Lyman E. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Lyman Eugene Johnson was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement
and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
. He broke with Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon
during the 1837-38 period when schism divided the early Church. He later became a successful pioneer lawyer in Iowa
and was one of the town fathers of Keokuk, Iowa
.
Lyman Johnson was born in Pomfret
, Windsor County, Vermont
in 1811 to John Johnson, Sr., and Alice "Elsa" Johnson. The family moved to Hiram
, Ohio
in 1818, where they established the John Johnson Farm
, a successful 300 acres (1.2 km²) farm.
Lyman Johnson died in 1859, drowning in the Mississippi River
in a boating accident at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
. He had four children.
moved into the Johnson home on September 12, 1831. Within a month, Lyman Johnson was ordained an elder
and then a high priest
of the Latter Day Saint church. In response to a revelation given on January 25, 1832, Lyman joined Orson Pratt
on an evangelizing mission which took them through the northeastern United States
. The two were highly successful preachers and brought many converts to Mormonism
on this and other subsequent missions.
expedition which hoped to restore Latter Day Saints in Missouri
to their lands in Jackson County
. Although the expedition was a failure, many of the veterans of the expedition were soon called to high leadership positions in the Church. Among these were Lyman Johnson and his brother Luke Johnson
who were among the original twelve men called on February 14, 1835, to be "Special Witnesses" or Apostles in a "Traveling High Council" of the Church, later known as the Council or Quorum of the Twelve
. The chief duty of the apostles was to preside over missionary activities. Lyman Johnson continued to operate as a successful missionary from 1835-1837. On 4 September 1834, Johnson was married to Sarah Susan Long.
, a bank founded by church leaders, led to widespread dissent in 1837. Loyalists to Joseph Smith held a High Council
trial on September 3, 1837 which ejected Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson and John F. Boynton
from the Quorum of the Twelve. Boynton explained that his difficulties with the Church resulted from "the failure of the bank" which he had understood "was instituted by the will and revelations of God, and he had been told that it would never fail" (Kirtland Council Minute Book, pp. 184-86). Despite these difficulties, Lyman Johnson and the others temporarily reconciled with church leaders and were restored to their apostleship on September 10, 1837 (KCMB, pp. 188-89), after which Lyman and his family moved to the Latter Day Saint settlement of Far West, Missouri
.
, John Whitmer
, W. W. Phelps along with Oliver Cowdery
, Lyman Johnson and others. In Lyman's case, a list of 7 charges were presented to him by the Far West High Council on April 9, 1838, which included the charge of "...saying he would appeal the suit between him & Brother Phineas Young
and take it out of the County..." Lyman replied on April 12, that "I should not condescend to put my constitutional rights at issue upon so disrespectful a point, as to answer any of those other charges until that is withdrawn & until then shall withdraw myself from your society and fellowship." (Far West Record, 173-76).
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
. He broke with Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
during the 1837-38 period when schism divided the early Church. He later became a successful pioneer lawyer in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and was one of the town fathers of Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
.
Lyman Johnson was born in Pomfret
Pomfret, Vermont
Pomfret is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 997 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was named after the Earl of Pomfret...
, Windsor County, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1811 to John Johnson, Sr., and Alice "Elsa" Johnson. The family moved to Hiram
Hiram, Ohio
Hiram is a village in Portage County, Ohio, United States. It was formed from portions of Hiram Township in the Connecticut Western Reserve. The population was 1,242 at the 2000 census...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1818, where they established the John Johnson Farm
John Johnson Farm
The John Johnson farm in Hiram Township, Portage County, Ohio, United States is a key location in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr. accepted Johnson's invitation to reside on the farm in September 1831...
, a successful 300 acres (1.2 km²) farm.
Lyman Johnson died in 1859, drowning in the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in a boating accident at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He had four children.
