In D&C 117:12, we read the following promise to Oliver Granger:
And
again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I
say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation
to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord. (D&C 117:12)
Some LDS apologists have argued that this “sacred remembrance”
refers to God remembering Oliver Granger, and perhaps in this verse,
that is the case (see my article Oliver
Granger and “Sacred Remembrance”). However, there is an uncanonized revelation
dated May 13, 1839, mirroring D&C 117:12:
Verily,
thus saith the Lord—I will lift up my servant Oliver Grander and beget for him
a great name on the earth and among my people, because of the integrity of his
soul. Therefore, let all my Saints about unto him all liberality and
long-suffering, and it shall be a blessing on their heads. ("Authorization
for Oliver Granger, 13 May, 1839," The Joseph Smith Papers website)
Here,
Oliver is promised “a great name on the earth and among my people,”
which cannot simply be God remembering Oliver Granger, but Latter-day Saints
here on the earth. Of course, Oliver Granger’s importance and integrity are well
known among those who read early Latter-day Saint history, and it helps a great
deal having one’s name and integrity recorded in modern revelation.
To
help the continuing fulfillment of this prophecy, let me quote the biography
for Oliver on the Joseph Smith Papers website:
7 Feb.
1794–23/25 Aug. 1841. Sheriff, church agent. Born at Phelps, Ontario Co., New
York. Son of Pierce Granger and Clarissa Trumble. Married Lydia Dibble, 8 Sept.
1813, at Phelps. Member of Methodist church and licensed exhorter. Sheriff of
Ontario Co. and colonel in militia. Partially blind from 1827 onward. Lived at
Phelps, 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
ordained an elder by Brigham and Joseph Young, ca. 1832–1833, at Sodus, Wayne
Co., New York. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Served mission to
eastern U.S. with Samuel Newcomb. Ordained a high priest, 29 Apr. 1836, at
Kirtland. Served mission to New York with John P. Greene, spring 1836.
Appointed to Kirtland high council, 8 Oct. 1837. Appointed to settle JS’s
business affairs in Kirtland, 1838. Left Kirtland for Far West, Caldwell Co.,
Missouri, June 1838, possibly to confer regarding JS’s Kirtland business
affairs. Directed in July 1838 revelation to move to Far West. Returned to
Kirtland to settle JS’s affairs. Acted as agent in securing lands in Lee Co.,
Iowa Territory, May 1839. Appointed to preside over church in Kirtland, 4 May
1839. Died at Kirtland. (Granger, Oliver)
Further
Reading:
