The Church in Kirtland

The First Gathering

The Mormons began to arrive in Kirtland early in 1831 just as Mormon missionaries were arriving in western Missouri near what is now Kansas City.  This was the first “gathering” in Mormon history, a theme which is very prominent in Mormonism.  Though local Campbellite ministers were stirring up some trouble, the Mormons found a safe haven in Ohio.  Shortly after his arrival, Joseph Smith receives what is called the “Law of the Lord,” now contained in Doctrine and Covenants section 42.  This revelation discusses ordination, missionary work, blessing of the sick and afflicted, the importance of consecrating property, and living peacefully with one another. 

Local newspapers condemned and deplored the Mormons, but this did not stop their growth as hundreds gathered in Kirtland.  Joseph Smith received given a new commandment by the Lord, even as missionaries continued to preach throughout Ohio and Canada.  Joseph had already begun a revision, or translation as he called it, of the Bible.  The Lord commanded him to translate the New Testament anew using the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  He did so and worked also to harmonize and organize the newly formed Church.  The first bishop was called in February of 1831 and in June the first men were ordained to become High Priests.  The duties and offices of the Priesthood were more fully explained as Joseph Smith received more revelations.

A prior revelation which Joseph had received indicated that Zion, or the New Jerusalem, would be established with Missouri as its center.  Mormon Missionaries had already visited the region and in June, Joseph Smith and other leaders of the Church left on the 900 mile trek to Jackson County, Missouri.  They preached as they went arriving in Independence, Missouri on July 14, 1821.  A revelation was received designating Independence as the center of the gathering and several Mormons remained behind to buy land and begin to build houses.  Other Mormons who had stopped temporarily in Ohio continued on and arrived in Missouri in late July.  Joseph Smith returned to Ohio and moved with his wife to Hiram, Ohio, where they lodged with the Johnson family whose mother Joseph Smith had cured and all of whom joined the Mormon Church. 

In Ohio, the Mormons continued to establish homes and businesses.  A revelation commanded them to build the first Mormon temple, a house of God, in Kirtland.  In August of 1831, Joseph Smith helped to lay the first cornerstone, though poverty and persecution would prevent further work until 1833.  Joseph continued to be anxious about missionary work and so in August of 1831, he and others set out once again to proselyte and travel towards Missouri.  Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery eventually returned to Kirtland after several weeks while others continue on to Independence.

Translations and Revelations

For the next several months, from August of 1831 to April of 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon continued the translation of the Bible, now called by Mormons the Joseph Smith Translation or JST, and through his studies of the Bible, he received many more important revelations.  Revelations only came when Joseph asked God a question based on the trials the Mormons were facing or a question about doctrine he read in the Bible.  In late 1831 and early 1832, many important revelations were received including the one which is often called simply “The Vision,” in which Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon both saw Jesus Christ and were caught up and saw a vision of the degrees of glory and the salvation of the righteous.  This revelation is recorded now as D&C 76. 

In late December and January that winter, Joseph Smith left Hiram, Ohio, to preach in northern Ohio in order to counteract the negative reports circulating in newspapers written by an embittered former member named Ezra Booth.  These hate-mongering letters were designed to stir people up to drive the Mormons out.  They represented only the very beginnings of organized anti-Mormonism.  Joseph also traveled to councils of the Mormon Church which worked to publish the revelations he had received.  This book became the Book of Commandments, later renamed the Doctrine and Covenants, and later was included as one of the four standard works of the Mormon Church recognized as scripture next to the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price.

In early 1832, Joseph Smith was officially sustained and ordained as President of the High Priesthood, and hence as President of the Mormon Church.  As things were looking better in Ohio, from where Mormon missionaries continued to leave and proselyte through the eastern United States and Canada, the Mormons in Missouri continued to struggle partly because of poverty and partly because of persecution from the other people in Missouri.  They wrote to Joseph Smith seeking help and he works to raise money, but the Mormons in Ohio are likewise poverty-stricken.  Joseph sent letters encouraging them to stick together and to help one another. 

Mob violence, however, did not leave the Mormons when they left New York.  On March 24, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were dragged from their beds by a mob led by Symonds Ryders, who had become angry at Joseph Smith for misspelling his name, claiming that an inspired prophet would be inspired how to spell someone’s name.  Joseph and Sidney were tarred and feathered.  One man scratched Joseph’s body with his nails before pouring the hot tar on and another man tried to force a vial of poison into Joseph’s mouth.   Sidney was dragged across the snowy ground and left for dead.  Joseph’s wife and other women spent all night helping the two men clean the tar and feathers off their bodies.  Sidney sustained serious head injuries and remained bedridden for weeks.  He would never be the same again.  Joseph retained scars from the attack and since the mobs left the doors and windows of the home open, Joseph’s adopted son, Joseph Murdock died five later because due to exposure.

Joseph continued to preach despite his injuries and on April 1, he and others traveled to Jackson County, Missouri once again to help the beleaguered Mormons there.  A conference was held and Joseph encouraged the members to help one another and live the Gospel.  He warned them that their prideful behavior and internal conflicts were the cause of many of their own afflictions.  He warned them that unless they repented, they would be driven from their lands.  During this visit, the Mormons started their first newspaper, the Evening and Morning Star, to disseminate their point of view.  By mid-June, Joseph had returned to Kirtland, but Sidney, who had accompanied them, began to act agitated and claimed that the Church had fallen.  He was temporarily disfellowshipped, but returned to full status a few weeks later.  In October and November, Joseph and others made a brief preaching tour of Albany, New York City, and Boston. 

On to the Time of Two Church Centers