The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
They have among them (the "Mormons") a company consisting of all that
are considered true "Mormons," called Danites, who have taken an oath
to support the heads of The Church in all things, whether right or
wrong. I have heard the Prophet say that he would yet tread down his
enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; that, if he was not let
alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that
he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the
Atlantic Ocean.
To this Marsh swore, and Hyde corroborated by affidavit, saying that he
knew part of it to be true, and he believed the other.[A]
[Footnote A: It may be as well to say here that some time after this,
when the clouds of hatred that at this time threatened the saints
with destruction had drifted aside, and these men had time to reflect
upon the terrible wickedness of their action, Orson Hyde, in tears,
came back to the people he sought to destroy, and humbly begged
to be restored to his position. And having manifested a spirit of
repentance, he was received back into his place, went on a mission to
Jerusalem, and for many years labored faithfully for the advancement
of The Church. Thomas B. Marsh, after leading a vagabond life for
years, with the brand of Judas upon his brow, and the gnawing of the
worm that never dies at his heart, when the saints had weathered the
storms of persecution not only in Missouri but also in Illinois as
well, and their lives had fallen in the pleasant valleys of the Rocky
Mountains, he too, a mere wreck of his former self, weak and driveling
and childish; broken down in health and spirits, came humbly bending to
the people upon whom he had sought to bring ruin, and begged--humbly
begged, the privilege of ending his days in their midst. He arose in a
congregation where thousands were congregated, referred to his wrecked
condition, and told them it was the effect of apostasy, and warned all
against walking in the path which he had trod to his infinite sorrow.
His life furnishes a sad page in the history of the Latter-day Saints.
He fell as Judas fell, and as Judas failed to stay the work of God in
his day, so Marsh failed to break down God's work in these last days:
he succeeded only in bringing upon himself the ruin and shame he tried
to bring upon The Church.]
Since in this statement made by Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde
the "Danites" are spoken of, and as much has been said of this
organization, and many false statements made over and over again,
accusing The Church of having such an association as described by Marsh
and Hyde, I here give in brief an account of that organization so far
as The Church knows anything in relation to it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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