Oliver Cowdery Papers

October 3, 2006 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of the second elder of the Church, Oliver Cowdery. Oliver served as scribe for the majority of the translation of the Book of Mormon.

Oliver was also present with the Prophet Joseph Smith at the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchezidek Priesthoods, was the first person baptized with authority in this dispensation, and served as the Assistant President of the Church. He was also one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and was present when the keys of this dispensation were bestowed upon him and the Prophet Joseph Smith by the Savior, Moses, Elias, and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836.

The papers of Oliver Cowdery, his journals, correspondence, and documents, are now being transcribed and annotated for publication in a multi volume set.  This work is being done by Richard L. Anderson, emeritus professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University with the support of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation.

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