"DANITES"
In its earliest days the Mormon Church has found
itself outside the mainstream of religious,
social and political thought. Because so many found Joseph Smith's life and
message so controversial he and the following nineteenth century generation of
leaders felt the need for more "security" forces than usually
associated with religious denominations. The Danites were formed in Missouri
where the Church had some tragic experience. This research will examine those
early roots as well as the later history and development of this group in
Nauvoo and Salt Lake City. Because not everyone interprets the evidence the
same way this research will take large quotations from modern sources that
Mormons trust like the Encyclopedia on Mormonism, the History of the Church by
Joseph Smith, and the Comprehensive History of the Church by B. H. Roberts.
These articles will include their own notes and bibliographies. Another
important source that will be included are official documentation from
government inquiries. Also included will be full articles from Mormon
apologists. A final source are copies of the Nauvoo Expositor which many
historians say led to Joseph Smith's death.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
JOSEPH SMITH MOVE TO FAR WEST MISSOURI 1838
The Church had already been forcibly removed from
Independence Missouri in 1833. Many forceful revelations had ensured the safety
of "Zion" in those years but the citizens chose to evict their Mormon
neighbors. To add to the Mormon disappointment came the failure of Zions camp
between 1833 to 1834 to fulfill what Joseph Smith had predicted. Not only
didn't the camp end as predicted it suffered a deadly outbreak of cholera. Back
in Kirtland Ohio Joseph Smith was not finding success either. Joseph started
his own bank there which he called the Kirtland Safety Society in 1836. With no
federal or state approval they began printing their own currency. In 1837 this
bank failed and with it the remaining good feelings of the other citizens in
Ohio. In a cloud of legal difficulties Joseph traveled to Far West Missouri in
January 1838 in what Church historian and prophet Joseph Fielding Smith called
a "flight." Here are the names of some of the "faithful"
who did not leave the Church. Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Thomas Marsh, William
McLellin, Lyman Johnson, William Smith, and William W. Phelps.
JOSEPH SMITH'S PLAN IN FAR WEST
Joseph planned to restore the united order which
would have solved the financial problems of the Church because it required
every member to transfer real estate, farms, business, homes, and money to the
Church. As he looked around at past failures he determined his past problems
were due to "enemies" of the Church both within and without who were
close neighbors. Joseph planned to purge key counties of
"dissenters." For Joseph Smith in 1838 a dissenter was anyone who
would not transfer their property to the him. With this world view, Joseph
Smith was in need of a dependable security force with the intention of carrying
out the will of the "presidency."
Because this is one of the toughest periods in the
history of the Church, I will include much material from both sides. First we
will look at documentary evidence itself and then examine the way modern Mormon
apologists interpret the data.
THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT ~ BLOOD ATONEMENT
Joseph Smith was teaching "blood
atonement" at this time in the history of Mormonism. An understanding of
the way this term was being used in the nineteenth century is vital to a modern
understanding of the Danite movement. In debate, George A. Smith said
imprisonment was better than hanging. I replied, I was opposed to hanging, even
if a man kill another, I will shoot him, or cut off his head, spill his blood
on the ground, and let the smoke thereof ascend up to God; and if ever I have the privilege of making a law on that
subject, I will have it so." [History of the Church, Vol.5, Ch.16, p.296; cf. B. H.
Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.4, Ch.99, p.129] This early
teaching from Joseph energized future nineteenth century prophets like Brigham
Young. "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive
forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their
eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke
thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would
atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them
and remain upon them in the spirit world." [Journal of Discourses, Vol.4,
p.53, Brigham Young, September 21, 1856] The idea of blood atonement is central
to the Mormon temple endowment language prior to 1990. The 10th president of
the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith said in the twentieth century "This law,
which is now the law of the State, granted unto the condemned murderer the
privilege of choosing for himself whether he die by hanging, or whether he be shot,
and thus have his blood shed in harmony
with the Law of God; and thus atone." [Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol., 1,
336].
THE MISSOURI PERIOD
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MORMONISM ~ NEED FOR PROTECTION
CHURCH LEADERS INVOLVED
"Church leaders mobilized the Caldwell County militia and prepared to protect themselves. Some members of the Danites, originally organized to assist with Latter-day Saint community development, engaged in paramilitary activity, including burning the headquarters of mobbers at Gallatin and Millport who had threatened their destruction." [Milton V. Backman, Jr., and Ronald K. Esplin, History Of The Church, Encyclopedia of Mormonism].
