Final Battle: Mormon Promises They Wish They Could: November 2009

Mountain Meadows Massacre 9-11 1857
‘Joseph Smith or the Sword’

Compiled Jerry Stokes 2009-11-09
1 Very Secretive Danites Were Active in 1857
2 Very Secretive Temple Endowment Language Protected Danites in 1857
3 Immigrants Entered the “State of Deseret” in 1857 Under Tyrannical Leadership
4 The Region Was Under Tyrannical Leadership “Council of Fifty” in 1857
5 The Fancher-Baker Wagon Trains Were Wealthy Enough to Arouse Local Mormon Desire to Get Paid Back for Their Loses Suffered in Missouri [Extermination Order 1838]
6 LDS Law of Consecration in 1857 Demanded this Wealthy Group “Donate” to God Who Was Brigham Young in 1857
7 The LDS Church in 1857 Treated Dangerous Outsiders “Gentiles” Like Mohammed Treated Unbelievers Brigham Young Inherited this from Joseph Smith
Jerry Stokes Partial Bibliography

Understanding What Settlers Faced in 1857 Utah
Reasons Behind Mormon Attack:
1 The Active Danites Were Extremely Secret. Anything this bloody group did was itself under both normal early Mormon secretiveness but also was linked to oaths taken inside endowment houses of various kinds. The Danites were a fraternal organization founded by Latter Day Saint members in June 1838, at Far West in Caldwell County, Missouri. During their period of organization in Missouri, the Danites operated as a vigilante group and took a central role in the events of the 1838 Mormon War.

The term "Danite" was often connected with any Latter Day Saint militarism, including the Nauvoo police, the bodyguards of Joseph Smith, Jr., the "Whistling and Whittling Brigades", and Brigham Young's so-called "Destroying Angels" or "Avenging Angels." The group organized under the name "The Daughters of Zion." A second group was formed in nearby Adam-ondi-Ahman where stake president and special counselor in the First Presidency John Smith recorded the name Danites in his diary and characterized the meetings as routine events. The newly formed Danites disagreed initially on what steps to take against the dissenters, who had left the church but still lived nearby on land that had murky legal status. the group " kill these men that they would not be capable of injuring the church."

Danite Blood Oath of Secrecy:

"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."

"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..."

BYU STUDIES: THREE PURPOSES FOR DANITES 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]

Secret Blood Atonement from Temple and Danites: The people do believe that we have a Band Called the Danites but how Could they exist so long without shedding Blood? For we Cannot find that they have killed any body. But I do not know of any such men."

Blood Atonement: In Mormon Fundamentalism , blood atonement is the concept that there are certain sins to which the atonement of Jesus does not apply, and that before a Mormon who has committed these sins can achieve the highest degree of salvation, he or she must personally atone for the sin by "hav[ing] their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins". The Mountain Meadows Massacre and the Oath of vengeance are examples of blood atonement concepts extending to non-Mormons.

2 Because of Secrecy: Modern Mormons are in denial about what went on in every day temple language. Since Joseph Smith’s death in June 1844 every one taking an endowment did so adding language each would individually seek blood revenge on anyone even agreeing with Smith’s death. The concept of blood atonement for adultery was less clearly articulated in LDS scripture. In Doctrine and Covenants 132, Joseph Smith wrote that people who break the "New and Everlasting Covenant" (Celestial marriage) would be "destroyed in the flesh" and be punished until they received their exaltation at the Last Judgment. Doctrine and Covenants Section 132, specifies plural marriages only.

Prior to 1927, participants made an oath that if they ever revealed the secret gestures of the ceremony, they would be subject to the following:

my throat...be cut from ear to ear, and my tongue torn out by its roots
our breasts...be torn open, our hearts and vitals torn out and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field your body...be cut asunder and all your bowels gush out. [changed to] different ways in which life may be taken.

The entire "penalty" portion of the ceremony was removed in 1990. Each temple president received a "President's Book" with the revised ceremony ensuring uniformity throughout the church's temples.

In 1990, further changes included the elimination of all blood oaths and penalties. These penalties, representing what the member would rather suffer than reveal the sacred signs given them in the ceremony, were symbolized by gestures for having the throat cut, the breast cut open, and the bowels torn out.

Changes also included the elimination of the five points of fellowship, use of English or natural language rather than the Adamic syllables "Pay Lay Ale", the role of the preacher, and all reference to Lucifer's "popes and priests" were dropped.

