Episode 9: Straight Outta New York

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:00)
I had a very interesting conversation with a woman on the phone the other day at work.
So she first asked about endocrinology books, and I had to disappoint her by saying we had just Mormon titles. Then she said, oh, well, you should have something about Mormons in Europe then.
Knowing that was gonna be kind of a broad topic, I asked some follow-up questions. Turns out she thought Mormonism began in Europe. She was absolutely shocked to learn it started here in the United States. The phrase, how did I not know this before was thrown around very liberally. You're telling me that Mormons, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, that all began in New York? Yep, it did, but it didn't stay there for long.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:42)
Hi, this is Lindsay Hansen Park.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:43)
And this is Bryan Buchanan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:45)
Bringing you the story of Mormonism from the shadow of the everlasting hills, Straight Outta Zion, this isn't your grandpa's Mormon history.
Well, I have sinned so gravely, Brother Brigham, Brother Young. I have sinned so gravely, Brother Young. This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:25)
Gird your loins, lock your hearts, and pay your tithing, because we're bringing you the story of Mormonism in all its paradisiacal glory. It's the Sunstone History Podcast.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:48)
We've talked about some of the seminal events of early Mormonism. The Smith family upbringing, Joseph Smith's First Visions, the Book of Mormon. All of this took place while they lived in New York State.
The movement was still pretty loose through this period. Occasional meetings, but not really a sense of community yet.
As the message of Joseph Smith angels and the Book of Mormon spread, branches developed in South Central New York. Some of them would have an identity that would follow them for years, such as with the Colesville branch. Then the seeds of big changes were planted in a September 1830 revelation. Think back for a minute to our discussion of Oliver Cowdery and his commanding Joseph Smith to change a revelation, and then Hiram Page started getting revelations with a seer stone. Do you remember all of this in previous episodes? The solution was to have Oliver take Hiram, his brother-in-law, aside and straighten him out. Well, the revelation also foreshadowed a life-altering transition. The text of the revelation, which is now Doctrine and Covenants 28 in Mormon scripture, commanded Oliver the following quote, Behold, I say unto you that thou shalt go into the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them and cause my church to be established among them. And thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by the way of commandment. And now behold, I say unto you that it is not revealed and no man knoweth where the city shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter.
So, that's the Lord talking to Joseph Smith, and apparently even Jesus appreciates the value of a good teaser.

**Bryan Buchanan** (3:28)
It seems like this teaser was also kind of a clap back at Hiram Page. His revelations were building to a point where it seems like he was about to tell people where the New Jerusalem would be built, which was a big topic of discussion. A month after the revelation, Caldery and three others, including his brother-in-law Peter Whitmer Jr. and then two new converts, Harley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson, set off to the West on a mission to the Lamanites.
Before leaving, they all signed this contract, to go forth unto the Lamanites, to proclaim glad tidings of great joy into them, by presenting unto them the fullness of the gospel of the only begotten Son of God, and also to rear up a pillar as a witness where the Temple of God shall be built in the glorious New Jerusalem. Obviously, with no Mr. Mack around at the time, outfitting these missionaries is going to be a little bit more complicated. In her memoirs, Lucy Mack Smith noted, As soon as this revelation was received, Emma Smith and several other sisters began to make arrangements to furnish those who were set apart for this mission with the necessary clothing, which was no easy task, as the most of it had to be manufactured out of the raw material.
Emma's health at this time was quite delicate, yet she did not favor herself on this account. But whatever her hands found to do, she did with her might, until she went so far beyond her strength that she brought upon herself a heavy fit of sickness, which lasted four weeks. Thanks.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (5:06)
This missionary journey that the church would go on would be actually responsible for creating sort of a two-headed church.