Nauvoo Neighbor

by Darwin L. Hayes

The Nauvoo Neighbor was a weekly newspaper published and edited by John Taylor in Nauvoo, Illinois, from May 3, 1843, through October 29, 1845. It replaced The Wasp (begun April 16, 1842, with William Smith as editor). Funded by subscriptions and advertising, the Neighbor regularly featured literature, science and religion, agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and local, national, and international news. It reported actions of the state legislature, the Nauvoo City Council, and local courts.

As an advocate of truth, the Neighbor detailed conflicts involving the members of the Church, their neighbors, their enemies, and state and federal governments. It also carried correspondence between the Prophet Joseph Smith and Henry Clay (both U.S. presidential candidates) as well as the letters between Emma Smith and Governor Thomas Carlin concerning Joseph Smith's harassment by Missouri officials. It detailed the Nauvoo Expositor case and the events of the assassinations of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage Jail, including other newspaper accounts and correspondence. The Nauvoo Neighbor is a valuable record of the events and attitudes in and around Nauvoo from 1843 to 1845.

(See Daily Living home page; Church History home page; 1831-1844 home page)

Bibliography

Nauvoo Neighbor. Microfilm, Lee Library, Brigham Young University.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism

Nauvoo Neighbor

All About Mormons