July 12, 2019

Episode 163 – Live and Die by the Law

On this episode, we discuss the Law family. From Jo’s personal counselor in the Church presidency, aide-de-camp in the Nauvoo Legion, registrar of the University of Nauvoo, and general Mormon eliteness to one of the most powerful and outspoken critics of Joseph Smith and Mormonism; William Law has an interesting story in the Church and left behind a ton of documentation that is crucial and invaluable to historians today. We get to know him, his wife Jane, and his brother Wilson in this episode and then discuss what changed.

Links:

William Law Biography
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/william-law

Wilson Law Biography
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/wilson-law

JS Reflections and Blessings
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/reflections-and-blessings-16-and-23-august-1842/2

William Law grain and sawmill
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minutes-and-discourse-3-5-october-1840/1#full-transcript

William Law-chaired Court Martial
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/report-of-nauvoo-legion-general-court-martial-30november-1841/1

Deed from JS/ES to William Law
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/deed-to-william-law-24-january-1842/2

Council of Fifty Minutes
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-2-council-of-fifty-minutes-27-february-1845/3#full-18153362210351494232

D&C 124
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/124?lang=eng

History of the Saints by John C. Bennett
https://archive.org/details/historysaints00benngoog/page/n53

An Interview with William Law
http://www.mrm.org/law-interview

3 letters from William Law
http://www.william-law.org/publications/the-mormons-in-nauvoo-three-letters-from-william-law-on-mormonism-an-honest-mans-view-and-remorse-the-daily-tribune-salt-lake-city-july-3-1887