Ramona wrote:
> On May 12, 10:48 pm, "Caleope" <inva...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>>"Diana" <diana...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>
>>news:DbLVj.125$Pr1.11@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>While this incident can't be characterized as anything less than an
>>>atrocity and a tragedy...and cannot be condoned, it also did not occur
in
>>>a vacuum.
>>
>>Seems no one taught those Mormons God's commandments. What happened to
"Thou
>>shalt not kill?" The women were no danger, no threat to them. The
>>slaughtered the women as one would slaughter mad dogs. There is no
excuse
>>for that. It makes one wonder what God those Mormons wor****pped.
>
>
> O Rly?
> " The following night, October 31, 1833, fifty men attacked an oulying
> Mormon colony west of the Big Blue River, unroofed and partly
> demolished ten cabins, whipped and stoned the men, and drove the women
> and children shrieking into the woods. When this was repeated on
> subsequent nights, the Mormons began to organize for defense.
>
> Learning late one afternoon that the storehouse was being sacked,
> one hastily armed group rushed to the spot. Only a single culprit,
> who had stayed to hurl a final brickbat through the door, was caught.
> When he was taken before a justice of the peace, the justice not only
> refused to swear out a warrant for his arrest but actually arrested
> and jailed the captors on the prisoner's cry of false arrest. John
> Corrill in his history commented wryly on this incident: Although we
> could not obtain a warrant against him for breaking open the store,
> yet he had gotten one for us by catching his at it."
>
> Quoted from: No Man Knows my History by Fawn M. Brodie which is
> considered an Anti-mormon book.
The *REAL* reason the Mormons were kicked out of just about everywhere
they went:
A "revelation" Smith produced, and published in his 1833 "Book of
Commandments," read as follows:
"For it shall come to pass, that which I spake by the mouths of my
prophets shall be fulfilled; for I will consecrate the riches of the
Gentiles, unto my people which are of the house of Israel." (Book Of
Commandments 44:32.)
In Smith's 1835 revision of the BOC, re-titled the "Doctrine and
Covenants," Smith altered this verse to read:
"for I will consecrate of the riches of those who embrace my gospel
among the Gentiles unto the poor of my people who are of the house of
Israel." (D&C 42:39.)
David Whitmer explained why the original version of this "revelation"
had enraged Missourians against the Mormon immigrants in 1833:
"In the spring of 1832, in Hiram, Ohio, Brothers Joseph and Sidney, and
others, concluded that the revelations should be printed in a book. A
few of the brethren -- including myself --objected to it seriously. We
told them that if the revelations were published, the world would get
the books, and it would not do; that it was not the will of the Lord
that the revelations should be published.
But Brothers Joseph and Sidney would not listen to us, and said they
were going to send them to Independence to be published. I objected to
it and withstood Brothers Joseph and Sidney to the face. Brother Joseph
said as follows: "Any man who objects to having these revelations
published, shall have his part taken out of the Tree of Life and out of
the Holy City." The Spirit of God came upon me and I prophesied to them
in the name of the Lord: "That if they sent those revelations to
Independence to be published in a book, the people would come upon them
and tear down the printing press, and the church would be driven out of
Jackson county." Brothers Joseph and Sidney laughed at me.
Early in the spring of 1833, at Independence, Mo., the revelations were
printed in the Book of Commandments. Many of the books were finished and
distributed among the members of the church, and through some of the
unwise brethren, the world got hold of some of them. From that time the
ill-feeling toward us began to increase; and in the summer of 1833 the
mob came upon us, tore down the printing press, and drove the church out
of Jackson county." ("An Address to all Believers in Christ")
It's obvious that Smith altered the verse which called for the
"consecration of the riches of the Gentiles unto the house of Israel"
because the publication of such a policy had gotten the Mormons booted
out of Jackson County. Nonetheless, he and Rigdon secretly continued
their advocacy of "consecrating" the personal property of non-Mormons,
as well as those of Mormon dissenters, into his "kingdom," and that was
the ultimate cause of the Mormons' final expulsion from Missouri in 1838.
To today's Mormons, "consecration" means giving of their money or goods
to the church.
In 1838, upon the failure of their Kirtland Bank and "United Order,"
Smith and Rigdon went to Missouri and again tried to institute an
economic commune.
The Missouri Mormons, who had been expelled from Jackson County in 1834,
were living in relative (albeit tem****ary) peace in Clay County, buying
land and starting farms. But the arrival of Smith and Rigdon in the
spring of 1838 brought an influx of thousands more Mormons from Kirtland
as well, spilling them over into "Gentile" areas, causing new tensions.
Mormon population increased from 1,200 to 15,000 in just a few months.
Having been stung by the Kirtland failure, Smith and Rigdon implemented
new policies that they hoped would make the new commune succeed. The
policy mandated that all Mormons sign their lands over to the church,
and then the church would lease the land back to them as "steward****ps."
