| Early missionary, Kirtland high council, Zion's
Camp (accuses Joseph Smith of misconduct), one of Seven Presidents of the
Seventy, school of the prophets, 1837 dissenter. |
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| Born |
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March 25, 1806 in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, the youngest of eight children |
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Origins, 592. |
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March 28, 1806 in Becket, Berkshire County, Massachusetts (14
miles northeast of Tyringham) |
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Ancestry.com |
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[1805] in Connecticut |
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Papers, 595. |
| Father |
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Chileab Smith |
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Origins, 592; Ancestry.com |
| Mother |
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Nancy Marshall |
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Origins, 592; Ancestry.com |
| Prior
religion |
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Methodist Episcopal |
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Origins, 592. |
| Occupation |
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Farmer, teacher, carpenter |
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Origins, 592. |
| Amherst |
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1830 living in Amherst, Ohio with wife and a daughter
under 5. |
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¶ 1830
Census: Kirtland, et. al. |
| Baptized |
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[November 1830–May1831] |
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| Baptizes Joel Johnson |
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June 1, 1831 baptizes Joel Hills Johnson in Amherst. |
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Joel Johnson autobiography, 4. |
| Kirtland conference |
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June [4], 1831 attends Kirtland conference as an elder. |
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Minutes of June
[4], 1831 |
| Amherst conference silences elder |
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September 29, 1831 attends Amherst conference
with Newel
K. Whitney, Oliver Cowdery, and Joel
Hills Johnson. |
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Minutes of Sept.
29, 1831 |
Pledges all
Ordained to High Priesthood |
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October 25, 1831 attends general conference in Orange,
Ohio; testifies "that
it was the will of the Lord to seal his saints," and, like others,
covenants
"to give all to the Lord." Oliver
Cowdery ordains Sylvester to
the High Priesthood. |
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¶ Minutes
of Oct. 25–26 1831 |
| Mission call |
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January 25, 1832 attends a general conference in Amherst, Ohio, where
Joseph Smith is ordained president of the High President; Sylvester is
paired as missionary with Gideon
Carter (destination not specified). |
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¶ Presidents
of the High Priesthood
¶ D&C 75:34 |
| New York mission |
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April [6], 1833 leaves Kirtland on a
mission to New York with Harpen Riggs. |
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Sylvester Smith (Chenango Point,
New York) May 16, 1833, EMS
2, no. 14 (July 1833): 108–109. |
| 15 churches between Kirtland and Chenango Point |
¶ |
It is about six weeks since I left Kirtland
to take a mission to the east; since which time I have visited twelve churches,
and passed three others … in the course from Kirtland to Chenango,
New York … Some of said churches are composed of nearly one hundred
members; and, in nearly all of them, the work is still going on. |
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| Mother of abominations |
¶ |
… I find the mother of abominations, has presented
the cup to the lips of all people, languages and tongues; and nearly all
have been sipping her delusion: and taking the name of the Beast instead
of the name of Christ. |
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¶ |
I know of no reason why the angels, after the people have
been warned a little longer, should not receive the great command: Go reap
down the earth. |
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¶ |
Brother Harpen Riggs is with me, and though young, he bids
fair to be useful. His faith is good. We have travelled about five hundred
miles in about six weeks. We held fifteen meetings, and I trust that we
shall continue to receive the grace of God to support us even to the end. |
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| High council |
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February 17, 1834 named to the first high council, in Kirtland. |
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Minutes of Feb.
