Like a Fire is Burning

The Benjamin Steed Family chart, identical to the one from Pillar of Light, is also included here after the Preface listing all of Mary Ann and Benjamin's descendants, both the living and deceased. Ten children total.

This volume covers the time period between 1830-1836

Chapter 1: It is Lydia's wedding day to Nathan. Her father, Josiah McBride, tries to stop it. He even brings an officer of the law but everyone, including Father Steed, defends her choice and since Lydia is of legal age (she's 20) there's nothing Josiah can do to prevent this marriage from taking place. Joseph performs the ceremony. Six weeks later, Lydia is queasy with pregnancy. Father Steed is kind to her. Nathan is offered work at the Joseph Knight farm again and he accepts. Lydia is agreeable but cries anyway at their parting.

Chapter 2: Mid-June, 1830. Jessica is still riding high on her new social status as Mrs. Steed. Many of the townsfolk stop and talk to her with respect. She no longer works in her father's saloon. As wife of the most respected businessman in Independence, Jessica enjoys a rich life of leisure with books and long, solitary walks. In Palmyra, Melissa visits Lydia. Both love the gospel which strengthens their bond as sisters. Mary Ann tells Martin Harris that Benjamin is still uncertain about this new religion. Back in Missouri, Joshua insists a creepy new doctor in town examine and "fix" Jessica so she can carry a baby full term while Jessica just stares helplessly into her cup of tea and says nothing.

Chapter 3: Nathan helps build a small dam for baptisms but bad men tear it down overnight then jeer and make trouble while the saints perform the ordinance. Emma is baptized (her frail health prevented it until now) along with Mother Knight. The following Monday evening, a knock at the door reveals a constable is here to escort Joseph to a trial. A mob overtakes them and they barely escape.

Chapter 4: At the trial, Nathan and other friends of Joseph wait and watch anxiously as witnesses come forth to testify for and against Joseph. He is found not guilty. They are exiting the building when another group comes forward to announce Joseph is under arrest and must come with them for another trial in a different county. Joseph is abused and treated very unkindly by his oppressors. He is again found not guilty at this trial and is allowed to return home with his friends. After witnessing all these trials, Nathan is feeling very discouraged but Joseph reminds him of the Savior's similar treatment and to be of good cheer.

Chapter 5: Meet Parley P. Pratt from Ohio, an earnest young man seeking truth and knowledge along with his wife. After being introduced to the church, they were baptized. Now there's to be a meeting at the Peter Whitmer, Sr. home in Fayette, New York, where Lydia is reunited with Nathan. They pray together before going downstairs where new revelations are read by Joseph and calls are issued for men to serve missions. Later, the sisters are visiting and sewing. Emma Smith and Lydia are part of the group. Emma shares with them what is now D&C 25 which makes up for Emma never getting the opportunity to see the gold plates like Mother Whitmer did, who sacrificed a great deal hosting all those people at her tiny log home during the work of translation.

Chapter 6: Jessica discovers Joshua at her father's tavern, nursing his bottle. She informs him she's "fired" that doctor which makes Joshua mad. She's also just lost another baby. Back at the house, they argue about the real issue, that Joshua is still in love with Lydia. Joshua slaps Jessica for the first time in their marriage before storming out and slamming the front door. Jessica buries her face in her hands and shakes with sobs. Back at the Steed family farm in Palmyra, the family learns of a new revelation given to Joseph Smith about relocating the church in Kirtland, Ohio. Nathan and Lydia immediately announce they will begin packing to leave in obedience to the call.

Chapter 7: Melissa also feels the pull to obey the prophet and move. She is now 20 years old with no marriage prospects. She tells her mother she feels someone is waiting for her in Kirtland. Mary Ann is sympathetic but advises her to stay until Benjamin can be persuaded to move the family. It is now late January, 1831. In Missouri, Jessica is reading a Book of Mormon some missionaries gave her. She's been hearing them preach and likes what she's learning. Joshua isn't interested in any of that but he does jump up and run out the door when Jessica mentions these men were from back East and might have news about Lydia. In Kirtland, we meet Carl Rogers, age 22, oldest son of Kirtland's most prosperous livery stable, who witnesses the arrival of Joseph Smith as he enters the general store and greets the owner by name, "Newel K. Whitney, thou art the man!" Joseph also shakes Carl's hand. The red-haired, easygoing, young man is pleased to meet him.

