| Book of Mormon scribe §. One of the Three Witnesses §. Ordains Joseph Smith an elder §. First Church Recorder/Historian §. Authorized to receive and teach (but not write) revelations for the Church §. Mission to the Lamanites §. Kirtland sucess §. 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 1838 §. Rebaptized 1848 §. |
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| Born |
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Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery, October 3, 1806, in Wells, Rutland County, Vermont. |
|
Revelations
Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Lyndon Cook (Provo: Seventy’s Mission Bookstore, 1981).
|
| Died |
|
March 3, 1850 in Richmond, Ray County, Missouri. |
|
Revelations
Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Lyndon Cook (Provo: Seventy’s Mission Bookstore, 1981).
|
| Father |
|
William Cowdery |
|
Revelations
Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Lyndon Cook (Provo: Seventy’s Mission Bookstore, 1981).
|
| Mother |
|
Rebecca Fuller |
|
Revelations
Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Lyndon Cook (Provo: Seventy’s Mission Bookstore, 1981).
|
| School |
|
1821, 1822 attends school in Wells, Vermont. |
|
Wells
Wells, Vermont: Wells Historical Society, 1979; first edition Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1869.
, 79. |
| Meets Joseph |
|
[April 5, 1829] Near the time of the setting of the Sun,
Sabbath evening, April 5th, 1829, my natural eyes, for the first time beheld
this brother. He then resided in Harmony, Susquehanna county Penn. |
|
¶ Oliver Cowdery's History (1) |
| |
|
[April 6, 1829] On Monday
the 6th, I assisted him in arranging some business of a temporal nature, |
|
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| Rod of Aaron, ancient records |
|
[April 6, 1829] has the gifts of revelation and
working with the rod. He is to ask
about the mysteries of ancient records and the Lord will reveal them to
him. |
|
D&C 8 |
| |
|
[April 7, 1829] and on Tuesday the 7th, commenced to write the book of Mormon. These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom! Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his mouth, as he translated, with the Urim and Thummim, or, as the Nephites would have said, "Interpreters," the history, or record, called "The book of Mormon." |
|
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| Gift, may translate |
|
April [7–30], 1829 has gift to know mysteries; admonish Joseph
and be admonished by him; Lord has told him things no one else knows; given privilige of
translating plates. |
|
D&C 6 |
| Fails to translation |
|
[April [7–30], 1829] Behold
you have not understood, you have supposed that I would give it unto you,
when you took no thought, save it was to ask me; but behold I say unto you,
that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be
right, and if it is right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within
you: therefore, you shall feel that it is right |
|
¶ D&C 9 |
| Aaronic Priesthood restoration |
|
May 15, 1829 Aaronic Priesthood
restoration (traditional date). |
|
|
| Three Witnesses |
|
[Late] June 1829 one of the Three Witnesses of the Book
of Mormon. |
|
|
| Revelation of church articles |
|
1829 revelation to Sidney of the Articles
of the Church of Christ. |
|
|
| Melchizedek Priesthood restoration |
|
[May 15, 1829–April 6, 1830] Melchizedek
Priesthood restoration (traditional date). |
|
Priesthood Restoration |
| Organizing member |
|
April 6, 1830 one of the six organizing members of the Church of Christ.
Ordained an elder by Joseph Smith, then ordains Joseph an elder. |
|
¶ Minutes of
April 6, 1830 |
| Pride |
|
April 6, 1830 warned of pride. |
|
¶ D&C 23:1 |
| First preacher |
|
April 6, 1830 to be "an Elder" and " the first Preacher of this Church unto
the Church & before the world." |
|
¶ D&C 21:12 |
| First public sermon |
|
April 11, 1830 delivers the church's first public sermon at
Fayette, New York. |
|
Papers
Papers of Joseph Smith, Volume 1: Autobiographical and Historical Writings, edited by Dean C. Jessee (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1989).
