Thirty-Two (1837)prophecy gave some altogether a new idea of things. She said the reason why one third of the church
would turn away from Joseph, was because that he was in transgression himself; that he would fall
from his office on account of the same; that David Whitmer, or Martin Harris would fill Joseph’s
place; and that the one who did not succeed him, would be the counselor to the one that did.
“This girl soon became an object of great attention among those who were disaffected.
...They still held their secret meetings at David Whitmer’s, and when the young woman, who was
their instructress, was through giving what revelations she intended for the evening, she would jump
out of her chair and dance over the floor, boasting of her power, until she was perfectly exhausted.
Her proselytes would also, in the most vehement manner, proclaim their purity and holiness, and the
mighty power which they were going to have.” (Lucy Smith, Progenitors, 261–3).
(^97) Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, 324–5.
(^98) Consider this contrasting information: In chapter 33: “Joseph saw the church and religion
that he had suffered to come forth, fall into the hands of Brigham Young” vs. DHC, 2:529: “On the
morning of the 22nd of December, 1837, Brother Brigham Young left Kirtland in consequence of the
fury of the mob spirit that prevailed in the apostates who had threatened to destroy him because he
would proclaim publicly and privately that he knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that I was a
Prophet of the Most High God, that I had not transgressed and fallen as the apostates declared.”
(^99) D&C, 82:12–13; 94:1; section 96. Compare D&C, 115:7. The “Land of Zion” is referred to 64
times in the modern Doctrine & Covenants.
(^100) Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, 339.
(^101) “The revelation to go to Canada was written down on paper but was never printed.”
(Whitmer, 31–2.)
(^102) DHC, 2:528.
(^103) Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, 339.
(^104) “The Mormon Church had been organized with a First Presidency, composed of Joe and
Hyrum Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Twelve Apostles were
now absent, and until they could be called together the minds of the ‘saints’ were unsettled as to the
future government of the church. Revelations were published that the Prophet, in imitation of the
Savior, was to rise again from the dead. Many were looking in gaping wonderment for the fulfillment
of this revelation, and some reported that they had already seen him attended by a celestial army
coursing the air on a great white horse.() Rigdon, as the only remaining member of the First
Presidency, claimed the government of the church, as being successor to the Prophet. When the
Twelve Apostles returned from foreign parts, a fierce struggle for power ensued between them and
Rigdon. Rigdon fortified his pretensions by alleging the will of the Prophet in his favor, and
pretending to have several new revelations from heaven, amongst which was one of a very impolitic
nature. This was to the effect, that all the wealthy Mormons were to break up their residence at
Nauvoo, and follow him to Pittsburgh. This revelation put both the rich and the poor against him.
The rich, because they did not want to leave their property; and the poor, because they would not be
deserted by the wealthy. This was fatal to the ambition of Rigdon; and the Mormons, tired of the
despotism of a one-man government, were now willing to decide in favor of the Apostles. Rigdon
was expelled from the church as being a false prophet, and left the field with a few followers, to
establish a little delusion of his own, near Pittsburgh; leaving the government of the main church in
the hands of the Apostles, with Brigham Young, a cunning but vulgar man, at their head, occupying
the place of Peter in the Christian hierarchy... .” () “No such revelation is extant; and I know of no
other writing where it is to be found. B. H. R.” (DHC, 7:37–8 and note (*); emphasis added.)
(^105) William G. Hartley, “From Men to Boys: LDS Aaronic Priesthood Offices, 1829–1996,”
Journal of Mormon History, 22:1 (1996) 80–136.
See also William G. Hartley, “Ordained and Acting Teachers in the Lesser Priesthood, 1851–1883,”
BYU Studies 16:3 (1976) 2–3, 16. “Early Church leaders tried to fill the lesser quorums with the most
capable adults and young men available. ...Such ordained brethren, particularly priests and teachers,
served as local ministers presiding over branches, collecting and dispersing Church funds, dealing with