(December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon.
Who was Brigham Young's bodyguard?
Porter RockwellPorter RockwellKnown ForPersonal bodyguard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, Deputy US Marshal Known as "The Destroying Angel of Mormondom"Occupationbusinessman, bodyguard, lawman, frontiersman, scoutSpouse(s)Mary Ann Neff (1854) Christina Olsen Luana Hart BeebeChildrenAt least 714 more rows
Who were the bodyguards for Joseph Smith?
In the blessing, Joseph named several men, including Erastus Derby, John D. Parker, Amasa Lyman, Wilson Law, Henry G. Sherwood, Joseph B. Nobles and Samuel Smith, among others, who one could say acted as bodyguards or supported the prophet while was in hiding, Mahas said.
What did Joseph Smith say about Porter Rockwell?
At his funeral service, Elder Joseph F. Smith of the Council of the Twelve said, “He had his little faults, but Porter's life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example, and reflected honor upon the Church. Through all his trials he had never once forgotten his obligations to his brethren and his God.”
Was Porter Rockwell a member of the LDS Church?
Porter was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830—the same day the Church was officially organized in New York. However, Porter and Joseph had known each other long before then.
Does the LDS prophet have a body guard?
Sayer has spent 24 years in Church Security — 17 as President Hinckley's bodyguard. "We criss-crossed the earth together many, many times," Sayer said. Sayer said what he learned from President Hinckley above all else was a lesson in genuineness.
How much wives did Joseph Smith have?
40 wivesIn an essay posted without fanfare to its website in late October, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said for the first time that Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, had as many as 40 wives. Some of those women were also married to friends of his. And one was only 14 when she became Smith's wife.
Who were the Mormon avenging angels?
Danites"At the height of anti-Mormonism on the continent, [it] bolstered what [readers] long suspected — that Danites, the Avenging Angels of 'Mormondon,' were steeped in the assassination of apostates; and polygamy was white slavery." "A Study in Scarlet" is a two-part mystery.
What is a destroying angel Mormon?
From time to time, in the face of wickedness, the Lord dispatches an angel to destroy one or more persons. In fact, both the scriptures and modern prophets use the expression “destroying angel.”
What is blood atonement in the Mormon religion?
Brigham Young taught that these sins could only be forgiven if the perpetrator was willing die in such a way that their blood spilled onto the ground – calling it Blood Atonement. If their blood was shed as a voluntary sacrifice, they would then regain the place in heaven that they had lost.
Do Mormons believe that they will become gods?
Exaltation and eternal progression If a person receives exaltation, they inherit all the attributes of God the Father, including godhood. Mormons believe that these people will become gods and goddesses in the afterlife, and will have "all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge".
What gun did Porter Rockwell carry?
36-caliber Navy revolver, reportedly once belonging to the infamous Mormon gunman Porter Rockwell.
Where do Mormons come from?
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s.
Who gave the sealing power to Joseph Smith?
ElijahElijah was a great prophet who bestowed the sealing power upon the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple. This fulfilled Malachi's prophecy. God's promise to the humble is that He will lead them by the hand.
Are there still descendants of Joseph Smith?
He married Anna Marie Jones on November 13, 1857. His only daughter, Alice Fredericka Smith never married and had no children, leaving no living descendants. Married Elizabeth Agnes Kendall on June 23, 1861 He was an apostle and Presiding Patriarch of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Why did Joseph Smith hide the plates?
Joseph found that as soon as people knew that he had the plates, they tried to take them away (see JS—H 1:60). He had to hide the plates in many places to keep them safe. After Joseph and Emma left the hill where the plates had been buried, Joseph stopped and took the plates into the woods.
Where did Joseph Smith hide the plates?
Joseph needed to take every precaution. When he first received the plates, he hid them in a hollow log on the hill where he had received them; they remained there for several days.
How old was Hickman when he joined the Mormon Church?
