1986
The Church of Jesus Christ in Kirtland
August 1986

“The Church of Jesus Christ in Kirtland,” Friend, Aug. 1986, 20

The Church of Jesus Christ in Kirtland

Adapted from Doctrine and Covenants Stories (PBIC037A)

(See D&C 81:1; D&C 90:6; D&C 94; D&C 95; D&C 102; Essentials in Church History, pages 127–128, 142.)

First Presidency

1 The Lord said that Joseph Smith should have two counselors. Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams were called to serve with him as the First Presidency of the Church. They were ordained at a meeting in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1833.

First stake organized

2 A few weeks later Joseph Smith started the first stake of the Church. All the Saints in Kirtland belonged to it. The Lord told the Saints to build a place where the First Presidency could work and a printing shop for the Church.

Saints to build a temple

3 Most important, the Saints were to first build a temple in Kirtland.

Church Patriarch

4 As more people joined the Church, the Lord told Joseph to choose more leaders. Joseph’s father was to be the Church Patriarch; he would give blessings to the Saints.

High Councilors

5 Joseph was also to choose twelve men to be high councilors to help solve problems that might come up in the Church.