John F. Boynton | |
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Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
February 15, 1835 | – September 3, 1837|
End reason | Disfellowshipped for apostasy |
Latter Day Saint Apostle | |
February 15, 1835 | – December 3, 1837|
Reason | Initial organization of Quorum of the Twelve |
End reason | Excommunicated for apostasy |
Reorganization at end of term |
No apostles immediately ordained |
Personal details | |
Born |
John Farnham Boynton September 20, 1811 Bradford, Massachusetts |
Died | October 20, 1890 Syracuse, New York |
(aged 79)
Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery 43°04′23″N 76°07′39″W / 43.0731°N 76.1276°W |
John Farnham Boynton (September 20, 1811 – October 20, 1890) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an American geologist and inventor. He was one of the original members of the Latter Day Saint movement's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Boynton was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, to Eliphalet Boynton and Susan Nichols. He was married to Susan Lowell. In his teenage years, Boynton attended Columbia University and at age 20 began medical school in St. Louis, Missouri.
Boynton was baptized a member of the Church of Christ by Joseph Smith in September 1832 in Kirtland, Ohio. He was ordained to the office of an elder by Sidney Rigdon.
Boynton proved to be an effective missionary for the church. He initially served in Erie County, Pennsylvania, with Zebedee Coltrin, in 1832. The following December, Smith sent him on a mission to Maine. In an 1834 letter written from Saco, Maine, Boynton states: "I have baptized about forty in this section; Elder Even M. Greene travelled with me from 16 Jan., 1833, till October following; while together we baptized about 130." While in Maine and Massachusetts, Boynton also served with Horace Cowen.
Boynton was chosen as one of the church's apostles at the organization of the initial Quorum of Twelve Apostles on February 14, 1835. He was the only one of the original apostles who had attended university. Soon after, he accompanied the Twelve on their 1835 mission through the church branches in the eastern United States. He attended a conference in Laboro', Upper Canada, with six other members of the Quorum on June 29, 1835. Boynton returned to Ohio in the fall, and preached to a gathering of church members on October 18. After this mission, he began a mercantile business in Kirtland with church associate Lyman E. Johnson.