My progenitor JL Heywood was one of the Mormons left behind to facilitate the sale of Mormon properties. He wasn't attacked or burnt out and he was able to conduct business with non-mormons.
When the Latter-day Saints commenced their exodus from Nauvoo in 1846, Heywood, along with Almon Babbitt and John S.Fullmer, was chosen as one of the trustees to supervise the disposal of Church property. After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848, he was named postmaster of Salt Lake City, Bishop of the Seventeenth Ward, and surveyor of highways in the provisional State of Deseret. He helped John M. Bernhisel at the nations capitol obtain a territorial government for Utah and was appointed U.S. Marshal for the newly created Utah Territory.
Panax...these family stories of heroism do NOT make Mormonism true or good. They are simply stories. Another of the progenitors is John D Lee. He was tried, convicted and executed for following his Mormon Militia orders an his part of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. He played the role of scape goat for a cult.
Vol. ? Liberty, Missouri, August ?, 1838. No. ? MORMONISM. -- From the following proceedings of a public meeting of the citizens of Ray county, our readers will at once perceive the great excitement which prevails in conquence of the conduct of this extraordinary sect. We will not attempt to give the various rumors afloat, of threats and denunciations, as fulminated by Jo Smith and his council. They can be seen in part, in an oration delivered by Sidney Rigdon, on the last 4th of July, in which he threatens to "carry war and extermination" to the lives and property of every citizen who may dare to oppose their wild career. |