"Deaths." "LIGHTNER," DEN 18 (Sept. 8, 1885): p. 2 (Obituary of Adam Lightner).
Hamblin, Ida Rollins, and Malissa Rollins Lee. "Biography of James Henry Rollins and Eveline Walker Rollins." MEL collection, Lee Library.

Lightner, Mary Elizabeth. Autobiography, holograph, USHS. There are different typescript versions, some fuller than the holograph. See also the version whose author is given as Elsie Barrett, Huntington Library. A printed version is "Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner." UGHM 17 (1926): 193-205, 250-60.

---. Letter to Emmeline B. Wells, summer 1905, Lee library.
---. Letter to Emmeline Wells, Nov. 21, 1880. As quoted in Van Wagoner, MP 39. See Van Wagoner's notes in his collection at Marriott Library, box 10.
---. Letter to John A. Smith, Jan. 2 5, 1892. Original in papers of George A. Smith, Marriott Library. As cited in Bachman, "A Study," 135, Van Wagoner, MP 39.
---. Record Book. MS 748, CA.
---. "Remarks." A talk given at Lee Library, Apr. 14, 1905. Typescript in Lee Library. Printed in Tinney, RF 254-58.
---. "Speech." Given July 24, 1889. In Record Book, p. 28.
---. "Statement." Apr. 18, 1884, given to John Taylor and George Q. Cannon. CA. "Statement of Mary E. Rollins Lightner." Signed Feb. 8, 1902. Lee Library.

Lyon, T. Edgar. Interview. In Linda Newell collection, Marriott Library.

MEL = Mary Elizabeth Lightner.

Murdock, Hallie. Biography of Mary Elizabeth Lightner, CA.
Robinson, Avaretta, ed. They Answered the Call: A History of Minersville, Utah. Minersville, UT: Centennial Committee, [19621.

Rollins, James Henry. Diary. Lee Library and USHS. Dictated by him to his daughter in 1898. Compare Hamblin.

lightning-. Autobiography, 22. supernatural: For this book's treatment of the super natural, see Introduction.

I.   birth date: SAd 505; IGI. John: was born in 1792 in Rutland, Rutland, New Hampshire, AF. Keziah: was born on May 15, 1796, in Albany, Albany, New York. She died in 1877 (or 1878) in Utah. Rollins's occupations: Hamblin. James Henry: born on May 27, 1816, he married Evaline Walker in 1836 (or 1838) and Hannah Humes in 1851, a polygamous marriage. He had ten children by Eveline and thirteen by Hannah. In Missouri and Nauvoo he was a bodyguard to Joseph Smith. After crossing the plains, he lived in the Mormon colony of San Bernardino, California, for a few years, then served as a bishop, patriarch, and state legislature representative in Minersville, Utah. He died in 1899 in Wyoming. See Hamblin, "Biography," and Lyman, San Bernardino, index. Caroline: married Nathaniel John Kerr and died in 1853 in Illinois. death of John: Autobiography.

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II.   Gilberts: For Sidney, see Bangerter, MSA; Cook, RP 84. move to Ohio, and MormonIsm: Autobiography. missionaries to Kirtland. For the mission of Oliver and companions to Kirtland, see Book of Commandments ch. 30 (D&C 28); D&C (1835 ed.) 54 (modem LDS D&C 32); Hill, JS 119-22; Fanny Alger chapter, at 1830. For contemporary newspaper accounts, see Hill, JS 122. date of baptism: MEL to Wells, Summer 1905, p. 4, has the date "early" October 1830, but the missionaries did not reach Kirtland until early November, see Cook, RP 45. They left Manchester, New York, on October 17, Cook, RP 44. Compare Lightner genealogy book, fd 6, P. 33, in MEL collection, Lee Library. Book of Mormon: Autobiography. Bracketed passages are from the typescript version of the Autobiography, p. 2. the prayer meeting: Autobiography 3/ typescript p. 2. See also Remarks, p. 1; MEL to Wilford Woodruff, Oct. 7, 1887, "1 was Sealed to Brother Josephs family in the Spring of 183 1." Statement, 1902. The 1884 Statement dates the experience "in the fore part of the Winter," but Joseph did not arrive in Kirtland until early February 1831, see Hill, JS 129; HC 1:147. The meeting might have taken place in late winter/early spring. "seal": For "sealing" here, compare a speech given by Joseph Smith on October 25, 1831: "The order of the High-priesthood is that they have the power given them to seal up the Saints unto eternal life," FWR 20-21. Elders with the "High-priesthood" sealed up entire congregations to eternal life soon after this, Reynolds Cahoon diaries, CA, after Nov. 9, 1831 ("held a meting ... after laboring with them Some length of time Br David sealed them up unto Eternial life"), and at Nov. 17, ("held a meting ... Broke bread with them sealed up the Church unto Eternal life"), Nov. 27 ("Saturday Evening held a Met ... Blest the Children in the name of the lord & sealed the Church unto eternal life"). Compare Prince, PFOH 20, 155-72; KEQR 12n. These references support Elizabeth's account. "I felt": typescript. photographed. "Remarks."
 

