A Concise History of Kirtland

by Howick, E. Keith

• ISBN13: 9781886249165
• ISBN10: 1886249164
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-06-02
• Publisher: Windriver Pub Inc

Summary

In the early 1800s, God called a latter-day prophet, established His Church, and restored the sign of the Covenant of Abraham. The Times of the Gentiles were thus fulfilled, but a tempest raged in the hearts of men. The spirit of persecution followed the Prophet Joseph Smith wherever he went. In Hiram, Ohio, he was dragged from his bed, stripped of his clothing, and covered in hot tar. Each restored truth brought new trials for both the Prophet and the Saints as adversaries from New York to the Ohio fought the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To protect the Saints, the Lord commanded the Church to move to Kirtland. During the few short years they were there, revelation burst forth; the Savior appeared; gifts of the Spirit were exercised; the keys of the kingdom were restored by Moses, Elias, and Elijah; and the Messiah accepted the first temple to be built in His name in almost two thousand years.

Author Biography

E. Keith Howick was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He served his mission in the West Central States mission (today the Montana, Billings mission). Upon his return, he married Gail Braithwaite and attended the University of Utah, from which he received Baccalaureate and Masters degrees in Political Science and a Juris Doctor degree in Law. Brother Howick and his wife have six children and ten grandchildren.Brother Howick has enjoyed a long career teaching the Gospel. While on his mission he began compiling his first book, the Index to The History of the Church, which is still published by Deseret Book. More recently, he presented a series of firesides in the St. George Tabernacle discussing the life of our Savior. He has taught New Testament and Church History classes at Brigham Young University, New Testament classes at the University of Utah and Montana State University Institutes of Religion, and The Book of Mormon during early morning Seminary. He has served as a substitute teacher for CES, has spoken at regional and local firesides, and has taught countless Gospel Doctrine classes.Over the years, Brother Howick has served a stake mission and in a stake mission presidency, as ward mission leader, ward Seventies Group Leader, Branch President and Bishop. During these years he wrote his first books about the Savior, The Life of Jesus the Messiah series, that discuss the life of Jesus Christ topically. During the last three years, Brother Howick has published the Challenged by the Restoration series of activity and study books and Prophets of the Old Testament. He also writes weekly e-mail newsletters about the Gospel, Joseph Smith, and the Restoration.Brother Howick is currently the Gospel Doctrine teacher and assistant Melchizedek Priesthood leader in the Wallace Branch of the Hayden Lake Idaho Stake.

Excerpts

On May 6, 1832, Joseph left Independence in the company of Sidney Rigdon and Bishop Whitney to return to Kirtland. Their intended route took them by coach from Independence (via St. Louis), across Indiana, and into New Albany, Indiana, near the falls of the Ohio River. Just before they arrived in New Albany, Joseph reported that the coach’s horses were frightened by something and started galloping at their full speed. To save themselves from impending disaster, the brethren decided to jump from the coach. Bishop Whitney jumped first, but caught his foot in the wheel of the coach. His leg and foot were broken in several places. Joseph jumped from the coach unhurt. We’re not told if Sidney jumped or not.

Because of Bishop Whitney’s injuries, they stopped at Mr. Porter’s Public House in Greenville, Indiana. They were forced to stay there for four weeks while Bishop Whitney’s injuries healed. Sidney, apparently unhurt in the incident, continued on to Kirtland.