Edward Partridge - the first Bishop of the Church

 

Edward Partridge

Story told by John Fisher

Outline

Edward Partridge

 

 

D&C 6: 7,8

7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.

 

·      Hat maker in Painesville, Ohio

·      Fall 1830 4 young men

·      His wife Lydia praying to find a New Testament church

·      Unconvinced travelled to Kirkland

·      Called to preach the gospel as with voice of a Trump D&C 36:1

·      Called as first bishop (D&C 41) give up hatmaking full time bishop

·      Law of Consecration (D&C 42) Colesville saints (how to organize D&C 51)

·     Promised land fell through directed to Missouri (D&C 54) Independence center place of Zion (D&C 57)

·      Travelled with Joseph assuming return home

·      Wrote Lydia We have to suffer & shall for some time many privations here which you & I have not been much used to for year[s].”

·      By 1833 mob demanded saints leave Independence

·      Beaten tarred feathered

·      Offered lives as ransom to prevent further violence

·      “I feel willing to spend and be spent, in the cause of my blessed Master.”

·      Continued as bishop in Clay County and Caldwell County

·      Served two missions to East

·      Finally imprisoned

·      When he and family fled to Illinois called to serve again as Bishop

·      In spring 1840 got sick died 47 years old

 

Of the difficulties of dealing with imperfect Saints, Partridge’s daughter Emily Dow Partridge later remembered, “When I look back and remember the great responsibility that rested upon my father as first Bishop—his poverty and privations, and the hardships that he had to endure, the accusations of false brethren, the fault-finding of the poor, and the persecutions of our enemies—I do not wonder at his early death.”

 

Partridge’s own patriarchal blessing warned him, “Thou shalt stand in thy office untill thou art weary of it and shall desire to resign it that thou mayest rest for a little season.”

8 months Family assured with Savior (D&C124:29)

 

Robert D. Hale. October 2008. Christian Courage the Price of discipleship:

 

As true disciples, our primary concern must be others’ welfare, not personal vindication. Our testimonies can only be borne in love and meekness. We should be like Edward Partridge, of whom the Lord said, “His heart is pure before me, for he is like unto Nathanael of old, in whom there is no guile” (D&C 41:11). To be guileless is to have a childlike innocence, to be slow to take offense and quick to forgive.

 

Bishop Partridge sought not for riches, but rather for wisdom and to do the will of the Lord. In the end he received the promise to all of us who desire to follow Christ. Eternal Life.

 

Source:

Sherilyn Farnes, “A Bishop unto the Church” Revelations in Context