Temple lot in Far West Photograph, George Edward Anderson, 1907. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)
- Town/City
- Far West
- Township
- Rockford Township (now in Mirabile Township)
- County
- Caldwell County
- State/Province
- Missouri
- Country
- United States of America
Far West, Missouri
Summary
Originally called Shoal Creek.1 Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence.2 Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831.3 Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri.4 William W. Phelps and John Whitmer held one square mile of land in trust for LDS church.5 Site described as “high rolling prairie” between Shoal and Goose creeks, and the homes as “very scattering, and small, being chiefly built of hewed logs.”6 During Mormon period, population estimated at 3,000 to 5,000.7 JS moved to Far West, Mar. 1838.8 By 1838, town featured 150 houses, four dry-goods stores, three family groceries, six blacksmith shops, two hotels, a printing office (where Elders’ Journal was printed), and at least two schoolhouses.9 Saints laid cornerstones for planned temple, 4 July 1838.10 Four days later, JS dictated revelation directing ordination of apostles and preaching by Quorum of the Twelve “over the great waters.”11 Became church headquarters and center of Mormon activity in Missouri.12 JS dictated seven revelations in area.13 JS arrested with other church leaders just outside of Far West, late Oct.–early Nov. 1838, following Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs’ executive order to exterminate Saints or drive them from state.14 Saints expelled from state into Iowa Territory and western Illinois.15
Links
- Letter from Thomas Burdick, 28 August 1840
- History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
- John Whitmer, History, 1831–circa 1847
- Affidavit, 5 September 1838
- Bill of Damages, 4 June 1839
- Celebration of the 4th of July, August 1838
- Copy of Evidence and Letter, circa Late 1838–circa Early 1839 [State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes]
- Copy of Evidence, circa Late 1838–circa Early 1839 [State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes]
- Discourse, 6 May 1838
- Doctrine and Covenants, 1844
- Editorial, 4 May 1838
- Elders’ Journal, August 1838
- Elders’ Journal, July 1838
- Elders’ Journal, November 1837
- Elders’ Journal, October 1837
- History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]
- History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda
- History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
- History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
- History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844]
- History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2]
- John Corrill, A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1839
- John Corrill, “Brief History,” Manuscript, circa 1838–1839
- Journal, 1835–1836
- Journal, 1839
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843
- Journal, December 1841–December 1842
- Journal, March–September 1838
- Journal, September–October 1838
- Letter and Revelation to Edward Partridge, 7 January 1838
- Letter from Alanson Ripley, 10 April 1839
- Letter from Austin A. King, 10 September 1838
- Letter from Benjamin Benson, 12 November 1837
- Letter from David Thomas, 31 March 1838
- Letter from Don Carlos Smith, Late May 1838
- Letter from Elias Higbee, 16 April 1839
- Letter from Emma Smith, 7 March 1839
- Letter from Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, circa July 1838
- Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 21 January 1838
- Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 February 1838
- Letter from William W. Phelps, 7 July 1837
- Letter to Emma Smith, 1 December 1838
- Letter to Emma Smith, 12 November 1838
- Letter to Emma Smith, 4 November 1838
- Letter to Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young, 16 January 1839
- Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 March 1839
- Letter to John Whitmer, 9 April 1838
- Letter to Stephen Post, 17 September 1838
- Letter to William Marks and Newel K. Whitney, 8 July 1838
- Letter to William W. Phelps, 22 July 1840
- Letter to the Church and Edward Partridge, 20 March 1839–B
- Letter to the Presidency in Kirtland, 29 March 1838
- Letter, John Whitmer to William W. Phelps, 8 January 1844
- Letter, Thomas B. Marsh (at request of JS) to Wilford Woodruff, circa 18 June 1838
- Letterbook 2
- License for Gardner Snow, 19 January 1839
- License for Jonathan H. Hale, 20 January 1839
- Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845
- Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845
- Minute Book 2
- Minutes, 10 November 1837
- Minutes, 28 June 1838
- Minutes, 4–5 May 1839
- Minutes, 6 April 1838
- Minutes, 6 November 1837
- Minutes, 7 November 1837
- Minutes, 7–8 April 1838
- Motto, March 1838
- Parley P. Pratt, History of the Late Persecution, 1839
- Petition to George Thompkins, 15 March 1839
- Petition to United States Congress, 29 November 1839
- Prospectus for the Elders’ Journal, 26 April 1838
- Record of the Twelve, 14 February–28 August 1835
- Resolution, circa 8 April 1838
- Revelation Book 2
- Revelation, 11 April 1838 [D&C 114]
- Revelation, 17 April 1838
- Revelation, 26 April 1838 [D&C 115]
- Revelation, 8 July 1838–A [D&C 118]
- Revelation, 8 July 1838–B
- Revelation, 8 July 1838–C [D&C 119]
- Revelation, 8 July 1838–D [D&C 120]
- Revelation, March 1838 [D&C 113]
- Revised Minutes, 18–19 February 1834 [D&C 102]
- Sidney Rigdon, Appeal to the American People, 1840
- Sidney Rigdon, Appeal to the American People, 1840, Second Edition
- Sidney Rigdon, JS, et al., Petition Draft (“To the Publick”), circa 1838–1839
- Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 March 1842
- Times and Seasons, 2 May 1842
- Transcript of Proceedings, 12–29 November 1838 [State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes]
- “A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri,” December 1839–October 1840
- “Extract, from the Private Journal of Joseph Smith Jr.,” July 1839