3 Utah in 1857 was a State of Deseret operated by a very paranoid tyrannical Brigham Young. If you study the map of this region it was very large. The State of Deseret was a provisional state of the United States, proposed in 1849 by Latter-day Saint settlers in Salt Lake City. The provisional state existed for slightly over two years and was never recognized by the United States government. The name derives from the word for "honeybee" in the Book of Mormon. It comprised roughly all the lands between the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies, and between the border with Mexico northward to include parts of the Oregon Territory, as well as the coast of California south of the Santa Monica Mountains (including the existing settlements of Los Angeles and San Diego).

It included the entire watershed of the Colorado River (excluding the lands south of the border with Mexico), as well as the entire area of the Great Basin. The proposal encompassed nearly all of present-day Utah and Nevada, large portions of California and Arizona, and parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. Three sessions of the General Assembly, a bicameral state legislature, were held. In 1850, the legislature appointed judges and established a criminal code. Taxes were established on property and liquor, and gambling was outlawed.

4 Mormon Council of 50 Ruled: The Council of Fifty (also known as the Living Constitution, the Kingdom of God, or its name by revelation, The Kingdom of God and His Laws with the Keys and Power thereof, and Judgment in the Hands of His Servants, Ahman Christ) was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1844 to symbolize and represent a future theocratic or theodemocratic "Kingdom of God" on the earth (Quinn 1980, p. 165). Smith and his successor Brigham Young hoped to create this Kingdom in preparation for the Millennium and the Second Coming of Jesus. Latter-day Saint theology holds that right before the Second Coming will be a time of great violence and natural disasters in which the governments of the world will collapse into universal anarchy.

High view of democracy or tyranny in this period? Joseph Smith received a revelation on April 7, 1842 calling for the establishment of an organization called the Living Constitution, or later the Council of Fifty. The political Kingdom of God, organized around the Council of Fifty, was meant to be a force of peace and order in the midst of this chaos.
The concept of "THEODEMOCRACY," a term coined by Joseph Smith. He described Theodemocracy as a system wherein God and the people held the power to rule in righteousness. This reflects the deeply held LDS belief in moral agency, which on a theological and philosophical level requires earthly governments to allow for individual decision making processes. In essence, the existence of choice is a moral requirement and a religious tyranny would be antithetical to Mormon beliefs. Yet this concept also reflects God's divine right to rule His people as "king of kings" and "lord of lords." [And during this period either Joseph Smith or later Brigham Young were god on earth to be obeyed as Moses obeyed the God of Heaven]. One a leader is “voted” into a place of authority there is no further voting only an acclamation of support later.

Biblcial Passages LDS Believe Allowed Tyranny in State of Deseret: Mormons believe, was described in the Book of Daniel 2:44–45 as the stone "cut out of the mountain without hands" that will roll forth to fill the whole earth. In Daniel, this kingdom was never to "be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." Daniel 2:44. However, in conjunction with this Spiritual Kingdom, Joseph Smith, Jr. and other early Latter Day Saint leaders believed that Jesus would establish a Political Kingdom of God in the turbulent times leading up to His second coming. See J.D. 1:202–3, 2:189, and 17:156–7. God's Political Kingdom was to be centered around the Council of Fifty.

End of the Council of Fifty 1868: After Utah became a territory, the Constitutional requirements of separation between church and state sharply diminished the Council's official role in government. The Council then suspended meetings in October 1851. The council met again on October 9, 1868 and voted for the establishment of Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI). The Council briefly resurfaced during the administration of John Taylor, in an advisory role on the issue of polygamy. The Council's last recorded meeting was in 1884.

5 This Fancher-Baker emigrant wagon train were very wealthy: The wagon train was a very obviously, a wealthy one and he set up the political tone though his sermons creating the eventual demise of the wagon train. Brigham Young's only motive in wiping out the wagon train was just plain greed, and he wanted it to look like the Indians committed the atrocity. Brigham Young maintained loyalty from his followers with blood atonement and polygamy. The ones that obeyed on special assignments were rewarded with a new young wife. The Apostates and failed Mormons were punished appropriately usually by the acceptable method of blood atonement, which involved the slitting of the victims throat. Most of the bounty from the wagon train massacre was shipped to Brigham Young from the Cedar City Ward tithing room within 1month of the massacre. Within 6 months of the Massacre Brigham Young was seen driving one of the Fancher Parties fancy hand caved wagons around Salt Lake City.