SPRING 1838 ORGANIZATION
One of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, David Whitmer, had some inside information about the history and development of the early Danites:
"In
the spring of 1838, the heads of the church and many of the members had gone
deep into error and blindness.... In June, 1838, at Far West, Mo., a
secret organization was formed, Doctor Avard being put in
as the leader of the band; a certain oath was to be administered to all the
brethren to bind them to support the heads of the church in everything they
should teach. All who refused to take this oath were considered dissenters
from the church, and certain things were to be done concerning these
dissenters, by Dr. Avard's secret band.... my persecutions, for
trying to show them their errors, became or such a nature that I had to leave
the Latter Day Saints;..." [An Address To All Believers In Christ,
by David Whitmer, Richmond, Mo., 1887, pp. 27-28].
JUNE 1838 EXPELLING DISSENTERS CALDWELL COUNTY
"That in early June 1838 the Danites organized to expel a number of dissenters from Caldwell County. The dissenters' testimony described the various meetings and activities (such as Sidney Rigdon's "Salt Sermon") that led to the expulsion of the Cowderys, Whitmers, and others from the county. [Stephen C. LeSueur; BYU Studies Vol. 26, No. 2, pg.10].
We see Leland Gentry's research saying this June 1838 work of "expelling dissenters" as being successful. By June 19th the Danites were available for their next use.
"With the flight of the dissenters on 19 June 1838, the Danites lost their reason for existence. A new purpose had to be found to justify their continuation. The warlike threats continually breathed against the Saints by their Missouri neighbors furnished just the objective, namely, protection against mob violence. Reed Peck, present at a meeting presided over by Avard, claims that he was told that the major purpose of the Danite organization was that its members "might be more perfectly organized to defend ourselves against mobs." Sidney Rigdon later maintained that "the Danites were organized for mutual protection against the bands that were forming and threatened to be formed."Luman Andros Shurtliff, one-time member of the order, wrote that the Danite organization "was got up for our personal defense; also of our families, property, and our religion."[Leland H. Gentry, BYU Studies, Vol. 14, No. 4, p.427]
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Joseph Smith wrote of this day, "The day was spent in celebrating the `Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,' and also by the saints making a `Declaration of Independence' from all mobs and persecutions which have been inflicted upon them, time after time, until they could bear it no longer." [History of the Chruch, 3:41].
PRESIDENT RIGDON'S 4TH OF JULY "SALT" SERMON
Most of the speeches were about Independence Day and the free institutions of our government. But he added this language on the religious freedom of the Church in Missouri.
"But from
this day and this hour we will suffer it no more. We take God and all the holy
angels to witness, this day, that we warn all men, in the name of Jesus Christ
to come on us no more for ever, for from this hour we will bear it no more; our
rights shall no more be trampled on with impunity; the man, or the set of men
who attempt it do it at the expense of their lives. And that mob that comes on
us to disturb us, it shall be between us and them a war of extermination; for
we will follow them until the last drop of their blood is spilled; or else they
will have to exterminate us, for we will carry the seat of war to their; own
houses and their own families, and one party or the other shall be utterly
destroyed.... We this day, then, proclaim ourselves free with a purpose and
determination that never can be broken, No, never! No, never! No, never!"
(Comprehensive History of the Church 1:441)
NEED IN MISSOURI Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Leland H. Gentry
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.2, MISSOURI
"But new difficulties arose. First, Sidney Rigdon publicly threatened dissenters in his June "Salt Sermon," intimating that they should leave Far West or harm would befall them. News of this threat reinforced anti-Mormon hostility throughout Missouri. Second, LDS militia officer Sampson Avard formed an underground group of vigilantes labeled Danites. Avard convinced this oathbound group that they operated with the approval of Church leaders and that they were authorized to avenge themselves against the Church's enemies, even by robbery, lying, and violence if necessary. Third, in an inflammatory Independence Day speech, Sidney Rigdon thundered out a declaration of independence from further mob violence. He warned of a war of extermination between Mormons and their enemies if they were further threatened or harassed."
OFFICIAL CHURCH HISTORY
"Avard initiated members into his band, firmly binding them, by all that was sacred, in the protecting of each other in all things that were lawful; and was careful to picture out a great glory that was then hovering over the Church, and would soon burst upon the Saints as a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, and would soon unveil the slumbering mysteries of heaven, which would gladden the hearts and arouse the stupid spirits of the Saints of the latter-day, and fill their hearts with that love which is unspeakable and full of glory, and arm them with power, that the gates of hell could not prevail against them; and would often affirm to his company that the principal men of the Church had put him forward as a spokesman, and a leader of this band, which he named Danites." [History of the Church, Vol.3, Ch.13, p.179].
