D&C/CHURCH HISTORY - LESSON 35
D&C 121-123
- Introductory Comments.
- Sections 121-123.
- Historical Background.
- June 1836: The citizens of Clay County, Missouri drafted a resolutions
addressed to the Mormons stating that the Saints must move out of the county
in order to avert civil war.
- The 1st Presidency counseled the saints in Clay County to settle their
affairs and move in peace.
- September 1836: The Saints began to settle on Shoal Creek in upper
Ray County, Missouri.
- The city they established was named Far West.
- Alexander Doniphan was instrumental in getting Ray County divided into
Ray, Caldwell, & Daviess Counties. Far West was located in Caldwell
County and Adam-Ondi-Ahman in Daviess County.
- March 1838: Joseph, Brigham, and their families arrive in Far West.
- Spring 1838: Caldwell County had grown to more than 5000. 4,900 of
which were Mormons.
- By the summer of 1838 the membership of the Church had swelled to about
12,000 in Missouri.
- Music from The Work & The Glory: Together, Life Is Grand!
- April 1838: Elders Kimball and Hyde return from their mission in England.
- In their eight months in England, 2000 members had been baptized.
- This mission became the foundation for the baptism of tens of thousands
of members which eventually joined the Church in the British Isles.
- This influx of new Mormons came at a time when the Church was struggling
in America.
- Significant excommunications during this period: Oliver Cowdery, David
Whitmer, William E. McLellin, and Lyman E. Johnson.
- Charges brought against David Whitmer which led to his excommunication:
- Had not observed the Word of Wisdom.
- He had exhibited unchristian conduct by neglecting to attend church
meetings.
- He had kept up correspondence with dissenters in Kirtland in which
he had defamed the character of Joseph Smith.
- He had, while in office as president of the Missouri Saints, deliberately
neglected his duties.
- After his release from that office, he had persisted in signing himself
president of the Church.
- June 1838: Sidney Rigdon delivers the "Salt Sermon".
- In this speech, Sidney used as a text the verse, "Ye are the
salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith, shall
it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and
to be trodden under foot of men." (Matt. 5:13)
- Sidney applied this text to some of the dissenting brethren and seemed
to be intimating that this literally applied to these brethren. Some of
the dissenters made the most of this speech in prejudicing the non-Mormons
in the surrounding counties.
- July 4, 1838: Independence Day in Far West.
- The corner stones for the temple were laid.
- There was a parade including a band.
- The Prophet wrote: "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." (DHC 3:41)
- Sidney Rigdon was the key speaker of the day.
- Most of his speech was a good Independence Day speech on the free institutions
of our government, religious freedom, and the establishment of the Church
in this dispensation.
- He then spoke of those who attempted to infringe upon the rights of
the Church.
- "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!" (CHC
1:441)
- This speech may not have had much effect, except that it appeared in
print and was used by the dissenters and mobbers against the Church.
- August 6, 1838: Election day at Gallatin, Daviess County.
- The Mormons had been warned that there would be an attempt to keep
them from voting in the election.
- The brethren living in Gallatin gave little heed to the warning and
went to the polls unarmed.
- When the Mormons attempted to exercise their rights, a free-for-all
broke out. It lasted for only two minutes. There were injuries, but no
one was killed.
- The Missouri difficulties escalated from this event.
- As the spirit of mobocracy spread, the brethren in Far West organized
into companies of tens and fifties for mutual protection.
- The Prophet encouraged the Saints to be unafraid and referred to a
passage in the 18th chapter of Judges about the tribe of Dan, "If
the enemy comes, the Danites will be after them, meaning the brethren in
self-defense."
- One of those who heard Joseph speak of the Danites was one Sampson
Avard. Brother Avard secreted organized some of the brethren into a companies
for mutual defense and protection.
- He claimed to have the sanction of the First Presidency.
- He taught those who would follow him that they should lead their companies
against the gentiles, to rob and plunder them, and waste them away. With
the loot, the kingdom of God would be built.
- The majority of Avard's followers left him in disgust. And soon Avard
was excommunicated.
- Avard then became a friend of the mob and charged the Prophet with
being the instigator of the Danite band.
