USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Three > Part 29
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In the clerk's office of the county is also the following record :
"Be it remembered that on the thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord 1834, Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angel, of the County of Geauga, were legally joined in marriage, by competent authority, in conformity with the provisions of the statutes of the State of Ohio, in such cases made and provided,
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and a certificate of the said marriage, signed by Sidney Rigdon, the minister who solemnized the same, has been filed in the office of the Clerk of Common Pleas of the said County of Geauga, this third day of April, A. D. 1834.
"A. D. Aiken, Clerk."
It is interesting to know that this Ohio girl, the only legitimate wife of Brigham Young's household, ranked first in his estimation throughout all of his eventful life. Perhaps her legitimacy as a wife had something to do with it. Hepworth Dixon, the English writer and traveler, visited Salt Lake City when Young was at the acme of his power, and he writes of this wife: "The queen of all is the first wife, Mary Ann Angel, an aged lady, whose five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters, are now grown up. She lives in a white cottage, the first house ever built in Salt Lake valley." This marriage and wife, at one time, served him to a very advantageous pur- pose, according to J. H. Kennedy, the author of "Early Days of Mormonism." When Ann Eliza, the nineteenth wife of Brigham Young, sued him for divorce and alimony, he sent to an attorney of Geauga County for a certified copy of his license and marriage certificate, which he pleaded as a bar to Ann Eliza's action. Thus, coolly claiming that as he was already married to Mary Ann, he could not legally be married to Ann Eliza.
The year 1832 was one of almost feverish super- naturalism at Kirtland. On January 25th of this year, Joseph Smith, Jr., was formally ordained Presi- dent of the Church at Amherst, Lorain County. In
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March, he was consecrated as President of the High Priests. During this summer, he was untiring in his labors; he was working on a Mormon translation of the Holy Bible, he founded a School of the Prophets and supervised and edited The Evening and Morning Star. He was drifting further and further into his claims of divine authority, until even the gift of miracles was assumed by himself, Rigdon and others of the elders. One of the most remarkable and impressive occurrences of that day authenticated by unquestion- able testimony and reliable authority, was that of the cure of Mrs. Johnson of Hiram. Two of the lead- ing citizens of that village were subjecting the new faith to critical and prayerful investigation with a view to accepting Mormonism. They were Ezra Booth, a Methodist minister, and Symonds Ryder, an elder of the Disciples 'Church. They determined to call upon Smith for a supreme test.
They had a subject in their neighbor, Mrs. Johnson, who for six years, had a useless right arm, resulting from a stroke of paralysis. The two orthodox minis- ters accompanied Mrs. Johnson, her husband and her physician to Kirtland, and they presented themselves before Joseph Smith, Jr. The ministers entered into a warm discussion with Smith regarding Mormonism. During their argument, Ryder asked if he could perform miracles as his followers claimed. Smith replied, "I cannot work miracles, but I believe that God, working through me, can." Thereupon, Ryder brought forward Mrs. Johnson, who had been standing by unobserved. "Here is Mrs. Johnson," said he with triumph, "She has a lame arm. Has God given
INTERIOR VIEWS OF THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE
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March, he was consecrated as President of the Hiv
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of the Holy Bible, he founded a School of the Prophet and supervised and edited The Evening and Mornin Star. He was drifting further and further into hb claims of divine authority, until even the gift of miracles was assumed by himself, Rigdon and others of the elders. One of the most remarkable and impressive occurrences of that day authenticated by unquestion able testimony and reliable authority, was that of the cure of Mrs. Johnson of Hiram. Two of the lead ing citizens of that village were subjecting the ne faith to critical and prayerful investigation with view to accepting Mormonism. They were Ez: Booth, a Methodist minister, and Symonds Ryder an elder of the Disciples 'Church. They determined to call upon Smith for a supreme test.
They had a subject in their neighbor, Mrs. Johnson who for six years, had a useless right arm, resultin from a stroke of paralysis. The two orthodox mini- ters accompanied Mrs. Johnson, her husband and her physician to Kirtland, and they presented themselves before Joseph Smith, Jr. The ministers entered into a warm discussion with Smith regarding Mormonisma During their argument, Ryder asked if he could · perform miracles as his followers claimed. Smit replied, "I cannot work miracles, but I believe the God, working through me, can." Thereupon, Ryd brought forward Mrs. Johnson, who had been standin by unobserved. "Here is Mrs. Johnson," said h with triumph, "She has a lame arm. Has God given
UPPER AUDITORIUM KIRTLAND TEMPLE
"WER AVDITORIUM XP LAND TEMPLE
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power to any man on earth to cure her?" It was a crisis for the Prophet. Then followed the marvelous. Smith never quailed, nor showed the slightest weakness in this situation. He moved backwards a few steps, he fixed his eyes upon those of the affected woman and into them he gazed intently and steadily. Then he stepped forward to her side, held her palsied hand in his, and in a commanding and solemn tone, said: "Woman, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command thee to be whole." Then he turned abrupt- ly and in silence, left the room. Mrs. Johnson moved her arm and found it full of life and subject to her control. Until the day of her death, fifteen years afterward, she had the same use of it as she had of her left arm.
In a sermon, preached at Hiram, August 3, 1870, President B. A. Hinsdale of Hiram college narrated this occurrence and referred to it as follows: "The company were awe-stricken at the infinite presumption of the man, and the calm assurance with which he spoke. The sudden mental and moral shock-I know not how better to explain the well attested fact-elec- trified the rheumatic arm. Mrs. Johnson at once lifted it up with ease and on her return next day, she was able to do her washing without difficulty or pain."
The miracle of the Prophet spread among the faith- ful, and scenes of religious enthusiasm rivalling those of Oriental devotees followed the great event. Of course, it was wholly ascribed to supernatural power. We can obtain a view of the psychological condition of this period from a book written by Eber D. Howe and published in 1834, entitled "Mormonism Unveiled."
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Mr. Howe founded the Painesville Telegraph in 1822, and when the Mormons made their appearance in 1830, he chronicled all their movements in a faithful manner. He finally published his observations in the book mentioned. It created at the time an intense sensation and resulted in a feeling of wrath on the part of the Mormons.
We find in the strange manifestations of this time simply what has appeared among other religious enthusiasts in every other age and land. Speaking of this phase of life at Kirtland, Howe says: "They pretended that the power of miracles was about to be given to all those who embraced the new faith, and commenced communicating the Holy Spirit by laying their hands upon the heads of the converts, which operation at first produced an instantaneous prostra- tion of body and mind. Many would fall upon the the floor, where they would lay for a long time, apparently lifeless. They thus continued these enthusiastic exhi- bitions for several weeks. The fits usually came on during or after their prayer meeting, which was held nearly every evening. The young men and women were more particularly subject to this delirium. They would exhibit all the apish actions imaginable, making the most ridiculous grimaces, creeping upon their hands and feet, rolling upon the frozen ground, going through with all the Indian modes of warfare, such as knocking down, scalping, ripping open and tearing out the bowels.
"At other times, they would run through the fields, get upon stumps, preach to imaginary congregations, enter the water and perform all the ceremony of bap-
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tising. Many would have fits of speaking all the dif- ferent Indian dialects, which none could understand. Again, at the dead of night, the young men might be seen running over the fields and hills in pursuit, as they said, of the balls of fire, lights, etc., which they saw moving through the atmosphere. Three of them pretended to have received permission to preach, from the skies. One of the young men referred to freely acknowledged, some months afterwards, that he knew not what he did for two or three weeks."
The widespread religious emotionalism manifested on these occasions by the laity, under which each in- dividual claimed the "gift of tongues, " and the "power of miracles and divine inspiration," alarmed the Prophet. The local press also, which was altogether in charge of unbelievers, was exploiting the strange doings and was heaping ridicule upon these demonstra- tions. He saw that it was bringing Mormonism into disrepute, that it was an invasion of his sacred powers and prerogatives and that it tended to spiritual individ- ualism, if not religious chaos. Therefore, there came a revelation to the Prophet that no one should have communication with the Most High except Joseph Smith, Jr. This ended the wonderful evidences of supernatural influence among the plain people of Zion.
One of the dreams of the Prophet was that the new religion should exhibit material and temporal pros- perity as well as spiritual and religious dominion. The accumulation of property, therefore, became a decided part in the program of the Church. Early in 1833 it was decided by the presidency to purchase all the land at Kirtland that they could pay for; and in addi-
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tion, erect for the glory of the Church, a grand temple that should be a lasting monument to Zion. This was determined upon after Joseph Smith, Jr., received a revelation May 6, 1833. The fund for the construc- tion of the Temple was to be provided from tithes, and one-seventh of the time of each Mormon was to be contributed in labor. Notwithstanding that the membership was poor, they zealously and earnestly assumed this burden. They were as anxious as Smith that the dreams of the Church should materialize in a Temple to the Lord.
Smith himself assumed the position of foreman, and he saw that every man in Zion did his share; that rich and poor, old and young, all contributed with their own hands the labor due. The women worked also and spun, wove and sewed cloth into garments for those who labored. The master builder was Joseph Bump, and at the end of every day, he was handed a special written revelation from the Prophet, outlining his duties for the day following.
Heber C. Kimball in his journal published in the Times and Seasons (Vol. 6, pp. 867,868), an official organ of the church, gives an inside picture of the indus- try and sacrifice exercised in the construction of the Temple. Therein he states: "At this time the breth- ren were laboring night and day building the house of the Lord. Our women were engaged in spinning and knitting in order to clothe those who were laboring at the building, and the Lord only knows the scenes of poverty, tribulation, and distress which we passed through in order to accomplish this thing. My wife toiled all summer in lending her aid towards its accom-
FACSIMILE OF BANK NOTE
Issued by a financial institution of the Mormons at Kirtland, of which Joseph Smith, Jr., was President. Upon the refusal of the Ohio Legislature to grant a char- ter for a bank to Smith and his associates, they organized the "Kirtland Safety Society Bank." ~ All concerned were afterward prosecuted and convicted for illegal banking.
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THE RISE AND PROGRES
tion, erect for the glory of the Church, a grand teuy that shouldaron anAd Hosamanebment to Zion. T was determined un conaffari Lennenh Spaitspar., recen a rev chebirgrt der Udtinte dgoedT foidwuta bifeffithe constr -isda s tasig of omtaleige I offO ont to Isautor odt nogU. tion of the emnie- wast bestnego vent astsidodes cir bredtime Of fraded from the andrew Dortsontos tilA of .insa verso2 sts& basitiindredton was withstanding that membership was poor, they zealously and earnest assumed this burden. They were as anxious as She that the dreams of the Church should materialize a Tengile to the Lord
Smith himself assumed the position of foren and be maw that every man in Zion did his sh thar nek anil poor, old and young, all contributed wit They own hands the labor due. The women worl also, and spun, wove and sewed cloth into garme: for those who labored. The master builder Joseph Bump, and at the end of every day, he w handed a special written revelation from the Proph outlining his duties for the day following.
Heber C. Kimball in his journal published in Times and Seasons (Vol. 6, pp. 867,868), an offie organ of the church, gives an inside picture of the indu try and sacrifice exercised in the construction of Temple. Therein he states: "At this time the bret ren were laboring night and day building the hous the Lord Our women were engaged in spinning knitting in order to clothe those who were laboring the building, and the Lord only knows the scene poverty, tribulation, and distress which we pa through in order to accomplish this thing. My toiled all summer in lending her aid towards its accon
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plishment. She had a hundred pounds of wool, which, with the assistance of a girl, she spun in order to furnish clothing for those engaged in the building of the Temple; and although she had the privilege of keeping half the quantity of wool for herself, as a recompense for her labor, she did not reserve even so much as would make her a pair of stockings, but gave it for those who were laboring at the house of the Lord. She spun and wove, and got the cloth dressed and cut and made up into garments, and gave them to those men who labored on the Temple. Almost all the sisters in Kirtland labored in knitting, sewing, spinning, etc., for the purpose of forwarding the work of the Lord, while we went up to Missouri to endeavor to reinstate our brethren on their lands, from which they had been driven.
"Elder Rigdon when addressing the brethren upon the importance of building this house, spake to this effect: that we should use every effort to accom- plish this building by the time appointed; and if we did, the Lord would accept it at our hands; and on it depends the salvation of the church and also of the world. Looking at the sufferings and poverty of the church, he frequently used to go upon the walls of the building both by night and day and frequently wetting the walls with his tears, crying aloud to the Almighty to send means whereby we might accomplish the building. After we returned from our journey to the West, the whole church united in this undertaking, and every man lent a helping hand. Those who had no teams went to work in the stone quarry and prepared the stones for drawing to the house.
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"President Joseph Smith, Jr., being our foreman in the quarry; the Presidency, high priests, and elders all alike assisting. Those who had teams assisted in drawing the stone to the house. These all laboring one day in the week, brought as many stones to the house as supplied the masons through the whole week. We continued in this manner until the walls of the house were reared. The committee who were appointed by revelation to superintend the building of the house were, Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter. These men used every exertion in their power to forward the work."
The corner stone of the Temple was laid July 24, 1833, and for nearly three years the labor of construc- tion was carried on day and night with unceasing and enthusiastic sacrifice. The Temple was dedicated March 27, 1836. It was a day of mysterious and emo- tional enthusiasm; for four days and four nights fol- lowing, the Saints abandoned themselves to an excited religious fervor. There were four hundred and sixteen elders, priests, teachers and deacons assembled in the Temple, and there were gathered there many thousands from all over Northern Ohio.
Joseph Smith, Jr. was in the atmosphere of his highest power. Visions appeared to him; among those present he announced Moses, Elijah and Elisha. These ancient prophets appeared, so he announced, and bestowed upon him supreme power over things spiritual and temporal. Angels freely communicated with him on this eventful day, and they mingled freely in the throng, but were not visible to any mortal eyes save his. Brigham Young also appeared in great glory.
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He was seized with the "gift of tongues, " and although his sermon was unintelligible, every one of the faithful knew it was the language of inspiration. There were other signs and wonders. Hovering over the Temple was seen a pillar of fire, and in the air, supernatural sounds of heavenly music were heard. The ceremony of washing the feet was performed on the night of March 27, and each Saint performed this service for another. The Mormon records tell that many remained in the Temple all night "gloryfying God and prophesying." These scenes kept up until March 31, and on their termination, the Saints felt as if they had really reached the Promised Land.
The Kirtland temple was built on elevated ground and it may be seen a long distance off; it is three miles southeast of Willoughby and six miles direct from Lake Erie. It is a massive structure of rough stone plastered over with cement and marked in imitation of regular courses of masonry. It is sixty by eighty feet and three stories high beside the basement. In the front wall, over the largest window is the inscription, "House of the Lord, built by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, A. D. 1834." The first and second stories are audi- toriums, 55 by 65 feet. The attic or third story is divided into five apartments. In each of the audi- toriums are four pulpits, one rising above the other and each holding three persons. These pulpits were designed for the priesthood of Aaron and Melchisedec. Such is this queer structure as it stands to-day. It is an architectural monstrosity and yet it remains as a historic memorial of great human endeavor and en- thusiasm. For that day and that people, it was a
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courageous undertaking, and its cost-sixty thousand dollars-was itself of great magnitude when we bear in mind the scarcity of money at that time.
The next few years of the Church at Kirtland saw the ecclesiastical machinery increased with a view both to more effective organization and a more impos- ing symbolism. On March 18, 1833, the first Presi- dency was established, consisting of Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams. These three were also to be presidents of the High Council, which was created February 17, 1834. This body was composed of the following High Priests: Joseph Smith, Sr., John Smith, Joseph Coe, John Johnson, Martin Harris, John S. Carter, Jared Carter, Oliver Cowdery, Samuel H. Smith, Orson Hyde, Sylvester Smith and Luke Johnson. This was the judiciary of the Church, and was the Court of Last Appeal for all disputes. In the language of the Mormon record: "The High Council was appointed by revelation for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the Church, which could not be settled by the Church or the Bishop's Council to the satisfaction of the Party."