III.   Move: Autobiography.  Burk: Hamblin. Mary's Autobiography places the remarriage in Missouri. tongues: Autobiography, p. 3. Boggs: Autobiography. reason for mobbing: Warren Jennings, "The City in the Garden: Social Conflict in Jackson County, Missouri," Me Restoration Movement.- Essays in Mormon History (Independence, MO: Herald House, 1979), 99-119; T. Edgar Lyon, "Independence, Missouri, and the Mormons, 1827 - 1833," BYUSt 13 (1972): 10- 19; Ronald E. Romig, Early Independence, Missouri, "Mormon" History Tour Guide (Independence, MO: Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation, 1994); Hill, QFR 41. saving the sheets: Autobiography, 196. Compare Hill, JS 160. Gilbert store: Hill, JS 163. Clay County: Autobiography; AF. Mary witnessed a miracle of catching a fish with three silver half dollars inside it, a close New Testament parallel (see Matt. 17:27), while the Mormons were crossing the Missouri River to escape the mobs in Jackson County. The coins were the exact amount needed to ferry the last Mormons over. Zion's Camp: Bangerter, MSA 39-40.
 

IV.   revelation to Joseph:  Statement, 1902, compare Remarks 255. marriage to Adam: Autobiography; AF. He had been born in Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 1810. Miles Henry- AF. While living in Milford, Mary's house was apparently haunted by a poltergeist, a spirit that moved household articles around at night, see the Autobiography. Mormons who believed in biblical miracles often accepted the cultural, folkloric supernaturalism of early America also. Mary refuses to leave Far West- Autobiography; compare HC 3:410; Stephen LeSueur, Me 1838 Mormon War in Missouri (Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1987), 158-62; Hill, QFR 94-95. The holograph autobiography has General "Pomeroy" (a name unknown in other sources), while the typescript has General Clark. Most documents agree that Samuel D. Lucas was the general who commanded the siege of Far West. Henry arrested: Autobiography; compare Hamblin p. 7. Adam loved Joseph: Autobiography, typescript, p. 8. in Kentucky- Autobiography; compare James Henry Rollins, Autobiography p. 8.

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V.   Caroline: She later married Thomas C. Jewell and died on December 21, 1910, AF. Farmington, painting lessons: Autobiography.

VI.   presentiments: Remarks, 1905, 255. date: 1905 letter to Emmeline Wells. Mary vacillated between February 1841 and 1842 in dating her marriage to Joseph, but used 1842 more often. Furthermore, Brigham Young performed the marriage, and he was in England in February 1841, returning to Nauvoo only on July 1, 1841. See BYj; Arrington BY 96. proposal conversation: Remarks; see also Autobiography 18; Statement, 1902, 255; 1887 letter to Woodrff; 1905 letter to Wells. "The angel said": Remarks 255. "Joseph said I was his ...": Statement, 1902, 255. "1 was created": Autobiography 18. "1 know": Remarks 255. For unconditional salvation linked to plural marriage, see Lucy Walker, Sarah Ann Whitney, and Helen Kimball chapters, and Prologue, at discussion of Buckeye's Lament. the angel: Autobiography 19; compare Remarks 256. Aunt sees it: Remarks 256. Curiously enough, the Autobiography denies that Aunt Gilbert saw the angel. Joseph explains the sign: Remarks 256. Compare Autobiography. date of marriage: [Statement] "Minersville Utah Feb. 21st 1905 (Affidavit) This is to Certify that about the last [of] Feb. 1842 or 1841 1 Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner was sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith as his plural wife Elder Brigham Young officiating. This ceremony was performed in an upper room of the red Store used as a Masonic Hall in Nauvoo, 111. Mary E . Rollins Lightner, wit., Mary R. Rollins, J.E. Vanderwood." See Record Book, p. 33. However, the Autobiography, p. 20, gives March as the month of marriage. For the Masonic Hall, compare Mary's statement, "While in Nauvoo I was very busy painting and giving lessons. I painted Masonic aprons of two degrees, by Joseph instructions." Letter to Emmeline Wells, Nov. 21, 1880, partially quoted in Van Wagoner MP 39; see Van Wagoner's notes at Marriott Library, box 10. time and eternity- Autobiography 20; compare Statement, 1902: "for time & all eternity." Also, a Mar. 23, 1877, affidavit (Kenney collection, Marriott Library, box 11, fd 14): in February 1842, "the Prophet Joseph Smith came to me and said he had received a direct command from God to take me for a wife for time and all eternity." Adam "far away": Remarks 256. "1 could tell you...": Letter to Wells, 1880, my emphasis. Some of Mary's descendants have passed down a tradition that Adam Lightner became a "front husband" for Joseph, like Joseph Kingsbury for Sarah Ann Whitney. This tradition also holds that Mary's first two sons were Joseph's, and that Adam had married a secret plural wife and had children by her. However, it seems unlikely that a non-Mormon would act as a front husband for Joseph. And unlike Kingsbury, Adam was married to Mary before Joseph married her. These two pieces of evidence argue against the family tradition. However, there is also the tradition that Adam was always a Mormon secretly, which would remove the first objection. In support of Adam as a secret Mormon is his willingness to transport ammunition for the Mormons in the midst of the Missouri persecutions, mentioned above. The second objection still stands, however, unless it can be documented that Joseph married Mary before 1835. Considering Mary's well-documented Nauvoo marriage to Joseph, and her initial resistance to the marriage in Nauvoo, an earlier marriage should be rejected. Therefore, the family tradition that Adam was a front husband is intriguing but unlikely, unless new evidence shows otherwise. (Adam also reportedly remained a non-Mormon throughout his life. If he had secretly been a disciple, he could have easily become a public Mormon after Joseph's death, or in Utah. Mary's account of Adam's death clearly shows he was a non-Mormon and compare Joseph's desire to baptize Adam in Nauvoo, Autobiography 21.) George Algernon: AF. Relief Society- RS Minutes, pp. 27, 67. Adam and hatJoseph Smith Account Book, see Launius, Red Brick Store 65.

VII.   Adam's job in Pontusac: Autobiography 21. Brodie, NM 452, speculates that Adam left because he discovered Mary's marriage to Joseph. However, Adam's employment problems are well documented. Joseph's reaction: Autobiography 21. Joseph and prophecy: The genre of the miraculous fulfillment of a prophecy of Joseph Smith is frequently found in Mormon folklore; see Oliver Huntington journal, Books 13, 14, 15; 17:48; 18:101; Davis Bitton, "Joseph Smith in Mormon Folk Memory," Restoration Studies I (Independence, MO: Temple School, 1980), 75-94, 81-83. Florentine: Autobiography 22; AF has March 23, 1843. There is a variant birth date a year later, March 23, 1844. Cutler. Autobiography 24; compare, for Cutler's life, Cook, RP 247; Stout OMF 1:32, compare index. The story of the miraculous healing is also a commonplace in Mormon history and legend. See the Marinda Hyde chapter at 1831.

