The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 8: February-November 1841

The ten months covered by this volume were relatively peaceful and optimistic--the Nauvoo charter had just been approved, and Joseph Smith and the Saints were busy building the Nauvoo temple and establishing the municipal infrastructure of the new city. While performing his duties as a member of the newly formed Nauvoo City Council and as the lieutenant general of the Nauvoo Legion, Joseph Smith faced the challenges of accommodating the influx of immigrating converts and making debt payments on land acquired in the Nauvoo area. Though heavily preoccupied by these civic and business matters, Joseph Smith continued to lead and teach the Saints in his role as prophet.