Joseph, Joseph: Kingdom of God in the West 1st edition

In 1844 history shows that God prepared a window of opportunity for Joseph Smith to build an independent Kingdom of God in the West. On June 22, 1844, God directed Joseph Smith to go to the Rocky Mountains. He crossed the Mississippi River and was preparing to do so when several of his brethren brought a letter from his wife, Emma, requesting him to return and give himself up to the authorities in Carthage. Those brethren accused Joseph of cowardice. Joseph said with a broken heart, "If we go back, we shall be butchered; but if my life is of no value to my friends, it is of none to myself." It was the strong persuasion of the brethren carrying out Emma's instructions that induced Joseph to return to Nauvoo and not the word of the Lord. In fact, Joseph told Stephen Markham that he went 'to Carthage contrary to the council of the Spirit and I am now no more than another man'. Governor Thomas Ford promised that he would take Joseph with him if he went to Nauvoo. On the morning of June 27, 1844, Ford left for Nauvoo without Joseph. Joseph immediately sent an order to Major-General Jonathan Dunham to lead the Nauvoo Legion immediately to Carthage to free the prisoners. To avoid civil war, Dunham refused to obey the order and didn't notify Joseph of his decision. One of his lieutenants later complained that Dunham 'did not let a single mortal know that he had received such orders'. In the afternoon of June 27, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, was murdered by a blood-thirsty mob. Alas, the Prophet was gone, but it need not have been. Joseph did not intend to die in Carthage. This historical novel takes you on Joseph's exciting adventure had he gone west