, 304. |
| Heads east with Books of Mormon |
|
[May 1830] The apostle to the NEPHITES (Cowdery) has started for
the EAST, on board a boat with a load of "Gold bibles," under
a command, (as he says) to declare the truth (according to JO SMITH,) "in
all the principal cities in the Union." |
|
The Reflector (Palmyra), June
1, 1830. Source |
| Church recorder |
|
June 9, 1830 designated to keep "the
Church record and Conference minutes until the next conference." |
|
Minutes of June 9, 1830 |
| Argues
with Joseph |
|
September [5–26], 1830 contests Joseph's requirements
for baptism in the Articles and Covenants. |
|
D&C
28 Background |
| Pamphlet peddler and printer |
|
Prior to meeting Joseph Smith, Oliver is "an itinerant
pamphlet pedlar and occasionally a journeyman printer." |
|
"Mormonism," Connecticut Courant,
July 12, 1831 reprint of Lockport
Balance (Lockport,
New York, Orasmus Turner, ed.), May 31, 1831. Source |
| |
|
… we had known Cowdry some seven or eight years ago, when he was
a dabbler in the art of Printing, and principally occupied in writing and
printing pamphlets, with which, as a pedestrian Pedlar, he visited the
towns and villages of western New York and Canada … |
|
"The Golden Bible," Cleveland Herald,
Nov. 25, 1830. Source |
| |
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| Teach the church |
|
[September [20–26],
1830] Behold I say unto you Oliver,
that it shall be given thee that thou shalt be heard by the Church
in all things Whatsoever thou shalt teach <them> by the Comforter concerning
the revelations & commandments which I have given |
|
D&C 28:1 (
BCR
Book of Commandments and Revelations, titled "Revelation Book 1" in Manuscript Revelation Books, edited by Robin Scott Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, (Salt Lake City: The Church Historian's Press, 2009). This is the first volume in the Revelations and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers.
)
|
Revelation
Not to write |
|
& if thou art led at any time
by the comforter to speak or teach or at all times by the way of Commandment
unto the Church thou mayest do it But thou shalt not write by way
of Commandment unto the Church but by wisdom … [you shall] have Revelations
but write them not by way of Commandment |
|
¶ D&C 28:4–5, 8 (BCR) |
| Mission to the Lamanites |
; |
& now Behold I say unto you that thou shalt go unto the Lamanites & Preach my Gospel unto them
& cause my Church to be established among them & thou shalt have Revelations
but write them not by way of Commandment & Now behold
I say unto you that it is not Revealed & no man knoweth where the City
shall be built But it shall be given hereafter Behold I say unto you that it shall be among the Lamanites |
|
¶ D&C 28:8–9 (BCR)
Oliver's companions, named later, were Parley P. Pratt (h), Peter Whitmer Jr., and Ziba Peterson. They were joined by Frederick G. Williams in Kirtland. |
| Mission covenant |
|
October 17, 1830, "being commanded
of the Lord God to go forth unto the Lamanites to proclaim glad tidings
of great joy unto them … and also to rear up a
pillar as a witness where the temple of God shall be built in the glorious
New Jerusalem," Oliver signs a covenant "that I will walk humbly before him and do this business
and this glorious work according as he shall direct me by the Holy Ghost." |
|
Covenants of the Lamanite Missionaries |
| Kirtland |
|
October 30, 1830 arrives at Sidney Rigdon's home in Mentor, Ohio. |
|
Missionaries in Kirtland, 1830 |
| Proposes to young lady |
|
November 1830 proposes to a young woman in Kirtland while engaged to
Elizabeth Ann Whitmer in New York. |
|
Minutes of May 26, 1832 |
| |
¶ |
[Ezra Booth:] As it relates to the purity of the heart of "that little man", if a pure and pleasant fountain can send forth corrupt
and bitter streams, then may the heart of that man be pure, who enters
into a matrimonial contract with a young lady, and obtains the consent
of her parents; but as soon as his back is turned upon her, he violates
his engagements, and prostitutes his honor by becoming the gallant of another,
and resolved in his heart, and expresses resolutions to marry her.
But as the practice of a man will ever stand as a general criterion by
which the principles of the heart are to be tested, we say, that the heart
of such a man is the reverse of purity. |
|
¶ Ezra
Booth Letter 9 |
Thursday the 4th: 17
Saturday the 6th: 1
Sunday the 7th: 28
Monday the 8th: 3
Tuesday the 9th: 3
Wednesday the 10th: 1
Friday the 12th: 1
[Saturday the 13th]: 1
Total: 55 |
|
[Oliver Cowdery:] On the fourth after attending a public meeting we came to the place where we had prophesied tarrying a few days. It is where several families had united themselves as a band of brethren and put all their property together determining to live separate from the world as much as possible and when we had returned we held a meeting with these brethren, and seventeen went immediately forward and were baptized, between eleven and twelve at night, and on the 6th there was one more, on the 7th nine in the daytime and at night nineteen, on the 8th three, on the 9th three, on the 10th at night one, on the 12th one, on this day another, making in the whole fifty five, among whom are brother Sidney Rigdon and wife. |
|
Oliver Cowdery to Joseph Smith, Nov. 12, 1830, copy in Newel Knight journal [1846] in private possession,
Early documents
Early Mormon Documents, compiled and edited by Dan Vogel. 4 vols. (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002).
4:41n50.
Also see Missionaries in Kirtland (1830) |
| Leave for Missouri |
|
[John Murdock:] on Monday Morning [by extrapolation, November 29] the York brethren accompined by F. G. Williams, a late convert, took leave of us for uper Missourri. |
|
Murdock autobiography
John Murdock autobiography (July 1792-November 1844). Church Archives, MS 8215. Probably written in late 1844 (page 22 cites1844 Doctrine and Covenants) or after. Includes early years not in journal and expanded account of conversion and baptism. Daily entries begin June14, 1830 and end in May 1836, then a few sporadic entries to November 1844.
, 19. |
| Strongsville |
|
December 1830 baptizes members of the Coltrin family and
others in Strongsville,
Ohio. |
|
Parley P. Pratt
Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000). Originally published as Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. (New York: Published for the Editor and Proprietor by Russell Brothers, 1874).
, 67. |
Independence
Indians |
|
January 19, 1831 writes Joseph
that they arrived in Independence a few days ago. Now about
25 miles from the Shawnees, on the south side of the Kansas river, the
Delaware are on the north. He has met chief twice.
Told him and eighteen or twenty council members "the truth," and
the chief replied that "they were very glad for what I their Brother
had told them and they had recived it in their hearts &c—" Is
not sure how it will go with them. Severe weather, deep snow. |
|
Joseph
to Hyrum, March 3–4, 1831 |
| Lamanite mission |
|
May 7, 1831 writes Joseph that there is no change in the Lamanite mission, he and Ziba Peterson have found some interest in Lafayette County. |
|
Oliver to Joseph, May 7, 1831 |
| Assistant printer |
|
July 20, 1831 called to assist Church printer W. W. Phelps in Independence. He is "to copy & to correct & select &c. that all things may be right before me as it shall be proved by the Spirit
through him." |
|
BCR
Book of Commandments and Revelations, titled "Revelation Book 1" in Manuscript Revelation Books, edited by Robin Scott Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, (Salt Lake City: The Church Historian's Press, 2009). This is the first volume in the Revelations and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers.
, 94 // & D&C 57:13.
|
| Ohio |
|
August 1831 returns to Ohio from Missouri. |
|
|
| High Priesthood |
|
August 28, 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood by Sidney
Rigdon. |
|
Minutes of August
28, 1831 |
| Amherst conference |
|
September 29, 1831 attends conference in Amherst, Lorain
county, Ohio with Sylvester Smith and
Joel Johnson. |
|
Minutes
of September 29, 1831 |
| Copy and correct revelations for Book of Commandments |
|
November 8, 1831 conference of eight elders in Hiram authorizes
Oliver to "<copy,
correct, and select> all the writings which go forth to the world which
go through the Printing press (except) the revelations and commandments,
by the Spirit of the Lord and this according to the commandment given in
Missouri, July 20, 1831." |
|
Minutes
of November 8, 1831 |
| Delivers revelations to Missouri |
|
November 20, 1831 Oliver and John
Whitmer leave for Independence with the Book of Commandments and Revelations (
BCR
Book of Commandments and Revelations, titled "Revelation Book 1" in Manuscript Revelation Books, edited by Robin Scott Jensen, Robert J. Woodford, and Steven C. Harper, (Salt Lake City: The Church Historian's Press, 2009). This is the first volume in the Revelations and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers.
). |
|
J. Whitmer
From Historian to Dissident: The Book of John Whitmer, edited by Bruce N. Westergren (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1995 ).
, 102;
Rise
The Rise of Mormonism: 1816-1844, H. Michael Marquardt (Longwood FL: Xulon Press, 2005).
, 281n30. |
| |
|
January 5, 1832 Oliver and John reach Independence. |
|
Independence printing
"First Impressions: The Independence, Missouri, Printing Operation, 1832-33," Ronald E. Romig and John H. Siebert in John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 10 (1990): 51-66.
, 55, citing
OC account book
Oliver Cowdery Account Book. Church Archives.
. |
| Missouri schools |
|
January 24, 1832 conference elects Oliver to superintend
schools in Missouri with William
W. Phelps, and John Corrill. |
|
¶ Oliver
to Joseph, January 28, 1832 |
| Describes problems in Zion |
|
January 28, 1832 writes
Joseph about the financial difficulties in Jackson county, equipment needed,
missionaries assigned, ready to print Book of Commandments soon. |
|
Oliver to Joseph, January 28, 1832 |
| United Firm |
|
April 28, 1832 (Independence) United Firm organized with nine partners: Oliver, Joseph
Smith, Edward
Partridge, N. K. Whitney, Sidney
Gilbert, Sidney Rigdon, John Whitmer,
W. W. Phelps and Martin
Harris. |
|
D&C 82 |
Literary Firm
Select revelations, make verbal corrections |
|
April 30, 1832 Literary Firm authorizes Oliver, W.
W. Phelps, and John Whitmer to review
the manuscripts for the Book of Commandments and "select for printing
such as shall be deemed by them proper, as dictated by the Spirit & make
all necessary verbal corrections." |
|
Minutes of
April 30, 1832 (Literary Firm) |
| Tried for 1830 proposal |
|
May 26, 1832 acknowledges error in proposing to a young
woman in Kirtland in 1830 and is forgiven by council. |
|
Minutes of May
26, 1832
¶ Ezra Booth Letter |
| Marries |
|
December 18, 1832 marries Elizabeth Ann Whitney, sister of David, John |
|
Oliver to Lyman Cowdery, Jan. 13, 1834. Source |
| Negotiates evacuation of Jackson County |
|
July 23, 1833 with the rest of Church leadership in Jackson County, Oliver agrees to move out of the county by January 1, 1834 and use his influence to persuade all Saints to leave by April 1. |
|
¶ Missouri
Persecutions (1833–1834) (2) |
| Missouri mobbings |
|
Early September 1833 leaves Missouri to consult with Joseph Smith about
Jackson county violence. |
|
Missouri
Persecutions (1833–1834) (1) |
| Publishes Evening and Morning Star |
|
September 11, 1833 appointed publisher and editor of the Evening and
Morning Star in Kirtland. |
|
|
| New York |
|
October 1833 travels to New York City to purchase printing materials. |
|
|
| Book of Mormon |
|
October 30, 1833 Oliver writes his brother, William, testifying of the
Book of Mormon. |
|
"Letters of Oliver Cowdery,"
New Mormon studies
New Mormon Studies CD-ROM: A Comprehensive Resource Library (Smith Research Associates, 1988).
