| |
|
|
| January
12 |
|
Joseph and others flee Kirtland, arriving in Far West on
March 14. |
|
|
|
|
Luke S. Johnson, learning
Sheriff Kimball was about to arrest Joseph for illegal banking, arrests
the Prophet himself for an outstanding judgment. Joseph pays the judgment
and leaves for Missouri on horseback with Sidney. |
|
¶
Luke S. Johnson (h)
Papers, 2:213n1 |
| January 13–March 3 |
|
LaRoy Sunderland (1802–1885), Methodist minister and editor of Zion's
Watchman, publishes Mormonism Exposed and Refuted in New York.
In April Parley P. Pratt responds with Zion's Watchman Unmasked, and
its Editor, Mr. L. R. Sunderland, Exposed: Truth Vindicated: the Devil
Mad, and Priestcraft in Danger! |
|
Crawley bibiography, 76–79. |
| January
15 |
|
The church printing office in Kirtland is attached and sold
at public auction to pay a debt to Grandison Newell. |
|
| January
16 |
|
The church printing office burns. Dissenters claim the
church burned it rather than let anyone else have it. Members claim dissenter Lyman
Sherman burned it to keep the church from getting it back. |
B. F. Johnson life, 22. |
| January
20 |
|
Apostles Thomas B. Marsh (h)
and David W. Patten (h) discuss the
actions of the Missouri presidents, appoint a committee to visit them >,
decide to revise city plot. |
|
Minutes
of Jan. 20, 1838 |
| January
21 |
|
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." |
|
Earliest known reference to Joseph
and Fanny. Oliver's letterbook qtd. in Sacred loneliness, 28. Cf.
Minutes of April 12, 1838. |
| January
26 |
|
In Far West, apostles Thomas
B. Marsh (h) and David W. Patten (h),
and the high council reject David and John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps as presidents
of Zion and arrange for neighborhood meetings on the case <
>. |
|
Minutes
of Jan. 26, 1838 |
| February
1 |
|
Lyman Wight (h)
(swh) moves to Adam-Ondi-Ahman. |
|
|
| February
5–9 |
|
Led by the high council in
Far West, branches in Zion reject the leadership of the stake presidency,
David Whitmer, W.
W. Phelps, and John Whitmer <. |
|
Minutes
of Feb. 5–9, 1838 |
| February 15 |
|
Painesville Republican publishes Warren
Parrish's
February 5 letter to the editor, asserting that Joseph said "that
the audible voice of God instructed him to establish a Banking-Anti-Banking
Institution, which, like Aaron's rod, should swallow up all other banks … and
grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth,
and survive when all others should be laid in ruins" >. |
|
Source
¶ 1837 |
| February
24 |
|
Far West high council direct two wagons and funds
be sent to meet Joseph and Sidney. |
|
Papers, 2:213n1 |
| March 3 |
|
Far West high council votes to provide Joseph, Sidney, and
Hyrum with lots in Far West without charge. |
|
Minutes of Mar.
3, 1838 |
| March 10 |
|
Far West high council excommunicates John Whitmer and W.
W. Phelps for "persisting in unchristian-like conduct." |
|
Minutes of Mar.
10, 1838 |
| March
14 |
|
Joseph arrives at Far West and approves
of the course the apostles and high council have taken. |
|
¶
Thomas B. Marsh (h) |
| March 15 |
|
Meeting of the high council and bishopric in Zion: Joseph
gives "a history of the ordination of David
Whitmer, which took place in July 1834, to be a leader or a prophet
to this church, which was on condition that he did not live to God himself." |
|
Minutes of Mar.
