Essentials in Church History / A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"

by Joseph Fielding Smith

Notes

[1. ] At a meeting held in Kirtland Sept. 11, 1833, it was decided that a press should be established in that place and a paper published to be called the Messenger and Advocate, and that the Evening and Morning Star, formerly published in Independence, be continued in Kirtland until it could again be published in Zion, which the brethren thought would be but a short time. All the numbers of the Star published in Independence were republished in quarto size. The first number of the Star was issued in June, 1832, and the last in July, 1833, the month the press was destroyed by the mob. In December, 1833, the first number in Kirtland (No. 15) was issued, it continued until September 1834, when it was succeeded by the “Messenger and Advocate.”

[2. ] See Doc. and Cov. Sec. 102, for procedure in High Councils and minutes of this organization.

[3. ] See Documentary History of the Church, vol. 2:79, for this interesting incident.

[4. ] In a letter to the high council in Zion the Prophet said: “Now, my beloved brethren, you will learn by this we have a great work to do, and but little time to do it in; and if we do not exert ourselves to the utmost in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s house that this thing may be accomplished, behold there remaineth a scourge for the Church, even that they shall be driven from city to city, and but few shall remain to receive an inheritance.” This had reference to preparations “against the time” when the Lord should call them again to the redemption of Zion.

Chapter 21

Choosing of the Twelve and Seventy—Dedication of the Kirtland Temple

1834–1836

Charges Against the Prophet

As already stated, there was some dissension in Zion’s Camp on the way to Missouri. One of the chief offenders on that trip was Sylvester Smith, and when he returned to Kirtland he repeated many of his grievances against the Prophet Joseph Smith. This resulted in a trial before the Bishop, Newel K. Whitney, and the high priests, and after a full investigation, the Prophet was vindicated and Sylvester Smith after much persuasion made confession of his wrongdoing, and repented of his sin.