| July
4, 1838 was the pinnacle of what might be called Mormonism's militaristic
spirituality, for on that day, when the corner stones were laid for the
temple in Far West, Sidney Rigdon declared
a "war of extermination" against persecutors of the Saints and Church
leaders conducted a review of the troops. The account of the day's events in
the History of the Church 3:41–42
follows
the order of the day published in the August 1838 Elders' Journal but
omits
some details, mostly of a military nature. |
| |
|
Celebration
of the 4th of July. |
|
Elders' Journal 1,
no. 4 (Aug. 1838): 60–61. |
| Order
of the day |
|
The order of the day
for the 4th of July as directed by the committee of arrangements. |
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| Committee
of arrangements |
|
The committee of arrangements
which had been previously chosen to make arrangements for the celebration
of the 4th of July and laying the corner stones of the Temple, reported
the following which was strictly adhered to. |
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| Joseph,
Hyrum, Sidney |
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First, that Presidents
Joseph Smith, Jr. be President of the day, Hyrum Smith Vice President, and
Sidney Rigdon Orator. |
|
Sidney Rigdon |
| Reynolds
Cahoon, George M. Hinkle, Jefferson Hunt |
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Second,
that Reynolds Cahoon be Marshal of the day and Col. George M. Hinkle
and Major Jefferson Hunt be Assistant Marshals. |
|
Blue: omitted in the History of
the Church
"… Sidney Rigdon, orator; Reynolds
Cahoon, chief marshal; George M. Hinckle and J. Hunt, assistant marshals;
and George W. Robinson, clerk." HC 3:41.
Jared Carter; Seymour
Brunson;
Cornelius P. Lott |
| George
W. Robinson, Philo Dibble, Seymour Brunson, Reed Peck |
|
Third,
that George W.
Robinson act as Colonel for the day, Philo Dibble
as Lieutenant Colonel, Seymour Brunson as Major, and Reed Peck as Adjutant. |
|
| Jared
Carter, Sampson Avard, Cornelius P. Lott |
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Fourth, that Jared
Carter, Sampson Avard and Cornelius P. Lott act as Generals before whom the military
band shall pass in review. |
|
| Procession |
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Fifth,
that the procession
commence forming in the morning at 10 o'clock a.m. in the following order. |
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| Infantry,
then civil procession |
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First, the infantry
in front. Second, the civil procession as follows: |
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Patriarchs,
Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney
Twelve, local church leaders
Ladies, men, cavalry |
|
1st the Patriarchs of
the Church. 2nd the President, Vice President and Orator of the day. 3rd
the Twelve. 4th the Presidents of the Stake with the High Council. 5th the
Bishop and council. 6th the architects. 7th the ladies and then the gentlemen,
the civil procession. Then the cavalry brought up the rear.
|
|
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Band
under Dimick Huntington
Gather around the cellar |
|
After the procession
was formed, which was exceedingly large. The whole marched to the notes
of a small band of music under
the direction of Dimick Huntington around the cellar which had been
dug for the house. The ladies forming a circle immediately around the cellar,
the gentleman of the civil procession in a circle next to the ladies. The
infantry in a circle next, and the cavalry outside. |
|
HC
4:41 refers to "the foundation" rather than "the cellar." |
Joseph
offers prayer
Band music |
|
After
the whole procession was thus completely formed, prayer was made by the
President of the day, and a tune played by the band and then proceeded to
lay the corner stones as follows: |
|
Commencement
of temple mandated for July 4 by D&C
115, Apr. 26, 1838. |
| Corner
stones |
|
The southeast corner
was laid by the Presidents of the Stake, assisted by twelve men. 2. The
southwest corner by the Presidents of the Elders, assisted by twelve men.
3. The northwest corner by the Bishop, assisted by twelve men. 4. The northeast
corner by the President of the Teachers, assisted by twelve men. |
|
"This house
is to be one hundred and ten feet long, and eighty feet broad." HC
3:42
|
| Music
after each corner stone |
|
After
each stone was laid, the music played a tune. |
|
|
Gather
around the stand
Oration
Hosanna
Song |
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When
the ceremony of laying the stones was completed, the ladies were formed
in a circle immediately around the stand where the oration was to be delivered
and the whole procession formed around them as previously at the cellar
of the house. The gentleman visitors were invited to come to the stand,
after which the oration was delivered, at the close of which there was a
shout of hosanna. A song was then sung by Solomon Hancock, composed by Levi
Hancock for the occasion. |
|
Sidney's Independence Day Oration
For the text of the song, see ¶ Mosiah
Hancock Autobiography
(1)
Levi Hancock |
March
to public square
Review the troops |
|
The
military band then marched from the stand and the President, Vice President,
and Orator of the day attended with the visitors, marched to the south side
of the public square and the troops under the command of their officers
chosen for the occasion, passed in review before them, after which the whole
procession was dismissed. |
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| Return
to homes |
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The whole ceremony of
the day was performed without the least disorder or confusion and the people
in the most perfect order, retired to their homes. |
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The committee of arrangements,
take the opportunity of tendering their thanks to the whole multitude who
was in attendance for their good behavior on the occasion and for the due
respect which they paid to the solemnities of the scene. |
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Expulsion from Missouri (1838)
Far West
Missouri
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