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'{{Infobox LDS biography | name = Sidney Rigdon | image = Rigdon.gif | birth_date = {{birth date|1793|02|19}} | birth_place = [[St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|St. Clair Township]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States | death_date = {{death date and age|1876|07|14|1793|02|19}} | death_place = [[Friendship, New York|Friendship]], [[New York]], United States | resting_place = Maple Grove Cemetery | resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|42.2175|-78.1186|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Maple Grove Cemetery}} | findagrave = 6283786 | spouse = Phoebe Brooks | children = 11 | position_or_quorum1 = [[President of the Church]]<br>[[Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion]] | called_by1 = | ordination_reason1 = Death of Joseph Smith, Jr. | predecessor1 = [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] | successor1 = [[William Bickerton]]<br>(Reorganized church in 1862) | start_date1 = {{start date|1845|04|06|mf=yes}} | end_date1 = 1847<!-- {{end date|yyyy|mm|dd|mf=yes}} --> | end_reason1 = | position_or_quorum2 = First Counselor in the [[First Presidency]]<br>[[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]] | president2 = [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] | start_date2 = {{start date|1833|03|18}} | end_date2 = {{end date|1844|06|27}} | end_reason2 = Dissolution of [[First Presidency]] upon the death of [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] | predecessor2 = [[Jesse Gause]] | successor2 = | position_or_quorum3 = Second Counselor in the [[First Presidency]]<br>[[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|Church of Christ]] | president3 = Joseph Smith, Jr. | ordination_reason1 = Initial organization of First Presidency | start_date3 = {{start date|1832|03|08}} | end_date3 = {{end date|1833|03|18}} | predecessor3 = | successor3 = [[Frederick G. Williams]] | end_reason3 = Called as First Counselor in [[First Presidency]]}} '''Sidney Rigdon''' (February 19, 1793 – July 14, 1876) was a leader during the early history of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]]. ==Biography== Rigdon was born in [[St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|St. Clair Township]], [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny County]], [[Pennsylvania]], about 10 miles south of [[Pittsburgh]]. (The area today is known as Library.) He was the youngest of four children of William and Nancy Rigdon. Rigdon's father was a farmer and a native of [[Harford County, Maryland]]. William Rigdon died in 1810, and Sidney remained on the farm until his mother sold the farm in 1818. ===Baptist ministry=== In 1818, Rigdon became an apprentice to Baptist minister named Rev. Andrew Clark. Rigdon received his license to preach for the [[Regular Baptist]]s in March, 1819. He moved in May to [[Trumbull County, Ohio]], where he jointly preached with Adamson Bentley from July, 1819. He married Bentley's sister Phoebe Brook in June, 1820, and remained in Ohio until February, 1822, when he returned to Pittsburgh to accept the pastorate of the First Baptist Church there under the recommendation of [[Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement)|Alexander Campbell]].<ref>''[[Times and Seasons]]'' May 1, 1843. p. 177 in 1986 reprint by Independence Press, ISBN 0-8309-0467-0</ref> Rigdon and Bentley had journeyed to meet Campbell in the summer of 1821, to learn more about the Baptist who was encountering opposition to his idea that the [[New Testament]] should hold priority over the [[Old Testament]] in the Christian church. They engaged in lengthy discussions, which resulted in both men joining the [[Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement)|Disciples of Christ movement]] associated with Campbell. Rigdon became a popular Disciples preacher in the Pittsburgh church. However, some disaffected members were able to force his resignation in 1824. For the next two years Rigdon worked as a [[Tanning|tanner]] to support his family, while preaching Campbell's [[Restorationism (Christian primitivism)|Restorationism]] on Sundays in the Pittsburgh courthouse. In 1826 he was invited to become the pastor of the more liberal Baptist church in [[Mentor, Ohio]] in the [[Western Reserve]]. ===Latter Day Saint leader in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois (1830–44)=== Many prominent early Latter Day Saint leaders, including [[Parley P. Pratt]], [[Isaac Morley]] and [[Edward Partridge]], were members of Rigdon's congregations prior to their conversion to the [[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|Church of Christ]] founded by [[Joseph Smith]]. ====Early involvement==== In early September 1830, Rigdon associate Pratt was baptized into [[Joseph Smith]]'s [[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|Church of Christ]]. In October, Pratt and [[Ziba Peterson]] began a mission to preach to the [[American Indians in the United States|American Indians]] or "[[Lamanites]]". They visited Rigdon in Ohio. Rigdon read the [[Book of Mormon]], proclaimed its truthfulness. Rigdon was baptized into the church and proceeded to convert hundreds of members of his Ohio congregations. In December 1830, Rigdon traveled to New York, where he met Joseph Smith. Rigdon was a fiery orator and he was immediately called by Smith to be the spokesman for the church. Rigdon also served as a scribe and helped with [[Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible|Smith's inspired re-translation]] of the [[Bible]]. ====Kirtland, Ohio, 1830–37==== In December 1830, Smith received a revelation counseling members of the church in New York to gather to [[Kirtland, Ohio]]. Many of the doctrines Rigdon's group had experimented with, including living with all things in common, afterwards found expression in the combined movement. ; August/September 1831<nowiki>:</nowiki> Rigdon rebuked In August 1831, Smith announced a revelation admonishing Rigdon for exalting himself: "And now behold, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, am not pleased with my servant Sidney Rigdon; he exalted himself in his heart, and received not counsel, but grieved the Spirit; Wherefore his writing is not acceptable unto the Lord, and he shall make another; and if the Lord receive it not, behold he standeth no longer in the office to which I have appointed him. [...] Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips-- For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority. Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord, will own them otherwise they shall be cut off."<ref>http://www.boap.org/LDS/History/History_of_the_Church/Vol_1</ref> ; July 1832<nowiki>:</nowiki> "Rigdon's depression" Smith relocated to [[Hiram, Ohio]]. On July 5, 1832, Rigdon taught that "the keys of the kingdom were taken from us. On hearing this, many of his hearers wept, and when some one undertook to dismiss the meeting by prayer he said praying would do them no good, and the meeting broke up in confusion."<ref>http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/PDibble.html</ref> In response, [[Hyrum Smith]] traveled to retrieve Joseph, who returned to Kirtland on July 7. Joseph Smith rebuked Rigdon, and publicly prophesied that "No power can pluck those keys from me, except the power that gave them to me; But for what Sidney [Rigdon] has done, the devil shall handle him as one man handles another."<ref>http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/PDibble.html</ref> Reportedly, "About three weeks after this, Sidney [Rigdon] was lying on his bed alone. An unseen power lifted him from his bed, threw him across the room, and tossed him from one side of the room to the other. The noise being heard in the adjoining room, his family went in to see what was the matter, and found him going from one side of the room to the other, from the effects of which Sidney was laid up for five or six weeks. Thus was Joseph's prediction in regard to him verified. "<ref>http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/PDibble.html</ref> On July 28, Smith re-ordained Rigdon to the high priesthood for "the Second time" after Rigdon had "repented like Peter of old." {{hidden begin|border=solid 1px #aaa|title=Lucy Mack Smith on "Rigdon's depression"}} Sidney Rigdon went immediately to Kirtland, but Joseph remained at Father Johnson's to finish his preparations for a journey, which he contemplated making to Missouri. Immediately after Sidney's arrival at Kirtland, we met for the purpose of holding a prayer-meeting, and, as Sidney had not been with us for some time, we hoped to hear from him upon this occasion. We waited a long time before he made his appearance; at last he came in, seemingly much agitated. He did not go to the stand, but began to pace back and forth through the house. My husband said, "Brother Sidney, we would like to hear a discourse from you to-day." Brother Rigdon replied, in a tone of excitement, "The keys of the kingdom are rent from the church, and there shall not be a prayer put up in this house this day." "Oh! no," said Mr. Smith, "I hope not." "I tell you they are," rejoined Elder Rigdon, "and no man or woman shall put up a prayer in this place to-day." This greatly disturbed the minds of many sisters, and some brethren. The brethren stared and turned pale, and the sisters cried, Sister Howe, in particular, was very much terrified; "Oh, dear me!" said she, "what shall we do? what shall we do? The keys of the kingdom are taken from us, and what shall we do? .... I tell you again," said Sidney, with much feeling, "the keys of the kingdom are taken from you, and you never will have them again until you build me a new house." Hyrum was vexed at this frivolous nonsense, and, taking his hat, he went out of the house, saying, "I'll put a stop to this fuss, pretty quick; I'm going for Joseph." "Oh, don't," said Sister Howe, "for pity's sake, don't go for him. Brother Sidney says the keys of the kingdom are taken from us, and where is the use of bringing Joseph here." Hyrum took a horse, and went immediately to Father Johnson's, for Joseph. He arrived there in the afterpart of the night, and having aroused Joseph, he said, "You must go straight with me to Kirtland; we are having terrible times there, and I want you to come up and see to things." Joseph being informed of the precise situation of affairs, he got a horse of Father Johnson, and started without delay, with Hyrum, for Kirtland. On his arrival there, the brethren were collected for meeting. Joseph went upon the stand, and informed the brethren that they were under a great mistake, that the church had not transgressed; "And, as for the keys of the kingdom," said he, "I, myself, hold the keys of this last dispensation, and will for ever hold them, both in time and in eternity; so set your hearts at rest upon that point, all is right." He then went on and preached a comforting discourse, after which he appointed a council to sit the next day, by which Sidney was tried, for having lied in the name of the Lord. In this council Joseph told him he must suffer for what he had done, that he should be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, who would handle him as one man handleth another, that the less priesthood he had the better it would be for him, and that it would be well for him to give up his license. This counsel Sidney complied with, yet he had to suffer for his folly, for, according to his own account, he was dragged out of bed by the Devil, three times in one night, by his heels. Whether this be true or not, one thing is certain, his contrition of soul was as great as a man could well live through. After he had sufficiently humbled himself, he received another license; but the old one was retained, and is now in the hands of Bishop Whitney. {{hidden end}} ; First Presidency When Smith organized the church's [[First Presidency]], he set apart [[Jesse Gause]] and Rigdon as his first two counselors. Smith and Rigdon became close partners, and Rigdon tended to supplant [[Oliver Cowdery]], the original "[[Assistant President of the Church|Second Elder]]" of the church. When vigilantes decided to tar and feather Smith at the [[John Johnson Farm]] in [[Hiram, Ohio]], they also tarred and feathered Rigdon. Rigdon became a strong advocate of the construction of the [[Kirtland Temple]]. When the church founded the [[Kirtland Safety Society]], Rigdon became the bank's president and Smith served as its cashier. When the bank failed in 1837, Rigdon and Smith were both blamed by Mormon dissenters. ====Far West, Missouri, 1838==== Rigdon and Smith moved to [[Far West, Missouri]] and established a new church headquarters there. As spokesman for the [[First Presidency]], Rigdon preached several controversial sermons in Missouri, including the [[Salt Sermon]] and the [[Rigdon's July 4th Oration|July 4th Oration]].