THREE PURPOSES FOR DANITES BYU STUDIES 1965
"The only other major interpretation was advanced by Leland Gentry, first in his 1965 dissertation and later in an article in BYU Studies. Basically Gentry argues that the Danites were real but that they went through three stages of development: (1) in June at Far West and in July at Adam-ondi-Ahman, groups were organized to specifically aid in the expulsion of dissenters from the Mormon communities; (2) from June to mid-October 1838, Danites provided protection for Mormons against mob violence, primarily a defensive movement; and (3) during October 1838, during the "Mormon War," the Danites began to steal from non-Mormons, a stage and activity justified and led by Sampson Avard." [Dean C. Jessee and David J. Whittaker; BYU Studies Vol. 28, No. 1, pg.12]
B. H. ROBERTS COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
"They have among them a company, considered true Mormons, called the `Danites,' who have taken an oath to support the heads of the church in all things that they say or do, whether right or wrong." [B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.1, Ch.35, p.472 - p.473].
SOME DANITES TURNED STATES EVIDENCE
SENATE DOCUMENT 189
As soon as these members agreed to testify Joseph Smith excommunicated them. From this time forward these key leaders are always depicted as apostates.
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
The testimony which was most effective in holding these men to investigation before grand juries was the sworn statements of apostates--Dr. Sampson Avard, John Corrill, Reed Peck, W. W. Phelps, George M. Hinkle, John Whitmer, Burr Riggs, and other less prominent. It is in this testimony and principally in the statement of Dr. Avard, that the existence of the "Danites" in the "Mormon" church is affirmed. Avard declared that about four months before the date of his testimony,--which would be in the month of July, 1838--"a band called the `Daughter of Zion' (afterwards called the `Danite Band'), was formed of the members of the Mormon church, the original object of which was to drive from the county of Caldwell all those who dissented from the Mormon church; in which they succeeded admirably and to the satisfaction of all concerned."
[B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.1, Ch.36, p.501].
DR. SAMSON AVARD
DANITE LEADER TESTIMONY
Sampson
Avard, a witness, produced, sworn, and examined, in behalf of the state,
deposeth and saith:--
That
about four months since, a band called the Daughters of Zion, (since called the
Danite band,) was formed of the members of the Mormon church, the original
object of which was to drive from the county of Caldwell all those who
dissented from the Mormon church; in which they succeeded admirably, and to the
satisfaction of all concerned. I consider Joseph Smith, jr., as the prime mover
and organizer of this band.
The
officers of the band, according to their grades, were brought before him, at a
school house, together with Hiram Smith and Sidney Rigdon; the three composing
the first presidency of the whole church.
It
was stated by Joseph Smith, jr., that it was necessary this band should be
bound together by a covenant, that those who revealed the secrets of the
society should be put to death.
COVENANT
TAKEN BY DANITES
The
covenant taken by all the Danite band was as follows, to wit: They declared,
holding up their right hand, "In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
I do solemnly obligate myself ever to conceal and never to reveal the secret
purposes of this society, called the Daughters of Zion. Should I ever do the
same, I hold my life as the forfeiture."
The
prophet Joseph Smith, jr., together with his two counsellors, (Hiram Smith and
Sidney Rigdon,) were considered as the supreme head of the church; and the
Danite band feel themselves as much bound to obey them as to obey the Supreme God.
Instruction
was given by Joseph Smith, jr., that if any of them should get into difficulty,
the rest should help him out; and that they should stand by each other,
right or wrong.
This
instruction was given at a Danite meeting, in a public address.
As
for Joseph Smith, jr., and his two counsellors, the witness does not know they
ever took the Danite oath.
He
knows that all the rest of the defendants are Danites, except Sidney Tanner.
Andrew Whitlocj, Zedekiah Owens, Thomas Rich, John L. Tanner, Daniel S. Thomas,
David Pettigrew, George Kimble, Anthony Head, Benjamin Jones, and Norman
Shearer.
DAVIES
COUNTY ELECTION WORK
At the election last August, a report came to Far West that some of the
brethren in Daviess county were killed. I called for twenty volunteers to
accompany me to see into this matter. I went; and about one hundred and twenty
Mormons accompanied me to Adam on Diahmon -- Mr. Joseph Smith, jr., in
company.
When
I arrived there, I found the report exaggerated. None were killed.
We
visited Mr. Adam Black -- about 150 or 200 men of us armed. Joseph Smith was
commander; and if Black had not signed the paper he did, it was common
understanding and belief that he would have shared the fate of the dissenters
Sidney Rigdon and Lyman Wight were at Adam when we went to Black, and advised
the movement.
As
regards the affair at De Witt, I know little personally; but I heard Mr. S.
Rigdon say they had gone down to DeWitt, where it was said a mob had collected
to wage war upon the Mormons residing in Carroll county; and that Joseph Smith,
jr., with his friends went down to De Witt to give aid and help to his
brethren.
The
company, as I presume, were armed. They returned armed. Hiram Smith and Geirge
W. Robinson were in the company. Amasa Lyman went to see what was going on. He
heard these persons say they were in Hinkle's camp (at De Witt) several days.
When
the Mormons returned from De Witt, it was rumored that a mob was collecting in
Daviess county. Joseph Smith, jr., the Sunday before the late disturbances in
Daviess, at a church meeting, gave notice that he wished the whole county
collected on the next day (Monday) at Far West. He declared (on Sunday or
Monday -- I don't recollect which) that all who did not take up arms in defence
of the Mormons of Daviess should be considered as tories, and should take their
exit from the country.
At the meeting on Monday, when persons met from all parts of the county of
Caldwell, Joseph Smith, jr., took the pulpit, and delivered an address, in
which he said that we had been an injured people, driven violently from Jackson
county; that we had appealed to the Governor, magistrates, judges, and even to
the President of the United States, and there had been no redress for us; and
that now a mob was about to destroy the rights of our brethren of Daviess
county, and that it was high time that we should take measures to defend our
own rights.
In
the address he related an anecdote about a captain who applied to a Dutchman to
purchase potatoes, who refused to sell. The captain then charged his company
several different times, not to touch the Dutchman's potatoes. In the morning
the Dutchman had not a potatoe left in his patch. This was in reference to
touching no property in our expedition to Daviess county that did not belong to
us, but he told us that the children of God did bot go to war at their own
expense.
A
vote was taken whether the brethren should embody and go down to Daviess to
attack the mob. This question was put by the prophet. Joseph Smith, jr., and
passed unanimously, with a few exceptions. Captains Patten and Brunson were
appointed commanders of the Mormons, by Joseph Smith, jr., to go to Daviess. He
frequently called these men generals.
I
once had a command as an officer, but Joseph Smith, jr., removed me from it,
and I asked him the reason, and he assigned that he had another office for me.
Afterwards Mr. Rigdon told me I was to fill the office of surgeon, to attend to
the sick and wounded.
After
we arrived at Diahmon in Daviess, a council was held at night, composed of
Joseph Smith, jr., George W. Robinson, Hiram Smith, Captains Patten and
Brunson, Lyman Wight, President R. Cahoon. P. P. Pratt, and myself, and perhaps
Mr. Hinkle.
President
Rigdon was not present. He remained at Far West; a correspondence was kept up
between him and Joseph Smith, jr. I heard Mr. Rigdon read one of the letters
from Smith, which, as I remember, was about as follows; That he knew, from
prophecy and from the revelation of Jesus Christ, that the enemies of the
kingdom were in their hands; and that they (the Mormon church) should succeed.
Rigdon, on reading the letter, said it gave him great consolation to have such
authority that the kingdom of God was rolling on.
In
the above referred to council, Mr. Smith spoke of the grievances we had
suffered in Jackson, Clay, Kirtland, and other places; declared that we must,
in future, stand up for our rights as citizens of the United States, and as
saints of the most high Gof; and that it was the will of Gof we should do so;
that we should be free and independent, and that as the State of Missouri, and
the United States, would not protect us, it was high time that we should be up,
as the saints of the most high God, and protect ourselves, and take the
kingdom. Lyman Wight observed, that, before the winter was over, he thought we
would be in St. Louis, and take it.
Smith
charged them that they should be united in supporting each other. Smith said, on
some occasions, that one should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to
flight; that he considered the United States rotten.
LDS
CHURCH IS DANIEL'S LITTLE STONE
He
compared the Mormon church to the little stone spoken of by the Prophet Daniel;
and the dissenters first, and the State next, was part of the image that should
be destroyed by this little stone.
The
council was called on to vote the measures of Smith; which they did
unanimously. On the next day Captain Patten (who was called by the prophet
Captain Fearnaught) took command of about one hundred armed men, and told them
that he had a job for them to do, and that the work of the Lord was rolling on,
and they must be united.
He
then led the troops to Gallatin, saying he was going to attack the mob there.
He made a rush into Gallatin, dispersed the few men there, and took the goods
out of Strolling's store, and carried them to Diahmon, and I afterwards saw the
storehouse on fire.
When
we returned to Diahmon, the goods were deposited in the Lord's storehouse,
under the care of Bishop Vincent Knight. Orders were strictly given that all
the goods should he deposited in the Lord's storehouse.
No
individuals were to appropriate any thing to themselves until a general
distribution should be made. Joseph Smith, jr., was at Adam on Diahmon, giving
directions about things in general connected with the war. When Patten returned
from Gallatin to Adam on Diahmon, the goods were divided or apportioned out
among those engaged; and these affairs were conducted under the
superintendence of the first presidency.
A
part of the goods were brought to Far West. On their arrival, under the care of
Captain Fearnaught, President Rigdon shouted three hosannahs to the victors. On
the day Patten went to Gallatin, Colonel Wight went to Millport, as I
understood. I saw a great many cattle, beds, furniture, &c., brought into
our camp by the Mormons.
After
we returned to Far West, the troops were constantly kept in motion, and there
was a council held at the house of President Rigdon, to determine who should be
chiefs. It was determined that Colonel Wight should be commander-in-chief at
Adam on Diahmon; Brunson, captain of the flying horse of Daviess; Colonel
Hinkle should be commander-in-chief of the Far West troops; Captain Patten,
captain of the flying horse, or cavalry; and that the prophet, Joseph Smith,
jr., should be commander-in-chief of the whole kingdom.
The
council was composed of Joseph Smith, jr., Captain Fearnaught, alias Patten,
Colonel Hinkle, Colonel Wight, and President Rigdon. The object of the council
was in furtherance of the scheme proposed in council in Daviess, referred to
above.
After
this council, Fearnaught disputed as to the chief command of the Far West
troops, and had a smart altercation about it with Hinkle, but Smith proposed
that they agree to disagree, and go on for the good of the kingdom. The troops
were kept together until the militia came out lately.
SMITH
PREDICTIONS OF VICTORY
There
were five hundred to eight hundred men, as I should suppose, under arms. It was
about this time that the militia came out lately to Far West, under General
Lucas, that our prophet assembled the troops together at Far West, into a
hollow square, and addressed them, and stated to them that the kingdom of God
should be set up, and should never fall; and for every one we lacked in number
of those who came against us, the Lord would send angels, who would fight
for us; and that we should be victorious.
After the militia had been near Far West awhile, in an address, Smith said that those troops were militia, and that we were militia too, and both sides clever fellows; and he advised them to know nothing of what had happened; to say nothing; and to keep dark; that he, Smith, had forgotten more than he had ever known.
After
it was ascertained that the militia had arrived, intelligence was immediately
sent to Diahmon to Colonel Wight. Next morning Colonel Wight arrived in Far
West with about one hundred mounted and armed men.
The
troops were constantly kept prepared, and in a situation to repel attack. The
evening the militia arrived near Far West, it was the general understanding in
the Mormon camp that they were militia legally called out; and indeed, previous
to their arrival, it was ascertained that there were militia on their way to
Far West.
ORDERED
TO DESTROY DOCUMENTATION
Some
months ago I received orders to destroy the paper concerning the Danite
Society; which order was issued by the first presidency, and which paper,, being
the constitution for the government of the Danite Society, was in my custody,
but which I did not destroy. It is now in General Clark's possession. I
gave the paper up to General Clark after I was taken prisoner.
I
found it in my house, where I had previously deposited it, and believe it never
had been in any person's possession after I first received it. This paper was
taken into President Rigdon's house, and read to the prophet and his
councillors, and was unanimously adopted by them as their rule and guide in
future. After it was thus adopted, I was instructed by the council to destroy
it. as, if it should be discovered, it would be considered treasonable.
This
constitution, after it was approved by the first presidency, was read, article
by article, to the Danite band, and unanimously adopted by them. This paper was
drawn up about the time that the Danite band was formed.
Since
the drawing up of the paper against the dissenters, it was that this
constitution of the Danite band was draughted; but I have no minutes of the
time, as were directed not to keep written minutes; which constitution, above
referred to, is as follows:
DANITE CONSTITUTION
"Whereas, in all bodies laws are necessary for the permanency, safety and well-being of society, we, the members of the society of the Daughter of Zion, do agree to regulate ourselves under such laws as, in righteousness shall be deemed necessary for the preservation of our holy religion, and of our most sacred rights, and the rights of our wives and children.
But,
to be explicit on the subject, it is especially our object to support and
defend the rights conferred on us by our venerable sires, who purchased them
with the pledges of their lives and fortunes, and their sacred honors.
And
now, to prove ourselves worthy of the liberty conferred on us by them, in the
providence of God, we do agree to be governed by such laws as shall perpetuate
these high privileges, of which we know ourselves to be the rightful
possessors, and of which privileges wicked and designing men have tried to
deprive us, by all manner of evil, and that purely in consequence of the
tenacity we have manifested in the discharge of our duty towards our God, who
had given us [those] rights and privileges, and a right in common with others,
to dwell on this land.
But
we, not having the privileges of others allowed unto us, have determined like
unto our fathers, to resist tyranny, whether it be in kings or in the people.
It is all alike unto us. Our rights we must have, and our rights we shall have,
in the name of Israel's God.
"ART. 1st. All power belongs originally and
legitimately to the people, and they have a right to dispose of it as they
shall deem fit. But as it is inconvenient and impossible to convince the people
in all cases, the legislative powers have been given by them from time to time,
into the hands of a representation composed of delegates from the people
themselves. This is and has been the law in both civil and religious bodies,
and is the true principle.
