The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-07


the reception of the Holy Ghost Joseph Smith
and Sidney Rigdon, the real founders of Nor
monism, made their escape from Kirkland, o.
between two days"-otherwise, at midnight.
Why9 Because, as president and cashier of a
bank which had failed scandalouslv. they fled to
Missouri to escape pa wing the penalty of the law.
Missouri, with its sparse population, welcomed
emigration. Why, then. were the saints ''perse-
cuted| Brigham Young publicly declared in Nau-
VOC that all the trouble in Missouri was eaused by
Sidney Rigdon's Salt Sermon" harangue de-
Tying the government. denouncing the mission
aries and appropriating the State TO the saints.
An old Mormon, now living in Utah, tells me
that his people were guilty of stealing. and even
of murder, in Missouri. That many good men
and women suffered for the sins of the leaders is
undoubtedly true, but it must never be believed
that even so benighted State as Missouri was
in 1888. when slavery shook hands with border
rufiianism, drove away thousands OF citizens for
religious differences of opinion. Never were
people so Hospitality received as were the Nor
mons when they sought refuge in Illinois and
founded the town of Nauvoo, yet trouble began
almost Immediately. Seven years after their
welcome they were again wanderers on the face
of the earth What we're the charges brought
by Illinois against Joseph Smith, That he was
the founder of new religion; that he falsely
claimed 20 be "a prophet, reyelator and seers
Not at all. Again, the charges were purely
temporal. Here some of them:
Joseph Smith committed violence upon an Off
Ger who dared honestly to do his duty. He
caused his city council to pass laws contrary to
the laws of the State and subversive of the rights
of the citizens of the State. Citizens were ar
rested. tried and punished for breaches of those
mock laws, from time to time. in such manner
as to be compelled to seek asylums elsewhere
Joseph Smith caused the writ of habeas corpus
to be issued by the Municipal Court of the City
of Nauyoo. In case not provided for in the
charter of that city, and indeed contrary to
the letter of that instrument; and, himself
prisoner, arrested under grave charges
made by a neighboring State. brought
before said court, tried and acquitted, thereby
procuring his own rescue from the custody of
the law.
Citizens of adjoining counties were denied the
right to regain stolen property taken to Nauvoo
even after having discovered both thief and
property These same citizens were themselves
under frivolous pretexts. arrested, fined and
rihed of property to satisfy mock judgments
and costs
Persons upon whom stolen property was
found were brought before Joseph Smith, who.
as mayor of Nauvoo. refused to convict Why?
Because the thieves were Latterday Saints
Unprincipled men filled important county Offices
in order that Joseph Smith might have tools to
do bis bidding, ETC., etc., etc. IL there is one
crime more sinful than another in the eyes of
border States it is stealing. A man may COM
NIT murder and live to kill another day. but the
man who steals-especally horse-is sure of
lynch law. Now, milking the Gentiles' was
early put into practice py the Saints and, as
call to my aid the patriarch, Hyrum Smith.
On April g. 1843 he began his address to the
Saints thus:
II have had an interview with man who for
merly belonged to the church; he revealed to me
that there is a band of men, and some who pre-
tend to be strong in the faith of the doctrine of
the Latter day Saints but they are hypocrites.
and some who do not belong to the church who
are bound together by secret oaths, obligations
and penalties to keep the secret; and they hold
that it is right to steal from anyone who does
not belong to the church, provided they conse
crate one-third of it to the building of the tenn
pile. They are also making bogus money.
= The man who told me said This
secret band refer to the Bible, Book Of Doc
trine, and Covenants and the Book of Mormon
to substantiate their doctrines; and if any
of them do not remain steadfast they ripped
open their bowels and gave them to the
catfish But such doctrines are taught in
those books I will mention two names
David Holman and James Dunn. They were
living in my house. / went to them and asked
them if they were stealing for a livelihood.
Holman confessed that he had stolen from the
world, not from the brethren. told them to
set out of my house David asked me to for
give him and swore he would never do so again.
Soon after he went to Montrose, where he
found stealing salt. He then stole a skif and
came across the river, stole barrel of -four that
had just been landed from a steamer, rowed
down the river to Keokuk and sold the -four for
s.. saying he had picked it up in the river and
it was likely little damaged. got his pay
and went away. Dunn would not promise TO
quit stealing but he said he would go to ST.
Louis
'For the Patriarch to deny that stealing from
the enemy is not taught in the Doctrine and
Covenants is to deny what is as susceptible of
proof as the rising of the sun. God speaks to his
chosen people IN these words: Behold. it is said,
in my laws thou art forbidden to get in debt t.
thine enemies; but, behold it is not said at any
time that the Lord should not take when He
II l.
fore, as ye are agents, and on the Lords errand,
whatever we do according to the will of the Lord
is the Lords business, and He hath sent you to
provide for the Saints in these last days. that
they may obtain an inheritance in the land Of
Zion. And, behold, /, the Lord. declare it unto
you, and my words are sure and shall not fail.
But all things must come to pass in their
time; wherefore, be not weary in well-doing,
for ye are laying the foundation of a
great work, and out of small things proceedeth
that which is great" In order to give full point
to this moral Heber c. Kimball quoted this
extract in an address on the 18th Of September
1867, and after proclaiming the downfall and sub
lection OF the enemy" otherwise gentiles, and
take that spoil; consecrate it unto my people.
The Lord will provide for the Saints when neces-
sary and in his own way"
The Lord provided so generously for Brigham
Young that, beginning in Salt Lake with moth
ing, at the end of thirty years he died worth. at
least 81 600, 000 very nearly 81, 600 900 of which
his heirs were forced to return to the Mormon
Church In other words, Joseph Smiths sue
cessor betrayed his trust to the amount of 81 900
000 This is only one of Brigham's robberies.
''Like master, like man. is an old saying and
true.
do you wish me to explain myselfg' asked
Brigham Young in the Tabernacle, in 1856. 81
have proof ready to show that bishops have
taken in thousands Of pounds of tithing which
they have never reported to the general tithing
Office We have documents to show that bishops
have taken in hundreds of bushels of wheat, and
only small portion of 1t has come into the gen
eral tithing office; they stole it TO let their
friends speculate upon If any one Is doubtful
about this, will yon not call upon me to produce
my proof before a proper tribunall ] should
take pleasure In doing So but we pass over
such things in mercy to the people" Surely it
ia mercy to the people" to allow them to be
governed by convicted thieves! Verify, she
ways Of Mormonism are beyond the comprehen-
sion of ordinary mortality. One month later. in
July, 1866, in counsel from the First Presidency,