The Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Moroni: Angel Or Treasure Guardian? 39
Mark Ashurst-McGee: Moroni: Angel or Treasure Guardian? 39 Moroni: Angel or Treasure Guardian? Mark Ashurst-McGee Over the last two decades, historians have reconsidered the origins of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the context of the early American tradition of treasure hunting. Well into the nineteenth century there were European Americans hunting for buried wealth. Some believed in treasures that were protected by magic spells or guarded by preternatural beings. Joseph Smith, founding prophet of the Church, had participated in several treasure-hunting expeditions in his youth. The church that he later founded rested to a great degree on his claim that an angel named Moroni had appeared to him in 1823 and showed him the location of an ancient scriptural record akin to the Bible, which was inscribed on metal tablets that looked like gold. After four years, Moroni allowed Smith to recover these “golden plates” and translate their characters into English. It was from Smith’s published translation—the Book of Mormon—that members of the fledgling church became known as “Mormons.” For historians of Mormonism who have treated the golden plates as treasure, Moroni has become a treasure guardian. In this essay, I argue for the historical validity of the traditional understanding of Moroni as an angel. In May of 1985, a letter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune posed this question: “In keeping with the true spirit (no pun intended) of historical facts, should not the angel Moroni atop the Mormon Temple be replaced with a white salamander?”1 Of course, the pun was intended. -
MEMBERS of the CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST of LATTER-DAY SAINTS Bmby S-ER 26,1830 Ly Mmd
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS BmBY S-ER 26,1830 Ly mmD. Platt On September 26,1830 at the second conference By her I had one son and two daughters. The Church of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it was was not organized but soon after, April 6, 1830. A few days stated that there were sixty-two members, and that thrrty- afterwards] I was baptized in the waters of Seneca Lake by five of them had joined the church since the fist conference Joseph Smith." (0PH2599)It is possible that Solomon was on June 9th. This means that fiom April 6,1830 to June 9, baptized between April 8th and April 10th. As nearly all of 1830 there were twenty-seven people who joined the the baptisms talk place on Sunday during these initial Church, each of whom has been identified for many years, months, the fact that he was not part of the group baptized except fur two. The complete number of sixty-two members on Sunday, April 1 Ith, points to a date of the 8th, 9th or by September 26th has never been identifled prior to this 10th to quai@ for the "few days" noted in his article. autobiography. He had had to iraveI from his home in the vicinity of Lyons, Wayne. New York, just north of Fayette, Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, and Samuel H. to be baptized, so it was not far. Smith were all initially baptized on May 15, 1829 (LMS:337). -
Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Richard Lloyd Anderson Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Beginning with the rst edition of 1830, the Book of Mormon has generally contained two sets of testimonies— the “Testimony of Three Witnesses” and the “Testimony of Eight Witnesses.” When Joseph Smith rst obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. As translation progressed, he and those assisting him learned, both in the pages of the Book and by additional revelation, that three special witnesses would know, by the power of God, “that these things are true” and that several besides himself would see the plates and testify to their existence (Ether 5:2—4; 2 Ne. 27:12—13; D&C 5:11—13). The testimonies of the witnesses afrm that these things occurred. The witnesses were men known for truthfulness and sobriety. Though each of the Three Witnesses was eventually excommunicated from the Church (two returned), none ever denied or retracted his published testimony. Each reafrmed at every opportunity the veracity of his testimony and the reality of what he had seen and experienced. A June 1829 revelation conrmed that Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris would be the Three Witnesses (D&C 17). Soon thereafter, they, with Joseph Smith, retired to the woods near Fayette, New York, and prayed for the promised divine manifestation. The “Testimony of Three Witnesses” summarizes the supernatural event that followed, when an angel appeared and showed them the plates and engravings and they heard the Lord declare that the Book of Mormon was “translated by the gift and power of God.” They said that the same divine voice “commanded us that we should bear record of it.” Joseph Smith’s mother later recounted Joseph’s great relief at no longer being the sole witness of the divine experiences of the restoration (see witnesses, law of). -
The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922
University of Nevada, Reno THE SECRET MORMON MEETINGS OF 1922 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History By Shannon Caldwell Montez C. Elizabeth Raymond, Ph.D. / Thesis Advisor December 2019 Copyright by Shannon Caldwell Montez 2019 All Rights Reserved UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL We recommend that the thesis prepared under our supervision by SHANNON CALDWELL MONTEZ entitled The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS C. Elizabeth Raymond, Ph.D., Advisor Cameron B. Strang, Ph.D., Committee Member Greta E. de Jong, Ph.D., Committee Member Erin E. Stiles, Ph.D., Graduate School Representative David W. Zeh, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School December 2019 i Abstract B. H. Roberts presented information to the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January of 1922 that fundamentally challenged the entire premise of their religious beliefs. New research shows that in addition to church leadership, this information was also presented during the neXt few months to a select group of highly educated Mormon men and women outside of church hierarchy. This group represented many aspects of Mormon belief, different areas of eXpertise, and varying approaches to dealing with challenging information. Their stories create a beautiful tapestry of Mormon life in the transition years from polygamy, frontier life, and resistance to statehood, assimilation, and respectability. A study of the people involved illuminates an important, overlooked, underappreciated, and eXciting period of Mormon history. -
