"I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John , Peter, NOR JESUS ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; But the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet."

The constant tick of a cicada hidden in a Maple tree outside a white washed farmhouse danced across the rolling green hills of Nauvoo, Illinois in June 1844. The evening air was heavy with an approaching storm, which promised more than enough moisture to lay waste to the numerous and desperately needed crops planted in the fields.

Inside the nearby dwelling a family sat anxiously at the table. The children were eager for their first bite and the mother patiently waited for the father to pray over their meal.

A second and a third tick began outside of the house as the call for mates and food spread from one tree to the next.

The leader of this family sat with his eyes closed tight. In his trance-like state he ignored all who surrounded him. His cold and hard face could be misinterpreted by some as kind and benevolent, yet by others as cruel and brutal.

His wife knew him the best. She was the one person closest to him to observe him and to hear his talk at night. She suspected he was really thinking of one of his many other wives.

A fourth and a fifth cicada could be heard just on the other side of the door, which turned the local valley into a resounding dinner bell for any and all similar multi-legged creatures needing nourishment and love.

The rebellious nature of one of the children mocked the man with foolish gestures and cautiously reached for food, but the man's voiced boomed "God! Let me beseech you! Bless this meal and keep it holy as I, your humble servant, keep Thee Holy!" The child withdrew with tightly held eyes.

The numerous cicada ticks could be heard through the house. Their song turned into a reverberating hymn as their sound intertwined into first a buzz that became more of a tuzz as each succeeding cicada click joined in the tune.

"All that you have provided My Father, I cannot be humble enough to express my gratitude and those who surround me will never be capable of understanding - Thou - as I do. So forgive them for they are weak and I pray that Thou will give them the strength to comprehend as much as possible - meager though it may be," the preacher said with the deep conviction and absolute belief of an assured place in heaven.

Click, click, buzz, buzz, tuzz, tuzz.

"Pity these small people, Father, and give me the abilities to continue to lead them down the path of righteousness! May our beliefs spread and our voices rise above those who do not accept your way!"

Click, click, buzz, buzz, tuzz, tuzz.

An impatient child sighed and in response the woman quickly slapped the girl's face. The ferocity of the hit caused the four other children to jump and the sight of the red mark swelling up on her face made them cringe. This time there would be no snickering amongst them later that evening. Even Joseph III, the eldest, felt the fear of rebellion in this holy house. The girl retreated in humiliation, fear, tears and futile silence.

___________

A distant shadow of a man skipped from tree to tree and field to field as he fast approached on horseback. The tuzzing increased in intensity as the stretched shadow jumped up and onto the next hill and back. Tuzz, tuzz went the shifting shadow from one rolling green field to the next. Tuzz, tuzz the stoutly, shadowy figure swiftly pierced a tree then dove to the ground. Tuzz, tuzz, shift, buzz, buzz, shift, tick, tick, shift! The cicada song sang praises of his speed as the pace of the man and his shadow heightened. The trumpeters, scattered along his route, quickly sensed his presence and stopped - then cautiously started. Up one hill tuzzing came the man. Down the next buzzing he passed them with skipping speed. The hooves of the horse beat the ground with ever more vigor as he got closer to the dwelling. The sweat on the back of the horse streaked toward the long outstretched tail.

Tuzz, tuzz, buzz, buzz, tick, tick, click, click.

A small white fence formed a dainty barrier around the farm house, but its strength was capable of slowing the shadow to a trot and the cicadas to a single click. At the edge of the gate the man halted. Buzz, buzz, tick, tick, silence spread around the front yard as the man quickly tied the horse to a weak and poorly placed post.

__________

The man bellowed out with increased agitation, "Though there is some disrespect during our prayers O Father, may my superior insight and beliefs bring my family and flock to Thy door, Father! Do not let the small ones or the women of this family or any other family's insolence represent my attitude toward the truth that Thou doest reveal to me. They will learn their place one way or another!"

__________

The sun took one more step behind the last hill and the twilight basked the region with small windshear breezes. The rider quickly dismounted and stomped loudly to the front door of the residence. Before the rider could even knock the man pronounced without opening a single eye, "…and may Hyrum at the door provide us with good news and respect our praises of God by waiting til I am finished with our prayers over our meal!" The horseman halted his haste and removed his hat then stood silently.

Without opening an eye, the man further prayed, "Finally, may the others learn their place by being silent during prayer and in all instances when in the presence of a blessed man." The woman scornfully gazed over at her husband as he finished. He began to eat his meal without looking at the others and without acknowledging their presence with the simplest glance.

"Brother Joseph! Brother Joseph! You must come quickly!" yelled Hyrum as he forcefully knocked on the door to the point of nearly vibrating open.

"See the bad news that is about to enter our household. For every evil thing that you do God smites us. When in prayer He is even angrier and demands His flock to be respectful. This is your fault woman! You cannot control your children!"

"Joseph, I am your wife and any evil that falls upon the flock falls upon me and the children. How could I possibly desire such a thing?"

His response to her was one of silence. "My house is always welcome to you, Hyrum. Come in and share our meal," Joseph Smith requested from his brother.

"Please forgive me for bringing bad news, but there are many men gathering in the town. They are soon to be headed to the church."

"Brother you must quickly go and get Sampson and the…" There was a moment of hesitation in the man's voice as the realization of what was about to be said in private conflicted with what was stated in public on a previous occasion. "Call the Danites! We shall deal these evil ones a deathly blow! Now go quickly!"

The woman looked at him with disgust. She knew full well of his denials and deceit toward the local government. She knew full well of the truth and the half-truths. The man glared back, then said, "We must survive. We will do what we have to. And we will for this is what God has said to me. Therefore, what I say and do is right for He has revealed this to me. I do not hear any questions or statements from you - a woman! Or anyone else for that matter! I swear to you that this feuding will stop! I am going to put an end to it this very month!"

Brother Hyrum ran to his mount. Click. Click. He jerked at the stirrups and urged on his steed. Tick. Tick. The horse made a great stride. Buzz. Buzz. And in the darkness the man raced on. Tuzz. Tuzz. The annoyance continued to spread down the valley, across the fields and all over the land wherever there was no resolution to stop them.

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