<ref>[[s:Oration Delivered by Mr. S. Rigdon on the 4th of July at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri|Oration Delivered by Mr. S. Rigdon on the 4th of July at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri]], 1838</ref> These speeches have sometimes been seen as contributing to the conflict known as the [[Mormon War (1838)|1838 Mormon War]] in Missouri. As a result of the conflict, the Mormons were expelled from the state and Rigdon and Smith were arrested and imprisoned in [[Liberty Jail]]. Rigdon was released on a writ of ''[[habeas corpus]]'' and made his way to [[Illinois]], where he joined the main body of Mormon refugees in 1839. ====Nauvoo, Illinois, 1839–44==== Smith escaped from his Missouri jail and went on to found the city of [[Nauvoo, Illinois]]. Rigdon continued to act as church spokesman and gave a speech at the ground-breaking of the [[Nauvoo Temple]]. On June 1, 1841, Sidney Rigdon was ordained as "Prophet, Seer and Revelator"<ref name = McKiernan>{{cite book |last= McKiernan |first= F. Mark |title= The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: Sidney Rigdon, Religious Reformer |origyear= 1971 |year= 1979 |publisher= [[Herald House]] |location= Independence, Missouri |isbn= 9780830902415 |oclc= 5436337 |page= 56 }}</ref> However, Smith and Rigdon's relationship began to deteriorate in Nauvoo. Rigdon's participation in church administrative affairs became minimal. He did not reside in Nauvoo and served in a local church presidency in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]. He was also in poor health. ;October 1843 - Smith attempts to replace Rigdon In October, 1843, a Special Conference was called to consider "the case and standing of Elder Sidney Rigdon".<ref>http://restorationisten.fairmormon.org/Times_and_Seasons/4/21#330</ref> Joseph Smith "stated his dissatisfaction" Ridgon. Charges were leveled that Rigdon was correspondence "of a treacherous nature" with John C. Bennett, Ex-Governor Carlin, and "the Missourians". Rigdon was also accused to "leaguing with dishonest persons in endeavoring to defraud the innocent". In "indirect testimony" from [[Orin P. Rockwell]]'s mother, Rigdon was accused of having had been responsible for informing others about Smith's visit to Dixon and instructing them to arrest him while there. <ref>http://restorationisten.fairmormon.org/Times_and_Seasons/4/21#330</ref> Smith told the conference that, in light of the charges, Smith requested Rigdon be replaced as First Counselor.<ref>http://restorationisten.fairmormon.org/Times_and_Seasons/4/21#330</ref> The "Times and Season" and the "History of the Church" both record that Rigdon addressed the conference, denied the charges and made a "moving appeal"; They record "the sympathies of the congregation were highly excited". A vote was called and the congregation held that Elder Sidney Rigdon would be permitted to retain his position.<ref>http://restorationisten.fairmormon.org/Times_and_Seasons/4/21#330</ref> According to the ''Times and Season'', Smith had "wholly removed suspicion from elder Sidney Rigdon" and "expressed entire willingness to have elder Sidney Rigdon retain his station", despite a "lack of confidence in his integrity and steadfastness, judging from their past intercourse". Alternately, ''The History of the Church'' records that Smith replied to the vote by saying "I have thrown him off my shoulders, and you have again put him on me. "You may carry him, but I will not."<ref>http://restorationisten.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_history/Censorship_and_revision/Sidney_Rigdon_trial_in_Times_and_Seasons_versus_History_of_the_Church</ref> <ref>[[Joseph Smith]] ([[B. H. Roberts]] (ed), 1902) ''[[History of the Church (Joseph Smith)|History of the Church]]'', vol. 6, p. 49</ref> ;1844 - Rigdon as Vice-Presidential candidate When Smith began his campaign for the [[President of the United States|presidency]] of the [[United States]] in 1844, Rigdon was selected as his [[Vice President of the United States|vice-presidential]] running mate. After Smith's death, Rigdon was the senior surviving member of the First Presidency. (The only other members were [[John Smith (uncle of Joseph Smith)|John Smith]], who was an assistant counselor, and [[Amasa Lyman]], who was a counselor.) During this time, Rigdon was strongly opposed to [[Polygamy and the Latter Day Saint movement|polygamy]] and other issues within the church.<ref name="McKiernan 1979 p">{{harvnb|McKiernan|1979|p=}}{{Page needed|date=May 2011}}</ref> ===Aftermath of Smith's death=== {{See also|Succession crisis (Latter Day Saints)}} Joseph Smith [[Death of Joseph Smith|was killed]] in 1844. Prior to the death of Joseph Smith, the First Presidency had made nearly all the major decisions for the Church. In 1841, Rigdon had been ordained by Joseph Smith as "Prophet, Seer and Revelator"<ref name = McKiernan>{{cite book |last= McKiernan |first= F. Mark |title= The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: Sidney Rigdon, Religious Reformer |origyear= 1971 |year= 1979 |publisher= [[Herald House]] |location= Independence, Missouri |isbn= 9780830902415 |oclc= 5436337 |page= 56 }}</ref> Rigdon returned to [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]] on August 3, and the next day he announced at a public meeting that he had received a revelation appointing him "Guardian of the Church."