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Welcome to Saints Without Halos
Research-based Mormon History
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| Currently, most of the content relates to the Ohio–Missouri period (1830–1838). |
| Beginning in February 2010, early Utah (1847–1918) content is being added, with an emphasis on Joseph F. Smith (1838–1918), his family, and associates. |
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| Recent Additions and Revisions |
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| August 2010 |
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February 2010 |
Kirtland Churches Methodist and Presbyterian.
Oliver Cowdery Blessing Has two evils he must forsake. Progeny never to be cut off. Blessings and secrets of the everlasting/ancient hills. Like Abraham of old searching for promised land. Council of the patriarchs. Share keys with Joseph and with him judge this generation. "Choice" lawyer. Sit in councils of Israel, nations, and states, superior intelligence and wisdom. Be blessed with abundance of good things of the earth. Ordained to the "lesser" and "holy" priesthoods by "the angel in the bush" and " those who received it under the hand of the Messiah.". Joseph of old was God's seer, ordained by his hand. To stand in Zion in the flesh and assist in crowning the tribes of Jacob
Oliver Cowdery Book of Mormon scribe. One of the Three Witnesses. Ordains Joseph Smith an elder. First Church Recorder/Historian. Authorized to receive revelations for the Church. Mission to the Lamanites. Editor of the Evening and Morning Star. Assistant President of the Church. Selects members of the first Council of the Twelve with David Whitmer and Martin Harris; and members of the First Quorum of the Seventy with Joseph, David, and Martin. Scribe for translation
of Egyptian mummy scrolls. Authors Article
on Marriage and Article on Governments and
Laws published in Doctrine and Covenants. Witnesses vision with Joseph of the Lord, Moses, Elijah, and Elias at dedication of the House of the Lord. Visits Salem with Joseph, Sidney, and Hyrum in search of treasure. Vice-president of the Bank of Monroe. Excommunicated in Far West in 1837. Rebaptized 1848.
Missionaries in Kirtland (1830) The activities of Oliver Cowdery, Parley
P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson, and Jacob Whitmer in and around Kirtland, Ohio
in November 1830.
John Murdock Reformed Baptist preacher. November 1830 convert. Early proselyting. Names of John's November 1830—June 1831 converts. Mission to Jackson (1831). School of the Prophets, Zion's Camp, Clay County
High Council. Eastern states mission (1835–1836). Far West. Nauvoo bishop, Mormon Battalion. September 1847 pioneer. Fourteenth Ward bishop, legislator. Australia mission. Patriarch. Lehi, Utah resident. Beaver Stake President. |
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"The Power of God Rested Upon the People" (1837) March 23, 1837, the Saints gather in the House of the Lord in fasting and prayer. Wilford Woodruff reads from Book of Mormon and comments. Congregation takes their seats. Males and females in separate apartments. Manifestations of the spirit: speaking in tongues, angels seen and the image of God in the faces of the Saints.
William E. McLellin to the Twelve (1837) January 24, 1837 William E. McLellin writes the Twelve expressing surprize and gratitude
for their invitation to return to the quorum but lacks the means to return and asks if they and Joseph will forgive him.
Joseph Fielding (1797–1863) born in England, the older brother of Mary and Mercy R. Fielding. Emigrated to Canada (1832); converted with John Taylor and others by Parley P. Pratt (1836). Opens the British mission with nine apostles by arranging for them to preach in the pulpits of his brothers and brother-in-law.
Joseph Fielding Diary (1832–1837) reminiscence written in 1837. Five years in Canada:
material success, Methodist doctrines of the millennium and Second Coming,
difficult to "keep the Spirit;" religious study group. Parley
P. Pratt teaches Mormonism from the Bible. Most reject his teachings but
the Fieldings, Taylors, and others are baptized. Desire and fear of going
on first mission to England.
Joseph Fielding Diary (1847–1849) Winter Quarters, trek west, fall and winter of 1848–1849.
Joseph Fielding Diary (1849–1859) Losses
during the winter of 1848–1849; Council of Fifty; defections to California
gold fields; Amasa Lyman sent to the estranged in California; little importance
in his life; despair; heart-breaking division in the family; wives not speaking;
not well in mind; lives on weeds, summer 1856; reformation; polygamy a step
toward godhood because of opposition; life too short to complete its purpose.
Joseph Fielding to Mary and Mercy (1837) dreads the thought of raiding his family's flocks in England, but is thoroughly converted to Mormonism. James welcomes Joseph and his companions, and offers them his pulpit. The people believe, but James can't. He opposes the missionaries but it is too late. The family splits. Joseph sends Elders Richards and Goodson to his brother-in-law, Rev. Timothy Matthews, in Bedford. Timothy offers them his pulpit and the people believe. To keep his congregation, Timothy gets baptized by someone else so he can offer a new baptism. |
| July 2010 |
D&C 62 On their way home from Independence, Joseph and his companions happen on John Murdock, Hyrum
Smith, Harvey Whitlock, and David Whitmer in Chariton on August 13. They are to continue on to Zion and hold a meeting before returning to their labors.
D&C 81 Jesse Gause is called to be a high priest and counselor to Joseph Smith in presidency
of the High Priesthood. The presidency holds the keys of the kingdom. |
| May 2010 |
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Mary Fielding to Mercy R. Fielding (1837) teaches school. Satan is stirring up trouble in Kirtland. Pray in the House of the Lord. Filled with love of God. To teach Dort children. "Mob" captures Joseph and Sidney on their return from Canada and take them to Painesville for trial, but they manage to escape to Kirtland. The wife of "a great opposer of our Church" is killed in a carriage accident in fulfillment of prophecy. "I fear for Kirtland."
