Mormonism and violence
Mormonism and its relations to violence / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The history of the Latter Day Saint movement includes numerous acts of violence both by members and their persecutors, continuing into modern times.[1][2]
Mormons faced significant persecution in the early 19th century, including instances of forced displacement and mob violence in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois.[3][4] Notably, the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, was shot and killed alongside his brother, Hyrum Smith, in Carthage, Illinois in 1844, while in jail awaiting trial on charges of treason and inciting a riot to destroy the Nauvoo Expositor.[5]
Mormons have also committed acts of violence. The Danites, a vigilante group initially sanctioned by Mormon leaders, burned and looted Davies County and engaged in clashes with the Missouri state militia during the 1838 Mormon War. Mormons settlers in the western United States participated in various conflicts, including the Walker and Black Hawk wars, which involved clashes with Native American tribes. Additionally, there were incidents such as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the Battle Creek Massacre, and the Circleville Massacre, in which Mormons were implicated in acts of violence against non-Mormons.
The record of these incidences of violence have negatively affected both the history and the doctrines of the Latter Day Saint movement.[6]