CALLED

“Flee to Mexico,” the prophet told the Saints in Arizona Territory.

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For polygamists like Jesse-N Smith, that’s the only alternative to hiding from the anti-Mormons who would send them to prison. Always obedient, Jesse-N escapes across the border with his youngest wife and three of his sons. The rest of their family will come later when they have a permanent place to live.

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But his hopes for a quick family reunion fade when buying land for the new Mormon colony proves difficult. With no definite place to settle, contention grows as the refugee camps swell. Days of uncertainty stretch into weeks. Some Saints argue the prophet did not call them to settle in Mexico, he just directed them to safety. Jesse-N sees no distinction and has more pressing things on his mind. He’s still a stake president in Arizona. How can God call him to be in two far-flung places at the same time?

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Based on eyewitness accounts, CALLED traces the troubled founding of Mexico’s Mormon colonies and one man’s struggle to know what God wants him to do.