Grandpa

An Adams Family History - Part 1

Austin Cowles was a prominent leader in the early LDS church of Nauvoo, IL. On February 29, 1841 he was named 1^st counselor of the Nauvoo stake, likely the equivalent of a general authority in today’s church organization. He did missionary work for the church in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and returned to Nauvoo in early 1843.

In July of 1843 Joseph Smith preached, denouncing internal traitors. In a letter to Brigham Young, Willard Richards guessed that the prophet was talking primarily about three people, William Marks, Parley P. Pratt, and Austin Cowles.

According to the minutes of the church high council, Austin Cowles resigned from his position as first counselor on September 12, 1843. On May 18^th, 1844 Austin Cowles was “cut” off from the church for apostasy. He then helped write the fateful first and only issue of the Nauvoo Expositor which was published on June 7^th 1844, the paper which "so infuriated Joseph Smith with its criticisms of him." The destruction of the Expositor press, engineered by Joseph, set off a chain of events that led to his martyrdom.

So what did Austin Cowles write?

To all whom it may Concern:
Forasmuch as the public mind hath been much agitated by a course of procedure in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by a number of persons declaring against certain doctrines and practices therein, (among whom I am one,) it is but meet that I should give my reasons, at least in part, as a cause that hath led me to declare myself. In the latter part of the summer, 1843, the Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, did in the High Council, of which I was a member, introduce what he said was a revelation given through the Prophet; that the said Hyrum Smith did essay to read the said revelation in the said Council, that according to his reading there was contained the following doctrines; 1st, the sealing up of persons to eternal life, against all sins, save that of shedding innocent blood or of consenting thereto; 2nd, the doctrine of a plurality of wives, or marrying virgins; that "David and Solomon had many wives, yet in this they sinned not save in the matter of Uriah. This revelation with other evidence, that the aforesaid heresies were taught and practiced in the Church; determined me to leave the office of first counsellor to the president of the Church at Nauvoo, inasmuch as I dared not to teach or administer such laws. And further deponent saith not. -AUSTIN COWLES.

Austin Cowles is my great-great-great-great Grandpa.

Tune in tomorrow, it gets better.

Sources: Nauvoo Expositor

Todd Compton, Ph.D. University of California – Los Angeles. 1998