Thomas B. Marsh

Family Background

1799. November 1: Born Thomas Baldwin Marsh in Acton, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Godkin on his twenty-seventh birthday in 1826.

First President of the Quorum of the Twelve

1830. Marsh was baptized by David Whitmer and appointed by revelation to be a "physician to the Church" (D&C 31:10). Sections 31 and 112 of the Doctrine and Covenants are addressed to him, and he is mentioned in sections 52 and 56.

1835. Called to be a member of the original Quorum of the Twelve by the Three Witnesses. Seniority was determined by age; Marsh at thirty-six was the eldest, and therefore became the first Quorum president.

Dissident

1838. After David Whitmer, Church leader in Far West, Missouri, was deposed, Marsh became "President Pro Tern of the Church in Missouri" with Brigham Young and David Patten as counselors.

Later that year, a Church court ruled against his wife in a dispute over milk strippings. According to George A. Smith, "The wife of Marsh and Sister Harris [wife of George Washington Harris] agreed to exchange milk, in order to enable each of them to make a larger cheese than they could do separately. Each was to take the other the 'strippings' as well as the rest of the milk. Mrs. Harris performed her part of the agreement, but Mrs. Marsh kept a pint of 'strippings' from each cow. When this became known the matter was brought before the Teachers, and these decided against Mrs. Marsh. … [Marsh] appealed to the Bishop. He sustained the Teachers. … [Marsh] appealed to the High Council … that body confirmed the Bishop's decision. … [Marsh] appealed to the First Presidency. … They approved the finding of the High [p.184] Council. Was Marsh satisfied then? No. With the persistency of Lucifer himself, he declared that he would uphold the character of his wife, 'even if he had to go to hell for it.'"

Excommunication

1839. Marsh and Orson Hyde were excommunicated for signing an affidavit that the Mormons "had a company called 'Danites' organized for the purpose of murdering 'enemies.' … [They] have taken an oath to support the heads of the Church in all things that they say or do, whether right or wrong. … They appointed a company of twelve, by the name of the 'Destruction Company,' for the purpose of burning and destroying."

Marsh went into hiding in Howard County, Missouri, "afraid the 'Mormons' would kill him; and he durst not let them know where he was."

"Chief of the Twelve"

1856. During six weeks of paralysis from a massive stroke, Marsh experienced a change of heart and sent a "revelation" to President Brigham Young:

"Behold I say unto thee Brigham Young! Where is the servant of the Lord, Thomas Marsh, Chief of the 12 to whom the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom? from whom they have not been taken, who was driven out from among you because of the iniquity of his brethren who hunted for his blood. … Now if ye would prosper in the land which the Lord, thy god hath given thee ye shale spedily take with thee two wise & faithful servants of the Lord and go to the land of Missouri and inquire in the County Howard for his son Edward Marsh, who will, if ye are prudent direct you to his father; but if ye act not discretely he will fear lest ye seek the life of his father, and withhold from thee the desired information. Behold ye shale take with you means for his conveyance … confer with him in a kind and friendly manner and he shall rejoice and be glad to see you … he will accompany you and ye shale bring him to this land even to your chief City."

"The Fruits of Apostasy"

1856. After his wife died, Marsh traveled through Missouri teaching biblical geography to raise money for a trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa. On the day of his arrival he suffered another stroke.

"Look at me," he said to the Saints in Winter Quarters, "and see the result of apostasy; had I been faithful to my calling as the President of the Twelve, I would now occupy the position that Brigham Young does, as President of the Church."

Marsh was rebaptized in Papyo Creek on the journey west.

"Decrepid, Broken Down Old Man"

1857. Standing before the Saints in Salt Lake City, Marsh must have been an impressive sight to those who believed his broken condition was the result of divine chastisement. John Taylor described him as "a poor decrepid, broken down old man… one of his arms hangs down."

Brigham Young could not resist the opportunity to compare himself physically with Marsh: "He has told you that he is an old man. Do you think I am an old man? I could prove to this congregation that I am young; for I could find more girls who would choose me for a husband than any of the young men What do you think the difference is between his age and mine? One year and seven months to a day."

Marsh pleaded with the Saints for acceptance and fellowship. Brigham Young was skeptical: "A man that will be fooled by the Devil—a man that has not sense to discern between steel grey mixed and iron grey mixed, when one is dyed with logwood and the other with indigo, may be deceived again."

"T.B.M.":

1858. After visiting Salt Lake, Marsh moved to Springville, Utah, then to Spanish Fork, where he taught history and geography. His contact with Brigham Young was minimal, [p.186] but occasionally he asked the president for shirts, summer pants, a coat, and white flannel for his temple garments.

In 1863 he moved to Ogden, Utah. He died in 1868, at the age of sixty-three. For many years the only grave marker of the first president of the Quorum of the Twelve in the Ogden City Cemetery was a weather beaten board marked: "T.B.M."

Sources
Journal of Discourses, 5:116, 206-210.
History of the Church, 3:167.
Roberts, B. H. Comprehensive History 1:429.
Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. Wandle Mace Journal: 1809-1890.
_____. Brigham Young Letter Collection.
Smith, Hyrum M., and Sjodahl, James M. Doctrine and Covenants Commentary. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1951.
Van Wagoner, Richard, and Walker, Steven C. "The Return of Thomas B. Marsh." Sunstone, 6 (July 1981):28-30.

