The American Spectator : Rumors of Mormon Wars

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Rumors of Mormon Wars

By Christopher Orlet on 8.30.12 @ 6:07AM

Don’t believe the hype of sectarian tensions in Nauvoo.

Rumor had it that for the first time in 160 years, Nauvoo, Illinois was experiencing a Mormon problem. It all started during the rebuilding of the Mormon temple in 2002, when a big city reporter came to town looking for a front page story. Most likely he had the story written before he arrived. The headline, at least: Bigoted, pitchfork wielding villagers up in arms over return of Mormons.

That wasn’t the impression we got on our recent visit to the “City of Joseph.” If there was any conflict between the locals and the Mormon missionaries and tourists we didn’t see it. And, trust me, we looked.

The big city reporter quoted numerous residents who predicted everything from the reestablishment of a theocratic state to Prohibition, but Nauvoo’s recent tavern closings have more to do with the economy than with the influx of teetotaling, tie-wearing Mormons. According to the big city reporter, Nauvoo’s hallowed ground has become a bit of a battleground, though instead of bloodshed and arson there is only suspicion and hard feelings. Supposedly the outsiders were cocky and that cockiness rubbed the locals the wrong way. As Nauvoo’s mayor Tom Wilson reportedly said, the mood in town was “pretty much us against them.” Proof was that back in 1998, Don Capener, a new Mormon resident, ran for mayor of Nauvoo. And even though it was more than 150 years since Joseph Smith had been mayor here (and candidate for U.S. president), the idea of a Mormon theocracy was still fresh enough to cause locals to panic and institute a successful get-out-the-non-Mormon vote campaign. More likely voters simply retained the well-known incumbent, a local farmer with deep roots in the community.

OUR FIRST STOP was the new 15-story white limestone temple. Completed in 2002, the Nauvoo Temple looms high atop a bluff on the location of the former St. Mary’s Academy and convent, which stood near the spot of the original temple. (That building was torched by arsonists in 1848.) Fourteen years ago, the Benedictine nuns sold the property (sold out, some residents say) to the LDS church for a cool $6 million. The new owners promptly razed the historic convent and chapel, but if locals have a beef with anyone it is the nuns, who took their booty and decamped to their new home at Rock Island.

In the flats below the new temple sit the newly restored Mormon settlements, a compliment to the “restored gospel,” one assumes. Nicknamed the “Williamsburg of the Midwest,” the site is split (as is the religion) between the LDS and the Community of Christ churches. The COC was founded by Joseph Smith III, son of the Mormon prophet. Smith III remained in Nauvoo after Brigham Young and followers struck out for the Great Salt Lake. The Community of Christ section contains the Smith homes and family cemetery where the prophet’s bones rest (as well as the bones of Emma, one of his alleged 28 wives), much to the chagrin of the LDS.

We toured both historic (or should I say holy?) sites. The LDS site is staffed by retired missionaries who don period garb and tell a rather bleached version of Mormon history. There is no mention of the revelation Smith received here that men should take plural wives, nor why the saints were hounded from town to town, and we were too polite to bring it up. Nor was there any mention why Smith was “martyred” by an angry mob in nearby Carthage jail. (Mayor Smith had ordered his militia to destroy a printing press, after dissenting Mormons printed a rival newspaper accusing Smith of numerous transgressions, including coerced polygamy, and knocking down the wall between church and state.)

After our tour we enjoyed a fine Sunday brunch at Nauvoo’s Grand Hotel where Presbyterian and Catholic and Methodist and Mormon all sit down to an all-you-can-eat buffet of fried chicken, roast beef, and several kinds of potatoes. It was a perfectly amiable occasion, the very idea of neighborly, ecumenical harmony. But then we hadn’t come to town in search of a front page story.

About the Author

Christopher Orlet writes from St. Louis.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (58) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 6:51AM

My, how "The 1st" (fill in the blank) has lost its luster, these days. I remember when, to be the 1st of Anything, around these parts, was a cause for a Celebration of our Big Tent, our Open Minds, and our Diversity.

The 1st Black Major League Baseball Palyer. The 1st Gay Minister, or the 1st Lesbian (also, fill in the blank)

Everytime you turn around, people are striking up the Band for the 1st Something or other.

David Dinkins was the 1st Black Mayor of NYC. He hired the 1st Black Police Commissioner. Elliott Spitzer was the 1st Governor stupid enough to use HIS CREDIT CARD to pay for his Hookers.

