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Show Page 86 22 under his expertise. Spared the necessity of trading in hardware, and given the experiences of Kirtland, he was undoubtedly far happier working hard through the theorems and derivations of calculus, unquestionably learning a great deal side by side with his students, 23 as "mind grappled with mind in seeking after hidden treasures." Meanwhile the city of Nauvoo and the Mormon Church were taking on some of the institutional challenges of growth. The city embraced some three thousand inhabitants early in 1841, most of them Latter-day Saints, and was rapidly absorbing hundreds more each month, many of them from Great Britain. Administrative demands on the Prophet led him to seek the help of the Twelve in conducting the affairs of the Church at home as well as in the missions. The apostles in Nauvoo met often, issuing several epistles to emigrating Saints, advocating debt cancellations among the members, additional support for the construction of the temple, and contributions for the settling of converts from abroad. At the same time, a full complement of city officials was sworn in, including Orson Pratt as a city councilor for the Nauvoo First Ward, under a new mayor named John Cook Bennett. This man, an adventurer with a little-known past, had been appointed Quartermaster-General of the Illinois Militia when he came to greet the Mormon Prophet in the autumn of 1840. Bennett apparently saw much to further his ambitions here, ingratiated himself with Joseph Smith, and dropped in on his family frequently during the winter of Orson's absence. While cultivating the Prophet, he was also attracted to the houseguest - Sarah Pratt. By Joseph's graces, Bennett advanced rapidly in civic affairs, though, curiously enough, not in church standing, and by February 1841, Bennett was charged with the good government of the entire city. As Mayor of Nauvoo he also served as Chancellor of the University - as Orson Pratt's |