The Story of the Mormons, From the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901

Book I. the Mormon Origin

I. FACILITY OF HUMAN BELIEF: The Real Miracle of Mormon Success--Effrontery of the Leaders' Professions--Attractiveness of Religious Beliefs to Man--Wherein the World does not make Progress--The Anglo-Saxon Appetite for Religious Novelties

II. THE SMITH FAMILY: Solomon Mack and his Autobiography --Religious Characteristics of the Prophet's Mother--The Family Life in Vermont--Early Occupations in New York State--Pictures of the Prophet as a Youth--Recollections of the Smiths by their New York Neighbors

III. HOW JOSEPH SMITH BECAME A MONEY-DIGGER: His Use of a Divining Rod--His First Introduction to Crystal-gazing--Peeping after Hidden Treasure--How Joseph obtained his own "Peek-stone"--Methods of Midnight Money-digging

IV. FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOLDEN BIBLE: Variations in the Early Descriptions--Joseph's Acquaintance with the Hales--His Elopement and Marriage--What he told a Neighbor about the Origin of his Bible Discovery--Early Anecdotes about the Book

V. THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS OF THE REVELATION OF THE BIBLE: The Versions about the Spanish Guardian--Important Statement by the Prophet's Father--The Later Account in the Prophet's Autobiography--The Angel Visitor and the Acquisition of the Plates--Mother Smith's Version

VI. TRANSLATION AND PUBLICATION OF THE BIBLE: Martin Harris's Connection with the Work--Smith's Removal to Pennsylvania--How the Translation was carried on--Harris's Visit to Professor Anthon--The Professor's Account of his Visit--The Lost Pages--The Prophet's Predicament and his Method of Escape--Oliver Cowdery as an Assistant Translator--Introduction of the Whitmers--The Printing and Proof--reading of the New Bible--Recollections of Survivors

VII. THE SPAULDING MANUSCRIPT: Solomon Spaulding's Career--History of "The Manuscript Found"--Statements by Members of the Author's Family--Testimony of Spaulding's Ohio Neighbors about the Resemblance of his Story to the Book of Mormon--The Manuscript found in the Sandwich Islands

VIII. SIDNEY RIGDON: His Biography--Connection with the Campbells--Efficient Church Work in Ohio--His Jealousy of his Church Leaders--Disciples' Beliefs and Mormon Doctrines--Intimations about a New Bible--Rigdon's First Connection with Smith--The Rigdon-Smith Translation of the Scriptures--Rigdon's Conversion to Mormonism

IX. "THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL": Probable Origin of the Idea of a Bible on Plates--Cyril's Gift from an Angel and Joachim's Use of it--Where Rigdon could have obtained the Idea Prominence of the "Everlasting Gospel" in Mormon Writings

X. THE WITNESSES TO THE PLATES: Text of the Two "Testimonies"--The Prophet's Explanation of the First--Early Reputation and Subsequent History of the Signers--The Truth about the Kinderhook Plates and Rafinesque's Glyphs

XI. THE MORMON BIBLE: Some of its Errors and Absurdities--Facsimile of the First Edition Title-page--The Historical Narrative of the Book--Its Lack of Literary Style--Appropriated Chapters of the Scriptures--Specimen Anachronisms

XII. ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH: Smith's Ordination by John the Baptist--The First Baptisms--Early Branches of the Church--The Revelation about Church Officers--Cowdery's Ambition and How it was Repressed--Smith's Title as Seer, Translator, and Prophet--His Arrest and Release--Arrival of Parley P. Platt and Rigdon in Palmyra--The Command to remove to Ohio

XIII. THE MORMONS' BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES--CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Long Years of Apostasy--Origin of the Name "Mormon"--Original Titles of the Church--Belief in a Speedy Millennium--The Future Possession of the Earth--Smith's Revelations and how they were obtained--The First Published Editions--Counterfeit Revealers--What is Taught of God--Brigham Young's Adam Sermon--Baptism for the Dead--The Church Officers

