Confessions of John D. Lee. Table of Contents. MORMONISM UNVEILED. CONTENTS. ------------ TITLE PAGE AND PREFACES. INTRODUCTORY. CHAPTER I. A STORMY BEGINNING. Early Life of Lee - Death of his Mother - Hardships and Trials - Becomes a Mail Carrier in the Wilds of Missouri at an Early Age - Is a Stage Driver - Abandons the business - Reflections upon the condition of the Country. CHAPTER II. THE INDUSTRIOUS YOUNG MAN. Remains on his Uncle's Farm - Volunteers in the Black Hawk War - Goes to St. Louis - Engages as Fireman on a Steamer - Cholera Experience - Finds a Friend - Goes to Galena and enters a Store as Clerk - Adventures with the Miners - Anecdote of Ulysses Grant - Lee Marries Agathe Ann Woolsey. CHAPTER III. LEE BECOMES A MORMON. In 1838 Lee first hears the Mormon Doctrine Preached - Embraces the Doctrine of Mormonism - Sells out and Removes his Family to Far West, Mo. - Is Baptized and Joins the Church - Fight at Gallatin, at the Polls - The People Consecrate their Property to God. CHAPTER IV. THE SAINTS ARE BESET WITH TROUBLES. The Saints Decline to give up their Property to the Church - Troubles Between the Saints and Gentiles - Companies of Armed Men are formed for Driving Out the Mormons - A Providential Warning - Conflicts between the Saints and Gentiles. CHAPTER V. THE MORMON WAR IN MISSOURI. file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Acrobat Version/leeindexcd.html (1 of 5) [1/24/2002 11:11:48 PM] Confessions of John D. Lee. Table of Contents. Death of Capt. Patton - Rebuke of the Prophet - Description of the Prophet - Continued Troubles with the Gentiles - Massacre at Haughn's Mill - Miraculous Cure of Isaac Laney, in Answer to Prayer - Cowardice of Col. Hinkle - Surrender of Joseph Smith, the Prophet - The Saints Surrender and are Disarmed - Terms of the Surrender. CHAPTER VI. LEE LOCATES THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Account of the Surrender Continued - Lee refuses to Abandon his Faith - Returns to his Home - Finds his House Burned and Property Destroyed - Temple Block - Garden of Eden - Site of the Altar Built by Adam - Suffering during the Winter - Lee is ordained to the Priesthood - Holy Patriarchal Blessing. CHAPTER VII. THE SAINTS GATHER AT NAUVOO. Lee returns to Illinois - Goes on a Mission to Preach - Lively Experiences by the Way - Is Strengthened of God and Resists Temptation - False Doctrines taught by Brigham Young, and their Degrading Tendencies - Preaches in Tennessee - Beholds a Vision which is realized - Mission is Successful - Organizes Branch Churches - Returns to Illinois. CHAPTER VIII. LEE CONTINUES HIS MISSIONARY WORK. Spends the Winter at Home - Foundation of the Temple laid at Nauvoo - Teachings of the Prophet - Lee builds a Home in Nauvoo - Goes on a Mission in 1841 - Resumes his Labors in Tennessee - Makes many Converts - Holds a Series of Discussions. CHAPTER IX. MORMONISM - ITS DOCTRINE AND HOW IT ORIGINATED. Lee holds a Discussion with Parson Hall - Identity of the Ten Tribes of Israel with the American Indians shown - Divine Origin of the Book of Mormon - Lee holds another and final Discussion with Rev. Cantrell - Many Converts are Baptized and added to the Church. CHAPTER X. LEE CASTS OUT DEVILS AND DOES OTHER WONDERFUL WORKS. He goes to Jackson County and holds a public Discussion - Wonderful Manifestation of Divine Power - Lee rebukes Evil Spirits and they are still - Casts out Devils from Mark Young - Returns to Nauvoo - Vislts friends - Condition of Zion - Denunciation of Brigham Young. CHAPTER XI. A TENNESSEE PLANTER MAKES IT HOT FOR PARSON LEE. file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Acrobat Version/leeindexcd.html (2 of 5) [1/24/2002 11:11:48 PM] Confessions of John D. Lee. Table of Contents. Lee returns to Tennessee to Preach - Is kindly received - Goes to Nashville - Preaches in the Country - Is assailed by a Mob - Baptizes the Wife of Col. Tucker - The Colonel Hunts him with a Loaded Rifle - Escapes from the County to avoid Arrest--Returns to Nauvoo. CHAPTER XII. MATTERS OF PECULIAR INTEREST AT NAUVOO. Affairs at Nauvoo - The Nauvoo Legion organized - Building of the Hall of the Seventies - The Devil Enraged - The Doctrine of Plural or Celestial Marriage first taught - Domestic Troubles among the Saints - Joseph Smith becomes a Candidate for the Presidency of the U. S. - Lee goes to Kentucky on an Electioneering Tour - The Assassination of the Prophet causes his return to Nauvoo. CHAPTER XIII. DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH - SOME OF BRIGHAM YOUNG'S CRIMES. Assassination of Joseph Smith and his Brother Hyrum - Causes of the Assassination - Successor of the Prophet - Brigham Young Chosen - He Steals the Inheritance of Young Joseph - Lee is appointed to various Offices of Trust and Honor - Assassination of Erwin by orders of Brigham Young - Secret Murders and Robberies by the Saints - Teachings of the Church - Arrogance and Oppressions of Brigham Young. CHAPTER XIV. INSIDE VIEW OF POLYGAMY AND THE DOCTRINE OF SEALING. Celestial Marriage taught and practiced - Lee embraces the Doctrine and takes a number of Wives - Troubles with the Gentiles - The Saints prepare to Emigrate - Baptisms, Washings and Anolntings in the Temple. CHAPTER