“In my own behalf I wish to state— that I sincerely wish, that it may soon come to pass that you sir and all our friends at Far West, may perceive that you are ’in the light of a fire & sparks that you have yourselves kindled; and that you may turn round, and fear the Lord, Obey the voice of his Servant and thereby escape the sentence ’Ye shall lie down in sorrow.’” — James Mulholland

Isaac Russell was one of the first missionaries to England in 1837 under the leadership of Heber C. Kimball. When the Saints were expelled from Far West, Missouri, Russell claimed to be a prophet and gained around twenty followers, saying that the Three Nephites from the Book of Mormon would lead them to the Rocky Mountains.² Russell apostatized because he did not believe the Twelve Apostles could fulfill their commandment to leave for England from Far West, given the expulsion. Despite being driven away, the apostles secretly returned on the appointed day, April 26, 1839, and gathered a small group of Saints to recommence laying the foundation of the temple and to hold a council.³ During this gathering, Russell and his followers were officially excommunicated from the church. Following his excommunication, Russell's influence waned, and his small group of followers gradually dispersed.³ Russell died of swamp fever in 1844 while living in Missouri.²

1. Letterbook 2, 69, josephsmithpapers.org

2. Scott C. Esplin, “Remembering the Impact of British Missionary Isaac Russell,” Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: The British Isles, rsc.byu.edu

3. George A. Smith, “Divine Origin of "Mormonism"--Doings and Sayings of Early Opposers and Apostates,” Journal of Discourses 7:115-116; Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842, 748, footnote 70, josephsmithpapers.org