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Joseph Smith
Restoration

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Lyrics: 2-17 Scene
(Nancy and Forbes leave. A moment, then Governor Ford and Sidney Rigdon appear.)
FORD (Coming in)
Ha! Ha! You're right, Sidney. Brigham cannot do it! He simpers and complains like an oaf!
RIGDON (With hypnotic stare)
I'm right for the Saints; they'll follow me.
They can be changed with a pious face.
FORD
Don't you repent that Smith is dead?
RIGDON
A shocking thing, but a relief.
Time for wiser heads to replace weaker ones...
FORD
Stand up to them, Sidney!
Act the part. Feel the vision, act the prayer.
Let it be the mask you wear;
Convince them be their minister.
RIGDON (Caught up)
I shall minister unto the Church
And bring the Saints into the world,
Into the jurisdiction of law
And the state of Illinois...
FORD
Bless you, Sidney; it will be worth your while.
Put on the meek; Brigham can do no better,
Stumbling with his little words.
I shall watch the performance, and your success,

From the wings.
RIGDON
The sheep gather for the word
I bring from you, and their wool is ours
When they vote to put themselves into my
Competent hands: they are sheep and know my voice.
FORD
That's it! The rhetorical flavor is just right.
For you, Sidney, for you!
RIGDON
For me?
FORD
For you!
If the body politic shows itself
Humble and repentant ah, charmingly contrite
You will have a better chance.
RIGDON
And the visionaries will not look west,
Fondling the setting sun like a bauble for dreamers.
Governor, you make it easy with your hypocrisy;
You take the sting out of the memory of Joseph.
FORD
Seem fair by throwing the responsibility on them. Sidney as guardian will be their creation; they will give their loyalty, love to you... and tribute for me.
RIGDON
For you?
FORD
Am I not a benefactor? I too look for success. Governorship is a paltry thing on the frontier... My sun sets in the glorious east!
RIGDON
The east?
FORD
Over Washington! Let the Mormons cast votes.
They can be led.
I too am humble.
RIGDON
One must prepare to accomplish his ends.
One must anticipate the opposition.
FORD (Brazenly)
Put it to them, Sidney.
Give them humility and saintliness!
RIGDON (Assembling his perfidy)
I gave the Saints their Book of Commandments. I was there. I was responsible. The Church must be built up to the memory of Joseph.
FORD
What will your competitor do?
RIGDON
Mumble against all sense. He is president of the Quorum of the Twelve, a bedouin who calls his flock into the desert. I tell you, Joseph wore me down. He was never content, not here... not anywhere. One tires of herding sheep.
FORD
Put them in the meadow. Joseph can do nothing now.
Speak your piece at the conference.
I am behind you.

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