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PRIESTHOOD, 1831 .
1831: 1 Jan.: They resemble the society of Jo Smith.
“A new religious sect, under the guidance of a Miss Campbell, has lately sprung up in Scotland, and numbers about 2000. They claim ‘direct inspiration, and the power of working miracles.’ In what other particulars they resemble the followers of ‘JO SMITH JUNIOR,’ we have not as yet been informed.” (Palmyra Reflector 2(Series 1. No. 9):69, 1 Jan., 1831)
2 Jan.: Elder, Priest, Teacher (no differentiation)
“And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that every man, both Elder, Priest, Teacher and also member, go to with his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish the things which I have commanded.” (D&C 38:40) [Note: Woodford gives the first dated version of this revelation as January, 1833 in the Evening and Morning Star]
2 Jan.: Pratt claims deacons existed at this time.
“On the 2nd day of January, 1831, a Conference was held in the same house where this Church was organized, and the various Branches in the State of New York were there gathered together. By the solicitations of the Conference the Prophet Joseph enquired of the Lord to know what was His will concerning the few Latter-day Saints that were then in existence. The Lord hearkened to him, and gave on that occasion a revelation contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, in which certain commandments were given, one being that all the Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons of the various Branches of the Church, instead of going out to preach, should go to with all their might and labor for the gathering up of the people from the State of New York to the State of Ohio; that is, they were to assist those in the various Branches who had property to dispose of the same, and in regulating all their affairs, and to arrange business in such a manner that they might be able to keep this commandment to gather together.
Now, suppose the people had refused to comply with this commandment; suppose that the Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons had considered the physical labor which the carrying out of this command entailed upon them beneath their notice, and had refused to make preparations to flee from the State of New York and to gather up some six hundred miles to the State of Ohio, what would have been the result? Would the love of God have dwelt in their hearts? No.” (Orson Pratt, JD 13:356; 5 May, 1870)
10 Jan.: Corrill joins; ordained Elder 4 days later.
“I joined the Church on the tenth day of January, 1831, and in the course of three or four days I was ordained an elder. ” (John Corrill, Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (Commonly Called Mormons), Chapter 9)
26 Jan.: Sidney Rigdon.
“Waterloo, Jan. 26, 1830 [1831].
Mr. Editor–
Elder S. Rigdon left this village on Monday morning last in the stage, for the ‘Holy Land,’ where all the ‘Gold Bible’ converts, have recently received a written command from God, through Jo Smith, junior, to repair with all convenient speed after selling off the property. This command was at first resisted by such as had property, (the brethren from the neighboring counties being all assembled by special summons,) but after a night of fasting, prayer and trial, they all consented to obey the holy messenger.–Rigdon has for some time past been arranging matters with Smith for the final departure of the faithful for the ‘far west.’ This man of many CREEDS, (Rigdon) appears to possess colloquial powers to a considerable degree, and before leaving this vicinity left us his blessing. He delivered a discourse at the Court House immediately preceding his departure, wherein he depicted in strong language, the want of ‘charity and brotherly love’ among the prevailing sects and denominations of professing christians, and sorry I am to admit, that he had too much truth on his side with regard to this particular. After denouncing dreadful vengeance on the whole state of New York, and this village in particular, and recommending to all such as wished to flee from ‘the wrath to come,’ to follow him beyond the ‘western waters,’ he took his leave. The Prophet, Spouse, and whole ‘holy family’ (as they style themselves,) will follow Rigdon, so soon as their deluded or hypocritical followers, shall be able to dispose of what little real property they possess in this region; one farm (Whitmers) was sold a few days ago for $2,300. Their first place of destination is understood to be a few miles west of Painesville, Ohio, (the present place of the Elder’s residence) which is just within the east bounds of this new land of promise, which extends from thence to the Pacific Ocean, embracing a territory of 1500 miles in extent, from north to south.
Yours respectfully,”
(Palmyra Reflector 2(Series 1. No. 12):95, 1 Feb., 1831)
1 Feb.: Mormonites in Ohio.
“We have received a long letter from a gentleman of respectability from Painesville, Ohio, respecting the conduct of the ‘Mormonites’ in that state. We shall publish a synopsis of it in our next.
Bob Strickland may dismiss his fears.
We have an article in type, copied from the Painesville Telegraph, which, from a want of room has been excluded from this days paper detailing some account of the Mormonites in the state of Ohio, it will appear in our next.” (Palmyra Reflector 2(Series 1. No. 12):93, 1 Feb., 1831)
4 Feb.: Edward Partridge’s Bishop’s License.
“A copy of the Bishop’s licence is as follows.
The Church of Jesus Christ, to all whom these presents may come, hereby testify that our beloved Brother Edwaard Partridge, has been appointed Bishop of this Church on the fourth of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty one, with and by the consent of the whole Church agreable to the appointment of God and ordained to this office under the hand of Sidney Rigdon an Elder of this Church of Christ, regularly organised on the sixth of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty, In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.
Names of Elders. . . .”
[NOTE THAT RIGDON IS NOT REFERRED TO AS AN APOSTLE, IN ADDITION TO BEING AN ELDER.] (Genealogical Record of Edward Partridge [1833-1900], LDS Archives; Ouellette) [Also in Contributor 6(1):5-6, Oct., 1884)
“When Edward Partridge was appointed bishop, February 4, 1831, he was the first bishop and only man in the church to hold that position. When Newel K. Whitney was appointed the following December to be bishop, only these two men held that office in the church. During 1831, Joseph Smith gave these two men little information about their duties or the extent of their powers. The few references in the dictated revelations indicated that the bishop was to receive donations for the benefit of the poor, to be present at investigations of misconduct by members, and to watch over the church. A later Presiding Bishop of the Church, Edward Hunter, commented on the disturbing limbo in which these two bishops functioned:
Spoke of the Temple and the power of the priesthood and the knowledge we had now as compared with even leading men at the commencement of this dispensation. As for example when Bro. Whitney was first told he was to be Bishop fumbled and said not so unless it be the will of God. He did not know at the time nor Joseph either what the position of a Bishop was. (Aaronic Priesthood Minutes, 3 Mar., 1877, manuscript, Church Archives)”
(D. Michael Quinn, “The Evolution of the Presiding Quorums of the LDS Church,” Journal of Mormon History 1:21-38, 1974)
“The first new office in the priesthood to be revealed shortly after Joseph Smith moved to Kirtland was that of a bishop. On February 4, 1831, the Prophet received a revelation directing that Edward Partridge be ordained a bishop, sell his merchandising interests, and devote all of his time to service in the Church. Five days later, the thirty-eight-year-old merchant from Painesville, who had been a Latter-day Saint for only two months, was given the responsibility of directing the Church’s temporal affairs, including the law of consecration and stewardship, and was instructed to use the Saints’ contributions and surplus properties to assist the needy and the poor.
On June 6, 1831, two men were called to assist Bishop Partridge–Isaac Morley as his first counselor and John Corrill as second counselor. Soon thereafter Edward Partridge journeyed to Missouri with Joseph Smith and other elders.” (Backman, The Heavens Resound, pp. 238-239)
9 Feb.: Elder, Priest, Teacher
“And again, the Elders, Priests and Teachers of this church, shall teach the principles of my Gospel which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the Gospel; and they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit: and the spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.” (D&C 42:12-14) [Note: Woodford gives the first dated version of this revelation as “possibly 23 May, 1831”, “The Laws of the Church of Christ Kirtland Guauga Ohio May 23d 1831 A Commandment to the Elders”]
9 Feb.: High Priests mentioned
“. . . they shall be laid before the Bishop of my church, and his counsellors–two of the elders, or high priests, such as he shall or has appointed and set apart for that purpose.” (D&C 42:31) [Note: Woodford gives the first dated version of this revelation as “possibly 23 May, 1831.]
9 Feb.: Priests, Teachers, Elders, High Priests.
“The priests and teachers shall have their stewardships, even as the members, and the elders or high priests, who are appointed to assist the bishop as counsellors . . .” (D&C 42:70-71) [Note: Woodford gives the first dated version of this revelation as “possibly 23 May, 1831.]
10 Feb.: Alex. Campbell: 2 Priesthoods anciently.
“Admitting the Bible now received to have come from God, it is impossible that the book of Mormon came from the same Author. For the following reasons:–
1. Smith, its real author, as ignorant and as impudent a knave as ever wrote a book, betrays the cloven foot in basing his whole book upon a false fact, or a pretended fact, which makes God a liar. It is this:–With the Jews God made a covenant at Mount Sinai, and instituted a priesthood, and a high priesthood. The priesthood he gave to the tribe of Levi, and the high priesthood to Aaron and his sons for an everlasting priesthood. He separated Levi, and covenanted to give him this office irrevocably while ever the temple stood, or till the Messiah came. ‘Then, says God, Moses shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office, and the stranger, (the person of another family,) who cometh nigh, shall be put to death.’ Numbers iii. 10. ‘And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried.’ Deut. xxi. 5. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with 250 men of renown, rebelled against a part of the institution of the priesthood, and the Lord destroyed them in the presence of the whole congregation. This was to be a memorial that no stranger invade any part of the office of the priesthood. Num. xvi. 40. ‘Fourteen thousand and seven hundred of the people were destroyed by a plague for murmuring against this memorial.
In the 18th chapter of Numbers the Levites are again given to Aaron and his sons, and the priesthood confirmed to them with this threat–‘The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.’ ‘Even Jesus, says Paul, were he on earth, could not be a priest; for he was of a tribe concerning which Moses spake nothing of priesthood.’ Heb. vii. 13. So irrevocable was the grant of the priesthood to Levi, and of the high priesthood to Aaron, that no stranger dare approach the alter of God which Moses established. Hence, Jesus himself was excluded from officiating as priest on earth according to the law.
This Joseph Smith overlooked in his impious fraud, and makes his hero Lehi spring from Joseph. And just as soon as his sons return with the toll of his lineage, ascertaining that he was of the tribe of Joseph, he and his sons acceptably ‘offer sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord,’ p. 15. Also it is repeated, p. 18–Nephi became chief artificer, ship-builder, and mariner; was scribe, prophet, priest, and king unto his own people, and ‘consecrated Jacob and Joseph the sons of his father priests to God and teachers–almost 600 years before the fulness of the times of the Jewish economy was completed, p. 72. Nephi represents himself withal ‘as under the law of Moses,’ p. 105. They build a temple in the new world, and in 55 years after they leave Jerusalem, make a new priesthood which God approbates. A high priest is also consecrated and yet they are all the while ‘teaching the law of Moses, and exhorting the people to keep it!!! p. 146, 209. Thus God is represented as instituting, approbating, and blessing a new priesthood from the tribe of Joseph, concerning which Moses gave no commandment concerning priesthood. Although God had promised in the law of Moses that if any man, not of the tribe and family of Levi and Aaron, should approach the office of priest, he would surely die; he is represented by Smith as blessing, approbating, and sustaining another family in this appointed office. The God of Abraham or Joseph Smith must then be a liar!! And who will hesitate to pronounce him an imposter? This lie runs through his records for the first 600 years of his story.” (Alexander Campbell, 10 Feb., 1831; in Millennial Harbinger 2(2):91-92, 7 Feb., 1831)
14 Feb.: Joe Smith had received a commission from God.
“Our Painesville correspondent informs us, ‘that about the first of November last, Oliver Cowdery, {we shall notice this character in the course of our labors,} and three others arrived at that village with the ‘New Bible,’ on a mission to the notorious Sidney Rigdon, who resides in the adjoining town. Rigdon received them graciously–took the book under advisement, and in a few days declared it to be of ‘heavenly origin.’
Rigdon, with about twenty of his flock, were diped immediately. They then proclaimed that there had been no religion in the world for 1500 years,–that no one had been authorized to preach and for that period,–that Joe Smith had now received a commission from God for that purpose, and that all such as did not submit to his authority would speedily be destroyed. The world (except the New Jerusalem) would come to an end in two or three years. The state of New York would (probably) be sunk: Smith (they affirmed) had seen God frequently and personally–Cowdery and his friends had frequent interviews with angels, and had been directed to locate the site for the New Jerusalem, which they should know, the moment they ‘should step their feet’ upon it. They pretend to heal the sick and work miracles, and had made a number of unsuccessful attempts to do so. The Indians were the ten lost tribes–some of them had already been dipped.
From 1 to 200 (whites) had already been in the water, and showed great zeal in this new religion, many were converted before they saw the book. Smith was continually receiving new revelations, and it would probably take him 1000 years to complete them–commissions and papers were exhibited, said to be signed by Christ himself!!! Cowdery authorized three persons to preach, etc., and descended the Ohio River. The converts are forming ‘common stock’ families, as most pleasing in the sight of God. They pretend to give the ‘Holy Spirit’ and under its operations they fall upon the floor–see visions, etc. Indians followed Cowdery daily, and finally saw him enter the promised land, where he placed a pole in the ground, with a light on its top, to designate the site of the New Jerusalem.” (Palmyra Reflector, 14 Feb., 1831; in Kirkham, A New Witness for Christ in America, Vol. I, pp. 440-441)
14 Feb.: Report on Mormonites in Ohio.
“BOOK OF MORMON.–Our Painesville correspondent informs us, that about the first of Nov. last, Oliver Cowdery, (we shall notice this character in the course of our labors,) and three others, arrived at that village with the ‘New Bible,’ on a mission to the notorious Sidney Rigdon, who resides in the adjoining town. Rigdon received them graciously–took the book under advisement, and in a few days declared it to be of ‘Heavenly Origin.’ Rigdon, with about 20 of his flock, were dipt immediately. They then proclaimed that there had been no religion in the world for 1500 years,–that no one had been authorised to preach &c. for that period–that Jo Smith had now received a commission from God for that purpose, and that all such as did not submit to his authority, would speedily be destroyed. The world (except the New Jerusalem) would come to an end in two or three years. The state of New-York would (probably) be sunk. Smith (they affirmed,) had seen God frequently and personally–Cowdery and his friends had frequent interviews with angels, and had been directed to locate the site for the New Jerusalem, which they should know, the moment they should ‘step their feet’ upon it. They pretend to heal the sick and work miracles, and had made a number of unsuccessful attempts to do so. The Indians were the ten lost tribes–some of them had already been dipt. From 1 to 200 (whites) had already been in the water, and showed great zeal in this new religion–many were converted before they saw the book. Smith was continually receiving new revelations, and it would probably take him 1000 years to complete them–commissions and paper were exhibited, said to be signed by CHRIST himself!!! Cowdery authorised three persons to preach, &c. and descended the Ohio River. The converts are forming ‘common stock’ families, as most pleasing in the sight of God. They pretend to give the ‘Holy Spirit,’ and under its operations they fall upon the floor-see visions, &c. Indians followed Cowdery daily, and finally saw him enter the promised land, where he placed a pole in the ground, with a light on its top, to designate the site of the New Jerusalem.” (Palmyra Reflector 2(Series 1. No. 13):102, 14 Feb., 1831)
14 Feb.: Beware of Impostors.
“BEWARE OF IMPOSTORS.
We copy the following from the Milan (Huron County) Free Press, promising at the same time, if the statements therein contained should prove erroneous, to publish it freely. We know the sensitiveness of a great number of individuals in this section, on every thing that may be said touching the new Bible and its propagators, many of whom view it as a sin against the Holy Ghost to say aught against Joseph Smith or his apostles.
Mr. Jenkins.
By publishing the following you will I presume serve the cause of morality and religion.
Four men are travelling westward, who say they are commanded by their Heavenly Father, to go and collect the scattered tribes of Israel, which they say a new Gospel or Prophesy informs them are the different tribes of Indians.
The new Gospel they say was found in Ontario co. N.Y. and was discovered by an Angel of light, appearing in a dream to a man by the name of Smith, who, as directed, went to a certain place and dug from the earth a stone box, containing plates of Gold, on which this gospel was engraved in characters unknown. The said Smith though a man so illiterate that he cannot write, was by divine inspiration, enabled to give the true interpretation, and the man who wrote from the mouth of Smith, is one of the four mentioned above.
One of the four, by the name of Parley P. Pratt has been a resident of the township of Russia, Lorain co. Ohio, for three or four years last past, until August last, when he was authorised to preach by the sect called Rigdonites, in this vicinity. The next day after receiving this eldership, he ran away from a constable, and numerous creditors, and made his way to Canaan, Columbia co. N.Y. Not being able to gain any proselytes (one young brother of his excepted,) he lays his course up the Erie canal as far as Palmyra, where he finds this new Bible, and the men that are with him.–It was rumored that said Pratt was expected through this place, and an officer was kept ready to arrest him for debt. He was accordingly arrested, tried, and judgment rendered against him: and at the same time an execution served on him for cost, on suits tried before he fled to the east. Said Pratt in July last, sold property belonging to one of his neighbors to the amount of several dollars. This neighbor hearing he was in this place, came to see him while he was under the officer’s care, and requested a settlement. He, Pratt, refused to do any thing about, ‘unless his Heavenly Father directed him,’–(these were his words.) After waiting a suitable time, he was told if he did not settle the business, he would be taken with a State warrant. He still refused and a warrant was issued; but before it could be given o the officer, he had, by falsifying his word, escaped from the Constable and fled to the woods, and is now at large, to deceive and lead silly women and more silly men astray.
The writer of this had some conversation with Pratt, respecting his belief. He said distinctly, that he had seen visible effects of the descending of the Holy Ghost, upon persons whom he had baptized. I enquired in what he had seen these effects; he replied, ‘in the same way we read of in the Gospel.’ He said he knew, for his Heavenly Father had told him, that when they got among the scattered tribes, there would be as great miracles wrought, as there was at the day of Pentecost.
This and much more equally absurd, was advanced by these deluded mortals, and can and will, if required, be attested by at least twelve substantial witnesses. Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1830.”
(Palmyra Reflector 2(Series 1. No. 13):103, 14 Feb., 1831)
15 Feb.: Attempted displays of power in Kirtland.
“About the last of October, 1830, four men, claiming to be divinely inspired, came from Manchester and Palmyra . . .
They declared Joseph Smith to be that prophet predicted by Moses, Deut. xviii. 15, and applied to O. Cowdery prophetical declarations which are directly and particularly applied to John the Baptist, harbinger of the Messiah. When the apostle Peter and deacon Stephen were brought to confront them upon their application of Deut. xviii. 15, they would express wonder, saying, ‘do you think Christ was like Moses?’
Immediately after Mr. R. and the four pretended prophets left Kirtland, a scene of the wildest enthusiasm was exhibited, chiefly, however, among the young people; they would fall, as without strength, roll upon the floor, and, so mad were they, that even the females were seen in a cold winter day, lying under the bare canopy of heaven, with no couch or pillow but the fleecy snow. At other times they exhibited all the apish actions imaginable, making grimaces both horrid and ridiculous, creeping upon their hands and feet, &c. Sometimes, in these exercises the young men would rise and play before the people going through all the Indian manoeuvres of knocking down, scalping, ripping open and taking out the bowels. At other times, they are taken with a fit of jabbering that which they neither understand themselves nor any body else, and this they call speaking foreign languages by divine inspiration. At other times they would start and run several furlongs, then get upon stumps and preach to imagined congregations baptize ghosts, &c. Again the young men are seen running over the hills in pursuit they say of balls of fire which they see flying through the air.
They say much about working miracles, and pretend to have that power. Cowdery and his fellows essayed to work several while they tarried in Kirtland, one in particular, the circumstances of which I had from the Mormonites themselves. It was a young female who had been confined to her bed for two years–they prayed over her, laying on hands and commanded her in the name of Jesus Christ ot rise up and walk; however no effect appeared until the next day, when she was persuaded to leave her couch and attempt to walk. She arose, walked three or four steps, (which they told as a miracle) she then almost fainted, and was assisted back to her bed from which she has not since arisen. But as all their miracles have proved to be a mere sham, to speak vulgarly, the Mormonites have endeavored to save the credit of their prophets, by declaring that they never pronounced these people whole but only prayed for them–but when confronted by one of the disciples in Kirtland upon the instance just mentioned, as it was so public they could not deny it, one of them said that he did not know but Cowdery did command her to arise, but if he did it was in a laughing, jesting way!!! Another of the Mormonites said Cowdery did not command her to arise, but merely asked her why she did not arise. Another instance of a man in Painesville, who was in the last stage of consumption, was attempted to be healed by Cowdery. A few days afterwards Mr. Rigdon was heard to say ‘that he would get well, if there was a God in Heaven!’ He has since deceased. But these prophets had the policy to cover their retreat in these things by saying that they would not recover immediately; the Lord would take his own time; and one of these people a few days ago, when put to the worst upon the subject, said that he did not think Cowdery would have attempted to do any miracles, had he have known how things would turn out. . . .
Mr. R. now blames Cowdery for attempting to work miracles, and says it was not intended to be confirmed in that way.” (Painesville Telegraph, 15 Feb., 1831)
“. . . Elders ran into all manner of doing, receiving revelations seeing Angels falling down frothing at the mouth One of them who acted the worst was Burn Riggs I have seen him jump from the floor strike his hand against the joist in Mr Baldwins new house and swing some merisects [unreadable] then fall like he was dead after an hour or two he would come to them prophesy and tell what he had seen at other times he appeared to be so honest I was led to believe all he said but concluded that all could not be blest with the greatest of these heavens blessings and perhaps I was not as pure as those young men and what I had received was enough for me Edison Fuller he would fall and turn black in the face Heamon Bapsett would Behave like a Babbon he had a revelation that he had received in Kirtland from the hand of an Angel he would read it show the Picture of a Crown the Angel declared to begots [?] then would have testimony of the truth of the work and I beleived it all like a fool I dare not come out against any thing that an Elder should say for feare I should speak against the holy ghost I let them go on in this way untill the people got mad at them and tryed to convince me that I was led astray they said I was honest and the dream I had they did not doubt but the doctrin was false one girl said she would rather go to hell than to beleive it and in a short time she died I could not help thinking she was taken at her word there was many that sayed nothing that belonged to the Church all of this took place in the winter of 1831 [i.e., December, 1830-March, 1831].” (Levi W. Hancock autobiography, LDS Archives; Ouellette)
15 Feb.: LDS claim of authority unscriptural.
“We shall next proceed to expose the anti-scriptural assertion, that there has been none duly authorized to administer baptism for the space of fourteen hundred years up to the present time, by showing that the church, or kingdom, of Christ, must have been totally extinct during that period, provided its visible administration had actually ceased during that time, is an express contradiction of the testimony of Jesus, Matt. xvi. 18.” (Thomas Campbell, Painesville Telegraph, 15 Feb., 1831)
23 Feb.: Church courts: “Elders’ Court.”
“But if any man shall commit adultery, he shall be tried before two elders of the church or more; and every word shall be established against him by two witnesses of the church, and not of the world; but if there are more than two witnesses it is better; but he shall be condemned by the mouth of two witnesses; and the elders shall lay the case before the church, and the church shall lift up their hands against them, that they may be dealt with according to the law; and if it can be, it is necessary that the bishop is present also. And thus ye shall do in all cases which shall come before you.” (“Items of Law for the Government of the Church of Christ, Given February 23, 1831,” E&MS Oct., 1832)
Feb.: Revelation directing June Conference.
“The latter part of February I received the following revelation which caused the church to appoint a conference to be held on the 6th of June, ensuing. It was given at Kirtland, February, 1831, to me and Sidney Rigdon.
Revelation to Joseph Smith jr. and Sidney Rigdon, given February, 1831.
Behold thus saith the Lord unto you my servants it is expedient in me that the elders of my church should be called together, from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the south, by letter or some other way.
And it shall come to pass, that inasmuch as they are faithful, and exercise faith in me, I will pour out my spirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together. And it shall come to pass that they shall go forth into the regions round about, and preach repentance unto the people; and many shall be converted, insomuch that ye shall obtain power to organize yourselves, according to the laws of man; that your enemies may not have power over you, that you may be preserved in all things; that you may be enabled to keep my laws, that every band may be broken wherewith the enemy seeketh to destroy my people.
Behold I say unto you, that ye must visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief, that they may be kept until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received: Amen.” (History of Joseph Smith, T&S 5(1):385, 1 Jan., 1844)
ca. Mar.: Book of Moses completed.
“. . . all of the writings that now constitute the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price had been recorded by the Prophet before March 1831, and except for chapter 8 of Moses, these writings had been recorded before he moved to Ohio.
. . . .
The writings of Moses confirm and add to biblical and Book of Mormon teachings concerning Melchizedek. According to the Bible, Melchizedek, the king of Salem and the ‘priest of the most high God,’ received tithes from Abraham. The Book of Mormon enlarges upon this by teaching that after he preached the doctrine of repentance to the people, Melchizedek helped establish peace in the realm and was subsequently called the Prince of Peace. Expanding upon these teachings, Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible asserts that Melchizedek received the office of the high priesthood, according to the holy order of God. This priesthood ‘holds the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, even the keys of the knowledge of God, and has power to pronounce blessings according to the will and commandment of the Lord.’ The excerpts from the new translation vividly demonstrated to the Saints that the gospel they were striving to live was not new, buit had been taught to the children of God in every dispensation, beginning with the first man, Adam.” (Backman, The Heavens Resound, pp. 217, 222-223)
ca. Mar.: Revision of Genesis 14 (Melchizedek).
“Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire.
And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;
And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.
For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;
To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.
And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven.
And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace.” (JST Gen. 14:26-33)
8 Mar.: No angels until after Book of Mormon.
[Reprinted from the Palmyra Relector] “It is well known that Jo Smith never pretended to have any communion with angels, until after a long period after the pretended finding of his book, and that the juggling of himself or father, went no further than the pretended faculty of seeing wonders in a ‘peep stone’, and the occasional interview with the spirit, supposed to have the custody of hidden treasures.” (Painesville Telegraph, 8 Mar., 1831)
9 Mar.: The New Jerusalem.
“MORMONISM–Our Waterloo correspondent informs us, that two of the most responsible Mormonites, as it respects property, in that vicinity, have demurred to the divine command, through Jo Smith, requiring them to sell their property and put it into the common fund, and repair with all convenient speed to the New Jerusalem, lately located by Cowdry somewhere in the western region. A requisition of twelve hundred dollars, in cash, it is said, was made upon one of these gentlemen, (Mr. B.)–‘the Lord having need of it.’ This request was promptly refused by the gentleman, who, at the same time informed the prophet that he would rather risque his soul as it was, (having been dipt) than trust his money or property in the hands of such agents as were applying for it.
We also learn from the state of Ohio, that the work moves on apace, Jo Smith with his better half, had arrived in that country,–the prophet well clad, while the female exhibited a gold watch–a profusion of rings, &c.–demonstrating the fact, that even Mormonism is a ‘living business.’ Cowdry had commenced holding private meetings, and eve-droppers had discovered, that scenes were enacted, which could be considered moral, decent or lawful, in none but common stock communities. Dominy Rigdon appears to have burnt a letter from a friend on the subject of the ‘Gold Bible,’ (burning is common in fashion among the pious.) He blames Cowdry for performing, or attempting to perform miracles–says the world is not yet prepared for them; he has gotten at loggerheads with his old master Campbell, (the same who disputed with Owen at Cincinnati,) and by the best information we can obtain, ‘Gold Bible’ stock is below par even in the state of Ohio.” (Palmyra Reflector 2(Series 1. No. 15):116-117, 9 Mar., 1831)
19 Mar.: The other apostles give similar accounts.
“Some of the other apostles give somewhat similar accounts, but varying in many particulars, according to their various powers of description. Harris, however, gives the lie to a very important part of Whitmar’s relation, and declares that the leaves or pages of the book are not cut, and a part of them sealed, but that it opens like any other book, from the edge to the back, the rings operating in the place of common binding.” (Palmyra Reflector, 19 Mar., 1831; in Kirkham, A New Witness for Christ in America, Vol. II, p. 76)
5 Apr.: Failed expectation of healing power.
“Fanaticism — Died in Kirtland on Tuesday night last, Mr. Warner Doty, aged about 20 years. The deceased was one of those who had embraced the imposition of Jo Smith, and a victim to the delusion of Mormonism. He was duly commissioned after their manner to preach, and was one of the most active and zealous in their cause. So fully did he believe in the divinity of Smith, that he had been made to have full faith that he should live a thousand years–this he confessed to a near relative some four weeks before his decease. Five days before he expired, he was suddenly attacked by an inflammation in the bowels, which afterward assumed a typhoid appearance. He was immediately removed to the residence of his parents, who had no faith in the Mormon remedies for the cure of diseases. No persuasion could induce the young man to have a physician called, so strong was he impressed with the supernatural powers of Smith. Several of the Mormonites soon assembled around the sick man, where they continued to encourage him to persevere, and strengthen his delusion, telling him that he was getting better and would soon be well, till they saw he was about to expire, when they all fled from the house, without offering to assist in the last sad solemnities of the dead. Smith was sent for soon after he was taken sick, and proceeded toward the house of Doty, to heal him, but (as Smith said) he received a command not to go to Doty’s and ‘cast his pearls before swine.’ He however visited the sick man a day or two after, and said he would get well and protested against calling a physician. He held his hand upon the head of Doty for 10 or 15 minutes, but with what object is not known. A few hours before the young man expired, Dr. Brainard was sent for, much against the will of the worshipers of Smith, by the interference of other friends. The doctor immediately pronounced his disease past remedy and told the Mormon doctors that their superstitions had probably been the means of the young man’s death, or something of like import. When the young man discovered that death was nigh, his faith in Smith’s pretensions seemed to forsake him. He said ‘What a wonderful mistake I have made,’ and called all his friends to take his leave. Addressing himself to an old man of the Mormon faith, he said, ‘you are a friend to everybody–I must shake hands with you–this is a lesson which I have learnt by actual experience, by which you ought to profit, but with me it is too late.’ The Mormonites will probably contradict many of these statements, as they have many positive facts heretofore; but we have our information from a relative of the deceased, who was present during the last 18 hours of his life, and whose intelligence and veracity will not suffer in comparison with the whole of those deluded people who have adopted Jo Smith as their spiritual leader.” (Painesville Telegraph, 5 Apr., 1831)
12 Apr.: “A Mormon Commission.”
“A MORMON COMMISSION. Some three months since, it was boldly asserted by those under influence of the ‘Gold Bible’ imposition, that three young men, while in the spirit, had received commissions direct from Heaven, on parchment, which they caught in their hands in the air, and had only time to copy them, before the parchment disappeared. We believe the fact is admitted, that Cowdery while here, exhibited to a chosen few a commission sealed and signed ‘I am the Christ.’ But the one which we give below apears to have only the seal. It was found in the pocket of young Doty, who recently died among them, and would appear to be a copy of one of the three mentioned above, by its tenor and purport. At first view, we supposed that this commission was given to Doty himself, which led us to the statement in our last, that he was duly commissioned to preach, which is said not to be a fact. We take it verbatim, only punctuating so that it can be understood:
‘Oh my Servant there is a great work for you and the other two of your brethren. I send a messenger to tell you where you shall go and find a peace of parchment that shall contain these words: You shall teach repentance and remission of sins to all who shall come in the sound of your voice–I command you that you do these things in sincerity and in truth and if you do you shall be blessed. The time is shortly a coming and is not far distant, when you shall be bound together for life–the names of your brethren are these, Burr Riggs and Edson Fuller, and if they are not faithful I will choose another in their stead–my work must be done. My servants you shall go forth from place to place and if you are true to your trust they shall hear. Remember that I am the Lord your God–serve me above all others and I will bless you in the end, amen.
‘That that you had a messenger tell you to go and get the other night you must not show to any son or daughter of Adam. Obey this and I will stand by you in all cases–my servants obey my commandments in all cases and I will provide.
Be ye always ready
Be ye always ready whenever I
Be ye always ready shall call
My Seal
‘There will be something of greater importance re veiled when I shall call you to go–my servants, be faithful over a few things and I will make you ruler over many–amen–amen–amen.’
To the disgrace of human nature, we are compelled to say, that there are some hundreds of civilized beings who actually believe that documents similar to the above have been written out by the finger of God, and sent down to certain persons. Many indeed will tell you that it is not a subject of belief with them, because they know it to be so, but alas! they are commanded of Heaven not to inform the world how they know it!! We have other documents of a similar description on hand from the factory of Smith, Rigdon & Co., which will be forthcoming. We can assure our readers that we take no pleasure in publishing anything on this subject. But we have always deemed it as a bounden duty to expose every base imposition which may be attempted upon the credulous and unsuspecting. For this reason we have endeavored to hold up Freemasonry naked before the world, and for this we must hold up Mormonism, as fast as we can obtain its secrets. The one screened itself from public view by horrid oaths and the fear of death–the other is endeavoring to do the same thing by impressing upon the minds of its victims a belief that the wrath of God will abide upon them for disclosing to the world any of its mysticisms.” (Painesville Telegraph, 12 Apr., 1831)
19 Apr.: “Articles & Covenants”: Earliest printed copy?
“[The following document was obtained from the hand of Martin Harris . . .]
The articles and covenants of the Church of Christ agreeable to the will and commandments of God. The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days being 1830 years since the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the 4th month, and on the 6th day of the same, which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, jun. who was called of God and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church, and also to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church, and ordained under his hand, and this according to the grace of God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory both now and ever–amen. . . .
The duty of Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons, and members of the church of Christ: An apostle is an elder, and it is his calling to baptize and to ordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons, and to administer the flesh and blood of Christ according to the scriptures, and to teach, expound, and exhort, and to baptize and to watch over the church, and to confirm the church by the laying on of hands and the giving of the Holy Ghost, and to take the lead of all meetings, &c.
The elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost.
The priests’ duty is to preach, teach, expound, and exhort, and baptize and administer the sacrament, and to visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret, and also to attend to all family duties, to ordain priests, teachers, and deacons, and to take the lead in meetings; but none of these offices is he to do when there is an elder present, but in all cases to assist the elder &c. The teacher’s duty is to watch over the church always, and be with them and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the church, nor no hardness with each other, nor no lying nor backbiting nor no evil speaking; and see that the church meets together oft, and also see that every member does his duty, and he is to take the lead of the meetings in the absence of the elder or the priest, and is to be assisted always and all his duties in the church by the deacons. But neither the teacher nor the deacon has the authority to baptize nor administer the sacrament; but are to warn, exhort, expound and teach and invite all to come to Christ. Every elder, priest, teacher or deacon is to be ordained according to the gifts and calling of God unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains them. The several elders composing the church of Christ are to meet at each of its meetings to do church business, whatsoever is necessary, &c. and each priest or teacher which is ordained by any priest is to take a certificate from him at the time, which, when shown to an elder, he is to give him a license, which shall authorize him to perform the duty of his calling. The duty of the church members after they are received by baptism: The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning this church of Christ to their understanding, previous to their partaking of the sacrament, and being confirmed by the laying on of hands of the elders so that all things shall be done in order; and the members shall manifest before the church and before the elders a godly walk and conversation that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and faith agreeable to the holy scriptures, walking in holiness before the Lord. Every member of this church of Christ having children are to bring them to the elders before the church who are to lay hands on them in the name of the Lord, and bless them in the name of Christ. There cannot anyone be received into this church of Christ who have not arrived to the years of accountability before God, and are not capable of repentance. And the manner of baptism and of administering the sacrament are to be done as is written in the Book of Mormon. Any member of this church of Christ transgressing or being overtaken in a fault, shall be dealt with according as the scriptures direct, &c. It shall be the duty of the several churches composing this church of Christ to send one of their priests or teachers to attend the several conferences held by the elders of the church with a list of the names the several persons uniting themselves to the church since the last conference, or send by the hand of some elder, so that there can be kept a regular list of all the names of the members of the whole church in a book kept by one of the elders whomsoever the other elders shall appoint from time to time, and also if any have been expelled from the church so that their names may be blotted out of the general church record of names; any member removing from the church where he belongs, if going to a church where he is not known, may take a letter certifying that he is a member and in good standing, which certificate may be signed by any elder or priest–if the person receiving the letter is personally acquainted with the elder or priest; or may be signed by the teachers or deacons of his church. A commandment unto the church of Christ which was established in these last days A.D 1830, on the 4th month and the 6th day of the month, which is called April: Behold I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing, and this is a new and everlasting covenant; wherefore although a man should be baptized a hundred times, it availeth him nothing, for ye cannot enter in at the straight gait by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me; wherefore enter ye in at the gait as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God. A commandment given unto Joseph concerning the sacrament, saying, Listen unto Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your Redeemer, whose word is quick and powerful, for behold I say unto you, that it matters not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, when ye shall partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye singled to my glory, remembering unto the father my body which is laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins, wherefore a commandment I give unto you that ye shall not purchase wine, neither strong drink, of your enemies, wherefore ye shall partake of none of them except it is made new among you; yea, in this, my father’s kingdom which shall be built up on the earth. Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world; wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and be faithful until I come. — even so — Amen.” (Painesville Telegraph, 19 Apr., 1831)
26 Apr.: Edson Fuller referred to as an apostle.
“Matters continued in this way until this spring, when a majority of the society in Chardon chose Edson Fuller, one of the prophets or apostles, as they are called, as their overseer, or temporal and spiritual superintendent.” (Letter to the Editor by Benjamin Shattuck, who converted to, then left Mormonism; in Painesville Telegraph, 26 Apr., 1831)
May: High Priesthood foretold.
“Let my servant Ezra [Thayer] humble himself and at the [June 1831] conference meeting he shall be ordained unto power from on high and he shall go from thence (if he be obedient unto my commandments) and proclaim my gospel unto the western regions with my servants that must go forth even unto the borders by the Lamanites for behold I have a great work for them to do and it shall be given unto you to know what ye shall do at the conference meeting even so amen.” (unrecorded Joseph Smith revelation, May, 1831, “Kirtland Revelation Book,” pp. 91-92.)
23 May: Laws of the Church of Christ.
[“The Laws of the Church of Christ,” 23 May, 1831, published in Warren News-Letter and Trumbull County Republican, 13 Sep., 1831; Backman Collection]
26 May: They will attempt to raise the dead in June.
“Latest from the Mormonites.–The following is from the Western Courier of May 26th, published at Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio.
We understand that a new arrival of Mormonites has taken place–some two hundred men, women and children having lately landed in Geaugy county, their holy land, from New York. It is said, they they [sic] are an active, intelligent and enterprising sect of people. They have commenced a new settlement, in the township of Thompson, near the line of Ashtabula county, thus extending the holy land farther east than the limits originally fixed. They have full faith in the Mormon doctrine, having as they say, worked a miracle in clearing a passage through the ice at Buffalo, by which they sailed several days sooner than others vessels.
In June they are all to meet, and hold a kind of jubilee in this new ‘land of promise,’ where they are to work divers miracles–among others that of raising the dead. It is said there are soon to be miraculous births among them, and the number it is expected, will materially increase after the general meeting.
Strange as it may appear, it is an unquestionable fact, that this singular sect have, within three or four weeks, made many proselytes in this county. The number of believers in the faith, in three or four of the Northern Townships, is said to exceed one hundred–among whom are many intelligent and respectable individuals. The prospects of obtaining still greater numbers in this county, is daily increasing.”
(St. Louis Times 3(105):2, 9 Jul., 1831; Snider Collection)
3 or 4 Jun.: High Priesthood conferred for first time.
“Minutes of a general Conference held in Geauga County Ohio June 3. 1831.
Elders Present. [44 listed]
Priests [4 listed]
Teachers [15 listed]
[Note: No Deacons listed]
Brs. Lyman Wight John Murdock Reynolds Cahoon Harvey Whitlock & Hyrum Smith were ordained to the high Priesthood under the hand of br. Joseph Smith jr.
Exhortation by brs. Lyman Wight & Harvey Whitlock
Brs. Parley P. Pratt Thomas B. Marsh Isaac Morley Edward Partridge Joseph Wakefield Martin Harris Ezra Thayer Ezra Booth (denied the faith) John Corrill Samuel H. Smith Solomon Hancock Simeon Carter Wheeler Baldwin Jacob Scott (denied the faith) Joseph Smith sen. John Whitmer Joseph Smith jr. & Sidney Rigdon were ordained to the High Priesthood under the hand of br. Lyman Wight.” (Far West Record, 3 Jun., 1831)
“Previous to this there was a revelation received, requiring the prophet to call the elders together, that they might receive an endowment. This was done, and the meeting took place some time in June. About fifty elders met, which was about all the elders that then belonged to the church. The meeting was conducted by Smith. Some curious things took place. The same visionary and marvellous spirits spoken of before, got hold of some of the elders; it threw one from his seat to the floor; it bound another, so that for some time he could not use his limbs nor speak; and some other curious effects were experienced, but, by a mighty exertion, in the name of the Lord, it was exposed and shown to be from an evil source. The Melchizedek priesthood was then for the first time introduced, and conferred on several of the elders. In this chiefly consisted the endowment–it being a new order–and bestowed authority. However, some doubting took place among the elders, and considerable conversation was held on the subject. The elders not fairly understanding the nature of the endowments, it took some time to reconcile all their feelings.” (John Corrill, History, Chapter 10)
“June 6th 1831 a conference was held in Kirtland and some ordained to be high Priests myself one with the rest under the hand of Joseph Smith the Prophet.” (John Murdock journal; apparently written at least several weeks after the event, perhaps even later; LDS Archives, Ouellette)
“Conference was opened by prayer and exhortation by Joseph Smith Jr. the Revelator. After the business of the church was attended to according to the covenants. The Lord made manifest to Joseph that it was necessary that such of the elders as were considered worthy, should be ordained to the high priesthood.
The spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner. And prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the ten tribes of Israel who had been led away by Salmanaser King of Israel [should be Assyria], to prepare them for their return, from their Long dispersion, to again possess the land of their fathers. He prophesied many more things that I have not written. After he had prophesied, he laid his hands upon Lyman Wight [and ordained him] to the High priesthood after the holy order of God. And the Spirit fell upon Lyman and he prophesied, concerning the coming of Christ, he said that there were some in the congregation that should live until the Savior should descend from heaven, with a Shout, with all the holy angels with him. He said the coming of the Savior should be, like; the sun rising in the east, and will cover the whole earth, so with the coming of the Son of man he, yea, he will appear in his brightness and consume all before him. And the hills will be laid low, and the valies be exalted; and the crooked be made straight; and the rough Smooth. And some of my brethren Shall suffer marterdom for the sake of the religion of Jesus Christ, and seal the testimony of Jesus with their blood. He saw the heavens opened, and the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the Father. Making intercession for his brethren, the Saints. He said that God would work a work in these last days that tongue cannot express, and the mind is not capable to conceive. The glory of the Lord shone around.
At the Conference these were ordained to the high priesthood, namely. Lyman Wight, Sidney Rigdon, John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon, Harvey Whitlock and Hyrum Smith were ordained by Joseph Smith Jr. except Sidney Rigdon.
The following by Lyman Wight by commandment. Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley, Edward Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Ezra Thayer, Martin Harris, Ezra Booth who denied the faith Harvey Whitlock denied the faith, also Joseph Wakefield, Joseph Smith Sen. Joseph Smith Jr. John Whitmer. The Bishop [Edward Partridge] then proceeded and blessed the above named and others by the laying on of hands. Isaac Morly and John Correll were ordained as bishops councellors to Edward Partridge.
Joseph Smith Jr., prophesied the day Previous that the man of Sin should be revealed. While the Lord poured out his spirit upon his servants, the devil took a notion, to make known his power, he bound Harvey Whitlock and John Murdock so that he could not speak, and others were effected but the Lord showed to Joseph the Seer, the design of the thing, he comanded the devil in the name of Christ and he departed to our joy and comfort.” (John Whitmer, The Book of John Whitmer, Kept by Commandment, Chapter 7)
“I went to Kirtland to see Brother Joseph and to attend a conference which had been appointed to commence on the Sixth of June 1831.
Conference convened the elders from various parts of the country where they had been laboring Came in and the power of the Lord was displayed in a manner that could not be mistaken. The authority of the Melchesidec preisthood was manifested and confered for the first time upon the elders. It was evident that the Lord gave his people power in proportion to the work which was to be done and grace and help as our needs required. Great harmony prevailed; Several were ordained: faith was strengthened; and humility, so necessary to Strengthen for the blessing of God to follow prayer, Characterized the Saints. The next day as a kind Continuation of this great work of the last days Joseph Smith received the following revelation given June 1831.” (Newel Knight Autobiographical Sketch, LDS Archives; Ouellette)
“On the 6th of June [sic], the elders from the various parts of the country where they were laboring came in, and the conference before appointed, convened, in Kirtland, and the Lord displayed his power in a manner that could not be mistaken. the man of sin was revealed, and the authority of the Melchisedec Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders.” (1 Feb., 1844. “History of Joseph Smith,” Times and Seasons V:416)
“On the fourth of June , 1831, a conference was held at Kirtland, Ohio, represented by all the above-named branches. Joseph Smith, our modern prophet, presided. Here for the first time I saw the visible manifestation of the power of God, as plain as could have been on the day of Pentecost; and here for the first time I saw the Melchisedek priesthood introduced into the Church of Jesus Christ, as anciently, whereunto I was ordained under the hands of Joseph Smith, and I then ordained sixteen others, such as he chose, unto the same priesthood.” [Note that Lyman had been ordained to the office of Elder on 20 Nov., 1830] (Lyman Wight diary, quoted in Joseph Smith III and Heman C. Smith, The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I:193, 1967 edition)
“Several were selected by revelation, through President Smith, and ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of the Son of God; which is the order of Melchizedek. this was the first occasion in which this priesthood had been revealed and conferred upon the Elders in this dispensation, although the office of Elder is the same in a certain degree, but not in the fulness.” (Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography, 1976 edition, p. 68)
“I was baptized in this church by Parley P. Pratt on the 13 Nov 1830 on the 20th of the same month I was ordained an elder under the hand of Oliver Cowdry and in the spring of 1831 Joseph came to Kirtland on the 4th of June I was ordained by the hand of Joseph to the Melchizidek priesthood being the first elder ordained to that office in this dispensation I then ordained Joseph Sydney and sixteen others the same day I then ordained high councilor next a president of a high council and after being driven from Jackson county I went to Kirtland and in the company with Joseph and Sydney I went to the state of New York 300 miles while in old father Bosley’s Joseph and I walked out in the sugar orchard here Joseph ordained me to the office of Benamey in the presence of an angel I shall never forget the conversation held between him and brother Joseph then I was ordained one of the twelve apostles and then one of the fifty went through two endowments then ordained to lead the armies of Israel to Zion as Moses lead the children Israel out of Egypt in this ordination I received a white stone in it a new name which no man knew or could know save him to whom it should be revealed this ordination I received from Joseph.” (Lyman Wight to the Northern Islander, Beaver Island, July, 1855. Letter #15 in Lyman Wight Letter Book, RLDS Archives)
“On the 4th of June 1831, a conference was held at Kirtland Ohio represented by all the above named branches; Joseph Smith our modern Prophet presided; and here I again saw the visible manifestations of the power of God as plain as could have been on the day of pentecost, and here for the first time I saw the Melchisidec priesthood introduced into the church of Jesus Christ as anciently; whereunto I was ordained under the hands of Joseph Smith and I then ordained Joseph and Sidney and sixteen others such as he chose unto the same priesthood. The spirit of God was made manifest to the heeling [sic] of the sick, casting out devils, speaking in unknown tongues, discerning of spirits, and prophesying with mighty power.” (Lyman Wight to Wilford Woodruff, 24 Aug., 1857)
“Firstly, I appeal to God, men and Angels to bear record that, after I had been ordained to the Melchisedek priesthood by him who holds the keys of the last dispensation of God on earth, on the 4th day of June 1831, I immediately took up my travels . . .” (Lyman Wight, An Address by way of an abirdged account and journal of my life from February 1844 to April 1848, with an appeal to the Latter Day Saints . . ., Austin, Texas?, 1848. p. 11)
“We started the latter part of May and arrived there [Kirtland] by the last of the month. I learned that on the fourth of June there was to be an endowment of some Elders.
The Fourth of June came and we all met in a little string oldings under the hill near Issac Morleys in Kirtland, Genoya County, Ohio. then we all went to a school house on the hill about one fourth of a mile ascending nearly all the way. The building was built of long. It was filled with slab benches. Here the Elders were seated and the meeting was opened as usual. Joseph Smith began to speak, he said that the Kingdom of Christ that he spoke of that was like a grain of mustard seed was now before him and some should see it put forth its branches and the angels of heaven would some day come like birds to its branches just as the Saviour had said. Some of you shall live to see it come with great glory. Some of you must die for the testimony of this work and he looked at Lyman White and said to him, ‘you shall see the Lord and meet him near the corner of the house[‘] and laid his hands upon him and blessed him with the visions of heaven.
Joseph Smith then stepped out on the floor and said, ‘I now see God, and Jesus Christ at his right hand, let them kill me, I should not feel death as I am now.’
Joseph put his hands on Harvey Whitlock and ordained him to the high priesthood. He turned as black as Lyman was white. His fingers were set like claws. He went around the room and showed his hands and tried to speak, his eyes were in the shape of oval O’s. Hyrum Smith said, ‘Joseph, that is not of God.’ Joseph said ‘do not speak against this.’ ‘I will not believe, said Hyrum, unless you inquire of God and he ownes it.’ Joseph bowed his head, and in a short time got up and commanded Satan to leave Harvy, laying his hands upon his head at the same time. At that very instant an old man said to weigh two hundred and fourteen pounds sitting in the window turned a complete summersault in the house and came his back across a bench and lay helpless. Joseph told Lyman to cast Satan out. He did. The man’s name was Leamon Coply, formally a Quaker. The evil spirit left him and as quick as lightening Harvey Green fell bound and screamed like a panther. Satan was cast out of him. But immediately entered someone else. This continued all day and the greater part of the night. But to return to the meeting, Joseph said, ‘now if you elders have sinned it will do you no good to preach if you have not repented. Heamon Bassett you sit still the Devil wants to sift you . . .’ Then he ordained Jacob Scott and some others to the High Priesthood. He came to Zebidee Coltrin and myself and told us that we had another calling as high as any man in the house. I was glad for that for I was so scared I would not stir without his liberty for all the world. I knew the things I had seen was not made.
Joseph said that John was to tarry until Christ came. He is now with the ten tribes preaching to them and when we can get ready for them they will come.
Joseph Smith called Lyman White and laid his hands on his head and say what God should tell him to say. He did and the blessing was so long I cannot write it.
After this we went down to the house and heard Harvey Whitlock say when Hyrum Smith said it was not god, he disdained him in his heart and when the Devil was cast out he was convinced it was Satan that was in him and he knew then it. I also heard Harvey Green say that he could not describe the awful feeling he experienced while in the hands of Satan. (Levi Ward Hancock diary, 4 Jun., 1831)
“About this time solomon Came to see me and brought Zebedee Coltrin along he held some metings and wanted I should go to Kirtland with him we started the latter part of May got there by the Last of the month I Lerned that on the fourth of june there was to be an indowment of some Elders The fourth of june Came and we all met a little string of Buildings under the hill nere Isaac Morley in Kirtland Geauga County Ohio we all went to a school house on the hill about one fourth of a mile asending nearly all the way it was builded of logs this was filled with slab Benches here the elders was seated the meting was opened as usual Joseph began to speak he said that the kingdom that Christ spoke of that was like a grain of musterd seed was not before him and some should see it put forth its branches And the angel of heaven would some day come like Birds to its branches just as the Saviour said and some of you shall live to see it come with great glory some of you must die for the testimony of this work and Looked and Lyman Write and said you shall see the Lord and me[e]t him nere the Corner of the house and laid his hands upon him and blessed him with the visions of heaven he then stepted out on the floor and said I now see God and Jesus Christ at his right hand let them kill me I should not feel death as I am now Joseph put his hands upon Harvey Whitlock and Ordained him to the high Priesthood he turned as black as Lyman was white his fingers was set like claws he went round the room and showed his hands and tryed to speak his eyes wer in the Shape of Ovil Oes Hyrum Smith said Joseph that is not God Joseph said do not speak against this I will not beleive said Hyrum unless you inquire of God and [He] owns it Joseph Bowed his head a short time and got up and Commanded Satan to leave Harvey laying his hands upon his head at the same time At that very instant an Old man said to way [sic] two hundread and fourteen pounds sitting in the window turned a complete summerset in the house and Came his back across a bench and lay helpless Joseph told Lyman to cast saten out he did the man’s name was Leamon Coply formaly a Shaker The evil spirit left him and as quick as lightning Harvy Green fell bound and screamed like a Panther then Satan was cast out of him but amediately entered so pheared [sic] in continued all day and the greatest part of the knight But to return to the meting said Joseph now if you elders have sined it will do you no good to preach if you have not repented Heamon Basset you sit still the Devil wants to sift you and then ordained jacob scot and some others to the high priesthood he come to Zebidee Coltrin and myself and told us that we had an other calling as high as any man in the house I was glad of that for I was so sacred I would not stir without his liberty for all the world for [?] I knew the things I had seen was not made said Joseph John was to tarry untill Christ come he is now with the ten tribes a preaching and when we can git ready for them they will come Joseph Smith Called on Lyman White to Lay his hands on his head and say what God should tell him to say he did and the things was so large I Can not write them After this we went down to the house And hered Harvy Whitlook say when Hyram Smith said it was not God he disdained him in his hart and when the Devil was cast out he was convinced it was satan that was in him and he then new it I also hered Harvy Green say that he could not describe the Awful feelings he expearenced while in the hands of Satan june fifth we all assembled on the hill, in a field whare there was alarg concaurs of people Collected Lyman White spoke Joseph said from that time the Elders would have large Congregations to speak to and they must soon take there departance into the reagions west when the meting was out we went to Gilberts and Salomon sung some and we talk with brother Whitmer [?] and told him what happend at the Conferance He asked me if what Joseph had said was fulfilled about some one Seeing the Lord I told him I considered it so do you said he yes sir said I was you not there I understood him no when knight came soloman my self Wheeler Baldwin and some others started to My fathers we walked heavely some said that they felt as if they would be seased by satan others said that they feld as tho they was hanging heavily about them I cept [kept] my feelings to myself untill we came to the millpond of the Jorgasons about half or a little over the distance we had to go that knight when we had got against the pond which was about fourteen rods across very deep I said let us pray we all kneled down and praied around as soon as the last one got through about nine oclock at knight and moonshone bright a sudden Bray of a jackass was hered about twenty feet behind us we looked and could see nothing and nothing in the way it started towards the pond Braying all the time I never had seen one in my life and I know none for I was well acquanited there I had hered tell how they Brayed and hered many tell how they Brayed the most of our company had seen them this bray continued across the pond and assended the high hills on the other side grew less and less untill it got out of hering there said brother Baldwin this proves to me that this work is true for when we praid the Devil run [?] that must be satan all said we there started on as light as we ever felt we told it to some but it seemed like an idle tale to them this took place on the fifth night of june-1831 This may appear strange but God knows I lie not and am ready to meet it before the heavens–that night he seased [sic] me and I thought he would destroy me I went to Solomon he prayed for me however I was not bound but but [sic] Awfully trued next day held meting at knight A Revilation came from Joseph to many Elders to go to Missouri and preach by the way.” (Levi Ward Hancock, 1854 Autobiography, LDS Archives, pp. 88-94; Ouellette)
“MORMONISM ON THE WING. After all the good followers of Jo Smith from York state had got fairly settled down in this vicinity, which Rigdon had declared to be their ‘eternal inheritance’, Jo must needs invent another ‘Command from God.’ At a meeting of the tribe on the 3rd inst. the fact was made known to them that 28 elders must be selected and ordained to start immediately for Missouri. Jo accordingly asked the Lord in the assembly whom he should select, and the Lord named them over to him, as he made them believe. The ceremony of endowing them with miraculous gifts, or supernatural power,, was then performed, and they were commanded to take up a line of march; preaching their gospel (Jo’s Bible) raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out devils, &c. This squad comprised Jo himself, Ridgon, Martin Harris, Gilbert, Morley, Murdock, Partridge, and all the other leading and influential men among them. The flock are to be left to shirk for themselves the best way they can. It is said they are about to commence an establishment some 500 miles up the Missouri, where they contemplate building the New Jerusalem, and they have expressed doubts whether few if any of them will ever return to this ‘land of promise’; but in due time a command will be sent for the remainder of their deluded and infatuated followers to move–we opine however that very few will obey the summons. The chosen few are to be off during the present week, going by pairs in different routes, all on foot, except Jo, Rigdon and Harris, the contrivers and commanders of the expedition.” (Painesville Telegraph, 14 Jun., 1831)
“The following article, from the Painesville (Ohio) Telegraph of June 14, has been in type for some time, but crowded out to make room for more important intelligence. Among the number ordained as elders, and commissioned to preach the Mormon faith, we understand is the late editor and publisher of the Ontario Phoenix, W. W. Phelps, Esq.” [Reprints above article verbatim.] (The Ontario Repository, Canandaigua, N.Y., Wednesday, July 20, 1831, vol. XXXX, no. 17, whole no. 1473; in DALE MORGAN – “THE MORMONS AND THE FAR WEST: A collection of transcripts of newspaper articles on the Mormons, also containing material on the following subjects: the opening of the West; the fur trade; Indians of the middle and south-western states; the Santa Fe trade, etc. 1809-c.1857.” Huntington Library)
“The Mormonite preachers go forth proclaiming repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost. The form of baptism is similar to other orders; only it is prefaced with–‘having authority given me of Jesus Christ;’ also, the laying on of hands–‘In the name of Jesus Christ, receive ye the Holy Ghost.’ Many of them have been ordained to the High Priesthood, or the order of Melchisedec; and profess to be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were. But they have been hitherto unsuccessful in finding the lame, the halt, and the blind, who had faith sufficient to become the subjects of their miracles: and it is now concluded that this work must be postponed until they get to Missouri; for the Lord will not show those signs to this wicked and adulterous generation. In the commandment given to the churches in the State of New York, to remove to the State of Ohio, they were assured that these miracles should be wrought in the State of Ohio; but now they must be deferred until they are settled in Missouri.” (Ezra Booth to Rev. Ira Eddy, Sep., 1831. In E. D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 180-181)
“On Joseph’s arrival at Kirtland, he found a church consisting of nearly one hundred members, who were, in general, good brethren, though a few of them had imbibed some very erroneous ideas, being greatly deceived by a singular power, which manifested itself among them in strange contortions of the visage, and sudden unnatural exertions of the body. This they supposed to be a display of the power of God. Shortly after Joseph arrived, he called the church together, in order to show them the difference between the Spirit of God, and the spirit of the Devil. He said, if a man arose in meeting to speak, and was seized with a kind of paroxysm, that drew his face and limbs, in a violent and unnatural manner, which made him appear to be in pain; and if he gave utterance to strange sounds, which were incomprehensible to his audience, they might rely upon it that he had the spirit of the Devil. But on the contrary, when a man speaks by the Spirit of God, he speaks from the abundance of his heart–his mind is filled with intelligence, and even should he be excited, it does not cause him to do anything ridiculous or unseemly. He then called upon one of the brethren to speak, who arose and made the attempt, but was immediately seized with a kind of spasm, which drew his face, arms, and fingers in a most astonishing manner.
Hyrum, by Joseph’s request, laid hands on the man, whereupon he sunk back in a state of complete exhaustion. Joseph then called upon another man to speak, who stood leaning in an open window. This man also attempted to speak, but was thrown forward into the house, prostrate, unable to utter a syllable. He was administered to, and the same effects followed as in the first instance.
These, together with a few other examples of the same kind, convinced the brethren of the mistake under which they had been laboring; and they all rejoiced in the goodness of God, in once more condescending to lead the children of men by revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Lucy Mack Smith, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet and His Progenitors for Many Generations, 1853 ed., pp. 171-172)
Lucy Mack Smith wrote the following about Joseph’s arrival in Kirtland in February 1831: “Shortly after Joseph arrived, he called the church together, in order to show them the difference between the Spirit of God, and the spirit of the devil. He said, if a man arose in a meeting to speak, and was seized with a kind of paroxysm that drew his face and limbs in a violent and unnatural manner, which made him appear to be in pain; and if he gave utterance to strange sounds, which were incomprehensible to his audience, they might rely upon it, that he had the spirit of the devil. But, on the contrary, when a man speaks by the Spirit of God, he speaks from the abundance of his heart–his mind is filled with intelligence, and even should he be excited, it does not cause him to do anything ridiculous or unseemly. He then called upon one of the brethren to speak, who arose and made the attempt, but was immediately seized with a kind of spasm, which drew his face, arms, and fingers in a most astonishing manner.
Hyrum, by Joseph’s request, laid hands on the man, whereupon he sunk back in a state of complete exhaustion. Joseph then called upon another man to speak, but stood leaning in an open window. This man also attempted to speak, but was thrown forward into the house, prostrate, unable to utter a syllable. He was administered to, and the same effects followed as in the first instance.
These, together with a few other examples of the same kind, convinced the brethren of the mistake under which they had been laboring; and they all rejoiced in the goodness of God, in once more condescending to lead the children of men by revelation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Lucy Mack Smith, in JH; Ouellette)
“In this same month viz dec 1830 word came to Joseph from John Whitmer that the church much needed his presence and he would be glad of his assistance in setting in order the affairs of the branch where he presided. upon the receipt of this intelligence he inquired of the Lord and received the following revelation–Times and Seasons Page 352 rev 2nd. Joseph and Emma Sydney Rigdon E Partridge Ezra B. Thayer and Newel night set out for Kirtland Ohio when on their way thither they preached at our house on Seneca river–and in Macedon at the house of Calvin Stoddard Sophronia’s husband and preached again at the house of Preserved Harris. they baptized some in both places after which he proceeded on his jounrney [sic]. When he came to Kirtland he found nearly 100 members in the church they were fine brethren in general but they had imbibed some very strange ideas which it cost some fiascos [?] to rid them of as the Devil had been deceiving them with a specious appearance of power manifested by strange contortions of the visage and unnatural motions which they suposed to be occasioned by an opperation of the power of God.–Joseph called them together and told them that he could easily show them the difference between the spirit of God and the spirit of the Devil or that they could try the spirits in a measure themselves. Now said when a man gets up to speak and draws his face or limbs into an unnatural shape or position and is convulsed in a manner that makes him appear to be in pain when there is no perceptible cause you may rely upon it that he has the spirit of the Devil. But on the contrary when a man has the spirit of God he is calm when he speaks except he is animated by the subject he speaks upon and that does not cause him to do anything rediculous or unseemly you can also perceive that his mind is filled with intelligence and speaks from the abundance of his heart. He called upon one of the brethren who had been deceived by an evil spirit to speak when he arose he was immediately convulsed in the most singular manner his face his arms and his fingers being drawn like a person in a spasm. Joseph turned ty Hyrum and said will you go and lay hands on that brother when Hyrum did so the man fell back into his chair as weak as though he had exhausted himself by excessive hard labor. he then called upon another who was standing on the outside of the house leaning in the window this man pitched forward into the house and after trying somtime to speak without being able to do so was administered to by the laying on of hands which affected him the same as the one who preceeded him. this showed the brethren clearly the mistake under which they had been laboring and they all rejoiced together in the goodness of God in that he condescended to lead the children of men once more by revelation and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, as in former days.” (Lucy Mack Smith manuscript, pp. 129-130)
Parley P. Pratt wrote: “As I went forth among the different branches, some very strange spiritual operations were manifested, which were disgusting, rather than edifying. Some persons would seem to swoon away, and make unseemly gestures, and be drawn or disfigured in their countenances. Others would fall into ecstacies, and be drawn into contortions, cramp, fits, etc. Others would seem to have visions and revelations, which were not edifying, and which were not congenial to the doctrine and spirit of the gospel. In short, a false and lying spirit seemed to be creeping into the Church.
