The Civil War, which started in
South Carolina on April 12, 1861, and ended in Virginia on April 9, 1865,
caused the deaths and misery of more citizens of the United States than all
other wars put together so far – yes, including the 1st and 2nd World Wars. The
Union forces suffered more than 364,000 deaths, and it is estimated that the
Confederate forces had approximately 450,000 deaths, a total of 814,000
Americans killed.
While most people found freedom
of religion in the United States, the Mormons were compelled to leave the
United States because of their religion. It was a blessing in disguise,
however, because while Americans were killing each other in the Civil War, the
Latter-day Saints were in the rocky mountains, safe from the death and misery
taking place in the United States. They were “standing in holy places” just as
Joseph had prophesied. (Almon Fackrell, Parallels of Moses, Jesus and Joseph
Smith: A Study that Ties the Old Testament, the New Testament, and “Another
Testament” Together [Salt Lake City: Hawkes Publishing Inc., 1996], 180)
Further Reading:
