Essentials in Church History. Joseph Fielding Smith

shall come; the righteous received in to eternal life and the wicked banished to partake of the second death with the devil and his angels. The second death is that same death which was first pronounced on Adam—banishment from the presence of the Lord. Those who partake of it cannot return, for they have no power. Then shall come the redemption of the earth, for old things shall pass away and all things become new, yet not “one hair, neither mote, shall be lost” for it is the workmanship of the hands of the Lord.

The Second Conference of the Church

       Table of Contents

      According to appointment, on the 26th of September, the Church met in conference at Fayette. There were present eight elders, four priests and two teachers when the conference convened. Thirty-five persons had joined the Church, making a total of sixty-two in all. Joseph Smith opened the meeting with prayer and then read the fifth chapter of Isaiah, which speaks of the gathering, and made comments thereon. The matter of Hiram Page’s “peepstone” was discussed and after considerable investigation, Hiram Page and all who were present, renounced the stone, and there was mutual satisfaction and happiness again. At this conference, which continued for three days, the Spirit of the Lord was manifest; much business was attended to, and those previously baptized were confirmed. Special prayer was offered in behalf of Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jr., who were called to go to the Lamanites. Peter Whitmer, Jr., was called by revelation at this conference to that mission. When the conference adjourned it was to meet January 1, 1831, and David Whitmer was appointed to keep the record. There were some baptisms during the conference and a number of the brethren were ordained.

The Call to Ziba Peterson and Parley P. Pratt

       Table of Contents

      A great desire being made manifest on the part of others to accompany Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jr., to the Lamanites, it was made a matter of inquiry before the Lord. The result was that Ziba Peterson and Parley P. Pratt were also appointed to go. Ziba Peterson was among the first baptized and was an elder at the first conference of the Church. Parley P. Pratt was a resident of the wilderness of Ohio not far from the city of Cleveland. While on a missionary tour for the “Disciples” or “Campbellites,” as they are called, and a visit to his former home in Columbia County, New York, he first heard of the Book of Mormon through a Baptist preacher by the name of Hamlin, who placed a copy in his hands. After reading it partly through Parley changed his plans and went to Manchester in search of the Prophet Joseph Smith. There he met Hyrum Smith who taught him the Gospel and presented him with a copy of the Book of Mormon which he again very carefully read. Late in August, with Hyrum Smith, he journeyed to Fayette, where he was baptized by Oliver Cowdery about the first of September. Shortly afterwards he was ordained an elder and then continued on his journey to his father’s home. There he preached the Gospel to his parents and many of his boyhood friends. His younger brother, Orson, a youth 19 years of age, readily accepted his message and became a member of the Church. Returning to Fayette, Parley P. Pratt was appointed by revelation to take the missionary journey with Oliver Cowdery to the borders of Missouri, among the Lamanites.

The Missionaries Depart

       Table of Contents

      In the fall of 1830, these four missionaries started on their journey to the west. On their way they preached the Gospel among the people as opportunity would permit. Near Buffalo, New York, they visited the Catteraugus Indians and left two copies of the Book of Mormon with members of the tribe who could read, and then continued on their journey. When they came to Kirtland, Ohio, near the home of Elder Pratt, they tarried for some time. Parley P. Pratt was acquainted with Mr. Sidney Rigdon, one of the leaders of the “Disciples,” who with Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott, had been instrumental in the founding of that sect. They believed in the doctrines of faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins; but accepted the Bible as the only guide unto salvation. Convinced that the religious world had gone astray, these men had formed this organization with sincere desire to follow closely the teachings of the early disciples of the Lord. Through his preaching Sidney Rigdon had converted many souls unto this faith.

      Parley P. Pratt, believing that many of the “Disciples” would readily receive the truth, had persuaded his fellow missionaries to spend some time among them in Ohio where they were located on what was called the “Western Reserve.”

Sidney Rigdon

       Table of Contents

      The first house at which they called, in Mentor, was the home of Sidney Rigdon. After the usual greetings, they presented Mr. Rigdon with a copy of the Book of Mormon, stating that it contained the record of the ancient people of America, and that the Lord had again established his Church in the earth with the authority of the Holy Priesthood. This was the first time Sidney Rigdon had heard of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith. Replying to their statements, he said he had the Bible, which he believed to be the word of God; as for the Book of Mormon, he had considerable doubt of its divinity. He refused to argue with them, but promised to read the book. At their earnest solicitation Sidney Rigdon allowed the elders to hold meetings in his chapel. A large congregation assembled and gave close attention to the remarks of the elders. At the conclusion of the services Sidney Rigdon instructed the people to consider carefully the remarkable things they had heard, lest it should prove to be the truth. With deep and earnest study, he read the contents of the Book of Mormon, praying for divine guidance, and in the course of about two weeks, he received a manifestation so that he could say, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto me, but my Father, which is in heaven.” He and his wife were then baptized and also many of his congregation.

      In Kirtland the elders were also successful. The people besieged the missionaries both day and night, until they had very little time for rest. The greater number heard the tidings gladly, but some, there were, who came to dispute and oppose the work of the Lord. In a very short time branches of the Church were established numbering in all about one thousand souls.

The Journey Continued

       Table of Contents

      The missionary elders continued on their journey after a stay of two or three weeks in Kirtland, leaving a number of the new converts to continue with the work. Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Isaac Morley, John Murdock, Lyman Wight and Edward Partridge later became members of the Church and were ordained to the Priesthood.

      Having accomplished this great work, and leaving watchmen for the tender flock, the missionaries took Dr. Frederick G. Williams with them. About fifty miles west of Kirtland, they passed through the country where Parley P. Pratt first made settlement in the western country. Here, again, they made a stop and preached the Gospel. The people were all excited over the things they had heard, for the knowledge of the labors of the brethren had preceded them. Other converts were made, including Simeon Carter, and although some opposition and bitterness was manifest, in the course of a short time a branch was raised up numbering about sixty souls. Arriving near the border of Ohio, the missionaries spent some days among the Wyandots, who received them kindly and rejoiced in the story of their fathers as they learned it from the Book of Mormon. In the city of Cincinnati they spent several days, and being disappointed in not being able to take boat, continued on their journey afoot to St. Louis. In the midst of winter weather, and suffering great hardships in a country little traveled by man, they pursued their journey till they arrived at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, at that time scarcely more than a trading post on the borders of the United States. They reached Independence early in the year 1831;