Anderson - The Savior in Kirtland: Personal Accounts of Divine Manifestations

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Anderson, Karl R., 1937 author.

The Savior in Kirtland : personal accounts of divine manifestations / Karl Ricks Anderson.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-60907-166-0 (paperbound)

1. Jesus ChristApparitions and miraclesOhioKirtland. 2. VisionsOhioKirtland. 3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHistory19th century. 4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsDoctrines. 5. Kirtland Temple. I. Title.

BX8643.J4A53 2012

289.3'771334dc23 2012019685

Printed in the United States of America Malloy Lithographing Incorporated, Ann Arbor, MI

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Elder Neal A. Maxwell

the remarkable modern Apostle and disciple of the Savior who gave me the assignment

Preface

I have devoted more than forty years of my life to working to help fulfill the Lords promise in Doctrine and Covenants 124:83 that He would build up Kirtland. My wife, Joyce, and I, along with our small family, were excited to move to Kirtland in 1967 because of its rich Church history. We fell in love with Joseph Smith and the early Saints, whose deep faith and willingness to sacrifice all that they had to establish this last gospel dispensation made them spiritual giants. They left homes, lands, and in many cases families, to obey the Lords commandment to gather to Kirtland. From there, husbands, fathers, and sons were called to leave Kirtland and go on missions throughout the United States, Canada, and even across the Atlantica giant step to reach the entire world with the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1989, I wrote Joseph Smiths Kirtland to tell the epic story of these brave men and women whom we venerate.

Since that time, it has become evident to me that as important as their story is, the real and too often overlooked story is that of the Savior and how He personally and visibly directed His Church and taught His Saints. As I studied more extensively, many before-unnoticed evidences of Christs leadership came into focus. Indisputable evidences of His divinity and leadership surfaced. It became obvious that early Church members knew and recognized that the Savior was their leader. It became clear that the reason for the Churchs phenomenal and highly improbable growth is that Jesus Christ Himself was in charge and in Kirtland He was fulfilling millennia of promises from the Old and New Testaments as well as from the Book of Mormon.

In 1994, I spent a day with Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a latter-day Apostle, and his family in Kirtland. After we had visited together several sacred sites and reviewed much scripture and history, he asked me to write this book. He noted my knowledge and love of Kirtland and added that there was a mother lode of Christology in Kirtland that had never been mined. He asked me to seek out the Christ-centered teachings and evidences of the Savior in Kirtland and write them. Urging patience, inspiration, and thoroughness in research, he suggested that I let it percolate and cautioned that I not be too quick to publish it. (I am not sure he meant for me to take eighteen yearsI may yet have to answer for that.) Central to his challenge was this: Write it on the Christology of Kirtlandwhat we know that we otherwise would not know, the visions of the universe, and what we gain from the revelations... Combine your insights into Christ and your love of Kirtland with the history.

It is my sincere hope that the essence of Elder Maxwells request has been honored and that he would be happy with the result. In the end, the challenge I faced was how to distill the volumes of scripture, journals, and historical accounts as well as speeches and writings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates. Much more remains yet to be mined. My study of Kirtland has indeed been humbling and life changing, and it promises to be that for all who will seek to find the Savior in Kirtland. It is my desire that members of the Church and others will gain a greater awareness of Kirtlands significance and, more important, the mother lode of Christology that comes to us through this sacred place.

Acknowledgments

I am deeply indebted to the many who made significant contributions to The Savior in Kirtland.

This book would not have been possible without the generous and expert assistance, support and encouragement of Richard Lloyd Anderson. Richard devoted massive amounts of time and offered considerable input. He made himself immediately available day or night. Unselfishly opening his extensive collection of source documents, journals, accounts, and other information, Richard engaged in patient discussion, guidance, consulting, and wise critique. He reviewed drafts, checked sources, made suggestions, and provided invaluable insights. As all who know Richard will attest, he does not seek recognition and will never receive full credit for his influence on so many. As his younger brother, I pay tribute and express my love, brotherhood, and appreciation for his lifelong example.

I am indebted to Carma de Jong Anderson and Tyson Snow for the high quality original drawings that contribute so much to this book. Carma is a recognized artist and the Churchs foremost authority on clothing worn by the early Saints. She generously gave a significant number of hours to carefully supervising the development and accuracy of the drawings. Tyson is a remarkable young artist who is endowed with amazing ability as an artist and sculptor. His exceptional capabilities go beyond artistic skills to an ability to place himself in the situation of his subject. He carefully worked and reworked the drawings to ensure historical accuracy and to convey a feeling for the content of each chapter.

Capable editors contributed to the quality of this book. Longtime family friend and able college English professional Maurine Reintjes contributed significantly. Maurine spent seemingly endless hours editing, making suggestions and adding insights to improve clarity and quality. Richard and Beverly Anderson, newfound friends, gave help at a critical juncture. They spent long hours checking and ensuring footnote accuracy. Using backgrounds in English composition and Church history, they further improved the manuscript by adding summary material, produced charts, and offered suggestions.

I express appreciation to Cory Maxwell of Deseret Book Company for his interest, encouragement, and personal direction of the manuscript. Gratitude is also expressed to Suzanne Brady, managing editor at Deseret Book Company, for her personal interest in the manuscript and mastery of Church history, as well as for her competent and careful editing.

Finally, to my wife and long-suffering companion of fifty years, I express my greatest love, appreciation, and thanks. Without Joyces unfailing support, encouragement, and endurance, this work could never have been accomplished. She patiently worked untold hours, without complaint, typing every word through numerous drafts, proofs, and endless corrections and revisions. She found sources, made suggestions, checked footnotes, filed material and did just about every other mundane duty imaginable in undertaking such a project. Joyce has been part of every major endeavor of my life, including tolerating hundreds of trips through Church history sites, cemeteries, libraries, bookstores etc.