The Belle of Nauvoo - Book One

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-three

Walking past the guards, who hushed at my presence, I sought the river for solace. How could it still flow? How could the sun shine and the birds fly when I was so heart-weary? Mobs raged against us. We were stricken with dread that at any moment we would be tossed upon the waves of extermination. Yet the river flowed. How could this be?

Brother Richards had pledged his life that we as a people would not retaliate the murders of my father and uncle. We had stayed at home peaceably. Was this not testimony enough of our intentions to keep the peace? We trusted in the law. Was it now to turn upon us, as it had upon our leaders?

 I knelt down on a rock and placed my hands in the water. “Oh river,” I pleaded, “would that you could tell your history! You who washed away the filth from our land, why are you subsiding at this time?” I asked with clenched fists. I looked up. “Oh sun, why, when all nature stopped for the death of the martyrs of truth, do you now shine so brightly for our danger?”

“Maybe there is no danger,” came my answer from the Holy Ghost.

And that proved true. The mobs, spent and tired of their thirst for blood and finding themselves not avenged by the Legion, disbanded. They went back to their neglected and flooded fields and families. Life went on. The river knew. The sun knew. All nature knew. And God knew.

Hats were sold and strawberries were harvested on the land. Bricks were laid and nails were hammered. Cows were milked. And the creditors wanted their money. Who would pay them, the Church or the Smiths? It was time to settle the legal matters.

“I don’t believe that Lorin and Lovina’s marriage was entered on the records of the city,” said Grandma Smith. She wanted everything settled properly.

So Lorin and I went to Aaron Johnson, the justice of the peace, to be married a second time. It was duly and properly entered on the records of the city. Now we were legal and could receive our share.

I had to sign the record book of the city. There was a place for Father to sign, too. But he could not! My pen stilled. My loss was too great. Blinded by tears, I stumbled out of the office.

Lorin followed close behind. When he caught up to me, he took me by the shoulders and faced me towards the temple.

“Lovina,” he said, “I’ve been doing a powerful amount of pondering about what has befallen us. I thought whilst I was out on the prairies and while I was comforting Sister Emma. I know you’re still grieving. We all are. But I want you to look at the temple on the hill. It stands there like a light set on a bushel. It is the first thing you see when you come up the river. It’s the most imposing and important building in Nauvoo. Brother Joseph and Brother Hyrum gave us that fine building. And that was why we built this city – so we could gather to build a temple and make covenants with the Lord. When we make those covenants we will have the power to triumph over all our enemies, more power than ten Nauvoo Legions could give us. We will have the power to prevail.

“Today we were married by law, but it doesn’t mean anything. What your father died for was for you to have the privilege of going to that temple when it’s finished, and making our marriage eternal. If he hadn’t died, the state mobs might have come and destroyed it. While he lived, he married us for time, but by dying, he gave us the chance to finish that temple so you and I can be married, not just for time, but forever. He laid down his life for that building. He loved it. He loved us.

“And we’re going to build it – you and I and the others. We’re going to work and sweat and make your father and your uncle proud of us. We owe it to them.”

I stared up at the hill. I saw the walls that were only one story high and needed finishing. The roof needed adding on that fall, then the glass bought with the Penny Fund could be put into place. Could we do it? As I looked at that glistening building of eternal hope that had gathered the faithful to it, my soul cried out, “Yes!” We would finish it for Father! Then we would build upon his work – a work that would go on and on, never to stop. Lorin and I would be married for eternity and continue to progress, worlds without end, with father, mother, sisters, brothers, and children. We would be sealed together, never to part again. What comfort that brought!

And there we’ll join the heav’nly choir,

And sing His praise above;

While endless ages roll around,

Perfected by his love.