The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901

BOOK II. IN OHIO

Chapter 2247 wordsPublic domain

I. THE FIRST CONVERTS AT KIRTLAND: Original Missionaries sent out to the Lamanites--Organization of a Church in Ohio--Effect of Rigdon's Conversion--General Interest in the New Bible and Prophet--How Men of Education came to believe in Mormonism--Result of the Upturning of Religious Belief

II. WILD VAGARIES OF THE CONVERTS: Convulsions and Commissions--Common Religious Excitements of those Days--Description of the "Jerks"--Smith's Repressing Influence

III. GROWTH OF THE CHURCH: The Appointment of Elders--Beginning of the Proselyting System--Smith's Power Entrenched--His Temporal Provision--Repression of Rigdon--The Tarring and Feathering of Smith and Rigdon--Treatment of the Mormons and of Other New Denominations compared--Rigdon's Punishment

IV. GIFTS OF TONGUES AND MIRACLES: How Persons "Spoke in Tongues"--Seeing the Lord Face to Face--Early Use of Miracles--The Story of the "Book of Abraham"--The Prophet as a Translator of Greek and Egyptian.

V. SMITH'S OHIO BUSINESS ENTERPRISES: Young's Picture of the Prophet's Experience as a Retail Merchant--The Land Speculation--Laying out of the City--Building of the Temple--Consecration of Property--How the Leaders looked out for themselves--Amusing Explanation of Section III of the "Doctrine and Covenants"--The Story of the Kirtland Bank--The Church View of its Responsibility for the Currency--The Business Crash and Smith's Flight to Missouri

VI. LAST DAYS AT KIRTLAND: Pictures of the Prophet--Accusations against Church Leaders in Missouri--Serious Charge against the Prophet--W. W, Phelps's Rebellion--Smith's Description of Leading Lights of the Church--Charges concerning Smith's Morality--The Church accused of practising Polygamy--A Lively Fight at a Church Service--Smith's and Rigdon's Defence of their Conduct--The Later History of Kirtland