Trivia - For the key letter in this chapter, I convolve the soliloquoy Austin wrote about his deceased wife with the Song of Solomon and a dash of my own past experiences. In real history, John C. Bennett will shortly strike up an adulterous relationship with Sarah Pratt, wife of one of the apostles (Orson Pratt was on a mission at the time).

"Bennett went to a lady in ... Continue reading »

Trivia - We are briefly returning to 1841 to insert some scenes that explain the events leading up to the death of Joseph Smith and the genesis of the virulent hatred of Mormons which is a theme throughout this book. This set of chapters (Brother John and A Virtuous Woman) are the first of at least two installments.

It is not a spoiler to indicate that Dr. John Bennett's ... Continue reading »

Trivia - In January 1861 the first shots of the Civil war were fired. Coincidentally, in 1861 the Church had exhausted the ability to purchase new wagons or even handcarts to carry people across the plains. So Brigham came up with the Out-and-Back or Down-and-Back scheme, whereby wagons and teamsters would travel east and pick up Saints wanting to travel west to Salt Lake City.

E-mails written too late at night sometimes result in stuff that shouldn't be sent.

Trivia - A lot happens in this chapter, but all of it is germane to the core theme of the book (Birth and Death of Mormon Polygamy). As I move away from amazingly well documented events, I am taking some liberties. I don't know that Jonathan and Elvira took in the Wellings and the Beuses, but I do know that the Church leadership took particular care to place the handcart ... Continue reading »