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VIII.   endowment: Quinn, MW 396 gives the date; compare letter to Wells, summer 1905, p. 4. marriage to Brigham: Autobiography 25. HCKj, May 22, 1845, "B Young stopt stopt [sic] last nite seald B to Lite." Kimball, OPW 114, reads "Lile," but there is definitely a cross stroke in the original manuscript. The looped vertical stroke is odd for a "t," but Kimball's "t"s were often looped (compare "Whitney," "leter," in the previous day's entry, and the broad double stroke of "last"'s "t" from this sentence). Heber's "t's" could be wildly dissimilar. Compare Johnson DDW 67. marriage to Brigham in Nauvoo temple: BOP #35; SAd 505, 577. endowment- NTER. Brigham leaves: Autobiography 25. mob incident: Hamblin.

IX.   Brigham sends for Mary: Autobiography 25. Galen&- Autobiography 25. John Horace: He married Louisa Abigail Burk in 1870 and died in 1923, in Minersville, Utah. needle: Autobiography 25. St Croix: Autobiography 26. James Taylor Dunn, The St. Croix.- Midwest Border River (New York: Holt, Rinehard and Winston, 1965), 87, 95. In 1850 the town had 164 inhabitants. poisoning incident-. Autobiography 27-28. judgments of God on evildoers: See, e.g., Nels B. Lundwall, Me Fate of the Persecutors of the Prophet joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967). Stillwater, Hudson: Dunn, The St. Croix 100, 53, 72. Elizabeth: married Joseph Orson Turley in 1865 and died in 1927. moves: Autobiography 13. Mary Rollins: married a William Jenkins Carter and a cousin, George Rollins, and died in 1928. children: I follow AF. Caroline's death: Autobiography 30. Caroline's children- Record Book, pp. 34, 7. Marine: See Dunn, The St. Croix 139, 211: "Marine had the advantage over neighboring towns because its young men seemed to be exceptionally active in getting up dances. These were held more or less regularly in the popular hotels run by Adam Lightner and Mathias Welshons." On New Year's Eve 1858 a group of Stillwater young people traveled by sleigh to Marine, "to dance the intricate steps of the 'mazy' at a 'new and splendid hotel,' the five-story Lightner House. They returned the next day, 'delighted with the music, and dancing, and above all with Lightner's sumptuous supper."' Third Nephite: Autobiography (typescript) 14. Compare Hector Lee, Me Three Nephites (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1949); Austin Fife, "The Legend of the Three Nephites among the Mormons," Journal of American Folklore 53 (1940): 1-49; Oliver Huntington, "Spirit Experiences, " Young Woman's journal 6 (1895): 376-81. Charles Washington: married Lydia Williams and died on October 21, 1932. Adam Jr.: died in 1890.

X.   steamboat journeys: Autobiography 30-31. overland diary. CA, MS 750. The version in the Autobiography, especially the typescript, is secondary.

XI.   reunions: Autobiography 43. Henry discovers lead mine: Record Book, 34. "came across the plain": Record Book, 34. MEL to Brigham Young: May 20, 1864, Lee library. BY to MEL: May 30, 1864, Lee Library. ERS to MEL: Apr. 3, 1865, Lee library. Godbeites: for an account of the Godbeites, see SLDS 334, 678. Compare Eliza Partridge chapter at 1869.

XII.   1887 letter: See, letter to Wilford Woodruff, below. Relief Society: ERS to MEL, May 27, 1869, MEL collection, Lee Library. Mary had written to Eliza on May 10, 1869, but the letter is not extant. The rest of Snow's letter explained how to preside over a Relief Society. June 17 letter- ERS to MEL, MEL collection, Lee library. For Relief Society buildings, see WC 96-98 and Marinda Johnson chapter. A Relief Society building still stands in Santa Clara, Utah, near St. George. death of Keziah: AF. death of Brigham. Arrington, BY 399.

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XIII.   Mary to Taylor: MEL to "Brother Taylor," Sep. 13, 1881, in MEL Collection, Lee Library. Wells letter. Emmeline Wells to MEL, Mar. 8, 1880, MEL collection, Lee Library; this responds to a letter by Mary dated Aug. 25, 1879, not extant. 1882 Wells letter. Emmeline Wells to Mary, Apr. 7, 1882, MEL Collection, Lee Library. This answered a letter from Mary dated Mar. 28.