15, 1838 |
| March
[16] |
|
Joseph dictates "The
Motto of the Church of Latter-day Saints." |
|
Scriptory
Book in JS personal, 354–355. |
|
|
Samuel H. Smith arrives in
Far West. |
|
Papers, 2:213. |
| March 29 |
|
Joseph writes Hyrum, "The saints at this time are in
union & peace & love prevails throughout, in a word Heaven smiles
upon the saints in Caldwell." |
|
JS personal, 356. |
| March
31 |
|
Henry Root and David Thomas,
owners of land in DeWitt, Carroll county write Joseph, proposing a Mormon
settlement on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Grand Missouri
rivers. It would be a convenient location for a port. The first Mormons
arrived in July. Several hundred Canadian Saints under John
E. Page (h) arrived in September >,
but all were expelled in October >. |
|
JS personal, 225n1. |
| Early spring |
¶ |
In the early spring of 1838 an effort was made by the local
authorities [in Kirtland] to draw the line of fellowship on practices which
then seemed tending to demoralize, among which was dancing and late night
associates, to which little heed was paid, [23] and soon a long list of
names was left with the High Council to be dealt with, and notice was given
to each by its clerk. |
|
B. F. Johnson life, 22–23. |
| [April
1–3] |
|
As Sidney nears Far West,
he meets Henry Root by chance on Turkey Creek, Carroll county. Root offers
Sidney "a liberal share" of the profits from the sale of land
in DeWitt to Mormons. A few weeks later, Root and Thomas come to Far
West and a deal is struck. A few families move to the new site in July,
and by October seventy families had gathered, living in tents and wagons
as they worked on permanent houses. |
|
Sidney's
affidavit submitted to the municipal court of Nauvoo, July 1, 1843,
HC 3:450–451. |
| April
4 |
|
Sidney arrives in Far West. |
|
Sidney's
affidavit, HC 3:449. |
| April
6 |
|
George W. Robinson named general church recorder and clerk
to the First Presidency. |
|
Writing JS, 450. |
| April
9 |
|
Joseph and Sidney write John
Whitmer requesting the return of his notes as church historian and
noting his "incompetency as a historion." |
|
Papers 2:226–227. |
| April
12 |
|
High council and bishopric of Zion meet as a "common
council" in Far West and excommunicate Lyman
E. Johnson, David Whitmer, and Oliver
Cowdery. |
|
Minutes
of Apr. 12, 1838 |
| April 26 |
|
D&C 115: name of the
church changed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. |
|
¶
D&C 115 |
| April
27 |
|
Joseph, Sidney, and George W. Robinson begin "a history
of this Church from the earliest period of its existance up to this date." |
|
Joseph's 1838, Papers
2:233. |
| May
2 |
|
Joseph writes his history. |
|
Joseph
Smith—History |
| May 7 |
|
Reynolds Cahoon arrives in
Far West from Kirtland, Parley P. Pratt (h)
arrives from New York. |
|
J. Whitmer, 73. |
| |
|
Joseph Smith Sr., William, Don Carlos, Jenkins
Salisbury, William McClary, and Lewis Robbins, and families, and Sister
Singly start for Missouri from Norton, Ohio. |
|
Don Carlos Smith to Joseph Smith, received July 6, 1838,
HC 3:43. |
| May 11 |
|
William E. McLellin (h)
is excommunicated. |
|
|
| May
12 |
|
High council grants Joseph and Sidney each 80
acres, annual salary of $1100 (quickly rescinded). |
|
Minutes
of May 12, 1838
Joseph's Finances: 1838 |
| May
18 |
|
Joseph, Sidney, Thomas B. Marsh
(h), and others visit Oliver Cowdery, Lyman
E. Johnson (h) and others in Daviess
county who are also exploring northward on Grand River. |
|
|
| June
|
|
Daughters of Zion are organized in Far West. |
|
Origins, 93, citing
William Schwartzell journal, July 14, 1838. |
| June
4 |
|
Joseph, Sidney, Hyrum, and others travel to “Adam Ondi Awman.”
