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Lost Apostles: Forgotten Members of Mormonism's Original Quorum of the Twelve
Before the LDS Church was organized, Joseph Smith received a revelation telling him that twelve men would be called as latter-day apostles. Their assignment would be to warn men and women that the end was near. Although the determination of who would fill these positions was delayed for five years, when it finally happened, God reiterated that these men were to “prune the vineyard for the last time” because the Second Coming was nigh. In fact, “fifty six years would wind up the scene,” they were told.
Of the twelve men selected, nine would eventually be pruned from the vineyard themselves, to varying degrees. Seven were excommunicated, one of whom was reinstated to his position in the Twelve. Of the other six, the subjects of this book, none returned to the apostleship and four never came back to the Church at all. Those who left faded into obscurity except for when they are occasionally still mentioned in sermons as cautionary tales. But two of them made their marks in other areas of society, John Boynton becoming a successful dentist, a popular lecturer, geologist, and inventor with dozens of important patents to his name, while Lyman Johnson became a prominent attorney and business owner. Even though Luke Johnson, Thomas B. Marsh, William McLellin, and William Smith became religious wanderers and tried unsuccessfully to adjust to life outside of the Church, their experiences were interesting and comprise valuable case studies in belief and disaffection.
Of the twelve men selected, nine would eventually be pruned from the vineyard themselves, to varying degrees. Seven were excommunicated, one of whom was reinstated to his position in the Twelve. Of the other six, the subjects of this book, none returned to the apostleship and four never came back to the Church at all. Those who left faded into obscurity except for when they are occasionally still mentioned in sermons as cautionary tales. But two of them made their marks in other areas of society, John Boynton becoming a successful dentist, a popular lecturer, geologist, and inventor with dozens of important patents to his name, while Lyman Johnson became a prominent attorney and business owner. Even though Luke Johnson, Thomas B. Marsh, William McLellin, and William Smith became religious wanderers and tried unsuccessfully to adjust to life outside of the Church, their experiences were interesting and comprise valuable case studies in belief and disaffection.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2013
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 31, 2014
What a lovely idea. What utterly hapless execution.
Shepard and Marquardt get the two stars for compiling, to some degree, information not widely known about figures like Luke and Lyman Johnson and William B. McLellin and for asking important questions about pivotal members in Mormon church history that have been largely forgotten or caricatured. But 2 stars is pushing it.
The writing is horrendous, and Signature Books should fire their editor or, at the very least, send him or her to a basic writing class. Organization, unity, coherence, editorializing at awkward mid-paragraph moments, inserting exceedingly minor characters into the middle of a narrative without any explanation of who they were or why they were connected, endless explanation of the same thing (they were all in Kirtland, I got it)--that's the starting list.
Beyond the interesting information contained in part of the last third of the book, this book treats in facile explanation and superficial history. 20 years ago, this would have been par for the course. But how, in a day and age when we have had a whole host of superb history written, can I even begin to respect this scholarship? It falls well below the bar.
Let's call this a mulligan. Next time, let's do some more digging, some more rigorous contextualizing (no more of the insipid "they had, after all, met one another in the mid-1830s when the national emphasis was Manifest Destiny, small farmer rights, and personal freedom [end of context]"--I can read Wikipedia myself, thanks), and make a call. Is there enough to write a book about an individual (like Luke Johnson, William Smith, or William McLellin)? Excellent. Give them the attention and thoughtfulness they deserve. Is there not (perhaps in the case of John Boynton)? Then keep it article length and publish it in the many appropriate venues available. Do you want to connect all these men? Fine, but determine a coherent narrative organization that doesn't require endless repetition and sloppy writing.
Shepard and Marquardt get the two stars for compiling, to some degree, information not widely known about figures like Luke and Lyman Johnson and William B. McLellin and for asking important questions about pivotal members in Mormon church history that have been largely forgotten or caricatured. But 2 stars is pushing it.
The writing is horrendous, and Signature Books should fire their editor or, at the very least, send him or her to a basic writing class. Organization, unity, coherence, editorializing at awkward mid-paragraph moments, inserting exceedingly minor characters into the middle of a narrative without any explanation of who they were or why they were connected, endless explanation of the same thing (they were all in Kirtland, I got it)--that's the starting list.
