---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Cowdery, Oliver
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 2
number: 3
published: 1899-01
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Cowdery, Oliver, "Early Scenes and Incidents in the Church," *Improvement Era* 2, no. 3 (January 1899): 187–193.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera23unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera23unse
start_page: 187
end_page: 193
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-01)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera23unse
  publication_year: 1899
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Early Scenes and Incidents in the Church

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EARLY SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE
CHURCH.
BY OLIVER COWDERY.
[In our prospectus for Volume II, attention was called to the fact
that nothing could be more important to the young men of the Church
than to be familiar with the original sources of our Church history, and
that of those original sources none, perhaps, were of more importance
than a series of eight letters written by Oliver Cowdery to W. W. Phelps,
in 1834, and published by the latter in the Saints' Messenger and Advocate, at Kirtland, Ohio; and some years later in the Times and Seasons.
The letters were written in response to some questions submitted to
Oliver Cowdery by Elder Phelps, and this accounts for the form of some
parts of these communications.
We precede the letters of Elder Cowdery by one from the pen of
the Prophet Joseph, in which he himself states the time and place of his
birth, and refutes some of the slanders that were circulated about his
early life.
In concluding this note we wish to express the belief that our young
men, if they will peruse these letters with care, will find them of intense
interest, and from them receive much enlightenment concerning the
coming forth of the work of the Lord in the last days.
—
Editors.]
A LETTER FROM JOSEPH SMITH TO OLIVER COWDERY. •
Dear Brother:—
Having learned from the first number of the Messenger and
Advocate, that you were not only about to "give a history of the

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rise and progress of the Church of the Latter-day Saints;" but, that
said history would necessarily embrace my life and character, I
have been induced to give you the time and place of my birth; as I
have learned that many of the opposers of those principles which
I have held forth to the world, profess a personal acquaintance
with me, though when in my presence, represent me to be another
person in age, education, and statue, from what I am.
I was born (according to the record of the same, kept by my
parents) in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the
23rd of December, 1805.
At the age of ten my father's family removed to Palmyra,
New York, where, and in the vicinity of which, I lived, or, made it
my place of residence, until I was twenty-one; the latter part in
the town of Manchester.
During this time, as is common to most, or all youths, I fell
into many vices and follies; but as my accusers are, and have been
forward to accuse me of being guilty of gross and outrageous violations of the peace and good order of the community, I take the
occasion to remark that, though as I have said above, "as is com
'
mon to most, or all youths, I fell into many vices and follies," I
have not, neither can it be sustained, in truth, been guilty of wronging or injuring any man or society of men; and those imperfections
to which I allude, and for which I have often had occasion to
lament, were a light, and too often, vain mind, exhibiting a foolish
and trifling conversation.
This being all, and the worst, that my accusers can substantiate against my moral character, I wish to add that it is not without
a deep feeling of regret that I am thus called upon in answer ta
my own conscience, to fulfill a duty I owe to myself, as well as to
the cause of truth, in making this public confession of my former
uncircumspect walk, and trifling conversation and more particularly,
as I often acted in violation of those holy precepts which I knew
came from God. But as the "Articles and Covenants," of this
Church are plain upon this particular point, I do not deem it important to proceed further. I only add, that I do not, nor never have,
pretended to be any other than a man "subject to passion," and
liable, without the assisting grace of the Savior, to deviate

