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  2. Documents, Volume 5, Part 7 Introduction: 17 September 1837–21 January 1838

Part 7: 17 September 1837–21 January 1838

Documents from 17 September 1837 to 21 January 1838 reflect profound changes in JS’s life, including the excommunication of several dissenting
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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members—many of whom had been close friends—and the relocation of JS and his family from
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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, Ohio, to
Far West

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

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, Missouri.
In September, JS and associates began work on a new publication called the Elders’ Journal.
1

See Historical Introduction to Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.


Late that same month, JS and other
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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church leaders left to travel to
Far West

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

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, Missouri. They arrived by early November and attended to various matters of church business, including the reorganization of church leadership positions at a 7 November 1837 meeting, similar to what occurred in
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

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during the 3 September 1837 conference. The
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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conference included a change in the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

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, with
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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replacing
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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as second counselor to JS.
2

Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837; see also Minutes, 3 Sept. 1837.


Other concerns were discussed at these early November meetings, including land purchases in Missouri and the need to have adequate space for new arrivals there. The next month, in an editorial in the Elders’ Journal, JS expressed his intention to move his family to Far West and encouraged Saints in Kirtland to also make preparations to gather with the Saints in Missouri.
3

Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837; Travel Account and Questions, Nov. 1837.


JS and his party returned to
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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in early December to find that dissent had revived. Divisions in Kirtland became more pronounced in January 1838 as dissidents, excommunicated church members, and others made threats against the lives of JS and other church leaders.
4

JS History, vol. B-1, 780; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Liverpool, England, 18 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

In addition, JS and
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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faced litigation brought by their opponents, which meant their property might be seized and auctioned by the local sheriff.
5

See Historical Introduction to Agreement, 4 Jan. 1838.


On 12 January 1838, JS dictated three revelations that established rules to deter attempts at undermining the First Presidency’s authority and to limit the influence of dissenters.
6

See Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–A; Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–B; and Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–C.


One of the revelations also directed the First Presidency to leave Kirtland with their families “as soon as it is practicable” and commanded all their “faithfull friends” to likewise depart for
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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.
7

Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–C.


JS and Rigdon left Kirtland the evening of 12 January and were later joined by their families in
Norton

Area first settled, 1814. Formed from Wolf Creek Township, 1818. Reported location of “great Mormon excitement,” 1832–1838. Population in 1830 about 650. Primarily populated by immigrants from New England states. Increased German Pennsylvanian immigration...

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, Ohio; the group started for Missouri by 16 January.
8

JS History, vol. B-1, 780. JS, his family, and others who were traveling with them arrived in Far West on 14 March 1838. (JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, 16.)


The leaders of the dissenters in Kirtland, now excommunicated from the church, took steps to organize their own church, which they called the Church of Christ. Identifying themselves as the “old standard” and arguing that the church under JS had been led astray and now required reform, the dissenters formally incorporated their church in the state of
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

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on 18 January, solidifying the separation between themselves and the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
9

Thomas B. Marsh, [Far West, MO], to Wilford Woodruff, in Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 36–37; Geauga Co., OH, Witness Docket, 1831–1835, 18 Jan. 1838, Geauga County Archives and Records Center, Chardon, OH.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Elders’ Journal of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Kirtland, OH, Oct.–Nov. 1837; Far West, MO, July–Aug. 1838.

Geauga County Archives and Records Center, Chardon, OH.

  1. 1

    See Historical Introduction to Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.

  2. 2

    Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837; see also Minutes, 3 Sept. 1837.

  3. 3

    Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837; Travel Account and Questions, Nov. 1837.

  4. 4

    JS History, vol. B-1, 780; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Liverpool, England, 18 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

  5. 5

    See Historical Introduction to Agreement, 4 Jan. 1838.

  6. 6

    See Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–A; Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–B; and Historical Introduction to Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–C.

  7. 7

    Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–C.

  8. 8

    JS History, vol. B-1, 780. JS, his family, and others who were traveling with them arrived in Far West on 14 March 1838. (JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, 16.)

  9. 9

    Thomas B. Marsh, [Far West, MO], to Wilford Woodruff, in Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 36–37; Geauga Co., OH, Witness Docket, 1831–1835, 18 Jan. 1838, Geauga County Archives and Records Center, Chardon, OH.

    Elders’ Journal of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Kirtland, OH, Oct.–Nov. 1837; Far West, MO, July–Aug. 1838.

    Geauga County Archives and Records Center, Chardon, OH.

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