Where did the Latter-day Saints leave Nauvoo in 1846?
Latter-day Saints did not leave Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846 in one mass exodus led by President Brigham Young but primarily in three separate groups—in winter, spring, and fall. The Latter-day Saints’ epic evacuation from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846 may be better understood by comparing it to a three-act play.
What happened in the Nauvoo exodus?
Between February and September 1846, thousands of Latter-day Saints departed Nauvoo, Illinois. The previous fall, Church leaders had developed plans for a large exodus, intending to organize 25 companies of 100 wagons each that would leave in the spring of 1846.
What happened to the Mormons in Nauvoo Illinois?
Nauvoo grew rapidly and for a few years was one of the most populous cities in Illinois. Within two years of Joseph Smith's being killed by a mob in 1844, most of the Mormon population had departed, fleeing armed violence. The majority headed west with the group led by Brigham Young .
Who was president of the LDS Church in Nauvoo?
March. President Young placed leadership in Nauvoo upon his brother, Elder Joseph W. Young, senior president of the Seventy, and Elder Orson Hyde. He instructed three trustees—Bishop Joseph L. Heywood, John S. Fullmer, and Almon W. Babbitt—to sell Church properties, handle Church finances, help complete the temple, and move needy Saints west.
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Why did Mormons flee Nauvoo?
The Saints soon realized that they would not have peace unless they left Nauvoo. The governor suggested they move far away to the west, where they would be away from their enemies and could set up their own government. Finally the Saints agreed to leave, but they needed time to get ready.
What happened to Nauvoo after the Mormons left?
The Nauvoo Icarians never recovered from the schism, and they were forced to abandon the site in 1860. Most of Nauvoo's residents made their way to Iowa, where the last surviving Icarian community, located near the town of Corning, voluntarily disbanded in 1898.
Why did the Mormons decide to leave Illinois?
The Mormons, as they were commonly known, had moved west to escape religious discrimination. After the murder of founder and prophet Joseph Smith, they knew they had to leave their old settlement in Illinois. Many Mormons died in the cold, harsh winter months as they made their way over the Rocky Mountains to Utah.
How many Mormons left Nauvoo the first winter?
Although Young hoped to begin the migration in spring 1846, local hostility forced the Mormons' hand. The first wave of about 3,000 people began to leave Nauvoo in early February, and their suffering was intense. They crossed the frozen Mississippi River -- dry-shod.
Where did the Mormons go after Illinois?
Their leader assassinated and their homes under attack, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) of Nauvoo, Illinois, begin a long westward migration that eventually brings them to the valley of the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Why did the Mormons flee from both Missouri and Illinois?
The Saints appealed to the government for protection, and some troops came to keep the peace. But a diplomatic resolution was interrupted when a mob destroyed a Mormon settlement at De Witt, Carroll County, forcing the Saints there to flee for their lives. The governor of Missouri, Lilburn W.
What city is known for Mormons?
Salt Lake City, UtahVisit Temple Square, the Salt Lake Temple, and the Tabernacle and explore the history of Mormons in Salt Lake City, Utah. Overview of Salt Lake City, Utah.
When did the Mormons move to Utah?
July 24, 1847Young, and 148 Mormons, crossed into the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. For the next two decades, wagon trains bearing thousands of Mormon immigrants followed Young's westward trail. By 1896, when Utah was granted statehood, the church had more than 250,000 members, most living in Utah.
How long did it take the Mormon pioneers to get to Utah?
After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 pioneers into Utah's Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
Why do people leave the Mormon religion?
Other reasons for leaving may include a belief that they are in a cult, logical or intellectual appraisal, belief changes or differences, spiritual conversion to another faith, life crises, and poor or hurtful responsiveness by Mormon leaders or congregations.
How many Mormons live in Nauvoo Illinois?
The present population is 1,100 and there are only a few Mormons in town, including the mayor.
When did the Mormon Trail end?
The trail was used for more than 20 years, until the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Among the emigrants were the Mormon handcart pioneers of 1856–60.
What happened in Nauvoo LDS?
In Nauvoo the Lord revealed truths and practices that continue to guide His Church today. His revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith included the founding of the Relief Society, the practice of baptism and confirmation for the dead, and temple marriage.
When did the pioneers leave Nauvoo?
