Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-09-01
DEATH OF THE PROPHET.


several days, superinduced-the telc-
graph tells us-by eating green corn,
aged 70. The death of the Prophet
Is an important factor in correcting
the great evil he has so successfully
guided since the death of the origi-
nal Later Day Saint humbug, Joe
Smith. The brief history of Nor
monism is as follows:
The doctrine was first promulgated
in Ontario county, New York, about
1880, BY Joseph Smith, who claimed
to have been directed by an angel
where to find plates containing the
Book of Mormon, and in 1881 he
and Sidney Rlgdon, with their fol-
lowers, by reason of luminosity
against them, removed to Kirkland,
Ohio, where they continued proselyt-
ing. Here it was that Brigham
Young was converted to the faith
and soon became one of the twelve
apostles. In the autumn of 1881
Smith established colony in Jack
son county, Missouri. Smith and
Rigdon were tarred and feathered by
q mob at Kirkland in March, 1889,
but notwithstanding this the COM
munity remained there until about
the close of 1887, when they removed
to the Missouri colony, which was
then in Clay county, having been
driven out of Jackson. The hostility
to the new sect continued to increase
and in the latter part of 1888 they
were compelled to leave the State,
the whole body, about $4,000, going
to Illinois, where they founded the
city IF Nauvoo, on the Mississippi
river. Here they prospered and in
creased by immigration of converts
from variou, States. A handsome
temple was built and prosperous
city soon grew up, but they were now
charged with polygamy, thieving,
counterfeiting and other dishonest
practices. The people became so
hostile to the Mormons that the Gov
ernor of the State sent militia to
quell the incipient riots. Joseph
Smith and his brother Hiram were
arrested and lodged in the jail at
Carthage, the county seat. A rumor
that the Governor intended to let them
escape caused a mob to surround the
Jail on the 9th Of June, 1874, and
both we're shot.
The death Of Smith created great
agitation and confusion among his
followers. Sidney Rigdon and others
aspired to succeed him, but the coun-
Gil of the twelve apostles unani-
mously elected Brigham Young, and
events have justified the wisdom of
their choice, tor he proved one of the
greatest leaders of men. The hOstil-
ity Of their neighbors made 1t pru-
dent for the Mormons to again seek
a new location. In February, 1916,
the advance detachment crossed the
ice-bound Mississippi and started for
the great West. After temporary
residence of one year at Council
Bluffs, Iowa, these pioneers started
over the plains for the land Of prom
ise, Salt Lake Valley. which had
already been explored by emissaries
sent out by Brigham Young. New
arrivals from Nauvoo occupied the
settlement at Council Bluffs from
year to year as sort Of way station
until finally the last of the faithful
took up their line OF March for Utan
, The wonderful progress of these PEG.
pie in the new territory Is fresh in
the recollection of our readers.
Brigham Young was man of re.
markable administrative ability and
to his last day he successfully re-
sisted the authority of the United
States. True, the federal govern.
ment has maintained in Utah sem.
blance Of authority, not openly dis
puted, for twenty years past, but
Brigham practically defcd all efforts
to limit his power. His people have
been led as children through all these
years, and have given him reverence
and jealous adherence even to the
commission of many deeds of assas
sination and massacre. The persecu'
lions the Mormons experienced in
the several States from which they
we're saccsssvely driven imbued