Ryan Reeder
History 390R
Derr and Esplin
January 19, 2001
1. Wilford Woodruff describes phenomenal results to his preaching in England, to the point that he could "scarcely pass a pool of water but what sumbody [sic] is waiting for me to baptize them." While many remained faithful, counting the longest continuous body of the Church in England and many current Latter-day Saints counting these converts as ancestors, usually much work is required to keep zealous new converts from falling by the wayside. What was the retention among these early converts? If it was high, why? Was it because of the previous social structure of the United Brethren, or some other cause?
2. Page 129 of the text gives the cause for Oliver Cowdery's apostasy as: "His general disagreement with the Church's administrative procedures in Missouri, as well as his own request to withdraw from a society that claimed that degree of temporal authority, led to his excommunication." Now, this is Oliver Cowdery-practically on a level with Joseph in leadership, and he voluntarily abandons the Church over quibbles on property? I've heard that a large part of what led to his excommunication dealt with his beginning to practice the principle of plurality of wives before Joseph had so authorized him. Is there truth to this assertion, and what is the documentation?
3. In October 1837, the Mormons voted "not to support any shops selling spirituous liquors, tea, coffee, or tobacco," and one of the charges brought against David Whitmer consisted in his "violating the Word of Wisdom" (Allen & Leonard, 116, 129). Yet, the Word of Wisdom was not at this time binding upon the Saints-and there are reports that Joseph himself occasionally drank in moderation after the revelation was received. Question: Why was the Word of Wisdom enforced, then, when it was not at that time legally binding upon the Church? Discussion: Perhaps the Saints boycott of shops in Caldwell county can be understood in light of the national temperance movement, and a general zeal at a time when they had a concentrated membership. Many of the Saints came from the East and North and many likely had supported the temperance movement. When Section 89 was received, it's likely they simply added tobacco, tea and coffee to their list of things to avoid, were prepared to receive it, and extended that practice by the boycott. Then why would violation of the Word of Wisdom be grounds for excommunication at this time? Perhaps charges were brought against David Whitmer by those that held prejudices against him, and they used what they had to discredit him.
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