John Patten disfellowshipped. (1)
[Joseph Smith] Defended himself in worship service against accusations of dissenters, Kirtland. (2)
-- (Mon) May 29, 1837
Apostles Orson Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson accused Joseph Smith. Jr., before the Kirtland Stake High Council, of lying, financial fraud, and extortion. In the same Council session First Counselor Sidney Rigdon and "Assistant President" Oliver Cowdery presided over a meeting to consider charges brought against Second Counselor F. G. Williams, David Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish. It was decided the Council was not the proper body to try President Williams. Shortly thereafter Williams joined Rigdon and Cowdery in presiding. The members of the High Council were divided in their assessment of these various opposing charges and the meeting broke up without taking disciplinary action against any member of the Church. This open conflict between two factions in the Church leadership marked the beginning of a public acknowledgment of the split between Smith loyalists and reformers which began months earlier. [LDS History of the Church, Vol. II, pp. 484,
485] (3)
At about this time, Joseph Smith came out of hiding and allowed himself to be arrested, probably at his attorney's office in Painesville. It is likely that he was placed under bond and allowed his freedom until his hearing on the 30th. (3)
-- May 29, 1837
Kirtland high council meets to try President Frederick G. Williams, President David Whitmer, Apostles Parley P. Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish, a seventy. Cannot decide if the council has jurisdiction. Lyman and Orson accuse Joseph of misrepresentation and extortion. Dissidents meet in the temple, declare Joseph fallen; want to David to lead.
Wilford Woodruff Journal 1:148 (4)
Sidney Rigdon presides over charges against Frederick G. Williams, David Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish; meeting dispersed in confusion as members refused to judge each other [per Church history]. (1)
Apostles Orson Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson accuse Joseph Smith of lying, financial fraud, and extortion. The Kirtland High council receives formal accusations against counselors Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, apostles Parley P. Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson, Smith's private secretary Warren Parrish and BOOK OF MORMON witness David Whitmer. The accused challenge the authority of the council to try them and charge bias. The council "then dispersed in confusion." This is the beginning of an apostasy which would overwhelm church headquarters and causes its abandonment by Joseph Smith seven months later. (5)
Apostles Orson Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson accuse Joseph Smith of lying, financial fraud, and extortion. The Kirtland High Council receives formal accusations against counselors Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, apostles Parley P. Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson, Smith's private secretary, Warren Parrish, and Book of Mormon witness David Whitmer. This is the beginning of an apostasy which would overwhelm church headquarters and causes its abandonment by Smith seven months later. (6)
[Lucy Mack Smith] Frederick G. Williams, David Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish are called to a church court, but it closes in confusion when Rigdon, Cowdery, and Williams leave. Johnson and Orson Pratt charge Joseph Jr. with misrepresentation and extortion. Dissidents meet in temple, declare that Joseph Jr. is a fallen prophet, and want to replace him with Whitmer. (7)
-- (Tue) May 30, 1837
Joseph Smith, accompanied by his lawyers and potential witnesses, appeared before Justice of the Peace (Talcott?) Flint at Painesville. The prosecution (apparently conducted by James H. Paine, Esq.) did not have its case ready and the hearing was rescheduled for June 3rd. Probably Grandison Newell and his counsel were attempting to find Marvel C. Davis to testify in the case. Mr. Davis never was located during this period -- probably he was in Kirtland. (3)
-- May 30, 1837
Joseph and entourage travel to Painesville for trial, but prosecution is not ready, so date is moved to the following Saturday. (4)
-- May 31, 1837
[Wilford Woodruff] Departs on mission to Maine with Jonathan Hale and Milton Holmes (8)
[Wilford Woodruff] Leaves Kirtland, Ohio, to serve a mission in the Fox Islands, off the coast of the state of Maine. (9)
Footnotes:
1 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology," http://bit.ly/14Qt5F
2 - Jessee, Dean, Esplin, Ronald and Bushman, Richard Lyman (editors), The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 1: 1832-1839, Chronology for the Years 1832-1839
3 - Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm
4 - Kenny, Scott, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
5 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
6 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47"
7 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
8 - Kenny, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah
9 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah
LDS History Timeline
About this site: http://mormon-church-history.blogspot.com/2008/12/welcome-to-mormon-church-history.html
Mormon History Chronology
No comments:
Post a Comment