History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

THE DANITES. 125
W. Patten, popularly called Captain Fearnot, for the
purpose of dealing as avengers of blood with gentiles;
in fact, they formed a kind of death society, despera-
does, thugs, hashshashiyun—in plain English, assas-
sins in the name of the Lord. The Mormons declare
categorically the whole and every particular to be the
calumnious invention of the impostor and arch apostate,
Mr John C. Bennett." 23
John Hyde, a seceder, states that the Danite band,
or the United Brothers of Gideon, was organized on
the 4th of July, 1838, and was placed under the command
of the apostle David Patten, who for the purpose
assumed the name of Captain Fearnot. 24
2;i John Corrill says that some time in June a secret society was formed of
a few individuals who should be agreed in all things, and stand by each other,
right or wrong, under all circumstances. Next to God was the first presidency;
and they bound themselves by the most solemn covenants before the
almighty that the presidency should be obeyed. 'Who started this society
I know not,' writes Corrill; 'but Doctor Samson Arvard was the most promi-
nent leader and instructor, and was assisted by others. The first presidency
did not seem to have much to do with it,. . .but I thought they stood as wireworkers
behind the curtain.' 'Arvard was very forward and indefatigable in
accomplishing their purposes, for he devoted his whole talents to it, and spared
no pains; and, I thought, was as grand a villain as his wit and ability would ad-
mit of .. . They ran into awful extremes, ' seeming to think that they were called
' upon toexecute the judgmentsof God on all their enemies. Dr Ai vard received
orders from Smith, Eigdon, and company to destroy the paper containing the
constitution of the Danite society, as, if it should be discovered, it would be
considered treasonable. He did not, however, obey the orders, but after he
was made prisoner he handed it to General Clark.' Kidder's Mormonism, 143.
The constitution is published in Bennett's Mormonism Exposed, 265. 'The
oath by which the Danites were bound in Missouri was altered in a secret
council of the inquisition at Nauvoo so as to read: "In the name of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, I do solemnly obligate myself ever to regard the
prophet and first presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, as the supreme head of the church on earth, and to obey them in all
things the same as the supreme God; that I will stand by my brethren in
danger or difficulty, and will uphold the presidency, right or wrong; and that
I will ever conceal, and never reveal, the secret purposes of this society,
called the Daughter of Zion. Should I ever do the same, I hold my life as
the forfeiture, in a caldron of boiling oil.'" Id., 267. The origin of the name
Daughter of Zion may be found in Micah iv. 13.
2i Hyde's Mormonism, 104. In Id., 104-5, Hyde writes as follows: 'When
the citizens of Carroll and Daviess counties, Mo. , began to threaten the Mormons
with expulsion in 1S38, a death society was organized under the direction of
Sidney Rigdon, and with the sanction of Smith. Its first captain was Captain
Feamot, alias David Patten, an apostle. Its object was the punishment of the
obnoxious. Some time elapsed before finding a suitable name. They desired
one that should seem to combine spiritual authority with a suitable sound.
Micah iv. 13, furnished the first name. "Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion
for 1 will make thy horn iron, and thy hoofs brass; and thou shall beat in
pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and
their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth." This furnished them with
!