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", likely representing the names Hazard and Perry. Oliver Hazard Perry was a recent war hero who decisively defeated the British on Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Criticism of his use of this "pretentious moniker" by the Palmyra Reflector (June 1, 1830) probably influenced Cowdery to abandon his temporary usage of the initials. See Ryan N. Cramer, "The Elusive Middle Names of Oliver H. P. Cowdery" John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 42, No. 1 (2022), 79-87 .
^ 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", likely representing the names Hazard and Perry. Oliver Hazard Perry was a recent war hero who decisively defeated the British on Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Criticism of his use of this "pretentious moniker" by the Palmyra Reflector (June 1, 1830) probably influenced Cowdery to abandon his temporary usage of the initials. See Ryan N. Cramer, "The Elusive Middle Names of Oliver H. P. Cowdery" John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 42, No. 1 (2022), 79-87 .

[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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