manded the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to
arise from their beds and be made whole, and the sick were healed on ever
side. He then went from house to house and from tent to tent upon the bank
of the river, healing the people. Many wonderful healings were performed.
Joseph would take the sick person by the hand, or stand in the door of the
tent and command the afflicted person to arise and be made whole. The
Prophet with some of the brethren who were now with him crossed the river
to the place where Brigham Young was lying ill. President Young was soon
healed and followed with the rest. As there were many whom the Prophet
could not reach, the Twelve were sent to administer to them. Joseph gave
Wilford Woodruff a silk handkerchief which he was to use in healing some
children. President Woodruff kept the handkerchief to the day of his death.

After this, there was very little sickness in Nauvoo. During the summer and
fall of 1839 the city grew rapidly. About this time seven of the Twelve
left for their mission to England, of which you have been told, and the
English Saints soon began to gather to Nauvoo.

Late in October, 1839, Joseph went to the city of Washington to lay the
troubles of the Church before the authorities of the nation. Joseph made
the acquaintance of many leading men, among them John C. Calhoun, and
Henry Clay. Martin Van Buren was president, and to him Joseph told of the
wrongs they had suffered from the people of Missouri. It was then that the
president made the famous remark: "Your cause is just, but I can do nothing
for you." His meaning, no doubt, was that the president of the United
States had no right to interfere with the affairs of a state; but that all
such troubles should be settled by the state itself.

[Illustration: THE NAUVOO MANSION.]

So Joseph returned without any help. Meanwhile, Nauvoo grew into a large
city. Ten wards were laid off and organized. April 6, 1841, the corner
stone of the temple was laid. Many public buildings were erected. Good
houses were built, and beautiful gardens soon bloomed around them. On the
outskirts of the city, fields of grain stretched as far as the eye could
reach. In 1842 there were 20,000 people in the city, and Nauvoo promised to
be one of the largest cities in the West.

The fame of Joseph and the "Mormon" city spread, and many people came to
see the wonder. Missionaries were sent out to preach, the _Times and
Seasons_ published by the Ch