Beyond the interesting information contained in part of the last third of the book, this book treats in facile explanation and superficial history. 20 years ago, this would have been par for the course. But how, in a day and age when we have had a whole host of superb history written, can I even begin to respect this scholarship? It falls well below the bar.
Let's call this a mulligan. Next time, let's do some more digging, some more rigorous contextualizing (no more of the insipid "they had, after all, met one another in the mid-1830s when the national emphasis was Manifest Destiny, small farmer rights, and personal freedom [end of context]"--I can read Wikipedia myself, thanks), and make a call. Is there enough to write a book about an individual (like Luke Johnson, William Smith, or William McLellin)? Excellent. Give them the attention and thoughtfulness they deserve. Is there not (perhaps in the case of John Boynton)? Then keep it article length and publish it in the many appropriate venues available. Do you want to connect all these men? Fine, but determine a coherent narrative organization that doesn't require endless repetition and sloppy writing.
July 10, 2023
Have you ever put on your winter coat for the first time of the season, reached into the pocket, and pulled out a forgotten twenty-dollar bill? The feeling of elation upon discovering an unexpected treasure is what awaits Mormon history aficionados when they pick up “Lost Apostles,” by the two highly qualified and veteran historians William Shepard and Michael Marquardt. The book recovers the long-ignored stories of six of the original members of the Mormon Quorum of Twelve Apostles: the acquisitive Lyman Johnson, his brother and physician Luke Johnson, the intellectual John Boynton, long-misjudged Thomas Marsh, Restorationist seeker William McLellin, and the privileged libertine William Smith.
Shepard and Marquardt begin with a purpose in mind: “we would very much like to correct the injustice we feel has been done to the memory of these men.” As seasoned historians and coming from two different perspectives regarding Mormonism, the authors present their evidence objectively and leave the final judgment to the reader. Nonetheless, they point out, “our disappointment is over the embarrassment the churches today feel over the apostles’ perceived betrayal, which makes it almost impossible to quote these men as authorities on doctrine or history.” This is unfortunate, as these first apostles were eyewitnesses of some of the most formative events in the early Restoration movement.
What is to be gained by studying these six excommunicated apostles? Shepard and Marquardt provide much-needed context to their departures. Present-day apostle Dieter Uchtdorf, in the October 2013 General Conference, said “sometimes we assume [that people leave the church] because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.” A good place to investigate the phenomenon Elder Uchtdorf describes is among the earliest Quorum of the Twelve. The authors of “Lost Apostles” provide some of the details of the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society, the power dynamics between apostles and the high council, and the excesses of religious militarism which prevailed in 1838 Missouri to explain the real issues that the apostles faced, and the different ways each man responded to these pressures. For example, dismissing Thomas B. Marsh for leaving the church over an argument about milk strippings trivializes the often-complex calculus that went into his criticism of the Mormon prophet.
“Lost Apostles” is loosely organized by topic. The six disaffected apostles and other early Latter-day Saints are followed through their discovery of Mormonism, their missionary experiences, the Kirtland, Missouri and Nauvoo periods, and the succession crisis and leadership struggle upon Joseph Smith’s death. The paths of each apostle are traced after his disaffection until his eventual demise. Each responded a bit differently to excommunication. Two of the apostles reconciled with Brigham Young’s group of Saints, following them across the plains to Utah. Two apostles found success in endeavors outside Mormonism. Two more explored the varied and divergent paths of other would-be successors.
This book is not intended to present the basics of LDS church history. The authors assume that the reader is generally conversant with Mormon foundational events; those who are not may find the book confusing, or even disturbing. Some may not be aware that so many of the early leaders of the church left or were excommunicated for a time. This included all of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, several members of the First Presidency, and the majority of the Twelve. Many Mormons today are comfortable with the idea of a First Presidency supported by Twelve Apostles as the governing council of the Church. They may not realize that the current relationships between the various Quorums is the result of a hard-won compromise, characterized by bitter infighting and political negotiation among these groups. It may be a surprise that all of the members of the re-established Quorum of Twelve practiced polygamy in Nauvoo, while officially denying the practice—or that many of the first plural marriages were polyandrous. “Lost Apostles” makes no secret of the fact that between 40 and 50 percent of the membership of 1844 left Mormonism over succession issues in the first ten years after Joseph’s death. Any apology or facile explanation of these matters is prudently avoided by the authors, but could be troubling.
