These annoyances, prosecutions and persecutions were instigated through different agencies and by various classes of men, actuated by different motives; but all uniting in the one object, prosecution, persecution and extermination of the Saints.

There were a number of wicked and corrupt men living in and vicinity, who had belonged to the ; but whose conduct was incompatible with the Gospel; they were accordingly dealt with by the Church, and severed from its communion; Some of these had been prominent members and held official stations, either in the or Church. Among these was , formerly Mayor; Wilson , Councillor to Joseph Smith; , his natural brother and General in the ; Dr. , a man of some property, but with a very bad reputation; and ; the latter, a young Lawyer, & both sons of a respectable and honored man in the Church, known as Judge , who died about twelve months before.

Besides these there were a great many apostates, both in the and country of less notoriety, who, for their delinquencies, had been expelled <​from​> the Church. and and , were cut off from the Church, the former was also cashiered from his Generalship for the most flagrant acts of seduction and adultery; and such was the scandalous nature of the developments in their cases that the , before whom they were tried, had to [p. 2]