Jared Smith's Deliverance from Mob Violence in Belfast
Published October 6, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
While rioting and bloodshed occurred in Belfast, the writer, Jared Smith, instructed the Saints to stay home and not engage. He promised that if they followed this counsel, none of them would be injured. One of their young men, who had received buckshot in his hip, was fortunate to have been out of the way when firing occurred. The writer believes that if they avoid unnecessary danger by heeding counsel, they will be protected by God's power.
In Their Own Words
“I took occasion yesterday morning, with much freedom, to instruct our people not to be found in the streets, nor to have any opinions on either side, as party feelings are strong and lead to trouble; and as we have come out from them we can afford to leave them alone and allow the wicked to slay the wicked. I promised that if they would do this none of them would be injured. One of our young men received buckshot in his hip on Saturday night coming home; but he could have been out of the way if he had thought of any firing having to be done. It is wise for all good citizens to be at home; they are counselled to do so, and if they will not abide this counsel they are liable to meet with accidents. We have much need of your faith and prayers that we may have wisdom to avoid every unnecessary danger.”
— Jared Smith, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 23 August 1886 (Vol. 48, No. 34). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1886-08-23_48_34 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Full first-person account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 48, No. 34 (23 August 1886), p. 541 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1886-08-23_48_34
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