Thirty-Six (1841)accepted the inevitability of his election to lead the Nauvoo Legion, he met with Hyrum in
his office.^33 He put his head in his hand and asked his beloved brother, “What shall I do?”
It was then that Hyrum began to realize the great emotional burden that his younger
brother’s role was having on him. Although Hyrum never fully understood why Joseph
allowed the people to push him around, nor why his brother would mandate things that
Hyrum knew upset him, Hyrum finally began to realize that there was much more to
Joseph’s role than what his kid brother could or would reveal, even to him. It was at this
moment that Hyrum began to realize the great hypocrisy of the Saints and how hard it was
for his beloved brother to deal with them. Hyrum opened the Book of Mormon and read
Mormon’s words, unbeknownst to him, that Joseph had written himself in another life
while experiencing a very similar situation:
And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of
the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave
me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I
could deliver them from their afflictions. But behold, I was without hope, for
I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they
repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling
upon that Being who created them.^34Joseph asked Hyrum if he would stand by his side as one of his aides and
commanders. Hyrum begged Joseph to not give him a commission in the Legion. Hyrum
could not fight, nor could he hurt any living thing. Joseph looked upon his reticent,
agoraphobic^35 brother and said, “Then they shall have me, but they shall not have you.”
Shortly thereafter, Bennett and the newly commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel Don Carlos
Smith entered his office with others and elected Joseph as lieutenant general and
commander-in-chief of the Nauvoo Legion. Joseph cried upon accepting the commission—
but his sobs were far from tears of joy—as his mortal history repeated itself.^36
The Legion resolved that it should be the duty of all men “between the ages of 18 and
45 years”^37 to serve in the Legion or be fined.^38 The priesthood of God had taken “unrighteous
dominion” to a new level, transforming itself into an army^39 that would be fined “gold and
silver” if any “Saints” refused to serve therein.^40 Even in modern times, the prowess of those
enrolled in the military is one of the greatest feathers of pride in the hat of fully Americanized
LDS/Mormons. Joseph gave out positions of authority to whoever desired to be an officer.
Had the Legion ever been called upon to actually go to war, the mere presence of countless
chiefs, in relation to the men who were ostensibly under their command, would have been its
Achilles heel. Once each priesthood leader, who so desired, received his commission from
Joseph, the reluctant commander, who never disclosed his true identity—his true feelings—
would say under his breath, “Amen to your priesthood and authority.”^41
Bennett’s Ascendency and Fall From the Ranks of the LDS Church
Joseph further aggrandized Bennett by appointing him to be an Assistant President
of the Church, and Counselor in the First Presidency on April 8, 1841.^42 Hyrum was
relieved as a counselor and appointed Church Patriarch in September of 1840 to replace
their father.^43 But Joseph held his dear brother close to him and retained him as an
Assistant President for the short remainder of his life. This year, Joseph appointed another