Frazier Eaton, my fifth great-grandfather, was born in New Hampshire on January 23, 1780. He relocated to a farm in Rushford, New York after marrying Lucinda Blakeslee. There they had six kids and Frazier worked as a land surveyor. Among the earliest believers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in the early 1830s, he sold his farm in New York to his sons and followed Joseph Smith to Ohio. In 1833, Frazier was baptized in the LDS church.
Joseph Smith received a vision and directed the construction of a temple in Ohio, and with labor and donations from LDS members, the Kirtland Temple was completed in 1836. Frazier donated $700 towards the construction of the Kirtland Temple; a significant amount of money, perhaps around $14,000 today. So many people attended the dedication of the new Kirtland Temple that when Frazier Eaton arrived, he could not get inside, let alone find a seat. Evidently disaffected, Frazier left the Mormon Church, moved to Illinois for a time, then returned to New York where he repurchased his farm from his sons.
This story of Frazier Eaton is actually used by the LDS and taught in BYU courses. He is put in a category with a man who apostatized (left the church) because his name was spelled incorrectly by Joseph Smith, and another man involved in a dispute over cream. They are supposed to be examples of petty men who got offended for trivial reasons and left the church, possibly the work of Satan. The only source for these stories is George A. Smith, an early leader of the LDS and cousin of Joseph Smith. Not only are his accounts written quite some time after the events, but he seems to have written many such negative stories about those who apostatized.
George A. Smith's account of Frazier Eaton
In my opinion, the BYU/LDS version of events surrounding Frazier Eaton proves incredibly narrow-minded. We can’t know for sure what happened the day of the temple dedication, but it is known that many people were apostatizing from the LDS Church at this time. Many lost their savings following Joseph Smith’s financial instructions, many were not keen on the practice of polygamy, which was just beginning, and probably some just decided this new religion wasn’t for them. Frazier Eaton contributed a generous sum of money and perhaps he thought that earned him a seat in the temple. Maybe he had expectations of his new-found religion and the lack of consideration and gratitude were the last straws for him. Conceivably, something may have even occurred outside the temple that proved impossible to tolerate.
I have to say that I don’t appreciate the LDS/BYU use of their tiny, negative, partial version of events to teach followers not to apostatize for silly reasons, like my ancestor. I challenge you LDS/BYU instructors/followers to uncover a more accurate, complete version of events with better sources than George A. Smith. Rarely is there one, single reason for anything and I doubt that was the case for Frazier Eaton, who was invested enough in the LDS church that he moved from New York to Ohio and donated $700 for the Kirtland Temple.
Religious tolerance is incredibly important. This account is about ancestry and historical accuracy, not religion bashing.
Hi, I'm John, a Mormon, and someone who is very interested in LDS church history. I came across your blog while researching for a Sunday School lesson that concerns the Frazier Eaton story. Thank you so much for this important post. I believe Frazier has been given a hard time by my fellow Mormons, and I for one will do my part to set the record straight. There are a growing number of us who feel saddened that church lesson material ever concerned itself with George A. Smith's accounts. I could not agree more that Frazier's reasons for his faith transition were complex, personal, and probably very painful.
ReplyDeleteVery well said
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm Herman, and I also arrived here studying for the Sunday School class. I don't wan't to disagree, but throughout all my life I've seen people offended for incredibly silly issues (and, certainly, I've been one of them, more than I would like to admit). If it is just pride, or some kind of "drop that spilled the cup", we will probably never know for certain. What I regret is that by that decision of your ancestor a big number of people have lost an incredible big bunch of blessings, and even worst, they still have some remnant bad feelings about the Church. I hope you could understand what I wrote (English is not my mother language, if it was not evident enough), and I also hope that what I said doesn't offend you, cause that was never my intention. I wish you could look at The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter Day Saints without bad feelings, and you could learn from the Spirit what is in on earth for.
ReplyDeleteYou miss the point from the LDS perspective. We know what he missed out on, so we know that no matter the rationalization it was not worth it. Another point of the lesson is that not only should we not let pride get between us and the blessings of heaven, but that we should help others who may easily be offended by considering their feelings. In other words we shouldn't let these petty things become something that can prevent another from coming to The Lord. Meaning someone should look out for those who need a seat and give our seat to them.
ReplyDeleteI recently found out that I am related to Frazier Eaton too. 1st Cousin 6 times removed. I understand why you are offended. I am LDS too. If we believe that someone is offended, we shouldn't go around publishing stories or creating lessons about them. Whether they are alive or dead.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! The Church threw these people under the bus and mocks them still, as spoken of in the lesson. It is as if to say- ye shall not apostatize or ye shall be made an example of! Hypocritical members such as these are those that stand in the great and spacious building and point fingers at those they offend. Not Christian in any way.
DeleteYou're all proving the point of the lesson. Should David's story not be told and what he missed out on because offending someone. Should Lucifers story not be told because it puts him in a bad light or rubs it in? I mean come on.
ReplyDeleteI recently found a blog post that I will need to look up again where someone found a census record showing that in 1840 Frazier Eaton was living in Hancock County, Ill. (where Nauvoo and the LDS headquarters was then) and that he may have even been ordained a High Priest and stayed in the LDS Church until after Joseph Smith was killed. The source of the 700$ story, George Albert Smith, was known to exaggerate to make a point, if Eton was so offended by the 700$ he would not have hung around through Nauvoo and then left years later over it. So here is a good chance that the story never happened.
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ReplyDeleteSorry, message posted twice.
DeleteThe Church threw these people under the bus and mocks them still, as spoken of in the lesson. It is as if to say- ye shall not apostatize or ye shall be made an example of! Hypocritical members such as these are those that stand in the great and spacious building and point fingers at those they offend. Not Christian in any way.
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ReplyDeleteI am sure that this comment was very good and Nathan was probably going to say that it is time to forget about the negative things that have been said of Frazier Eaton. Nathan is also Frazier's direct descendant. As far as we can tell, Frazier did not leave the church. When the Saints left Nauvoo, Frazier had been ordained a High Priest and called to the High Council of a Stake in Iowa. He was old and too tired to go West with the Saints. However, his two grandchildren through his daughter Dolly went West with the families they were place with so they could remain with the Saints. Does this sound like a disenchanted member? I think that there is still too much we do not know. Fortunately, the curriculum of the Church no longer includes this lesson.
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