"ART. 2d. The executive power shall be vested in
the president of the whole church and his counsellors.
"ART. 3d. The legislative powers shall reside in the
president and his counsellors, together with the generals and colonels of the
society. By them all laws shall be made regulating the society.
"ART. 4th. All offices shall be during the life and
good behaviour, or to be regulated by the law of God.
"ART. 5th. The society reserves the power of
electing all its officers with the exception of the aides and clerks which
the officers may need in the various stations. The nomination to go from the
presidency to his second, and from the second to the third in rank, and so down
through all the various grades, branch or department retains the power of
electing its own particular officers.
"ART.6th. Punishment shall be administered to the
guilty in accordance to the offense, and no member shall be punished
without law, or by any others than those appointed by law for that purpose. The
Legislature shall have power to make laws regulating punishments as in
their judgment shall be wisdom and righteousness.
"ART. 7th. There shall be a secretary whose business
it shall be to keep all the legislative records of the society, and also to
keep a register of the names of the members of the society, also the
rank of the officers. He shall also communicate the laws to the generals,
as directed by laws made for the regulation of such business by the
Legislature.
"ART. 8th. All officers shall be subject to the
commands of the Captain General given through the Secretary of War. And so
all officers shall be subject to their superiors in rank, according to laws
made for that purpose.
In connection with the grand scheme of the prophet, his preachers and apostles
were instructed to preach and instruct their followers (who are estimated in
Europe and America at about 40,000) that it was their duty to come up to the
State called Far West, and to possess the kingdom; that it was the will of God
they should do so; and that the Lord would give them power to possess the
kingdom.
There
was another writing drawn up in June last, which had for its object to get
rid of the dissenters, and which had the desired effect; (this is
the paper drawn up against the dissenters, referred to by the witness.)
Since
that time, and since the introduction f the scheme of the prophet made known in
the above constitution, I have [heard] the prophet say that it was a
fortunate thing that we got rid of the dissenters, as they would have
endangered the rolling on of the kingdom of God as introduced, and to be
carried into effect, by the Danite band; that they, the dissenters, were great
obstacles in the way; and that, unless they were removed, the aforesaid kingdom
could not roll on.
SIDNEY
RIGDON DOCUMENTATION
This
paper against the dissenters was draughted by Sidney Rigdon, and is as
follows:
"FAR WEST, June, 1838.
"To Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, William W. Phelps, and
Lyman E, Johnson, greeting:
"Whereas the citizens of Caldwell county have borne with the abuse
received from you at different times, and on different occasions, until it
is no longer to be endured; neither will they endure it any longer, having exhausted
all the patience they have, and conceive that to bear any longer a vice
instead of a virtue.
We
have borne long, and suffered incredibly; but we will neither bear nor suffer any
longer; and the decree has gone forth from our hearts, and shall not return to
us void. Neither think, gentlemen, that, in so saying, we are trifling with
either you or ourselves; for we are not.
There
are no threats from you -- no fear of losing our lives by you, or by any
thing you can say or do, will restrain us; for out of the county you shall go,
and no power shall save you.
THREE
DAY NOTICE
And
you shall have three days after you receive this communication to you,
including twenty-four hours in each day, for you to depart with your families
peaceably; which you may do undisturbed by any person; but in that time, if you
do not depart, we will use the means in our power to cause you to depart; for
go you shall. We will have no more promises to reform, as you have
already done, and in every instance violated your promise, and regarded not
the covenant which you made, but put both it and us at defiance.
SOLEMN
WARNING FATAL CALAMITY
We have solemnly warned you, and that in the most determined manner, that if you do not cease that
course of wanton abuse of the citizens of this county, that vengeance would
overtake you sooner or later, and that when it did come it would be as
furious as the mountain torrent, and as terrible as the beating tempest; but you
have affected to dispise our warnings, and pass them off with a sneer, or a
grin, or a threat, and pursued your former course; and vengeance sleepeth not,
neither does it slumber; and unless you heed us this time, and attend to our
request, it will overtake you at an hour when you do not expect, and at a day
when you do not look for it; and for you there shall be no escape; for there is
but one decree for you, which is depart, depart, or a more fatal calamity
shall befall you.
CRIMES
DETAILED
After Oliver Cowdery had been taken by a state warrant for stealing, and the
stolen property found in the house of William W. Phelps; in which nefarious
transaction, John Whitmer had also participated. Oliver Cowdery stole the
property, conveyed it to John Whitmer, and John Whitmer to William W. Phelps;
and then the officers of law found it.
