| Early convert (1830),
missionary, senior high counselor, bishop, patriarch. |
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| Born |
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July 15, 1792 in Kortright,
Delaware County, New York |
|
Murdock journal, 1 |
| Died |
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December 23, 1871 while
visiting son in Beaver, Beaver County, Utah |
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| Father |
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John Murdock |
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| Mother |
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Eleanor Riggs |
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(No known
connection to Burr and Harpin Riggs.) |
| Cuyahoga County |
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[1820] family
moves to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. |
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| Campbellites |
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[1827] joins Sidney
Rigdon's Reformed Baptist congregation. |
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| Baptized |
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November [14], 1830
baptized by Parley P. Pratt (h) in the
Chagrin river (Kirtland), confirmed by Oliver
Cowdery on Sunday.
Like his journal, written in 1834 or after, John's abridged record dates
the baptism November 5, 1830. However, he also writes that he first
heard of the missionaries on Sunday morning after Sidney
was baptized (November [8]). This would make John's
baptismal date November [14]. See Missionaries
in Kirtland, 1830. |
|
"I therefore
was baptised by Elder Pratt confirmed by a member by Elder Cowdry Ordained
an Elder by the same in Mayfield Nov. 5th 1830 I then returned to my
family…"
Murdock journal, 1 // Murdock abridged record, 18.
"About ten oclock that morning, being Nov. 5th 1830, … Elder
P. P. Pratt baptised me in Chagrin River …
And on Sunday evening they confirmed about thirty, I was one of the
number. Elder Oliver Cowdery was administrator; I was also ordained
an Elder." Murdock autobiography, 18
Ohio preaching, 483. |
| Elder |
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November [14], 1830
(the same day he is baptized) ordained by Oliver
Cowdery in Mayfield. |
|
Murdock journal, 1; Ohio preaching,
483. |
| Baptizes Julia and
others |
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November [15], 1830 baptizes
five, including his wife, Julia. |
|
Murdock journal, 1. |
| Baptizes more |
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November [21], 1830 preaches
in Orange, baptizes three. |
|
Murdock journal, 1. |
| November
1830–March 1831 baptisms |
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… and through my ministration
there was added to the Church in that place, in and about the following
four months, these people viz: Myself and my wife Julia, Benjamin Covey,
Caleb Baldwin, Nancy Baldwin, Charles Taylor, the above were baptized by
P. P. Pratt, and confirmed under the hands of Oliver Cowdery,
and the following under my ministration, Philo Judd, Nancy Judd, Sally
and Rebecca Judd, Nancy Eames, Stephen Burnet, Louisa Gardner, Nancy Huff,
Isaac Eames, Louis Carpenter, Grace Carpenter, Ira Sherman, Phebe Sherman,
Lance and Cyrus Barnet, Hason, Alouson Cleviland, Julia Smith, Betsy Gates,
James Rich, Elias Hutchings and Sally Rhoda Gates, Benjamin Carpenter,
Helen Woodard, Lydia _____, Benjamins Evans Turner and Jeddiah Hubbel,
Eunice Woodard, Arenath Carpenter, Olive Hutchings, Seliman Hubbel, Benjamin
Blagg, Nobles Hubbel, Hannah Bragg, Rhoda Kimball, Rither Gates, Sophia
Covey, Justus Arnold and his wife, Electa Jonathan, Eunice, Phebe, Seeth,
and Elisha Covey, Justus Pooler, Elan Barbar, Louisa Covey, Ludinda Hubbel,
Nancy M. and Caleb T. Baldwin, William and Nancy Dunchy, Amos Cleveland,
Harry Hutchins, Zenos Barnet, and some others. |
|
Murdock abridged record.
