Life of Sidney Rigdon

FROM THE RESTORATION TO MORMONISM

In 1830, Rigdon was visited by four Mormon missionaries. He was skeptical of their message at first, but claims he “received a sign” from God which prompted him to leave the Mentor Church. From here he journeyed to meet Joseph Smith. He was baptized into the Mormon Church by Oliver Cowdery on November 8, 1830 and soon became Smith’s most influential advocate from 1830 to 1844. During this time he persuaded many from the congregation in Kirtland, Ohio as well as some others to join the Mormons.
A statement in The Millennial Harbinger addressing Rigdon’s decision read, “It was with mingled emotions of regret and surprise that we have learned that Sidney Rigdon has renounced the ancient gospel, and declared that he was not sincere in his profession of it: and that he has fallen into the snare of the Devil in joining the Mormonites. He has led away a number of disciples with him.”
Thomas Campbell wrote a lengthy letter to Rigdon dated February 4, 1831 after his departure, which included a harsh rebuke of how he had changed, along with exposing the
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corrupt doctrine he was now preaching, and an invitation to a public debate. Upon reading a few lines of the letter, he hastily committed it to the flames.
When Smith was killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois in 1844, Rigdon had a confrontation with Brigham Young over leadership of the Mormons. This left him as the leader of a minority remnant in Pennsylvania which soon dissipated. His final 26 years were spent in obscurity in Friendship, New York where he rarely spoke in public. After succumbing to a series of strokes, he died quietly on July 14, 1876.