[Lucy Mack Smith] Alvin Salisbury, the fourth child and second son of Katharine Smith Salisbury and Wilkins J. Salisbury, is born en route to Missouri, about thirty-five miles from Huntsville. Lucy becomes very ill from exposure. (1)
-- Jun 10, 1838
The "Danites" are organized during a clandestine meeting when Jared Carter, George W. Robinson, and Sampson Avard, "under the instruction of the [First] [P]residency, formed a secret military society, called the 'daughter of Zion.'" Avard instructs the newly inducted members: "As the Lord had raised up a prophet in these last days like unto Moses it shall be the duty of this band to obey him in all things, and whatever he requires you shall perform being ready to give up life and property for the advancement of the cause[.] When any thing is to be performed no member shall have the privilege of judging whether it would be right or wrong but shall engage in its accomplishment and trust God for the result[.]" The next month Joseph Smith's scribe writes in "The Scriptory Book of Joseph Smith, Jr.": "[W]e have a company of Danites in these times, to put right physically that which is not right, and to cleanse the Church of verry great evils which hath hitherto existed among us in
asmuch as they cannot be put to right by teachings & persuas[ions]." (2)
-- Jun 11, 1838
After digging a well on Lyman Wight's property in Daviess county, Missouri, with Joseph and Martin Harris, William Swartzell suggests Joseph name the place. He calls it Adam-ondi-Ahman because, "there was no place by that name under heaven." (3)
-- Jun 16, 1838
Smith, George Albert: Moved to Missouri 1838, arriving in Far West 16 June 1838. (4)
Smith, John: Arrived 16 June 1838. Subsequently settled in Daviess County. (4)
-- 17/Jun 19, 1838
[Lucy Mack Smith] Sidney Rigdon's "salt sermon" intensifies hostilities. The Danites are organized around this time. (1)
-- Jun 17, 1838
Sidney Rigdon's "salt sermon" inflames feelings on both sides. (3)
First Counselor Sidney Rigdon preaches his "Salt Sermon" as a warning against dissenters at Far West. Quoting the fifth chapter of Matthew ("Ye are the salt of the earth. If the salt has lost its savor, it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men." Matt 5:13) he explains when men embrace the gospel and afterward lose their faith, it is the duty of the Saints to trample them under their feet and calls on the people to rise en masse and rid the country of such a nuisance. Rigdon explains, "when a county, or body of people have individuals among them with whom they do not wish to associate and a public expression is taken against their remaining among them and such individuals do not remove, it is the principle of republicanism itself that gives that community a right to expel them forcibly and no law will prevent it." (2)
[Joseph Smith] Sidney Rigdon delivers the "Salt Sermon" which generated much excitement in the church and among detractors. (5)
[Missouri War] Sidney Rigdon delivers "Salt Sermon" condemning Mormon dissenters. (6)
-- Jun 18, 1838
Hyrum and Uncle John Smith, Sampson Avard, and 83 other Mormons sign an ultimatum directed at Oliver Cowdery, David and John Whitmer, Lyman E. Johnson, and William W. Phelps, warning them to leave the county immediately lest a "fatal calamity shall befall you." (3)
Second counselor Hyrum Smith and Assistant Counselor/Missouri stake president John Smith join eighty Danites in signing a threatening letter to dissidents Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Lyman E. Johnson, and William W. Phelps. Joseph Smith's Scriptory Book notes: "These men took warning, and soon they were seen bounding over the prairie like the scape Goat to carry of[f] their own sins." (2)
-- (Tue) Jun 19, 1838
Sidney Rigdon preached and called upon the LDS "Gideonites" to "drive out the dissenters." Joseph Smith spoke of a new Church organization plan, saying that any who criticized the heads of the Church should be driven over the prairies like deer by a pack of hounds. This Rigdon speech is often confused with his so-called "Salt Sermon" of July 4th. (7)
Footnotes:
1 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - Kenny, Scott, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
4 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
5 - Wikipedia, Joseph Smith Chronology, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.
6 - LeSueur, Stephen C., The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, Appendix: Chronology of Events in Missouri, 1838-1839
7 - Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm
LDS History Timeline
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