I am Ryan McKnight. I'm Kara Santa Maria. I am Christopher Smith. Hi, I'm Andrew Torres. This is

Naked Mormonism. The Serial Mormon History podcast. The Mormons had a lot of trouble with the

legal system during Joseph Smith's time. This was a running

motif through all of Joe's leadership of the religious sect. They were rarely on the right

side of the law. Whether we focus on the Kirtland, Ohio, far west Missouri, or Navu, Illinois,

the major headquarters of the church were constantly at battle with the legal system in one way or another.

Missouri in 1838 was the most overtly lawless and anti-government period of the church.

After the Mormons were removed from Missouri due to the war, their surrender, and Governor Boggs' extermination order,

they decided to be lawless within the confines of the law in Illinois.

One of the first items on Joe's to-do list upon his escape from jail in 1839 was to collect

dozens of affidavits from various members and church leaders petitioning the federal government for

redress. The Mormons wanted to be paid back for their mistreatment in Missouri.

These initial petitions were taken by Joseph Smith, Hinchman Cindy Rigden, Pistolback,

and Porter, and Dr. Bob the builder, Robert D. Foster, to the federal legislature.

Joe met with them, as well as with President Martin Van Buren, and their petitions were denied. Martin Van Buren claimed

that if he did anything to help the Mormons out of their perilous situation, quote,

he would come into contact with the whole state of Missouri, which was an accurate assessment.

According to Joseph Smith, the president of the United States told him, quote, your cause is just,

but I can do nothing for you, end

quote. Well, Van Buren had to weigh in the balance his next election, right? I mean, Joe,

angry with the outcome of their meeting, he returned to Commerce, Illinois, which was soon to

become Navu, and he proclaimed along his trip home that Van Buren was

...