Week 9 Student Choice

John Murdock: Was at one point bound by the devil but it was cast out by Joseph. He was also ordained to be a high priest by Joseph. This was also the man that gave Joseph and Emma twins to raise after his wife died during child-birth.

Lyman Wight: Was told by the prophet that he would meet and see the Lord. He also received a blessing from the prophet Joseph. Cast out the devil at Joseph’s request. After being ordained a high priest, he was filled with the spirit and prophesied. He was bold, strong, “fearless”. He left the Church after Joseph died and moved to Texas.

John Corrill – Nothing on him in the book.

Ezra Thayre: Was to be the traveling companion of Thomas Marsh. He was not as diligent in preparation as Marsh was. He later served as a member of the 70.

Isaac Morley: Accompanied by Ezra Booth to Missouri but quickly changed his mind and ended up fighting against the church.

Thomas B. Marsh: Was to serve a mission with Ezra Thayre. Thomas fulfilled a mission when Newel Knight could not. He was quick to put his affairs in order upon receiving his mission call and ended asking Joseph for help.

Harvey Whitlock: Was ordained a High Priest by Joseph directly after Joseph had a vision of the Father and the Son. He also had a devil cast out of him.

Zebedee Coltrin: He served his mission to the Hoosiers! He established a few strong branches out there. Due to the infection of Levi’s feet, Coltrin ended up continuing his mission by himself.

Levi W. Hancock: He was Coltrin’s mission companion to Indiana, but was unable to continue with Zebedee because of a foot infection. He accepted his mission call without hesitation even though it meant much travel on foot.

Heman Basset: This man was deceived by other spirits. He was ordained an elder of the church but only three days after that had lost his mission call. His call was given to Simonds Ryder.

I learned from these folks mentioned in the D&C that they really aren't all that different than us. There are those that received their calls, took them and worked hard to make sure that they did everything that the prophet wanted them to do. There are also those that received calls and wandered off without having made their calling and elections made sure. I find it incredibly interesting that while there were more devils cast out literally, back then, the saints face the same challenges now that the early saints did then. Persecution, intolerance, being taken out of context, indifference, misunderstanding and these things all happen in and outside of the church! It is saddening to me that the Lord has blessed these generations of saints with incredible things to help us return to him but we are, essentially, still fighting the same battles with each other that saints were 200 years ago. It is no surprise to me thinking about it now that whenever we go to conference we are still taught to have faith, repent, be baptized and seek the spirit. I suspect when we start making progress and progress in these areas we will start to receive further revelation.