While,
in the hands of an officer, and under arrest for this vile transaction, and, if
possible, to hide your shame from the world, like criminals (which indeed you
were), you appealed to our beloved presidents, Joseph Smith, jr. and Sidney
Rigdon, men whose characters you had endeavored to destroy by every artifice
you could invent, not even the basest lying excepted; and did you find them
revengeful?
No;
but notwithstanding all your scandalous attacks, still such was the nobleness
of their character, that even vile enemies could not appeal to them in vain.
They enlisted, as you well know, their influence, to save you from your just
fate; and they, by their influence, delivered you out of the hands of the
officer.
While
you were pleading with them, you promised reformation; you bound yourselves by
the most solemn promises that you would never be employed again in abusing any
of the citizens of Caldwell; and by such condescensions did you attempt to
escape the work house.
But
now for the sequel. Did you practice the promised reformation? You know you did
not; but, by secret efforts, continued to practise your iniquity, and secretly
to injure their character, notwithstanding their kindness to you. Are such
things to be borne?
OLIVER
COWDERY DAVID WHITMER
DISGRACED
THEIR TESTIMONIES
You
yourselves would answer that they are insufferable, if you were to answer
according to the feelings of your own hearts. As we design this paper to be
published to the world, we will give an epitome of your scandalous conduct and
treachery for the last two years. We wish to remind you, that Oliver Cowdery
and David Whitmer were among the principal of those who were the means of
gathering us to this place, by their testimony which they gave concerning
the plates of the Book of Mormon, that they were shown to them by an angel,
which testimony we believe, now, as much as before you had so scandalously
disgraced it.
You
commenced your wickedness by heading a party to disturb the worship of the
saints in the first day of the week, and made the house of the Lord, in
Kirtland, to be a scene of abuse and slander, to destroy the reputation of
those whom the church had appointed to be their teachers, and for no other
cause only that you were not the persons.
COWDERY WAS A DULY ELECTED OFFICIAL
"The saints in Kirtland, having elected Oliver Cowdery to be a justice of
the peace, he used the power of that office to take their most sacred rights
from them, and that contrary to law.
"He supported a parcel of blacklegs, and disturbing the worship of the
saints; and when the men whom the church had chosen to preside over their
meetings endeavored to put the house to order,
he
helped (and by the authority of his justice's office, too) these wretches to
continue their confusion; and threatened the church with a prosecution
for trying to put them out of the house;
and
issued writs against the saints for endeavoring to sustain their rights; and bound
themselves under heavy bonds to appear before his honor; and required bonds
which were both inhuman and unlawful;
and
one of these was the venerable father, who had been appointed by the church to
preside -- a man upwards of seventy years of age, and notorious for his
peaceable habits.
OLIVER
COWDERY COUNTERFEITER
LIAR
THIEF
Oliver
Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Lyman E. Johnson, united with a gang of
counterfeiters, thieves, liars, and blacklegs of the deepest dye, to deceive,
cheat, and defraud the saints out of their property,
by
every art and stratagem which wickedness could invent, using the influence of
the vilest persecutions to bring vexatious law suits, villainous prosecutions,
and even stealing not excepted. In the midst of this career, for fear the
saints would seek redress at their hands, they breathed out threatenings of
mobs, and actually made attempts with their gang to bring mobs upon them.
COWDERY
CHURCH GANG
Oliver
Cowdery and his gang (such of them as belonged to the church) were called to an
account by the church for their iniquity. They confessed repentance, and were
again restored to the church; but the very first opportunity they were again
practising their former course.
While
this wickedness was going on in Kirtland, Cowdery and his company were writing
letters to Far West, in order to destroy the character of every person that
they thought was standing in their way; and John Whitmer and William W. Phelps
were assisting to prepare the way to throw confusion among the saints of Far
West.
During
the full career of Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer's bogus money business, it
got abroad into the world that they were engaged in it, and several gentlemen
were preparing to commence a prosecution against Cowdery; he, finding it out,
took with him Lyman E. Johnson, and fled to Far West with their families;
Cowdery stealing property, and bringing it with him, which has been, within a
few weeks past, obtained by the owner, by means of a search-warrant; and he was
saved from the penitentiary by the influence of two influential men of the
place.
He
also brought notes with him, upon which he had received pay, and made an
attempt to sell them to Mr. Arthur, of Clay county. And Lyman E. Johnson, on
his arrival, reported that he had a note of one thousand dollars, against a
principal man of the church; when it was a palpable falsehood, and he had no
such thing; and he did it for the purpose of injuring his character.
Shortly
after Cowdery and Johnson left Kirtland for FarWest, they were followed by
David Whitmer; on whose arrival a general system of slander and abuse was
commenced by you all, for the purpose of destroying the characters of certain
individuals, whose influence and strict regard for righteousness you dreaded;
and not only yourselves, but your wives and children, led by yourselves, were
busily engaged in it.
