Class 22 Sections 121 -123 The Liberty

Class 22 – Sections 121 -123 The Liberty Jail Letter

The Siege of De. Witt • Non-Mormons in De. Witt 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 De. Witt and built up forces there, but the non-Mormon militia kept supplies from coming in.

The Siege of De. Witt • Joseph Smith secretly went to De. Witt 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 De. Witt. 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 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, whethere 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.