He joined the Mormon Church when he was 21 years old. Hilton said Hickman was a man loyal to the church and to Brigham Young through most of his life. The greatest display of this loyalty came during the Utah War period—a bloody time in which Hickman is said to have killed some 54 men under direct order from Brigham Young.
Why did Hilton believe Hickman was a scapegoat?
Hilton believes that because the war was not exactly a victory for Brigham Young, the church downplayed its significance. She also believes it used Hickman as a scapegoat in much the same way it did John D. Lee in blaming him for the massacre at Mountain Meadows—an offshoot of the Utah War. Hilton said Hickman appears to have been acting ...
What was the Utah War?
She was referring to the 1857-58 " Utah War ," which, among many things, was a last-stand effort by Mormons to quell an attempt by U.S. Army troops to march to Utah and remove Brigham Young from the office of governor.
What was the name of the gang leader who was excommunicated by Brigham Young?
By turns cattleman, wagon-train master, gold miner, lawman, lawyer, legislature, ferryman, and gang-leader, Hickman moved from close association with Brigham Young to increasing involvement with the rougher elements of the community. Excommunicated in 1868 and increasingly bitter, he vented his spleen in a "rough book" that accused President Young and many former associates of all kinds of malfeasance. He died in 1873 in poverty and pain in Lander, Wyoming. In 1934, with the approval of the First Presidency, a nephew performed a proxy rebaptism, almost one hundred years after Hickman 's original decision to join the Latter-day Saints.
What did Hickman do for the first time?
For the first time in Hickman's life, he disobeyed an order from his beloved prophet. In time he "lost the confidence of both government and church," Hilton wrote. Feeling betrayed by Brigham Young and desperately in need of money, Hickman accepted an offer of some $50,000 to write a book chronicling his years with Brigham Young, Hilton said.
How much did Hickman get for his book?
Hilton said Hickman probably received only $500 for his efforts.
Why was Hickman despised by Mormons?
Hickman was despised by Mormons for the way he vilified their prophet, and by Gentiles for the deeds he claimed to have committed out of loyalty to that prophet. When Hope A. Hilton first read the book her great-grandfather wrote about himself, it sparked a flame of curiosity that grew brighter over the years.
How many wives did Brigham Young have?
This is in part due to the complexity of how wives were identified in the Mormon society at the time. Caricature of Young's wives, after his death. Of Young's 55 wives, 21 had never been married before; 16 were widows; six were divorced; six had living husbands and the marital status of six others is unknown.
What was Brigham Young Academy?
The school broke off from the University of Deseret and became Brigham Young Academy, the precursor to Brigham Young University . Within the church, Young reorganized the Relief Society for women in 1867, and he created organizations for young women in 1869 and young men in 1875.
How many volumes of sermons did Brigham Young write?
The majority of Young's teachings are contained in the 19 volumes of transcribed and edited sermons in the Journal of Discourses. The LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants contains one section from Young that has been canonized as scripture, adding the section in 1876.
What was Brigham Young's first school?
at which the children of the Latter-day Saints can receive a good education unmixed with the pernicious atheistic influences that are found in so many of the higher schools of the country." The school broke off from the University of Deseret and became Brigham Young Academy, the precursor to Brigham Young University .
Why did Brigham Young build the Lion House?
In 1856, Young built the Lion House to accommodate his sizable family. This building remains a Salt Lake City landmark, together with the Beehive House, another Young family home. A contemporary of Young wrote: "It was amusing to walk by Brigham Young's big house, a long rambling building with innumerable doors.
When did Orson Pratt die?
Orson Pratt died in 1881, and the Quorum of the Twelve did not have twelve members again until October 16, 1882, when George Teasdale and Heber J. Grant were ordained. ^ a b c "Brigham Young Biography: Facts of Faith", Y Facts, BYU, archived from the original on September 20, 2013, retrieved September 19, 2013.
Where is Brigham Young's statue?
Statue in Statuary Hall of the United States Capitol. This Is the Place Monument, Salt Lake City. Brigham Young Monument, Salt Lake City. Young's teachings were the 1998–99 course of study in the LDS Church's Sunday Relief Society and Melchizedek priesthood classes.
