14. Thomas Bullock, 1816-1885

Nauvoo Journal of Thomas Bullock

Thomas Bullock was born in England, where he was baptized in November 1841. He arrived in Nauvoo in May 1843, and by October was one of Joseph Smith's personal scribes, working closely with Willard Richards and William Clayton. His early training in England as a clerk served him well with a skill of great value for Mormon record keeping. He worked on Joseph Smith's "History" and was a recorder of meetings and sermons of the Prophet.

The journal here details the last months of Mormonism in Nauvoo as Bullock remained in Nauvoo after the initial exodus began. Its pages reveal the growing tensions and even violence as increasing pressure is placed on the Latter-day Saints to leave Illinois. This journal covers 31 August 1845 to 5 July 1846, with some gaps. Bullock would keep the records of the Poor Camp which traveled across Iowa 17 September-17 December 1846, and would serve as the official clerk of the First Pioneer Company under Brigham Young from April-July 1847.

On the pages shown here, Bullock records the details of the first fire in the Nauvoo Temple on 9 February 1846. He reveals, in the harried events of the exodus, when all that were worthy sought to obtain their temple blessings, that overheated temple clothing caused the fire. But his account also reveals the pathos of Mormons forming a bucket brigade to fight the fire while simultaneously posting guards to keep non-Mormons out of their sacred structure. Few scenes suggest the travail of the Mormon Nauvoo exodus better than this.