Many critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons") say that the church hides its early history. That is not true -- we have preserved our history and find it easily available. Here are some recorded stories about Harvey Olmstead.
I can't find a picture of Harvey Olmstead, but do have a picture of his grandson, Harvey Olmstead Heath. Harvey's daughter, Abigail, was the only one of his children to go to Utah.
For more on Abigail, and the story of how Abigail came to Utah, visit the Popp Family History page and search for "Olmstead."
Childhood
As a young boy, he was held prisoner by the British Army:
In a history about Abigail Olmstead Holden, which was written by her grand-daughter, Harriet Heath Gates, she wrote:
“Abigail Olmstead was born in Ohio, near Lake Erie, February 25, 1818. She was a daughter of Harvey and Margaret Olmstead, the same Harvey Olmstead that was captured by the British Army during the Revolutionary War, and held prisoner for 7 years, after which he escaped.”
Another version by Teri Popp:
"It is told he and another boy, just meer boys, were taken prisoners, the British were afraid they would carry news back to the army, so they kept them a long time and then they escaped."
Baptism for the dead
He is recorded as being the first person in this dispensation to be a proxy for the baptism for the dead:
Source: Reminiscent account of Simon Baker, Journal History, LDS Archives Baptism for the Dead Introduced I was present at a discourse that the prophet Joseph delivered on baptism for the dead 15 August 1840.1 He read the greater part of the 15th chapter of Corinthians and remarked that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought glad tidings of great joy, and then remarked that he saw a widow in that congregation that had a son who died without being baptized, and this widow in reading the sayings of Jesus "except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven," and that not one jot nor tittle of the Savior's words should pass away, but all should be fulfilled. He then said that this widow should have glad tidings in that thing. He also Said the apostle was talking to a people who understood baptism for the dead, for it was practiced among them. He went on to say that people could now act for their friends who had departed this life, and that the plan of salvation was calculated to save all who were willing to obey the requirements of the law of God. He went on and made a very beautiful discourse. Notes 1. The occasion of this discourse was the funeral of Seymour Brunson, a prominent member of the Church in Nauvoo. The introduction of the doctrine of ordinance work for the dead changed the face of Mormonism and while it was slow in building, became the foundation of one of the major efforts of the Church. It is possible that Joseph Smith was preparing the ground for this in his sermon of 8Apr40. Joseph Smith announced that a temple should be built in the following conference of the Church (see 3Oct40(2)). After the temple announcement, the following day he preached again on the subject of baptism for the dead (see 4Oct40). Two women who were present at the discourse left statements at the "History Office, Great Salt Lake City, Nov. 29th, one-half past 10 o'clock a.m." Jane Neymon states that Joseph preached Seymour Brunson's funeral sermon and then first introduced the subject of baptism of the dead, and said to the people, "I have laid the subject of baptism for the dead before you. You may receive or reject it as you choose," Sept. 13th (Aug. 15th) she then went and was baptized for her son Cyrus Livingston Neymon by Harvey Olmstead. Joseph on hearing of it at table in the evening, asked what he said, on his telling what the ceremony was it proved that father Olmstead had it right Vienna Jaques witnessed the same by riding into the river on horseback to get close so as to hear what the ceremony would be. [Statement in "Addresses" Joseph Smith Collection, Box 4 folder 4, LDS Archives.] (Harvey Olmstead was a neighbor to Joseph Smith, and is mentioned in the information above.)
Mormon Redress Petition
Harvey also recorded his testimony in a Mormon Redress Petition. I read it many years ago, and have recently ordered a copy of an out-of-print book which contains these petitions. When I receive the book, I will post his testimony on this blog.
What is a Redress Petition? The story begins in on October 27, 1838 when Governor Lilburn Boggs issued Missouri Executive Order 44, also known as the Extermination Order. The order was issued in the aftermath of the Battle of Crooked River, a clash between Latter Day Saints and a unit of the Missouri State Guard in northern Ray County, Missouri, during the 1838 Mormon War. Claiming that Latter Day Saints had committed open and avowed defiance of the law and had made war upon the people of Missouri, Governor Boggs directed that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description". The militia and other state authorities—General John B. Clark, among them—used the executive order to expel the Latter Day Saints from their lands in the state following their capitulation, which in turn led the Latter Day Saint migrate to Illinois.
Brigham Young asked all of the people who lost property to petition the federal government for redress. Nothing ever came of these petitions, but they were gathered and published in October of 1992.
No comments:
Post a Comment