the life and contributions of newel kimball whitney
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Brigham Young University Brigham Young University
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Theses and Dissertations
1966
The Life and Contributions of Newel Kimball Whitney The Life and Contributions of Newel Kimball Whitney
Larry Neil Poulsen Brigham Young University - Provo
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A
THE LIFE AND contributions OF NE WEL KIMBALL WHITNEY
A thesis
submitted to
graduate department of religious instructionLasthastbast
brigham
ruction
young university
provo utah
in partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the degree
niasteriviasterdiasterIviivl ofofartsobartsaster arts
by
larry N poulsen
april 1966
00ayay3
NEWEL
cayecare exam
gratsgrate
heiphelp
sincesimce
heiphelp
dibdiscoutacouracoure ontoutent
duhmfuhm it is
acknowledgment
completion of this work wabwaawas madem possible due to the help and
encouragement of several people because of their assistance the writer
was never defeated by discouragement
dr russell R rich my graduate committee chaitmanchairman made
careful examination of thisghisghib work and with his profound knowledge of
L D so church history suggested many changes which make the writ-
ing more accurate his friendliness andaed kindly nature gave me encourageencourage11
ment during months of research
I11 am grateful to ordr dean christiansenchristianson committee member for
his interest andabdend cooperation
special thanks goesgoosoesgoeboo tos the library steffstaffsterfs efof brigham young univer-
sity who werewerowezeweyo most helpful during long hshours of research the cheer-
fulness aadand cooperation shown by thebethesethentheb people were greatly appreciated
sincere appreciation also goes to the staff of the church historians
library in salt lake city for directing the research of the many docu-
ments andendemd materials in that library which contributed to the fulfillment
efof this project
members of the whitney family and particularlypasticpaxtic Jalyrly fred whit-
ney of saltsait lake city were very helpful in offering their assistance andend
iii111lii
discoura
comm e chaitchair
a
S
nks th
c ibutsd
is
S
11frie ailallali on
fulg ent
ncouragncojrag m nt asis wellwalweliwaiw asal making availabiavailablavailably for this work mat rials
in theirthar possession
this acknowledgmacknowledge nt would not b compljfj without xprssing
appreciation to sondra grisard for hrher cooperation in tha final typing
of this manuscript
I1 also wish to express appreciation to my mothermothomothe r inlawiin lawnla thelma
B waddoups for her valuablevaluablvaluably assistanceassi instancestanco typing rfvmcz materialmatjrial
and for her constant ncouragtmantzncouragjmznt during th months spent on this pro-
ject
and finally my appreciation to my lovely wife mignon who
gava birth to a child just at the time whnahn this work was bingbang completedcompletcomplect
ar many hours of assistance in typing has benbcnban a valuablevaluablvaluably service
mignons&gnonsmiglonsMig faithnons that I1 would complatcompltjcomplot this work howcvzr and her con-
stant geniegenlj urging for amzmz to continue on with this writing has beenbuen th2th0thetha
most helpful assistantassistanceassistancassis rnderrnderjdtanc torn meder
IV
d
matbat Z
gengan
comcobplatpletpiet
apprapar ciationclationciatronciation
apprapar ciationciatronciation
h r I1 rial
j ct
d
I1 r b un
l1 m
iv
valuablabi
valuablabi s rvicarvic
compi t
nong
cla
cla
ander
ghtaht
to my father edgar poulsonPe whouleen recently passed away
and who always taught me to follow the example of leaders such
asateaibalb newel K whitney
tibetiba church16441950IM1644
newel kimball whitneywhitmywhitly17951850179516501795 18501650
secoma presidingdiebopbitiop of tl
1950diebow
TABLEtible OF CONTENTS
PAGE
frontispieceacknowledgments
LIST OF illustrations viii
chapter
L introductionstatement of the problemjustification of the studyareas of interest considered in this
vritingrilingprevious vorkjork on the subjectdefinition of termsmethod of procedure and sources of
data
II11 NEWEL KIMBALL WHITNEY A YOUNG MANWITH A PURPOSE
I1
ianlan
iii
5
birthplacehonored nameboyhood and youthindian tradergilbert and whitneymarriage to elizabeth annreligious affiliationsthe campbellitesCampbel andlites sidney rigdonbeliefs and doctrinesesteemed pastorthe conversion of parley P pratt
and othersrigdonsRig firstdons contact with the eldersthe spread of mormonism among the
campbellitesCampbelsidney
litesrigdon joins with the new faith
the conversion of the whitneyswhitneytWhitpartial
neysfulfillment of promise
the condition of the church duringthis period
v
PA gelGEE
ju st ficationcatlon
writing
chapterchapt page
III111ililii THrhe BISHOP OF THE KIRTLAND SAINTS 26
the prophets arrival in kirtlanddiscontinuance of common lawthe appointment of bishop partridgezionimportance of the gilbert and whitney
storeappointment of newelnewe K hitneywhitney as
bishopduties of bishop hitneywhitneythe kingdom of god restoredwhitneyswhitneytWhit reactionneys to the callingqualifications of bishop whitneyarea of responsibilitysponsibilityAethe united orderjourney to missourithe gilbert and whitney storeeventful journey from missouri to
kirtlandfurther responsibilitiesA journey and warningschool of the prophetsA warning to church leadersrelief of the saintsdiscontinuance of the united ordernaming of the churchA specialSip blessingecialnewels parents
IV THE NAUVOONAUVCU PERIOD 74
temporary homewards organizedbranch at zarahemlaZarahcivic
emlaand municipal organizations
nauvoo charterthe smith storefemale relief societynauvoo templebishop whitneyswhitneytWhit responsibilitiesneyspresiding bishopplural marriagemarriage of joseph to sarah ann
hitneywhitney
vi
r
&
vv
1
bartersuarterstartersmigration ol0101 saints to cutaiautaiiutaiabrighabrigharnBrig youngharn
chaptechapterschacte arageirage
document on pluralflural marriagecarriagetrustee iinintrusttrustntrudissentiondissectionDis amongsention church leadershipleaderssidney
hiprigdon cut off
finishing the templetempielaying of capstonededication of attic storyordinance workcare of lucylccy amith3mithkyiitlh
V THE LAST DAYS IN AN EVENTITULEVENTFUL LIFE 95
leaving nauvooconditions oiof campexcoiniiiuiiicatexcoinmu onldcatonld ofcaton bishop filler
lauciiuciwuc y
I1 I1
I1 I1
135lob
B LINES ON THE DEATH OF BISHOP NEVELNEELK11. HITNEY
facFAG
inter
sustained s presidentarrival at salt lake citystate of deseretcurrency issuedcitygity of ogdenother activitiesactivitie of hitneywhitney
hitnebitne s life closes
summaryulmaryUl
APPENDIX
MARY
J
115
C LGERNONALGERNON SYDNEY GILBERT 116
0 reproductionreproductions OF BISHOP VHITNEYWHITNEY ANDTWO WIVLvvivlo 113
L facsinilesfacsimiles OF BILLS ISSULDISSUED BY KIRTLANDLSAFLTY SOCIETYSOCLEVY AND THE ORIGINAL WHIT-NEY STORLSTORE 119
SELECTEDLECTELID bibliographybibliogrinpi 12
vii
r s age
& aflerffler7
1
T as
wliftnea Is J
s THLTHE FAMILYfarFAIfri OF NEWCL K VHITNEYILY NE WEL VHITN L Y
i
NDT v10 6 1 1 i I1 1
1 1
1 1nilel
AYtS
Ipareilarelare
lly
almary
1.1
0.0
I1iliallla T tl
ballbali
hitnebitne and
dethbety
1 I1 ewelegel M iball hienehitne1hitne rontipievc
me areljveive 1 ir t ro 1 iverlver
5irfcil of bill I1 ud lb rt IA n 1 f0
theaheaho hitney tto
v113
irtlinj detyocitobit bo c
T 1
kzew4eikj
a ajvai4 L itea
li- r
liitney1iftneyloitney and the church heliefiefle served o0 faithfullyfaithfalth andfullylully veilwellveliweilweli
ven though hitney viv onei of the early convertconsert
ithuthiabcrcicrc hehz nad cnlileil intiznateintha acquaintancediateriate 7 itl
ionlon
denionstrateddernonstrated his confidenceconnconE indence him fie liasilasliiaslilas recorded the reat love and
respect he hadnad for this talvartgalvarttal ol0101vartmart the church as willall be seen in later
chapterchapters it seemed worthrhileworthvhileworthwhileworth torhile the writer to investigate and nakemakemalef record
of the life of a man held in such high regard by re identaident joseghjoseph i ith
thithl
refres iding bi
hiihil
chaichal tir I1
iitxcdlctiuis
tatementstatementbatement ofol01 the i robjemrubiemrubied
the purpose of th writing i to present a biography of newelnevel
mcballmmballkalliiiail whitneyriballribail with emphasis on his personal life and his contributions
to the church of jesus christ of latter day daintaintfdainasaintf
aeqe churnchur littleij ha been written
concerning liorcarc atlitll
u affidationt1101011affication QJof ne jy
the liirtoriiittor of any eople to beliebieite complete will include muehmuch on the
historyviiIiivil 01cstory tie live ond contributions of its leader 0 it i vatnvitn nevel
1
to the church
oi01 beisjeisJC christ of latteriatter day 5aintlhaintl and va the eond ordained bishop
and laterluter the I1 residing bishop of te
jo epilephepli itbath
the firstiirstbirst pre ident of the church beconingconingbeaconingbe a eioreclorecloseclorrioreflosefiose friende ndand aca ociateociatcopiate
to him josep kield bishop hitneyvhitneyitney in high esteeiesteel and on manymans oca
E T j U 10N
ie pre ent
I1 the t
nd
V vas Cdhur h
US aint
hop t
hi
urtheri 1
id it 0
i bi hop
great a id
ire c to tb
p-
h
da
T F R
tatement i
urthuriherihurl at
Vh I L
I
llad
lre
tai
bond
whitney
conroncoi iovc lecler
ordoverorjoveroruover evidence indateinjiateinJiain
tnttiiati
dateei veideidelA u ed ni pla cu 010 ba adnedne ti ularly luringduring clethecieule I1 artlandirtlandirtitnd
periodP fr urri od iv r 2 f L 3 lileillelide i L 11 1 C t rortcort
k- e itILA iycirvc ofir ticcic alijlijile 001 nitnj
ipleipieaiple
ntiljintii i is leathdeath in utan in 11.
I1 inelne
ilslis hitneybitney de-
voted idshisiss lifeweilfe to anetne jausejaudause oi01se the iiurcnchurch
thetee
tiltii uiaula
biliii
iealea melrmelc
hlfhis
andarddj lteriteritesiteate
iovelove
cstcut ol0101 liecielae writer to
oreoruoverjovercover
aitoritor d ii buniebluie I1 lieiklei t
l-
ot t c eoiij i
0
bitingriting
1 the connection of newelne iwelwei
artlandirtland
ajiocjioedioedlo and vicinity
3 hi intimate acquaintance itwith idneadney igdonugdonaugdon t e cropundropundrorlin
ent campbellitempbellitecpacla preacherbreacherpreacpreace iner chio andind later a leader in the church7i ofI1amrimri
jesus christ of latte rd aintsailtsi
arlagebarriage
alonlo rk the re in
ulokishisuio connection with the practice of plural ariagerrariagerarriagerr oiof ttheac
particularly
tc irc e II11 L
j t r L t li
brutrrurtzrut iriccilc tetiietile CIILCHLclilcill 11 i Cje tJ tir I1t ali01 incim
0
L dul
v
tter in
i c c d i a C
duim hi
riod ci 0 re idliadli iiopL nent jn aneefneranerafner azi v 2t j- t C1 li et uit jrgo
t e intercutinterntereetere
v
u fu 1 ine un in
i ole i thetl afairaffairsabairic aran 1 T 0 t of V e
v hurch in chioghiochloohio
5 hiehir connection mithvith the nauvoo feiiple and the orrinanordinncoriinanordin enc
vork therein
S
tiiirci and the preservationpreserbreser ofatlon title e 132nd132137 ectionrectionactionrnd of the doctrineqoctrineooctrine and
C
tn tri le
p a r 1
i r 0
3 i c
i t c ie ate pt thlthi rojeirojetrojebrojegoject t
veirearei oiof intereinterestinhere C on s ide red in tiitia i
i roject
t consideredcon insidered tlliiiiilif vritiariti
3 1
e apxpe r ien c e s as azi ur 1 ine i J n in I1 i rt1 an 1
CA iioliorio
i
r
T oi1 t
IC
te
pract ce
tie
or te
i tor
j n e t
inanialnanlal
ct
ori inan
nne
urf itoi
int
gita
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zith
tila
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toi
noje
mra
orl
atil
indane
arc
ater
biod giop
argoat
bract
ai
I11 12A
2
Z
tiit
hitneythitneywhitney
experiencesii
vita
a
the 31 of
letylecybety
hortihortchort eketchesketchersketches of his life have beenbeeh
I1
I1 er
iivoilvo
lomLOU n of the tweiyetwelvetweite fekerrexerfekecve to moetoe teletwelveweinewelvet apostlesapoctleapostle or council
of twelve 0 thecaecheuteete cljliliC
the leimicimlelm
teiebele
tlethe
whonho
brittenvritten by ndrewandrew jenson and
cr on y hitnehitne vhitneywhitney tese sketchesketchessketched
br ve been referred to in this writing
definition of terrtcrrterotarreeral ternstertistertec ubeauseduseauleans in tintill riting7riting aredre peuliapeulirpeculiarpeu rilclir to the churchhura oj
jesu ristliristhirist of latterlatteatter rdda aint these terriaterri3 are 01 follows
thetle ternteinte agurcijnurcnr 3halljnallahall refer to the churchchuich ol0101 jejetjes 3.3 christ ui
attematternatteratter dayrd int
ctiativtiesaties
covenant
is emotivities in tet Le irtlandartland afetysifety cietyci lniveruniveretyecy it of
uvo th s it of livo and the proposed territory of emeretseereteqeretleereteveretSe
reviousprevious
eret
storkyork on the subject
fr teneiveextensivegeneiveex vorwor hi been done on the life of newel 11
the grandsongrandongrapra ofndonadon newelnevel Fk
tcle balersialersic tocers an ecclcsiadticaiecclcsicticai diiioridifiori oioi tat1V e rjirch
the terntein ardvardrard refers to anam ecclesiastic iiilil ioxc of azt stsrsisr
the term r residing bishokbibhopbish2k shallshalishail referreterieterlefer to the residing einopiiiiop
over all the church
the term lderjlderliderlideiideraldert relerreferrelec b to one vho holdsholde tiietl 0 liceficecicehice of lidericierloterloler in111ii thel
elchizedeki4elchizedekmelchizedek priesthood of0 theL churchcnurchr
the term bishop arelersrelers to one vno is the preidinpreadiilfreidinpre idin aut oitolt012ait
C 0 venalA
Hs 1 c ietyL cac& I1
M L eqt ie irolo ed territolaterritoltercTerr iitol
1 ub ectact
T ese
cl iiiitioniiiition i
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JCSU a
aurci V ie C
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riting
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1.1 j
CHAPTER il
NEWEL KIMBALL WHITNEY A YOUNG MAN WITH A PURPOSE
birtheacbirthplaceBirthEin a study of the history of the church of jesus christ of latter
day saints it is of interest that the beautiful state of vermont has been
the birthplace of many of the church leaders who rose to prominence in
the early days of the restored gospel some of the little towns and vil-
lages where these men spent their formative years are practically non-
existent today but they are remembered because they are inseparably
connected with the lives of these great leaders
one such town is marlborough windham county it was here
where samuel and susannah kimball1kimballiKimballKimkib whitney1balli resided when their first
son and second child was born to them on february 5 1795 he was given
the name newel kimball whitney seven other brothers and sisters
followed but it was newel who was destined to make the whitney name
famous in the annals of the restored church
tracing the whitney line J fred whitney of salt lake citya descendant of newel K whitney has been unable to find any connectionbetween susannah kimball whitney mother of newel and heberhaber C
kimball heber C kimball married a daughter of newel becoming hissoninlawson
rson
in
F
law
whitney through memorybemous halls the life storystouston oforson F whitneywhitne independence missouri zions printing and publish-ing company 1930 p 11 hereafter cited as whitney memorymemordemor halls
5
e
fouowedz
lin
orson memous
q
ac
newlnewanewi K11 Whitwhitnwhitneyneyncy
ameriaberiaberlcan orlesoriesonles encyclopedia nwnawN yorkw spencer prsserssincorpitcorp
rataynatayrabay
I1
honored namnamz
newiNJWInewl K ivvvhitneyvvhitney camecainecalne from a sturdy line of nkwncnaw glandersenglandersCnw dat-
ing back vn generationgenegane torations john whitney who embarked at the port of
london in the spring of 1635 and in juna of that year settledsatla in watertown
massachusetts 2
iccihc wilitneyvliitneyWI namnarnnainLitney ic one of th oldest and most ditingai hed in
westernesternVv england dating back lo10to A D 1066 the time of th normannonnom
gonqaestconqjeat
nan
whitbrwhitirwhitneyay meanmeano whitewhitowhite waterwater1waterb and derives its origin from the
riverkiver wye famedfarned as th most beautiful river in england flowing near
the borderbordfborda of waleswalewaie the name aloo signifiessignifte ih island of th wi e
1 american peoples
thetha contributor saltlake city deret news co
irygry
nitehite stepldotestepsteple lurchescnurchescilurcheschurchescipldld rich in the history and
tradition of old vermont
newnewn A
aandan
ah1h
anaan1whitney11iitney
pidald
6
thtiitia arlyar yl cirsare jx N w 1 I1 V vn y lflifl wojwrjf spont in marlbor-
ough located on a prominent hill from which could be zzn many milmii of
gren countrywidecountrycounlry anaandale woodedwood- d molirilain
aheihrlahrn vermont landocaplandscaplandscapelandoland hascapscap a distinctive character hilly farmfarb
and patches of woodland agaiajtctgaiiui da background of raiayrniani grgir917ty m mountains
in almost every corner of the state ararz antique buildings quaint old fash
ionedboned general storbst andoret white
1963 XIX 264
rson F
J A V li Z 11wa 0 tz
wlklchkichgich 2an
n
w
th
i di6tinguiihed
d rives
r s al so s
P pr ss
orsonD seret N ws 1885 VIv1va 123 hereafterreafterbeafter cited as
whitney contributor
w- r
n- w l1
ayrearrerafterarnez
vrn
aio
new
ars ax
szn
I1
ien 1 the history of this area would reveal the prominence of many of
the whitneyhitneyVy family A which would seem to lend credence in the meaning
of the whitney name
in the whitney line we find lords members of parliament and
valiant fighters in the crusades and other great battles several of the
1xhitneyswhitney s were knighted by the queens of england including thomas
whitney father of john who was the first american progenitor of newel
K vhitneyhitneyVh 2itney
t17hethe whitneyswhitneytWhit intermarriedinterneys withmarried great families by that means
their blood became mixed with the blood of saxon normcknnormoyn and plantag-
enet kings of england and with that of the royal houses of scotland
it ranceranee and spain ltvlt3
of interest is the fact that jilwllwil
distinguished family among them were josiah dwight hitneywhitneylk
geologist and professor at arvardriarvardri williamilliamNk dwight W hitneyvhitneyitneywhitney philologist
sanscritsanskritSans scholarcrit and editor of the century dictionary and villiam CG
whitney secretary of the navy under resident grover cleveland
p 10
4lbid41bid
7
en 11
whitn y
whitn
V
france 3
i4
lvaIIAivahitneywhitney memorytviemorys halls p 11
ibid
3lbid31bid
INhitneywhitney the famous inventor of
the cotton gin and several other prominent americans were all a part
of thithikthl
Vh
2
len
whitney
abeagiabb ofoi nineteen new 3 lladhad mad his way to the historicstoricai vil-
lage of plattsburgplattsbur&Platts newburg york located on the wternwsternasternws sioredioretern of lake
hamplain4hamplaincamplainshamplainham andplain waswaa busilybadlybarlyburly engaged as sutleratlerbutierdutler or merchant
I1
bitneywitney
fermontvermont
ilfelifa
chotchor & tethetue year round
bishis
weiwea
av3v
early lif of the yoangyoung hewelnewel was typical of telaetae average Nnww
anglandnglandingland boy farm work all jummer schoolachool during the winter months and
the usual chords
at an apparently early agoageasoase newel left hitd family and familiar sur-
roundings and setbestsestbet out to find hi way in the world ie had but few personal
posaesiionpossiestiond and no monymoney to h ipap him along the way but endowed with a
natural businessbusin talent9 and an enterprising spirit as well as a keenkean sense
of honesty he waawas soon able to satisfyatiafyatisfyatis hihiehitfy quet for employment
at the ag
lage
vv hile o0
occupied according to xteverendxsverend 5 F hitneyhitneyv 5 thigthio energetic young
r V hitney was the youngest brother of newcjiwas a 4ethodi&twthodi6it minister living in irtlandaandartlandaana in trie t arlyariy day of the
church
8
boyhood and youth
nwelewel spent hlisniabiablahils boyhood and youth iiin the p acefulacefalaceval and quiet town
of larlboroaghi4arlborough rxnont i which liesiles a fwlw miles oathsouth of charon tebirthplace of the prophet joseph smitasmitn who was later to become on of
the cloacloia pruonalpraonalPpra frindar3onalonalonai offri vhitneymtneyatneyVhVnds
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lW hitney contributor VI 123
hitneyatney demormemory1memor a tallstailsballs p 11
hitney contributor VI 123113
bid41bid
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9
man participated in one of the most consequential battles of the warvar of
112 1 because of newels participation in this battle it seems worth-
while to give a brief synopsis of the battle of plattsburgPlatts foughtburg in sep-
tember of li141jl4
the battle to save plattsburgPlatts fromburg the british forces was a des-
perate one with the american forces outnumbered three to one the
british strategy was to destroy the US navy in the waters of lake
champlain and simultaneously defeat the land forces along its southern
shores which would lead to severing the new england states from the
rest of the country at a strategic point of high ground on the shores of
lake champlain lay the little village of plattsburgplattsbargPlatts whereburgbarg the americans
chose to make their defense against the british ground forces the situ-
ation for the americans was extremely dangerous they converted
plattsburgPlatts intoburg a citadel of redoubtsdoubtsre trenches and strong points to off-
set the inequality inia numbers the american army consisted of several
hundred volunteers who were to fight alongside the regulars these men
faced 14 000 british regulars in battle M it seems logical to assume
that newel was numbered among the courageous volunteers who fought
so valiantly with the american regulars
whitneyhitney memorysMe hallshailshalismorys fr 11
grancisfrancis F beirne the war of 10121812 new york L P outtonand co inc 1949 ppap 289303289 303
U S
21
lwhitneylW
10
fortunately for the land forces the british fleet was severely
beaten by the american navy this unexpected turn of events in the hard
fought naval battle so dispirited the british land troops in the heat of
battle that plattsburgPlatts wasburg saved two hundred british regulars were
killed while the american losses were about one fourth that number 1
indian trader
probably losing most or all of his possessions during this battle
newel next established himself at green bay lake michigan as an indian
trader his early mercantile experiences which made him acquainted
with the traders and trappers of this area apparently made this possible 2
it was during his experience as an indian trader that an incident
occurred never to be forgotten which nearly cost newel his life an
enraged savage whom whitney had refused liquor obtained it elsewhere
and in a drunken rage with a knife or tomahawk in hand climbed through
a window of whitneyswhitney1Whitneywhitneyt s1 establishment to put an end to him As the
outraged indian emerged through the open window an indian girl by the
name of maudalinalaudalinaMau seizeddalina him and held fast until the intended victim
had escaped
bid p 303
whitneyZW contributorhitney VI 123
whitney memorysyemorrismorrisdemorrisMeYe hallsmorys p 11
f
3
1ibidbibid
Whitneys
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atersuters mandalinaMau
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dalina
memory of the indian maiden vhowho avedcavedsaved himhirnhib aroifroifroiro death
s an indian trader at green ba newel appearappears to have traveled
considerably on horsebackilorsebad and at timesth journeyednes as far west as kirtl-
and ohio it is suggested by orson F whitney that during these trips
smith2smitha
3andrewcandrew
11
nevel yhitneyyh neveritney forgot the girl who performed this neroicheroic
deed as later in his life he naxnedncuned one ofoi his own daughters
he becamebec acquaintedarneacne with elizabeth ann smith who resided in fintlandfirtlandFirt
and
land
later became his wife it was probably this acquaintance that induced
him to move from lake michigan to ohio it is well to remember that
ohio in the early ISOOs was located on the far western frontier of civili-
zation and any journey to this statetate was a journey through endless miles
of sparsely settled wilderness
gilbert and whitney
newel K whitneyswhitneytswhitneytWhit firstneysneyts residence in ohio was at painsvillegainsvillePains
located
ville
a few miles north of kirtland on the shores of lake erie here
he became acquainted with algernon sydney gilbert who subsequently be
4came his longstandinglong businessstanding associate
1 the utah genealogical and historical quarterly y salt lake citydeseret news press 1937 XXVIIIXXVUI 646864 isabel68 maudalinalaudalinaMau whitneydalinawasvas born to newel K and emeline belos woodward six weeksweek after themother reached salt lake valley on september 28 1848
9vvhitneyvrhitneyhitneyvVVr memorysmemoryleMeMem hallsmorysoryle p 12
0andrew jenson LDS biographicalbioblo encyclopediaencycloraphicalgraphical saltdiadla lake city
deseret news press 19011 I1 2222232222322222 hereafter223 cited as blog encycencyl4 whitney memorysMe hallsmorys p 12
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1I 223
additional information on elizabeth ann may be found in appen-dix A
I1
12
about 1817 gilbert recognizing the business talents of newelnawanewanewn
took him into his business as a clerk and taught him the fundamentals of
bookkeeping A A few years hence a prosperous mercantilemercantilmer firmcantilcantli of gil-
bert and whitney emerged with headquarters in kirtland
marriage to elizabeth ann
during this period of time the courtship between newel and eliz-
abeth ann smith reached fulfillment through their marriage on october
20 1822 newel was twenty seven years of age and elizabeth ann
twenty two
A little background of the companion of newel K whitneyhitneyIV is
appropriate at this point as she played not only a significant role in his
life but also in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints which
they later joined
elizabethizabethellzabetheilzabethLl ann J who became know as mother whitneywhitner 1 tells
her own story
I1 was born the day after christmas in the first year of the pres-ent centurycencon intury the quiet old fashioned country town of derby newhaven county conn my parents names were gibson and pollysmith the smiths were among the earliest settlers there and werewerwidely known I1 was the oldest child and grew up in an atmosphereof love and tenderness my parents were not professors of religionand according to puritanical ideas were grossly in fault to have rietaught dancing but my father had his own peculiar notions upon the
id
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subject and wished me to possess and enjoy in connection with asound education and strict morals such accomplishments as wouldfit me to fill with credit to myself and my training an honorableposition in society ie had no sympathy whatever with any of thepriestsprie ofstri that day and was utterly at variance with their teachingsand ministry notwitnstandingnotwitlistanciingnotwithstanding he was strenuous on ailallali points ofhonor honesty morality and uprightness
luerelucre is nothing in my early lifeilfe I1 remember with more intensesatisfaction tilan merk agreeablee companionship of my father mymothers health was delicate and with her household affairs andtwo younger children she gave herself up to domestic life allowingit to absorb her entire interest and consequently I1 was more particu-larly under my fathers jurisdiction and influence our tastes weremost congenial and this geniality and happiness surrounded me withits beneficial influence until I1 reached my nineteenth year nothingin particular occurred to mar the smoothness of myanyaayoay lifes currentand prosperity and lovelovoiove beamed upon our home
about this time a new epoch in my life created a turning pointwhich unconsciously to us who were the actors in the drama causedall my future to be entirely separate and distinct from those withwhom I1 had been reared and nurtured my fathers sister a spinsterwho had money at hertiertaerlaer own disposal and who was one of those strongminded women of whom so much is said in this our day concluded toemigrate to the great west at that time ohio seemed a fabulous dis-tance from civilization and enlightenment and going to ohio then wasas great an undertaking as going to china or japan is at the presentday she entreated my parents to allow me to accompany her andpromised to be as faithful and devoted to me as possible until theyshould join us and that they expected very shortlylortlydortly to do their con-fidence in aunt sarahsbarahsbarahl ability and self reliance was unbounded andso after much persuasion they consented to part with me for a shortinterval of time but circumstances over which we mortals have nocontrol were so overruled that I1 never saw my beloved mother againour journey was a pleasant one the beautiful scenery through whichour route lay had charms indescribable for me who had never beenfarther from home than new haven in which city I1 had passed apart of my time and to me it was nearer a paradise than any otherplace on earth the magnificent lakes rivers mountains andromantic forests were allailali delineations of nature which delighted myimagination
we settled a few miles inland from the picturesque lake eriedrieerled andriein after years where uhethe saints of rodgodsodcodzodC gathered and the everlastinggospel proclaimed my beloved auitaunt sarah was a true friend and in-structor to me and had much influence in maturing my womanly
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1I 223 A hitney contributor VI 125
I1
relireil iouslous
llelie
15
of both men and thjy in turn wer a grat influence in th ilfelifjlifelifa of this
rath r r markable womanwon
an
iantan
xcllntxca1mt butbat briefbril f sketch of new 1 K whitney writtenwritt byn
his wifbif elizabethelizablellzabetheilzabeth ann is a follows
lieheklekie was a young man who had come out west to sek his fortunefortuncizcie had thrift and nrgy ardand accumulated propertypro fasterporty than mostof his associates indeedindea hah3h became proverbialprovbrov asrbialabial boingbo luckying inall his undertakings he had been trading at green bay buyingfurs and skins from the indians and trappers for the astern markmarketbarketbarkand exchanging them for goods suitable to th wants of the peoplein that locality in his travelstraveis to and from new york he passedthrough the country wheraher wewo resided wo met and became attachedto
religious affiliations
at the time of th marriage of newel and elizab thah ann neither
of thtmth hadm committed themselves to a religiousr hectbeetsectheet riehe seemed to
bjbz conscious of the hypocrisy of the sectarian wouldworld and a rule of his
life was nver to do anything that would later have to b undone and
so avoided close association with any caurchbaurch ileaele did however always
maintain an unfaltering faith in a future state of xistenc2jxistencz and bellevbelieved
that an honest straightforward coursecours would help him attain it lowzverhowevalow
