“These men went by several names, but they were best known as the Danites, after the tribe of Dan in the Old Testament. Joseph did not organize the group, yet he likely sanctioned some of their actions.” Emphasis Added
Aside from the presenting question, )“If you do not know for sure he had anything to do with it, why would you even suggest the Joseph Smith sanctioned the alleged Danite atrocities?) the fact is that this claim is inconsistent with revealed truth. In my research for a book on Far West, I came across this statement by Elder John Taylor with regard to the Danites which the Holy Spirit confirmed to my soul to be the truth. I even wrote a poem about the Danites, which I will share at the end of the blog.
“…I was in Far West at the time these affidavits were made, and was mixed up with all the prominent church affairs. I was there when Thomas Marsh and Orson Hyde left there….and I know that these things referred to in the affidavits are not true. I have heard a great deal about the Danites, but I never heard of them among the Latter-day Saints.” (John Taylor HOC, Volume 3, page 168).
Based on the inconsistency between Elder Taylor’s’ statement and the above excerpt from Saints, not to mention the other Saints references on Danites, I reject its conclusion and move to Technique 2 to explore a few of the references offered in support. The gross bias of the historians becomes even more clear from that review.
As with the Seer Stones a main source of support on this issue are the writings of Bushman in his role as either author or editor. There is something disconcerting about historians who make conclusions, offer them as fact, and the cite their own works as support for those conclusion. However, since my last blog was tediously long, I will only review 2 of the sources referenced in support of the conclusion about the Danites and Joseph Smith’s “likely” sanctioning of their actions. In this case drilling down on two of the sources I made a significant discovery.
The sources relied on, were cited in the Joseph Smith Papers and consisted of statements made by John Corrill after his disaffection with Joseph Smith and apostasy from the church. Even worse one of those statements was Corrill’s testimony dated November, 1838, while under oath, in the trial of Joseph Smith and others for treason, In which Corrill was testify against them. Such a “testimony” by Corrill had to be among those the Lord was referring to as given by “traitors” in His revelation to Joseph just four months later in Liberty Jail. (D& C 122:3) At the very least such conduct by Corrill meets the Lords earlier description in a similar revelation, of those who “swear falsely.” (D&C 121: 18-19)
Why an LDS historian would reject or ignore an eye witness account from an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in favor of the biased witness of an apostate whose claims the Lord referred to as the “testimony of traitor,” is a fascinating question. The fact that they did so reveals much about why revisionist history cannot be trusted as a source of truth, and begs for careful inquiry into all of the other conclusions of such historians. One possible reason may be found in the fact that with the flesh reliant appeasing academia is simply more important that truth, intellectual honesty or even being fair. To them it makes sense for an apostate to trump and apostle in the quest for truth.
Beware the Danites by K Shutleff
Of all the goblins, ghost and ghouls
More fearful than the fiend who drools
Worse than the beast, who o'r hell rules
There stands the fearful Danite
Though never truly heard or seen
By rumor made more vile and mean
'Tis nothing makes one's fears more keen
Than that there Mormon Danite
O'r peaceful set'lers they have trod
Buried their children, under sod
And dun it, in the name of God
Beware the fearful Danites
Modern Mohammad at their head
They'll hunt us down, 'til we're all dead
And flood our land with blood so red
God save us from the Danites
Though never did a one we see
A fearsome lot, they all must be
Who've bragged that they'll burn Liberty
Oh we must stop the Danites
Dem Mormons say it isn't so
But we've heard from the ones who know
Dissenters swear with face aglow
They've fled from deadly Danites
If they're a myth, we do not care
The claims give us a power rare
Of Mormon's homes and lands we'll share
By saying there are Danites
In future days, histr'y will sigh
Condone us based upon that lie
And Anti-Mormons still will cry
"The Church was filled with Danites"
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But wisdom, shall be justified
God will condemn all those who've lied
With Avard groveling at His side
He'll say.... "Behold the Danite"