Mormon Persecution Complex
History is written by those who survive to tell the events as they want them told. The history of the Mormon Church is no different. What gets told is a colorful tapestry of events which have been recorded by Mormons, edited by Mormons, taught by Mormons, and told to Mormons. While the stories of the early days of the church involving Joseph Smith, the hardships and successes of the early members, the pioneer trek west, and the settlement and build-up of Salt Lake City are often considered inspiring and faith building, many of the actual historical facts are overlooked or simply ignored by the large population of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS). For example, many Mormons don’t know the original name of the church was Church of Christ, later modified to the Church of Latter-Day Saints, and finally, in 1838 to its now full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many LDS are unaware of the extent to which Joseph Smith was involved with polygamy and are often surprised, even indignant, when they learn this fact. The church produced manual Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young makes no mention of polygamy, even though Brigham Young had at least 56 wives and was a huge supporter of the practice. * Many LDS are also unaware that the subtitle to the Book of Mormon “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” was added by the church in 1982. It is most unfortunate that many practicing LDS will dismiss uncomfortable or unknown facts as trivial and express sentiment like, “That’s not important knowledge for Salvation” or “That doesn’t take away from the mission of the church.” These of course are irrelevant and superficial arguments as facts are still facts and must be understood in their appropriate context. Indeed, it is peculiar that practicing LDS will regard reason as irrelevant, and equate feelings with knowledge. But Mormons have long embraced the idea of being a peculiar people.
The term, borrowed from 1 Peter verse 9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” was used to describe the early Mormons because they were peculiar. They built their own separate communities, professed belief in a man who claimed he was a modern day prophet, and accepted the Book of Mormon as new scripture. As their membership grew, they tended to vote in blocs to elect their own officials and bought large quantities of land. This “peculiar people” attitude still prevails in the church with such practices as observance of the Word of Wisdom, temple worship, missionary service, church welfare, even down to every detail of the unpaid lower level clergy. Mormon history teaches that early members were peaceful, happy, God-fearing people who wanted to be left alone to practice their religion as they saw fit and as was their constitutional right. But the modern day church leaves out many essential details surrounding the events that show how “persecuted” the early LDS were.
The LDS look back with great sadness on what is known as the “Extermination Order” and use the events to illustrate their early persecution, though few LDS know how the order came to be. By 1838, the LDS had established themselves in Missouri and strong tension existed between the native Missourians and the LDS. The LDS viewed Missouri as their God-given land, believeing as Joseph Smith taught, that it was the Biblical location of the Garden of Eden. Joseph Smith began to publish his revelations (today they are included in the Doctrine and Covenants) which instructed members to “assemble yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Missouri which is the land of your inheritance, which is now the land of your enemies” (D&C 52:42), “Break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen. And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies” (D&C 101:55-58). Dissenters from the church were considered “salt that had lost its savor” which should be trodden under the foot of man (D&C 103:2-15). These are not words of peace. Sidney Rigdon, an elder in the church gave a speech on July 4, 1838 in which he stated, “and that mob that comes on us to disturb us, it shall be between us and them a war of extermination; for we will follow them until the last drop of their blood is spilled; or else they will have to exterminate us, for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses and their own families, and one party or the other shall be utterly destroyed” (Comprehensive History of the Church, vol 1, pg 441). What were the non-Mormon Missourians supposed to think? Is it any wonder they took umbrage with the church? Not only were the members unabashedly voicing their violent sentiments, they were physically violent as well. Specifically the Battle of Crooked River on October 24, 1838 which further escalated the violence. In this battle, Mormons attacked state troops and when Governor Lilborn Boggs learned of the events, he issued the “extermination order” claiming the “Mormons have made war upon the people of this state.” Due to this event the non-Mormons took their revenge at what is known as the Hauns Mill Massacre and caused the subsequent exodus of the LDS from Missouri. Unlike the Mormons of today, the Mormons of 1838 knew exactly why they were “persecuted.” Brigham Young said, “Elder Rigdon was the prime cause of our troubles in Missouri by his fourth of July oration.” (Times and Seasons, vol. 5, pg 667).
Sadly, the history of these events is told differently in “Legacy”, a film produced by the church. This film shows mounting tension between the peaceful LDS and the mean-spirited Missourians who wanted the LDS out. The main character in the film states that “The brethren were determined to not be driven out again.” The next scene shows Governor Boggs signing a document and commanding that the Mormons be treated as enemies, driven from the state, or if necessary, exterminated. What follows shows a menacing mob on horseback brutally attacking the happy, peaceful Mormons at Hauns Mill. No mention of Rigdon’s speech or the Battle of Crooked River is included in the film.
