JS and other church leaders decided to “withdraw the hand of fellowship” from John C. Bennett on 11 May 1842, but notice of the action was not published until the following month. (JS et al., “Notice,” 11 May 1842, JS Collection, CHL; “Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842, 3:830.)  

Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

This conversation was published along with statements concerning Bennett’s character in the 1 July 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons. (“To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and to All the Honorable Part of Community,” Times and Seasons, 1 July 1842, 3:839–843.)  

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

TEXT: “Prophecy” inserted in left margin.  

TEXT: Possibly “the <​their​>”.  

TEXT: “a. curse” inserted in left margin.  

See Ezekiel 3:26 or Psalm 137:6.  

TEXT: Transliteration from Taylor shorthand: d f-s-t-r.  

TEXT: Transliteration from Taylor shorthand: s-m-th.  

TEXT: Transliteration from Taylor shorthand: sh-r-w-d.  

TEXT: Possibly “towards”.  

TEXT: Transliteration from Taylor shorthand: s-m-th.  

Foster was charged by Nathan T. Knight for unchristian conduct in refusing to pay for work done by Knight’s son. The charges were not sustained and Foster was acquitted. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, [21] May 1842.)  

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Higbee was charged by George Miller with “unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with the widow Miller and others.” Three witnesses then testified that Higbee seduced these women by teaching that it was “right to have free intercourse with women if it was kept secret &c” and that “Joseph Smith therised [authorized] him to practise these things &c.” The high council resolved that Higbee be expelled from the church. Two of the witnesses were presumably Margaret and Matilda Nyman, who, with Sarah Miller, formally recorded their testimonies three days later; the testimonies were eventually published in the Nauvoo Neighbor. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, [21] and 24 May 1842; “Chauncy L. Higbee,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 29 May 1844, [3]; JS, Journal, 24 May 1842.)  

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

TEXT: The remainder of this entry is written in a lighter ink, which matches that of the following entry.  

After announcing the 6 May shooting of former Missouri governor Boggs “by an unknown hand,” the Quincy Whig speculated: “There are several rumors in circulation in regard to the horrid affair. One of which throws the crime upon the Mormons—from the fact, we suppose, that Mr. Boggs was governor at the time, and no small degree instrumental in driving them from the State.—Smith too, the Mormon Prophet, as we understand, prophesied a year or so ago, his death by violent means. Hence, there is plenty of foundation for rumor.” JS’s letter to Whig editor Sylvester M. Bartlett on this date charged Bartlett with having done JS “manifest injustice.” JS pointed out that Boggs easily could have been the victim of political intrigue and emphasized, “he died not through my instrumentality,” adding, “I am tired of the misrepresentation, calumny and detraction heaped upon me by wicked men, and desire and claim only those privileges guaranteed to all men by the Constitution and Laws of the United States, and of Illinois.” While Boggs recovered from his wounds, these same accusations eventually led to an attempt to extradite JS to Missouri. (“Assassination of Ex-Governor Boggs of Missouri,” Quincy (IL) Whig, 21 May 1842, [3]; JS, Nauvoo, IL, 22 May 1842, Letter to the editor, Quincy (IL) Whig, 4 June 1842, [2]; JS, Journal, 8 Aug. 1842.)  

Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

Probably Dr. John F. Charles, a Whig politician and resident of Carthage who settled there in 1834. A week after this entry, the residents of the Nauvoo area held a public meeting and nominated Charles as their choice for the Illinois state senate to represent Hancock County. Charles previously served as representative of Hancock County in the Illinois legislature. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 272, 522–523; “Public Meeting,” The Wasp, 4 June 1842, [3]; “Illinois,” Niles National Register [Washington DC], 26 Sept. 1840, 57.)  

Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.

The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

Niles’ National Register. Washington DC, 1837–1839; Baltimore, 1839–1848; Philadelphia, 1848–1849.

TEXT: Transliteration from Taylor shorthand: ch-l-d.  

In addition to these depositions, Margaret and Matilda Nyman gave their testimonies before the Nauvoo high council three days earlier. (“Chauncy L. Higbee,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 29 May 1844, [3].)  

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Based on an affidavit from JS, Higbee was arrested 24 May 1842 for “slander and defamation” against JS and Emma Smith. Margaret Nyman, Matilda Nyman, and Sarah Miller were subpoenaed as witnesses. Nauvoo justice of the peace Ebenezer Robinson bound Higbee with a $200 bond to appear at the October term of the circuit court. (State of Illinois v. Higbee [J.P. Ct. 1842], Robinson and Johnson, Docket Book, 117.)  

Robinson, Ebenezer, and Aaron Johnson. Docket Book, ca. 1842–1845. Chicago Historical Society, Collection of Mormon Materials, 1836–1886. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8136.

The Nauvoo high council minutes record meetings on 25, 27, and 28 May at which five additional people—one woman and four men—were charged with unvirtuous conduct. Three of these, all men, were disfellowshipped. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 25, 27, and 28 May 1842.)  

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.