June 27th 1844 we arose with heavy
hearts, full of doubts and fears respecting the safety of our beloved Prophet
and Patriarch who were then incarcerated in Carthage jail. The city was full of rumors concerning
the mob who were assembling at Warsaw and Carthage.
Mr C---- and bro
Morris set off in to find cousin Jane. Waled out to the young Mark's, on the
prairie, but found she had come into the City. They left her letter, with
directions for her to call and see us.
That Pm the governor
with a large posse came to Nauvoo and requested the legion to deliver up their
arms, which they did. He then made a lengthy address to the saints, exhorting
them to keep quite which they obeyed to the very letter, but felt greatly
insulted by him, knowing that there was no occasion for his remarks, or
counsel.
The next morning at
an early hour, the news of Joseph and Hiram's [Hyrum] massare was spread
throughout the length and breadth of the city. We would not believe the first
report, but finally it was confirmed to us beyond a doubt. And Oh the sorrow
and sadness of that day! many were made sick by the intelligence, others
deranged. Many walked the streets mourning and wrining their hands. I lost my
strength and appetitet, could not attend to any business for several days. Pm
their bodies were brought home; and arrangements made for their burial. Every
body was invited, or rather had the privilege of seeing them by walking through
the house, we went in at one door, passed by their coffins, gave them a short
look, and then went out on the opposite side. They were much disfigured. I
thought they did not look natural, in the least, could scarcely tell them
apart.
[Leadership of
Brigham Young, August 1844]
I shall not attempt
to describe the confusion and doubts the church was thrown into for a short
time, with regard to our leader, or president, untill the return of bro Brigham
Young, and other members of the twelve, when all, or nearly all were at rest,
upon that subject.
Sidney Rigdon came to
the stand and tried to show to the people that he was the rightful successor of
Joseph. And his arguments were so powerful, that many were almost persuaded to
believe him such. But as soon as the twelve apostles with bro Brigham Young at
their head took the stand, it was shown conclusively where the power rested. It
was the first time, that I ever thought he resembled bro Joseph. But almost
every one exclaimed that the mantle of Joseph had fallen on Brigham. For one I
never had any doubts afterward.
(Edward Leo Lyman,
Susan Ward Payne, and S. George Ellsworth, eds., No Place to all Home: the
1807-1857 Life Writings of Caroline Barnes Crosby, Chronicler of Outlying
Mormon Communities [Life Writings of Frontier Women 7; Logan, Utah: Utah
State University Press, 2005], 62-63, spelling in original retained)