Mob Violence in the Land of Zion.
[Sidenote: Demands of the Mob.]
On the 20th of July, the mob collected, [1] and demanded the
discontinuance of the Church printing establishment in Jackson county,
the closing of the store, and the cessation of all mechanical labors.
The brethren refused compliance, and the consequence was that the
house of W. W. Phelps, which contained the printing establishment, was
thrown down, the materials taken possession of by the mob, many papers
destroyed, and the family and furniture thrown out of doors. [2]
[Sidenote: The Mob's Treatment of Edward Partridge.]
The mob then proceeded to violence towards Edward Partridge, the Bishop
of the Church, as he relates in his autobiography:
I was taken from my house by the mob, George Simpson being their
leader, who escorted me about half a mile, to the court house, on
the public square in Independence; and then and there, a few rods
from said court house, surrounded by hundreds of the mob, I was
stripped of my hat, coat and vest and daubed with tar from head to
foot, and then had a quantity of feathers put upon me; and all this
because I {391} would not agree to leave the county, and my home
where I had lived two years.
Before tarring and feathering me I was permitted to speak. I told
them that the Saints had suffered persecution in all ages of the
world; that I had done nothing which ought to offend anyone; that
if they abused me, they would abuse an innocent person; that I
was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ; but, to leave the
country, I was not then willing to consent to it. By this time the
multitude made so much noise that I could not be heard: some were
cursing and swearing, saying, "call upon your Jesus," etc.; others
were equally noisy in trying to still the rest, that they might be
enabled to hear what I was saying.
Until after I had spoken, I knew not what they intended to do with
me, whether to kill me, to whip me, or what else I knew not. I bore
my abuse with so much resignation and meekness, that it appeared
to astound the multitude, who permitted me to retire in silence,
many looking very solemn, their sympathies having been touched as I
thought; and as to myself, I was so filled with the Spirit and love
of God, that I had no hatred towards my persecutors or anyone else.
[Sidenote: Charles Allen.]
Charles Allen was next stripped and tarred and feathered, because he
would not agree to leave the county, or deny the Book of Mormon. Others
were brought up to be served likewise or whipped. [3]
But from some cause the mob ceased operations, and adjourned until
Tuesday, the 23rd. Elder Sidney Gilbert, the keeper of the store,
agreed to close it; and that may have been one reason why the work of
destruction was suddenly stopped for two days.
[Sidenote: Reflections of the Prophet.]
In the course of this day's wicked, outrageous, and unlawful
proceedings, many solemn realities of human degradation, as well as
thrilling incidents were presented to the Saints. An armed and well
organized mob, in a government professing to be governed by law with
the Lieutenant Governor (Lilburn W. Boggs), {392} the second officer
in the state, calmly looking on, and secretly aiding every movement,
saying to the Saints, "You now know what our Jackson boys can do, and
you must leave the county;" and all the justices, judges, constables,
sheriffs, and military officers, headed by such western missionaries
and clergymen as the Reverends McCoy, Kavanaugh, Hunter, Fitzhugh,
Pixley, Likens, and Lovelady, consisting of Methodists, Baptists,
Presbyterians, and all the different sects of religionists that
inhabited that country, with that great moral reformer, and register of
the land office at Lexington, forty miles east, known as the head and
father of the Cumberland Presbyterians, even the Reverend Finis Ewing,
publicly publishing that "Mormons were the common enemies of mankind,
and ought to be destroyed"--all these solemn realities were enough to
melt the heart of a savage; while there was not a _solitary offense_ on
record, or proof, that a Saint had broken the law of the land. [4]
When Bishop Partridge, who was without guile, and Elder Charles Allen,
walked off, coated like some {393} unnamed, unknown bipeds, one of the
sisters cried aloud: "_While you, who have done this wicked deed, must
suffer the vengeance of God, they, having endured persecution, can
rejoice, for henceforth for them, is laid up a crown eternal in the
heavens_."
Surely this was a time for awful reflection; man, unrestrained, like
the brute beast, may torment the body; but God will punish the soul!