. |
| Printing press |
|
December [1], 1833 Oliver and Newel
K. Whitney arrive in Kirtland with a new press and type. |
|
|
| Anniversary |
|
December 18, 1833 first anniversary of Oliver and Elizabeth Ann's wedding. |
|
|
| Kirtland Evening
and Morning Star |
|
December 18, 1833 The Kirtland printing press and materials are dedicated; and the first sheet of the Evening
and Morning Star is pulled. Oliver is the editor. |
|
|
Blessings
Two evils
Ordained by an "angel in the bush"
|
|
December 18, 1833 Joseph blesses his mother and father and brothers, Oliver, Frederick G. Williams, and Sidney Rigdon. Oliver is warned of "two evils in him
that he must needs forsake." He and Joseph have fulfilled
the Old Testament prophecy that a seer and his scribe would be ordained "by
the hand of the angel in the bush, unto the lesser priesthood, and after
receive the holy priesthood under the hands of … those who received
it under the hand of the Messiah." |
|
There are two versions of Oliver's blessing. See Blessing of Oliver Cowdery. |
| |
|
[January 13, 1834] I left her [Elizabeth Ann] in Missouri
last summer expecting to return, soon, but did not. I sent for her last
fall but the season was so far advanced that she did not deem it prudent
to come this season; I frequently hear from her, she is well, and probably
will come to this country next spring. How long I may tarry here is to
me uncertain as I expect, (if life is spared), sooner or later to remove
again to Missouri as it is by far the most delightrful country that I ever
saw. |
|
Oliver to Lyman Cowdery, Jan. 13, 1834. Source |
| High council |
|
February 17, 1834 member of first Kirtland high council. |
|
Minutes of February
17, 1834 |
| Zion's Camp |
|
April 18–21, 1834 travels to New
Portage with Joseph
Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and
Zebedee Coltrin to raise support for the
redemption of Zion (Zion's
Camp). |
|
Minutes of April
20–21, 1834 |
| Leads Kirtland church with Sidney |
|
May–June 1834 in charge of Kirtland church with Sidney while Joseph
and others make the trek to Missouri and back with Zion's Camp. |
|
|
| |
|
August 1834 writes confession with Thomas Burdick and Orson
Hyde for
Sylvester Smith to sign regarding his accusations against Joseph Smith. |
|
|
| Doctrine & Covenants proceeds |
|
September 24, 1834 Kirtland high council authorizes Joseph
Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams
to create a Book of Covenants and the proceeds of the book sales will
be theirs. |
|
Minutes of September
24, 1834 |
| Michigan |
|
October 16–[27], 1834 accompanies Joseph and Hyrum, Frederick G. Williams, David
Whitmer and possibly others to visits the Pontiac, Michigan branch. |
|
MA
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate
1, no. 1
(Oct. 1834): 6.
Edward Stevenson
Reminiscence (2) |
| Oliver's history |
|
October [25] 1834 first installment of Oliver's seven-part history of
the church appears in the first issue of the Messenger and Advocate. Same issue contains his October 20 letter from Pontiac. |
|
Oliver's
1834–1835 History |
| Tithing |
|
November 19, 1834 Joseph and Oliver covenant with the Lord, that if he
would prosper them in certain things, they would give a "tenth to be
bestowed upon the poor of his Church, or as he shall command." |
|
|
| Assistant President |
|
December 5, 1834
Joseph, Sidney, Frederick
G. Williams, and Oliver meet. Joseph ordains Oliver
Assistant President. |
|
¶ Presidents
of the High Priesthood |
| Twelve Apostles |
|
February 14, 1835 the Three Witnesses (Oliver, David
Whitmer, Martin Harris) meet and
select the first Council of the Twelve Apostles. |
|
Minutes of February
14, 1835
Twelve Apostles |
| First Quorum of
Seventy |
|
Joseph, David,
Martin, and Oliver meet with members of Zion's Camp and select members
of the First Quorum of the Seventy. |
|
Kirtland council
Kirtland High Council Minutes. Manuscript , LDS Church Archives, MS 3432. Typescript, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Typescript on New Mormon Studies CD-ROM cited.
;
J. Whitmer
From Historian to Dissident: The Book of John Whitmer, edited by Bruce N. Westergren (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1995 ).
