[Corrill, John] Appointed to assist as Church historian 8 April 1838. (1)
-- (Mon) Apr 9, 1838
Thomas B. Marsh informs Oliver Cowdery of the charges being made against him which will lead to excommunication. (2)
-- Apr 9, 1838
Joseph and Sidney write John Whitmer requesting the return of church documents still in his care, noting his "incompetency as a historion." (3)
[Wikipedia Joseph Smith Chronology] Smith and Sidney Rigdon write to John Whitmer and ask him to return the manuscript history of the church that Whitmer had started in 1832. They say that if Whitmer does not return the manuscript, they will start their own history from other materials. (4)
-- (Wed) Apr 11, 1838
The new Far West High Council (under Thomas B. Marsh) files official charges against Oliver Cowdery. (2)
-- 11-Apr 12, 1838
[Lucy Mack Smith] Oliver Cowdery is excommunicated by the Far West high council. (5)
-- Apr 11, 1838 - 14 September 1840
[1st Presidency Changes] Joseph Smith, Jr. Sidney Rigdon (never ordained an apostle) Hyrum Smith Joseph Smith, Sr. (never ordained an apostle, Assistant Counselor) John Smith (never ordained an apostle, Assistant Counselor) Oliver Cowdery excommunicated (6)
-- Apr 11-13, 1838
- The high council at Far West, Missouri (now LDS headquarters) excommunicates Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Lyman E. Johnson. Cowdery is charged with, among other things, "seeking to destroy the character of President Joseph Smith, Jun., by falsely insinuating that he was guilty of adultery." (7)
-- (Thr) Apr 12, 1838
Oliver Cowdery was excommunicated by the High Council at Far West. [LDS Church History Vol III]. He may have withdrawn on the 11th. (2)
-- 12Apr38
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Far West, Missouri High Council [High council presided over by Joseph Smith. Council called to consider the case of Oliver Cowdery who had written a long letter of protest to Edward Partridge regarding the Church's involvement in civic matters and particularly the matter of Cowdery's property in Far West.
The council heard charges against Cowdery and deliberated on his standing. Cowdery was excommunicated. For the account see FWR. Joseph Smith's remarks occupy only a small part of the record, but indicate his attitude regarding Cowdery and their history in the restoration. The remarks made by Joseph are in regard to the insinuation made by Cowdery to several brethren that Joseph was guilty of adultery. To set the context, we include testimony which drew forth Joseph's remarks.] ... George W. Harris testifies that one evening last fall [see November 7, 1837 FWR.] O. Cowdery was at his house together with Joseph Smith jr, and Thomas B. Marsh, when a conversation took place between Joseph Smith jr & O. Cowdery, when he seemed to insinuate that Joseph Smith jr was guilty of adultery, but when the question was put, if he (Joseph) had ever acknowledged to him that he was guilty of such a thing; when he [Oliver] answered No...
... David W. Patten testifies, that he went to Oliver Cowdery to enquire of him if a certain story was true respecting J. Smith's committing adultery with a certain girl , when he turned on his heel and insinuated as though he [Joseph] was guilty; he then went on and gave a history of some circumstances respecting the adultery scrape stating that no doubt it was true. Also said that Joseph told him, he had confessed to Emma, ...
... Thomas B. Marsh testifies that while in Kirtland last summer, David W. Patten asked Oliver Cowdery if he Joseph Smith jr had confessed to his wife that he was guilty of adultery with a certain girl, when Oliver Cowdery cocked up his eye very knowingly and hesitated to answer the question, saying he did not know as he was bound to answer the question yet conveyed the idea that it was true. Last fall after Oliver came to this place he heard a conversation take place between Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery when J. Smith asked him if he [Joseph] had ever confessed to him that he was guilty of adultery, when after a considerable winking &c. he said No. Joseph then asked him if he ever told him that he confessed to any body, when he answered No.
Joseph Smith jr testifies that Oliver Cowdery had been his bosom friend, therefore he intrusted him with many things.
He then gave a history respecting the girl business. (8)
-- Apr 12, 1838
High council and bishopric of Zion meet as a "common council" in Far West and excommunicate Lyman E. Johnson, David Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery. (3)
Second counselor Frederick G. Williams testifies that Oliver Cowdery knew a Mormon who could counterfeit coins, Joseph Smith and first counselor Sidney Rigdon say Cowdery left Kirtland because he was about to be indicted for manufacturing counterfeit money. In private correspondence, Cowdery would insist that these were conscious lies that LDS leaders should retract, but he also accepted rebaptism a decade later without such retraction. (9)
[Joseph Smith] Church council excommunicated Oliver Cowdery, Far West. (10)
Footnotes:
1 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
2 - Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm
3 - Kenny, Scott, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
4 - Wikipedia, Joseph Smith Chronology, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.
5 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
6 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
7 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
8 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
9 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
10 - Jessee, Dean, Esplin, Ronald and Bushman, Richard Lyman (editors), The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 1: 1832-1839, Chronology for the Years 1832-1839
LDS History Timeline
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