More Mississippi Crossings in Early Church History

For the next two weeks, the Heartland Research Group will be gearing up for their great expedition to find the crossing of the River Sidon where Alma and Amlici fought each other alongside their armies. The Amlicites together with the Lamanites wanted to make war on the Nephites headed up by Alma.  This great story from Alma Chapter 2 in the Book of Mormon talks about the armies crossing the River Sidon to fight until one side won. From my prior post of Crossing the River Sidon, we learn that the Mississippi River is the River Sidon. Since Nauvoo sits on the banks of the Mississippi River, there were several other crossings of this river by early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints before the Saints left Nauvoo in 1847. Learning of these crossings adds interest to the Heartland Research Group search for the earlier crossing in 90 B.C. What is exciting to many is the understanding of where the great city of Zarahemla is located according to Joseph Smith’s revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants (Section 125 verse 3) and to those researching the Montrose, Iowa area within the Heartland Research Group.

Joseph Smith and Joe Duncan

To understand the whole story of one early crossing of the Mississippi, we must understand some of the difficulties Joseph Smith had during the time living in Nauvoo with his wife, Emma and their children. He was falsely accused many times of crimes he never committed and this particular time was no different. Taken from Rod Meldrum’s book.” Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland, we learn “On August 8, 1842, a Warrant was served by Governor Carlin for the arrest of Joseph Smith and Porter Rockwell who had been charged with the near fatal shooting of Gov. Lilburn Boggs. Joseph and Porter went into hiding, knowing their innocence and that this was just another attempt to thwart the work of the Lord.”

Another interesting element is the story of Joseph Smith’s horse that was given to him by Moses Martin.  Moses Martin came from a wealthy family in Tennessee. Moses and his wife, Amanda, were converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helped settle Nauvoo. He also owned a beautiful horse but as the story goes; this beautiful horse was spirited and unruly so much so that Amanda was afraid to take care of him when Moses went away.  One day, Joseph Smith approached Moses and said to him, “Brother Sanders, give the horse to me and I’ll promise that you will never lose by it.”  Moses Martin replied, “I would, but I am afraid that he may hurt you.”  Then the Prophet said, “No, he would never hurt me.”  So Moses tossed him the rope and said, “His is yours!” (https://www.josephsmithjr.org/joe-duncan-joseph-smiths-horse/)

Joseph named the horse Joe Duncan after the unsupportive former Governor of Illinois and the horse never did hurt Joseph. It was widely known that Joseph traveled everywhere on that horse, so what happened next was interesting.

On August 11 of 1842, Joseph left Nauvoo and spent a little time with his Uncle John Smith's in Zarahemla. The reference to Zarahemla is again taken from the Doctrine and Covenants and in August of 1841 became a stake of Zion in Iowa. (It was discontinued in January of 1842) Joseph’s Uncle lived there and he went to visit him crossing the river from Nauvoo. The story continues: “On the night of Thursday, the 11th of August in 1842, he left in a skiff with Brother Erastus H. Derby to an island on the Mississippi between Nauvoo and Montrose where they were met by Emma, Hyrum, William Law, Newel K. Whitney, George Miller, William Clayton and Dimick B. Huntington.

Joseph’s visitors stated to him the current report that the Governor of Iowa had issued a warrant for his apprehension and that the sheriff of Lee County was expected any hour to execute it.  The situation was critical and Joseph’s immediate removal from his Uncle John’s seemed necessary. It was decided that the Prophet should proceed to the house of Edward Sayers in Nauvoo and abide there for a time.  The next day William Walker crossed the river from Nauvoo into Iowa, riding the Prophet’s well known horse Joe Duncan, to lead the gathered officers and kidnappers away from the area that Joseph was on the Nauvoo side of the river.

“This stratagem was conceived to trick the Sheriff and his Deputies.  From Dean C. Jesse’s The Papers of Joseph Smith, in the Illinois journal states,” Accordingly Joseph’s new horse which he rides was got ready and Wm. Walker proceeded to cross the river in sight of a number of persons.

 The next day, “A report came over the river that there were several small companies of men in Montrose, Nashville, Keokuk, etc., in search of Joseph. They saw his horse go down the river yesterday and were confident he was on that side.” The Mississippi River was shallow enough on this late summer day to ride a horse across it at this location.” Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland by Rod Meldrum pg 80-81

Imagine the Mississippi River being shallow enough to cross by horse!  Imagine two armies of people fighting like dragons as they cross this river.  It happened so long ago and the story continues as the Heartland Research Group explores the Mississippi River in Montrose Iowa during the first week of August.  Stay tuned.