The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-01-11

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The state authorities. feeling that
the Saints, or "Mormons" had been
unjustly treated by the clttssns Of
Jackson County, thought It WIN u
organize a county Tor the Saints, and
therefore Caldwell County was or
sanized out Of the then unorganised
territory Of the state. The Saints
aourished there AZ they had in IN
dependence. but It vas not long till
friction developed there, until IN 1888.
by mob violence, accompanied BY
bloodshed, the Saints we're once more
compelled to fee for their lives, and
under the guidance of their leaders
they went to Illinois and settled q
Nauvoo. In few short years they
succeeded in making Nauvoo the me-
tropolis OF Illinois city Of about
$4,000. population. very large city
for that time. 1t grew rapidly and
substantially. for the Saints were
earnest, frugal, and Industrious. But
despite this, they were met by bitter
opposition and persecution, until
finally, in 1874, so bitter had become
the persecution, a mob of masked men
surrounded the Carthage jail, whore
at that time Joseph and Hyrum Smith
were retained awaiting trial on a
false charge of treason, and murder
ed these men. cannot speak In
milder terms; it was murder. The
death Of these two leaders of the
church at once brought trouble into
the midst of the Latter Day Saints,
as you can readily guess. It was
trouble enough to lose these two
leaders on whom they so much de-
pended, but added to this trouble,
there arose contention and division
as to whom should succeed Joseph
as president and prophet OF the
church.
At that time Brigham Young was
president Of the Quorum Of TWelve,
a quorum of twelve apostles which
stands next in authority to the Quo
rum Of First Presidency, composed
Of the president and two counsellors.
AS president of the Twelve. Brigham
Young gradually usurped the prerog-
attves Of the president Of the church,
but did not call himself such until
after he had, in 1876, began to lead
a following from Illinois into the far
vest. Il was at Winter Quarters.
near Council Bluffs, that few Of the |
members Of the old church made him
their president. "
It is estimated that at the death Of |
Joseph Smith the church numbered
about $50, 1000 communtcants (some es.
innate it at about 350,000) and It is gen
orally conceded, about 10000 chose to
follow the leadership of Brigham
Young. After he had succeeded in
making himself president of the
church, as he termed 1t, he chose his
councillors and filed the Quorum of
Twelve and led tho believers across
the plains and settled in Utah. There,
as their own records show they took
their church through a complete re-
organization. They rebaptixed the
people and reordained men who had
previously been ordained, and in ev-
cry way went through a complete
reorganization.
Therefore, one of the first points
Of difference between US and the
church under Brigham Young's lead ,
ership is found right here in the
question of succession IN the pres1-
dency. 1t had been clearly taught in
what line successor should follow
It had been taught not only by the
books of the church, but from the
mouth of the martyred prophet him
self. But some members Of the church
forgetting these instructions, chose to
follow Brigham Young; and all the
herestes which have crept into that
organization can be credited to lille
gal prophetic succession. s@
The members who refused to fol-
low Brigham Young remained largely
at Nauvoo and other places where
they had organized branches. Var
Nus aspirants for Leadership organ.
lied small followings; but large
numbers quietly awaited the coming
Of young Joseph whom his father
had designated as his successor-the
eldest son Of the prophet Joseph.
But they became much scattered,
naturally following the river cours-
es, and along the Ohio and :Mississip-
pi valley can be found remnants of
the people who refused to follow
Brigham Young. In 1852, these peo-
pie, representing the branches which