Hey, everybody. We got a big announcement at the end of the episode after the main segment,

so be sure you stick around after the main segment to hear this big announcement.

Let's get into the show.

I am Ryan McKnight.

I'm Kara Santa Maria.

I am Christopher Smith.

Hi, I'm Andrew Torres.

This is Naked Mormonism.

The Serial Mormon History Podcast.

It was January of 1844.

Little snowflakes fell to the Mississippi before disappearing into the vast body of moving water.

Some of the snow accumulated to about four inches deep,

which made for good slang. The Mormons in Navu were largely held up in their homes near the hearth

to keep the cold from settling in their bones. Olive Amanda Fulmer Smith, a bright-eyed,

18-year-old girl who was born in Onondaga County, New York,

and immigrated to Hancock County, Illinois as a teenager, was about to give birth to a beautiful

baby boy, Chauncey Harvey Cook.

Her midwife bustled about the house, keeping young Olive calm and comfortable,

administering medicine and massaging her tired muscles from the labor, and, you know, keeping blood flowing to stave off the fridge day or coming through the cracks in the cabin logs.

Little Chauncey was a healthy boy when he was delivered.

Olive was strong and made it through the labor with the expert help of her midwife.

However, there was a problem.

...