64 BOOK OF A HUNDRED BEARS 



Unwavering in their faith, they congregated at 

 Nauvoo, on the Mississippi, in the State of Illinois, 

 and there, believing that they had found a law- 

 abiding government that would protect them, 

 built up a beautiful and prosperous city that num- 

 bered nearly twenty thousand people at the time of 

 the exodus. 



The Mormons began to take part in politics. 

 Holding the balance of power, they contributed 

 to the election of Stephen A. Douglass to the 

 Senate. In 1840, they supported Harrison as 

 against Van Buren. The fires of persecution were 

 again being kindled. Requisitions came from 

 Missouri for Smith, but he was still strong enough 

 to resist them. With this growing power, however, 

 Smith, who had been a great leader, began to 

 lose his sense of proportion. The doctrine of 

 polygamy was secretly given out as a revelation 

 and practiced by a few. He organized the Nauvoo 

 Legion, with himself as lieutenant-general. In 

 1844, he ran for President of the United States. 

 More and more the Mormons, solidified by the 

 terrible pressure from without, began to modify 