[Sidenote: Aftermath of Mob Violence.]
After the mob had retired, and while evening was spreading her dark
mantle over the scene, as if to hide it from the gaze of day, men,
women, and children, who had been driven or frightened from their
homes, by yells and threats, began to return from their hiding places
in thickets, corn-fields, woods, and groves, and view with heavy hearts
the scene of desolation and wo: and while they mourned over fallen man,
they rejoiced with joy unspeakable that they were accounted worthy to
suffer in the glorious cause of their Divine Master. There lay the
printing office a heap of ruins; Elder Phelps's furniture strewed over
the garden as common plunder; the revelations, book works, papers,
and press in the hands of the mob, as the booty of highway robbers;
there was Bishop Partridge, in the midst of his family, with a few
friends, endeavoring to scrape off the tar which, from its eating his
flesh, seemed to have been prepared with lime, pearl-ash, acid, or some
flesh-eating substance, to destroy him; and there was Charles Allen in
the same awful condition. The heart sickens at the recital, how much
more at the picture! More than once, those people, in this boasted
land of liberty, were brought into jeopardy, and threatened with
expulsion or death, because they desired to worship God according to
the revelations of heaven, the constitution of their country, and the
dictates of their own consciences. Oh, liberty, how art thou fallen!
Alas, clergymen, where is your charity!
{394} [Sidenote: The Second Gathering of the Mob.]
Early in the morning of the 23rd of July, the mob again assembled,
armed with weapons of war, and bearing a red flag; whereupon the
Elders, led by the Spirit of God, and in order to save time, and stop
the effusion of blood, entered into a treaty with the mob, to leave the
county within a certain time. [5] The treaty was as follows:
_Memorandum of agreement between the undersigned of the Mormon
Society in Jackson County, Missouri, and a committee appointed by a
public meeting of the citizens of said county, made on the 23rd day
of July, 1833_.
It is understood that the undersigned members of the society, do
give their solemn pledges, each for himself, as follows, to-wit:
That Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, William M'Lellin, Edward
Partridge, Lyman Wight, Simeon Carter, Peter and John Whitmer, and
Harvey H. Whitlock, shall remove with their families out of this
county on or before the first day of January next, and that they,
as well as the two hereinafter named, use all their influence to
induce all the brethren now here to remove as soon as possible: one
half, say, by the first of January next, and all by the first day
of April next; to advise and try all means in their power to stop
any more of their sect from moving to this county; and as to those
now on the road, they will use their influence to prevent their
settling permanently in the county, but that they shall only make
arrangements for temporary shelter, till a new location is agreed
on for the society. John Corrill and Algernon Sidney Gilbert, are
allowed to remain as general agents to wind up the business of
the society, so long as necessity shall require; and said Gilbert
may sell out his merchandise now on hand, but is to make no new
importation.
The _Star_ is not again to be published nor a press set up by any
of the society in this county.
If the said Edward Partridge and W. W. Phelps move their families
by the first day of January, as aforesaid, that they themselves
will be allowed to go and come, in order to transact and wind up
their business.
The committee pledge themselves to use all their influence to
prevent {395} any violence being used, so long as a compliance with
the foregoing terms is observed by the parties concerned, to which
agreement is subscribed the names of the above named committee, as
also those of the Mormon brethren named in the report as having
been present. [6]
Which report of the committee was unanimously adopted by the
meeting, and thereupon the meeting adjourned _sine die_.
Richard Simpson, Chairman.
S. D. Lucas, J. H. Flournoy, Secretaries.
[Sidenote: A Messenger Sent to Kirtland.]
The execution of this treaty presented an opportunity for the brethren
in Zion to confer with the Presidency of the Church in Ohio concerning
their situation, which they improved two or three days later by sending
Elder Oliver Cowdery as a special messenger to Kirtland.
[Sidenote: The _Western Monitor_ on Jackson County Troubles.]