The practice of polygamy was considered very peculiar and caused problems both in and out of the church. Although the revelation was not recorded until 1843 (D&C 132), many believe the leaders of the church were aware of and engaging in the practice as early as the 1830s. Joseph Smith married his first plural wife, 16 year old Fanny Alger in 1833 (www.wivesofjosephsmith.org). Joseph Smith taught that celestial marriage was necessary for exaltation, the highest level of glory in heaven. But because polygamy was illegal, it was practiced in secret. Brigham Young taught that monogamy was not only evil, but the reason for the fall of Rome. “Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the founders of the Roman empire…Rome became the mistress of the world, and introduced this order of monogamy wherever her sway was acknowledged. Thus this mongamic order of marriage, so esteemed by modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is nothing but a system established by robbers…Why do we believe in and practise polygamy? Because the Lord introduced it to his servents in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, and the Lord’s servants have always practicsed it. And is that religion popular in heaven? It is the only popular religion there…” (The Desert News August 6, 1862.) It wasn’t until 1852, when apostle Orson Pratt gave a speech defending polygamy, that the church officially “came out”. From 1852 to 1890, the members of the church (an estimated 20-30%) practiced polygamy, especially those in leadership positions. **
The Republican Party of 1852 declared that the twin relics of barbarism were “slavery and polygamy.” *** In 1862 Congress passed the Merril Anti-Bigamy Act which was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln. When the Mormons learned of this, they did was they do best: they ignored it.
In 1879, Brigham Young’s personal secretary agreed to be tried in an attempt to challenge the legality of the law, arguing that Freedom of Religion was protected by the Bill of Rights and that polygamy was not bigamy. The case made it to the Supreme Court where the Merril Act was upheld. The court wrote, “Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinion, they may with practices.” ****
During the 1880s, Congress passed more laws against polygamy: the Edmunds Act of 1882 which allowed imprisonment on the grounds of “unlawful cohabitation” and the Edmunds-Tucker Bill in 1887 which required the church to give up it’s property, including temples to the government.
But the Mormons continued to live their “alternative lifestyle.” President John Taylor went into hiding, vowing never to forsake the principle of plural marriage, while George Q. Cannon, 1st counselor to Taylor, was arrested and imprisoned for cohabitation. So distressing was the idea of abandoning plural marriage that Cannon stated “To comply with the request of our enemies [and give up polygamy] would be to give up all hope of ever entering into the glory of God the Father, and Jesus Christ, the son. So intently interwoven is this precious doctrine with the exaltation of men and women in the great hereafter that it cannot be given up without giving up at the same time all hope of immortal glory.” ^ The heavy handed approach of the government into their personal lives equally distressed the members of the church. As early as 1835 the church had held that religious influence and civil government should remain separate. This is now included in the D&C 134 verse 9, “We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in it’s spiritual privlidges, and the individual rights of it’s members, and citizens, denied.”
Yet in 1890 President Wilford Woodruff, faced with heavy legal and political pressure issued what is known as the Manifesto, declaring that the LDS would no longer practice polygamy. They of course did continue to practice polygamy and while the church today affirms that the practice has long ago been abandoned; polygamy is still practiced in the Mormon temples. A man can be married to one woman in the temple for time and all eternity. If she dies or they divorce, he may re-marry a second woman in the temple, for time and all eternity.
The Mormon Church’s reluctant attitude to discuss candidly their doctrine and practice of polygamy plays a central role in the debate over the church’s involvement in California politics. The church asked its members to donate their “time and money” to ensure the passage of Proposition 8, thus revising the constitution of the state to take rights away from law abiding Californians and legislate the current LDS view of marriage. The common argument given by people within the church is that gay marriage is a “moral issue”, but the church has evaded the task of defining what “moral” means. Are war and genocide a moral issue? If so, why no call to action by the church? The other common argument against gay marriage is that marriage is a time honored tradition between a man, woman, and God. If so, then why no call to action to ban atheists from marriage? Or Wiccans? Or Polytheists? Or self-proclaimed “swingers”? Why just the gays? No logical answer to these questions has ever been given nor can one be. No earthly argument can be made to support their positions as their beliefs are based in mystical, irrationality. The “Good” is what the prophet says is good, which is what God says is good and that can easily change at any time (i.e. interracial marriage, polygamy, blacks and the priesthood.)
Not long ago, Mormon pioneers sang as they made their way to the Salt Lake basin that they were going to a place “where none shall come to hurt or make afraid.” Ironically (or not) it is now the Mormons who have come to hurt and make afraid a group of people who have done the Mormons no harm. Now the Mormons believe they are being unfairly persecuted simply for standing up for “what’s right” (Another undefined, un-definable Mormon catch phrase). What they refuse to realize, is that like the bully they are, they have started this fight, and people defending their rights against such force is not persecution.
*http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/thewivesofbrighamyoung.html
**http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/polygamy_summary.htm
***http://www.claremont.org/projects/pageid.1808/default.asp
****http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/reynoldsvus.html
^http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/essays/mormonpolygamy.htm
