Kirtland,
Ohio, which once had a scourge placed on it through the Prophet Joseph Smith,
is climbing back. Today, the Kirtland Ward has almost 500 members and is
growing at the rate of 23 percent a year as part of the sprawling Cleveland
Ohio Stake.
It
was on July 6, 1838—144 years ago this week—that the early Kirtland members
packed up everything and left Ohio for Missouri.
It's
quite amazing what has happened since the ward was organized five years ago,
said Bishop Jack Lee Davis, manager of the Morton Salt Co. at Painesville,
located 12 miles northeast of Kirkland. "We now average 60 percent
attendance at sacrament meeting, our temple attendance is high, fast offerings
exceed the stakes average, Primary attendance is up, we have 65 in our youth
program, and we attend our stake meetings well."
He
said that a new two-unit chapel that could be used as a stake center is
finished and awaiting dedication.
The
ward only had 199 members when it was organized five years ago, said the
bishop, but "move-ins of at least 10 LDS families" to build a nearby
power plant—plus converts—have kept the ward enrollment rising.
.
. .
"This
fulfilled one of Joseph Smith's prophecies regarding Kirtland that descendants
of the early inhabits would one day reside in the city," said the bishop.
.
. .
A
promise of a future stake in Kirtland was made by the Prophet Joseph, "It
will be one of the principal ones of Zion." In addition, it was promised
that the posterity of the faithful saints who once lived in Kirtland would
compose the inhabitants of the city. "I have heard Brigham make similar
statements." (Joseph Young, Letter to Lewis Harvey, Nov. 16, 1880.)
President
Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve foresaw the removal of Kirtland's
scourge when he spoke at the chapel groundbreaking, Oct. 14, 1979:
"The
scourge that was placed upon the people . . . is being lifted today. . . . I'm
sure that this is a new day, the Lord is looking in on the people of this
community because of your faith and your faithfulness, and your interest in
building the kingdom."
He
continued: "The prophecy said . . . your children may possess the Kirtland
land, but not until many years shall pass away. Those many, years have passed
away and now is the time to rise and shine and look forward to the great
progress of this part of the Lord's kingdom." (Keith W. Perkins and Golden
A. Buchmiller, "The
1838 Scourge Lifted: Future of Kirtland Bright on All Fronts," Church
News [July 10, 1982]: 5)
Most
of the Mormons had left Kirtland to settle in their new homes in Missouri. Four
months later in October 1838, William Law was planning on moving to Kirtland. The
Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation from the Lord advising him not to
go. It stated: “If he (William Law) will do my will let him not take his family
unto the eastern lands, even unto Kirtland; nevertheless, I, the Lord, will
build up Kirtland, but, I, the Lord, have a scourge, prepared for the
inhabitants thereof.” (D&C 124:83)
The
Prophet’s older brother Hyrum Smith was also inspired by the Lord to prophesy similarly
about the future of Kirtland a few months later.
Hyrum
Smith’s Prophecy of Kirtland Also Fulfilled
Hyrum
wrote:
All
the saints that dwell in that land are commanded to come away, for this is, ‘Thus
saith the Lord;’ therefore pay out no monies nor properties for houses, nor
lands, in that country, for if you do, you will lose them; for the time shall
come that you shall not possess them in peace; but shall be scourged with a sore
scourge; yet your children may possess them; but not until many years shall pass
away;
.
. . comfort unto this place from all the world, until it is filled up, and
polished, and sanctified according to my word, saith the Lord, come ye forth
from the ends of the earth, that I may hide you from mine indication that shall
scourge the wicked, and then I will send forth and build up Kirtland, and it
shall be polished and refined according to my word. (Times and Seasons
3:589, October 3, 1841) (Howard Barron, Mormon Prophecies and Their
Fulfillment [Salt Lake City: Hawes Publishing, 1994], 227-28)
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