An interesting document describing the dictatorial reign of Joseph Smith in Missouri and the resulting “Mormon War” was originally written in 1839, known as the Reed Peck Manuscript. The Utah Lighthouse Ministry, in Salt Lake City, published a typed transcription of this document. It is subtitled, “An Important Document Written in 1839 Concerning the Mormon War in Missouri and the Danite Band.”
Just to demonstrate the unbiblical nature of Mormonism and its leaders, below you will find some examples of quotations taken from this publication. Page numbers are in the edition reprinted by the Utah Lighthouse Ministry, Salt Lake City, UT. Punctuation added to help comprehension.
Pg.6-7
[On Sunday, June 17, 1839], S. Rigdon took his text from the fifth chapter of Matthew, “Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt have lost his savour wherewith shall it be salted, it is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and be trodden under foot of men.” From this scripture he undertook to prove that when men embrace the gospel [of Mormonism] and afterwards lost their faith it is the duty of the Saints to trample them under their feet. He informed the people that they had a set of men among them that had dissented from the church and were doing all in their power to destroy the presidency laying plans to take their lives &c., accused them of counterfeiting, lying, cheating, and numerous other crimes and called on the people to rise en masse and rid the county of such a nuisance. He said it is the duty of this people to trample them into the earth and “if the county cannot be freed from them any other way I will assist to trample them down or to erect a gallows on the square of Far West and hang them up as they did the gamblers at Vicksburg and it would be an act at which the angels would smile with approbation.” Joseph Smith in a short speech sanctioned what had been said by Rigdon, though said he, “I don’t want the brethren to act unlawfully but will tell them one thing; Judas was a traitor and in stead of hanging himself was hung by Peter,” and with this hint the subject was dropped for the day, having created a great excitement and prepared the people to execute any thing that should be proposed.
pg.8
A friend of long standing…said that if Joseph Smith should tell him to cut my throat he would do it without hesitation. I heard expressions of this nature from several and shuddered at the thought of living in a community where the nod of one man if displeased would deprive an individual of every privilege and even life if the consequence had not been feared more by him than his followers.
pg.10
[Sampson Avard said] “No person shall be suffered to speak evil of disrespectfully of the presidency.”
I was appointed Adjutant of the [Danite] band in consequence I suppose of my holding that office in the 59th Reg, Missouri Militia. I did not think it policy to reject the appointment though I declared to my trusty friends that I would never act in the office—All the principles of the Society [Daughters of Zion, i.e.,Danites] tended to give the presidency unlimited power over the property, persons and I might say with propriety lives of the members of the church as physical force was to be resorted to if necessary to accomplish their designs. The blood of my best friend must flow by my own hands if I would be a faithful Danite should the prophet command it.
pg.12
In July the law of consecration took effect which required every person to give up to the bishop all surplus property of every description not necessary for their present support. Sampson Avard, the most busy actor and sharpest tool of the Presidency, informed John Corrill and Myself that “all persons who attempted to deceive and retain property that should be given up would meet with the fate of Ananias and Saphira who were killed by Peter.”
You’ll see the violence and murder instilled among the people, as well as the dictatorship of Joseph Smith, let alone the abject abuse of Scripture! I can’t understand why Mormons who know of this history still believe it is from God!