Chapter 8: Joshua finds Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer and Parley Pratt who confirm the Steed family's baptism (sans Benjamin) and Lydia's pregnancy which devastates Joshua as it means she really did marry his little brother and is now lost to him. Carl Rogers talks to Newel K. Whitney who tells him his conversion story to the church and that he really does believe Joseph Smith is a prophet. Carl's not sure what to think.

Chapter 9: Nathan and Lydia have one last meal with the Steed family before leaving. Pa Steed is not pleased with their decision and tries to talk them out of it since it's now late winter, February, 1831. Lydia bears her testimony and tells him this is the Lord's call and they will obey it. They leave to join the party of Mother Smith about to embark on the Erie Canal for the first leg of their journey west.

Chapter 10: Journey by canal boat is hard but the party prays and sings. Lydia feels the spirit burning within her and weeps for joy. Being pregnant has nothing to do with her roller coaster emotions. Back at the Steed farm, Marin Harris talks Benjamin into selling his farm and joining the movement west to Kirtland. He reminds Ben that many blessings have affected his family's life for the better since they joined the church. Ben reluctantly agrees. One-thousand miles to the west, Jessica and Joshua's marriage is even more dysfunctional than before, Joshua now sleeps in the second bedroom, but she resolves to change her attitude, be nicer to her husband and take more pains with her appearance to keep him around (because she's married to a jerk and deserves better).

Chapter 11: Nathan talks to the boat captain, a good man but hard and tough. After bearing his testimony, Nathan feels the spirit of missionary work. Mary Ann is ecstatic when her husband tells her the news about selling the farm and moving to Kirtland, using the new grand-baby as his excuse. The saints are stuck in Buffalo. Lake Erie is frozen solid and nothing  is moving. Nathan, Lydia and other saints watch in awe as Mother Smith declares that with enough faith the ice can break up and allow their boat to pass and it does while everyone else must wait another day.

Chapter 12: The story of Isaac Morley, of Kirtland, and how he came to join the church is told as it was his generous donation of land that allowed the saints to gather here. Lydia laughs hearing the story about Parley P. Pratt and the bulldog. Joseph enters the crowded room to announce the arrival of the Steeds. A tearful family reunion and the simultaneous news of Joshua's whereabouts is shared. Lydia gives birth to a baby boy the very next day. Joseph and Emma lost their twins but "adopted" another set from a widower named Murdock (such arrangements were not uncommon back then) who lost his wife in childbirth. Emma and Joseph name the newborns Julia and Joseph.

Chapter 13: Carlton "Carl" Rogers (curly red hair, green eyes) takes one look at dark haired, dark eyed Melissa Steed, laughing with her family as her father arranges to keep their horses at the Roger's Livery Stable, and is smitten! In MO, Jessica is pregnant again but Joshua is still punishing her for dismissing that doctor and for not being Lydia who can pop out babies on demand. Carl seeks out Melissa and offers to help her while she's on an errand into town. Gushing feminine demure, she accepts. Back in MO, Pa Roundy tells Jessica her husband is in trouble with gambling debts. Lydia and Nathan agree to live the higher law of consecration (it won't last).

Chapter 14: Missionary work thrives but Ben won't accept, even after hearing the story of the miracle of the healing of a woman's rheumatic arm by Joseph. Nathan blesses his new baby and is inspired to call him Joshua instead of Nathan as originally planned. Joseph teases Ben that they'll get him into the waters of baptism one of these days.

Chapter 15: Nathan is called to help the Colesville, New York branch relocate farther west to Missouri where Nathan just might find Joshua. Melissa and Carl disagree about the Mormon faith. He wants to get married but she's hesitant. Joshua gets Jessica to help him cheat in a big high stakes poker game but Jessica is hurt when she overhears Joshua putting her down in front of the other men by not being much of a "looker" so she leaves. Joshua misses her secret signals so he can know what cards the others are holding and loses everything.

Chapter 16: Joshua finds Jessica outside and continues to be a real a--hole of a husband. Furious, he slaps her twice, calls her a slut, and slams her hard against a building as they argue till a neighbor hollers from an upstairs window to keep it down. Gunshots are exchanged. Jessica bolts from the scene into the night, heading west until she finds Oliver Cowdery who takes her to a Mormon settlement (the Colesville saints) nearby to stay with the Lewis family. Jessica meets Joseph Smith who has come to visit this newest pioneer branch of the church in the west. Nathan is made aware of her situation and the pieces fall into place. Meanwhile, Joshua has high-tailed it out of town, lest the man he shot (who was unhurt) presses charges or word gets out about his domestic abuse. Jessica will be baptized. Nathan encourages her to seek a priesthood blessing so she might carry this baby full term and be guided in her marriage troubles. She agrees.