Book Ii. in Ohio

I. THE FIRST CONVERTS AT KIRTLAND: Original Missionaries sent out to the Lamanites--Organization of a Church in Ohio--Effect of Rigdon's Conversion--General Interest in the New Bible and Prophet--How Men of Education came to believe in Mormonism--Result of the Upturning of Religious Belief

II. WILD VAGARIES OF THE CONVERTS: Convulsions and Commissions--Common Religious Excitements of those Days--Description of the "Jerks"--Smith's Repressing Influence

III. GROWTH OF THE CHURCH: The Appointment of Elders--Beginning of the Proselyting System--Smith's Power Entrenched--His Temporal Provision--Repression of Rigdon--The Tarring and Feathering of Smith and Rigdon--Treatment of the Mormons and of Other New Denominations compared--Rigdon's Punishment

IV. GIFTS OF TONGUES AND MIRACLES: How Persons "Spoke in Tongues"--Seeing the Lord Face to Face--Early Use of Miracles--The Story of the "Book of Abraham"--The Prophet as a Translator of Greek and Egyptian.

V. SMITH'S OHIO BUSINESS ENTERPRISES: Young's Picture of the Prophet's Experience as a Retail Merchant--The Land Speculation--Laying out of the City--Building of the Temple--Consecration of Property--How the Leaders looked out for themselves--Amusing Explanation of Section III of the "Doctrine and Covenants"--The Story of the Kirtland Bank--The Church View of its Responsibility for the Currency--The Business Crash and Smith's Flight to Missouri

VI. LAST DAYS AT KIRTLAND: Pictures of the Prophet--Accusations against Church Leaders in Missouri--Serious Charge against the Prophet--W. W, Phelps's Rebellion--Smith's Description of Leading Lights of the Church--Charges concerning Smith's Morality--The Church accused of practising Polygamy--A Lively Fight at a Church Service--Smith's and Rigdon's Defence of their Conduct--The Later History of Kirtland

Book Iii. in Missouri

I. THE DIRECTIONS TO THE SAINTS ABOUT THEIR ZION: Western Missouri in the Early Days--Pioneer Farming and Home-making--The Trip of the Four Mormon Missionaries--Direction about the Gathering of the Elect--How they were to possess the Land of Promise--Their Appropriation of the Good Things purchased of their Enemies

II. SMITH'S FIRST VISITS TO MISSOURI: Founding the City of Zion and the Temple--Marvellous Stories that were told--Dissatisfaction of Some of the Prophet's Companions

III. THE EXPULSION FROM JACKSON COUNTY: Rapid Influx of Mormons--Result of the Publication of the Revelations--First Friction with their Non-Mormon Neighbors--Manifesto of the Mormons' Opponents--Their Big Mass Meeting--Demands on the Mormons--Destruction of the Star Printing-office--The Mormons' Agreement to leave--Smith's Advice to his Flock--Repudiation of the Mormon Agreement and Renewal of Hostilities--The Battle at Big Blue--Evacuation of the County--March of the Army of Zion--An Inglorious Finale

IV. FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE JACKSON COUNTY PEOPLE: A Fair Offer Rejected--The Mormon Counter Propositions--Governor Dunklin on the Situation

V. IN CLAY, CALDWELL, AND DAVIESS COUNTIES: Welcome of the Mormons by New Neighbors--Effect of their Claims about Possessing the Land--Ordered out of Clay County--Founding of Far West--A Welcome to Smith and Rigdon

VI. RADICAL DISSENSIONS IN THE CHURCH: Trial of Phelps and Whitmer--Conviction of Oliver Cowdery on Serious Charges--Expulsion of Leading Members--Origin of the Danites--Suggested by the Prophet at Kirtland--The Danite Constitution and Oath--Origin of the Tithing System

VII. BEGINNING OF ACTIVE HOSTILITIES: Result of Smith's Domineering Course--Jealousy caused by the Scattering of the Saints--Founding of Adam-ondi-Ahman--Rigdon's Famous Salt Sermon--Open Defiance of the Non-Mormons--The Mormons in Politics--An Election Day Row--Arrests and Threats

