Early participants in the Latter Day Saint movement

Early participants in the Latter Day Saint movement consist of those individuals who were involved in Joseph Smith's Latter Day Saint movement prior to Smith's departure for Ohio in January 1831. Early participants also included the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon and members of the extended Whitmer and Smith families. Other early members included friends and acquaintances of the Smith and Whitmer families, such as Orrin Porter Rockwell.

Official first members

According to what is now known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the first six members of the church were:[1]

Joseph Smith
Oliver Cowdery
Hyrum Smith
Samuel H. Smith
David Whitmer
Not shown: Peter Whitmer, Jr.

Early participants

Early membership also included the remainder of the Smith family of Manchester: Joseph Smith, Sr., Lucy Mack Smith,[2] Calvin Stoddard and wife Sophronia Smith Stoddard,[3][4] William Smith,[2] Katharine Smith,[2] Don Carlos Smith,[2] and Lucy Smith.[2]

John Whitmer was baptized into the movement as early as June 1829, nearly a year prior to the formal organization of the Church. The Whitmer family and their spouses who were early members included: Hiram Page[4] and his wife Catherine Whitmer Page, Jacob Whitmer and his wife Elizabeth Schott Whitmer, Christian Whitmer and his wife Anne Schott Whitmer,[2][4] Elizabeth Ann Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Sr. and his wife Mary Musselman Whitmer.[4]

Early members from the Rockwell family include Sarah Witt Rockwell and her children Orrin Porter Rockwell,[4] Caroline, Electa and Peter.[4] Members from the Jolly family included Elizabeth, Vincent, William, Harriet, John and Julia Ann Jolly.[4]

Solomon Chamberlain wrote in his 1858 autobiography that he was baptized shortly after the organization of the church.[4][5]

Ziba Peterson was baptized on April 18.[4] Ezra Thayre was baptized on October 10, 1830.[6]

Preserved Harris, Martin Harris's brother.[3]

Milestones

The Latter Day Saint movement experienced major milestones at its organizations, its conference, and its relocation to Ohio.

Organization of April 6, 1830

On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, and a group of approximately 50 believers met to formally organize the Church of Christ into a legal institution.[7]

First conference of June 9, 1830

The new church's first conference was held on June 9, 1830, in Fayette, N.Y., with 27 members.[8][9]

Departure to Kirtland

In January 1831, Joseph Smith traveled to Kirtland, Ohio.

Table of baptisms

According to one scholar, the first known baptisms include:[4]

NameDate of baptismComments
Joseph Smith Jr. May 15, 1829
Oliver Cowdery May 15, 1829
Samuel H. Smith May 24, 1829
Hyrum Smith June 1829
Joseph Smith Sr. April 6, 1830
Lucy Mack Smith April 6, 1830
Martin Harris April 6, 1830
David Whitmer June 1829 & April 6, 1830
Peter Whitmer Jr. June 1829
Orrin Porter Rockwell April 6, 1830
Sarah Witt Rockwell April 6, 1830
Solomon Chamberlain "a few days" after April 6, 1830

References
  1. "Chapter Six: Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ", Church History In The Fulness Of Times Student Manual, LDS Church, 2003, pp. 67–78
  2. Jenson, Andrew, ed. (1899), "Church Chronology: 1830", Church Chronology: a Record of Important Events Pertaining to the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2nd, rev & enl ed.), Salt Lake City: Deseret News, pp. 4–5, OCLC 14009796
  3. Smith, Lucy Mack (1880) [1853], Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations, Plano, Illinois: Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, p. 180–181
  4. Platt, Lyman D. (1989), "Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints baptized by September 26, 1830" (PDF), Nauvoo Journal, 1
  5. "Autobiography of Solomon Chamberlain, 1788-1862", Journals, Diaries, Biographies, Autobiographies and Letters of Some Early Mormons and Others Who Knew Joseph Smith, Jr. and/or His Contemporaries, Book of Abraham Project, William V. Smith. Note: this is a transcription of a holograph; original manuscript held by the Harold B. Lee Library, BYU.
  6. "Interim Content: Thayer, Ezra", Reference: People of the Time, Joseph Smith Papers Project, Church History Department, LDS Church, retrieved 2014-09-05
  7. Stott, David Keith (2010). "Legal Insights into the Organization of the Church in 1830". BYU Studies. 49 (2): 121–148. Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-09-05. Note 3:David Whitmer estimated the number at fifty, although as many as seventy-three could have been in attendance. See [Larry C.] Porter, "Organizational Origins," 153-55
  8. Barrus, Clair (March 13, 2009), "Mormon History, Jun 1, 1830", Mormon Church History: a detailed chronology of Mormon History (blog), retrieved 2014-09-05
  9. "Interim Content: Minutes, 9 June 1830", The Papers: Documents, 1830, Joseph Smith Papers Project, Church History Department, LDS Church, retrieved 2014-09-05
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