The City of the Mormons; or, Three Days at Nauvoo, in 1842

"The City of the Mormons; or, Three Days at Nauvoo, in 1842" by Henry Caswall is a record of the author's experiences in Nauvoo, Illinois, in the early 1840s, as he explores the beliefs and practices of the growing Mormon community. Caswall journeys to Nauvoo after seeing English people travel there because of Mormon missionaries, expressing his curiosity and concern concerning the emerging religious movement. He goes to a Mormon church service and sees them building a temple. He talks to members of the Mormon community, and conveys his contrasting feelings of interest and disapproval as he explores the deep impact of Mormonism on culture and religion. Caswall's experiences offer insights into the controversial figure of Joseph Smith and the social dynamics of a religious group that invited both adoration and criticism.