Between February and September 1846, thousands of Latter-day Saints departed Nauvoo, Illinois. The previous fall, Church leaders had developed plans for a large exodus, intending to organize 25 companies of 100 wagons each that would leave in the spring of 1846.
How many Mormons were Nauvoo?
11,000 peoplemade Nauvoo great were to make Salt Lake City even greater. The flight from Nauvoo followed persecution of the Mormons, during which the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother were arrested and murdered in jail by a mob. At the time of the exodus, Nauvoo had 11,000 people.
Is Nauvoo a Mormon town?
The town was named Nauvoo - reportedly from a Hebrew word meaning beautiful place. Nauvoo was the Mormon headquarters for seven years during which time the church flourished, and the settlement quickly became one of the largest cities in Illinois.
When did the Saints leave Nauvoo?
In January 1846 the Brethren decided to prepare several companies to leave at a moment’s notice. A committee was appointed to dispose of all property and effects left behind, including the temple and the Nauvoo House. The decision to leave was made on 2 February, and the first group, led by Charles Shumway, crossed the Mississippi River on 4 February. Soon there were several hundred Saints assembled in temporary camps in Iowa. Brigham Young and others who remained behind to administer endowments to the Saints did not leave Nauvoo until mid-February. Unfortunately too many left who were inadequately outfitted and chose to depart earlier than was wise.
What would have happened if the Saints had left Nauvoo?
If the Saints had left Nauvoo beginning in April, as originally planned, undoubtedly there would have been a more orderly exodus. The original blueprint called for twenty-five companies of one hundred families each with adequate provisions and presided over by a company captain. The companies were to have left at prearranged intervals to ensure order. But these plans were shattered by the Saints who panicked and did not want to be left behind after the Twelve had left. Many of the previously appointed captains abandoned their assignments to align themselves with the vanguard companies and be with the Twelve. But in spite of the confusion, there was optimism among the Saints in eastern Iowa. One of the most remarkable migrations in the history of Western civilization had begun.
What did the Twelve Apostles do to the Mormon Church?
Under the direction of the Twelve Apostles, members of the Mormon Church quickly gathered to finish the construction of the Nauvoo Temple, so that all Latter-day Saints who desired to and were worthy could complete ordinances there. The Twelve fine-tuned the organization of the Church, so that duties were defined and worthy men assumed responsibility for various far-flung groups of Latter-day Saints. Priesthood authority defined the stewardships of various positions, and the Twelve were relieved of many pressing concerns that were too many for them to handle. Quorums of seventies, such as those called by the ancient apostles, helped administer the affairs of the Church.
Why did the Twelve use guards in Nauvoo?
The revoking of the charter left the Saints without a legal government or the protection of their own militia. The Twelve used guards to try to keep unsavory characters out of Nauvoo. Sometimes boys followed them, whistling, until the people abandoned the town. However, Nauvoo continued to grow. In June of 1845 Brigham Young said the following about the city:
Who said the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction?
In 1842 Joseph Smith had prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and “some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.” Exploring groups were sent out to scout a good location for the Saints in the Rockies, and plans for the move advanced. The great basin of Utah was settled upon. Despite the onset of winter, Nauvoo was a hive of activity as the Saints began to prepare for the exodus.
When did the Mormons leave Nauvoo?
When the Mormons were forced to leave Nauvoo, Illinois, an exodus that began in February 1846, their leaders were faced with the massive task of transporting and settling thousands of essentially destitute people in the West. They were in desperate need of resources.
What caused Cabet to abandon the Icarians?
Eventually, though, economic setbacks, policy disagreements and personal rivalries — partly caused by Cabet’s increasingly autocratic tendencies — laid waste to the Icarian experiment at Nauvoo. Along with his most loyal followers (roughly 40 percent of the Nauvoo colony), Cabet was ultimately banished from the community, and he died in St. Louis in 1856. The Nauvoo Icarians never recovered from the schism, and they were forced to abandon the site in 1860. Most of Nauvoo’s residents made their way to Iowa, where the last surviving Icarian community, located near the town of Corning, voluntarily disbanded in 1898.
Why did the Mormons leave Nauvoo?
Shortly after, under new leadership and duress, the Mormons left Nauvoo for a new home in the West. The rapid rise and decline of Nauvoo, once intended as a paradise in preparation for the millennium, is surrounded in bias and conflict, and it is often seen as an enduring example of religious persecution in America.
Who wrote Nauvoo from a non-Mormon perspective?
