A friend of mine who lives in Missouri (who I'll keep anonymous), recently went on an amazing church history tour. She had some fascinating insight and I have her permission to share. I've pretty much just pasted our conversation below for you to enjoy.
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(Friend)
Ok, some write up about impressions and things learned on the church history tour last week. Brother B. is in our bishopric and president of a historical society for early church history out here. The counsel for it is made up of people from both the LDS church and various other offshoots.
He said there were over 800 offshoots of the church, 200 of which still survive today. There's great mutual respect and a shared appreciate for the early history of the church, as each shares that. They all bring different perspectives to the table.
Hiram Page - I don't remember his history very well, except that he was the one who thought he was receiving revelations through a seer stone for the church, and a revelation was given through Joseph that only the prophet could do that, and Hiram was being deceived (it's in the D&C). He ended up leaving the church.
As Brother B. said, many RLDS descendants around today have explained to him that the feeling is their ancestors felt the church left THEM. Those that went out to Utah were called "Brigham-ites". Those that stayed felt Joseph Smith had named Joseph Smith III as successor, and did not practice plural marriage. I actually even just read that two of Joseph Smith's sons (Alex & David) went to Utah to serve missions! Alex got into quite the heated public debate with Joseph F Smith over doctrine while there (they were both in their 30's - Both born at Far West and the debate drew quite the crowd because Hiram & Joseph's sons were together again). It got heated enough that Joseph F. Smith called Emma some bad names, and Alex got quite offended and defended his mother. It ended the debate and Alex went packing home. So, for those that didn't go to Utah, there has been a very different perspective of themselves being "The Church" and those that went to Utah being the offshoot branch.
With that in mind for Hiram Page - another thing happened. The church moved on without them, evolved, received further revelation, etc, and they felt abandoned by the church. A lot of the earliest members especially felt hurt they didn't have higher positions in the church as it progressed since they had been part of it since the start. Hiram Page was one of the Eight Witnesses of the BOM, and this is some of the sense Brother B. got about him and others leaving the church.
They have tried to put up monuments for each of the BOM witnesses at their grave sites, and his was one that they couldn't find for years. Through some miraculous turn of events, they were able to find out that he died in a farming accident and was buried on his property. One of his descendants found the burial place and contacted Brother B's organization. They got a marker put up and Brother B. marked the grave with stones from his own garden wall.
Eagle Scouts came out to do their service project out there to make it nice for people to stop. And because Hiram Page died outside of the church, he did not have anyone with the priesthood to dedicate his grave. So Brother B. dedicated it with the scouts and said it was a really neat experience.
Again, I don't know much of Hiram Page's story, but as soon as we were approaching his grave, this giant rainbow appeared in the sky. It stayed the whole time we were there and left after we left. I took quite a few pictures with it in the background. And two different times, had a sacred and peaceful feeling come while there.
The impression I had was he had come back to the fold, and all was well again. There just seemed to be a happy feeling there about it all. I thought that was neat.
The second interest to note is about Far West. If standing in the parking lot, if you look across the street, Southwest direction, you'll see a grove of trees. Joseph Smith's house was just on the other side of that grove of trees.
Apparently there is an event in church history with Joseph Smith came face to face with the adversary. It was at that home in Far West. Apparently his son had a big headache or something, and Joseph came and blessed him and the headache left right away. It soon came back, was blessed away again. And a third time with the same results. This happened numerous times. Finally, Joseph inquired of the Lord as to what was happening, a vision was opened to him and he contended with the devil face to face. "He said it was his house, it belonged to him, and Joseph had no right there. Then Joseph rebuked Satan in the name of the Lord, and he departed and touched the child no more." (This event is recorded in Heber C Kimball's biography).Brother B. then talked about another interesting thing that came up there in Far West that may tie to that incident.
Years ago, David O McKay made a trip there with Alvin R Dyer of the First Presidency. While there, Alvin R Dyer extended his arm to the little small knoll on the south, just beyond the gates and said, "And right there is the spot where Cane killed Abel." 😳 President McKay confirmed what he said was true. Thus there, at Far West, were the first oaths made between Satan and man and that whole wicked works started. Satan has had great hold upon this area since. And thus, there has been quite the fight for this land.
It brought to mind something told to us after we moved here. A member of the stake had come to visit to give my husband a calling. He asked if we'd had our hardship hit yet. We were surprised, but confirmed we'd had quite a few financial issues come up since coming. He nodded and shared what had happened to him when he moved here. I'd heard others mention similar stories. He said that the Stake President said that Satan fights against any new saints moving here and does not want more of the Lord's people to come here. It generally lasts a few months for everybody when they first get here, where they go through some hardships and set backs.
It has often amazed me that of all the places the Saints went to build up Zion in the early days, they ended up with some of the roughest "lost souls" America had to offer here in western Missouri. So it was interesting to hear that there has been quite the battle for this land since the beginning of man really.
I also wondered about the temple spot being called holy Ground before it was even dedicated or set apart as a temple space. I wondered what had happened there to make it holy? I do wonder now if one of the early alters was there for Adam's sons to offer sacrifice?? I don't know. Brother B. said he had not come across info about any church leaders saying one way or the other. I had the name Noah come to mind that one time. So it could be many things.
What also stood out to me - not long after leaving there, we passed a grove of trees on the left, and Brother B. slowed his car down, called me and pointed it out, saying it's where David W Patten died.
David W Patten was the first martyr of the church. He led the rescue for some LDS men who they were told were captured by the mobs. (I believe the result was the Battle of Crooked River??) He ended up dying later from the wounds in a cabin near Far West, in the grove he pointed out to us.
What struck me about this - how interesting that the first matyr of mankind (Abel) was so near the place where the first matry of the latter-day church happened as well (David W Patten). There are some parallels there.
A friend had joined us with her family. She gasped at the info shared about where Able was killed as well, and what came to her mind was the role this area had in the United States joining the United Nations. She lives near the Independence sites right now and has explored them quite a bit. She said Harry S Truman is from the area and is the one who signed the treaty putting us into the united nations, he was instrumental in arranging it. There's a statue commemorating it out here. It just seems some of the adversary's plans are hatched out here. And it made more sense understanding the background of what happened here so long ago, and why a fight is put up to have the Saints come back and reclaim these areas for the Lord.
Last thing that stood out to me - we went to see where D&C 105 was given during Zion’s Camp. That’s not far from our home and significant to me, as that section is what gave us one of the big answers to move forward with trying to buy this home.
As we were approaching the site, we turned on to a street whose name really stood out to me - Salem! I pointed it out to my husband and explained it was a reference to the Savior, Jerusalem and Peace.
We soon saw the road Salem runs right through what was Zion’s Camp! That seemed symbolic to me.
Later in the tour, Brother B. quoted a general authority as saying in a recent conference that Zion’s camp was the second most important event in the church, after the First Vision. Reason being it united the Brethren, put them in a position where they were willing to die for one another and the cause of building Zion, and trained and pointed to the Q of 12 and future church leaders.
The next day, I was listening to Tim Ballard’s book, Pilgrim Hypothesis, and wouldn’t you know - he was talking about Salem! The East Puritan settlement. What he said seemed to parallel Zion’s camp so much to me, that I went back and listened a few times to copy down what he said:
Zion’s March & Pilgrims
Historian Perry Williams said about the Puritan settlers: “Winthrop believed their errand was not a mere scouting expedition. It was an essential maneuver in the drama of Christiandom. The Bay Company was not a battering remnant of suffering separatists thrown upon a rocky shore. It was an organized task force of Christians, executing a flank attack on the corruptions of Christiandom.
These Puritans did not flee to America. They went in order to work out the complete reformation which was not yet accomplished in England and Europe.” They often called their leader, Winthrop, Nehemias Americanus - referring to the ancient Hebrew king that led the Israelites out of Babylon back into the promised land, rebuilt Jerusalem, and inspired his people to return to their national covenant.
The Puritans named one of their first towns Salem - which has its root in the word Jerusalem and translates from the Hebrew word meaning “Peace”
They called their colonies the “New Jerusalem” and believed they were fulfilling prophecies concerning the last days. The tapped into the ancient covenants, for the enlargement and restoration of the Gospel.” (End quote)
Wow!! All of that paralleled Zion’s Camp and the importance of it so much! A latter-day Hebrew King (Joseph was later crowned King of Israel), bringing the Lord’s Covenant people out of Babylon and “restoring Jerusalem’” - both figuratively with the people and literally with the New Jerusalem - and bringing Israel back to their covenants. Just as Nehemiah did, and just as Winthrop was trying to do.
All the quotes - so much parallel!
And D&C 105 is so interesting - it talks about the New Jerusalem, and also to “lift up the ensign of Peace” - Peace - Salem! Name of the road!
The map - so here you can see the site where Zion’s camp was (in red) and how it’s just off the road, Salem. Section 105 background says Joseph received the revelation on the banks of the Fishing River - there on the right of the road Salem is the river! It’s one of the forks from the Fishing River. It’s amazing to me that a road now parallels that river called Salem, especially with all that section 105 talks about! That cannot be mere coincidence 😊
And Zion’s camp - the quote about the puritans not being a mere scouting expedition, but an essential role in the drama of Christiandom - Zion’s camp was the same. It was one of the most important events of the church - and thus Christiandom and the full restoration. Only they were literally fulfilling last day prophecy in restoring Jerusalem.
(My response):
I was fascinated with this history, when I visited Missouri last year. Most of the friends I met, belonged to the various offshoots. The couple I stayed with said that their little branch/offshoot and dwindled down now to just about 8 people. It made me wonder how they don’t see that as a sign? You look at the “Brigham-ites” 😄 and see how the Church now covers the globe and has billions of dollars, meets with diplomats, and helps the world. You see these other little offshoots who are dying off and going bankrupt. Just so interesting!
