The Missouri Persecutions

by B.H. Roberts

Reproduction of the The Missouri Persecutions by B.H. Roberts

Genres: History, Lds

291 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Brigham Henry Roberts was a Mormon leader, historian, and politician who published a six-volume history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and was denied a seat as a member of United States Congress because of his practice of plural marriage.

Reviews

[Terry Earley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roberts names names and provides and unflinching account of the atrocities perpetrated on the Mormon settlers. All other accounts gloss over the details, but Roberts had a reputation for speaking his mind and letting the history speak for itself. Too bad it is out of print.

[Cheri Battrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say this is one of my favorite books because it was such a hard read, but I can say that it is one of the most necessary books for me to read in my life. Why? Because in 1996 I moved with my first husband to Caldwell County, Missouri where much of the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints took place in the late 1830s before the Extermination Order.

What we didn't know when we moved there, was that the descendants of those who drove my ancestors out were still there, and their hatred for the Latter-day Saints was alive and well. I had bought a copy of this book for our library long before we knew we were to move to Missouri, but didn't read it until one day the Spirit prompted me to do so after we moved to Missouri.

What I learned in this book helped me to understand what my ancestors and their comrades went through. And it prompted me to want to understand the perspective of the mob and their descendants. This book goes beyond what we learn in Gospel Doctrine class or even Church History Institute classes. It enlightened me greatly and helped me try harder to be true and faithful in the midst of the adversity which I was facing.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1900, so the language is a little archaic and difficult in spots. B.H. Roberts was a fine historian, but he tends to the over-dramatic. It is really interesting, though, and very detailed.

[Fawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a good history of the Mormon experience in MO from 1831 to 1838 but it was not an easy read. At times I found myself reading and enjoying it but most of the time I was painfully aware that this book was written in 1900, not now. Glad I read it, tho. Definitely worthwhile.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mormon perspective on the Missouri Mormon War. Besides some scripture in the beginning and the integral quoting of letters, it is a very light read despite its age.

I downloaded it from archive.org together with its companion "The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo" in one book.

[Shirley Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enlightening book. He names names that add to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A good review of the persecutions suffered at the hands of Missiourian Mobs. The writing is not the best, but the facts stand for themselves. Fascinating read.

[Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

BH Roberts seeks to inform and influence support against the mistreatment of LDS settlers in early Missouri. The book retells historical events with a healthy dose of subjectiveness that colors the events as purely one sided religious persecution but fails to treat the opposing viewpoints as anything other than barbaric unacceptance of the new religion. I gave it a 3 star rating simply because of the historical information it does provide.