LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 209 



having on their part gained considerahle accession to their 

 strength, thought to set the laws at defiance, organized and 

 armed large bodies of men, in order to maintain, the ascendency 

 over the legitimate settlers, and bid fair to constitute an " im- 

 perium 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 converts to 

 the faith, and many of the more ignorant country people were 

 disposed to join them, being only deterred by the fear of incur- 

 ring ridicule from the stronger-minded. The body of the Mor- 

 mons 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 advanced (the power of performing miracles was stead- 

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

 list 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 with- 

 out wetting the soles of his feet. On the appointed day, the river 

 banks were thronged by an expectant crowd. The Mormons sang 

 hymns of praise in honor 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 efiecting miraculous 

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



