Danite

Common card · No. 339524

The Danites were a fraternal organization founded by Latter Day Saint members in June 1838, in the town of Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. During their activities in Missouri, the Danites operated as a vigilante group and took a central role in the events of the 1838 Mormon War. They remained an important part of Mormon-related folklore, polemics, and propaganda for the remainder of the 19th century, waning in ideological prominence after Utah gained statehood in 1896. The nature and scope of the organization and the degree to which it was officially connected to the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) are not agreed among historians. Public and private statements from Joseph Smith referred to the band as being evil in nature and also a "secret combination" (a term used in the Book of Mormon to signify corruption within a group of people such as gangs, organized crime, and politics, as well as used in general parlance to signify unlawful conspiracy). However, early in the group's...

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