Early contact
Joseph Smith, Jr., and Emma Hale SmithEmma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
moved into the Johnson home on September 12, 1831. Within a month, Lyman Johnson was ordained an elder
Elder (Mormonism)
Elder is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
and then a high priest
High priest (Mormonism)
In most denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, a high priest is a member of the priesthood within the Melchizedek priesthood order. High priests are typically older and more seasoned leaders within the priesthood. The term derives in part from the Epistle to the Hebrews which describes...
of the Latter Day Saint church. In response to a revelation given on January 25, 1832, Lyman joined Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
on an evangelizing mission which took them through the northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The two were highly successful preachers and brought many converts to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
on this and other subsequent missions.
Quorum of the Twelve
In the summer of 1834, Lyman marched with the Zion's CampZion's Camp
Zion's Camp was a paramilitary expedition of Latter Day Saints, led by Joseph Smith, Jr., from Kirtland, Ohio to Clay County, Missouri during May and June 1834 in an unsuccessful attempt to regain land from which the Saints had been expelled by non-Mormon settlers...
expedition which hoped to restore Latter Day Saints in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
to their lands in Jackson County
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
. Although the expedition was a failure, many of the veterans of the expedition were soon called to high leadership positions in the Church. Among these were Lyman Johnson and his brother Luke Johnson
Luke S. Johnson
Luke Samuel Johnson was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 to 1838. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Lyman E. Johnson and Orson Hyde, his brother-in-law.Johnson was born November 3, 1807, in Pomfret,...
who were among the original twelve men called on February 14, 1835, to be "Special Witnesses" or Apostles in a "Traveling High Council" of the Church, later known as the Council or Quorum of the Twelve
Quorum of the Twelve
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
. The chief duty of the apostles was to preside over missionary activities. Lyman Johnson continued to operate as a successful missionary from 1835-1837. On 4 September 1834, Johnson was married to Sarah Susan Long.
Bank failure
The failure of the Kirtland Safety SocietyKirtland Safety Society
The Kirtland Safety Society was a quasi-bank organized in 1836 by leaders and followers of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. According to KSS's 1837 "Articles of Agreement", it was intended to serve the banking needs of the growing Mormon community in Kirtland, Ohio...
, a bank founded by church leaders, led to widespread dissent in 1837. Loyalists to Joseph Smith held a High Council
High council (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, a high council is one of several different governing bodies that have existed in the church hierarchy on many Latter-day Saint denominations...
trial on September 3, 1837 which ejected Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson and John F. Boynton
John F. Boynton
John Farnham Boynton was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an American geologist and inventor. He was one of the original members of the Latter Day Saint movement's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles....
from the Quorum of the Twelve. Boynton explained that his difficulties with the Church resulted from "the failure of the bank" which he had understood "was instituted by the will and revelations of God, and he had been told that it would never fail" (Kirtland Council Minute Book, pp. 184-86). Despite these difficulties, Lyman Johnson and the others temporarily reconciled with church leaders and were restored to their apostleship on September 10, 1837 (KCMB, pp. 188-89), after which Lyman and his family moved to the Latter Day Saint settlement of Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
.
Excommunications
Meanwhile, schismatic strife between the loyalist faction and the dissenting faction continued to divide the church in Kirtland. The schismatic strife followed them, but in Far West, the loyalists were able to keep control by excommunicating the leadership of the Missouri church—David WhitmerDavid Whitmer
David Whitmer was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates.-Early life:...
, John Whitmer
John Whitmer
John Whitmer was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He was one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates...
, W. W. Phelps along with Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver H. P. Cowdery was, with Joseph Smith, Jr., an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836, becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles, and the Second Elder of...
, Lyman Johnson and others. In Lyman's case, a list of 7 charges were presented to him by the Far West High Council on April 9, 1838, which included the charge of "...saying he would appeal the suit between him & Brother Phineas Young
Phineas Young
Phineas Howe Young was a prominent early convert in the Latter Day Saint movement and was later a Mormon pioneer and a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and take it out of the County..." Lyman replied on April 12, that "I should not condescend to put my constitutional rights at issue upon so disrespectful a point, as to answer any of those other charges until that is withdrawn & until then shall withdraw myself from your society and fellowship." (Far West Record, 173-76).