Mormon History
Establishment of the Nauvoo Expositor - 1844
Warsaw Messenger – May 15, 1844
The New Church appears to be going ahead. On
last Sunday, there were about three hundred assembled at Mr. Law's house in
Nauvoo, and listened with much seeming pleasure to a sermon from Elder Blakely,
who denounced Smith as a fallen Prophet. He treated the Spiritual wife doctrine
without gloves, and repudiated Smith's plan of uniting Church and State.
After Blakely had concluded, William Law gave his reasons in strong language for
leaving the false prophet.
Francis M. Higbee, then read a series of resolutions which set forth the reasons
for withdrawing from Joe. After this a number of Affidavits were read testifying
to Joe's villainy, and showing the evils under which a huge portion of the
citizens are obliged to labor,
The new church and those opposed to Mormonism in Nauvoo, are said to be strongly
in favor of repealing their Charter, it having been made an instrument of
oppression rather than a benefit.
The Nauvoo Expositor is the title of a
new paper about to be started at Nauvoo, by the opponents of Joe. The Prospectus
has been issued, in which the proposed character of the paper is set forth. It
will have nothing to do with religion, but goes in for the repeal of the Nauvoo
City Charter, against political revelations and unconstitutional ordinances. As
the conductors of this paper are well acquainted with Joe, it will in all
probability make some disclosures which will render Nauvoo too hot either for
Joe or his enemies. We will endeavor to keep our readers well apprised of
everything of interest to them. In the mean time we say, success to the new
undertaking, for "a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand."