Murder of the Mormon Prophet: Political Prelude to the Death of Joseph Smith (Eborn Books Mormon Library Series)

The Murder of the Mormon Prophet: by LeGrand BakerPolitical Prelude to the Death of Joseph SmithFor the first time a historian has given us a national, as well as a local matrix into which one can place the life of Joseph Smith and his Nauvoo community, and in that context make better sense of it all. This book-in the works for 30 years-over 800 pages-is the first to present such a comprehensive and detailed look at the short period preceding the Prophet's martyrdom. It is ground-breaking for these reasons:•It examines the Anti-Mormon network that planned the murders of Joseph and Hyrum, and the expulsion of the Saints from Illinois.•It identifies key players and the involvement of each-showing clear evidence of Governor Ford's early involvement in the plans for the murders.•An extensive legal analysis of the charges of treason against Joseph Smith, and concludes that the charges were completely without foundation.•An extensive analysis of the "freedom of the press" issue-often mis-represented by historians-that arose over the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor. It turns out that contrary to what has been written regarding the subject-the question of freedom of the press was not an issue of the time.•It examines about 250 newspapers throughout the United States and the Republic of Texas, to demonstrate the real mood of the nation regarding Joseph Smith and the Mormons generally-the depth of this research just has not been done in the past! And what it shows is quite different than historians have represented it to be!•It follows through the nations newspapers Joseph Smith's candidacy for President of the United States, and shows that his candidacy was actually taken very seriously!•It has a comprehensive index and the last chapter is a fascinating and exhaustive look at obituaries published in newspapers throughout the country after the martyrdom! [800+p.]. mormon mormons mormonism lds