December 5, 1834, was an important day in Church history. It was the day when Oliver Cowdery was ordained Assistant President of the Church.
Many members of the Church today are unaware of this event. For example, did you know it was John the Baptist who directed that Oliver Cowdery be ordained to this office?
You can read the minutes of the meeting in Joseph Smith's History, 1834-1836, here:
Why are we discussing this in this blog about M2C?
Because the M2C advocates claim that Oliver Cowdery was wrong when, as Assistant President of the Church, he wrote in Letter VII that it is a fact that the Hill Cumorah of Mormon 6:6 is in New York.
It takes a lot of audacity to repudiate the teachings of an Assistant President of the Church who was called to that position by John the Baptist directly.
Oliver was truthful about everything except...
|Letter VII from Messenger and Advocate, July 1835|
Consider Oliver Cowdery's participation in the Church to put Letter VII in context. When he wrote it, he was the Assistant President of the Church. He had been commanded by revelation to select materials to publish. All eight of Oliver's letters about history are accepted by Church historians as important insights into the early events of the Church.
The only ones who object to any of Oliver's writings are the M2C advocates who reject a few paragraphs out of one of the eight letters.
Oliver published Letter VII in July 1835. In February 1835, he, as one of the Three Witnesses, had selected the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He gave them their aspostolic charge. In April 1836, he, along with Joseph Smith, was visited in the Kirtland temple by Moses, Elias, Elijah, and the Savior Himself. Oliver and Joseph were given the keys of the gathering of Israel and the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham.
M2C advocates expect you to believe that Oliver Cowdery could faithfully record the entire Book of Mormon, most of the Book of Moses, and much of Church history. Oliver could faithfully edit and publish two Church newspapers, the Book of Commandments, and the original Doctrine and Covenants. He could accurately write the statement for the Three Witnesses. Of all the writing he did, you're supposed to believe he was faithful and accurate except for a few paragraphs in one letter, solely because those paragraphs establish the New York Cumorah as a fact, which contradicts the opinions of the M2C scholars.
Here is the chronology. Everything that is okay is marked green. The items the scholars object to is marked red.
Transcribes Book of Mormon as Joseph dictates
Receives Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist, baptizes Joseph and is baptized by him
Receives Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James and John
Sees the plates and angel as one of the Three Witnesses
Completes Book of Mormon and makes a printer’s copy, supervises printing and publication
Helps organize the Church as a Second Elder and apostle, ordains Joseph Smith as First Elder
Transcribes Book of Moses 1:1 through 5:43
Leaves on mission to the Lamanites
Baptizes Sidney Rigdon
Arrives in Jackson County, Mo.
Meets Joseph in Jackson County
Takes revelations from Ohio to Missouri for publication
Helps Phelps with printing operation in Missouri
Approves Book of Commandments
Sets up printing press in Kirtland, reprints Evening and Morning Star
Begins editing Evening and Morning Star
Chosen as founding member of Kirtland Council
Leader in Kirtland after Zions Camp left
Edits LDS Messenger and Advocate and Northern Times
Publishes Letter I about Church history, part of which is in the current Pearl of Great Price
Publishes Letter II about Church history
Publishes Letter III about Church history
Ordained by Joseph Smith as “Assistant President of the Church”
Publishes Letter IV about Church history
With David Whitmer and Martin Harris, selects first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Gives apostolic charge to the Twelve Apostles
Publishes Letter V about Church history
Publishes Letter VI about Church history
Resigns from Messenger and Advocate
Publishes Letter VII about Church history
Gets Doctrine and Covenants approved for printing
Publishes Letter VIII about Church history
Resumes editing the Messenger and Advocate
Visited in Kirtland temple by Moses, Elias, Elijah, and Christ, receives the keys of the gathering of Israel and dispensation of gospel of Abraham
Accompanies Joseph to Salem, MA
Turns over printing company to Joseph and Sidney
“Excluded from fellowship” for accusations against Joseph
Rebaptized into the Church
Dies in Richmond at home of David Whitmer
Now, read the ordination of President Cowdery and decide what you think about his credibility.
Presidents Rigdon, and Williams, confirmed the ordinance and blessings by the laying on of hands and prayer, after which each were blessed with the same blessings and prayer.
Every member of the Church ought to be grateful to and respectful of Oliver Cowdery for the important role he played in the Restoration of the Gospel.