“During <my> absence Warren Parrish. John F. Boynton, Luke Johnson, Joseph Coe, and some others united together for the overthrow of the church. I returned to Kirtland on or about the 10th of December: soon after which this dissenting band, openly and publicly, renounced the church of Christ of Latter Day Saints. And claimed themselves to be the old standard, calling themselves the church of Christ, excluding that of Saints, and set me at naught, and the whole church denouncing us as heretics, not considering that the Saints shall possess the kingdom according to the Prophet Daniel.” — Joseph Smith1
In 1837–1838, a group of leaders in the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, including Warren Parrish, John Boynton, Luke Johnson, and Lyman Johnson, turned against Joseph Smith and opposed his leadership. These dissenters accused Joseph of mismanaging the Kirtland Safety Society, an institution he had founded to help the Saints’ financial situation, and claimed he was a fallen prophet.2
The dissenters disrupted church meetings, threatened violence against Joseph Smith and his supporters, and eventually formed their own church.3 Some of them allied with enemies of the Church to persecute the Prophet.3 Their actions contributed to a spirit of apostasy that swept through Kirtland.
Prominent leaders like Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and William McLellin also lost confidence in Joseph during this period, criticizing his handling of financial and political matters. 4 Although once stalwart supporters of Joseph, these men’s loyalty waned and they were eventually excommunicated for opposing Church leaders and breaking covenants.5
The dissent and threats of violence led Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to flee Kirtland in January 1838.5 Many faithful Saints followed them to Far West, Missouri, to escape persecution and find a place of peace.5 But the spirit of dissension followed the Church to Missouri, and the Prophet had to take action to stop it from dividing the Saints again.3
