Life of Sidney Rigdon

THE RESTORATION AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH ALEXANDER CAMPBELL

Campbell was impressed with Rigdon and secured him a ministry in 1822 at the First Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. It was a congregation in favor of Campbell’s restoration principles. It did not take long for Rigdon to establish a reputation as one of the most eloquent and successful preachers in Pittsburgh. However, when the Redstone Baptist Association attempted to expel Campbell from membership in 1823, Rigdon left with him and both became active in the Mahoning Association. During this time Rigdon also formed a close relationship with Walter Scott.
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In 1825 he was influenced by the principles in “Restoration of the Ancient Order of Things” written by Campbell, which was a series of 32 articles in the Christian Baptist. Rigdon was a herald and staunch supporter of them, and using them he frequently spoke to audiences so large that those furthest away could not hear him.
Campbell’s publication The Millennial Harbinger published parts of a journal titled “Journal Of A Traveller,” in which it alludes to Sidney Rigdon. In the June 23d entry it reads, “They tell me much of the reformation effected in these parts by the proclamation of the gospel …among whom were Brother Williams, formerly a Universalist, Brothers Allton and Church, Christians; Brother Curtis, a Methodist; Brothers Bentley, Collins, Porter, Rigdon, and Barr, Regular Baptists; but now, all united on the one foundation, having been all immersed by one immersion into the one faith of the gospel. Including these I am informed, that no less than twenty public teachers, of different denominations, on the Reserve, have, within three years, renounced their respective isms, and become one in Christ Jesus. [We need to realize how significant the Restoration Movement was – Different denominations were awakened to return to the old paths!]”
In 1826, after a six-month ministry in Bainbridge, Ohio, Rigdon became the minister of the Mentor (Ohio) Baptist Church. This came following him preaching the funeral service for its preacher, Warner Goodall. From 1827 to 1830 Rigdon was one of the most popular and prominent members of the restoration movement. However, he was also emotionally unstable. According to testimonies of those who knew him closely, he would fluctuate between episodes of exhilaration and depression.
Rigdon developed disagreements with Campbell during his Mentor ministry. Studying Acts 2:44, he was convinced that true Christians should live communally. This led him in
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February 1830 to organize a “common stock” community on Isaac Morley’s farm near Kirtland, Ohio. He also began to question Campbell’s “authorization” to lead the true church, and believed that divine approval must be shown. Finally, he believed that the supernatural gifts of faith healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, and prophecy were needed to validate a complete restoration of the New Testament.
He tried to promote his communitarian scheme at the Austintown meeting of the Mahoning Association in 1830. However, his attempt was stopped by Campbell’s influence. Being embarrassed and embittered, he began to slowly remove himself from Campbell’s movement.