urch, printed many Gospel truths and much
important history. The militia was organized and the city had a
well-drilled body of men called the Nauvoo Legion. Peace and prosperity
smiled upon them for a season, and it seemed that at last there would be a
permanent stake of Zion established.

But it was not to be. The hate that burned in the hearts of evil men had
not grown less, but was only waiting for a chance to show itself. Trouble
again arose. It would not be easy to understand the many causes that led to
these troubles, but a few may be noted.

The Saints now had great power at the polls, the same as in Missouri. The
"Mormons" would not vote for men who would not give them their rights, and
so many of these politicians became their enemies and stirred up the people
against the Saints by their many lies. Then, there were the jealousies of
the sectarian preachers; and perhaps worse than all, the evil work of
apostates. Then it happened that a band of thieves troubled the
neighborhood, and of course the "Mormons" were blamed. It was not a hard
matter to find excuses for a further persecution of the Latter-day Saints.

And now came again Governor Boggs, of Missouri. He, it seems, had not had
enough, so he asked Governor Carlin to deliver to him Joseph and the other
brethren who had escaped from Missouri. Governor Carlin of Illinois, made
out the papers for the brethren's arrest, but the officer could not find
them when he went to Nauvoo. He therefore returned without his prisoners,
and nothing more was done in the matter until nearly a year later, when
Joseph was visiting the governor at Quincy. Governor Carlin treated Joseph
kindly, but as soon as the Prophet had left, some of the officers were sent
after him. They overtook Joseph and arrested him on the old charge from
Missouri. However, they went on to Nauvoo, where the sheriff, being sick,
was taken good care of by his prisoner. As it was Joseph's right by law to
be tried in Illinois, he was permitted to have a hearing before Judge
Stephen A. Douglas, in Monmouth, Illinois. There was great excitement at
the trial, some of his enemies trying to excite a mob against him. At the
close of the hearing Joseph was set free by the judge.

Dr. J.C. Bennett was the mayor of Nauvoo, and held other high positions;
but he proved to be a very wicked man. At one time, when the Legion was
having a sham fight, Bennett tried to get Joseph into a position that he
might be shot witho