It
is a dark time in Nauvoo, Illinois, for the Latter-Day Saints: their
beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum have been martyred.
Amidst the grief and mourning, there is confusion. Who will lead the
Church now? Or are those opposed to the Church correct: will the
Church collapse now that their leader is dead? Many step forth, willing
to take the reins left by Joseph. But the Lord is at the head of this
work, and through a miraculous event, He makes known His will as to who
will preside over the Church at this difficult time. Many do not agree
and fall away, following others. But the Steed family remains firm in
their faith. They witnessed the miracle, and they know who leads the
Church. Willingly, they follow Brigham Young, the President of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
But still, hard times come.
When the Church does not implode, as so many opponents to the faith
believed would happen, the mobs begin again to terrorize the saints.
They burn the homes and farms of families living in settlements outside
of Nauvoo. The Governor of Illinois invites the Mormon people to leave
the state; suggesting they will be better off somewhere out West.
Rumors of the federal government getting involved -- and not to the
benefit of the Saints -- also spark fear. And so, once again in the
middle of winter, the Saints leave their homes and all they have worked
hard to obtain and create in Nauvoo and begin the trek West.
During
these troubled times, the Steed family experiences joy and sorrow;
miracles and trials. Their lives will be forever changed. They will be
called on to serve in a variety of ways and with a variety of
difficulties. But serve they will. And they hold tight to the promise
that one day they will be together forever.
***I enjoyed this
book. I learned a lot about some of what was faced by these early
pioneers, and again, it humbled me. I contemplated what I would do if
required to leave almost all I have, and I realized how truly
unimportant so many of my material possessions really are. I was
sometimes surprised by how the Saints were treated in a country which
was supposed to support religious freedom -- and I can't help but wonder
if there will be similar days ahead.
