Yes, Kain, I am actually pretty familiar with that site.
You'll be surprised at how many books and how many sites have been published with the sole intent of degrading our religion and maliciously, with no regard for truth. Mostly because we believe things that nobody else does. For instance, we believe in modern day revelation, so if we practice things that are not in the Bible everyone gets their panties in a knot and says "Not in the Bible! Not in the Bible! It's WRONG WRONG WRONG!". Thus employing themselves on a quest to convince every mormon of how delusional we are, even if it takes a dash of slander to do so.
This same reason contributed to the persecution of the early mormons. The main reason is said to have been the fact that they were detrimental to the economies of the states they lived in. They farmed their own crops and some wouldn't buy from or sell to anyone that was not of the faith. Also, it was such a large group that the possible amount of political influence scared the people of the state. They had the largest city in Illinois before they were kicked out. Lastly, the practice of polygamy was seen as unethical and nobody wanted it anywhere near them.
So, naturally they're going to try to take out the leader of this group in hopes that they'll all just give up and go home. They put him and the mormon city leaders in jail and he and his brother were killed while in the jail by a mob of 100+ men.
Taken from http://www.lds.org/placestovisit/location/0,10634,1844-1-1-1,00.html on why they were put in jail.
Quote: "Trouble for Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo began when the Nauvoo city council issued orders to destroy a newspaper press that had printed criticisms against the Church. This act angered the newspaper's supporters and neighboring citizens. Those in opposition rioted in the streets of Nauvoo in protest of the act. City council members, including the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, were arrested for instigating a riot. To bring calm, Governor Thomas Ford promised the council members full protection if they would submit to arrest and go to Carthage for a trial. Notwithstanding the promise of protection, Joseph Smith felt that he was "going like a lamb to the slaughter."
The 16 council members arrived at Carthage on 24 June 1844. The next day they were released on bail, but Joseph and Hyrum Smith were detained after being falsely charged with treason, a charge stemming from their activating the Nauvoo Legion to protect the citizens of Nauvoo. Although only Joseph and Hyrum were under arrest, others remained with them in the jail.
On 27 June 1844, four men were held in the jail's upper bedroom: Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and Dr. Willard Richards. They noticed a large group of men with disguised faces and guns rush toward the jail. The four men tried to hold the door against the mob, but Hyrum was immediately shot and killed. The mob forced the door open just as Joseph turned to leap out of the window, perhaps to distract attention from his friends. He was shot twice in the back and twice in the chest as he fell from the second-story window. John Taylor was shot four times but miraculously survived. Willard Richards escaped without even a hole in his clothing. The Saints in Nauvoo grieved the loss of Joseph and Hyrum but remained at Nauvoo for almost two more years."
I've done my own research and that's as true of an account as any.
As for putting a paper bag on his head and spinning until he received inspiration, that kind of a statement doesn't deserve my time and effort so I'll just take that as a personal attack on an important figure in my religion and get over it.
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<Mnemonix> im seroulsiy frunk to doaty
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