Doctrine and Covenants Lesson #27 "They Must Be Chastened and Tried"

THE SIMMERING POT OF JACKSON COUNTY

"The Prophet Joseph and those who accompanied him to Missouri in the summer of 1831 were joyful to learn that Jackson County was the location of the latter-day Zion.  They did not realize that within two years the Saints would be driven from their homes in western Missouri...

"The year 1833 was one of tribulation for the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri.  Irreconcilable conflicts developed with their neighbors over several issues...

"By the end of 1832 there were 800 Saints gathered into five branches in Jackson County.  New people were arriving almost every week..."

Although there was Church leadership set up in Jackson County by the Prophet, "Some members, however, tried to circumvent the Church leaders in Missouri by ignoring their authority to preside...

"Other difficulties arose in Zion.  Petty jealousies, covetousness, light-mindedness, unbelief, and general neglect in keeping the commandments of God came to the attention of the Prophet.  Some people in Zion even charged Joseph Smith with 'seeking after monarchical power and authority' and said that he was purposely putting off settling in Zion...

"The Prophet wrote back in the spirit of peace and sent a copy of the 'Olive Leaf' (D&C 88)...

"Following receipt of the Olive Leaf revelation, a council of high priests met on 26 February 1833 and called for solemn assemblies to be held in each of the branches (see D&C 88:70).  David Pettigrew wrote in his journal that Bishop Partridge appointed them 'as a day of confession and repentance.'"...The Lord was pleased with this new spirit...(D&C 90:34)

Peace began to prevail.  A "school of elders," like the Kirtland "school of prophets" was organized.  Prophecies were being publicized in the Church newspapers and The Book of Commandments was being printed.  The plan for the City of Zion was drawn up, which included dwellings for 15,000-20,000 people in 1 square mile with a complex of 24 temples (probably more like the Kirtland Temple--meetinghouses/temples--as the fulness of temple worship wasn't instituted until the Nauvoo Temple).  Farmers and merchants alike would live "in town," the farmers commuting to work outside town each day.

"The happy and favorable circumstances of the Saints in Jackson County ended suddenly in July of 1833.  The original inhabitants of the area became increasingly suspicious as the number of Church members in Jackson County grew rapidly...

"Jackson County's residents were a rough-and-ready group who had come from the mountainous regions of several southern states to the western edge of the United States to find freedom from societal restraints...Many of them indulged in profanity, Sabbath-breaking, horse-racing, cock-fighting, idleness, drunkenness, gambling, and violence...

"By July 1833 the Mormon population in the county was almost 1,200 with more arriving each month.  Some members boasted that thousands more were coming to live in the county...

"Protestant ministers...resented the Mormon intrusion" into their territory.  "In addition, Mormon merchants and tradesmen successfully took over a portion of the lucrative Santa Fe Trail trade previously dominated by the Missourians...

"The Missouri frontiersmen feared and hated the [Native Americans]" who were being settled nearby by the government.  "The first Mormon missionaries came into this tense atmosphere declaring the prophetic destiny of the native Americans.  The old settlers were afraid the Saints would use the [Native Americans] to help them conquer the area for their New Jerusalem...

"The conflict between the Saints and the old settlers came to a head over the slavery issue.  Missouri had come into the Union as a slave state...Some of the Saints brought abolitionist sentiments from the North and East...Missourians were highly aroused early in 1832 by rumors that the Saints were trying to persuade slaves to disobey their masters or run away."  (Quotes are all from Church History in the Fulness of Times, p. 127-132)

MISSOURI TIMELINE

Refer to the pdfs in Lesson #28 if you want to see detail on the persecutions of Missouri.  The information is a little more applicable to that lesson, so I put it there.

ZION'S CAMP

Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight took an arduous journey from Jackson to Kirtland to report the persecutions to Joseph Smith, arriving on February 22, 1834.  The Prophet said he would go to redeem Zion and the High Council ratified this decision.  30-40 of the men present volunteered.  "That same day Joseph Smith received a revelation concerning the recruitment and size of this army...They were to recruit a company of 500 men if possible--but no fewer than 100...(see D&C 103:11,15,22,29-40)"  Pairs of missionaries headed off to the branches in the eastern states to recruit.  The result was not favorable.  Joseph was displeased.  Better success was found in Kirtland.  On the appointed day, May 1, only 20 people were ready to go on the 1,000-mile march.  They started off.  May 5, over 80 joined them with Joseph Smith as commander.  They mustered a few more recruits on the way, and by the time the various camps joined on June 8th, there was a total of 207 men, 11 women, 11 children and 25 baggage wagons.

The march was as challenging as most army marches:  The men walked beside the wagons carrying packs and guns.  They often marched 35 miles a day in the oppressive heat and humidity.  They suffered hunger, thirst and blisters.  They woke at 4:00 a.m. to the bugle call.  Feeding and watering the group was very challenging.  Sometimes the best they had was rancid butter, maggot-infested bacon, rotten ham, cornmeal mush...Sometimes they had to drive swamp water full of mosquito larvae, which they strained with their teeth.  (Ewww!)  Although they drank milk while marching through an area that was infected with "milk sickness" and "puking fever," the Prophet promised they would not get the sicknesses and they didn't.

Often they were frightened by the threats of enemies around them.  They tried to keep their identity and purpose a secret.  When marching through Indianapolis under great threat, the Prophet promised they would be safe.  They divided into small groups and all got through the city undetected.

"Potential enemies notwithstanding, quarreling and contention within the camp became its most vexing problem..."  (Church History in the Fulness of Times, p. 141-145)

The following are some notes on the bickering and fighting that occurred within the camp:

"Sylvester [Smith] is remembered for his quarrelsome spirit on the march with Zion’s Camp. His criticism of camp leaders for the way in which they prepared for the journey, and his complaints about the strain on the men and teams pulling the heavy wagons, sparked dissension."  (Susan Easton Black, Who's Who in the Doctrine and Covenants, Sylvester Smith entry.)

Levi Hancock, Wilford Woodruff: The Prophet confronted him about it…[and] Sylvester defiantly replied that “even if Joseph Smith was a prophet he was not afraid and would contradict him in the face of all present.” (Autobiography of Levi Hancock, and journal of Wilford Woodruff, quoted in Black, Who’s Who in the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 298)

George A. Smith: On Wednesday, 14^th of May, we had been unable to obtain sufficient baking and cooking utensils, and as our commissary had been disappointed in getting a supply of bread…we began to be straitened for the staff of life. Men were sent on to Bellefontaine to have a supply baked by the time we should arrive, and although every measure practicable had been taken, Sylvester Smith  murmured against the Prophet because the Camp was not supplied with bread…

May 16^th: During the day being very much fatigued with carrying my musket I put it into the baggage wagon, which was customary, and when I arrived at camp in the evening my gun could not be found. This circumstance was exceedingly mortifying to me and many of the brethren accused me of carelessness, and ridiculed me about loading my gun. Jenkins Salisbury took the most pleasure in ridiculing me for my carelessness. I afterwards learned…that the gun was pawned for whiskey by one of our company, and have always believed that Jenkins Salisbury, who was very fond of the good creature, disposed of it in that way. (George A. Smith, “My Journal,” The Instructor, 81, [1946] 78, 95)

Wilford Woodruff: We were followed by spies hundreds of miles to find out the object of our mission. We had some boys in the camp. George A. Smith was among the youngest. When they could get him alone they would question him, thinking that he looked green enough for them to get what they wanted out of him. (Smith, History of the Church, 2:67)

Joseph Smith: The 17^th of May we crossed the state line of Ohio, and encamped for the Sabbath just within the limits of Indiana, having traveled about forty miles that day…We had our sentinels posted every night, on account of spies who were continually striving to harass us, steal our horses, etc.

This evening there was a difficulty between some of the brethren and Sylvester Smith…Finding a rebellious spirit in Sylvester Smith, and to some extent in others, I told them they would meet with misfortunes, difficulties and hindrances and said, “and you will know it before you leave this place,” exhorting them to humble themselves before the Lord and become united, that they might not be scourged… On Sunday morning [the following], when we arose, we found almost every horse in the camp so badly foundered that we could scarcely lead them a few rods to the water. The brethren then deeply realized the effects of discord. When I learned the fact, I exclaimed to the brethren, that for a witness that God overruled and had His eye upon them, all those who would humble themselves before the Lord should know that the hand of God was in this misfortune, and their horses would be restored to health immediately; and by twelve o’clock the same day the horses were as nimble as ever, with the exception of one of Sylvester Smith’s, which soon afterwards died. (HC 2:68-69)

George A. Smith: The Prophet Joseph took a full share of the fatigues of the entire journey…While most of the men in the camp complained to him of sore toes, blistered feet, long drives, scanty supply and provisions, poor quality of bread, bad corndodger, frozen butter, strong honey, maggoty bacon and cheese, etc., even a dog could not bark at some men without their murmuring at Joseph. If they had to camp with bad water, it would nearly cause a rebellion, yet we were in the Camp of Zion, and many of us were prayerless, thoughtless, careless, heedless, foolish or devilish, and yet we did not know it. Joseph had to bear with us, and tutor us, his children. (Memoirs of George A. Smith, p. 25)