Despite the rain, they survey the city plot, and build houses “day after
day ..." |
|
Papers 2:248. |
| June
11 |
|
After digging a well on Lyman Wight's property in Daviess
county, Missouri, with Joseph and Martin Harris, William Swartzell suggests
Joseph should name the place. He calls it Adam-ondi-Ahman because, "there
was no place by that name under heaven." |
|
Mormonism exposed |
| June
17 |
|
Sidney Rigdon's "salt sermon" inflames
feelings on both sides. |
|
|
| June
18 |
|
Hyrum and Uncle
John Smith, Sampson Avard, and
83 other Mormons sign an ultimatum directed at Oliver
Cowdery, David
and John Whitmer, Lyman
E. Johnson, and William W. Phelps,
warning them to leave the county immediately lest a "fatal calamity
shall befall you." |
|
Origins, 94, quoting
Document. |
| June
28 |
|
Adam-ondi-Ahman stake organized in the grove
near Lyman Wight's house, Joseph Smith Jr. presiding. Uncle John Smith
is named president of the stake, with Reynolds
Cahoon and Lyman Wight (h) (swh)
counselors. Vinson Knight acting bishop. President John
Smith then organizes
the High Council: John Lemon, Daniel Stanton, Mayhew Hillman, Daniel Carter,
Isaac Perry, Harrison Sagers, Alanson Brown, Thomas Gordon, Lorenzo Barnes,
George A. Smith, Harvey Olmstead, Ezra Thayer.
Lorenzo Barnes, clerk. Sing
"the well-known hymn Adam-ondi-Ahman." Benediction by Joseph
Smith, Jr. |
|
Elders' Journal, vol. 1
no. 4 (August 1838): 61.
"Adam-ondi-Ahman" Lyrics |
| July
4 |
|
(Wednesday) Corner stones are laid for the Far
West temple.
Sidney Rigdon declares a "war of extermination" on persecutors
of the Saints, First Presidency reviews the troops. |
|
¶
Order of the Day, July 4, 1838
Sidney's Independence Day Oration |
|
|
Vigilantes fire on first Mormon settlers at DeWitt. |
|
|
| July 6 |
|
The Kirtland Camp, consisting of 500 Saints,
leaves for Missouri (only half remain at the half-way point) >. |
|
Lucy, 193. |
| July
8 |
|
D&C 118
(Far West): John Taylor, John E. Page (h),
Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards (h)
to replace apostles John F. Boynton (h),
Luke (h)