<ref>MHBY-1, 171</ref> The President of the central [[Stake (Mormonism)|stake]], the presiding High Council, [[William Marks (Mormonism)|William Marks]] supported Rigdon. ; August 8, 1844 - Succession conference At a August 8 conference, Rigdon argued that he should be made the "Protector" of the church."<ref>[[B. H. Roberts]] (ed, 1902) ''[[History of the Church (Joseph Smith)|History of the Church]]'', vol. 7, ch. XVIII</ref> [[Brigham Young]], [[President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|president]] of the [[Quorum of the Twelve|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] opposed this motion and asserted a claim for the primacy of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. <ref>[[B. H. Roberts]] (ed, 1902) ''[[History of the Church (Joseph Smith)|History of the Church]]'', vol. 7, ch. XIX</ref> The Quorum of Twelve Apostles were scattered throughout the United States and Europe at the time of Smith's death. The five members of the quorum available in Illinois voted to deny Rigdon his claim for church leadership. Rigdon felt this action was done without proper order. One month later, on September 8, Rigdon was excommunicated from by a [[Common Council of the Church]] which had been convened by [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)#Presiding Bishop|Presiding Bishop]] [[Newel K. Whitney]].<ref>[[s:J. M. Grant's RIGDON|J. M. Grant's RIGDON: Collection of Facts, Relative to the Course Taken by Elder Sidney Rigdon, in the States of Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Pennsylvania. By Jedediah M. Grant, One of the Quorum of Seventies.]], pp. 20–37</ref> Rigdon refused to attend this trial<ref>[[Jedediah M. Grant]], "A Collection of Facts, Relative to the Course Taken By Elder Sidney Rigdon: In the States of Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Pennsylvania", Part IV, Brown, Bicking & Guilbert, Printers, 1844</ref> after which he, in turn, likewise excommunicated the members of the Twelve. Rigdon fled Nauvoo, claiming that he felt threatened by Young's supporters.<ref name="McKiernan 1979 p"/> ===Latter Day Saint leader in Pennsylvania and New York, 1845–76=== {{main|Rigdonite}} After the succession schism, Rigdon solidified and led an independent faction of Latter Day Saints, originally called the "Church of Christ", but at one point was called as the [[Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion]].<ref name="shilds">{{Citation |last=Shields |first=Steven |title=Divergent Paths of the Restoration |publication-place=Independence, Missouri |publisher=Restoration Research |year=1990 |edition=Fourth |isbn=0-942284-00-3}}</ref><ref name=Cadman>{{Citation |last=Cadman |first=William H. |authorlink= |title=A History of the Church of Jesus Christ |year=1945 |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ |location=Monongahela, PA}}</ref> This [[List_of_sects_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement#Followers_of_Sidney_Rigdon_and.2For_William_Bickerton|sect]] is often referred to as the [[Rigdonite]]s. The Latter Day Saints who followed Rigdon separated themselves and settled in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. On April 6, 1845, Rigdon presided over a conference of the Church of Christ, which he claimed was the rightful continuation of the church founded by Smith.<ref>E. Pitzer (1997). ''America's Communal Utopias'' (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Richard Press) p. 484</ref><ref>Howard, "William E. McLellin: 'Mormonism's Stormy Petrel'" in Roger D. Launius and Linda Thatcher (eds) (1998). ''Dissenters in Mormon History'' (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) pp. 76–101.</ref> He then reorganized the First Presidency and called his own Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Although Rigdon's church briefly flourished through the publication of his periodical, ''[[Messenger and Advocate#Rigdonite Messenger and Advocate|The Messenger and Advocate]],'' quarrels among the Rigdonites led most members of the church to desert the senior leader by 1847. A few loyalists, notably [[William Bickerton]], eventually reorganized the church in 1862 under the name [[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|The Church of Jesus Christ]]. Rigdon lived on for many years in Pennsylvania and New York. He maintained his testimony of the [[Book of Mormon]] and clung to his claims that he was the rightful heir to Joseph Smith. He died in [[Friendship, New York]]. ==Significance in the Latter-day Saint movement== {{main|List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement}} Following the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, a succession crisis led to schisms within the movement. The Brigham Young branch traveled west to Utah, while Rigdon traveled to eastward to Pittsburgh. [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], with about 15 million members, is the largest existing Mormon denomination. Its members consider Young to be the successor to Joseph Smith.<ref>{{citation |last= Lloyd |first= R. Scott |date= October 26, 2013 |title= Church membership reaches 15 million |url= http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/64095/15-million-members-Spreading-across-the-earth.html |newspaper= [[Church News]] }}</ref> Rigdon's branch faced less success, modernly accounting for only a small fraction of practicing Latter Day Saints.<ref name = Cadman/><ref>12,136 as of 2007;</ref><ref>"The Church of Jesus Christ: General Business and Organization Conference Minutes." Bridgewater, MI: The Church of Jesus Christ. 2007. pp. 4399.</ref> <center>{{Mormon denomination tree}}</center> ===Churches tracing their leadership through Rigdon=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 85%;" |+ !width="16%"|<small>Name !width="14%"|<small>Organized by !width="5%" |<small>Date !width="19%" class="unsortable"|<small>Split off / Continuation of !width="11%" class="unsortable"|<small>Current status !width="35%" class="unsortable"|<small>Notes |-valign="top" ! {{anchor|Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion}}[[Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion]]<ref name="shilds"/><ref name=Cadman>{{Citation |last=Cadman |first=William H. |authorlink= |title=A History of the Church of Jesus Christ |year=1945 |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ |location=Monongahela, PA}}</ref> | {{sort|Rigdon, Sidney|[[Sidney Rigdon]]}} | 1844 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints | Dissolved by 1847 | Originally also used the name "Church of Christ". Also known as [[Rigdonites]]. |-valign="top" ! {{anchor|The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)}}[[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]]<ref name = Cadman/> | {{sort|Bickerton,William|[[William Bickerton]]}} | 1862 | Organized by former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion (Rigdonites), by then defunct | 12,136 as of 2007;<ref>"The Church of Jesus Christ: General Business and Organization Conference Minutes." Bridgewater, MI: The Church of Jesus Christ. 2007. pp. 4399.</ref> headquartered in [[Monongahela, Pennsylvania]] | Adherents commonly referred to as [[Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|Bickertonites]] (church actively opposes use of this term). |-valign="top" ! {{anchor|Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)}}[[Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]] | {{sort|Bickertonite Quorum of Twelve Apostles|Half of the [[Quorum of Twelve Apostles (Bickertonite)|Bickertonite Quorum of Twelve Apostles]]}} | 1907 | Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) | Defunct | Dispute over nature of life in the [[millennium]] split Bickertonite Quorum of the Twelve in two; later merged with the [[Primitive Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]]. |-valign="top" ! {{anchor|Primitive Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)}}[[Primitive Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]] | {{sort|Caldwell, James|[[James Caldwell (Latter Day Saints)|James Caldwell]]}} | 1914 | Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) | Defunct | Rejected the [[First Presidency]] as a valid leadership organization of the church; later merged with the [[Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]]. |} ==Rigdon as purported author of the Book of Mormon== {{main|Spalding–Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorship}} Rigdon has been named as a potential author for the Book of Mormon. According to this theory, Rigdon obtained from a Pittsburgh publisher a manuscript for a historical novel written by [[Solomon Spalding]], and by reworking it and adding a theological component, had created the [[Book of Mormon]]. The theory that Sidney Rigdon was the true author of the [[Book of Mormon]] first appeared in print in an Aug 31, 1831 article by [[James Gordon Bennett, Sr.