184 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



this pernicious example, and when the county to which 

 the Mormons had removed became more thickly settled, 

 they rose to a man against the modern Gomorrah. The 

 Mormons, by this time, having on their part gained con- 

 siderable accession to their strength, thought to set the laws 

 at defiance, organised and armed large bodies of men, in 

 order to maintain the ascendancy over the legitimate set- 

 tlers, and bid fair to constitute an " iuiperium in imperio " 

 in the State, and become the sole possessors of the public 

 lands. This, of course, could not be tolerated. Governor 

 Boggs at once ordered out a large force of State militia 

 to put down this formidable demonstration, marched 

 against the Mormons, and suppressed the insurrectionary 

 movement without bloodshed. 



From Clay County they moved still farther into the 

 wilds, and settled at last in Caldwell County, where they 

 built the town of " Far West," and here they remained for 

 the space of three years. 



During this time they were continually receiving con- 

 verts to the faith, and many of the more ignorant country 

 people were disposed to join them, being only deterred by 

 the fear of incurring ridicule from the stronger -minded. 

 The body of the Mormons seeing this, called upon their 

 prophet, Joe Smith, to perform a miracle in public before 

 all comers, which was to prove to those of their own people 

 who still doubted the doctrine, the truth of what it ad- 

 vanced (the power of performing miracles was steadfastly 

 declared to be in their hands by the prophets), and to 

 enlist those who wavered in the Mormon cause. 



The prophet instantly agreed, and declared that, upon a 

 certain day he would walk across the broad waters of the 

 Missouri without wetting the soles of his feet. On the 

 appointed day the river-banks were thronged by an ex- 

 pectant crowd. The Mormons sang hymns of praise in 

 honour of their prophet, and were proud of the forthcoming 

 miracle, which was to set finally at rest all doubt as to his 

 power and sanctity. 



This power of performing miracles and effecting mira- 

 culous cures of the sick, was so generally believed by the 



