See Genesis 14:1–16.

France officially became an ally of the thirteen American colonies in February 1778, during the height of the Revolutionary War. The Dutch also provided monetary support to the colonies. (Middlekauff, Glorious Cause, 365, 396–405; John Adams to Wilhem Willink et al., Contract, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 11 June 1782, in Papers of John Adams, 13:110–116.)

Middlekauff, Robert. The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763–1789. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.

Papers of John Adams. Vol. 12, October 1781–April 1782. Edited by Gregg L. Lint, Richard Alan Ryerson, Anne Decker Cecere, C. James Taylor, Jennifer Shea, Celeste Walker, and Margaret A. Hogan. Series III of The Adams Papers. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2004. The digital edition of The Adams Papers is available at www.masshist.org/publications/apde2/.

Aaron Burr used this phrase for his toast during a Federalist commemoration of George Washington’s birthday in 1802. (See Alexander Hamilton, New York City, NY, to Gouverneur Morris, [Washington DC], 4 Mar. 1802; and Gouverneur Morris, Washington DC, to Alexander Hamilton, New York City, NY, 11 Mar. 1802, in Syrett, Papers of Alexander Hamilton, 25:559, 559n2, 561.)

Syrett, Harold C., ed. Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961–1987.

Church member Andrew Barber was killed during a battle near the Big Blue River settlement in 1833. Gideon Carter, Patrick (Patterson) Obanion, and church apostle David W. Patten died from their participation in the Battle of Crooked River in 1838. Seventeen men and boys died from the attack on the small Latter-day Saint settlement at Hawn’s Mill in 1838. (See Letter from John Corrill, 17 Nov. 1833; Pratt, History of the Late Persecution, 33–36; and Baugh, “Call to Arms,” appendix J.)

Baugh, Alexander L. “A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri.” PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1996. Also available as A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri, Dissertations in Latter-day Saint History (Provo, UT: Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History; BYU Studies, 2000).

This referred to the Freemasons. JS became a member of the fraternal order in 1842. Freemasons were expected “to afford succour to the distressed” generally and were especially obligated to help fellow Masons. (See Historical Introduction to Authorization from Abraham Jonas, 15 Mar. 1842; and Dermott, True Ahiman Rezon, 75, 176–178.)

Dermott, Laurence. The True Ahiman Rezon; or, A Help to All That Are, or Would Be Free and Accepted Masons. New York: Southwick and Hardcastle, 1805.

Solomon, the king of ancient Israel, and Hiram Abif, the architect of Solomon’s temple, were key figures in Masonic legend and ceremony. St. John could refer to either John the Baptist or to John the Evangelist, who are considered “patron saints of Freemasonry.” George Washington, himself a Freemason, was a symbol of the fraternity’s integrity for Masonic sympathizers. (“Hiram Abif,” “Saint John the Baptist,” “Saint John the Evangelist,” “Solomon,” and “Washington, George,” in Mackey et al., Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, 1:329–332; 2:659–660, 697–699, 838–840; Morgan, Illustrations of Masonry, 63–94.)

Mackey, Albert G., William J. Hughan, and Edward M. Hawkins. An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences Comprising the Whole Range of Arts, Sciences and Literature as Connected with the Institution. Vol. 2. New York: Masonic History, 1919.

Morgan, William. Illustrations of Masonry, by One of the Fraternity, Who Has Devoted Thirty Years to the Subject. Batavia, NY: By the author, 1826.

This was likely a reference to the “grand hailing sign of distress.” William Morgan’s exposé of the Masonic rituals indicated that if a Master Mason was in danger, he was to “raise both hands and arms perpendicularly, one on either side of the head,” and exclaim “O Lord my God, is there no help for the widow’s son?” (Morgan, Illustrations of Masonry, 67, 95–96, italics in original.)

Morgan, William. Illustrations of Masonry, by One of the Fraternity, Who Has Devoted Thirty Years to the Subject. Batavia, NY: By the author, 1826.

Masonic initiates were instructed to “fly” to the relief of a brother, even at the risk of their lives. (Morgan, Illustrations of Masonry, 67.)

Morgan, William. Illustrations of Masonry, by One of the Fraternity, Who Has Devoted Thirty Years to the Subject. Batavia, NY: By the author, 1826.

While this phrase appears within a Masonic context, it is also indicative of enlightenment themes. (See “Moral Philosophy, or Morals,” in Encyclopaedia Britannica [1771], 3:308–309.)

Encyclopaedia Britannica. 6th ed. vol. 6. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Company, 1823.

This phrase, inscribed on the seal of the United States, is Latin for “Out of many, one.” (Patterson and Dougall, Eagle and the Shield, 22–25, 123–125.)

Patterson, Richard S., and Richardson Dougall. The Eagle and the Shield: A History of the Great Seal of the United States. Washington DC: Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, Department of State, 1976.

This phrase seems to refer to displays of excessive finery; it appears here pejoratively. (See “Extract from Peale’s Notes on Italy,” National Gazette and Literary Register [Philadelphia], 3 May 1831, [1]; see also JS, Nauvoo, IL, to John Windt et al., New York City, NY, 16 May 1844, in “State Convention,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 22 May 1844, [2].)

National Gazette and Literary Register. Philadelphia. 1820–1841.

Iron eyes seems to be another name for cannons. A bulwark refers to “the raised woodwork running along the sides of a vessel above the level of the deck.” It is also a reference to fortifications built on land. (See “Iron,” Vermont Courier and Farmer’s, Manufacturer’s, and Mechanic’s Advocate [Woodstock, VT], 9 Mar. 1832, [1]; and “Bulwark,” in Oxford English Dictionary, 1:1173.)

Vermont Courier and Farmer’s, Manufacturer’s, and Mechanic’s Advocate. Woodstock, VT. 1831–1833.

Oxford English Dictionary. Compact ed. 2 vols. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1971.

See Genesis 7:11–24.

See Genesis 19:24–25, 28.

See Genesis 11:1–9.

See Exodus 14:23–31; 15:4–5.

See Daniel 5:25.

See 2 Kings 19:35–36; 2 Chronicles 32:21–22; and Isaiah 37:36–37.