Mormon Nauvoo from a non-Mormon Perspective – John E. Hallwas. Hallwas reinforces the importance of theology in Mormon politics and pursues an understanding of Nauvoo from the eyes of the surrounding non-Mormons. He regards the conflict at Nauvoo as a conflict of differing ideologies about democracy on the frontier.
What is the Nauvoo charter?
Kimball’s article examines the formation of the Nauvoo charter, the document outlining Nauvoo’s legal powers as a legitimate city, and the possible consequences of its contents. Kimball argues that the powers delineated in the charter isolated the Mormons from their neighbors by giving them possibly excessive powerful hegemony over their settlement as an entity separate from the state. The article also recognizes the role of the charter as an attempted realization of the Mormon political-theological kingdom.
What is the Nauvoo Expositor?
Religion and Nauvoo. Nauvoo Expositor – William Law et al. The Nauvoo Expositor is the first and only issue of a dissenting newspaper in Carthage, Illinois. The newspaper is an attempt by Mormons cast out of Joseph Smith’s society to expose the errors and heresies in Smith’s doctrine.
What is Gayler's view on Nauvoo?
In this article, Gayler thoroughly studies Mormon political movements and associations in Nauvoo. He argues that the violent reaction of non-Mormon Illinois citizens to the Mormons was a result of Mormon involvement and attitudes in politics, not of controversial religious or economic views. The apparent policy of the Mormon bloc vote and Smith’s intention to remain part of the volatile political sphere played a pivotal role, Gayler believes, in the hostility towards Mormon Nauvoo.
Where did the Mormons live in 1839?
In 1839, a beleaguered, exiled group known as the Church of Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ—also known as the Mormons—crossed the Missouri border into Jackson County, Illinois. Fleeing from years of violent persecution by non-Mormons, the Mormons set up the city of Nauvoo under the aegis of their prophet, Joseph Smith, ...
What page does Harper's article discuss Nauvoo?
His discussion of Nauvoo in particular begins on page 296, but the previous pages provide ample background for the attitudes of the Mormons and the weight of Smith’s revelations.
What happened to the Saints when they left Nauvoo?
By September, most of the Saints had left the city. As the Saints left Nauvoo, they looked back across the river and saw their beautiful city, with the temple on the hill.
Why did the Saints leave Nauvoo?
Many of the Saints who left Nauvoo in the later months were too sick, poor, or unprepared to travel. Hundreds of them were scattered along the banks of the river and had little shelter or food. But the Lord helped them by sending flocks of small birds called quail, which the Saints were able to catch and eat.
Why were the Saints traveling west?
In March 1846 the pioneers began traveling west across Iowa. Their progress was slow because of bad weather, bad trails, and other problems. Brigham Young sent men ahead to find good places for other camps. These men cut trees and made log cabins.
What did the Saints need to get ready for the journey?
The Saints needed to get food and clothes for the journey. They also needed to make wagons, buy oxen and other animals, and sell their homes. The Saints worked hard to get ready to leave Nauvoo.
What happened after Joseph Smith died?
After the death of Joseph Smith, the mobs thought the Church would go away. But it remained strong under the leadership of the Apostles, and Nauvoo continued to grow. This caused the mobs to try even harder to destroy the Church and drive out the Saints. The mobs printed lies about them in newspapers. The governor of Illinois would not stop the ...
When did the first group of pioneers make it across the Missouri River?
In June 1846, about four months after leaving Nauvoo, the first group of pioneers made it all the way across Iowa to the Missouri River. They stopped at a place called Council Bluffs and built a ferryboat for crossing the river. Other Saints soon came to join them (see the map on page 190 ).
When did the Saints leave the Mississippi River?
The Saints planned to leave in April 1846, but threats from their enemies caused them to begin leaving in February, when it was very cold. The Saints put their things in wagons. Then they drove the wagons onto flatboats and went across the Mississippi River.
What was the climax of the Nauvoo protests?
Tensions between local anti-Mormons and citizens of Nauvoo—including many non-Mormons who were sympathetic to the plight of the Saints— reached a climax in September 1846. A group of several hundred armed anti-Mormons attacked Mormon and non-Mormon defenders of the city.
When did the Church exodus?
The previous fall, Church leaders had developed plans for a large exodus, intending to organize 25 companies of 100 wagons each that would leave in the spring of 1846. Rising hostilities, however, prompted Brigham Young and other leaders to negotiate a truce during fall 1845, which stipulated that Church members would begin their exodus that winter.
