For early members of the Church, the summer of 1839 was a season of both suffering and miracles. Forced from their homes in Missouri earlier that year, they found refuge among the residents of Illinois and Iowa, who helped to care for their immediate needs. Soon the Church purchased property in Commerce, Illinois, which the Prophet Joseph later renamed Nauvoo, based on the Hebrew word for “beautiful.” He encouraged all Church members to gather there. But Nauvoo was not yet “the city beautiful.” A swampy portion of the land needed to be drained before it was habitable, and in the meantime mosquitoes thrived in the area. The mosquitoes carried malaria and infected hundreds of people. Joseph and Emma Smith took many of the sick into their home to care for them—so many that Joseph and Emma moved into a tent in their yard to free up space. 1 Wilford Woodruff recalled, “The large number of Saints who had been driven out of Missouri, were flocking into Commerce; but had no homes to go into, and were living in wagons, in tents, and on the ground. Many, therefore, were sick through the exposure they were subjected to. Brother Joseph had waited on the sick, until he was worn out and nearly sick himself.” 2 Joseph did become ill, but after several days he rose from his bed, feeling prompted to minister to those who were suffering. Brigham Young wrote: