Murder of the Mormon Prophet: - Political Prelude to the Death of Joseph Smith

LeGrand L. Baker

Eborn Books

2006

850 páginas

1d 4h 20m

ISBN-10: 1890718238

The Murder of the Mormon Prophet: by LeGrand Baker Political Prelude to the Death of Joseph Smith For the first time a historian has given us a national, as well as a local matrix into which one can place the life of Joseph Smith and his Nauvoo community, and in that context make better sense of it all. This book-in the works for 30 years-over 800 pages-is the first to present such a comprehensive and detailed look at the short period preceding the Prophet's martyrdom. It is ground-breaking for these reasons: ? It examines the Anti-Mormon network that planned the murders of Joseph and Hyrum, and the expulsion of the Saints from Illinois. ? It identifies key players and the involvement of each-showing clear evidence of Governor Ford's early involvement in the plans for the murders. ? An extensive legal analysis of the charges of treason against Joseph Smith, and concludes that the charges were completely without foundation. ? An extensive analysis of the "freedom of the press" issue-often mis-represented by historians-that arose over the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor. It turns out that contrary to what has been written regarding the subject-the question of freedom of the press was not an issue of the time. ? It examines about 250 newspapers throughout the United States and the Republic of Texas, to demonstrate the real mood of the nation regarding Joseph Smith and the Mormons generally-the depth of this research just has not been done in the past! And what it shows is quite different than historians have represented it to be! ? It follows through the nations newspapers Joseph Smith's candidacy for President of the United States, and shows that his candidacy was actually taken very seriously! ? It has a comprehensive index and the last chapter is a fascinating and exhaustive look at obituaries published in newspapers throughout the country after the martyrdom!