Class 22 – Sections 121-123
The Liberty Jail Letter
The Siege of DeWitt
• Non-Mormons in DeWitt moved to drive the Mormons out
as militia returned from Daviess County. Other militia from
nearby counties congregated as well.
•George Hinkle commanded the Mormon militia in DeWitt
and built up forces there, but the the non-Mormon militia
kept supplies from coming in.
The Siege of DeWitt
• Joseph Smith secretly went to DeWitt and found
conditions deteriorating. The Saints petitioned for help. On
Oct. 9, Gov. Boggs told the parties to fight it out.
•On Oct. 11, the Mormons agreed to abandon DeWitt.
Mormons from other communities were advised to come
into Far West for protection.
Marauding Parties
• As tensions mounted, food and goods in Far West became
somewhat scarce.
•Organized parties went to nearby non-Mormon farms and
brought back “buffalo” and “boars.”
Marauding Parties
•Non-Mormons raided and burned Mormon dwellings and
farms as well.
•The town of Millport in Daviess County was burned. The
Mormons blamed the “old citizens” for burning their own
homes.
Others Leave Far West
• Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde became concerned
about this course of action and voiced opposition. Marsh
refused to join in the action, but was forced to at the threat
of his life.
•The next day, October 18, they left Far West and later
signed an affidavit against Joseph Smith and the Mormons.
Governor Boggs Refuses Aid
• As conditions worsened, General Atchison asked
Governor Boggs to personally come and try to settle
matters. He refused three times.
Crooked River
• Samuel Bogart, a notorious anti-Mormon commanded
troops along the Ray-Caldwell County border. They entered
Caldwell County twice and took three Mormon men
prisoner.
•A number of Mormons were anxious for the fight to begin.
The bragged of how two would put 10,000 to flight.
Crooked River
• Charles C. Rich and David W. Patten, dubbing himself
“Captain Fearnaught,” led groups of militia to the Ray
County border to protect Mormons living there.
•Near dawn on October 25, Patten’s forces had a chance
encounter with Bogart’s militia. In a brief battle, the
prisoners were freed and Bogart’s men retreated.
Crooked River
• Three Mormons including David W. Patten died.
•Rumors quickly spread that Bogart’s militia had been
massacred and the Mormon’s were going to attack
Richmond.
The Extermination Order
•On October 27, Governor Boggs issued this order: “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.”
Changes in Command
•Gen. Atchison was relieved of command and Gen. John
Clark appointed to take his place. In the meantime Gen.
Samuel D. Lucas, an anti-Mormon from Jackson County ,
assumed Atchison’s command.
•Lucas was anxious to attack Far West before Clark could
arrive.
Haun’s Mill
•Jacob Haun came into Far West to tell Joseph Smith he
thought he could defend Haun’s Mill, as he could use the
blacksmith’s shop for a fort. Joseph counseled him to come
into far West, but told him in the end to do as he pleased.
•Haun was reported to have told those at the mill that
Joseph Smith consented to their defending the town.
Haun’s Mill
•On October 28 a militia detachment arrived at the mill and
made arrangements to discuss a peace treaty.
•The next day at 4:00 p.m. 240 men attacked the
settlement. The women and most children fled. Many
Mormons were mercilessly killed. Those who fled to the
blacksmith’s shop were massacred by militia firing between
the chinks in the logs. At least 17 were killed.
Shoal Creek Near Haun’s Mill
The Hills North of Haun’s Mill
Haun’s Mill Townsite
The Fall of Far West
•By October 31, 2000 militia surrounded Far West. The
Mormon militia totaled about 400.
•As the situation worsened, Joseph Smith relieved George
Hinkle of command of the militia and personally took charge
of the defense of Far West.
The Fall of Far West
•Gen. Lucas presented to George Hinkle and others a
proposal that he would not attack if several Mormon leaders
surrender, that Mormon property be sold for damages, and
that the Mormons surrender their arms and leave the state.
•He agreed to let the Mormons consider the plan overnight
if Joseph Smith Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley P.
Pratt, and George W. Robinson be taken as hostages until
morning.
The Betrayal
•Joseph Smith and the others agreed to the terms; however,
the prisoners were not allowed to negotiate. Rather, at a
hastily-called trial, which the prisoners were not allowed to
attend, Gen. Lucas found the prisoners guilty of treason and
ordered them to be shot on the Far West town square in the
morning.
The Betrayal
•Alexander Doniphan was ordered to carry out the
executions at sunrise. He flatly refused and told Lucas that
he was marching for Richmond in the morning and if any
harm came to the Mormon leaders, he would hold Lucas
personally responsible. Lucas backed down.
The Betrayal
•The Mormons held George Hinkle, Reed Peck, and John
Corrill responsible for knowingly delivering up the prisoners
to to Lucas unconditionally. The three were
excommunicated and never returned to the church.
The Migration
•The Saints were allowed to remain in Missouri through the
winter, but were forbidden to plant crops the following
spring. The main exodus of the Saints began in February
1839 while Joseph and several others remained in prison.
The Letter from Liberty Jail
Comfort in Affliction
121: 7-8. My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine
afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well,
God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
122:7-8. Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee
experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended
below them all. Art thou greater than he?
122:9. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less;
therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever
and ever.
A Warning to Those Who Opposed Joseph Smith
•121: 11 And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope
shall be blasted, and their prospects shall melt away as the hoar frost
melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun.
•121:16 Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine
anointed, saith the Lord, and cry they have sinned when they have not
sinned before me.
121:18-19 And those who swear falsely against my servants, that they
might bring them into bondage and death — Wo unto them… they shall be
severed from the ordinances of mine house.
Called and Chosen
121: 34-40. Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why
are they not chosen? …
-- How does this relate to what has transpired?
Righteous Leadership
121: 41-46. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by
virtue of the priesthood.
Much Yet to Be Revealed
121:26-28. God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea,
by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed
since the world was until now; which our forefathers have awaited with
anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds
were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their
glory; a time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld…
Many Gods – Abraham?
•121:28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether
there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.
•121:32 …which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal
God of all other gods before this world was…
Petition for Redress
•123: 1. …all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and
sufferings and abuses put upon them by the people of this State…
•123:6. …the last effort which 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
Petition for Redress
•123:15. Let no man count them as small things.
•123:17. 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.