The Presidency Move to Missouri--Excommunication of Oliver Cowdery and
Others
1838
Lowering Clouds
Threatening and sinister were the clouds which hung over the Church at
the beginning of the year 1838. Apostasy had broken into the ranks, and
many of the former faithful defenders of the truth had fallen by the
wayside. Satan rejoiced, and the enemies of the Saints gained great
power, which was later to be made manifest with extreme bitterness.
Flight of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon
So bitter became the spirit of opposition in Kirtland that Joseph Smith
and Sidney Rigdon were forced to seek safety in flight. They departed
from that place January 12, 1838, on horseback, and journeyed towards
Far West. Unjust and vexatious law suits had been planted against them
by their enemies. Several times Joseph had been cited to appear before
the courts on trivial charges, from which he was cleared, which action
did not tend to lessen the ugly feelings of his enemies. Some sixty
miles west of Kirtland they tarried at Norton, where they were joined
by their families. On the 16th, the journey was resumed, Elder Brigham
Young accompanying them. At Dublin, in Indiana, the Prophet sought
employment, cutting and sawing wood, to relieve his necessities. Here,
through the aid of Elder Young, a Brother Tomlinson sold some property,
and gave the Prophet three hundred dollars to help him on his way.
The weather was extremely cold and the fleeing brethren were forced
because of enemies, to secrete themselves in their wagons without
sufficient means to keep warm. Their adversaries followed them for more
than two hundred miles from Kirtland, with guns and knives, seeking
their lives. "They," wrote the Prophet, "frequently crossed our track;
twice they were in the houses where we stopped, and once we tarried all
night in the same house with them, with only a partition between us and
them; and we heard their oaths and imprecations, and threats concerning
us, if they could catch us; and late in the evening they came into our
room and examined us, but decided we were not the men. At other times
we passed them in the streets, and gazed on them, and they on us, but
they knew us not." About two hundred and twenty miles from Far West a
number of brethren met the Prophet, and assisted him with teams to that
place, where he arrived, March 14, 1838. He was welcomed by the Saints
with open arms. President Rigdon did not arrive in Far West until the
4th of April, having been detained by sickness in his family.
Rejection of the Missouri Presidency
The spirit of darkness spread from Kirtland to Missouri, and some of
the leading brethren became affected. Martin Harris was dropped from
the high council in Kirtland, with three others, September 3, 1837,
and Oliver Cowdery, who had been in transgression, was retained in
his calling on condition that he would repent; and should he fail to
repent, the Prophet said, "the Church will soon be under the necessity
of raising their hands against him; therefore pray for him." These men,
and others in Kirtland, influenced some of the brethren in Missouri,
and the spirit of disaffection in Caldwell County commenced to grow. A
general assembly of the Saints was held in Far West, February 4, 1838,
and the members withdrew the hand of fellowship from their presiding
officers, David Whitmer, William W. Phelps and John Whitmer. Similar
action was taken on the succeeding days in Carter's settlement,
Durphy's home, and Haun's Mill.
The charges against two of them, William W. Phelps and John Whitmer,
were that they had sold their possessions in Jackson County, contrary
to the revelations of the Lord, which was paramount to a denial of
the faith; and for the misappropriation of funds borrowed for the use
of the Church. The Lord, in a revelation, had rebuked these men for
their transgression and warned them, but they did not heed the warning.
David Whitmer was likewise charged with improper conduct and neglect of
duty, and with the violation of the word of wisdom, in the persistent
use of tea, coffee and tobacco, and the Church had gone on record by
vote that they would not sustain any officer who indulged in such
things. Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten were sustained as presiding
officers in Missouri, until the coming of Presidents Joseph Smith and
Sidney Rigdon. The three accused men persisted in showing contempt for
the decision of these conferences of the Church, in which action they
were joined by Oliver and Marcellus F. Cowdery; therefore they were
cited to appear before the high council, March 10, 1838, and William W.
Phelps and John Whitmer were excommunicated. Marcellus F. Cowdery was
disfellowshipped and the case of David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery was
held over for future investigation.
Political Motto of the Church
Shortly after the arrival of Presidents Smith and Rigdon in Far West
the following political motto was adopted:
"The Constitution of our country formed by the fathers of liberty.
Peace and good order in society. Love to God, and good will to man.
