b'his fathers death and the deaths of the Nephites whoprefer. By 1831, on April 12, the Rochester Daily Adviserfor the Missourians to understood the Saints when it had fled to the south. And my father was also killedheadlined with The Book of Mormon has been placed inreveals: We believe that Christian communal living is by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad taleour possession. A viler imposition was never practiced.essential to the purification and restoration of the Levites of the destruction of my people. Hiding from theIt is evidence of fraud, blasphemy, and credulity and that it is a part of the divine plan to separate us from Lamanites, Moroni survived for an additional twenty- shocking to both Christians and moralists. the world to become a special people for the Lord.one years. Upon finishing the Book of Ether, the second to last book in the Book of Mormon, MoroniHowever, Mormonism began to grow in popularity The Missourians, in return, vehemently displayed their completed a namesake book with his farewell addressslowly at first, and then with amazing speed. Josephresentment. The militia was called out to attack the to future readers. Smith and the Saints moved their headquarters fromsettlements and to run the newcomers out. This led New York westward, first to Kirkland, Ohio, and thento the Hauns Mill Massacre in October 1838, when And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in theto Jackson County, Missouri. Missouri was to be thethe property was destroyed and numerous Saints were Paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall againlocation of their center stake, their Promised Land; thismurdered, including children. Furious, Joseph Smith reunite and I am brought forth triumphant throughwas Gods prophecy. pleaded with the Governor, Lilburn Boggs, to offer aid to the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the greathis (Smiths) people. The response was that the Mormons Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Mormonism was structured like a theocracy, whichmust be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or mandates that the people are governed throughdriven from the state if necessary for the public peace. According to Joseph Smiths history, Moroni is theintermediaries (priests or ministers) who are underSmith chose to lead his people out of Missouri . What person who appeared before him in his vision onthe direction of God. There is no distinction betweenthe Saints believed to be their Promised Land would September 22, 1823. Mysticism is the belief thatthe government and the church. Joseph Smith hadhave to be moved.immediate, intuitive knowledge of God is possible, andestablished himself as the leader of both. The Mormons the attempt to achieve it. It is apparent that by using hisworked as a society responsible unto itself, voted as aThe self-appointed prophet, Smith, made the mystical gift of seeing Smith was laying the groundworkunit and traded among themselves, which caused somepilgrimage to Illinois where he struck a bargain with to establish himself as a go-between with God andmeasure of uneasiness with merchants outside theirthe Whig government, stating that he would barter the whomsoever would follow him. own community. They were generally loyal only tolarge Mormon vote for the right to charter a city on the themselves. They were new and unique, and they werebank of the Mississippi River. Mormon missionaries Joseph Smith was visited annually in September untildifferent, and in the nineteenth century being differentwere sent out across the countryside and abroad to 1828. Then, at his New York home at long last, hewas no asset. And if youre small enough and if yourebuild the strength of the new city of Nauvoo. Within received the plates from the apparition, Moroni. Itnot powerful enough to protect yourself, you can befive years Nauvoo grew rapidly to a population of would be three more years until the Book of Mormonvulnerable to oppression. more than fifteen thousand, becoming the largest and was published. When it was finally presented in printmost influential city in the state of Illinois. As mayor in late March 1830, Smiths transcription of the firstBuying up Missouri land and showing themselves asof Nauvoo, Joseph Smiths political, if not dictatorial six chapters appeared to be basically historical sourcewhat seemed generally holier than thou, they beganpower, seemed boundless. Perhaps overstepping those material. Unfortunately, the rest of the missive seemedto portray themselves as a threat to the other citizens inbounds, in 1844 he ran for president of the United to be somewhat less than credible and came underthe area who already owned property. The attitude ofStates, advocating the annexation of Canada and close scrutiny for a period of time that has lasted forthe Mormon people would certainly have come as noMexico, and the abolition of slavery. Because of Smiths more than a century and a half. Even before it actuallysurprise to the Missourians had they understood someoutspokenness in Illinois, the wrath of neighbors appeared on the street, it was lambasted by the press.of the Mormon creeds and oaths. The book entitledtowards the Mormons was set in motion.Smith gained notoriety, but not of the sort one mightAmerican Religious Creeds clarifies why it was difficultcontinued on page 12Susan Abare928-713-7472SAbare@AwardRealty.com CUSTOM HOMESSECOND HOMES PREMIUM HORSE PROPERTIES INVESTMENT & COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES HOME LOTS AMAZING NIGHT SKY NATURE WALKS ACREAGE HORSING AROUNDCongressGROUP THERAPY OUTDOOR FUNis a lifestyle.ArizonaRealCountry.com January 2020 11'