Enos Curtis missionary service

Sacred Places of New York and Pennsylvania
Bradford and Tioga Counties [Pennsylvania]
by Larry C. Porter
p. 277

It was in the spring of 1831 that Alpheus Gifford of Rutland Township heard the doctrines of the gospel as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was baptized and ordained a priest. He brought home five copies of the Book of Mormon and placed them with friends and family members. Soon after, Alpheus went to see the Prophet in Kirtland and took with him friends from Tioga and Bradford Counties. These included his brother, Levi Gifford, Elial Strong, Eleazer Miller, Enos Curtis, and Abraham Brown. Alpheus was ordained an elder while there. We also know that Enos Curtis and Elial Strong were baptized in Kirtland. Lyman Wight performed the ordinance for Enos Curtis. Eleazer Miller wasn't baptized until December 1831 in Pennsylvania. On their return to Pennsylvania these brethren conducted extensive missionary work in Tioga and Bradford Counties. Among those baptized under their ministrations were Daniel Bowen in Columbia Township and Ezra Landon in Troy Township.

During the fall of 1831, Elial Strong, Brother Potter (possibly Richard Potter of Columbia Township) and Brother Bowen (presumably Daniel Bowen), undertook a short-term mission to Shaftsbury, VT, where “a few received the work.”

In the winter of 1831 Alpheus Gifford, Enos Curtis, and Elial Strong from Rutland Township, and Eleazer Miller and Daniel Bowen from Columbia Township undertook a mission to Mendon, NY. Samuel H. Smith, brother of the Prophet Joseph, had previously paved the way for their labors by placing at least two copies of the Book of Mormon with the Phineas H. Young and John P. Greene families in that area. These copies were circulated widely among other family members. The elders first visited Phineas in the town of Victor and then spread to the larger Young and Kimball families in the area before going on to Warsaw, NY, and other locations.

Prompted by a desire to learn more of Mormonism, Brigham and Miriam Young, Phineas and Clarissa Young, and Heber C. Kimball made and exchange visit with the Pennsylvania elders, They left Mendon about Jan, 20, 1832, and traveled by horse and sleigh to Bradford County where they met with the people of the Columbia Branch. Brigham Young reported:

“We travelled through snow and ice, crossing rivers until we were almost discouraged; still our faith was to learn more of the principles of Mormonism.

“We arrived at the place where there was a small Branch of the Church; we conversed with them, attended their meetings and heard them preach, and after staying about one week we returned home, being still more convinced of the truth of the work, and anxious to learn its principles and to learn more of Joseph Smith's mission. The members of the Branch in Pennsylvania were the first in the Church who received the gift of tongues.”

In the spring of 1832, Phineas H. Young, Joseph Young, and their father, John Young again journeyed to the Columbia Branch. On April 5 Phineas and John were baptized by Ezra Landon and Daniel Bowen, respectively. And on the following day, April 6, Joseph Young was baptized by Daniel Bowen. Returning to Mendon with the visitors or shortly thereafter, Alpheus Gifford and Eleazer Miller again began to proselyte. Brigham Young was baptized by Eleazer Miller on April 15, 1832. Heber C. Kimball was baptized by Alpheus Gifford on wither April 15 or 16, 1832. More than thirty persons were baptized in the Mendon/Victor area in the next few weeks.

The intensity of missionary work from such small branches of the Church as those in Bradford and Tioga Counties is hard to imagine. During the summer of 1832, Eleazer Miller, Enos Curtis, Elial Strong, and an unnamed missionary from Rutland joined with Elders Phineas and Joseph Young from Mendon and journeyed to Ernestown, Midland District, Upper Canada (now Ontario Province). They labored for about six weeks and were successful in baptizing many and raising up a branch of the Church.

In summating his and his friend Eleazer Miller's missionary success during this period, Elial Strong recorded, “Brother Miller, an elder that has traveled with me in the last two routes, has baptized about twenty. I have baptized, in all thirty-five; nine in Rutland and Sullivan [township adjacent to Rutland]; four in Columbia; seven in Troy and three in Canton [Bradford County], five in Shaftsbury, Vermont; one in Chenago, NY, and one in Mendon, NY, and five in Ernst Town, Upper Canada.

Concerning his early missionary labors, Elial Strong specified: “We have labored under some disadvantage, not having instructions till within a few months past, respecting this great work, other that the Articles [D&C 20 and 22], Book of Mormon, and the Comforter.”

Among those recruited for Zion's Camp in 1834 were Elial Strong and Levi Gifford from Tioga County and Eleazer Miller from Bradford County. Unfortunately, Elial Strong was one of the members of Zion's Camp who died of cholera in Clay County, Missouri at the conclusion of the march.

TIMES AND SEASONS. Vol. V. No. 22.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. Dec. 1, 1844. [Whole No. 106

HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.



Quincy, Sept. 1, 1844.

At a conference at which Enos Curtis was president, and Henry Pinney clerk, it was resolved that Moses Jones, Silas Maynard and W. B. Corbitt be recommended to the High Priests' Quorum to be ordained as high priests.

Six were received into the church by recommendations from other places.

Brother Thompson was directed to be sent to hire a room to hold meetings in for the next three months.

Elder Corbitt addressed the conference from Romans 2d chapter, and made some remarks on the late epistle of the Twelve. Elder McKenzie also addressed the conference.

Bros. Hollinghead and Corey were ordained priests.

The Lord's supper was administered; the minutes directed to be published in the Times and Seasons, and the conference adjourned three months.

ENOS CURTIS, President.

HENRY PINNEY, Clerk.