The Missouri “Danites”

In the summer of 1838, Missouri Latter-day Saints drew a line. Following several years of persecution, they chose to take up arms to defend themselves and their religious liberties. An oath-bound paramilitary society, known as the “Danites,” formed to warn out undesirable people from their community and defend the Church and its leaders. In this episode, Alex Baugh shares insights from his research that gives valuable context to why the Danites organized, and lessons learned from their actions.

Publications:

“‘We have a Company of Danites in these Times’: The Danites, Joseph Smith, and the 1838 Missouri-Mormon Conflict” (Journal of Mormon History, vol. 45, no. 3, 2019).

Click here to learn more about Professor Alex Baugh.