17, 1834 // D&C 102:3 |
| Zion's Camp |
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May 11, 1834 preaches to Zion's
Camp (Sunday). |
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¶ Heber's Zion's Camp // MH-A, 479. |
| Sylvester's refractory
feelings |
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[May 14, 1834] We passed on to Belle Fontaine, where we discovered refractory
feelings in Sylvester Smith, who expressed great dissatisfaction because
we [66] were short of bread, although we had used all diligence to procure
a supply, and Captain Brigham Young had previously sent two men ahead to
provide supplies for his company. |
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HC
2:65–66. |
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This evening there was quite a difficulty between some of the brethren and Sylvester Smith, on occasion of which I was called to decide the matter. Finding quite a rebellious spirit in Sylvester Smith, and to some extent in others; I told them they would meet with misfortunes, difficulties and hinderances; and said, "and you will know it before you leave this place"; exhorting them to humble themselves before the Lord and become united, that they might not be scourged. A very singular occurrence took place that night, and the next day concerning our teams. On the following <Sunday> morning when we arose, we found almost every horse in the camp so badly foundered, that we could scarcely lead them a few rods to water. The brethren then
deeply realized the effects of discord. When I learned the
fact. I exclaimed to the brethren, that for a witness that God overruled
and had his eye upon them, that all those who would humble themselves before
the Lord, should know that the hand of God was in this misfortune, and their
horses should be restored to health immediately; and by twelve o'clock the
same day the horses were as nimble as ever, with the exception of one of
Sylvester Smith's which soon afterwards died. |
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SHOWREF=MHA], Addenda 4, note G. |
Sylvester argues
with some of the men
Joseph warns them to be humble and united
Horses founder
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May 17, 1834 camp crosses from Ohio into Indian lands in Indiana. At
night, a difficulty arises between Sylvester and some of the
brethren. Joseph finds Sylvester "and to some extent
in others," rebellious and warns that unless they humble themselves
and become united, they will be scourged, "and you will know
it before you leave this place." In the morning they find their
horses "so badly foundered that we could scarce lead them
a few rods to the water." |
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¶ Heber's Zion's Camp
Italics in original.
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Joseph promises
horses will be healed if repent
Sylvester's horse dies
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When brother Joseph learned the fact he exclaimed to the
brethren, that for a witness that God overruled and had his eye upon
them, that all those who would humble themselves before the Lord, should
know that the hand of God was in this misfortune, and their horses should
be restored to health immediately, and by twelve o'clock the same day
the horses were as nimble as ever, with the exception of one of Sylvester
Smith's which soon afterwards died. |
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| Angry outburst |
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[June 4, 1834] At
this place there was some feelings of hostility manifested again by Sylvester
Smith, in consequence of a dog growling at him while he was marching his
company up to the camp, he being the last that come over the river.— |
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¶ Heber's Zion's
Camp
TS 6, no. 20 (Jan. 1, 1846):1076. |
| Joseph rebukes |
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[June 5, 1834] Brother Joseph said that he would descend to be spirit
that was manifested by some of the brethren, to let them see the folly
of their wickedness. He rose up and commenced speaking, by saying, "if
any man insults me, or abuses me, I will stand in my own defence
at the expense of my life; and if a dog growl at me, I will let him know
that I am his master." At
this moment Sylvester Smith, who had just returned from where he had turned
out his horses to feed, came up, and hearing Brother Joseph make those
remarks, said, "if that dog bites me, I'll kill him."— Brother
Joseph turned to Sylvester and said, "if you kill that dog, I'll whip
you," and then went on to show the brethren how wicked and unchristianlike
such conduct appeared before the eyes of truth and justice |
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¶ Heber's
Zion's Camp
¶ Minutes of August 29, 1834
¶ Satan
Came Also |
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| Prairie incident after crossing
Mississippi |
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[June 17, 1834] Lyman Wight and Sylvester Smith refuse to
follow Hyrum's order to move onto the prairie. Joseph rebukes them: |
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Minutes of August 29, 1834 |
Enemies on the Missouri
Joseph suggests move on to prairie |
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about <at> noon we crossed the Wakendah,
it being high, we had to be ferried over, we were informed here that a
party of men were gathered together on the Missouri River, with the intention
of attacking us that night, the prairie ahead of us was twenty three miles
long without any timber or <palatable, healthy,> water, some of the
brethren wished to stop near the timber, and were about making arrang[e]ments
to pitch their tents, we had but little provisions. I proposed to get some
wood and water <to> carry with us, and go on into the
Prairie 8 or 10 miles. |
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MH-A, Addenda,
14.
Blue: dropped in HC 2:100–101.
Red: added in
HC 2:100–101.
