Rigdon, Smith, and Cowdry knew they were in the belief business. They beat out their competitors using a book of bad fiction and a lot of shmoozing. They made it look easy. Good job, guys.

Current church leaders are baffled as to how to duplicate their success. The tribal knowledge is long gone. As Rusty is finding out, “it ain’t easy”.

In his book *The True Believer* Eric Hoffer charts the arc of movements -- political, religious or otherwise. They start with a disgruntled group and a leader arises. The leader is charismatic and sometimes visionary. New ideas, new plans. The group attracts more members and makes progress toward its goals. The original leader dies, or is jailed, or is pushed out because of scandal and a new leader takes charge. The new leaders is often less charismatic but superior at the politics and the management of things. The group continues to flourish under the new, less-beloved leader. The group might even achieve its goals. With the battle won, some of the fire of the cause is lost. When the second leader dies, the cause, the organization, is left in the hands of administrators and other caretakers, not visionaries. Then, unless another visionary comes along, and unless there's another war to be won, the cause slowly grinds to a halt under its own weight and decreasing lack of relevancy.

Mormonism has been in the caretake stage for generations.

olderelder Wrote:

> When the second leader dies, the cause, the
> organization, is left in the hands of
> administrators and other caretakers, not
> visionaries.
> Mormonism has been in the caretake stage for
> generations.

That the Mormon cult squats here still on her ample buttocks through thick and thin is due to the fact that Mother Masonry endures and continues to value and nourish her Cash-Cow church-front.

That Mother's Lodge, to which 8 of the original 12 belonged, have never relinquished control.

Brother Brigham's tie-tack sporting the Compass and Square says it all.

BY surely knew his business. He found out the Fancher/Baker party was carrying with them, among other things, $50,000. He was quite the $Profit.

Smith was a snake oil salesman who could charm people with his charisma until it cost him his life. He ran a one man show though considering it was only he and he alone who amassed whatever wealth the "church" built up until his demise.

Young did pretty much the same, whatever the "church" amassed during Young's tenure ended up in his pockets and bank account leading up to his death. He owned the church's assets and wealth lock, stock, and barrel.

From there it divested and became "church holdings."

Young was not charismatic. He was the pragmatic organizer who was the power mogul to take over following Smith. That was his carefully orchestrated plan.

He even tried to stage one of Joseph's sons deaths to look like an accident, to get him out of his way. But that didn't work out the way he'd hoped it would.

Yes, he was a murderous thug. As for Valkieryqueen's post above, it doesn't surprise me he knew in advance of the Fancher party's means when they were traveling through his hostile territory. That helps to go to motive for more than their cattle and other belongings. It was pre-meditated, calculated cold-blooded murder. That doesn't make Young a prophet. He was a criminal fugitive felon from the law for the rest of his pathetic life.

As for his history, those weren't the only ones either.

Amyjo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He even tried to stage one of Joseph's sons deaths
> to look like an accident, to get him out of his
> way. But that didn't work out the way he'd hoped
> it would.

What are you talking about? I can see the evidence for him being a mass murderer. But this? What the Hell?

> He was a
> criminal fugitive felon from the law for the rest
> of his pathetic life.

He was the govern of a territory of the U.S.! Did they let "fugitive felon from the law" do that? The U.S. could have rode in and arrested him. They tried with John Taylor who was a fugitive.

Where do you come up with this stuff?