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CONSPIRACY
of NAUVOO [1] CONSPIRACY OF NAUVOO
Those
who have read the life of Joseph Smith the Prophet,
must be familiar with the fact that from his earliest
boyhood he was ever the object of bitter persecution.
Notwithstanding the numerous published accounts of mobbings,
published accounts of mobbings, drivings, bodily injuries,
aggravating accusations, mock trials, and murderous
attempts upon his life which he endured, and with which
the people are familiar, there are, no doubt, many events
and trials yet hidden from the world in the bosoms of
his most familiar friends, which may have caused him
far greater agony than many of those with which the
public are acquainted. Among these the following narrative
may be classed, as it has never before been published,
and the facts it contains may have had an important
influence in hastening, if not really accomplishing,
the death of the Prophet. Early in the spring of 1844
a very strong and bitter feeling was aroused against
Joseph, among many of his brethren in and around Nauvoo;
and some who held high positions in the Church and were
supposed to be his best friends, turned against him
and sought by various means in their power to do him
injury. Many murmured and complained, and some of the
more wicked, even watched their opportunity to take
his life, and were continually plotting to accomplish
that end. At length this wicked feeling became so strong
and general, among a certain class, that it was resolved
to form an organization, or secret combination that
would better enable them to accomplish their wicked
purposes. Accordingly a secret meeting was appointed
to take place in the new brick house of William Law,
Joseph's first counselor, on a certain Sabbath, and
invitations to attend it were carefully extended to
members of the Church whom it was thought were disaffected,
or in sympathy with these wicked views and desires.
Among those who received invitations to attend this
meeting was Brother Denison L. Harris, now the Bishop
of Monroe, Sevier County, Utah, then but a young man
of seventeen years of age. Austin A. Cowles, at that
time a member of the High Council, was one of the leaders
in this wicked movement, and being a near neighbor and
on intimate terms with Brother Harris, he had given
young Denison an invitation to the secret meeting, and
told him also to invite his father, hut to be sure and
not breathe a word about it to anyone else, as it was
to be kept a profound secret. Denison was much perplexed
over the invitation he had received, and certain things
that Brother Cowles had told him; and while sitting
on his father's woodpile, thinking them over and wondering
what he had better do, another young man, named Robert
Scott, who lived but a short distance away, came over,
sat down on the log, and the two began to converse upon
various subjects, such as generally engage the conversation
of young men of their age. It seems they had been intimate
companions for several years; and they had not conversed
long before each discovered that the other had something
on his mind which troubled him, but which he did not
like to reveal. Finally, one proposed that, as they
had always been confidants, they now exchange secrets,
on condition that neither should reveal what the other
told him. Both readily agreed to this, and when each
had told the cause of his anxiety, it proved to be the
same--both had received an invitation to the same secret
meeting. Robert Scott, having been reared by William
Law, seemed to be almost a member of his family, and
on this account had been invited by him to attend the
meeting. "Well, Den," said Robert, after a
short pause, are you going to attend the meeting?"
"I
don't know," replied Denison, "are you?"
"I don't know whether to go or not," said
Robert, "suppose we go in the [2] house and tell
your father of his invitation, and see what he says
about it." They entered the house and consulted
for some time with Denison's father, Emir Harris, who
was a brother of Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses
of the Book of Mormon. They informed him of his invitation
to the same meeting, and told him many other things
that Brother Cowles had told Denison. He decided to
go at once and lay the whole matter before the Prophet
Joseph Smith, who was then in Nauvoo, and ask his advice.
He immediately went to Joseph's house, a distance of
about two and a half miles, and informed him of the
whole affair. Joseph listened with interest until he
had finished, when he said: "Brother Harris, I
would advise you not to attend those meetings, nor pay
any attention to them. You may tell the boys, however,
that I would like to have them go, but I want them to
be sure to come and see me before the meeting takes
place. I wish to give them some counsel." Subsequent
events showed the wisdom of Joseph in advising Brother
Emir Harris not to attend the meeting and selecting
young men to do the work he wished to have accomplished.
Brother Harris returned and told the boys what Joseph
desired them to do, and they readily agreed to comply
with his request. Accordingly, on the next Sunday before
the secret meeting took place, Robert and Denison called
at the house of Joseph to learn what he wished them
to do. He told them he desired that they should attend
the meeting, pay strict attention, and report to him
all their proceedings, at the first favorable opportunity.
He moreover cautioned them to have as little to say
as possible, and to avoid giving any offence. They attended
the meeting as desired. There were quite a number present,
and the time was mostly occupied in planning how to
get at things the best, and effect an organization.
Strong speeches were also made against the Prophet,
and many lies were told to prejudice the minds of those
present against him. This portion of the proceedings
was not a difficult task, for the element of which the
audience was composed was only too susceptible to such
evil impressions, and those who spoke were eminently
successful in producing the desired impressions, and
arousing the feelings of enmity toward the Prophet,
that they might wish to use in accomplishing his overthrow.
It seems that the immediate cause of these wicked proceedings
was the fact that Joseph had recently presented the
revelation on Celestial Marriage to the High Council
for their approval, and certain members were most bitterly
opposed to it, and denounced Joseph as a fallen Prophet,
and were determined to destroy him. The meeting adjourned
to convene again on the following Sabbath, and the two
young men were invited to attend the next one also,
but were cautioned not to tell a soul of what had transpired
at the first one. At the first suitable opportunity
they called upon Joseph, related to him what had taken
place, and gave him the names of those who had taken
part in the proceedings. The leading members among the
conspirators, for such they really were, were William
and Wilson Law, Austin A. Cowles, Francis and Chauncey
Higbee, Robert Foster and his brother, two Hicks brothers,
and two merchants, Finche and Rollinson, who were enemies
to the Church. After hearing their report and asking
several questions, which they answered to the best of
their knowledge, Joseph said: "Boys, I would like
you to accept their invitation and attend the second
meeting. But come to me again next Sunday, before their
meeting convenes, as I may have something more to say
to you before you go." At the expiration of a week
they again went to see Joseph, who gave them the necessary
advice, after which they went to the meeting. This time
the conspirators were still more vehement in their abusive
remarks about Joseph. New crimes that he had committed
had been discovered, and the old ones were much magnified.
Their accu-[3]sations were not only against him, but
against his brother Hyrum and other prominent men in
Nauvoo. There seemed to be no end to the wickedness
of which these good men were accused, as most of the
time until a late hour was occupied by different ones
in denouncing and accusing Joseph and his friends of
the most heinous crimes. Before the meeting adjourned,
however, it was agreed that they should all endeavor
to work the matter up as much as possible during the
week, that something definite might be accomplished
towards effecting a more complete organization without
further delay. The meeting was to convene again on the
following Sunday. As the boys had kept quiet and said
nothing against any of their proceedings, it was supposed,
of course, that they were in sympathy with the movement,
and an invitation was accordingly extended for them
to attend the next meeting. As on the previous occasion,
the young men watched a fitting opportunity of reporting
to Joseph without arousing the suspicions of any that
attended the meeting. He listened attentively to the
recital of all that had taken place at the second meeting,
after which he said: "Boys, come to me again next
Sunday. I wish you to attend the next meeting also."
The boys promised to do so, and left the room. They
kept the meetings and their connection with them, however,
a profound secret from the rest of their friends, and
at the appointed time again went to the house of Joseph
to receive their usual instructions. This time he said
to them, with a very serious countenance: "This
will be your last meeting; this will be the last time
that they will admit you into their councils. They will
come to some determination. But be sure," he continued,
"that you make no covenants, nor enter into any
obligations whatever with them. Be strictly reserved,
and make no promise either to conspire against me or
any portion of the community. Be silent, and do not
take any part in their deliberations." After a
pause of some moments, he added: "Boys, this will
be their last meeting, and they may shed your blood,
but I hardly think they will, as you are so young. If
they do, I will be a lion in their path! Don't flinch.
If you have to die; die like men; you will be martyrs
to the cause, and your crowns can be no greater. But,"
said he, again, "I hardly think they will shed
your blood." This interview was a long one. Joseph's
sensitive feelings were touched by the faith, generosity
and love manifested by these young men in their willingness
to undertake such a hazardous enterprise at his bidding.
He blessed them and made them precious promises for
their sacrifice, and told them if their lives were taken
their reward would be all the greater.
After
leaving Joseph's house with his sincere wishes for their
safety, the boys waited anxiously for the time of meeting
to arrive. They fully realized the dangers into which
they were about to plunge themselves, yet they did not
shrink. They knew it was their duty, and they determined
to attempt it at all hazards. They were now familiar
with the names of the persons conspiring against Joseph,
the object they had, in view, and many of their plans
for accomplishing that object. Moreover, they were supposed
by the would-be-murderers to be in perfect sympathy
with all their hellish designs; and if, by any circumstance,
they should arouse the suspicion that they were present
at Joseph's request, or even with his knowledge, their
lives in such a crowd would, indeed, be of little value.
They determined to trust in the Lord and die rather
than betray the Priesthood. Their feelings may perhaps
be imagined as the time of meeting drew near, and they
started off in the direction of William Law's house,
where it was to be held. They certainly displayed faith
that every young man in Israel should cultivate. On
arriving at the rendezvous they found to their surprise
and discomfiture, that the entrance to the house was
guarded by men armed with muskets and bayonets. After
being scrutinized from head to foot, and carefully cross-questioned,
they succeeded in passing [4] the guards and gaining
admittance. From this it will be seen that great care
was taken to prevent any person from entering, except
those whom they knew to be of their party, and ready
to adopt any measures that might be suggested against
the Prophet Joseph. On entering they found considerable
confusion and much counseling among the members of the
conspiracy. All seemed determined that Joseph should
die, yet objections were raised by some to each of the
plans proposed. The Prophet was accused of the most
wicked acts, and all manner of evil was spoken of him.
Some declared that he had sought to get their wives
away from them, and had many times committed adultery.
They said he was a fallen Prophet, and was leading the
people to destruction. Joseph was not the only one against
whom they lied. His brother Hyrum and many of the leading
men in Nauvoo were accused of being in league with him
and sharing his crimes. In these councilings and plannings,
considerable time was spent before the meeting was called
to order, and anything definite commenced. The boys,
however, followed Joseph's instructions, and remained
quiet and reserved. This seemed to arouse the suspicions
of some that they were not earnestly in favor of their
wicked purposes, and some of the conspirators began
to take especial pains to explain to the young men the
great crimes that Joseph had committed, and the results
that would follow if his wicked career were not checked,
with a view to convincing them that their severe measures
against Joseph were for the best good of the Church,
and persuading them to take an active part with them
in accomplishing this great good. The two boys, however,
sat together quietly, and would simply answer their
arguments by saying that they were only young boys,
and did not understand such things, and would rather
not take part in their proceedings. As before stated,
Brother Scott had been reared in the family of William
Law, and the latter pretended great friendship for him
on that account, and was very anxious to explain to
him the object of the proposed organization, and induce
him to join. He would come around and sit beside Robert,
put his arm around his neck, and persuade, argue, and
implore him to join in their effort to rid the Church
of such a dangerous impostor. At the same time Brother
Cowles would sit beside Brother Harris in the same attitude,
and labor with him with equal earnestness. The boys,
however, were not easily convinced. Still, in their
replies and remarks, they carefully tried to avoid giving
the least offense or arousing any suspicions regarding
the true cause of their presence. They said they were
too young to understand the "spiritual wife doctrine,"
of which Joseph was accused, and many of the other things
that they condemned in the Prophet. Joseph had never
done them any harm and they did not like to join in
a conspiracy against his life. "But," they
would urge, "Joseph is a fallen Prophet; he receives
revelations from the devil, and is deceiving the people,
and if something decisive is not done at once to get
rid of him, the whole church will be led by him to destruction."
These and many other arguments were vainly brought forth
to induce the boys to join them, but they still pretended
not to understand nor take much interest in such things.
At length they ceased their persuasions, and, things
having developed sufficiently, they concluded to proceed
with the intended organization. An oath had been prepared
which each member of the organization was now required
to take. Francis Higbee, a justice of the peace, sat
at a table in one end of the room and administered the
oath to each individual separately in the following
manner: The candidate would step forward to the table,
take up a Bible, which had been provided for the purpose,
and raise it in his right hand, whereupon the justice
would ask him in a solemn tone, "Are you ready?"
And, receiving answer in the affirmative would continue
in a tone [5] and manner that struck awe to the minds
of the boys as they listened: "You solemnly swear,
before God and all holy angels, and these your brethren
by whom you are surrounded, that you will give your
life, your liberty, your influence, your all, for the
destruction of Joseph Smith and his parry, so help you
God!" The person being sworn would then say, "I
do," after which he would lay down the Bible and
sign his name to a written copy of the oath in a book
that was lying on the table, and it would be legally
acknowledged by the justice of the peace. The boys sat
gazing upon this scene, wondering how intelligent beings
who had once enjoyed the light of truth could have fallen
into such depths of wickedness as to be anxious to take
such an oath against the Prophet of God and his faithful
followers. They also felt no little uneasiness concerning
their own fate, and almost dreaded the moment when the
last one should have taken the oath. At length that
portion of the business was accomplished, and about
two hundred persons had taken the oath. Among that number
were three women, who were ushered in, closely veiled
to prevent being recognized, and required to take the
same oath. Besides doing this, they also testified that
Joseph and Hyrum Smith had endeavored to seduce them;
had made the most indecent and wicked proposals to them,
and wished them to become their wives. After making
affidavit to a series of lies of this kind, they made
their exit through a back door. One of the women, whom
the boys suspected as being William Law's wife, was
crying, and seemed to dislike taking the oath, but did
so as one who feared that the greatest bodily injury
would surely follow a refusal. After the oath had been
administered to all but the two boys, Law, Cowles and
others again commenced their labors to get them to take
it, but met the same success as before. Arguments, persuasions,
and threats were in turn used to accomplish their desire,
but in vain. They exhausted their ingenuity in inventing
arguments, lies, and inducements to get the boys to
unite with their band. "Have you not heard,"
said they, the strong testimony of all present against
Joseph Smith? Can a man be a true Prophet who would
commit adultery? He is a fallen Prophet, and is teaching
the people doctrines that his own imagination or lustful
desires have invented, or else he received that revelation
from the devil. He will surely lead the whole Church
to destruction if his career is not stopped. We can
do nothing with him by the law, and for the sake of
the Church we deem it our solemn duty to accomplish
his destruction and rescue the people from this peril.
We are simply combining and conspiring to save the Church,
and we wish you to join us in our efforts, and share
the honors that will be ours. Come, take the oath and
all will be well." "Oh, we are too young,"
they replied, "to understand or meddle with such
things, and would rather let others who are older and
know more do such work. We came to your meetings because
we thought you were our friends and gave us a kind invitation.
We did not think there was any harm in it, but if you
will allow us to go now we will not trouble any more
of your meetings. Joseph Smith has never done us any
harm, and we do not feel like injuring him." "Come,
boys," said another of the crowd, "do as we
have done. You are young,and will not have anything
to do in the affair, but we want you should keep it
a secret, and act with us; that's all." "No,"
replied the boys in a firm but cool tone, as they rose
to leave, "we cannot take an oath like that against
any man who has never done us the least injury."
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The Pioneers went through great harship in their quest to build Zion