6 Mormon Law of Consecration: The Law of Consecration was a commandment given to the church to establish a kind of communitarian program whereby the saints were to give or "consecrate all their money and property to the Church" and lease it back, so that the church could purchase lands for settlement by the destitute converts continually pouring into northwestern Missouri.
In the Latter Day Saint movement (also known as Mormonism), the term law of consecration was first used in 1831 by Joseph Smith (Doctrine and Covenants 42:30-39), it was a doctrine of covenanted Christian socialism.
The Law of Consecration, as practiced by the Latter Day Saints, was for the support of the poor (Doctrine and Covenants 42:30) Latter Day Saints were asked to voluntarily deed (consecrate) their property to the Church of Christ, and the church then would assign to each member a "stewardship" of property "as much as is sufficient for himself and family" for his "needs, wants, family, and circumstances" (D&C 42:32;51:3). If consecrated property became more than was sufficient for the assigned steward, the "residue" was "to be consecrated unto the bishop" kept for the benefit of "those who have not, from time to time, that every man who has need may be amply supplied and receive according to his wants" (Doctrine and Covenants 42:33).

Confusion About Source: On February 4, 1831, Smith claimed to have received a revelation calling Edward Partridge to be the first bishop of the church. (See D&C 41.) Five days later, on February 9. 1831, Smith claimed to have received another revelation detailing the Law of Consecration. (See D&C 42.).

Mormon War 1838 Leading to Extermination Order 1838
There was Scarcely a Missourian's Home Left Standing in the County

The Mormon War is a name sometimes given to the 1838 conflict which occurred between Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and their neighbors in the northwestern region of the U.S. state of Missouri. This conflict is also sometimes referred to as the Missouri Mormon War to differentiate it from the Utah Mormon War (also known as the "Utah War") and the lesser known Illinois Mormon War.

The specific dates of the war are from August 6, 1838 (the Gallatin election battle) to November 1, 1838 when Joseph Smith surrendered at Far West. During the conflict 22 people were killed (3 Mormons and 1 non-Mormon at Crooked River and 18 Mormons at Haun’s Mill).
The conflict was preceded by the eviction of the Mormons from Jackson County, Missouri in 1833. In 1831, Smith had proclaimed that the county was the Biblical Garden of Eden and that Mormons should establish the City of Zion there. However, the "old settlers" objected to the growing political power of the Mormons, as well as their belief in abolition and the divine destiny of the Native Americans, whom they called Lamanites.

Expulsion Order: Earlier that spring, Henry Root, a Missourian who was a major land-owner in Carroll County, visited Far West and sold his plots in the mostly vacant town of De Witt to church leaders. De Witt possessed a strategically important location near the intersection of the Grand River and the Missouri River. Two members of the Far West High Council, George M. Hinkle and John Murdock, were sent to take possession of the town and to begin to colonize it (Johnson, p. 666 and Baugh, p. 65).

Smith Humphrey, a Mormon witness, recalled:
"On the morning of the 19th of August 1838 I being in Dewitt I was returning home & was met by an armed force of men I supposed nearly one hundred Commanded by Colonel [William Claud] Jones & by force took & kept me prisoner about two hours during which time they made many threats against the people called Mormons Such as that they were determined to drive them from that County]" (Johnson, p. 470).
The vigilantes harried the Latter Day Saints in DeWitt on and off through September and burned the home and stables of Smith Humphrey on October 1. After a lengthy siege (October 1 – October 11) in which hundreds of armed anti-Mormon vigilantes encamped around the town, Mormon leaders agreed to abandon the settlement and move to Caldwell County.

Colonel Hinkle and Mormons of the Caldwell militia were joined by church leaders including Joseph Smith and also by elements of the Danite organization (Baugh, p. 86). On October 18, these Mormons began to act as vigilantes and marched under arms in three groups to the Missourian settlements of Gallatin, Millport and Grindstone Fork. The Missourians and their families, outnumbered by the Mormons, fled into the cold as refugees, making their way to neighboring counties as best they could.

Having taken control of the Missourian settlements, the Mormons plundered the property and burned the stores and houses to the ground. The county seat, Gallatin, is reported to have been "completely gutted" — only one shoe store remained unscathed (Document, pp. 53–54, and Baugh, p. 87). Millport, Grindstone Fork and the smaller Missourian settlement of Splawn's Ridge met a similar fate.

