The Mormons: A Discourse Delivered Before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

In Short

This discourse serves as a rare, contemporary witness to the expulsion of the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. Through the eyes of a traveler who encountered the refugees in the wilderness, the text documents their harrowing journey, their struggle against disease and starvation, and their eventual establishment in the Salt Lake Valley. By framing the Mormons as a community defined by industry, temperance, and devotion, the work challenges the prevailing prejudices of the mid-19th century and remains an enduring argument for religious liberty and human rights.

The Story

The narrative begins with a striking juxtaposition. The author travels through the "Half-Breed Tract" of Iowa, a region characterized by lawlessness and decay. Descending a hill, he is met by the unexpected, radiant beauty of Nauvoo, a city of green gardens and a marble temple that stands as a testament to the industry of its Mormon inhabitants. Yet, when he rows across the river to visit, he finds the city silent and empty. The reality of the situation is revealed only after he encounters a group of refugees shivering in the dark, dying of fever on the banks of the Mississippi. These are the owners of that flourishing city, forced to abandon their homes, harvests, and temples to the mercy of a predatory mob.

The account follows the "Camp of Israel" as they begin an arduous, westward trek across the prairie. The journey is a test of collective endurance, marked by the extremes of weather—the deep, impassable mud of spring and the freezing winds of winter. Along the way, the author observes the group's internal organization. When the U.S. government requests a battalion of men for the Mexican War, the Mormons comply, despite their own precarious situation, providing soldiers known for their discipline and hardihood. The music of their band, which follows the camps and plays melodies of Mendelssohn in the desolate wilderness, serves as an unlikely anchor for their spirits.

As the refugees push westward, they are met with further trials: "Black Canker" and other diseases decimate the ranks, and many arrive at the camps in a state of total exhaustion. They find survival only through the assistance of the Pottawatamie and Omaha tribes, who, having suffered their own injustices at the hands of the government, offer the Mormons a level of hospitality the settlers of the frontier refused. The author describes the creation of new settlements, such as the town on the plateau, which quickly becomes a hive of activity with workshops, mills, and a thriving press.

The arc concludes in the Salt Lake Valley, where the settlers face a new challenge: a plague of crickets that threatens to destroy their crops. Just as they face ruin, a flock of gulls arrives to consume the insects, an event the settlers interpret as a providential deliverance. The author reflects on the resilience of the community, noting that despite persistent slander from those who drove them from their homes, the Mormons continue to prosper. He concludes with a staunch defense of their character, asserting that their "undue morality" and industry are the true reasons for the animosity of their neighbors.

How It Unfolds

The silent city The author discovers the abandoned, pristine city of Nauvoo, only to find its former residents starving and dying in the mud on the riverbank. This haunting introduction establishes the contrast between the Mormons' industrious success and the brutality of their forced removal.

The long march begins The narrative shifts to the grueling migration across the Iowa plains, where the refugees struggle against torrential rains and deep mud. The focus here is on the collective spirit of the people, who maintain hope through prayer and the promise of a future home.

Music in the wilderness The author observes the unique role of the Mormon band, whose instruments provide a sense of continuity and solace. Even as the community is asked to send a battalion to fight in the Mexican War, their cultural life persists as a symbol of their resilience.

Deliverance and stability The final section details the arrival in the Salt Lake Valley and the miraculous intervention of the gulls against a crop-destroying plague. The discourse closes with the author’s firm moral defense of the community, arguing that their success is a testament to their integrity.

The People

The author, an outsider and observer, acts as the moral compass of the narrative, using his social standing to provide a candid, sympathetic account that counters the vitriol of the era. He is transformed from a casual traveler into a fierce advocate for the refugees.

The Mormon "pilgrims" are portrayed not as a monolith, but as a collection of hardworking individuals—carpenters, farmers, and musicians—who possess a "heroic" spirit. They are defined by their "devotion to the constitutional government" and a shared commitment to sustaining one another through the most dire privations.

The "marauders" of the frontier are the primary antagonists, characterized as a "vile scum" who thrive on robbery and slander. Their motivation for attacking the Mormons is presented as a resentment of the Mormons’ superior moral and economic standing.

The "Sioux" and "Omaha" tribes appear as figures of contrast; while some are driven to desperation by colonial encroachment, the Omahas enter into a protective, symbiotic relationship with the Mormons, finding in the refugees a shared experience of displacement.

In Its Own Voice

"The unmistakable marks of industry, enterprise and educated wealth, everywhere, made the scene one of singular and most striking beauty."

The author reflects on the initial impression of Nauvoo before learning of the tragedy behind the city's sudden emptiness.

"The city,--it was Nauvoo, Illinois. The Mormons were the owners of that city, and the smiling country round."

This revelation marks the pivot point of the narrative, identifying the victims of the displacement.

"It had the strangest effect in the world, to listen to their sweet music winding over the uninhabited country."

The author describes the surreal experience of hearing the Mormon band playing European classical music amidst the desolate, shifting sands of the Great Platte.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an inquiry into the nature of social cohesion and the inherent risks of prejudice. The author explores how a group of people, bound by shared industry and religious conviction, can be pathologized by their neighbors simply for being "different" and more successful. He argues that the animosity directed toward the Mormons is a reflection of the baseness of their attackers rather than any inherent failing of the church. The text poses a fundamental question for a young, democratic society: how do we treat those whose beliefs and habits challenge our own? The author’s answer is a plea for the sanctity of the conscience and the necessity of legal protection against mob rule.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of the American West or the mechanics of religious persecution will find this an essential, if somber, document. The prose is remarkably clear and evocative, avoiding the flowery excesses of the mid-19th century while maintaining a sharp, observant intensity. It feels less like a dry historical record and more like a piece of investigative journalism written by a man who was clearly moved by the injustices he witnessed.

A modern reader should be prepared for the author’s period-specific perspectives, particularly his descriptions of Native American groups, which reflect the paternalistic attitudes of his time. The text also includes, in its final pages, an appendix of church doctrines that offer a glimpse into the legalistic and theological justifications the Mormons used to define their relationship with the state. While the book is relatively short, its weight lies in its unwavering insistence that "Truth must take care of itself." It is a powerful reminder that history is often shaped by those who are forced to the margins, and it remains a compelling read for anyone who values the defense of the marginalized against the shifting, and often cruel, tides of public opinion.