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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 39 Page: 766

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766 deliver up the State arms, declaring that if that was done it would satisfy the old settlers of the county. Joseph asked Dunn if he had any orders to protect him agreeable to the promise of the Governor. He said he had not, but he would as far as his arm could,-he would protect him anywhere in the county. The Prophet said he asked the protection not because he was afraid of justice, but he was afraid of the assembled mob. He further told Captain Dunn that the citizens of Nauvoo would not surrender the arms to him, but he would return and request them to do so. That was the cause of the Seer's return to the city. Hyrum Smith and myself had ridden together from the city, conversing respecting the outlook. He said: 'It is the darkest day the church has ever seen.' Being a warm day, we turned off from the road to obtain some water to drink, which we obtained, and Joseph left his party on the road and came over to where we were, and it was then that Joseph told Hyrum: 'We must go and lay our heads on the sod, or they will go into the city and murder the women and children.' It was during this conversation that Captain Dunn with his troop came in sight. He halted his troop, and came over by himself to Joseph, when the above-named conversation occurred.

"A few days after the assassination, I was requested to go to Carthage with Dr. Samuel Bennett to bring home John Taylor, as he feared they would kill him. No marvel; he was fearfully wounded in legs and arms. The citizens of Carthage were very reluctant to have him removed. They feared that Carthage would in the event of his removal be destroyed. However, we put a bed upon a sled and brought him home in tolerably easy condition. I would here remark that, notwithstanding my midnight journey to Carthage to serve him, when I met him in Salt Lake City he would not speak beyond, 'How do you do, sir?'"

Of general conditions, and his own feelings after the martyrdom, he states:-

"At the death of the prophet I supposed that the church was rejected as a church; but what the effect of the rejection was, neither I nor any person with whom I conversed

(page 766)

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