city. Ten wards were laid off and organized. April 6, 1841, the corner
stone of the temple was laid. Many public buildings were erected. Good
houses were built, and beautiful gardens soon bloomed around them. On the
outskirts of the city, fields of grain stretched as far as the eye could
reach. In 1842 there were 20,000 people in the city, and Nauvoo promised to
be one of the largest cities in the West.

The fame of Joseph and the "Mormon" city spread, and many people came to
see the wonder. Missionaries were sent out to preach, the _Times and
Seasons_ published by the Church, 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