Curiously, in this time period Heber refers only to tarrying in the prairie "
on account of a rupture which took place in the camp," apparently
not referring to these events but to the chastisement, a few days earlier,
of Frederick G. Williams and Roger Orton for "not obeying orders." ¶ Heber's Zion's Camp |
| Hyrum: Lord says
go to prairie |
|
my brother Hyrum said he knew in the name of the Lord, that it was best
to go on to the Prairie, and as he was my Elder Brother I thought best
to heed his counsel, though some were murmuring in the camp. we accordingly
started. |
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Lyman doesn't like
move
Sylvester tries to prevent
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When Lyman Wight crossed the River, he disapproved of our moving on to
the Prairie, upon which Sylvester Smith who had
been appointed adjutant of the Camp, placed himself in the road,
turned back all that he could by saying, "are you following your General,
or some other man," and some twenty
staid behind with Lyman Wight. |
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Joseph camps on
prairie
Bad water
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we drove about 8 miles on the Prairie and encamped out of sight of Timber,
the sun apparently went down, and next morning rose
again in the Grass. our company had filled a couple of empty Powder Kegs
with Water, it tasted so bad we could not drink it, and all that the
Water that we had was out of a Slough filled with red living animals, and
was putrid. |
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Joseph's rebuke
Lyman accepts
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about Eleven oclock Lyman Wight arrived with the company that had remained
with him. I called them together and reproved them for tarrying behind,
and not obeying my Council, and told Lyman Wight never to do so again,
he promised that he would stand by me for ever, and never forsake me again
let the — consequence be what it would. |
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| Sylvester's refractory
feelings |
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but Sylvester Smith manifested very refractory feelings. |
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| Zion's Camp disbands |
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June 22, 1834 Zion's Camp disbands following a revelation that attributes the failure to redeem Zion to the transgressions of the Saints. |
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¶ D&C 105 |
| Leave
Missouri |
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June 30, 1834 leaves Missouri with Heber
C. Kimball, Lyman Sherman, Alexander
Badlam, Harrison Burgess, Luke
Johnson, and Zera Cole, arriving about July 26. |
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¶ Heber C. Kimball |
| Signs discharge papers |
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July 1, 1834 Sylvester and Lyman Wight sign discharge
papers for Frederick G. Williams, "council
to the commander in Chief of the Army of the Lord's house," quartermaster,
and other positions. |
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¶ Frederick
G. Williams |
| Charges Joseph with criminal conduct |
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August 11, 1834 accuses
Joseph Smith of "criminal conduct" during Zion's Camp. Joseph
is exonerated. Sylvester's confession is to be published and the branches
notified. |
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Minutes
of August 11, 1834 |
| Council vindicates Joseph |
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August 23, 1834 council approves article vindicating
Joseph Smith's conduct on Zion's Camp, signed by sixteen members, to be
published in the Evening and Morning Star and circulated as a broadside. |
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Minutes
of August 23, 1834 |
| Council tries Sylvester |
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August 28, 1834 Bishop Whitney convenes high
council to try Sylvester Smith for his accusations against Joseph Smith.
The prophet's conduct in Zion's Camp is upheld and Sylvester Smith is rebuked. |
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Minutes
of August 28, 1834 |
| Sylvester signs confessions under
duress |
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August 29, 1834 concluding testimony—Sylvester
is blamed for confrontations with Joseph Smith: insubordination, threatening
Joseph's dog, arguing with him, refusing to share bread. Joseph didn't
steal a quilt, it was given to him. Sylvester to publish confession. Detailed
terms dictated. Sylvester signs statement "for fear of punishment." |
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Minutes
of August 29, 1834 |
| Printed confession |
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September 1834 difficulties between Sylvester and
Joseph arose during Zion's Camp. Sylvester complained to the council,
which found Joseph's conduct blameless. Sylvester perfectly satisfied,
regrets trouble he caused with his accusations. Testifies the work is true
and must endure. |
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Sylvester
Smith's Published Confession |
| Removed from high council |
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September 29, 1834 high council drops Sylvester from the council (Joseph
rendering the decision), and replaces him with Hyrum Smith. "… brother
Sylvester gave his own assent with thankfulness." |
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Minutes of September 29, 1834 |
| Calling of the Twelve |
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February 14, 1835 attends meeting of Zion's Camp where the
Twelve are called and first ordination blessings are given. |
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Minutes
of February 14, 1835 |
| Seventy |
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[February 28, 1835 one of] those Seventy who
were called and [ordained] to
be sent forth [165] ordained
and blessed at that time to begin the organization of the first Quorum
of the seventies according to the visions and revelations which I have
received. The seventies to constitute travelling Quorum. to go into all
the earth, whither soever the twelve Apostles should call them. |
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Kirtland council, 164–165
Blue: dropped in
MH-B, 578
Red: added in
MH-B, 578 |
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| Blessing |
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[March 1, 1835] After Sacrament the council continued the ordination
and blessing of those priviously called; also John Murdock, Ezra Thayer &
S. W. Denton. were ordained & blessed. Benjamin Winchester. Hyrum Smith,
and Frederick G. Williams were blessed, and Joseph Young and Sylvester
Smith were ordained Presidents of the Seventies. … |
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MH-B, 578.
