Illinois' Apology to
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(not on real site)

In an official ceremony, April 8, 2004, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepted an official apology from the Governor of the State of Illinois, for that state's involvement in driving Mormons from there in the mid 1840s.

Critics, however, simply cannot let this horrendous act that occurred on Illinois soil, alone.  Not long after the ceremony National Public Radio (NPR) did a piece on the event, citing John Halwitz (sp?), a professor of Western Illinois University, wherein Prof. Halwitz suggests that Joseph Smith was implicit in the actions that took place, glossing over charges that Joseph Smith destroyed the Nauvoo Expositor, when history shows that there is much more to that story than Halwitz suggests.  Halwitz also suggests that the fact that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and some people in the state didn't like that and had a large military force was a Mormon cause of the violence.  He also states that there was plenty of violence on both sides, but does not provide any evidence for this suggestion so far as the Mormon side is concern.  Nor does he mention that much of any Mormon actions were defensive and the result of violence alrady practiced on them.  One is led to conclude that Prof. Halwitz would also suggest that the Jews owe Hitler and his minions an apology for the part they played on the violence practiced on them by practicing their religion without bothering other people.  We leave our readers to see the propriety of Prof. Halwitz's statements.  Halwitz's statements are seen as silly and shallow.

Oh, yes, if Prof. Halwitz can gloss over such horrendous acts, we feel certain that in fairness he won't mind how we have glossed over his comments as well.