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from that perfect path in which all men are commanded to
walk.*
By giving the above a place in your valuable paper, you will
confer a lasting favor upon myself, as an individual, and, as I humbly
hope, subserve the cause of righteousness.
I am, with feelings of esteem, your fellow laborer in the Gospel
of our Lord, Joseph Smith.
0. COWDERY'S LETTERS TO W. W. PHELPS.
Letter L
North, Medina Co., Ohio,
Sabbath evening, September 7, 1834.
Dear Brother:—
Before leaving home I promised, if I tarried long, to write;
and while a few moments are now allowed me for reflection, aside
from the cares and common conversation of my friends in this
place, I have thought that were I to communicate them to you,
might, perhaps, if they should not prove especially beneficial to
yourself, by confirming you in the faith of the Gospel, at least
be interesting, since it has pleased our heavenly Father to call us
both to rejoice in the same hope of eternal life. And by giving
them publicity, some thousands who have embraced the same
covenant may learn something more particular upon the rise of
this Church, in this last time. And while the gray evening is fast
changing into a settled darkness, my heart responds with the
* Of the youthful follies which the prophet here confesses, George
Q. Cannon, in his "Life of Joseph Smith," says: "His quick conscience
was apt to exaggerate every youthful foible, and he regarded many of
his acts of thoughtlessness as offenses at which the heavens must frown.
* * * Despite his own self-accusation the answer to his prayer proves
that his probationary period had been passed satisfactorily to the heavens,
and that he was still unstained by any dark offense."

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happy millions who are in the presence of the Lamb, and are past
the power of temptation, in rendering thanks, though feebly, to
the same Parent.
Another day has passed into that, to us, boundless ocean,
eternity ! where nearly six thousand years have gone before; and
what flits across the mind like an electric shock is, that it will
never return! Whether it has been well improved or not; whether
the principle emanating from him who "hallowed" it, have been
observed; or whether, like the common mass of time, it has been
heedlessly spent, is not for me to say—one thing I can say—it can
never be recalled; it has rolled in to assist in filling up the grand
space decreed in the mind of its Author, till nature shall have
ceased her work, and time its accustomed revolutions—when its
Lord shall have completed the gathering of his elect, and with
them enjoy that Sabbath which shall never end.
On Friday, the 5th, in company with our brother Joseph
Smith, Jr., 1 left Kirtland for this place (New Portage,) to attend
the conference previously appointed. To be permitted, once more,
to travel with this brother, occasions reflections of no ordinary
kind. Many have been the fatigues and privations which have
fallen to my lot to endure for the Gospel's sake since 1828, with
this brother. Our road has frequently been spread with the
"fowler's snare;" and our persons sought with the eagerness of the
savage's ferocity for innocent blood, by men, either heated to desperation by the insinuations of those who professed to be "guides
and way-marks" to the kingdom of glory, or the individuals themselves. This, I confess, is a dark picture to spread before our
patrons, but they will pardon my plainness when I assure them of
the truth. In fact, God has so ordered, that the reflections which
I am permitted to cast upon my past life, relative to a knowledge
of the way of salvation, are rendered "doubly endearing." Not
only have I been graciously preserved from wicked and unreasonable men with this, our brother, but I have seen the fruit of perseverance m proclaiming the everlasting Gospel, immediately after
It was declared to the world in these last days, in a manner not to
be forgotten while heaven gives me common intellect. And what
serves to render the reflection past expression on this point is

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that from his hand I received baptism, by the direction of the
angel of God—the first received into this Church in this day.
Near the time of the setting of the sun. Sabbath evening,
April 5th, 1829, my natural eyes for the first time beheld this
brother. He then resided in Harmony, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. On Monday the 6th, I assisted him in arranging some
business of a temporal nature and on Tuesday, the 7th, commenced
to write the Book of Mormon. These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom.
Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his mouth,
as he translated with the Urim and Thummim, or, as the Nephites
would have said, "Interpreters," the history or record called the
"Book of Mormon."
To notice in even few words, the interesting account given by
Mormon and his faitful son Moroni, of a people once beloved and
favored of heaven, would supercede my present design: I shall
therefore defer this to a future period, and as I said in the introduction, pass more directly to some few incidents immediately connected with the rise of this Church, which may be entertaining to
some thousands who have stepped forward, amid the frowns of
bigots and the calumny of hypocrites, and embraced the Gospel of
Christ.
No men in their sober senses, could translate and write the
directions given to the Nephites, from the mouth of the Savior, of
the precise manner in which men should build up his Church, and
especially when corruption had spread an uncertainty over all forms
and systems practiced among men, without desiring a privilege of
showing the willingness of the heart by being buried in the liquid
grave, to answer a "good conscience by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ."
After writing the account given of the Savior's ministry to
the remnant of the seed of Jacob upon this continent, it was easily
to be seen, as the prophet said would be, that darkness covered
the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. On reflecting further it was as easily to be seen, that amid the great strife
and noise concerning religion, none had authority from God to
administer the ordinances of the Gospel. For the question might

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be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ,
who deny revelations, when his testimony is no less than the spirit
of prophecy? and his religion based, built and sustained by immediate revelations in all ages of the world, when he has had a people
on earth? If these facts were buried and carefully concealed by
men whose craft would have been in danger if once permitted to
shine in the faces of men, they were no longer to us; and we only
waited for the commandment to be given, "Arise and be baptized."
This was not long desired before it was realized. The Lord,
who is rich in mercy, and ever willing to answer the consistent
prayer of the humble, after we had called upon him in a fervent
manner, aside from the abodes of men, condescended to manifest
to us his will. On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the
voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the veil was parted
and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered
the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the Gospel of
repentance. What joy ! what wonder! what amazement! While
the world was racked and distracted—while millions were groping
as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon
uncertainty, as a general mass, our eyes beheld—our ears heard.
As in the "blaze of day;" yes, more—above the glitter of the May
sunbeam, which then shed its brilliancy over the face of nature!
Then his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words,
"I am thy fellow-servant," dispelled every fear. We listened, we
gazed, we admired! 'Twas the voice of the angel from glory
—
'twas a message from the Most High, and as we heard we rejoiced,
while his love enkindled upon our souls, and we were rapt in the
vision of the Almighty! Where was room for doubt? Nowhere;
uncertainty had fled, doubt had sunk, no more to rise, while fiction
and deception had fled forever.
But, dear brother, think further, think for a moment, what joy
filled our hearts and with what surprise we must have bowed, (for
who would not have bowed the knee for such a blessing?) when we
received under his hand the holy priesthood, as he said, "upon you
my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer this priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the
sons of Levi may yet oflier an offering unto the Lord in righteousness !
"

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I shall not attempt to paint to you the feelings of this heart,
nor the majestic beauty and glory which surrounded us on this
occasion; but you will believe me when I say, that earth, nor men,
with the eloquence of time, cannot begin to clothe language in as
interesting and sublime a manner as this holy personage. No; nor
has this earth power to give the joy, to bestow the peace, or comprehend the wisdom which was contained in each sentence as
they were delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit! Man may
deceive his fellow man; deception may follow deception, and the
children of the wicked one may have power to seduce the foolish
and untaught, till naught but fiction feeds the manj^, and the fruit
of falsehood carries in its current the giddy to the grave, but one
touch with the finger of his love, yes, one ray of glory from the
upper world, or one word from the mouth of the Savior, from the
bosom of eternity, strikes it all into insignificance, and blots it
forever from the mind! The assurance that we were in the presence
of an angel; the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and
the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by
the will of God, is to me, past description, and I shall ever look
upon this expression of the Savior's goodness with wonder and
thanksgiving while I am permitted to tarry, and in those mansions
where perfection dwells and sin never comes, I hope to adore in
that DAY which shall never cease.*
I must close for the present: my candle is quite extinguished,
and all nature seems locked in silence, shrouded in darkness, and
enjoying that repose so necessary to this life. But the period is
rolling on when night will close, and those who are found worthy
will inherit that city where neither the light of the sun nor the
moon will be necessary! "For the glory of God will lighten it, and
the Lamb will be the light thereof."
* I will hereafter give you a full history of the rise of this Church
up to the time stated in my introduction; which will necessarily embrace
the life and character of this brother. I shall therefore leave the history
of baptism, etc., till its proper place.