by
everzver
nature he was businesslikebusiness andlike his mind ran more to tajthj temporalmporalsporalta
than to the spiritual
th y nce
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unon the otheroth hand elizabeth ann had a deeplyde2plydeeplydemply spiritual nature
enson blogdiog ncycjincycjincyc
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jenson bi 1 2whitney
gr- at influinflux
a-
ch other and my aunt granting her full approval we werwere 2
married ours was strictly a marriage of affection our tastesand feelings were congenial and we wer 3 a happy couplecoupie with brightprospects in stor
e-
ach
i
believllev d
neiti r
jhn
thay
argy
tham
elizaby
az
holeva
wereeve associated togethertoge intIrier the
kirtland vicinitycinitycikity and erefere converted by thevieeieele LD missionariesnabsnass atfonariesionaries
about the same time it seems worthwhileworthnorthmorth to present a shorthort sketctisketch
of their backgroundbackgrounc in the carnpiellitecarnpoellite churclchurcnchuranchurch andi how1 it had prepared
tierntnern forLOTfotjor theti receptione oj the true gospel of jeusjeucbeuc cloristcliristghrist
ichnitichnite
icarteracarter
16
and possibly encouraged newelneelne towelwei join a religiousreligiouc movement with herber
after serious consideration they united rithsvith the didic cipleciple1cipley or caixp
bellitebelbeilites as they were commonlycon calledinionlyminionly in the vicinity of 01 idojoiso this
was an extremely popular sect in tidsfidsaids area with sidney rigdon a one
of its niortnio&trciost prominentproi leadersleaieaninel inderEdezeit x irtlandartland and the neighboring town 1
the campbellite and sidney rigdonridoninasmuchinasrnuch as sidney rigdon and newel K hitneyvhitneyitney as well as
other future leaders oi01 the g- urch ere
sidney rigdonsRig earlydons life was spent on a farm near pittsburg
pennsylvania later he moved into the town of pittsburgh where he
became a very popular preacher in the baptist church after a short
time he became dissatisfied with the doctrines of this church and resigned
his pastorate two years later he reenteredre theentered ministry preaching
the doctrines of the campbellite church in ohio this church waswawab
founded by alexander campbell one of rigdon1rigdonl s parishioners at pitts-
burgh who had come to ohio and found many people in sympathy with
his mesmebes s cagesage pastor Rigdonrigdon13rigdons successuc incess the newnev campbellite move-
ment was remarkable the fame of his eloquent speech and reason-
ing power spread everywhere in a few months time he converted
carter eldredge grant the kingdom of god re stored saltlake cibycityceby deseret book company 1955 p 120
reliuiou nove Y ent
ca lip
ere
Y Vh
vic
ti iemlem 0
becarne 1
restored
1
while
13
ic hnit 0
ric lonion
1 irtlaertland
I
je us Clirist
dis calap
eie
ciso
vil
message
morth
whitney
I1
arlyjarly christian church sidney championedchampioncchampions this
restoration of early iristiaachristiancl communism and encouraged its practice
withinwithilithi his congregationscongregation moreover lu placed grat phasisemphasisjm on the
secondsf corningcond of christ aaaa3 well as a rest3rationrestaratiorrestoration of ailallali of the ancient orders
of the christian churchcharch including tn bestowal of the iolybioly ghoseghosc
atoeator bainbridge3ainbridg3bainbridgz and kirtland as well as otharothjr towns in
northern ohio
recptionreception
ab2b ri roberts A comprehensivegom2rehnsiv historyli ofstory the church ofjesus christ of latter day saints salt lake city deschotdeseretdescrot news presspross1930 1I 228229228
daryl
229
chase sidnysidneysidn rigdony early mormonmormont unpublishedmasters thesis dept of historyAi universitystory of chicago 1931 p 30
journal of history lamoni iowa board of publication of thereorganizedorganizedAe church of jesusjasusjebustebus christ of latter day saints 1910 III111 12
17
andad baptizedbapti maltitudmaltittidszedzod and organized flourishing congregationsconar ingatioangatioas and
around mentorJ
beliefs and doctrines
the doctrines rigdon considerconsidered necessary to a christian life
werwere faith in god repentancepentancesentance baptismxptismL by immersion and holiness of
lifeilfe in these communities the members of igdons church had all things
in common living in a cooperative society they believedboli toeved bebo patterned
jr ththe ordaorderouderorde of th
joseph
smith later said of sidney igdonrigdon that he waswa&waa likolike john of olduldoid preaching
repentancer2pentanc and baptism and preparing peoplepooplpoepl for th rec option of the holy
ghost 4
or oonson F whitney historyluuIlUlun ofstory utah salt lake city george Qcannon and bons cogo 1892 1I 73
B
0
A oth r
d
r pen tance
lif 2
coop rativedative t ey
aft r r
t 11 gr at
ord rs
th G110& t 3
X
pr paring th
i
3daryl
4joarnal
s-
s
sidn- y
s
ligdo
d
a
iilslis
loly
holin
ariy
clis
lor
I1ibidfoldfoidmold
I1
ppap 121312
9
13
grant op cit
18
esteemed pastor
the rich the poor the humble and the great flocked to join his
followers until he became a welcomed visitor throughout the whole re-
gion so beloved were the rigdonsRig withdons their family of six children
that the people organized and purchased a beautiful site and began build-
ing a comfortable home and out buildings to meet the needs ofol01 their
pastor and hibhis familyfax therAly future was indeed bright with fortune and
fame at every turn under these pleasantpleapiea circumstancecircumstancesFant the elderelderseidereiders
from the newly founded latter day church entered the sceneocene and oonfoonsoonf
he sawcawawsanc his prospects shatteredf hatt andered his family reduced to near poverty
the conversion of parley P pratt and others
caught in the tide of the campbellite movement were many notable
men and women who in a short time would become the most influential
leadersleader in the latter day saints church in this group were edward
partridge frederick G williams parley P pratt and newel K
hitneywhitneyVV it is interesting to note that the popular pastor and preacher
sidney rigdon would baptize many of his own flock into the new
church 2
to account for the conversion of sidney rigdon and so many of
his followerfollowers it is necessary to bring into the story one of rigdon
p 123
hi
1
2
saw
183813381868 ppap 374837
orantgrant
48
op cit p 116
auaada
enthusiasmenthasiasm for the
campbellite church caused him much anxiety for the salvational ofvation many
of his former friends and associatassociatesassociate in theth asteast&astbaste so in company with
his wife in thethu summsummer of 1030330 h left ohio and began a journey dur-
ing which in hoped to spread hishizhidbiz messagemc to3sagusag all who would listen AI1
prattspratt1pratta s own writings suggest that h received a peculiar impression to
go on a preaching tour of the jast
amongaloag
hah2
setdsntd nimngimnib with a copy
hitney idiiidia story of utah 1I 73
parley P pratt autobiography of parley P pratt chicagolaw king and pub
2parleysparley
ar3r
iriuariun aiadiat
19
xiiost ablctable1ableeablit asitantagitantasi parleyparlparijparlyparitant Pj pratt prattprattt Ithasiathusia 3in
it istisnt n3cnac ssaryassary her to tell the entire story of the conversionconvcolv
of
rsionarsion
parley P pratt to the rj stored church while passing through the
state of new york it is sufficient to say that ha readily accepted thutheth
doctrines of the church and the opportunity which soon came to him to
go vest with a small group of missionaries to preach the gospel to the
lamaniteslamanittlamanitaLama thenites westward journey of this small group of inspired and
zealous missionaries brought them to the scene of the campbellitecampGamp movamovbellite
mentbent in ohio
ost
ty t L
form fri ndsads
th if
2
r
h r adily
th th 2
V est th
3
migdonxugdonsmigdonvs firstkirsthirst contact vithwith tiietheeti eldebeldrblldrsLlie
parley
drsP pratt with his fallowlalow missionaries amoag whom
was oiiversliver cowdery wnt imm alatelyblately to the homebomeionia of sidney igdontigdonbigdon
and told him of his recent xpcrijacsxpt andri prjsntdacs
sidn y
his pr sntd
lwhitney historyhistorx
3gracit 0
a-un
journ- y
s
Lamanitt s
vs
lW
tlle
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nis
asl
ant
adaily
apt
ai
20
of the book of mormon at first rigdon was thoroughly perturbed at
pratt because of his conversion to the new church and his message
concerning the book of mormon however after having been persuaded
to make an earnest and careful investigation of the doctrines of the
church the truthfulness of it was manifested unto him fully aware
of the loss of prestige and the financial sacrifice he would have to under-
go he consented to baptism at the hands of oliver cowdery on november
14 18301330 just two week after the book of mormon was placed in his
hands 2 anxious that his wife would not overlook the economic conse-
quences of a change in religion he is reported to have said to her my
dear you have followed me once into poverty are you again willing to
do the same she answered 1 have counted the cost and I1 am per-
fectly willing to follow you it is my desire to do the will of god come
life or come death J
the spread of mormonism among the cambellitescampbellitesCambelCampbelcabbelin
lites
the meantime the message of the latter day saint church was
spread rapidly among the campbellitescampbeuitesCampbel bylites the missionaries evenilven be-
fore his baptism pastor rigdon consented to let the elders use his church
facilities in order that they might have a public meeting place A service
was held and was well attended by a curious and interested assembly
ibidbid p 121
chase op cit p 60
ibid p 59
1
I
3
31bid
1I 226 quoting parley P pratt Auautobio-graphy
topioofaralqralgralgrai parley P pratt p 49
ilslis
31yp
itsitz b i ig
citfit
hishie friendfridfric neigh-bors
ndsadsand brethren and then addressed them effectively for nearly
two ours during mostmoitbostmoboitbost ofit which timetibe both himself and nearlyallaualiail of the congregation werwere
ehyehi
lortbort
tant1n
stours3tours
langljng
iibidbibid
raobertszaobertsZA oprobertsoberts cit
21
t A
rliortd thethiteeteitet congrgatiolcongrcengr togationg taketakceatlonation hedhe in the followingfollo mannmanuving r
the information they had that eveningvoning obtained was of xta or-dinary character and certainly demanddemanded their serious attentionand as the apostle advised his brethren to prove all tangsthngs andhold fast to that which is good so he exhortedexhort idshis brethrenbr to dolikewise and gis the arnattmatterbatterbattec a carfulcarefulcar investigationfulfui and not toturn against it without acingbeingbcing fully convinced of it being an im-position
inini
lest1
fchy should possibly resist the truth A
sidney kigdonxisdonhisdon joins with the new faith
rigdon must have feltfeitC sensitivelt about leaving the campb alitellite
religion aftraftirafter havingbavingwaving benazbz treatedn so1 well by his followers aoas hehtzatz once
again called jhcthc
a large congr3gationcongrzgationcongregation of h ube
melted into tears he asked forgivenbs of zvrybody who mightinight have had occasion to b offendedoffen withddany part of his former life he forgave all that had persecuted orinjured him in any manner and thetho next morning himself andwife were baptized by oliver cowdery 1 was present ll11 saysparley P pratt it was a olesolemn scene most of th peoplewere greatly affected they came out of the water overwhelmedin asarstsars lz12
it is impossible at this writing to say whether newelewa iik vhitneyhitneyVhvavvat
vaswas
itney
a witness tofcotcotto these 3vent3 but it is probableprobabl that if he was not pres-
ent he soon received word of them as he along with hundredsjandland ofreds others
bid
pt conditionconctv ofaioniion th service sidy idon borebor hisbiswis testimonytl andstir1 ony
1 31.31 td d1ort
th fye4 att
0 ingsd thr n
rnatt r
tru
ampbf4lit2
r
th 1 m towtog alh s th
v 3nt areara most impressiveimpres&ive
he calledcallad togcth r
rybody bf
I1
p oplew re affacted
wr w tieti r 1 14
3zv ntant3 ae
1
sidn- y
v-ars
th r to annojaceanrnouacanno thejaceance change he was about lo10ILOitoplo makemak
the circumstancescircuitcircui ofdistancesristances thinthis vnt
P s rvicarvic
f y
co iti incedincel
rybody
stid
fhe
opie
tars
eing
ata
achy
ant
whitney
boningea
ahr
ant
rattraftratt reatl uheytheyuneyre influeiiceinflueiiced ereeteiti thelithelt babrj
paicIAJCpaie
elieilell ici va
a-
de it i DO ideijecjei
vha
le
ththaaha it the onveranver ion 0
llielilehiie
tizedtizesized 1
aidnidaad
I1
urul7 I1
I1 Awinblee mie41ile r e 1 iliriyirlyirf 0
I1 t lt
vitlatvitiditl ther
ll11
nornr 1 proe
00 tliroulhttttl ijneyi igdoniionr anou 1lineyidney tlletae ofot er in leliiteLeli
prexprea
ite
herc hellialhei1121ha tat1 ujbtli theirbt onvertconverton frankly t itat it
iiijllilge tntattnt audition in erleriernecierl
lonion
jhj littiittaitth uilull
tcokro
vvesve had baptizedbaptisedbapti e oneledsed1 hunreihunreenunhun andancrel t1 ventyswenttwent even oviouioul
ararl
eistelst
detjet tultui
uvallavail loieiolekole to uc thevieoieole aboeabo atericiaericlaeriale decri irdeaf crie treiredre
lonion
illeylie
crlsri
lctlot
lellleil
nerineel
arttrtt ic anveronver
i n CL laic i
eetingeating erevereconvened in dirdildifferentferent neibortwodneinel anaandC nultitudennltitudemultitudeoi
calepaiepale toetc
to ercuicul
eteratenatenonatenooiciliz ui
hitne1hitney n il
vifeeife re not availiole
eliscieliici
ithinathin
t o0 veek follovvincoliovimy ilon aatiapti lctact
reaeireaelihaih
atlftlmce under vi ilchlich theirthe hir ne 0
arvercrver icn
ilonaion
z
oilOJL oiio v e ii t ioni ltoaltoon je xter GJ uujtia
nio upon tre
c t A le it tet rcre nc j i ililiiill irti a cinjinaallanll in a11
toetie feiorefeiorirepriotreP roundriOT jbovt thetiietile oeoleueoaefeole thronethrone1thronerlthronesthro iu- jnerl daviv ndml nihtni ino-a i t t ij i0 t ec forfurfccfoc releL te andundu xnd etiietlietilelii ci tent
ic tiaotijnd lo10 keikedkel aboutu uau01 dailydasiydallydaliyoutoonieorneoune
uto obexobel the gospelospelaspel andind oreoione to7 di uterutefute or eit it in tot
c r ti rereu ec ri al in cc iieiiioornoudlielikei jiuornoodnd the nrnu
n ce- f e htjto u
atuunjtuutoutuune
ntheahenj ii ic erlj or ei lillcj fi
o0 and ladnekladne0 0 e jitet1r i i
the oner ion of thevietietle
il- ie
hite
iiie the detail of t e onverior e ellelrelrei 1I
te irvtcviice
their p tor vey i ionbonlen ell i th t r
t arlearlevariearleyariey
nt ictone ted ic of partlparti cularcllarculerallar intereinhere t
TP e jbellitc c o0 01 er e ciiiiji iii i
not a u ernaturalnaturaler ttllnnaturernatur but iihevery an
a loul fultrulfui thetthat
rattraft
3
opr citatt p 50
0 113llolio TE P Q Q i t0 t j Q iute r D
tt nort
C rl
ilt in 03
0bornoodfin
a1dtr o
ctc tt ret0
1 troLM atia tievietle nenelnekA
ve oiiveroiiv r dj or
ae1e u
07 3
1 ulevienie t i it lin
e e lon theetherethe ie olleoileotie inifii fl i fi
T Y t- bcnithit r e a t i e L
l ti in1 p loceroce
e e rv i vlaVIAvir L
er louaful
51
t-
in that alvaticn vavoc
t-e 7 c
a-l i
pe-t
1
ittenanittenan e
in 1 t
onveriononveriononterion wllwhi
ai i
r 1
i ey
olio vlayvimy pi
ert louA
lon ito ater
client
elt
nee
ini
iru
tey
ece
llon
tilin
meer
ley
ton
ces
verlon
cep
red
diio
ia
dacri
reaal
ula
ace
ian
1.1
lchasehabe
ppap 414341 43
discibisci lesies
23
the true gospel of christ with its gifts and authorities was on the earth
they taught their people to study the scriptures hold fast to the word
of god and pray constantly to obtain the holy ghost 1
in compliance with these teachings newel and elizabeth ann
spent much time in prayer desiring to know how they could obtain the
holy ghost mother whitney tells their story this way
it was husband and I1 were in our house at kirtlandpraying to the father to be shown the way when the spirit rested uponus and a cloud overshadowedover theshadowed house it was as though we wereout of doors the house passed away from our vision we were notconscious of anything but the presence of the spirit and the cloud thatwas over us we were wrapped in a cloud A solemn awe pervadedus we saw the cloud and felt the spirit of the lord then we hearda voice out of the cloud saying prepare to receive the word of thelord for it is coming 1 at this wevw marveled greatly but from thatmoment we knew that the word of the lord was coming to kirtland
partial fulfillment of promise
this promise to newel and his wife was apparently fulfilled upon
the arrival of the lamanite missionaries of the newly formed latter day
saints church in the latter part of 1830
shortly after pastor rigdonbugdonbusdon was baptized and ordained an elder
he was appointed president of the kirtland branch of the latter day
saints church fired with enthusiasm after having received the holy
ghost rigdon began converting and baptizing his campbelliteCampb followerseUite
it is of interest to note that upon hearing the word of god mother whitney
hase op cit p 31 quoting A F degroot the disciplesA history st louis 1949 ppap 9712397
tullidge
123
opok cit
midnight my
11
2
1I 24041240 41
perforherfor ed
these baptisms
were performed by sidney rigdon
the condition of the church during this period
the condition of the church at the time of newel K whitneyswhitneytWhit
conversion
neys
is noteworthy it had been in existence about seven months
and consisted of about seventy souls centered around palmyra new york
in december 1830 a commandment was given for the church to move
to ohio D & C 37 at a conference in fayette on january 2 1831 the
commandment was repeated and appears in the doctrine and covenants
section 38 as follows
28 and again I1 say unto you that the enemy in the secret cham-bers seekethseebeth your lives
32 wherefore for this cause I1 gave unto you the commandmentthat ye should go to the ohio and there I1 will give unto you my lawand there you shall be endowed with power from on high
33 and from thence whosoever I1 will shall go forth among allthe nations and it shall be told them what they shall do for I1 havea great work laid up in store for israel shallshaushailshalishan be saved and I1 willlead them whither soever I1 will and no power shall stay my hand
whitneylW contributorhitney VI 125
erobertsrobertszroberts op cit
24
joined through the waters of baptism and newel followed a few days later
after a period of thorough investigations the following account is given
of the baptism of newel and elizabeth ann to hear with sister whitney
was to believe and to believe to be baptized her husband with char-
acteristic caution took time to investigate but entered the fold himself
a few days afterwards this was in november 1830
durin
th
whithersoever
acteristic
ZRoberts
2523
34 and now 1I give unto the church in these parts a command-ment that certain men among them shall be appointed and they hallhanhalihailbe appointed by the voice of the church
35 and they shall look to the poor and the needy and administerministeradiadlto their relief that they shall not suffer and send them forth to theplace which I1 have commanded them
36 and this shall be their work to govern the affairs of theproperty of this church
significant about this revelation is the fact that as soonoon aas the
church was moved to ohio as commandedcommanded11 by the lord certain men
were chosen to look after the needy and administer relief to those who
had cause to suffer in any way
eleven months after the above revelation va given newel IK
whitney was the principal figure in this responsibility and with a constant
flo
I1
idoctrineindoctrine
of saints from the east it proved to be a major task
newel dedicated his life to the cause and few if any leaders of
the early church period proved more devoted and faithful than this man
as the succeeding chapters will show
doctrine and covenants salt lake city the church of jesusJCFUS
christ of latter day saints 1956 3828 323632 hereafter36 cited asD & C
r
was
11
I1
hadnothadnft
agrant2grant
CHAPTER IIIHI111ili
THE BISHOP OF THE KIRTLAND SAINTS
the prophets arrival in kirtland
about six miles in a straight line from the shore of lake erie
and some twenty miles from cleveland in the county or lake lies a vil-
lage known in church history as kirtland by the first months of 1831
this town had already become important to the new and thriving latter
day saints church sidney rigdon was the leader of a multitude of new
converts which included many prominent people of kirtland and vicinity
among these was newel K whitney who was soon to gain prominence in
the new movement
the saints in kirtland looked forward to the time when they could
have the prophet of the new dispensation in their midst they hadnhaan
long to wait as about the first of february 1831 joseph arrived in kirtl-
and in company with his wife sidney rigdon and edward partridge
the circumstances of this event are related by newels grandson or son
F whitney
I1 have heard my grandmother and my father relate that when theprophet came to kirtland he drove in a sleigh and halted in front of
andrew jensopjessop historical record salt lake city andrewjenson 1889 V 62
grant op cit p 123
2
orson
rcyoecodraj
gutoutgot c tinto taetievitV orcakrcaorcoreit valued u
tuetuttiit oiiel1 Jeer 11
liiiliill el ete
cleilecie i JY lillidiidild notnetn iea l1
oelveloei ntneyatneyantney uonnon nihi knee
leihlelhneigh ontainiriozontaiontal Ctairiiiijnirinirl 01 c pcjpcs
liatimlla
litilittbiti
ercerccerac tile
I1 ai joseph the
I1
auallyrfually een e el I1 I1 nehundred ol01 lileilie ava rayiasrayiag for ni
I1
aitgitlliti
ol01
I1 I1
gatnergainer vav7 z toadhelAdhel encrncc
hishus
avelavei
liclle
onsohs
lielle
tiietile rcj ered
litneyhitney fe x overuver 01oi tetiyetiteye ronyti ciurchCitony urch enecener Ailojil eren
tletyt
atrati L i
ulluli
liilil
elleelie rieile
li11 iliill i it a a2
taloeatoe
gitlit
confonf
anaa
tat1 t jeniojnniojvnio
tat1
liftnerliftney
bigi1igi ite 1 oripriorldri iin Lv
cicurciiur h C enera
7 7
t e c t 1 to eL of0 aloertiloertiideifidei nint iti jet eto the rt erierter idirllriidl x
16
1 I1 elic ie c- ou art the jr
never een joseph i ith till then joeh 1 L dthathi natural ee nd ie dncin ered T franrtranr you 1 e t e I1 crlcri
tre of e I1 ouldouid rot call you 1 n e ou arvehrve i c i t etrangertrantertranmer therlthen iid aaa2 IT 0 s ep ivilriivl t I1 i e rop iii ei t 0 L ironet ou I1.11 e rjye 1
ne herelierenere 0 at do orov ntmt of e
y vhatahat oo00 er jid thischisuhlsunis tejrejreites irkbie an loehlo mitigitl ecoleh anizeynizeorcOPCoileodeoineolle vnoanovhoaho e i- i iieverbiever delore eeli IAiiI1 tneane le n i y
itne e 0 nize hii it va bebeebec luerue joephjoeuhjos nitiitiej wh i ji1.1 eerholehoicehoceholce eer e hid
01 in to I irtlanl arel-a avutat
yeivelyelt e
1
it p fc i i i 2t t fc zijillziji tiiijillill c L to c el
ii uVi 5 A
exjnipleext1111e
i ti s i i 3 0 c t i v
x ently contributeacontributedcontributea un to the
i ox tn11 e ecieeclcecjeecleeaje o0 k eere vve creL in tiletiietlleteietele r io t totu jo fc 1 in t e
eurear of trialti ilaliallai 1
i I1ii olio e
I hekhe1 c ntriatri utorutor on tiitne ji a re yetjet ilc c ntftat1 c it11 c rival i P itlrln
r out tc ir t of orua y ib I11 aiove t courolvou 1 the treetrees ofol01 li nd
0 f iI1i tiarijtia cndildriJ re u ILt t 0
of cilgilcli ert J bitihitibitu &e tdidlirri entlent fiti 0 v ltc orthe ej ile ere c x ly iiiiiifc a to ex en i ouicouillvouillundand talvartgalvarttalstaistal eiexvart oi xe lilitclilith i an the tep i fc 1
into the tore aran to h re the juniolunio rrtfe velvei i
in hi andhand orior 11313.1ii P tutc ri oii a1ou h c the jvdv alge oi0 L e 1 replied the cnecue ire ed
he e hanirianihanl aloll011liigillilgli t o10 andio unten e 1 I1 coul not lililllii 01 by
11 t e yi a11 e i e
r on
tilt 1 itony rl
etarter
i 1i atheuthe r to i L
jo edh i jo e jh ithhi e e uwiawlugi ere t r dn z y u J n
5e ie a ve1 rlrayer yL e
1
f i ieveleve 1 eie L&
ii onmi
A I1 t it
t A
0 v ir e IV
A I1
h J 111t f
t aticti it i tian
11 ou t V c 1 i r ej
ai0 e LO OL0n F
I1 oce cc lio le 1.1 a
e int L le
ce 1 iitne thoothon art t iele pai arids 1
ie t 11
L e z neL
ere i0 l111te tit ri ot
U 0
v e shitixeoi01 it o1y ivinlvin prilapril 10
c- f
n-
e UL01 tautietae
n jr ei
econizeeconizeebonize
i ove
fc
tcirintcirin
i t
arnued h uncitU tinilleelielle ilkicklckloiluiI1 ovaov3ov ircC i1 n i
til t
art
i
rp 1ae
u
c taiclaictatu
e i li O
n c
tid
ili leakue
llie ana
eek
eor
erualove
tiu out
orl
toi
lid
etor ortt
elrd
laif amu ed uni
lill
iii
tii
tai
boeh
anally
at
antly
naf
and
etc
ainrrth tyirin
arc
ciurcaatony
ai
ae
acol
arc
oay
oa argued
bojil
cilolloli t ui iia
tiletlletiie hitiihijiihitiitil
jucjurjoc
llaillliac crll11 itfitlit
coaidcoaii ij ce 0 0 un
tl
hiiouioul
aireixelx
eibaeibeelbe
eeleeelaei
I1
I1 1
I1 I1 v
everalseveraleek nd receivereceived evereverk kindneckindne and attention that could be ex-
pected unci3ndancl e deciallypeciallydecimallyDecidecl froncfroicfrorcally iteva- ter hitney I1 re ar eit0 d t iii itAi tnietni0t ani tijelije ulfil ent 0 the vl iolionlol ec iI1 eenZ
t
otieolie glagia
acence
ryieryle
maimal
ianlan
urryarr
ovvevv t
irtlaridtirtlcind ere igniiicant to tiietiletlle
binteginte
aejanj
kincilykinkily recel
aa7a ti-e
sephceph
I i1 j eph tneane opnetornet i t ie urlirncrl e tin 0 e
rr e Y e e e n v n t lo101 0100 sol it oj j e
i r hitney aonicliedatonihedato butauthutnihed noix iele r teliputetelilxteii 1.1 oon hitrprifc ould per it ccndlkted tneane arty ereierebere no otheruther tharthan
jbfjcfrcsjosepheph nith hivio
a nd t o0 er nt jut rive froiro14 ayetteaye ftc tneane larth olaceglace of tbth infant nur hah a roaro the teettreet tohi house onorkora t e corner nd introduint edrodu tlethether to hiiriiir nilevile jeie c h rejully d culri e in i ec ta v joeh ayclylly of thi episodeepiodelode e
ere kindlkindi reeivdree andcindivd eicoveiccveich i e into the nouselousehouseulouse ofoi b otnebotne N
hiciehicne f ry eifevife livedlive in the faifiifilfal ilyilllyliy ofy brotterbrother litney
u j nd tnlou i c- ol lor re tin u oilolioii uui loliuiieoll e to rin itIA to
et e lit L 11 n L ti t xe c t i 1 1 t t c
ude t aireir coofrooftoof C 2Y ccoc etietjelie elaiiielzhiahla tte
i ue t e re autioeutio ei ineriyeriven i enu it otje o0 otiiic 01401.4
the nentvent hichitihit lediateliiatdx olioollo e 1 t e i rpetr6pet 0 V Z t0
i
urxie
0 t iete ci tjr i ii t 0 t
tc d wai- le t e ia x 0 0 ni r ili c
rjticed j oievieole uraluraibraiurbi in irtlnj da ron tneirkneir jilittle adloratlor inc eei e 01 v lo10 te roppt e i ee0
theithethel
aithfaithalthfalthlaith ititla
to abmdoiabandoiabandon t ianlan JIJL thei iitiultie eievereveie reilrell oed 1
jo eph mitaitalt j echiecgiecciieccli i ahttnitthttbt vie liv utilj epte
jo
DC
ieph
i
I1
lj31
e
larac
1 1 n
11 a tiltii
it i ut
joseph el in ir itll entiaetialentialzentlaecial iiin lurhriitornur 7trjl7v4 e
cit c cret e T 0
0 P e IC1
1 i e t r rr P j oc
aur p r F c i 1 0uL-I e r j it c c ndu k te advaedvae
i ifelieafe ant usttvev e
rj ifitroduced d7h h ou E e c c rj ie r
J I1 otne
n i
1
c th e i i ion e c 111 1
0 t
r e a it 0uiiae eirle L ot
ie J
eibc11 a I1 i
ti acirrj c ti e x nj i ove
e roppacopr t
r e 0 V e 1
I
altait r et1
h-
e ire irecarectu
n- t
ZLI- LI jinteolliteollete
i
arry
t
t fhebhe
e
cl
c
v 0110
ei bc
lz
lin
ouid
elco
lre
lil
ele
nur bro
tec arel
oll
ived
velit
irti
lii
coi
aily
culli boeh
and iteaalfil
otitic
arxie
da
opet ta
ea
I1
givdiv n
aseezsee
29
the appointmenta1222intment of bishop partridgepartri
hundreds of saints from the east and particularly new york follow-
ed the prophet to ohio with this influx it became necessarynecos forsary the
church to be further organized on february 4 1831 edward partridge
was chosen as the first bishop of the church in this dispensation his
calling and responsibilities are essential to this account as just a fwuwf
months
w
hence this calling and the duties pertaining to it werewera also given
to newel K whitney
it was a magnificent tribute that the lord paid to edward partridge in this revelation of february 4 1831 he was called to be abishop of the church and to bebc ordained a bishop unto the churchand to leav his merchandisehismerchandise and to spend all his time in tajthj laborsof tajthj church he was to see to all things as it shall bzaz appointedunto him in my laws in the day that I1 shall give them at1t in sub-sequent revelations these duties were explained and the knowledgeimparted that men called to this office werwerjberj to be engaged in thethatemporaltm affairsirs128poral of the church particularly therethera is such an in-ference in tha fact that the lord directed edward partridge to dis-continue his merchandising and devote all of his time to the churchimmediately following his appointment he was assigned to actualduties according to the callingcaning of a bishop and was engaged in caringfor thetha members of the church in lationralationgalationra to their lands inheritancesand other temporal matters which were vital to the members concerned
zion
in a series of avelationsrevelations the lord speaks of a zion to be built
up by thetha saints and gives them much advice and council pertaining to it
joseph fielding smith church historyhistorbistor and modern revelationthe council of the twelve apostlesaposre of thehe churchchur of jesus christ of
latter day saints I1 180- 181 hereafter cited as joseph fielding smithC H & mod rev
ee D & C 28 38 42 45 48 52 54 55
b came
th
thth 11
th
T
th 2.22
ljosephs 0f t ch
avelations
cabe
taxytllytily
bordersborder by th j lamanitalamanitsLamanitsestept on th
seisev eral
ssndsnd
comcob endiumeddium
ibslbs
xactexact location wheraher
30
thath2lh3 lord did not reveal to thebthem the zion was to be
built but tlxyth w arzr told it was to be known as thethoahushl new jerusalem and thu
it
LIZ
would
L
be in t
importance of the gilbert and whitney store
while in missouriissourimissouri141 joseph received the first of several revelations
which had a direct bearing on newel K whitney he was commandcommanded by
th lord to retainrhain hishi tcr in kirtland yet for a little season lt but to
endsend allaliail the money he could spare to the land of zion fartherfurther he vasviasvlas to
be an agent to th brethrbreter n in kirtland and assisted by oliver cowdrycowdery
to visit various branches of the churclchurch and gather all the mony he could
lsidneysidneylusidney B sperry doctrine and covenants compendium 2d edsalt lake city bookcraft inc
rev al thl ilm wh r iva
y b
I1
nown
la nani1
companywith br rhrenahren
w rs tward2
4 r
h
mon y
and1960 p 231
A & C 5713571 3
23 1
b-
rethren
J 6russaliz m
3 D11
duningduring summerthe of 1831183 while newel K whitney remainedren inbained
kirtland the prophet visited missouri in company with several brethren
it was then that the lord revealed to the church th exact location of
zion this revelation is found in section 57 of the doctrine and covenants
1 hearken 0 ye elders of my church saith the lord your godwho have assembled yourselves together according to my command-ments in this land which is the land of missouri which is the landwhich I1 have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints
2 wherefore this is the land of promise and the place for thithecity of zion
3 and thus saith the lord your god if you will receive wisdomhere is wisdom behold the place which is now called independenceind ispendencemendencethe center place and a spot for the temple is lying westward upon alot which is not far from the courthousecourt house
cd
se nd
i
thle
ali
bcr
ad
whitnlwhitaley
31
and send it also to zion this was all to be done in his own wisdom ll11
the lord further states that those who send up of their money and trea-
sure to thetha land of zion are to receive an inheritance in this world their
works shall follow them and a reward shall accrue to them in the world
to come 1 the significance of this responsibility and tha necessity of the
saints response to it is emphasized by the following
it is the lords will that his disciples and other people open theirhearts so as to purchase the whole region or country round about in-dependence as soon as time would permit there is wisdom in thelordslord words so ileheliefle explains they are to do this lest they receiveno inheritance except by the shedding of blood ie by the use offorce cf 632731.6327316327316327 in31 no other way could they get this promisedland in their possession
A short time later another revelation was given by the lord part
of which concernedconc newelarned
26 and it is not meet that my servantsservan neweltB K whitney andsidney gilbert should sell their store and their possessions herefor this is not wisdom until the residue of the church which remainethrenmainethremin
aineththis place shall go up unto the land of zion
27 behold it is said in my laws or forbidden to get in debtto thine enemies
23 but behold it is not said at any time that the lord shouldnot take when he please and pay as seemethseebeth him good
29 wherefore as ye are agents ye are onan the lords errandand whatever ye do according to the will of the lord is the lordsbusiness
30 and he hath set you to provide for his saints in these lastdays that they may obtain an inheritance in the land of zion
abidhbid 634248
sperry op cit p 242
11
r
i e
2
tothe
ibid
2sperry
6342 48
ppap 272273272
hosephjoseph
273
fielding smith C H & mod rev
3
31 and behold 1I the lord declaredeciare untoonto you and my words aresure and shall not fail that they shall obtain it
32 but all things must come to pass in their time
33 wherefore be not weary in well doing for ye are laying thefoundation of a great work and out of small things proceedethproce thatedethwhich is great A
the store operated by gilbert and whitney was seemingly very im-
portant to the welfare of the saints in ohio and apparently became increasing-
ly so in the subsequent months the following statement helps to clarify the
importance of this establishment to the saints
the almighty now directs his attention to his servants eldernewel K whitney and sidney gilbert it is not desirable for them tosell their store and their possessions in kirtland such an action isnot wisdom until the remainder of the members of the branch in kirt-land go to the land of zion the lord in his law forbids his servantsto get in debt to his enemies but it is not said at any time that thelord should not take when he pleases and pay as it seems good tohim for that reason inasmuch as these brethren are the lordsagents they are on his errand and whatever they do according tothe will of the lord is the lords business the lord has giventhese brethren a command to provide for his saints in order that theymight obtain an inheritance in the land of zion 2
it appears that at this time there was to have been a general exo-
dus of the church from kirtland to missouri and that the gilbert and
whitney store was to assist the saints in the preparation for this removal
the plan however was later abandoned when joseph smith returned to
kirtland
& C 6426336426
sperry
33
op cit
p 333
ireat
ki rtlaatlan 3
2sperry Z 1212273
I1 I1
33
appointment of newel K whitney as bishop
during these months the new converts in kirtland witnessed a
slow but certain development of the kingdom of god in their midst un-
usual would have been the experience of having ones name mentioned in
the revelations which came to joseph smith particularly if through them
responsibilities and duties were increased suggesting the trust the lord
had in the one so named such was the case with newel K whitney in
november of 1831 in a revelation the lord said there remain hereafter
in the due time of the lord other bishops to be set apart unto the church
to minister even according to the first 111illiliiii the fulfillment of this promise
of the lord seems to have come in part one month after it was given
in the appointment of the second bishop of the church and is recorded in
section 72 of the doctrine and covenants the full context of this revela-
tion is here given as it not only calls bishop whitney but outlines in some
detail his extensive responsibilities
1 hearken and listen to the voice of the lord 0 ye who haveassembled yourselves together who are the high priests of my churchto whom the kingdom and power have been given
2 for verily thus saith the lord it is expedient in me for abishop to be appointed unto you or of you unto the church in thispart of the lords vineyard
3 and verily in this thing ye have done wisely for it is requiredof the lord at the hand of every steward to render an account of hisstewardship both in time and in eternity
4 for he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy toinherit the mansions prepared for him of my father
idal C 6814ID &
uilIJLliuAO
I1
I1
halihail
kinrin ldoiedoleldoinikerinniterin the gospel and the tiling of the kingdom unto tiletuetlletiiechurch
0and unto the world shall answer the debt unto the bishopbish
inop
zion15 thusthussthuesthuen it comethco outineta of the church for a ording to tneane law
very man that cometh up to zion must lay all things before theishop in zion
16 and row verly I1 say unto you that a every eldereider icir thithisthlpart of the vineyard x ust give an account of hitiviliill ltevardshipjteardhip cilitolilitothe bishop in this part of the vineyard
17 A certificate fromfroin the judge or bishop in this part of thevineyard unto the bhopbi inhop zion renderetrenderethrenderedrencen everyderetdereth nianmannienn acceptableianienlenand answerethanswer alleth things for an inheritance and to be received asa wiseolseoise steward and as a faithful laborer
biven&iven
34
5 verily I1 say unto you the elderseiders of the church in this partof my vineyardvi cFneard hall render anm account of their stewardshipwardshipAe unto thebishop who shall be appointed of mene in this part of my vineyard
661 these things hallshalishail be had on record to be handed over untothe bishop in zion
7 nd the duty of the bishop shallrhallshalishail be made known by the cornconnronnnandcrientsmanclnentsi vhichchich have been iven and te voi e of tiietuetrie conference
nd novvnoav erlisriierilverliverllarii I1 ay unto you vy servantfervant nenewelvel I1I1 hitneyis the man ho hallhailhali be appointed and ordained unto the power thisi tl e vill of the lord our godood your eieemerei reemer ven so en
9 the wordnord of the lordlI inord addition to the lavlaw which hashafhat beengiven makingmakinahakinamakino known the duty 0 the bishop vhio na been ordainedordaorJaunto
inedthe church in this part of the vineyard which i verily thiethlethib
10 totc keep the lordlords storehouse to receive the fundsfund of thechurch in thitrmthlarm part ofoi thedhetl vineyard1
11
E
to take an account of the elders aras deforebefore has been commandedandaw to administerachniniste to their wantsantswante wao hallfialllellleli pay for that which theythes re-ceive inasmuch a they have wherewithvherewith to pay
12 that this also inaymaynayi be consecrated to the good of the churchto the poor animi nee
13 and he who hath not wherewith to paypav in ac ount hallchallhailhalimhall betaken indand handed over to the bishop of zion who shall pay the debtout of that which the lord nailnallnali put into ni hands
A14 and the labors of the faithful who labor in spiritual thingsin adradnaanaar
ac count
andt e
y L
t vi11 0 the L0 r 11 ou r od i0u r q
0 e 1 e en e r 7 ve n S 0 en
dut nasif
i 0
theas
11
ni terin
oa s
i
ise
an I
vei
anth
yow
servantkho
nip
thin
lse
ahio
aunt
bhoj
oiscisons I1 residingreridingridingresre bishop in the lancland of
diebifdle ihop
22122422 that they alfoairoalsoaisoaleo
roicoicol i
hilhiihai
lit111lia
2122
caical
zio210
euldinid
alcair
noonov
dlodio
tilerTuer eloreexoreeioeeiore
the designation of another bi nopaop did not come
vhoaho re i jointeduointedqointed 3 tegardtecirjte&ardover the literary concerns of my church have claim for assistanceuoonboon the bishop or bishopbishops in all thing
withop3ithop
himelfhimell cundcindquid his accounts approved in all things
aj2j nd again let j
3
18 otherwise he shallehallshailshaliahall not be accepted of the bishop of zion
19 nd nownov verily I1 ay unto you let every elder who shall givean account unto uietiievieuteti bishopie of the church in this part of the vineyardbe recommended by the church or churcneschurcaeschurcheschur incaes which he labors thatheae may render himchima elfeif
icis render thencelve approved in all thingsand bebuubum accounted a iei tewardsteardswardsrewardstee
73I1
ards
nl1
i3 ncvnokncenonicv beholdbelioljbeholjbeibelbelobehooelo tnianiCLiolJlj hall ue c ii m a- ie uror all tiletiietlle extenivesivefive branche of mymv church in whatsoever lndindand1 theynd nallstiallnalinailsteall be e tau-
li
1
led nd no I1 n aweake an end of myiny r ayinli1 men
242 14 few cordsvordsxords in addition to the lavladiadla ofv the kingdolykingdoirking redolydoirdoitdoltdoiy pelt-ing
peti-ng the embersmemberebbers of the that are appointed by the holykiritopiritpirit to go up unto zion andcind ttl ey who are privileged to go up untozion
25 let thernthem carry up unto the bishop a certificate from threeelders of the church or a certificate aroiiroiirolI1 the bhop
26 cthervviecthervif he rho hllh-al oloofo010 up unto the land of zion shall notbe accounted as a viewise tevardbevard this is zalolo an ensampleens 1aiarniearnle nen1inenbinen 1
in july 2311231 instruction va given jhcthc itlt 1 va to
ion tuerexore
a urprieurphieur toprie the eideeeljercidereldee
in lniokuiounioduio aas it nacwacnas extreneiy difficult to keep in lose houcttouutouct i ith E i hop
partridge because of distance and the lownelonneionneI 11ownes of mail service
id p 72
p 32232z
ibid p 58
and everJ t
2 y ervantc 7ho
u on
thai rna
the rn belve7elverelvereiveai ce
i ae
z a ke ri en0
church they
bi hop
ete vardnardaard
11 tl artridge
bitaop i
fi3
id 7 2
2sperry op9pap cit
a- ume his dutie- u
r
at iding
tile
are
uwe
sperry
clin
lve tad
rno
931
kulo
ale
bhoj
aho
chop
cioe
212.1 that the revelationsrevelation may be published and go forth unto theendsendy of the earth that they also may obtain funds which shall benefitthe church in all thinClin
mismlsmih ouri
honnon
irtairt
36
oatieskaties of bishop V hitneybitncv
not only was the new bishop to assume the same duties as bishop
partridge but in addition the revelation statsstates the brethren in the kirt-
land areaaraarca are to renderrend anr account of their stewardshipssteward toships bishop whit-
ney these accounts will thenahttht ben a matter of record and arc eventuallyv to be
handed over to bishop partridge in missouri who was the presiding bishop
of the churchghurchgourch ll11
in the next part of the revelation vss 9199 the19 lord specifiesduties of tajthj new bishop in addition to those before given le is tokeep the lordswordskords storehousestor forehousechouse thethuth kirtlandj area and receiverzceiv the churchfunds iieae ibis also to administer to the needs of the iderselderslidersciders whoiswhosechois stew-ardship accounts he keps the brethren are to pay for what theythoy re-ceive if they havhave the money so that this too may be consecratedto the good of the poor and needynedy of the hurchchurch if a brother is unableto pay for what he gets the bishop is to make an account of the matterand transmit it to the bishop partridgepartridg in ionlionllonzion who will in turn paythe debt out of the surplus put in his charge by th lord
faithful brethrbrethrenbreter whobechobe stewardshipssteward consistships in laboring in purelyspiritual matters of the church are just as much entitled to remunera-tion as those who labor in temporal matters vs 14 the bishop in
ionaon will pay their debts rheirfheirkheir remuneration comes from the churchbut such accounts have to come up finally lo10to the presiding bishop asthe law of the church requires very man even if his labors arecompletely spiritual nabtiasriahllah totc give an account of his stewardshipssttzwardshipssteward toships thepresidingresidingJP bishop see 4230 in view of the fact that veryv inderholderiaderaderhilderbilderladeri
in the kirtland area has to give an account of his stewardship to thenew bishop lderfildereilderfelderfiderrideriderW newel K whitney it is essential that brothervvhitneyhitneyVv issue a certificate to each man witnessing to the bishop inzion that he is an acceptable and wise steward and faithful labor-er and thus worthy of an inheritance without this certificate antaderlader is not to be accepted by the bishop of ion ilderaderlder partridgecartridgeY aartlartevery
ridgeiderilderlider in the kirtland area who gives an account of his steward-
ship to bishop whitneyVh isitney to be recommendedrecommend by the respective branchor branches of the church in which h labors vs 19 in order thathe and his accounts may be duly approved in all respectsspectsaspects
se j JL 727 and alsoalo page 29 of this paper
sperry
J
op012olioii
I1
citcitezsperry p 323
bish02
L
matt r ar
I1
thth b fore givdiv n lielle
h
th
n
I1
b r
pe
ke- ps th z br thren
pur- ly
td
spec ts
ti ilslis
lon
lon
lider
lder
very
aio
ider
ass
37
in addition to the duties of bishop whitney as outlined in the revela-
tion president joseph F smith gives a detailed description of the spiritual
duties of bishops which were encompassed in this new calling
it is also the duties of these presiding officers bishopric in thechurch to look after the spiritual welfare of the people to see thatthey are living more pure upright lives that they are faithful in thedischarge of their duties as L D S that they are honest in theirdealings with one another and with all the world it is their busi-ness to see that spiritual light exists in all their hearts and thatthe people under their presidency and direction are living the livesof saints as far as it is possible for men and women in the mortalbody beset by weakness and imperfections of mankind can besaintsaints I11
further light is shed on the responsibilities of a bishop in grantsgrant9granta s
the kingdom of god restored
l1 a bishop must be blameless as the steward of god notselfwilledself notwilled soon angry not given to wine no striker not givento filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality a lover of good men soberjust holy temperate holding fast the faithful word as he hath beentaught that he maynaybaybeyn beay able by sound doctrine both to exhort and con-vince 11 titutitus 179
to joseph god revealed that a bishop is t to be a judge inisrael to do the business of the church to sit in judgment upontransgressors by the assistance of his counselors whom he haschosen thus shall he be a judge even a common judge amongthe inhabitants of zion A bishop must be chosen from the highpriesthood unless he isin a literal descendant of aaron a literaldescendant of aaron has a legal right to act in the office of bis-hop independently without counselors rl in the church today thereis no bishop holding the office by literal descent of aaron lt11 boththe bishop and his counselors are high priests having authority topreside over the affairs of their wards and the priesthood as well
lroy W doxey the latter davday prophets and the doctrine andcovenants salt lake city deseret book company 1964 1I 557
rant op cit p 135 quoting titus 17917 and9 D & CG 10772741077269
7476
s
01
vinc e s 17 9
2
roy0MP&ny j 5 5 7C 19 4
agrantzgrant6 9 7 6
38
whitneyswhitneswhitneytWhit reactionneys to the calling
it is possible that bishop whitney did not realize the full scope of
his new responsibility due to the newness of the office and his limited
experience in the church nevertheless he was staggeredstaggered11 by the
weight of the task as indicated in the following account given by orson F
whitney
presiding bishop edward hunter he it was if I1 remember rightonce related to me an anedoteanedore about his predecessor my grandfathernewel K whitney the second man calledcauedcaged to the bishopric in this dis-pensation it was at kirtland ohio in december 1831 the law ofconsecration had been revealed and was about to be put into operationthe properties of the saints had to be consecrated for the building upof zion and bishops were needed to handle these properties and ad-minister the temporalitiestemporali of the church edward partridge was thefirst bishop called but he had been sent down into missouri wherethe foundations of zion were laid and another bishop was neededfor kirtland a stake of zion the lord said my servant newelK whitney is the man who shallshailshali be appointed and ordained unto thispower newel K whitney staggering under the weight of the respon-sibility that was about to be placed upon him said to the prophetbrother joseph I1 cant see a bishop in myself ll11
no but god could see it in him he was a natural bishop a firstclass man of affairs probably no other incumbent of that importantoffice the presiding bishopric to which he eventually attained hasbeen better qualified for it than newel K whitney but he could notsee it and he shrank from the responsibility the prophet answeredgo and ask the lord about it and newel did ask the lord and he
heard a voice from heaven say thy strength is in me ll11 that wasenough he accepted the office and served in it faithfully to the endof his daysdayea a period of eighteen years A
qualifications of bishop whitneywhitne
the choice of newel as a bishop of the church appears to have
been a most fortunate one he was a thorough businessmanbusiness bymanban instinct
doxey op cit 11II 434
gran ther
s 1
11
1
idoxey
11
pensation
ties
sibility
whitne s
n
I1
grotro t
runsheunshe
39
and training and because his duties dealt chiefly in temporal affairs sup-
erervisingvising the material interests of the church he apparently warwas aman ex-
cellent choice for the position x
the following comment regarding the appointment of bishop whitney
brings to light the trust that joseph smith had in him as a bishop and as
a riendfriend
the appointment of newel K whitney as bishop of kirtland and theeastern branches of the church was the next important event in hishistory joseph who had seen him in vision praying for his comingto kirtland recognized with inspirational eye the part he was des-tined to play in the great drama of the latter days he was one whomhe trusted implicitly not only in monetary matters in which he oftenwent to him for counsel but with many of his most secret thoughtsthose keen edged swords which blinding by their far flashing bril-liance he could sheathunsheathdunsheathun but to few but though joseph loved himas a bosom friend he did not fail to correct him whenever occasionrequired and the candor of his rebuke and the outspoken nature oftheir friendship served only to knit their souls more closely to-gethergether
area of responsibilityreponsibility
As one considers the calling given to bishop whitney it is real-
ized that he was more than a ward bishop and yet he certainly was not the
presiding bishop of the church his responsibilities as indicated above
encompassed not only the ohio saints but also the eastern branches of the
church consider the followingfolI
in
owing
december 1834 the lord saw proper again to give another bishophis name was newel K whitney was he merely a bishop of a wardwhose jurisdiction was limited to a little spot of ground that might betermed a place for the residence of a ward bishop no he was anothergeneral bishop bishop partridge had general jurisdiction in jackson
roberts op citcite 1I 270271270
2whitneyzwhitneyZW
271
contributorhitney VI 126
f
tr 2
t
bup
orsonoraon
40
county and in regions round about while the duties of newel K whit-ney extended to the state of ohio and the states of pennsylvania andnew york and throughout all of the eastern counties wherever thechurch of god was organized
he was first appointed bishop of kirtland and the eastern branchesof the church like bishop partridge bishop whitney also was calledof god as was aaronaaron11 in a revelation given december 4 1831 whilehe was not formally designated as a presiding bishop until after theprophetsprophet death he served in that capacity following the death ofbishop partridge and in 1844 was sustained by the vote of the churchhe served without regularly appointed counselors president brighamyoung and his counselor heber CG kimball serving in that capacity 2
thy strength is in me ll11 the answer to Whitneywhitney1whitneyswhitneytWhit s1neys plea to god was
probably a constant source of strength in the ensuing years as he carried
out the numerous responsibilities connected with his calling
A further explanation of some of the duties of bishop whitney is
found in section 72226722722426 as26 discussed by sidney B sperry as follows
the directions given the brethren for their activities are now tobe an example for all the extensive branches of the church vs 2
in whatsoever land they may be located that is to say bishops orsuitablesuisul presidingtabletablatabie officers are to be provided in all parts of the churchin order that brethren may conveniently give accounts of their stewardshipshardshipsard asships the revelation sets forth at this point the lord saysthat he makesmekesbekes an end of his sayings and adds amen ll11 perhaps thereason for this is that the most important and weighty part of hisdirections has been given
nevertheless the almighty adds a few words to the laws of thekingdomkingdom1kingdoms in ending the revelation by advising members of the churchwho are inspired of the spirit to go to zion and those who are priv-ileged for some other good reasons to go to that land vas 242624to
26
take with them a certificate of recommendation signed by threeelders of the branch of the church to which they belong in lieu of
N B lundwall masterful discourses of or sonaon pratt salt lakecity bookcraft inc 1962 p 234
improvement era april 1935 XXXVIUXXXVUI 217
1
a
reg zlyziy
A ghtygaty
IN
1
7224
I1
reverove ionlon
ppap 324325324 325
igiveniriven
prazprmz isedased
41
that they may obtain a certificate from the bishop in the generalregion in which they live bishop whitney for example in any eventwhatever certificate is obtained is to be presented to the bishop inzion without a proper certificate is not to be accounted as a wise ste-ward this instruction is given as another example of what the lordwants his people to heed
the united order
in march of 1832 another revelation was given to the churchchurchy which
was directed to the members of the priesthood who were assembled giving
instructions regarding the united order or order of enoch on which
zion must be built
during the early part of the year 1832 the prophet and sidneyrigdon continued the work of the revision of the scripturesscripturescripturec c at thetime the prophet was still residing in the house of father john john-son at hiram it was during this time march that this importantrevelation section 78 was given to the members of the priesthoodwho were assembled imparting instructions in relation to the plan ofthe united ordeyorder91order or order of enoch ll11 on which the promised zionshould be built the lord had revealed that it was only through obe-dience to his divine will the celestial law that zion could be builtsec 6347496347 643449 105351053 the5 members of the church rejoiced
when the lord revealed to them the site on which the new jerusalemor city of zion should be built sec 571315713571 313 their enthusiasmhowever was not sufficient to carry them through to a conclusion instrict obedience to the divine will CHMR 27374273 1948.194874
1 the lord spake unto enoch joseph smith jun saying hear-ken unto me saith the lord your god who are ordained unto the highpriesthood of my church who have assembled yourselves together
2 and listen to the counsel of him who has ordained you from onhigh who shall speak in your ears the words of wisdom that salva-tion may be unto you in that thing which you have presented beforeme saith the lord god
3 for verily I1 say unto you the time has come and is now athand and behold and lo10 it must needs be that there be an organiza
sperryisperry op012oleoie cit
s
jerus m
III111 19
sperry op cit
I1 261265261 265
I1
42
tion of my people in regulating and establishing the affairs of thestorehouse for the poor of my people both in this place and in theland of zion sec 78131781
the
31
following paragraph clarifies the meaning in these verses
and the material which follows the quote is in fulfillment of verse nine
the lord tellsteustelis the brethren who are joined together in this neworder vss 8168 the16 details of which are not given that it is ex-pedient that all things be done by them unto his glory in otherwords newel K whitney joseph smith and sidney rigdon are tosit in council with the saints who are in zion otherwise satan willseek to turn their hearts from the truth that they become blindedand understand not the things which are prepared for them thelord commands the brethren to prepare and organize themselvesby a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken this waslater to be calledcaned the united order 9212921 2 whosoever breaksit is to lose his office and standing in the church and be deliveredover to the buffetings of satan until the day of redemption cf 8221 1049101049 1322610 in this way the lord will prepare the brethrenlay the foundation and give the example whereby they may accomplishthe commandments which are given them obviously the lord is veryserious in the questsrequestsro which he makes of the brethren respecting theestablishment of the new order
journey to missouri
A few days after this revelation was given to the church the
tragic incident of the tarring and feathering of the prophet and sidney
rigdon occurred on the 24th of march 1832 A few days later one of the
adopted twins of the prophet died following exposure to the cold the night
joseph was dragged from his home by the mob 3
doxey op cit
p 373
roberts op02 cit
2
journe
ns
1
Z0
L
ass
ressrese
2ibidbibid
43
with this tragedy on his mind the prophet in company with newel
K whitney and several other brethren in kirtlandkirtFirt beganland a journey to
missouri on april 1 in fulfillment of verse 9 section 78 of the doctrine
and covenants aaas stated above
wishing to avoid tiietiletlle mobs these brethren proceeded on a course
which took them to wheeling virginia where they purchased paper and
other supplies for the press in zion shortly after leaving hiram ohio
the prophetI wrote a letter to his wife and suggested that she leave hiram
and go to the home of bishop hitneywhitneyvV in kirtland and remain until the mobs
quieted dovndowndoando
fromrom
anxn
YhI eelingheeling they took passage on the steamer trenton hile
still in dock the following incident occurred n during the night the
boat was twice on fire burning the whole width of the boat through into
the cabin but with so little damage that the boat went on in the morning
somecorne of the mob which had followed us left us and we arrived in louis-
ville the same night captain brittle offered us protection on board of
his boat and gave us supper and breakfast gratuitously n
further instructions
while in missouri on april 26 18321332 another revelation was given
to the church part of which directly concerned bishop whitney sec 82
11.24112411
ljosephjosephhoseph
24
smith history of the church of jesus christ of latter daysaints 2dad ed revised salt lake city deseret news press 1948 1I265266265
ibid
266
J
41
ilic
aamlabiabnamnab
stakesakesawesaceb niustnustfiust be strengthened yea verilyI1 ay unto you zion mut arise andind put on her beautiful garmentsgarrgarl benttnentt
ouidfhouldshould
everyevervevera irianrianlylanirlani seekin the interest of his neighbor and doincdoingdoinaallaualiail things with an eye single to the glory of god
x joseph 0 nithsnith e lamed that it waswarwao not always desirable that theindividuals whom the lord addressedaddres insied revelations ould at the timebe known by the world and hence in thithisthl and in some subsubsequentquent revela-tions the brethren were addressed by other than their own namenamesnaae thetemporarytentea necessityiporary having passed for keepingpeeping the names of the indivi-duals addressed unknown their real namesnw werenes subsequently givenpiven inbrackets josephjoseph smith 1I 255
I1 I1
I1I1
I1
sayoay
saays7ay
44
therefore verily I1 r ay unto you that it is expedient formy servants lamuam and hashdah newel vhitney tviahalaleeljahalaleelmahalaleellahalaJahala andjndleelleei
elagoramela sidneygoram rigdon and rny servant gazelamgazelak joseph smithand horah and olihahelihah oliver cowdery and shalamanassehhalarcianassehShalashaia andmanasseh mahvah1a
emsonah
martin harris to be bound together by a bond and covenantthat cannot be broken by transgression except judgementjud shallgement immed-iately follow in your several
12 to manage tneane affairaffairs of the poor and all things pertaining tothe bishopric both in the land of zion and in the land of shinehahShine kirtl-and
hah
13 for I1 have consecrated the land of shinehahShine kirtlandkirtlandFirthah inland mineninebinenown
inedue timetinietiretinke for the benefit of the saints of the mostinot high and for a
staketake to zion
14 for zion aust increase in beauty and in holiness her bor-der must be enlarged her akeb
15 therefore I1 give unto you this commandment that ye bindyourselvesyoursel byvegveF thithisthl covenantcoven andmitwit it hallhailhalishallshali be done according to thelawslawlawf of the lord
16 behold here is wisdomwis alsodonndorndonz in rneme for your good
17 and you are to be equal or in other words you are to havehcivesciveequal claims on the properties for the benefit of managing the con-cerns of your stewardshipssteward everyships i
1 nd all this for the benefit of the church of the living godthat every man may improve upon his talent that every nan again other talents ea even an hundred fold to be cat into thelordslord storehousestore tolouiehouie become the common property of the wholechurch
19
D H CG
ish nd
my
1
rn
cl
t
in accordingacco toiding hishi adjivdjiamt andcindhihishiahla beedeneede inasmuch as his wants are just
vmt
yea ca t
1
2
n-ian
a-
y
vhitney
nu
livin f
S
autdust
kirt lne
whitney
aa
11.
I1
dokeydoxey op2222.eebe citcite III111iliill9 51ms
45
20 this order I1 have appointed to be an everlasting order untoyou and unto your successors inasmuch as you sin not
21 and the soul that sins against this covenant and hardenethhardhis
enethheart against it shall be dealt with according to the laws of my
church and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of satan untilthe day of redemption
22 and now verily I1 say unto youyuu and this is wisdom make untoyourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousnessunrighteous and they willnot destroy you
23 leave judgment alone with me for it is mine and I1 will repaypeace be with you my blessings continue with you
24 for even yet the kingdom is yours and shall be forever ifyou fall not from your steadfastness even so amen
A commentary to explain the procedingproceedingpro versesceding is as follow
the brethren one more are bound by a covenant this is infact a renewal of the covenant given in earlier revelations thelord frequently repeats instructionsinstruct andionsionelons commandments that we maybe more deeply impressed these covenants were of the nature thatthey could not be broken without losing the reward
the nature of this covenant in large measure was to bind them tomanage the affairs of the lords storehouse for the poor and to lookafter their needs in all things the bishops in kirtland as well as inzion had the responsibility on their shoulders to see to the carryingout of the provisions of this divine law the land of shinehahShine kirtl-and
hahwas to be consecrated for this work as well as the land of
zion in a former revelation the lord indicated that he intended tomaintain a hold on bartlandbirtlandBirt forland five years sec 6421.6421 now heasks that a stake of zion be organized in kirtland earlier sec6826 the lord intimated that stakes would be organized CHMRCHMIR
28788287 19481948288 2
the gilbert and whitneyWhit storesnyxnEXnyz
A few days after this revelation was received the church leaders
in missouri held a council the prophet recorded that n
& C 8211248211211
ne s s
V 8 24
zdoxey
24
194821948.2
III111
at this point it beemsseems appropriate to give a more complete ex-
planation of the position of bishop whitney and his store in kirtland with
regard to taking care of the poor and the covenant he entered into with
the brethren mentioned in verse 11 of section 82
it seems thatthet these brethren were bound by a covenant referred to
in two revelations to2 manage the affairs of the lords storehousestovehouse for
the poor and to look after their needs in all things 3
shopsinbishopsinBi kirtland and zion had this responsibility and were
bound by covenant to carry it out this covenant was of the nature that
could not be broken without losing tibe reward
46
arrangements were also made for supplying the saints with stores in
missouri and ohio which action with a few exceptions waewaswee hailed
with joy by the brethren
it will be remembered thatthet in earlier revelations5revelations newel5 isin told
by the lord to retain his store in kirtland for use by the membership of
the church so that they could avoid going in debt to their enemies and
also to raise money for the building of zion in missouri
I11 joseph smith op citpit II11 270
ee D &c 78 82
domeydoxey op cit inme 515
d
1
5see5seqasee
arid4rid
D & C 63 64
vv s
ng
in ntionednotioned
t brethrenwere
revelations2 ma ge
4
t
0
see
3doxey q 0
ac
1I 270 footnote by B H roberts
holhoi gs
47
on maymlay 1 1832 the action was taken to have stores both in kirtl-
and and missouri to assist the saints with needed supplies B H roberts
gives the following account concerning the business of gilbert and vhitvtitt
ney
the arrangements here referred to for the establishment of storesin missouri and ohio as disclosed by the minutes of these councilmeetings of the 26th 27th 30th of april and the ist of may werethat the brethren in mercantile pursuits in kirtland and zion shouldbe united in one firmfirn and the establishments in kirtland and zionrespectively were regarded merely as branches of the one firmstill it was resolved that each of these branches should have a sep-arate company name the name of the branch in zion was to begilbertigilbertegilbert whitneyhitneykV & company 11 and the one in kirtland ewelnewel K
whitney & company 11 W W phelps and A S gilbert were appointedto draft the bond for the united firm A S gilbert and newel Kwhitney were appointed to be the agents of the new firm it was alsoresolved that whenever any special business should arise it would bethe duty of the united firm by its branches at jackson county missouriand geaughgeauga county ohio to regulate the same by special agency itwas also resolved that the united firm negotiatenegotiat a loan of fifteen thou-sand dollars at six per centum the firm of newel K whitney & cowas appointed to transact the business
the following is also an appropriate commentary on this point
when the church left kirtlandbirthirt forland missouri in june of 1831 thereis no indication that they had any intention ever to return again exceptto complete liquidation of their holdings and to bring their familiesto zion although plans for building zion were continued theprophet returned to kirtland in the fall of 1831 and issued orders thatstopped the liquidation of kirtland holdings the morley farm andsome of newel K Whitneywhitney1whitneyswhitneyt s1 property were already gone fortunatelywhitneyswhitneywhitneyt store had not been sold when the new decision was madethis property was appropriated to the church through the law of con-secration
it was around the nucleus of alvitrealiitrelaaiAliilaal storetre and the law of con-secration that the economic strength of kirtlandFirt wasland husbandedhusbanderhus thebanded
ljosephjoseph smith op cit
1 st
A
iidtrevls
secration
secration
WhitneysWhitneys
flyn
khit
bagibegi ng
48
law of consecration was given by the church by joseph smith in aseries of revelations beginning early in 1831 according to the lawa person upon becoming a member of the mormon church was to deedall of his property to the organization in fee simple he would thenreceive from the church a conditional grant called an inheritancealthough this was the law it was not formally followed in kirtlandevidently members merely pledged their property to the church withan oath and covenantcovenant91 and retained title in their own name theyreceived the advice and counsel of the mormon bishop or his agentconcerning the use of their property and were expected to make anaccounting to him at the endand of the year as to the results of theiroperation it was expected that all amounts over and above what wasnecessary to provide for their wants and needsneeder would be donatedto the church
it has been said that the operation of the law of consecration wasinformal in kirtland the single exception to that statement is perhaps the most noteworthy economic development during the early yearsof the church the properties of newel K whitney were formallyappropriated to church use in march 1832 through an organizationcalled the united firm or the united order the organization wasknown in county records as newel K whitney and company it wascreated according to the church account to care for the poor tomanage the storehouse and to regulate affairs of the church both inzion and in kirtlandKi effectivelyrUand it wa the governing body of thechurch and its members included the highest church leaders itwas also the only visible means of support for these leaders therewas an air of secrecy and mystery about it as its members were knownby unique book of mormon italics sounding code names originallyit consitedconsistedcon usiasiuwisited of newel K whitney sidney rigdon and josephsmithC inith april 1832 the united order was expanded to includeoliver cowdery and martin harris the only economic asset at firstwas whitneywhitneyswhitneyt store but as consecrations and donations flowed innew business enterprises were commenced and additional purchasesof property were made fromfrozafroz time to timtimetimatibetib as need arose the groupexpanded to include some new figure vital to an emerging plan suchan addition was made in 1833 when smith saw that his missouri zionwas not likely to be realized soon and expressed the need to build andgrow by transferring projects originally intended for zion to the ohiocity the church needed property upon which to lay the foundationsfor a city and a house of worship accordingly frederick 31.31 williamswas admitted to the united firm and with him came his farm of 142acres situated on the heights overlooking the valley of the east chagrinriver and the old village of kirtland I11
lkentgkentkent fielding the mormonscormons in kirtland n utah historical quarriyariy XXVU 333336333 336
whitn y
wao gover g
tery
91
Whitneys
kirti 0
31
1I 418
I1
ae1eadeado r s
firtlkirtl
49
with this information it seems apparent that bishop whitney with
his business was closely associated with the economy of the saints in
kirtland as well as with the care of the poor whom the leaders of the
church were bound by covenant to look after as previously noted
it appears possible that the storehouse used by the church in
kirtland might have been bishop whitneyswhitneytWhit ownneys private store consider
the following paragraph fromfrob a letter written by F CL williams to the
saints in zion on october 10 1833
bishop whitney also started for new york at the same time toreplenish his store in kirtland with money enough to pay all the debtsof both establishments and expects to bring a larger supply of goodsthan at any former time thus you see the goodnessgoof andlesstess mercy ofgod in providing for his saints not one week before bishop whit-ney started the way seemed hedged up and ten or twelve hundreddollars was the most that behe had and knewknow not where to obtain theamount he wanted but by a remarkable interposition of divine provi-dence he was furnished with all he wanted for which letlotiet us raiseour hearts in gratitude to god aedaadandendead praise his holy name that heis a present help in every time of need
eventful journey from missouri to kirtland
the next events which concern newel were significant in building
the bond of love and friendship between him and the prophet joseph smith
joseph records that on may 6 1832 in company with bishop whitney and
sidney rigdonrisdon he began a journey from missouri back to kirtland their
journey was mostly abnbn stage through st louis to vincennes indiana and
newnow albany an account of the incidentscidents of this journey are given here
joseph smith op cit
wh
fr G
sa s
provi g S a
do rs
w ed
c pany
bj
in
ljoseph
kirti
ijensonensonendonikenson blogbloe encycencylenc L 225 josephjoseph smith op citot
arrezafterannez anner&nner
I1 tarried with brother whitney and administeredto him till he was able to be moved
I1 1I 271
50
near the falls ofoi ohio the horses of the coach on which theywere traveling took fright and ran away while going at full speedbishop whitney and the prophet leaped from the vehicle the lattercleared the wheels and landed in safety but his companion havinghis coat fast caught his foot in the wheel and was thrown to the groundwith violence breaking his leg and foot in several places this acci-dent delayed them for four weeks at a public house in greenville drporter the landlords brother who set the broken limb remarkedlittle thinking who the travelers were that it was a pity they did nothave somesobe mormonscormonsMormorr thereons as they could set broken bones and doanything else joseph administered to his friend and he recoveredrapidly they had fallen it seems into suspicious if not dangeroushands in walkingwaikingwallwail throughningting the woods adjacent to the taverntaverns the propbetabetsheta attention had been attracted by several newly made graves hislushieiussuspicion though not thoroughly aroused was brooding over this cir-cumstance when an incident occurred to emphasize it afterttnnerone day he was seized with a violent attack of vomiting accompaniedby profuse hemorrhage his jaw became dislocated through the vio-lence of his contortions but he replaced it with his own hands andmaking way to the bedside of bishop whitney was administered to byhim and instantly healed the effect of the poison which had beenmixed with his food was so powerful as to loosen much of the hairon his head it was evident that they could remain there no longer insafety the bishop had not set foot upon the floor for nearly a monthand though much improved was far from being in a fit condition totravel but joseph promised him that if he would agree to leave thehouse next morning they would start for kirtland and would have aprosperous journey home the sick man consented and they accor-dingly took leave next day of the place where they believed their mur-der had been planned they experienced the fulfilmentfulfillment of the prophetswords most remarkably and after a pleasant and prosperbusprosperousprosp journeysjourneyerbusreached kirtland some time in june A
the prophet further describes the incident
we put up at mr porters public house in greenville forfour weeks while elder rigdon went directly forward to kirtlandduring all this time brother whitney lost not a meal of victuals ora nights sleep
and one day when I1 rose fromthe dinner table I1 walked directly to the door and commenced voinotvoiniting most profusely I1 raised large quantities of blood and poisonousmatter thanks be to my heavenly father for his interferencein my behalf at this critical moment in the name of jesus christamen 2
enaon
s e
q
mons
cumstance
I1
51
immediatelymediatelyrn after replacing his own jaw joseph records thathe hurried to the bedside of bishop whitney who laid his handson him and administered to himhim11 and joseph was healed in an in-stant I11
following is a letter written by joseph smith to his wife emma
at the time he and bishop whitney were detained in greenville because of
the latlattoretersteretores broken leg the writer has not attempted to make any correc-
tions in the contents of this letter but presents it as it was originally written
june 6thath greenville floid indiana co 1832
dear wife
I1 would inform you that brother martin has arrived here andbrought the pleasing news that our familysfamilys were well when he left therewhich greatly cheered our hearts and renewed our spirits we thankour heavenly father for this goodness unto us and all of you martinarrived on satterday the same week he left chagrin having a prosper-ous time we are all in good health brother whitneyWhit sneys leg is gainingand he thinks he shallshailshali be able to perform his journey so as to getgot homhornhonnabout the 20th my situation is a very unpleasentpleasentunpleasantun one although I1 willwinendeavor to be contented the lord assisting me I1 have visited a grovewhich is just back of the towtown almost every day where I1 can be secludedfrom the eyes of any mortal and there give vent to allailali the feeling of myheart in mediation and pray 1I have called to mind all the past mo-ments of my life and am left to mourn and shed tears of sorrow for myfolly in suferingsaferingferingsuperingsusa the adversary of my soul to have so much power overme asan he has had in times past but god is merciful and has forgivenmy sinssinesina and I1 rejoice that he sendethsenneth forth the Comfertcomfertercomforter unto as manyas believe and humblethhum themselvesbleth before him I1 was grieved to hearthat hiram had lost his little child I1 think we can in some degreesympathisesympathism with him but we all must be reconciled to our lots and saythe will of the lord be done sister whitney wrote a letter to herhusband which was very earingchearingcbearingch and being unwell at that time andfilled with much anxiety it would have been very consoling to me tohave received a few lines from you but as you did not take the troubleI1 will try to be contented with my lot knowing that god is my friendin him I1 shall find comfort I1 have given my life into his hands I1 amprepared to go at his call I1 desire to be with christ I1 count not mylife dear to me only to do his will I1 am not pleased to hear thatwilliam mclelinmclalin has come back and disobeyed the voice of him who
id
stant
a
ma ost
9
co erter
a ety
fmco ort
er
ibid
noisnols
nfulnaul
saphrosophro
aseezsee
52
is altogether lovely for a woman I1 am astonished at sister emailemalineemallemalineyet I1 cannot believe she is not a worthy sister I1 hope she will findhim true and kind to her but have no reason to suspect his conductmeet the disapprobation of every true follower of christ but thisis a painful subject I1 hope you will excuse my warmth of feeling inmentioning this subject and also my inability in conveying my ideasin everything I1 am happy to find that you are still in the faith ofchrist and at father smiths I1 hope you will comfort father andmother in their trials and hiram and samuel and jerusha and the restof the familyfanFar tellnily sophronia I1 remember her and kalvin in my pray-ers my respects to the rest I1 should like see little julia and oncemore take her on my knee and converse with you on all the subjectsubjectswhich concerns us things I1 cannot itsis not prudent for me to writeI1 omitornit all the important things which could I1 see you I1 could makemekeyou acquainted with tell brother william that I1 and brother whitneywill arrange the business of that farm when we come give my respecie to all the brothern br whitney family fc tell them he isirchearfullcheerfullchear andfull patient and a true brother to me I1 subscribe myselfyour husband the lord bless you peace be with so farewell untillI1 return
joseph smith jr 1
the seezseer ship shown by the prophet joseph as related in the pre-
ceding story would have been a further manifestationnifestation of this gift which
was first made knownknovvknovs to newel on the occasion when these two men first
met
further responsibilitiesspnisibilitieon september 22 1832 the revelation contained in section 84 of
the doctrine and covenants was given to the prophet in kirtland ohio
the original letter is preserved by the illinois historical soc-iety chicago illinois the copy used is in possession of the writer
ee pages 27 & 28 of this paper
vin
eW am
seership
fu rthearthe r re a
co ned
ithen is
is
nife station
takestaken occasionto relate how this and other revelations were given through the propheteach sentence 11 says he was uttered slowly and very distinctly and
with a pause between each sufficiently long for it to be recorded by anordinary writer in long hand this was the mannermenner in which ailallali his writ-ten revelations were dictated and written there was never any hesitationreviewing or reading back in order to keep the run of the subject neitherdid any of thesetheme communications undergo revisions interliningsinter orlinings correc-tions Asan he dictated them so they stood so far as I1 have witnessed andI1 was present to witness the dictation of several communications of seveoreloraleralerelecalecel pages each 11 footnote by B H roberts joseph smith op cit
53
in the presence of six elderseidersidersel of the church unnamed by joseph smith the
prophet I11
only a few verses of this section directly concern bishop whitneyvh
but
itney
they add to his responsibilities as bishop they are as follows
112 and the bishop newel K whitney also should travel roundabout and among all the churches searching after the poor to admin-ister to their wants by humbling the rich and the proud
113 he should also employ an agent to take charge and to do hissecular business as he shall direct
114 nevertheless let the bishop go unto the city of new yorkalso to the city of albany and also to the city of boston and warn thepeople of those cities with the sound of the gospel with a loud voiceof the desolation and utter abolishment which await them if they doreject these things
115 for if they do reject these things the hour of their judg-ment isto nigh and their house shailshallshali be left unto them desolate
116 let him trust in me and he shall not be confounded and ahair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed
117 and verily I1 say unto you the rest of my servants go yeforth as your circumstances shall permit in your several callingsunto the great and notable cities and villages reproving the worldin righteousness of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds settingforth clearly and understandinglystanstaa thedingly desolation of abomination inthe lastlaet daysdaydeysdey
1
a
eldereiderlelderleider parley P pratt in his autobiography referring to thisrevelation for indeed he was present when it was given
L 173
9
understandinglyla at
reve ionlon
ma er
01
I1 295
whitney
I1
contributor
s
VI 127
kizkhz
aarniwarni
54
118 for with you saith the lord almighty I1 will rend theirkingdoms I1 will not only shake the earth but the starry heavensshall tremble
119 for I1 the lord have put forth my hand to exert the powersof heaven ye cannot see it now yet a little while and ye shall see itand know that I1 am and that I1 will come and reign with my people
A journey and warning
the prophet records that he continued the translation of the bible
and ministering to the church through the fall excepting a hurried jour
ney to albany new york and boston in company with bishop whitney
fromtfrom which I1 returned on the 6thath of november 1
it is here noted what eliszabethelis&abethmizabethMi annzabeth said of these verses and her
husbandhusbandshubband trip to the east
my husband traveled with joseph the prophet through many of theeastern cities bearing their testimony and collecting means to builda temple in kirtland and also to purchase lands in missouri duringthis journey they prophesied of the destructiondast thatruction would come uponthe cities of the eastern states and especially new york that in thatcity there would not be left a vestige of its grandeur that wars wouldsoon commence in our own land which last has since transpired hesaid to my husband if they reject us they shall have our testimonyfor we will write it and leave it upon their doorsteps and windowsills 16 he prophesied of desolation by fire storms pestilence andearthquakes 3
at the time this warning was given by the lord to the inhabitants
of these notable cities the following article appeared in the millennialmillenialmiuenialMilmii starlenial
ID & CG 8411211984112
2
119
joseph smith op cit
t
a
stor a
0
door- steps
efrom
weewaewaswes lodged in city hall yardyerd and bawdunmanned in the moment of dangerthe heatbeathwatheethaet was intense the mercury rangingranwingranding at 91 in the shade the cityas dry as tinder in consequenceconcom ofweecesonce the drought and a salegaleseleseiw of wind blowing from the south everetheverythingeveryth conspired against us and the destroying element immediatelyimm getting6 thely upper kandhandkaad raged awfully and un-checked for hour8
I1
aliail
iroiio
beyoboyo
alcnic
ulesulea
fuiful fightfighte one of
seategrate needed godcodood sent rain poured fromthe surcharged clouds andaad checked and progress of the conflagrationthe fury andaad spread of flames exceeded anything ever seensoonseeaaeon the fireran leaped newhewflowglowglew from building to building with the spread of the hurri-cane that bore it on its course of destruction and asan it advanceadvanced andgeowgrewgrowseow more andaad more threatening the bells resoundedsoundedresounderre the alarm andthe people looked on with terror andend almost with despair there were
brouzrouahtsht
bournshourns sweeping away full 600 buildings many of them newnowand of great value destroying about 2 000ooo 000 dollars worth of propertyand rendering hundredshumhud ofredsrodszods families houseless and homeless at oneonotime it seemed as if the destruction of our fair city was inevitable thewind blewblowbiow fiercely the flames spread on all idessidesldesaidesaldes the devouring ele-ment advanced from block to block and from street to streetsstreet buildingswere taking fire in several parts of the city all was terror confusionand dismay and the efforts of man seemed utterly powerlesspower atlessloss thisfearful moment the wind lulled heavy clouds arose in the northwestnorthand
westa d eluse of yainrain grateful
apzp
burcharsurchar d
55
A PROPHECY
OR AN EXTRACT FROM THE WORD OF THE LORD concerningCONCE NEWRNINOYORKORKs ALBANY AND BOSTONdoston GIVENCUVEN ON THE 23rd DAY OF SEPTEM-BER 1832
let the bishopbishop9bishope9 newel K whitney goigo into the city of newnow yorkand also to the city of albany and also to the city of boston and warnthe people of those cities with the sound of the gospel with a loud voiceof the desolation and utter abolishment which awaltawaitsewalt them if they do re-ject these things for if they do reject these things the hour of their judg-ment is nighnightnish aadand their house shallshailahall be lettleftloftiett untovantokanto them desolate t
ALBANY VISITED BY A destructive FIRE
we scarcelync&roely know how to describe the fearful calamity that has be-fallen our doomed city it is beyond adequate description beyond atthe time we writewrites intelligibleinteuigible detail soon after a fire was chockedcheckedthat broke out in quackenbush street just before noon the alarm wasagain soundedsouasounequa anddedadodadedo fire broke nut in a sxnallsaiallsaball icsic stable adjoining thealbion househousakousakouse between broadway and the pier inand occupied by john 0 white of its origin we know nothing but itburst forth at a most unlucky moment the fire departmentdepertdepart wasmelemOldmege wearyscatteredscat and desorgdisorgtored disorganizednedsodewd some of the machines were disableddisa andendemdendlbiedobledsin consequence of a shamefulshamo 9 we believe
Y A PC Y
se
thingsthea I1
t e
herkimer street
them no
t a 0
C10
co gration
de
tweed
immimbibmense
builbullbuli go
ftpt will be a long time before albany willrecover fronfromfran this awful calamity seventeen whole blocks the pier the
feifel everythingeverythi
56
many narrow escapesescapee from death and some serious personal injuriessustained albany lias never before in her 200 years history sufferedso dreadful a local calamity as thisthib the lobslossloo100lobiob ofa household goods of allkinds is immense great quantities that were strewedstrewer in the streetswere ruined by rain carts waggonswiggons dsiqj onwheels were in constant requisition but could not accomplish a tenthpart of the work required five tenton and twenty dollars were offeredfor carrying a single loadloade numbers of persons were rendered power-less by heat fatigue and cold water A number of buildings were blownup under the direction of the authorities ftit is impossible at the time wewrite to getgotgatsatsotset at any correct estimate of the loss sustained or the condi-tion of the insurance companies
market two bridges and near 100 boats are destroyedmost of the boats were heavily laden some 8000 or 10000 barrels offlour were burnt on the pier the loss of property is roughly estimatedat 2 000 000 dollardollars s several lives were lost hundreds of our businessmen are utterly ruined we fear our local insurance companies are over-whelmed the property on the pier was insured abroad the swiftshureSwiftand
shureeckford tow boat linesiines loose sigttremendously at midnight the
fire was burning in forty places but is now completely under controlthere is no wind but the rain has ceased extracted from the albanyexpress of august 17
it is possible that these incidents are not an entire fulfilmentfulfillment of the
lords words regarding these cities however they did take place shortly
after the warnings were given and the people of the church were aware of
them
this responsibility given to bishop whitney is noteworthy as it is
the only time that he was called by god to fill a mission of calling people
to repentance outside of the church so far as available records reveal
school of the prophets
during the winter of 183218331832 whitney1833 was busy administering
the tasks assigned him as a bishop of the church besides theisethesethebe responsiresponse
lh latternatternattor day saints millennial star X 286
asa
8
adwe ra ruin g drays
columbia street10 000ooo
H redscomp es
es 19
1
pr etseta
the da
whelmedig7tromendou slysiy
I1 think I1 am as well acquainted with the cir-cumstances which led to the giving of the word of wisdom as any mannunmenngnin the church although I1 was not present at the time to witness themthe first school of the prophets waswab heldholdheid in a smailsmall roomro situatedover the prophet josephs kitchentchenid in a house which belonged to bishopwhitney and which waswes attached to his store which store probablymight be about fifteen feet square in the rear of this building wasa kitchen probably tentan by fourteen feet containing rooms and pan-tries over this kitchen was situated the room in which the prophetreceived revelations and in which he instructed his brethren thebrethren came to thatthet place for hundreds of milesmilemlle to attend school ina little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen when theyassembled together in this room after breakfast the first thing theydid was to light their pipes and while smoking telktalkteik about the greatthings of the kingdom and spit all over the room and as soon asan thepipe was out of their mouths a large chewchow of tobacco would then betaken often when the prophet entered the room to give the schoolinstructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke thisand the complaints of his wife at having to clean so filthy a floor madethe prophet thiniethinfe upon the matter and he inquired of the lord relat-ing to the conduceconduct of the elders in using tobacco and the revelationknown as the word of wisdom was the result of his inquiry youknow what it is and can read it at your leisure
