THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
more thinly settled counties of Daviess and Caldwell, also in that state. In 1839 Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs issued an exterminating order against the Latter-day Saints. Their prophet (Joseph Smith) and leading men were cast in prison and the people, after being forced to deed away their property, were driven from the state. In this destitute condition— having been robbed and plundered of all they possessed — they went to Illinois, where in 1839-40, on the site of a previous settlement called Commerce, in Hancock County, they established the city of Nauvoo. The legislature granted them a liberal charter and the city grew rapidly, soon numbering several thousand inhabitants with over 2,000 comfortable homes. A temple was built according to plans their prophet claimed were revealed to him, and the work of salvation for the dead commenced. It is a teaching of the Saints that the Savior visited the spirits in prison, while his body was in the tomb, and taught them the Gospel. For this reason the Latter-day Saints, in their temples, perform by proxy the rites of salvation, such as baptism, in behalf of the dead who die without a knowledge of the Gospel.
In 1844 a number of discontented parties, who had left the church, issued a paper at Nauvoo called the Expositor, in which the prophet, Joseph Smith, was bitterly assailed. The city council passed an ordinance declaring the printing-office, 3. Move- where this paper was published, a ment to nuisance, and it was destroyed by offi- Utah. cers of the law. Joseph Smith was blamed for maintaining this nuisance, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He declared that if he were taken he would be killed, and therefore, with his elder brother Hyrum and a few faithful friends, crossed the Mississippi River for the purpose of going to the Rocky Mountains. This action created much excitement among some of his followers who declared that in time of danger he was fleeing from the flock. His reply to these was, " If my life is of no value to my friends, it is of none to myself." Returning to Nauvoo he submitted to arrest, and with his brother Hyrum was taken to Carthage, the county seat of Hancock. There they were imprisoned. While thus confined and under pledge of protection by the governor, a mob surrounded the jail on June 27, 1844, overpowered the guard and shot to death Joseph and Hyrum Smith and severely wounded John Taylor. After the assassination the twelve apostles, under the leadership of Brigham Young, became the presiding quorum of the church, and by right of their authority assumed control and were sustained by the people. Instead of putting an end to " Mormonism " the assassination of the leaders only increased its membership, and it began to spread with renewed vigor. This caused the enemies of the Latter-day Saints to rage so fiercely that the Saints were again driven from their homes in 1846. Crossing the Mississippi River they made temporary settlements in the territory of Iowa and in the spring of 1847 the advance company of pioneers, under the leadership of Brigham Young, left Winter Quarters on the west side of the Missouri River near the present site of Omaha, for the Salt Lake
Valley in search of a new home. They arrived at their destination Saturday, July 24, 1847. and decided to make it their permanent place of settlement. This little band remained in the valley for some time, planting, building, surveying, and preparing the foundation of a city. The soil they found parched and barren, save for the salt grass and sage-brush that abounded everywhere; there were no trees excepting the scattering cotton-woods that lined the streams; but here they decided to remain and trust in Providence. The soil was hard and dry, so the pioneers diverted the water of City Creek that it might moisten the ground which had for unknown ages remained in its primitive state. Before the summer was past most of the pioneers left the valley and returned to Winter Quarters to assist the Saints to gather to the Rocky Mountains. That autumn other companies arrived, Salt Lake City grew rapidly, and other settlements were formed until they were scattered over the face of the entire arid region. For a number of years the Saints suffered extremely, being forced to boil rawhides and dig sego and thistle roots for subsistence. Shortly after the settlement of Salt Lake Valley, the " Mormons " set up the " provisional government of the State of Deseret," and petitioned Congress for admission into the Union. In 1850 the territory of Utah was created and 4. The Brigham Young appointed governor. " Utah Four years later Col. E. J. Steptoe, of War." the United States Army, was appointed to succeed him but declined, and Brigham Young was reappointed for a second term. Most of the territorial officers were non-residents and were unfriendly to the " Mormons," which caused considerable friction. Reports were carried to Washington to the effect that the people in the territory were in rebellion, had no respect for law, and had burned the public court records. Influenced by these false reports, and without an investigation, the president of the United States ordered an army to Utah to suppress the " rebellion." This is known in history as " The Utah War," or " Buchanan's blunder." Alfred Cummings, who had been appointed governor to succeed Brigham Young, came with the army. When the Latter-day Saints learned that the army was on the way to suppress a supposed rebellion, their indignation knew no bounds; they were filled with alarm and forebodings of evil. The reports carried to the president they knew to be false and his action unjustifiable. Many times they had been driven and plundered by mobs under the guise of law, therefore they resolved that they would resist what they felt to be an unlawful invasion by a hostile force. When the army approached the borders the " Mormons " harassed it and burned some of the supplies and in this way prevented it from entering the territory before winter set in. The Saints were determined, if forced to flee again, to leave their lands as barren as they had found them, not permitting their oppressors to reap the fruits of their labors. As the army neared the valley, the people moved southward, taking with them a few necessary articles and provisions, leaving guards behind with instructions to burn all dwellings and