History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 2Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 2
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
While at this place, Sylvester Smith rebelled against the order of the
company, and gave vent to his feelings against myself in particular.
This was the first outbreak of importance which had occurred to mar our
peace since we commenced our journey. [11]
Footnotes
1. The circumstance here alluded to is that a Mr. Arthur, a respectable
and wealthy planter of Clay county, sent one of his black servants
into Jackson county with a large wagon load of whisky, flour and
bacon. After the servant had crossed the river, a stranger came out of
the woods and began to burst open the barrels and destroy the flour,
threatening the life of the negro if he should ever come into that
county again. Mr. Arthur, it is needless to say, was not a member of
the Church of Latter-day Saints, nor a member of any other religious
society. Whether he was taken for a "Mormon" or not does not appear.
(See _Evening and Morning Star_, vol. 2, p. 319.)
2. The minutes of this conference are to be found in the _Evening and
Morning Star_, vol. 2, p. 352. It will be observed from the heading
that the Elders assembled in the conference are called _the Elders of
the Church of Christ_. This is pointed out in order that it may be
seen that while the conference adopted the title "The Church of the
Latter-day Saints," and the Church was for some years called by that
name, it was not the intention to regard the Church as any other than
the Church of Christ. In an editorial upon this subject in the May
number of the _Star_ [minutes of the conference, however, designating
the above name of the Church were not published until the July number
of the _Star_ was issued] the following occurs as a comment upon the
action of this conference: "It is now more than four years since this
Church was organized in these last days, and though the conferences
have always shown by their minutes that they took no other name than
the name of Christ, the Church has, particularly abroad, been called
'Mormonite.' As the members of this Church profess a belief in the
truth of the Book of Mormon, the world, either out of contempt and
ridicule, or to distinguish us from others, have been very lavish in
bestowing the title of 'Mormonite.' Others may call themselves by their
own, or by other names, and have the privilege of wearing them without
our changing them or attempting so to do; but _we_ do not accept the
above title [Mormonite], nor shall we wear it as _our_ name, though
it may be lavished upon us double to what it has heretofore been. And
when the bitterness of feeling now cherished in the bosoms of those
who profess to be the followers of Christ, against the Church of the
Latter-day Saints, shall cease to exist, and when fabrications and
desipient reports concerning this society are no longer considered a
virtue, it will take its rank, at least with others, and these stigmas
will forever sleep with their inventors." (_Evening and Morning Star_,
vol. 2, p. 317.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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