On the second day of August, the _Western Monitor_, printed at Fayette,
[7] Missouri, edited by Weston F. Birch, published the proceedings of
the mob as follows:
Mormonism.
At a meeting of the citizens of Jackson county, Missouri, called
for the purpose of adopting measures to rid themselves of the sect
of fanatics, called Mormons, held at Independence on the 20th
day of July, 1833,--which meeting was composed of gentlemen from
every part of the county, there being present between four and
five hundred persons: the meeting was organized by calling Colonel
Richard Simpson to the chair, and appointing James H. Flournoy and
Colonel Samuel D. Lucas, secretaries,--it was resolved, that a
committee of seven be appointed to report an address to the public,
in relation to the object of this meeting; and the chair named the
following gentlemen to wit: Russel Hicks, Esq., Robert Johnson,
Henry Chiles, Esq., Colonel James Hambright, Thomas Hudspeth, Joel
F. Chiles and James M. Hunter. The meeting then adjourned, and
convened again, when Robert {396} Johnson, the chairman of the said
committee, submitted for the consideration of the meeting, the
following address:
"This meeting, professing to act, not from the excitement of
the moment, but under a deep and abiding conviction, that the
occasion is one that calls for cool deliberation, as well as
energetic action, deem it proper to lay before the public an expose
of our peculiar situation, in regard to this singular sect of
pretended Christians; and a solemn declaration of our unalterable
determination to amend it.
"The evil is one that no one could have foreseen, and is therefore
unprovided for by the laws; and the delays incident to legislation
would put the mischief beyond remedy.
"But little more than two years ago, some two or three of these
people made their appearance on the Upper Missouri, and they
now number some twelve hundred souls in this county; and each
successive autumn and spring pours forth its swarms among us, with
a gradual falling of the character of those who compose them; until
it seems that those communities from which they come, were flooding
us with the very dregs of their composition. Elevated, as they
mostly are, but little above the condition of our blacks, either in
regard to property or education; they have become a subject of much
anxiety on that part, serious and well grounded complaints having
been already made of their corrupting influence on our slaves.
"We are daily told, and not by the ignorant alone, but by all
classes of them, that we, (the Gentiles,) of this county are to
be cut off, and our lands appropriated by them for inheritances.
Whether this is to be accomplished by the hand of the destroying
angel, the judgments of God, or the arm of power, they are not
fully agreed among themselves.
"Some recent remarks in the _Evening and Morning Star_, their
organ in this place, by their tendency to moderate such hopes, and
repress such desires, show plainly that many of this deluded and
infatuated people have been taught to believe that our lands were
to be won from us by the sword. From this same _Star_ we learn
that for want of more honest or commendable employment, many of
their society are now preaching through the states of New York,
Ohio, and Illinois; and that their numbers are increased beyond
every rational calculation; all of whom are required as soon as
convenient to come up to Zion, which name they have thought proper
to confer on our little village. Most of those who have already
come, are characterized by the profoundest ignorance, the grossest
superstition, and the most abject poverty.
"Indeed, it is a subject of regret by the _Star_ itself, that they
have come not only unable to buy an inheritance, which means some
fifteen acres of wild land for each family, but destitute of the
means of {397} procuring bread and meat. When we reflect on the
extensive field in which the sect is operating, and that there
exists in every country a leaven of superstition that embraces with
avidity, notions the most extravagant and unheard of, and that
whatever can be gleaned by them from the purlieus of vice, and the
abodes of ignorance, is to be cast like a waif into our social
circle, it requires no gift of prophecy to tell that the day is
not far distant when the civil government of the county will be in
their hands; when the sheriff, the justices, and the county judges
will be Mormons, or persons wishing to court their favor from
motives of interest or ambition.
"What would be the fate of our lives and property, in the hands of
jurors and witnesses, who do not blush to declare, and would not
upon occasion hesitate to swear, that they have wrought miracles,
and have been the subjects of miraculous and supernatural cures,
have converse with God and His angels, and possess and exercise
the gifts of divination and of unknown tongues, and fired with
the prospect of obtaining inheritances without money and without
price--may be better imagined than described.
