| 55 let him alone say they, all men will believe on him; fearful to use the rod and power by reason of the Romans to the utmost rigor; they at first sought to render him obnoxious to Cæsar; but as measures successively failed, they thirsted for his blood until their pious malice was glutted in his expiring agonies. Then thought they, every body may know that his miracles are all a humbug because he could not save himself. Now brother, I ask you to stop and make a full pause by way of reflection. How do devoted sectarians entertain the Latter Day Saints? Not surely by a candid exposure of our errors coupled with a patient effort to reclaim us. By no means. Said a highly respectable Deaconess: "Br. Spencer, I would rather have heard that you were dead." She know in the general that I had embraced Mormonism. But of the true character of mormonism she was grossly ignorant; and she was actually driven into fits when she found I defended the doctrines of Latter Day Saints. Look at the conduct of devoted sectarians towards the Latter Day Saints, and mark the resemblance to that of ancient Jews to former Saints. The same proscriptive spirits reigns now as then. The same spirit that dictated expulsion from the sysnagogue [synagogue] then, now closes the doors of meeting houses against us. The same spirit that closed men's ears against the burning eloquence of Stephen then, counsels men not to hear or go nigh Mormon preachers now.
You ask if the Latter Day Saints are persecuted; if so, by whom are they persecuted? The answer is a painful one; because it inculpates those who were bound by many tender ties. As a people we have been truly persecuted from the beginning. From the moment we embrace this doctrine, in most cases we are virtually banished from friends, and rank, and station, and business. Says the venerated father, "if you have embraced that doctrine my son, I never want to see your face any more." Says the partner in trade, if you are a Mormon, we must dissolve partnership forthwith. If such an one occupying an important office of profit and honor does not give up his Mormonism, we will sue him at the law, and calumniate him and embarrass him until he is ousted and broken up, and obliged to leave our village. We are separated from men's company while the licentious, and profane and intemperate are suffered to dwell in peace.-While our opposers cherish to their bosom the rankest infidels, they repulse us with disdain; though none can point out ought wherein we differ from the ancient apostles and prophets. Almost daily my eyes behold those who have suffered too much to mention. But I would rather refer you to printed documents than to attempt a description of the sufferings of our people in Missouri. From forty to sixty of our brethren suffered death by violent hands, in Missouri, and as many more in consequence of the abuse and privations to which they were exposed by an infuriated, and blood-thirsty mob; and the disappointment, privations and homeless condition of survivers [survivors] was very great. Many widows and orphans knew not what to do, having just begun to live in a comfortable and thriving manner. They had almost forgotten their first sorrow of parting from early friends and possessions, when lo! the hideous mob came upon them; at one blow their homes were made desolate; in some instances father and son were no more: their sufferings in planting themselves anew in this state without means or friends though I have often heard them told, I will not attempt to rehearse. Perhaps some will say we understand the Mormons were in fault in that matter and brought merited sufferings themselves by their misconduct. The same has always been understood to be true of all persecuted Saints. The greater part of people probably thought Stephen deserved the punishment that terminated his life.
The same might be said of John the Baptist, who meddled with the matrimonial concerns of those who did not acknowledge his ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The prophet Elijah was designated to death because he troubled Israel. Daniel refused lawful obedience to the established Governor of the realm. In short, persecutors in every age, have always had a plausible pretext for their doings, in the popular estimation of their own day and age. You ask by whom we are persecuted? In reply, I could mention as instigators of mobs, the names of a Baptist missionary, a Methodist and Presbyterian minister. You may also be apprised that ex-gov. Boggs, of Missouri, made affidavit that Joseph Smith was accessary [accessory] to an attempt to murder him; and that Gov. Carlin, of Illinois, in the face of Superabundant testimony, and law, gave a warrant to arrest him, (Joseph Smith) on that affidavit. A heavy reward has been offered for his apprehension. And bold menaces are occasionally hung over our heads, that we as a people shall be driven from the state. These things have a tendency to check our prosperity. In one instance some of our brethren were kidnapped by Missourians, from this state, and put to shame and scourging. The malignant and vexatious lawsuits to which our people have been subject, are exceedingly numerous, and owing to our impoverished condition, rendered sometimes distressing. But none of these things
(page 55) |
