The activities of Oliver Cowdery, Parley
P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson, and Jacob Whitmer in and around Kirtland, Ohio
in November 1830. |
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October 30, 1830 |
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Arrival |
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Saturday |
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[Oliver Cowdery:] We arrived at this place two weeks [ago] this day … |
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Oliver Cowdery (Kirtland), Nov. 12, 1830 to the brethren at Fayette, copy in Newel Knight Journal [1846],
Early documents
Early Mormon Documents, compiled and edited by Dan Vogel. 4 vols. (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002).
, 4:41n50. |
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[October 27 or November 3], 1830
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[Henry H. Clapp:] The four Mormons came to Mr. Rigdon's Wednesday evening
(I think). Then Thursday morning he came to my father's with the wonderous
announcement, as related by Mr. Hayden in his history, page 210. I was
present at the time of the incident, and it will not soon be effaced from
my memory. I do not remember to have ever seen a man so completely put
to route as he was at the comment of my brother, "It's all a lie!" |
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Henry H. Clapp to [James T. Cobb], Jan.
28, 1879, Salt Lake Tribune, May 16, 1879. Source
history:
Hayden history
Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio, A. S. Hayden (Cincinnati: Chase & Hall, 1876).
Wednesday was October 27. |
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Thursday |
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[Josiah Jones:] In the last part of October, 1830, four men
appeared here by the names of Cowdery, Pratt
(h), Whitmer and Peterson … These
men appeared in the town of Mentor at
Elder Sidney Rigdon's on Thursday evening about the 6th [sic, 4th] of October
last. |
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¶ History
of the Mormonites (Jan. 1831)]
The last Thursday of October was the 28th.
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End of October
Deception |
¶ |
[Matthew S. Clapp:] About the last of October, 1830, four men, claiming to be
divinely inspired, came from Manchester and Palmyra, Ontario county, N.Y.,
bringing a pretended revelation, entitled the "Book of Mormon."
They came to the brethern of the reformation in Mentor, saluted them as
brethern, and professed to rejoice at finding a people walking according
to the scriptures of truth, and acknowledging no other guide. They professed
to have no commands for them, nevertheless, they called upon
them to receive their mission and book as from Heaven, which they said
chiefly concerned the western Indians, as being an account of their origin,
and a prophecy of their final conversion to christianity, and make them
a white and delightsome people, and be reinstated in the possession of their lands
of which they have been despoiled by the whites.— |
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M.S.C. letter to the
editor,
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, Feb. 15, 1831. Source
bretheren of the reformation: Reformed Baptists (Campbellites), later Disciples of Christ.
He had a falling out with Alexander Campbell in late August 1830.
See Sidney Rigdon for his "reformation" activities. |
Pray for sign |
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When called upon for testimony, they appealed (like Mahomet) to the internal evidences of their book. The book was read and pronounced a silly fabrication. When farther pressed upon the subject, they required the brethern to humble themselves before God, and pray for a sign from heaven. |
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Sidney condemns Book of Mormon |
¶ |
They took up their abode with the pastor of the congregation, (Sidney Rigdon,) who read their book and partly condemned it— |
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Endorses it two days later |
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but, two days afterwards, was heard to confess his conviction
of its truth. |
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October 31 |
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Euclid meeting |
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Sunday |
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[Josiah Jones:] On Sunday following the elder with two or three
of these men attended a meeting at Euclid. I also attended and here I was
first informed by I. Morley that such men
and such a book had appeared. |
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¶ History
of the Mormonites
Sunday following: October 31 |
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November 3 |
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Kirtland meeting |
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Wednesday |
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[Josiah Jones:] The next Wednesday evening they held a meeting at the Methodist
meetinghouse in this place … |
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¶ History
of the Mormonites
this place: Jones was a Kirtland resident |
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November 4–[13] |
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Baptize seventeen of the Morley family |
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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
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[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. |
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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.
Oliver may have misdated the letter by one day or started it on the 12th and finished it later, perhaps the next day (the 13th). |
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Seventeen |
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[John Corrill:] The next day we heard that after they went
home, or to the family where they put up, they baptized seventeen into
the faith which they published. |
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¶ History
of the Mormonites |
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Seventeen
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[Matthew S. Clapp:] Immediately they made a party—seventeen persons were
immersed by them in one night. |
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M.S.C. to
the editor,
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, Feb. 15, 1831. Source |
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November 5 |
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Sidney protests |
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Friday: Sidney opposes missionaries |
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[Matthew S. Clapp:] At this Mr. Rigdon seemed much displeased, and when they
came next day to his house, he withstood them to the face —showed
them that what they had done was entirely without precedent in the holy
scriptures—for they had immersed those persons that they might work miracles as
well as come under the said covenant—showed them that the apostles baptized
for the remission of sins—but miraculous gifts were conferred by the
imposition of hands. |
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M.S.C. to the
editor,
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, Feb. 15, 1831. Source |
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Oliver asks Sidney if he doesn't think God would send an
angel to confirm the truth. |
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John Murdock baptized, ordained |
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Friday: Parley
P. Pratt baptizes John Murdock |
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[John Murdock:] About ten oclock that morning, being Nov. 5th 1830, I told the servants of the Lord that I was ready to walk with them into the water of baptism. Accordingly Elder P. P. Pratt baptised me in Chagrin River and the Spirit of the Lord sensibly attended the ministration, and I came out of the water rejoicing, and singing praises to God and the Lamb. But the two former baptisms had no such manifestations of the Spirit of God because the administrators were not called of God as was Aaron and their Priesthood was not of God
An impression sensibly rested on my mind that cannot,
by me, be forgotten. It appeared to me that notwithstanding all the profession
of religion that I had previously made and all that I had done, that by
my act of now being baptized I had just escaped a horrible pit of destruction.
This was the third time I had been immersed, but I never before felt the
authority of the ordinance, but I felt it this time and felt as though
my sins were forgiven. |
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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.
, 18. |
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An impression sensibly rested on my mind that cannot by me, be forgotten. It apeared* to me that not with standing all the profession of religion that I had previously made and all I had done, that by my act of now being baptised, I had just escaped a horribal pit of destruction; for I felt as tho all my sins were forgiven. I continued with the brethren till Sunday, at w<h>ich time they preached in Mayfield and baptized a number. 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; And it was truly a time of the out poring* of the Spirit. I know the Spirit rested on me as it never did before and others said they saw the Lord and had visions. I tarried <till> Monday morning, tok* breakfast, and attended prayrs* with the Brethren, and then rode home a distance of seven miles, and it seemed as if I could see how Iseral Israel would gather according to Isaiah 43rd Chaptr* 5.6.7. verses. fear not for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the East, and gather the[e] from the west. I will say to the No[r]th give up and to the South, kep* not back. Bring my sons from afar, and my Daughters from the ends of the Earth. Even every one that is caled* by my name; for I have created him for my glory, |
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Baptized, confirmed, ordained |
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[John Murdock:] I therefore was baptised by Elder Pratt confirmed a member
by Elder Cowdry Ordained an Elder by the same in Mayfield Nov. 5th 1830 I
then returned to my family having been absent four days |
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Murdock journal
John Murdock journal (1830-1844). Church Archives, MS 1194 folders 2-3. Probably written in 1844 (page 2 cites1844 Doctrine and Covenants) or after. Retrospective November 1830-June 1831. Daily entries begin June14, 1830 and end in May 1836 , then a few sporadic entries to November 1844.
, 1. |
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November 5–6 |
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Family meeting, Sidney weeps |
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Friday–Saturday at the farm |
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[Josiah Jones:] To return—on Friday evening they held
meeting at the family, and on Saturday evening also, at which time I attended,
and saw Elder Rigdon much affected and shedding tears. |
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the family: elsewhere
in his article Jones refers to this as the "Big Family" at Isaac
Morley's farm in Kirtland.
¶ History of the Mormonites |
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November 7 |
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Sidney confesses in Kirtland, elders preach at schoolhouse |
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Sidney's Sunday confession at the Methodist chapel
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[Matthew S. Clapp:] … he had an appointment
to preach in the Methodist chapel at Kirtland. He arose to address the
congregation apparently much affected and deeply impressed. He
seemed exceedingly humble, confessed the sins of his former life, his great
pride, ambition, vainglory, &c. &c. |
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M.S.C.
to the editor,
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, Feb. 15, 1831. Source
¶ Kirtand Churches
preceding day: day preceding Sidney's baptism. |
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Sidney unable to preach
Elders at schoolhouse
Sidney recants |
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[Josiah Jones:] The next day, Sunday, Elder Rigdon had
an appointment to preach in this place, and attended having these four
men with him; he opened the meeting as usual, and arose to address the
congregation but was so affected that he could not; he said all that he
had to say to us was to repent and humble ourselves before God. After a
short exhortation he sat down and the new teachers exhorted us at the school
house; at this meeting or in the daytime Elder Rigdon told us that for
two years past his preaching had been of no use to us; it was more to please
our fancy and tickle our ears, than to affect our hearts. |
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¶ History
of the Mormonites
Sidney "preached alternately at Mentor and Kirtland." H[enry] H. Clapp to
[James T. Cobb], Jan. 28, 1879, qtd. in "Sidney Rigdon's Conversion
to Mormonism," Salt
Lake Tribune, May 16, 1879. Source |
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Sidney recants
in schoolhouse |
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[Henry H. Clapp:] … on Sunday—it being his regular appointment at
Kirtland—a number of us went over from Mentor to hear him (not to hear
Mormonism). The house was an ordinary school house, would perhaps accommodate
a hundred persons. It was reasonably filled but not crowded. He then made
the most pitiable effort to which I ever listened to place himself in an
honorable position before the public, but utterly failed. During his short
address, (probably not more than 15 or 20 minutes,) he affected to exhibit
great sorrow and contrition for the inutility of his past preaching, "that
he feared it had only tickled their ears, etc." I cannot speak for
all that were there, but I saw no signs of sympathy with any except those
already enlisted in Mormonism. As for myself, the whole thing was such
an evident piece of hypocrisy that I turned away sick and disgusted. I
had heard all I wished and returned home. |
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H H. Clapp to [James T.
Cobb], Jan. 28, 1879, qtd. in "Sidney Rigdon's Conversion to Mormonism," Salt
Lake Tribune, May 16, 1879. Source |
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Parley, Sidney, Oliver in Mayfield |
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Levi Hancock hears
Sidney recant in Mayfield
Thomas Hancock, others baptized |
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On Sunday Levi Hancock hears Parley P. Pratt (h) preach
at Mr. Jackson's in Mayfield. He
is followed by Sidney Rigdon who "said
he had bin trying to preach the gospel for a long time and now he had done
he thought he should never try to preach again and confessed he was completely
used up and advised the people not to contend against it what they had
heared." After Sidney, Oliver speaks, then Parley calls for baptisms. Levi's father, Thomas
Hancock,
and sister (Clarissa Hancock Alger) "and some few beside" are
baptized. |
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¶ Levi
Hancock |
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November 8 (Monday) |
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Sidney Rigdon baptism |
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Josiah Jones: Sidney baptized |
¶ |
On Monday, Elder Rigdon was rebaptized, and additions have
continued to be made almost daily to them since that time. |
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¶ History
of the Mormonites |
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Sources agree Sidney was baptized on a Monday. That it was the 8th and not the 15th is attested by Oliver Cowdery's November 12 letter to Joseph Smith stating that he and his wife had been baptized. |
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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. |
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M.S.C.: Sidney baptized, changed man |
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The Monday following he was baptised. … After he was
baptized, he professed to be exceedingly joyful, and said he would not
be where he was three days ago for the universe. When reminded of the scriptural
objection which he had made against praying for that which was not promised,
he imputed his reasoning to pride, carnality, and the influence of the
evil one. In short, the whole man seemed changed, so much so that Mrs.
Rigdon said that Mr. Rigdon's appearance was enough to convince any one
of the truth of their religion. Mr. R. and, indeed the whole of that sect,
seem rather disposed to boast of their humility and piety. Mr. R. was formerly
very irascible, but now thinks he cannot be ruffled, he was formerly haughty,
but now affects great humility. The males among them wear a peculiar kind
of hat[s], by which they distinguish themselves, and exhibit their humility. |
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M.S.C. [Matthew S. Clapp] to the
editor,
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, Feb.15, 1831. Source |
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Levi hears Oliver preach in Mayfield |
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Levi Hancock: Mayfield meeting |
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Levi proposes to get up an audience for Oliver in Mayfield if
he will come. Oliver agrees and a meeting is held at Mr. Jackson's. |
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¶ Levi
Hancock |
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November 11 (Thursday) |
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Oliver preaches in Mayfield, "several" baptisms |
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Oliver, Ziba, and Peter arrive, hold meetings, baptize and
confirm. |
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¶ Levi
Hancock |
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November 9 or 12 |
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Levi Hancock baptized in Kirtland |
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November 9 (extrapolated) |
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Levi Hancock returns to Mayfield on November 8, the day
after his father is baptized, and learns Parley has returned to Kirtland.
The next day, the 9th, he and one of Mr. Jackson's sons go to Kirtland,
and Levi is baptized. After he is baptized, Levi is invited to a meeting
at Isaac Morley's. Not knowing where the farm is, he follows others to
the location and spends the night listening to other converts talk about
Oliver and his companions. |
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¶ Levi
Hancock |
November 12 (stated) |
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However, Levi's 1878 autobiography expressly states he was
baptized November 12, confirmed November 13,
and started on a mission November 14. |
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Levi Hancock [1878]
Levi Hancock Autobiography and Journal [1878], MS 2711, Church Archives.
, 107. |
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November 14 (Sunday) |
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Lyman Wight family baptized in Kirtland |
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Lyman Wight: baptized, confirmed, ordained
in six days |
¶ |
Myself and family were baptized by P. Pratt on the 14th
of November, 1830, in Chagrin River, at Kirtland, Ohio. I was confirmed
on the 18th by O. Cowdery, and on the 20th ordained an elder by the same. |
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¶ Lyman
Wight Journal |
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November 14 |
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John Murdock learns of arrival |
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John Murdock: hears about elders on a Sunday |
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word came to me that four men had arrived at Kirtland from
the state of New York, who were preaching, baptizing, and building up the
church after the ancient order; it was one Sunday morning as I was going
to attend an appointment to preach, that I was informed on this; I was
also told that Elder Rigdon, with many others of the Campbellite Church,
were baptized by them. |
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Murdock abridged record
John Murdock (1792-1871), "Abriged [sic] Record ... Taken from His Journal by Himself" [1792-1864]. Carbon copy of typescript. BYU Special Collections, BX 8670.1 .M941a.
. Source
Sidney was baptized on a Monday, probably November 8. |
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November 18 |
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Lyman Wight confirmed |
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Lyman Wight: confirmed |
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I was confirmed on the 18th by O. Cowdery, and on the 20th
ordained an elder by the same. |
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¶ Lyman
Wight Journal |
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November 18 (Thursday) |
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John Murdock to farm, confirmation meeting |
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John Murdock: 20 miles Thursday
to investigate |
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… Thursday the same week. I went to see for myself,
a distance of about twenty miles. I heard the sayings of many people by
the way, some for the new preachers, and some against … |
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Murdock abridged record
John Murdock (1792-1871), "Abriged [sic] Record ... Taken from His Journal by Himself" [1792-1864]. Carbon copy of typescript. BYU Special Collections, BX 8670.1 .M941a.
. Source |
Four missionaries at Isaac Morley's |
¶ |
And arrived at father Isaac Morley's about dark, and was
soon introduced to those four men from New York, and presented with the
Book of Mormon … I did not ask a sign of them by working a miracle,
by healing a sick man, by raising a dead man, or, by casting out a devil … |
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Excluded from late night confirmation meeting |
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Accordingly, that night was held the first confirmation
meeting that was held in Ohio. … I did not find out respecting the
meeting till about ten o'clock at night. And at that time they had all
left but three men; and I found they wanted to go to the meeting, and did
not want those in, that had not been baptized. I said to them go, for if
you wish to be alone, I do not blame you. The case is one of importance.