Articles of the Church of Christ” in Relation to Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants
An Examination of the 829 “Articles of the Church of Christ” in Relation to Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants Scott H. Faulring he 829 “Articles of the Church of Christ” is a little-known anteced- Tent to section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This article explores Joseph Smith’s and Oliver Cowdery’s involvement in bringing forth these two documents that were important in laying the foundation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Section 20 was originally labeled the “Articles and Covenants.” It was the first revelation canonized by the restored Church and the most lengthy revelation given before the first priesthood conference was held in June 830. Scriptural commentators in recent years have described the inspired set of instructions in section 20 as “a constitution for the restored church.”1 In many respects, the Articles and Covenants was the Church’s earliest General Handbook of Instructions. Although Latter-day Saints typically associate the Articles and Covenants with the organization of the Church on April 6, 830, this regulatory document had roots in earlier events: in the earliest latter-day revelations, in statements on Church ordinances and organization from the Book of Mormon, and in the preliminary set of Articles written by Oliver Cowdery in the last half of 829. This article will review those early revelations to show how the organi- zation of the Church was prophetically foreshadowed and instituted. It will then identify certain prescriptions in the Book of Mormon that influenced the steps taken and pronouncements issued as the Church was organized on April 6, 830. -
Mormon Classification Schedules
Mormon Classification Schedules Harold B. Lee Library Provo, Utah Revised 2019 Devised by Naoma Rich and Chad Flake From the work of Robert Divett Enlarged and edited by the Committee on Mormon Classification of the Utah Library Association, 1959 Modified for use with the Library of Congress Classification Schedules at Brigham Young University, 1977 Revised, reformatted, and with a new index by Dale Swensen, 1997 Updated by Dale Swensen, 2009 Updated by Kayla Willey, 2013 Updated by Kayla Willey, 2019 First published 1959 Second edition 1962 Revised and reformatted with new index 1997 Updated 2009 Updated 2013 Updated 2019 CONTENTS Preface ............................................................................................................................................. v Synopsis ........................................................................................................................................ vii Outline ........................................................................................................................................... ix BX8600 (Mormon Church) ..............................................................................................................1 Index to BX8600+ ..........................................................................................................................31 Index to Mormon Sects ..................................................................................................................38 Appendix 1: BYU Policy on classification of biography, -
Cowdery, Oliver
Cowdery, Oliver Richard Lloyd Anderson Oliver Cowdery (1806—1850) was next in authority to Joseph Smith in 1830 (D&C 21:10—12), and was a second witness of many critical events in the restoration of the gospel. As one of the three Book of Mormon witnesses, Oliver Cowdery testied that an angel displayed the gold plates and that the voice of God proclaimed them correctly translated. He was with Joseph Smith when John the Baptist restored to them the Aaronic Priesthood and when Peter, James, and John ordained them to the Melchizedek Priesthood and the apostleship, and again during the momentous Kirtland Temple visions (D&C 110). Oliver came from a New England family with strong traditions of patriotism, individuality, learning, and religion. He was born at Wells, Vermont, on October 3, 1806. His younger sister gave the only reliable information about his youth: “Oliver was brought up in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont, and when he arrived at the age of twenty, he went to the state of New York, where his older brothers were married and settled . Oliver’s occupation was clerking in a store until 1829, when he taught the district school in the town of Manchester” (Lucy Cowdery Young to Andrew Jenson, March 7, 1887, Church Archives). While boarding with Joseph Smith’s parents, he learned of their convictions about the ancient record that their son was again translating after Martin Harris had lost the manuscript in 1828. The young teacher prayed and received answers that Joseph Smith mentioned in a revelation (D&C 6:14—24). -
Family Stories: Handle with Care, Especially the Most Dramatic Ones
BYU Family Historian Volume 5 Article 4 9-1-2006 Family Stories: Handle With Care, Especially the Most Dramatic Ones William G. Hartley Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byufamilyhistorian BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Hartley, William G. (2006) "Family Stories: Handle With Care, Especially the Most Dramatic Ones," BYU Family Historian: Vol. 5 , Article 4. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byufamilyhistorian/vol5/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in BYU Family Historian by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. FAMILY STORIES: HANDLE WITH CARE, ESPECIALLY THE MOST DRAMATIC ONES WILLIAM G. HARTLEY Rare is the family story that does not get “better” as retold over time. A few families have in them characters who like to tell tall tales, or at least embellish information they relate about their parents or grandparents. Most often, however, misinformation gains currency unintentionally. People assume they have the story right, but in fact they misunderstood minor and sometimes major details. We need to record and treasure family stories that come to us, even though most are wheat with chaff. Folklorist Bert Wilson has shown us that repeatedly told family stories, be they true or false, convey a truth about what the family values. He suggests we ask why that story matters so much to the family that it continues to be told.1 But, as history students are taught early, we need to keep an attitude of skepticism about how accurate our sources of historical information are. -
