Here are my thoughts on Part 5 (pp.347-402)
It is important to know all of this history, but boy I hate reading it! Yuck! The evil that creeps in and the maltreatment of so many for so long. It amazed me that the people stayed there as long as they did.
I do love the Lord's hand in preserving Joseph so many times. Like when some officers came to take him to be killed until they meet him, and instead protect him on his way home from his mother's house and say that they felt differently about him than they'd ever felt in their lives. (p.363). Within this same story, I love the pioneer's grit - how many of them told the officers to just kill them quickly so they could be happy and how disconcerting it was to those trying to stop this great work!
I am so grateful that Hyrum's statement on the treatments in Missouri was included here. Great information. But, I also loved his little glips he puts in about the "great leaders" - especially the one about the military leader who seemed so important, yet it took him a whole week to discover that religious leaders who have no ties to military whatsoever should not be court martialed :) I'd say there was a bit of tongue-in-cheek in this comment! And several others that you couldn't help but grin about. Of course I cannot find it now, but it was good. I also love hearing the story of Joseph Smith standing up in chains and telling the guards to be silent and how regal he was even in chains. The power of the Lord's annointed is strong no matter how immobile his body is.
Oh, those good people of Quincy, Illinois - there is a sure place in heaven for these earthly saviors to our Missouri saints. I love them all so much for all they did for the saints.
I also love the story of Joseph & Hyrum coming home. The vision of Lucy the night before and then their arrival home. What a wonderful day that must have been for so many.
I love the inclusion of the father's blessings by Joseph Smith Sr to each child. And, it breaks my heart to read the rest of the book as Lucy was truly broken-hearted after her sweet husband died. And, then to have to endure so many more deaths within 4 years of that. This strong woman survived and remained strong in so many ways, but her heart was broken and her strength gone out in many others.
Don't think I am a complete idiot, but I don't think I ever knew what the pretense was for taking Joseph to Carthage Jail - and it was because they stopped a press for publishing mean things about the Mormons and they went about it the same as many other presses had been shut down in Illinois previously, but somehow - they were able to take Joseph to jail on these charges and get him in a place where he could be murdered by a mob driven by insane hatred. Unbelievable.
And, that is all I have to say about this wonderful book. I loved it. I devoured it. And I truly fell in love with sweet Lucy Mack Smith. Does anyone remember that Grandma Burton acted as Lucy, I think in the Mansion Home while on their mission in Nauvoo??? I truly enjoyed reading it from this perspective, especially during these last few weeks as Grandma has been suffering so much and our prayers have been in her behalf - it has helped me see part of Grandma in a different light as well. Another strong, faithful, loving woman who has endured much and taught even more!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist because my mind has gone back to this so many times as I have read this. I am sure that this book was one of the main places she got her information and stories to share with others that came into the home!
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