VIII. A STATE OF CIVIL WAR: Calling out of the Militia--Proposed Expulsion of the Mormons from Carroll County--The Siege of De Witt--The Prophet's Defiance--Work of his "Fur Company"--Gentile Retaliation--The Battle of Crooked River--The Massacre at Hawn's Mills--Governor Boggs's "Order of Extermination"

IX. THE FINAL EXPULSION FROM THE STATE: General Lucas's Terms to the Mormons--Surrender of Far West and Arrest of Mormon Leaders--General Clark's Address to the Mormons--His Report to the Governor--General Wilson's Picture of Adam-ondi-Ahman--Fate of the Mormon Prisoners--Testimony at their Trial--Smith's Escape--Migration to Illinois

Book Iv. in Illinois

I. THE RECEPTION OF THE MORMONS: Incidents in the Early History of the State--Defiant Lawlessness--Politicians the First to Welcome the Newcomers--Landowners Among their First Friends

II. THE SETTLEMENT OF NAUVOO: Smith's Leadership Illustrated--The Land Purchases--A Reconciliation of Conflicting Revelations--Smith's Financiering--Shameful Misrepresentation to Immigrants

III. THE BUILDING UP OF THE CITY: Unhealthfulness of its Site--Rapid Growth of the Place--Early Pictures of it--Foreign Proselyting--Why England was a Good Field--Method of Work there--The Employment of Miracles--How the Converts were Sent Over

IV. THE NAUVOO CITY GOVERNMENT: Dr. Galland's Suggestions--An Important Revelation--Church Buildings Ordered--Subserviency of the Legislature--Dr. John C. Bennett's Efficient Aid--Authority granted to the City Government--The Nauvoo Legion--Bennett's Welcome--The Temple and How it was Constructed

V. THE MORMONS IN POLITICS: Smith's Decree against Van Buren--How the Prophet swung the Mormon Vote back to the Democrats--The Attempted Assassination of Governor Boggs--Smith's Arrest and What Resulted from it--Defeat of a Whig Candidate by a Revelation

VI. SMITH A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His Letter to Clay and Calhoun--Their Replies and Smith's Abusive Wrath--The Prophet's Views on National Politics--Reform Measures that He Proposed--His Nomination by the Church Paper--Experiences of Missionaries sent out to Work Up his Campaign

VII. SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN NAUVOO: Character of its Population--Treatment of Immigrant Converts--Some Disreputable Gentile Neighbors--The Complaints of Mormon Stealings--Significant Admissions--Mormon Protection against Outsiders--The Whittlers

VIII. SMITH'S PICTURE OF HIMSELF AS AUTOCRAT: Glances at his Autobiography--Difficulties Connected with the Building Enterprises--A Plain Warning to Discontented Workmen--Trouble with Rigdon--Pressed by his Creditors--Transaction with Remick--Currency Law passed by his City Council--How Smith regarded himself as a Prophet--His Latest Prophecies

IX. SMITH'S FALLING OUT WITH BENNETT AND HIGBEE: Bennett's Expulsion and the Explanations concerning it--His Attacks on his Late Companions--Charges against Nauvoo Morality--The Case of Nancy Rigdon--The Higbee Incident

X. THE INSTITUTION OF POLYGAMY: An Examination of its Origin--Its Conflict with the Teachings of the Mormon Bible and Revelations--Early Loosening of the Marriage View under Smith--Proof of the Practice of Polygamy in Nauvoo--Testimony of Eliza R. Snow--How her Brother Lorenzo shook off his Bachelorhood--John B. Lee as a Polygamist--Ebenezer Robinson's Statement--Objects of "The Holy Order"--The Writing of the Revelation about Polygamy--Its First Public Announcement--Sidney Rigdon's Innocence in the Matter

XI. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DOCTRINE OF POLYGAMY: Text of the Revelation--Orson Pratt's Presentation of it--The Doctrine of Sealing--Necessity of Sealing as a Means of Salvation--Attempt to show that Christ was a Polygamist

XII. THE SUPPRESSION OF THE EXPOSITOR: Dr. Foster and the Laws--Rebellion against Smith's Teachings--Leading Features of the Expositor--Trial of the Paper and its Editors before the City Council--Destruction of the Press and Type--Smith's Proclamation

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