- October 1838: The Missouri mobbings begin anew.
- In a half-hour battle at DeWitt, 30 armed Mormons led by Colonel George
Hinkle, scared of a mob of about 150. Reports of this battle found their
way back to Governor Lilburn W. Boggs.
- Battle of Crooked River.
- On October 25, Apostle David W. Patten led a Mormon militia against
a mob at Crooked River.
- Mormon forces lost 3 lives and 7 were wounded. Among those killed was
Elder Patten. The Missourians lost 1 man and 6 were wounded.
- Reports of the battle were exaggerated. All the Missourians in the
northern part of Ray County abandoned their premises and fled south to
Richmond for safety believing that a Mormon attack was imminent.
- At the direction of Governor Boggs a force of 2000 troops were dispatched
to Richmond. The governor wrote: "The Mormons must be treated as
enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state, if necessary
for the public good. Their outrages are beyond all description."
- October 30: Haun's Mill massacre.
- This settlement was attacked by a mob of 240 men. Mormon men and boys
fled into the blacksmith shop and into the woods. The mob leader treacherously
yelled, 'All who desire to save their lives and make peace, run into the
blacksmith shop.' The mob then surrounded the blacksmith shop and fired
between the logs. 19 men and boys were killed and another 15 wounded.
- October 31, 1838:
- George M. Hinckle (commander of the Mormon forces) met with General
Samuel D. Lucas. Hinckle was shown a copy of the extermination order.
- Lucas promised to go easier than the order if: Hinckle agreed to the
proposal and asked for a postponement until the following morning.
- Leaders turned themselves in to be tried & punished.
- They would take an appropriation of property as compensation by those
who took up arms.
- The remaining Saints leave the state.
- All arms to be given up.
- Hinckle agreed to the proposal and asked for a postponement until the
following morning.
- Hinkle informed Joseph that the militia officers desired an interview
with him and other named brethren and that the difficulties might be settled.
Joseph and the others went willingly to confer. Colonel Hinkle presented
Joseph and the others he stated: "Here, general, are the prisoners
I agreed to deliver to you."
- November 1, 1838: Brigadier General Doniphan was given orders by General
Lucas: "Sir: You will take Joseph Smith and the other prisoners
into the public square of Far West, and shoot them at 9 o'clock tomorrow
morning."
- General Doniphan responded with the following reply: "It is
cold-blooded murder. I will not obey your order. My brigade shall march
for Liberty tomorrow morning, at 8 o'clock; and if you execute those men,
I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God!"
- Consider Heber C. Kimball's description of these events:
- "November 1st, the mob, professing to be the regular militia
of the state of Missouri, numbering about 7,000, surrounded Far West, we
were all taken prisoners and then marched a short distance into a hollow
where Col. Lucas had previously pointed his cannon, in full range, so that
if we had not laid down our arms, he could easily sweep us into eternity,
which was his design. We were then formed into a hollow square, and commanded
by Col. Lucas to ground arms and deliver up our weapons of war, although
they were our own private property. We were then marched back a short distance,
on the public square in Far West, where we were again formed into a hollow
square, near the house of Brother Beeman." (Life of Heber C. Kimball,
p217)
- "The mob then commenced plundering the citizens of their bedding,
clothing, money, wearing apparel, and everything of value they could lay
their hands upon; and also attempting to violate the chastity of the women
in sight of their husbands, pretending they were hunting for prisoners
and firearms." (Ibid., p217)
- "The next day, 2nd, I was permitted to return to my house,
but was told not to leave the city, as it was surrounded by a strong guard
to prohibit anyone leaving the place; they were engaged in taking every
man who seemed to have any influence, and putting them in chains to stand
a trial. They were pointed out by the apostate allies of the mob."