All good and wholesome laws, virtue and truth above all things, and
aristarchy, live forever! But woe to tyrants, mobs, aristocracy,
anarchy, and toryism, and all those who invent or seek out
unrighteous and vexatious law suits, under the pretext and color of
law, or office, either religious or political. Exalt the standard
of democracy; down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people
say, Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the
ground against us. Sacred is the memory of the blood which bought
for us our liberty."
First General Conference at Far West
April 6, 1838, the first general conference of the Church in Missouri
was held at Far West. John Corrill and Elias Higbee were chosen
historians and George W. Robinson general church recorder and clerk
of the First Presidency. Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten and Brigham
Young were sustained as the presidency of the Church in Zion. The
following day, David W. Patten, in reporting the labors of the council
of the twelve, said he could not recommend William E. McLellin, Luke S.
Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, John F. Boynton, and was doubtful of William
Smith. The other brethren were faithfully discharging their duties.
John Whitmer Withholds the Church Record
A demand by letter was made, by sanction of the conference, of John
Whitmer, the former historian, calling for the record of the Church in
his keeping. This he refused to deliver and retained it until the day
of his death. A copy of it is now in the archives of the Church.
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Others Excommunicated
Wednesday, April 11, 1838, Seymour Brunson preferred nine charges
against Oliver Cowdery who was cited to appear for trial the following
day. Oliver refused to appear, but sent a letter, written in a very
bitter spirit, and defiant attitude, in which he boasted of his
"personal liberty," and with injured demeanor denied the right of
any church tribunal to control him in his temporal interests, which
was contrary to his constitutional privileges. Therefore he would
voluntarily "withdraw from a society assuming they have such right."
Two of the charges when presented to the council were rejected and one
was withdrawn, the other six were sustained. There was no other course
for the council to take than to excommunicate the rebellious Assistant
President of the Church, who had turned so bitter in his feelings
against his former associates.
On the 9th, five charges were also preferred against David Whitmer,
who was cited to appear for trial on the 13th. David also replied by
letter, in which he refused to recognize the authority of the general
assemblies of the Church and the action taken against him; nor would he
recognize the authority of the present council which had been called to
try his case. And, since the council would pursue its "unlawful course
at all hazards," he preferred to withdraw from their "fellowship and
communion--choosing to seek a place among the meek and humble, where
the revelations of heaven will be observed, and the rights of men
regarded." Action was therefore taken against David Whitmer and thus
another of the special witnesses, was cut off from the Church.[1]
Lyman E. Johnson and William E. McLellin
The same day charges were preferred against Lyman E. Johnson; these
were sustained, and he was cut off from the Church. One month later,
May 11, 1838, William E. McLellin was handled for his fellowship, and
he also lost his standing in the Church. About this time Jacob Whitmer
and Hiram Page also left the Church having partaken of the spirit of
apostasy.
A Day of Sadness
This was a day of sadness for Joseph Smith. To see the witnesses who
were associated with him in the incipiency of the Church fall by the
wayside, touched his heart. Yet right must prevail, and righteousness
triumph, even though it should cause wounds which could not be healed.
To their credit, be it said, that none of the witnesses who had beheld
angels and the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated,
ever denied their testimony concerning these things, notwithstanding
the extreme bitterness of heart they manifested against Joseph Smith
the Prophet.[2]
Return of Elders Kimball and Hyde
April 1, 1838, a conference of the Church was held in Preston, England,
in Temperance Hall (the "Cock Pit"), for the purpose of setting in
order the branches in that mission. Joseph Fielding was sustained as
President of the British Mission, to succeed Heber C. Kimball, and
Willard Richards and William Clayton, an English convert, were chosen
as his counselors. These men were ordained high priests. On the 20th
of April, 1838, Elders Kimball and Hyde sailed from Liverpool for the
United States, in the same ship which had carried them to England, the
_Garrick_. They arrived in Kirtland, May 21, 1838, and immediately
notified the Prophet, at Far West, of their good feeling and firmness
in the faith.
Far West--The House of the Lord
In a revelation given April 26, 1838, the Lord accepted Far West as
a central gathering place for the Saints in Missouri, and a place of
refuge, which should be holy and consecrated to him. There a house
was to be built to his name, and the beginning should be made on the
4th of July following, then the Saints were to continue their labors
diligently until the house was finished. However, the presidency,
Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, the latter having taken
the place of Frederick G. Williams, were not to get into debt. Other
settlements in the region round about besides Far West, were to be
selected as gathering places for the Saints, and stakes of Zion were to
be established.