Blue: omitted in HC 2:204. |
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¶ |
Sylvester Smith |
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Kirtland council, 179–180. |
| A president of the Seventy |
¶ |
We seal your Ministry upon your ministry [sic] upon your head, and also
ordain you to be one of the 70 and a President among the 70. Your mind
shall become pure and chaste, and the importance of your calling shall
lie near your heart from this hour. You shall preside with dignity and
with honor forever. You shall have great affliction and persecution because
of your office. Your enemies shall seek your life with great diligence,
but if you dedicate [180] your all to God, you shall be preserved if you
keep his covenant and turn away from none of it. You shall have great power
and wisdom & do great
good before the Lord. You shall travel from land to land and from Kingdom
to Kingdom, and you shall stand before and preach to Kings, and have power
over great men, and poor men & show forth signs and wonders to whom
signs and wonders will be profitable, and in a good old age you shall return
with rejoicing and bring many sheaves with you. Then shall you rest and
your last days shall be your best days. Amen. |
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As with most of these ordination blessings, the names of
those performing the ordinance are not mentioned. |
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| First seven presidents of first Seventy |
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May 2, 1835 mentioned as one of "the seven
presidents of the first Seventy" who are "to hold themselves "in
readiness to go at the call of the Twelve, when the Lord opens the way." |
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¶ Minutes
of May 2, 1835 |
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November 1835 presidents of the Seventy who were previously
ordained as high priests are asked to return to that quorum. Sylvester
is one. The others are Hazen Aldrich, Leonard
Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, and Lyman
Sherman. Joseph "thought that this was the best way to settle the difficulty
and remove all feelings, without deciding the question as to which was
the greatest." |
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| Serves as clerk for high council |
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November 22, 1835 serves as clerk for high council meeting. |
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Minutes of Nov.
22, 1835, also Minutes of Sept. 16,
1835, Minutes of
August 17, 1835 |
| Meeting of the Seventy |
¶ |
[December 27, 1835] At a meeting of the seventy Elders … we were
informed of the spread which the mighty work of God has taken by their
means the past season. … many have been convinced, and 175 baptized
into the Kingdom of Jesus … [254] … |
|
MA 2,
no. 4 (Jan. 1836): 253, 254. |
| Sylvester's rhetoric |
¶ |
May the Lord speed them on their mighty errand, that the work may be
done and well done, the righteous gathered, sanctified, and made meet for
their Father's kingdom; and be looking forth unto the coming of the Son
of Man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. When the kingdoms
of this world will be shaken, the man of sin destroyed, everlasting righteousness
brought in, the knowledge and glory of God cover the earth; Saints be exalted
and rejoice; earth purified by fire which shall burn like an oven; wickedness
consumed; satan bound; Christ reign; and all the redeemed, out of every
nation, with him forever and ever: and all the fulness of celestial glory
be enjoyed by the Saints in the presence of God and the Lamb: Even so:
Amen. Come Lord Jesus. |
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| Released from high council |
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January 13, 1836 Noah Packard replaces Sylvester on the Kirtland
high council because he "had been ordained to the presidency of the
seventy." |
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MH-B, 609. |
| Horsemen and chariots |
|
January 22, 1836 at an evening meeting of the presidency of the church
anoints and ordains Thomas B. Marsh to anoint and bless the Twelve. The
Twelve then anoint and bless the
presidency of the Seventy. "The heavens were opened unto Elder Sylvester
Smith, and he leaping up exclaimed, 'The horsemen of
Israel and the chariots thereof.'" After the anointings and blessings,
"the gift of tongues fell upon us in mighty power. Angels mingled
their voices with ours, while their presence was in our midst, and unceasing
praises swelled our bosoms for the space of half an hour." |
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MH-B, 621.