How long was Rockwell in jail?
Rockwell had the distinction of being the subject of a direct prophecy by Smith. After spending eight months in jail on charges of attempting to assassinate Boggs, Rockwell traveled to Nauvoo, appearing unannounced at a Christmas party at Smith's home.
How old was Rockwell when he was baptized?
While Smith was publishing the Book of Mormon, Rockwell picked berries at night and hauled wood into town to help pay for the publishing. In 1830, at 16-years old, Rockwell was baptized into Smith's Church of Christ in Fayette, New York.
What did Rockwell advise Burton to carry?
Rockwell advised Burton to carry a loaded double-barreled shotgun, sleep in a "dark camp" (unlit, miles from where supper was cooked), to never trust appearances, and to avoid the main trail, where "White Indians" (so-called because they were white robbers disguised as Indians to avert blame) preyed on travelers.
Where is Rockwell's statue?
Two statues of Rockwell exist: one near the old site of his Hot Springs Hotel and Brewery near the Utah State Penitentiary, the other in Lehi, Utah, off of Main Street behind the "Porter's Place" restaurant which exists to celebrate his memory. The restaurant has since moved to Eureka, Utah.
Where did Lysander Dayton stay?
He stayed with Lysander Dayton in a village near the city, and Dayton invited Rockwell to dinner. Rockwell sent for a bottle of Valley Tan Whiskey, and he and Burton drank shot-for-shot into the night, with Rockwell outlining steps Burton should take for safety during his passage to Sacramento.
Where was Rockwell born?
Biography. Rockwell was born in Belchertown, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, to Orin and Sarah Rockwell, who were neighbors of the Smith family. He was a descendant of Edmund Rice, an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony. Rockwell was eight years younger than Smith.
Who was the deputy marshal of Salt Lake City?
Following Smith's death, Rockwell followed Brigham Young and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to the Salt Lake Valley. In 1849, Rockwell was appointed as deputy marshal of Great Salt Lake City, and remained a peace officer until his death.
What was Brigham Young's major accomplishment?
He founded Brigham Young University; the University of Deseret, now University of Utah; and the Salt Lake Theatre, where major actors and actresses performed. Young was a leading Western colonizer, energetic entrepreneur of new industry, astute politician and effective sermonizer.
What was Brigham Young's career?
A towering figure in Mormonism, Brigham Young (1801-1877), began his professional career as a carpenter and painter. Baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832, he was ordained an apostle in 1835. After the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844, Young was chosen leader of the Mormons and continued as president until his death. He directed the migration of 16,000 Mormons from Illinois to Utah from 1846 to 1852, and became governor of the territory in 1851. In addition to bolstering his community through education and the arts, Young contracted for the national expansion of telegraph and railroad lines.
When did Brigham Young die?
By the summer of 1877, Young’s health was in decline, but he continued to play an active role in the Mormon church up until the end. On August 29, 1877, Brigham Young died in Salt Lake City at the age of 76.
When did women get the vote in Utah?
Under prodding from Young, Utah gave women the vote in 1870, thus recognizing their political equality and also adding to Mormon vote pluralities. Young constructed the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and began the erection of the Salt Lake Temple.
Where did the Apostles camp in 1847?
After spending the winter of 1846-47 in a camp along the Missouri River between Iowa and Nebraska, Young headed further west with 142 men, including six apostles, three women and two children, in April 1847. They arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Young declared the site would be the group’s new home, and they began building an adobe and log settlement where Salt Lake City now stands.
When was the Deseret Telegraph built?
In 1861 Young contracted to build the transcontinental telegraph line from Nebraska to California and then erected the twelve-hundred-mile Deseret Telegraph line from Franklin, Idaho, to northern Arizona to connect all Mormon villages with one another and with Salt Lake City.
Who was the leader of the Mormons after Joseph Smith's death?
After the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844, Young was chosen leader of the Mormons and continued as president until his death. He directed the migration of 16,000 Mormons from Illinois to Utah from 1846 to 1852, and became governor of the territory in 1851.