They went and I stayed alone, and read the Book of Mormon. |
|
Confirmation meetings were usually held on
Sundays, which in this case would be November 7. |
Oliver Cowdery's demeanor |
¶ |
During the evening previous to the meeting, a Nathan Goodwell,
a Campbellite came and conversed with Elder Oliver
Cowdery for he was the principal one of the four, and I watched the
Spirit of each one of them in their conversation, and I found that Goodwell
bore down with warmth, whereas Cowdery wished not for contention, and endeavored
to evade controversy … |
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Receives witness in bed |
¶¶ |
I read till it was late and went into Father Morley's chamber
to bed and had not been long in bed, before they returned, and some half
dozen or more came into the same house, and as soon as they came into the
house, although I was in bed up [in the] chamber, the spirit of the Lord
rested on me, witnessing to me of the truth of the work. |
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Finds Sidney, who refuses to talk
Talks with others |
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I could no longer rest in bed but got up and went down and
found Elder Rigdon among the number, and he said to me I might go back
to bed, for he would not talk to me that night, but I sat in a chair and
conversed with them, and I found they appeared very tender in their feelings
and I retired to bed again. I could not help secretly rejoicing on the
occasion. |
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Sidney won't talk because he is upset? |
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November 20 |
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Lyman Wight ordained |
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Lyman Wight: ordained |
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… on the 20th ordained an elder by the same [Oliver
Cowdery]. |
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¶ Lyman
Wight Journal |
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November 21 (Sunday) |
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Elders baptize in Mayfield, confirm Sunday evening |
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John Murdock: Mayfield baptisms, Sunday confirmation
meeting |
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I continued with the brethren till Sunday at which time
they preached in Mayfield and baptized
a number, 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; and it was truly a time of
the outpouring of the spirit. I know the spirit rested on me as it never
did before and others said they saw the Lord and had visions. |
|
Murdock abridged record
John Murdock (1792-1871), "Abriged [sic] Record ... Taken from His Journal by Himself" [1792-1864]. Carbon copy of typescript. BYU Special Collections, BX 8670.1 .M941a.
. Source |
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November 22 |
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John Murdock returns home |
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John Murdock: returns home |
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[John Murdock:] I tarried till Monday morning, took breakfast, and attended
prayers with the brethren, and then rode home |
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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. |
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November 29 |
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Elders preach in Warrensville |
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John Murdock: elders arrive for meeting in
Warrensville, baptize three |
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[John Murdock:] At length the 1rst day of the next week arrived and the N.Y. brethren held meeting in WarrensVille, four miles west of my house, and I bore testimony to the truth; my wife brother Covey, and three others were baptised. Brother Ziba Peterson held meeting in my house the evening before and I bore testimony to my neighbors. |
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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. Later, John reports Parley baptized
and Oliver confirmed his wife, Julia, Benjamin Covey, Caleb Baldwin, Nancy
Baldwin, and Charles Taylor in the Orange/Warrensville area. |
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November 29 |
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Elders leave for Missouri |
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F. G. Williams joins the missionaries |
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[John Murdock:] On Monday morning the New York brethren, accompanied by
F. G. Williams, a late convert, took leave of us and started
for the upper Missouri. |
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Murdock abridged record
John Murdock (1792-1871), "Abriged [sic] Record ... Taken from His Journal by Himself" [1792-1864]. Carbon copy of typescript. BYU Special Collections, BX 8670.1 .M941a.
. Source |
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November [29] |
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Sidney leaves for New York |
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M.S.C. |
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About three weeks after Mr. R[igdon] was baptized by Oliver
Cowdery, he went to the state of New York, to see Joseph Smith, jr. while
Cowdrey, with his three companions, proceeded on to the western Indians. |
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M.S.C. [Matthew S. Clapp] to the
editor,
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
, Feb. 15, 1831. Source |
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Late November–Early December |
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Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio |
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On his return from Missouri to Kirtland in March 1831, Parley
P. Pratt, stays with the Coltrin family, who had been baptized during the
missionaries' journey to the Indian Territory. |
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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).
, 67–69. |
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