The back half of 1830 was anything but boring for the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—with divine revelations, legal drama, and miles and miles of walking. From Joseph Smith’s courtroom battles to the challenges of early missionaries, these stories are packed with faith, determination, and a few head-scratching moments.

Whether it’s a prophet on trial, a guy with a questionable stone, or a mission to fulfill prophecy, each event gives us a peek into the trials and triumphs that shaped the early Church. Let's dive into the history, with a little help from Church History Cards.

Joseph on Trial: The Legal Hotseat

It's 1830, and 24-year-old Joseph Smith has just published the Book of Mormon and officially established The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But not everyone’s thrilled about this. In fact, some folks are so suspicious they haul him into court, twice!

The charge? In both cases, being a “disorderly person”—a real legal term at the time. Specifically, Joseph was accused of using a seer stone to deceive people (connected to his earlier treasure-seeking activities) and performing what some saw as a suspicious spiritual "exorcism" when he cast a devil from Newel Knight.

It's important to remember that sources are slim, and no courtroom documents exist, but what we can piece together is filled with tension. Joseph’s defense attorney, a sharp lawyer named John Reid, later stated that both hearings continued until after midnight before the words "not guilty" were proclaimed.

In both cases, all charges were dismissed, and Joseph walked out a free man. But these trials were more than just legal wins—they were a glimpse into the challenges Joseph would face as he worked to establish the Church. Critics, skeptics, and legal battles would follow him for the rest of his life.

The Hiram Page Incident: A Rogue Rock

While Joseph was dealing with his courtroom challenges, another situation was brewing that threatened the young Church's unity—and it involved another stone. Remember Hiram Page? You might know him as one of the Eight Witnesses who testified of seeing and handling the gold plates. He was also a Whitmer in-law, a physician, and by all accounts, a dedicated early Church member.

But in 1830, he started receiving his own revelations—through a stone. If this sounds a bit familiar, that's because it was remarkably similar to Joseph Smith's own experience with a seer stone. Page wrote down these "revelations" and began sharing them with his family and other Church members.

Joseph Smith was conflicted and immediately went to God. He received a revelation that basically said, “Hey, Hiram Page, these revelations aren’t from God, and Joseph Smith is the only one appointed to receive revelation for the whole Church.” To his credit, Page took the correction well. The stone was reportedly ground to dust and the writings were burned.

Unfortunately, that's not where Hiram's story ends. Page eventually left the church in Independence, Missouri, over disagreements with leadership.

Lamanite Mission: The Cross-Country Road Trip

While all this legal and spiritual drama was unfolding, something extraordinary was happening that would have far-reaching consequences for the Church. Early Latter-day Saints were particularly excited about a prophecy in the Book of Mormon: that the Lamanites—whom they believed to be the ancestors of Native Americans—would come to know Jesus Christ.

So, when Joseph Smith received a revelation calling Oliver Cowdery to "preach my gospel unto them," Oliver Cowdery got up and went, alongside Peter Whitmer Jr., Ziba Peterson, and Parley Pratt.

This wasn’t your average mission—getting to the frontier, Missouri, from New York would take a 1,500-mile trek. Along the way, the missionaries preached, taught, and even converted key figures like Sidney Rigdon, though the mission ultimately didn’t result in mass conversions among Native Americans.

It's worth noting that the same revelation that clarified Joseph's unique role as prophet and addressed Hiram Page's stone was the same revelation that commissioned Oliver for this mission.

The Lamanite Mission is a story of faith, determination, and a whole lot of walking. It’s a reminder that fulfilling prophecy takes more than just good intentions—it takes action, even if it means trekking across the country.

Learn more (and get your own set of cards) at churchhistorycards.com.

Bonus Trivia (answers in footnotes):

1. What was the outcome of Joseph’s trials in Colesville and South Bainbridge for being a “disorderly person”?[1]

A. He was fined B. He was jailed C. He was acquitted of all charges D. He was sentenced to community service

2. What did Hiram Page claim his revelations were about?[2]

A. The building of Zion and the order of the Church B. Christ’s Second Coming C. The Gathering of Israel D. An ancient record

3. Which of the following did NOT happen on the Lamanite Mission?[3]

A. The elders learned Cherokee B. They taught the Delaware Indians C. They traveled over 1,500 miles D. Federal Indian Agents threatened to arrest the elders