Thirty-Three (1838)For about five years, from 1833 to 1838, the Church thrived in Caldwell County
because the members kept to themselves and were a very industrious and agreeable people
to their non-member neighbors. They did not promote the idea that Far West was given to
them by God as a land of inheritance, but were appreciative of the kindness of the
Missourians who gave them their own county. Historians have written of that time period:
Cooperation and trust replaced the suspicions of the past as relations
between the Mormons and Missourians improved remarkably during the
next year. The Elders’ Journal, a monthly periodical published by the
Mormons in Caldwell County, reported in July 1838 that the Saints here
are at perfect peace with all the surrounding inhabitants, and persecution
is not so much as once named among them.”^41John Corrill, one of the Mormon leaders, remembered:
Friendship began to be restored between [the Mormons] and their neighbors,
the old prejudices were fast dying away, and they were doing well, until the
summer of 1838.^42Then Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young came to town.
On April 26, 1838 (see D&C, section 115), Sidney convinced Joseph that the people
were in much need of a new revelation from the Lord to ensure them of their “sainthood”
and to encourage them to continue the fight to establish Zion in spite of their failures in
Independence and Kirtland. The “revelation” was written exclusively by Sidney, but
included certain specifics that Joseph insisted be included. Any time the church leaders
mandated as a consequence of their own desires what they expected the Lord to tell the
people, a revelation would be arranged giving the “mind and will of the Lord”^43 —the god
of this world. When a “revelation” was desired by Sidney, Joseph made sure it was well
noted that “thus saith the Lord unto you...and also my servant Sidney Rigdon.” But this
time, Joseph made sure all those who wanted their revelation would take the credit for it,
including “Edward Partridge, and his counselors; And also...my faithful servants who are
of the high council of my church in Zion.”^44
The same was even true for Joseph’s dear brother, Hyrum,^45 whom he had set apart
as one of his counselors a few months previous in Kirtland,^46 when all of the other leaders
began to disavow him. Until September of 1837, Joseph had not given Hyrum any
prominent role in the developing church. Joseph knew that one day his own life would be
taken by his enemies. However, Christ and Moroni had also informed him about Hyrum’s
future role in bringing the sealed portion of the plates to the world. Therefore, it was Joseph’s
particular desire to not get Hyrum mixed up with the eventual mayhem or the “abomination
in the sight of the Lord”^47 which the church had become.
Joseph had every intention of protecting the life of his dearest brother to the fullest
extent possible, believing that Hyrum would follow him in life to complete his (Joseph’s)
work. After most of the early leaders left Joseph at Kirtland, Hyrum implored Joseph to
allow him to “always stand by your side dearest brother. If they take you away, they shall
also take me.”^48 With tears in his eyes and joy in his heart, therefore, Joseph made Hyrum a
member of the First Presidency of the Church with hopes for a providential end.