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Show Page 52 around Concord, the capital of New Hampshire, he received a message from Boynton, asking him to return to Kirtland as soon as possible. He covered the seventy miles from Concord to Andover, Vermont, in two days, and 4 arrived in Kirtland September 25, 1835. The first mission of the Twelve had ended; they reported, and the two weeks of meetings that followed left Orson restless. Recognizing that winter was near, he took a brief trip to the source of the Ohio River with the hope of finding some susceptible hearers. Tracting a little east of Pittsburgh, Orson found a mixed reception, and, forced out of a schoolhouse in Fallston, he "washed his feet" against the village and proceeded upriver to Beaver and Freedom, Pennsylvania. Heretofore faced with slanders and priests of "bad character," Orson was welcomed here. He was even able to establish a small branch here under the direction of a former Campbellite, a physician named Sampson Avard - this talented convert, who had some experience as a preacher of restorationism, would later exert 5 an independence of dangerous proportions. Upon Orson's return to Kirtland in November, the Lake Erie winter was blasting in. The Saints in this place were relatively comfortable, however, well-established and in an increasing majority. The temple had risen to its first story. Most of the Twelve, including Parley and Orson, decided to stay put as the promise of heavy snows was realized. Forces both economic and religious that would rock the Church within months were still dormant - a brief flaring of polygamy rumors was doused in the conference disclaimer of August 1835, and in the Prophet's preoccupation with educating 6 himself and the elders. Since the purchase of Egyptians manuscripts and mummies in July, Joseph Smith had turned with renewed interest to the study of ancient languages, longing to be able to read the prophets and apostles in the original . |