and Lyman Johnson (h),
and William E. McLellin (h), who
had been excommunicated in 1837. The Twelve are to depart for England
on April 26, 1839 from the temple site. |
|
|
|
|
Revelation: Frederick
G. Williams and W. W. Phelps have
lost their standing, but may be ordained elders and serve missions
abroad. |
|
Revelation
of July 8, 1838 |
|
|
D&C 119: Law
of tithing. |
|
|
|
|
D&C 120: First Presidency, bishop's council,
and high council are to dispose of tithes. |
|
|
|
|
D&C 117: William Marks and Newel
K. Whitney to move to Far West. Let Kirtland properties pay debts.
Adam lived in what is now western Missouri. William Marks to preside
in Far West. Newel to be bishop "not in name but in deed." Oliver
Granger to pay First Presidency debts, come to Zion. |
|
|
| July
6–7 |
|
Second quarterly conference
in Far West, mostly ordinations. |
|
Minutes
of July 6, 1838
Minutes of July 7, 1838 |
| July
6 |
|
The Kirtland Camp, 515 members under the direction
of the Seventy, leaves Kirtland for Far West, arriving October 2. |
|
|
| July 8 |
|
D&C 106, 117,
118, 120,
and an unpublished revelation are received in Far West. |
|
|
| July
9 |
|
The Twelve meet in Far West (Thomas B. Marsh
(h)
president) and resolve to fill vacancies with Wilford
Woodruff, Orson Pratt (h),
Willard Richards (h). Sidney counsels
concerning provisions for the Twelve. |
|
HC 3:47. |
| July
26 |
|
First presidency, high council, bishop's council
set First Presidency prerogatives: can sell their properties at a profit
and consecrate the rest, direct bishop in expenditures. Stop sale of liquor,
petition to move county seat to Far West. |
|
Minutes
of July 26, 1838 |
| August
6 |
|
Mormons battle non-Mormons at the Gallatin election
near Adam-ondi-Ahman. |
|
|
| August
7 |
|
Joseph leads 150 men to Adam-ondi-Ahman to protect
the Saints. |
|
|
| August
8 |
|
Joseph, Hyrum and a large company of armed men
call on Judge Adam Black in Daviess county. He produces a statement pledging
to support the Constitution. |
|
|
| August
11 |
|
Joseph leaves Far West for
DeWitt to welcome Canadian Saints <. |
|
|
| August 17 |
|
It is stated in the Canton, Ohio, Repository,
that this people to the number of about 200, with 57 waggons filled with
furniture, cattle, &c. have left Geauga [county, Ohio], on their way
to the "promised
land" in Missouri. They pitch their tent in the open field at night
after the manner of the ancient Israelites. |
|
"The Mormons," Wayne Sentinel (Palmyra,
New York), Aug. 17, 1838. Source (search
for 200) |
| August
20 |
|
100–150 armed men ride into DeWitt and give
the Mormons to October 1 to leave the county. |
|
Siege of DeWitt |
| August
30 |
|
Governor Boggs orders Major General David R.
Atchison to call out the state militia. About the same time, Neil Gillum,
a militia captain, begins plundering Saints at Hunters Mills. |
|
|
| September
3 |
|
James Mulholland begins writing for Joseph (begins the 1839
history, which includes text written in 1838). |
|
|
| September
4 |
|
Self-confessed Danite John N. Sapp swears out
an affidavit before the Carroll county clerk estimating the number of
Danites to be between eight hundred and one thousand men "well-armed
and equipped." |
|
Document, 17. D. Michael
Quinn lists 233 Danites by name, Origins, 480–485,
including some who became Danites after Sapp's statement. |
| September
24 |
|
Joseph and Lyman Wight (h)
(swh) are arrested and freed on bail
pending grand jury results. |
|
| September
25 |
|
Don Carlos Smith and George A. Smith leave on
a mission to Kentucky and Tennessee to raise funds for Missouri Saints. |
|
|
| October
[1–7] |
|
John E. Page and his company of Canadian converts
arrive in DeWitt. |
|
¶
John E. Page (h) |
| October
2 |
|
Kirtland Company arrives at
Far West after a journey of 860 miles. The First Presidency and others
escort them into town. The company continues to Adam-ondi-Ahman, arriving
October 4 <. |
|
Papers
2:307n1 // HC 3:85 |
| October
5 |
|
While checking sites for a town in Caldwell county, Joseph
learns that DeWitt is under siege. |
|
Siege
of DeWitt; Papers 2:307n2; Papers
1:213; ¶ Joseph
Smith's Far West. |
| October
11 |
|
DeWitt falls to 400 vigilantes from
Carroll and five other counties. Mormons flee to Far West <. |
|
| October 23 |
|
[Rev. Samuel Bogart to Major General David R. Atchison:] The Mormons
have burnt Gallatin and Mill Port, and have ravaged Daviess county … and
they have threatened to burn Buncombe and Elk Horn and have been seen near
and on the line between Ray and Caldwell." Bogart will patrol the
line between Ray and Caldwell counties. |
|
Document, 48, in Militias, 86. |
| |
|
[Atchison immediately replies:] You are hereby ordered to range the line
between Caldwell and Ray counties with your company of volunteers, and
prevent, if possible, any invasion of Ray county by persons in arms whatever … [and]
inquire into the state of things in Daviess county … |
|
Document, 108, in Militias, 86. |
| October 24 |
|
Bogart's militia "patrol" along Log and Long Creeks in southern
Caldwell county, intimidating Mormons and allegedly stealing and destroying
property under the pretense of searching for weapons to confiscate. |
|
Militias, 86.
¶ Hyrum Smith's
Far West |
| October 24 |
|
Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Quorum of the Twelve,
having fled the violence in Daviess and Caldwell counties, testifies
in Richmond, Ray county, that a company of Mormons under
Apostle David Patten had burned Gallatin, that Danites planned to burn
Buncombe and perhaps Liberty and Richmond; that Joseph believes his prophecies
are superior to the laws of the land, and so forth. Orson Hyde states
he knows most of Marsh's statements to be true and believes the rest. |
|
Thomas B. Marsh
and Orson Hyde Affidavits |
| |
|
William Seeley: Went to Bunkham's Strip on business; was captured by
about 15 armed men, strip searched, thrown out of doors, dragged over a
panel of fence, and kicked when he said he was a Mormon. Marched to Samuel
Bogart's company of about 75, where volunteers who had joined the company,
chanted "Put him to death." |
|
|
| October
25 |
|
Battle of Crooked River: David W. Patten killed. Rev. Bogart's
men fire on friends who came to rescue Seeley; Seeley placed in front of
Bogart's men; order to fire was given, Seeley shot in shoulder by Bogart
man; friends took him to his family; 4 months confinement to recover. (Mormon
Redress, xxxii) |
|
¶
David W. Patten (h) |
| |
|
Rumors circulate in Richmond that the town will be "sacked and burned
by the Mormon banditti tonight."
|
|
|
| October
27 |
|
Governor Lilburn W. Boggs issues the extermination order. |
|
Extermination
Order |
| October
30 |
|
Haun's Mill massacre. Two hundred militia from Livingston
county kill 18 men, women, children. General Lucas marches militia to
Goose creek, one mile south of Far West. |
|
HC 3:183–186, 212; 196. |
| October
31 |
|
George M. Hinkle agrees to Lucas's terms to surrender Joseph
Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight (h)
(swh), Parley P. Pratt (h),
and George W. W. Robinson, all church property, including arms, and all
Mormons to leave the state. Leaders taken prisoner. |
|
HC 3:196–198. |
| November 1 |
|
Hyrum Smith and Amasa Lyman (h) brought
into militia camp as prisoners. Court martial sentences prisoners to be
shot, but General Doniphan refuses to carry out the order. Caldwell county
militia (Mormon) surrenders arms to General Lucas. State militia plunders
Far West. "About
eighty" men
taken prisoner. |
|
HC 3:190–192, 198–199. |
| November 2 |
|
Sampson Avard captured. Prisoners say good-bye to their families
in Far West, then leave for Independence, camping overnight at Crooked river. |
|
HC 3:192–195. |
| November 3 |
|
Joseph predicts none of the prisoners will lose their lives during captivity.
Camp reaches Missouri river. |
|
HC 3:200. |
| November 4 |
|
Camp reaches Independence, Missouri. General Clark takes fifty-six men
prisoner at Far West. |
|
HC 3:200, 202. |
| November 6 |
|
General Clark addresses citizens of Far West, giving terms and conditions
of their treatment. Far West prisoners start for Richmond. |
|
HC 3:202–204. |
| November 8 |
|
General Wilson surrounds Adam-ondi-Ahman, Adam Black convenes a court
of inquiry. Joseph and other prisoners in Independence start for Richmond
with three guards who get drunk. Prisoners take their arms and horses but
apparently do not attempt to escape. |
|
HC 3:200, 202. |
| November 9 |
|
Mob threatens Joseph and others until Colonel Price arrives with guard
of 74 men, who conduct them to Richmond, where they meet General Clark. Prisoners
are chained together. |
|
HC 3:205–206. |
| November 10 |
|
Adam-ondi-Ahman court of inquiry concludes. All acquitted, but
all families are ordered out with permission to go to Caldwell county until
spring. |
|
HC 3:207. |
| November 11 |
|
General Clark, who had hoped for a military tribunal, turns fifty-three
prisoners over to civil authorities accused of high treason,
murder, burglary, arson, robbery, and larceny. |
|
HC 3:208–209 // Document, 97. |
| November 12 |
|
Judge Austin A. King sends armed men to obtain witnesses. |
|
HC 3:205–206. |
| November 13 |
|
Preliminary hearing begins in Richmond with Thomas C. Burch, prosecuting
attorney, Alexander W. Doniphan and Amos Rees, defense attorneys. "Witnesses
were called and sworn at the point of the bayonet." Sampson
Avard (not included in list of the accused) testifies the First Presidency
directed Danite activities. Other prosecution witnesses include John
Corrill, Reed Peck, W. W. Phelps, George
M. Hinkle, Burr Riggs, and John
Whitmer. |
|
HC 3:209–210, 212 // Document,
97–108,
110
–113, 116–120, 120–125, 125–129, 134–136, 138–139. |
| November 25 |
|
Hearing continues with numerous violations of judicial process until
November 25, when Judge King releases 23 of the 53 defendants for lack
of evidence and binds the remaining 30 over for trial. During the twelve-day
hearing, William E. McLellin (h), Burr
Riggs, and others rob the homes of Sidney Rigdon, George Morey, Phebe
Ann Patten, and others. |
|
HC 3:211–206, 215. |
| November 28 |
|
Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight (h)
(swh),
Caleb Baldwin, and Alexander McRae are ordered to the jail in Liberty,
Clay county; Parley P. Pratt (h), Morris
Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, and Norman Shearer are retained in the
Richmond jail. The remaining 19 are released or admitted to bail. |
|
HC 3:212. |
| November 30 |
|
Joseph and his fellow prisoners are taken to Liberty jail. |
|
HC 3:215. |
| December 5 |
|
Governor Boggs presents report on Mormon difficulties to the Missouri
House of Representatives. |
|
HC 3:217. |
| December 10 |
|
Committee of Edward Partridge, Heber
C. Kimball, John Taylor, Theodore Turley, Brigham Young, Isaac
Morley, George W. Harris, John Murdock,
and John M. Burk draft a petition to the state legislature detailing the
Mormon side of the conflict. |
|
HC 3:217–224. |
| December 13 |
|
Brigham Young presides over high council meeting. Brethren share testimonies,
express confidence in the faith. Four vacancies filled. |
|
HC 3:224–226. |
| December 16 |
|
Joseph writes letter of encouragement to the church, condemning apostates
and turncoats, denying charges leveled against him, and admonishing the
Saints to remain steadfast and faithful. |
|
HC 3:226–233. |
| December 17 |
|
In Jefferson City, David H. Redfield presents petition to General Atchison
and others, meets with Governor Boggs, urges legislation to right the
wrongs inflicted on the Mormons. |
|
HC 3:234–235. |
| December
19 |
|
High council meets in Far West and votes to ordain John
E. Page and John Taylor apostles. Brigham Young and Heber
C. Kimball ordain them. In Jefferson City, Representative John
Corrill presents the Mormon petition to the House of Representatives.
Heated debate ensues. |
|
Minutes of Dec.
19, 1838
HC 3:238–240. |
| December
25 |
|
Joseph's brother, Don Carlos, and cousin George
A. Smith return from missions in Kentucky and Tennessee. "When nearly home
they were known and pursued by the mob, which compelled them to travel
one hundred miles in two days and nights. The ground at the time was slippery,
and a severe northwest wind was blowing in their faces; they had but little
to eat, and narrowly escaped freezing both nights." |
|
HC
3:241. |
| December 26 |
|
David H. Redfield returns to Far West and reports to the
high council. |
|
HC 3:242. |
| December 27 |
|
House of Representatives votes to table Mormon petition for an investigation
of recent events until July 4. Anson Call is captured by a mob in Ray county
and beaten before escaping and returning to Far West. |
|
HC 3:242. |
| |
|
|
|
1837
Chronologies
|