Ziba Peterson: from Missionary to Hanging Sheriff H
ZIBA PETERSON: FROM MISSIONARY TO HANGING SHERIFF H. Dean Garrett As the Church of Christ (LDS Church) moved from hatt and Ziba Peterson, were called to go on this impor- New Yo* to Kirtland and then on to Missouri, some of tant, ground-breaking mission (D&C 32). the early converts remained faithful and continued afIT1- iating with the Church until their death while others fell The Lamanite mission was the Eust longdstance into apostasy and left th: Church One person who fell mission in the Church So important was this mission by the wayside is Ziba Peterson Through studying th: that Oliver Cowdery wrote a statement dated 17 October scant historical records of Peterson's life as an early con- 1830 in which he declared: vert to Mormonism, as a missionaxy to the Lamanites, as a resident of Missouri, and as a sheriff in Hangtown, I, Oliver, being commanded by the Lord God, to go California, we can gain a better understandhg of th: forth unto the Lamanites, to proclaim glad tidings of influences that shaped his life. great joy unto them, by presenting unto them the fullness of th: Gospel, of the only begotten Son of One of the first recorded events of Ziba Peterson's God; and also, to rear up a pillar as a witness where life was his baptism into the Church of Christ in Seneca th: temple of God shall be built, in the glorious new Lake, New York, 18 April 1830, by Oliver Cowdery.1 Jerusalem; and having certain brothers with me, who Not much is lamwn of his life before his baptism No are called of GOD TO ASSIST ME, whose names identifiable sources of his birth, parentage, or his early are Parley, and Peter and Ziba, do &refore most childhood have been discovered. -
Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831
Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2021 "He Beheld the Prince of Darkness": Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831 Steven R. Hepworth Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the History of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Hepworth, Steven R., ""He Beheld the Prince of Darkness": Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831" (2021). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 8062. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/8062 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. "HE BEHELD THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS": JOSEPH SMITH AND DIABOLISM IN EARLY MORMONISM 1815-1831 by Steven R. Hepworth A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in History Approved: Patrick Mason, Ph.D. Kyle Bulthuis, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member Harrison Kleiner, Ph.D. D. Richard Cutler, Ph.D. Committee Member Interim Vice Provost of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2021 ii Copyright © 2021 Steven R. Hepworth All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT “He Beheld the Prince of Darkness”: Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831 by Steven R. Hepworth, Master of Arts Utah State University, 2021 Major Professor: Dr. Patrick Mason Department: History Joseph Smith published his first known recorded history in the preface to the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon. -
The Mormon Challenge
1 The Mormon Challenge A presentation of the other side of Mormonism using LDS-approved sources 2 Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................4 Sources ................................................................................................................................4 PART ONE: THE SCRIPTURES ....................................................................................5 The Book of Mormon.........................................................................................................5 Joseph Smith Sr. and the Tree of Life ............................................................................................................. 5 Ancient Evangelists ......................................................................................................................................... 7 Joseph’s Ability ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Possible Flaws Ch. 1 – Conviction and Moroni’s Promise ........................................................................... 11 Ch. 2 – A Precise Text .................................................................................................................................. 19 Ch. 3 – Testing the Book of Mormon with the Bible .................................................................................... 22 Ch. 4 – The Reality of the Law of -
Vienna Jaques: Woman of Faith
Vienna Jaques: Woman of Faith 1 Vienna Jaques: Woman of Faith by Brent M. Rogers Church History Department Vienna Jaques1 had been in her new home in Jack- son County, Missouri, USA, for only six weeks when violence erupted on July 20, 1833. Local residents had demanded that the Latter-day Saints leave the county, but Church leaders demurred to accept. Mobs in the area then attacked Church members and their property. On that day, 46-year-old Vienna saw the mob tar and feather Edward Partridge, the bishop in Missouri, and Charles Allen. Meanwhile, others demolished the Church’s print shop and threw the printing press and papers out the window, including unbound and incom- plete copies of the Book of Commandments.2 After the attack, Vienna knelt in the dirt road alone, furiously col- lecting scattered pages of the Book of Commandments. A mobber came over and hovered menacingly over her, declaring, “Madam, this is only a prelude to what you have to suffer.”3 This traumatic event affected Vienna for many years. Still, she courageously remained faith- ful, even after this intensely violent episode in Missouri. This event is one of many examples of Vienna’s faith in the face of hardship. Though she lived more than 100 years ago, Vienna’s life stands as an example to members of the Church today. She was strong-minded when it came to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She had a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and she followed his leadership. She freely gave all she had temporally and From her baptism until her death at age 96, Vienna spiritually to help build the kingdom of God during this Jaques stood as an example of faith in difficult times.