The Senate, of course, adopted this resolution, and this brought to an end the appeal of the Latter-day Saints for redress of their wrongs while in Missouri.[4] The Saints had the satisfaction of knowing they had complied with the command of the Lord, wherein he instructed them to appeal for redress, first at the feet of the judge, then the governor and then the President of the United States. The matter was now to be left in the hand of the Great Judge who had promised, under the circumstances as they had developed, to “come forth out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation” (Doc. and Cov. 101:89).
The Resolutions of the April Conference
At the general conference of the Church held April 6 –8, 1840, a set of resolutions were adopted approving of the labors of the Church committee who visited Washington, and condemning the action of the senate in the rejection of the consideration of the wrongs of the Saints. Some of the items in which the resolutions disagree with the action of Congress are as follows: The failure to consider the petition was subversive to the rights of a free people, and justly called for the disapprobation of all the supporters and lovers of good government. The judiciary committee stated in their report, “that our memorial aggravates the case of our oppressors,” and at the same time they said they had “not examined into the truth or falsehood of the facts mentioned.” This was deemed by the petitioners a great insult to their “good sense, better judgment and intelligence,” when numerous affidavits were laid before the committee to prove that the Saints could go into the State of Missouri only in opposition to the exterminating order of the governor, and at the risk of their lives. Moreover, that exterminating order was before the committee for consideration, it was a direct infraction of the Constitution of the United States. The failure of the committee to investigate the actions of the governor and other officers of Missouri, was “turning a deaf ear to the cries of widows, orphans, and innocent blood, which had been shed,” and was “no less than seconding the proceedings of that murderous clan, whose deeds are recorded in heaven, and justly call down upon their heads the righteous judgments of an offended God.” The thanks of the Saints were extended to Governors Lucas of Iowa, and Carlin of Illinois, for their sympathy and aid, also to the citizens of Illinois for their kind, liberal and generous conduct. The delegates were instructed to continue their endeavors to obtain redress, and the resolutions closed with the following appeal: “And if all hopes of obtaining satisfaction for the injuries done us be entirely blasted, that they (the delegates) then appeal our case to the Court of Heaven, believing that the Great Jehovah, who rules over the destiny of nations, and who notices the falling sparrows, will undoubtedly redress our wrongs, and ere long avenge us of our adversaries.”[5]
Return of the Prodigals
At the general conference held in April, 1840, Frederick G. Williams, who had been excommunicated by the action of the conference of the Church at Quincy, March 17, 1839, along with Thomas B. Marsh, George M. Hinkle and others, presented himself on the stand, and humbly asked forgiveness for his conduct while in Missouri. He expressed his determination to do the will of the Lord in the future, for he had a knowledge of the divinity of the work. His case was presented to the people by President Hyrum Smith, and he was received back into fellowship by the unanimous vote of the conference. From this time on he remained true to the Church and his brethren, until his death in Quincy October 10, 1842.
In the following June William W. Phelps wrote to the Prophet from Dayton, Ohio, confessing his sins and begging for reinstatement in the Church. “I am,” said he, “as the prodigal son, though I never doubt or disbelieve the fulness of the Gospel. I have been greatly abused and humbled, and I blessed the God of Israel when I lately read your prophetic blessing on my head, as follows: ‘The Lord will chasten him because he taketh honor to himself, and when his soul is greatly humbled he will forsake the evil. Then shall the light of the Lord break forth upon him as at noonday and in him shall be no darkness.’ I have seen the folly of my way, and I tremble at the gulf I have passed. So it is, and why I know not. I prayed, and God answered; but what could I do? Says I, ‘I will repent and live and ask my old brethren to forgive me, and though they chasten me to death, yet I will die with them, for their God is my God. . . . I have not walked along with my friends according to my holy anointing. I ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ of all the Saints, for I will do right, God helping me.’”
The Prophet answered him saying his case had been presented to the Saints and an expression of their feelings was unanimously given that he should be received back into the Church.
Death of Bishop Partridge
Bishop Edward Partridge died Wednesday, May 27, 1840, in Nauvoo, in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was the first bishop of the Church, having been called to that position by revelation in 1831. He was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, August 27, 1793. His daughter Harriet Pamela, aged nineteen years, preceded her father to the grave by eleven days. They were victims of the Missouri persecutions, and were among those who suffered privations and exposure in the mobbings and expulsion in the winter of 1838–9. Others who likewise laid down their lives about this time were John Young, father of President Brigham Young, Seymour Brunson and James Mulholland, the Prophet’s secretary. Each of these brethren died shortly after the settlement of the Saints in Illinois. John Young was a veteran of the Revolution. He had been driven from his home in Missouri and died in his seventy-seventh year, a martyr to his religion, for his death was caused by his sufferings in the cruel persecution. Seymour Brunson died August 10, 1840. He was a man of strong character, and had taken an active part in the Church almost from the beginning, serving in various councils. He it was who entered charges against Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer at the time of their excommunication. He died in his forty-first year and was at the time a member of the high council in the Nauvoo Stake. James Mulholland died in November, 1839, aged thirty-five years. He was a man of excellent education and was a faithful elder in the Church.