Rachel Ibbotson Fielding Rachel and her daughter, Mary, had much in common. Both married widowers (though both were determined not to) and raised stepchildren. They married religious leaders and became mothers of religious leaders. Both were pious women and strict disciplinarians. Rachel was raised in a strict Calvinist home, orphaned, and converted
to Methodism.
Joseph Fielding Letter to the Millennial Star (1841) Pious Methodist family. Priestcraft. Emigrates to Upper Canada. Application of scripture. Prospers in Upper Canada. Toronto study group. Converted by Parley P. Pratt in 1836. Irvingites. Prophecies
of war in Canada. Mission to England. Rapid growth to 7,000 members.
Mary Fielding Smith Eulogy Widow of Hyrum Smith and mother of Joseph F. Smith, Mary Fielding died September 21, 1852. Heber C. Kimball
delivered the eulogy (which is more about Heber than Mary).
Stephen Burnett to Lyman E. Johnson (1838) Kirtland dissident Stephen Burnett excoriates Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon for deceiving Church members, "filching" their money, and squandering funds. Martin Harris said the Book of Mormon witnesses saw the plates "only in vision or imagination," but later recanted. In March Stephen denounced Joseph and Sidney and the Book of Mormon in the "Stone Chapel" (House of the Lord). Kirtland Camp of 600 preparing to leave for Missouri. Kirtland property is worthless. Lyman claims he lost $6,000 in Safety Society money. Joseph blamed him for the bank failure. Martin Harris, others reject Joseph but still believe the Book of Mormon.
D&C 21 given in Fayette (BCR or Manchester (BC). A record to be kept. Joseph a seer, translator, prophet, apostle, and elder. Church to receive his word "as if from mine own mouth." Oliver to ordain him first (added by Sidney Rigdon) elder. Oliver an elder and "the first preacher."
Revelation of March 20, 1832 Buy paper for printing the Book of Commandments
and take it to Zion because it is not time for Martin
to go there yet. The Bishop may purchase it if necessary. Let the translation of
the New Testament wait.
1837 chronology |
John Taylor Letters (1879: January–February) San Juan colony ("Hole-in-the-Rock" expedition). Arizona settlements, Mexico plans. Statehood for senators. Orderville United Order, ZCMI, Board of Trade. Perpetual Emigrating Fund resources. No bartering away plural marriage. Arizona woollen mill. Amnesty, legitimization of children not sought. Ogden nominating caucus split, investigating committee. Grass Valley Indian rights. Tooele County Indian reparations §.
John Taylor Letters (1879: March–April) Treatment of Utes in Thistle Valley. Mexico missionaries. C. C. A. Christiansen paintings. Laie plantation losses. Debts of Brigham Young children. D&C changes. Selection of Moses Thatcher to replace Orson Hyde. Orson Pratt's scientific writings. United Order co-ops and Board of Trade. |
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| April 2010 |
John Taylor Letters (1877) Rebaptism. Church audit. Deseret Alphabet discontinued, quorum of patriarches instituted to regulate activities. New Mexico united orders. Marriages, Endowment House. Brigham Young estate.
John Taylor Letters (1878: January–September) Brigham Young estate. Mexico plans on hold, church courts preferred over civil courts. Civil courts only as last resort . Not to purchase Indian lands. Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith begin church history mission. No coal from Coalville. Don't use telegraph for pural marriage questions. Support or abandon United Orders? One-sided discussion.
John Taylor Letters (1878: October–December) Twelve set food prices. Church livestock. Elk Mountains colony. Salt Lake Theater arrangements, guidelines. Tooele County schools lose funding. Maoris. Book of Mormon chapters and verses. Division of Arizona settlements, United Orders. Labor and materials records. Lack of Laie financial records. Orson Hyde estate, each wife to have a home.
D&C 41 addition: Leman Copley proposes Joseph and Sidney live with him in Thompson and he will build houses for them. This is omitted in all subsequent versions. Sidney should
have a comfortable Room to live in is replaced by Sidney should live as Seemeth him good. This is omitted in all subsequent versions and inasmuch as he keepeth
my commandments is added in DC. |
| March 2010 |
Memoir of Mrs. Rachel Fielding Though Rachel Ibbotson Fielding died before Mormonism was born,
few have had a greater influence on the Church through their children.
Her sons James and John, and
son-in-law, Timothy Matthews would become Anglican/Methodist ministers. Son Joseph would lead members of the Twelve to England, where they would have
great success among his brothers' flocks. Daughter Mary would become Hyrum Smith's wife and Joseph F. Smith's mother. In important ways, Mary's life parallels that of her mother.
Minutes of October 7–8, 1843 Joseph charges Sidney with negligence of duties since Missouri; malfeasance as postmaster; and collusion with Missourians and John C. Bennett. Almon Babbitt, Hyrum Smith, and William Law speak on Sidney's behalf, and Joseph relents "but signified his lack of confidence in his integrity and steadfastness, judging from their past intercourse."
D&C 35 Book of Commandments and Revelations text added. Like John the Baptist, Sidney Rigdon prepared the way
for Jesus and Elijah, without knowing it. He baptized
for the remission of sins. Now he is to lay on hands to give the Holy Ghost. Believers will perform miracles.
Joseph has the keys of the mysteries. If he falls,
another will replace him. Sidney is to be Joseph's scribe.
He is to travel with him and preach the gospel. The Lord will come soon. (First documentation of December 7, 1830 date.)
D&C 37 Book of Commandments and Revelations text added.
D&C 99 John Murdock mission call.
Prayers for Deliverance (1834) On January 11 and 28, 1834 Joseph and associates pray for deliverance from debts and from D. P. Hurlbut who has threatened the prophet. Also to protect printing press and preserve the scattered Saints in Zion. |
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