As one who has had my sources ridiculed as being prejudiced, I see that the source you use for "saving the book of commandments" is the New Era magazine, an official magazine of the LDS church. Can you provide a neutral source for this story?
So now I am suposed to for your research for you? Most crimes committed against mormons have the testomony and witness of mormons to back it up as well as the testomony of the mobbers themselves. Many mobbers were open and honest and even bragged about the depredations (murder, rape, pillaging and burning homes etc.) the historical record of Mormons AND Anti-mormons support that Mormons life, liberty, and constitutional rights were violated. Many docuents are on file in the LoC including Pres. Martin Van Buren agreeing that Mormons constitutional rights had been violated but saying he would do nothing since he didn't want to get Missouri opposed to him politically.
This link has some court affadavits and historical sources cited about the incident in question where mobs burned Mormon printing presses.
Adapted from Maureen Ursenbach Beecher, “Discover Your Heritage: ‘They Will Kill Us!’ “ New Era, Sept. 1974, 3637.
“As one who has had my sources ridiculed as being prejudiced, I see that the source you use for “saving the book of commandments” is the New Era magazine, an official magazine of the LDS church. Can you provide a neutral source for this story?”
It is quite likely the story is true. What I find amusing is that when Mormon mobs and militia are involved, as at the Nauvoo Expositor incident as commanded by General Smith under cover of law, this is justified against malcontents. It just seems events can never be interpreted as the fault of Mormons.