Kanesville Memorial

Kanesville, a part of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was a major Latter-day settlement built up to support the thousands of Saints driven from their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Kanesville Memorial remembers the sacrifices of this community of Saints and highlights three important events that occurred in the area: the mustering of the Mormon Battalion, the reorganization of the First Presidency with Brigham Young as President, and the rebaptism of Oliver Cowdery, a close associate of Joseph Smith and the primary scribe for the Book of Mormon.

Latter-day Saints established Kanesville as a way station due to difficulties in crossing the Iowa Territory. The first pioneer wagons left Nauvoo, Illinois, in February 1846, and were greeted with constant rainfall which turned the roads to deep, nearly impassable mud. As the first pioneers reached the Missouri River on June 14, 1846, they began to establish camps. These camps grew as more people made their way across Iowa and the area became known as the Grand Encampment. With so many people leaving Nauvoo, Church leaders decided to establish temporary settlements for Saints as they made the journey West. Winter Quarters was established on the west side of the river in Nebraska Territory near present-day Omaha, and Kanesville was established on the east side in Iowa Territory. Despite its humble beginnings, Kanesville became a strong and prosperous community with homes, businesses, meetinghouses, and even a music hall where concerts and dances were held. Kanesville remained an important settlement until 1852 when, under the direction of the First Presidency, the remaining Saints gathered to Utah.

During the six years that Saints made their temporary homes in Kanesville, a series of important events occurred here. In late-June 1846, Captain James Allen of the United States Army arrived in the area with orders to enlist as many Latter-day Saint men as possible to assist with the recently declared war with Mexico. On July 16, 1846, with the endorsement of Brigham Young, the “Mormon Battalion” was created and nearly 500 men were mustered into military service at Kanesville. In December 1847, after several months of discussion, the First Presidency was reorganized, with Brigham Young as President, Heber C. Kimball as First Counselor, and Willard Richards as Second Counselor. For the first time since Joseph Smith’s death, the Saints would again be under the same leadership pattern that had been revealed to them by the Lord. Finally, Oliver Cowdery returned to the Church following his excommunication in 1838, and was rebaptized, reconfirmed, and reordained in Kanesville.

Read about the reorganization of the First Presidency in Saints, Volume 2, Chapter 6 and the return of Oliver Cowdery to the Church in Saints, Volume 2, Chapter 8.