Frank Kirkman's Mountain Meadows Massacre Site  
Continue to Index THE DANITES - "MORMON HIT MEN"
INTRODUCTION
The information contained on the DANITES pages is information that has been collected by reseachers at Brigham Young University .
Joseph Smith's Hit Man
Orrin Porter Rockwell
Killed 17 people for the church. Shot and wounded Missouri Gov. Boggs on orders from Joe Smith.
Most of the information especially about the Danites is information that the Mormon Church would rather not discuss. The Mormons that made up the Danites were cold blooded killers that the Mormon Church would deny were even members of the Church. Most of their activities were sanctioned by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith or Brigham Young.
The Danites comprised most of the 400 or so Mormon men who surrendered along with Smith and Rigdon to state militia forces at Far West. Smith, Rigdon, and several other Danite leaders were arrested, and spent the next few months in jail awaiting trial on treason and murder charges. Most of the other murder charges.
Most of the other 15,000 or so Mormons, having been banished from Missouri, settled near Quincy, Illinois. Meaning, Smith didn't "disband the maverick body"; rather, the Danites were disbanded because they were either in jail or had moved to Illinois. Many former Missouri-period Danites later became Nauvoo policemen, Joseph Smith's bodyguards, or Nauvoo Legionnaries. Meaning, rather than being "maverick" or outcasts, they were among Smith's most trusted and loyal followers.
Brigham Young's Hit Man
William "Wild Bill" Hickman
Killed 54 people on orders of the Prophet Brigham Young.
Click on image of William "Wild Bill" Hickman for more information.
Research articles have been index below for quick access. If you have any feedback please let us know here. EMAIL US | Danite Index
LDS Lawyer Defends the Massacre
 
The Untold Story of the Death of Joseph Smith
To fully understand the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith one needs to understand the continual cover-up by the LDS Church.
The cover-up extends to the tour of the Carthage Jail that the Mormon tour guides hide the fact that Joseph and Hyrum Smith had any guns in their cells.
Mormon documention even states that Joseph Smith shot and killed two men and wounded another. The gun Joseph Smith used was the Pepperbox Pistol (upper gun). Joseph Smith was shot four times near the window of the Jail and then fell out the window.
The video by Bill McKeever explains the death of Joseph Smith as documented by the LDS Church.
Bill McKeever speaks on the untold story of the death of Joseph Smith. "If a faith will not bear to be investigated; if its preachers and professors are afraid to have it examined; their foundation must be very weak." -- (Journal of Discourses 14:216-217)
Photo on left is of the pepperbox pistol used by Joseph Smith to kill two men prior to his death in the Carthage Jail. The Mormon tour guides will not tell you the true story. The single shot pistol was in the possession of but not used by his brother Hyrum. Brother Hyrum was Killed before he could use his.
The Untold Story of the Death of Joseph Smith - Video | Danite Index
Danites Pages Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 links Index Page
DANITES Page 1
THE DANITES
SPRING 1838 ORGANIZATION
JUNE 1838 EXPELLING DISSENTERS CALDWELL COUNTY
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
PRESIDENT RIGDON'S 4TH OF JULY "SALT" SERMON
NEED IN MISSOURI Encyclopedia of Mormonism
OFFICIAL CHURCH HISTORY
THREE PURPOSES FOR DANITES BYU STUDIES 1965
B. H. ROBERTS COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
SOME DANITES TURNED STATES EVIDENCE SENATE DOCUMENT 189
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
DR. SAMSON AVARD, DANITE LEADER TESTIMONY
COVENANT TAKEN BY DANITES
DAVIES COUNTY ELECTION WORK
LDS CHURCH IS DANIEL'S LITTLE STONE
ORDERED TO DESTROY DOCUMENTATION
DANITE CONSTITUTION
DANITES Page 2