Chapter 17: The Steeds are settling comfortably into their new life in Kirtland. Carl calls to ask for Melissa's hand in marriage and gets the family's blessing. Jessica and Nathan gather with Joseph and other Missouri saints to dedicate the "land of Zion" or New Jerusalem of the future. Jessica is told in her priesthood blessing from Nathan that the Lord is aware of her difficulties, that her baptism tomorrow is the right thing to do, the baby she carries will be a girl and be born full term with no complications.

Chapter 18: This chapter consists entirely of letters: Nathan writes Lydia about the missionary work in Missouri and opportunities he's had to preach the restored gospel, Jessica writes to the entire Steed family introducing herself, Pa Roundy writes to Joshua about Jessica's baptism into the Mormon church, Lydia writes to her Mom begging some kind of word after they disowned her for joining the Mormons and marrying one of them, she misses them so much! Finally, Joseph Smith himself writes to Nathan about his horrific loss, a tragic story, when a mob broke into his Kirtland home one freezing night in March, dragged him from his bed, tarred and feathered him. Baby Joseph died from the exposure but his twin sister Julia will live and grow up.

Chapter 19: Back in Palmyra, New York, Mrs. McBride declares to her obstinate husband she will answer her daughter's letter. Another tearful family reunion when Nathan returns to Kirtland after a six month separation. Melissa is now married (the narration was silent on those details) and gives birth to a baby boy they name after his father and grandfather: Carlton Hezekiah. Joshua returns to MO and seeks out Jessica who accepts his apology but won't renounce her new Mormon faith, which Joshua so strongly opposes, and won't reside in town with him as husband and wife since she's quite happy with the Lewis family who've taken her in. Nathan leaves to serve another mission while Lydia gives birth to a second child, a girl she names Emily. Lydia suffers post-partum depression, mostly due to the fact her husband isn't here. Melissa quickly puts her in her place about keeping the faith, (alone!) while being married to a non-member. Jessica repeats her mantra to her Pa, she won't give up her new faith and return to Joshua. Pa shows her the divorce papers Joshua asked him to deliver and informs Jessica an attractive widow in town with two kids has her eye on Joshua (we never hear about her again and Joshua remains single until the next book).

Chapter 20: Joseph finally commits Benjamin Steed to baptism! It is now 1833 and the church is growing in leaps and bounds in both Ohio and Missouri which causes men like Joshua to perceive these people as a threat, especially in Jackson, County where opposition to the Mormons is strongest. Joshua is ready to take up arms against this religion that stole his wife and separated him from his family.

Chapter 21: Joshua joins the mob in burning the Mormon's print shop in Independence. Teenager Mary Elizabeth Rollins and her sister become legendary church heroines in risking their lives to help save what will later become important sections of the D&C. The mob tar and feather Bishop Partridge who takes it like the Savior and everyone feels shame, even Joshua who witnesses the entire scene of persecution.

Chapter 22: The Steeds weep to hear of Joshua's involvement with the mob attacks in the west against the saints. Jessica has given birth to her baby girl and named her Rachel. The mob activity also forces them out of their homes. They huddle in terror near the river as a fight erupts.

Chapter 23: November, 1833. Jessica witnesses Philo Dibble's miraculous recovery from the mob attack and gunshot wound after Newel Knight gives him a blessing. Her father begs her to return to town where it's safe but she'd also have to give up her new beliefs. Again, Jessica refuses and their conversation is literally cut short by the incoming mob, howling bloody murder and death to all Mormons. "Bye, Pa, gotta run!" And run Jessica does, carrying baby Rachel in her arms, the little Lewis boy fleeing beside her, both are barefoot as they run through the frozen grass leaving bloody footprints. Twenty-five miles later they reach a river. No one has money to cross on the ferry until Mary Elizabeth Rollins catches river fish with money inside, a miracle!

Chapter 24: In Kirtland, the church is deep in debt and everyone is mad at Joseph but hearts soften when they learn of the tragedy that befell the saints in the west. Zion's Camp March is organized. Lydia gives birth to a baby but it is stillborn. Lydia is brokenhearted but she has an idea, she will travel East with the two children to visit her parents in Palmyra while Nathan obeys the call to march west. Meet Brigham Young who is also going on the march along with Heber C. Kimball and other men who will become future, prominent church leaders. All the Kirtland saints turn out on May 5, 1834 to see the men of Zion's Camp off.