" … and through my ministration there
was added to the Church in that place,
in about four months some Seventy or eighty members." Murdock journal, 1. |
| Wife dies, Joseph
and Emma adopt twins |
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April 30, 1831 Julia dies in Warrensville after giving birth to twins Joseph and Julia. Joseph and Emma adopt them. |
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| High
Priesthood |
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June 6, 1831 ordained
to the High Priesthood by Joseph Smith in Kirtland. |
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¶
Minutes of June 6, 1831 |
| Mission call to
Jackson County |
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June 6, 1831 called
to Jackson County, Missouri, with Hyrum Smith. |
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¶
D&C 52:8–9 |
| Detroit |
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June 14, 1831 at Fairport boards
the steamer William Penn with Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, John
Corrill, Lucy Mack Smith, and Almira Mack. They arrive at Detroit at
11 p.m. the following night and put up at a tavern as Almira's sister,
Mrs. Cooper, "who was the only one of My brothers family who lived in
Detroit was in very ill health and with a nervous affliction which she
had been under the influence of for several years—" |
|
Murdock autobiography, 23; Lucy
(1844–1845), 544, 547. |
Curse Detroit
Michigan |
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June
16, 1831 take breakfast with
"a Merchants wife sister to Almira [Mack]." The missionaries
unsuccessfully seek preaching opportunities. "I was turned out of
dore for calling on the wool carder to repent. After dinner we took our
leave of the two femails and the family with whome we had dined, and wiped
our feet as a testimony against that city. Bro’s
Lyman <and
John> took
the North rout throug Oakland Co. Bro Hyrum and my self took the Chicago
rode through white Pidgeon prairie. We traveled twelve miles to Pekin." Preach
six times in Pekin Township area before leaving the area on the 23rd. Preach
twice in White Pigeon Prairie at the end of the month. |
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Murdock autobiography, 23.
Pekin: township renamed Redford in March 1833. 16 mi. W of
Detroit.
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Potawatomie
Indians
Illinois
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July 1, 1831 overnight with Potawatomie
Indians. "… received supper and breakfast from them and gave
them some articles we had for their kindness." Next stops are at Elkhart,
Logansport, Lafayette, and Attica, Indiana, preaching occasionally. Pass
through Danville, Illinois on the 20th, and preach at Decatur on the 25th. |
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Murdock autobiography, 23. |
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July 30, 1831 preach at an unnamed
location 28 miles from a crossing of the Illinois River:
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Murdock journal, 7–8.
Barton Warren Stone (Dec. 24,
1772–Nov. 9, 1844) was born in Maryland, raised in Virginia, studied
law in North Carolina (1790); converted to "New Light" (revivalist) Presbyterianism
by James MeGready and studied under William Hodge. Became an itinerant
preacher in Tenessee, then received an appointment at Cane Ridge, Bourbon
County Kentucky (1798). He sponsored the evangelican Cane Ridge revival
which ignited the Second Great Awakening. United with four other Presbyterian
ministers who withdrew from the Kentucky Synod (1803) and the following
year abandoned denominational affiliation altogether, preferring
the designation "Christians" (popularly known as "Stonites"). Founded
the Christian Messenger, which called for ecumenical evangelicalism
(1826). United with Alexander Campbell's Disciples of Christ in 1831.
Lived in Lexington, Kentucky, died in Hannibal, Missouri. "Stone, Barton
Warren," American National Biography. |
| Barton Stone |
|
Barton Stone & another newlite
Preacher presant B. Stone talked much with us & undertook to pwut [put]
us down by his learning but we told him we did not profess a knowledge
of any language but the english & we believed that they <the Bible> contained
a sufficiency [8] if a man would obey them he would be saved & if he
was willing to investigate according to the english Bible we would investigate
with him but he declined. |
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[July 31, 1831 (Sunday)] We preached
a 9 Oclock AM And as we had the evening before planely shewn faith repentance & baptism
for remision of Sins & the laying on hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost. We now Shewed The promise of the Savior was that all who obey the
gosple shall receive the gift of the Holy ghost & signs shall follow
them. We had great liberty by the Spirit priest Stone trembled but would
not yeald obedience for we had called on all to repent both Priests & people & we
went 2 miles to fill another appointment |
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| Illinois River |
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August 1, 1831 crosses the Illinois
River. |
|
Murdock journal, 8. |
| Sick
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[August 2, 1831] got my feet wet
which ca<u>sed
me a severe Sickness even <near> unto death." |
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Murdock journal, 8. |
| Mississippi River |
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August 2, 1831 travels to New London, "a
verry wicked place," in Pike County, Missouri. |
|
Murdock journal, 8. |
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August 4, 1831 reach Salt River
(also known as Allred settlement), Missouri. |
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Murdock journal, 9. |
| Chariton |
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August 5, 1831 sick. Remains in
Salt Creek a week, then gives William Ivy his watch to transport him to
Chariton. |
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Murdock journal, 9. |
| Chariton rendezvous |
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August 12–13,
1831 John and Hyrum meet Joseph and Sidney,
who are returning to Kirtland, in Chariton. Harvey
Whitlock and David
Whitmer also arrive. Joseph receives
a revelation instructing the missionaries to continue to Independence.
They pool their resources with John and Hyrum and purchase a horse for
John to ride >. |
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Murdock journal, 9.
D&C 62 |
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August 14, 1831 John, Hyrum, Harvey,
and David resume their journey. |
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Murdock journal, 9. |
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| Returns to find son dead |
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[March 25–April 2, 1832]
My Little daughter Julia I found well with Br Joseph the Prophet but my
little sone Joseph was dead. When the Prophet was halled out of bed by
the mob in Hyram the child having the mesles |
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Murdock journal |
| Mission |
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August 29, 1832 mission call "into
the eastern countries." |
|
D&C 99 |
| Branch |
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Fall 1832 baptizes and
organizes branch in eastern Geauga County. |
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| School
of the Prophets |
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1833 School of the Prophets. |
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March 17, 1834 attends conference
in Avon, New York with Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon,
Parley Pratt, Lyman Wight, Orson Pratt, Orson
Hyde, and others to raise volunteers for Zion's Camp. |
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Meeting
of March 17, 1834 |
| Mission
to New York |
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April 3, 1833 to April
28, 1834 mission with Zebedee Coltrin to
New York. Organizes branch in Delaware County. |
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| Zion's
Camp |
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May–June 1834 Zion's
Camp. |
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| Clay County high
council |
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July 7, 1834 Clay County
high council |
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| Leaves Missouri |
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September 24, 1834 leaves
Missouri for Kirtland. |
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| Orson Pratt in Indiana |
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November 1834 joins Orson Pratt at Terre Haute and continues east with him to Sugar Creek, Indiana, where they find Lorenzo D. Barnes and Lewis Robbins. A few days later, Orson and Lorenzo continue on their journey east. |
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Orson Pratt journals, 44. |
| Arrives Kirtland |
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January 1835 arrives in Kirtland. |
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| Patriarchal
blessing |
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February 20, 1835 patriarchal
blessing from Joseph Smith Sr. |
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| Mission
to New York, Vermont |
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March 5, 1835 leaves
on mission to New York, Vermont. |
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May 24, 1835 assigned by the Twelve
to visit the church in Springville,
Pennsylvania, and Chenango Point with Lloyd Lewis and "set in order the
things that were wanting ther[e]." |
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¶ Minutes
of May 22–25, 1835 |
| Marries |
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February 4, 1836 marries
Amoranda Turner in New York. |
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| Kirtland |
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February 24, 1836 returns
to Kirtland. |