Images
Full Rockwell Statue, Lehi, UT. : Statue from Lehi Legacy Center. 123 N. Center Street Lehi, UT 84043. ~ Source: Photo by Jeremy Stiborek
Cite this Page
Jeremy Stiborek, Brigham Young University , “The Rockwell-Dibble Gunfight,” Intermountain Histories, accessed January 29, 2022, https://www.intermountainhistories.org/items/show/15.
Tags
Dewey, Richard Lloyd. Porter Rockwell: A Biography. New York: Paramount Books, 1986. ID March. From ID March website, “Timeline of Porter Rockwell.” Available at www.idmarch.org/document/Rockwell/4zgQ-show/Timeline of Porter Rockwell’s Life Rockwell, John W., and Jerry Borrowman,. “Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell.
What was the word of wisdom that Rockwell used?
It may seem strange that Rockwell ran a brewery, seeing that the Mormon dietary law, the Word of Wisdom proscribes the use of liquor, but when first given, the Word of Wisdom was counsel. It was made a commandment under Brigham Young with the approval of the Church. Rockwell died in June, 1878, of heart failure.
What group was formed among the Mormons without the approval of Joseph Smith?
During the persecutions in Missouri, a group was formed among the Mormons without the approval of Joseph Smith, called the Danites. The Danites desired to take up arms to defend the Saints, and Rockwell was supposed to be a leader among them.
What did Joseph Smith promise to Rockwell?
At that time, Joseph Smith promised him that if he remained faithful and never cut his hair, no bullet or blade would ever harm him. This prophecy was fulfilled. "Rockwell was a character of contrasts. On one hand he was said to be generous to a fault, even to strangers.
Where was the Hot Springs Hotel in Utah?
When in Utah, Rockwell operated the Hot Springs Hotel and Brewery at the southern end of the Salt Lake Valley, in an area known as "Point of the Mountain." The former site of the hotel is now on the grounds of a state prison. A nearby stone marker commemorates the spot (Mary Ann Neff Rockwell Biography). It may seem strange that Rockwell ran a brewery, seeing that the Latter-day Saint dietary law, the Word of Wisdom proscribes the use of liquor, but when first given, the Word of Wisdom was counsel. It was made a commandment under Brigham Young with the approval of the Church.
Was Rockwell a gunfighter?
On the other hand, Rockwell was a heavy drinker and a gunfighter, who surely killed men during his stint as a Deputy United States Marshall. Although legend calls him a religious enforcer, there is no record of him having used his gun as an enforcer for the Church.
Where was Rockwell born?
Conflicting dates are given for Rockwell's birth, which was in June of 1813 or 1815, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Joseph Smith was born in December, 1805. Rockwell's colorful history begins in New York, but he went west with the Latter-day Saints after the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and became a lawman in Utah Territory, nicknamed Old Port, ...
Who was Rockwell married to?
Rockwell was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ the very day the Church was organized, April 6, 1830. He married Luana Beebe on February 2, 1832, in Jackson County, Missouri. They divorced on June 26, 1845. He was endowed in the Nauvoo Temple on January 5, 1846. He married Mary Ann Neff on May 3, 1854; she died in childbirth. He married Christina Olsen in 1870. He had nine children with his first wife, eight with the second, and four with the third.
What did the Mormon mob do to the homes?
They looted and gutted shops and set fire to numerous homes, stores, and government buildings until nearly all homes in Daviess County not owned by Mormons were destroyed. Numerous records, including journal entries from those who experienced the attack and affidavits sworn against the Mormon mob, included allegations that the Mormon mob forced pregnant women and children out into the cold, stole livestock, and took prisoners for interrogation. Unfortunately, these actions and the menacing content of Sidney Rigdon’s July 4 speech led to Governor Lilburn Boggs signing an order to exterminate all Mormons in Missouri.
What county was Rigdon's sermon in?
Fears of Mormon aggression, as well as Mormons taking control of the county government, led to anti-Mormon sentiments among the residents of Gallatin, the seat of Daviess County.