Stakes of Zion
In accordance with the revelation, about the middle of May, 1838,
Presidents Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon with a number of other
elders, including David W. Patten and Bishop Edward Partridge, took a
trip in the wilderness north of Far West for the purpose of locating
sites for settlements and the laying off of stakes of Zion. They
pursued their course up Grand River, some twenty-five miles to a place
they called Tower Hill, because they found ruins of an old Nephite
tower there. Here Elder Lyman Wight had his home, and here they camped
May 20, which was the Sabbath day. In the afternoon Presidents Smith
and Rigdon, with their clerk, George W. Robinson, went up the river
about one half mile, to Wight's ferry, for the purpose of selecting and
laying claim to a city plat. This was in Daviess County, township 60,
ranges 27 and 28, which the brethren called "Spring Hill," but by the
mouth of the Lord, the record states, "it was named Adam-ondi-Ahman,
because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his
people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel
the Prophet."[3] We are also informed that this is the place where
Adam assembled his posterity three years before his death, and there
bestowed upon them his blessing. On that occasion the Lord appeared to
them, and the posterity of Adam rose up and blessed him, and called
him Michael, the Prince, the Arch-angel; and the Lord administered
comfort to Adam, and said unto him: "I have set thee to be at the
head--a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince
over them forever."[4] The name of this place was first revealed
as early as March, 1832, but it is evident that the Saints did not
know where Adam-ondi-Ahman was until this visit of these brethren.
Adam-ondi-Ahman is located on the north side of Grand River, in Daviess
County, Missouri, about twenty-five miles north of Far West. It is
situated on an elevation, which, said the Prophet, "renders the place
as healthful as any part of the United States." It overlooks the river
in a wonderfully beautiful location.
Other Sites Chosen
Other territory, which was unoccupied, was also selected for the
gathering of the Saints, as the Lord had commanded by revelation. The
history gives the following account of the selection of these lands:
"Monday 21. This morning, after making some locations in this
place, which is in township 61, ranges 27 and 28, we returned to
Robinson's Grove, about two miles, to secure some land near Grand
River, which we passed the day previous; and finding a mistake in
the former survey, I sent the surveyor south five or six miles to
obtain a correct line, while some of us tarried to obtain water for
the camp. In the evening I called a council of the brethren to know
whether it was wisdom to go immediately into the north country,
or tarry here and hereabouts, to secure land on Grand River. The
brethren spoke their minds freely on the subject, when I stated to
the council that I felt impressed to tarry and secure all the land
near by, that is not secured between this and Far West, especially
on Grand River. President Rigdon concurred, and the council voted
unanimously to secure the land on Grand River, and between this and
Far West."
For many days following, the brethren spent their time surveying,
selecting sites for settlements, building houses and preparing for the
gathering of the Saints who were rapidly coming to these parts. In
their travels they, at times, came across antiquities in the form of
mounds, which were erected by the ancestors of the Indians.
Independence Day at Far West
July 4, 1838, was spent by the Saints in celebrating Independence
Day. A declaration of independence from all mobs and persecutors was
declared, and after a parade the people assembled at the excavation
made for the building of the Lord's house, and the corner stones of
the proposed temple were laid, agreeable with the commandment of April
26, 1838.[5] The southeast corner stone was laid by Bishop Edward
Partridge, assisted by twelve men; and the northeast corner stone was
laid by the teachers, assisted by twelve men. The building was to be
one hundred and ten feet long and eighty feet wide.
Sidney Rigdon was the orator of the day, and at the close of these
services, the assembly shouted hosanna, and after singing they
adjourned.
The Law of Tithing
The law of tithing, which was given as a substitute law for
consecration, and to act as a "school-master" to train the Saints, was
given July 8, 1838, at Far West, by revelation. Earlier, as we have
discovered, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery made a covenant that they
would give one tenth of all they received, for the support of the poor.
Now the Prophet inquired of the Lord to know what course should be
taken by the Saints, and received the following revelation:
"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property
to be put into the hands of the Bishop of my Church of Zion, for
the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of
Zion and for the Priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency
of my Church. And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of
my people; and after that, those who have thus been tithed, shall
pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a
standing law unto them forever, for my holy Priesthood, saith the
Lord.
"Verily, I say unto you, it shall come to pass, that all those
who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus
properties and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found
worthy to abide among you.