Chapter 25: Nathan keeps a journal of his experience: May 14, lots of grumbling, morale is low. May 18, all the horses are sick. Joseph admonishes the men to humble themselves and pray. All the horses recover. Nathan misses Lydia and his family terribly. June 6, the bones of a male skeleton are found on the prairie, Joseph proclaims these are the bones of Zelph the Lamanite. The prophet later rebukes them again for their bad attitude. The march continues to be hard and spirits remain low.  

Chapter 26: Lydia and the kids are enjoying their Palmyra visit where her parents have welcomed them and are spoiling their grandchildren rotten. Zion's Camp reaches Missouri but a mob is waiting for them. The Lord sends a great storm. The men find shelter in an abandoned Baptist church while Joshua and the mob suffer from the elements and ultimately call off the attack or risk getting struck by lightning. Now that the Lord has told Joseph "never mind" about this entire trip, Nathan decides to seek out Joshua. He's already found Jessica who will be returning to Kirtland with him. It's been seven years since coldhearted Joshua's seen any member of his family. He and Nathan argue while Nathan is tied to a chair by Joshua's anti-Mormon friends. Joshua is resentful against Joseph Smith and all Mormons for brainwashing Jessica and ruining his life back in Palmyra. Nathan retorts: "I'm gonna tell Mama not to pray for you anymore." Big mistake, Nathan.

Chapter 27: Lydia has bad dreams of a cool river, lush green grass and trees all turning to parched desert for no apparent reason (this terrifies her?). Nathan introduces Jessica and baby Rachel to the rest of the Steed family back in Kirtland who immediately take her in. Nathan talks to Melissa who encourages him to travel to Palmyra and join Lydia who doesn't want to return. She's been working at her father's store again, just like old times. Her children are happy and content and she's reestablished the ties with her parents by attending their church and not mentioning Mormonism.

Chapter 28: Nathan is miserable. He and his father-in-law don't get on, he hates working at the store. Nathan even shows them his scars from the whipping he got in Missouri by order of his own brother. Lydia is horrified. She had no idea. This shocks her into wanting to return to her family and the church, especially after reading the letter from Emma Smith Nathan brought her which contains a copy of that special revelation she received back in  Chapter 5.

Chapter 29: Eighteen months pass and it is now February 1836. The saints in Kirtland number in the thousands. The Steed grandchildren are growing up. Jessica works at Carl's livery stable keeping the books. Rachel is now four. Lydia helps teach at the common school. Joshua is five, Emily four and Lydia gave birth to a third child named after his father. Melissa has added another boy, David. Mary Ann, surrounded by her posterity, (sans Joshua) is thrilled. The days are busy and full with church meetings to attend and work on the Kirtland temple. Lydia gets her patriarchal blessing: she will be a mother in Zion, she will continue to have more children who will rise up and call her blessed and be as trees and rivers.

Chapter 30: Dedication of the Kirtland temple, March 1836. Matthew is now 15 and will stay home and babysit so all the adults can attend. Melissa doesn't go. Rebecca is now almost 18. She gasps at the beauty of the workmanship inside the beautiful edifice . Benjamin helped build and oversaw construction as well as making generous financial contributions as he's never been short on cash. Joseph thanks him and everyone takes their seats. The service begins with the choir singing a hymn written by Parley P. Pratt. Sidney Rigdon prays and gives a sermon. Everyone sings another hymn. Joseph reads the official dedicatory prayer. The choir sings "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning" by William Phelps. Suddenly, a miraculous Pentecostal event occurs. The heavens open, Benjamin is witnessing all of this but feeling a little discouraged as he has yet to experience any gifts of the spirit such as speaking in tongues, seeing visions or prophesying. He berates himself over his past sins, his former opposition to Joseph as a true prophet as the reason why the Lord would withhold such blessings from him until, finally, he hears a voice in his mind speaking to him. Back at the house, everyone talks excitedly of what they experienced during the meeting while Melissa listens and feels very left out. Exclamations draw everyone outside to look at the temple, now glowing in the sunlight. That night, another dedicatory meeting is held just for the men in a special priesthood session. Benjamin speaks in tongues, the temple is filled with angels. Nathan marvels at it all. The meeting doesn't adjourn until after 11pm. Outside, Ben and Nathan embrace. What a day!

The End