Beginning in August 1838, hostilities erupted into armed aggression between Mormons and Missourians, resulting in what has been termed the Mormon War.Vigilante groups, county regulators and state militia attempted to forcibly remove or expel Mormons. The conflict concluded in November 1838 when Mormon militia leaders surrendered to state military officers and church leaders submitted to authorities for trial in connection with the disturbances.The Mormon-Missouri conflict of 1838 consisted of seven military episodes or campaigns. Brigham Young University associate professor of church history and doctrine Alexander L. Baugh's study examines each of these and provides alternative explanations to the problems and issues associated with recent interpretations of the conflict. Baugh is also the author of a book that covers the topic, "A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri."Had the local and state officers been totally committed to equity and justice, the criminal activities perpetrated by vigilantes against Mormons would have been quickly suppressed, the offenders brought to justice and order restored.Unfortunately for Mormons, events proved that most of the civil and military officials were religiously intolerant and chose to stand with the political and social majority. The state's citizens and officials not only failed to protect or even accommodate Mormonism, but many in these groups actively sought to eradicate it.Baugh also argues that contrary to popular belief by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and even some Mormon historians, Missouri Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs' Oct. 27, 1838, Extermination Order did not intend to authorize the state militia or its citizens to openly kill or eradicate Latter-day Saints.Although Boggs did not like Mormons, he did not condone the unnecessary taking of human life. In a report issued to the Missouri House of Representatives, Boggs explained that he called up the militia "to prevent the effusion of blood.""What I found is that everybody thinks this Extermination Order is 'go kill everybody.' But Boggs doesn't have that mindset. He's not trying to kill people, he wants them removed," Baugh said in an interview. "He wants them out of the state, and he wants someone else to deal with them."Significantly, the first definition of the word "exterminate" as defined in Webster's 1828 dictionary 1828.mshaffer.com/d/search/word,exterminate reads, "to drive from within the limits or borders." Given this definition, Boggs' order probably should be interpreted to read "the Mormons must be exterminated (or in other words) driven from the State ... for the public peace."Thus, Baugh concludes that Boggs was calling for the militia to remove the Mormons — not their death sentence."There were numbers of lives lost as a result of the Mormon conflict, but to associate them with necessarily the Extermination Order would not necessarily be correct," Baugh said.Although there was wrong-doing on the part of Mormons — much of which was a result of well-meaning defenders or, in some cases, extremists — the scales of culpability and responsibility weigh heavily on the side of the Missourians."Boggs? Everything he did was wrong in the Mormon conflict. He just did not act correctly. But to subscribe to the idea that he's out to exterminate or to entirely kill and annihilate Mormons is not the case," Baugh said.Baugh concludes that Mormons experienced significantly more persecution, abuse, mistreatment and injustice from the Missourians than what Missourians suffered from them.Given that many actions by Missourians were unlawful, in the majority of instances Mormons had every right to defend themselves, particularly when local and state officials failed or refused to intervene in their behalf.
More information about "A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri."
Mormon Times' Michael De Groote contributed to this story.