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Rigdon, Sidney, 1793-1876

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1793 - 1876

Biographical History

Sidney Rigdon (1793-1876) was a Baptist minister in Pennsylvania and Ohio who eventually joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his time in the Church, he became a prominent member of the Church, serving as a member of the First Presidency and running as the Vice Presidential candidate for Joseph Smith's presidential campaign. After Smith's Martyrdom in June 1844, he eventually tried to take control of the Church, but eventually relocated himself to the Northeast where he led the Rigdonite sect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sidney Rigdon was born on February 19, 1793 in St. Clair Township, PA as the youngest of four children to William and Nancy Rigdon. Although his father passed away in 1810, Rigdon served in his family farm while also being a diligent scholar in history and English. After leaving the farm in 1818, he became a Baptist minister, serving in Churches in Pennsylvania and Ohio up until 1826. However, after some of his congregants including Parley P. Pratt and Edward Partridge joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rigdon eventually met with Joseph Smith in 1830 and eventually converted - serving as a scribe and assistant to Joseph Smith during his re-translation of the Bible.

Between 1830-1837, Rigdon returned to Ohio, settling with fellow members of the Church in Kirtland, OH. While there, they experimented living with all things in common. Along with this, he dealt with persecutions, but eventually repented and became a member of the First Presidency, where he served as president of the Kirtland Safety Society. However, in spite of this, during the Church's times in Missouri and Illinois, he came into constant conflict with Joseph Smith, criticizing him for sabbath-breaking while claiming himself to be a "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator." It was due to this that Rigdon's relationship with Smith deteriorated, even to the point where there were claims that Rigdon was conspiring with critics of the Church like John C. Bennett to overthrow the Church.

Nevertheless, in spite of Smith and Rigdon's poor relationship in the 1840s, he nevertheless was selected to be Smith's Vice Presidential pick when Smith ran for president in 1844. Regardless, not only was Rigdon critical of practices like polygamy at this period of Church history, but eventually he tried to take control of the Church after Smith's death, wanting to serve as "Guardian of the Church." While the majority of the members of the Church decided to side with Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles over Rigdon, a few did join up with Rigdon and eventually moved back to Pennsylvania and New York to establish the Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion - a church in which he served as president. While the Church seemed to flourish at first, eventually it split off to form another sect of the Church called "The Church of Jesus Christ."

For the remainder of his life in 1862-1876, Rigdon stayed in the northeast. In spite of any contentions he may have had with Smith, he never renounced his testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and believed that Joseph called him to serve as leader of the Church after his death. Nevertheless, on July 14, 1876, he passed away in his home in Friendship, NY.

Citation:
Wikipedia, May 16, 2017 (Sidney Rigdom; b. Feb. 19, 1793; d. July 14, 1876; started as Baptist minister in New York, Pennsylania, and Ohio; Converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as a scribe and member of the First Presidency of the Church; after a contentious relationship with Smith, after his death he claimed to be the next leader of the Church)

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:

Geauga County (Ohio) court record

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230317981]
Identifier: MSS SC 1930
Scope and Contents

One handwritten court record. The item is a copy made in 1860 by William N. Keeny, clerk of Geauga County, of the original court record dated 1839. The Halsted Haines Co. sued Joseph Smith (1805-1844), Hyrum Smith, Olivery Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, and other Mormon Church leaders for redress in connection with questionable business practices. Since the defendants failed to appear when summoned, the plaintiffs were awarded $2337.35 plus expenses.

Dates: 1839

Vinson Knight account book

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230340033]
Identifier: MSS 70
Abstract

The folder contains photocopies of a handwritten account book written between 1836-1840. The items list transactions involving Mormons in Kirtland, Ohio and in Nauvoo, Illinois including leaders such as Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and Sidney Rigdon (1793-1876). The materials were photocopied from a microfilm collection.

Dates: 1836-1840

Biographical material on Sidney Rigdon

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230337211]
Identifier: MSS 472
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten and typewritten biographies and genealogies of Sidney Rigdon, member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The dates of the composition of these materials are uncertain. The handwritten item was created by someone who had met with Rigdon years after Rigdon was no longer associated with the Church. The materials recount the events of Rigdon's life, his association with the LDS Church, and present his family genealogy.

Dates: 1875-1925

Sidney Rigdon sermon

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230237601]
Identifier: MSS SC 732
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten sermon. Rigdon addresses the scripture in Genesis, "and the evening and the morning were the first day." He discusses the beginning of time. The date of the creation of the item is unknown.

Dates: approximately 1840

Athalia Robinson affidavit

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230318872]
Identifier: MSS SC 2065
Scope and Contents

Handwritten, signed, and notarized affidavit. Also included is a typewritten copy of the same item also signed and notarized. Athalia swears that she was present when her father, Sidney Rigdon (1793-1876), first saw a copy of the Book of Mormon and affirms that he was not the author of it.

Dates: 1904

Joseph Smith promissory note

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2464
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed promissory note dated 1 Sept. 1837 and written in Kirtland, Ohio. The note is made out to "Holbrook & Firme" in the amount of $287.05. The item was signed by Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, and twenty-eight other prominent Mormons.

Dates: 1837 September 1

Hyrum Smith statement

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233286803]
Identifier: Vault MSS 135
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed statement and dated 26 Oct. 1843. "Know all men by these presents that we Hyrum Smith, Charles Shumway, and Sidney Rigdon." They were appointed "conservator of the estate of Joel Bullard, judged insane."

Dates: 1843 October 26

The Spalding Manuscript and the Greek and Roman Classics

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232564366]
Identifier: MSS 8991
Scope and Contents Contains a typed copy of "The Spalding Manuscript and the Greek and Roman Classics" written by Dale W. Adams from Park City, Utah. The material discusses the connections between Solomon Spalding's manuscript of the Roman discovery of the Americas with Homeric epics including "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" while also discrediting claims made by critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning Joseph Smith plagiarizing this manuscript when writing "The Book of Mormon"....
Dates: 2017 February 23

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  • Subject: Church Government X

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Subject
Kirtland (Ohio) -- History 2
Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo -- History 2
Latter Day Saints -- Ohio -- History 2
Latter Day Saints -- Ohio -- Kirtland -- History 2
Account books 1