Editorial Appendix and Criticisms. — Mr. Pratt's ac- coont stops with the o^anization of the Saints as an ecclesiastical body. AVe supplement it with the later history.
Joseph Smith seems at first to have had vague and confused ideas as to the nature and design of the Church Le was about to establish until he found a convert in Sidney Rigdon, an able Campbellite preacher, then re- siding in Ohio. He was inclined to teach Millenarian- ism and bring his flock over to the new faith. This setdetl .Smith, and together they worked out a sort of Millenarian faith, in which at that time \Vesiem New York was largely interested. It was by these two re- ligionists declared that the millennium was close at hand, that the Indians were to be speedily converted, and that America was to be the final gathering-place of the Saints, who were to assemble at New Zion or New Jerusalem, somewhere in the interior of the American continent. With the Book of Mormon as their text and authority, they began to preach this new gospel: and Smith's family and a few of his as- sodaies, together with some of Rigdon's former fl«jck, were soon enough in numbers to constitute a Mormon Church, which, as we have learned from Mr. Pratts account, was organized April 6, 1830, at Fayette. N. Y. Though exposed to ridicule and hostility, the Saints continued to gather disciples. The publication of the Book of Mormon, and some alleged miracles and prophecies, attracted the people to the preaching of Smith and his companions, and at the first Conference of the Church, Jane 1, 183<t. held at Fayette. N. Y„ thirty members were present. Missionaries were now set apart, and every member was utilized, and in con- sequence the Saints were soon met with everywhere. Their missionaries were full of zeaL and converts gath- ered rapidly. Among them were Brigham Young, the two brothers Pratt, and Sidney Rizdon. the Campbellite preacher, who all became most efficient workers in Mor- mondom. Churches also were established in Ohio, Penn- sylvania. New York, and even so far west as Indiana and Illinois. But with their growth persecution inten- aified, and the Saints finaUy turned their eyes westwards
for a pennanent home. In the beginning of 1831 they established their head-quaners at Kirtland, Ohio, and everything pointed to it as the seat of the •• New Je- rusalem." Indeed. Smith advised the Saints to gather there. In a short time, however, opposition was strength- ening also at Kirtland. and Smith urged the people to pray to the Lord " that he would in due time reveal unto them the place where the New Jerusalem should be built, and where the Saints should eventually be gathered in one." Smith's eyes were now turned to the far West — to the region of the great prairies — hoping there to work out his religious s\-stem in peace and freedom. In the autumn of 1831 a successful work was inaugurated at In- dependence, Jackson County, Mo. : and shortly after the revelation came that "it was appiunted by the finger of the Lord" that a colony of the Saints should be es- tablished in that part of Missouri, it being " the land of promise and the place for the city of Zion." In a very short time nearly r2(>0 persons gathered in the place -where Christ would shortly reign in person." Land was largely bought ; preaching was vigorously carried on : a printing-press was established ; a monthly period- ical (7"^* Morning and Ecming Star') and a weekly newspaper {The I'pptr Missouri Adcertiser) were start- ed to propagate the doctrines of the new sect : and it is only fair to the Mormons to state that a spirit of in- dustry, sobriety, order, and cleanliness was everj-where visible. Account for it how we may, the Mormons were in many important respects, morally, socially, and in- dustrially, far in advance of their neighbors. Smith himself, with such of the Saints as preferred to stay in Ohio imtil forced from it, continued to reside there, though, as we shall see presently, he was by no means stationary there, and was now in Ohio, now in Missouri, as the state of affairs reqiured. In 1838 tmsuccessful financial speculations obliged the Prophet also to with- draw, after having besides encountered persecutions from mobs.
In Missouri also the Mormons early engendered op- position. Secret societies were formed a short time after their settlement to expel them from that region; their periodicals were stopped, their printing-press con- fiscated, their ministers tarred and feathered, and num- berless other outrages were committe<i. Finally, in 1833 the hapless Saints were compelled to flee across the Mis- souri River, and men. women, and children had to en- camp in the open wilderness on a winter night (see Par- ley P. Pratt, /list, of' the Miss/juri Persecutions). The crueltj- with which they were treated L* a disgraceful page in American colonization history, and every true man has reason to regret the outrages perpetrated against these religionists. They subsequently settled in Clay County, in the same state. Smith, when in- formed of these outrages, at once set out for Missouri ; and now assumed, besides the role of "prophet, seer, revelator. and translator," that of military leader of his people. A lengthened revelation was given in Febni- ar\-. 1834, to raise " the strength of the Lonl's house," and go up to Missouri to redeem Zion. and the Prophet became, by the election of a council of elders, "com- mander-in-chief of the armies of Israel" With a band of 1.50 men, the " Prophet" set out from Kirtland for Mis- souri. By the time he reached Missouri the little band had increased to 205; but they were intercepteti by the settlers before they could effect a junction with the .Saints in Clay County, and were so badly defeated in their schemes that the few faithful ones who were left, together with the Prophet himself, gladly enough re- turned to their home at Kirtland. Here, while recruit- ing from the trials of this warfare. Smith determined upon a more perfect organization of his adherents. In 1833 he had published for their sjiiritual guidance The Bool- of Doctrine and Covenants, and in May. 1834. had adopted as the formal title of his ecclesiastical b<xly "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He now instituted the hierarchical organization to which the Mormons owe in so large a measure their