“It was ​probably​ his hatred to truth and the ‘Mormons,’ and his blood thirsty murderous disposition, that raised him to the Station he occupied.” — Joseph Smith¹

Lilburn Boggs (1796–1860) was the governor of Missouri who issued Executive Order 44, known as the “Extermination Order,” against the Latter-day Saints in 1838.² Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Boggs moved to Missouri in 1816 and pursued various professions, including merchant, Indian agent, and politician. He was elected to the state senate and served as lieutenant governor before becoming governor in 1836. During his tenure, con between the Latter-day Saints and local Missourians escalated.³ Boggs, who had previously supported the expulsion of Saints from Jackson County, issued the extermination order following exaggerated reports of a conflict at Crooked River. This order led to increased violence and the eventual expulsion of the Saints from Missouri. Despite appeals for protection from the Saints, Boggs remained unsympathetic and took decisive action against them.⁴ He survived an assassination attempt in 1842 and later moved to Sonoma, California.³

1. JS History, 1838–1856, volume B-1, josephsmithpapers.org

2. “Boggs, Lilburn William,” josephsmithpapers.org; “Documenting Persecution: An Imperative Duty,” Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, churchofjesuschrist.org

3. “Boggs, Lilburn William,” josephsmithpapers.org

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 29, 345-346