KIRTLA KIRBY PAUL VANDENBERGHE TLA Church Magazines
f New York was the birthplace of the do you want of me?’ The Prophet, it is said, Church, Kirtland was its schoolhouse. while in the East had seen the Whitneys, in IFor eight years Kirtland, Ohio, was the vision, praying for his coming to Kirtland” primary headquarters of the Church and a (History of the Church, 1:146). gathering place for the Saints where they were schooled and organized. Kirtland was a N. K. Whitney and Company Store “You’ve prayed me place of persecution but also a place of great The Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife here, now what do blessings. Emma lived in the Whitney store for about you want of me?” In February 1831 the Prophet Joseph 18 months. And it was there that Joseph Joseph Smith said to Smith first arrived in Kirtland and met Newel worked on translating the Bible. The Prophet Newel K. Whitney K. Whitney in an impressive manner. One also received numerous revelations in what upon Joseph’s account tells it this way: is known as the Revelation Room above the arrival in Kirtland, “A sleigh containing four persons drove store. Ohio. Their meeting through the streets of Kirtland and drew up Next to the Revelation Room is the room took place in in front of the store of Gilbert and Whitney. where the School of the Prophets was held; Whitney’s store, One of the men, a young and stalwart per- it’s Adam Jones’s favorite place in Kirtland. where items such as sonage alighted, and springing up the steps Adam, 17, from the Stow Branch in Akron, brooms, tools, shoes, walked into the store and to where the Ohio, lives about an hour’s drive from and grain were sold. junior partner was stand- Kirtland. “I really like the ing. ‘Newel K. Whitney! School of the Prophets Thou art the man!’ he Room,” he says. “I like the exclaimed, extending his spirit there. There’s a hand cordially, as if to an peacefulness that testifies old and familiar acquain- of what the Saints went tance. ‘You have the through and what they advantage of me,’ replied accomplished in Kirtland the merchant, as he to help the gospel go mechanically took the proffered hand, ‘I forward.” could not call you by name as you have me.’ Visiting the rooms where the Prophet ‘I am Joseph the Prophet,’ said the stranger taught the early missionaries and where he smiling. ‘You’ve prayed me here, now what received so many important revelations— ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL MANN AND ROBERT T. BARRETT; PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHOR BY PHOTOGRAPHY BARRETT; MANN AND ROBERT T. PAUL BY ILLUSTRATED 20 SCHOOLSCHOOL OFOF NN THETHE SAINTSSAINTS
NEW ERA MAY 2005 21 dam Jones, such as the oath and Schoolhouse shown above covenant of the priest- Another revelation given to the Prophet AAin the ashery, hood (see D&C 84) and Joseph above the Whitney store was loves to feel the spirit the Word of Wisdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 88. In verse 118 the that permeates the D&C 89)—has strengthened Adam’s testi- Lord made clear the importance of educa- School of the mony of the Restoration. “Being here helps tion, saying, “Seek ye diligently and teach Prophets Room (top, your faith and helps you understand about one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye right). In this room the history of the Church.” out of the best books words of wisdom; seek above the Whitney Clark Haymond, 17, of the Solon Ward in learning, even by study and also by faith.” store, the Prophet Kirtland has a personal connection to the Along with the School of the Prophets, met with other School of the Prophets Room. “I was able to there were other schools established in priesthood leaders to be ordained to the priesthood there above Kirtland in response study the gospel. Also the Whitney store,” he says. “It was really to this and other upstairs is the special because prophets studied there. It revelations from the Revelation Room was a very spiritual and Lord. (inset), where 17 touching experience.” revelations were received.
22 A HOME TEACHER TO THE PROPHET
ould you be a little nervous if you were called to be a “Then I said, ‘Do you pray in your family?’ home teacher to the prophet and his family? This is just “He said, ‘Yes.’ W what happened to William Cahoon, a young man who lived “ ‘Do you teach your family the principles of the gospel?’ in Kirtland; and he was, in fact, a bit anxious about this responsibility. “He replied, ‘Yes, I am trying to do it.’ “I was called and ordained to act as a teacher to visit the fami- “ ‘Do you ask a blessing on your food?’ lies of the Saints,” he said. “I got along very well till I found that I “He answered, ‘Yes.’ was obliged to call and pay a visit to the Prophet. Being young, . . . I “ ‘Are you trying to live in peace and harmony with all your family?’ felt my weakness in visiting the Prophet and his family in the capac- “He said that he was. ity of a teacher. I almost felt like shrinking from duty. Finally I went “I turned to Sister Emma, his wife, and said ‘Sister Emma, are to his door and knocked, and in a minute the Prophet came to the you trying to live your religion? Do you teach your children to obey door. I stood there trembling, and said to him: their parents? Do you try to teach them to pray?’ “ ‘Brother Joseph, I have come to visit you in the capacity of a “To all these questions, she answered, ‘Yes, I am trying to do so.’ teacher, if it is convenient for you.’ “I then turned to Joseph and said, ‘I am now through with my “He said ‘Brother William, come right in, I am glad to see you; questions as a teacher; and now if you have any instructions to sit down in that chair there and I will go and call my family in.’ give, I shall be happy to receive them.’ “They soon came in and took seats. He then said, ‘Brother “He said, ‘God bless you, Brother William; and if you are hum- William, I submit myself and family into your hands,’ and then took ble and faithful, you shall have power to settle all difficulties that his seat. ‘Now Brother William,’ said he ‘ask all the questions you may come before you in the capacity of a teacher.’ feel like.’ “I then left my parting blessing upon him and his family, as a “By this time all my fears and trembling had ceased, and I said, teacher, and took my departure” (quoted in Marion G. Romney, ‘Brother Joseph, are you trying to live your religion?’ “The Responsibilities of Home Teachers,” Ensign, Mar. 1973,
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBERT T. BARRETT ROBERT T. BY ILLUSTRATED “He answered ‘Yes.’ 14–15).
NEW ERA MAY 2005 23 There were a school of the elders, a grammar school, and various private schools where adults and youth studied not only the gospel but also subjects like math, gram- mar, philosophy, government, literature, n March of 1832, history, geography, and languages. a mob dragged Near the Whitney store is the restored IIthe Prophet Joseph Kirtland schoolhouse, a replica of the origi- from his bedroom in nal from the early 1800s. This building the John Johnson served not only as a schoolhouse but also as home (opposite page, a gathering place for the Saints to worship were to gather in Ohio. The Lord told the bottom). He was through prayer, music, sermons, and Prophet, “There I will give unto you the law; tarred and partaking of the sacrament. and there you shall be endowed with power feathered but still from on high” (D&C 38:32). had the strength to Ashery and Sawmill A short time later the Lord revealed the preach the next Also restored in historic Kirtland are the exact architecture, design, and measure- morning. Right: ashery and sawmill. The ashery was an ments of the Kirtland Temple (opposite Sisters Robbins and important industry that helped the Saints page, top). Construction on this, the first Anderson, in the raise funds to build the temple and other latter-day temple, started in 1833 and was restored Church buildings. The sawmill (below) finished after much work and sacrifice three schoolhouse, feel was built to cut lumber for the temple’s years later. blessed to serve in construction. “I love the story of how the Saints worked the Kirtland area. Consecrated to the Church by Newel so hard to get that temple built,” says Andrea Whitney, the ashery is where potash and Mann, 18, of the Solon Ward. “Every time I pearlash were made. Both of these ingredi- pass it, it’s a good feeling. That’s where so
90 ents were used in making items such as many important things happened.” soap, paper, gunpowder, cloth, and glass. One of the greatest occurrences in the
Chillicothe Road Today the Kirtland sawmill is one of the Kirtland Temple was when the Savior, Newell K. Whitney few functioning sawmills from the 1830s. Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared to the Store 306 During construction of the Kirtland Temple, Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
Kirtland Schoolhouse Temple the workers would meet at to restore important Ashery Sawmill the sawmill for a prayer to priesthood keys (see D&C
422 422 begin the day. Those work- 110). ing on the temple then Tamara Dame of the Aurora walked up the hill to the Highland Ward in Ogden, temple site, while the Utah, tells about visiting
John carpentry workers went to the temple last summer: Johnson Home work at the sawmill. “It was amazing to be in the room where Jesus Kirtland Hiram OHIO Kirtland Temple Christ, Moses, and other 70 While still in New York, prophets appeared to
71 the Prophet Joseph Joseph Smith. There aren’t received a revelation from words to explain how I felt the Lord that the Saints in that room. I was 10 or
24 so feet from where all these 1831 In February Joseph Smith arrives righteous leaders stood. It was in Kirtland, Ohio. the most awesome experience.” In February Edward Partridge (right) is ordained as the first John Johnson Home bishop of the Church. About 30 miles (48 km) In June the first high priests are south of Kirtland is the restored ordained at general conference. John Johnson home in Hiram, 1832 In February the revelation on the kingdoms of Ohio. The Prophet Joseph and his family lived here with glory (see D&C 76) is received. the Johnsons in 1831 for a year. During that time, Joseph In December “the Olive continued translating the Bible and received one of the Leaf” revelation (see D&C 88) greatest revelations ever given: section 76 of the Doctrine is received, calling for the and Covenants describes how the Lord appeared to construction of a temple in Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon and taught them about Kirtland (right) and the estab- the kingdoms of glory. lishment of the School of the “I love the John Johnson home,” says Lizz Harris, 18, of Prophets. the Solon Ward. “I remember going there for the first time 1833 In February the Word of and having a strong spiritual feeling overcome me. The Wisdom (see D&C 89) is Spirit is there.” received. The Johnson home is also a favorite of Chris Anthony, In July Joseph Smith 16, of the Stow Branch. As Chris talks about the glorious concludes the first draft of vision shared by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in the his translation of the Bible upstairs room of the Johnson home, he says: “I now have (JST). an actual visual perspective of where the vision happened. In December Joseph It’s not just words on paper that we read every day. It’s Smith Sr. (left) is ordained something that I’ve seen and felt.” as the first Church patriarch. “I think it’s amazing what Joseph was able to do,” Chris 1835 In February the Quorum of the Twelve adds. “I don’t think there’s any better example other than Apostles is organized (see D&C 107:23–24). Jesus Christ. Next to Him, Joseph Smith is such a great In July Egyptian mummies and papyruses are example for modern-day youth.” exhibited in Kirtland, Ohio; Joseph Smith For the young men and women who visited these purchases them, and from the writings on the restored historic sites in Kirtland, the feelings and experi- papyruses, translates the Book of Abraham. ences are written deeply in their hearts. They talk rever- The Doctrine and Covenants is accepted as ently of the strong Spirit they felt in places where the scripture. Savior appeared and where prophets, both ancient and 1836 On March 27 the Kirtland Temple is dedicated modern, have brought to pass a wonderful work. NE (see D&C 109). On April 3 Jesus Christ appears to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (right). Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear and give priesthood keys (see D&C 110). 1838 In January Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and
ILLUSTRATED BY SAM LAWLOR, DAVID LINDSLEY, WILLIAM F. WHITAKER, AND DEL PARSON WHITAKER, WILLIAM F. LINDSLEY, DAVID SAM LAWLOR, BY ILLUSTRATED other leaders are forced to flee Kirtland, Ohio.
NEW ERA MAY 2005 25