|James Gordon Bennett]], who had visited [[Palmyra (town), New York|Palmyra]]/[[Manchester (town), New York|Manchester]] area and interviewed several residents.<ref>{{Citation | last=Bennett|first=James Gordon | author-link=James Gordon Bennett, Sr. | title=Mormonism—Religious Fanaticism—Church and State Party | newspaper=[[New York Courier and Enquirer]] | year=1831 | date=31 Aug. 1831 | volume=7 | issue=562}} in {{Citation | last=Arrington | first=Leonard J. | author-link=Leonard J. Arrington | title=James Gordon Bennett's 1831 Report on 'The Mormonites' | journal=BYU Studies | volume=10 | issue=3 | year=1970 | url=http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=4908 }}.</ref> Rigdon's use of a Spalding manuscript first appeared in print in the 1834 book ''[[Mormonism Unvailed]]''. A 2008 computer analysis of the ''Book of Mormon'' text supports this theory, although the study does not include Joseph Smith in the author sample on the ground that few pure examples of Smith's writings are extant.<ref>{{citation |last1= Jockers |first1= Matthew L. |last2= Witten |first2= Daniela M. |last3= Criddle |first3= Craig S. |url= http://llc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/fqn040 |title= Reassessing authorship of the ''Book of Mormon'' using delta and nearest shrunken centroid classification |journal= [[Literary and Linguistic Computing]] |volume= 23 |issue= 4 |pages= 465–491 |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |month= December |year= 2008 }}</ref> Several other significant problems are apparent in the methodology of this computer analysis, specifically the use of closed set methodology instead of open set methodology. For example, the original methodology, when replicated, also assigns Rigdon as the probable author of the [[Federalist Papers]].<ref>{{citation |last1= Schaalje |first1= G. Bruce |last2= Fields |first2= Paul J. |last3= Roper |first3= Matthew |last4= Snow |first4= Gregory L. |url=http://llc.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/1/71 |title= Extended nearest shrunken centroid classification: A new method for open-set authorship attribution of texts of varying sizes |journal= [[Literary and Linguistic Computing]] |volume= 26 |issue= 1 |pages= 71–88 |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |month= December |year= 2011 }}</ref> Critics of the Spalding/Rigdon theory point out that there is no record of any meeting between Rigdon and Smith until December 1830, nearly a year after the Book of Mormon was published. ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== {{refbegin|2}} * {{citation |author1-link= James B. Allen (historian) |last1= Allen |first1= James B. |author2-link= Glen M. Leonard |last2= Leonard |first2= Glen M. |title= [[The Story of the Latter-day Saints]] |publisher= [[Deseret Book Co.]] |location= Salt Lake City, UT |year= 1976 |isbn= 0-87747-594-6}}. * {{citation |authorlink= Richard Bushman |last= Bushman |first= Richard L. |title= [[Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling]] |publisher= [[Alfred A. Knopf]] |location= New York, NY |year= 2005 |isbn= 1-4000-4270-4 }}. * {{citation |last= McKiernan |first= F. Mark |title= The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness: Sidney Rigdon, Religious Reformer |origyear= 1971 |year= 1979 |publisher= [[Herald House]] |location= Independence, Missouri |isbn= 978-0-8309-0241-5 |oclc= 5436337 |ref= harv }}. * {{citation |authorlink= Gregory Prince |last= Prince |first= Gregory A. |title= Power from On High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood |publisher= [[Signature Books]] |location= Salt Lake City, Utah |year= 1995 |isbn= 1-56085-071-X }}. * {{citation |authorlink= D. Michael Quinn |last= Quinn |first= D. Michael |url= http://www.signaturebooks.com/reviews/hier1.htm |title= The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power |location= Salt Lake City, Utah |publisher= [[Signature Books]] |year= 1994 |isbn= 1-56085-056-6 }}. * {{citation |last1= Remy |first1= Jules |last2= Brenchley |first2= Julius L. |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=jgUNAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA407&lpg=PA412&ots=lNi2iFJHbA&dq=rigdon+excommunication&output=html |title= A Journey to Great-Salt-Lake City |chapter= Section II, Chapter IV |year= 1861 |location= London |publisher= W. Jeffs |oclc= 5244620 }}. * {{citation |authorlink= Richard S. Van Wagoner |last= Van Wagoner |first= Richard S. |title= [[Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess]] |location= Salt Lake City, Utah |publisher= [[Signature Books]] |isbn= 978-1-56085-030-4 |year= 1994 }}. * {{citation |title= William Heth Whitsitt papers |contribution= Sidney Rigdon, the Real Founder of Mormonism |lccn= mm77060863 |quote= Corrected typescript (2 volumes, 1306 pages) of an unpublished work by Whitsitt }}. [http://sidneyrigdon.com/wht/1891WhtB.htm Digital reprint] of excerpts by sidneyrigdon.com. {{refend}} ==External links== {{Portal|Biography|Latter-day Saints|Book of Mormon}} {{commons category}} {{wikisource author}} *[http://www.gapages.com/rigdos1.htm Grampa Bill's General Authority Pages] *[http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/index2.htm The Rev. Sidney Rigdon Memorial Home Page] *[http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/RigWrit/M&A/MA-1844.htm 1840s Rigdon Messenger & Advocate] *[http://sidneyrigdon.com/books/Appl1863.htm 1863 pro-Rigdon publication] *[http://mormonstudies.com/criddle/rigdon.htm Rigdon-authorship theory] * [http://www.solomonspalding.com/ The pro-Spalding theory perspective] * [http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=584/ The anti-Spalding theory perspective] * [http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/NCMP1820-1846&CISOPTR=9707&filename=43716221632007_iac_EMP97_1.pdf "Conclusion of Elder Rigdon's Trial"], ''[[Millennial Star]]'' (supplement), December 1844 : a contemporary account of the Common Council of the Church's trial of Sidney Rigdon {{s-start}} {{S-rel|[[Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion]] titles<br><small>Reorganized in 1862 under the name [[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|The Church of Jesus Christ]]</small>}} {{Succession box| title = [[President of the Church]]| years = April 6, 1845&ndash;1847| before = [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]]| after = [[William Bickerton]] | }} {{s-rel|[[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|Church of Christ]] titles<br><small>Later renamed: Church of the Latter Day Saints (1834) and <br>Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1838)</small>}} {{s-bef | before = [[Jesse Gause]]}} {{s-ttl | title = First Counselor in the [[First Presidency]]| years = {{start date|1833|03|18}}&ndash;{{end date|1844|06|27}} }} {{s-aft | after = Disputed: | after2 = </b>Possible successors include:| after3 = [[Heber C. Kimball]] ([[LDS Church]])| after4 = [[William Marks (Latter Day Saints)|William Marks]] ([[RLDS Church]])}} {{s-break}} {{s-new| first}} {{s-ttl | title = &nbsp;Second Counselor in the [[First Presidency]]&nbsp;| years = {{start date|1832|03|08}}&ndash;{{end date|1833|03|18}} }} {{s-aft | after = [[Frederick G. Williams]]}} {{s-end}} {{LDS|show}} {{LDSfirstpresidency}} {{CoCfirstpresidency|RLDS=yes}} {{LDScouncil50}} {{Authority control|VIAF=23793715}} {{Persondata |NAME = Rigdon, Sidney |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |SHORT DESCRIPTION = American Mormon leader |DATE OF BIRTH = 1793-02-19 |PLACE OF BIRTH = [[St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|St. Clair Township]], [[Pennsylvania]] |DATE OF DEATH = 1876-07-14 |PLACE OF DEATH = [[Friendship, New York|Friendship]], [[New York]] }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rigdon, Sidney}} [[Category:1793 births]] [[Category:1876 deaths]] [[Category:American Christian missionaries]] [[Category:American Latter Day Saints]] [[Category:Angelic visionaries]] [[Category:Converts to Mormonism from Restoration Movement denominations]] [[Category:Editors of Latter Day Saint publications]] [[Category:Leaders in the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)]] [[Category:Latter Day Saint missionaries]] [[Category:Leaders in various Latter Day Saint denominations]] [[Category:Religious leaders from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:United States vice-presidential candidates, 1844]] [[Category:Sidney Rigdon| ]] [[Category:Counselors in the First Presidency (LDS Church)]] [[Category:Members of the Council of Fifty]] [[Category:People excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] [[Category:Doctrine and Covenants people]] [[Category:Rigdonites]]'