Story Behind John Corrill's History of the Church:
John Corrill's introduction to the church began in northeastern Ohio in the 1830s. Corrill heard that many of his friends were joining the new faith community and he travelled to Kirtland to convince his friends they had made a mistake. Unfortunately, John did not achieve success in convincing his friends to leave the church. Six week after his arrival in Kirtland, he was baptized a member of his friends' church.
Shortly after John's baptism he was appointed assistant to Edward Partridge, the first bishop of the church. His new responsibilities also called him to relocate his family to Jackson, County, Missouri, in 1831. He soon became widely respected among both members and non-members, and as difficulties in Missouri increased he would regularly be called on to negotiate for peace. In 1836, John helped establish the Far West settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. He also represented the church in working with Missouri state leaders in designating Caldwell County as a primary residence for church members.
His job became more difficult as he began to notice that power to make decisions was being centralized with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. John was also dismayed to see members turn less often to peaceful solutions to conflict and more often to violence. He eventually spoke out against these trends and was considered a traitor by many church members. Despite their feelings towards him, John defended the actions of the church members when appropriate. As a member of the Missouri Legislature, he petitioned the state for relief on behalf of the church. In addition, John sold personal property and gave thousands of dollars to assist impoverished members as they prepared to leave the state of Missouri during the winter of 1838-39.
Corrill published his 50-page booklet entitled, A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called Mormons,) including an account of their doctrine and discipline, with the reasons for the author for leaving the Church, in 1839. His booklet is especially valuable to historians in understanding the tension and conflict between church members and their neighbors during the Missouri period.
John Corrill's introduction to the church began in northeastern Ohio in the 1830s. Corrill heard that many of his friends were joining the new faith community and he travelled to Kirtland to convince his friends they had made a mistake. Unfortunately, John did not achieve success in convincing his friends to leave the church. Six week after his arrival in Kirtland, he was baptized a member of his friends' church.
Shortly after John's baptism he was appointed assistant to Edward Partridge, the first bishop of the church. His new responsibilities also called him to relocate his family to Jackson, County, Missouri, in 1831. He soon became widely respected among both members and non-members, and as difficulties in Missouri increased he would regularly be called on to negotiate for peace. In 1836, John helped establish the Far West settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri. He also represented the church in working with Missouri state leaders in designating Caldwell County as a primary residence for church members.
His job became more difficult as he began to notice that power to make decisions was being centralized with Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. John was also dismayed to see members turn less often to peaceful solutions to conflict and more often to violence. He eventually spoke out against these trends and was considered a traitor by many church members. Despite their feelings towards him, John defended the actions of the church members when appropriate. As a member of the Missouri Legislature, he petitioned the state for relief on behalf of the church. In addition, John sold personal property and gave thousands of dollars to assist impoverished members as they prepared to leave the state of Missouri during the winter of 1838-39.
Corrill published his 50-page booklet entitled, A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called Mormons,) including an account of their doctrine and discipline, with the reasons for the author for leaving the Church, in 1839. His booklet is especially valuable to historians in understanding the tension and conflict between church members and their neighbors during the Missouri period.
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Location of the Object
Community of Christ Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri |
Date of the Object
1839 |
Photos & Information Shared By
Lachlan Mackay and Barb Walden |