class 20 – sections 115, 117, 119, and 120 the kingdom of god
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Class 20 – Sections 115, 117, 119, and 120
The Kingdom of God
The Establishment of Caldwell County
•Most of the Saints in Missouri moved north across the Missouri River into Clay County.
•May 1836. The Saints realized that moving back to Jackson County was unlikely. They started purchasing land on Shoal Creek in northern Ray County.
The Establishment of Caldwell County
•June 29. the citizens of Clay County asked the Mormons if they would leave. They promised protection until then.
•July 1. The Saints sent a reply thanking the people of Clay County and promising to leave. – The Clay County citizens organized groups to help.
The Establishment of Caldwell County
•As Saints moved North in late July, they were threatened by the people of Ray County. The Saints promised to move to the uninhabited area to the north and petition for a new county. A six-mile-wide strip of “no man’s land” was to remain unsettled along the border of the new county. – The Ray County people readily agreed.
Far West
•This part of the state was know as the “Far West” of Missouri.
•The Saints chose to name their temporary Zion, “Far West.”
•The city was begun in August 1836.
The Establishment of Caldwell County
•In December 1836, Alexander Doniphan proposed the creation of Caldwell and Daviess Counties out of northern Ray County. They were created December 29, 1836.
•Caldwell County was open prairie with rolling hills inhabited only by a few wild honey gatherers.
Caldwell County
Far West
Far West
Far West
Caldwell County
Shoal Creek at Haun’s Mill
The Kirtland Safety Society
•Hard cash was scarce in the 1830s. Banks accepted collateral in various forms, often in land. They then issued bank notes for loans.
•In November 1836, the Saints organized the Kirtland Safety Society, petitioned the Ohio legislature for a bank charter, had banknote plates printed.
The Kirtland Safety Society
•The charter was denied – “hard money” backers in the legislature were allowing few bank charters to go through.
•The Kirtland Safety Society became the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company.
•Kirtland banknotes were not widely accepted outside Kirtland.
Kirtland Safety Society Banknotes
Kirtland Safety Society Banknotes
Kirtland Safety Society Banknotes
Kirtland Safety Society Banknotes
The Collapse of the Safety Society
•Like other banks, the Safety Society relied on land. For example, Heber C. Kimball bought $50,000 for $15 plus land as collateral.
•The bank opened January 2, 1837. On January 23 a run on the bank depleted the entire capital assets.
The Panic of 1837
•The Panic of 1837 began in the spring of 1837.
•A law was enacted that required land purchases from the government to be in specie.
•People tried to withdraw investments to pay for land, but the banks didn’t have specie.
The Panic of 1837
•Over-inflated land prices collapsed. The banks couldn’t sell the land they had as collateral for defaulted loans. Many banks collapsed and a depression ensued.
•People hoarded money, fearing further economic problems. Many “Hard Times Tokens” circulated as cash.
The Collapse of the Safety Society
•The value of the banknotes collapsed.
•Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, the President and Secretary of the Society, encouraged the Saints to keep their notes.
•In June, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon resigned.
The Collapse of the Safety Society
•Oliver Cowdery and Warren Parrish took over operations of the bank. Faced with tremendous problems, they printed more money in effort to avert disaster.
•In August, Joseph Smith came out in opposition of the bank.
The Collapse of the Safety Society
•The community was deeply divided between those who blamed Joseph Smith and those who blamed Oliver Cowdery and Warren Parrish.
•Accusations of counterfeiting, embezzlement ensued.
Problems in Kirtland
•In the early 19th Century, defamation of one’s honor required action to be taken.
•When Joseph Smith, Sr., made cutting remarks about Warren Parrish in a meeting in the Temple, Warren Parrish William Smith and others got into a brawl. Swords were drawn.
Problems in Kirtland
•Some tried to sustain David Whitmer as the President of the Church.
•Warren Parrish, John Boynton, Luke and Lyman Johnson, and others declared Joseph a fallen prophet.
Problems in Kirtland
•Parley Pratt, Orson Pratt, and David W. Patten all opposed Joseph Smith for a time.
•Frederick G. Williams was excommunicated.
•According to Heber C. Kimball, not 20 men in Kirtland believed Joseph Smith was a prophet by June 1837.
Problems in Kirtland
•In January 1838, Joseph and Emma Smith and Sidney Rigdon left Kirtland after Joseph heard about threats of assassination.
•Many other members followed.
Problems in Kirtland
•In reality, the problems were mostly infighting between community leaders. Most of the Saints went about their normal lives, faithful to Joseph Smith and the cause of the Zion.
•Probably about 10-15% of the church membership left during this time.
Section 115
•April, 1838.
•The church had been known as the “Church of Christ” and “The Church of the Latter-day Saints” previously.
•Temple cornerstones to be laid July 4 and work continue from April 26, 1839.
Section 115
•Don’t get into debt for the temple this time.
Section 117
•July 8, 1838 – four days after the Far West Temple Cornerstones were laid.
•Sections 118, 119, and 120 were also given that day.
•Newell Whitney and William Marks to sell property in Kirtland and come to Missouri.
Section 117
•Nicolaitane band: (Rev. 2:6) – those who opposed Joseph Smith in Kirtland?
•v. 16 … let all my servants in the land of Kirtland remember the Lord their God, and mine house also, to keep and preserve it holy.
Section 119
•First, all surplus property is to be donated to the bishop.
•Then, 1/10 of their interest annually is to be given to the Lord.
•Interest is interpreted to mean income. The Church does not get more specific.
Section 120
•“The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes” consists of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve and the Presiding Bishopric.
•Tithing funds are sacred. Much comes from impoverished Saints who sacrifice to give. We should be careful to use them wisely.
Tithing
•Sections 119 and 120 represent a shift in the economic order of the Church away from deeds of consecration. Communitarianism (or the United Order) was tried in several communities in Utah afterward, but was not instituted in the church as a whole. The Law of Consecration in the general sense is still valid and tithing is one part of it.