All these things were new and strange to me, and had originated in the Church during our absence, and previous to the arrival of President Joseph Smith from New York.
Feeling our weakness and inexperience, and lest we should err in judgement concerning these spiritual phenomena, myself, John Murdock, and several other Elders, went to Joseph Smith, and asked him to inquire of the Lord concerning these spirits or manifestations.
After we had joined in prayer in his translating room, he dictated in our presence the following revelation. (Each sentence was uttered slowly and very distinctly, and with a pause between each, sufficiently long for it to be recorded, by an ordinary writer, in long hand.
This was the manner in which [all?] his written revelations were dictated and written. There was never any hesitation, reviewing, or reading back, in order to keep the run of the subject; neither did any of these communications undergo revisions, interlinings, or corrections. As he dictated them so they stood, so far as I have witnessed; and I was present to witness the dictation of several communications of several pages each.” [D&C 50 was the revelation.] (JH; Ouellette)
“The fourth general conference of the Church of Christ was held at Kirtland, Geauga county, Ohio. . . . At this Conference the following named brethren were ordained to the High Priesthood, namely, Lyman Wight, Sidney Rigdon, John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon, Harvey Whitlock and Hyrum Smith; they were all ordained by Joseph Smith, Jun. . . . The following were ordained by Lyman Wight by commandment: Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley, Edward Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Ezra Thayer, Martin Harris, Ezra Booth, Harvey Whitlock [note that he was supposedly ordained by Joseph also], Joseph Smith Sen., Joseph Smith Jun., John Whitmer (and Sidney Rigdon). The Bishop then proceeded and blessed the above named brethren and others by the laying on of hands. Isaac Morley and John Correll were ordained counselors to Edward Partridge.” (JH; Ouellette)
John Whitmer wrote: “The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner, and he prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the Ten Tribes of Israel who had been led away by Salmanasser, king of Assyria, to prepare them for their return from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of their fathers. He prophesied many more things that I have not written. After he had prophesied he laid his hands upon Lyman Wight and ordained him to the High Priesthood, [i.e. ordained him a High Priest], [NOTE THAT THIS BRACKETED ENTRY IS PART OF THE JOURNAL HISTORY QUOTATION] after the holy order of God. And the Spirit fell upon Lyman, and he prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. He said that there were some in the congregation that should live until the Savior should descend from heaven with a shout, with all the holy angels with him. . . . Joseph Smith, Jun., prophesied the day previous that the man of sin would be revealed.” (Satan bound the tongues of Harvey Whitlock and John Murdock) “. . . the Lord showed to Joseph, the seer, the design of the thing; he commanded the devil in the name of Christ, and he departed, to our joy and comfort.” (JH; Ouellette)
Parley Pratt wrote about this conference: “Several were then selected by revelation, through President Smith, and ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of the Son of God; which is after the order of Melchisedec. This was the first occasion in which this priesthood had been revealed and conferred upon the Elders in this dispensation, although the office of an Elder is the same in a certain degree, but not in the fulness. On this occasion I was ordained to this holy ordinance and calling by President Smith.” (JH; Ouellette)
Jared Carter wrote about his brother at this conference: “. . . he had become a mighty instrument in the service of the Almighty, and an Elder in the High Priesthood filled with the Holy Ghost.” (JH; Ouellette)
Newel Knight wrote: “A number were ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the hearts of the Saints rejoiced in the rich blessings bestowed upon them.” (JH; Ouellette)
[JOURNAL HISTORY ENTRY FOR 3 JUN., 1831]
“The fourth general conference of the Church of Christ was held at Kirtland, Geauga county, Ohio. Of the Priesthood of the Church the following bretheren [sic] were present: Elders Joseph Smith jun., David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Samuel H. Smith, Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith, sen., Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Sidney Rigdon, John Murdock, Lyman Wight, Levi W. Hancock, Orson Pratt, Edward Partridge, Ezra Thayer, Northrop Sweet, Emer Harris, Joseph Wakefield, Ezra Booth, John Corril, Seymour Brunson, Isaac Morley, Harvey Whitlock, Zebedee Coltrin, Jacob Scott, William Carter, Sylvester Smith, Simeon Carter, Calvin Bebee, Solomon Hancock, Wheeler Baldwin, Edison Fuller, Burr Riggs, Ebenezer Abbott, Reynolds Cahoon, Solomon Humphrey, John Woodard, Joseph Brackenberry, Newel Knight, Joseph Coe, William Mitchel, Ebnezer Page and Alpheus Gifford; Priests Martin Harris, Daniel Stanton, Solomon Chamberlain, Lorin Page, Jacob Sherman, Benjamin Bragg, Caleb Baldwin, James Durfee, and Major N. Ashley; Teachers Hezekiah Peck, Hiram Page, Christian Whitmer, William Smith, Stephen Burnett, Isaac Beebe, Benjamin Johnson, Samuel Day, Thoret Parsons, and Jacob Chamberlain.
The Conference was opened by Joseph Smith, jun. in exhortation and prayer. He was followed by Sidney Rigdon in prayer and exhortation, after which most of the Elders present spoke. Bros. Lyman Wight, John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon, and Hyrum Smith were ordained to the High Priesthood (High Priests [written in typescript by hand]) under the hands of Joseph Smith, jun. Exhortations were given by Lyman Wight, after which Harvey Whitlock, Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley, Edward Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Martin Harris [note that, according to these minutes, Harris was only a Priest at this time], Ezra Thayer, Ezra Booth, John Corrill, Samuel H. Smith, Solomon Hancock, Simeon Carter, Wheeler Baldwin, Jacob Scott, Joseph Smith (sen.), John Whitmer, Joseph Smith jun. and Sidney Rigdon were ordained to the High Priesthood (High Priests [written in typescript by hand]) under the hands of Lyman Wight. The Bishop (Edward Partridge) then blessed those who were ordained in the name of Christ, according to commandment. John Corrill and Isaac Morley were ordained assistants to the Bishop under the hands of Lyman Wight. Exortation by Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith jun. Closed by prayer by Sidney Rigdon. John Whitmer, clerk. (Far West Record, p. 4)
Following is the Prophets account of this important conference:
On the 3rd of June, the Elders from the various parts of the country where they were laboring, came in; and the conference before appointed, convened in Kirtland; and the Lord displayed His power to the most perfect satisfaction of the Saints. The man of sin was revealed, and the authority of the Melchisedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders. It was clearly evident that the Lord gave us power in proportion to the work to be done, and strength according to the race set before us, and grace and help as our needs required. Great harmony prevailed; several were ordained; faith was strengthened; and humility, so necessary for the blessing of God to follow prayer, characterized the Saints. [HC]
John Whitmer, in his history of the Church, gives the following additional particulars about this conference:
June 3rd, 1831, a general conference was called, and a blessing promised if the Elders were faithful and humble before Him. Therefore the Elders assembled from the east and from the west, from the north and the south, and also many members.
Conference was opened by prayer and exhortation by Joseph Smith Jun, the Revelator, after the business of the Church was attended to according to the covenants, the Lord made manifest to Joseph Smith that it was necessary that such of the Elders as were considered worthy should be ordained to the High Priesthood. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Joseph in an unusual manner, and he prophesied that John the Revelator was then among the Ten Tribes of Israel who had been led away by Salmanasser, king of Assyria, to prepare them for their return from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of their fathers. He prophesied many more things that I have not written. After he had prophesied he laid his hands upon Lyman Wight and ordained him to the High Priesthood, {i.e. ordained him a High Priest}, after the holy order of God. And the Spirit fell upon Lyman, and he prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. He said that there were some in the congregation that should live until the Savior should descend from heaven with a shout, with all the holy angels with him. He said the coming of the Savior should be like the sun rising in the east, and will cover the whole earth. So with the coming of the Son of Man; yea, he will appear in His brightness and consume all {the wicked} before him; and the hills will be laid low, and the valleys be exalted, and the crooked be made straight, and the rough smooth. And some of my brethren shall suffer martyrdom for the sake of the religion of Jesus Christ, and seal their testimony of Jesus with their blood. He saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Father, making intercession for His brethren, the Saints. He said that God would work a work in these last days that tongue cannot express and the mind is not capable to conceive. The glory of the Lord shone around.
At this Conference the following named brethren were ordained to the High Priesthood, namely, Lyman Wight, Sidney Rigdon, John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon, Harvey Whitlock and Hyrum Smith; they were all ordained by Joseph Smith, Jun., except Sidney Rigdon. The following were ordained by Lyman Wight by commandment: Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley, Edward Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Ezra Thayer, Martin Harris, Ezra Booth, (who denied the faith), Harvey Whitlock (denied the faith); also Joseph Smith Sen. Joseph Smith Jun., and John Whitmer. The Bishop then proceeded and blessed the above named brethren and others by the laying on of hands. Isaac Morley and John Correll were ordained counsellors to Edward Partridge.
Joseph Smith, Jun., prophesied the day previous that the man of sin would be revealed. While the Lord poured out His Spirit upon His servants, the devil took a notion to make known his power. He bound Harvey Whitlock and John Murdock so that they could not speak, and others were affected; but the Lord showed to Joseph, the seer, the design of the thing; he commanded the devil in the name of Christ, and he departed, to our joy and comfort.
Parley P. Pratt, in his autobiography, gives the following account of this important gathering:
A general conference was convened at Kirtland, consisting of all the Elders, far and near, who could be got together. In this conference much instruction was given by President Smith, who spake in great power, as he was moved by the Holy Ghost; and the spirit of power and of testimony rested down upon the Elders in a marvellous manner. Here also were some strange manifestations of false spirits, which were immediately rebuked.
Several were then selected by revelation, through President Smith, and ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of the Son of God; which is after the order of Melchisedec. This was the first occasion in which this priesthood had been revealed and conferred upon the Elders in this dispensation, although the office of an Elder is the same in a certain degree, but not in the fulness. On this occasion I was ordained to this holy ordinance and calling by President Smith.
Brother Jared Carter, who also attended this conference, has the following to say about it in his private journal:
The Friday before this happened {referring to a case of healing} was that memorable day when Christ first gave the fulness of the High Priesthood to the Elders of the Church of Christ. On this occasion Bro. Joseph, notwithstanding he was not naturally a talented speaker, was filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, and spoke as I never heard man speak for God before. Surely the Holy Ghost spoke through him and marvelous, indeed, was the display of the power of the Spirit among the Elders present. At this conference I met my Brother Simeon whom I had not seen for eight years. He had left Benson, Vermont, where I then lived, and had resided in Ohio. At his place of residence, at Amherst, he had first met with the Elders of the Church. The meeting with my brother was one that filled me with great joy, especially on such an occasion when the glorious manifestations of the power of God was so richly poured out. In watching my brother in his earlier life I had almost dispaired of him because of his backwardness in the cause of God, but now he had become a mighty instrument in the service of the Almighty, and an Elder in the High Priesthood filled with the Holy Ghost. After the conference I moved my family to Amherst, where my brother resided.
Newel Knight refers to the conference in the following language:
The Elders, from various parts of the country where they had been laboring, came in, and the power of the Lord was manifested in our midst. [Some of these words are guesses, as my copy is obscured.] A number were ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood, and the hearts of the Saints rejoiced in the rich blessings bestowed upon them.
That this conference was held on the 3rd of June, and not on the 6th, is proven conclusively by John Smith, one of the early Elders of the Church in Ohio, who makes the following entry in his private journal:
Friday, June 3 {1831} I went to Kirtland to attend conference, but did not reach there till Saturday the 4th, and conference was over and I continued there {at Kirtland} until the 6th and after the commandment had come forth for the Elders to go to Missouri, I returned and reached my home in Northampton on the 7th.”
(Journal History, 3 Jun., 1831)
“Elder Jared Carter, who resided temporarily in Thompson, Ohio, speaks of his experience there as follows:
Here we again had severe trials and I, together with other members must acknowledge that here we passed through some of the most trying scenes that I have ever experienced, for the grand adversary of all souls gained great power over some of my brethren. And among the rest I was most shockingly tempted, yet not withstanding the many temptations I had I never doubted that the work I had espoused was the work of God.
After our arrival in Thompson, my wife, who hitherto had opposed me to a greater or less extent and had feared that the work in which we had engaged was that of delusions, now became convinced that it was true, and was finally baptized into the Church. About this time we witnessed some display of the power of God in a miraculously manner in the Church in Thompson. One case I will mention which happened in my own family under the instrumentality of Joseph the Seer. My youngest child was distressingly sick at the time Joseph came to visit my house and I told him that I had faith that the babe might be healed; he then spoke in the name of the Lord and said, that it should be to me according to my faith; the child was healed immediately. On the same day one of our sisters was healed from blindness by his instrumentality. I also saw another manifestation of the healing power of God at Kirtland {early in June 1831}; it took place through the instrumentality of my natural brother Simeon Carter. A woman had on a certain occasion fallen from a wagon on her way to the meeting. To all appearance she was mortally wounded and was not expected to live. She was so badly bruised that she could not even move a toe, and her pain was intense. In my conversation with her, I told her that she need not have any more pain, and also mentioned my Brother Simeon who was endowed with great power from on high, and that she might be healed, if she had faith. Brother Simeon also conversed with her, and after awhile took her by the hand, saying, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to arise and walk.’ And she arose and walked from room to room.” (Jared Carter journal, in Journal History, 8 Jun., 1831)
“From the time that Mormonism first made it [sic] appearance upon the stage, until the grand tour to the Missouri, an expectation universally pervaded the church, that the time was not far distant, when the deaf, the dumb, the maimed, the blind, &c. would become the subjects of the miraculous power of God, so that every defect in their systems would be entirely removed.
This expectation originated from, and was grounded upon a variety of premises, included in a number of commandments, or verbal revelations from Smith, or, as he is styled ‘the head of the church.’ As the 4th of June last was appointed for the sessions of the conference, it was ascertained, that that was the time specified, when the great and mighty work was to be commenced, and such was the confidence of some, that knowledge superceded their faith, and they did not hesitate to declare themselves perfectly assured that the work of miracles would commence at the ensuing conference. With such strong assurances, and with the most elevated expectations, the conference assembled at the time appointed. To give, if possible, energy to expectation, Smith, the day before the conference, professing to be filled with the spirit of prophecy, declared, that ‘not three days should pass away, before some should see their Savior, face to face.’ Soon after the session commenced, Smith arose to harangue the conference. He reminded those present of the prophecy, which he said ‘was given by the spirit yesterday.’ He wished them not to be overcome with surprise, when that event ushered in. He continued, until by long speaking, himself and some others became much excited. He then laid his hands on the head of Elder Wight, who had participated largely in the warm feeling of his leader, and ordained him to the High Priesthood. He was set apart for the service of the Indians, and was ordained to the gift of tongues, healing the sick, casting out devils, and discerning spirits; and in like manner he ordained several others; and then called upon Wight to take the floor. Wight arose, and presented a pale countenance, a fierce look, wqith his arms extended, and his hands cramped back, the whole system agitated, and a very unpleasant object to look upon. He exhibited himself as an instance of the great power of God, and called upon those around him, ‘if you want to see a sign, look at me.’ He then stepped upon a bench, and declared with a loud voice, he saw the Savior: and thereby, for the time being, rescued Smith’s prophecy from merited contempt.–It, however, procured Wight the authority to ordain the rest. So said the spirit, and so said Smith. The spirit in Smith selected those to be ordained, and the spirit in Wight ordained them. But the spirit in Wight proved an erring dictator; so much so, that some of the candidates felt the weight of hands thrice, before the work was rightly done. Another Elder, who had been ordained to the same office as Wight, at the bidding of Smith, stepped upon the floor. Then ensued a scene, of which you can form no adequate conception; and which, I would forbear relating, did not the truth require it. The Elder moved upon the floor, his legs inclining to a bend; one shoulder elevated above the other, upon which the head seemed disposed to recline, his arms partly extended; his hands partly clenched; his mouth partly open, and contracted in the shape of an italic O; his eyes assumed a wild ferocious cast, and his whole appearance presented a frightful object to the view of the beholder.–‘Speak, Brother Harvey’ said Smith. But Harvey intimated by signs, that his power of articulation was in a state of suspense, and that he was unable to speak. Some conjectured that Harvey was possessed of the devil, but Smith said, ‘the Lord binds in order to set at liberty.’ After different opinions had been given, and there had been much confusion, Smith learnt by the spirit, that Harvey was under a diabolical influence, and that Satan had bound him; and he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of him.
