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Most certainly there is a warning herein regarding those who find themselves opposed to something that they previously found good, enlightening and spiritually uplifting… …it is that although once uplifted on the wings of the spirit, once these are negated (denied/cast-off/thrown away) then these selfsame feelings become instead as darkness, bitterness and seeded with strife and doubt.
Though once lifted up upon wings of angels, there is one who laughingly destroys all that is good within his path.
Fortunately, there is also One who is the Prince of Peace, and who is diametrically opposed; he as the one who brings peace contrary to the one who knows only contention. Those with an ear to hear, hear, for the fruits are readily discernible to the discerning eye.
This is a really great tale, and I love the old stories of the good and faithful Latter-day Saints who stood for goodness, justice and the Christian way. Where there were thousands in a time now gone, there are as many more and millions who so stand today. May the stories of those now gone bolster the faith, hopes and desires of those who live today. As this historical compilation shows, we undoubtedly have today, the same choices to make as they did.
Meg–
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and suggestion. You raise an interesting possibility and I’d welcome hearing your additional thoughts as you continue your research along these lines.
Best,
Jeff
Hi Jeffrey,
I quite enjoyed your article when I first read it in 2016. Thank you for writing it.
I do want to propose an alternate timing for the three meetings, however. You suggest that it was only after the final meeting that Joseph would have accused Law from the stand. But I anchor the Dennison account and Woodruff journal in time with Joseph’s words “die like men.”
This suggests that the first meeting of the conspirators occurred on 17 March, the Sunday following the second day of Relief Society meetings endorsing the “Voice of Innocence.” Joseph’s confrontation with Sarah Foster would then have followed the accusations at the first meeting (17 March) that Joseph had participated in illicit intercourse, before we see the conspirators announce their intent to kill Joseph (24 March).
I first noticed the link between the Relief Society “Voice of Innocence” meetings and the conspiracy when I read Laurel Ulrich’s A House Full of Females. She cites Joseph’s May 1844 words that “I never had any fuss with these men until that Female Relief Society brought out the paper against adulterers and adulteresses.”
I think upon reflection, you might find that placing the conspiracy meetings as occurring on 17, 24, and 31 March fits not only the matters you mention, but the Relief Society context as well.