On May 3, 1834, the Elders formally chose the name of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" to designate the new spiritual organization. Follow- ing this action other important church measures were adopted, looking to its perfection. On February 14, 1835, a quorum of Twelve Apostles was organized, consisting of Lyman E. Johnson, Brigham Young. Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, David W. Patton, Luke Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, Orson Pratt, William Smith, Thomas B. March and
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Parley P. Pratt. On February 28 two Quorums of Seventy were organized. These were the active minis- ters of the church. They were under the direction of the Twelve Apostles and these in turn were appointed by and acted under the authority of the Presidency. When the general assembly of the church was held on August 17 the "Book of Doctrines and Covenants" was declared to be the rule of faith and Mormon life. On January 4, 1836 a Hebrew professorship was established, and on June 12, 1837, Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde headed a body of foreign missionaries who were sent to England to convert its people to the Mormon faith.
Having reached a point where the church had nearly a perfect organization, almost autocratic power and an increasing membership, it turned into the dangerous channel of money-making and financial investment. The period was one of speculation, and notwithstand- ing the divine guidance assumed by the Church, it fell into the error of worldly ways. This took the form first of real estate ventures and afterward of banking. Smith himself in his autobiography gives a frank history of the troubles that the church encoun- tered. Says he: "At this time the spirit of specula- tion in lands and property of all kinds, which were so prevalent throughout the whole nation was taking deep root in the church; as the fruits of this spirit evil surmisings, fault-finding, disunion, dissension and apostasy followed in quick succession, and it seemed as though all the powers of earth and hell were combining their influence in an especial manner to overthrow the church at once and make a final end. The enemy
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abroad and apostates in our midst united in their scheme; flour and provisions were turned toward other markets; and many became disaffected toward me, as though I were the sole cause of those very evils I was most strenuously striving against, and which were actually brought upon us by the brethren not giving heed to my counsel. No quorum in the church was entirely exempt from the influence of those false spirits who were striving against me for the mastery; even some of the Twelve were so far lost to their high and responsible calling, as to begin to take sides with the enemy."
The facts are, however, that among the most con- spicuous real estate speculators in the church were Joseph Smith, Jr., his father and other relatives. The books of the recorder's office at Chardon are silent witnesses to this fact. A plat, made in April and recorded in May, 1837, provided for a city to be known as "Kirtland City." The Temple was located in the center. The plat shows that there were to be two hundred and twenty-five blocks of twenty lots each, making forty-five hundred city lots in all. In the syndicate putting this allotment on the market, we read names familiar in the church. They were Joseph Smith, Sr., Joseph Smith, Jr. and his wife Emma, Eliza R. Snow, the Mormon poetess, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Heber C. Kimball and Sidney Rigdon. Whether the proceeds of this vast real estate project were to go into the church treasury is not known, for rack and ruin came upon the dream of a boom town before it was realized.
FACSIMILE OF A PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF THE BOOK OF MORMON
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abroad and apostates in our midst united in thor schemАЗІЯО ЗНЕ НО ИОІТЯОЯ А ПО АЛІМІКРАЯ помяом но хода янт но тЧІяргииам red towi other markets; and many became disaffected towa me, as though I were the sole cause of those very er I was most strenuously striving against, and whi were actually brought upon us by the brethren giving heed to my counsel. No quorum in the chu was entirely exempt from the influence of those fal spirits who were striving against me for the master even some of the Twelve were so far lost to their hi and responsible calling, as to begin to take sides wit the enemy "
The facts are, however, that among the most com spicuous real estate speculators in the church won Joseph Smith, Jr., his father and other relatives. Tl books of the recorder's office at Chardon are sile witnesses to this fact. A plat, made in April an recorded in May, 1837, provided for a city to be kno as "Kirtland City." The Temple was located in 1/ center. The plat shows that there were to be tw hundred and twenty-five blocks of twenty lots eac making forty-five hundred city lots in all. In th syndicate putting this allotment on the market, read names familiar in the church. They were Joser Smith, Sr., Joseph Smith, Jr. and his wife Emm Eliza R. Snow, the Mormon poetess, Hyrum Smil Oliver Cowdery, Heber C. Kimball and Sidney Rigde Whether the proceeds of this vast real estate proje were to go into the church treasury is not known, d. rack and ruin came upon the dream of a boom town before it was realized.
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