[Verginius Rufus]

I think that should be Independence, Missouri. Independence, KS, is a small town in the southeastern part of Kansas and probably wasn't settled until after the migration to Utah. Indpendence, Missouri, is the county seat of Jackson County and was the main city in the area when the early Mormons lived in that part of Missouri (Kansas City wasn't started until about 1845).

Some of my ancestors were early settlers in Jackson County (about 1831) but I don't know if they had any interactions with the Mormons--probably too busy farming. A great-uncle (by marriage) went on a wagon trail to Salt Lake City in 1865. According to his memoir, written about 1925, the Mormons had very negative attitudes towards Missourians at that time ("if they had known I was from Missouri, my hide wouldn't have been worth shucks").

[MrB]

You’re right, it is Independence, Mo...

Regardless, Independence Mo/Ks will not be the New Jeruselem, Jesus is not Satan’s brother, God was not once a man, and we will not be gods with our own planets and harems.