Sidney Rigdon (1793-1876) was once a gospel preacher early in the Restoration Movement. Yet he is better known for his role in the history of the Mormon church. This man, who at one time was striving to preach the gospel according to the New Testament pattern, departed from the truth and became a prominent figure among the Mormons. How could such a thing happen?
Amos S. Hayden, author of Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, provides some insight into the fall of Sidney Rigdon.
Continue Reading
“And, as already mentioned in the preceding chapter, he at once began to preach, and he never stopped for anything but serious sickness of himself or family. At first it was only an effort to ‘exhort’ a little at the regular meetings of the church, or after someone else had preached. Then an appointment to preach somewhere at night, in some school-house, or in some private dwelling, was ventured upon. To these appointments he would often walk, three, four, or five miles, after a hard day’s work. Two or three of the young preachers generally met together and united in the exercises of the meeting. And thus, gradually, he directed the forces of his mind and body to the work, until he lost his interest in all other employments. Four years after his obedience to the Gospel he sold out the mill property, and was never afterward engaged in any regular secular business.” (The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, p. 59-60)
