Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1966 A Study of the Political Involvements in the Career of Joseph Smith Edward G. Thompson Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons, History Commons, Mormon Studies Commons, and the Political Science Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Thompson, Edward G., "A Study of the Political Involvements in the Career of Joseph Smith" (1966). Theses and Dissertations. 5170. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5170 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. 0700groo 2 A STUDY OF THE POLITICAL involvements IN THE CAREERCABEEBOF JOSEPH SMITH y I1 A thesis submitted to the faculty of the department of graduate studies in religious instruction brigham young university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts by edward G thompson february 1966 acknowledgments this study was not completed without much effort and personal sacrifice by the many persons contributing to the final product A sincere measure of appreciation and esteem must go to dr hyrum L andrus chairman of the advisory committee for his guidance direction and support from the inception to the completion of this thesis other members of the graduate committee who offered constructive help comments and support were gustive 0 larson russell R rich and chauncey C riddle without the cooperation of all the teachers and the administrators who took time out of their busy schedules to help the writer complete the research and the writing this study could not have been completed their professionalism and desire to help in research work and presenta- tion of a quality work is sincerely appreciated the typing of the final copies was done by mrs cordia jorgenson and iris adams their work and helpful suggestions added significantly to the quality of the final product the untiring effort in correcting proofreading and typing of the rough drafts by anne Villiwilliamsonamson is certainly appreciated the support which was received from many friends and associates was extremely helpful in encouraging the completion apprecia- tion is here given to patricia lazenby and N earl deschamps for their careful reading and grammatical suggestions the authors sincere thanks and appreciation is offered to other persons who in any way had a part large or small in the completion of this thesis TABLE OPOFCONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 1 I1 introduction 1 0 P 0 0 1 the problem 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 2 importance of the study 0 0 0 1.1 1 1 2 defwitmitnitiqnsionslonsof terms used 0 0 0 methods and procedures 0 0 1 41 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 II11 eieeleTIEeezTEE AMMICANAMERICAN historical SETTING IN THE EARLY 1840s 0 0 6 political unrest 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 4 P 0 7 characteristics of the frontier 0 westward movement 0 10 transportation e 12 Iiimmigrationgration 12 educationducation 14 Humanitarianhumanitariansmhumanitarianismhanitariaijismsm and abolition 15 16 slavery 0 angloamericananglo american relations 18 oregon territory 20 texas and mexico acquisitions 22 liiIII111 SETTING OF theTBETBZNATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE OF 18718441871837164418571837 16441844 25 settingbetting during 1857181837181857184218571837 18421842 25 campaign and election of 1840 28 national political plotepicture between 184018441840 1844 5030 IV ILLINOIS IN 18081853185818591838183918581838 1853185918331839 5434 mormon acceptance in illinois 5939 CHAPTER PAGE V philosophical ASPECTS OF JOSEPH SMITHS THOUGHT 45 thetho setting and idea of the kingdom of god 45 development of the spiritual basis of the kingdom of god 54 theory of the social and economic order 58 the political part of the kingdom of god p 61 VI THE POLITICAL involvements OF JOSEPH SMITH AND THE MORMONS FROM 1853185918331839 TO 1842 70 developments during 185318591839 70 developments during 1840 7573 developments during 1841 0 78 VII ifietepTHP POLITICAL involvements OF JOSEPH SMITH AND THE MORMONS FROM 1842 TO 1844 86 developments during 1842 9 1 1 10 1 11 1 86 developments during 18451843 98 1 Is VIII THE POLITICAL VIEWS ANDAMD presidential PLATFORM 111 A popular government 117 foreign policy 0 e 118 national security e 0 i 1199 governmental decay 0 0 120 congressional reform 0 122 more economy and less taxation 122 ffjiidiciousjudicious tariff 125123 r federal banking system 125123 prison reform 125 military reform 127 CHAPTERCHARTER PAGE presidential and governmental power 127 y Slaveryslavery 128 annexation and expansion 150130100 IX THE POLITICAL involvements OF JOSEPH SMITH WRINGDURING 1844 AMIAND THE presidential