Impressions of a Prophet: Joseph Smith

26: The Martyrdom

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:37:48 +0000

Joseph Smith, having temporarily escaped over the Mississippi to Iowa, is encouraged by Emma, Hyrum, and others to return and turn himself in at Carthage. Prophecies their death and goes. Farewell to Emma and signed blessing, military escort, Hamilton Hotel, strong mob presence, Governor Ford refuses to see them, has them accompany him as he publicly reviews troops, finally speaks with Joseph and prisoners, agrees multiple times to not leave them in Carthage if he leaves town, Joseph prophesies that men who have come to get a look at him will one day wallow in blood, court places him on house arrest, arrest warrant is delivered for treason against the United States, sent to Carthage Jail, John Taylor and Willard Richards, only two members of Twelve not out on political missions, accompany them, Uncle John Smith seeks assistance of prominent Church member and lawyer Almon Babbit - "I've already been hired by the other side", Governor Thomas Ford leaves Carthage without prisoners, leaving them to the mob, mob, painted black, sings, stops singing, heads up stairs, fires through door and from outside, Hyrum and Joseph are killed, John Taylor shot four times but survives, Willard Richards shot through earlobe but no holes in clothing, Willard responds to emergency, promises "we will not retaliate", newspapers report death of Mormonism.

That's it, last episode! Thanks for joining us!!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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On Location: Adam-ondi-Ahman

Clayton Pixton — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 01:49:15 +0000

Well this video lacks some polish to say the least. But hopefully it gives you a taste of the amazing and sacred place, Adam-ondi-Ahman, in western Missouri. As I say in the video, it's the place Adam dwelt after he was expelled from the Garden of Eden and where he will come again prior to the Second Coming of the Savior.

I personally love this place for the special spirit that I feel here. And I love the hymn William W. Phelps wrote about it.

Incidentally, you can find a better recording of that hymn recorded by me on both YouTube and on all major music services if you care to look it up.

Take care!

25: The Road to Carthage

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000

William Law and the Nauvoo Expositor call for Nauvoo city charter to be revoked, after lengthy deliberation city council resolves to destroy press, Sheriff John P. Greene carries out order with overabundance of volunteers, Law and other proprietors later set fire to building, citizens extinguish fire, arrest warrants are issued to Joseph & Hyrum for rioting in streets and destruction of press, for first two warrants Joseph is able to stand trial before friendly judge, line of aggression is set up by enemies of the Church between Carthage and Nauvoo, Nauvoo placed under lockdown, Governor Ford arrives in Carthage despite invitations to come to Nauvoo, 3rd arrest warrant is issued with no recourse to stand before friendly judge, Joseph immediately sends for remaining ten of twelve out on political missions, Joseph and Hyrum temporarily go across river to Iowa, then after encouragement from friends and Emma it is resolved for he and Hyrum to submit to warrant and go to Carthage despite Joseph's predictions, Joseph and Hyrum say goodbye to families, Joseph tells Emma to write out a blessing that he will then sign, Joseph makes statements on his way to Carthage early in the morning that foreshadow his death...

Song today is The Unknown Grave, by David Hyrum Smith - Joseph and Emma's (at this time unborn) son.

Almost done!

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24: The Relief Society - A Monument to Women

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Susan tells us the story of the origins of the largest female organization in the world, the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The original idea from some women in Nauvoo was to create a benevolent society (common in that time). Eliza R. Snow was asked to write up a constitution for it, which she did and then took to Joseph Smith to review. He responded by saying the Lord had something better for them, that would be organized not as a society of man (women), but under the priesthood itself and after its pattern.

Susan then tells us the story of and takes us through the largest memorial to women in the world, the Women Memorial Garden in Nauvoo.

We hope you'll follow us through this amazing account and gain from the lessons Susan draws from the story and the memorial garden. Thanks for being with us!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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23: Joseph Smith for President

Clayton Pixton — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:22:12 +0000

Leading up to the presidential election of 1844, Joseph Smith and other church leaders counseled about who should get their vote. None of the alternatives seeming desirable, it was finally proposed that General Joseph Smith run himself. This he did, eventually finding a running mate in Sidney Rigdon. Neither of them were known to ever actively campaign. But Brigham Young, then kind of leading the newly organized Council of Fifty, gets Joseph to agree to let him ask for political volunteers to campaign for Joseph. These include, then, the likes of Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Orson and Parley Pratt, Orson Hyde, and William Smith, who go to various parts of the country to campaign for Joseph and his presidential platform.

