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| Minutes of February 19, 1837 |
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Joseph silences his critics. |
| Minutes of May 28, 1837 |
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Spirit of mutiny. Joseph and Sidney address congregation persuasively. |
| Minutes of May 29, 1837 |
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High Council unable to convict Frederick G. Williams, David Whitmer, Parley P.
Pratt, Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish. |
| Joseph to Zion (September 1837) |
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Oliver Cowdery is now an assistant president in the First Presidency, but he has transgressed and should be excommunicated if he doesn't repent. There is hope for David Whitmer and Leonard Rich. Beware dissenters. Do not accept any changes not authorized by the First Presidency or their representatives (Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten). |
| Thomas B. Marsh
Letter (1837) |
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In Joseph's absence, Warren Parrish, three apostles, and
a member of the high council tried to seize control of the church. When
Joseph returns from Canada, they publicly renounce the church. William
Parrish is a deist. |
| December 1837 Excommunications |
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[Assistant President John Smith:] I called the [Kirtland] High Council together last week and laid before
them the case of disserter <dissenters;> 28 persons where upon after mautre <mature> discussion proceeded to cut them off from the Church: the leaders were Cyrus Smalling, Joseph Coe, Martin Harris Luke S. Johnson John F. Boynton and W. W. Parrish. We
have cut off between 40 and 50 from the Church since you left <[-]> thus
you will see the Church has taken a mighty pruning and we think she
will rise in the greatness of her <strength,> and I rejoice for the Lord
is good and He will cut his work short in righteousness. … I will
rejoice for the Lord will purify His Church. (John Smith to his son, George A., Jan. 1, 1838 in
Journal history
Journal History. Selected Collections, DVD 2:1-36. Original, Church Office Building Library.
, 2.) |
| Stephen Burnett Letter (1838) |
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In a letter to Lyman E. Johnson, Stephen Burnett excoriates Joseph and Sidney for deceiving Church members, "filching" their money, and squandering funds. Martin Harris said the Book of Mormon witnesses saw the plates "only in vision or imagination," but later recanted. Stephen renounced Mormonism in the "Stone Chapel" (House of the Lord). Kirtland property is worthless. Joseph blamed Lyman for the Safety Society failure. Martin Harris, others reject Joseph but still believe the Book of Mormon. |
| Dissidents Scorned (August 1838) |
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August 1838 Elders
Journal attack on Warren Parrish and other 1837 dissenters. Parrish
is accused of embezzling from the Kirtland Safety Society Bank and leading
the attack on the Prophet in the Kirtland Temple. Co-conspirators: Leonard
Rich, John F. Boynton, Luke S. Johnson, Stephen Burnett, Sylvester Smith,
Grandison Newell. Others denounced: Warren Cowdery, Martin Harris, Joseph
Coe, Cyrus Smalling. |
| Opposers and Apostates |
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George A. Smith (January
10, 1858)
Joseph and the church were scoffed at by the learned, abused by the newspapers,
and persecuted by blackguards. Early converts of all stripes. Some departed
for frivolous reasons, others to start their own churches, but all wound
up fighting against the work of God. Numerous anecdotes. Envy, hypocrisy, and adultery lead to apostasy. |
| Apostates |
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George A. Smith (November 15,
1864) unusual characters and spiritual
manifestations of the early Kirtland period, especially Ezra Booth. Joseph
and Sidney tarred and feathered. Dedication of the House of the Lord. Safety Society failed because Warren Parrish and other apostates embezzled
funds. Councils and trials were held constantly in Kirtland. |
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Purge (1837–1838)
Kirtland
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