Craig James Ostler: This small but comfortable home on the flats across the road from the Newel K. Whitney Store, provided the prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, their first lodging in Kirtland, Ohio. Upon arriving in Kirtland in February 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith related that they were taken in by “the family of Brother Whitney for several weeks and received every kindness and attention which can be expected, especially from Sister Whitney.”1 There was one small bedroom on the main floor, thus when the Prophet and his expectant wife lived here, Newel, Elizabeth Ann, and their five children must’ve all moved to the large unfinished open area on the upper level, a noteworthy sacrifice.
John P. Livingstone: During the time that the Prophet Joseph Smith lived with the Whitneys, from about the first of February to the first of March 1831, this home was a place of revelation and testimony. In fulfillment of the Lord’s earlier promise, He revealed the law of the Church, which is Doctrine and Covenants section 42, to the Prophet, most likely in this parlor room, which would have been used as an office and place for church meetings. Doctrine and Covenants sections 41 through 44, and in all probability, 70 and 72, were received here as well. If section 72 was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith while at this home, then Newel K. Whitney was called to serve as bishop in the Ohio area in his own parlor.
Craig James Ostler: In addition, within these walls the power to heal was made manifest in the early days of the restoration. John Johnson of Hiram, Ohio, and his wife, Elsa, accompanied by Ezra Booth, a Methodist preacher from that area, visited the Whitney home shortly after the Prophet Joseph arrived in Kirtland.
When the missionaries from New York traveled through this area on their way to teach the Lamanites in the western United States, they left several copies of the Book of Mormon. The Johnson family had an extra interest in the message in that their son, Lyman, had already received the message of the restoration and was baptized, and, of course, he encouraged his parents to investigate. Ezra Booth, who was the Methodist minister in the Hiram township here in Ohio where the Johnsons lived, obtained a copy of the Book of Mormon and took it to the Johnsons where they read through the copy they had. And as Sister Johnson read in the Book of Mormon, she was overwhelmed with the feeling that it was true but also that the man who had translated that book, Joseph Smith, was a prophet of God. Now being he was living up here in Kirtland, Ohio, with the Whitneys at that time, she had a desire to come and visit with him because she was convinced that he would have the power to heal her arthritic lame arm. For years Sister Johnson had been unable to lift her arm above her shoulder and to do even some of the simplest tasks around the home. And so they traveled together, Ezra Booth, apparently the doctor or physician of the Johnsons came with them, and John and Elsa Johnson, there may have been others. There are several accounts and each one of them have a little different take to it, but from everything we can tell, they were in this parlor room and as they were sitting here and conversing upon religious principles, one account indicates that Ezra Booth, the Methodist minister, asked the question, “Does anyone on earth today have the power of God to heal this poor woman’s arm?” And apparently, no one responded. One account, given later, [stated that] Joseph, as he sat here, after they continued conversing, went over to Sister Johnson and took her by the hand, and he either asked her or he said “I perceive that thou hast faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to be healed”. He pronounced, be thou be made whole in the name of Jesus Christ. As that happened her arm was immediately healed, regardless of the account we have been given. And she was able to use her arm ever after.2 In fact, Joseph was asked about that, they asked, “Now, is her arm going to stay this way, is it going to stay healed?” He said, “Her arm is just as good as the other, but it’s also just as liable to be injured as the other, once again.”3 We understand that this is the first account that we have in the restoration of the power of healing being exercise in the kingdom. It was just a few days earlier, as has been alluded to, that the law of the Church had been given, which included that they were to call upon elders of the church for the sick and in this case the lame, that they might be healed (D&C 42:44). And so it appears that Joseph Smith, being inspired by the Spirit, as well as the revelation that was received, acted upon that [revelation]. And [for] Sister Johnson, and her husband, Ezra Booth, who was there, [for them] all, this was kind of the clinching pin, saying, “This is the Church of Jesus Christ restored on the earth.” And they were soon baptized afterwards, along with several other members of the Johnson family.4
John P. Livingstone: Ezra Booth will actually not remain faithful to the Church. Even though he sees this miracle, it’s not enough!
Craig James Ostler: The Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, were given Newel and Elizabeth Ann’s bedroom, when the Whitneys invited them to stay in their home for several weeks in February of 1831. Emma had been very ill and laid in bed the entire month just before leaving for Ohio, and was between six and seven months pregnant with twins and would have been feeling exhausted, having traveled about 230 miles with all her worldly possessions.