CAMPAIGN 155135133 the nauvoo charter 157137 troubles within the church 148 X conclusions 155153 bibliography 160160igo APPENDIX A 169 APPENDIX B 170 PENDIXAPPENDIXAj CG 171 AMNDIXAPPENDIX D 172 APFENDAPPENDIXIX E 177 APPENDIX F 178 1 APPENDIX G 40 18484 APPENDIXAPPENDDC H 0 185 APPFMIXAPPENDIX I1 195193 CHAPTER I1 introduction in the history of the united states of america there have been various ethnic groups which have been harassed because of their beliefs after some adjustments most of these groups have been accepted by the populace the members of thechurchthe church of jesus christ of latter day saints were one of the most severely persecuted of these minority groups wherever they ventwent they were jeeredjeeped hatedbatedand rebuked for their beliefs dwingduring this time of conflict the cormonsmormons were trying to demonstrate their loyalityroyalityloyality to the united states government by sussue r tainingbaining the principles of freedom as contained in the constitution many explanations have been put forth for their difficulties but little has been written about the political factors involved soesomsome of the most severe persecutions of the cormonsmormons culminated with the violent death of joseph smith the mormon prophet at carthage illinois on june 27 1844 at the time of his death he was the leader of the most powerful element in illinois politics mayor of the largest city in the state the lieutenantlieutenantgeneralgeneral of the largest trained military unit in the united states outside of the federal army and a candidate for the highest political office in the nation thetthatof the president of the united states I1 THE PROBTPROBLEM statement jof tthe problem it is the purpose of this study to examine the political elements and issues in the united states from 2 the latter part of 18581838 to june 27 1844 to determine their relationship to the death of joseph smithsm4smalthalth this study includes an analysis of national state and local issues and sentiment during that time as they have a bearing upon the subject the priprimaryry period of study is the illinois era of latter day saint history which includes the events that transpired from the winter of 18585318585918383918581838 5939 to june 27 1844 A less intensive study includes events after june 1844 to determine the political situation and the consequences involved in the martyrdom of joseph smith personal diaries journals newspaper articles and books published around this period as well as those published at later dates were studied the issues and problems of the kirtland and missouri periods were considered when they directly related to the illinois period II11 importance OF THE STUDY this thesis is an attempt to collect evaluate and present in an objective manner the major political issues and involvements based on the theory that the rugged individualism of the typical frontiersmen in contrast to the close knit society of the latter day saints was an important factor in the contention between the two groups which led to the martyrdom of joseph smith iliillIII111 definitions OF TERMS USED kingdom ofoj god according to the latter day saints the kingdom of god was the organization which was set up in modern times by jesus christ through the prophet joseph smith this system included not only an ecclesiastical organization but social economic and political 53 organizations as well it was held that the political organization of the kingdom of god would eventually become a separate and distinct organization from the ecclesiastical this system would be the govern- mental arm in the preparation for the second coming of christ the kingdom of god in all its parts would be governed and directed by the 1 priesthood the term government of god was often used interchangeably with the kingdom of god the political portion of this kingdom was studied in some detail to determine its relationship to the death of joseph smith the church the church was considered to be the religious com- ponent of the kingdom of god As such it was the organization which administered the ordinances necessary for the spiritual salvation of man these ordinances are referred to in this study as the saving ordinances of the gospel of jesus christ or the saving ordinances of the church einelnkinkingdomom of heaven the kingdom of heaven as used in this thesis is that organization that jesus christ was expected to bring with him when he returned the second time to the earth it was considered to be the perfected heavenly prototype after which the kingdom of god on earth was patterned with the necessary machinery to govern all the earth and everything connected with it prophet the term prophet as it was used