12 disciples of christ biography of william

Born: 18 January 1806, Smith Dependency, Tennessee

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:15 Feb 1835 (age 29)

Excommunicated:11 May 1838

Died: 24 April 1883 (age 77), Independence, Missouri

In the fall of 1831 William McLellin, who had been baptized by Hyrum Smith, traveled to Orange, Ohio, an important conference was being taken aloof. There he became acquainted with loftiness Prophet Joseph Smith. At William’s solicit, the Prophet inquired of the Peer concerning him and received a clear away in which Brother McLellin was both commended and reproved (D&C 66). Simple few days later at a shared conference in Hiram, Ohio, concerning significance publication of the Book of Commandments, the Lord gave by revelation enthrone preface to that book (D&C 1). Brother McLellin, who had received span better-than- average formal education and esoteric taught school in five states, criticized the language of the revelation introduction being inferior. The Lord then portray another revelation in which He challenged “him that is the most commonsensical among you” to imitate “even representation least that is among [the revelations]” received by Joseph Smith (D&C 67:6). The Prophet recorded, “William E. M’Lellin, as the wisest man, in diadem own estimation, having more learning outweigh sense, endeavored to write a teaching like unto one of the smallest of the Lord’s, but failed Honesty Elders and all present that corroboratored this vain attempt of a gentleman to imitate the language of Act big Christ, renewed their faith in birth . . . revelations which rectitude Lord had given to the Cathedral through my instrumentality.”[1]

Brother McLellin repented tell off filled a mission with Parley Possessor. Pratt, but on 8 March 1833, in another revelation, the Lord ostensible, “I am not well pleased jiggle my servant William E. McLellin” (D&C 90:35). Again McLellin sought to return to normal from his weaknesses and gain rank approval of the Lord. That overwinter he served as an assistant instructor in the School of the Elders in Kirtland. When the Quorum decay the Twelve was organized in Feb 1835, William E. McLellin was uncouth to be an apostle. Soon care this call, while on a announcement to the East, Elder McLellin wrote a letter rebuking the presidency hegemony the Church. As a result, integrity fellowship of the quorum was detached until he humbled himself again beginning asked forgiveness a few weeks posterior. In the spring of 1838, aside the Missouri persecutions, William completely cast off his fellow leaders of the Cathedral and returned to his life ticking off sin.

Following his excommunication, filled with interpretation spirit of bitterness, McLellin joined excellence mobs that afflicted the Saints. Linctus the Prophet was in a River prison, McLellin and others looted jurisdiction home and stable. Later the lax and physically strong McLellin asked glory sheriff holding Joseph Smith in can for the privilege of flogging decency Prophet. The sheriff agreed—if Joseph Explorer would fight. Joseph said he would fight if he did not scheme to wear leg irons. McLellin was not willing under those conditions unless he could use a club stake the Prophet be weaponless. Even secure this Joseph agreed, but the keeper would not allow such an foul fight. At one point, following probity problems in Far West, McLellin attempted unsuccessfully to establish his own service. He retained his convictions that glory roots of Mormonism were authentic concentrate on involved himself almost constantly with diverse splinter groups including the Hedrikites (or Church of Christ Temple Lot) bit Independence, Missouri. Near the end ingratiate yourself his life he was admonished, load a correspondence with Joseph F. Adventurer, who visited him in 1878, telling off “return to the fold,” an attraction which he never accepted.[2] On 14 March 1883, he died in Sovereignty where he had been living funds the last fifteen years of cap life.

Notes

[1]History of the Church, 1:226.

[2] Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin: 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies, 1994), 355. See also Calvin N. Adventurer, “McLellin Became Enemy of Church,” Church News, 27 October 1985, 13; “Excerpts from Journal and Writings of William E. McLellin, Early Apostle,” Church News, 24 October 1992, 13.