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8 The Last Revelation When the cannonball landed in the Morrisite congregation, it not only threw the assembled worshippers into confusion, it instantly convinced them that the attacking force was bent upon their destruction and that they must now fight for their lives. Peter Anderson, son of the girl whose chin was struck by the cannonball, later wrote that “rumors of the Mountain Meadows Massacre were fresh in the minds of all the Morrisites. None of them were convinced that if they did surrender they might not be letting themselves and their families in for a similar fate.”1 They were dazed by the sudden turn of events. Not only had the posse fired upon them, it had done so with deadly effect despite the prophet’s assurance that none of the righteous would be harmed. For some of them the cannonball swept away much more than the life of two friends and the beauty of a young girl. The direct attack also took its toll in the Morrisites’ faith in their prophet and their fierce dedication to a way of life that had been filled with unbounded hope and built upon unspeakable sacrifice. The realization of this truth left some in total shock. For others, the destruction about them suggested that they must place even more faith in their prophet and in their God. For it was clear that nothing short of Divine Providence could save them from destruction at the hands of so formidable a foe. They had trusted in the Lord with all their hearts and now they must trust Him with their very lives. It was in this same spirit that the prophet Joseph Morris entreated with God immediately after the first casualties occurred, and he received only words of comfort and reassurance. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come near unto you. I know your condition . I wish to try this people before I deliver them. I will put a stop to the present course in a short time. The enemies shall go so far, and then I will stop them—they have almost gone far enough—I will stop them at the right time. I know you feel discouraged, and feel as though I had forsaken you and this people; but I have not, and that you shall soon see. Be still, 1 Peter Anderson, “The Wound that Never Healed,” Frontier Times (July 1965):44. 128 The Morrisite War and faint not. They have commenced the work, but I will finish it. As soon as this scrimmage is over, I will give unto you my Father’s message, and then I will sweep them off. You need not fear; I will stop them at the right time. The hypocrites that are in the midst of this people will go over to the other side. As soon as they have drawn from among this people all the hypocrites , then I will put a stop to the present course. I have suffered them to come and do what they have done, in order that they may draw out all the hypocrites. None will leave me and go over to the other side but those people who are false before me—who have not my spirit to strengthen them. The true and faithful will stand firm; but the false-hearted will go. Those that stand faithful . . . through this, I will deliver. You do not think that I should suffer this to take place; but I have suffered it for a wise purpose . This is a trying day to some. The clouds all around appear dark to my people; but a bright cloud will soon make its appearance. Both you and the faithful must depend on me, and you will be right. You must not give up to them, but stand them out, and I will sustain you.2 And how the Morrisites needed that sustenance. Their arms were poor and mostly short range, and their ammunition was in short supply. They were already short of food when the attack commenced. Soon they would be out of food altogether. But most of all, the flimsy fort could provide them with scant protection from the rifles and cannon of the militia. Not only was the fort poorly built but it sat in a virtually indefensible location. The sandy bluffs to the south and west encircled the fort on two sides. They were only about half a mile distant and rose some two hundred feet in height, providing a...

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