Shepard and Marquardt choose not to address complex theological developments in this work. Overall, this is an effective strategy, and improves readability. However, while it is generally peripheral to their subject, there are times when some discussion of underlying theological considerations would aid in understanding. For example, William Smith is presented as feeling entitled to special privileges because he had “royal blood.” The common reader might understand this to mean that he was advantaged by virtue of being the brother of Joseph Smith. In fact, the term “royal blood” had a particular meaning to the nineteenth-century church. In speeches by both Joseph and Brigham, this term was used to mean that some of the early leaders were literal descendants of Jesus Christ, heir to the throne of David. Another area lacking sufficient development is the discussion of Danite activity during the Missouri war. The authors fail to provide adequate information regarding the involvement of church leadership in rising Mormon militarism. The apparent participation of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in Mormon aggression in Missouri is key to appreciating the apostles’ disaffection, and warrants further clarification.
In the past, the six “lost apostles,” Luke and Lyman Johnson, John Boynton, Thomas Marsh, William McLellin, and William Smith have been dismissed, disparaged, and disregarded. This book invites the larger Mormon audience to revisit the traditional history surrounding these individuals and make a fairer appraisal. Authors Shepard and Marquardt present their strengths and weaknesses in a broader context, unencumbered by the emotions and prejudices of the past. The story of the Restoration is not just gathering, but scattering; not just meeting, but parting; not just joining, but separating. These first apostles belong to us. We can choose to love them and own them the same way we love the other six. We can thank them for the sacrifices they made even if we don’t approve of everything they did. A sympathetic reading of the prodigal half-quorum is key to reclaiming our own lost children of the restoration.
Shepard and Marquardt begin with a purpose in mind: “we would very much like to correct the injustice we feel has been done to the memory of these men.” As seasoned historians and coming from two different perspectives regarding Mormonism, the authors present their evidence objectively and leave the final judgment to the reader. Nonetheless, they point out, “our disappointment is over the embarrassment the churches today feel over the apostles’ perceived betrayal, which makes it almost impossible to quote these men as authorities on doctrine or history.” This is unfortunate, as these first apostles were eyewitnesses of some of the most formative events in the early Restoration movement.
What is to be gained by studying these six excommunicated apostles? Shepard and Marquardt provide much-needed context to their departures. Present-day apostle Dieter Uchtdorf, in the October 2013 General Conference, said “sometimes we assume [that people leave the church] because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.” A good place to investigate the phenomenon Elder Uchtdorf describes is among the earliest Quorum of the Twelve. The authors of “Lost Apostles” provide some of the details of the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society, the power dynamics between apostles and the high council, and the excesses of religious militarism which prevailed in 1838 Missouri to explain the real issues that the apostles faced, and the different ways each man responded to these pressures. For example, dismissing Thomas B. Marsh for leaving the church over an argument about milk strippings trivializes the often-complex calculus that went into his criticism of the Mormon prophet.
“Lost Apostles” is loosely organized by topic. The six disaffected apostles and other early Latter-day Saints are followed through their discovery of Mormonism, their missionary experiences, the Kirtland, Missouri and Nauvoo periods, and the succession crisis and leadership struggle upon Joseph Smith’s death. The paths of each apostle are traced after his disaffection until his eventual demise. Each responded a bit differently to excommunication. Two of the apostles reconciled with Brigham Young’s group of Saints, following them across the plains to Utah. Two apostles found success in endeavors outside Mormonism. Two more explored the varied and divergent paths of other would-be successors.
This book is not intended to present the basics of LDS church history. The authors assume that the reader is generally conversant with Mormon foundational events; those who are not may find the book confusing, or even disturbing. Some may not be aware that so many of the early leaders of the church left or were excommunicated for a time. This included all of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, several members of the First Presidency, and the majority of the Twelve. Many Mormons today are comfortable with the idea of a First Presidency supported by Twelve Apostles as the governing council of the Church. They may not realize that the current relationships between the various Quorums is the result of a hard-won compromise, characterized by bitter infighting and political negotiation among these groups. It may be a surprise that all of the members of the re-established Quorum of Twelve practiced polygamy in Nauvoo, while officially denying the practice—or that many of the first plural marriages were polyandrous. “Lost Apostles” makes no secret of the fact that between 40 and 50 percent of the membership of 1844 left Mormonism over succession issues in the first ten years after Joseph’s death. Any apology or facile explanation of these matters is prudently avoided by the authors, but could be troubling.
