Political structure in early Mormonism Mormonism and authority

brigham young

lds church president,

first u.s. appointed governor of utah territory,

regent of pre-millennial kingdom of god

early mormonism established community legal structures theocracies (see theodemocracy). joseph smith , successor, brigham young, presided on church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (lds church) prophet, president of church, , spiritual king until christ s assumption of world kingship @ second coming. u.s. president millard fillmore appointed young governor of territory of utah, , there minimal effective separation between church , state until 1858.

young envisioned mormon state spanning salt lake valley pacific ocean; sent church leaders establish colonies far , wide. these colonies governed mormon officials under young s mandate enforce god s law lay[ing] ax @ root of tree of sin , iniquity, while preserving individual rights. despite distance these outlying colonies, local mormon leaders received frequent visits church headquarters, , under young s direct doctrinal , political control. mormons taught obey orders of priesthood leaders, long coincided church s religious principles. young s view of theocratic enforcement included death penalty. however, there no documented cases showing capital punishment ever used mormons. mormon leaders taught doctrine of blood atonement, in mormon covenant breakers in theory gain exaltation in heaven having blood spilt upon ground, smoke thereof might ascend heaven offering sins. more stated, doctrine holds capital punishment required atone murder.

commentator thomas g. alexander argues violent speech mormon leaders rhetorical in nature , statistical studies needed determine whether frontier utah more violent in reality surrounding regions. referring frequent mormon declarations there fewer deeds of violence in utah in other pioneer settlements of equal population, salt lake tribune of january 25, 1876, stated: estimated no less 600 murders have been committed mormons, in every case @ instigation of priestly leaders, during occupation of territory. giving mean average of 50,000 persons professing faith in utah, have murder committed every year every 2500 of population. same ratio of crime extended population of united states give 16,000 murders every year. whatever case, there evidence local church leaders took rhetoric of such doctrines contemplated sanctionable applications of violence.

according rumors , accusations, brigham young enforced god s law through secret cadre of avenging danites. truth of these rumors debated historians. while there existed active vigilante organizations in utah referred danites , may have been acting independently. (for example, frontier latter-day saints isaac c. haight , william h. dame never danites; however, young s records indicate in 1857 authorized these 2 men secretly execute 2 ex-convicts traveling through southern utah along california trail if caught stealing cattle. dame replied young in letter try live when finger crooks, move. haight and/or dame might have been involved in subsequent ambush of part of convicts party south of mountain meadows.)