,
59n4. |
| Presides over branches |
|
June 6, 1835 presides over New
Portage and
Strongsville branches. |
|
Minutes of June
6, 1835 |
| Finishes term as editor |
|
Mid-May 1835 John Whitmer replaces Oliver
as editor of the Messenger and Advocate. |
|
Crawley bibiography
Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church, Volume One 1830-1847. Peter Crawley. Provo: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997.
, 47. |
| House of the Lord
subscription |
|
June 25, 1835 subscribes $750
for House of the Lord in Kirtland. Joseph, W.
W. Phelps,
John Whitmer, and Frederick
G. Williams each subscribe $500.
|
|
HC
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902-1912, 1932).
2:234. |
| Book of Abraham |
|
July 3, 1835 begins work as scribe, with W. W. Phelps, on translation
of Egyptian mummy scrolls. |
|
HC
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902-1912, 1932).
2:235, 520–521. |
| Article on Marriage |
|
August 15, 1835
General Assembly approves publication of the first Doctrine and Covenants,
including the Lectures on Faith and Oliver's Article
on Marriage and Article on Governments and
Laws. |
|
Minutes
of August 17, 1835 |
| Church Recorder |
|
September 14,
1835 called as Church Recorder by "a High Council of the Presidency," also
approves salary and expenses for him, Joseph Sr. (for patriarchal blessings),
and Frederick
G. Williams (for recording patriarchal blessings). |
|
Minutes
of September 14, 1835 |
| Prejudice of Oliver's relatives |
|
December 23, 1835 in the afternoon, Joseph Smith and Leonard
Rich visit Oliver's relatives. They "had not a very agreeable visit
for I found them [89] filled with prejudice against the work of the Lord
and their minds blinded with superstition & ignorance &c" |
|
Diary-2
Joseph Smith diary (Sept. 22, 1835-Apr. 3, 1836). Selected Collections, 1:20 // Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, rev. ed., 221-225. Original, Church Archives, MS 155.
, 88–89. |
| Ordination regulations |
|
February 24, 1836 appointed with Orson
Hyde and Sylvester Smith to
draft license rules and regulations for ordinations and licenses. |
|
MSH
Manuscript History of the Church (1839-[1882]). LDS Church Archives, CR 100. The first 240 pages are transcribed in Papers of Joseph Smith 1:265-386, where it is titled, "History, 1839." Selected Collections identifies it as Church Historian's Office History of the Church, 1839-circa 1882. Unless otherwise stated, Selected Collections is cited. 1-A refers to DVD vol. 1 (1805-1836), pages 1 -553. 1-B refers to DVD vol. 1 (addenda, miscellaneous, genealogy, Dec. 1834, Oliver Cowdery letters, and Nov. 1835-Jan. 1836), pages 1-191 (numbered from the back of the book).
, 629. |
| Bank of Monroe vice-president |
|
March 16, 1836 the Bank of Monroe financial statement, provided by bank
vice-president Oliver Cowdery, shows $1,206.59 in
coin and $31,163.00 currency (including virtually worthless
Kirtland Safety Society banknotes). With $191,330.76 in liabilities, the
bank is on the verge of bankruptcy. |
|
"Statement of the condition of the Bank of Monroe,"
Monroe Times, Mar. 16, 1836. Source |
| Temple dedication |
|
March 27, 1836 sits in the third
pulpit in the west end with David and John Whitmer
for the dedication of the House of the Lord. |
|
American prophet
American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith, edited by Scott H. Faulring (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1987; 2d ed., 1989).
, 143. |
| Redemption of Zion |
|
April 2, 1836 Joseph, Sidney, Oliver, Frederick
G. Williams, John Whitmer and W.
W. Phelps (all six church presidents) confer on the redemption of
Zion. Joseph and Oliver are to raise funds to redeem the land. |
|
Diary-2
Joseph Smith diary (Sept. 22, 1835-Apr. 3, 1836). Selected Collections, 1:20 // Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, rev. ed., 221-225. Original, Church Archives, MS 155.
in
PWJS
Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, rev. ed., compiled and edited by Dean C. Jessee (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002).
