Oliver Cowdery

Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery
	Daguerreotype of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s by James Presley Ball
Assistant Counselor in the First Presidency
	September 3, 1837 – April 11, 1838
End reason	Resignation / Excommunication
Assistant President of the Church
	December 5, 1834 – April 11, 1838
End reason	Resignation / Excommunication
Second Elder of the Church
	April 6, 1830 – December 5, 1834
End reason	Called as Assistant President of the Church
Latter Day Saint Apostle
	1829 (aged 22) – April 12, 1838
Reason	Restoration of priesthood
End reason	Resignation / Excommunication
Reorganization; at end of term	No apostles immediately ordained
Personal details
Born	Oliver H. P. Cowdery; October 3, 1806; Wells, Vermont, U.S.
Died	March 3, 1850 (aged 43); Richmond, Missouri, U.S.
Resting place	Richmond Pioneer Cemetery, Missouri, U.S.; 39°17′6.76″N 93°58′34.93″W / 39.2852111°N 93.9763694°W
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Ann Whitmer
Children	6
Signature
	Biography portal LDS movement portal
	Biography portal LDS movement portal

Oliver H. P. Cowdery^[2] (October 3, 1806 – March 3, 1850) was an American religious leader who, with Joseph Smith, was an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836. He was the first baptized Latter Day Saint, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles and the Assistant President of the Church.

Cowdery's relationship with Joseph Smith and the church's leadership began to deteriorate in the mid-1830s. He was excommunicated in 1838 along with several other prominent Missouri church leaders on allegations of misusing church property amid tense relations between them and Smith.^[3]

After his excommunication, Cowdery moved to Wisconsin, where he practiced law and became involved in local politics. Cowdery became a Methodist, but later returned to the Latter Day Saint movement and was rebaptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1848.

^ On January 24, 1841, Hyrum Smith was ordained and replaced Cowdery as Assistant President of the Church.
^ Prior to the winter of 1830–31, Cowdery generally signed his name "Oliver H P Cowdery", the "H P" possibly standing for "Hervy" and "Pliny," two of his father's relatives. For unknown reasons, Cowdery discontinued using his middle initials about 1831. Cowdery may have wished his name to match the form in which it was printed in the 1830 Book of Mormon. [1]. It is also possible that teasing by the Palmyra Reflector (June 1, 1830) about his "pretentious moniker" may have influenced Cowdery to abandon the initials.
^ Marquardt 2005, p. 463; Remini 2002, p. 128; Quinn 1994, p. 93; Bushman 2005, pp. 324, 346–348.

[1] On January 24, 1841, Hyrum Smith was ordained and replaced Cowdery as Assistant President of the Church.

[2] Prior to the winter of 1830–31, Cowdery generally signed his name "Oliver H P Cowdery", the "H P" possibly standing for "Hervy" and "Pliny," two of his father's relatives. For unknown reasons, Cowdery discontinued using his middle initials about 1831. Cowdery may have wished his name to match the form in which it was printed in the 1830 Book of Mormon. [1]. It is also possible that teasing by the Palmyra Reflector (June 1, 1830) about his "pretentious moniker" may have influenced Cowdery to abandon the initials.

[FOOTNOTEMarquardt2005463Remini2002128Quinn199493Bushman2005324,_346–348-3] Marquardt 2005, p. 463; Remini 2002, p. 128; Quinn 1994, p. 93; Bushman 2005, pp. 324, 346–348.

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