Joseph Smith’s plans of the New Jerusalem. What did the conflict between the Saints and the old settlers come to a head over? (Slavery) Doctrine and Covenants.

Joseph Smith’s plans of the New Jerusalem

What did the conflict between the Saints and the old settlers come to a head over?

(Slavery)

Doctrine and Covenants 87 was given on December 25th, 1832.

It was given 28 years, 3 months and 17 days before the Civil War began.

Most people at that time thought the war would begin in Kansas, not South Carolina.

South Carolina took the first step by recalling it’s representatives in the United States Senate on November 10th, 1860.

The war ended up costing 7-8 billion dollars and ending the lives of well over 600,000 people.

In 1860 – 7 to 8 billion dollars.

In 2008 – 75 billion dollars.

Joseph’s idea was to compensate slave owners for the price of their slaves and then free the slaves. He proposed that it could be done by selling public land owned by the United States.

People mocked the plan because it would cost millions of dollars to implement.

Expulsion from Jackson County

Most of the information we have relative to the School of the Prophets comes from Zebedee Coltrin. He kept several journals and gave lectures to the High Priests at Spanish Fork.

There were 21 men who were in the School. We know 19 of their names.

Fourteen of the names come from the History of the Church and three others come from Zebedee’s journal. The other two names are from other sources.

The School functioned for only a few months from Jan. 24th 1833 until sometime into April 1833.

The School was disbanded because of “contention,” not persecution.

The following is a list of those who attended the School of the Prophets:

1. Joseph Smith Jr. 2. Sidney Rigdon 3. Frederick G. Williams 4. Newel K. Whitney 5. Hyrum Smith 6. Zebedee Coltrin 7. Joseph Smith Sr. 8. Samuel H. Smith 9. John Murdock 10. Lyman E. Johnson 11. Orson Hyde 12. Ezra Thayer 13. Levi Hancock 14. William Smith 15. Sylvester Smith 16. Martin Harris 17. Reynolds Cahoon 18. Solomon Humphries 19. Alexander Nieber

Orson Hyde was the teacher of the School of the Prophets.

Occasionally Sidney Rigdon served as the instructor.

They studied the science of English, Grammar and Theology.

After the School had started a few of the men expressed a desire to see an angel and have a vision.

They knelt in prayer. The glory began to fill the room and two of them got scared and stood up. The vision stopped. Levi Hancock and Solomon Humphries were the two that stood up.

Joseph then entered the room and asked what had happened. Joseph said that an angel was no further off than the roof of the house and would have been in their midst had they not shown fear.

After one of the sessions had closed, Joseph told the brethren to go home and fast and pray and to be at the School the next morning at 4 a.m.

He asked them to come in clean linens and to wash (meaning they did not bathe very much).

He promised the brethren that they would see visions if they came prepared.

The next morning they came and Zebedee Coltrin said they met together in the “True Order of Prayer.”

This was where the order was first taught and it is now only found in the Temples of the Most High God.

Zebedee Coltrin’s JournalChurch Archives

About the time the school was first organized some wished to see an angel and a number joined in a circle. They prayed and the vision came, two of the brethren shrank and called for the vision to close or they would perish (Brothers Hancock and Humphries).

On the 23rd January, 1833, when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence. No one whispered above their breath, a personage walked through the room from east to west. Joseph asked if we saw Him. I saw Him and suppose the others did. Joseph said that it was Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer. Another person came through the room; He was surrounded as with a flame of fire.

Zebedee experienced a sensation that it might destroy the tabernacle as it was of consuming fire of great brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw him…This appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in His presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones. The Prophet Joseph Smith then said, “Brethren now you are prepared to be Apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son (Zebedee Coltrin Journal, Church Archives).

On October 12, 1883, the School of the Prophets was held in Salt Lake City at the Endowment House. Wilford Woodruff and John Taylor presided. All Stake Presidents were invited to the meeting to hear Zebedee Coltrin share his experience of that occasion.

He was asked how the Savior was dressed?

Zebedee said that he was dressed in a flannel grey suit.

He was then asked what the Father was wearing?

Zebedee said he could not re-call because the glory was so intense. He said he saw His face, hands and his feet, but nothing else.

On another occasion Joseph promised the men that they would see the Savior and Angels.

In the Kirtland High Council Minutes Book, the prophet said that the Savior appeared in the School as well as Angels.

Several years ago, Elder Loren C. Dunn read the John Murdock account in General Conference.

John Murdock’s account recorded his views of the Savior, and that the Savior’s eyes were a beautiful blue.

The Alexander Niebor account also stated that the Savior had blue eyes.

It was in the School of the Prophets that Joseph taught the brethren the “True Order of the Sacrament.”

Anciently it was a meal of bread and wine. Zebedee said that they would pass around bread in large loaves and would take what they could eat and then sip a cup of wine.

This order was followed in the Church for many years by the General Authorities.

The Word of Wisdom

In the School of the Prophets Reynolds Cahoon was transfigured. Joseph said that had Reynolds been transfigured just a few more seconds he would have been translated.

– Of the 22 or so men in the School, about 20 of them used tobacco (mostly chewing tobacco). Some also liked to smoke.

– The revelation was given for those men in the room to live the revelation.

–The early leaders of the Church were bound by it.

–David Whitmer did not live it because he did not think it was from God.

–The general membership of the Church was not accountable to live it until the presidency of Heber J. Grant.

What is the Purpose of the Word of Wisdom?

In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you (D&C 89:4).

Cola Drinks“With reference to cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken a position on this matter, but the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise, against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided (Priesthood Bulletin, Ensign, June 1972, 46).

Do you remember what President Hinckley said to Mike Wallace about the Word of Wisdom and specifically caffeine?

Hot DrinksJoel H. Johnson, with whose family the Prophet was intimate, related that on a Sabbath day in July (1833) following the giving of the “Word of Wisdom,” when both Joseph and Hyrum were on the stand, the Prophet said to the Saints, “I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using tea and coffee, because the Lord only said, ‘hot drinks’ in the revelation of the Word of Wisdom. Tea and coffee are what the Lord meant when he said, ‘hot drinks’” (Joel Johnson, Voice from the Mountains” 12).

Four things we gain from living the Word of Wisdom:

1. Self Control

2. Strength of Body

3. Clearness of Mind

4. Spiritual Power

D&C 89:19

Where do you find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures?

“The Temple”

The First Patriarch of the Church

Joseph Smith Sr. was called by Joseph Smith Jr. on 18th, December, 1833.

He served in that position until his death in 1840 at Nauvoo.

Hyrum was called to that position in 1841. Hyrum was martyred in 1844 which left the position vacant for years. Hyrum’s son, John was only twelve at the time.

William Smith

In May of 1845 he was ordained Patriarch by the twelve. However, he was never sustained by the body of the Church before he was excommunicated in October of 1845 (General Conference).

William turned out to be a rebel. He had several problems, one of them being a terrible temper.

On one occasion he physically hurt his brother Joseph in a fight. Joseph made excuses about losing the fight to William. He said, “that because of his persecutions he had become worn down by the mobs.”

William turned out to be a thief and an adulterer.

Patriarchs

The Presiding Patriarch had no more authority than a Stake Patriarch.

John Smith, Hyrum’s son was sustained to the position on the 18th of February, 1855. He gave over 22,000 blessings. He was faithful and a great man.

There was a ten year period when a presiding Patriarch was not sustained.

In October of 1979 Eldred G. Smith was declared Emeritus and the office of Presiding Patriarch was dissolved.

President Ezra Taft Benson explained that their was no longer a need for a Presiding Patriarch.

Trouble in Missouri 1. There was a heavy lawless element in Western

Missouri. Joseph said that there were people who would cut your throat for no reason.

2. The Mormons taught that the Lamanites or Indians were a chosen people.

3. Most Missourians were pro-slavery. The Mormons had come out of the New England States and were anti-slavery.

4. The Latter-day Saints were filled with pride, boasting and wickedness.

5. The local ministers were instigating religious persecution. Most mobs were led by ordained ministers who were opposed to Mormon theology.

6. The Mormons observed the Sabbath. 7. The Mormons became a political threat because of their

large numbers and potential political power. 8. The economic factor:

Independence was the start of the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails and all groups leaving for the west were outfitted there.

This was probably Lilburn W. Boggs biggest concern with the Saints because he was a wealthy land owner. He did not want to compete with the Saints or share his profits.

The troubles came to a head in July of 1833.

Edward Partridge and Charles Allen were taken to the public square and stripped naked.

Edward Partridge objected so strongly that the mob left his undergarments on him.

The Reverend Isaac McCoy held the tar bucket for the mob while they smeared tar all over the two men.

A woman who was present told the following to Emily Partridge, who wrote it down.

She said, “The whole time they were tarring your father, there was a beautiful heavenly light around his head.”

When they had finished tarring him, a man took out his bull whip to lacerate his body. Another large man stood forth, grabbed his arm and said, “You have done enough.”

Emily later wrote that the tar wiped off her dad like mud. It was considered a great miracle.

It was believed by many that Lilburn W. Boggs, the Lt. Governor of the State was a part of the mob.

The Printing PressSister Phelps was in the home next to the printing press when the mob tore the building down.

Henry Phelps, William’s boy was buried in the rubble. The family later found him alive.

Mary Elizabeth (14) and Caroline (12) Rollins saw what was taking place and grabbed an arm load of printed copies and ran into the corn field.

A man by the name of John Taylor (20) also stuck his hands through the boards of the shop before it was destroyed and grabbed a handful of the manuscripts too (This was not the John Taylor that would later be the 3rd president of the church).

The Violence and Killings Began in October 1833

In Jackson County there were ten different settlements which the mobs attacked.

The Whitmer settlement was the first. The mobs tore off the roofs of the homes and took the men and bull whipped them.

Hyrum Page was tied to a tree and bull whipped.

On November 4th, 1833 another battle took place above the Blue which was known as the “Bloody Day.” Two members of the mob were killed and Andrew Barber, a Mormon (18 years old) was killed.

Several of the Mormons were injured. Philo Dibble was shot in the stomach.

The physician said that there was nothing that could be done for him. Pieces of his shirt were scattered in the inside of his belly and he had a huge hole in his midsection. The Doctor said to make him comfortable because he would be dead in a few hours.

David Whitmer prophesied that Philo Dibble would not die. Newel K. Whitney blessed Philo silently because the mob was in the house. In the blessing he told Philo Dibble that he would be healed.

A couple of hours later, Philo Dibble said that a fire encircled his wound which made it glow brightly until it disappeared.

He then stood up and vomited several quarts of blood.

He mounted his horse and rode 8 miles saying that he felt fine, though he admitted he was a little weak from the loss of so much blood.

The Saints were forced out.

To cross the river by ferry cost 50 cents which covered the family and their belongings.

One family had no money to get across. They decided to try and catch some fish so they could trade the fish for the cost of the ferry ride.

This was the Mary Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins family. They ended up catching two catfish. When they cleaned the fish they had caught, they found the exact money needed to cross the river.

(Matthew 17:27)