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Joseph Smith Killed in 1834?
Death of the Prophet of the Mormons. - General Joe Smith, the prophet
and leader of the Mormon church militant, has been killed in a battle with the
people of Jackson County, Missouri. Joe was a very great man, and as good a prophet as any prophet of modern times. Upon another
theatre of action he would have made an excellent distress prophet and would have foretold panic and pressure with quite as
much of the spirit of foresight as even the mighty seers of the Senate who were doomed to have their predictions falsified
two months after they were uttered. In the fight, Joe was wounded in the leg and his spiritual followers were compelled to
retreat before the fleshly powers that opposed them. His leg was amputated and he died three days after, and thus the world
has one imposter the less. Joe will probably be succeeded by some other heaven-gifted leader, for the business of prophesy
has got to be such an important one now-a-days, that people enough will be ready to enter into it whenever an opening offers.
The old Joe will be canonized as a saint and a martyr, and a new Joe will arise among the Mormons, on whose shoulders will
fall the mantle of the first prophet of the Smith family.
The New York Times, 18 July 1834.(From the
(from the clippings collection of Steven Mayfield).
Sidney Rigdon Translated?
"A report was in circulation today, that the Prophet Smith and S. Rigdon
lately took a ride together from the city of Nauvoo; that Smith returned without Rigdon; and that, when asked what had become
of him, he replied that he had been translated to Heaven." - North Western Gazette & Galena Advertiser, Vol. 7, No. 21, p.2 - Galena, IL, 23 April 1841.
Joseph Kicked Out of the Church?
"HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN! -- Joe Smith, the great Mormon prophet,
has been kicked by his ingrate followers from his high position. He had better go to digging potatoes with Biddle. Poor Joe!
we pity him. But a brief while and he was the indisputed lord of the consciences and cash of fifty thousand silly men and
women -- now he is but the owner of two pair of cowhide boots."
The Truth, Vol. 1, No. 1 - New York, 8 May
1841.
Martin Harris Murdered?
"Martin Harris, who was one of the witnesses to the book of Mormon,
and who has been for some time lecturing against the Mormons . . . was found near Nauvoo, the city of the Mormons, shot
through the head . . . there was no doubt of his having been murdered. . . .
"He had been so long
a confidant of Smith and his leading associates and had seen so much of their villainy, that he undoubtedly felt it a duty
to expose them and their debasing doctrines. Hence his lectures against Mormonism in Illinois, and hence, too, his probable
murder by some of that sect."
New York Spectator, 30 June 1841.
"KILLED BY MISTAKE - The Painesville Telegraph - Painesville is in Ohio
- says that Martin Harris the Mormon has not been found dead any where, but is alive and hearty at his residence in
Kirtland. He still believes in Mormonism, but not in Joe Smith who he says has become proud and worldly, and is forsaken by
the Lord."
New York Spectator, 7 July 1841.
Joseph Smith - Dead Again?
"Many of our exchanges are making asses of themselves by circulating
a rumor of the death of 'Jo Smith, the Mormon prophet' as they call him. We are informed that he is yet 'alive and kicking,
'hale and hearty . . .' "
Lee County
Democrat, Vol. 1, No. 46, p. 2 - Fort Madison, Iowa Territory, 4 June 1842.
Joseph Smith - A Runaway Slave?
"ASTONISHING! The late St. Louis Organ, gives the following piece of
information, clipt from a late English paper . . . 'The Mormon town of Nauvoo is . . . the head quarters
of Jo Smith, the Mormon prophet. A fact not before known and which accounts for the hostility manifested towards him by Missouri,
is, that he is a runaway slave from that State. His town is strongly garrisoned, and almost inaccessible to an assailing party;
and he has bid defiance to the authorities of the surrounding States. It is generally believed in America, that it is his
intention to free the slaves of the South,
and placing himself at their head, make himself master of the West. He is the
head of the great abolition party of that country.' "
Lee County Democrat, Vol. 2, No. 13, p. 2 - Fort
Madison, Iowa Territory, 15 October 1842.
John C. Bennett - Patriotic Spy?
"Gen. Bennett states, that the reason of his joining the Mormons was
to effect the salvation of his country. He ascertained by some means, the Mormons intended to revolutionize and involve in
a civil war, the whole western country, and to prevent such a catastrophe, he joined them, and became acquainted with their
secrets, for the sake of exposing them."
Quincy Herald, Vol. 2, No. 9, p. 2 - Quincy, IL,
17 November 1842.
Charmed Into the Church?
"It is stated that Smith has sent out a number of handsome females to
preach
his doctrine -- and convert men into Latter Day Saints."
Niles National Register,
Vol. 63, p. 400 - 18 February 1843.
How the Mormons Propose to Conquer the World
"An escaped Mormon Saint . . . says he 'He knows the object of their
leaders, of whom
Brigham Young is the supreme power - that it is to conquer the world and bring every nation under their dominion, physically
and morally, which will be the accomplishment of a millenium and peace universal. But the means of this accomplishment are
startling.
" 'Every spring and fall, says my informant, a company of "seventy are ordained"
and sent out . . . . These seventies . . . thus far forty-two
hundred - are known as "Destroying Angels," and they go into
all the world without "purse or scrip," and are directed to seek employment as will best enable them to facilitate the great
work of their religion. A great number are engaged in the fields of China, And especially in the manufacture of tea; into
which, during their labors, they incorporate an insidious but fatal poison. Others are engaged in the same godlike (?) work,
in the manufacture of liquor and tobacco; which articles, together with some others, are guarded against by the faithful,
who receive what are called by Brigham, the "word of wisdom,' and of course abstain from the the use of the interdicted
articles."
Harper's Weekly, Vol. 1, p. 694 - 31 October 1857.
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