, 271. |
House of the Lord experiences
Moses, Elijah, Elias
|
|
April 3, 1836 witnesses vision with Joseph of the Lord accepting the House; and Moses, Elijah, and Elias committing the keys of gathering,
gospel of Abraham, turning the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers. |
|
Last entry of
Diary-2
Joseph Smith diary (Sept. 22, 1835-Apr. 3, 1836). Selected Collections, 1:20 // Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, rev. ed., 221-225. Original, Church Archives, MS 155.
.
D&C 110 |
| New York |
|
July 25, 1836 takes slow steamboat from Fairport to Buffalo with Sidney
Rigdon, others. Next day take a line boat for Rochester, then Utica. Take
train to Schenectady—"the first passengers' car on the new road."
Transfer to another train to Albany. Steamer
to New York City. Visits Wall
Street. Comments, "There is money yet in Wall street, and 'Draper, Underwood,'
and others, ready to help incorporated bodies to plates and dyes, to make
more." (Looking for plates, dies to print bank notes?) |
|
MA
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate
2, no. 12 (Sept. 1836):
372–376. |
| Salem, Massachusetts |
|
Early August 1836 Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney, and Oliver arrive in Salem,
Massachusetts in search of treasure. |
|
HC
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902-1912, 1932).
2:464;
No Man
No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith the Mormon Prophet Fawn M. Brodie (New York: Alfred A. Knopf), 1945, 1960.
, 192. |
| |
|
August 24, 1836 writes from Boston reporting visit
to New York, Providence, Boston, Salem. |
|
MA
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate
3, no. 1
(Oct. 1836): 386–393. |
| Philadelphia |
|
[November–December 1836] assigned to go to Philadelphia to get
printing plates for Kirtland Safety Society notes. |
|
|
| Printing plates |
|
January 1, 1836 returns to Kirtland with plates. |
|
|
| Company dissolved |
|
February 1, 1837 Joseph, Hyrum, Sidney, and Oliver are in Monroe, Michigan for the takeover of the Monroe Bank. Since Oliver will move to Monroe as bank vice-president, the O. Cowdery
and Company is dissolved and the assets are transferred to Joseph Smith
Jr. and Sidney Rigdon. Oliver's brother, Warren A. Cowdery, becomes
their agent and editor of the Messenger and Advocate. |
|
HC
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902-1912, 1932).
2:475;
RLDS history
History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8 vols. Compiled and edited by Heman C. Smith, et al. (Independence: Herald Publishing House, 1967-1976).
2:99. |
| Bank charter denied |
|
February 7, 1837 Ohio Senate refuses to grant a bank charter for the Kirtland Safety Society. |
|
|
| Monroe Bank vice-president |
|
February 10, 1837 elected a director and vice-president
by the board of directors of the Monroe bank |
|
Monroe Times, Feb. 16, 1837. Source |
| Smiths, Rigdon vs. Cowderys, David Whitmer, Lyman E. Johnson |
|
[April–May] 1837 A bitter quarrel originated in these [Kirtland Safety Society] transactions between the Smith's and S. Rigdon on one part and the Cowderies Johnson and David Whitmer on the other and each party having their particular friends the church in Kirtland became partially divided and their anamosities carried many of them to great extremes, producing confusion and cruel oppression when either party could wield the balance of power |
|
Peck manuscript
Reed Peck manuscript. Holograph dated Quincy, Adams county, Illinois, September 18, 1839. Huntington Library, San Marino, California. Photocopy, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. References on this site from the version on New Mormon Studies CD-ROM: A Comprehensive Resource Library (Smith Research Associates), 1998.
