Up to this time neither had made
any profession of religion, though hers was eminently a spiritual nature, while
he was more of a business-like or temporal turn of mind. Though cherishing an
unfaltering faith in a future state, and believing an honest straightforward
course to be the only sure passport to its happy possession, he did not as
quickly as she recognize the necessity of putting on the outward armor of
religion. His eyes were open to the hypocrisy of the sectarian world, and it
was not in his nature to rush blindfold into anything. However, they made up
their minds to join the Disciples, or "Campbellites"—as they were
commonly called—the doctrines enunciated by that sect seeming to them to be
most in accordance with the Scriptures. Having joined they remained members of
that church, of which Sidney Rigdon was the local head, until Parley P. Pratt
and other "Mormon" Elders preached in Kirtland the fulness of the
everlasting gospel. To hear with Mother Whitney was to believe; and to believe
to be baptized. Her husband, with characteristic caution, took time to
investigate, but entered the fold a few days afterwards. This was in November
1830. Some time before they had been praying earnestly to the Lord to know how
they might obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Campbellites baptized for the
remission of sins and believed also in the laying on of hands and the gifts of
the Spirit, but did not claim authority to confer the Holy Ghost. "One
night," says Mother Whitney, "it was midnight—my husband and I were
in our house at Kirtland, praying to the Father to be shown the way when the
Spirit rested upon us and a cloud overshadowed the house. It was as though we
were out of doors. The house passed away from our vision. We were not conscious
of anything but the presence of the spirit and the cloud that was over us. We
were wrapped in the cloud. A solemn awe pervaded us. We saw the cloud and felt
the Spirit of the Lord. Then we heard a voice out of the cloud saying, 'Prepare
to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming.' At this we marveled
greatly, but from that moment we knew that the word of the Lord was coming to
Kirtland." Abut the first of February, 1831, a sleigh containing four
persons, drove through the streets of Kirtland and drew up in front of Gilbert
& Whitney's store. The occupants of the sleigh were evenly divided as to
sex. One of the men, a young and stalwart personage, alighted and springing up
the steps walked into the store and to where the junior partner was standing.
"Newel K. Whitney, thou art the man!" he exclaimed, extending his
hand cordially, as if to an old and familiar acquaintance. "You have the
advantage of me," replied the one addressed as he mechanically took the
proffered hand. "I could not call you by name as you have me."
"I am Joseph the Prophet" said the stranger, smiling. "You've
prayed me here; now what do you want of me?" (Orson F. Whitney, "WHITNEY,
Newell Kimball," in Andrew Jenson, comp., Latter-day Saint Biographical
Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women
in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 vols. [Salt Lake
City: The Deseret News, 1901], 1:233. Note: Orson F. Whitney was a grandson of Newel
and Elizabeth Ann Whitney)
Here is a scan of the relevant page (click to enlarge):
To see how pathetic the response by critics to the above can be
seen in J. P. Holding, The Prophecies of Joseph Smith: A
Critical Look (a response to Jeff Lindsay’s Mormon
Answers: Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith):
These two predictions are
reminiscent of two Biblical prophecies by Jesus: the seeing of Nathaneal under
the tree, and the finding of the man carrying a jar of water. The latter is
actually seldom seen as prophetic -- most commentators think Jesus had things
arranged in advance, and one might suggest that Smith often did, too, and that
perhaps some took these as prophecies (while Smith may or may not have intended
them to be).