The Mormons who had bought and developed their lands and farms balked at
the idea---among them being Cowdery, the Whitmers, Phelps, Lyman
Johnson, etc. They correctly perceived that the new "consecration"
policy was nothing more than Smith and Rigdon's latest scheme to fleece
the flock. Their refusal to sign lands over to the church prompted
Rigdon's "Salt Sermon" (which was heartily endorsed by Smith), and
Rigdon's resulting letter informing the dissenters that they must
"depart before a more fatal calamity" befell them.
While the dissenters had gone to procure legal aid to prevent Smith and
Rigdon from taking their land (or their lives), the "Danites" invaded
and plundered their homes and property. So, for those Mormons,
"consecration" meant having their goods taken away by force, upon the
order of church leaders.
"A proposition was made and sup****ted by some as being the best policy
to kill these men that they would not be capable of injuring the church.
All their measures were strenuously opposed by John Corrill and T. B.
Marsh one of the twelve apostles of the church and in consequence
nothing could be effected until the matter was taken up publicly BY THE
PRESIDENCY the following (June 17th) in a large congregation..." ("Reed
Peck Manuscript")
Thus, according to Peck, Marsh was already opposing Smith's and Rigdon's
heinous policies as early as June 17----four months before Marsh swore
his affidavit. [...]
As many witnesses (including Thomas B. Marsh) testified in court,
Smith's intention was to "take this State,...the United States and
ultimately the whole world" for his theocratic empire.
The swelling Mormon population disturbed the non-Mormons, who had heard
that the "Gentiles" were to be evicted and the land become the Mormons'
"New Jerusalem."
One Missourian, William *****ton, remarked in August that the Mormons
"are a set of horse thieves, liars, and counterfeiters. They'll swear a
false oath on any occasion to save another Mormon....no property is safe
in Daviess County if they continue to pour into this area." Tensions
soon erupted into violence, with beatings, lootings and burnings being
committed on both sides.
By October, believing that they had enough manpower to "take the state,"
Smith and Rigdon then sent their "Danite" forces to begin "consecrating"
from the "Gentiles" as well as the dissident "Saints," with the loot
going to sup****t their war effort.
Church historian John Whitmer re****ted that the Mormon leaders claimed
the stealing was justified because they were the "chosen people": "After
they had driven us and our families, they commenced a difficulty in
Daviess County, adjoining this county, in which they began to rob and
burn houses, etc. etc., took honey which they, (the Mormons) call sweet
oil, and hogs which they call bear, and cattle which they called
buffalo. Thus they would justify themselves by saying, "We are the
people of God, and all things are God's; therefore, they are ours."
(John Whitmer's "History of the Church")
John Whitmer's remarks revealed Smith's and Rigdon's true attitude: they
viewed their organization as the literal "House of Israel," and "the
Kingdom of God on Earth"; they taught the imminent return and millenial
reign of Christ, wherein all the "enemies" of the "true church" would be
defeated.
Since, in the "millenium," all things on earth would be theirs, they
haughtily taught their subordinates to appropriate the property of the
"Gentiles."
Mormon historian Leland Gentry admits to Mormon thefts: "The Danites
were taught to take from the Gentiles and consecrate to the Church.
Nearly every person who testified at the trial against the Mormon
leaders made mention of this fact.
John Clemenson stated that 'it was frequently observed among the troops
at Diahman that the time had come when the riches of the Gentiles should
be consecrated to the Saints.' Jeremiah Myers testified that 'the
consecrated property...was dealt out to those in need' by Bishop Vinson
Knight." (A History of the Latter-Day Saints in Northern Missouri, p.
385-387.)
"Danites struck at Gallatin and two other towns, Mill****t and Grinding
Fork. The three onslaughts occurred simultaneously and had a cru****ng
impact on the Missourians who were unaccustomed to Mormon resistance.
When Captains Lyman Wight, David W. Patten, and Seymour Brunson rode
into Far West at the head of their companies, the sight of wagonloads of
plunder was offensive to a number of less aggressively inclined Saints.
That night they gathered their families together and abandoned the
settlement.
Among the defectors were two of Joseph's most trusted followers, Thomas
B. Marsh and Orson Hyde, both members of the Council of Twelve Apostles.
The two men fled to nearby Richmond and blurted out everything they
knew." ("Orrin ****ter Rockwell," Harold Schindler, p. 54.)
"The Mormons were two hundred and fifty men by the time they reached
Daviess County...The bulk of the forces went out in search of the
gentile opposition. They marched through three settlements, including
Gallatin, repaying the Missourians in kind, looting and firing stores,
homes, and barns, before their anger spent itself.....When they returned
with their loot, many of their own people were appalled and frightened.
Thomas B. Marsh, Brigham Young's superior as President of the Twelve,
let it be known that he did not approve such retaliation, and he left
the church." ("Kingdom of the Saints", Ray B. West, p. 86.)