What happened to the last Mormons?
On September 10, the last Mormons were attacked by mobs in the Battle of Nauvoo. By September 16, 1846, the last Mormons were driven from the city. Their beautiful temple was burned by an arsonist. Nauvoo, a city that in 1844 had rivaled even Chicago for size and beauty, was all but destroyed.
When was the Nauvoo charter rescinded?
In January of 1845, the Nauvoo charter was rescinded. To add insult to injury, in May, the leaders of the mob who murdered Joseph and Hyrum were acquitted in a sham trial where no Mormon was allowed to testify or even attend. This included the only surviving eyewitnesses, John Taylor and Willard Richards.
What happened to the Mormons after Joseph was murdered?
Joseph’s murder gave the Mormons a short respite as their enemies waited for the Mormons to disintegrate. However, they did not. In fact, the Church continued to grow, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles continued to send Mormon missionaries all over the globe. They also worked to finish the temple. Once their enemies realized the Mormons were not going to leave, they began to attack them once again. In January of 1845, the Nauvoo charter was rescinded. To add insult to injury, in May, the leaders of the mob who murdered Joseph and Hyrum were acquitted in a sham trial where no Mormon was allowed to testify or even attend. This included the only surviving eyewitnesses, John Taylor and Willard Richards. By that fall, Brigham Young and the Twelve Apostles made two decisions: finish the temple, and prepare to move to the Rocky Mountains where, years before, Joseph had prophesied the Mormons would eventually settle. In September, the citizens of Hancock County demanded that the Mormons leave. By December, the Nauvoo Temple was complete enough to permit the Mormons to begin receiving their temple endowments (one of the Mormon temple ceremonies) and to begin entering into celestial, or eternal, marriage.
What did Joseph do in Nauvoo?
Joseph returned to Nauvoo. He and the other leaders determined that they would not let themselves be driven and harassed by illegal mobs again. They petitioned for and obtained a charter for their own city, which gave them the legal right to defend themselves against attacks both from the law and from mobs. The charter for Nauvoo created a city militia, which were very common at the time, and also established a university. It also stated that no resident of Nauvoo could be arrested without a writ of habeas corpus before a city judge. This meant that no person living in Nauvoo could be dragged off by mobs or sheriffs without getting a fair chance to hear the charges against them.
What was the first newspaper in the Nauvoo Expositor?
On June 7, 1844, William Law , a disaffected Mormon, published the first and only edition of the Nauvoo Expositor. It was a scandalous paper that called for Joseph Smith to be hung. It described in lurid prose all the evil things Joseph and other leaders were supposedly doing. On June 10, Joseph Smith, as mayor, and the city council met to decide what to do. They determined that, based on their interpretation of their charter, they had the power to remove the press since it posed an imminent threat by calling for violence and hence fit the legal definition of a public nuisance. The press and most copies of the paper were destroyed. A riot ensued and, the next day, Joseph Smith was sought out by the county sheriff on charges of inciting riot. Fearful that a mob would attack him while in jail or that the trial would be unfair, Joseph hid for a few days. He offered to turn himself in, provided he could obtain a change of venue. The local county court was in Carthage and Joseph did not trust the people of Carthage. He wanted to be tried in Springfield instead. Governor Thomas Ford came from Springfield to oversee the affair. He promised Joseph Smith protection and a fair trial if he turned himself in. On June 22, Joseph surrendered himself to the governor. Joseph was taken to Carthage, Illinois, the county seat of Hancock County. Many of his friends refused to leave him, but Joseph ordered them to leave, trusting in the governor’s promise of protection. The governor left Carthage on June 26 and left the Carthage militia, called the Carthage Greys, in charge.
Why did Joseph Smith change the name of Nauvoo?
The Twelve Apostles soon went abroad again to preach the Gospel. Joseph Smith remained behind to help build up the new city. Joseph changed the name to Nauvoo, which comes from a Hebrew word meaning beautiful. The Mormons were still anxious to return to their lands in Missouri or at least obtain compensation.
Why did Joseph continue to guide the Mormon Church?
In 1843, Joseph alternated periods of hiding from his persecutors with periods where he could publicly teach the Gospel, often in groves of trees, because no building was large enough to hold the audiences who wished to hear him.
How many Saints left Nauvoo in 1846?
