Comments on: From the Archives: “We Have a Company of Danites in these Times” http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:34:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Juvenile Instructor » “Our rights we must have, and our rights we shall have, in the name of Israel’s God”: The Danite Constitution http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-22098 Juvenile Instructor » “Our rights we must have, and our rights we shall have, in the name of Israel’s God”: The Danite Constitution Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:05:19 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-22098 [...] specifically on this volume. The Scriptory Book, Joseph’s 1838 journal, contains some of our only contempary referencesto the Danites from a pro-Mormon source. Another important contemporary document that sheds [...] [...] specifically on this volume. The Scriptory Book, Joseph’s 1838 journal, contains some of our only contempary referencesto the Danites from a pro-Mormon source. Another important contemporary document that sheds [...]

]]> By: David Grua http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-879 David Grua Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:32:47 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-879 Mark: You're right that this is a complicated issue. I think that it would be useful to write a good post examining the evidence for this "theology of larceny" and try to determine what came from JS and what came from Avard. I also agree that Quinn's argument about Wight swearing in JS as a Danite is weak at best. Mark: You’re right that this is a complicated issue. I think that it would be useful to write a good post examining the evidence for this “theology of larceny” and try to determine what came from JS and what came from Avard.

I also agree that Quinn’s argument about Wight swearing in JS as a Danite is weak at best.

]]> By: Mark Ashurst-McGee http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Mark Ashurst-McGee Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:15:24 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-878 David: Good clarification. It is more complicated than my simple point. This should be unpacked. David: Good clarification. It is more complicated than my simple point. This should be unpacked.

]]> By: David Grua http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-861 David Grua Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:58:16 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-861 Mark: All good points. <blockquote>And, making war requisitions for survival is a different posture than plundering the gentiles for vengeance and glory. </blockquote> While I agree on this, let's not let this obscure that Mormons did endow these requisitions with religious meaning, that is, consecrations to be put into the bishop's storehouse. There is evidence that these teachings did come, in part, from JS. Mark: All good points.

And, making war requisitions for survival is a different posture than plundering the gentiles for vengeance and glory.

While I agree on this, let’s not let this obscure that Mormons did endow these requisitions with religious meaning, that is, consecrations to be put into the bishop’s storehouse. There is evidence that these teachings did come, in part, from JS.

]]> By: Mark Ashurst-McGee http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-858 Mark Ashurst-McGee Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:38:41 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-858 A few notes: Don't forget Cornelius Lott, apparently the major general in the society. Wight was appointed Colonel for Caldwell; this before he moved to Daviess, where it didn't apply. Smith apparently knew much of Avard's actions and teachings, but not necessarily all of them. LeSueur in his Elk's Club article points to crop poisoning as an Avard teaching JS may not have known about. It is plausible that Smith did not know, as he writes, of significant Avard teachings or instructions. And, making war requisitions for survival is a different posture than plundering the gentiles for vengeance and glory. Quinn has some real weaknesses in his treatment, such as his supposition that JS was a Danite and was inducted by Wight. A few notes: Don’t forget Cornelius Lott, apparently the major general in the society. Wight was appointed Colonel for Caldwell; this before he moved to Daviess, where it didn’t apply. Smith apparently knew much of Avard’s actions and teachings, but not necessarily all of them. LeSueur in his Elk’s Club article points to crop poisoning as an Avard teaching JS may not have known about. It is plausible that Smith did not know, as he writes, of significant Avard teachings or instructions. And, making war requisitions for survival is a different posture than plundering the gentiles for vengeance and glory. Quinn has some real weaknesses in his treatment, such as his supposition that JS was a Danite and was inducted by Wight.

]]> By: David Grua http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-833 David Grua Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:39:00 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-833 J.: I read on Kofford's website awhile back that Compton was editing a new edition of Leland Gentry's dissertation. But I don't know what the status is on that. Justin: In terms of LeSueur's take on the Danites, I agree with most of what he says. He does take a stronger view of JS's involvement with the Danites than I do, but that's more of a question of how to interpret writers such as Reed Peck and the testimonies produced at the November 1838 hearing. J.: I read on Kofford’s website awhile back that Compton was editing a new edition of Leland Gentry’s dissertation. But I don’t know what the status is on that.

Justin: In terms of LeSueur’s take on the Danites, I agree with most of what he says. He does take a stronger view of JS’s involvement with the Danites than I do, but that’s more of a question of how to interpret writers such as Reed Peck and the testimonies produced at the November 1838 hearing.

]]> By: Justin http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-832 Justin Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:29:48 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-832 <i>LeSueur responded in “The Danites Reconsidered: Were They Vigilantes or Just the Mormons’ Version of the Elks Club?” JWHA Journal 14 (1994): 35-51, which, in my opinion, is the best thing written on the Danites.</i> David, are there areas where you disagree with LeSueur? LeSueur responded in “The Danites Reconsidered: Were They Vigilantes or Just the Mormons’ Version of the Elks Club?” JWHA Journal 14 (1994): 35-51, which, in my opinion, is the best thing written on the Danites.

David, are there areas where you disagree with LeSueur?

]]> By: J. Stapley http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-830 J. Stapley Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:20:45 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-830 It seems to me that I had heard that Compton was working on a Missouri War project. Have you heard anything about that? It seems to me that I had heard that Compton was working on a Missouri War project. Have you heard anything about that?

]]> By: David Grua http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-829 David Grua Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:16:38 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-829 Chris: I agree that the title is great. I don't know why Bushman used the kid gloves for the Danites in <em>RSR</em>. The whole chapter on 1838 is a bit problematic, imo. Chris: I agree that the title is great.

I don’t know why Bushman used the kid gloves for the Danites in RSR. The whole chapter on 1838 is a bit problematic, imo.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/comment-page-1/#comment-828 Christopher Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:10:50 +0000 http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/from-the-archives-we-have-a-company-of-danites-in-these-times/#comment-828 <em>LeSueur responded in “The Danites Reconsidered: Were They Vigilantes or Just the Mormons’ Version of the Elks Club?” JWHA Journal 14 (1994): 35-51, which, in my opinion, is the best thing written on the Danites </em> It also has the best title of any work on the Danites. David, do you have any idea why Bushman treated Joseph's relationship with the Danites so softly in RSR? LeSueur responded in “The Danites Reconsidered: Were They Vigilantes or Just the Mormons’ Version of the Elks Club?” JWHA Journal 14 (1994): 35-51, which, in my opinion, is the best thing written on the Danites

It also has the best title of any work on the Danites. David, do you have any idea why Bushman treated Joseph’s relationship with the Danites so softly in RSR?

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