Original: horseman
HC 2:383 also uses horsemen. |
| Acting scribe |
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[January 25, 1836] Appointed Elder Sylvester Smith acting scribe for
the time being, or till Elder Parrish shall recover his health [February
8]. |
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MH-B, 620. |
| Pillar of fire |
|
January 28, 1836 in the House of the Lord, after the Twelve
anoint the seven presidents of the Seventy, Sylvester sees, "a pillar
of fire rest down and abide upon the heads of the quorum, as we stood in
the midst of the twelve." |
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MH-B, 621. |
| Hebrew |
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February 3, 1836 Studies [Hebrew] with Joseph and Oliver. |
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HC 2:390. |
| |
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February 19, 1836 selected by Professor Seixas for
Hebrew lessons this afternoon and an hour earlier than usual in the morning.
Others are Joseph Smith "and scribe" (William
Parrish), Sidney
Rigdon,
Oliver Cowdery, W.
W. Phelps, Edward
Partridge, William
E. McLellin (h), Orson
Hyde, and Orson Pratt. |
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MH-B, 627. |
| |
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February 24, 1836 attends meeting of "the quorums, at the
school room in the Temple, to take into consideration the propriety or
impropriety of ordaining a large number of individuals who wish to be ordained
to official stations in the church." Seven are accepted and nineteen
rejected. Sylvester is appointed with Orson Hyde and Oliver
Cowdery to draft
license rules and regulations. |
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MH-B, 629. |
| |
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March 11, 1836 Hebrew class is divided into three. Sylvester,
Orson Pratt, and Edward Partridge meet at Luke
Johnson's. The other classes
meet in the printing office and on the flats. |
|
MH-B, 632–633. |
| Dissenter |
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1837 numbered among the dissenters. |
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¶ Doings
and Sayings (George A. Smith, Jan.
10, 1858) |
| Calls Mormonism "the height of idiotism." |
¶ |
… I recollect in the upper room of the Temple in Kirtland, Ohio,
when we were assembled there, a very noted man, by the name of Sylvester
Smith, bore testimony of what he had seen of the Prophet of God, of angels, &c.
He said he wanted to bear testimony, and continued to say, "I have
spoken by what you call the Holy Ghost; the eyes of my understanding have
been touched, and I have seen convoy after convoy of angels; I have laid
hands on the lame, and they have leaped like an hart; I have spoken with
tongues and had the interpretation thereof; I have seen the sick healed
time after time;—but let me tell you, everything I have seen and
everything you have seen is the height of idiotism." This was Sylvester
Smith, after he apostatized. |
|
Jedediah M. Grant, Jun. 8, 1854, JD 6:254. |
| Excitable, physical exertions |
|
… you will find those, who, on that occasion and similar occasions,
received great and powerful manifestations, and when the spirit came on
them it seemed to distort the countenance, and caused them to make tremendous
efforts in some instances. Sylvester Smith bore testimony of seeing the
hosts of heaven and the horsemen. In his exertion and excitement it seemed
as though he would jump through the ceiling. |
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¶ Satan
Came Also |
| Brother killed at Haun's Mill |
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October 30, 1838 Sylvester's brother, Warren, and nephew are killed at Haun's Mill. |
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¶ Amanda Barnes Smith |
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Family |
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| Wife |
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Betsy Frank, b. 1808 |
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Ancestry.com |
| Child |
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Spencer Smith, b. Apr. 1845 in Ohio
d. Apr. 12, 1935 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa |
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Ancestry.com |
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