, 17. |
| Elected Justice of the Peace |
|
May 25, 1837 elected a Justice of the Peace
in Kirtland without opposition. |
|
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, May 25, 1837. Source |
| Rules against Kirtland Safety Society |
|
June 17, 1837 as Justice of the Peace, rules Kirtland Safety
Society notes are not "lawful tender." |
|
Painesville Republican. Source |
| Resigns |
|
August 1837 resigns as Justice of the Peace. |
|
Source |
| Assistant counselor |
|
September 3, 1837 appointed assistant counselor to the First Presidency, as are Joseph Sr., Hyrum, and
Uncle John Smith. The First Presidency and the four assistants are "to
be concidred the heads of the Church." |
|
Minutes
of September 3, 1837 |
| Far West |
|
By September 17, 1837 has left Kirtland for Far West, accompanied by Thomas B. Marsh. |
|
¶ Minutes of September 17, 1837 |
| |
|
October 20, 1837 arrives in Far West. |
|
|
| "Difficulties" between Joseph, Oliver, and Thomas B. Marsh |
|
[November 6, 1837] All difficulties were satisfactorily settled except a matter between J. Smith jr. Oliver Cowdery and T. B. Marsh which was referred to themselves with the agreement that their settlement of the affair should be sufficient for the Council. |
|
¶ Minutes of November 6, 1837
The "difficulties" doubtless had to do with Oliver's allegation that Joseph committed adultery with Fanny Alger. See Jan. 21, 1838 entry below. |
| Sidney influences Joseph against Oliver? |
|
[Addison Everett:] This Br I aluded too Said Br Oliver Drove His carrage under the shade
of A tree by the side of the roade and held a lenthy convention with him
And among Other things He said Sidny Rigdon weaned the Affections of Br
Joseph from Him And the Church had cast him off And he seemed verry sorrowful
on that Account. |
|
¶ Addison
Everett: Priesthood Restoration |
| Fanny Alger affair |
|
January 21, 1838 Oliver writes his brother, Warren
Cowdery that he had confronted Joseph (when is unknown) about the "dirty, nasty,
filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's … and I strictly
declared that I had never deviated from the truth." |
|
Earliest known reference to Joseph
and Fanny.
Oliver's letterbook
Oliver Cowdery letterbook. Holograph. Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
qtd. in
Sacred Loneliness
In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, Todd Compton (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1998).
, 28. Cf. Minutes of April 12, 1838. |
| Objection |
|
March 10, 1838 Marcellus Cowdery reads a letter from Oliver to Thomas B. Marsh on behalf of David Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, and John Whitmer objecting the high council's meeting to cut them off: |
|
Minutes
of March 10, 1838 |
| |
|
Sir, It is contrary to the principles of the revelations of Jesus Christ & his Gospel, and the laws of the land, to try a person by an offense by an illegal tribunal, or by men prejudiced against him, or by authority that has given an opinion or decision before hand or in his absence. |
|
|
| John Whitmer and W. W. Phelps exommunicated |
|
High council excommunicates John Whitmer and W.
W. Phelps for "persisting in unchristian-like conduct." |
|
|
| Charges against |
|
April 7, 1838 Seymour Brunson submits a list of nine charges against Oliver
Cowdery to the high council. |
|
¶ Minutes
of April 12, 1838 |
| Excommunicated |
|
April 12, 1838 excommunicated by the high council and bishopric. |
|
Minutes
of April 12, 1838 |
| Kirtland |
|
Fall 1848 returns to Kirtland and lives near his brother,
Lyman Cowdery. |
|
|
| Attorney |
|
1840 admitted to Ohio bar, practices law with Lyman in Kirtland until
moving to Tiffin, Ohio in the fall. |
|
|
| Tiffin, Elkhorn |
|
1840–1847 practices law in Tiffin, Ohio, and Elkhorn, Wisconsin. |
|
|
| Politician |
|
1848 runs unsuccessfully for state legislature in Wisconsin. |
|
|
| Baptized |
|
November 12, 1848 baptized by Orson Hyde in Kanesville, Iowa. |
|
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| |
|
Family |
|
|
| Wife |
|
Elizabeth Ann Whitmer, b. Jan. 22, 1815;
md. Dec. 18, 1832
d. Jan. 6, 1892
In attendance at organization of the Church, Apr. 6, 1830. |
|
Cemetery memorial plaque, Southwest City, Missouri. Source |
| Children |
|
Maria Louise
Elizabeth Ann
Josephine Rebecca
Oliver Peter
Adeline Fuller
Julia Olive
|
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Biographies
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