Mormon History, about Jan 16, 1838

-- about Jan 16, 1838
Norton Township, Ohio. Fleeing mob violence in Ohio, Joseph Smith traveled to Dublin, Indiana, where he tarried nine days. He was then given $300 from the sale of Brother Nathan Tomlinsons farm, which allowed him to continue his journey. (1)

-- Jan 20, 1838
Apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten discuss the actions of the Missouri presidents, appoint a committee to visit them, decide to revise city plot. (2)

-- (Sun) Jan 21, 1838
Oliver Cowdery confronts Smith with charge of adultery with Fanny Alger. (Perhaps by letter, as Smith had not yet arrived in Missouri) (3)

-- Jan 21, 1838
Oliver Cowdery writes to his brother Warren: "When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself." In Jul of 1872 former apostle and apostate William E. McLellin wrote to Joseph Smith III : "Now Joseph I will relate to you some history, and refer you to your own dear Mother for the truth. You will probably remember that I visited your Mother and family in 1847, and held a lengthy conversation with her . . .I told her I heard that one night she missed Joseph and Fanny Alger. she went to the barn and saw him and Fanny in the barn together alone. She looked through a crack and saw the transaction!!! She told me this story too was verily true." (4)

Oliver Cowdery: "A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth."
-- (2)

Oliver Cowdery confronts Smith with charge of adultery with Fanny Alger. (5)

-- Jan 26, 1838
In Far West, apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten , and the high council reject David and John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps as presidents of Zion and arrange for neighborhood meetings on the case. (2)

The Far West High Council, meeting with apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten, reject the presidency of David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and William Wines Phelps, the stake presidency of Far West. (6)

[Word of Wisdom] Oliver drinks tea three times a day in winter for his health. David and John Whitmer drink tea and coffee--do not consider them hot drinks. (2)

-- Jan 28, 1838
(or 12-Jan) Joseph Smith leaves Kirtland, OH (reportedly to escape debts) at night and travels 60 miles the first night [per Ebenezer Robinson]. (5)

-- Jan 30, 1838
Oliver Cowdery meets with David, John, and Jacob Whitmer, Frederick G. Williams, Lyman Johnson, and W. W. Phelps "to take into consideration the state of the Church." They say they are opposed to the manner in which "some of the Authorities of the- [church] have for the time past, and are still, endeavoring to unite ecclesiastical and civil authority, and force men under the pretense of incurring the displeasure of heaven to use their earthly substance contrary to their interest and privilege." Cowdery says local authorities are "endeavoring to make it a rule of faith for said church to uphold a certain man or men right or wrong." He and his friends are determined to separate themselves from such a society and find a new place to gather where they could "live in peace." The WESTERN RESERVE CHRONICLE in Warren, Ohio reports: "The Mormon Society at Kirtland is breaking up. Smith and Rigdon, after prophecying the destruction of the town, left with their families in the night, an
d others of the faithful are following.- An exposure of the proceedings of the Society is in course of preparation by one Par[r]ish, the former confidential secretary of the prophet Smith." Warren Parrish's expose, published the following month in the PAINESVILLE TELEGRAPH, is a devastating disclosure of the failed financial workings of the church. Of Rigdon and Smith he concludes: "I believe them to be confirmed infidels who have not the fear of God before their eyes.- They lie by revelation, swindle by revelation, cheat and defraud by revelation, run away by revelation, and if they do not mend their ways, I fear they will at last be damned by revelation." (4)

-- During Jan 0, 1838
Lyman E Johnson: Attended official meeting of dissenters 30 Jan. 1838 to protest actions of LDS church (7)

Lyman Wight: Presided over meeting of dissenters 30 Jan. 1838 (7)

Footnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
2 - Kenny, Scott, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
3 - Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
5 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology," http://bit.ly/14Qt5F
6 - Wikipedia, 19th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)
7 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47

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