April 2005 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

38
Partridge served the Saints in Missouri with N. K. Whitney serving
as his “agent” in Kirtland. On December 4, 1831, Newel was
called to be bishop in Kirtland. Ann Whitney recalled that her
husband “felt that it would require a vast amount of patience,
of perseverance and of wisdom to magnify his calling.” 12
The brief business relationship between Newel Whitney and
Sidney Gilbert in Kirtland changed dramatically with the arrival
of Joseph Smith and many Saints from New York. Sidney
Gilbert left for Missouri in June 1831, after being commanded
by the Lord to travel there with Joseph Smith and Sidney
Rigdon (see D&C 53:5). Shortly after arriving in Jackson
County, he was instructed to “establish a store” primarily to
“sell goods without fraud, that he may obtain money to buy
lands for the good of the saints, and that he may obtain whatsoever
things the disciples may need to plant them in their
inheritance” (D&C 57:8).
While Newel K. Whitney operated the Kirtland store,
Sidney Gilbert purchased a brick store at the prime intersection
in Independence, Missouri. Sidney Gilbert’s store apparently
relied heavily on the Kirtland enterprise. Despite the
contributions of Newel and others, however, the Missouri
store continued to struggle.
In July 1833 unrest developed in Jackson County. Sidney
Gilbert was among the leading elders in Independence,
Missouri, when the mob came into town and started destroying
things, including merchandise from his store. He joined
Bishop Partridge, Isaac Morley, and others in offering themselves
to the mob to spare the Church, but their offer was
rejected. Brother Gilbert was allowed to sell his remaining
goods before he left, although financial records suggest many
items were damaged and not marketable.
Church Headquarters at the Whitney Store
The Whitneys shared their home with the Smiths in
February 1831, when the Prophet Joseph first arrived in
Kirtland. In September of 1832, when the Smiths again
needed a home, they moved into the “dwelling portion” of
the White Store. The Church conducted business in other
upstairs rooms. The School of the Prophets met there.
During early meetings at this store, many of the plans for
Kirtland were developed and refined, and it was in the store
that many of the discussions were held about building the temple.
Even after Joseph and his family moved out of the store
into their own home near the temple, the store continued to
serve as a meeting place from time to time.
While the Smiths lived in the upstairs dwelling
portion of the White Store (above, and below,
bottom right), it served as Church headquarters.
During meetings in other upstairs rooms
(below, bottom left), Church leaders discussed
plans for Kirtland, including the building
of the temple. Stone from a nearby quarry
(below, top) was used in the construction.
Opposite page: The Kirtland Temple,
photographed in 1905.