"There was much mysterious conversation in camps, as to plundering, and
house-burning; so much so, that I had my own notions about it; and, on
one occasion, I spoke to Mr. Smith, Jr., in the house, and told him that
this course of burning houses and plundering, by the Mormon troops,
would ruin us; that it could not be kept hid, and would bring the force
of the state upon us; that houses would be searched, and stolen property
found. Smith replied to me, in a pretty rough manner, to keep still;
that I should say nothing about it; that it would discourage the men...
I saw a great deal of plunder and bee-steads brought into camp; and I
saw many persons, for many days, taking the honey out of them; I
understood this property and plunder were placed into the hands of the
bishop at Diahmon....
The general teachings of the presidency were, that the kingdom they were
setting up was a tem****al kingdom...that the time had come when this
kingdom was to be set up by forcible means, if necessary.
It was taught, that the time had come when the riches of the Gentiles
were to be consecrated to the true Israel." (Testimony of George M.
Hinkle, "Senate Do***ent 189".) "Smith replied, the time had come when
he should resist all law...I heard J. Smith remark, there was a store at
Gallatin, and a grocery at Mill****t; and in the morning after the
conversation between Smith and Wight about resisting the law, a plan of
operations was agreed on, which was: that Captain Fearnaught, who was
present, should take a company of 100 men, or more, and go to Gallatin,
and take it that day; to take the goods out of Gallatin, bring them to
Diahmon, and burn the store...On the same day, in the evening, I saw
both these companies return; the foot company had some plunder..."
(Testimony of WW Phelps, "Senate Do***ent 189").
From Marsh's own sworn legal affidavit of October 24, 1838:
"At the request of citizens of Ray County, I make the following
statement...Joseph Smith, the prophet, had preached a sermon in which he
said that all the Mormons who refused to take up arms, if necessary, in
the difficulties with the citizens, should be shot or otherwise put to
death; and as I was there with my family, I thought it most prudent to
go and did go with my wagon as the driver.
We marched to Adam-ondi-Ahman and found no troops or mob in Davies
County....a company of about eighty Mormons, commanded by a man
fictitiously named Captain Fearnaught [apostle and Danite David Patten],
marched to Gallatin...I afterwards learned from the Mormons that they
had burnt Gallatin and that it was done by the aforesaid company that
marched there.
The Mormons informed me that they had hauled away all the goods from the
store in Gallatin and deposited them at the Bishop's storehouse at
Diahmon. On the same day, [apostle and Danite] Lyman Wight marched about
eighty horsemen for Mill****t...The same evening a number of footmen came
up from the direction of Mill****t laden with property which I was
informed consisted of beds, clocks, and other household furniture...
During the same time, a company called the Fur Company were sent out to
bring in fat hogs and cattle, calling the hogs 'bears', and the cattle
'buffaloes.' They have among them a company consisting of all that are
considered true Mormons, called the Danites, who have taken an oath to
sup****t the heads of the church in all things that they say or do,
whether right or wrong.....
The plan of said Smith, the prophet, is to take this State, and he
professed to his people to intend taking the United States, and
ultimately the whole world. This is the belief of the church, and my own
opinion of the prophet's plans and intentions.....The prophet inculcates
the notion, and it is believed by every true Mormon, that Smith's
prophecies are superior to the law of the land.
I have heard the prophet say that he should yet tread down his enemies
and walk over their dead bodies; that if he was not let alone he would
be a second Mahomet to this generation, and that he would make it one
gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean....." [...]
Late LDS author Harold Schindler recounted the series of events that
caused Governor Boggs to issue his "Extermination Order," which came the
day after the skirmish between Missouri militiamen and Mormon "Danites"
at Crooked River:
"Twenty-four hours after the Crooked River fight, Boggs, armed with the
affidavits of Marsh and Hyde plus complaints from frightened settlers
describing a wholesale Mormon rebellion, ordered two thousand militiamen
from five divisions into the field...
Then Boggs received a message confirming an earlier re****t of Bogart's
defeat but compounding the rumors of a massacre...this re****t prompted
Boggs to issue his infamous 'Extermination Order' of October 27 to
General John B. Clark. In effect, the order challenged Sidney Rigdon's
Fourth of July address in which he defied the Gentiles and threatened a
'war of extermination.' It was more than coincidence that Boggs chose
that particular word in his instruction to General Clark." ("Orrin
****ter Rockwell: Man of God, Son of Thunder," Harold Schindler, pp.
56-58.)
Thus we see that the major incident which spurred Boggs to issue his
"Extermination Order" was the Crooked River skirmish, wherein several
men on both sides were killed. That event made Boggs realize that the
Mormons would not peacefully cohabit the state with non-Mormons, and
since many Mormons had taken a secret oath to obey Smith's every order,
even those which called on them to commit crimes, Boggs was forced to
evict all of the Mormons from the state.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/archive/index.php/t-6709.html
|
