Hunt, James H. Mormonism: Embracing the Origin, Rise and Pro

Hunt, James H. Mormonism: Embracing the Origin, Rise and Progress of the Sect, with an Examination of the Book of Mormon; Also, Their Troubles in Missouri, and Final Expulsion from the State, St. Louis: Ustick & Davies, 1844. MORMONISM: EMBRACING THE ORIGIN, RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SECT, WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON; ALSO, THEIR TROUBLES IN MISSOURI, AND FINAL EXPULSION FROM THE STATE. BY JAMES H. HUNT. WITH AN APPENDIX, GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE DISTURBANCES IN ILLINOIS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH. BY W. WESTBROOK. St. Louis: PRINTED BY USTICK & DAVIES. 1844. PREFACE. IN presenting this work to an enlightened public, the prefatory remarks we shall indulge in will be few and general. Our chief object has been to give a plain unvarnished account of the difficulties which have occurred between the citizens of Missouri and the “Latter-Day Saints,” since they located on their “eternal inheritance” in Jackson county, Missouri: this we have done with “an eye single” to truth, denouncing and exposing whatever has been done amiss by either party. Numerous falsehoods have been set afloat by the Mormons regarding their troubles in Missouri, and promulged in the most solemn and impressive manner, amongst those unacquainted with the facts, by which public sympathy has been awakened in many places, and contributions raised to repair their imaginary losses. It has been our aim to disabuse the public mind on this subject, and refute various slanders against the citizens of Missouri. We are indebted to Mr. E. D. Howe’s labors for a portion of the fore-part of this work from which we have selected arguments and facts that, in our opinion, cannot be circulated too extensively, or published too often. It may appear to some, that we have occasionally treated our subject with too much harshness and levity. To this objection we reply, that Professor Turner [iii] says,