Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838, Copy and Letter [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]
Source Note
Minutes and Testimonies, [, Ray Co., MO], 12–29 Nov. 1838, State of MO v. Gates et al. for Treason (Fifth Judicial Circuit of MO 1838). Copied with letter ca. late 1838–ca. early 1839; unidentified handwriting; fifty-one pages; Mormons Collection, 1813–1970, Missouri History Museum.
then got up and spoke in connexion with what Mr Smith had been saying, and in speaking of the head of their influence he said that he meant that ball on their shoulders called the head, and that they should be followed to the ends of the earth. further remarked, that he would suffer no process of law to be served on him hereafter.
Some time in June, after had preached his “salt sermon”, I held conversations with several mormons on the subject of that sermon, & the excitement produced by the course and conduct of the presidency. Among others I conversed with . I spoke of the supremacy of the laws of the land, and the necessity of at all times, being governed by them. He replied that as to the technicalities niceties of the law of the land he did not intend to regard them. That the Kingdom spoken of by the prophet Daniel, had been set up, and that it was necessary every kingdom should be governed by its own laws.
I also converesed with on the same subject, who answered when I spoke of the supremacy being governed by the laws & their supremacy, that when God spake he must be obeyed whether his word came in contact with the laws of the land or not. and that as the kingdom spoken of by Daniel had been set up, its laws must be obeyed. I told him I thought it was contrary to the laws of the land to drive men from their homes, to which he replied such things had been done of old, & that the gathering of the [p. [29]]