Losing
support of someone close to you and suffering betrayal at their hands is a
terrible experience. Even though the Saviour was fully in control of His death
(John 10:17-18), that betrayal sealed with a kiss in the Garden must have stung
bitterly (Luke 22:27,28; Mark 14:44,45).
Considering
the persecution and betrayal that came to Joseph from within the Church and the
men he associated with closely, I conclude that he would have been very familiar
with such a sting. Two in particular were W.W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery. I am
always amazed about Oliver because he was a scribe, an Elder, and a witness. He
and Joseph shared sacred privileges together which would have created a strong
bond between them.
Oliver
Cowdery received priesthood authority from angelic ministers, was one of the
Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon plates, helped supervise the publication
of the Book of Mormon, was a founding member of the Church on April 6, 1830,
led a group on a mission to American Indian settlements, served as the
Assistant President of the Church and an Assistant Counselor to the First
Presidency, assisted in the publication of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and
Covenants, and witnessed the appearance of Jesus Christ and angelic ministers
in the Kirtland Temple.
It
would seem that Oliver had suffered some terrible blows in life. His mother
died before his third birthday and he lived for long periods of time with his
relatives. After he obtained his education, he came to western New York on a
teaching post near Palmyra. There he met the Smith family and was spiritually
guided to become Joseph’s scribe.
Oliver
also married and had six children out of which only one survived past early
childhood. His wife Elizabeth and the daughter Maria Louise died two days apart
and were buried together in 1892. He had no other descendants.
A year
after the Kirtland Temple opening, the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank
dealt a crushing blow to Oliver’s finances and he reacted by pursuing his own
enterprise rather than continuing to consecrate his property to the Church.
From there it was all downhill. He accused the leaders of the Church of
mismanaging funds and he spread rumours that Joseph had committed adultery. The
High Council investigated his allegations, and charges that were made against
him and ultimately excommunicated him.
It
would have been a terrible blow to Joseph to be betrayed by such a close
friend. Nevertheless, he saw Oliver as a prodigal son and was anxious that he
repent and return. At one stage he instructed his clerk: 'I wish you would
write to Oliver Cowdery and ask him if he hasn't eaten husks long
enough'." (Joseph Fielding Smith, "Doctrines of Salvation",
1:227)
Some
seven years later, Oliver admitted his disaffection had resulted mostly from
aggressive Latter-Day Saints in Missouri who were threatening him and not from
any personal misgivings with the leaders of the Church. He had had enough of
eating husks of the world and wanted to return to the fellowship of the Church.
Joseph
received a letter from Oliver Cowdery in Carthage Jail just hours before he was
killed. He encouraged the Quorum of the Twelve to re-admit him into the Church
and Oliver was re-baptised. He made plans to be re-united with the Saints in
Utah but he never made it. His health declined and he died in 1850 before he
could travel west. He was 44 years old.
What
fascinates me is Joseph’s forgiving heart. It’s difficult enough to be cut off
from someone you were close to but to have that person slander your name is a
double blow.
Sometime
in our life, we might lose trust and support from someone close to us. Our
forgiveness, even when not asked for, might be their only path to salvation. Usually,
betrayals are born out of personal misfortunes or deep issues we might not even
be aware of.
We
might not know what makes people do what they do, but the Saviour knows and because
He knows He can pave the path to forgiveness. We only see the outside while he
sees the inside. He understands us completely while still holding us
responsible for our actions.
The
Saviour’s ability to forgive is much greater than ours. It’s a reservoir we can
draw from by virtue of our discipleship……but more of that in Part 2.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Joseph and Oliver Pray (D&C 13) by Del Parson)
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