From the Whitmer Home the Gospel of Jesus Christ has gone forth to the world in this last dispensation.
William Whitaker, Professor of Art at Brigham Young University, was commissioned to do this series of paints for the first issue of the Ensign Magazine in 1970. The originals hang in the gallery of the visitors' center. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery are planning the organization meeting for the date the Lord set, April 6, 1830.
April 6, 1830, was a Tuesday. The meeting was set in the afternoon so people would have time to travel.
Attendance was between 50 and 60 people. The Prophet Joseph's father was there.
His sisters were there.
Martin Harris was there. He had made possible the publication of the Book of Mormon by mortgaging his land to guarantee payment on the cost of the publication.
Chairs were in short supply for this meeting. They may have been borrowed from neighbors.
Joseph Smith, Junior, conducted the meeting according to the plan the Lord had given him.
The meeting opened with prayer. It is uncertain whether the prayer was kneeling or sitting.
Participants then sustained Joseph as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator by the raise of hands. Common consent has been the rule of choosing leaders throughout history in Christ's church.
Joseph was ordained as First Elder, and then Oliver was ordained as Second Elder.
Now that the formal church was organized, it was possible to have the first blessing and passing of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in this dispensation.
The tokens of the Lord's Supper were passed to the congregation.
Business of the church was conducted, with ordinations, confirmations and blessings.
A testimony meeting was then held. The Prophet's mother, Lucy Mack Smith, bore powerful witness that God had called her son to lead the church in this day.
With an organized church again on the earth, many of those attending wished to be baptized now as members of God's church on the earth. Previous baptisms were done for the remission of sins. It is uncertain where the baptisms were done. Seneca Lake is a possible site.
Lucy Mack Smith prepares for her re-baptism. She said, "As I stood on the shore..." which might indicate Seneca Lake as the site. No one wrote down where baptisms were done.
Joseph's father, Joseph Smith, Senior, was baptized and confirmed on April 6, 1830.
William Whitaker, Professor of Art at Brigham Young University, was commissioned to do this series of paints for the first issue of the Ensign Magazine in 1970. The originals hang in the gallery of the visitors' center. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery are planning the organization meeting for the date the Lord set, April 6, 1830.
April 6, 1830, was a Tuesday. The meeting was set in the afternoon so people would have time to travel.
Attendance was between 50 and 60 people. The Prophet Joseph's father was there.
His sisters were there.
Martin Harris was there. He had made possible the publication of the Book of Mormon by mortgaging his land to guarantee payment on the cost of the publication.
Chairs were in short supply for this meeting. They may have been borrowed from neighbors.
Joseph Smith, Junior, conducted the meeting according to the plan the Lord had given him.
The meeting opened with prayer. It is uncertain whether the prayer was kneeling or sitting.
Participants then sustained Joseph as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator by the raise of hands. Common consent has been the rule of choosing leaders throughout history in Christ's church.
Joseph was ordained as First Elder, and then Oliver was ordained as Second Elder. 
Now that the formal church was organized, it was possible to have the first blessing and passing of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in this dispensation.
The tokens of the Lord's Supper were passed to the congregation.
Business of the church was conducted, with ordinations, confirmations and blessings.
A testimony meeting was then held. The Prophet's mother, Lucy Mack Smith, bore powerful witness that God had called her son to lead the church in this day.
With an organized church again on the earth, many of those attending wished to be baptized now as members of God's church on the earth. Previous baptisms were done for the remission of sins. It is uncertain where the baptisms were done. Seneca Lake is a possible site.
Lucy Mack Smith prepares for her re-baptism. She said, "As I stood on the shore..." which might indicate Seneca Lake as the site. No one wrote down where baptisms were done.
Joseph's father, Joseph Smith, Senior, was baptized and confirmed on April 6, 1830.