XV. THE SAINTS MOVE WESTWARD. Reminiscences of the Prophet Joseph - His Fourth of July Toast - Lee removes his Family from Nauvoo - Great Sacrifices of Property by the Saints to get away - Brigham Young blesses Lee - The Saints move through Iowa - Lee restores a Blind Man to Sight! - Settlements established at Garden Grove and Pisgah - Arrival at Council Bluffs - The Missouri River Crossed. CHAPTER XVI. LEE GOES ON AN EXPEDITION TO SANTA FE. The Saints prepare to go into Winter Quarters - Lee is sent to the Mormon Battalion at Santa Fe to bring back the Soldiers pay - A Long and Dangerous Journey and safe Return - Follows an Invisible Guide - Miraculous deliverance from Indians - Safe Arrival - Finds his family suffering. file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Acrobat Version/leeindexcd.html (3 of 5) [1/24/2002 11:11:48 PM] Confessions of John D. Lee. Table of Contents. CHAPTER XVII. LEE IS TREATED BADLY BY THE "BRETHREN." In camp - Angry words with Brigham Young - Gives an account of his Trip and Pays over the Money - Contrast, 1847 and 1877 - Opens a Store at Winter Quarters - Is Sealed to a number of Wives - Summer Quarters laid out - Life on the Border - Bravery of Lee's Wives - Jealousy of the Brethren - Murmurings of the Saints against Lee - Ingratitude and Heartlessness of Brigham Young. CHAPTER XVIII. LAST CONFESSION AND STATEMENT OF JOHN D. LEE Closing events of Lee's Life - Startling Revelations of Crimes and Church Secrets, implicating Brigham Young and the Mormon Leaders - The Mountain Meadows Massacre, and all the particulars thereof. CHAPTER XIX. CONFESSION CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED, MARCH 16, 1877, SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO HIS EXECUTION. More Startling Revelations - Going "Over the Rim of the Basin - Brigham "goes to God" with his crimes, and is strengthened in a "Vision" - A "bully" Warrior - A model Indian Agent - Brigham preaches a "Red-hot" Sermon - The "Old Boss" on his travels - Brigham betrays Lee - Tricks of "Dirty Fingered Jake Hamblin - Some "Blood Atonements" - Some "Holy" men and their deeds - Exploits of the "Destroying Angels - Shocking Barbarities - End of Confession. CHAPTER XX. ARREST OF JOHN D. LEE BY WM. STROKES, DEPUTY U. S. MARSHALL. Brigham Imagines he is going to be Assassinated - Lively Adventures of the Deputy Marshal - Hunting Lee in his Stronghold - Efforts of his sons to prevent his Arrest - Lee is found concealed in a pen, and is Arrested - A pungent Toast by one of his Daughters - The Journey to Beaver City. CHAPTER XXI. TRIAL OF LEE AT BEAVER CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, SEPTEMBER, 1876. Depositions of Brigham Young, George A. Smith, etc.- Witnesses Manufactured to order - Startling Developments - Determination of the Mormon Leaders to convict Lee. CHAPTER XXII. TRIAL OF LEE CONTINUED. Testimony of Witnesses - Getting at the bottom facts by a circuitous route - Model Witnesses. file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Acrobat Version/leeindexcd.html (4 of 5) [1/24/2002 11:11:48 PM] Confessions of John D. Lee. Table of Contents. CHAPTER XXIII. TRIAL OF LEE CONCLUDED. Conclusion of the Evidence - Conviction and Sentence of Lee - Additional facts. CHAPTER XXIV. NAMES AND PRESENT RESIDENCES. Of the Mountain Meadows Assassins, as given by Lee. CHAPTER XXV. EXECUTION OF JOHN D. LEE. APPENDIX LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. Main Table of Contents file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Acrobat Version/leeindexcd.html (5 of 5) [1/24/2002 11:11:48 PM] Confessions of John D. Lee. Preface and Title Page. MORMONISM UNVEILED; OR THE LIFE AND CONFESSIONS OF THE LATE MORMON BISHOP, JOHN D. LEE; (Written by Himself) EMBRACING A HISTORY OF MORMONISM FROM ITS INCEPTION DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME, WITH AN EXPOSI- TION OF THE SECRET HISTORY, SIGNS, file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Acrobat Version/leeprefacecd.html (1 of 5) [1/24/2002 11:12:03 PM] Confessions of John D. Lee. Preface and Title Page. SYMBOLS AND CRIMES OF THE MORMON CHURCH. ALSO THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE HORRIBLE BUTCHERY KNOWN AS THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE: -------------------- ILLUSTRATED -------------------- ST. LOUIS: BRYAN, BRAND & COMPANY. NEW YORK: W. H. STELLS & CO. 1877. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1877, by BRYAN, BRAND & CO., In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. BECKTOLD & CO., BINDERS, Press of Chas. B. Woodward & Co. 315 Pine Street. 915 & 917 N. 6th st. St. Louis. PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. --------------------- JOHN D. LEE'S prominent connection with the Mormon Church, and the almost universal desire on the part of the public to know the secrets that he could tell, gave a peculiar interest to the life and doings of this man, and led to a general inquiry for his Autobiography and Confessions. This has caused the publication of several pretended "Lives and Confessions of John D. Lee," the materials for which were collected from fragmentary newspaper reports, and advertised by certain unscrupulous publishers as genuine.