Blacks and the True Church

[Anonymous]

I would say that all of the problems Mormons had in Missouri had to do with politics. Religion was secondary. Mormons and Missourians wanted to control the outcome of elections so they could set the agenda. There was an over-riding theme of political violence in Missouri. Those living in Jackson County were concerned that the influx of Mormons gathering to “Zion” would take away political control of the county. The WW Phelps article just fueled the fears, so they kicked the Mormons out before they got too big. As a result of this action, Missouri legislator Alexander Doniphan brokered a deal to make Clay County the Mormon County. (Alex Baugh of BYU referred to it as the “Mormon Reservation” in the movie “Trouble in Zion.”)

Mormons from Jackson County migrated north to Clay County. After a while, they didn’t want to be limited to live in just that county (how was that constitutional anyway?) and started to move to neighboring Daviess County. When they tried to vote on Aug 6, 1838, citizens of Daviess said they weren’t eligible and a brawl broke out. It has been referred to as a “battle”, though Baugh said it was merely a big brawl. Mobbers attacked Mormons at DeWitt on August 19, forcing them to leave. Mormons retaliated with the “Daviess Expedition” in Gallatin, Millport and Grindstone Fork. Mormons plundered the property and burned the stores and houses to the ground on Oct 18. A week later on Oct 24, the Mormons scattered the Missouri militia in the Battle of Crooked River. Exaggerated reports said that Mormons killed the entire militia. In reality, 1 Missourian was killed, but Apostle David Patten (known as “Captain FearNot”) and Danite leader Gideon Carter were both killed; 9 other Mormons were wounded.

Just 3 days later, on Oct 27, Boggs issued the Extermination Order; 3 days after that (Oct 30), Missourians massacred 18 at Haun’s Mill. The dead ranged in age from 10-year old Sardius Smith, to 62 year old Thomas McBride. The movie has some pretty graphic quotes of the inhumanity of the mobbers. It was horrific.

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