Newel K. Whitney | |
---|---|
Presiding Bishop | |
June 6, 1847 | – September 23, 1850|
First Bishop of the Church | |
December 4, 1831 | – June 6, 1847|
End reason | Called as Presiding Bishop |
Personal details | |
Born |
Newel Kimball Whitney February 5, 1795 Marlboro, Vermont, United States |
Died | September 23, 1850 Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States |
(aged 55)
Resting place | Kimball-Whitney Cemetery 40°46′22″N 111°53′22″W / 40.7728°N 111.8895°W |
Newel Kimball Whitney (February 5, 1795 – September 24, 1850) (first name sometimes found as Newell) was a prominent member and leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an American businessman. He served as Bishop of Kirtland, Ohio, Far West, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois. He also served as the second Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until his death. He died in 1850 of pleurisy.
By 1827 Whitney had entered into a partnership with Algernon Sidney Gilbert to run a store in Kirtland known as N.K. Whitney & Co. It would later become Mormonism's first "bishop's storehouse." The building was also used by Church founder and president Joseph Smith as a home and office. Joseph received 16 revelations (D&C 84 through D&C 98 and D&C 101) in the Whitney Store and used one of the rooms as a meeting place for the School of the Prophets, a place where many spiritual manifestations were received. In D&C 72 he was called to be a bishop, serving alongside Edward Partridge, who was the church's first bishop.
While in Nauvoo, Illinois, Whitney was involved in some important developments within the Church. One of these occurred on May 4, 1842 when Whitney, along with a group of nine others, met in the upper story of the Red Brick Store. Those who were there, including Whitney, became part of Joseph Smith's Quorum of the Anointed. Later, Whitney's wife, Elizabeth Ann, was added to that group.