Jeff Foli, a former member of the Mormon religion and former Chillicothe mayor, was the guest speaker at Thursday’s meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club.
Foli, who was ex-communicated from the church in 2009, talked about how while the Mormons are “good people,” there are “two sides” to the Mormon history in Missouri and gave the Mormon version of several incidents along with what he called “the other side.” Among the topics discussed were the theft of what is known as the “Old Sow Cannon” from Chillicothe in 1838, which led to the eventual killing of 17 Mormons at Haun’s Mill in Caldwell County. The Livingston County Sheriff at the time of the theft, William O. Jennings, was later shot and killed by an unknown assassin, believed to be “The Mormon Hit Man,” Orrin Rockwell, who Foli said was known as the “Avenging Angel” and was an associate of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith.
Foli also talked about how the Mormons, who began their journey in Independence, eventually moved to Nauvoo, IL but in recent years have started coming back to Missouri. North of Gallatin is Adam-ondi-Ahman, believed by some Mormons to be the site where Adam and Eve lived after being expelled from the Garden of Eden. They believe it will be a gathering spot for a meeting of the priesthood leadership, including prophets of all ages and other righteous people, prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ. He said there are many Mormons who today are “quietly buying up thousands of acres of land” through third parties in Jackson, Clay, Daviess and Caldwell counties.
Also speaking briefly was a friend of Foli’s, Jason Benson, who is operating a residential facility for persons recovering from alcohol and drug abuse in the former Gov. Hyde home, located across the street from the post office.
During the business meeting, it was announced that the Rotary Club would be seeking a District Simplified Grant of up to $3,000, which would be used to help in the Geyer Hall renovation. The club would be required to provide a match to the grant, which would make the donation to the project as much as $6,000, if received.
Next week’s program chairman is Steve Taylor.
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