During the summer months of 1846, small numbers of Saints continued to leave Nauvoo sporadically. By September only 700 to 1,000 Saints who wanted to go west were still in the city, some being new arrivals. Many lacked wagons and teams. Some were too ill to travel. In the fall exodus crowds were Mary Fielding Smith, clerk Thomas Bullock, temple architect Truman O. Angell, and Joseph Knight.
How many people left Nauvoo in 24 hours?
On 14 May Governor Ford reported that 50 teams and 1,350 souls had left Nauvoo that week. 32 Among them were Elders Woodruff and Hyde. A week later, the Bloomington Herald noted that ferries crossed 35 times in 24 hours at Nauvoo, 35 times upriver at Fort Madison, Iowa, and several times downriver at Nashville, Iowa.
What happened in Nauvoo in June?
June. Early in June, an anti-Mormon delegation marched into Nau voo, producing such “great excitement,” Thomas Bullock said, that “many of the brethren packed up and crossed the river.” On 9 June Saints were “rushing to the ferry in order to cross the river” because, Lucius Scovil said, “the mob began to rage and threaten the Saints,” whipping some, shooting at others, and swearing at LDS herd boys. For the “panic struck” people, Bullock wrote on the 11th, the regular and extra ferries were not “half enough” for the job. The mob gave the Saints a week to vacate Nauvoo, time enough for them and non-LDS newcomers to organize a 700-man army that scared off the would-be attackers while Nauvoo continued to empty. “Hundreds, I might say thousands, of houses [are] empty where once happy Saints dwelt, sung, and prayed,” Bullock said on 27 June. “Fences nearly all down, gardens laid waste, fruit trees destroyed by cattle.” 33
What was the story of the Latter Day Saints?
Act 1, the winter exodus, was President Brigham Young’s well-known Camp of Israel trek across Iowa from 1 March to 13 June 1846, involving perhaps 3,000 Saints. Their journey has been researched thoroughly and often stands as the story of the Latter-day Saints’ exodus from Nauvoo. 1 Act 2, the spring exodus, which history seems to have overlooked, showed three huge waves departing Nauvoo, involving some 10,000 Saints, more than triple the number in the winter departure. Act 3, the fall exodus, has been studied only in part. It involved about 700 Saints, mostly poor, forced from Nauvoo at gunpoint. What follows is an overview of what we now know about these three phases of the 1846 exodus.
How many people were in Nauvoo?
At its peak, Nauvoo had close to 12,000 people. 3 Another 2,000 to 3,000 lived nearby in Illinois and Iowa. A few hundred new arrivals came by the time of the exoduses, so a reasonable estimate is that 15,000 to 16,000 Saints in Iowa and Illinois were eligible to join the migration. Instructions for the trek asked people to bring enough food per wagon for five adults or the equivalent, which means that, adding children, each wagon on average probably had six people assigned to it. With six per wagon, 2,500 wagons would assist about 15,000 people. Some doubling up of friends, relatives, or single adults was expected. By 23 November 1845, reports indicated that 3,285 families were organized for the trek—800 more families than wagons. 4 By then the Saints were doing their all to prepare to leave in the spring. 5
Where did the Nauvoo people camp?
Rich walked across the Mississippi on 25 February. These travelers camped at the ever-expanding campground along Sugar Creek, seven miles inland. They braved cold temperatures and snow. Campfires burned constantly. “The wind blows, one can hardly get to the fire for the smoke,” Patty Sessions noted on the 19th. While organizing the people into subcompanies and developing camp and travel rules, President Brigham Young sent ahead a vanguard of strong “pioneers,” led by Bishop George Miller, to improve roads and bridges, locate campsites, and collect firewood.
What was the second temporary settlement in Nauvoo?
There they stayed from 18 May to 1 June and established a second temporary settlement, Mount Pisgah, with cabins, farms, and fences. On 30 May, President Young and other leaders rode out three miles, set up two tents, and prayed, seeking divine help for the journey and for Saints still in Nauvoo. 17
When was the Nauvoo Charter repealed?
When the Illinois state legislature met in December 1844 , there was great support for the repeal of the Nauvoo Charter. Governor Ford conceded that the charter's privileges had been "much abused" by the Mormons, but he urged that the legislature merely amend the document, saying, "I do not see how ten or twelve thousand people can do well in a city without some chartered privileges." However, on January 29, 1845, the repeal was overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 25–14 in the Senate and 75–31 in the House.
Who was the leader of the Nauvoo Legion?
The Nauvoo Legion, a militia with 2,000 men, was headed by Joseph Smith, who was given the commission of lieutenant-general by Illinois' Governor Carlin. The Nauvoo militia consisted of a corps of riflemen.
Why did the Icarians move to Nauvoo?
In 1849 Icarians moved to the Nauvoo area to implement a utopian socialist commune. In the early and mid 20th century Nauvoo was primarily a Catholic town, and the majority of the population today is Catholic.
How tall is the Nauvoo Temple?
The foundation of the Nauvoo Temple was 83 by 128 feet (25 by 39 m) and, when finished, its steeple rose to a height of over 100 feet (30 m). Church elder Alpheus Cutler was put in charge of the construction of the ambitious stone structure.
What did the name Nauvoo mean?
They rejoined the Latter Day Saints in Commerce by May 1839. He renamed the town "Nauvoo", meaning "to be beautiful". Latter Day Saints often referred to Nauvoo as "the city beautiful", or "the city of Joseph". Despite the name, the site was, at first, an undeveloped swamp.
What was the conflict between the Mormons and the Mormons called?
After Smith's assassination, the agitation against Mormons continued. The conflict escalated into what has sometimes been called the "Mormon War in Illinois". Opponents of the Mormons in Warsaw and Carthage began to agitate for the expulsion from Illinois of the Latter Day Saints. In October 1844, a great gathering was announced in Warsaw. Although it was purported to be a "wolf hunt", it was known that the "wolves" to be hunted were the Mormons. When Governor Thomas Ford became aware of it, he sent militia troops to disperse the gathering. However, as he later recalled:
Who visited Joseph Smith in 1841?
In 1841, Joseph Smith, living in Nauvoo, was visited by Sauk and Meskwaki from the Iowa village. "The ferryman brought over a great number on the ferry-boat and two flat boats for the purpose of visiting me.
Introduction
General Sources
- The following sources provide broad, comprehensive perspectives on the Mormons and Nauvoo. Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi– Robert Bruce Flanders Flanders’ work explores Nauvoo as a settlement in its entirety. Flanders delves deeply into Nauvoo as both a political and a theological site, led by Smith, who acted as religious, political, and economic leader of the city. A…
Primary Source Collections
- Cultures in Conflict: A Documentary History of the Mormon War in Illinois– John E. Hallwas & Roger D. Launius Cultures in Conflicttakes a documentary, chronological approach to the conflict at Nauvoo through the use of many of the most important primary sources from both Mormon and non-Mormon perspectives. Hallwas and Launius attempt to present a cultural context without a r…
Politics and Theology
- God and the People: Theodemocracy in Nineteenth Century Mormonism– Patrick Q. Mason Mason’s article studies of the role of religion in Mormon politics. He follows the chronology of Mormon political views, pinpointing Navuoo as the site of a major transformation of Mormon earthly aspirations. The Mormons’ entry into politics, he argues, arose from the need to protect t…
Mormon Political Reach
- The Mormons and Politics in Illinois Society: 1839-1844 – George R. Gayler In this article, Gayler thoroughly studies Mormon political movements and associations in Nauvoo. He argues that the violent reaction of non-Mormon Illinois citizens to the Mormons was a result of Mormon involvement and attitudes in politics, not of controversial religious or economic views. The appar…
Religion and Nauvoo
- Nauvoo Expositor – William Law et al. The Nauvoo Expositor is the first and only issue of a dissenting newspaper in Carthage, Illinois. The newspaper is an attempt by Mormons cast out of Joseph Smith’s society to expose the errors and heresies in Smith’s doctrine. It serves as a contemporary example of strife within the Mormon community about the viability of Smith’s doctri…
Death of Joseph Smith
- Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith – Marvin S. Hill & Dallin H. Oaks This source is an attempt in secular scholarship to detail the circumstances and reasons behind the death of Joseph Smith through the lens of his accused murderers. The authors frame the death in terms of differing ideas of frontier democracy and center their study o…
Databases For Further Research
- Church History Library The Church History Library is a database run by the Mormon Church that contains numerous print and digital resources recording Mormon history since its beginning. The library is, however, a comprehensive collection based in Utah: many of the archival materials may not be viewable online and many are print materials. The site is still a good source of informatio…