Skip to main content

Lyman, Amasa M. (Amasa Mason), 1813-1877

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1813 - 1877

Biographical History

Amasa Mason Lyman (1813-1877) was a polygamist and early prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served multiple missions throughout the United States. Later in life, he preached false doctrine while serving as mission president in Europe and was subsequently excommunicated.

Lyman was born in March of 1813 in Lyman, Grafton, New Hampshire. He was introduced to the LDS church by Orsan Pratt and Lyman E. Johnson and chose to be baptized on April 27, 1832. He served missions in many states, including Ohio, Virginia, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and California. He was ordained a seventy in 1835, ordained an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve in 1842, and served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1843 to 1844. In 1847, he traveled to Utah with the Brigham Young Company. During his lifetime, he had nine wives.

In March 1862, he delivered a sermon in Dundee, Scotland in which he denied the atonement of Jesus Christ. After being deprived of apostleship in 1867, he was repentant and formally asked forgiveness of his error, but later, he continued to preach this false doctrine and was excommunicated in 1870. He then became president of the Godbeite Church of Zion. He died in February of 1877 in Millard County, Utah.

Citation:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint: Church History, via WWW, September 16, 2016, (B. Mar. 30, 1813 in NH; served missions in listed states; president of European Mission 1860-1862)

FamilySearch, via WWW, September 16, 2016, (Traveled to Utah in 1847 with Brigham Young Company; had 9 wives)

Joseph Smith Papers, via WWW, September 16, 2016, (Ordained a seventy in 1835; ordained to Quorum of the Twelve in 1842, counselor in First Presidency 1843-1844; deprived of apostleship 1867; excommunicated 1870; president of Godbeite Church of Zion 1870)

Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, via WWW, delivered sermon in Dundee Scotland 1862 in which he denied the atonement; acknowledged his error 1867; continued to preach and was excommunicated; D. Feb. 4, 1877 in UT)

UPB files, Oct. 29, 2001 (hdg.: Lyman, Amasa M. (Amasa Mason, 1813-1877; usage: Amasa M. Lyman; Amasa Mason Lyman; Amasa Lyman)

Overland Trails Digital Library Collection, 2001 (Lyman, Amasa M. (Amasa Mason), 1813-1877)

Circular, 1855: t.p. (Amasa Lyman)

Amasa Mason Lyman: trailblazer and pioneer from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 1957

Amasa M. Lyman’s journals, 1847-1863, 1958

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

Eliza Maria Partridge Lyman diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231045763]
Identifier: MSS 1217
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typescript of a diary kept by Patridge. The item begins with a brief autobiography. Lyman writes about being sealed to the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, her marriage to Amasa Lyman after Smith's death, her life in Nauvoo, Illinois, her migration to Utah, the excommunication of her husband from the Mormon Church, her life in Fillmore, Utah, and her efforts in favor of the Mormon practice of polygamy.

Dates: 1846-1885

Richard Roswell Lyman papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1079
Abstract Biographical materials, memorabilia, journals, and writings. These items include typescripts of published biographies of Richard R.'s grandfather, Amasa M. Lyman and his father, Francis M. Lyman by Albert R. Lyman. These materials describe the history of the Lyman family in New England, California, and Utah. Richard R. Lyman's journals (1919-1937) record his daily activities and also served as notebooks for ideas. He records his feelings about religion, his family, education, engineering,...
Dates: 1890-1963

President Amasa M. Lyman discourse on the nature of the mission of Jesus Christ

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239235903]
Identifier: MSS 8910
Scope and Contents

Typescript of discourse given by Lyman on the "Nature of the Mission of Jesus Christ" in Dundee, Scotland, on March 16, 1862. The text is from the version that was printed in the "The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star" no. 14, Vol. 24, April 5, 1862. There is writing at the top of the copy indicating that this copy was given by Edna Lyman Houtz, granddaughter of Amasa M. Lyman. Materials dated 1862.

Dates: 1862 March 16

Richard Roswell Lyman papers, 1918-1937

 Series — Box 1: Series 1 [Barcode: 31197232485794]
Identifier: MSS 1079 Series 1
Scope and Contents Includes various biographical materials and memorabilia, journals, and writings. Personal memorabilia include a patriarchial blessing by John Brown, a photograph of Lyman cemetery lot, funeral services for Richard R. Lyman, and an autograph book for Brigham Young Academy. Five journals belonging to Richard R. Lyman are also included. The journals cover only a small segment of his life, that from 1918 to 1937 with important gaps. The early journals record his daily activities and also served...
Dates: 1918-1937

Richard Roswell Lyman writings, undated

 Series — Box 2: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197232485802]
Identifier: MSS 1079 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains typescripts used in preparation of "Biography of Francis M. Lyman, Apostle, 1840-1919", by Albert R. Lyman, published in 1958. Manuscript contains a history of the family's beginnings in New England, their involvement in early Church history, their journeys to Utah and resettlements in California, southern Utah, and central Utah.

Dates: undated

Ruth Louise Partridge family history papers, circa 1941-1972

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1544 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains Partridge's speeches, journals, personal histories, articles, correspondence and notes concerning Amasa M. Lyman, Albert R. Lyman, and Platte De Alton Lyman, circa 1941-1972.

Dates: circa 1941-1972

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 3
Collection 3
 
Subject
Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Europe 4
Civil engineering -- Utah -- History 3
Home and Family 3
Latter Day Saint churches -- Apostles 3
Social Life and Customs 3