Mormon History 1830-1844

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William E. McLellin (1806–1883)

Born   [1806] in Tennessee   Ancestry.com (by subscription)
Died        
Father        
Mother        
         
    Summer 1831 converted in Paris, Illinois by Samuel H. Smith and Reynolds Cahoon on their way to Missouri.    
Baptized        
Zion's Camp        
        Minutes of October 3, 1835
       
    October 25–26, 1831 meets Joseph at a conference in Orange, Ohio and goes home with him that day.   Minutes of October 25–26, 1831
Mission   October 29, 1831 called on a mission to the East with Samuel H. Smith.   D&C 66
       
       
Mission   January 1832 rebuked and called on a mission with Luke Johnson.   D&C 75:6–11
         
Mission with Parley Winter 1832–1833 mission with Parley P. Pratt (h) through Missouri into Green Co., Illinois.   McLellin journals, 89–129.
Lord not pleased In a revelation given March 8, 1833, the Lord said, "I am not well pleased with my servant William E. McLellin."   ¶ D&C 90
         
Missouri negotiating committee He was one of the corresponding committee in behalf of the Saints, to confer with the Jackson and Clay County Committee, in trying to settle the Missouri difficulties.    
High council 1834 July 3, 1834, he was chosen one of the high council in Clay co., Mo.,   Minutes of July 3, 1834
To Kirtland and on the 9th started in company with the Prophet Joseph from Missouri to Kirtland, Ohio.    
School of the Prophets He was an assistant teacher in the school of the Elders in Kirtland, during the winter of 1834–5.    
Apostle He was chosen one of the Twelve Apostles, at the organization of that quorum, and appointed one of their clerks.   Ordination blessing: Minutes of February 15, 1835
Debates Campbellite On the 27th and 28th of March, 1835, he held a public discussion on the divinity of the Book of Mormon, at Huntsburg, Geauga co., Ohio, with J. M. Tracy, a Campbellite preacher.    
  On the 29th, Joseph Smith preached at the same place, after which six were baptized.    
First mission of the Twelve With the Quorum of the Twelve, in the spring of 1835, he went on a mission to the east and baptized five.   McLellin journals, 171–228.
Censures First Presidency

Disfellowshipped
While upon this mission, he wrote a letter to Kirtland, casting censure upon the Presidency, for which he was suspended from fellowship.    
Forgiven, restored September 25th, [1835] he arrived in Kirtland, and on the same day met with the Council of the First Presidency, when he confessed, was forgiven, and restored to fellowship.   Minutes of September 26, 1835
Hebrew school He attended the Hebrew school in Kirtland during the winter of 1835–6, and officiated as clerk of the Twelve.    
No confidence in First Presidency

He came before a Bishop's Court on Friday, May 11, 1838, where he said he had no confidence in the Presidency of the Church; consequently, he had quit praying and keeping the commandments of the Lord, and indulged himself in his sinful lusts.   May 11, 1838: minutes not in Far West Record or Kirtland Council Minutes Book.
Based on hearsay It was from what he had heard that he believed the Presidency had got out of the way, and not from anything that he had seen himself.    
Excommunicated He was cut off from the Church for unbelief and apostasy.    
Starts own church Since he has been cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ, he has tried to establish a church of his own, that he might be the head thereof, but without success.    
Robs Joseph's home He took an active part with the mob in Missouri, in robbing and driving the Saints. At the time Joseph Smith was in prison, he and others robbed Joseph's house and stable of the following property:—one roll of linen cloth, a quantity of valuable buttons, one piece of cassimere, a quantity of valuable books, a horse and gig, harness, saddle, bridle, etc.    
Wants to whip Joseph While Joseph was in prison at Richmond, Mo., McLellin, who was a large and active man, went to the sheriff and asked for the privilege of flogging the Prophet. Permission was granted on condition that Joseph would fight.    
Coward The sheriff made known to Joseph McLellin's earnest request, to which Joseph consented, if his irons were taken off. McLellin then refused to fight unless he could have a club, to which Joseph was perfectly willing; but the sheriff would not allow them to fight on such unequal terms.    
       
       
       
     
     
     
     
     
     
Church of Christ excommunicates William E. McLellin

June 3, 1849 excommunicated from the new Church of Christ, for (1) "abusive, wicked and uncalled for language in our public meetings;" (2) "abusive language to the members, and especially to the Elders of the church;" (3) "cheating and defrauding people under pretense of publishing the Ensign of Liberty;" (4) "quarrelling and fighting, and justifying himself in it;" (5) "refusing to counsel with the Elders of the church, and meeting them with contempt;" (6) "taking illegal votes to disfellowship members of the church;" (7) "refusing to do as instructed by the First Presidency of the church." Charges are sustained unanimously. Elders present: M. C. Isham, Alfred Bonney, Jacob Bump, Leonard Rich, as well as Martin Harris, president, and Isaac N. Aldrich, secretary.

  Gospel Herald (Voree, Wisconsin) July 5, 1849
Link to source at Dale Broadhurst website.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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