John E. Page (1799-1867)

Mormon History 1830-1844

John E. Page (1799–1867)

Baptized in 1833, began missionary work in 1836. Called to the Quorum of the Twelve in 1838, after half of the original quorum had left the church. Continued proselyting in the east instead of going to England with the rest of the Twelve in 1839. Mostly known for his failure to accompany Orson Hyde on his mission to Palestine in 1840. Continued to labor in the East, mostly in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Joined James J. Strang in 1846, later the Hedrikite church.

Born		John Edward Page, February 25, 1799 in Trenton township, Oneida county, New York	¶ John E. Page (h)
Died		Fall 1867 in De Kalb county, Illinois
Father		Ebenezer Page	¶ John E. Page (h)
Mother		Rachel	¶ John E. Page (h)
Methodist preacher		[John E. Page] had been a zealous Methodis Exhorter and raised some excitement made some proselytes from among the Methodists.
	¶	But only remained about two years, took a few off to the west with him, but in <a> few years renounced the whole thing.	Samuel Williams to James T. Cobb, Nov. 12, 1878. Source
Baptized		August 18, 1833 in Brownhelm, Lorain County, Ohio by Emer Harris	¶ John E. Page (h)
Elder		September 12, 1833 ordained an elder by Nelson Higgins, Ebenezer Page Jr., and others.	¶ John E. Page (h)
Kirtland		Fall 1835 moves to Kirtland.	Page bio, 57.
Ontario mission		May 31, 1836 starts seven month mission to Canada West, Leeds county (Ontario).	John E. Page (h)
Ontario mission		February 16, 1837 starts two year mission to Ontario with family. Baptizes "upwards of six hundred persons."	John E. Page (h)
Bishop's counselor		January 1, 1838 "John E. Page and John Taylor are appointed to fill the Bishopric in this place."	John Smith letter of January 1, 1838, cited in Journal History on that date.
Seventy		Seventy by January 19, 1838.	Journal history, Jan. 29, 1838.
Apostle		July 8, 1838 called to the Twelve.	¶ D&C 118
Far West		May 14, 1838 to first week of October journey to Dewitt, then Far West, Missouri.	DeWitt
Ordained		December 19, 1838 ordained an apostle at Far West by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.	Minutes of December 19, 1838
Meets with Twelve for mission		April 26, 1839 as appointed by revelation, Heber, Brigham, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff (h),and George A. Smith of the Twelve hold brief services at the temple site in Far West. Instead of going to England with the others, however, John proselytes through Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC 1839–1841.	¶ D&C 118: 1, 4–5 (July 8, 1838) ¶ John E. Page (h)
Appointed to Jerusalem		April 8, 1840 appointed with Orson Hyde to take mission to Jerusalem.	¶ John E. Page (h)
Mission		April 15, 1840 leaves for Jerusalem with Orson Pratt, travels with Orson through Indiana and Ohio, spends winter of 1840–1841 raising funds in Cincinnati area >.
Philadelphia		June 1841 meets George A Smith in Philadelphia. George A. tells him to go ahead, British Saints will provide funds.	¶ John E. Page (h)
		February 13, 1841 Orson leaves for Europe, not having heard from John.
Disfellowshipped		April 8, 1841 disfellowshipped.	Origins, 567.
Nauvoo		Spring 1842 returns to Nauvoo >.	¶ John E. Page (h)
Restored		April 7, 1842 restored to fellowship.	Origins, 567.
Publishes in Pittsburgh		Returns to Pittsburgh and publishes the Gospel Light newspaper and two pamphlets, Slander Refuted and The Spaulding Story.	Uncertain apostle, 56.
Eastern cities		April 1843 goes to Cincinnati, New York, and Boston, until Joseph and Brigham assign him to Washington, D.C.
Pittsburgh		April 1844 returns to his sick wife in Pittsburgh.
Joseph's presidential campaign		1844 political missionary, Pennsylvania delegate for proposed national convention to elect Joseph Smith.	Origins, 567.
Returns to Nauvoo, December 1844		December 1844 returns to Nauvoo. There does not appear to be any evidence that John's faith in Mormonism wavered until after the death of the Prophet. In a public meeting he assured the Saints "that he was one with them, and gave his testimony of the present organization of the church in the most solemn manner."	Uncertain apostle, 56.
Nauvoo		Summer 1844 returns to Nauvoo.	Uncertain apostle, 57.
Quorum of the Anointed		January 26, 1845 endowed with wife in Quorum of the Anointed.	Origins, 567.
Council of 50, endowment		1845 joins the Council of Fifty, named president of the Nauvoo Water Power Company, endowed December 10.	Uncertain apostle, 57.
Excommunicated		February 1, 1846 excommunicated by Brigham Young the same day John writes letter offers to join James J. Strang.	Origins, 567.
Disfellowshipped		February 9, 1846 disfellowshipped and dropped from office by Quorum of the Twelve.	Origins, 567; Uncertain apostle, 58.
Publicly excommunicated		March 1, 1846 publicly endorses Strang, publicly excommunicated.	Origins, 567.
James J. Strang		March 12, 1846 writes James J. Strang, "I therefore say in true sincerity of heart … that I am fully persuaded … that you are the man to place of Joseph Smith as prophet-Revelator-Seer-and Translator to the Church." Three days later, fearing for his life, he leaves Nauvoo with Reuben Miller, another Strang follower.	John E. Page to James J. Strang qtd. in Uncertain apostle, 58–59. Original in Community of Christ Library/Archives.
Strang apostle		April 6, 1846 named apostle in Strang's Church of Jesus Christ.	Origins, 567.
Excommunicated		June 27, 1846 excommunicated again from LDS Church.	Uncertain apostle, 56.
Dropped from Fifty		November 12, 1846 dropped from the Council of Fifty.	Willard Richards journal cited by Council of Fifty, 172.
Excommunicated		July 7, 1849 excommunicated from Strang church.	Origins, 567.
Brewsterite		October 19, 1849 endorses James C. Brewster's Church of Christ periodical.	Origins, 567.
Hedrikite		November 1862 joins Church of Christ, Temple Lot ("Hedrikite")	Origins, 567.
Apostle		May 17, 1863 ordained Hedrikite apostle.	Origins, 567.
Baptized by proxy		January 19, 1977 baptized by proxy into LDS Church.	Origins, 567.

		Failure to complete mission to Jerusalem
Leave Nauvoo April 15, 1840		John and Orson leave for Jerusalem together on April 15, 1840. They split up in Dayton but meet later in Cincinnati. John remains to the end of October strengthening the branch there while Orson continues on.	Uncertain apostle
Selling pamphlets		They have a large number of pamphlets to sell. John, assuming Orson will cover the territory east of Cincinnati, returns to Dayton. He understands that they will embark when each raises a thousand dollars, which he estimates will take a year or two.
Surprised by 1841 rebuke		Both are surprised to read a rebuke from the Prophet in the January 15, 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons:
		Elders Orson Hyde and John E. Page are informed, that the Lord is not well pleased with them in consequence of delaying their mission (Elder John E. Page in particular,) and they are requested by the first Presidency to hasten their journey towards their destination.	TS 2, no. 6 (Jan. 15, 1841): 287.
Orson sails February 1841		Not having heard from John, Orson sails for England on February 13, 1841.	Uncertain apostle, 55.
John believes Orson betrayed him		Believing Orson has betrayed him, John writes Joseph:	Uncertain apostle, 55.
		Before navigation opened in the spring for me to Cinti and thus procede to NY—Elder Hyde left in Feb. for Europe taking all with him for he had visited every hurch in his way and raised in all the branches a very very liberal donations in the name of us both.
Fund raiser		John continues raising funds in the East, mainly in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, through the winter of 1841–1842 before returning to Nauvoo at Joseph's request, in time for the April 1842 conference.	Uncertain apostle, 55.
1842 inquiry		April 6, 1842 at a special conference John is called to explain his failure to go to Jerusalem with Orson Hyde:	HC 4:584–585.
John and Orson's covenant to stick together	¶	… He said that when he started with Elder Hyde, joy filled their hearts … Elder Hyde's vision was that he should be in Jerusalem alone, Elder Page considered Elder Hyde to be his father and guide in the mission, and felt it his duty ot submit to Elder Hyde's opinion in all things …They made a covenant in Quincy to stand by each other while on the mission … even unto death, and not separate unless to go a few miles to preach a sermon, that all moneys should go into one purse, and it did so.
One or two years raising money	¶	[584] … Elder Hyde told him that it was possible they might be from one to two years before they would leave America, as it would take upwards of $1,000 each to take them to Jerusalem and back, that it would be slow gleaning in England …
Hyrum requests John return Joseph and Brigham ask him to return	¶	… he then received a command through a letter from President Hyrum Smith … requesting him to return; he wrote to ascertain the reason but did not get an answer, he was then called in by President Joseph Smith and Elder Brigham Young.
Rumors about John	¶	Elder Hyde would often renew the covenant between them to never part with each other in that mission. Elder Page had no blame to attach to Elder Hyde; he supposed he had done right, but if he had been in his [585] place, he would have tarried for him until the spring. The reports of his having apostatized, &c., returning even from this place to New York. Many reproved him for leaving Cincinnati for Dayton.
Joseph: John's grannyism	¶	President Joseph Smith then arose and stated that it was wrong to make the covenant referred to by him; that it ctreated a lack of confidence for the two men to covenant to reveal all acts of secrecy or otherwise, to each other, and Elder Page showed a little grannyism. … that elder Page should have stuck by Elder Hyde, and he might have gone to Jerusalem, that there is nothing very bad in it, but by the experience let us profit; again the Lord made use of Elder Page as a scape goat to procure funds for Elder Hyde. …
Sent to Pittsburgh	¶	Voted that Elder Page be sent to Pittsburgh <.

		Disfellowshipped and excommunicated
1846 Strang's summons		On January 13, 1846 James J. Strang summoned the Twelve to come to his gathering place in Vorhee, Wisconsin to "make satisfaction" for their misdeeds, which included usurpation of power, immorality, and false doctrine. Two apostles responded: John first, and William Smith second.	Strang (1813–1856) was baptized just before the Prophet's death and claimed Joseph had promised him the keys of the kingdom. He was excommunicated August 26, 1844. Claiming a series of revelations, he gathered a following and moved to Voree, Wisconsin, where he was led to an ancient record, which he translated by the Urim and Thummim. Other followers included George Miller, John C. Bennet, William McLellin. He was crowned king but in 1856 was assassinated by disillusioned followers.
Joins Strang		John decided the only proper successor to Joseph would be another charismatic man like the Prophet himself, one called by revelation—as Strang claimed. The apostle renounced the Twelve as legitimate successors, and on February 9 the Twelve announced to the church"
		Nauvoo, Feb. 9, 1846	History of Brigham
		To the Saints of God.
Disfellowshipped		Dear Brethren and Sisters—We take this opportunity to say to you, that we have no fellowshiop with Elder John E. Page, in consequence of his murmuring disposition, and choosing to absent himself from our Councils, and then saying that he is made a servant and slave of by his quorum, and has had no privileges in the Temple, when the plain truth is, he has chosen to stand aside from us, and because we would let him do so, he has murmured about it. He has been on the back ground and in the shade ever since he failed to fulfil his mission to Jerusalem in company with Elder Hyde.
		Now, beloved brethren, you are not bound to look to him as one of the Twelve apostles, for he hath yielded himself up to temptation, and he cannot resist the spirit of apostacy which inspires him to find fault with the organization of the Church.
		We, therefore, your brethren in solemn council, being grived at his murmuring and dissension, and also at his yielding himself up to temptation willingly, and without cause, have withdrawn the hand of fellowship from him until he comes to us and gives satisfaction for his dissension, and the Saints are released from all covenants and obligations to abide his counsel.
		Done in Council the day and date above written.
		Brigham Young, President Heber C. Kimball Parley P. Pratt (h) George A. Smith Orson Pratt (h1) John Taylor Willard Richards (h) Orson Hyde, Clerk
Preaches for Strang		[On March 1, according to Thomas Bullock, John] preached a Strang Sermon and O. Hyde whipt him on every argument he had brought forward. Joseph Young read the letter from the 12 [cited above], after which J. E. Page was disfellowshipped.	Bullock journal, 57–58.
Excommunicated Cut off by Strangites		Still, John remained in the Nauvoo area trying to win converts for Strang, with little success. He was excommunicated on June 26, 1846. Gradually he became disillusioned with Strang. In 1849 the Strang congregation delivered John "over to the buffetings of Satan until he repents."	Uncertain apostle, 59.
Affiliates with William Marks		In 1855 William Marks wrote that he and Page had concluded "to reject all organizations, and teach the first principles of the gospel, and baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit."	William Marks to James M. Adams, June 11, 1855, cited in Uncertain apostle, 65.
Joins Hedrikites		In 1859 Marks and W. W. Blair affiliated with the New Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but John associated with Granville Hedrick's organization of independent branches that rejected much of Joseph's later Nauvoo doctrines. His ordination as an apostle was accepted by the group. He ordained four more apostles and ordained Hedrick to "preside over the High Priesthood."	Uncertain apostle, 66.

		Families
Wife		Lorain Stevens (died in Far West)
Children		2 children died in Far West.
Wife		Mary Judd (b. [1818]; md. 1838.)
		John E. Page (h) Biographies