175 years ago today - Jul 22, 1842 - Friday

[Joseph Smith journal]
At the stand conflicting with O. P. [Orson Pratt] and correcting the public mind with regard to reports put in circulation by [John C.] Bennett & others.

[[The meeting was called "to obtain an expression of the public mind" with respect to the efforts of Bennett to defame JS's character. Wilson Law presented a resolution upholding JS's integrity and moral character. The vote by the citizens of Nauvoo, numbering "about a thousand men," was nearly unanimous, but Pratt arose and spoke at length to explain his negative vote, whereupon JS publicly asked Pratt, "Have you personally a knowledge of any immoral act in me toward the female sex, or in any other way?" Pratt replied, "Personally, toward the female sex, I have not."]]

In the P.M. a petition was prepared and singed [signed] by the citizens praying the Governor not to issue a writ for the Prest.

[[Rumors published as early as 21 May 1842 charged JS with complicity in the attempt to assassinate Lilburn W. Boggs, former governor of Missouri. Bennett made the same accusation in his 2 July letter, published in the 15 July Sangamo Journal. In St. Louis, the 14 July 1842 issue of the Bulletin published another letter and affidavit from Bennett connecting JS and Orrin Porter Rockwell with the attempted assassination. Soon after, on 20 July, Boggs made a sworn statement that JS "was accessary before the fact" in the assassination attempt and requested that JS be extradited to Missouri.]]

[Source: Joseph Smith, Journal, Dec. 1841–Dec. 1842 in "The Book of the Law of the Lord," Record Book, 1841–1845]

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