The Isaac Morley Farm
1. Under the direction of Sidney Rigdon, Isaac Morley created an “All Things Common” group called “The Family” or “The Big Family” out on his farm located one mile north of the Newel K. Whitney store in Kirtland. Here they tried to pattern their cluster of people after that which was practiced in New Testament times. (Acts 4:32-37) There were between fifty and one hundred men, women, and children who brought little more than themselves to the colony. A short time after the Prophet Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland on February 1, 1831, he acknowledged that the branch of the Church in this part of the Lord’s vineyard, which had increased to nearly one hundred members, were striving to do the will of God, so far as they knew it, though some strange notions and false spirits had crept in among them. “With a little caution and some wisdom, I soon assisted the brethren and sisters to overcome them.” The plan of “common stock,” which had existed in what was called “the family,” whose members generally had embraced the everlasting Gospel, was readily abandoned for the more perfect law of the Lord, and false spirits were easily discerned and rejected by the light of revelation.”
2. In the fall of 1830, the Lord called Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, Ziba Peterson, and Peter Whitmer Jr. to serve a mission among the Lamanites. Their journey brought them through this area. After preaching the gospel to Sidney Rigdon they came to the Isaac Morley farm where they taught them the gospel and introduced the Book of Mormon. Isaac Morley and the entire colony became members of the Church.
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