The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901Linn, William Alexander
History
The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901
Linn, William Alexander
Latter Day Saints -- History; Utah -- History
Cowdery was the first of his associates to seek an open share in the
divine work. Smith was so pleased with his new scribe when they first
met at Harmony, Pennsylvania, that he at once received a "revelation"
which incited Cowdery to ask for a division of power. Cowdery was told
(Sec. 6), "And behold, I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to
translate even as my servant Joseph." Cowdery's desire manifested itself
immediately, and Joseph almost as quickly became conscious that he had
committed himself too soon. Accordingly, in another "revelation," dated
the same month of April, 1829 (Sec. 8), he attempted to cajole Oliver by
telling him about a "gift of Aaron" which he possessed, and which was a
remarkable gift in itself, adding, "Do not ask for that which you ought
not." But Cowdery naturally clung to his promised gift, and kept on
asking, and he had to be told right away in still another "revelation"
(Sec. 9), that he had not understood, but that he must not murmur, since
his work was to write for Joseph. If he was in doubt about a subject,
he was advised to "study it out in your mind"; and if it was right, the
Lord promised, "I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you";
but if it was not right, "you shall have a stupor of thought, that shall
cause you to forget the thing which is wrong." To assist him until he
became accustomed to discriminate between this burning feeling and this
stupor, the Lord told him very plainly, "It is not expedient that you
should translate now." That all this rankled in Cowdery's heart was
shown by his attempt to revise one of Smith's "revelations," and the
support he gave to Hiram Page's "gazing."
Cowdery continued to annoy the prophet, and Smith decided to get rid
of him. Accordingly in July, 1830, came a "revelation," originally
announced as given direct to Joseph's wife Emma, instructing her to
act as her husband's scribe, "that I may send my servant Oliver Cowdery
whithersoever I will." This occurred on a trip the Smiths had made
to Harmony. On their return to Fayette, Smith found Cowdery still
persistent, and he accordingly gave out a "revelation" to him, telling
him again that he must not "write by way of commandment," inasmuch as
Smith was at the head of the church, and directing him to "go unto the
Lamanites (Indians) and preach my Gospel unto them." This was the first
mention of the westward movement of the church which shaped all its
later history.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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