Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838 [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); unidentified handwriting; 126 pages; Eugene Morrow Violette Collection, State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia.
, a witness for the state, produced sworn, & examined deposeth and saith:
— About the 17th of April last, at <a> meeting of perhaps 15 or 25. on in — Mr <Jos> Smith Jr spoke in refference to difficulties then they had with dissenters, and re had and others their persecutions &c in & out of the church— Mr Smith said he did not intend in future to have any writs <process> served on <him>, and the officer who attempted it should die— that any person who spoke or acted against the presidency or the church should leave the , or die— that he would suffer no such to remain there— that they should loose their head— Mr who was there present, observed “the head of their influence I suppose” M Smith replied yes he would thus modify it— then got up and spoke in connxion [connection]of 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—
Sometime in June, after had preached his “salt sermon” I held conversations with several mormons on the subject of that sermon & the excitements produced by the course & conduct of the presidency— and amongst others I conversed with — I spoke of the supremacy of the laws of the land [p. [97]]