Background on Oliver Cowdery

Oliver Cowdery first met Joseph Smith on April 5, 1929, almost exactly one year prior to the organization of the church.  His arrival in Harmony, PA was a direct answer to Joseph Smith’s plea to the Lord for help with the translation.  After Martin Harris had lost the 116 pages, the prophet used Emma and Samuel H. Smith as scribes, but the work was going slowly.  In March of that year, the prophet said, “I had not where to go and I cried unto the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he had commanded me.” (The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 8)

At the time, Oliver was a 22 year-old native of Vermont, one year younger than Joseph.  He had solid education; his background included work in farming, blacksmithing, and as a store clerk.

1829년 초 올리버의 형인 라이만 카우드리가 조셉 스미스 가족이 살고 있는 곳에서 가까운 맨체스터 읍의 마을 학교로 부임했다.  라이만은 그 일을 수행할 수가 없었으며 학교 이사진에게 동생 올리버를 고용해 줄 것을 제안했다.  그 이사진은 올리버를 승인했는데, 그 이사진의 한 명이 하이럼 스미스였고 올리버는 조셉 스미스 일세의 집에서 하숙하면서 가르치는 일을 시작했다.  루시 스미스는 "얼마 지나지 않아 그는 많은 사람들이 판에 관해 이야기하는 것을 들었으며 그것에 관해 스미스 씨에게 진지하게 질문하기 시작했지만 상당 기간 동안 그는 이야기를 듣지 못했습니다."라고 말했다.  스미스 가족은 지난번 이웃들로부터 조롱을 받았기 때문에 그들의 경험을 얘기하기를 꺼려했다.
“Early in 1829 one of Oliver’s older brothers, Lyman Cowdery, was hired to teach at the village school in Manchester township (near Palmyra) close to where Joseph Smith’s family lived.  Lyman was unable to fulfill his commitment and suggested that the trustees hire his brother Oliver. Approved by the trustees, one of whom was Hyrum Smith, Oliver commenced teaching and was invited to board at the home of Joseph Smith, Sr. Lucy Smith related that almost immediately ‘he began to hear from all quarters concerning the plates, and as soon began to importune Mr. Smith (Joseph Smith, Sr.) upon the subject, but for a considerable length of time did not succeed in eliciting any information.’  The Smiths were reluctant to share their experiences because they had been ridiculed by neighbors in the past.

 

올리버가 스미스 가족의 신임을 얻게 되었을 때, 조셉 스미스 일세는 그에게 판에 관해 이야기해 주었다.  올리버는 은밀히 그 판에 관해 깊이 생각했으며 여태껏 만나 본 적이 없던 조셉을 위해 기록할 특권을 가질 것이란 느낌을 받았다고 조셉 스미스 일세에게 털어놓았다. 그는 학교가 끝나는 봄에 사무엘을 따라 조셉을 방문할 것이며, 그것이 '주님의 뜻'임을 스미스 가족에게 말했다.  그는 다음과 같이 말했다. "만약 이 일에서 제가 할 일이 있다면 나는 그 일을 할 것입니다." (때가 찬 시대의 교회사, 53)
“When Oliver gained the trust of the Smiths, Joseph Smith, Sr., told him about the plates.  Oliver prayed privately and meditated upon the subject, even confiding in Joseph Smith, Sr., that he felt impressed that he would have the privilege of writing for Joseph, who he had not yet met.  He told the family that it was the ‘will of the Lord’ that he go with Samuel to visit Joseph in the spring following the school term.  He said, ‘if there is a work for me to do in this thing, I am determined to attend to it.’” (Church History in the Fullness of Times, 53)

Joseph explains the reason for Oliver’s determination, “[the] Lord appeared unto a young man by the name of Oliver Cowdry [Cowdery] and shewed unto him the plates in a vision and also the truth of the work and what the Lord was about to do through me, his unworthy servant; therefore he was desirous to come and write for me . . .” (The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, p. 8)