Shepard and Marquardt choose not to address complex theological developments in this work. Overall, this is an effective strategy, and improves readability. However, while it is generally peripheral to their subject, there are times when some discussion of underlying theological considerations would aid in understanding. For example, William Smith is presented as feeling entitled to special privileges because he had “royal blood.” The common reader might understand this to mean that he was advantaged by virtue of being the brother of Joseph Smith. In fact, the term “royal blood” had a particular meaning to the nineteenth-century church. In speeches by both Joseph and Brigham, this term was used to mean that some of the early leaders were literal descendants of Jesus Christ, heir to the throne of David. Another area lacking sufficient development is the discussion of Danite activity during the Missouri war. The authors fail to provide adequate information regarding the involvement of church leadership in rising Mormon militarism. The apparent participation of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in Mormon aggression in Missouri is key to appreciating the apostles’ disaffection, and warrants further clarification.
In the past, the six “lost apostles,” Luke and Lyman Johnson, John Boynton, Thomas Marsh, William McLellin, and William Smith have been dismissed, disparaged, and disregarded. This book invites the larger Mormon audience to revisit the traditional history surrounding these individuals and make a fairer appraisal. Authors Shepard and Marquardt present their strengths and weaknesses in a broader context, unencumbered by the emotions and prejudices of the past. The story of the Restoration is not just gathering, but scattering; not just meeting, but parting; not just joining, but separating. These first apostles belong to us. We can choose to love them and own them the same way we love the other six. We can thank them for the sacrifices they made even if we don’t approve of everything they did. A sympathetic reading of the prodigal half-quorum is key to reclaiming our own lost children of the restoration.
July 27, 2014
Finished reading this book today (07-26-2014). I thought it was good. Very well researched. I loved the footnotes and being able to go to some of my other books to check the references. It's important to know our history and the early days of the LDS (Mormon) church. Mormonism is the subject for a lifetime and the more you know about the early Saints helps us today. Some of the information I was aware of and much of it I was not. I enjoyed learning about William Smith's troubles with his temper and his desire to lead. I reason I docked it a star was because the book had separate sections for each apostle, but I was confused during parts of the book. Perhaps I'm being petty, but I would have preferred entirely separate sections for each apostle. Probably wouldn't work for others, but it would've worked for me. This book is worthy of your time if you are interested in knowing about the first quorum of the 12 apostles in the LDS Church. The appendix is great - pictures of them - along with their ordinations.
August 27, 2014
Very interesting idea, less than ideal execution. Mormonism's earliest apostles were a fascinating bunch of men, deserving of closer attention than they've yet received. While many traditional histories of Mormonism tend to gloss over some of the less savory events, this book zooms right in on them, sometimes resulting in historical overcorrection. The organization of the book was confusing as the authors retread the same events in different chapters without a clear reason. The book also lacked a compelling overriding thesis or comparison with prominent religious contemporaries. Perhaps the most useful thing about the book is its attention to a variety of primary sources, paving the way for more robust analytical or comparative work for the future.
September 14, 2014
So much potential and ultimately disappointing. It is less about the lost apostles and more about obscure stories which they are only side characters in. More than half of the book interweaves them as mere character. The last third of the book carries value as it finally focuses on the individuals and it is remarkably researched - just organized and present poorly. It would be more effective and timely to look up the one page articles of each lost apostle on Wikipedia... You'll walk away with the same relevant information.
July 28, 2014
Fun read. Authors did a great job with meticulous research and a presentation that was logical and relatively easy to follow. I might have enjoyed this book more had I known less about these six men, but there was still much I did not know. It was fun to relive the complex and turbulent beginnings of Mormonism through the "lost apostles" lens. Fascinating people in a fascinating time period.
September 18, 2016
A little didactic for my taste, but an interesting read overall. I did like how they emphasized that many of the Apostles who maintained the Church retained very amiable relations with Joseph Smith et al., which counters the polarized narratives either as them as scum trying to hurt the Church or as the Church's officers as scum that they were glad to be rid of.
October 26, 2014
Rounded up from 2.5/5. An interesting little book. It contains a great deal of fascinating information about oft ignored and misunderstood figures of early Mormonism. However, as a whole, the book is disorganized and lacks effective structure.
July 24, 2014
A snoozer
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews