The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-16
ELDER ROBERTS ON THE DANITEs

/
another Of his series OF articles on Nor
mon church history, which is running in
certain magazine. One Of the chief
items treated is that Of the Dauites.
OF this portion Of the article the Des-
eret News says, in part;
President Roberts gives tho supposed
! oath by which DR.. Award said the num-
| her members, presumably of the pand
were bound 10 secrecy and also the con-
| stitu;ion 3 presented 10 tho court by tie
doctor He also gives an account Of the
band. condensed from Joseph Smiths
Journal History. from which IT appears
! that br. Award himself was the oriSina-
tor of the organization, and that he iicd
whom ho represented 10 his dupes that
he had authority from the heads Of tho
church To do what he did. BY and by
hN began Ia teach his men that II was
lawful for th"m 10 rob and plumber non
Mormous. As soon as the viliainy OF trc
thor,ties. he was cNcommunicutcd, who5r-
! upon he, OF course, Joined tho mob in
conspiracy against the church. Tho his
tory OF Award is tho history of so many
apostatcs. Thov do wrong and when
they are rebuked they become enemies
and sink lower and lower in darkness
ard degradation.
And then The News goes on TO quote
from the article Of Mr. Roberts the
words, "a lie once hatchcd, how long
IL lives! How easy It is for people TO
believe what they desire established as
fact.' Indeed, in very deed, how
true that is! ga lie once hatched -
that the first presidency of the Mormon
church had nothing to do with the
organization of the Dauitcs at Far
West. Missouri. chow long it lives!
And how easy il is for the News TO
believe it, since it desires to establish
it as fact,
But there is David Whitmcr. who was
one of the original three witnesses to
the divinity of the Book Of Mormon.
and in whose said testimony every Nor
mon in tho world partly bases his
belief in Mormonism, tells a different
story He declares that the DANTE
band was formed at Far West for
the purpose OF enforcing the authority
and the demands Of the first prcsi-
dcncy of the church. The members OF
that gang, saws Mr.. Whitmer, were
sworn 10 support the first presidency in
all their desires and acts fright or
wrong In this presentation of the
case. Mr Wbitmer is fully supported by
Mr. Reed Peck, who was asked to Join
the outfit. and who attended meet
ing of the gang and learned their pur
poses. the bloody nature Of their oatbs.
and the authority under which they
acted. There was in attendance at that
meeting no one but Mormon elders and
high priests. No other was accepted in
the membership. Sidney Rigdon ad
dressed the gang, as did Joseph Smith.
The latter told the gang story Of
military captain who told his mon that
he did not desire to tell them 10
steal a farmer s potatoes in field near
them, concluding by saving, "Now,
don I let man of Won be CAUGHT
stealing that old Dutcbmau S DO
tatoes. "ln the morning, continued
Joseph, "tbcre was not a potato in the
old man field. - Sidney Rigdon fol.
lowed Joseph Smith in addressing the
Danites. and he violently attacked ccr
tain members of the church who were
afraid of the consequences because
the gangs members were breaking the
law. describing them as towards and
disscuters.
Mr.. Whitmer was one OF the men who
disapprobated the work Of the Danites,
and especially as that was directed
to the support of the first presidency
in all things, Fright or wrong AS
a consequence he was forced TO fec Far
West on horseback between two DAYS;
aud never since that time did he re
turn 10 dwell with the body of the
church.
Mr.. Roberts speaks OF the fact that
Thomas B. Marsh was excommunicated
from the church because of his connec.
ton with the DANTE band That is an
uniruth, for Thomas B. March was cut
of the church for the sole rea son that
be denounced the gang and its work
in behalf of the first presidency. Mr.
Roberts also declares that w ".
Phelps was czcommunicated for having
identified himself with the gang. That
is another falsebood: because Phelps
was cut off for having Joined Marsh in
bis denunciatlon. John Corrill Reed
Peck, and John Clemcnson were like
wise eScommunicstcd for having voiced
opposition to the plupdcring. murder
Gus activities Of the Danites in support
of the first presidency.
Just previous to an election held in
Caldwell County, Joseph Smith caused
to be printed q ticket which he de
sired all the Mormon people to vote
He named the candidates at meeting
between himself and his counselors, and
the very man. Doctor Award, whom
Mr.. Roberts so severely condemns 10.
seph gave the printed slips to Doctor
Award, instructing him 10 distribute
them among the members of the DANTE
gang. directing them. in turn. to dis.
tribute them among the people.
Apostle David W. Patteu, (.'Cnptain
Fearnaught,' as Joseph called hm)
who is now sung by the saints as