Danite Secret Night Time Burning Destruction Work: Latter Day Saint vigilantes under the direction and encouragement of Lyman Wight drove Missourians who lived in outlying farms from their homes, which were similarly plundered and burned (Thorp, p. 83 and Baugh, p. 91). According to one witness, "We could stand in our door and see houses burning every night for over two weeks... the Mormons completely gutted Daviess County. There was scarcely a Missourian's home left standing in the county. The majority of both Missourian and Latter Day Saint testimony (which implicate the Mormons in the burnings) and also by the evidence of the looted property found in the possession of Latter Day Saints.

Fearing attack, many citizens of Ray County moved their wives and children across the Missouri River for safety and authorized a militia under Samuel Bogart who began to forcibly disarm Danites - Latter Day Saints who had burned most of their county.

The Mormons divided into three columns led by David W. Patten, Charles C. Rich, and James Durphee. The Missourians had the advantage of position and fired, but the Mormons continued to advance causing the state militia to break ranks and flee across the river. Although Mormons won the battle, they took heavier casualties than the Missourians. Of the Missourians, only one, Moses Rowland, was killed. On the Mormon side, Danite leader Gideon Carter was killed in the battle and nine other Mormons were wounded, including Patten, who soon after died from his wounds (LeSueur, pp. 137–142). According to one Latter Day Saint witness, the deaths "threw a gloom over the whole place" (Baugh, p. 108).

Extermination Order: News of the battle quickly spread and contributed to an all-out panic in northwestern Missouri. Exaggerated initial reports indicated that nearly all of Bogart's company had been killed (Document, p. 60). Generals Atchison, Doniphon and Parks decided they needed to call out the militia to "prevent further violence."

Investigations into War / Extermination Order:
Mormon Double Talk: Thomas B. Marsh, then President of the Mormons' Twelve Apostles, signed an affidavit before the Richmond Justice of the Peace, Henry Jacobs. Marsh's affidavit stated that "They have among them (the 'Mormons') a company consisting of all that are considered true 'Mormons,' called Danites, who have taken an oath to support the heads of The Church in all things, whether right or wrong. I have heard the Prophet say that he would yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; that, if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean." Joseph Smith, however, denied the existence of this band and condemned these statements.

Mormon Double Talk: Though some of the Mormons misinterpreted the soldier's retreat, Joseph Smith sent John Corrill and Reed Peck to search the militia camp for General Alexander W. Doniphan, who had been friendly and instrumental towards Mormon efforts since the first days of the Mormons in Missouri, several years earlier. Corrill and Peck had instructions from Smith to "beg like a dog for peace" from Doniphan. The militia agreed not to attack Far West until negotiations between the two groups could be conducted.

Military Tribunal Judgment: Against LDS / Danites 1838: set of four demands to the inhabitants of Far West:
1. The Mormon leaders were to surrender immediately to stand trial.
2. Mormon property would be seized and used to pay for damages.
3. The Mormons would leave the state immediately.
4. The Mormons would turn over all of their weapons.
Back in Far West Hyrum Smith and Brigham Young advised all the "Crooked River boys" to flee northward out of the state "for, if found, they will be shot down like dogs." Nearly seventy left

MilitaryTribunal for 2nd Mohammad Required: Church leaders were tried under a military tribunal, convicted of high treason against the state of Missouri and sentenced to death. General Lucas issued the following order to General Alexander W. Doniphan: Brigadier-General Doniphan: Sir:—You will take Joseph Smith and the other prisoners into the public square of Far West, and shoot them at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. Samuel D. Lucas, Major-General Commanding.

