Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Church History and the D&C Part 2 Day 7


Thought: Years ago, Elder S. Dilworth Young of the Seventy taught me a lesson about reading the scriptures. A stake was struggling with tensions and difficulties among the members, and counsel needed to be given. I asked President Young, “What should I say?” He answered simply, “Tell them to read the scriptures.” I asked, “Which scriptures?” He said, “It really doesn’t matter. Tell them to open up the Book of Mormon, for instance, and begin to read. Soon the feeling of peace and inspiration will come, and a solution will present itself.” Make scripture reading a part of your regular routine, and the blessings will follow. There is in the scriptures a voice of warning, but there is also great nourishment. (BK Packer Oct. 2-2013)

Book of the Week: Joseph Smith and the Restoration - Ivan J. Barrett To appreciate the Church, to love its teachings, to believe its divine origin, we must know its history. From the records of the past we can see our own course more clearly. It is men and women at their best who inspire us. Many a life has been transformed by the careful study and deliberate contemplation of great lives. In building for ourselves a strong and wholesome philosophy of living we need the inspiration of those who have lived gloriously. From out of the pages of Church history come such mighty ones. Let us walk, as it were, into the great portrait gallery of the noble Saints of the latter days—let us gaze into the faces of men and women who endured the contumely of the word to bequeath to us the truth; let us catch the fire and enthusiasm in their eyes; let us note the expression of hope and expectancy and mark the depth of courage and determination engraved upon their countenances. As we vicariously experience their faith, courage, loyalty, and persistence in righteousness we will be strengthened to lay aside every weight and run with majestic valor and sublime patience the race of life before us.

Church History by the Year  - 1838

1831-Sept. 11
D&C 64:21 - Kirtland will be a stronghold for 5 years.
1833-Nov-Dec
Saints expelled from Jackson County
1834-May-Aug
March & return of Zion's Camp
1834-Dec. 5
Oliver Cowdery set apart as Assistant President of the Church
1835-Feb.
Quorum of the 12 and 70 called
1836-May-Jun
John Taylor and Lorenzo Snow baptized
1836-June 29
Mass meeting in Liberty, Clay County. 1)Poor 2)Religious differences stirs prejudice 3) Eastern customs & dialect alien to Mo. 4) Anti-Slavery 5) Indians chosen 6)Promise
1836-Dec. 26
Caldwell County created
1836-Summer
Saints begin settling in Far West
1836-Dec. 29
Caldwell & Davies Counties created-Sponsor Alexander Doniphan. Signed Gov. Boggs.
1837-Early
$ from Saints given to Phelps & Whitmer to buy land. Conflict when profit taken.
1837-May
Panic of 1837 hits Ohio
1837-Nov.
Joseph in Far West to settle difficulties
1838-Jan. 12
Joseph and Sidney flee Kirtland
1838-Feb.
Phelps & John Whitmer tried by High Council. Marsh & Patten new acting Presidency.
1838-Mar. 14
Joseph arrives to settle in Far West (Emma 6 months pregnant)
1838-March
D&C 113-
1838-Apr
Stake Pres. for Mo. called -3 Senior Apostles-Marsh, Patten, Young-Temporary solution
1838-Apr.
D&C-114 To David Patten
1838-Apr.
John Whitmer asked for his history.
1838-Apr. 12
O. Cowdery ex'd-1)Persecuting church leaders, 2)seeking to destroy character of Joseph. 3) Selling land in Jackson, 4) Leaving calling & turning to law practice. (Oct. 48)
1838-Apr.
D&C 115-Name of Church-Temple in Far West w/out debt-establish stakes in area.
1838-Apr.
History of Church begun-Joseph with assistance from Sidney.
1838-May
Adam-ondi-Ahman founded. D&C 116- See also D&C 107:53; 78:15-16
1838-June
Sidney Rigdon's Salt Sermon, July 4 Independence Day Sermon
1838-June 28
Di-Ahman Stake created. John Smith Pres. Reynolds Cahoon & Lyman Wight-Couns.
1838-Summer
Population of Caldwell County 5000-over 1/2 in Far West-Boasts of Anti's
1838-July 8
D&C 117, 118, 119, 120
1838 Summer
Unauthorized document to dissenters, Danites led by Sampson Avard
1838-Aug. 8
Election Day at Gallatin. Peniston vs. Williams. Judge Adam Black signed affidavit.
1838-Sept. 7
Joseph & Lyman Wight tried before Judge Austin King at suggestion of Generals David Atchison & Alexander Doniphan.
1838-Oct. 1-7
Battle of DeWitt
1838-Oct. 18-19
Guerilla Warfare in Davies County. Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde joined enemy at Richmond. Marsh ex'ed March 1839-Hyde relieved of duties in 12. June 27 returned.
1838-Oct. 25
Battle of Crooked River
1838-Oct. 27
Governor Bogg's "extermination order"
1838-Oct. 30
Haun's Mill Massacre - 17 killed, 13 wounded
1838-Oct. 30-Nov. 6
Siege of Far West- General Atchison, General Clark. General Lucas, Coronel HInkel; Joseph, Sidney, Lyman Wight, PPP, George W. Robinson. General Alexander Doniphan
Nov-38-Apr. 39
Independence-Richmond - Sampson Avard, Judge Austin King, Doniphan (November), Liberty (Dec. 1-Apr 6),


3 September 1837 John F. Boynton disfellowshipped. He was excommunicated later that year.

13 April 1838 Lyman E. Johnson and his brother, Luke S. Johnson excommunicated.

11 May 1838 William E. M'Lellin excommunicated.

25 October 1838 David W. Patten killed in Battle of Crooked River.

19 December 1838 John Taylor and John E. Page ordained.

17 March 1839 Thomas B. Marsh excommunicated.

26 April 1839 Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith ordained.

4 May 1839 William Smith and Orson Hyde removed from the Quorum by vote of the church.

25 May 1839 William Smith restored to Quorum by vote of the Church.

27 June 1839 Orson Hyde restored to the Quorum by vote of the church

Section 113 Answers to certain questions on the writings of Isaiah, given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at or near Far West, Missouri, March 1838.

Joseph, Emma, Julia, Joseph III & Frederick arrived in Far West on March 14. In an informal meeting with Elias Higbee and others Joseph clarified passages from Isaiah 11 & 52. Stem of Jesse is Jesus. The rod and root are Joseph Smith. Isaiah 11 was quoted by Moroni Sept. 1823 who said they were about to be fulfiiled. Joseph recorded this section in his Scriptory Book.

As with Smith’s record keeping in general, his journal-keeping methods developed over time. Before he and his scribes developed a consistent, workable procedure, their efforts, intentionally or not, echoed several genres. The first six journals each bear a title—Book for Record, Sketch Book, Scriptory Book, Memorandum, and Minute Book (all constituting the present first volume of The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals series), and Book of the Law of the Lord (the title of the book containing the first journal presented in volume two of the Journals series). These titles, in the end, reflect something of the varied contents and purposes of these journals. The Scriptory Book, for example, contains various written records, or scripts—letters, minutes, revelations, and other transcribed documents—as well as typical journal entries recording daily events. Combining miscellaneous documents with proper journal entries, the book functioned as a repository for information Smith and his scribes wanted to preserve. (http://josephsmithpapers.org/doc/series-introduction-for-the-journals-series)

Section 114

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 11, 1838.

Vs. 2 - The Greek word for bishopric is "episkope"=overseership or office. It can refer to a variety of callings or duties.

David W. Patten- Born Nov. 14, 1799 New York. 6'1" 200+ pounds. Baptized June 15, 1832 by brother John. Gift of healing . Missions man. Asked Joseph for martyr's death. Captain Fearnot. Killed Oct. 25 at Battle of Crooked River. (Age 38)  Grave in Far West. Unmarked and Unknown. D&C 124:19

Apostasy before Oct. 25, 1838- T.B. Marsh, W.E. McLellin, Luke S. Johnson, John F. Boynton, Lyman E. Johnson. Wm. Smith was Inactive and in and out but was not Ex'd until 1845. Orson Hyde was Out on May 1839 and in on June 27, 1839

Section 115

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, April 26, 1838, making known the will of God concerning the building up of that place and of the Lord’s house. This revelation is addressed to the presiding officers and the members of the Church.

Vs. 2 - Counselors to Bishop Partridge were Isaac Morley and Titus Billings.

Vs. 4 - Name of the Church

Vs. 8 - Temple to be built in Far West.

Section 116

Orson Pratt Said, "We have then an understanding that Adam-ondi-Ahman was the place where Adam dwelt. Ondi-Ahman means the place where Adam dwelt. Ahman signifies God, The whole term means Valley of God, where Adam dwelt. It is in the original language spoke by Adam, as revealed to Joseph. (JD 18:342-43)

Section 117

William Marks - Born Nov. 15, 1792 in Vermont. Baptized in New York. Moved to Kirtland and ran a bookstore. Was Pres of the Kirtland Stake and the Nauvoo Stake. Was sympathetic to Sidney Rigdon, a Counselor to James Strang and a co-founder of the Reorganized Church. Counselor to Joseph III. Died May 22, 1972 - Age 79.

Vs. 11-The Nicolatians appear to have been characterized by sensuality, seducing Christians to participate in feasts of pagans. They taught in order to overcome sensuality, one must know the whole range of it by experience. BRM said they were members of the Church who were trying to maintain Church standing while living after the way of the world. Nicolatians has come to identify those who want their names on the records of the Church, but do not want to devote themselves with full purpose of heart. (Understanding the Book of Revelation p. 31)

Section 118

Father Smith, "the Lord will take the will for the deed." Others, "the Lord could not expect the 12 Apostles to go up and sacrifice their live to fulfill that revelation." Brigham and the 12, "The Lord God has spoken and we will fulfill that Revelation and commandment." (Wilford Woodruff JD 18:123)

Section 119 & 120-

The Windows of Heaven  Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles October 2013