Bill Clinton was the 1st President Accused of Rape and Molestation, on National Television. He was the 1st President to be Charged with Indecent Exposure. To testify before a Grand Jury about said Indecent Exposure. To pay out a $900,000 Settlement to the Victim of his One Man Show, so to speak. He had the 1st Woman(?) Attorney General to Burn a bunch of Kids - Alive - in Waco Texas. And the 1st Attorney General to ever send someone BACK to Cuba. He was the 1st Sitting President to be Impeached.

And yet? To the Democrats? He's the Toast of the Town. In fact, he's so great that he'll be Introducing Black Jesus to the Crowd at the Democrat Convention - aka - Diversity Central.

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 7:14AM

Enter Mitt Romney. (Key the Organist)

He's a Mormon. And, just in case you're not up on the whole Mormon thing? Don't worry, because a bunch of Obama Loving Self Hating Jews, and their Scientology buddies, are putting together a little diddly about ALL THE WIERD STUFF THAT GOES ON in the Mormon Church.

Stuff like Not Drinking Alcohol or Smoking Cigarettes. Not using Bad Language, and Staying Married to their Female Wives.

Things like doing Missionary Work, all over the World, in some of the Worst Hellholes on the Planet. Giving to Charity, and Tithings to their Church.

THOSE BASTARDS!

Harry Ried is a Mormon. Just, not a good one. Dirty Money, (money from Organized Crime's Casino Interests) long ago, turned him from the Path of Goodness, and on to the Road to Hell.

But never have we been WARNED of the Evil that lurks inside of his Soul, because of the Insidiousness of the Religion he belongs to.

NEVER!

He must be a Democrat.

MTB| 8.30.12 @ 11:48AM

Excellent comment!

Appleby| 8.30.12 @ 7:30AM

Mitt Romney is a devout Mormon. Harry Reed is not. You'll be hearing the same shrieking from the same press about Paul Ryan, a devout Catholic, that you won't hear about Joe Biden, who is not.

The average American doesn't care what religion you belong to, as long as you don't actually practice what it preaches. Are you man enough to study what the devout Mormons actually practice? Or are you only going to repeat your knee-jerk scream that I, as an ex-Mormon who studied what the devout Mormons believe, should shut up and go and kill myself?

Tracy Hall Jr| 8.30.12 @ 9:15AM

Actually, Harry Reid is a devout Mormon. He's just not very popular with politically conservative Mormons.

http://www.sltrib.com/lds/ci_13629152

MTB| 8.30.12 @ 11:49AM

No, you don't have to kill yourself.

Jacob McCandles| 8.30.12 @ 1:03PM

ok,, I'll bite...what do the devout Mormons actually practice?

C. Vernon Crisler | 8.30.12 @ 8:24AM

The Mormons were disliked early on because they had the tendency to move into towns en masse and take over the local government. They've since realized that it's better to get behind local politicians and thus become an influential voting block.

There can be no whitewashing of Mormon history, or of its theology, but the founding fathers were wise to leave theological or ecclesiological debate out of the range of government control. To me Romney's Mormonism is the least of his problems; his moderatism looms much larger as a matter for concern.

Appleby| 8.30.12 @ 11:07AM

Again, you need to take a good hard look at what any sincere man devoutly believes before you can know what the man will do. Those who ignored the fact that Obama is a devout Marxist found out too late that it does in fact matter what a man is willing to do in the furtherance of his most cherished beliefs. Those who pretend that what Mr. Romney believes is a mere bagatelle may get the same unpleasant surprise. Go ahead and pretend that religion is just a silly game, if you want to. You will find out the truth one way or another, just like you did about Obama.

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 11:53AM

Hmm. A guy who believes that the United States Constitution was inspired by God. Wow what a concept. Is this a bad thing?

gray man| 8.30.12 @ 11:22PM

no, it is a good think, appleby just likes being the center of attention.

gray man| 8.30.12 @ 11:23PM

think = thing

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 4:43PM

Like Blacks do, now.

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 8:58AM

Has Mr.Orlet actually been to Nauvoo?

Somehow I doubt it.

"OUR FIRST STOP was the new 15-story white limestone temple. "

Really?? The Nauvoo Temple, at least on the outside, is an exact copy of the original. A old photo is shown above in the article.

A simple Wikipedia search shows how off base his claim is.

"The building measures 130 feet (40 m) long, 90 feet (27 m) wide, and 162 feet (49 m) tall to the top of the statue of Angel Moroni. It has an area of 54,000 square feet (5,000 m2). "

Hardly "15 stories".

Interested Conservative| 8.30.12 @ 1:07PM

OK, I'll bite. How many stories is 162 feet?

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 2:20PM

I think here he converted the total height, including the "tower" to "stories" using 10.8267717 feet per story. The plans I've seen show a:

1) Basement
2) First Floor
3) Second Floor
4) Attic

Then there is a "Belfry Tower" on the west side with a:

1) Tower Clock Room
2) Tower Observation Room.

So I would say a 3 Story building with basement, with a 2 story Belfry Tower.

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 4:48PM

Thank you for adding NOTHING to the Conversation.

Well done.

Tracy Hall Jr| 8.30.12 @ 10:03AM

The Nauvoo Expositor was destroyed as a public nuisance. By declaring that the presidential candidacy of Joseph Smith had "for its object the utter destruction of the rights of the old citizens of the county," it used the same code that had been used again and again to incite mobs of the "old citizens" to violence against the Mormons.

The intent is betrayed in the very next paragraph, where the expositor denies that it has any interest in inciting mobs.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Nauvoo_Expositor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.....7_analysis

Lyneuss Fields | 8.30.12 @ 12:02PM

Once again for the record: the history of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints is written in their History, Comprehensive History and Journal of Discourses. These sermons, speeches, and manifestos are in the words of the players and their own historians (e.g., Joseph Smith Jr., Brigham Young and B. H. Roberts). Nobody needs to ponder the murder, rape, polygamy and extortion--again, it's in their own words. This is why "The Molester" Mitt Romney doesn't want to speak too much about his church history or the pain its caused millions of people and what’s left of their families.
http://lyneussfields.blogspot......gious.html

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 1:02PM

Ah. Anti-Mormon Bigot. How refreshing. And Romney "molests" children now? Can you provide "proof". Of course not. But your hatred has exposed yourself.

max_kain| 8.30.12 @ 1:33PM

Don't waste your breath on Lyneuss Fields. This individual is one of those who merely wants to attack and detract. From what I've inferred from their previous posts and blogs, they would have the federal govt. disband the LDS church. The first ammendment doesn't mean anything to a person like this, only their own blind hatred of everything that is different from what they believe. I've debated people like this on other sites. They would rather Obama win a second term even though their own religious rights are being trampled under than vote for a "Mormon" (and many I've seen are Obama supporters who just get the added pleasure of attacking the LDS church in addition to the candidate).

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 4:52PM

If you read your Bible, which I'm sure you don't, you'll find that Lott had Sex with his Daughters.

Does that make Judaism, and by association - Christianity - something we should be wary of?

Idiot.

Ryan| 8.31.12 @ 4:12PM

You'll also probably find out that it's a sin...

RCV| 8.31.12 @ 6:06PM

Is that Trent Lott who had sex with his daughters? Or do you mean Lot (Genesis 19)? Just wondering...

TLP| 8.31.12 @ 6:17PM

No, that's your Mother, whom I thanked a Lott, for s*cking my d*ck.

RCV| 8.31.12 @ 7:17PM

...and I haven't heard that one since elementary school!!

gray man| 8.30.12 @ 11:25PM

moron

Lyneuss Fields | 8.30.12 @ 3:17PM

Of course it's much easier for denial in your environment which lacks reason, regardless of your passion. The First Amendment to The Constitution does not infer the right of 19th and 20th century Mormons to violate United States law, and revelation of their crimes has nothing to do with whether President Obama is re-elected or not. What boneheads you and Kusarigama are!

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 4:12PM

Funny. I have actually read " History, Comprehensive History" all volumes and good portions of "Journal of Discourses". Never found murder, rape, and extortion referenced by your drivel. Of course, if you found that there then perhaps your tin foil hat is just a tad too tight.

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 4:53PM

He's a Douchebag.

Ignore him.

Lyneuss Fields | 8.30.12 @ 6:26PM

All good molesters--this means you two--are liars, ignore evidence, lob insults to obstruct facts that evidence uncovers and continue to misrepresent the truth.

max_kain| 8.30.12 @ 6:39PM

Got evidence to the libel? Come, I am sure for you to accuse myself and kusarigama or even Romeny of anything you have stone evidence. My evidence of your religious intolerance and bigotry is your own blog and your own posts. We lobbed insults? You straight out in accused all practicioners of the LDS church as child molesters. You exemplify irrationality and hysteria, "Morons are all child molesters" and when anyone proves you wrong you scream "liar", stick your fingers in your ears, and say we are the unreasonable ones. Grow up.

Lyneuss Fields | 8.30.12 @ 8:15PM

You boneheads are giving more of the same passionate and emotional gibberish. The power and corruption within the LDS Church lies within its Melchizdek Priesthood. Women and children (under 8 years of age) are ineligible for admission; therefore, they not indoctrinated. This duality gives church leaders deniability concerning their crimes, but this also makes non-priesthood holders innocent of the abuse. You need to pull your heads out of your asses and look at the evidence in my hyperlink above.

max_kain| 8.30.12 @ 10:59PM

Again you persist with your childish attacks and insults. Your previous debates with me on other stories also made it clear: you don't care about the election or the freedoms we're losing, the reasons why most of us are here, you just want to bash Mormons. Also, for the record, I have read that trash you posted, I especially love how you show your true colors when you demand that the FBI lock up the leadership of the LDS church and disband it. It's pure garbage thrown together by a hateful little mind with more in common with Achmadinejad and the Islamic fundamentalists than any Western religion. Then, to justify you have to rewrite, bend, or distort history to try and put people who never did a thing to you, living or dead, in a bad light as criminals, dupes, child molesters, or rapists.

It's funny, but you aren't the first person to do things like this. Early Roman citizens turned over Christians to be executed or thrown to the lions. In the Middle Ages and later in the reformation they would bear false witness against their neighbors and accuse them of witchcraft. Nazi accused Jews of conspiracy and crime as well, so did the members of the deep South who attempted to prevent blacks from going to school with whites. What a sad little existence you have, for the center of your life to revolve around spreading lies, hatred, and bigotry.

Lyneuss Fields | 8.31.12 @ 12:51PM

First off Mr. Kain, I blog on many threads which have nothing to do with Mormonism (see Ross Kaminsky's article yesterday). So your first assertion (right off the bat) and by a quick observation, is false. What follows in your first paragraph is more of your emotional gibberish. If you really had any balls Max, you would have called Utah State Attorney General (Mark Shurtleff) to verify claims I've made in my blog.
So now let’s move on to your second paragraph. 19th century American history is backed up by a word you continue to dislike—evidence. Mountain Meadows Massacre and Mormon Wars in Illinois, Missouri and Utah Territory during the 19th century America can be quickly and accurately researched online to substantiate assertions in my blogs or posts on this website. Behavior by Romans against Christians or Nazi's against Jews (while horrid) did not occur in America with its Constitution; therefore, they are irrelevant. Mormon Church leaders are, and have always been, molesters while subject to America's Constitution. In the 21st century, your emotion and liar tactics will no longer "float your Mormon bullshit boat".
http://lyneussfields.blogspot......-hoax.html

gray man| 8.30.12 @ 11:26PM

you really are a retard.

RCV| 8.31.12 @ 6:07PM

Mr. Fields, you are an unadulterated religious bigot. get lost.

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.30.12 @ 3:45PM

I don't blame the locals for feeling resentment for the influx of Mormons in their town. I'd probably feel the same resentment. They have Utah...parts of Idaho and Arizona. Let them stay there.

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 4:57PM

What If Jews influxed in to your Town?

What about Blacks?

What about Christian Scientists?

The Mormons have as much right to set up shop wherever they want, as anybody else.

Last I looked?

We still had Freedom of Religion, around here.

I'm thinking, you couldn't have a Better Neighbor, than these people.

RCV| 8.31.12 @ 6:10PM

Well, that's twice in one day, we've agreed. Armageddon must be approaching.

I know many, many Mormons here in Southern California. I have never met one -- not one -- I wouldn't be delighted to have as a next door neighbor. In evaluating them personally, I'm no more interested in what Brigham Young or Joseph Smith did than I am in what the Borgia Popes did when I get to know people who happen to be Catholics.

TLP| 8.31.12 @ 6:20PM

How can you be so right, sometimes?

And, a Blithering Obama Suckup, the rest of the time?

TLP| 8.31.12 @ 6:22PM

You must be taking you Medications, now.

RCV| 8.31.12 @ 7:18PM

...thanks to the Affordable Care Act!

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 4:14PM

Maybe that is the way they do it in Russia, Dimirty.

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.30.12 @ 4:41PM

I'm Russian by religion only not by birth or blood. I'm 100% American. With the stranglehold the LDS has over the state of Utah I wouldn't want a Mormon majority in my city and I'm not ashamed nor afraid to admit that I would take an Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic or even Protestant majority in my town over a Mormon majority. I like Mormons on an individual level but I don't want them having any political power.

Kusarigama| 8.30.12 @ 4:56PM

Really. So a majority of any religion "controlling" your town is "Ok" by you? But not others? How fascist of you.

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.30.12 @ 5:19PM

How liberal are you? I guess even self-proclaimed American conservatives have dranken the PC Koolaid where you can't say what you really think and God forbid you would rather live in a place run by people of a similiar religion, culture, traditions, etc....somehow that makes you a fascist. That's a bunch of PC liberal bullshit and it will be the death of Western civilization.

TLP| 8.30.12 @ 4:59PM

I'm wondering what the CRIME RATE IS in Utah?

Wanna bet it's one of The Lowest?

max_kain| 8.30.12 @ 6:46PM

"I like Mormons on an individual level but I don't want them having any political power." that's pretty much the same argument as "some of my best friends are . Do you feel the same way about Catholics? How about Baptists? Jews? A reason behind the 1st amendment is to allow a person to hold office without passing some religious litmus test. Why should anyone have to check their religion at the door to hold office? As long as you're not using your office to discriminate against other religions or groups, what does it matter?

The problem isn't that you have a problem with any group holding political power, it's that you have a problem with some groups holding political power, that's wrong and that's bigoted. No one should be prevented from holding political power based solely on religion.

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.31.12 @ 2:13AM

Jesus what kind of a puff ball fruitcake nation am I living in now where a man cannot even express an honest opinion without being tagged a bigot. I guess all of the good Syrian people who don't want the Wahhabist FSA to gain political power in their country are bigots as well? I think it was Pat Buchanan who said that "All Politics is Tribal" and he's right. I am comfortable with Catholics in political power and all of my life Protestants (be they mainline or evangelical) have had significant influence in the American political system. Jews are usually the most hardline liberals (both socially and fiscally) in the American political system.

When I say I wouldn't want a Mormon influx in a city they deemed religiously significant such as Nauvoo, Illinois it is precisely because such an influx would marginalize the Navou natives who would have to take a backseat to Mormon designs on the city. You have to remember that Mormons believe that zion is in America so you have to ask yourself if Mormons became the dominant religion and political force in America would you want to be a Palestinian?

C. Vernon Crisler | 8.30.12 @ 7:38PM

Mormons are very often much more politically conservative than the average Christians of any denomination.

C. Vernon Crisler | 8.30.12 @ 7:42PM

Meant for Dimitry.....

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.31.12 @ 2:23AM

They are by and large a good family oriented people. Like I said I have nothing personal against Mormons, but if I was to pick a religion that seemed to have been created by Freemasons the LDS would seem to fit that mold. I don't like the secretive nature of their leadership and I don't forget that in the 19th century non-Mormon migrants passing through Utah were massacred and Mormons involved tried to blame the massacre on American Indians. I know I am prejudiced against the LDS Church. I don't like their temples and I don't like their missionary efforts to tear Trinity believing Christians away from the fold (a view that I hold against Evangelicals as well).

gray man| 8.30.12 @ 11:27PM

I live in utah, there is no stranglehold.

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.31.12 @ 2:34AM

There's no stranglehold because its a state within the United States that has to conform to Federal law it would be a different story should the United States ever fall apart and Utah and predominantly Mormon parts of Idaho, Nevada and Arizona suddenly became a new country. It could very well happen. You'd see then how well non-Mormons would be treated if such a thing were to ever happen and with the current financial crisis it could happen.

As for Nauvoo a small town with a population of 1149 the town's natives can quickly be overwhelmed and lose any voice in the matters of their town should the city's population boom to ten times or more than it is now and they find themselves being a very small minority. All politics is tribal.

gray man| 8.30.12 @ 11:28PM

I live in utah, there is no stranglehold.

Central Texan| 8.31.12 @ 10:19AM

Wow, Dimitry. You're a little too anxiety-ridden when you fear the United States could "fall apart" and the predominantly Mormon parts of the West "suddenly become a new country." "It could very well happen," you say, given "the current financial crisis."

Then, oh yes, THEN we'd see "how well non-Mormons would be treated."

A little over the top I'd say. As to how Mormons would treat others when in political power, how about considering how Mormons NOW treat others: with respect and kindness.

Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 8.31.12 @ 11:07AM

I do believe the USA will fall apart in the near future and what follows will most likely make the breakup of Yugoslavia and its subsequent wars look tame.

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