Heber C. Kimball: June 3rd: While we were refreshing ourselves and teams, about the middle of the day, Brother Joseph got up in a wagon and said that he would deliver a prophecy…the Lord had told him that there would be a scourge come upon the camp in consequence of the fractious and unruly spirits that appeared among them, and they would die like sheep with the rot; still if they would repent and humble themselves before the Lord, the scourge in a great measure might be turned away, “but, as the Lord lives, this camp will suffer for giving way to their unruly temper.” (Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, p. 47-48)

Joseph Smith: At the commencement [of the cholera attack], I attempted to lay on hands for their recovery, but I quickly learned by painful experience, that when the great Jehovah decrees destruction on any people, and makes known His determination, man must not attempt to stay His hand. The moment I attempted to rebuke the disease I was attacked, and had I not desisted in my attempt to save the life of a brother, I would have sacrificed my own. (HC 2:114)

BIRTH OF LEADERSHIP

Although Zion was not redeemed, because the Saints clearly were not ready, and Zion's Camp returned home apparently unsuccessful, the future leadership of the Church was refined and purified through the march.  Nine of the Twelve Apostles and all of the Seventy were chosen from Zion's Camp.

As Joseph Smith said, "Brethren, some of you are angry with me, because you did not fight in Missouri; but let me tell you, God did not want you to fight.  He could not organize His kingdom with twelve men to open the Gospel door to the nations of the earth, and with seventy men under the direction to follow in their tracks, unless He took them from a body of men who had offered their lives, and who had made as great a sacrifice as did Abraham"  (HC 2:182)

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson #26 "Go Ye into All the World"

Before class begins, hand out placards with Parley P. Pratt, Officer Peabody, Judge, and Ziba Petersen printed on them to four class members who would be willing to act in a skit.  Also give them copies of the script to quickly read through.

Kirtland Timeline Game

Make large cards with the years of the Kirtland Era (below) on them, and print up separately the major events that took place in Kirtland.  Distribute all to class members.  Have those with the year cards come up front.  Have those with events read the events (in any order) and have the class try to match up the right events to each year.  Put them all on the board after they are correctly matched. 

1830 

Gospel first preached in Kirtland

(Note: The missionaries were Olivery Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Parley P. Pratt & Ziba Peterson.  Among the first converts were Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge & Frederick G. Williams.)

1831

Joseph Smith moves to Kirtland

The first bishop is called (Edward Partridge)

The Law of the Church revealed (D&C 41)

1832

Vision of the 3 Degrees of Glory (D&C 76)

Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood (D&C 84)

1833

School of the Prophets begun

Word of Wisdom revealed (D&C 89)

First Presidency Organized

1834

Zion’s Camp leaves Kirtland to aid Missouri Saints

1835

Quorum of Twelve organized

Quorum of Seventy organized

1836

Kirtland Temple Dedicated (D&C 109) and priesthood keys restored

1837

Heber C. Kimball called to lead the new British Mission

Parley P. Pratt

“Parley’s Creative Preaching” Skit

Characters:  Parley P. Pratt, a missionary; Ziba Petersen, his companion; Officer Peabody, and a Judge

(Parley and Brother Petersen stand as if preaching to the audience, Parley holding a Book of Mormon.)

Parley:  (to class) While doing missionary work 50 miles from Kirtland, my companions and I stopped for the night at the house of Simeon Carter.  While we were reading and explaining the Book of Mormon to him, there came a knock at the door.

Officer Peabody: (Knocks at the door loudly, then enters the classroom)  Mr. Pratt!  Here is a warrant for your arrest.  You must come with me.

Parley: (to class) I dropped the Book of Mormon at Carter’s house, and went with him some two miles, in a dark, muddy road until we arrived at the place of trial late at night.  Brother Petersen accompanied me.

(All three mime walking.)

(Enter Judge.)

Judge:  Mr. Pratt!  I intend to throw you in jail.  I want to see if you really have the powers of apostleship as you claim!  I have witnesses here who will help me to prove you guilty of a crime and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Parley:  (to class) Well, I wasn’t an apostle, just an elder, but because the judge was boasting thus, and the witnesses were liars, I stayed quiet and made no defense.

Judge:  Mr. Pratt!  Do you hear these charges?  Why do you not make a defense?  Well, I am ordering you to prison, or to pay a large fine.

Parley: (to class) I wouldn’t reply.  This greatly exhausted their patience.  Finally, about midnight, I asked Brother Petersen to sing a hymn.

Ziba:  (singing, or doing something similar to singing)

O, how happy are they

Who the Savior obey

And have laid up their treasure above!

Tongue can never express

The sweet comfort and peace

Of a soul in its earliest love.

O, the rapturous height

Of that holy delight

Which I felt in the life-giving blood!

By my Savior possessed.

I was perfect, bless’d

As if filled with the fullness of God.*

Parley: (to class) This exasperated them still more, and they pressed us greatly to settle the business by paying the money.  I then observed as follows (speaking to judge), May it please the court, I have one proposal to make for a final settlement of the things that seem to trouble you.  It is this: if the witnesses who have given testimony in the case will repent of their false swearing, and the blackguardism and abuse, and all kneel down together, we will pray for you, that God might forgive you in these matters.

Judge:  My big bull dog [would better] pray for me [than you]!

(Exit judge)

Parley: (to class) The court adjourned and I was taken to a nearby pub and locked in till morning as the prison was some miles distant.  In the morning, the officer appeared and took me to breakfast.  Then we waited for my journey to prison.  I whispered to Brother Petersen to join the other elders and continue on their way, and I would join them later.

(Exit Ziba)

Parley: (to class) After waiting a while, I requested of the officer that I might step outside.  I walked out into the public square accompanied by him.  Said I (speaking to Officer Peabody), Mr. Peabody, are you good at a race?

Officer Peabody: No, but my big bull dog is! (Pats imaginary dog) And he has been trained to assist me in my office these several years. He will take any man down at my bidding.

Parley: (cheerfully) Well, Mr. Peabody, you compelled me to go a mile; I have gone with you two miles.  You have given me an opportunity to preach, sing, and have also entertained me with lodging and breakfast.  I must now go on my journey.  If you are good at a race you can accompany me.  I thank you for all your kindness.  Good day, sir.  (Runs across the classroom, while Officer Peabody stares with mouth wide open.)

Parley: (stopping and turning to Officer Peabody) Wouldn’t you like to race with me, officer?

(Peabody still stares, frozen, while Parley mimes running.)

Parley: (to class) He did not awake from his astonishment sufficiently to start in pursuit till I had gained, perhaps, two hundred yards.  I had already leaped a fence, and was making my way through a field to the forest on the right of the road.

Officer Peabody: (Suddenly coming to senses.  Pointing and ordering imaginary dog) Ho!  Stu-Boy, seize him!  Take him down! (Running after Parley and pointing) Stu-Boy, lay hold of him, I say!  Down with him!

Parley: (to audience) The dog was fast overtaking me, and in the act of leaping upon me, when, quick as lightning, the thought struck me to assist the officer in sending the dog.  I pointed my finger in the direction of the forest, clapped my hands and shouted, Stu-Boy!  Take him down!  Get him, Boy!  The dog hastened past me with redoubled speed towards the forest, being urged by the officer and myself, and both of us running in the same direction.  I soon lost sight of the officer and the dog and have not seen them since.

(Exit Officer)

Parley:  The officer kept the Book of Mormon I had dropped at the house of Simeon Carter and read it with attention.  It wrought deeply upon his mind, and he went 50 miles to the church in Kirtland, and was there baptized and ordained an elder.  He then returned to his home and commenced to preach and baptize.  A branch of about sixty members was soon organized in the place where I had played such a trick on a dog.

*O, How Happy Are They, by Charles Wesley, first and last verses

(This script adapted from Parley P. Pratt’s autobiography, with most of the words direct quotes.)

Missionary Methods

Principles and methods used in early missionary work, besides Elder Pratt's entertaining dog-evasion, included:

1) Teaching strictly the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith's revelations and the principles of the Gospel contained in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  From these foundations, however, the elders were free to teach "as they shall be directed by the Spirit." (History of the Church 1:148-54)  We have just returned to this method with our new Preach My Gospel method.

2) Preaching to large groups.  This was a popular form of entertainment among the people of the time.  "With no trouble raising an audience, an interesting or inspiring preacher could smartly influence public opinion and sell his spiritual wares with considerable skill."  Usually a preacher spoke for at least an hour, often two. Ask any prospective missionary if he'd like to try this one out!

3) Publishing periodicals.  "Virtually nonexistent in 1800...religious periodicals had, by 1830, become the grand engine of a burgeoning religious culture, the primary means of promotion for, and bonds within, competing religious groups"..."Joseph Smith's revelations appeared in Mormon periodicals before publication in book form."  The newspapers at this time were The Evening and the Morning Star (Independence), The Messenger and Advocate (Kirtland), and The Elder's Journal (Far West).  Adding to our printed periodicals today, we have the worldwide reach of the internet, television and radio.

4) Debates with other clergy.  Almost every missionary journal of the day recorded confrontations with other ministers. Thankfully, we no longer do this, since it is ineffective and stifles the Spirit.  Now we focus on our similarities in belief and then offer to add to it, as President Hinckley frequently advised.

5) Focusing on the basic principles and ordinances of the gospel and challenging investigators to commit to try them. Elders boldly preached the first principles or "'five points' as some called them: faith in Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands, and then living a life of devout obedience to divine commandments, reinforced by challenging their listeners to 'prove all things'" through personal revelation and acting in faith.

 (This information from Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 9, 12, 17-18, 24, 26 respectively)

Revelations Received in Kirtland

How many of the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were received in the Kirtland area?  (The answer is 37, or approximately 25% of the sections.)  In addition, most of the Joseph Smith Translation was done during this era.

If you like, have class members look refer to the chronology table in the front of the Doctrine and Covenants to see which sections were revealed here, then look at the section headings to itemize doctrines of importance that were revealed here.  These will include the Law of Tithing, the Law of Consecration, The Kingdoms of Glory, the Word of Wisdom, Revelations on the Second Coming, Priesthood, and many more.

(Click on the image below to enlarge a map of the LDS settlements in the Kirtland area.  Then right-click to save it and print it, if you are interested in doing so.)

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson #25 The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

Introduction

Ask class members for reasons why they are grateful to be members of the Church. 

Ask, which of these things would be possible without priesthood? The answer, of course, is none. 

Today we discuss the oath and covenant of the priesthood and the principles for exercising priesthood power. Why is this lesson given in Sunday School and not Priesthood Meeting?  Because it is applicable to both men and women – men as active priesthood holders, responsible for the administration of ordinances and governance of the Church; women in a passive priesthood role, all of their good works being done through the power of godliness, or the priesthood. The roles are different, but all are members of the same team. Therefore all the principles for exercise of the priesthood must also be applied by women as they carry out their roles as family members, teachers, and sisters in Zion.

Order of the Restoration of the Priesthood and its Offices

Bill Beardall’s excellent  Gospel Doctrine Class website (which saved me many times many years ago when I began teaching) has great detail on this so I won't add anything here.

The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

Elder Carlos E. Asay: “Of all the holy agreements pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ, few, if any, would transcend in importance the oath and covenant of the priesthood." (General Conference, Oct. 1985) 

D&C 84:33-44: 

For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.

They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

 And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;

For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;

And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.

And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.

And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.

For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

Principles for Using the Priesthood Using The Example of John Murdock

(All page references are to John Murdock: His Life and Legacy, by S. Reed Murdock.)

I enjoy hearing about some of the unsung heroes of the Restoration.  Although most of us know that Joseph and Emma Smith adopted twin babies whose mother had died, very few of us know much about their birth father, what he did, how he felt, whether he was faithful.  I felt sympathetic enough toward him to read his biography, and found his life very inspiring.  From his journals, I find an example of a man who, through troubles and trials, magnified his priesthood.

1830

D&C 84:45-48: For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world. 

Brother Murdock searched for and recognized the true Church: 

Through considerable religious exploration, John had developed some essential points to which a religion must subscribe: First, Baptism must be by immersion and a proper candidate for baptism must be one who has faith that Jesus Christ died for our sins—therefore infant baptism was not proper; second, because current churches had lost all authority, “the Lord must either send an angel to baptize the first man, or he must give special command to some one man to baptize another;” third, the Holy Spirit must attend the “ministration” of the ordinances. (JMLL pg. 54) 

“I read [the Book of Mormon] till it was late and went into father Morley’s chamber to bed and had not been long in bed, before [the family] returned [from a meeting confirming new members], and some half dozen or more came into the same house, and as soon as they came into the house, although I was in bed…the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, witnessing to me the truth of the work.” (JMLL pg. 58)

1831

John and his wife (Julia Clapp) had three small children, and had endured the death of an infant, when their twins were born and his wife died.  

Late in his life, John revealed his real feelings in a letter to his daughter Julia: “The anguish of soul that I felt at this time you may try to imagine. I was bereft of a tender companion, a feeling mother, a good housekeeper and one that I love and yet love the memory of her.” John’s letter describes that the twins were born without any “great agony or pain to the mother” and all appeared to be in order when Julia called for John and told him she was going. She shook hands with John and all in the room and then quietly died. “She took me by the hand and bid me farewell and also all in the room and folded her arms acrost her breast peacably and sweetly went to sleep in Jesus in hope of a glorius resurrection.” (JMLL pg. 68) 

Of necessity, children in such situations in those days were often placed in other families since there was no such thing as daycare.  The newborns, of course, needed a lactating mother.  So the twins were placed with the Smiths, and Orrice, 7, John R., 5, and Phebe, 3 with other families.  Brother Murdock paid for their keep as he left on the mission he was called to in D&C 52. 

D&C 84:65-68 “And these signs shall follow them that believe— In my name they shall do many wonderful works; In my name they shall cast out devils; In my name they shall heal the sick.”

John Murdock and Parley P. Pratt were mission companions.

After Parley and John left St. Louis, they experienced sore trials. Parley was so sick he could not go on; he lay down in the prairie. John spoke to Parley: "I said Bro. P. Can you travel any further, said ‘he could not.’ I asked ‘Do you believe the Son will heal you. He said the Son would heal him according to his Faith but my faith is small. I said do you want me to lay hands on you. He said, ‘yes.’ I fell on my knees and with many tears laid my hands on him in the name of the Lord Jesus, and prayed for him and we both arose and traveled and gave glory to God for his goodness and Bro. P. gained health and strength from that time.” (JMLL pg. 87)

While on the mission, baby Joseph died. Between missions Brother Murdock boarded (probably) with one of the families keeping his children. He also boarded with the Smiths (who had Julia, not yet 2) for a short time, while attending the School of the Prophets. He did not reveal his identity to Julia.  She was not told until she was 5 that she was adopted.

1832

D&C 99:6-7: And now, verily I say unto you, that it is not expedient that you should go until your children are provided for, and sent up kindly unto the bishop of Zion. And after a few years, if thou desirest of me, thou mayest go up also unto the goodly land, to possess thine inheritance; Otherwise thou shalt continue proclaiming my gospel until thou be taken. Amen.

He was called on another mission, but first “kindly placed” his children.

March 18, 1833

D&C 107:18-19: The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church— To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. 

Brother Murdock was privileged to see a vision of the Heavens while at the School of the Prophets. “We had a number of prayer meetings in the Prophet’s chamber, in which we obtained great blessings. In one of these meetings the Prophet told us if we cold humble ourselves before God, and exercise strong faith, we should see the face of the Lord. And about midday the visions of my mind were opened, and the eyes of my understanding were enlightened, and I saw the form of a man, most lovely, the visage of his face was sound and fair as the sun. His hair a great silver grey, curled in most majestic form. His eyes a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white and he was covered from the neck to the feel with a loose garment, pure white, whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most penetrating, and yet most lovely. And while I was endeavoring to comprehend the whole personage from head to feet it slipped from me and the vision was closed up. But it left on my mind the impression of love for months, that I never felt before to the degree.” (JMLL, pgs. 96-97)

Spring 1833

Brother Murdock paid a church member $10 each to deliver his children to Bishop Partridge in Zion, who placed each in a different home.

D&C 107:30-31: The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity; Because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.

While on his second mission, Brother Murdock had to stand for what was right and correct a priesthood leader, Ezra Landon.

“Landon was invited to meet with four of the high priests privately [concerning the Vision of the Heavens]. The meeting was commenced with prayer. Orson Pratt opened the conference, by stating that Brother Landon had said, “The vision was of the Devil.” Landon responded by saying that he would not have the revelation taught in the church “for one thousand dollars.” Landon then rose and stressed the sacrifices he had made for the church and the good he had done for the cause. John reminded Brother Landon that there were many who had similarly sacrificed including Ezra Booth, who had suffered privations and hardship, traveled to Missouri and had afterward denied the revelations. Brother Landon was encouraged to repent: “Bro. Orson led in explanation of the vision…Myself and Bro. Lyman followed….Bro. Landen confessed that he had talked hard to the brethren, asked them for forgiveness, said that he heartily received all that he taught and would teach it to the church, and said he would not for two thousand dollars be set back where he was when we came to him. We allowed him to stand in his office and a good portion of the church met that afternoon and we taught the same things to the church….”

1834

John Murdock joined with Zion’s Camp from the mission field. Upon arriving in Jackson County, cholera broke out among the camp. The members in the two homes nearest the camps took in the sick, although the disease was extremely contagious. One of those homes was Sidney Gilbert’s. Sidney Gilbert was one of the few men in the Church older than John Murdock, Sidney being 43 and John 40. Sidney and his wife were childless, but had taken in three children: Mary Elizabeth and Catherine Rollins, their nieces, the same girls who saved the Book of Commandments. The other child was John’s own little girl, Phebe, now 6. Both Sidney and Phebe got the disease, and Phebe died. Fortunately, her father was there to sit with her through the end.

 John Murdock took to Phebe and attended her night and day for the next six days until early morning on July 6^th: “when the Spirit left the body at the break of day…Two young brethren namely Reid Peck & Henry C. Rawlings assisted me and we buried her by little after sun rise in the morning. She was decently laid out, and they dug a grace and we laid 2 split shakes in the bottom and each size and laid in some straw, and laid the corpse on it, laid to sticks across and covered it over, and that was her coffin.” Phebe was 6 years old. (JMLL pg. 126) She was buried quickly at night to avoid alarm among the Clay County citizens.

1836

John remarried (Amoranda Turner) and gathered his two boys home again. They had been so lovingly cared for, John in particular, that they didn’t really want to leave the homes they had been placed in for the past several years. Orrice was 12; John was 10. Amoranda died after only 1 year of marriage.

1838

Remarried (Electa Allen). Three more children, two boys, Gideon and Hyrum, and a baby girl who died.

D&C 121:45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

John Murdock’s courage and peaceable demeaner ended a confrontation with a mob near Adam-Ondi-Ahman. 

“…when we were there [at Adam-Ondi-Ahman] 3 men, armed with rifles, came on horseback into the road forward of us, and cocked their rifles…the forward one whose name was Elijah Frost, cried out ‘Damn you who are you and where are you going?’ Said I ‘Who are you and where are you going?’ And I discovered they were Ruffians and as there was three of them and two of us, I thought we would not give up so easy and put my hand to my pistol, but at the same time discovered more of the same company, coming over the ridge. I did not draw my pistol, and they soon were all round the wagon, and I felt very safe, for the Lord took all fear from me. …I said to them ‘gentlemen show me two men among you that shall be traveling the road peaceably on their own business as we were doing, and let them be attacked by 3 ruffians, as we supposed we were and if they will not defend themselves, I will show you two cowards and scoundrels’…I asked him if we could pass peaceable without being ill treated. He said we should. I told him our brethren had the same promise in Jackson Co. and then were driven out the next day at the point of the sword and bayonet. They then with one consent cried out ‘Damn you’ and cocked their rifles…I surrendered my pistol and Bro. Rufus his rifle and Frost wished us well & wanted to shake hands with me. I did so, and told him before he could do well, he must repent…”  

D&C 84:76: But, verily I say unto all those to whom the kingdom has been given—from you it must be preached unto them, that they shall repent of their former evil works; for they are to be upbraided for their evil hearts of unbelief, and your brethren in Zion for their rebellion against you at the time I sent you.

"...They again cried out ‘damn you’ we do not repent, again cocked their rifles, but after a little uncocked them, and I said to them gentlemen if you are done with me, and have no further business with me, I want you to open up right and left, and give me room to drive for I will neither drive through you, or around you. And they opened up right and left and I drove off on a walk…”

1845

John endured the death of his third wife!

1846

Remarried (Sarah Zufelt) and adopted her little boy, George. Called as Bishop in Nauvoo.

September 19, 1846

While at Winter Quarters, little 2-year-old Hyrum died and was buried in a cottonwood log for a coffin. The Murdocks took in 2 little orphan girls whose parents also had died there.

1847

John R. and Orrice both joined the Mormon Battalion. Rest of the family traveled to Salt Lake Valley in the 2^nd wagon train, 6-year-old Gideon driving the family’s second wagon the entire way. (This same little boy was assigned to stand guard against Indians in Utah when he was 13, armed with a very heavily loaded musket. He said, “I did not know which I was most afraid of: the gun or the Indians.” Pg. 324) 19 wards were established upon arrival at the Valley; John was Bishop of the 14^th.

1849

As John R. and Orrice both married, John & his fourth wife Sarah had a new baby, Brigham Young Murdock.  This numbered 13 children for John: 10 biological, two adopted (Sarah’s George and a little girl named Mary Cooper) and one foster child (Martha Henderson).  Orrice, John, Julia-now-Smith, Gideon, and George are the only ones known to survive childhood.  George only lived to be 35.

1851-53

D&C 84:33: For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.

On February 20, 1835 he had received his Patriarchal Blessing at the hands of Joseph Smith, Sr. “…thy Children shall be blessed of the Lord, and the Holy Priesthood, after the holy order of God shall be established with thy children, and thy children’s children unto the end of the earth…thou shalt have power to bring souls unto Jesus, by proclaiming the gospel till the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, in power and glory…” (JMLL pg. 135)

John Murdock magnified his callings outlined in the blessing.  He always desired to be a missionary and requested a call to serve once again before he was too old and infirm (he’d had bad health his whole adult life). He was called as one of the first full-time missionaries to Australia, and president of the mission there. His Letter of Recommendation from Brigham Young reads: “We invite all saints & honorable men of the earth to receive this our beloved brother as a servant of the living God—listen to his counsel & believe & practice his words & inasmuch as you do these things ministering to his temporal necessities with joyful hearts, you shall be blessed in time & in eternity.”

1853

A month after his return, he was called as a patriarch, in which capacity he served for 13 years.

He tried to live polygamy, but the 2^nd wife hated being in their household and would never move in, although she would come over and help.  After 2-1/2 years, the marriage was dissolved.  John never stated any animosity whatsoever toward this wife.

1859

Reunited through letter with Julia.  After all those years, what did John relate to her?  His conversion story and testimony of the gospel, as well as his reason for placing her with the Smiths (none of his family were members).

1871

John Murdock died at age 79, two days before Christmas.  “John’s life became the gospel of Jesus Christ and if there were a single word to capture the core of his relationship to the gospel, it would be ‘constant.’  From start to finish, John stayed true to the faith, he persevered to the end of his mortal ability to do so."  (JMLL pg. 329).  Hundreds of thousands of members of the Church are the result of his missionary labors.

His Posterity

In the posterity of John Murdock, we see the blessing fulfilled which the Lord promised to those who honor their priesthood. 

Very few details are available about his three adopted/foster children, and Julia, of course, left the church with her mother Emma Smith, but his three biological sons were great contributors to the building of the Kingdom.  Besides serving in the Mormon Battalion, John R. helped rescue the Martin and Willie handcart companies and became a great philanthropist when he became wealthy.  Orrice and John R. both sheltered and raised others’ children during times of trial, as had been done for them.  They shared a great brotherhood their entire lives.  When John R. died at age 87, Orrice, then 89, held his hand in his casket, with tears running down his face.  He died within two years.

The younger son, Gideon, who was only six when his brothers joined the Mormon Battalion, became a bishop and a sheriff and a temple worker.  He was well-known for his lengthy prayers.  “When Uncle Gideon would come for dinner, the hostess would not put the potatoes on to cook until it was time for Gideon to say the blessing on the food.  When Gideon was through with the blessing, the potatoes would be done as well.”

These three sons stood by their father and helped him all his life, taking him into their homes in his old age.  On the day of his death, Orrice wrote in his journal, “My father departed this life.  He had born the heat and burden of the day.  He has gone to reap the reward of a righteous man.”  May we keep the oath and covenant of the Priesthood, and bear the heat and burden of the day to remain constant to the Gospel cause as did John Murdock.

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson #23 "Seek Learning by Study and Also By Faith"

Contrary to the beliefs of some (particularly the anti-Mormon contingent in Utah), the Mormon Church advocates a high degree of education, continual life-long learning, and the asking of questions, questions, questions.  An interesting article by FAIR, "Education, Scholarship, and Mormonism," gives specific data.  Mormons in the U.S. are almost twice as likely as the general population to attend college.  And even more interestingly, nearly 80% of Mormon scientists say that have a very strong belief that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  No data is presented to compare whether that is a higher percentage than the general Mormon population, but it is noted that the more years of education a Latter-day Saint has, the more active he tends to be.  Those with 8 years or less of education are in the 30-50% church activity bracket while those with 16 years of education (college graduates) are in the 70-80% church activity bracket.

Here is another interesting set of graphics from a study done at Princeton showing that in many churches, higher education leads to lessened faith, but in the LDS Church the two correspond:  "Education and Religiosity: Mormons Buck the Trend".

The statistics do not show Mormons to be uneducated people, blindly following their leaders.  In fact, we follow our leaders in their counsel to get as much education as we can!

 President John Taylor prophesied clearly how it shall be: “You mark my words, and write them down and see if they do not come to pass. You will see the day that Zion will be far ahead of the outside world in everything pertaining to learning of every kind as we are today in regard to religious matters.” (Sermon, 20 Sept. 1857., quoted in President Spencer W. Kimball, "Seek Learning, Even by Study and Also by Faith," Ensign, Sept. 1983) 

In what other church do you find the leaders teaching doctrine, administering programs, and giving counsel while fully expecting that each church member has the ability, through prayer and personal revelation, to have that information confirmed to them by the Holy Ghost?  In fact, no one is allowed to join the Church unless they can pass a baptismal interview in which they assert that they have received a personal witness of the truthfulness of the restored Church!

The Mormon Church expects the exact opposite of blind, uneducated obedience, the only religion that teaches, "The glory of God is intelligence" (D&C 93:36) and that "whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection." (D&C 130:18)


For the rest of this lesson, I cannot do any better than to refer to President Kimball's excellent article, linked above.  He covers it all.