(Ibid., p219)
- "We were brought up at the point of the bayonet and compelled
to sign a deed of trust, transferring all our property to defray the expenses
of this war made on us by the State of Missouri. This was complied with,
because we could not help ourselves. When we walked up to sign the deeds
of trust to pay these assassins for murdering our brethren and sisters,
and their children; ravishing some of our sisters to death; robbing us
of our lands and possessions and all we had on earth, and other similar
'services,' they expected to see us cast down and sorrowful, but I testify
as an eyewitness that the brethren rejoiced and praised the Lord, for His
sake taking joyfully the despoiling of their goods. Judges and magistrates,
Methodist, Presbyterian, Campbellite and other sectarian priests stood
by and saw all this going on, exulting over us, and it seemed to make them
more angry that we bore our misfortunes so cheerfully. Judge Cameron said,
with an oath, 'See them laugh and kick up their heels. They are whipped,
but not conquered'." (Ibid., p219)
- "The murders, house-burnings, robberies, rapes, drivings, whippings,
imprisonments, and other sufferings and cruelties inflicted upon the people
of God, under the illegal orders of Missouri's Executive, have only in
part been laid before the world, and form a page in history unsurpassed
and unparalleled in the history of religious persecution-that foulest of
all crimes. This historic page alone can credit Lilburn W. Boggs and his
minions with feeding the ministers of the proscribed religion on the flesh
of their murdered brethren; the odium of which is fully shared by the ministers
of different denominations who participated in these vile atrocities. If
hell can furnish a parallel, where is it ? I have not the ability to write
what I saw and felt and realized, but will leave it to eternity to reveal
the scenes of those days. I can say before God, angels, heaven and earth,
that I am innocent of violating any law of the state of Missouri, and my
brethren are equally innocent and virtuous, true to their God and their
country." (Ibid., p223)
- After a farce of a trial Joseph & Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman
Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin were locked up in Liberty jail
for over four months (a squalid, poorly ventilated jail).
- It was here that Sections 121-123 were revealed.
- It was also during this time that 12,000 to 15,000 Saints began the
move to Illinois under the direction of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.
- Discussion of Sections 121-123.
- Music from The Work & The Glory: O God, Where Art Thou?
- READ V1-6. The Prophet pleads with the Lord for relief.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROPHET FELT AS HE WROTE THIS PRAYER?
- DO WE ASK SIMILAR QUESTIONS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES AND TRIALS?
- READ V7-8. The Lord speaks peace to the Prophet.
- WHAT DOES THE LORD MEAN WHEN HE SAYS "THINE ADVERSITY AND THINE
AFFLICTIONS SHALL BE BUT A SMALL MOMENT"?
- SOME PEOPLE VIEW ADVERSITY (POOR HEALTH, FINANCIAL SETBACKS, MULTITUDINOUS
OTHER PROBLEMS) AS A SIGN THAT GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH THEM. WHY IS THAT
NOT NECESSARILY SO?
- READ 122:5-9. The Lord speaks about adversity.
- READ 121:26-33. Great knowledge to be revealed in the last dispensation.
- ANY LOVER OF TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO REPENT AND HUMBLE THEMSELVES
IN ORDER TO PARTAKE OF THIS FEAST OF REVELATION AND ETERNAL KNOWLEDGE.
- READ 121:36-37. Rights in the priesthood dependent upon righteousness.
- READ 121:39. Authority leads to unrighteous dominion (politics, religious
life, business, etc.).
- V41-46: A beautiful explanation of how priesthood power is maintained.
- SECTION 123 WAS WRITTEN BY THE PROPHET GIVING THE SAINTS THEIR DUTY
IN RELATION TO THEIR PERSECUTORS.
- V1: "And again, we would suggest for your consideration the
propriety of all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts,
and sufferings and abuses put upon them by the people of this State;"
- V6: "That we may not only publish to all the world, but present
them to the heads of government in all their dark and hellish hue, as the
last effort with is enjoined on us by our Heavenly Father, before we can
fully and completely claim that promise which shall call him forth from
his hiding place; and also that the whole nation may be left without excuse
before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm."
- V9: "Therefore it is an imperative duty that we owe, not only
to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose
husband and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand;"
- V10: "Which dark and blackening deeds are enough to make hell
itself shudder, and to stand aghast and pale, and the hands of the very
devil to tremble and palsy."
- V17: "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully
do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with
the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be
revealed."
- Next Week.
- Lesson 36: D&C 124.