"One of the means resorted to by them, in order to drive us to
emigrate, is an indirect invitation to the free brethren of color
in Illinois, to come up like the rest, to the land of Zion. True,
they say this was not intended to invite, but to prevent their
emigration; but this weak attempt to quiet our apprehension, is but
a poor compliment to our understanding. The article alluded to,
contained an extract from our laws, and all necessary directions
and _cautions_ to be observed by colored brethren, to enable them
upon their arrival here, to claim and exercise the rights of
citizenship. Contemporaneous with the appearance of this article,
was the expectation among the brethren here, that a considerable
number of this degraded caste were only awaiting this information
before they should set out on their journey. With the corrupting
influence of these on our slaves, and the stench, both physical
and moral, that their introduction would set afloat in our social
atmosphere, and the vexation that would attend the civil rule
of these fanatics, it would require neither a visit from the
destroying angel, nor the judgments of an offended God, to render
our situation here insupportable. True, it may be said, and truly
no doubt, that the fate has marked the rise and fall of Johanna
Southcote and Ann Lee, will also attend the progress of Joe Smith;
but this is no opiate to our fears, for when the fabric falls, the
rubbish will remain.
"Of their pretended revelations from heaven--their personal
intercourse with God and His angels--the maladies they pretend to
heal by the laying on of hands--and the contemptible gibberish with
which they habitually profane the Sabbath, and which they dignify
with the {398} appellation of unknown tongues, we have nothing to
say; vengeance belongs to God alone. But as to the other matters
set forth in this paper, we feel called on by every consideration
of self-preservation, good society, public morals, and the fair
prospects, that if not blasted in the germ, await this young
and beautiful county, at once to declare, and we do hereby most
solemnly declare;--
"'1--That no Mormon shall in future move and settle in this county.
"'2--That those now here, who shall give a definite pledge of their
intention, within a reasonable time to remove out of the county,
shall be allowed to remain unmolested until they have sufficient
time to sell their property, and close their business, without any
material sacrifice.
"'3--That the editor of the _Star_ be required forthwith to close
his office, and discontinue the business of printing in this
county; and as to all other stores and shops belonging to the sect,
their owners must in every case strictly comply with the terms of
the second article of this declaration; and upon failure, prompt
and sufficient measures will be taken to close the same.
"'4--That the Mormon leaders here, are required to use their
influence in preventing any further emigration of their distant
brethren to this county, and to counsel and advise their brethren
here to comply with the above requisitions.
"'5--That those who fail to comply with these requisitions,
be referred to those of their brethren who have the gifts of
divination, and of unknown tongues, to inform them of the lot that
awaits them.'
"Which address being read and considered, was unanimously adopted.
And thereupon it was resolved that a committee of twelve be
appointed forthwith to wait on the Mormon leaders, and see that
the foregoing requisitions are strictly complied with by them;
and upon their refusal, that said committee do, as the organ of
this county, inform them that it is our unwavering purpose and
fixed determination, after the fullest consideration of all the
consequences and responsibilities under which we act, to use such
means as shall insure their full and complete adoption; and that
said committee, so far as may be within their power, report to this
present meeting. And the following gentlemen were named as said
committee:--
"Robert Johnson, James Campbell, Colonel Moses Wilson, Joel F.
Chiles, Hon. Richard Fristoe, Abner F. Staples, Garr Johnson, Lewis
Franklin, Russell Hicks, Esq., Colonel S. D. Lucas, Thomas Wilson,
and James M. Hunter, to whom was added Colonel R. Simpson, chairman.
"And after an adjournment of two hours, the meeting again convened,
and the committee of twelve reported that they had called on Mr.
Phelps, the editor of the _Star_; Edward Partridge, the Bishop of
the sect; {399} and Mr. Gilbert, the keeper of the Lord's store
house; and some others; and that they declined giving any direct
answer to the requisitions made of them, and wished an unreasonable
time for consultation, not only with their brethren here, but in
Ohio.