What was the message of Joseph Smith's speech on Independence Day?
When Mormons were living in Daviess County, Missouri, he delivered a fiery oration on Independence Day of 1838 in which he promised that the Missourians who Mormons felt were persecuting them (the sentiments had some justification although Mormons did their fair share of antagonizing as well) would need to stop any disputes with the Mormons or face a war of extermination. He promised they wouldn’t stop until the last drop of blood was spilled . The text of the speech was endorsed by Joseph Smith.
How many times did Boggs get shot?
Meanwhile, someone attempted to assassinate Governor Boggs, shooting him twice through the skull, once in the neck, and once in the throat. According to Bennett, Rockwell returned the day before news of the assassination attempt arrived at Nauvoo.
Why did Orson Pratt's wife die?
One wife of Apostle Orson Pratt actually died of neglect after getting sick while living in poverty because he wouldn’t allocate enough money for her care. Even in households where the men could afford their wives and offered them full financial support, sometimes jealousy and spite divided wives to the point that some would kill themselves to avoid having to live in heaven with their husbands and their sister wives.
Where did the Mormons go after the extermination order?
After the extermination order, the Mormons left for Nauvoo, Illinois, but their bad experiences in Missouri would never be forgotten. In 1841, Joseph Smith announced a prophesy that Governor Boggs (pictured above) would, within a year, meet a violent demise. Dr.
How many versions of the story did Smith tell?
According to this story, they told him that all religions existing at the time were abominations. However, Smith told as many as 10 versions of the story and many had serious contradictions. Earlier versions featured only Jesus or angels appearing to Smith.
Why did Boggs order the Mormons to leave Missouri?
Boggs’ order was in response to what he called “open and avowed defiance of the laws” during the conflict between Mormons and their neighbors known as the Missouri Mormon War. The church members were not welcome in the state.
Why did the Church Elders meet at Porter Rockwell's home?
Church Elders would often meet at Porter’s home to discuss ways of protecting members from the Missouri mobs who were persecuting them. But it would be of no use, as they were eventually driven out of Jackson County, forced to relocate to Illinois. Porter remained in Missouri, according to the church, to ensure the safe passage other Latter Day Saints out of the state. In May of 1842, now former Governor Lilburn Boggs was shot by an unknown assailant. The crime was quickly pinned on Porter Rockwell as revenge for the Executive Order a few years before. Porter would spend eight months in Jail awaiting trial but was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Why is Porter Rockwell's story blurry?
Because he didn’t keep a diary, Porter Rockwell’s story is blurry. Conflicting information put his birth as either June 28, 1813 , or June 25, 1815, but we know for sure that as a young man he became personal friends of the slightly older Joseph Smith. His parents were neighbors of the Smith Family in Massachusetts, ...
When did Porter marry his first wife?
It was in Missouri that Porter would become proficient with a gun, and would marry his first wife in 1832. It would also be in Missouri that Porter would be a suspect in the assignation attempt against former Governor Lilburn Boggs.
Who was Joseph Smith's bodyguard?
Porter Rockwell. Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith, Jr ‘s personal bodyguard, Orrin Porter Rockwell would be known for his loyalty and generosity, as much as his tenacity and ruthlessness as a lawman in Utah.
Was Rockwell indicted?
Rockwell would be indicted for the incident some 20 years later but died before his trial. Porter is not only remembered as a lawman though. He also was a noted guide and mountain man, and at one time operated the Hot Springs Hotel and Brewery in southern Salt Lake Valley.
Who was the deputy marshal of Salt Lake City?
Porter followed Brigham Young to Utah, and in 1849 was appointed Deputy Marshall of Great Salt Lake City. During his time in law enforcement, he was said to be relentless. Describing the changes in life over 20 years at Salt Lake City, an article in the Reno Evening Gazette in February of 1891, while referencing the conflict between prospectors and the church, said:
Why was the Nauvoo Legion called into service?