so we see that almost the very first teachings the first eldersof this church received were asan to what to eat what to drink andhow to order theitheirthel natural lives that they might be united temporally
byebre at
oatost
ai&iI1
when
IV
the school of the prophets was inaugurated one of the firstrevelations given by the lord to his servant joseph smith waswabweb theword of wisdom
57
bilitieswilitiesbili heties found time to participate in the school of the prophets the
prophet in his history names several leaders of the church including
newel as participants in thisthib organization
bishop whitney was not only interested in the school of the pro-
phets because of his active participation in it but also because they met
in a house which belonged to him as is brought out in the following quota-
tion
a
w ank
aw a
ich w a
a
t ce a
a
ngs
w uld elfcom ntsants
thisrev tion
0rde r r natu tad
cumstances
roch a
eif
aragsragseabsyas
ilyllyliy
oneawsams 186918690XILXIX 157197
a3
aeas wuwell as epirltually thisthie is the great purpose which godCWood haahaehas lainvievidVIW la tending to the world by hishiehiahla servantsorvarasssevvasorvaseeva therAss gopel of life andalvatioasalvation
I1 Mitrobertlrobertarobert& 0 cit
wabwah
aledaked
caucam a r thisthie condemnation
journalIJ of discourses jliverpituverpooliUver albertpooli Carringtcarriagtoflcarringtonelveruvey
spiritopirit ly
forsat3orsat opOS citcigcitacit& ppe 16716719
au1u
rheee participating iaiu thibwb school werewar required to keep fully the
commandmatcommand givenmatmentio to them each member weswaawas receivedrcotvod into fellowshipfello
onlyglywhip
anterafteranneranneaane participation ia prayerprayor the aacrameatsacramoausacramo aad iain thelnekneA ordinanceordinwwordin ofww
ghethe
f
washingw&b of feegfeetfoot josephjoeeph smith washed the gootfeetfootgaet of all41silsii the eldorseldereoldors at an
important coiifereaceconfroscecorfconf hoidheldboldheidrescerosce on january 23 1833 and pronounced thenthem all
clean from the blood of thlethiethisthiaghisghia generationconjxonjgensgeny 11aulon he themthenogsomm waymawarnedwayla all that ifit they
eioaed willfuuywiluwly after receiving this ordinance and after being healedeealed up
muountomato eternal life they simmidhouldaimmid bebo given overovey to the befutingsboffetlngebufubefU ofattIngs satansatassagansagen
UJAUwagih the daydey of redemption iathethorherke schootschool of thetha prophetspropheteProp hoadholdeboadboaghoeshotshees the distinctiondledie oftinction being one of thetho
fitfirstfid orgfliaiaedorganim4 admitadult schools in america 53
A warrittwaruittWa toruitt church leadersAAs ieto uhethetho easecase with many catobdedicated to the building ofai kioazioaz1011 it iein
often poeeiblepospoepee tosibiesibleeible be neglectful of reepoaftibilltyreepcasibility to the family it beemeeeeme
that not only bishop whitney but alsoaleoaisoaleq the prophet and sidney rigdon and
othersothere had to be remladedremromyomyem ofa& their0 dtotiee to their families in the doc-
trine awdaadand covenaatecovcowcawCoven 9041509041aangaaateanka we5090 read14150141
41 MWbutnutdut verily I1 sayeayseygey unto you my sersameervaatservam frederickodrickFr 0 willlamswilllamewilliamstWillWilliayou
lamalameiamamsomsthave continued under
305
orat
gr
comm 1A
wash
23p pr 04
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0 &led
th
tb 0 on
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so
4
laded
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59
42 you have not taught your children light and truth accordingto the commandments and that wicked one hath power as yet overyou and this is the cause of your affliction
43 and now a commandment I1 give unto you if you will be de-livered you shallshaushanbhan set in order your own house for there are manythings that are not right in your house
44 verily I1 say unto my servant sidney rigdon that in somethings he hath not kept the commandments concerning his childrentherefore first set in order thy house
45 verily I1 say unto my servant joseph smith jun or inother words I1 will call you friends for you are my friends and yeshall have an inheritance with me
46 1I called you servants for the worldsworld9worldy s sake and ye are theirservants for my sake
47 and now verilyverny I1 say unto joseph smith jun you have notkept the commandments and must needs stand rebuked before the lord
48 your family must needs repent and forsake some things andgive more earnest heed unto your sayings or be removed out of theirplace
49 what I1 say unto one I1 say unto all pray always lest that wickedone have power in you and remove you out of your place
50 my servant newel K whitney also a bishop of my churchhath need to be chastenedchasteneychast andened set in order his family and see thatthey are more diligent and concerned at home and pray always orthey shall be removed out of their place x
the following comment is made regarding the preceding verses
every human being not only those in the ranks but the leadersof ancient israel and the leaders of modern day israel even the pro-phet joseph smith himself and his associates were admonished by ourheavenly father and attention was called to the fact that it was neces-sary for them to set their houses in order they were warned that un-less they did that unless their families gave heed to the teachings ofthe gospel they would lose their opportunity that brings it rightclose to home does it not right into our own day
D & C 904150 doxey op cit HI 309
2
id zdoxey 09041 50
mesmeg t
60
in march of 1833 the saints in kirtland undertook a project of
purchasing lands in kirtland upon which they could build a stake of zion
several purchases were made including a plot on which the temple would
be built in section 96 of the doctrine and covenantcovenants the lord has this
to say about the land
behold I1 say unto youyoutyoug here is wisdom whereby ye may knowhow to act concerning this matter for it is expedient kn me that thisstake that I1 have betsetsotbot for the strength of zion should be made strong
2 therefore letlotiet my servant ahashdah newel K whitney takecharge of the place which is named among you upon which I1 design tobuild mine holy house
3 and again letlotiet it be divided into lots according to wisdomfor the benefit of those who seek inheritances as it shall be deter-mined in council among you
4 therefore take heedhoodhoed that ye see to this mattermatterematters and that por-tion that is necessary to benefit mine order for the purpose of bringilgiqg forth my word to the children of men
5 for behold verily I1 say unto you this is the most expedientin me that my word should go forth unto the children of men for thepurpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men for your goodeven so amen 2
very shortly after tathebhe commandment walWBLwae given the brethren metmotbotbetin council to carry out theprovisionsprovisionsthe of this commandment A strong
stake was desired in which the poor would be cared for in every regard
bishop whitney was to take charge of the matter of assigning lotaiota and
preparing them for the building of a city and a templetempie to thothe nametiame of the
lord 113
josephjoeephajoseph1joseph smith op012oiloll cit I1 335
C 9615961
joaephjoseph
5
fielding smith CHC famondfamod&modH rev U 167168
1
13
Is
2d&
ut 167 168
1I 349
bid ppap 409 448
ibid
leyaey
templeltempfel
bibidzibid
cl
beginning at this point th rophzt17roph2t cordsrecordsr that even though the
church was very poor financially they began making extensive prepara-
tions for a templetempie 1 which task would add greatly to the burdens of all and
certainly to those of the bishop in kirtland
it seems that little is known of the activities of bishop whitneyhitney
duringdaringdaningduning the last months of 1833 and the first part of 1834 except to say
that from september through december newel was in part responsible for
the acquiring and establishing of a press at kirtland with which they repub-
lished all fourteen copies of the evening and morning star which had been
thethle official church publication in missouri 2
relief of the saints
it was during this time that the saints were driven from jackson
county with much suffering and hardship in kirtland a few months later
the leaders of the church preparedeparedspared for and completed the zions camp
march in relief of the saints in missouri
bishop whitney did not participate in zions camp but remained in
kirtland struggling with the financial problems of the church it is record-
ed on april 7 1834 that several of the leaders of the church including newel
bowed their heads in fervantservantyervant prayersprayer1prayer for1 the relief of the united firm in
financial matters 3 again on april 23 bishop whitney and others joined in
joseph smith op cit
n 47
the v 3n
tl iey
V
pr
0
31bid
an
libidbibid
62
prayer to obtain money for the relief of thath3 hurchchurchachurch10
during these months the united firm or united order under the
namenume of newel K whitney and company admitted F G williams and
also john johnson both of whom brought relief to this struggling organiza
tion
discontinuance of the united order
due to the many problems involved in the operation of the united
order it was discontinued in the early months of 1834 the following is
an explanation of the matter
the united firm acquired some additional property mostly forpurposes connected with the needs of temple building during 1833 butearly in 1834 it was decided to terminate the organization accord-ing to the law of consecration all of these properties belonged tothe church and the only thing that could properly be done was to assigndefinite stewardshipssteward toships each member of the firm since this was notdone the fiction of a law of consecration becomes evident for anindicated value received titles to each of the properties evidentlyowned by the firm were made over to the private ownership of the individual partners sidney rigdon received his place of residence anda tannery martin harris was given the right to operate the frenchfarm providing he allowed joseph smith to direct the use of the pro-ceeds lohnjohn johnson received his place of residenceresslressi anddence the right tosubdivide the farm which had been purchased with his money thoughfor the present the title was retained by newell K whitney and com-pany title to the williams farm passed to joseph smith jr and itsoperation was left to the smith family williams received the proper-ty on which he was living and shared the printing establishment witholiver cowderycowGow newelldery K whitney got his store back and an ashery aswell by 1834 then the church owned no property in kirtland leg-ally even the temple whose walls were now rearing upward was locat-ed on property purchased by johnson and was owned by the newell K
hitneyvhitneyVh companyitney 4
bid p 54 & C 92
ibid p 96 fielding utah historical quarterlyQuarteXXXXVU
eieEllnieVU 338
th
und r
viilliams2
3
ohnsubdilde
D 9 Z
3ibidbibid
whitney
III111lii 449 hosephjoseph smith op citaxeyidoxeyomey 0 11II 626362 63
bozsoz e
kingdkinga
63
A further explanation isin given by joseph fielding smith and quoted
by roy W doxey
he commanded that there should be a separation of the united orderin zion from the order in kirtland each was to act henceforth indepen-dently of the other distance was too great between these places forunity of purpose in all things each order was to be organized in thenames of the brethren residing in each place and to do business intheir own names this separation and dissolving of the former ordercame about also because of transgression and covetousness on the partof some they were to understand that all the properties were thelordslordloyds otherwise their faith was vain and therefore they were ste-wards before the lord all of this was to be done for the purpose ofbuilding up the church and kingdom of god on the earth and to pre-pare the people for the time when the lord should come to dwell up-on the earth secsoc 10459 CHMR 325 1949 1
namingnamias of the church
it is noted that until may of 1834 the church did not have an official
name until that time the church waswaitwaltwalb called by various names by its mem-
bers in a council on may 4 1834 in of the leaders of
the church in rigdon made the motion that the church be
called the church of the latter day saintssaint k bishop whitney seconded
this motion and for a period of four years this remained the official name
of the church 2 then in april of 1838 the church was officially named as
indicated in the 115th section of the doctrine and covenants
1 verily thus saith the lord unto you my servant joseph smithjun and also my servant sidney rigdon and also my servant hyrumsmith and your counselors who are and shall be appointed hereafter
2 and also unto you my servant edward partridge and his coun-selors
oxey op cit
ow
in otheotho asw 9
ea rth
kirtland composed
kirtland sidney
11
01 7
ajozjoaaph
64
3 and also unto my faithful servants who are of the high councilof my church in zion for thus it shall be called and unto allailali theelders and people of my church of jesus christ of latter day saintsscattered abroad in allailali the world
4 for thus shall my church be called in the last days even thechurch of jesus christ of latter day saints 1
A special blessing
another notable event in the life of bishop whitney was recorded
by joseph smith when newel and hyrumhyriam smith went to buffalo new york
to replenish the goods in the committees storehouse may god grant in
the name of jesus that their lives may be spared and they have a safe
journey and no accident or sickness of the least kind befallbefell them that
they may return in health and in safety to the bosom of their families tl
apparently just before these two menman left joseph smith jun
gave bishop whitney a blessing received by the urimarim and thummim and
recorded by F G williams
the following blessing was given by president joseph smith junthrough the urimarim and thummimThum accordingmim to the spirit of prophecyand revelation on wednesday the 7thath of october 1835 and writtenby president F G williams who acted as clerk
blessed of the lord is brother whitney even the bishop of thechurch of the latter day saints for the bishopric shall never betaken away from him while he liveth and the time cometh that heshall overcome all the narrow mindedness of his heart and all hiscovetous desires that so easily besetbeastbesst him and he shall deal with aliberal hand to the poor and the needy the sick and the afflictedthe widow and the orphan and marvelously and miraculously shallthe lord his god provide for himbim even that he shall be blessedwith allaliail the falnessfulness of the good things of this earth and his seed
ld & C 115141151
hosephjoseph
4
smith op cit U 288
wo rid
s
sp cialcielclel blebie is
be them
IZ
tw
th m
foll ngthu m
W s
fr a in
t
0 28 8
II11IL 294
oreorz
barticpartic alyrly
aseezsee appe x
65
after him from generation to generation and it shall come to passthatthet according to the measure that he metethznetethfeteth out with a liberal hand
unto the poor so shall it be measured to him again by the hand ofhis god even an hundred fold
angels shallshailshali guard his house and shall guard the lives of hisposterity and they shall become very great and very numerous on theearth whomsoever he blessethblessettbles theyseth shall be blessed and whomso-ever he cursethbursethcur theyseth shallghalighail be cursed and when his enemies seek himunto his hurt and destruction letlotiet him rise up and curse and the handof god shall be upon his enemies in judgment they shall be utterly con-founded and brought to desolation
therefore he shallshaushan be preserved unto the uttermost and his lifeshallshailshali be precious in the sight of the lord he shallbhailshaushan rise up and shakehimself as a lion viseth out of his nest and roareth until he shakethshakethathe hills and as a lion goeth forth of him be whom the lord hath a-nointed to exalt the poor and to humble the rich therefore his nameshall be on high and his rest among the sanctified Ix1
A thorough reading of this blessing reveals many promises to newel
and his posterity if he willwin performperfo hisxin duty well particularly in reference
to taking care of the poor
newels parents
in fulfillment of part of the patriarchal blessing2blessingzblessingsblessing given2 to bishop
whitney his parents arrived from the eastfast and were soon fellowshippedfellow
by
shipped
the church soon after they arrived they went to joseph to make in-
quiry concerning the book of mormon he told them about the visits of
moroni and taught them the fundamentals of the gospel 3 A few days
whitneylW contributorhitney VI 129
7see appendix B for the full context of this blessing 403joseph smith op cit
t
a I1
a9
s
utter oata a e
selfbelf a etha
ng
f umentament
0
whong soever
navnawnev I1
I1
isamuelisamael
samuellsamueli
whitnewhitna Is
66
later much to ohsths joy of n3vl and hie family ththothe prophet baptized samuel
and susanna kimball whitney A daughter was also baptized at this time 3
feast at the whitnswhitasamid the many problems the saints faced in kirtland during the
time they found occasion to join together in joyous festivity such was the
case on january 9 1836 when a sumptuous feastfeast11feest for all the poor saints
in kirtland and vicinity was sponsored by bishop whitney and his family
both joseph and mother whitney describe this unusual occasion
we now quote from the prophetsProphet history thursday january 7
1836 attended a sumptuous feast at bishop N K whitneyswhitneytWhit thisneysfeast was after the order of the son of god the lame the halt andblind were invited according to the instruction of the savior ourmeeting was opened by singing and prayer by father smith afterwhich bishop whitneywhitneyswhitneyt father and mother and a number of otherswere blessed with a patriarchal blessing we then received a bounti-ful refreshment furnishefurnishedfurnished by the liberality of the bishop the com-pany was largeurge and before we partook we had some of the songs ofzion sung and our hearts were made glad while partaking of an ante-past of those joys that will be poured upon the heads of the saintswhen they are gathered together on mount zion to enjoy each otherssociety forevermore when there will be none to molest or makenka usafraidfraid lt this feast for the poor says mother whitney lastedthre days during which all in the vicinity of kirtland who would comewere invited and entertained the prophet joseph and his counselorswere present ach day talking blessing and comforting the poor by wordsof encouragement and their most welcome presence he often referredto it afterwards and testified of the great blessing he felt in associatingwith the meek and humble whom the lord delights to own and bless
samuel whitney was born in marlborough vermont and after joiningthe church he received a patriarchal blessing he died march 17 1846 atkirtland
susannasusanne kimball whitney was born in mindon massachusetts anddied april 3 1859 and was buried in the kirtland temple cmetzrymetary
the daughter baptized at this time was probably caroline theyoungest sister of newel born march 10 1816
th
2
d
t
zsusannac meterytary
3theathe
1
Whitneys
furni she
detary
11II 363
bid
bid
I1
ppap 411 429 430
succlucc
d-
ing
completion4completions
6
he said it was preferable and far superior to the elegant and selectparties h afterwards attended and affordedafford him much mor satis-faction iti
on the third day of tajthj faastfjast th prophet rjcivdr ac specialiv in-
vitation
1
from
d
newel which h apparently couldnt resistrjsist as he dismissed
school in order to attend 2 th invitation rad as follows
thus saith the voice of thetha spirit to m- if thy brother josephsmith jun will attend th feast at thy house this day at twelveoclock ththe poor and the lame will rejoice in his presence andalso think themselvesmselvcs honored
yours in friendship and lovlosiosloiiovNEWEL K iurney3vhiiney3
temrletempletempietearle dedication
fhe activities of newel K whitney during th succeeding months
are not known in any detaildelduldet hedailtaileail did however participate in th ordin-
ances in the kirtland tampletjmplemplc upon its completion and4 also witnessed with
others the manifestations and xperlncesjxperinces associated with its dedication 5
instructions concerning thehe poor
one thing is certain of the responsibilities of bishop whitney dur-
ing his last yarsaars in kirtland that they steadily increasedcreasAcreasmin with a constant
whitneylV contributorhitney VI 129130129
josephajosephzjoseph
130
smith op cit
p A30
51bidsibidbibid
1
pr f- rable sup riorbior sa ctd
th
r sist
at end
th
th t
th
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31bid
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ebsess while they themselves have been lab-oring in the vineyard of the lordlordslordo to preach the gospel and alsohaving suffered great loss in endeavoring to benefit zion it thething complained of has become a serious matter which ought tobe considered by us
therefore after deliberate discussion upon the subject it wasmoved seconded and unanimously carriedcarriedo that we have borne ourpart of this burden and that it becomes the duty henceforth of allthe churches abroad to provide for those who are objects of charitythat are not able to provide for themselves and not send them fromtheir midst to burden the church n this place unless they comeand prepare a place for them and provide means for their support
second that there be a stop put to churches or families gather-ing or moving to this place without their first coming or sendingtheir wise men to prepare a place for them as our houses are allfull and our lands mostly occupied except those houses thatthet do notbelong to the church which cannot be obtained without great sacri-fice especially when brethren with their families are crowding inupon us and are compelled to purchase at any rate and consequentlyare thrown into the hands of speculatorsspecula extortionersortionerseextortionertorst withortionwhich
ersersewysezsoarsocourse the lord is not well pleased
the final phase of the kirtland period
little need be said here about the rise and fallfaufalifail of the kirtland
safety society and its impact on the church it is howeverho worthwhilewevers
ibid ppap 468469468 469iibidbibid
68
influx of saints from the east most of whom were poor and needed the
immediate help of the church so burdensome did they become that in
a conference session of the hurchchurch authorities on december ZZ 1836
the following motions were made
first that it has been the case that a very improper and unchristianlikechristianlikcchrintianlike course of onductconduct has beenboonboen pursued by the elders ofthis churchchurchfchurchy and the churches abroad in sending their poor fromthem to this place without the necessary means of subsistencewhereas the church in this place being poor from the beginninghaving had to pay an extraordinateextra priceordinate for their lands provisionsetc and having a serious burthen imposed upon them by comers andgoers from most parts of the world and in assisting travelingelder and theirs the familifamilies
t
L
i
g er
ds t
ust
I1
I1
3ibidbibid p
ajoseph4joseph smithssmithy opOR cit
69
to note that bishop whitney must have been deeply involved as his signa-
ture appears on the 3 00 bill issued by the bank furthermore when
the rounds filed suit against the kirtland safety society for illegal banking
separate suits were filed against sidney rigdon warren parrish and newel
K whitney on the same charge
following the failure of this institution apostasy began to break
the ranks of the church by the lastlaselaso months of 1837 over half of the kirt-land membership either left the church or wereworeweze excommunicated from
it 2
many leaders of the church were caught in the apostasy while
others including newel K whitney remained true to the faith and loyal to
the prophet
in september 1837 the leadersloaders of the church met in kirtland to
consider the situation of the church it was decided that newnow stakes
wereworeweye needed for a place for the saints to gather this responsibility
was given to joseph smith and sidney rigdon
in the same session 109 elders were divided into eight companies
and organized to travel in various directions on an errand of rescue of
fielding utah historical quarterly XXVIIXXVU 354
william E berrettberrottenezrett the restored church salt lake citydeseret book companyComp 1949anyoanysenyo p t79
id p 182
joaephjoseph U 514
mo a
3
4
fielding
ac&c 117
70
the finances of the church these brethren were all under the personal
direction of bishop whitney
also in this conference a letter was written by bishop whitney
to all the saints abroad which essentially was a plea for allaualiail to pay a full
tithe and any other financial obligations to the church so as to relieve
the church in kirtland of its financial burden
whatever the results of this effort they were apparently not suffi-
cient to bring any real relief in the following months joseph smith
sidney rigdon and brigham young fled kirtland to save their lives and
upon arrival in missouri organized the newnow stakes for the gathering of
saints
it appears that william marks representing joseph smith and
bishop whitney remained in ohio long enough to finish up any business of3
the church most or allail of the faithful saints had left to gather at farwest as they were instructed by the lord
onou july 8 at far west the prophet received the following from the
lord pertaining to bishop whitney
1 verily thus saith the lord unto my servant william marks andalso unto my servant newel K whitneyWhitne letlotietyp them settle up this businessspeedily and journey from the land of kirtland before I1 the lord sendagain the snows upon the earth
fielding utah historical quarterly p 356
joaephjoseph smith op citcite II11 514518514
ad3d
518
& C
2
a
t
Is
courrourtoun hand saltsalthsaithsait the lord
6 1 or llave I1 not th3 fowls of heavenhz2avc andzindaind alsoaisoal the fish of thithjtaj seaand the beasts of the mountains have I1 not made the arth do I1not hold the destinies of all vwthetae armirmiamia of thtv nationsaati ofons the earth
7 thereforeth3rjor will I1 not makemakobake solitary places to badbd and to blossomand to bring forth in abundance saith the lord
6 Is there not room enough on the mountains of ondiondl ahmanahbanand on th plains of olahaqlabaalaba shinhahshinhamshin orhah th land wheraher adam dweltdweltidewelti thatyou should covet that which is but the drop and neglect thlth
siersyerjimr
ivarivaaavar
lo10 rd
I1zo
I1
lo10 rd
lordkord andald wawhiwlk xi h
tiitil m
iesles
azgz fi
aherrher fore letlotiet him contend earnestlyzarjar fornestly the redemption of thex arsiirsiirslesl prcoidncprc oiaddzdd myacaracyr burcahurcnhurcahu saitlsaifchsaitchpaitlicarca tiltiiuil ldordx l1la11ar
I
2 let tlim awake and arisearis and comecozicobebozi forta and not tarry forI1 the lord command it
3 thereforerha ifrefore they tarry it shall not bj well with thermthornthemm
4 let thm repent of all their sinssina and of all tneirtileirkneir covetous de-sires before me saith the lord for what is property unto me saiththe lord
5 let the propertipropertiespropersi of kirtland be turn d out for debts saiththe lord let th jm go saith the lord and whatsoevwhats roev remainthremain3thremairemal letietnthit remain in youryoun
1
more weightymattersmattebattersbatte
9 therefortherefore come apup hither unto thath3 land of rny people venvmzion
10 let my servant william marks be faithful over a fewcew things andhe shall be a ruler over many let him preside in the midst of my peo-ple in the city of far west and let him be blessed with the blessings ofmy people
11 LAletlct my servantervanti wl K vhitny b ashamed of th 1 nicolaitaneNicolaiband
taneand of all their secret abominations and of all his littlenesslitt oflenes
soul before me saith thtchfth lord and corncom up to the land of adam ondiahman and be a bishop unto my people saith the lord not in namebut in ddd aithsaithsalthd thlthe lord
12 andjand again I1 taysayeay ailoa oato I1youioapou rem 1varrvanrb llvrr gran-ger
niybehold verily I1 say unto him that his name shall be had in sacredsacra
rncrribrancc fomfeoin 6iiratu a cr id jivr saithth lord
13 rherforafalls hepiehieA
11
b th m
th mth 2.2
th e s d btsabts
1li
n s ath
& stini s C
i o0
th adamwh r 3
n glctgl ctr s
th
th
yhitn y t ii
di A
thI1 i
p- ople
n ratloaatlo i lo10 garatlongar corforatLon
ashamJ
alth
therdor
opie
land
popie
gai
alim
ahm
tha
alvr
fedin
glat
whitn
I1
72
ishallshallbhail rise again for his sacrifice shallbhails be1 more sacred unto me thanhishitshigg increase saith the lord
14 therefore letlotiet him come up hither speedily unto the land ofzion and in the due time he shall be mademad a merchant unto my namesaith the lord for the benefit of my people
15 therefore let no man despise my servant oliver granger butlet the blessings of my people be on him forever and ever
16 and again verily I1 say unto you letlotiet all my servants in theland of kirtland remember the lord their godgodsgoda and mine house alsoto keep and preserve it holy and to overthrow the changersin mine own due timetimettimes saith the lord even so amen x
this then is a command to these brethren to leave before winter
and in the meantime dispose of all property for the debts of the church
reference is also made to the nicolaitansNicola banditans and newels con-
nection with it the following is helpful in this matter
the nicolaitnicolaitansNicola initans newnow testament times seem to have taughtfollowing the doctrine of balaam that christians were free to eat thingsoffered to idols andana to commit the excesses of heathenism includingfornication rev 26 14 and other freedomsfree ofdomis the flesh evidentlythe bandhand of which the lord commanded brother whitney to be ashamedwere a group of worldly people who were guilty of excesses thatshould be foreign to latterater day saints just what persons were mem-bers of this group we are not told 2
in keeping with the revelation bishop whitney left kirtland in thefall of 1838 his destination was ondiondl ahman
before he could reach this place troubles in missouri arose whichfinally resulted in 12 000 to 15 000 saints being driven from missouri
id
sperry op cit p 628
isperry op cit p 628
0
money agersngers
b rd
adam 3
ibid
2
3sperry
n
tter
I1
noenee a
73
bishop whitney continued with his family to st louislauislouls where earlier
reports of the mob activity were confirmed he then went on a northward
route to carrollton greene county illinois and settled his family tem-
porarily in this place
he returned then to kirtland to take care of some unfinished busi-
ness of the church from here his story is told asan follows
bishop whitney returned to carrollton in the spring of 18391839i andwas just in tiem to join his family in their flight across the mississippiand anti mormonmormon11 mob headed by a man named bellows who hadknown them in kirtland having formed against them for hostile pur-poses aided by kind friendsfri theyondes made their escape in the nighttime and having the broad rolling bosom of the father of watersbetween them and their persecutors they felt measurably safe frompursuit 1 shalishallshaila never forget 11 says mother whitney my husbandtaking off his hathatehethato wiping the perspiration from his brow and thankinggod for our deliverance 1 we next hear of them at quincy in thesame state at which place and in its vicinityvicin theitys malnmain portion ofthe scattered saints had congregated here the prophet joseph bishoppartridge andend others rejoined their families after being released fromprison 3
whitney contributorcontributors VI 130
2ibid2imdmimd
id3ibidbibid
inishodz
Iing
11
partrid10
porarily
11
chaCKA PT
eroberts1roberts op cit U 3
whitney contributor VI 130
74
CHAPTER IV
THE NAUVOO PERIOD
temporary nobehome
quincy illinois is located on the east bank of the mississippi
river rising 125 feet above low water mark quincy bay is an arm of
the river and forms a natural harbor for river craft quincy was laid
out into a town in the year 1834 and became incorporated as a city in the
year 1839 in this same year thousands of mormon refugees from
missouri found their way to illinois many settling temporarily in quincy
bishop newel KX whitney and family also settled here
meetings were immediately heldholdheid by church leaders to determine
a place for the exilesedles to settle in compliance with an appointment made
at a conference heldholdheid in quincy on may 69 1839 bishop whitney prepared
to make a short journey north to a place called commerceconCom lateramerce nauvoo
to help settle the saints there this being his responsibility it seems
likely the whitneyswhitneytWhit wereneys among the first to settle in the newnow home of
the saints concerning the situation of the saints in the spring of 1839
joseph smith recorded
the place was literally a wilderness the land was mostly cov-ered with troeatrees and bushes and much of it was so wet that it was
roberts
1
0
2 respone ibilityabilityibiibllity
t
M
edies
ilyllyliy
zeptreptzepi S
ealwalwaithys
75
with the utmost difficulty that a footman could get throughroughtth andtotally impossible for teams commerce was unhealthy very fewcould live there but believing that it mightbight become a healthy placeby the blessing of heaven to the saints and no more eligible placepresenting itself I1 considered it wisdom to make an attempt tobuild up a city I1
thebethesethosethobe were difficult times for the mormon people having just lost
most or all their possessions to the missouri mobs As soon as possiblepossibles
howeverhow commerceeveraevert became the gathering place for the persecuted people
to add to their difficulties and trials many of the saints became prey to
the dreadly malaria feverfavorfavey the whitney family were among those struck
down with this disease
in nauvoo the beautiful home of the weary saints who had fled fromtheithe mobs of missouriMismls theresouris was much suffering from chills and feverit was what is termed an ague country and the people were not pre-pared to battle with it the family of bishop whitney were afflictedwith this terrible disease allaualiail succumbed one after the other untilthere was not one left to wait upon the others but kind and lovingfriends ministered to them and on more than one occasion the pro-phet joseph himself prepared teatoa andend took to them offering it him-self for their nourishment sister whitney was very delicate andhad been accustomed to furvantsaurvantseurfuraurekr tovantavantsyanta wait upon her now she was illand a family of children sick looking to her and no servant to helpher but few luxuries and poor accomodationsaccommodations stillstiuhtiu no complaintever escaptodeacapted her no repining for the home she had left she cheer-ed and encouraged her husband through all the trials they experi-enced and was a helpmeet to him in very deed
the kindness of the prophet joseph to bishop whitney and his
family appears to have been a fulfillment of prophecy uttered by him to
the whitneyswhitneytWhit inneys kirtland some years before
roberts op cit II11 9
whitney contributor VI 130
to ly ealthysmi
1
t taislais
a IL
whitney
huab
1I l30131130131
roberts op cit II11 182018
30n
20
may 27 1840 bishop edward partridge died leaving the churchwithout a presiding bishop ibidmd
I1
HU 40
jenson historical record V 750
neighneishborhotaet&e spring ofad 1840 they at first resided in a very
unhealthy neighborhoneighborhood and allaliail fell sick with ague chillchilla 3 and fevera deweasedirieaaediweasedirie ataaeeoeeab that time very prevalentpr thereavalent joaephjoseph on visiting themand witnessing their conditioncondicondl wastiou touched with compassioncem hepassion re-membered how kindly they once received him and his family whenthey were without a home and at once urged them to come and occupya comfortable cottage on his own premises in a much healthier loca-lity IUshislus kind and generous offer was gladly accepted and the changesoon restored them to wonted health joseph hedhadbadbed said to sister whit-ney on his arrival at kirtland in february 1831 that even as she hadopened her house to him when he was homeless and in need he woulddo a similaroimilaroirailaroicaoiraolca actilar in her behalf and that of her family in a day when theircircumstances would require it
not only the whitneyWhit sneys but many others were recipients of the help-
ing hand and the healing power seemingly possessed by the prophet during
these troublesome times w
wards organized
As soon as was possible the saints were settled and wards were
organized to edministeradminister to the spiritual and temporal needs of the saints
on octoboctoberoctoba 5 1839 in a conference of the church a stake was organized
consisting of three wards william marks waswes appointed president of the
new stake with edward partridge bishop of the upper ward 3 bishop whit-
ney over the middle ward and vinson knight bishop of the lower ward 4
jensonjeason blogbiosblos encycencyl
76
A prophecy of josephs in relation to the whitney family utteredin kiruandrUandkirlandKi nine years before waswaa fulfilled soon after they moved upfrom quincy in th
ly
co ortableoptable ow
w 9 h eless w uldbe f fa y
2
or anihednized
a nister
r s a
s
B rd
1jenson enc 1
2robarts
77
branch at zarahemlaZarah
during
emla
this period of time bishop whitney and othersaccompaniedotheusothenothers
joseph
ccompaniedACcompanied
to the iowa side of the river to inspect a large tract of land pur-
chased by the church on which the town of zarahemlazarahomlaZarah wasemlaemia to be builtbulitbunt
in the october conference mentioned above a branch of the church was also
organized at zarahemlaZarah
civic
emla
and municipal organizations
not only was bishop whitney to play a prominent role in the church
activities in nauvoo and vicinity but also in civic and municipal organiza-
tions asan well on the first february 1841 the first election for mem-
bers of the nauvoo city council was heldholdheid john C bennett was elected
mayor william marksmerks samuel smith dnaiel H wonswellswouswens and newel K whit
ney were elected aldermen joseph smith hyrum smith sidney rigdon
charles C rich john T barnett wilson LAW don C smith john P
greene and vinson knight were elected counselors all of the members
of the city council were sworn in with the following oath
we joseph smith hyrum smithsmiths don C smith and charles Crich do solemnly swear in the presence of almighty god that we willsupport the constitution of the united states and of the state of illinoisand what we will well and truly perform the duties of counciloriscouncilorscouncillorscounci oflorsloris the
ibid
id V 755
rks
2
sole y
ibid
laglaviaulaoiao
noisnols
nauvoo charter
As an expression of gratitude for the charter granted the city by
the state of illinois the first act of this council was the following resolu-
tion
resolved by the city council of the city of nauvoo that the un-feigned thanks of the community be respectfully tendered to the gover-nor council of revision and legislature of the state of illinois as afeeble testimony of their respect and esteem for noble high mindedand patriotic statesmen and as an evidence of gratitude for thetho signalpowers recently conferred and that the citizens of quincy be held ineverlasting remembrance of their unparallelledunparallel liberality and markedkindness to our people when in thairtheir greatest state of suffering andwant
the next act of this council was to pass ordinances relative to the
university of nauvoo and the nauvoo legion the ordinance respecting
the university originated with joseph smith and read as follows
secsee 1 be it ordained by the city council of the city of nauvoothat the ll11 university of the city of nauvoo be and the same is here-by organized by the appointment of thetho followingfoll boardng of trusteesto wit john C bennett chancellor william law regisrarregistrar and
joseph smith op cit IV 295
d p 297
jenson3jengon historical record V 755
7 c
city of nauvoo according to las and the best of our abilities
JOSEPH smitmSMITHHYRUM SMITHs141tDONDONT C SMITHCHARLESARLES C RICH 1
the nauvoo city councilClo madeuncil opening prayer a standing rule for
each of their regular council meetings
I1
6cMITCJ
a
foll ng
3
11
joseph 0
119d
led
rumeumcurncunn smith william mark4ark3 samuelH smith anieldanielji H1 wells1 newel1 K whitneywhitnoyWhit cherliecharliecharleecherleenoy C rich johnT barnettb&rnettbarneubarnea vilsoni1zunV law do carlos smith john P cirelgirelgrecairelgreedoadozboz
I1
neine insonvinsonknight isaac galland ellaseliaseilas higbee robert D foster james ademsadamsadeasobcrtivobcrtC B hompsonhompaonzhomp6onhom samuelsabuelpaon bennettdennett tbebnzv r robinsonrobinsorRob johninsor snidergeorge miller14illeriller and lenos M knight regents of the university of thecitygity of navoo1tat3voo1lavooNa asvoo contemplated in the 24th section of an act to incorporate the city of nauvoo
bazlaz
zerzir
3kateskate
79
joseph zinith idneysidney51 bigdonfigdon
while
the buildings of the school were nevar built classes were conducted in
which were taught such subjects as french german latin greek lebrewhebrew
mathematicsmathenmathonmethen chemistrytauchtaucs geology literature and history with john C
bennett asav the first chancellor and james kelley as president the univer-
sity went into operation in 1841 with three instructors tuition was 5 00
per quarter for each student registering
in a proclamation of the first presidency of thetig church to all
saints joseph smith had this to say regarding the university and the powers
of those associated with it
joseph smith op cit IV 293
enson historicalMat recordorical V 755
kate B carter comp heart throbs of the west salt nakelake cityD U P 1950 II11 959695 96
7 9
A
Z
11
3
a
2jenson
e City
approvodapproved december 16 1840
sec 2 the board namednamad in the first section of this ordinanceshaushallshalishail holdhoid its first meeting at the office of joseph smith on tuesdaythe 9thath day of februaryfebruaryfebruar 18411341i at 2 olockoclock pm
passed february 3 1841 JOHN C BENNETT mayorJAMES SLOAN recorder I11
As a member of the board of trustees bishop whitney helped choose
a site for the university and prepare the plans for its structure
A
14
greeneilson
fostrobart
1.1 es
I1
regrag rai1i eh
80
the university of the city of nauvoo willll enable us to teach ourchildren wisdom to instruct themtherathenathenn in all the knowledge and learningin the arts sciences and learned professions we hope to make thisinstitution one of the great lights of the world and by and through itto diffuse that kind of knowledge which will be of practicable utilityand for the public good and also for private and individual happinessthe regents of the university will take the general supervision of allmatters appertaining to education from common schools up to thehighest branches of a most liberal collegiate course they will estab-lish a regular system of education and hand over the pupil from teac-her to professor until the regular gradation is consummated and theeducation finishedftnished
among the responsibilities of the board of trustees of the univer-
sity waswesweb the conferring of an M A degree on orson pratt while install-
ing him as professor of mathematics 2 and conferring upon james arling-
ton bennett an honorary L L D degree onan april 22 1842
the smith store
it is well known by historians of the L D S church that during
the nauvoo period of church history the prophet joseph operated a small
store A few brief statements from his journal suggest that bishop whit-
ney was closely associated with the store and the operation of it for
example consider the following
I1 received a letter from N KX whitneyWhi statingmoeytoeytmey thatthet he had pur-chased 5 000 worth of goods for me and that he should visit kirt-land before his return home
joseph smith op cit IV 269agg
ibid p 414
31md3dadadad p 600
4ibid4wd p 447
theywill
reg r
w a
3
w s
foll ng
ho e 4
0
ewd
I11
I1 commenced placing goodsboods onan the shlvs of mym newy store assistedby bishop newelnevel K whitneyhitneyUr and otheralotherajothero and in th evening attendedattadat citydtadcouncil
foldfoidfolda 17
remmlefemaurenmle ruefruegkollerkeller
I1 lagtag thithl evening withbvfive teams loadwloadedloada with4 provisions and grain as a prasentpruaeruprusent to m whichafforded me vacyvryvaryvarv sea&onabue& rlisfvalivalln&b13 I1f pray taethethataa lord to akasabidssbkasa thoethosethow whogavyav it abundantlyabunda andaadunyudy mayway it bekm returned upon their heads an hundredfold2
societysftilet
another connection of the whitney family andaraaddsndsemnem tha storastorsstore is that on
marghmarch 17 1842 in a room above the stoyestore the female relief society waawas
organizedorganisedorganisodorgani bysodsed the prophet with emma a president and elizabeth ann whit-
ney aeas a counselor in which capacity aheehesheekeake served for manymunnymummy years 3
when the relief society waswaa organizedorganixedorga inalsednixed nauvoo she was chosenand ordained first counselorgamCam toselor the president emmaemmsenmaenla smith and being possessed ofad the greatest genuine sympathys andpathy benevolence shewaswes wellwen adapted to the position and auedfilled it with honor and creditcreditsgaining the love and gratitude of allelieil to whom she was calledcelled throughcircumstances to minister even bestowing favors and blessings inthe mowtmootmost unosteftatioesunostentatloos manneemanneror sister whitney has always beenpossessed of great yea ismymightyISUV faith in administering to the sickendand afflicted
nablanabia
fanygany
cedcod uaabethmabeth in close association with one of her husbandhusbandss
principle dutiesdudes asws a bishop in the church
inu P w-d 296396
31bidhbiaabia
wemwes W aIVexponent saltit lakeke city march Is15 1882 XXXIVXXXI 1540
mccune4emmoune
achrch
ai&i yo
bishop newelnevalnevai KX whitney returned from flaxnus
V 29
IV 552
mmcune B vonsvouswellswonsweilsweilo ed elisabeth ann whitneyWhit clewyzwy womas
coramanc id sta1v 9
bishcmincu7
zue
ir hc ads
as
w sod0 mam4
aas n 44 c ed
ter
c04 4
thithisthl responsibility of seeking relief for the poor and needy of
the church placed Uaabeth
a re s ei ty
4
zebidzlbid
sabeth
9
sait
whi y
tez
astad
ea
principrincl
2josephajoseph
82
nauvoo templetempie
A significant occasion to the fast growing church centered at nau-
voo was the commencement of the construction of the nauvoo temple in
april of 1841 with the wallswails erected to a height of about five feet above
the ground the ceremony of laying the cornerstones took place it was a
solemn occasion with an estimated 10 000 people in attendance the nau-
voo legion paraded and special processionsprofessionsprocess wereions organizedorgani toeedsed participate
in the festivities hymns were sung and sidney rigdon preached for more
than an hour I11 the principal or southeast cornerstone was laid first by
direction of the first presidency followed by the southwest stone under
direction of the high priesthood the high council then directed the lay-
ing of the northwest stone followed by the northeast cornerstone super
intended by the bishops bishop whitney as representative pronounced the
following words on this cornerstone
the fourth and last corner stone expressive of the lesser priest-hood is now duly laid and may the blessings before pronounced withall others desirable rest upon the sanaesamesarmebame forever amen
this was the beginning of a long and difficult struggle of building
the temple for the endowments of the saints of which bishop whitney played
a significant role more will be said concerning the temple and bishop
whitneywhitneyswhitneyt connection with it as we further study the nauvoo period
on TF colvin A historical study of the mormon temple at nau-voo illinois lt11 unpublished masters thesis department of history andphilosophy of religion brigham young university 1962 ppap 232423
joseph
24
smith w cit IV 330
tem e
gr ng
w Us
n
fell ng
2
idondepar ent
0
Whitneys
eceace M te
additioaddition
83
bichobishopbieho whitneyswhitneytWhit responsibilitiesneysneyl
in light of the fact that bishop edward partridge presiding bishop
of the church died as mentioned earlier bishop whitneyswhitneytWhit responsibili-
ties
neys
were increased accordingly
it has been mentioned that as early as october 1839 three wards
were established in the city of nauvoo with bishop whitney presiding over
the middle ward
in january of 1841 a fourth ward was organizedorgani insed nauvoo and in
august 1842 an additional six wards were organized makinsmaking a total of
ten wards to accommodate the expanding population at the october con-
ference shortly after joseph smiths death in 1844 heberhaberhebenhaben C kimball
made the motion that bishop newel K whitney stand asan the first bishop
ofai the church which motionmotlon carried unanimously
presiding bishop
bishop whitney served in this capacity until 1847 when he waswag or-
dained as the second mrebre sidingresiding bishop of the church which indicates that
the church waswesweb without this office from the death of bishop partridge in
1840 until this time however studies seem to indicate that bishop whit-
ney acted in the capacity of presiding bishop for some time before his
ordination to this office
plural marriage
in the early 1840 the practice of the doctrine of plural marriage
whitney contributor VI 404405404 405
s
responsibui
ng
pop tion
t
on
w a
w e
6 e
e
1840s
1
rrie
hibhis
iai1
ficulaficult
sessionsressions
84
began to be practiced unfold among the leadership of the churchychurch which
brought a considerableconsiderablconsiderably amount of persecution particularly to joseph
smith who found it necessary to go into hiding to escape hi persecutors
during this time bishop whitney was constantly looking after the prophets
welfare and helping in various ways to escape josephs old enemies
one account isto given as follows
A letter was received from brother hollister to the effect that themissouriansMissour wereians again on the move and that two requisitions wereissuediissued one on the governor of this statesstate and the other on the governorof iowa their movements were represented as being very secret andresolute soon after 12 olockoclock pitman the deputy sheriffsheriffe andaedeed twoother men came into the house it appears that they had come up theriverside wwandabd hitched their horses below the nauvoo house and thenproceeded on foot undiscovered until they got into the house whenthey arrived president joseph smith was in another apartment of thehouse eating dinner with his family john boynton happened to be thefirst person discovered by the sheriffs and they began to ask himwhere mr smith was he answered that he saw him early in the morn-ing but did not say that he had seen him since
while this conversation waawaewas going on president joseph smith pass-ed out of the back door and through the corn in his gerdengarden to brothernewel KX whitneywhitneyewhitneytWhit heneyaneye went upstairs undiscovered meantime sis-ter emma went and conversed with the sheriffs pitman said he wantedto search the house for mr smith in answer to a question by sisteremma he said he had no warrant authorizing him to search butinsisted upon searching the house she did not refuse and accordinglythey searched throughthrou butgho to no effect z
it was during this difficult time thatthet the prophet joseph recorded
several expressions of gratitude to those who had been faithful and loyal
to him among these expressions we find the following written regarding
bishop whitney
joseph smith op cit V 899789
id
97
p 145
we re
t
t
tt
th ardena up stairs iscovereliscoiacolacoverel
fd
t
joseph
ibid s
considerabl
resalonssions
mariakmarirkmarickmarici
awuawn
ictedisted
85
said I1 to myself hereflareilare is brother newel KX whitney also howmany scenesscones of sorrows have strewerstrewed our paths together and yet wemeet once more to share againagaixu thou art a faithful friend in whomthe afflicted sons of men can confide with the most perfect safetyletlotnetnot the blessings of the eternal also be crowned upon his head howwarm thatthac hearthoart how anxious that soul for the welfare of one whohas been cast out and hated of almost all men brother whitneythou knowest not how strong those ties are thatthet bind my soul and heartto thee 1
marriage of joseph to sarah ann whitneywhitne
As mentioned previously the friendship aadand intimacy between the
prophet and bishop whitney continued to grow and appeared to become
strengthened andaed intensified in the marriage of sarah ann whitney daughter
of newel to joseph as a plural wife sarah ann was only seventeen years
old at the time of her marriage to the prophet she probably was the firstwoman in this dispensation to be given in plural marriage with the consent
2of both parents in fact bishop whitney officiated in the ceremony
it is recorded that joseph received a revelation directed to bishop
whitney commanding and consecrating this marriage the revelation
bears the date of july 27 1842 and is still in existence the writer
has seenseusewnbeem and read it several times in the church historians office in
salt lake city the whitneyswhitneytWhit probablyneys gave their fullfuli consent to this
marriage becausebecausbecaas several years before in kirtland joseph had taught
bishop whitney of this principle and told him the church would yet have
iibidllbi4bibid P 108a108
whitney contributor VI 131
who
t t
t
ue
co tinuod
com ng
a
maryiamarriamaryla e
I1
josejoeee ph
iibidbibid
2wells2weubtdwells OP22 citct XXXIV 154
josephjoaeph C kingsbury historyHist ofciry joseph C kingsburyunpublished p 5
ajoseph3joseph
86
to receive it and practice it in addition he also taught the principle
to elizabeth ann and it is recorded that she received personal revela-
tion from god in answer to prayer of the divinity of the doctrine 2
an additional sidelight of this marriage is the fact that about a
year after it was performed apparently to conceal it from the enemiesenem
of
letbisis
joseph the following took place
and on 29 april 1843 I111 according to president joseph smith andcouncil and others I1 agreed to stand by sarah ann whitney as thoughI1 was supposed to be her husband and a pretended marriage for thepurpose of shielding them from the enemy she was the wife of theprophet mock ceremony of marriage before the enemy and for thlthipurpose of bringing about the purposes of god in the last days
documents on plural marriage
there are some incidents in the life of bishop whitney connected
with the first writing of section 132 of the doctrine and covenants they
are as follows
the revelation was read to several of the authorities during theday towards evening bishop newel K whitney asked joseph if hehad any objections to his taking a copy of the revelation josephjossph re-plied that he had not and handed it to him it was carefully copied
id
t
purpoth
ieoreo
2ibidbibid p 226
1
1 i
tine following day by joseph C kingsburyKing ivoiwoobury or three days aftrafaraftthe
irevelationrev wasnation written josephjoseprosep related to me william clayton
and several others that emmaemba had so asedteased and urgently entreatedhim for the privilege of destroying it that he becambecame so weary ofher teasing and to get rid of her annoyance he told her she migntraigatmigetdestroy it and she had done so but he had consented to her wish inthis matter to pacify her realizing that he knewkn the revelation per-fectly and could rewrite it at any time if necessarynec
the
essaryassary
copy made by joseph C kingsbury is a true and correct copyof the original in every respect the copy was carefully preservedby bishop whitney and but few knew of its existence until the tempor-ary location of the camps of israel at winterinterIX quarters on the missouririver in 184613461346. 1
from a testimony of joseph CG kingsbury the following is taken re-
garding the early writing and preservation of the plural marriage revelation
in reference to the affidavit of eldereider william clayton on the sub-ject of the celestialcod orderestial of patriarchal marriage published in thethudeseret evening news of may 20th 1886 and particularly to the state-ment made therein concerning myself as having copied the originalrevelation written by brotherbrotibaroti claytonOlierler atayton the dictation of the prophetjoseph I1 will say that bishop newel K whitney handed me the revela-tion above referred to on either th day it was written or the day follow-ing and stating that it was asked me to take a copy of it I1 did so andthen read my copy of it to bishop whitney who compared it with theoriginal which he held in his hand while I1 read to him when I1 hadfinishedninisfinis readinglied bishop V hitneyvhitneywhitney pronounced the copy correct andhyrum smith coming into the room at the timtime to fetch the originalbishop whitney handed it to him I1 will also state that this copy asalso the original arelre identically the same as that published in the pre-sent edition of the book of doctrine and covenants
I1 will add that I1 also knew that the prophet joseph smith hadladimdbad mar-ried other women besides his first wife emma I1 was well aware ofthe fact of his having marrimarried sarah ann whitney the eldest daughterof bishop newel K whitney and elizabeth ann whitney his wifeand the prophet joseph told me personally that hohe had married otherwomen in accordance with the revealed will of god and spoke con-cerning thetae principle as being a command of god for holy purposes
signedsignedSi josepnJOSEPHJOSgnad CGEPIlenilenli KINGSBJRYKINGSBURY 2
1 2jenson historical record V 225226225 ibid226
ht
li sh
tak n
Eide r
1
th
d
urg-ently 3ntreatintreat d
kre
I1
tat11
an incite into the activities of this office is found in a letter
written by joseph smith to the hancock county ecordedrecorded as follows
DEAR sir- at a meeting of the churchcharch of jesusjosasjosub christ of latterday saints at this place on saturday the 30th day of january A D1841 1I was elected sole trustee for said church to hold my officeduring life my successors to be the first presidencypresid3preside ofncy said churchand vested with plenary powers as sole trustebruste in trusttruittrutztrusz for thechurch of jesus christ of latter day saints to receive acquiremanage or convey property real personal or mixed for thetho soleuse and benefit of said church agreeably to the provisions of anact entitled an act concerning religious societiessociletis approved feb-ruary 6 1335
JOSEPHJOSEPTjoserh SMITH L S 2
bishop Aswhitney acted in thisthig office for the church until his death
in 1850 3
dissectiondissentionDis amongsention church leadership
during the months just preceding the prophetprophets death in june of
1344 and the months following a considerable amount of difficulty arose
among the leadership of the church to the extent that the church found
it necessary to cut off several prominent leaders in one council of
which bishop whitney was a part william law a member of the first
joseph smichsmith op9 citoltcitp VII 24
ibid
i
bibid4ibid IV Z
whitney contributor VI 132
T rusteeaustee intiin rutrust
in august of 1344 bishop whitney and george miller were given
the responsibility of trustee in trust to ettlesettlesettieettie tiietiletonatone affairs of th martyrdraartyrdmartyryraar
prophet
tyrd
joseph smith and to assume the duties of this office for the
church
t
A1 ecorded
da r
E1
leader
th
&
trustee n
s
261
scord
425426475426
89
presidency of the church and his wife jane were excommunicated in
this same council robert D foster and wilson law who was an officer
of the nauvoo legion were cut off
sidneysidny rigdonrisdonri cutn off
sidney rigdon a member of the first presidency of the church and
once close friend and associate of bishop whitney became estranged and
left the church upon the death of joseph rigdon appeared in nauvoo with
claim that the lord had appointed him as tfguardian of the church A few
days later however the church rejected sidney rigdon and accepted the
leadership of brigham young and the quorum of twelve greatly disap-
pointed by the action rigdon began a series of secret activities holding
secret meetings and ordaining men to various offices in the church con-
trary to accepted church procedure the church leaders hearing of
rigdonsrigdon9Rig sdons activities called a council over which bishop whitney presided
and demanded his license rigdon refused to give it up the church
leadership then placed him on trial for his membership and he refused to
attend the trial to defend his actions
at the trial of sidney rigdon eight of the twelve apostles were
present also in attendance was a special high council with bishop whitney
at the head several members of the twelve spoke their feelings re
joseph smith op cit VI 341
nobertaroberts op22 cit 11II 42542647542647.5426425475 426
ido
2
itjoseph c 9
robertsroberta 425
I1
blebie
90
gardingcarding rigdon I11 bishop whitney related some of rigdonsRig historydons in the
following
0
manner
I1 have had some conversation with iderader rigdon since he returnedfrom pittsburgPitts I1burgbarg havehav also bienbeenblen present when others have conversedwith him but I1 am to decide on the testimony as it has been presentedI1 was well acquainted with elderaidermidersider rigdon a number of years before hah3h2came into this church I1 never had any confidence in brother rigdonas a revelator and why because I1 have repeatedly heard brotherjos ph rebuke him for speaking in the name of the lord what was notso
it was then proposed that rigdon be cut off the church and all
were in agreement 3
hbidabid
times and seasons nauvoo illinois V 686
3ibidhbidhaid
Z return d
on
2
ibid
2timesstimes
1iele was always in the bottom of the cellar or up in the garret window at the time his license was taken in kirtland he was more san-guine than hohe is now the people were excited very much at that timebrother joseph was away and when he returned and found out whatsidney had been doing he took him into council told him to give uphis license to the bishop and divorced himself of all of the authorityhe could for said he the less authority you haeharehafe the better it will bfor you it hasims been repeatedly the case when he has been speaking tothe church that joseph has rebuked him for it I1 feel that brother rig-don came here with a bad spirit and has delivered a revelation ifsuch things as are contained in his revelation have been revealed tohim it is from a source with which we want nothing to do vhenahen hefirst came her I1 thought he was deceived but since last tuesbues eveningI1 have been convinced that he is dishonestdisho henestnast made many evasiveinvasive re-plies to the interrogatories of the twelvtwelvetwele and I1 think his calculationis to scatter this people because his theory comes in opposition topres joseph smiths revelations it has been proved that he prophe-sied that we would not build this temple I1 believe he is an evil anddesigning man ie is dishonest and he has lied to carry out his the-ory he preached onaone thing one day and the contrary another ieledid not reconcile his preaching to me I1 asked him to reconcile itbut he did not do it I1 feel to sustain the twelve in withdrawing theirfellowship and I1 think the lighelighI council and the church ought to sus-tain the decision of the twelve
twelv
lder
VIIvnvil 321
layinglayinkayin of capstone
on may 24 1845 with a large congregation assembled bishop whit-
ney participated in the laying of the capstone of the temple A brief reportr2
josephljoseph
port
smith op cit
cappcapst
cac2
91
finishing of the 1 empleampleempiea
during the last months of the church in nauvoo illinois finish-
ing thetivatlle temple becameb aacamoacame major project much of the money needed for
this construction was taken from the tithes of the church which were
collectcollected and handled by the bishops of the church in a letter to all the
church membershipmembermamber aship plea was made by the trustees in trust for the
saints to be loyal in the payment of tithes instructions were outlined
for the collection and donation of money to avoid fraud and deceit A para-
graph of this lengthy letter gives some incite into the situation of the
saints and their work in nauvoo at this timtime
peace smiles v pon our beloved city and the great god looks downupoupon this people with sympathy and compassion from day to day dis-pensing his heavenly blessings upon all the families of his saints accord-ing to his infinite wisdom and their willingness to receive them thehearts of the saints are united firmer than ever notwithstanding thevigorous efforts made b satan and dissenters to sow amongst us dis-cord strife and confusion and every evil work scattering not ex-cepted many houses are in progress of erection which on accountof the lateness of the season will have to stand unfinished until nextspring very effort is being made to establishsta andblishbilsh put in operationvarious branches of manufacture for the employment of the saints andthe prospects are good but not unattended with difficulty toil andanxiety but diligence economyeconomys and steady perseverance in a goodcause never fails to bring its reward and very often the sweetestroses are surrounded by the sharpest thorns and the greatest trea-sures deposited in places the most difficult of access whre we haveto dig and dig long and deep in order to obtain them
d
by
every
one
dissent-ers
a
ra
I1 requested wmvm clayton to keep minutes I1 then offered up prayerand dedicated thethrahr
11II 473
2joseph smith op02 citsitcit
I1
VIIVIL 534
9zaz
of the so ceremonies is as follows
on the morning of saturday may 24th 1845 we repaired to thethotemple with great crecysecrecy for the purpose of laying the cap stonethere were but few that knew about it but the band playing on thewalls and the people hearing it hurried up about six oclock a mthe brethren being assembled we proceeded to lay the stone at aquarter past six the stone was laid after which brother young pray-ed his voice being heard distinctly by the congregation below andthe congregation shouted hosanna hosanna hosanna to god andthe lamb amen and amen brother kay sung a song composedfor the occasion by A W phelps called the capstone 1 althoughthere were several officers watching for us to take us yet we escapedwithout their knowledge when the singing commenced we left unnoticedand they had not an opportunity of seeing us
dedication of attic story
also in november of 1345 bishop whitney attended the dedication
ceremony of the attic story of the temple A brief report of this cere-
mony follows
at ten am I1 brigham young went to the attic story of the tem-ple with elders heber C kimball willard richards parley P prattjohn taylor orson hyde george A smith and amasa lyman of thequorum of the twelve also newel K whitney and george miller pre-siding bishops
attic story of the temple and ourselves to god andprayed that god would sustain and deliver us his servants from thehands of our enemiesenem untiliesiosles we have accomplished his will in this houseelder taylor then sang A poor wayfaring man of grief after which
lderider heberneberfieber C kimball prayed that the lord would hear and answerthe prayers of his servant brigham and break off the yoke of our ene-mies and inasmuch as they lay traps for the feet of his servants that
s
they may fall into them themselves and be destroyed
roberts op02 cit
these
nse
proce ded
V
a m
E
1 rob rts 47 3
2josephajoseph
ider
arts
2ibidbibid I1 VUvilevlie 555
id3ibidbibid VII 557558557 558
93
ordinance work
during this period bishop whitney and his wife spent much time
in the nauvoo temple assisting in the ordinance work which proceeded as
different sections of the temple were completed As early as may of 1842
bishop whitney had received his endowments at the hands of joseph smith
As the temple neared completion thousands throngedthrongerthron toged receive their en-
dowments knowing they would have to leave nauvoo in a short time thisof course placed great pressures on those officiating to the extent that
they worked late into the night and then slept in the temple an account
of some of the experiences of the whitneyswhitneytWhit inneys the temple is here given
the labors of the day having been brought to a close at so early anhour viz eight thirty it was thought proper to have a little seasonof recreation accordingly brother hanson was invited to produce hisviolin which he did and played several lively airs accompanied byelisha averett on his flute among others some very good lively danc-ing tunes this was toomuch for the gravity of brother joseph youngwho indulged in dancing a hornpipe and was soon joined by severalothers and before the dance was over several french foursfour were in-dulged in the first was opened by myself with sister whitney andelder heber C kimball and partner the spirit of dancing increaseduntil the whole floor was covered with dancers and while we dancedbefore the lord we shook the dust from off our feet asan a testimonyagainst this nation
after the dancing had continued about an hour several excellentsongs were sung in which several of the brethren and sisters joinedthe upper californiacalifornia11 was sung by erastus snow after which I1 calledupon sister whitney who stood up and invoking the gift of tonguestonsang
buessguessa beautiful song of zion in tongues the interpretation was given
by her husbandhushuo bishophandobandewando whitney and me it related to our efforts tobuild this house to the privilege we now have of meeting in it our de-parture shortly to the country of the LamanitelamaniteslamanitespLamalemanema theirnites rejoicing whenthey hear the gospel and of the ingathering of israel 3
AJ
i-
d
a
cing
cing
dowments
11
sp
I1
94
care of lucy smith
following the prophets death the leaders of the church adminis-
tered to the needs of lucy smithsmithy the widowed mother of joseph fre-quent visits to her home by the leaders were made on july 9 1845
bishops whitney and miller hosted a public dinner at the nauvoo mansion
in behalf of the church for the smith family seven widows and about fifty
of the family were present the two bishops and other church leaders
waited on the tables the band and a few friends were in attendance lucy
addressed the group in a feeling and pathetic manner lf11
in the afternoon bishop whitney and others rode out in a church
carriage to some property owned by emma smith which she had agreed to
sell to the church later upon invitation from the church lucy chose a
block from this property and then desired that the church build her a home
on it she also requested the use of a horse and carriage which was granted
for the rest of her life it was in this manner that the church took care of
lucy smith mother of joseph
preparing for exodus
it is a matter of history that the last months of 1845 were spent
by the saints busily preparing for their exodus from illinois the writer
has found nothing of the activities of bishop whitney during this time but
it seems probable that as the presiding bishop he played a major role
along with the other church leaders in assisting the saints in this under
taking
libidiibidlibed VIIVIL 433434433 434
luc
t
t
aa1a P A 1 I1
cac111urch
requdequ ssaryassary
in addition to the responsibilitysponsibility of removing his family from nauvoo
bishop whitney was alsoalisoaiso responsible for much of the church property nejdnojd
ed in the camp 3
the fact that whitneyswhitneytWhit familyneys sufferedsuf alongferd with thetha other thou-
sands of exiles is evidentidenttv in the following
in february 1346 whenwhan the saints were exiled from their homesshilzwhilzwellweli th mississippiMissi waswasippi afrozfrozenfroz ovrivr sister
VIII 5r3
id
bid 565
95
T nt jjfulfui T ifev13
leavinueavinbeavin c
th b gan
th
t 1 this made it nczssary
to appoint other I1trusteerusteesrestees s intiin rusttrust for the members still in illinois this
was done after the departure of miller and whitneyhitneyWl 2
n
r
n d
a Sist r lkhit ri y h r
0mithzmith op012oieole citit 5 3
ibid
31bid
xiApALLxiapall V
the last days in an eventful life
leaving nauvoo
in thetha early months of 1846 the church membership bagan to leave
the beautiful city of nauvoo under pressure of mobs president brigham
young and other bembersmembersrnemb3rsbombers of the quorum of twelve were among the first
to leave president young requestedrequest thatd bishop whitney go with the twelve
ph sam request was made of bishop miller A
fortable home and crossing thetha river on the ice with her little child
joseph
n
hitney left her com-fortable
sippl
ebleebie adiadl
sevesevo ralrai
jtahatah itiftoricallistoricalhistoricallist quarterlyquartorical salt lakelak city jtahatah state listoricalilistoricalhistoricallistIlistsociety
orical1946 XIV 74 feb 1846
lirair
atajta
6
ren who wre feebiefeeble and sickly she badbade adiuabdiu to all without everrepining and endured all the hardshipshardsnipshardaihardsihard incidentlipstips to traveling througha new nd unbrokenunbroke country in consequence of xposurjxposur2 and sleep-ing upon the cold ground she contracted rheumatism from which
he nveriver ntirelyirelyentirelynt recovered she suffered ry greatly and at onetime almost entirelyentire lostly the use of neriir right arm through faith andanointing it was restored though nevernjvernaver entirely fre from pain A
conditions of camp
A description of the camp which left nauvoo february ZZ22 1846
of which the whitney family was a part is given as follows
in our camp were hundreds of women and children with no othershelter than a wagon cover or cloth tent and the weather was ex-tremely cold on the second day of mar we broke camp I1 startedwith my little company of 10 wagons with th camp numbering some400 wagons about the same time the weather moderated and itrained until the mad made travelingtrav almostringAing impossible sometimesit required five or six yoke of oxen to move one wagon with muchdifficulty it perhaps would be taken a milemilablie then th team of severalpair of oxen would return and bring up another and another performa severe days labor and possibly travel 4 or 5 miles from the encamp-ment of the previous night with the women and children sitting cramp-ed up in the wagons for it was so very wet and muddy they could notwalk
the following summerfurrusurru bishopnerber whitneyvhitneywhitneyV in company with jonathan C
V right went to st louis missouri from iowa to purchase badly needed
articles for the saints ac indicated that ae orefjrrd to spend his time
in the hay fields but inasmucninasmucainasmuchinas asmuca the saints had asked him to make the
journey he desired their prarrsprarspearspr inarrs his behalf J the following entry was
made on augastaugust 17 in triethe record books
ells op02 cit XXXIV 154
journal history august 16 1346 part II11 p 3
06
w re f u 12v r
and
vry r on
n ver t 2
amo
previous c ramp
2
p irchasechaseir
he oref2r r d
h
h
3journal
r- iver
snipsi
tremaly
xiv
emely
iibidbibid
bibid2ibid
ajoseph3joseph
97
voted that newel K whitney go to st louis and purchase articleswanted with the battalion funds and that johnathan C wright accom-pany him and stand by him in every situation also that john van cottas he is going to st louis be counselledcounsellercoun toselled go with the bishop and
that they render each other mutual assistance as far as possible
during this period bishop whitney not only had the care of his own
family but was also trustee inir trust for the church and officiated as the
presiding bishop because of the latter responsibility the saints relied
on bishop whitney to help take care of their needs as suggested in the
preceding notation
elder newel K whitney reported by letter hiehis arrival nearmontrose where he met with many of the brethren and sisters whohad been driven from nauvoo who were in very destitute circum-stances he had procured some flour at bonaparte for their presentrelief and administered to them such counsel as was beneficial andnecessary2necessary
excommunication
2
of bishop miller
during this troublesome period bishop george miller who wabwaswailwaiiwael also
trustee in trust of the church in connection with bishop whitneyWhi losttuey
faith in the cause of the saints and was excommunicated from the church 3
As he was not replaced in his responsibilities it would seemseeb the burden of
bishop whitney was doubled in this respect
winter quarters
during the difficult winter of 1847 and 1848 at winter quarters the
following is recorded
ibid august 17 1846 p 1
ibid october 6 1846 p 1
joseph smith op012 cit VIIvilevilvlievlis 618
ayd
iller
I1leadersaders of th church appointed newel K whitney and isaac
morley to superintjndsuperintcndsuperintend the migration of the saints to utah
the leaders of the churciachurcnchurco appointed newel K whitney to b thethathsuperintendent
a
in association with isaac morley of th migration toutah 2
in this capacity the following statement signed by dieber C kim-
ball and newel K whitney was read by vi hitney to the saints at W intervvinterkvinter
quarters which gives some incite into the problems faced by bishop whit-
ney
it is well known to many of you the circumstances under whichtneane great body of the church located purehureher th many inconveniencesand privations we have suffersuffered thru being huddled together in suchlarge numbers having the great majority of the poor and the desti-tute thrown in our hands the many families of our brethren to takitakztak3takecare of who for tajthj temporal salvation of this people enlisted in tajthjbattalion and went to calif
cidecldecideclde
lebaeb
9
police meeting this evening to decide how muchmachbuch we ought to havhavzhaazfor fixing the guns which was arranged as follows for those whoworked by the day in taking to pieces and putting together gansgunsgang 1 00dollar per day for cleaning one doz bayonets 1001.00
CG C pendleton the gun smith who superintendedsuperintendersuper theintended whole I11
dollar 50 cents and allowed me for my trouble 15 dollars bishopwhitney was to give us credit for it on our tithing 1
migration of saints to utah
As plans were made for migration west during the winter months
of 184164ls the
the publicburdenspublic consequentburdens upon ourpeculierpeculiar situation also the largelargoiange amount of able bodies and expertmen drawn from this camp to be pioneers in search of a home forall of the saints and who raised no crops at this point likewisethe large spring company of emigrants who were fitted out fromhere and which embraced about all who had any means in their
osea stout journaljournal1journals unpublished march 13461340 III111 222
whitney historyli ofstory utah IV17 303
n
d
c-
ida
1 00
th
bo
ieb r
1v
inconveni ncesad
tutth th
1hosea
ZVitneythitneywhitneyTh j
1
inconveni aces
allaliail
I1
ianlandepredations and destruction of our cattle all these things havecontributed largely to the impoverishment of this campcampp and torender us in a measureablymeasure dependentably and helpless condition insomuchthat at the present time one of our bishops has 301 individualsdependent on him for their daily breadbroad
99
possessionpossespossea andision the many losses we have sustained through indian
taking all of thesethosetheae thingsinto consideration and having a public burden on our shoulders ofabout 800 which we are unable to discharge we deomdeemdoom it necessaryto deputize a committee to visit your branches and receivesuch donations as the brethren may be disposed to give either inteams wagoneswagons horses cows clothing of allailali kinds for men womenand childrenUdrench and produce of all kinds
with the pioneer company leaving winter quarters in the spring of
18the whitneyswhitneytWhit remainedneys behind with the main body of the saints for
another year
arrival at salt lake city
the following monthmouth the whitneytwhitneysWhit inneys connection with hundreds of
saints prepared to make the journey to salt lake bishop whitney was
put in charge of a company of the saints whom he led arriving at their
1hosea stout journal t january 1848 III111ililii 204
18 he
ciV v
11
loo103
destinationdastinatio in ctolctobcatob r 1I i1
wintvint r quartersQuar iterstars summarized in the following account
pioneplone ers
152i52
3 rlyfrc v i TTT a7a77
3riodbriod
alzl
hianinvhitn
this difficultdifficdiffin periodDaitaltgit as well as thirmonths at wintervinter
in winter quarters sister whitney passed through some of themost trying ordealsord whichalsais woman could suffer and live yet hr faithremainremainedrebain unshaken and she seemed to draw still nearer to the thronethronof heaven laying all upon thetha altar for the gospels akesakegake shesho hadthe joy and satisfaction of having her two eldestadest sons horace andorson among the pioneers who came to this valley in lb47 in may1848 she with her husband and family started enrouteenroate for thtb valleyvallyvaileysallysailyin the company of heberii Cber kimball the toils of that wearisomejourney to that frail delicate mother with her larglarge family andhelpless babe no tongue can tell nor pen portray only the angelswho possess infinitinfiniteinfinita power can make a fitting record of such devotionand heroism arriving in the valley in october worn and weary withfatigue and hardship sister whitney still preserved theth same sweetand equanimity of soul she had always a word of consolation forthose who had not the same unbounded faith and her charity for thiweak and triedtritrl onesad2d was most sublimsublimesublid
state of deseret
rhethe activities of newelnewa K whitney during the last two yarsaars of
his life were many and varied in the spring of 1849 a constitution for
the newly formed state of deseret was drawn up on march 12 the saints
voted to accept the constitution and on the same occasion elected officers
for the new state president brigham young waswa electedelect governorgov3rnorgovernord with
willardvillard richards as secretarysecriaary and heber C kimball as chief justicejusticrusticerustic
newel K whitney was elected as an associate justice and also as trea
sarergarer of the newly formed statstate
just prior to this eventiv inant2nt ebruarylebraaryfebruarylebr ofuaryaary 149 bishop V hitneyvhitneyitney
hitn y contributor 1 132
V allsellszils op ulucitull hl
I1 th ir
quart
r-
s sist- r thsuff r
s mdth
10 47
poss ss
sw et
th th 3
Z
The
th
th elect d
s
3
U 49
R msmhs rt Q er
h- r
sist- r
x
i
cd
Vh
liber
contributor VI
aa
whitney0.0
stattsfatstat for th parpoe of changcxchangcx dueduiedule to theth
lack
2
of coins thtiltia first issueissa consistdconsietsdconsists of one dollar billsbiusblus
tiitiltai
waswac placplazpiazplazpiazp dlaziaz 01 a committcomraittcommettcomraitt
callcali d tiitil 1 t1i vard
currgurr ncy
augastaugust zo20 1050 part VI p 2
bid
astreantre asur
bibidzibid
jaj1
4ibidbibid
to laylajlalay offj tila citycily of alt lake into wards
ihischis completed nwlnwaanwa was called to oer e aas bishop of thath3 lthalth V ard 1
currency issued
ajtroasur of th state vhitny name was attached to th
first currencycurcar bissuissuedissurency by th
city of gdenogden
during the last months of bishop whitneysvhitneywhitneytvh liflifssitney he assisted presi-
dent young and the adersleaders in th locating and planning of thethath citya of ogden
Furthfurthermorearmore in september of 1850 his name was submittsubmittjdsubmittedsublitt to presidentpreside
fillmore by john M bernhisel as associate justice of thothe state of des-
eret y
otheruther activities of vhitneyVh
during
itney
this time he also served as an officer in the perpetual emi-
gration fund which assistedassist so many in theirthzir migration to the ocky moun-
tains
in december of 13491491.49 in the bowery during a celebration of the
saints the following incident occurred in th life of nwelnewelewelewelN il V hitneyhitnoy
1journal history t ebruaryfebruaryfebruary iai3 049 part XV p 1
bid
0 i in 11
6 o0
0
th 2 h-z
1
e ret 3
whit
th ir 1
4
1
F i 3 11 X V
january 1 I1 19 p 3
ibid
H
31bid VL
bow- ry
ic
Whitneys
submittbitt d nt
cd
vhitncy
I1 journal
ith
the
7
149
whitney
whitney
aden
whitneyswhitneswhitneyt life closes
on saturday september 21 1850 newel KX whitney returned home
from t empleempie block where the labors of the bishopric occupied much of his
time complaining of a severe pain in his left side which proved to be
bilious pleurisy monday morning found his condition becoming worse
groups of people gathered in and around his home on city creek struggling to
control their feelings among them were president brigham young and
heber C Kimbakimball as weliwellweilwen as other leaders of the church bishop whitney
passed quietly away at 11 a m
thus in full strength and in mature years haahashatshaishaib one of the oldestand mostmootmoat exemplary and useful members of the church fallen suddenlyleaving a large family to mourn the losslose of an affectionate husband anda kind and generous father
in him the church suffers the losslose of a wise and able counsellor ofa thorough straightforward business man it was ever more grati-fying to him to pay a debt than to contract one and when all his debtswere paid he was a happy man though he had nothing left but hibhishitshlishlib ownmoral and muscular energy
he has long heldholdheid the office of presiding bishop of the church ofjesus christ of latteylatter day saints to receive from the rich and todistribute to the poorpoort of the goods of this world he has gone down
illenialmilleniallenialmillennialil star december 1 1849 XI 358
whitney contributorcog&ribpa vlVI 132
whitnewhitnea s
paspaa bodsodbed
Milmii
102
at a particular time many of the brethren proposed toasts of various kinds
bishop whitney joined in and proposed the following toast
the translator of the book of mormon may his posterity beinumerable his name and true character perpetuatedperpetuate when timeshall cease to be measured unto man
characierferlet
irom s e
2
straight forwardcont act
whitney
Whitneysneya
ds
11
ter
ioa171loa
faithfufaithfulfaithful ly
buriburl ad
citgit
103
to th grav avingleaving a spotlessspot namnamjnabcamjLass behind him and thousands tomourn their loss of such a valuable man 1
in a quit pac fuljuljuiduifui spot just north of tempi square thjtaj body of
nwl kimball whitney was int3rrintrrzd in what is known as the hebr C
kimballklumIlUmklub burialballbailbali plot also at this spot elizabeth ann whitney was burledburied
many years latr on his tombstonetombston thath3 following words appear
in memory of newel K whitneywhitnjy pijprj siding bishop over th churchof jesusjasusjagus christ of latter day saints born feb 5 1795 in marlboroughwindham co vermont died sept 23 1050 at G S L cityeityelty Deserdeserethaving
Y
been a member of the church 20 yearbyearsy andars faithfuy officiatingin his office eightoneightjn
deseret news septembersaptmb 23 1850
wbtnv cnnfrihritevrrftnfrnty VT 17
L
ac th
d
y ars th
whitn yjy pr
10 50
eight 1 jnn 2
ideseret N ws
qui- t pl
heb- r
ct
r
zwhitnt v
awl
abing
patpitpalexion and love for others contributed substantiallysubsuntially to the salvation
of the early church and the welfare of its people
very few men had a longer and more intimate association with the
prophet joseph smith than did bifhopbfirhopbishop whitney in the revelations con-
tributed to the church by joseph smith probably no name appearsappear moreloren fre-
quently than doedoes the name of newel K whitney he lived a noble life
and today his name and his deede are revered by thousandsthou ofbandinsandin latter day
saints and by a numerous posterity
trltributed
104
SUMMARY
fromprom the day of hishiahla conversion newel Y whitney was a loyal and
dedicated servant in thetjietiletive church of jesus christ of latter day saintssaintf
which was organizedorganisedorganixedorganiorga onlyeedsednixed even months prior to that time about thirteen
monthrnonthe later he was called to be a bishop of the ohio saints as vrellwellweliweil as
all sainte in the eastern united statesstater which position he held until he
was given the responsibilities of presiding bishop of the church he
served in this capacity until his death in 18 50
As an early leader of the church his role was different in mamymazy
respectsrespect from that of other leaders he never participated in the zion
camp march hibhiehis responsibilities in kirtland kept him from participating
in the activities of the church in missourimissmigs evenouriourt though missionary work
waswitswabwels one of the most important programs of the church his only experience
as a missionary was a brief trip to some of the eastern cities with
joseph srrithsarith
bishop whitneysvhitney1whitneytWhit efficiencyneyrneys in financial matters and hi com-
passion
1850
zions
his
is wh ey
fi
105ioslos
APPENDIX A
THE FAMILY OF NEWEL K WHITNEY
wives children boabomborneoa1 elizabeth ann smith
180018821800married
188220 october 1822
horace Ksarah annfranklin Kmary elizabethorson Kjohn Kjoshua Kanna mariadon carlosmary jane
ZS2522ZS2526201313
I111417
newel melchizedekMelchimeichi 6sedek
july 1823march 1825february 1827september 1828january 1830september 1832february 1835october 1836february 1841february 1844february 1847
2 emmeline belos woodward182819211828
married1921
24 february 1845
3 olive maria bishop1803
married 7 january 1846
4 ammanna houston182118481821
married1848
7 january 1846
5 elizabeth mahala more1826
married 7 january 1846
6 elisabethelizabeth almiraaimiraA pondra1827
married 7 january 1846
7 abigail augusta pond182818461828
married1846
7 january 1846
8 henrietta keys182119011821
married1901
26 january 1846
isabel modalenamotklenamosalenaMoMotmgt
melvinadalenaklenakienawiena
caroline blanch
jethro houston 6 may 1848
A
IS48
janua ry
1828
dllymily
lickilickl
1g6
TL L VIITNLYIITNLYV paaiiy
richardkichardvicki Lard carjbarj
from a little english hamletfrom hitneywhitney on the wye
where the hawthornshawthornyhaw budbadthorns and blossomunderneath an englishnglishanglish sky
came a stalwart sturdy whitneythree long centuries ago
like the hawthorn spread and blossomedin khzthz sunshinesunshinmunshin and the snow
all about him grew the foreststrees of maple and of oak
and the pine tresstrez bent to listento the words the river spoke
while the warwhoopwar ofwhoop th red mmmrent the silence far and near
in the wilds of massachusettsbut the settler knew no fear
grew a family up around himAs the swift years drifted by
while about his old log cabinfell gods blessings from the sky
and the familyfarnuybarnuy name took root therespread its branches far and wide
till they reached from york to friscosunrise gate to evening tide
some there were that for the unionworevore the tattered army blue
some the grey and then forgot itwhen the old became the new
one the cotton gin inventedtwas his own peculiar plan
and whereer you find a whitneyyou will find an honest man
10
T H-E vav7
vv
E
th 3
th
s
the
thth
where r
CP- AILY
m- n
litney
loev1017ionlon
EMALELINE VOODAOVVOODAVADBJLOSBZLOSbelos
emmelineismmelinelmmelineisbiSmLm
efamelam i
wasmelinebeline
1
born
LINE
in massachusetts on february 29 13281326 and as
a child was given ailallrillillalikilkiir of th finest educational advantages available while
still in herhr early teens she taught school during which time hertieriieriler mothermoth
was
r
converted to mormonism emmelineEmme alsohineline accepted the gospel and
was baptized march 1 13421042
vhenahen just fifteen years of age sh2shsshesha was married to james harrisarrisnarrisli
son of the president of the local branch of the church shortly thereafter
they moved to nauvoo where she had the unforgettable experience of meet-
ing and shaking hands with joseph smith the prophet froinfrom this experience
she gained a testimony of him and his work to the point that she dedicated
her life to the gospel
soon after the death of joseph smith her husbandshusband parents left
the church following which ilmmelinesmmelinesamelinesmm husbandelines left her never to return
just prior to this time she gave birth to a son the baby did not live and
the young mother was herself close to death through administration at
the hands of president brigham young emmeline regained hjr health and
lived to make her place in th annals of history
she was exiled with the saints in 1846 and joined the exodus west
at winter quarters she taught school for many months in 13401348 she arrived
at salt lake as a plural wife of bishop newel K whitneyhitneylV shortly after-
wards she gave birth to isabel maudalinalaudalinaMau nameddalina for the young indian
maiden who at one time saved newels life another daughter melvina
lc 42
L
h r
iline
ajr
folfoilowina
womenscomons
10
caroline also blessed the marriage
after bishop Whitwhitneyneynay death in 1850 nmelineemmelineameline taught school as
a means of support for herself and two small children she later married
daniel i1.1 vellsvelisveilsbellsV andellseliseils in the followingfollowina years gave birth to three more daugh-
ters
during the succeeding years emmeline wrote extensively and took
great interest in public affairs she became editor of th2thztha vomasbomas11 exponentomans
and gave valuable assistance in the organizationoraanization and operation of the relief
society in utah
she was extremely active in the womanswomons suffrage movement of
america she traveledtra extensively for this cause and was nationally recog-
nized through this movement she became intimately acquainted with susan
B anthony emmeline also represented the women of utah on a number of
occasions in washington D CG over the plural marriage question
in 1912 the administrators of brigham young university bestowed
upon her an honorary doctor of literaturliteratureliterator degree another great honor
came to her when she was selectedselsei toectad unveil the famous sea gull monument
on temple squarsquare
in 1910 she was chosen as the president of the general board of
the relief society of the church in which capacity she served for many
years
the end of her eventful life came in 1921 in 19281923 the women
of utah placed a marble bust of limmelinelinmelineeimLimLinefm inmelinebeline th rotunda of the state
capitalOa buildingpital in recognition of her service to women
&nmeline
r
ya r s
tha
neys
din
I1 C 1
1
kuzaliza13EUZAemza AN 1 smatSMIT I1 YE
elizabethelizabetiellzabetheilzabethelizabeta annI smith was borabornboenboea december 26 1800 in derby new
laven county connecticut she was the eldest child of gibson and polly
bradley smith her earlyarly life was free of care and sorrow and she grew
to young womanhood in an atmosphere of love and tenderness in her youth
sie receivedrec aneavedcAved jacjxc ellent2llent education according to the times in addition she
studied dancing under the best masters she was also trained well in the
art of homemaking and became adept in spinningspin flaxningaing and doing finefinsfina orna-
mental needle work
at the early age of eighteen years lizabethelizabethellzabetheilzabethE ann went with a maiden
aunt sarah smith whom she dearly loved to ohio upon leaving home
sheslieslae did not know that she would never again return nor that she had seen
her beloved mother for the last time
V hilehiie staying in kirtland she made the acquaintance of a prosper-
ous young merchant newel kimball whitney they were married october
20 13221822 and settled in kirtland
subsequently she with her husband joined the campbellitecampGamp churchbellite
lowerrlowevrLowe aftervr hearing parley P pratt and others preach the everlasting
gospel they accepted this newnw faith and elizabeth ann was baptized in
november 1830
because of her unusual musical talent she was called thethu sweet
songstress of zion
ariyacly abrewarew
vhilechile
ANN smijii whineyWHFNJY
by joseph smith who would sit and listen intently to
the rich melody of her voice and seemed to draw comfort for it she was
among the first in the church to receive the gift of tongues in this dispendespen
J ler
si ie xcalant
N welwei
r
int ntly
th
se-an
Br
log
euzabeeuzabr
ier
antly
I1husband often sang with herh inzr his finsfin tnoranor voice and it has
been said that the music was almost sublime
sister whitney was a delicate person and had been accustomed to
having servants to wait upon lierherlleryler during the trials and persecutions
which followed the saints in th seese early days shesh hadj none 0 the luxuries
and comforts of her former life yet nevrnev2rnevar a complaint passed her lips
with her sweet smile and gentlegentie sympathetic nature she cheered and
strengthened her husband and the many others who made their way to her
door for help and encouragement
elizabeth ann was one of the first women of th cnurchgtiurchchurch to receive
her endowments in the house of th lord and thereafter to officiate as a
priesteespriesteaspriesteenPriPries inesteesteesteas the temple shesho served in this capacity until her death dur-
ing whicwhiciwhickchic timei she blessed thousands of the daughters of zion in this holy
place
sister whitney was a charter member of the relief society serv-
ing as a counselor to hmmahnuna smith the first president of this organization
for th3tha female members of the church
aftelafterannerannor bbaig miikil
hecnec
fanfun
latbat
110
sationbation and used it frequently while singing in the pure adamic language
joseph promised
her
irig jxild fromiromflom hrliz hom inia februaryabruaryF 18461346abr withuary heriierlierller
ii r th
V iat she would nevernvernnerne losever it and it remained withwita herbarhar throughout lierherlleriler life
on her eighty first birthday she used this unusual gift at the hom of
emmeline B wellowellsweilo
lerierher voice has been described as being birdlike and fullfauaufulif of sym-
phony
n sh th
of
a nd che red
encourage mentbent
2
th
d r I1I1 aiomiom
sist- r
jr that if she would usauseusc wisdom in h use of thsthis gift
fjiat
ir
ier
these
balg
amma
ohs
ar
silstisll
sicelclic di kitneywhitney endured untold
hardships As a resultresuit of exposureaxposur and sleepingacpi uponaponag the cold ground she
contracted rheumatismrheuncheun atlatismdatism one time she almost lost the use of her right
arm but through her undaunted faith it was restored however she was
to suffer from this infirmity throughout the remainder of her life
whilethilephile encamped at vinterwintersinterN quarters sister whitneykh gaveitney birth to
her eleveneleventh child asmallasdall and feeblefeebie son when toico all others he appear-
ed to be dead elizabethelizabethellzabethlizabethF ann refused to give up and with great faith and
courage clung to her infant son crying unto the lord to spare him and
his life was restored to him
aieraler& twoI eldestr sons horace and rson were among the original
pioneers reaching salt lake in 1847 she and bishop whitney arrived in
the fall of 18431343 with their large family this frail mother was worn and
weary from the hardshipsI and perils of this wearisome journey across un-
broken countryco butantry her faith never wavered and her testimony in the ever-
lasting gospel remained strong and true
in september 10501650 bishop whitney who had been a devoted hus-
band died suddenly leaving sister whitneynvhitneyhitney to care for their nine living
children she endured the shockwithshock characteristicwith faith and although
she continued to face many hardships she continued to live a fullfuufulifun and active
life in the gospel
elizabeth ann was known in the church for many years as mother
whitney
iteritur witneywilney
charactcharach ristic
il
little children who wzrew2razre imbiizbilesilesl and oiceoicdsiadioi itcd jr
she had an amiable gift of meeknessmee humilityknagsknass and patience0
sicdir sultsuit
0 i
V
h fe ble
irson
sist r NV
j- i I1
bie
lir
war
acci
ilc114lic
clerrierbierdieriderader ministrations among the sick and afflicted endeareendearedendears nertierrier to those witwithwita
whom she associated and made ilertieriier truly a mother inia israel she died in
salt lake city in 1332 due to causes incident to old age
11
1
ci a
iiilii citCIF 17
itney
laryidary
nuralhural
cercar abonyamony
tiitil ann hitneyvhitneyVVh initney the romans exponentluokUoinoXXXIXXXIV
nent
we learn in january 1044164416.44 sister whitney became tneane honored
mother of the first child born in tiielnelilellie new and everlasting covenant of marri-
age a daughterdaught whom the prophet blessed wnenanen a bab
alblaljl v iv
whitney
daugadaugfiterlter
givdiv 3n
1x3
iai1 r T1 L L
it 4 or P v TTT V T Tr 0 ll11 xa 1 v X
firsts
according to a family history in the possession of winnie whitneyhitneyNV
leatham redburgkexbargrexburgKexRexrem idahoburgbarg a direct descendant of newel K whitney john
kimball whitneyVh wasitney born to lizabetnuizabetfllelizabetn ann in kirtland ohio in a little
adobe househousa back of tii kirtland temple he was the first balomalemalobaiebaijbaio child born
of mormon parentage in thathe hurchchurch of jesus christ of latter day saintssaints
hejlelle was blessed andaad given a name to be known among men by the prophet
joseph smith september 22 1832 clecievie was baptized by thath3 prophet in the
year 18401340 and also confirmed
from an article on elizabetiisjizabettiElizabe
and named iaryi4ary 1
As has been previously stated in tneane context of this work sarah
ann whitney daughter of newlnewianewinewinnewta and ilizabethilizabetnllizabetnelizabetn ann was the first womarwoniarboniar in
uhlsthisubis dispensation to be givangivzn in pluralaural marriage with th consent of both
parents she was given as a plural wife zo10 joseph smitismitnseiti after hishilshiishlis death
sarah ann was marriedmrriedmariedn to heber C kimbail
namesname s
in the ceremony uniting the prophet joseph smith and saralisarahlsarail ann
in celestial marriage the ceremony having bea givnaiv3ngian to the prophetProp bylaet
revelation jethro the father in law of moses is mentioned as one of
1 3
ON01tmitmil SO 1 ae1e
Ae
VV onanon Gan
r whomtho
pre iously
is
cr1 mony
be n co
1
ann
1644
tha
whitney
bously
an
cra
1.1
viaNNIvlahitneywhitney in fhrougriTIHAUUGH MEMORYS IIALLSHALLS suggests that these
two documents still in existence
I1melchizedek
orson
dledie
114
bishop wnitneyswaitneyswaltWait ancestorsneys furthermore in dishopbishop whitneywhitneyswhitneytWhit patriarchalneys
blessing he is told that he is a descendant of
was feeble from birth and died at
an arlycarlyeallyeaily age jetnrojethro son of newels plural wife anna houstonoustonri matured
to manhood
As mentioned earlier isabel maudalinalaudalinaMau sometimesdalina written modalenamosalenaMo
daughter
dalena
of emmelinejemmelinehemmelinelebJEmiem andmeline newel was named for an indian maiden by that
name
i 14
ie
jethro
e-
xplain why one of newelss sons was named
jethro and another newel melchizedakmelchizedekMelchi thezedak latter was the infant son born
to elizabeth ann at wintervinter quarters i
ariy ahro
liaIII111llaiiaila NE Yonitonrtoart 10 deatsDEATHDOATIDO OFatsATI BISHOPT NEWELNENVEL1 K
vimey
A mighty man a man of worthA father and a friend
haslas left the narrow sphersphereapher of arthhisnis upward course to wend
irm as the hills hs was a stayA bulwark and a shieldabsb
likeleid
a strong pillar movdmov1dlovd awayto zions broader field
from understandings deepest wellsjnmeasudtnmeasurld draughts hsha drew
the light that with jehovah dwellsinspirdinspirldinspireIns hispird judgment too
V ith dignity he filpdfill1dfillad the sphereallotted him below
lilsillsliis presence seemdseema an impulse hereto wisdoms genial flow
but now his noble form must lieand slumber in the dust
while he with honor joins the highassemblies of the just
V ith fondly cherishdcherishldcherishcherishedcherischerle memoryhdhisaisnisals name will be belovdbelov1dbelord
V hile virtue and integrityare by the saints approve
the strokstrokes is with a heavy rodbut while our hearts deplore
hislisils loss welwellweiweliweil own the hand of godthat god whom we adore
fasgag
ilslis
iabfab
withvith
ilslis
vithwith
cac1
115
LINES ON taist4is
eliza x snow
G S L city 150
B
V
w nd
t
deep estastr
That
a
ld
aimey
doinoboinosomahoino said ci lord took nimaimalm at his word as he passed away
soon after making thistinis stitcmentst ihischislt declarationmerber was not made due to
a lack of fait or confidzic in LIIJ fjordsijords work but rather due to iuslusins own
lack of confidenceconfidenc to prackipracii tn opeiuoypelcopei io10 an indifferent people
A call from the leader of the cnurciicnurcix sentse gilbertit togilb missourirt
where hefielleile was appointlappointedappoints keeper of tiiethetlle lordslords storenousestorehoasestorehousestorestorstora thereenousehoaseanousehoagehouge at this
time li was also given the responsibility of purchasing land for tae saints
in jackmonjackson county Asis persecution arose he along with others offered
doiboihoino
fhyflychy
arsaejaars7arsarj and 3jb3q citly witliwitnwatnritli ewalrewelrewalewelI1TI
I1
I1 is
haichhalch were moreinoicmoieinosic dedicated and devoted to
its interestinterests tharl yjaey jilbertjilberiullJiluli ileburiberiduri was a man of rare good sense and
sound judgmentjudymen J alsoaiso iad a reenkeen intlljcl wliicn can be sensemenseten in the
many communicationcommunications jjavin dpupjj byavin himhiihilhll inxi missouriissouri in behalf of th
halelhaicl
aignig
alvernoalaerno a
nioaio eltiycatly
116
alo L r
business associate of newel K V hitneywhitney
algernon jhy jilbcilJilb waglucil a succsbfilluccsucc merchantssfalsusfal in pains vill
jhioqioohio for 5301 K 11 hitney hj founded
tn successful filmfirmflim of gilb3ilb rert and nitliiy in artlandurtlandUrt
few7
land
mpew inm LLn arlariariy
church
to the governmentalgovernmencal officialsufficicjsufficials of eliattliatdliat statestace
ther wasxmas sonysonisoiasolasoin illi fclinaclin btweebtwebowebt h aadandwee treth-e early cambersmsmbersmambers of
tet church bacajbcaj s of ilis1115 ref isal to serveservo on a mission for the church
ds wordwords were t would ratlijrcalilralil die than goco fortfortnforan tob pleachpreach hjI1 gospelgosph to
thetiletiietlle gentiles
1 C
1
painsvillLD
J so ral 11
il L arly
een wi ilclicK kyl151
b half
th a1
fh r
als I1 r I1
i ne
t
ccafid itc J jord s
pr oac LL U
1 ader
d keepkeap r
d- y
V- E CIiurcburc I1
rsydrtj
e
11
ai I1
is soucisouri
fyovernme il
c
b ca 3
confidenc
tl ie
rai
bac opel
tlle
avit
bowee
aa
ditc
I1 il
I1
rifinrii
aaraonairaon ydnyadnyyda
eae7
ifaliful ni mber
117
i lif BL rrrjoin fcr ii i i rifijrif tlistiistilsalisij period he lost
all his possessions Lit6 did londressiaidrcd5iaadrods 010 uhi ici
jiibt rt died faithful anibermniber of theoriecheurieuple church
giving all to its caascaasccauscaasi
a L ci L A r6 I1
1 ki 1
ulbert F faitfalt
qbcr ra
aber
around the nucleus of hisstorcstorestoro and thothe law of consecration the economic strength ofkirtland was husbandedhusbanderhus
left
banded
elizabeth ann smith whitney first counselorto emma smith in the first relief society organized in 114211142
right emmilemmelina B wodrdwovverdWodwodro whitneywhitnwywhitroywhitroeWhitnWhIrd weilswauswellsweliswytromtRoypresidentPres ofidem owtle relief society 19101921itlorio1910oloisioilk
1921
41
akAL
B
118
APPENDIX D
newel kimballkimb&llkimb bitnyvlbitnyVl11
vcrsemsev wfyy ywtasiasrwv sansah rrsoalttul9 1
7
I1 19a
senterfacsimiles of BIUbillblubin issued by the 1irtlandurtlandkurtland aftyaf societyty bank note
the ignaturesigmaturesignatureigsig819 ofnaturemature newelnewlnealnelinewalnewbi K whitney on th cruzrccctjrcrtzr dill
the original whitney storc in IJ11 land today it standostandblandstands 100 ftback of its former location and is usedusc ford storage
H 9jiaji
ac4cPA
ag3g wtiltel DOLURS
AVA
APPENDIX E
RTOB KIBTLAND flatbty ocnrrr bankBAXKnank spa r t V Jp qy fff vffili8 AITC jttsfl
tllkecdollmts
3 7 phoilpsoily
jy y
iti f ayiy yrt
aff
land
iga
ay effi
aw
artacty
lueyue
ureaures
carterrcarteri kate BS coxnpco
prebegpresegamericanmerican deoviespeoplenpeovies encyclopediaencyclolpe vol XIXXDC newnow york spencer preitcorpincorpIn 163corp
beirne francis TF the war of 1812 newnow york E P dutton endandaud colacinc 1949
berrettderrettnezrett williamW edwinilllii the restoredrostoredstored church salt lake city deseretbook company
bookcbookeraft 196z1962
prattprattepratts parley P autobiography of parley P pratt chicago lawking andendabd lub legg
autoriautobi ir
120
SELECTED bibliographyscriptures
doctrine and covenants salt lakeleke city the church of jesusjesuajebus christ oflatter day saints 1956
booksbooke
A
lwheart throbthrobs of the westeweetewestweets vol U salt lake
city D u P owrrwrdoxeydomey roy W the latteylatterlettey day proahetaprepwtspromProa andketaheta the doctrine and Covenacovenants
volavolevolsvoia eL 447 1196419640 igrant
enaandead f
carter
m
dredgecidredgeCi
saltgefttelt
the
lmkelakeneke
kimdoin
city
of
deveretdeeeret
godcadgadowd
book
rosfordreetoredrostordreaReeRo
company
salttoredstord lekelake citydeseret book company taftwf 11 11 1
jenson andrewA historicalmletHietmistow recordorical vol V salt lakeleke city andrewjemsonjenson ISST
aloarbloar calcai enc clocio aLPS biographical encyclopedia vol L salt lekelake city des-oreteretnew preespress 1901
journal of discourses vol XIL liverpool albert carrintoncarrington 1869
journal of historyhiatoryHi volatory in lagnonilaxnoniAnayLaxney iowanoninomi board of publication of thereorganizedreorganibedaimtpmd church of jesuejesusjasus christ of latter day salatsaintsaints 1910
lundwallaLund Nwallswallewallawails B masterful discoursesdiecoureeviscoursesDiecodiaVisdla ofureaureecourses orsonoreonovson pratt salt lake citybookcraftf inclac
scri7
e
0
co 194
City
Z edge xi don e
jou
jour ofhistor 7
0 aphir
nf
Ro
da
I1
napoAAPM
revkev ionlonfenetene
orsonorbon
ressreas
extexi anentonentwomanscomans exponentXXXIV march 15 1882 153154153 154
dwiernager
bistorhistormiffemifff Itwelverwe apostlesAPODYMEuvelve of0 IEtheiene church
of jesus christ of latter day saints
121
roberts brigham H comprehensive history of the church of jesus christof day saints volsVOIDvoisvold 1it Hneodeo tilandillandhlonio IVIIVivelveand salt lake citycleydebretdeeretvwier news press 1930
smith joseph history of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints2dad ed revised volsvois I1 11 HI TVfv V VI VH saltd2v&msait nakelake cleycitydeseret news 1948
smith joseph fielding church history and modern revelation vol I1salt lake city thetiethatiatea councilC of the
essentials in church history 7thath ed salt lake city des-eret newsnewa presapress 1940
sperry sidney B doctrine and covenants compendium 2dad ed salt lakecity bookcraft inc 1960
tullidgeTullid edwardseogesbeo W the women of mormondom new york tullidge andcrandall 1877
whitney orson F history of utah vol L salt lake city george Qcannon and sonasons co 1892
through memory s halishallshalia the life story of orsonbon F whitneyindependence missouri zions printing and publishing company1930
newspapers and periodicals
deseret news salt lake city september 23 1850
fielding kent the mormonscormons in kirtland utah historical quarterlyXXVILXXVH 3383
improvement
38
eraim XXXVUIXXXVMvement aprilaprils 1935
the day saints millenialmillennialMil starlenial XI december 1 1849
the utah genealogical and historical quarterly XXVMXXVUI salt lake citydesereedeseret newsnewe presspreas 1937
times and seasons V nauvoo illinoisniiuliull
wells
noisnoianola
emmeline B ed elizabeth ann whitney
co ehensiveehen histosivelatter y
eF esso
4 ity
U
weWis
orsongono 11
0 throu memorjjialls whitneindepenuenc0 imd smutiwuhllubi i ompanyt
deseret11 quar
latter dadgen ical
11
1882h
P-
s
a
iby
ewe
II11journalTo historyarnalurnal
122
whitney orson F the power of testimony church general confer-ences april 1912
newel K whitney the contributor vol VI salt lakecityaty deseret news co 188518850
unpublishedun materialublishedpublished
chase daryl sidney rigdon early mormon unpublished mastersthesis university of chicago 1931
colvin don F A historical study of the mormon temple at nauvooillinois unpublished masters thesis brigham young univer-sity 19621964
hosealloseallosera stout journal vol 111IUililii 1848
MS church historians library salt lake city utah184618491846
kingsbury
1849
joseph C history of joseph C kingsbury brigham younguniversity library provoprovotprovoo utah
11
11
P
11
11
11
CONcom IDUTIOM
fulstfulft ontoutent
THE LIFE AND contributionsof
NEWEL KIMBAJLL WHITNEY
an abstract of the thesis of
larry N poulftnpouleft
in partial fulflllnrnt of the requirememsrequlremntRequire
for
mememeMs
the degree of
masteymastermeegermesgermestey of artsarfargazg
in
the department of graduate studiestudiostudiosstudlestudies
in religious eructioninstructiontructiontruc
brigham
tion
young universityUniumiual
brigham
verity
young universityapril 1966
ALL
greduamatesmate
yo
homrhamihoti e
testeb united with this newnow church the whitneyWhit sneys joined in
november 1830
in december of 1831 newel K whitney was appointed bishop of the
ohio saints as wellweliweilwen as the saints in several branches of the eastern united
states because of the growth of the church in ohio one of the major
responsibilities of bishop whitney was the temporal welfare of the saints
his competency in matters of finance proved to be very beneficial in
this regard and the prosperous mercantile firm of gilbert and whitney
ABSTRACT
newel kimballkimbau whitney who became the second presiding bishop
of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints was born february 5
1795 at marlborough vermont in this peaceful quiet town newel spent
his early lifeilfe attending school in the winter and doing farm work in the
summer leaving home at an early age he made his way to plattsburgPlatts
newnow
burg
york where he becarobecamebecamo engaged as a merchant after losing all his
possessions in the battle of plattsburgPlatts duringburg the war of 1812 whitney
moved to kirtland ohio where he became a partner to algernon sidney
gilbert in a prosperous mercantile firmon october ZO20 1822 newel married elizabeth ann smith A short
time after their marriage they joined a religious group known as the dis-
ciples or campbellitesCampbel pastorlites sidney rigdonrigden was the local head of the
church in 1830 missionaries from the newly formed church of jesus
christ of latter day saints arrived in kirtland fromfrmarm new york and many
of the CampbelllcampbellltescampbellitesCampbellites
ver ontant
fir
forn ed
S s
firfiz
drwprw ent
2
played an important role in the economics of the church
in his position bishop whitney became deeply involved in the
kirtland safety society and his name appears on the notes issued by that
institution when the financial crises of 1837 struck the united states
the kirtland bank closed its doors which contributed to much dissentiondissectiondis
and
sention
apostasy in the new church in the months that followed the saints
receiving instruction from joseph smith left for northern missouri
which became a gathering place for the church membership because of
his responsibilities whitney was unable to leave kirtland for illinois
until the fall of 1838
not only did whitney continue his duties as bishop of the church
in illinois but he also played a prominent role in the city government
of nauvoo and was on the board of regents of the university of nauvoo
he also became closely associated with a business firm which helped
supply the saints with many of their needs
upon the death of joseph smith bishop whitney became one of two
iin ntrutrust for the church which responsibility he heldholdheid until the
time of his death
leaving nauvoo with the saints in the spring of 18461840 bishop
vvhitneyytaitneyhitneyvVYTa settleditney at winter quarters nebraska while here he was sus-
tained as the second presiding bishop of the church in april of 1847
bishop whitney also assisted in the migration of the saints to the west
until the spring of 1846 at which time he was given the responsibility
of leading a company of saints across the plains to the great salt lake
is
trustees intrust
r
toreoreeore requentlyxrequentlysequently thanV anyan other nanaxnaa ne he a
oneorle of the few early leaders who never wavered during the many trials
and tribulations of the early church
hitnebitne probablyro appearsbablybabiy
they arrived there in the fall of that year hiin salt lake bishop vhitchitVT
ney
lit
became an officer in the perpetual emigration company and took an
active part in the early government of utah
at the early age of 56 newel kimball whitney died in salt lake
city on september 23 18501350 and was buried in the family plot of heber C
ki abaunbau
few if any leaders of the church have shown more loyalty and
dedication to the church and its cause than did this man in the rev
elationsrelationselat containedontaions inined the doctrine nd covenant the name of newel FY
vav1 e
approved CC c
department chairman
A yrchairman advisory committee
x umemberember advisory committee
3
and I1 ove nant 1
nane 9
hal an
M A dohsvhs 6 y
oce
orie