(Friend):
Yes! I thought the same thing. The RLDS Church (community of Christ) is something like 70 million dollars in debt right now, most of it the retirement or pensions owed to their employees. They have sold a lot of properties to the church, but still run them. Brother B. hadn't heard of the sales I’d heard about, but did confirm the church gave the RLDS church 10 million recently to help keep up the Kirtland temple. They also used some kind of metal that leaks for their temple in Independence and it’s in desperate need of repair. They tried to sell it to the church, but asked too much money and the church walked away. The church does own the parking lot for their temple though 😅
And yes, comparing how the churches have done financially is fascinating. Didn’t a report come out this year about the church having $100 Billion tucked away?? That floored me! They have been blessed in both gathering funds and knowing how to manage them.
(Me):
Yes, you are right. Billions. And just that our church is growing and flourishing and theirs seems to be dwindling. The lady I stayed with told me how their Community of Christ church gave the women priesthood and allowed gay marriage because they didn’t want to lose even more members. That’s when even more break offs happened. She then broke off and they started a new branch and now that’s down to about 8 people. I asked if I could go with her that Sunday because I was curious, and she told me I would be bored and unimpressed and that I should find an LDS meeting house and attend. That’s when I contacted my friend and she gave me that amazing tour of Farr West and other sites. I felt something special about Farr West. We visited the little white church across the street and they gave us a tour and told us all about their history. I had no idea about Satan having the land and Cain killing Able there. But I remember hearing that the land Adam and Eve dwelled in, spread out for miles and miles. There was just something about Farr West, I could feel it. I remember you mentioning Noah and that area.
(Friend):
Oh wow. That’s really interesting about the split off church down to 8 people! There’s a small town called Kidder where we did some co-op classes, and there’s still a split off branch of the church there too, also down to a handful of people.
One thing I also found interesting is Brother B. has an original Book of Mormon collection with rare copies. He wanted to show it to us and was very excited about his newly acquired “Whitmer-ite” Book of Mormon someone had gifted him. There were only 200 copies made.
I didn’t know what the Whitmer-ites were (though can guess as many of the Whitmers left the church). But he told us that under the direction of President Frederick M Smith of the RLDS, they did a re-translation of the Book of Mormon! They have in fact done so many re-translations at this point, that their BOM ended up 200 pages longer than ours. It starts with the same first verse, but then goes off from there!
The Whitmer-ite Book of Mormon was a re-translation of the RLDS church’s original re-translation 😜. Apparently a few of the off shoot churches did that! So interesting!
I do remember touring the building while doing my semester in Nauvoo at BYU. They played beautiful organ music in the center, and served coffee in the lobby. I remember there being artwork everywhere - but it was of such dark and grotesque things. Focusing on starving children and wickedness around the world. Causes their charities work with. But, it left such a cold, dark feeling to look at. It felt like such a contrast to me from our temples - where the artwork inspires hope, faith, and feelings of the Spirit. They concentrate on the beauty of an area, history, moments of faith and of course on Christ.
The other thing they had there were a lot of pictures of women giving priesthood blessings, and “Q of the 12” that were women. I could see members splitting off as they adopted philosophies of the world. The United Methodist church has done the same recently, and factions are forming and starting to split their church as well over the same issues.
The other thing I remember is the tour we were given by a member of the RLDS church. They kept referring to Joseph Smith going to the groves or a sacred experience, but wouldn’t say what it was. I raised my hand and asked what they thought happened in the Sacred Grove. He said, “Well, everyone has their different opinion about what he saw. There’s no official stance on it.” 😳
He also referred to Joseph Smith as writing the Book of Mormon. I again asked if he meant “translated” the Book of Mormon, and he again said, “Well, everyone has their own opinion about that as well. It’s up to members if they want to use it as scripture or not.” Again 😳
I wondered how people could follow church leaders that had no real stances on anything, especially fundamental founding principles of a church. I guess if the BOM has been added to, taken away from and changed so many times by their leaders, it would lead to people no longer feeling the book was inspired.
The other thing that stood out to me was finding out how their “General Conferences” are run. I asked about that, and he described the great debates that would happen with various parties within the church yelling at each other over how to run the church and next steps to take. He described it as very exciting and similar to a law-making council in government, only more lively. My jaw just dropped. I know General conferences in Nauvoo were filled with inspiring talks from the leaders, not meetings of debate. Where did they get that from?
In conclusion, our semester director (Brother Larry Dahl is you know him from publications, he was the leading historian for the church at the time). He let us see and explore it all, then gathered us on the temple grounds. I remember him pointing back to the RLDS temple and said, “They are wonderful people doing much good in the world, and it’s a beautiful building. But they have no idea what to do with it and what a temple is for. They do not have the saving ordinances a temple is built for.” That has stayed with me.
I’m so glad that you were able to take that tour with your friend! What a kind thing to take you around to the various sacred sites.
When he told us and showed us the spot where Cain killed Abel, I felt tingles up and down and a strong spirit of confirmation. Talking with my friend after and she did too! It was a really interesting experience.
Looking at the scriptures surrounding that event, it has made me wonder if the Abel being martyred there may have made it holy ground as well. Much as we travel to the place where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred and there is a feeling of sacredness for the sacrifice given there. Perhaps it is the same with Abel’s place of martyrdom.
There are two different scriptures that note about his blood crying from the ground, and the earth receiving his blood.
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