Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith After the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor press on June 10, 1844, public outrage spread rapidly through Hancock County and surrounding Illinois communities. Anti-Mormon newspapers such as the Warsaw Signal and the Quincy Whig condemned Joseph Smith and urged decisive action against Nauvoo. Although press destruction had precedent in … Read more
Carthage Conspiracy – Historical Overview This reconstruction presents only historical information, source analysis, and documentary context regarding the deaths of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith in 1844, the reliability of associated sources, and the methodology used by historians in evaluating alternative theories. Claims of New Interpretations of the Martyrdom A recent video has circulated claiming … Read more
TL;DR — What Led to the Assassination of Joseph Smith and the Downfall of Nauvoo Joseph Smith’s assassination on June 27, 1844, resulted from a convergence of political, religious, legal, and social pressures in Illinois. Tensions escalated after dissenters in Nauvoo published the Nauvoo Expositor on June 7, exposing and exaggerating allegations against Joseph. Acting … Read more
Under the Banner of Heaven The FX/Hulu series Under the Banner of Heaven is based on Jon Krakauer’s book, whose subtitle, A Story of Violent Faith, signals the central argument that religious belief—specifically Latter-day Saint belief—contains elements that can lead to violent extremism. The Lafferty Murders (1984) Krakauer’s narrative centers on the 1984 murders of … Read more