XIV.   MEL to Wilford Woodruff: Oct. 7, 1887, in MEL Collection, Lee Library. Helen Whitney to Wilford Woodruff- Oct. 9, 1887, in MEL collection, Lee Library. death of Adam: Record Book, pp. 1, 35. The obituary of Adam Lightner, DEN 18 (Sept. 8, 1885): p. 2, "Deaths": "LIGHTNER.-At Minersville, Utah, August 29th, 1885, of consumption, Adam Lightner, aged 75 years, 4 months and 16 days. He has been among the Latter-day Saints for 50 years, though not a member of the Church; he made no profession of religion, but believed in doing to others as he would like to be done by. When Zion's Camp went up to Missouri he belonged to a company called the 'Liberty Blues,' this company was called to guard Joseph, Hyrum and the twelve to Jackson County and back. He opened the first store in Far West; was of great assistance to the people in their troubles in that place, and risked his life in trying to aid them ... Mr. Lightner returned to Far West, and not until the Prophet Joseph and others were taken prisoners would he leave, and when he did so he lost all his property in that place. - COM. St. Paul Pioneer Press please copy." Adam and Mormonism: "It was a great worry to Mary that her husband never joined the church. Although he was a very dear trusted friend of the Prophet Joseph, he never accepted the Gospel until on his death bed." Murdock, Biography. However, the Autobiography says that he did not convert on his deathbed, typescript 10. Adam Jr. convicted: "Utah News," MSt 48 (July 19, 1886): 454-55. "Governor Caleb West has pardoned ... Adam Lightner, who was sentenced to imprisonment for six years for grand larceny, but has served out only eight months and fourteen days." Mary on Adam's conviction: MEL to John Taylor, May 18, 1886. MEL to John Taylor. May 18, 1886. "Emily P. Young" to MEL: Apr. 28, 1886, MEL collection, Lee Library. MEL to John Taylor- May 18, 1886. Mary frees Adam Jr.: HMWj, June 5-23, 1886. Zina's letter. Letter from Zina Young, Lion House, to MEL, June 27, 1886; MEL collection, Lee Library. Emmeline Wells to MEL: Feb. 10, 1887, MEL collection, Lee Library. Wells, 1880's letter- Emmeline Wells to MEL, Nov. 26, 188?, Lee Library, MEL collection. Oct. 1887: HMWj, Oct. 7-13, 1887. NIEL to Woodruff. Oct. 7, 1887, MEL Collection, Lee Library. allotment: WWj, 8:461.

XV.   living arrangements: Autobiography; Record Book. The younger Mary had married a William Carter, had home him ten children, then, after William's death, had married her cousin George Rollins. asked to speak: Hallie Murdock, Biography. "She wrote articles for the Woman's Exponent, with Eliza R. Snow and Emmeline B. Wells. She had a remarkable memory, and was often called upon to give Fourth of July orations." They Answered the Call, A165. An example of one of Mary's Fourth of July orations can be found in the Record Book, P. 32. Emily Young to MEL. June 10, 1888; MEL Collection, Lee Library. Wells to MEL: Mar. 12, 1889; MEL Collection, Lee Library. June 1889: HMWj, June 27-29, 1889. On June 15th, Mary attended a Relief Society meeting with Helen, Presendia Kimball, Emmeline Wells at the Sixteenth Ward. Helen wrote, "Sister Lightner spoke & was filled with the Holy Spirit - bore a powerful testemony to the truth of this work, and especially Celestial marriage." MEL to Wilford Woodruff. Apr. 6, 1891, MEL Collection, Lee Library.

XVI.   affidavit, 1902: See Statement, Feb. 8, 1902. NIEL to Joseph F. Smith: Apr. 25, 1903, MEL Collection, Lee Library. MEL to William B. Preston: Apr. 20, 1904, MEL Collection, Lee Library. speech to Lee Library. Remarks. Compare Murdock Biography. Mary to Emmeline: MEL to Emmeline Wells, summer 1905.

XVII.   appearance of Joseph, Heber: Autobiography, typescript, 19. Bracketed material from Remarks, p. 258. death: Autobiography, postscript. Compare the Murdock Biography, which has Mary dying on December 21, 1915, at age 97.

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ABBREVIATIONS, BIBLIOGRAPHIES, AND REFERENCES

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