The SAD group: Mormonism- a brief history -Pt.4

The slow meandering movement of the Mormons from east to west was in part fuelled by Smith’s continuing ‘revelations’ 135 in total and his desire to establish an earthly Mormon ‘Zion’. The other motivating factor was the increasing tension between Mormons and existing local communities, These were often fed by disturbing stories of bizarre sexual practices amongst the Mormons, It was allegations that Smith had made sexual advances to a 17 year old girl in Kirtland, Ohio that had in part led to Rigdon and Smith being ‘tarred and feathered’ earlier.

The Mormons in Nauvoo

With increasing tension between Mormons and the citizens of Far West, Missouri, the Mormons found themselves one more facing attack. Smith tried to raise a small army in Ohio and come to the rescue, but by the time he arrived he was outnumbered 10 to 1 and instead ended up in jail. In 1839 the Mormons leave Missouri, cross the Mississippi and enter the State of Illinois. Smith left behind in jail eventually manages to bribe the Sheriff with whiskey and $800 to release him and joins the rest of the Mormon community. They build the first great Mormon metropolis in Nauvoo. The State of Illinois showed great hospitality due to the fact that local politicians now saw the Mormons as a powerful lobby whose votes they could use to further their own political ambitions.

As part of their attempt to win the Mormon vote Smith was appointed Mayor of the town and to further flatter him the State conferred upon him the military rank of lieutenant and gave him responsibility over the Nauvoo militia.

Smith’s eventual downfall

The power that Smith now had at his disposal inevitably began to go to his head and the true scale of his ego began to show. Instead of being content with the honorary rank of lieutenant, Smith decided to dress himself as a Lieutenant General. There was no greater pleasure for him than to indulge himself in dressing up and inspecting his troops.

The Power fantasy kicked up a further gear when in 1844 Smith decided to run for the office of President of the United States with Rigdon as his Vice President. (Smith would be dead before the election)

Though Smith seemed to be riding the crest of a wave, in reality his position within the church was becoming increasingly difficult he was arguing and having bitter fall outs with his once close friends and supporters, ‘The Three’ who had given their backing to the Book of Mormon all left and denounced Smith. The other issue that contributed to tensions within the Mormon community was Smiths desires towards the opposite sex. He was known to have a certain irresistible charm which women already conditioned to think of him as a great prophet found hard to resist. His push for the Mormons to take on board the practice of Polygamy provided him with ample excuse and opportunity to pursue other women.

(Smith parading himself before his troops)

The Mormon doctrine of ‘Celestial Marriage’ further fuelled Polygamous practice. This was the idea that these were marriages beyond our mortal earthly existence and that they would last throughout eternity and would be the means of populating other planets of which Mormons who were ‘Temple worthy’ would rule over as gods! (more about this when we look at Mormon doctrine). This meant that not only could Smith take other women but that he could also indulge himself with married women.

The crunch came at Nauvoo when Smith decided that he would take to himself the wives of some of the prominent Mormon leaders at Nauvoo.

The aggrieved husbands left Smith, and through the pages of the local newspaper The Nauvoo Expositor began to denounce him exposing his bizarre lifestyle. Smith was outraged and decided to take matters into his own hands he gathered a select band of men from the militia and promptly burnt down the Newspaper offices destroying the presses. The State of Illinois decides things have gone too far, Smiths actions are a violation against free speech, and sends a small group of men to take Smith into custody, They decide to gently persuade Smith to come along with them, the State was nervous of the strength of Mormon opinion and wanted to avoid another ‘Mormon war’ situation at all costs. Smith his brother Hyrum and others of his loyal supporters find themselves in jail at Carthage, Illinois charged with riot and treason. Smith must have had an easy time of it as he had weapons smuggled into him.

However on June 27 1844 a vigilante mob descend on the jail determined to bring retribution upon Smith and his followers. A gun battle breaks out which sees Smith discharging his six shooter killing two and seriously injuring another. Out of bullets his brother Hyrum shot dead through the face, Smith makes for the window but is shot in the back falls out, probably dead by now, but
has a further number of shots put into him.