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	Thomas B. Marsh (1799-1868)

				Thomas B. Marsh was the first president of the Quorum of the Twelve. There is no known photograph of him.

	Family Background 1799. November 1: Born Thomas Baldwin Marsh in Acton, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Godkin on his twenty-seventh birthday in 1826. First President of the Quorum of the Twelve 1830. Marsh was baptized by David Whitmer and appointed by revelation to be a "physician to the Church" (D&C 31:10). Sections 31 and 112 of the Doctrine and Covenants are addressed to him, and he is mentioned in sections 52 and 56. 1835. Called to be a member of the original Quorum of the Twelve by the Three Witnesses. Seniority was determined by age; Marsh at thirty-six was the eldest, and therefore became the first Quorum president. Dissident 1838. After David Whitmer, Church leader in Far West, Missouri, was deposed, Marsh became "President Pro Tern of the Church in Missouri" with Brigham Young and David Patten as counselors. Later that year, a Church court ruled against his wife in a dispute over milk strippings. According to George A. Smith, "The wife of Marsh and Sister Harris [wife of George Washington Harris] agreed to exchange milk, in order to enable each of them to make a larger cheese than they could do separately. Each was to take the other the 'strippings' as well as the rest of the milk. Mrs. Harris performed her part of the agreement, but Mrs. Marsh kept a pint of 'strippings' from each cow. When this became known the matter was brought before the Teachers, and these decided against Mrs. Marsh. … [Marsh] appealed to the Bishop. He sustained the Teachers. … [Marsh] appealed to the High Council … that body confirmed the Bishop's decision. … [Marsh] appealed to the First Presidency. … They approved the finding of the High [p.184] Council. Was Marsh satisfied then? No. With the persistency of Lucifer himself, he declared that he would uphold the character of his wife, 'even if he had to go to hell for it.'" Excommunication 1839. Marsh and Orson Hyde were excommunicated for signing an affidavit that the Mormons "had a company called 'Danites' organized for the purpose of murdering 'enemies.' … [They] have taken an oath to support the heads of the Church in all things that they say or do, whether right or wrong. … They appointed a company of twelve, by the name of the 'Destruction Company,' for the purpose of burning and destroying." Marsh went into hiding in Howard County, Missouri, "afraid the 'Mormons' would kill him; and he durst not let them know where he was." "Chief of the Twelve" 1856. During six weeks of paralysis from a massive stroke, Marsh experienced a change of heart and sent a "revelation" to President Brigham Young: "Behold I say unto thee Brigham Young! Where is the servant of the Lord, Thomas Marsh, Chief of the 12 to whom the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom? from whom they have not been taken, who was driven out from among you because of the iniquity of his brethren who hunted for his blood. … Now if ye would prosper in the land which the Lord, thy god hath given thee ye shale spedily take with thee two wise & faithful servants of the Lord and go to the land of Missouri and inquire in the County Howard for his son Edward Marsh, who will, if ye are prudent direct you to his father; but if ye act not discretely he will fear lest ye seek the life of his father, and withhold from thee the desired information. Behold ye shale take with you means for his conveyance … confer with him in a kind and friendly manner and he shall rejoice and be glad to see you … he will accompany you and ye shale bring him to this land even to your chief City." "The Fruits of Apostasy" 1856. After his wife died, Marsh traveled through Missouri teaching biblical geography to raise money for a trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa. On the day of his arrival he suffered another stroke. "Look at me," he said to the Saints in Winter Quarters, "and see the result of apostasy; had I been faithful to my calling as the President of the Twelve, I would now occupy the position that Brigham Young does, as President of the Church." Marsh was rebaptized in Papyo Creek on the journey west. "Decrepid, Broken Down Old Man" 1857. Standing before the Saints in Salt Lake City, Marsh must have been an impressive sight to those who believed his broken condition was the result of divine chastisement. John Taylor described him as "a poor decrepid, broken down old man… one of his arms hangs down." Brigham Young could not resist the opportunity to compare himself physically with Marsh: "He has told you that he is an old man. Do you think I am an old man? I could prove to this congregation that I am young; for I could find more girls who would choose me for a husband than any of the young men What do you think the difference is between his age and mine? One year and seven months to a day." Marsh pleaded with the Saints for acceptance and fellowship. Brigham Young was skeptical: "A man that will be fooled by the Devil—a man that has not sense to discern between steel grey mixed and iron grey mixed, when one is dyed with logwood and the other with indigo, may be deceived again." "T.B.M.": 1858. After visiting Salt Lake, Marsh moved to Springville, Utah, then to Spanish Fork, where he taught history and geography. His contact with Brigham Young was minimal, [p.186] but occasionally he asked the president for shirts, summer pants, a coat, and white flannel for his temple garments. In 1863 he moved to Ogden, Utah. He died in 1868, at the age of sixty-three. For many years the only grave marker of the first president of the Quorum of the Twelve in the Ogden City Cemetery was a weather beaten board marked: "T.B.M." Sources Journal of Discourses, 5:116, 206-210. History of the Church, 3:167. Roberts, B. H. Comprehensive History 1:429. Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. Wandle Mace Journal: 1809-1890. _____. Brigham Young Letter Collection. Smith, Hyrum M., and Sjodahl, James M. Doctrine and Covenants Commentary. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1951. Van Wagoner, Richard, and Walker, Steven C. "The Return of Thomas B. Marsh." Sunstone, 6 (July 1981):28-30.