That's an oversimplification, although there were definitely political tensions (having been thrown out of Missouri and Illinois for practicing Mormonism) after he tried to set up a Mormon militia that nearly rivaled the size of the US Army at the time, and the printing press he destroyed was just an excuse for the Governor to get rid of him. The paper whose press he destroyed was founded by ex-Mormons who had left the faith and criticized it; in effect, he was attacking ex-faith atheists for pointing out the flaws in his argument.
A warrant was issued which he initially fled, but returned to the scene and turned himself in for arrest. He was well aware that his enemies would conspire to kill him. According to the legend, he said his work was done so he was no longer prevented from dying by God (similar to Paul's final letters, eh?), and prophesied that he would be murdered in cold blood. Of course, the fact that he was a career criminal who had defrauded investors and slept with the wives of his congregation probably weighed against him there, as well. Hehe.
The Mormons certainly were persecuted for simply being Mormon. They were not only driven out of states for it (which is why they moved waaaaay out to the Utah Territory, onto land no one else really wanted), but their views got them branded a lot of really nasty names, particularly for their practice of polygamy.
A warrant was issued which he initially fled, but returned to the scene and turned himself in for arrest. He was well aware that his enemies would conspire to kill him. According to the legend, he said his work was done so he was no longer prevented from dying by God (similar to Paul's final letters, eh?), and prophesied that he would be murdered in cold blood. Of course, the fact that he was a career criminal who had defrauded investors and slept with the wives of his congregation probably weighed against him there, as well. Hehe.
The Mormons certainly were persecuted for simply being Mormon. They were not only driven out of states for it (which is why they moved waaaaay out to the Utah Territory, onto land no one else really wanted), but their views got them branded a lot of really nasty names, particularly for their practice of polygamy.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