Neither
were you content with slandering and vilifying here, but you kept up a
continual correspondence with your gang of marauders in Kirtland, encouraging
them to go on with their iniquity; which they did to perfection, by swearing
falsely to injure the character and property of innocent men; stealing,
cheating, lying; instituting vexatious lawsuits; selling bogus money, and also,
stones and sand for bogus; in which nefarious business, Oliver Cowdery, David
Whitmar, and Lyman E. Johnson, were engaged while you were there.
Since
your arrival here, you have commenced a general system of that same kind of
conduct in this place. You set up a nasty, dirty, pettifogger's office, pretending
to be judges of the law, when it is a notorious fact, that you are
profoundly ignorant of it, and of every other thing which is calculated to do
mankind good, † or if you know it, you take good care never to practise it.
And, in order to bring yourselves into notice, you began to interfere with all
the business of the place, trying to destroy the character of our merchants,
and bringing their creditors upon them, and break them up.
In
addition to this, you stirred up men of weak minds to prosecute one another,
for the vile purpose of getting a fee for pettifogging from one of them. You
have also been threatening continually to enter into a general system of
prosecuting, determined, as you said, to pick a flaw in the titles of those who
have bought city lots and built upon them -- not that you can do any thing but
cause vexatious lawsuits.
"And, amongst the most monstrous of all your abominations, we have
evidence (which, when called upon, we can produce,) that letters sent to the
post office in this place have been opened, read, and destroyed, and the
persons to whom they were sent never obtained them; thus ruining the business
of the place.
We
have evidence of a very strong character, that I you are at this time engaged with
a gang of counterfeiters, coiners, and blacklegs, as some of those characters
have lately visited our city from Kirtland, and told what they had come for;
and we know, assuredly, that if we suffer you to continue, we may expect, and
that speedily, to find a general system of stealing, counterfeiting, cheating,
and burning property, as in Kirtland -- for so are your associates carrying on
there at this time; and that, encouraged by you, by means of letters you send
continually to them; and, to crown the whole, you have had the audacity to
threaten us, that, if we offered to disturb you, you would get up a mob from
Clay and Ray counties.
For
the insult, if nothing else, and your threatening to shoot us if we offered to
molest you, we will put you from the county of Caldwell: so help us God."
The
above was signed by some 84 Mormons.
PRESIDENT RIGDON'S SALT SERMON
About the time the dissenters fled, President Rigdon preached a sermon from the
text, "Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt hath lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be
cast out, and be trodden under foot of men" -- commonly called the salt
sermon; in which the dissenters were called the salt that had lost its savor,
and that they should be trampled upon and driven out by the saints; which was
well understood by the Danites to be part of their duty to do.
When General Lucas's men marched up to Far West, Smith told me, as I understood
him, that he had said it to one of the militia captains not to come any
farther, as he might get into danger. Smith, after erecting his bulworks, (the
night after General Lucas arrived,) asked me if I did not think him pretty much
of a general; and I answered in the affirmative. We were advised, all the time,
to fight valiantly, and that the angels of the Lord would appear in our defence
and fight our battles.
In reference to Bogart's battle, I know but little, personally, as to the start
of the troops to fight Bogart. I was called upon to go along with the company
(which was commanded by Patten) as surgeon. This was about mid-night; but as I
thought a little sleep would do me more good than fighting, I remained at home.
In the morning of the fight, about 6 o'clock, I was called upon by a Mr.
Emmett, who informed me that Captain Fearnaught was wpunded mortally. I went to
Patten, about three miles from the battle-ground, where I found Jos. Smith,
jr., present, laying hands on the wounds, and blessing them to heal them. A Mr.
O'Bannion was also mortally wounded. I heard the following of the prisoners say
he was present in the fight, to wit: Norman Shearer --
REMAINDER OF DR. AVARD'S TESTIMONY
I never heard Hiram Smith make any inflamatory remarks...
GEORGE HINKLE'S TESTIMONY
George M. Hinkle, a witness for the State, produced, sworn and examined, deposeth and saith:
I was in Far West when the last Mormon expedition went to Daviess county. We heard of a great number of men gathering in Daviess, (mob;) I went down without being attached to any company, or without having any command; I found there were no troops (mob) gathered there.
The Mormon forces consisted of about three hundred, as I
suppose; they were engaged in scouting parties; some, it is said, went to
Gallatin, and much mysterious was had in camp about goods, and that they were
much cheaper than in New York. This last remark was made by Parley P. Pratt. I
saw goods of various kinds; but know not from whence they came. It was a common
talk in camps that the mob were burning their own houses and fleeing off
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