"Whereupon it was unanimously resolved by the meeting, that the
_Star_ printing office should be razed to the ground, the type and
press secured. Which resolution was, with the utmost order, and
the least noise and disturbance possible, forthwith carried into
execution, as also some other steps of a similar tendency; but
no blood was spilled, nor any blows inflicted. The meeting then
adjourned till the 23rd instant, to meet again to know further
concerning the determination of the Mormons.
"Resolved, that a copy of these proceedings be posted up at the
post-office in this place, for the information of all concerned;
and that the secretaries of this meeting send copies of the same
to the principal editors in the eastern and middle states for
publication; that the Mormon brethren may know at a distance that
the gates of Zion are closed against them--that their interests
will be best promoted by remaining among those who know and
appreciate their merits."
Richard Simpson, Chairman,
S. D. Lucas, J. H. Flournoy, Secretaries.
The citizens' meeting again convened on the 23rd day of July, 1833,
which was composed of gentlemen from all parts of the county, and
much more unanimously attended than the meeting of the 20th instant.
The meeting was organized by the chairman taking his seat, when the
following gentlemen were appointed a committee, to-wit:--
Henry Chiles, Esq., Dr. N. K. Olmstead, H. L. Brazile, Esq.,
Zachariah Waller, Samuel Weston, Esq., William L. Irwin, Leonidas
Oldham, S. C. Owens, Esq., George Simpson, Captain Benjamin Majors,
James C. Sadler, Colonel William Bowers, Henry Younger, Russell
Hicks, Esq., Aaron Overton, John Harris, and Harmon Gregg, to
wait upon the Mormon leaders, who had intimated a wish to have a
conference with said committee.
After an adjournment of two hours, the meeting again convened, when
the committee reported to the meeting that they had waited on most
of the Mormon leaders, consisting of the Bishop, Mr. Partridge;
Mr. Phelps, Editor of the _Star_; Mr. Gilbert, the keeper of the
Lord's store house, and Messrs. Corrill, Whitmer, and Morley,
Elders of the Church; and that the said committee had entered into
an amicable agreement with them, which they had reduced to writing,
which they submitted: and that the committee have assured Mr.
Phelps, that {400} whenever he was ready to move, that the amount
of all his loses should be paid to him by the citizens. The written
agreement is as follows: [8]
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Comment on the _Monitor_ Article.]
The foregoing is copied entire to give one sample of hypocritical
bombast, and current falsehoods, with which the country was flooded in
the early days of this Church. The declaration of the mob, by which
they pledged to each other their lives, their bodily powers, fortunes,
and sacred honors to remove the Church from Jackson county, is a very
good climax for all the arguments used, falsehoods set forth, and even
a full interpretation of the sublime admission that "vengeance belongs
to God alone." The events that followed from this time till November,
explain the _modus operandi_ much more clearly than the publication
in the _Monitor_, or other papers that generally were so willing to
give the western missionaries, the doctors, lawyers, judges, justices,
sheriffs, constables, military officers and other distinguished
personages a fair chance against the Mormons.
[Sidenote: Corner Stones of Kirtland Temple Laid.]
On the same day (July 23rd), while the brethren in Missouri were
preparing to leave the county, through the violence of the mob, the
corner stones of the Lord's House were laid in Kirtland, after the
order of the Holy Priesthood.
_August 2_.--I received the following:
_Revelation_. [9]
1. Verily I say unto you my friends, I speak unto you with my
voice, even the voice of my Spirit, that I may show unto you my
will concerning your brethren in the land of Zion, many of whom are
truly humble and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and to find
truth.
{401} 2. Verily, verily I say unto you, blessed are such, for they
shall obtain, for I, the Lord, show mercy unto all the meek, and
upon all whomsoever I will, that I may be justified when I shall
bring them unto judgment.
3. Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the
Lord, am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion, and
also with my servant Parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me;
4. And inasmuch as he continueth to abide in me, he shall continue
to preside over the school in the land of Zion, until I shall give
unto him other commandments;
5. And I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, in
expounding all scriptures and mysteries to the edification of the
school, and of the Church in Zion;
6. And to the residue of the school, I, the Lord, am willing to
show mercy, nevertheless, there are those that must needs be
chastened, and their works shall be made known.
7. The ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the
fire: I, the Lord, have spoken it.
8. Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are
honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing
to observe their covenants by sacrifice; yea, every sacrifice which
I, the Lord, shall command, they are accepted of me.
9. For I, the Lord will cause them to bring forth as a very
fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream,
that yieldeth much precious fruit.
10. Verily, I say unto you, that it is my will that a house should
be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I
have given you.
11. Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people:
12. Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the
Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto
me for the salvation of Zion.
13. For a place of thanksgiving for all Saints, and for a place of
{402} instruction for all those who are called to the work of the
ministry in all their several callings and offices,
14. That they may be perfected in the understanding of their
ministry--in theory, in principle, and in doctrine--in all things
pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which
kingdom have been conferred upon you.
15. And inasmuch as my people build an house unto me in the name of
the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it that
it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
16. Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it,
and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God;
17. But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory
shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples.
18. And, now, behold, if Zion do these things she shall prosper,
and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very
terrible.
19. And the nations of the earth shall honor her, and shall say,
Surely Zion is the city of our God, and surely Zion cannot fall,
neither be moved out of her place, for God is there, and the hand
of the Lord is there.
20. And He hath sworn by the power of His might, to be her
salvation and her high tower;
21. Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for
this is Zion--The Pure in Heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while
all the wicked shall mourn;
22. For behold, and lo, vengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly
as the whirlwind, and who shall escape it?
23. The Lord's scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the
report thereof shall vex all people; yea it shall not be stayed
until the Lord come;
24. For the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their
abominations and all their wicked works;
25. Nevertheless Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things
whatsoever I have commanded her,
26. But if she observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her,
I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction,
with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with
devouring fire;
27. Nevertheless, let it be read this once to her ears, that I, the
Lord, have accepted of her offering, and if she sin no more, none
of these things shall come upon her,
28. And I will bless her with blessings, and multiply a
multiplicity of blessings upon her, and upon her generations
forever and ever, saith the Lord your God. Amen. [10]
{403} _August 6th_.--I received the following:
_Revelation_. [11]
1. Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be
comforted; yea, rejoice ever more, and in everything give thanks,
2. Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered
into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this
seal and testament; the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall
be granted;
3. Therefore He giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable
covenant that they shall be fulfilled, and all things wherewith you
have been afflicted, shall work together for your good, and to my
name's glory, saith the Lord.
4. And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land,
it is my will that my people should observe to do all things
whatsoever I command them;
5. And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting
that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges,
belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me:
6. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my
Church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of
the land;
7. And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than
this cometh of evil.
8. I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed;
and the law also maketh you free;
9. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn;
10. Wherefore, honest men, and wise men should be sought for
diligently, and good men, and wise men ye should observe to uphold,
otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
11. And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all
evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word
which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God;
12. For He will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon
precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith;
13. And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake,
shall find it again, even life eternal:
14. Therefore be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed
in {404} my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all
things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death,
that you may be found worthy;
15. For if ye will not abide in my covenant, ye are not worthy of
me;
16. Therefore renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently
to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts
of the fathers to the children;
17. And again, the hearts of the Jews unto the prophets, and the
prophets unto the Jews, lest I come and smite the whole earth with
a curse, and all flesh be consumed before me.
18. Let not your hearts be troubled, for in my Father's house are
many mansions, and I have prepared a place for you, and where my
Father and I am, there ye shall be also.
19. Behold, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with many who are in
the Church at Kirtland,
20. For they do not forsake their sins, and their wicked ways,
the pride of their hearts, and their covetousness, and all their
detestable things, and observe the words of wisdom and eternal life
which I have given unto them.
21. Verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord, will chasten them, and
will do whatsoever I list, if they do not repent and observe all
things whatsoever I have said unto them.
22. And again I say unto you, if ye observe to do whatsoever I
command you, I, the Lord, will turn away all wrath and indignation
from you, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
23. Now I speak unto you concerning your families: if men will
smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and
revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded;
24. But if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you
as being meted out as a just measure unto you.
25. And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and
you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your
reward shall be an hundredfold.
26. And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it
patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you four-fold;
27. And these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if
he repent not, and shall not be blotted out.
28. And now, verily I say unto you, if that enemy shall escape my
vengeance, that he be not brought into judgment before me, then ye
shall see to it that ye warn him in my name, that he come no more
upon you, neither upon your family, even your children's children
unto the third and fourth generation;
{405} 29. And then if he shall come upon you, or your children, or
your children's children unto the third and fourth generation; I
have delivered thine enemy into thine hands.
30. And then if thou wilt spare him, thou shalt be rewarded for thy
righteousness; and also thy children and thy children's children
unto the third and fourth generation;
31. Nevertheless thine enemy is in thine hands, and if thou reward
him according to his works, thou art justified; if he have sought
thy life, and thy life is endangered by him, thine enemy is in
thine hands and thou art justified.
32. Behold, this is the law I gave unto my servant Nephi, and thy
fathers, Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac and Abraham, and all mine
ancient prophets and apostles.
33. And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that
they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred,
tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them.
34. And if any nation, tongue, or people, should proclaim war
against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that
people, nation, or tongue;
35. And if that people did not accept the offering of peace neither
the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies
before the Lord;
36. Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and
justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue or
people.
37. And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their
children's battles, and their children's children's, until they had
avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth
generation.
38. Behold, this is an example unto all people, saith the Lord your
God, for justification before me.
39. And again, verily I say unto you, if after thine enemy has come
upon thee the first time, he repent and come unto thee praying thy
forgiveness, thou shalt forgive him, and shalt hold it no more as a
testimony against thine enemy,
40. And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine
enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against
thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven.
41. And if he trespass against thee and repent not the first time,
nevertheless thou shalt forgive him;
42. And if he trespass against thee the second time, and repent
not, nevertheless thou shalt forgive him;
43. And if he trespass against thee the third time, and repent not,
thou shalt also forgive him;
{406} 44. But if he trespass against thee the fourth time, thou
shalt not forgive him, but shalt bring these testimonies before the
Lord, and they shall not be blotted out until he repent and reward
thee four-fold in all things wherewith he has trespassed against
thee;
45. And if he do this, thou shalt forgive him with all thine heart,
and if he do not this, I, the Lord, will avenge thee of thine enemy
an hundred-fold:
46. And upon his children, and upon his children's children of all
them that hate me, unto the third and fourth generation;
47. But if the children shall repent, or the children's children,
and turn to the Lord their God, with all their hearts, and with all
their might, mind, and strength and restore four-fold for all their
trespasses, wherewith they have trespassed, or wherewith their
fathers have trespassed, or their father's fathers, then thine
indignation shall be turned away,
48. And vengeance shall no more come upon them, saith the Lord thy
God, and their trespasses shall never be brought any more as a
testimony before the Lord against them. Amen.
Footnotes
1. The mob consisted of from three to five hundred.--_Times and
Seasons_, vol. 1, p. 18.
2. The incident is thus described in the _Times and Seasons_, vol.
1, p. 18: "In a short time hundreds of the mob gathered around the
printing office, which was a two story brick building, which they soon
threw down. The press was thrown from the upper story, and also the
apparatus, book work, paper, type, etc. A family residing in the lower
story was also thrust out in great haste. After destroying the printing
establishment, they proceeded to Gilbert & Whitney's store for the same
purpose, but Gilbert agreeing to box the goods, soon, they concluded to
let it alone."
3. They succeeded in taking Charles Allen, whom they tarred and
feathered upon the public square, surrounded by hundreds of the mob.
