John Corrill

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John Corrill
Second Counselor to the
Bishop of the Church
June 6, 1831 (1831-06-06) – August 1, 1837 (1837-08-01)
Called byEdward Partridge
End reasonHonorably released
Personal details
Born(1794-09-17)September 17, 1794
Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
DiedSeptember 26, 1842(1842-09-26) (aged 48)
Adams County, Illinois, United States
Notable worksA Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints

John Corrill (September 17, 1794 – September 26, 1842)

Missouri State Legislature
. He was prominently involved in the Mormon conflicts in Missouri before leaving the church in 1839 and publishing A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (Commonly Called Mormons).

Biography

Corrill was born near Barre, Massachusetts. He worked as a carriage builder, surveyor, and architect and married a woman named Margaret, with whom he had at least five children. Historians believe his writing ability and personal library suggest he may have had some formal education.[1][2]

While living in

Peter Whitmer, and Ziba Peterson, Mormon missionaries on their way to Missouri. After reading from the Book of Mormon, Corrill decided it was a fraud. He was later surprised to hear of the conversion of Sidney Rigdon, a preacher in nearby Kirtland who was planning a preaching tour with Corrill.[3] While visiting Kirtland, Corrill attended some Mormon meetings and witnessed miraculous speaking in languages unknown to the speakers. After further investigation,[4] he was baptized on January 10, 1831[5] in Ashtabula, Ohio.[6] A few days later he was ordained an Elder.[3]

Church positions

In 1831 Corrill served two short

branch of the church. When Missourians expelled Mormons from the area, Corrill joined in petitioning the governor for militia assistance and settled in Clay County for the winter.[3]

In 1834 he was called back to Kirtland where he helped build the

Church Historians.[3][8]

Missouri Mormon War

Corrill was elected by the primarily Mormon residents of Caldwell County to be the county's first representative to the

Missouri Mormon War. Corrill witnessed many key events and was involved in surrendering and turning over Joseph Smith to the state militia, which Smith saw as a betrayal.[3][10] At the Richmond hearings in November, Corrill testified for the state against Smith and the Mormon actions in the conflict.[1][8][11]

Disfavor grew between Corrill and the Mormons. Some Mormons had in the past accused him of opposing priesthood authority and "the Judgment of God" in his preference for autonomy and democracy in the church.[8][12] In his only term in the Missouri House of Representatives,[7] as a state representative after the armed conflict subsided, Corrill presented a petition from the Mormons for relief from their mistreatment.[11][13] However, he continued to distance himself from the church, culminating in his excommunication in Quincy, Illinois on March 17, 1839. After this event, he published "a 50 page pamphlet attempting to justify his reasons" for leaving the church.[6]

Corrill died in Adams County, Illinois in 1842 at the age of 48.[1]

A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints

Corrill is remembered for his 50-page booklet published in 1839, entitled A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called Mormons,) including an account of their doctrine and discipline, with the reasons of the author for leaving the Church.[1][8]

Historian

Richard L. Bushman's noted 2005 biography, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, described Corrill as rational, coolheaded, and cautious, illustrating the "clash between Mormonism and republicanism" when he questioned whether he must sacrifice his freewill or autonomy to the Kingdom of God.[14] Bushman's book used Corrill's A Brief History as source material on the early church. Corrill's account has been called "perhaps, the single most important source of information for events surrounding the Mormon War in Missouri."[15] In contrast, historian Susan Easton Black described Corrill as bitter and his published history as a product of his apostasy.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "People of the Time: Corrill, John". The Joseph Smith Papers. Church Historian's Press. Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  2. ^ Winn 1994, p. 46
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Scott G. Kenney. "John Corrill (1794-1840)". Saints Without Halos. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  4. ^ Winn 1994, p. 47
  5. ^ Bushman 2005, p. 150
  6. ^
    OCLC 25553656
    .
  7. ^
    Deseret Book
    .
  8. ^ a b c d e f Susan Easton Black (1997). "Corrill, John". Who's Who in the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft.
  9. Journal of Mormon History
    . 31 (3): 122, 133.
  10. ^ Bushman 2005, p. 370
  11. ^
    ISBN 9780252069802
    . Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  12. ^ Bushman 2005, pp. 267, 353
  13. ^ "Mormon Publications: 19th Century - Facts relative to the expulsion of the Mormons". Digital Collections at BYU. Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. February 23, 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  14. ^ Bushman 2005, pp. 150, 267, 353
  15. ^ Winn 1994, p. 45

Sources

External links
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints titles
New title Second Counselor to the
Bishop of the Church

February 4, 1831 – May 27, 1840 		Succeeded by
Previous:
Oliver Cowdery 		Church Historian
Early 1838 – April 6, 1838 		Succeeded by
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