It now became clearly manifest, that ‘the man of sin was revealed,’ for the express purpose that the elders should become acquainted with the devices of Satan; and after that they would possess knowledge sufficient to manage him. This, Smith declared to be a miracle, and his success in this case, encouraged him to work other and different miracles. Taking the hand of one of the Elders in his own, a hand which by accident had been rendered defective, he said, ‘Brother Murdock, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to straighten your hand; in the mean while, endeavoring to accomplish the work by using his own hand to open the hand of the other. The effort proved unsuccessful; but he again articulated the same commandment, in a more authoritative and louder tone of voice; and while uttering with his tongue, his hands were at work; but after all the exertion of his power, both natural and supernatural, the deficient hand returned to its former position, where it still remains. But ill success in this case, did not discourage him from undertaking another. One of the Elders, who was decriped in one of his legs, was set upon the floor, and commanded, in the name of Jeses [sic] Christ to walk. He walked a step or two, his faith failed, and he was again compelled to have recourse to his former assistant, and he has had occasion to use it ever since.
A dead body, which had been retained above ground two or three days, under the expectation that the dead would be raised, was insensible to the voice of those who commanded it to awake into life, and is destined to sleep in the grave till the last trump shall sound, and the power of God easily accomplishes the work, which frustrated the attempts, and bid defiance to the puny efforts of the Mormonite.
[The following was in E. D. Howe but not in the Painesville Telegraph] That an attempt was made to raise the child, is denied, of course, as every other attempt has been, after its entire failure was obvious to all. The parents of the deceased child, however, state, that they were prevented from procuring medical aid for the child, by the representations of the elders, that it was in no danger–that it would certainly be restored. The father had no other idea but that the child was to be raised; neither did his faith fail him till preparations were made for its interment. He then awoke from his dream of delusion, and dissolved his connexion with the imposters.” (Ezra Booth to Rev. Ira Eddy, 31 Oct., 1831; in E. D. Howe; compare with slightly different reprint in Painesville Telegraph, 15 Nov., 1831)
“There have been whole paragraphs injected into some of these early commandments, and matter too, entirely foreign to the texts. An instance of this appears in the clause referring to the Melchisedec priesthood, not a mention of which system is found in the revelations until after the ‘revision.’ . . .
Mr. Whitmer denies that apostles, presidents and councillors and high priests are legitimate appurtenances of the church and the assertion is substantially borne out by the records. . . .
Revelations came in the same manner respecting the establishment of the high priesthood system, which was the work of Sidney Rigdon, an ambitious Biblical scholar, who yearned for authority and notoriety. As well might they restore, says Mr. Whitmer, circumcision and the typical ordinances that were annihilated by Christ’s coming as to ornament the church premises with Melchisedek priests.” (Interview with David Whitmer, published in the Chicago Inter-Ocean, 17 Oct., 1886. Reprinted in the Saints Herald, 33:707, 708, 721. 13 Nov. and 20 Nov., 1886)
“Christ commanded the Nep[h]ites to write his teachings, for they were to come down to us as the fulness of his gospel to us. And why is it–Oh, why is it that you will not take the words of Christ himself, and lay down your contentions and disputations, taking his plain, simple teachings which he has given us in that book? As you know, the teachings of Christ are the same at Jerusalem and upon this land; but on account of the plain and precious things being taken from the Bible, there is room therein for disputations on some points; but the teachings of Christ in the Book of Mormon are pure, plain, simple, and full. Christ chose ‘twelve’ and called them disciples, or Elders,–not apostles, and the ‘twelve’ ordained elders, priests, and teachers. These are all the spiritual offices in the Church of Christ, and their duties are plainly given. The manner of baptism, and the manner of administering the flesh and blood of Christ, and everything pertaining to the Church of Christ is plainly set forth in the fullness of the gospel.
In order to set some important facts clearly before your minds, concerning some changes in some of the revelations, I will give you in this article a brief outline of them, and speak in full on this subject hereafter. Some of the revelations as they now appear in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants have been changed and added to. . . .
These revelations were arranged for publication by Bro. Joseph Smith, Sydney Rigdon, Orson Hyde and others, in Hiram, Ohio, while I was there; and were sent to Independence to be published, and were printed just exactly as they were arranged by Bro Joseph and the others. And when the Book of Commandments was printed, Joseph and the church received it as being printed correctly. This I know. But in the winter of 1834 they saw that some of the revelations in the Book of Commandments had to be changed, because the heads of the church had gone too far, and had done things in which they had already gone ahead of some of the former revelations. So the book of ‘Doctrine and Covenants’ was printed in 1835, and some of the revelations changed and added to. . . .
I will also show by a revelation in the Book of Commandments–afterwards changed in the Doctrine and Covenants–that we were commanded to rely upon the Book of Mormon in building up the church; for ‘in it is all things written concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock. Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.’ But they did not rely upon the Book of Mormon in building up the church; but Joseph ‘went on in the persuasions of men,’–(Sec. 2, D. and C) as he did while translating, and heeded Rigdon who expounded the old scriptures to him and showed him that high priests and other offices should be added to ‘elders, priests and teachers;’ and so we did not establish His (Christ’s) church, His gospel, and His rock, so the gates of hell did prevail against the church, and it finally landed in Salt Lake in polygamy. I will also show you by a revelation in the Book of Commandments (afterwards changed in the Doctrine and Covenants) that we had no high priests, etc. in the beginning, as if God had organized his church at first with ‘elders, priests, and teachers,’ and after we had preached, baptized and confirmed many souls into the church, then God concluded he had not organized it right, and decided to put in high priests and other offices above an elder. No brethren–God does not change and work in any such manner. This is man’s work. I will tell you many facts hereafter, things that I know and which will prove beyond a doubt that every spiritual office added to the church which is not according to the teachings of Christ to the ‘twelve’ on this land, is the work of man, and not the work of God.
I want to say a few words here concerning this last revelation spoken of. I know the claims of some of the Latter Day Saints concerning it. It is section 17, in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is a revelation, you admit this fact. The Book of Commandments shows it is a revelation! This revelation was published in the ‘Evening and Morning Star’ in 1832, before the Book of Commandments was published; and published in that paper as, ‘The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ, with a few items from other revelations.’ (Paragraphs 16 and 17 is the added part.) This revelation was received in June, 1830, and these two paragraphs were added in June, 1832, in that paper. The added part gives the duties of high priests and other officers that Bro. Joseph nor any of us ever thought of being in the church until Rigdon came in. The first high priests were ordained in June, 1831. Now I will explain why they did not print this revelation in the Book of Commandments in 1833, with these added parts in it. It is this: The heads of the church had not yet become sufficiently blinded to change a revelation that God had given in 1830, and print it changed in God’s Book of Commandments in 1833. W. W. Phelps is the one who printed this revelation in that paper with the ‘items’ added to it; but when the heads of the church changed the name of the church to “The Church of Latter Day Saints,’ (leaving out the name of ‘Christ’ entirely as the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants shows), when they did this, and compiled the ‘Doctrine and Covenants’ in 1835, God had then given them over to blindness of mind, and they could print this revelation and others changed and added to, with a clear conscience, as they did many other grievous things with a clear conscience after this, thinking they were all right. . . .
The heads of the church had gone away ahead of Christ’s teachings to the ‘twelve’ in the Book of Mormon, and had established high spiritual offices which are not even mentioned in the teachings of Christ to the ‘twelve;’ so these revelations had to be changed. Many of the members objected seriously to these changes, and some left the church on account of it. Many of them did not want to say much at the time because it was Bro. Joseph and the leaders who did it. The majority of the members–poor weak souls–thought that anything Bro Joseph would do must be all right: And so in their blindness of heart, trusting in an arm of flesh, they looked over it and were led into error, and finally all talk about it ceased. . . .
I want to tell the brethren, that when the Doctrine and Covenants was published and presented to that assembly on that occasion, a very few of the brethren knew at that time about those ‘changes’ in revelations concerning ‘Joseph’s Gift’ and ‘to rely upon the Book of Mormon in building up the church,’ etc. In time it was generally found out, and the result was as I have stated. I want to state also that Oliver Cowdery told me that Rigdon was the cause of those changes being made: by smooth talk he convinced Joseph, Oliver, and F. G. Williams that it was all right. Oliver told me that he had sorely repented of that thing; and he repented of the other errors he had been led into by Rigdon and others. Bro. John Whitmer likewise. Thank God I can say that Bro. John and Bro. Oliver come out of their errors, repented of them, and died believing as I do to-day. I stand to-day just where I and the others stood in the early days of the church when the Bible and the Book of Mormon were the rule and guide to our faith.” (David Whitmer to Joseph Smith III, Saints Herald 34:92-93, 1887)
“Soon after the gospel was established in Kirtland, and during the absence of the authorities of the church, many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild enthusiastic notions were entertained; men run out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them: one man pursued a ball that he said he saw flying in the air, until he came to a precipice when he jumped into the top of a tree which saved his life, and many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the church of God; to cause the spirit of God to be withdrawn; and to uproot and destroy those glorious principles which had been developed for the salvation of the human family. But when the authorities returned the spirit was made manifest, those members that were exercised with it were tried for their fellowship; and those that would not repent and forsake it were cut off.” (Joseph Smith, “Try the Spirits,” T&S 3(11):747, 1 Apr., 1842)
“Elder Parley P. Pratt related his experience at the commencement of the work, and the time when the prophet, Joseph Smith, stood up in the midst of the congregation, and by revelation pointed out each individual to be ordained to the Melchisedec priesthood.” (7 Oct., 1849, “A Summary of the Business Transacted at the General Conference, Held at the Great Salt Lake City, Oct. 6th and 7th, 1849,” MS 12(8):123, 15 Apr., 1850)
“I saw Joseph Smith the Prophet when he first came to Kirtland, and was with him in the first conference held in that place, which was in a small school house. When he arose in our midst he said that before the conference closed there were those present who should see the heavens open and bear record of the coming of the Son of Man, and that the man of sin should be revealed.
While he talked he laid his hand upon the head of Lyman Wight. He then laid his left hand upon the head of Harvey Whitlock. Lyman Wight stepped into the middle of the room and bore record of the coming of the Son of Man. Then Harvey Whitlock stepped into the middle of the room with his arms crossed, bound by the power of Satan, and his mouth twisted unshapely.
Hyrum Smith arose and declared that there was an evil spirit in the room.
Joseph said, ‘Don’t be too hasty,’ and Hyrum sat down.
Shortly Hyrum rose the second time, saying, ‘I know my duty and will do it,’ and stepping to Harvey, commanded the evil spirits to leave him, but the spirits did not obey.
Joseph then approached Harvey and asked him if he believed in God. Then we saw a change in Harvey. He also bore record of the opening of the heavens and of the coming of the Son of Man, precisely as Lyman Wight had done.
Next a man by the name of Harvey Green was thrown upon his back on the floor by an unseen power. Some of the brethren wanted to administer to him by laying on of hands, but Joseph forbade it. Harvey looked to me like a man in a fit. He groaned and frothed at the mouth. Finally he got upon his knees and came out of it.
Next thing I saw a man came flying through the window from outside. He was straight as a man’s arm as he sailed into the room over two rows of seats filled with men, and fell on the floor between the seats and was pulled out by the brethren. He trembled all over like a leaf in the wind. He was soon apparently calm and natural. His name was Lemon Copley. He weighed over two hundred pounds. This I saw with my own eyes and know it is all true, and bear testimony to it.” (Philo Dibble, JI 27(10):303, 15 May, 1892)
“On the 6th of June, 1831, a conference was held at Kirtland, at which the powers of the High Priesthood were more fully revealed.” (“Biography. Joseph Smith, the Prophet,” JI 11(15):177, 1 Aug., 1876)
“I saw Joseph Smith the Prophet when he first came to Kirtland, and was with him in the first conference held in that place, which was in a small school house. When he arose in our midst he said that before the conference closed there were those present who should see the heavens open and bear record of the coming of the Son of Man, and that the man of sin should be revealed.
While he talked he laid his hand upon the head of Lyman Wight. He then laid his left hand upon the head of Harvey Whitlock. Lyman Wight stepped into the middle of the room and bore record of the coming of the Son of Man. Then Harvey Whitlock stepped into the middle of the room with his arms crossed, bound by the power of Satan, and his mouth twisted unshapely.
Hyrum Smith arose and declared that there was an evil spirit in the room.
Joseph said, ‘Don’t be too hasty,’ and Hyrum sat down.
Shortly Hyrum rose the second time, saying, ‘I know my duty and will do it,’ and stepping to Harvey, commanded the evil spirits to leave him, but the spirits did not obey.
Joseph then approached Harvey and asked him if he believed in God. Then we saw a change in Harvey. He also bore record of the opening of the heavens and of the coming of the Son of Man, precisely as Lyman Wight had done.
Next a man by the name of Harvey Green was thrown upon his back on the floor by an unseen power. Some of the brethren wanted to administer to him by laying on of hands, but Joseph forbade it. Harvey looked to me like a man in a fit. He groaned and frothed at the mouth. Finally he got upon his knees and came out of it.
Next thing I saw a man came flying through the window from outside. He was straight as a man’s arm as he sailed into the room over two rows of seats filled with men, and fell on the floor between the seats and was pulled out by the brethren. He trembled all over like a leaf in the wind. He was soon apparently calm and natural. His name was Lemon Copley. He weighed over two hundred pounds. This I saw with my own eyes and know it is all true, and bear testimony to it.” (Philo Dibble, JI 27(10):303, 15 May, 1892)
“I was present at Kirtland on the 3rd day of June A.D. [1831] when the man of sin was revealed, and the High priesthood was given to the church.” (Zebedee Coltrin Autobiography, LDS Archives, MS d 2793; Corcoran)
“Let us then confine our remarks to this dispensation, when the Prophet Joseph Smith was visited by an holy angel, clad in robes of light, who authorized him to sound the trump of the Gospel of peace, and receive the sacred records from the earth, and the Urim and Thummim, and who laid hands upon him and gave him the Holy Ghost, and authorized him to baptize for the remission of sins, and organize the kingdom of God on the earth. What do we see at this time? We see the manifestations of the power of Satan immediately after the revelations of the angel to Joseph. For instance, there were spirit mediums in Kirtland, when the Church was first organized there by brother Parley P. Pratt and others; but when Joseph went with the Priesthood, the devil had to leave, for he had learned the power of Lucifer; and Joseph organized the Church, established the Priesthood, and set every thing right.” (Jedediah M. Grant, 19 Feb., 1854; JD 2:12)
“How came these Apostles, these Seventies, these High Priests, and all this organization we now enjoy? It came by revelation. Father Cahoon, who lately died in your neighbourhood, was one of the first men ordained to the office of High Priest in this kingdom. In the year 1831 the Prophet Joseph went to Ohio. He left the State of New York on the last of April, if my memory serves me, and arrived in Kirtland sometime in May. They held a General Conference, which was the first General Conference ever called or held in Ohio. Joseph then received a revelation, and ordained High Priests. You read in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants how he received the Priesthood in the first place. It is there stated how Joseph received the Aaronic Priesthood. John the Baptist came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. When a person passes behind the vail, he can only officiate in the spirit-world; but when he is resurrected he officiates as a resurrected being, and not as a mortal being. You read in the revelation that Joseph was ordained, as it is written. When he received the Melchisedek Priesthood, he had another revelation. Peter, James, and John came to him. You can read the revelation at your leisure. When he received this revelation in Kirtland, the Lord revealed to him that he should begin and ordain High Priests; and he then ordained quite a number, all whose names I do not now recollect; but Lyman Wight was one; Fathers Cahoon and Morley, John Murdock, Sidney Rigdon, and others were also then ordained. These were the first that were ordained to this office in the Church. I relate this to show you how Joseph proceeded step by step in organizing the Church. At that time there were no Seventies nor Twelve Apostles.” (Brigham Young, 7 May, 1861; JD 9:88-89)
“The Lord had not spoken to the inhabitants of this earth for a long time, until He spoke to Joseph Smith, committed to him the plates on which the Book of Mormon was engraved, and gave him a Urim and Thummim to translate a portion of them, and told him to print the Book of Mormon, which he did, and sent it to the world, according to the word of the Lord. The Lord said to him, ‘revive my statutes and bring forth my law which has been set aside by those who professed to by my Saints, and establish the ordinances that were once in my house, and tell the people they must observe them. Now go and see if anybody will believe your testimony.’ He went and preached to his father’s house, and to his neighbors, and it was four or five years before he got the six members that composed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when it was first organized on the 6th of April, 1830. This was a slow business, but at last he organized the Church, for the Lord had revealed to him the Aaronic priesthood upon which the Church was first organized; after that he received the Melchisedic priesthood, when the Church was more fully organized, and a few more believed, and then a few more and a few more.” (Brigham Young, 4 Jun., 1864; JD 10:303)
“When Lyman Wight was ordained a High Priest, Joseph told him that he should see the heaven opened, and after he was ordained he stood upon his feet and testified he could see the heavens open and could see Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God. Harvey Whitlock was ordained next with the same promise, but after the ordination, when standing on his feet, he seemed paralyzed; his mouth went into the shape of an italic O and his arm was stretched as if nailed to a cross. Joseph rebuked the power that had seized him and it left him; and he testified as Lyman had done, that he saw the heavens open and Jesus standing on the right hand of his father. This was the beginning in our day of the ordination to the office of high priest.” (Zebedee Coltrin, 5 Feb., 1875, meeting of the High Priests of Spanish Fork; in RECORD I, page 99, of the High Priests; Truth 4:124-127; reprinted in Merle H. Graffam, “Salt Lake School of the Prophets–Minute Book, 1883,” p. 70)
“Among the early baptisms in Northern Ohio, was a Methodist minister by the name of Ezra Booth. He was present when the Elders first received the ordination of the High Priesthood. They met together in June, 1831, in a log school house in Kirtland, a room about eighteen feet by twenty. While they were there, the manifestation of the power of God being on Joseph, he set apart some of the Elders to the High Priesthood. Ezra Booth was bound, and his countenance was distorted, and numbers of the brethren looked at him, and thought it was a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but to their astonishment, Joseph came forward and rebuked the foul spirit, and commanded it to depart, in consequence of which Booth was relieved, and many of the brethren were greatly tried at such a singular treatment by the prophet of these wonderful manifestations of power.