John P. Livingstone: After Joseph and Emma moved from the home, they and the Whitneys continued to have close associations. For example, the prophet Joseph Smith recorded that on Thursday, January 7, 1836, he attended a sumptuous feast at Bishop Newel K. Whitney’s. He said…
Voice over—Joseph Smith/Michael Goodman: “This feast was after the order of the Son of God; the lame, the halt, the blind, were invited according to the instructions of our Savior. Our meeting was opened by singing and prayer by father Smith, after which Bishop Whitney’s father and mother and a number of others were blessed with a patriarchal blessing. We then received a bountiful refreshment furnished by the liberality of the bishop. The company was large and before we partook we had some of the songs of Zion sung and our hearts were made glad by a foretaste of those joys that will be poured upon the heads of the saints when they are gathered together on Mount Zion to enjoy one another’s society forever more, even all the blessings of heaven when there will be none to molest or make us afraid.”5
Craig James Ostler: The rooms of the Whitney home were alive with service. Hearts and pantries were opened to share the bounties of the Lord’s blessings. Hands were busy preparing food, setting tables, extending a warm welcome to friends and neighbors.
Voice over—Elizabeth Ann Whitney/Aaronita Card: “This feast of the poor lasted three days, during which time all the vicinity of Kirtland who would come were invited and entertained. The prophet Joseph and his two counselors being present each day, talking, blessing, and comforting the poor by words of encouragement and their most welcome presence. Joseph often referred to this particular feast during his lifetime and testified of the great blessing he felt in associating with the meek and the humble one whom the Lord has said He delights to own and bless. He often said to me that it was preferable and far superior to the elegant select parties he afterwards attended and afforded him much more genuine satisfaction.”6
Craig James Ostler: Years later, when the saints settle in Nauvoo and the women organize a Relief Society there, and Joseph Smith wants to have that organized under the priesthood, Emma Smith is chosen as the first president of the Relief Society.7 In looking for counselors who could serve with her, it is no surprise to me that she would hearken back to that individual who had taken her into her home, given her own bedroom, and then cared for her during that early month and weeks, when they were first here in Kirtland. And she calls Elizabeth Ann Whitney to serve as her counselor in the presidency of the Relief Society. This friendship continued throughout their lives and, I am sure, has continued in the next life. As we see that those things that take place, and just simply showing kindness, as was demonstrated here in this small home in Kirtland, Ohio, may have great influence not only in this life but in the next.
1“History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834],” p. 93, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed May 1, 2017,
http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-a-1-23-december-1805-30-august-1834/99
2See From a non-LDs account included in A. S. Hayden’s Early History of the Disciples; Burke, Aaron Hinsdale, “Life and Character of Symonds Ryder. A Funeral Sermon Preached in Hiram, Ohio, August 3, 1870,” 245-65; History of the Church, 1:215-216 note. There is no reason to dispute this account as it relates the events that were surely recited to neighbors as explanation to the miraculous healing. Philo Dibble, an early member of the Church in Kirtland, related the same even as told him by an eyewitness that ‘there were eight persons present, one a Methodist preacher, and one a doctor. Joseph took her by the hand, prayed in silence a moment, pronounced her arm whole, in the name of Jesus Christ, and turned and left the room. The preacher asked her if her arm was whole, and she straightened it out and replied” ‘It is as good as the other.’” (Phil Dibble, “Early Scenes in Church History,” Four Faith Promoting Classics, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 79).
3Dibble, “Philo Dibble’s Narrative,” 79-80.
4Backman, Jr., Milton V., “The Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-day Saints in Ohio”, (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Company, 1983), 82-83.
5“History, 1834–1836,” p. 171, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed May 1, 2017,http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/175?highlight=attended%20a%20sumptuous%20feast
6Elizabeth Ann Whitney, Woman’s Exponent, “A leaf From An Autobiography,” Vol. 7, No. 11 [Nov. 1, 1878], 83.
7“Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book,” p. 8, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed May 1, 2017,http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book/5?highlight=Elizabeth%20Ann%20Smith%20Whitney
This small but comfortable home on the flats across the road from the Newel K. Whitney Store, provided the prophet Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, their first lodging in Kirtland, Ohio. Upon arriving in Kirtland in February 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith related that they were taken in by “the family of Brother Whitney for several weeks and received every kindness and attention which can be expected, especially from Sister Whitney.”1 There was one small bedroom on the main floor, thus when the Prophet and his expectant wife lived here, Newel, Elizabeth Ann, and their five children must’ve all moved to the large unfinished open area on the upper level, a noteworthy sacrifice.