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| Endowment |
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March 3, 1836 Kirtland
endowment. |
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| Missouri |
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May 28, 1836 Amoranda
arrives in Kirtland, they leave June 3 for Missouri. |
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| Far West |
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July 14, 1836 settles
in Far West, serves on high council |
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| Wife
dies |
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August 16, 1837 Amoranda
dies of fever. |
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| DeWitt |
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June 1838 called to
settle DeWitt County, Missouri. |
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| Expelled
from Missouri |
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February 1839 expelled
from Missouri. |
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| Lima,
Illinois |
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Settles near Lima, Illinois. |
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| Nauvoo |
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Spring 1841 moves to
Nauvoo. |
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| Bishop |
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August 20, 1842 ordained
bishop of the Nauvoo Fifth Ward, serves to November 29, 1844. |
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| Nauvoo
exodus |
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May 1846 leaves Nauvoo. |
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| Salt
Lake |
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September 24, 1847 arrives
Salt Lake valley. |
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| Bishop |
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February 14, 1849 set
apart as bishop of the Salt Lake Fourteenth Ward, serves to February 6,
1851. |
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| Legislature |
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December 1849 member
of the legislature, State of Deseret |
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| Mission
to Australia |
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February 6, 1851 resigns
as bishop to open mission to Australia. Leaves with Parley P. Pratt for
San Francisco, March 12, 1851. |
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October 30, 1851 lands
in Sydney with Charles W. Wandell, the first missionaries to Australia. |
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June 2, 1852 sails from
Australia, leaving Charles Wandell to preside. |
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| Patriarch |
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April 9, 1854 ordained
by Heber C. Kimball. |
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| Lehi |
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1852–1867 lives
in Lehi, Utah and presides over high priests. |
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| Second
anointings |
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June 7, 1867 second
anointings. |
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Conversion and
first missionary work |
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| Birth
to conversion |
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John Murdock was born
July 15th 1792 Kortright Delaware
[-] Newyork N.A. And had become an inhabitant of Orange Cuyahoga
Co Ohio & after many years diligent Search &
p<r>ayer before God to not only know the truth but to also find a
people that lived according to truth & found O.
Cowdery P. P.
Pratt P. Whitmer & Z.
Peterson
Elders of the Church of L.D.S. in Kirtland Geauga Co Ohio, |
|
Murdock journal, 1–2.
Kortrighrt: Original,
Kartright.
Orange: Original, Orrange.
Church of L.D.S.: The name was changed from Church
of Christ to Church of the Latter Day Saints in early May 1834. |
Baptized
by Parley, Oliver confirms
Returns to family
Believe Book of Mormon |
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And I being convinsed
that they not only had the truth but also the authority to administer
the ordinances of the Gospel, I therefore was baptised by Elder Pratt
confirmed by a member by Elder Cowdery Ordained an Elder by the same in Mayfield Nov.
5th 1830 I then returned to my family having been absent four days carrying with me the book of Mormon
& I read it to them & they believed it for I was filled with the spirit when I read |
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Nov. 5th 1830: See
explanation above. |
| Baptizes
5 in Warrensville |
|
&
the next first day of the week came & the brethren
who ministered to me fill<e>d an apointment I had made in Warrensville
I baptised five my wife being one of the five. |
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First Warrensville
converts |
| 3 in Orange |
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I preached
the next Sunday in Orange & baptised three |
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First Orange converts
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3 in Warrensville
2 swoon |
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&
I Preached the next Sunday in Warrensville & baptised three & after
I had [2] confirmed them Brother Stephen Burnett & Lomira Gardner received
the Spirit even to the taking away their Strength |
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| Father
Burnett opposes at first |
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& Mr Burnett the
young mans father, when his Sone returned home spoke against the work but
the evidences of the Spirit were so evidently shown on his Sone that he
concented to have meeting in his house |
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the young mans
father: Sirenes Burnett |
| Preaches
in Ohio, baptize 70 |
|
And I continued preaching
in Orange & Warrensville & was greatly blessed in my ministry in
that region So that through my preaching in about 4 months about seventy
Souls were aded to the church & being thronged with inquirers I quit
other business I left my own house & moved my family in with Bro C.
