Free Morning Star by Marian Wells

another, and through it all the new Mormon community grew at a rate that left Jenny giddy. From a village with two hundred and fifty homes, a straggle of shops and a temple lot gouged enough for a cornerstone, Nauvoo was now spreading into a modest-sized city. From generous lots in town to the farms clustering like timid chicks around their mother hen, Nauvoo was making her presence known in Illinois.
    During that first year Mark and Jenny lived in Nauvoo, they watched with trepidation as the bold prophet continued to lay claim to more territory.
    While Jenny had held her breath because of the daring of the Nauvoo Charter, Mark cringed at the political machinery of the Saints released upon the state. The influence of the Saints’ solid voting bloc caused Illinois to tremble.
    In 1840 when the Saints voted as a man, their unified action helped place the Whigs in power. Again in 1841, Joseph Smith boldly declared the Mormon vote would shine most brightly on the party willing to extend favors.
    It would have been a daring move for any group of people; but for the Prophet it seemed the ordinary, logical result of seeking the will of the Lord.
    Nearly as soon as the Nauvoo Charter passed the House, Saints and Gentiles became increasingly aware of the role John C. Bennett was playing in Nauvoo—and not only in politics.
    Rigdon, ill since the Missouri days, was replaced with Dr. Bennett as Joseph’s right-hand man. Mark carried home the news to Jenny.
    â€œMark,” she said slowly, studying the frown on his face, “this should be good news—after all, Rigdon was a drag on the heels of everything happening in Nauvoo. Why are you so troubled?”
    As he hung up his coat, he responded, “I distrust that man’s ambition. Joseph seems entirely blind to a personality that is causing most of his friends to shudder.”
    He took a deep breath and paced the floor of their kitchen. “There are letters. From the beginning Bennett has had some of us puzzled and worried. He’s just too smooth. Now Joseph’s had letters saying he’s held in disrepute back east. The letters state he’s abandoned a family, and the Masonic Lodge expelled him. I have no idea what the charges are.” Mark paced the floor and then turned to Jenny. “All of this mess is enough to make me want to quit, to get out of Nauvoo while I still have my sanity.”
    â€œOh, Mark, you wouldn’t, surely!”
    He looked at her pleading face close to his shoulder and tried to grin. “No, my sweet, I wouldn’t.” He watched her brow smooth and tried to guess her secret desires.
    Mark still carried the churning need to help others understand the mystery of Jesus Christ. The compulsion pressed against his heart each time he saw the confusion on Tom’s face. And what about Jenny? He turned away with a sigh. How true it was that the most difficult burden was the one nearest a person’s heart!

Chapter 7
    May had arrived, and in the temple grove the air was warm and heavy. Brigham’s voice droned on. Some of the other women moved restlessly, no doubt thinking—as Jenny was—of the basket dinner. Jenny wondered whether she had remembered to pack butter.
    When Mark moved impatiently and yanked at his collar, Jenny realized her mind had been wandering. She glanced at him as he began chewing at the corner of his mouth. Brigham Young’s voice carried clearly over the crowd; she tried to listen as her gaze skimmed the crowd pressing as close as possible to the speaker.
    Nancy Rigdon turned her head and flashed a dimpled smile at Jenny. She was standing close to Sarah Pratt, and it was Sarah’s turn to glance at Jenny.
    As Jenny smiled toward the women, she was thinking of the sewing circle. In the past months, since spring had offered more diversions, the crowd had dwindled. Recalling with amusement the fun she had shared with Sarah and Nancy, Jenny couldn’t regret the