"And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep
it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that
my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be
most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of
Zion unto you; and this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of
Zion; even so, Amen."
It was also made known that the tithing should be disposed of by a
council composed of the First Presidency, Twelve Apostles and Presiding
Bishopric.[6]
The Mission of the Twelve
On the same day the revelation on tithing was received the Lord also
gave a revelation to the council of the apostles, calling them to the
foreign field in Europe. They were to take their departure from the
Saints in Far West on the 26th day of April, 1839, from the building
spot of the Lord's house. How this revelation was fulfilled at that
date, in the midst of murderous opposition will later be shown. John
Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards, the latter
at the time acting as one of the presidency of the British Mission,
were called to the apostleship, to take the places of William E.
McLellin, Luke S. Johnson, John F. Boynton and Lyman E. Johnson, who
had fallen.
Elders Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, who had recently returned from
England, spoke at the meeting in Far West, Sunday, July 29, 1838,
relating their remarkable experiences in that foreign field. On the
5th of August, at the meeting, Frederick G. Williams was re-confirmed
a member of the Church, he having been recently re-baptized. He had
partaken of the spirit of bitterness and opposition in Kirtland and
through it lost his place as one of the First Presidency, but had come
to Far West seeking fellowship in the Church.
The Kirtland Camp
A meeting of all the seventies in Kirtland was held in the temple,
March 6, 1838, to consider the removal of the Saints to Missouri. The
matter was left in the hands of the presidents and a meeting called
for the 10th instant. At this meeting the presidents reported; they
stated that it was doubtful that the journey could be taken in a
body because of the extreme poverty of the people. The effort of the
high council and high priests to get means and remove the Saints had
failed, and they, the seventies, felt that perhaps it would be better
for the journey to be taken as individuals. However, while they were
in this meeting the Spirit of the Lord rested upon them, and it was
made known that they should journey as a body to Zion, according to
the commandments and revelations, pitching their tents by the way, and
by doing this they should not want for any necessity while on their
travels.
This action having been decided, a constitution for their government
on the journey was drawn up under the supervision of President Hyrum
Smith, and adopted. They were to travel under the direction of the
seven presidents, but organized in companies and divisions, for their
guidance and convenience. On the 6th day of July, 1838, the journey
was commenced. There were in the camp 529 souls, 256 males, and 273
females, consisting of 105 families. A few others joined them on the
way. In this manner one of the most remarkable migrations covering a
distance of approximately nine hundred miles was undertaken by these
afflicted Saints. The Lord blessed them abundantly on their way.
Their provisions, like the widow's meal and cruse of oil, were not
diminished, and they were fed miraculously during their journey. As
might be expected, there were among them some who complained, and
a few were expelled from the camp to travel alone because of the
infraction of the rules; but the great majority traveled in humility
and obedience. A few died, which brought sorrow to the camp; some
obtained employment among the people of the various settlements through
which they passed, and in this way means were obtained to help them on
the way. After enduring various trials and afflictions, incident to
a journey of this proportion, they arrived at their destination, Far
West, October 2, 1838. There they received a joyful salutation from
their brethren. On the 3rd, they continued their march to Ambrosial
Creek and on the 4th near sunset pitched their tents at the public
square of Adam-ondi-Ahman. Thus the Saints from Kirtland and those
scattered abroad began to gather to the settlements in Missouri: but
their peace and happiness were not to remain undisturbed, for the
threatening clouds of mobocracy were already gathering.
Notes
1. For full account of these trials see _Documentary History of the
Church_, vol. 3:16-20.
2. During these days of darkness all three of the special witnesses
of the Book of Mormon left the Church. So also did three of the eight
witnesses, viz. Jacob Whitmer, John Whitmer and Hiram Page. Christian
Whitmer died in full fellowship and with a strong conviction of the
truth, in Missouri, Nov. 27, 1835, and his brother Peter Whitmer Jr.,
died September 22, 1836, also firm in the faith and fellowship of the
Saints. Later Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris returned to the Church
and died in full fellowship, also Luke S. Johnson and many others who
became disaffected during these days of tribulation.
3. Doc. and Cov. Sec. 116. Daniel 7th chapter.
4. Doc. and Cov. Sec. 107: 53-55.
5. Doc. and Cov. Sec. 115.
6. See Doc. and Cov. Sec. 119 and 120.