On several occasions, some or all of the Nauvoo Legion was called into service, in large part to defend Joseph, Mahas said.
How many men were in the police force after Joseph Smith's death?
After Joseph Smith's death, the police force expanded from 40 men to a couple hundred. They primarily guarded the Nauvoo Temple, church leaders' homes and patrolled the city. There are more records of what the police force was doing after the prophet was martyred, Mahas said.
How many men were in Joseph's guards?
A group of about 12 men within the Nauvoo Legion were assigned to be Joseph's guards, but this was most likely an "honorary position," Mahas said.
What was the purpose of the Danites?
We know from sources that one of the chief purposes of the Danites was to defend the First Presidency ," Mahas said. "Again, it’s conceivable, it gets passed down in the family lore as it was my mission, my job, to defend Joseph, especially when the Missouri War breaks out and you start to have fighting.".
What happened to Joseph Smith in 1844?
In 1844, right before Joseph Smith was taken to Carthage Jail, he declared martial law and several members of the Nauvoo Legion were activated.
How many men were in Zion's camp?
After Zion's Camp arrived in Missouri, Joseph Smith handpicked 20 men to serve as his "life guards," according to an account by Heber C. Kimball. He appointed his brother, Hyrum Smith, as captain of the group, with George A. Smith as Joseph's armor bearer. There is not a list of the 20 men, but Kimball recorded he was part of the group, and Joseph Smith's history reports that Roger Orton served as a captain of 10 men, Mahas said.
When did Nauvoo dissolve?
In 1842 , peace in Nauvoo began to dissolve as Mormon dissenters and Missourians threatened harm or legal action against Joseph Smith. Nauvoo's city government countered by becoming one of the first cities in the United States to form a police force, an idea that likely came from England. They initiated a "night watch" in May 1842, a "city watch" in January 1843, and later that year, a 40-man police force charged with protecting the city, Mahas said.
Overview
Brigham Young was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his death in 1877. During his time as church president, Young led his followers, the Mormon pioneers, west from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley. He founded Salt Lake City and served as the first governor of the Utah T…
Early life
Young was born on June 1, 1801, in Whitingham, Vermont. He was the ninth child of John Young and Abigail "Nabby" Howe. Young's father was a farmer, and when Young was three years old his family moved to upstate New York, settling in Chenango County. Young received little formal education, but his mother taught him how to read and write. At age twelve, he moved with his parents to …
Church service
At a conference on February 14, 1835, Brigham Young was named and ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. On May 4, 1835, Young and other apostles went on a mission to the east coast, specifically in Pennsylvania and New York. His call was to preach to the "remnants of Joseph," a term people in the Church used to refer to indigenous people. In August 1835, Young and t…
Migration west
Repeated conflict in Nauvoo led Young to relocate his group of Latter-day Saints to the Salt Lake Valley, which was then part of Mexico. Young organized the journey that would take the Mormon pioneers to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, in 1846, before continuing on to the Salt Lake Valley. By the time Young arrived at the final destination, it had come under American control as a result of war with Mexico, although U.S. sovereignty would not be confirmed until 1848. Young arrived in the S…
Governor of Utah Territory
The Utah Territory was created by Congress as part of the Compromise of 1850, and as colonizer and founder of Salt Lake City, Young was appointed the territory's first governor and superintendent of American Indian affairs by President Millard Fillmore on February 3, 1851. He was sworn in by Justice Daniel H. Wells for a salary of $1,500 a year, and named as superintendent of I…
LDS Church president
Young is the longest-serving president of the LDS Church to date, having served for 29 years.
During time as prophet and governor, Young encouraged each bishop to establish a grade school for his congregation, which would be supported by volunteer work and tithing payments. Young viewed education as a process of …
Business ventures and wealth
Young engaged in a vast assortment of commercial ventures by himself and in partnership with others. These included a wagon express company, a ferryboat company, a railroad and the manufacturing of processed lumber, wool, sugar beets, iron, and liquor. Young achieved greatest success in real estate. He also tried to promote Mormon self-sufficiency by establishing collectivist communities, known as the United Order of Enoch.
