Category: Morley

The historical background of Doctrine and Covenants 137

Milton V. Backman Jr., “Witnesses of the Glories of Heaven,” Ensign, Mar. 1981, 59

As members of the Church, we read with joy and gratitude the experience of the Prophet Joseph Smith viewing the glories of the celestial kingdom, and we share some of his own happiness at seeing his beloved brother, Alvin, in that sacred location. But we may not realize that the ten short verses that will appear in new editions of the Doctrine and Covenants later this year as Section 137 (formerly Joseph Smith—Vision, in the Pearl of Great Price) record only one event—even though a very significant one—in a period of Church history when the Lord’s spirit was being poured out upon the Saints in blessing upon blessing.
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Doctrine and Covenants and Church History

From New York to Utah: Seven Church Headquarters

Each place that served as Church headquarters has its own significance in the development of the restored Church.

Keith W. Perkins, “From New York to Utah: Seven Church Headquarters,” Ensign, Aug. 2001, 52

Today it is easy for us to identify Church headquarters as Salt Lake City, Utah. But at various times from 1830 to 1848 if a friend had asked a Church member, “Where is the headquarters of your church?” the answer would not always have been so simple.
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Mary Pratt Parrish, “Food for the Winter,” Friend, Nov. 1971, 42
When Tommy, Betsy, and their parents left Nauvoo, they had enough food to last for one year. They hoped this would be enough food to sustain them until they reached the valley out west and could plant and harvest their own crops. But now they were still at Winter Quarters, and they would be there until next spring.
Continue reading Food for the Winter

Mary Pratt Parrish, “An Indian Never Forgets,” Friend, Sept. 1971, 14
It was a lazy day in August. The sun was hot, and Tommy and Elija were lying on the ground near the creek, enjoying the shade of a big cottonwood tree. They had been assigned to watch the thirty head of cattle, which were grazing a half mile upstream.
Continue reading An Indian Never Forgets

By S. George Ellsworth Ensign, Oct. 1995, 30

Using a combination of faith and muscle, Latter-day Saint pioneers established homes, farms, and communities in the southwestern United States.

In November, Isaac Morley was called to preside over the proposed settlement. Some 224 persons were called by name from the pulpit to settle Sanpete Valley. No sooner had they arrived on 22 November 1849 than snow fell and a bitter-cold winter closed in on them.

Continue reading Ensign: Heeding the Prophet’s Call

Ensign, Jan. 1979, 31

In the Ensign’s continuing tour of Church history sites, we move this month to Kirtland, Ohio, the first real community of the Latter-day Saints and site of the first temple constructed in this dispensation. Keith Perkins of BYU’s Church History and Doctrine Department accompanied our photographers, Jed A. Clark and Lonny Lonczyna, Jr., to photograph these sites. He also provided the detailed map of Kirtland village in 1837 included here, and material for the captions. The interior photographs of the Kirtland Temple come from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headquartered in Independence, Missouri, which owns, maintains, and operates this historic building today.

Looking west across Kirtland township, we see the temple at the top center. The white house across from the plowed fields is on Isaac Morley’s farm. Joseph Smith may have lived in this house for some months.

This period home may have been Isaac Morley’s. This farm became the refuge of many of the converts who came to Kirtland.

It was 27 January 1851 and Brother Morley “was just starting out after a load of wood with his ax under his arm.” Remarking quietly, “ ‘I have been expecting this,’ ”
Continue reading Ensign: The Unlikely Daniel Webster Jones

The Isaac Morley farm in Kirtland was the site of the service project. Overgrown with thorny vines, grass choking the lanes, trees crowding the old home, the farm was discouraging. Cleaning it up looked like an impossible task. But never underestimate a determined group of LDS teenagers.
Continue reading New Era: Living History

Yelrome, or Morley’s Settlement, was located twenty-five miles south of Nauvoo and approximately three miles north of Lima. Although Lima is technically in Adams County, it was so close to the Hancock County settlements that for all intents and purposes it can be included with them. Indeed, Lima, when combined with the minor colonies of Yelrome and Bear Creek, was one of the two major LDS colonies in Hancock County. It was also referred to by Joseph Smith as one of the “spokes on the wheel.”
Continue reading Ensign: Spokes on the Wheel: Yelrome