Baldwin & gave my full time to the ministry |
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C. Baldwin: Caleb
Baldwin |
| Julia
dies, 3 children, 2 infants |
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And April 30th my wife
died leaveing me 5 Small living children two but six hours old |
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August 1831 sickness,
D&C 62 |
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| Chariton |
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[August
5, 1831] We Preached after which I being Sick went to bed & we continued
here near one week & I gave my watch for Wm Ivy to carry me to Chariton 10 m's in a waggon |
|
Murdock journal, 9–10.
The town of Chariton no longer exists. |
| Revelation |
|
we stayed there two
days & met J. Smith the Prophet S. Rigdon & others & received
the Revilation in book of covenants Page 202. |
|
D&C
62, Aug. 13, 1831.
Page 202: of 1835 D&C, indicating that this portion of John's diary
was written after August 1835.
Also arriving in Chariton while Joseph's party
is there are David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock. |
| Joins
David Whitmer and Harvey Whitlock |
|
We also fel in company
with Brs David Whitmer & Harvey
Whitlock. We four put our money together & bought a horse &
I rode him to Lexington 60 m's |
| Fever |
|
& on the way we four
slept in a chamber where one half of the flore was laid & the other
not & a window being open & I weltering under a burning feever I
went to the window in the night steped off of the flore & fell across
the joice & hurt my leg. |
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| Seriously
ill |
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The next day I being
forward of the brethren as I rode in to Lexington being weak fell from my
horse & lay til brethren picked me up & took me in to house where
they left me four days & Br's S. Hancock & L. Wight (h)
(swh) came with a horse & carried
me to [-] Hopper's Where I remained a few day I then was caried in a waggon
to Joshua Lewis Jackson Co [10] Where I lay Sick 2 or 3 months & the
Brethren thought I could not live |
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| Flies |
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but tho I was so weak
that I could not keep the flies out of my mouth my faith was fixed that
I could not die for the Lord had something more for me to do. |
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| Too weak
to pray |
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Altho I was so weak
that A nu<m>ber of days was lost time with me & had not energy
enough to even prey to my God tho I believed he would take care of me
in my weakness. |
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After I had a little
recovered I went to N. Knights & from that to L. Wights and so remained
with the brethren for a tim[e] < |
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Families |
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| Wife |
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Julia Clapp, b. Feb.
23, 1796
md. Dec. 14, 1823
d. Apr. 30, 1831 |
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Julia Clapp's family were staunch
Campbellites and strongly anti-Mormon. Her father and brother (a friend
of Orson Hyde) were largely responsible for thwarting the Mormons in
Mentor.
Joseph's early death was attributed to exposure while sick with the measles
during the ¶ 1832 Tarring of Joseph
Smith and Sidney Rigdon. |
| Children |
|
Orrice Clapp, b. Dec. 24, 1824;
d. May 1, 1915; member, Mormon Batallion
John Riggs, b. Sept. 13, 1826; d. Nov. 16, 1913; member, Mormon Batallion
Phebe Clapp, b. Mar. 10, 1828; d. July 6, 1834
Infant, b. and d. Sept. 1829
Joseph (b. Apr. 30, 1831; adopted by Joseph and Emma Smith at nine days
old; d. Mar. 30, 1832)
Julia (b. Apr. 30, 1831; adopted by Joseph and Emma Smith at nine days old;
d. Apr.10, 1880) |
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| Wife |
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Amoranda Turner
md. Feb.
4, 1836 in New York
d. Aug. 16, 1837 |
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| Children |
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Gideon, bishop of Joseph, Sevier,
UT
Rachel
Hyrum Smith
Electa, d. Oct. 16, 1845 |
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| Wife |
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Sarah Zuflet
md. Mar. 13,
1846 in Fulton Co., IL |
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| Children |
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George Weire, adopted
Brigham Young |
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Biographies
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