A number more were taken, but they succeeded in making their escape,
through the over anxiety of their keepers, who wished to have the
"sport" of seeing those who were being tarred.--_Times and Seasons_,
vol. I, p. 18.
4. The Prophet's statement on this head is abundantly sustained even
by those historians who become apologists for the actions of the mob,
and also by the declaration put forth by the mob themselves. It will be
remembered that in the "Mob Manifesto," or "Secret Constitution," (p.
374, this volume) those who signed it justified their determination "to
rid their society of the Mormons" by resorting to mob violence because,
said they, "we believe that the arm of the civil law does not afford
us a guarantee, or at least a sufficient one, against the evils which
are now inflicted upon us." In the address adopted at their meeting of
the 20th of July, which was published in the _Western Monitor_ (see
p. 396) the mob further excuse their lawless intentions by saying:
"_The evil is one that no one could have foreseen, and therefore is
unprovided for by the laws_; and the delays incident to legislation
would put the mischief beyond remedy." In all of which one plainly sees
unconscious admission that the Saints were not guilty of infraction of
the laws of the land. As to the historian apologists referred to in
the opening sentence of this note, I quote the following statements
from the "History of Jackson County, Missouri," published by the Union
Historical Company, Kansas City, Missouri, 1881: "Assuming this that
they [the Saints] were the holy people of the Lord, that the Lord was
the real owner of all things, and that all His possessions were free
to them, they were not calculated to be very respectful of the rights
and interests of their non-Mormon neighbors. _But though no overt acts
of transgression upon such rights were being committed_, the rapidly
gathering members of the Mormons * * * made the new sect an object
of profound solicitude to the people." (See also comment of Parley
P. Pratt on charges of the mob, 5th paragraph in note at p. 377 this
volume).
5. It was at this point, too, that several of the brethren stepped
forward and offered themselves as a ransom for the Church, expressing
themselves as being willing to be scourged or to die if that would
appease the anger of the mob against the Saints. The mob would not
accept the sacrifice of the brethren, however, but renewed their
threats of violence against the whole Church. The brethren who offered
themselves as a ransom for the Saints were _John Corrill, John Whitmer,
William W. Phelps, Algernon S. Gilbert, Edward Partridge, and Isaac
Morley_.
6. This agreement was signed on the part of the brethren by Edward
Partridge, Isaac Morley, John Corrill, W. W. Phelps, Algernon S.
Gilbert, and John Whitmer; and on the part of the mob by the Mob
Committee whose names are given in the article from the _Western
Monitor_, page 399.
7. Fayette was the county seat of Howard county, about one hundred and
fifty miles directly east of Independence.
8. The document is already printed in full on pages 394, 395.
9. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xcvii. Respecting the School of the
Prophets referred to in the above revelation, Elder Parley P. Pratt,
whose course is so highly commended in the revelation, writes in his
Autobiography, page 100: "In the latter part of the summer (1833) and
in the autumn, I devoted almost my entire time in ministering among
the churches, holding meetings, visiting the sick, comforting the
afflicted, and giving counsel. A school of Elders was also organized,
over which I was called to preside. This class, to the number of about
sixty, met for instruction once a week. The place of meeting was in the
open air, under some tall trees, in a retired place in the wilderness,
where we prayed, preached and prophesied, and exercised ourselves in
the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here great blessings were poured out, and
many great and marvelous things were manifested and taught. The Lord
gave me great wisdom, and enabled me to teach and edify the Elders,
and comfort and encourage them in their preparations for the great
work which lay before us. I was also much edified and strengthened. To
attend this school I had to travel on foot, and sometimes with bare
feet at that, about six miles. This I did once a week, besides visiting
and preaching in five or six branches a week."
10. "This revelation," writes Elder Pratt (Autobiography, p. 102),
"was not complied with by the leaders and Church in Missouri as a
whole (notwithstanding many were humble and faithful); therefore, the
threatened judgment was poured out to the uttermost, as the history of
the five following years will show."
11. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. xcviii.
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