The scores of people mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants form a fascinating mosaic of diverse personalities and characters.
Many, like Edward Partridge, embraced the gospel, endured persecutions and trials for the sake of their faith, and remained true until their deaths. Others, like William E. McLellin, had immense potential, but due to character weaknesses, apostatized and became bitter enemies of the Church.Still others, like Oliver Cowdery and Thomas B. Marsh, fell away for a season, then repented and returned to the fold.
This article, the first installment of two parts, briefly examines some of the people in the Doctrine and Covenants. The second part will be published in next week's Church News.
Major N. Ashley - Called at a conference in Amherst, Ohio, in January 1832 to accompany Burr Riggs on a missionary journey into the South. (D&C 75:17.) He left the Church in 1838 and took part in mob action against the Church at Haun's Mill that year.
Wheeler Baldwin - Called June 7, 1831, to journey to Missouri with William Carter. (D&C 52:31.) In March 1840, he was appointed to a committee with Lyman Wight and Abraham O. Smoot to obtain affidavits and documents to be forwarded to the nation's capital regarding the grievances and needs of the saints. He joined with the Cutlerites and Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1863. He died May 11, 1887, in Stewartsville, Mo.
Ezra T. Benson - A member of the Quorum of the Twelve, called by President Brigham Young on Jan. 14, 1847, to organize a company for the westward journey. (D&C 136:12.) He later led the settlement of Tooele Valley in Utah and Cache Valley in Utah and Idaho. He is the great-grandfather of President Ezra Taft Benson.
Reynolds Cahoon - Called in two instances in the Doctrine and Covenants to labor with Samuel H. Smith. (D&C 52:30; 61:35). He received an inheritance in Kirtland from the Lord (D&C 94:14) and was on the three-man building committee for the temple there. He was one of those who persuaded the Prophet Joseph Smith to place his life in the hands of Carthage authorities, which led to the Prophet's subsequent martyrdom. Brigham Young appointed him captain of a company of saints that left Nauvoo in October 1845.
Oliver Cowdery - One of the first two men, along with Joseph Smith, ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood in this dispensation by John the Baptist. (Section 13.) They later received the Melchizedek Priesthood under the hands of Peter, James and John. Oliver Cowdery was one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. (D&C 17:3.) He was an apostle and second elder in the Church, with authority above the other counselors in the First Presidency. He was excommunicated in 1838 after becoming disaffected with the Prophet, but repented and was rebaptized Nov. 12, 1848, and made arrangements to come to Utah, but died soon after while on a visit to the Whitmers in Missouri.
Thomas Grover - A member of the high council at Nauvoo. (D&C 124:132.) He joined the Church in Freedom, N.Y., after hearing the gospel preached by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. Later, after moving to Kirtland, he loaned the Prophet all the money he could spare to help support the Church. He refused to receive back the money, saying he had sufficient for his needs without it. He rendered numerous acts of charity to widows and orphans among the saints. He was one of Joseph Smith's bodyguards, and helped secure the Prophet's release from renegade sheriffs from Missouri who had kidnapped the Prophet. He died in 1886 in Farmington, Utah, a few days after bearing testimony of Joseph Smith and the gospel in sacrament meeting.
Levi W. Hancock - Called on June 7, 1831, to journey to Missouri with Zebedee Coltrin. (D&C 52:29.) Elder Hancock was one of the seven presidents of seventies. (D&C 124:138.) Baptized Nov. 16, 1830, he was a member of Zion's Camp and the Mormon Battalion. The only General Authority to serve with the battalion, he was its chaplain. On one occasion, Elder Hancock baptized a non-Mormon who wanted to join the battalion. On raising the man from the water, Elder Hancock said, "If I have baptized a murderer it will do him no good." The stranger subsequently confessed to having killed his brother.
Martin Harris - Scribe to Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Mormon. He was responsible for the loss of 116 pages of Book of Mormon manuscript. (Section 3.) He was one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and served on the first high council. (D&C 102:3, 34.) He was excommunicated in 1837 but came to Utah in 1870 and was rebaptized. He died July 9, 1875, in Clarkston, Utah.
Elias Higbee - Asked questions about Isaiah 52 answered by the Prophet in Section 113 (verses 7-10.) He was the Church recorder from 1838-43. He was ordained a high priest on Aug. 7, 1834, by Elder Orson Pratt and later served as a missionary. He helped in the construction of the Kirtland Temple and served on the committee charged with construction of the Nauvoo Temple. He died in Nauvoo June 8, 1843, having endured much persecution for the sake of the gospel.
Orson Hyde - Section 68 was given at the request of Elder Hyde and others. Although directed to them, much of it pertains to the whole Church. He was called to accompany Samuel Smith on a mission "into the eastern countries." (D&C 75:13.) He was clerk of the Kirtland High Council, and in February 1835 became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. (D&C 124:129.) Previously affiliated with the Campbellite movement through the influence of then-Campbellite preacher Sidney Rigdon, Hyde preached against Mormonism. But he repented and was baptized into the Church. Among his numerous missions was a journey to Palestine, where, on Oct. 24, 1841, he dedicated the land to the return of scattered Judah.
Heber C. Kimball - Named in 124:129 as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, one of the original members called in February 1835. Of that group, Joseph Smith later said all but Elder Kimball and Brigham Young had "lifted their heel" against him. He became a counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency in 1847. He was known for his gift of prophecy and for his kindness to widows and the fatherless. He died in Salt Lake City on June 22, 1868. He was the grandfather of President Spencer W. Kimball.
Joseph Knight Sr. - The revelation in Section 12 was given at the request of Knight, who several times gave material assistance for the work of translating the Book of Mormon. Faithful to the end, he died Feb. 3, 1847, during the saints' westward trek.
Newel Knight - A son of Joseph Knight, he is mentioned in 52:32; 54:2; 56:6-7; and 124:132. In 1830, Joseph Smith cast a devil from Newel Knight. The Prophet called it the "first miracle of the Church." In June, he received a great spiritual manifestation, seeing the Lord Jesus Christ and a vision of the "great work" to be accomplished through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith. He died during the westward trek.
Thomas B. Marsh - The subject of revelations in sections 31 and 112, and mentioned in Sections 52, 56 and 75, Marsh was a missionary, physician to the Church and the first president of the Quorum of the Twelve. His taking offense at a trivial matter led to his apostasy from the Church and excommunication on March 17, 1839. He rejoined the Church in July 1857. Speaking at a service in Salt Lake City the following Sunday, he warned that no members should feel too secure but should take heed lest they also fall. He died in January 1866 at Ogden, Utah.
William B. McLellin - Sections 66 and 68 were revealed at his request. In October 1831, he was promised by the Savior that he would "have a crown of eternal life at the right hand of my Father" if he remained faithful. He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. But he was rebellious, as shown by his attempting to write a revelation as good as those in the Book of Commandments and failing in the attempt. His rebellious nature led to his excommunication May 11, 1838. He later participated in the mobbing of the saints in Missouri and once sought permission to flog Joseph Smith while the prophet was in prison at Richmond, Mo.
Edward Partridge - Mentioned often in the Doctrine and Covenants, in Sections 41, 42, 50, 51, 52, 57, 58, 60, 64, 115 and 124. The Lord said in 41:11, that, like Nathanael of old, Edward Partridge "had no guile." One of the early converts from the Campbellite movement, he was called Feb. 4, 1831, as the first bishop of the Church. Later, rather than renounce his faith, he submitted to public tarring and feathering during the persecutions in Missouri. He died May 27, 1840, at the age of 40, his health having suffered from the persecutions. The Lord said later in 124:19 that Edward Partridge "is with me at this time."