Others had visions. Lyman Wight bore testimony that he saw the face of the Savior.
The Priesthood was conferred on a number of Elders, and thirty were selected to take a mission to the western boundaries of Missouri, and travel and preach two and two by the way, travelling without purse or scrip.” (George A. Smith, JD 11:4, 15 Nov., 1864)
NOTE: THE EARLIEST REFERENCE I HAVE FOUND TO ‘HIGH PRIEST’, RATHER THAN ‘HIGH PRIESTHOOD’ IS 23 JAN., 1832, IN THE FAR WEST RECORD. IT APPEARS THAT UNTIL THAT TIME THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXTENSION OF THE OFFICE OF ELDER, NOT CONSTITUTING A SEPARATE PRIESTHOOD OFFICE. SEE 23 JAN., 1832 ENTRY.
Jun.: “Endowed with great power from on high.”
Early in June 1831, Jared Carter wrote: “A woman had on a certain occasion fallen from a wagon on her way to the meeting. To all appearance she was mortally wounded and was not expected to live. She was so badly bruised that she could not even move a toe, and her pain was intense. In my conversation with her, I told her that she need not have any more pain, and also mentioned my Brother Simeon who was endowed with great power from on high, and that she might be healed, if she had faith. Brother Simeon also conversed with her, and after awhile took her by the hand, saying, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to arise and walk.’ And she arose and walked from room to room.” (JH; Ouellette)
15 Jun.: Wiping of feet as testimony against them.
“Agreeable to the revelation given, John Murdock, accompanied by Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, John Corrill, Mother Lucy Smith and Almira Mack, left Kirtland June 14, 1831, and traveled to Fairport, where they took passage on the steamer ‘William Penn’ for Detroit, Michigan, where they arrived on the 15th. Elder Murdock writes:
We left the boat immediately and took lodging in a tavern; we breakfasted and dined freely with a merchant’s wife, a sister to Almira Mack. We four brethren labored from morning till noon endeavoring to get a chance to preach, but we were not successful. I was turned out of doors for calling on the woolcarder to repent. After dinner we took leave of the two ladies and the family with which we had dined and wiped our feet as a testimony against that city.”
(JH 14 Jun., 1831)
21 Jun.: Ambiguity of Joseph’s divine appointment.
“It was impossible, according to his [Alexander Campbell] views of the nature and character of the Supreme Being, that he should make known his will by a money digger, and without giving him any power to make a sure and certain manifestation of his divine appointment.” (Painesville Telegraph, 21 Jun., 1831)
21 Jun.: About 30 recently ordained.
“The Mormonites.–This infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase, ‘they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed.’ Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri River, they say about 1500 miles distant. About 30 of them have recently been ordained and some have gone, others are about going, two and two, part by the western rivers and part by land to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man. Those who have disposed of their property go now, and such as have property, are making market for it so eagerlay as often to disregard pecuniary interests, and all are to follow with all Convenient dispatch. They still persist in their power to work miracles. They say they have often seen them done–the sick are healed–the lame walk–devils are cast out;–and these assertions are made by men heretofore considered rational men, and men of truth.” (Geauga Gazette (Painesville), 21 Jun., 1831; Backman collection; reprinted in Western Reserve Chronicle (Warren, Ohio), 30 Jun., 1831; Ohio Repository (Canton, Ohio), 8 Jul., 1831; Republican Advocate (Wooster, Ohio), 16 Jul., 1831)
16 Jul.: Power to raise the dead.
“MORMONISM. Most of our readers must recollect that certain knaves, pretending to have found some holy writings hidden under a stone in Ontario county, New York, started a new religion! The leaders make bold pretensions and assert a gift to work miracles. The members of this sect are now said to amount to 1,000 souls!–some of whom, very honestly, no doubt, believe in all things that are told them, and yet have borne the character of worthy men. Their great prophet Jo, has selected a part of Geauga county, Ohio, and pronounced it to be ‘the promised land,’ and thither the deluded people are flocking, chiefly from New York. As a few men of property have been induced to cast their funds into a common stock, there is no want of recruits from among the lazy and the worthless classes of society. They say that a miracle was worked in their behalf, by clearing a passage through the ice at Buffalo–some of them affect a power even to raise the dead, and perchance, (such is the weakness of human nature), really believe that they can do it! The chiefs of those people appear to exempt themselves from labor, and herein is, probably, the grand object for which they have established this new religion.” (Niles’ Weekly Register, 16 Jul., 1831. Quoted in Grunder Mormon List #18, June, 1986, item #29)
17 Jul.: Fulness of priesthood through anointing?
“Verily I say unto you, that the wisdom of may in hiz fallen state, knoweth not the purposez and the privileges of my Holy priesthood, but ye shall know, when ye receive a fulness by reason of the anointing: For it is my will, that, in time, ye should take unto you wives of the Lamanites and Nephites, that their posterity may become white, delightsome and Just; for even now their females are more virtuous than the Gentiles.” (Revelation of 17 Jul., 1831; Sent to Brigham Young in a letter from W. W. Phelps dated 12 Aug., 1861; HDC Ms d 4583 fd 78)
Jul.: Endowed with power from on high.
“Bro. Jared Carter, who resided at Amherst in the summer of 1831, while Joseph the Prophet, and others of the Elders, were absent on their journey to Missouri describes the peculiar experiences in regard to false spirits which manifested themselves in Amherst and other place[s] at this time. Elder Carter writes:
It seemed as if I was placed in the front ranks, exposed to the armies of the Pit, for I had not resided at Amherst very long before I began to be tried with certain transactions that took place in the Church, and especially certain exercises which they called visions. The first instance of this kind, that I witnessed, was at the house of a Mr. Barna, in Amherst. On seeing these manifestations I was doubtful concerning them, and did not know what to do. I felt that I could not depend upon my own views as well as upon those of some of the others who were present who were more experienced than myself. But I proposed that we engage in prayer. In this, however, I could not obtain a union with the spirit that prevailed in the meeting. At last I concluded to kneel down and pray openly, and it seemed to me that I could pray in faith that any false spirit present should depart from the meeting. After I arose from my prayer, I found that quite a change in the meeting had taken place, for when I began my prayer, two of the members laid prostrate in what some of them called a vision, but after I had prayed a few minutes, they suddenly came out of them and were clothed in their right mind. On seeing this, I felt pretty well convinced in my own mind that these exercises were not good; but after meeting, I conversed with some of the Elders, whom I found to be fully of the belief that these visions were from a good source, in fact, so united were the members of the church in their belief that these manifestations were from God, that I almost concluded that I had been mistaken, and that the reason why their visions ceased when I prayed was because I was so far inferior to my glorious privilege under this influence. I was led to conclude that these exercises were of the Spirit of the Lord, though at other times I was very much concerned about them. At length, I proved by revelation, which had been given to the Elders concerning these spirits, that they were not of the Lord. I proved them in the following manner: On a certain occasion I attended a meeting together with Sylvester Smith, at Amherst, where, just as we were about to administer the Sacrament, a young woman was taken with an exercise that brought her to the floor. I doubted the propriety of such an experience in a public meeting and suggested to Bro Sylvester that we should try that Spirit according to the revelation that God had given. Complying with my suggestion, we kneeled down and asked our Heavenly Father in the name of Christ, that if that Spirit which the sister possessed was of him, he would give it to us. We prayed in faith, but did not receive the Spirit. After we had risen from our prayer I sat silently upon my seat for some minutes, while Bro. Sylvester laid hands upon the sister and proceeded to administer to her. This, however, was not according to the commandment of the Lord, which says: ‘Wherefore it shall come to pass, that if you behold a Spirit manifested that ye cannot understand, and you receive not that Spirit, Ye shall ask the Father in the name of Jesus, and if he give not unto you that Spirit, then you may know that it is not of God. And it shall be given unto you power over that Spirit, and you shall proclaim against that Spirit with a loud voice, that it is not of God–not with railing accusation, that ye be not overcome, neither with boasting, nor rejoicing, lest ye be seized therewith.’ (D&C 50:31) After Bro. Sylvester had made some communication which was not proclaiming against the Spirit, I arose and proclaimed against it with a loud voice, but this was very trying to the brethren present, as nearly all of them believed that the manifestations were of God; and now after this I had lost all my influence in the Church, and sure enough that seemed to be the case for awhile, but after contemplating for a time, I received assurance that I had the approbation of my Heavenly Father, which was better than the good will of many deceived brethren. After I had made this sacrifice, I was blessed with a greater gift of the word than ever before, so that my influence, instead of decreasing, began to increase. On the following Sabbath, a week after I had proclaimed against the Spirits mentioned, we met in meeting on the North Ridge, where I experienced a marvelous display of the Spirit, though in the earlier part of the same meeting I had been almost overwhelmed with the awful influence of the powers of darkness; but in this state of mind I called upon God in mighty prayer for help, when the cloud and gross darkness burst from my soul, and I was quickly filled with the blessed influence of the Spirit, and was endowed with power from on High in a marvelous manner. I was inclined by the Spirit to ask the Lord for what purpose I was thus marvelously blessed, and immediately it seemed as if a voice spake to me saying, ‘This is the fulfilment of my word to you, and this power that is given you is the power over the Spirit you proclaimed against.’ I then felt endowed with full power over that Spirit against which I had proclaimed the previous Sabbath, and after that time that Spirit never again manifested itself in our meetings when I was present. This to me was one of the most infallable proofs of the divine origin of the revelation of which I have spoken.
After this gathering I attended another meeting in Brownsham, where I saw a young woman possessed of the Devil, or an evil Spirit, that had taken possession of her, for she was brought into awful postures of body, so that her very looks were frightful and in this condition she was dispossessed of her right mind.
The Brethren came to me and requested that I should cast out the Devil. I went to the place where she was, laid my hands on her and commanded Satan in the name of Jesus Christ to depart. And as I spoke these words, she instantly fell to the floor as though she realized an extraordinary immortal influence, and she shouted with a loud voice: Glory to God” (JH Jul., 1831)
28 Aug.: Oliver Cowdery ordained to High Priesthood.
“At a Church meeting held in Kirtland, Ohio, Oliver Cowdery was ordained to the High Priesthood by the voice of the Church & command of the Lord under the hand of br. Sidney Rigdon.” [Oliver had been on a mission to the Lamanites on 3/4 Jun., when High Priesthood had been given to others.] (Far West Record, 28 Aug., 1831)
1 Sep.: Silenced from holding office of Elder.
“A conference was held in Kirtland, Ohio . . . Upon satisfactory testimony given to the conference, it was voted that Eddison Fuller and Wm. Carter should be silenced from holding the office of Elder in the Church.” (JH 1 Sep., 1831)
12 Sep.: Silenced from ministering in their offices.
“A conference was held at Kirtland, Ohio, at which the following Elders were present: Joseph Smith jun., Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Ezra Thayer and Algernon Sidney Gilbert. ‘Upon sufficient or satisfactory testimony to this conference, it was voted that George Miller, a Priest in the Shalersville branch, John Woodard, an Elder in the Orange Branch, and Benjamin Bragg, a Priest in the Warrensville branch, should be silenced from ministering in their respective offices.’ [Note that there is no distinction made between one being an Elder and the others Priests.] Oliver Cowdery acted as clerk of this conference.” (JH 12 Sep., 1831)
13 Sep.: Publication of D&C 42 in Painesville Telegraph.
“Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given unto any one to go forth to preach my Gospel, or to build up my church, except they be ordained by some one who hath authority, and it is known to the church that he hath authority, and have been regularly ordained, by the Elders of the church; and again the Elders, Priests and Teachers of this church, shall teach the scriptures which are in the Bible, & the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of the gospel . . .
And Behold thou shalt consecrate all thy properties, that which thou hast unto me, with a covenant and Deed which cannot be broken, and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church, and two of the Elders, such as he shall appoint and set apart for that purpose, and it shall come to pass that the Bishop of my church, after that he has received the properties of my church, that it cannot be taken from you, he shall appoint every man a steward over his own property, or that which he hath received, inasmuch as shall be sufficient for himself and family, and the residue shall be kept to administer to him that hath not, that every man may receive according as he stands in need, and the residue shall be kept in my Store house to administer to the Poor & needy as shall be appointed by the Elders of the church, & the Bishop, and for the purpose of purchasing Land and building up the New Jerusalem, which is hereafter to be revealed that my covenant people, may be gathered in one, in the day that I shall come to my Temple, and this I do for the salvation of my people, and it shall come to pass that he that sineth and repenteth not shall be cast out and shall not receive again that which he hath consecrated unto me for it shall come to pass that which I spoke by the mouth of my Prophets shall be fulfiled, for I will consecrate the riches of the Gentiles unto my people, which are of the house of Israel. . . .
Thou shalt not be idle, for he that is idle, shall not eat the bread of the laborer; and whosoever among you that is sick and hath not faith to be healed, but believeth shall be nourished in all tenderness with herbs and mild food, and that not of the world, and the Elders of the church two or more shall be called, and shall pray for, and lay their hands upon them in my name, and if they die, they shall die unto me, and if they live, they shall live unto me. . . .
And again it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed; he that hath faith to see, shall see; he that hath faith to hear, shall hear; the lame that have faith to leap, shall leap; and they that have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, hath power to become my sons . . .” (Painesville Telegraph, 13 Sep., 1831)
18 Sep.: Mormonites claim power to raise the dead.
Vermont Patriot and State Gazette, Montpelier, Vt., Monday, September 18, 1831, vol. VI, no. 37, whole no. 297.