What was included in that platform? What was the Council of Fifty about? Who did Joseph say couldn't go campaign and why? Who did Joseph find was conspiring to thwart his campaign? What ultimately happened with that? Who ended up winning the election and what did they do relating to Manifest Destiny? What does all this teach us about how we should act in relation to our own country?

Get the answers to these questions and more, also an original arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner, on this episode.

Good to have you back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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22: The Nauvoo Temple - Past and Present

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode Susan talks about a central focus of the prophet and the saints in Nauvoo - the temple. We know from a previous episode that Joseph had received revelation and instituted baptisms for the dead, and a font was built for that purpose on the site of the Nauvoo temple, sheltered by a wooden structure with a pitched roof. Around that structure the temple was built, much of the time with armed guards to protect it and its workmen.

Where was the endowment first given (it wasn't in the temple), and to whom? What was the temple built out of? Who was the architect and who directed him? What other temples had been built before or had at least cornerstones laid, in our dispensation? Who donated the land for the temple and then became a member of the Church? Who made the first temple clothing? Did the progress on the temple halt when Joseph Smith was martyred? (No.) Why did Brigham Young finish the temple before leaving the town and going west, even though he knew it would immediately fall out of their hands?

What happened to the temple? How was the property later aquired by the Church in the 1930s? Which modern prophet announced its reconstruction?

All these questions and more are brilliantly answered in this episode. Enjoy!

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Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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21: Nauvoo, the City Beautiful

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

If you visit Nauvoo today (2020s), you'll see a small agrarian town. But in its heyday when it was the gathering place for the saints, it was a thriving center of religious, civic, business and cultural life, whose population briefly rivaled that of Chicago. In this episode Susan tells us some fascinating facts about life in Nauvoo at this time.

Some quick facts:

Nauvoo is largely the result of the vision of Joseph Smith, who wanted it to be a "light unto the world".
Typical houses often had their own garden and included a shop of some kind.
Many people lived out in farming communities in the farming months and returned in between.
The Lord called the stake of Nauvoo "a cornerstone of Zion".
Wards were invented in Nauvoo, named after political wards.
Saints in the outside farming communities would come into town to go to General Conference, bury their dead, go to the temple, and shop (which the men did).
There were no banks.
And more...

Glad you can join us!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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20: Commerce and Baptism for the Dead

Clayton Pixton — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 21:05:36 +0000

In this episode we talk about the history of the place we now call Nauvoo, the reason so many died there when the saints first arrived, and a glorious revelation that followed regarding those who have died without baptism.

What were the two names for Nauvoo before it was Nauvoo? Why did the saints buy it? Why were the saints dying in such large numbers when they arrived? What revelation did Joseph Smith receive regarding those who had died without baptism? Who performed the first baptism for the dead and for whom? Where did the baptisms take place at first, and then after that? (Sorry for teasing you so much.)

Learn the answers to these questions and more. Good to have you back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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19: Quincy and the Mission of the Twelve

Clayton Pixton — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 02:20:44 +0000

As the latter-day saints were running for their lives from Missouri, following the Extermination Order, east to Illinois, the town they came to was Quincy, just over the Mississippi River. What makes Quincy remarkable is the kindness of the people there, who took in more than triple their population and, in contrast to people they had lived among previously, continued to support them and seek their relief until the saints were able to move on, in this case, just north to what came to be Nauvoo.

Quincy also was known for helping slaves escape to the north (the underground railroad) and helping Native Americans along the trail of tears.

President Gordon B. Hinkley said of them: "In the annals of our Church, the city of Quincy and its citizens will always occupy a position of the highest esteem. We shall always be grateful for the kindness, the hospitality, the civility with which your people met our people who were exiles from the state of Missouri."

Susan thinks the city has been blessed over the years.

At the time the saints were received into Quincy, Joseph Smith and those with him were still incarcerated in Liberty Jail. Brigham Young, the now-president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the one who led the saints' exodus from Missouri and their gathering there.

Soon after, Brigham also led the fulfilment of a prophecy by the prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph had received a revelation that the Twelve were to leave for missions to England, and the place they were to leave from was the temple site at Far West. Even though that place was the opposite direction from England by almost 200 miles and in enemy territory, Brigham went against the advice of some and went, as did the rest of the existing Twelve.

Who did they meet there unexpectedly? How did they escape detection by their enemies? Who was added to the Quorum at that time? What prominent leaders joined the Church in Quincy?

Hear these and other great stories in this episode. Glad to have you - as always!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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18: Alexander Doniphan

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 13 May 2025 23:19:45 +0000

We take a moment in our account to talk about a great friend to the saints and a remarkable man - Alexander Doniphan. While others in positions of influence were seeking to harm the saints Doniphan, a lawyer, stood up for them and stood up for justice, showing an integrity seemingly lacking in others at the time. At a moment when Joseph Smith and others were about to be killed, he defied his superior officer and refused to carry out the order and threatened that officer with legal action if he carried it out, effectively saving their lives.

What was his background? What was he well known for? What else did he do in his career? What was his family life like? Where did he stand during the Civil War? What did he think of Lincoln? What tragedies did he face? Who named a son after him? What is named after him today?

Find the answers to these questions and more in this episode. Good to have you back! Please tell a friend!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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17: Prisoners for Christ's Sake

Clayton Pixton — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:16:18 +0000

As we discussed last time, Joseph Smith and others were taken prisoners in Far West on Oct 31 of 1838. A death sentence was passed on them, but they were effectively saved from execution by Alexander Doniphan. While their lives were spared, they were incarcerated for the next five months.

Why were they taken prisoners in the first place? What happened to Far West after the prisoners were taken? How did their trial in Richmond, Missouri go? Which three prisons were they incarcerated in? What were conditions like? What revelations were received in prison?

Which apostle visited them in prison and picked Illinois as the next gathering place for the saints?

What happened to General Clark (led atrocities in Far West) and Judge Austin King (sentenced Latter-day Saint leaders to prison) later in life? (Each was elected governor of Missouri.)

Find out the answers to these questions and more in this episode! Glad you can join us!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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16: The Missouri Extermination Order

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Learn about the events that led up to the infamous Extermination Order by Governor Boggs of Missouri in 1838. It reads in part, "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description".

What made Governor Boggs, and indeed many Missourians, believe they were justified in expulsing fellow American citizens from an entire state and depriving them of their property and other rights, even their lives in some cases, without any compensation or justice?

What good-faith efforts were made to learn the truth of what the Mormons had done or were planning on doing, prior to issuing the order? (None I know of.) Were these citizens or their descendants ever compensated for their losses? (No.) What punishment did the perpetrators of violence suffer? (None.) What did the United States government do when these grievances were brought before them? (Nothing.) When was the Extermination Order rescinded? (1976.)

Alright, well it's hard not to be mad about it, and unfortunately it hangs over the state of Missouri and the United States still.

But despite the somber and tragic nature of the topic, we can learn many things from the episode. Hope you learn some! Thanks for being here again!

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On Location - Independence, Missouri

Clayton Pixton — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 20:25:07 +0000

This is a video-only episode (except the little explanation version I do separately). For the video go to: https://youtu.be/9ModX2-auQo (YouTube). If you happen to be listening on Spotify then click the little switch to go to the video version.

In this episode I take you on location to Independence, Missouri! We believe this is the place the Lord designated as the center place for the gathering of Israel in the last days and as the place that the New Jerusalem will be built, which will be a great center of the Church, along with the old Jerusalem, when the Savior comes to reign on earth.

Right now (in 2025) you can see it's not quite ready. But I can show you the layout of the land, including the dedicated temple site, the visitor's center and other buildings owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Community of Christ, etc.

I worked hard on this, so hope you enjoy!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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15: Call of the Twelve and Clay County

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0000

After the saints got kicked out of Independence, Missouri, fleeing north over the river to Clay County (Missouri - mostly Liberty), and had been there a couple of years, it became apparent that the local residents there didn't want the saints among them any more than did their cousins in Jackson county, and legal and extra-legal means were used to expel them. It was even voted in a ___ meeting that they be sent to hell. Then they decided Wisconsin would suffice, but Alexander Doniphan, a Liberty lawyer and general, used his influence to create two new counties to the north in Missouri - Caldwell and Daviess - where the saints could go live.

Caldwell is where they settled a town called Far West.

We also talk about the call of the first twelve apostles in our dispensation. Who were they? Who was commissioned to select them? Who stayed faithful and who didn't, and who left and then came back? And why did so many even in high leadership in the early days waver as they did?

Who was the "stake presidency" in Far West? What led to their being cut off from the Church? Who else left or was cut off from the church in Far West? How was Joseph Smith doing during this time, emotionally and financially? What revelations came during this time? Can Clayton get through three verses of Ye Elders of Israel without messing up? (No)

Find out the answers to all these questions and more on this episode. Thanks to Susan as always!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

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14: The Fall of Zion and Zion's Camp

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

From the last episode we learned why around 1200 saints had moved from Kirtland, OH to Independence, MO, with more on the way. In this episode we learn about how the locals, who were largely frontiersmen and former southerners, didn't love the idea of the northerner religious saints moving in and kind of taking over (for some reason).

Unfortunately the way the differences were handled on the Missourians' side was to resort to mob violence and other such unlawful means to make their feelings known and to force the saints out of the area. Members of the Church were killed, beaten, abused, their property destroyed, etc. until they were driven out of Independence without any compensation for the property they left behind. The political leaders did not come to their aid. They crossed the Missouri river one night to the north into Clay County (Missouri) where they were received, temporarily at least.

Why did the Missourians have such beef with the saints? What did Joseph Smith and the saints in Kirtland do when they found out? What did the Lord direct them to do to redeem Zion? What was the biggest problem in that effort (Zion's Camp) and what was a tragic result? What miracles occurred? Why did it ultimately fail in its supposed purpose? What essential actual purpose did Joseph Smith say it served? What did Brigham Young say about the experience? What did the Lord say about why the saints couldn't redeem Zion? What did He say about when Zion WOULD be redeemed? What song did Clayton sing this time?

Get the answers to these questions and more on this episode. Glad you can join us!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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13: Independence - The New Jerusalem

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

The Lord revealed the "center place" for the gathering of the saints in the last days, and the place of Zion, the New Jerusalem, in 1831 to Joseph Smith. The place was Independence, Missouri - a city at that time on the western boundary of the United States (west of that was all Indian territory).

At that time it was occupied by white settlers, with whom the idea that the land was consecrated for the Lord's people did not sit well.

In this episode we talk about how the Lord made this land known to His prophet, how the saints attempted to settle there, why and how they were soon expelled, and how they attempted to redeem Zion in what was called Zion's Camp.

Why weren't the early saints successful in inhabiting Zion? What did they do wrong, if anything? Why did the Lord command His people to go to Zion if He knew they'd be kicked out? Why did He send them to redeem Zion if He knew they wouldn't be successful? What good came out of Zion's camp? Did the Lord appoint a new location? (No.) What did the Lord say about appointing a new location?

Get answers to these questions and more (and hear a great rendition of "Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing") on this episode.

Glad to have you back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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12: Blessings Predicated on Righteousness

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode Susan does a study on the lives of several of the men who knew the prophet Joseph, to see how their faithfulness over the years affected their blessings. (Susan has studied EVERY person who knew the prophet Joseph.)

Here we talk about Heber C. Kimball, James E. Talmage (who was not contemporary with the prophet), Brigham Young, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Thomas B. Marsh, Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, John W. Boynton, David Whitmer, William McLellin, William Law, and Almon W. Babbitt.

Some (1) never faltered in their loyalty to the Lord's prophet and His Church. Some (2) did depart for a time, ranging from a matter of weeks to decades, but then returned. Some (3) left and never returned. And finally (4), some left and afterward fought against the Church.

What happened to these men in the ensuing years of their lives? Can we see patterns for how their choices bore consequences? What blessings can be expected to be had, or missed, depending on one's faithfulness? And what can we learn about how to maintain our own testimonies?

Get the answers to these questions and more in this episode. Hope you enjoy!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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11: The Kirtland Safety Society and the Fall of Kirtland

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode we delve into the Kirtland Safety Society and how when it failed, many members of the Church left, some temporarily and some permanently, including members of the Quorum of the Twelve.

The Kirtland Safety Society was basically a bank that was founded by Joseph Smith and other principal leaders of the Church. We talk about its founding, its collapse with the national banking crisis of 1837 (the same year it was formed), and what members of the church did in response.

Why did they think it was a good idea to form it in the first place? Who invested money and who didn't? What happened to the money that was invested? What were people saying about Joseph when it failed? Who stayed by Joseph and who didn't? What did the Lord say about their time in Kirtland at the end of it all?

Find the answers to these questions and more - hope you enjoy!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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10: Kirtland Revelations

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Revelations to Joseph Smith given in Kirtland, Ohio - Stories of how they came to be, how they were copied, who they were to, what they were about, the most and least popular, the "White Horse Prophecies", visions in the Kirtland Temple, and the Tragedy of Kirtland (Kirtland Safety Society).

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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9: Gathering to Ohio, Tar and Feathering

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In February of 1831, the Lord having just previously commanded the people of the church to gather to Ohio, Joseph and Emma arrive (first) in Kirtland. Two months later Emma gives birth to twins, both of whom die within a few hours. Shortly thereafter Joseph and Julia Murdock’s twins are born but Julia dies in childbirth, and Joseph gives the twins to Joseph and Emma, who adopt them. Their names are Joseph Smith Murdock (Smith) and Julia Murdock (Smith).

Joseph is instructed by the Lord to translate the bible, and selects as his scribe Sidney Rigdon, a recent convert from Ohio and Parley P. Pratt’s former minister and friend.

When Joseph and Emma first came to Ohio they lived in Kirtland on the upper floor of Newell K. Whitney’s store. There were many visitors and it became very difficult for Joseph to translate. A way opened for them to go to a nearby town called Hiram and stay in the home of John and Elsa Johnson.

The Johnsons had joined the church just previously. “Father” John Johnson had been curious about Joseph Smith and the Church, Joseph had visited him (with John’s Methodist minister Ezra Booth present) and Joseph had been an instrument in healing Elsa’s arm. John, Elsa, and Ezra had been baptized.

Ezra had been called on a mission back to Hiram, a result of which was that a local Campbellite minister named Symonds Ryder was converted. Symonds, the wealthiest man in town in terms of land and a prominent citizen, is called on a mission replacing a 17-year-old who had changed his mind, and asks for Joseph to write out his ordination certificate. In it Joseph misspells his name, Symonds reasons he can’t be a true prophet and at least partly for this reason apostatizes. Ezra also apostatizes, sending a series of letters to the Ohio Star with his grievances.

Ok this is taking too long. Summarizing more: After Joseph receives the glorious revelation on the kingdoms of glory (Section 76) he is tarred and feathered by Symonds and others, which, to be clear, is an attempt on his life, he survives.

The story is really interesting, so I hope you can listen! Have a great one!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

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8: The Church is Organized

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000

April 6, 1830 "The Church of Christ" is officially organized in Fayette, New York in the home of Peter and Mary Whitmer. Just one month prior, the Book of Mormon had been published. Between then and the Church's organization believers in the Book of Mormon would meet on weekdays but go to their old churches on Sunday. Some members had been baptized before the organizational meeting on April 6.

A revelation (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20) was given at that founding meeting, which contained basic principles including the duties of members and of the priesthood, their meetings, and the sacrament, and can be considered a kind of constitution for the Church.

The first official missionary for the church is Samuel Smith, brother of the prophet, who goes to Mendon, NY. The mission lasts three days, he is unable to sell any copies of the Book of Mormon, but gives two away, one of which later falls into the hands of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.

More missionaries are called (they're not called missionaries - they're called to "go on a journey" to preach the gospel). First "foreign" missionaries are Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer Jr., and Ziba Peterson, who are called to go west "unto the Lamanites". They go as far as Independence, Missouri and are thus the first to step foot in the land soon to be designated as Zion, or the New Jerusalem. As they pass through Kirtland, Ohio, many are baptized (127 people), including Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, and Newell K. Whitney.

Statistics of the early church: More men than women, most common first name is John for men, Mary for women, most common surname is Smith, average age is 23, ancestry is mostly from the British Isles, 2nd generation get a lot of Book of Mormon names.

In the early days the Church was commanded to gather - first to Kirtland, then to places like Nauvoo and the Salt Lake Valley. It wasn't until Heber J. Grant (in 1923?) that members in California were told they didn't need to gather, that they could be "in the world but not of the world".

Missionaries continue to be called today, including young Elders, young Sisters, and senior missionaries. We hope you'll talk to them!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

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Clayton Pixton on Spotify

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7: The Book of Mormon - a Witness for Christ

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Learn the amazing story of how the Book of Mormon came forth, and some popular theories.

Translation "by the gift and power of God", printing by E. B. Grandin in Palmyra, NY, its sale, various theories on how Joseph Smith produced the book, how often it speaks of Christ, His several names as stated in the Book of Mormon, what it reveals about the nature of God, what it says about how to find happiness and peace, how to know for yourself if it is true, etc.

Glad to have you back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

6: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000

This episode is about Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, two of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon (along with Martin Harris). Both men performed great service in the early days of the restored Church. Both in time separated themselves from the Church and the prophet Joseph Smith. Oliver Cowdery at the end of his life responded to efforts to seek him out and joined the Church before his death. David Whitmer never did come back in his lifetime. Both men stayed true to their testimonies of the Book of Mormon their whole lives.

Good to see you back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

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Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

5: Emma Smith

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Emma's birth in Harmony, PA (1804), her father Isaac Hale, family more well-to-do than Smiths, meets Joseph, they elope, she has 11 children in all, 5 of which live to maturity, accompanies Joseph to Hill Cumorah, writes for Joseph as he translates plates until Oliver Cowdery is sent, testifies of veracity of Book of Mormon, revelation is given to Emma (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25) where she is commissioned to make a collection of sacred hymns, Joseph and Emma move to Hyrum, OH, Joseph is tarred and feathered, son Joseph Murdock Smith dies, they move to upper floor of Newel K Whitney's store, Emma receives patriarchal blessing in which she is promised she will be saved in the kingdom of heaven, they move to Far West, extermination order by Lilburn W Boggs leads to Joseph being sent to jail, Emma is left to flee Missouri with children without husband, goes to Quincy, IL, living with Sarah Cleveland, then to Commerce, IL (later named Nauvoo), 1842 Emma is elected president of the newly-organized Relief Society, selects Elizabeth Whitney and Sarah Cleveland as counselors, Eliza R Snow as secretary, women didn't teach each other, taught by Joseph Smith, John Taylor, Willard Richards, Joseph taught women to bridle tongues and provoke husbands to righteousness, Relief Society lasts 2 years, Joseph is martyred, Emma becomes a widow, last son David Hyrum is born, Brigham Young instructs saints to leave Nauvoo (and United States), many departing saints give their property to Emma, Battle of Nauvoo, puts Mansion House up for sale, moves to Fulton, IL, finds out her furnishings are being sold, comes back to Nauvoo, opens her house as hotel, Lewis Bidamon, a formerly-married bachelor, moves into hotel, Emma and he are married, Nauvoo loses appeal when temple is destroyed, hotel business tanks, Bidamon goes to California for gold, this fails, he returns, he has illicit relationship with a Nancy, they have a child (Charlie), and continue to reside in Emma's house, in 1860 joins Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of five children Julia marries catholic man and becomes catholic, Joseph Smith III serves as prophet of Reorganized Church for ~50 years, Frederick dies at age 26, Alexander and David serve as apostles of Reorganized Church, David briefly in first presidency, David ultimately is incarcerated in insane asylum for the rest of his days, Emma dies at age 74, friction between Emma and Brigham Young, concluding thoughts.

Good to have you back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

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4: Martin Harris - Uncompromising Witness of the Book of Mormon

Clayton Pixton — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Martin Harris' father (Nathan) has money, his occupation, Martin's youth in the Quaker church, he manages his father's business, marries cousin Lucy Harris, war of 1812, becomes "gentleman farmer", investigates many churches, finally describes himself as an "unchurched Christian", hires Joseph Smith Sr. and Hyrum, meets Joseph, gives him money for his journey to Harmony, PA to translate, Martin takes characters from plates to New York, Martin's and Lucy's marriage strained over Joseph Smith and the gold plates, Martin takes 116 translated pages to Palmyra, breaks covenant with the Lord (to show them only to a confined group of people), pages go missing, Lucy Harris takes Joseph Smith to court, Martin is no longer asked to be scribe for Joseph to translate, Martin privileged with heavenly witness of the Book of Mormon (along with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer), Martin finances the publishing of the Book of Mormon, eventually makes it to Salt Lake, comments while looking over the valley, "Who would guess the Book of Mormon could have done all of this?"

Thanks for coming back!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

Clayton Pixton on Apple Music

3: Angel Moroni and a Period of Preparation

Clayton Pixton — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 18:56:37 +0000

Joseph Smith's youth after the First Vision, Porter Rockwell, visit by Moroni, the Hill Cumorah, family discussions about the Nephites, death of Alvin Smith, Joseph meets Martin Harris, marries Emma Hale, translation of the plates, publishing of the Book of Mormon, popular theories on how it came to be, etc.

Thanks for being here!

Susan Easton Black on Amazon

Susan Easton Black at Deseret Book

Clayton Pixton on Spotify

Clayton Pixton on Apple Music