for a man to look at a pretty girl with appreciation and desire, just as he might look at a fine horse he never could hope to own. It was conceivable that any man, regardless of his beliefs and moral code, could, if circumstances were right and temptation great enough, fall in love with another woman and commit adultery. But, to tell Mary he was bringing another wife into the household.... No; please no.

Then Noble found himself arguing furiously with the prophet, something he'd never dreamed could happen. Such a practice was unthinkable in this modern age. it would wreck the church, destroy it. Joseph admitted that it might. For this reason he had revealed it only to a few special souls. Yet regardless of the dangers, it was not for him to question the Lord's purposes, not for him to weasel and to obey only that which was easy. It was a test for him, and a test for all who wished to attain the higher glories.

Then the prophet portrayed the dazzling rewards for obedience to this principle. Jehovah was once a man, just as we are, a man who magnified his calling and progressed through eternity unto his present exalted state of perfection. This was within the reach of all men who obeyed the higher law. There was no end to progression in the hereafter; he, Joseph Bates Noble, could magnify and grow, with his wives remaining fruitful and his children becoming as numberless as the stars of the heavens or the sands of the seashore. He might attain the stature of a god of his own worlds, peopled by his own children.

Noble was awed by this concept, a goal that might be attained by any man faithful to the Lord's commandments. Joseph reminded him again that this was a test and a trial only for the worthy. Go to the Lord, he advised, and ask for a testimony on the matter.

Noble fasted and prayed for three days. He was haggard, redeyed, near collapse, when at last peace came to his torn soul. Then he knew, and slept the clock around.

It became obvious, as Joseph visited during the winter, that he came not only because of his friendship for Noble or because of admiration of Mary's excellent cooking. There was the magnet of the high-breasted and lovely Louisa. With a woman's perception of such things, Mary was aware of the situation, and she spoke to her husband about it one night. Certainly the prophet couldn't be interested in a young girl. It was unthinkable, for a man of his position. Yet, should they send Louisa away for awhile?

Noble talked with Joseph about it, and the prophet had a private talk with Mary. Then she became haggard and red-eyed through fasting and prayer, before a difficult peace was achieved. Next it was the turn of Louisa, disturbed by the little attentions of the prophet, and by the unhallowed arousal of her own feelings toward a married man. Joseph talked with the girl about the principle of the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, and she went through the purifying furnace seeking an answer. Serenity had come to the household when Joseph asked Noble to move from Montrose to Nauvoo. Noble complied, as he always did to the prophet's wishes. He had been a bishop's counselor at Montrose; at Nauvoo he was ordained bishop, spiritual leader of the congregation of the Fifth Ward.

He understood now that Joseph had known of the new and everlasting covenant, including the plurality of wives, since the early days of the church, possibly as far back as ten years ago, when the church was yet but a year old. The rumors, then, had been true. There had been polygamy sanctioned in the decade since. The cutting off of men for the practice, the furious denunciation of it, had been part of a desperate attempt to keep this most sacred and secret principle unknown to the outside world, which never could be expected to understand its holy nature. What the practice had been during this past decade, Noble didn't know; but now he understood that it had not been entirely vicious gossip that had connected the prophet's name with various women. Some of the early stalwarts, even such as Oliver Cowdery, had broken from the church largely on this account, claiming Joseph a fallen prophet. The principle was so extremely difficult to accept. It was so easy to think of it as from the Devil. Noble could understand the inability of former stalwarts to believe that the Lord would command, insist on, under pain of damnation for Joseph and his entire church, a doctrine that must be practiced in secret, and whose sacred nature could never be understood by the great body of the Saints themselves, let alone the outside world.

But now that he knew the truth, Noble was filled with welling joy. It was a challenge he would himself meet, when the time came. It was a test which would, he knew, try his soul to the utmost, but which would purify it for the higher glory reserved for the faithful.

And then, just a week ago, Joseph had told him that as an Elder in Israel and bishop of the church, he, Joseph Bates Noble, -would be accorded the honor of performing the first recorded plural marriage of the new dispensation. Noble didn't know what had been done previously, with marriages of so secret a nature that they never were recorded; it was not his place to ask.

Then yesterday, with Mary standing as witness, he had united Joseph Smith, Jr., and Louisa Beman, in the bonds of celestial marriage under the new and everlasting covenant, for time and all eternity.

Finished shaving, Noble rinsed his face of lather, then combed his hair and beard and went in to breakfast. Today was the great day of Israel, when the cornerstones of the temple would be laid. After its dedication, the marriage he had performed would be sealed there.

Bennett's attention toward Nancy Rigdon was the chapter that unleashed a wrath from Joseph. Joseph, too, had focused strong attention upon Nancy as a plural "celestial wife." The book continues,

"Then Sidney had been thunderstruck to learn that Joseph had met Nancy in private, telling her that plural marriage -- celestial marriage, as he called it -- was sanctioned by God. Bennett, learning of Joseph's act, had confronted the prophet. There was a quarrel between the two, with Joseph declaring, 'You are my enemy!'"

From this time on, John Bennett and Joseph Smith would hardly talk to each other. Bennett, too, had not been in favor with many others of the church hierarchy..... Joseph had installed John Bennett next in command in the hierarchy in preference to his established "Council of the Twelve" who normally would be next in line to be bestowed this office according to seniority. Further, Joseph's own brother was even ignored when Bennett was installed as second in command.

It wasn't hard, then, with the hierarchy's distrust in Bennett, for Joseph to use Bennett as an example of iniquity -- an adulterer, polygamist, and scoundrel. Bennett was dismissed from his position at the top and excommunicated from Joseph's church. The tide had turned. Bennett, in retaliation, wrote in papers and lectured openly about the secret Mormon practices of polygamy and other inequities practiced by Joseph Smith and others within the church. He openly exposed Joseph's plural wives and the secret "celestial marriages."

Once Bennett was gone, the Nauvoo Legion, which Bennett built into a powerful military force while under his direction, soon deteriorated to only a parade and show unit, no longer effective as a strong military force for Smith.

Worse, Bennett made a strong effort to help Missouri Governor Boggs push for the extradition of Joseph for his crimes in Missouri and the attempted murder of Governor Boggs. Simultaneously, Governor Ford of Illinois, while at first sympathetic with the Mormons, now found the Mormon group now a serious and threatening menace to Illinois. He put up only slight opposition to extraditing Joseph to Missouri.

Joseph was captured and was ready to be sent to Missouri. Because Nauvoo had it's own charter and wrote its own laws, the extradition failed when a Writ of Habeas Corpus was issued by the Nauvoo Court. Again, Joseph was released. But the noose was ever tightening.

In the meantime, Joseph had long admired Eliza Snow who was living under the same roof as Joseph and Emma, teaching the children in the Smith household. Emma was unaware of the secret marriage ceremony of Eliza to Joseph. ... anyway, not until she and Joseph were caught by Emma. Emma put up such objection that Joseph set Eliza up in another home. Eliza was pregnant with Joseph's baby when another later confrontation with Emma resulted in Eliza falling down a staircase which in turn caused her to lose the baby. In the meantime, Joseph had secretly married two other girls (sisters) who had been living in the Smith household, Emily and Eliza Partridge.... Emily nineteen and Eliza twenty-three.

"The clash between Joseph and Emma during this period became bitter as two strong wills refused to bend. ... Eliza Snow feared that the marriage might break up, that Emma might seek divorce. Certainly if this happened, if the secret story of plural marriage became court testimony by the wife of the prophet, John C. Bennett's expose' would be nothing by comparison."

(CONTINUE to PART 2 of Nightfall at Nauvoo)

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