[Colofornian]

The secular view, written at the time, is that Smith died because the Mormons were not politically monolithic.

#1...At one point in the early 1840s, Smith's Nauvoo, IL built-up Mormon community was at large -- or larger -- than Chicago was at the time.

#2...In 1844, Smith himself had declared himself a candidate for POTUS...something he wouldn't have done if he was dealing with political rivalry in Nauvoo...which he really didn't have.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

#1...At one point in the early 1840s, Smith’s Nauvoo, IL built-up Mormon community was at large — or larger — than Chicago was at the time.

In that Chicago was founded in 1833, population 350, this is not saying much. By 1840, over 4,000, ninety-second most populous city in the United States.

#2...In 1844, Smith himself had declared himself a candidate for POTUS...something he wouldn’t have done if he was dealing with political rivalry in Nauvoo...which he really didn’t have.

Not in Nauvoo, but in the entire state. And seriously, if you’re going to vie to become POTUS, running as an independent, having yourself declared king shortly thereafter is probably not going to help.

[Elsie]

#2...In 1844, Smith himself had declared himself a candidate for POTUS

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...the presidential campaign of Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith in 1844: “Challenging Democrat James Polk and Whig Henry Clay, Smith prophesied that if the U.S. Congress did not accede to his demands that ‘they shall be broken up as a government and God shall damn them.’

Smith viewed capturing the presidency as part of the mission of the church.