John Tanner and his family

Page 95

CHAPTER 7 Into Troubled Missouri When John Tanner and the Bolton party arrived in Kirtland, was some question in their minds as to whether they should remain in Kirtland or proceed on to Missouri. The prophet had declared that "Zion" should be built in Missouri, and many of the Saints were anxious to move to that state in spite of the fact that their brethren had recently been expelled Ohio, in mid-January of 1835, there from Jackson County, To settle their "The center Stake of Zion." minds, John Tanner and his to seek counsel of the delegation in his journal under the date of son Sidney led a who records the interview prophet, January 18, 1835: Certain brethren from Bolton, New York came for counsel, relative to their proceeding to the West; and the High Council assembled on the 18th. After a long investigation, I decided that Elder Tanner assist with his might to build up the cause by tarrying in Kirtland; which decision received the unanimous vote of the council. 1 The church in Kirtland was, at the moment, in great financial distress. The lot on which the temple was being constructed had not been paid for, and creditors were threatening to foreclose. John Tanner had brought with him most of the proceeds from the sale of his large holdings in New York, and his arrival in Kirtland could not have been more opportune. He loaned the prophet $2,000 to lift the mortgage on the temple lot, and made an additional loan of $13,000 to the Temple Committee. It is no wonder that John Tanner was "counseled" to tarry in Kirtland.