Thirty-Three (1838)The Beginning of the Danite Militia
Before the July 4th celebrations, the LDS people (the “saints”) had once again
organized a militia—a group of men who came to be known as the “Danites.”^60 They were
led and organized by Sampson Avard,^61 under the invisible sanction and direction of Sidney
Rigdon, Edward Partridge, and Brigham Young. Although history has attempted to connect
Joseph, he had nothing to do with the Danite organization—absolutely nothing! He could
not force himself to sign a manifesto pertaining to the society. Although under mandate to
give the people what they desired, at this time Joseph lapsed and was only willing to go so
far. By now, Hyrum’s authority in the church carried almost the same weight as Joseph’s;
and, seeing his brother’s anguish concerning it, Hyrum ended up placing Joseph’s name on
the Danite manifesto ostensibly for him, to temper the requests of the other Church leaders
who sanctioned it.
The Danites were responsible for ensuring that the mandates of the Church’s High
Council were fulfilled—including confiscating the property of all members disillusioned
with the Church. Many of the members who were threatened by these sanctioned renegades
fled Far West and Caldwell County to the surrounding areas, explaining their plight to the
local people. The Mormons were doing to each other what had been done to them in
Jackson County—illegally taking land and possessions. The July 4th
procession commenced forming at 10 o’clock a. m., in the following order:
First, the infantry (militia); second, the Patriarchs of the Church; the
president, vice-president, and orator; the Twelve Apostles, presidents of the
stakes, and High Council; Bishop and counselors; architects, ladies and
gentlemen. The cavalry brought up the rear of the large procession, which
marched to music, and formed a circle, with the ladies in front, round the
excavation [of the new temple plot].^62One can only imagine what a non-member might have thought upon viewing a
procession that included an infantry and cavalry; and there was little doubt about what it
meant when Sidney delivered his sermon:
We take God and all the holy angels to witness this day, that we warn all men
in the name of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more forever. For from this hour,
we will bear it no more, our rights shall no more be trampled on with
impunity. The man or the set of men, who attempts it, does it at the expense of
their lives. And that mob that comes on us to disturb us; it shall be between us
and them a war of extermination; for we will follow them till the last drop of
their blood is spilled, or else they will have to exterminate us: for we will carry
the seat of war to their own houses, and their own families, and one party or
the other shall be utterly destroyed.—Remember it then all MEN.We will never be the aggressors, we will infringe on the rights of no people;
but shall stand for our own until death. We claim our own rights, and are
willing that all others shall enjoy theirs. No man shall be at liberty to come
into our streets, to threaten us with mobs, for if he does, he shall atone for it