History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

THE MORRISITES.
and the accused admitted to bail, awaiting the action
of the grand jury. Although the prophet's recent
marriage was well known throughout the city, and had
long furnished food for gossip, the judges afterward
refused to find a bill against him, on the ground that
there was no sufficient evidence. 28
During its session the grand jury indicted, for
armed resistance to the laws, certain apostates known
as Morrisites. In November 1860 an ignorant and
simple-minded Welshman, Joseph Morris by name,
made his way to the capital on foot, from an obscure
settlement in Weber county. He had two letters, the
contents of which were, as he claimed, inspired, their
purport being to warn Brigham of his sin. 29 His
despatches were unheeded, or answered in befitting
phrase, 30 whereupon this new seer and revelator turned
his face homeward. Reaching Kington Fort, on the
Weber River, some thirty miles north of the city, 31
he found favor with the bishop and certain of his
neighbors, who embraced the new doctrine, believing
that Morris was appointed by the Lord to deliver Israel
from bondage, and that the Lord's coming was
nigh at hand. Other proselytes gathered from far
and near, and all held their effects in common, for
Christ was about to descend and would provide for
his elect. 32
28 In his Crit. Notes on Utah, MS., 18-20, Harrison states that the antipolygamy
act was considered by the Mormons as directed mainly against
Brigham Young and the heads of the church. 'I will take the wind out of
their sails,' the former remarked, and at once caused himself to be arrested
and taken before Judge Kinney. The witnesses were all his friends, among
them being some of his own clerks, and he was simply bound over, to appear
when called upon. It was not until nine years later that Brigham's name appeared
again in any case of the kind, and the act of ISG'2 had then become
void by virtue of the statute of limitations. See also Deseret News, March
11, 1863; 8. F. Alta, March 11, 14, 1863; Sac. Union, March 12, 1863.
29 Waite says that Morris had received many previous revelations, which
he had communicated to Brigham and the apostles, that his life had been
threatened, and that he now appealed to the prophet for protection. The,
Mormon Prophet, 122.
30 Ibid.; Stenhousc's Rocky Mountain Saints, 594. Stenhouse also says that
Brigham answered them with a brief and filthy response.
31 Near the point where the Union Pacific railroad issues from Weber Canon.
32 Waite says that when the Morrisites increased in number, Brigham ordered
John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff to investigate the matter. Summon-
615