Legacy
Young had many nicknames during his lifetime, among the most popular being "American Moses" (alternatively, "Modern Moses" or "Mormon Moses"), because, like the biblical figure, Young led his followers, the Mormon pioneers, in an exodus through a desert, to what they saw as a promised land. Young was dubbed by his followers the "Lion of the Lord" for his bold personality and commonly was …
Overview
Orrin Porter Rockwell (June 28, 1813 or June 25, 1815 – June 9, 1878) was a figure of the Wild West period of American history. A lawman in the Utah Territory, he was nicknamed Old Port and The Destroying Angel of Mormondom.
Rockwell served as a bodyguard, and was a personal friend, of Latter Day Saint movement founder Joseph Smith. After Smith's death in 1844, Rockwell becam…
Biography
Rockwell was born in Belchertown, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, to Orin and Sarah Rockwell, who were neighbors of the Smith family. He was a descendant of Edmund Rice, an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Rockwell was eight years younger than Smith. While Smith was publishing the Book of Mormon, Rockwell picked berries at night and hauled wood into town …
Cultural influence
Rockwell has also been portrayed on screen by John Carradine in the 1940 film Brigham Young, by James Coburn in the 1995 television film The Avenging Angel, and by Gyll Huff in the 1995 Trent Harris film Plan 10 from Outer Space. He was also the main character in the 1969 Death Valley Days episode called the "Son of Thunder" (1969). Rockwell is portrayed by Corbin Allred in a supporting role in the 2019 film Out of Liberty.
See also
• Bear River Massacre
• Alexander William Doniphan
• Hawken rifle
• Ironport (beverage)
• Liberty Jail
Notes
1. ^ Schindler 1993, pp. 197, 205
2. ^ "Orrin Porter Rockwell b. 28 Jun 1813 Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA d. 9 Jun 1878 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA: Early Latter-day Saints Database". www.earlylds.com. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
3. ^ Cummins, Lawrence (May 2004), "Orrin Porter Rockwell", The Friend
External links
• Media related to Porter Rockwell at Wikimedia Commons
• "Did Orrin Porter Rockwell Shoot Lilburn Boggs, Governor of Missouri?", Mormonism Researched by Kerry A. Shirts
Early Years and Rise in The Church
Journey West to The Great Salt Lake
- An armed mob assassinated Smith in 1844, and Young and the other apostles took charge of leading the Mormon church. Seeking a place where they could avoid the persecution that had driven them from Ohio and Missouri, Young and the other apostles planned a westward exodusof thousands of Mormons from the settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois to the Great Salt Lake Valley, the…
Growth of The Mormon Community in Utah
- Young returned east to lead a second company of Mormons to the region in late 1847, and in 1848 was officially selected as the church’s new president. Over the next few decades, as thousands of Mormons arrived in Salt Lake City, the charismatic Young styled himself after the great prophets and leaders of ancient Israel, earning nicknames like “Lion of the Lord” and “Amer…
Mountain Meadows Massacre
- Young’s defiant stance toward outside authority meant frequent clashes with the federal government, especially after the church’s public embrace of plural marriage in 1852. In 1857, President James Buchanandeclared Utah to be in a state of rebellion, and sent some 2,500 federal troops to help replace Young as territorial governor. The Utah War was resolved in 1858, with Yo…
Young's Final Years
- With Congress repeatedly rejecting proposals for Utah statehood, Young firmly resisted the territory’s involvement in the Civil War, especially after passage of the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act in 1862, which effectively outlawed plural marriage in U.S. territories. Several church leaders, including Young, were later charged under the law; Young was not convicted, but a case involvin…
Sources
- Matthew Bowman, The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith (Random House, 2012) David Roberts. “The Brink of War.” Smithsonian Magazine, June 2008. John G. Turner. “Polygamy, Brigham Young and His 55 Wives.” HuffPost, August 27, 2012. The Mormons: Brigham Young. PBS: American Experience.