“It is said they believe their leader to be the real Jesus, and that both he and his disciples have infinite power to work miracles, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils–that the millenium is at hand, and that Philadelphia is the place where Jesus Christ will meet his disciples and followers–with many absurdities, which do not appear to be sanctioned by the ‘Book of Mormon.'” (DALE MORGAN – “THE MORMONS AND THE FAR WEST: A collection of transcripts of newspaper articles on the Mormons, also containing material on the following subjects: the opening of the West; the fur trade; Indians of the middle and south-western states; the Santa Fe trade, etc. 1809-c.1857.” Huntington Library)
20 Sep.: Ordained Elder, but not Apostle.
“On the 24th day of August 1831, I was ordained a Teacher, and on the 20th day of September of the same year, I was ordained an Elder and received the following license.
A License, Liberty and Authority, Given to Joel H. Johnson, certifying and proving that he is an Elder of this Church of Christ established and regularly organised in these last days, AD 1830, on the 6th day of April all of which has been done by the will of God the Father, according to his holy calling and the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, agreeable to the revelations of Jesus Christ given to Joseph Smith Jr., the first Elder of the church Signifying that he has been baptised and received into the Church, according to the articles and covenants of the Church and ordained under the hand of Jared Carter, who is an Elder of this church, done on the 20th day of September in Amherst, Loraine county, and State of Ohio, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one.
Elders Jared Carter, Sylvester Smith.”
(Joel Hills Johnson, Reminiscences and Journals, 1835-1882, LDS Archives, MS 1546, fd. 3; Barney)
ca. Sep.: High Priesthood vs. Apostleship.
“[p. 15] my wife who had been from the time that I had first embrased the work filled with great fears that it was delusion & she had some of the time oposed my taking a part with this Church of Christ but she now became convinsed that the work was of God and was baptised about this time there was some display of the power of God mirraculously in the church in thomson by the instumentality of Br. Joseph the sear one in my own family which took place as follows it was my youngest child that was distresingly sick at which time Joseph came to my house and I told im that I had faith that the babe might be healed he then spoke in the name of the Lord that it should be according to my faith the child was healed immediately [p. 16] the same day there was one of our Sisters healed from blindness by his instrumentality I also saw another display of the healing power the 6th of June in Kirkland which has took plase by the instrumentality of my Natural Brother Simeon Carter He [or she] had the day before fallen from a wagon on the way to the meeting She to every apparance was mortally bruised and she was not expected to live but a vary short time she was so badly bruised that she told me that she could not moove even one of her toes and she was in great pain I conversed with her and told her that she need not have any more pain I also spoke of my Brother Simeon & told her that he was one that was endowed with power from on high [NOTE THAT SIMEON HAD BEEN ORDAINED TO THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD AT THE JUNE, 1831 CONFERENCE; AND THAT JARED, IN SPITE OF SAYING THAT HE HAD RECEIVED THE AUTHORITY OF AN APOSTLE, DID NOT CONSIDER THAT HE HAD THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD] and that she might be healed if she had faith after this Brother Simeon [17] conversed with her & after he had conversed with her a while he took her by the hand and said I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to rise up & walk and she arose & walked from room to room on friday before this was that memorable day when God first gave the fullness of the high priesthood to the Elders of the Church of Christ at this interview Brother Joseph notwithstanding he is not _____ talented for a speaker yet he was filled with the power of the holy Ghost so that he spoke as I never heard man speak for God by the power of the holy Ghost spoke in him and marvilous was the displays of the ower of the spirit among the Elders present.” (Jared Carter journal; LDS Archives, Ms 1441; Barney)
ca. Sep.: Jared Carter received authority of Apostle.
“I now commense to give some short sketches of a mision that I performed from Ohio to Vermont after I had been to Kirkland where I received the authority of an apostle commenced a mision to the east the 22nd day of Sept 1831 with Brother Ebenesar Page we traveled to hyram in the first plase . . .” (Jared Carter journal; LDS Archives, Ms 1441; Barney)
2 Oct.: High Priesthood = Order of Melchisedek.
“Many of them have been ordained to the High Priesthood, or the order of Milchesidec; and profess to be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were. But they have been hitherto unsuccessful in finding the lame, the halt, and the blind, who had faith sufficient to become the subjects of their miracles; and it is now concluded that this work must be postponed until they get to the Missouri, for the Lord will not show these signs to this wicked and adulterous generation. In the commandment given to the churches in the state of New York, to remove to the state of Ohio, they were assured that these miracles should be wro’t in the state of Ohio; but now they must be deferred until they are settled in Missouri.” (Ezra Booth to Rev. I. Eddy, 2 Oct., 1831; reprinted in Painesville Telegraph 1 Nov., 1831)
5 Oct.: Ordination certificate for William Smith.
“This is to Certify that William Smith has been received in this Church of Christ according to the Articles & Covenants of this Church & ordained a Teacher under the hand of Joseph Smith jr. this therefore authorizes him to act as a teacher in this church according to the Articles & Covenants.
given at Hyram [Ohio] Oct. 5th 1831
John Whitmer
Joseph Smith Jr. Elders”
(P13 f4, RLDS Archives)
10 Oct.: Orson Hyde ordained Elder w/in days of baptism.
“Minutes of a conference held in Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio; Oct. 10, 1831.
Elders Present. . . .
Orson Hyde.” [Note: Hyde was baptized 2 Oct., 1831] (Far West Record, 10 Oct., 1831)
11 Oct.: Committee of six to instruct branches.
“On the 11th of October, a conference was held at Brother Johnson’s, where I was living, at which the Elders were instructed in the ancient manner of conducting meetings, of which knowledge most of them were ignorant. A committee of six was appointed to instruct the several branches of the Church. Elders David Whitmer and Reynolds Cahoon were appointed as two of the said committee; with the further duty on their mission, of setting forth the condition of Brothers Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that they might obtain means to continue the translation.” (HC 1:219)
12 Oct.: Washed my feet as a testimony against them.
“On the 12th of October I set out on a mission to the east with Brother Thayer. On the 15th we preached in the town of Ripley, Chautauqua Co., New York. On the 16th (Lord’s day) Brother Thayer, by mutual consent, left me. I went to Forestville, (in the same county) and attended a meeting of Baptists and Presbyterians. In the evening I requested and obtained liberty to speak, but was stopped in a very few minutes; went to the tavern again and washed my feet as a testimony against the people in the schoolhouse.” (Joseph Coe journal, JH 12 Oct., 1831)
24 Oct.: Changes in the early church.
“Mormonism has in part changed its character, and assumed a different dress, from that under which it first made its appearance on the Western Reserve. Many extraordinary circumstances which then existed, have vanished out of sight; and the Mormonites desire, not only to forget them, but wish them blotted out of the memory of others. Those wonders, which they wish to have forgotten, stand as the principal foundation of the faith of several hundred of the members of their church. . . .
A new method for obtaining authority to preach the Gospel was introduced into the church. One declared he had received a commission, directly from Heaven, written upon parchment. Another, that it was written upon the palm of his hand, and upon the lid of his Bible, &c. Three witnesses, and they were formerly considered persons of veracity, testified, that they saw the parchment, or something like it, when put into the hands of the candidate. These commissions, when transcribed upon a piece of paper, were read to the church, and the persons who had received them, were ordained to the Elder’s office, and sent out into the world to preach. But this also sunk into discredit, and experienced the fate of the former.” (Ezra Booth to Rev. I. Eddy, 24 Oct., 1831; in Painesville Telegraph, 8 Nov., 1831)
25 Oct.: First mention of Deacons at a conference.
“Minutes of a general Conference . . .
Deacons
Titus Billings
Sirenes Burnett and
John Busk”
(Far West Record, 25 Oct., 1831)
25 Oct.: First mention of OFFICE of High Priest?
“At a conference in Orange, Cuyahoga Co., (Oct. 25, 1831) I was ordained a High Priest by Joseph Smith.” (Luke S. Johnson, in JH, 25 Oct., 1831; Ouellette)
25 Oct.: Order of High Priesthood: Sealing.
“Br. Sidney Rigdon said . . . ‘I bear testimony that God will have a pure people who will give up all for Christ’s sake and when this is done they will be sealed up unto eternal life.
Br. Joseph Smith jr. said that the order of the High-priesthood is that they have power given them to seal up the Saints unto eternal life. And said it was the privilege of every Elder present to be ordained to the Highpriesthood. . . .
Br. Daniel Stanton said that he had a long time since covenanted to do the will of God in all things, and also said that it was his desire to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. . . .
Br. Joseph Smith Jr . . . said until we have perfect love we are liable to fall and when we have a testimony that our names are sealed in the Lamb’s Book of life we have perfect love & then it is impossible for false Christs to deceive us.” (Far West Record, 25 Oct., 1831)
25 Oct.: Wm. Smith’s license.
“This certifies that William Smith, a member of the Church of Christ, organized on the 6th of April, 1830, has been ordained a Priest of said Church, by authority of a conference held in Orange, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, on the 25th day of October, A.D., 1831. This is therefore to give him authority to act in the office of his calling, according to the articles and covenants of said Church.” (William Smith, William Smith on Mormonism, pp. 20-21; in Backman, The Heavens Resound, p. 110)
“This certifies that William Smith a member of this church of Christ, organized on the 6th of April 1830 has been ordained a Priest of said church under the hand of Oliver Cowdry an Elder of said Church by authority of a conference held in Orange Cuyahoga County Ohio on the 25th day of October AD 1831.
This is therefore to give him authority to act in the office of his calling according to the articles & covenants of said church.
F. G. Williams Clerk.”
(P13 f5, RLDS Archives)
26 Oct.: Rigdon’s remarks on High Priesthood.
“Br. Sidney Rigdon then made certain remarks on the privileges of the Saints in these last days. Remarks to those who were ordained to the Highpriesthood last evening saying that the Lord was not well pleased with some of them because of their indifference to be ordained to that office, exhortations to faith and obedience setting for the power of that office.” (Far West Record, 26 Oct., 1831)
Nov.: 1st revelation on “sealing unto eternal life.”
“Section 68 is the first latter-day revelation to address the notion of being sealed up unto eternal life (verse 12). This was a topic of considerable importance during the Prophet’s life-time. Shortly after the Orange, Ohio, conference (25 October 1831) high priests began sealing the Saints to eternal life. These early priesthood sealings (1831-35) were not unimportant, but it was later determined that they were insufficient. Although the Prophet received the greater keys of sealing from Elijah in April 1836, he delayed administering the higher (temple) ordinances until the 1840s. The first priesthood (eternal) marriage was performed in April 1841, and the priesthood endowment was administered for the first time in May 1842. Having received the prerequisite ordinances, the faithful could continue on and receive the fulness of the priesthood wherein they were sealed up unto eternal life. (The fulness of the priesthood began to be administered in September 1843.) Thus, a complete understanding of the nature of making one’s calling and election sure (i.e., being sealed up unto eternal) developed over a ten-year period, and achieved its fullest expression during the Nauvoo period.” (Lyndon Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 145)
11 Nov.: Duties of Elders.
“Commandments concerning the duties of the Elders, read by br. Oliver Cowdery.” (Far West Record, 11 Nov., 1831)
21 Nov..: Ziba Peterson one of the 12 Apostles.
“In this voyage upon the waters, we demonstrated that the great dangers existed only in imagination, and the commandment to be the offspring of a pusillanimous spirit. The spirit also revealed to Joseph, that ‘on the steamboats, plots were already laid for our destruction.’ This too we proved to be false. While descending the Missouri river, Peter and Frederick, two of my company, divulged a secret respecting Oliver, which placed his conduct on a parallel with Ziba’s; for which Ziba was deprived of his Elder and Apostleship: ‘Let that which was bestowed upon Ziba, be taken from him, and let him stand as a member in the Church, and let him labor with his own hands with the brethren.’ And thus by commandment, poor Ziba, one of the twelve Apostles, is thrust down; while Oliver the scribe, also an Apostle, who had been guilty of similar conduct, is set on high, to prepare work for the press; and no commandment touches him, only to exalt him higher.” (Ezra Booth to Rev. I. Eddy, 21 Nov., 1831; in Painesville Telegraph, 6 Dec., 1831)
1 Dec.: Reordination to Elder.
“Br. Seymour Brunson was ordained to the High Priesthood and br. Henry Jackson again ordained an Elder under the hand of Oliver Cowdery.” (Far West Record, 1 Dec., 1831)
4 Dec.: 1st mention of OFFICE of High Priest?
“Hearken and listen to the voice of the Lord, O ye people who have assembled yourselves together, who are the high priests of my church, to whom the kingdom and power have been given.” (“A Revelation Given December 4, 1831,” E&MS Dec., 1832)
4 Dec.: Newel K. Whitney chosen as 2nd bishop.
“The thought of assuming this important responsibility was almost more than he could bear. Like Jeremiah, he felt as a child in weakness and inexperience, and though in natural gifts few men were better qualified for such a position, he nevertheless distrusted his ability, and deemed himself incapable of discharging the high and holy trust. In his perplexity he appealed to the Prophet: ‘I cannot see a Bishop in myself, Brother Joseph; but if you say it’s the Lord’s will, I’ll try.’
‘You need not take my word alone,’ answered the Prophet, kindly, ‘Go and ask Father for yourself.’
Newel felt the force of this mild rebuke, but determined to do as he advised, and seek to obtain the knowledge for himself. His humble, heartfelt prayer was answered. In the silence of night and the solitude of his chamber, he heard a voice from heaven: ‘Thy strength is in me.’ The words were few and simple, but for him they had a world of meaning. His doubts were dispelled like dew before the dawn. He straightway sought the Prophet, told him he was satisfied, and was willing to accept the office to which he had been called.” (Orson F. Whitney, “Aaronic Priesthood,” Contributor 6(4):126, Jan., 1885)
“Here were two Bishops, then, one having jurisdiction in the West, a thousand miles from the other; the other having jurisdiction in the East. Their duties were pointed out, but neither of them was a Presiding Bishop [over the entire Church]. But what were they? As was clearly shown by President Taylor at the Priesthood meeting on last evening, they were general Bishops.” (Orson Pratt, JD 22:34, 10 Oct., 1880)
6 Dec.: Order of the High Priesthood.
“Br Oliver Cowdery then arose and addressed the Elders, showing them the necessity of having their hearts drawn out in prayer to God & also realize that they are in the immediate presence of God & also explained the order of the HighPriesthood &c.” (Far West Record, 6 Dec., 1831)
late 1831: Mormons believe they can raise the dead.
“Just then a Lady who was a Doctor’s wife came up very near us with the appearance of wishing to hear our conversation. She paced to and fro before us for some time carrying herself daintily. I assure you she was sumptuously dressed and in seeming absence of mind she allowed her rich scarf to fall from one shoulder and thus displayed a neck and bosom so splendidly decoreated as almost to dazzel the eyes. after a while she turned sharply upon me saying Now I do not want to hear any more about that stuff or anything about Joe Smith who they say he is a Mormon prophet and it is nothing but deception and lies. There was one Mr. Murdock who believed in Joe Smiths doctrine and the Mormons all think that he can cure the sick and can raise the dead. so when Mr. Murdocks wife was sick he refused to send for a doctor although the poor woman wanted him to do so–and so by his neglect his wife died.
I told her I thought she must be a little mistaken in regard to that matter for my son had taken the twins which she left and I had an idea that I knew something near the truth of the affair. I know all about it said the lady. Well now said [I] perhaps not. just stop a moment and I will explain a little. no that I wont said she. Then I will introduce you to Mr Murdock himself and let him tell the story said I. turning to Elder Murdock who stood near just before this however the chamber maid who was very friendly to went down stairs and complained to the Lady’s husband of his wife’s unbecoming behaviour and before she had heard a dozen words from our Brother her husband came bustling up stairs said he they tell me you are abusing this old lady and taking her hand drew it within his arm marched her off at an unusually quick pace.” (Lucy Mack Smith manuscript, pp. 151-152)
late 1831: Wiping of feet.
“Brother H. [Hyrum Smith] and my self traviled the Checaugo turnpike after we had all wiped our feet as a testimony against the city.” (John Murdock journal, p. 2 of typescript, late 1831; LDS Archives, Ouellette)