ACT II - Song 08 - Our Fathers Fought by Gunnar Michael Andersen published on 2023-02-10T16:14:12Z By early 1838, violent mobs had succeeded in driving the "Mormons" out of Kirtland, Ohio, and Independence, Missouri. The new gathering place for the Saints was Far West, Missouri on the Western edge of the United States. However, the persecutors of the Saints were relentless in their abuses and continued their violent molestations of the followers of Joseph Smith. By July 4th of that year, Sidney Rigdon had had enough. In the town square that day he delivered what came to be known as "The Fourth of July Oration" (see Joseph Smith Papers for the text of the complete oration: Appendix 3: Discourse, circa 4 July 1838," p. [1], https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-3-discourse-circa-4-july-1838/1). In many respects it is a beautiful speech of love and devotion to country and to the principles upon which it was founded. But in the last six paragraphs, Sidney breathes fire and delivered the most bloodthirsty words I have yet to encounter in the history of the church. He said, "...that mob that comes upon us to disturb us; it shall be between us and them a war of extermination, for we will follow them, till the last drop of their blood is spilled, or else they will have to exterminate us: for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses, and their own families, and one party or the other shall be utterly destroyed." This oration marks the beginning of the Missouri Mormon War; a series of roughly six engagements including the massacre at Haun's Mill. It culminated in the siege of Far West, and the imprisonment of Joseph Smith and other leaders in Liberty Jail. This song attempts to convey the emotion of Sidney's 4th of July Oration. All the spoken words are taken directly from his speech with the exception of the last sentence; and the lyrics are all inspired by Sidney's words. This is the second to last song in ACT II. Genre Soundtrack