SIDNEY RIGDON DOCUMENTATION
THREE DAY NOTICE
SOLEMN WARNING FATAL CALAMITY
CRIMES DETAILED
OLIVER COWDERY, DAVID WHITMER DISGRACED THEIR TESTIMONIES
COWDERY WAS A DULY ELECTED OFFICIAL
OLIVER COWDERY COUNTERFEITER, LIAR, THIEF
COWDERY CHURCH GANG
PRESIDENT RIGDON'S SALT SERMON
REMAINDER OF DR. AVARD'S TESTIMONY
GEORGE HINKLE'S TESTIMONY
SAW A GREAT DEAL OF PLUNDER
JOSEPH SMITH INSPECTED ALL PLUNDER
THOMAS MARSH TESTIMONY
ORSON HYDE TESTIMONY
JOHN CORRILL TESTIMONY
JOHN CLEMINSON'S TESTIMONY
JOHN HINCKLE'S TESTIMONY
BURR RIGGS TESTIMONY
JESSE KELLY'S TESTIMONY
JOHN WHITMER'S TESTIMONY
HISTORICAL CONTEXT BEHIND WHITMER'S TESTIMONY
W. W. PHELP'S TESTIMONY
DANITES Page 3
1992 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MORMONISM ~ "DANITES"
DANITES Page 4
BYU STUDIES ~ DANITE BAND OF 1838
THE RISE OF THE DISSENTERS
ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE DISSENTERS
SALT SPEECH PROBLEMS
DOCUMENTING EVIDENCE AGAINST DISSENTERS
HISTORY OF SAMPSON AVARD
THE QUESTION OF NAMES FOR THE ORDER
THE NATURE OF THE DANITE SOCIETY: ITS TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES
THE SECRET OATH BINDING DANITES
CONSTITUTION
JOHN D. LEE
AVARD'S CHARACTER AND METHODS
GOV BOGGS TESTIMONY
AVARD'S MOTIVES NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR
DANITE CONSTITUTION
DANITE RELATIONSHIP TO THE "ARMIES OF ISRAEL"
DANITE RELATIONSHIP TO THE FIRST PRESIDENCY
JOSEPH SMITH WRITING FROM JAIL
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
DANITES Page 5
BYU STUDIES ROCKWOOD LETTERS
The Danites in Mormon History
SOURCE OF NEGATIVE ACCOUNTS, COURT RECORDS
GENTRY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT 
AVARD A WITNESS FOR THE STATE
SOURCE DESCRIPTION
THE MANUSCRIPTS
ALBERT P. ROCKWOOD
MANUSCRIPT 2
MUCH PROPERTY PLUNDERED WOMEN VIOLATED
DISSENTERS LIST
MANUSCRIPT 3
DANITES Page 6
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, HISTORY OF THE CHURCH DANITES
CHURCH LEADERS MOBILIZED SAINTS MILITIA
DANITES Page 7
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, LDS Communities In Caldwell And Daviess Counties
DANITES Page 8
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, MISSOURI CONFLICT
DANITES Page 9
SMITH AND SJODAHL, DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SAMSON AVARD
DANITES Page 10
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH ~ DANITE ARTICLES
ORIGINAL NEED FOR THE DANITES
AVARD ORGANIZED THE DANITES
AVARD SET UP COMPANIES
AVARD'S TESTIMONY FALSE
THOMAS B. MARSH TESTIMONY ~ HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
THOMAS MARSH CUT OFF FROM THE CHURCH
GENERAL DAVID R. ATCHISON
JOHN C. BENNETT
DANITES Page 11
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH - DANITE OATH
DANITES Page 12
Examination of Prisoners At Richmond-- "Treason": Origin Of the "Danites"
PROPHET'S WORD OF COMFORT
A PROPHET'S REBUKE OF UNGODLY GUARDS
GENERAL CLARK'S ADDRESS TO THE SAINTS AT FAR WEST
EFFORTS FOR A COURT-MARTIAL
THE "DANITE BAND"
"DANITE CONSTITUTION"
HISTORICAL ATLAS OF MORMONISM
DANITES Page 13
BYU REGIONAL STUDIES MISSOURI
INTRODUCTION
Missouri Era: Residue of Wisdom
BYU REGIONAL STUDIES MISSOURI THOMAS MARSH: Reluctant Apostate
DANITES Page 14
CLARIFICATIONS OF BOGG'S "ORDER" AND JOSEPH SMITH'S CONSTITUTIONALISM
BOGGS' REACTIONS TO THE 1833 EXPULSION
THE NORTHWEST EXPULSION PARTY
CARROLL COUNTY'S EXTERMINATION ORDER
BOGGS' REASONS FOR STATE EXTERMINATION ORDERS
THE AMBIGUOUS "RINGLEADERS" ORDER
ENFORCEMENT OF LAPSED ORDERS
JOSEPH SMITH AND CIVIL RIGHTS
DANITES Page 15
WHO DO HISTORIANS AND AUTHORITIES BLAME FOR THE DANITES?
ELDERS' RECORD 
GEORGE Q. CANNON
ORSON F. WHITNEY
OLIVER HUNTINGTON 
EBENEZER ROBINSON
DAVID WHITMER
CHICAGO TRIBUNE 
DAVID WHITMER, ADDRESS (1887), P.35
RIGDON FORMED THE DANITES
TIMES AND SEASONS 
JAMES R. CLARK 
REED C. DURHAM, Jr. BYU STUDIES
LEONARD J. ARRINGTON BYU STUDIES
RICHARD H. CRACROFT BYU STUDIES
STEPHEN C. LESUEUR BYU STUDIES
DID THE PROSECUTION'S WITNESSES TESTIFY TRUTHFULLY?
CONDUCT OF THE TRIAL
DANITES Page16
ILLINOIS PERIOD ~ DANITES 1839-1845
NAUVOO CITY ORGANIZATION
LIMITATION ON RELIGIOUS SPEECH IN NAUVOO
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON GOVERNOR BOGGS
DANITES Page 17
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL ~ DANITE
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL & MORMONISM
ROCKWELL BEFORE THE BOOK OF MORMON TRANSLATED
ROCKWELL IN FAR WEST
ROCKWELL INDICTED MURDER OF SHERIFF OF PEORIA
ROCKWELL SUPPORTED IN NAUVOO
ROCKWELL APPEAL TO WASHINGTON D.C.1839-1840
ROCKWELL ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON BOGGS
EVIDENCE SMITH ORDERED THE BOGGS ATTACK
JOSEPH SMITH RECEIVED A REVELATION FOR ROCKWELL
RIOT ~ PRESS BURNING NAUVOO TROUBLE - SMITH AND ROCKWELL
JOSEPH SMITH CHARACTERIZED ROCKWELL
ROCKWELL BEFORE SMITH DEATH
JOSEPH'S PLAN TO GO WEST WITH ROCKWELL
SMITH'S DEATH ENDED PLANS WITH ROCKWELL
AFFIDAVIT ORRIN P. ROCKWELL GOV. FORD IN NAUVOO
ROCKWELL'S ESCAPE
DANITES Page 18
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH ILLINOIS PERIOD
AFFIDAVIT OF DANIEL H. WELLS ANENT JOHN C. BENNETT
STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF HANCOCK
Letter or Governor Carlin to Joseph Smith, Anent the Foregoing Resolution and Petition.
ROCKWELL IMPORTANT IN BOTH ILLINOIS AND UTAH PERIODS
DANITES Page 19
UTAH ~ DANITES
DANITES ACTIVE IN UTAH
ROCKWELL TRADING WITH INDIANS 1847
ROCKWELL WITH GENERAL CONNOR'S INDIAN CAMPAIGN
ROCKWELL 1849 WITH BRIGHAM YOUNG
NOVEMBER 1850 ROCKWELL BROUGHT 50 CALIFORNIANS INTO SALT LAKE
ROCKWELL WITH BRIGHAM IN 1857
ROCKWELL UTAH WAR 1857
NAUVOO LEGION RECALLED
ROCKWELL THREAT OF DEATH TAKEN SERIOUSLY
ROCKWELL SPECIAL OPERATIONS
MEETINGS WITH BRIGHAM YOUNG
SPOILS OF WAR
ROCKWELL FRONTIER LAW INFORCEMENT 1862
ROCKWELL WITH PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
ROCKWELL ARREST 1877 FOR MURDER
ROCKWELL DEATH 1878
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH ~ UTAH DANITES
BILL HICKMAN ~ DANITE
HICKMAN AND ROCKWELL WORK TOGETHER
HICKMAN A DESPERADO
HICKMAN ~ BRIGHAM YOUNG'S DESTROYING ANGEL
HICKMAN DID 18 TO 20 MURDERS
DANITES Page 20
BILL HICKMAN, Brigham's Destroying Angel (Complete Online Book read it or buy it)
DANITES Page 21
THE MORMONS IN NAUVOO - THE DAILY TRIBUNE: SALT LAKE CITY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1887
Letter I - Three Letters from William Law on Mormonism.
Letter II - Three Letters from William Law on Mormonism.
Letter III - Three Letters from William Law on Mormonism.
THE LAW INTERVIEW. - THE DAILY TRIBUNE: SALT LAKE CITY, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 31, 1887.
DANITES Page 22
DR. WYL AND WM. LAW - A Deeply Interesting Talk on Old Nauvoo Days.
Interview with Wm. Law. Mch. 30, 1887
DANITES Page 23
THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH., NAUVOO EXPOSITOR , VOL I NAUVOO, IL. FRI. JUN. 7, 1844. NO 1
AFFIDAVITS.
WM. LAW
ROBERT D. FOSTER, J. P.
JANE LAW.
AUSTIN COWLES.
DANITES Page 24
THE EXPOSITOR, FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1844, SYLVESTER EMMONS, EDITOR, INTRODUCTORY
JOE. SMITH--THE PRESIDENCY.
DANITES LINKS
DANITES LINKS PAGE

Danites Pages Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 links Index Page  

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Read how the Mormon Killers got paid by the US Government for caring for the orphan children after they had killed their parents.