“It was resolved, that Elder Oliver​ Granger be appointed to go ​to Kirtland and take the Charge and oversight of the House of the Lord and preside over the general affairs of the Church in that place.” — Joseph Smith¹

Oliver Granger was born in 1794 in Phelps, New York, and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around 1832. Despite being partially blind from 1827 onward, he served faithfully in various roles, including sheriff, missionary, and church agent. In 1838, Oliver was appointed to settle Joseph Smith’s business affairs in Kirtland, Ohio, after the Church leaders moved to Far West, Missouri. He was later directed by revelation to move to Far West but returned to Kirtland to complete his assignment. In May 1839, Oliver was appointed to preside over the Church in Kirtland, where he continued to serve until his death in 1841. His dedication and service, despite physical challenges, left a lasting impact on the Church and its members.^2,3

1. Authorization for Oliver Granger, 6 May 1839, p. 1, The Joseph Smith Papers

2. “Granger, Oliver,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839], The Joseph Smith Papers, page 26