Civil Trial of 60 Danite / Mormons 1838 to Force Payment:
General Clark turned over his prisoners, consisting of about 60 men including Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon, for a preliminary hearing by a civil court of inquiry in Richmond under Judge Austin A. King, on charges of treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny and perjury.
The court of inquiry began 12 November 1838. After the inquiry, all but a few of the Mormon prisoners were released, but Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lymen Wight, Caleb Baldwin, Hyrum Smith and Alexander McRae were held without conviction, bail or legal representation in the Liberty Jail in Liberty, Clay County on charges of treason against the state, murder, arson, burglary, robbery and larceny.
The U.S. Senate voted 2 March 1841 to table a motion to consider printing out the court records of the Fifth Circuit of the State of Missouri regarding the trial for high treason and other crimes against that State of Joseph Smith, Jr., and others.
Smith / Other Secret Danites Escape: During a transfer to another prison in the spring of 1839, Smith escaped. The exact circumstances that allowed for him to escape are not certain, as one historian (John Whitmer) recounts that Smith bribed the guards, while another historian (Harold Schindler) states that high state officials--perhaps even Governor Boggs--realized that an escape would be convenient for everyone. Smith and the other Mormons resettled in Nauvoo, Illinois beginning in 1839.
Reality Check False Prophet: Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing [them], but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Famous Danite Shooter Orrin Porter Rockwell,Shoots Gov. Boggs: On the rainy evening of May 6, 1842, Governor Boggs was shot by an unknown party who fired at him through a window as he read a newspaper in his study. Boggs was hit by large buckshot in four places: Two balls were lodged in his skull, another lodged in his neck, and a fourth entered his throat, whereupon Boggs swallowed it. Several doctors—Boggs' brother among them—pronounced Boggs as good as dead; at least one newspaper ran an obituary. To everyone's great surprise, Boggs not only survived, but gradually improved.
Mormon Double Talk: There was only one suspect in the shooting: man in question was Orrin Porter Rockwell, a close associate of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. However, Reynolds was unable to capture Rockwell. The Wasp, a pro-Mormon newspaper in Nauvoo, Illinois, wrote on May 28 that "Boggs is undoubtedly killed according to report; but who did the noble deed remains to be found out." Rockwell denied involvement in oblique terms, stating that he had "done nothing criminal" —although it is debatable whether he would consider shooting the hated former governor a crime.

John C. Bennett, a disaffected Mormon, reported that Smith had offered a cash reward to anyone who would assassinate Boggs, and that Smith had admitted to him that Rockwell had done the deed. He went on to say that Rockwell had made a veiled threat against Bennett's life if he publicized the story. Joseph Smith vehemently denied Bennett's account. The following year Rockwell was arrested, tried, and acquitted of the attempted murder (Bushman, p. 468), although most of Boggs' contemporaries remained convinced of his guilt. It is likely that one of the turning points in Rockwell's trial was when he was allowed to demonstrate his shooting skills before the court.

Mormon Double Talk Orrin Porter Rockwell: After an impressive display on the courthouse lawn, he asked the jurors "Do you suppose the sonofabitch would still be alive if it were I who shot him?"
Orrin Porter Rockwell (June 28, 1813, or June 25, 1815 – June 9, 1878) was a colorful figure of the Wild West period of American History and a law man in the Utah Territory. Nicknamed Old Port and labeled "the Destroying Angel of Mormondom", during his lifetime he was as famous and controversial as Wyatt Earp or Pat Garrett. He served as a loyal personal bodyguard to both Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Separating fact from legends, folklore and myths concerning Rockwell is difficult for historians, in large part because Rockwell was only semi-literate and kept no personal diary. The 2nd Mohammad gave “Old Port” this prophecy: "I prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that you — Orrin Porter Rockwell — so long as ye shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee." Motto from the west: "I never killed anyone who didn't need killing." He was leader of the ultra secret Danites: leader together with Ephe Hanks and Bill Hickman of the Danites, a Mormon vigilante group sworn to exact blood vengeance. Danite security 101: carry a loaded double-barreled shotgun - sleep in a "dark camp".

7 Joseph Smith Second Mohammed:
`Joseph Smith or the Sword'
On October 24, 1838 B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.1, Ch.35, p.472 - p.473]"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. Many, however, of this band are much dissatisfied with this oath, as being against moral and religious principles. On Saturday last, I am informed by the Mormons, that they had a meeting at Far West, at which they appointed a company of twelve, by the name of the `Destruction Company,' for the purpose of burning and destroying, and that if the people of Buncombe came to do mischief upon the people of Caldwell, and committed depredations upon the Mormons, they were to burn Buncombe; and if the people of Clay and Ray made any movement against them, this destroying company were to burn Liberty and Richmond. The Prophet inculcated the notion, and it is believed by every true Mormon, that Smith's prophecies are superior to the laws of the land. I have heard the Prophet say that he would yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; and if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean; that like Mohammed whose motto in treating for peace was, `the Alcoran or the Sword,' so would it be eventually with us, `Joseph Smith or the Sword.' These last statements were made during the last summer. The number of armed men at Adam-ondi-Ahman was between three and four hundred." [B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.1, Ch.35, p.473 - p.474]

LDS CHURCH ANSWER TO SEPTEMBER DAWN FILM