Did Mormons Swear Vengeance Against America?

Did Latter-day Saints once swear an oath of vengeance against the United States? The answer is more complicated than many critics and defenders have claimed. In this deep dive into Mormon history, we examine the controversial vengeance oath associated with Latter-day Saint temple worship from the Nauvoo era until its removal in the 1920s. By exploring internal diaries, exposés, legal testimony, the Reed Smoot hearings, and statements from Mormon leaders, we investigate what the oath likely said, why it developed after the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and how it changed over time. More importantly, this video demonstrates how historians interpret conflicting historical evidence. Were Latter-day Saints simply praying for God to avenge the deaths of the prophets, or were they promising to participate in that vengeance themselves? By comparing sources from Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Abraham H. Cannon, former church members, and congressional testimony, we uncover the complicated relationship between Mormon temple history, persecution, patriotism, religious identity, and historical memory. Newsletter link for giveaway: https://benjaminpark.kit.com/e8e78e2331 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Instagram:   / benjaminparkhistorian   TikTok:   / benjaminparkhistorian   Books: American Zion: https://amzn.to/4j8Ms16 Kingdom of Nauvoo: https://amzn.to/4cmigxw Video Chapters: 00:00 Vengeance Oath 00:55 The Covenant 01:58 Historical Origins 02:48 Nauvoo Endowment 03:44 Ritual Changes 05:20 Early Accounts 07:03 Missing Details 07:59 Channel Update 08:45 Historical Sources 10:34 National Controversy 12:16 Oath Removed 14:08 Central Debate 15:00 Critical Accounts 16:05 Woodruff Responds 18:24 Smoot Testimony 19:09 Taking Vengeance 20:47 Final Lessons #MormonHistory #LDSHistory #ChurchHistory #religioushistory About This Channel: Welcome to the channel! I’m Dr. Benjamin Park—historian, author, professor, and unapologetic history geek. If you're tired of hearing that everything is unprecedented or nothing like this has ever happened before, you're in the right place. This channel dives into the complex (and fascinating) intersections of American religion, politics, and culture. I bring history out of the ivory tower and into real-world conversations—making it relevant, accessible, and even a little fun. Expect weekly deep dives, quick takes on current events, book recommendations, and sharp insights from the past to help us understand our present. From Mormon history to the abolitionist movement and beyond, let’s unpack how we got here—and where we might be going. Subscribe and geek out with me on the power of the past. This channel participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Views expressed on this channel are those of the presenter and not his employer.