Faith and Opposition: The Villains of Early Church History (D&C Series Email 5 of 7)

Dear Reader,

 
The early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were anything but boring—think divine revelations, miracles, and incredible acts of faith. But, just like in scripture, the Restoration wasn’t without its fair share of drama. Some people were determined to take down the Church, whether through betrayal, deception, or straight-up persecution.
 
These so-called villains caused plenty of trouble, but their stories aren’t just history—they’re cautionary tales. By looking at what they did (and where they went wrong), we can learn how to spot similar dangers in our own lives and stay strong in our faith.
 
So, let’s dive into some of the most infamous troublemakers of early Church history—their schemes, their lesser-known misdeeds, and the lessons we can learn from their choices.
 
Photo of Thomas B. Marsh
 

Thomas B. Marsh

 

Who was he?

 
Thomas B. Marsh was the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a devoted early leader in the Church. He had a strong testimony and played a key role in spreading the gospel.
 

What was his crime?

 
Marsh let pride and personal grievances push him into apostasy. His downfall started over a petty dispute between his wife and another woman regarding a milk straining incident. Instead of seeking resolution, he escalated the matter and eventually turned against Joseph Smith. He later signed an affidavit falsely accusing the Prophet, which contributed to the violent persecution of the Saints in Missouri. 
 

Lesser-known misdeed

 
Marsh didn’t just leave the Church—he actively worked against it. His testimony against Joseph Smith helped justify Governor Boggs’ Extermination Order, which led to widespread suffering among the Saints.
 

What can we learn from him?

 
Pride can destroy even the strongest testimonies. Small offenses, if not checked, can grow into bitterness and lead us away from the truth. The Lord warned about this in Doctrine and Covenants 112, where He counseled Marsh to be humble—but he refused to listen.
 
Of course, we all had disputes with other people—I know I’m guilty—but we should probably start to worry when our grievances lead to the extermination of an entire people.
 

The takeaway

 
Don’t cry over spilled milk. 
 
But seriously, if we can remember that no one is perfect, that we all make mistakes, and show a little charity when what we really want to do is stomp a foot, we’ll be much better off.
 
A cool side note is that Marsh later recognized his mistakes and was rebaptized in 1857. His story, among others, is part of the reason I love the Doctrine and Covenants so much. In the Book of Mormon and the Bible, it’s not often we get to see stories of "villains" seeking redemption, but because these stories happened in relatively close proximity to our time period--as in so recently, we have actually have real images of these people and not just cartoons like we did for Book of Mormon Villains--we have many timely stories of redemption! And that’s a beautiful thing. 
 
Governor Lilburn W. Boggs
 

Lilburn W. Boggs 

 

Who was he?

 
Lilburn W. Boggs was the governor of Missouri during one of the darkest times in Church history.
 

What was his crime?

 
Boggs issued Missouri Executive Order 44, known as the "Extermination Order," declaring that Latter-day Saints must be driven from the state or killed. This led to brutal attacks on the Saints, including the Haun’s Mill Massacre, where men, women, and children were slaughtered.
 

Lesser-known misdeed

 
Even after the Saints had fled Missouri, Boggs continued to stir up hatred against them. He opposed Joseph Smith’s attempts to seek justice and later accused the Prophet of plotting an assassination attempt against him.
 

What can we learn from him?

 
Prejudice and fear can lead people to commit horrific acts. Boggs believed false narratives about the Saints, and rather than seeking the truth, he acted out of paranoia and hatred.
 

The takeaway

 
Boggs may have had power and influence in his day, but history barely remembers him, and when it does remember him, it remembers that he ordered an extermination order—meanwhile, the Church is still going strong. Looks like Doctrine and Covenants 121:16-17 had it right: taking on God’s people is a losing game!
 
Portrait of John C. Bennett
 

John C. Bennett 

 

Who was he?

 
John C. Bennett was a trusted leader in Nauvoo. He served as mayor, was a general in the Nauvoo Legion, and appeared to be a loyal supporter of Joseph Smith.
 

What was his crime?

 
Bennett lived a double life. While publicly supporting the Church, he secretly engaged in serious immorality, including seducing women under the false pretense of "spiritual wifery." When his sins were exposed, he turned against Joseph Smith and became one of the Church’s fiercest enemies.
 

Lesser-known misdeed

 
After leaving the Church, Bennett wrote an anti-Mormon book full of lies and exaggerated stories to damage the Church’s reputation. He also conspired with those who sought to kill Joseph Smith.
 

What can we learn from him?

 
Bennett’s story warns us about hypocrisy and secret sin. His downfall was not just that he sinned—everyone makes mistakes—but that he refused to repent and instead attacked the truth. 
 
The Lord warns about such deception in Doctrine and Covenants 50:7-8 where he says, “Behold, verily I say into you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed; But hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from the church, for the same are overcome of the world.”
 

The takeaway

 
Bennett’s story is proof that deception and self-interest might get you ahead for a while—but they’ll also fast-track you to a spectacular downfall. Consider it a cautionary tale for anyone thinking they can have their cake and eat it too.
 
William Law
 

William Law 

 

Who was he?

 
William Law was once a counselor in the First Presidency and a close associate of Joseph Smith.
 

What was his crime?

 
Law turned against Joseph Smith when he disagreed with certain doctrines, including plural marriage. Instead of handling his doubts righteously, he sought revenge. He published the Nauvoo Expositor, a newspaper full of false accusations against Joseph, which led to the events that resulted in the Prophet’s murder.
 

Lesser-known misdeed

 
Law didn’t just leave the Church—he actively sought to destroy it. He even met with anti-Mormon mobs and worked with those plotting Joseph Smith’s death.
 

What can we learn from him?

 
Doubt itself is not dangerous, but unresolved doubt mixed with bitterness can lead to apostasy. Law could have sought understanding, but instead, he chose anger and revenge. The Lord didn’t mince words in Doctrine and Covenants 121:18-19—those who falsely accuse His servants set themselves up for a fall.
 

The takeaway

 
How we handle doubts determines our spiritual future. Rather than turning against the Church when we struggle, we should seek answers with faith and humility.
 
Thomas C Sharp
 

Thomas Sharp 

 

Who was he?

 
Thomas Sharp was the editor of the Warsaw Signal, a newspaper in Illinois.
 

What was his crime?

 
Sharp used his newspaper to spread anti-Mormon propaganda. He incited mobs against the Saints and played a direct role in stirring up the anger that led to Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s martyrdom.
 

Lesser-known misdeed

 
Sharp was put on trial for Joseph Smith’s murder but was acquitted. Even after the Prophet’s death, he continued his anti-Mormon rhetoric.
 

What can we learn from him?

 
Words have power. Sharp never physically attacked the Saints, but his words fueled hatred and violence. In this case, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” wasn’t the case. The Lord warns in Doctrine and Covenants 10:25 that Satan stirs people up to anger through lies.
 

The takeaway

 
We must be careful about the voices we listen to and the words we share. Gossip, lies, and slander can have devastating consequences.
 
Portrait of Oliver Cowdery
 

Oliver Cowdery (Not so much a villain but a . . .)

 

Who was he?

 
Oliver Cowdery was one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and the Second Elder of the Church. He played a huge role in the Restoration, serving as Joseph Smith’s primary scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon.
 
Beyond that, Oliver was also one of the first to receive the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, helped establish early Church governance, and was present at the official organization of the Church on April 6, 1830. Though he left the Church for a time, he later humbly returned, reaffirming his testimony of the Book of Mormon and his role in its translation. His contributions were essential in shaping the Church we know today! 
 
So why is on this list when he’s clearly not a villain? Because no one’s perfect, and he’s a great example of humility and repentance. We can still learn from his mistakes. 
 

What was his crime?

 
Cowdery allowed personal pride and legal disputes to push him into apostasy. He falsely accused Joseph Smith of adultery and eventually left the Church.
 

Lesser-known misdeed

 
Though he opposed the Church for a time, he never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon. Which has been such a great testimony builder for me. 
 

What can we learn from him?

 
Even those with strong testimonies can fall away if they let personal grievances override their faith. The Lord warned in Doctrine and Covenants 3:4:
"For although a man may have many revelations... if he boasts in his own strength... he must fall."
 

The takeaway

 
Cowdery is another example of redemption. One of the best! He repented and returned to the Church, proving that you can always come back. And while people know he left the church for a time, he’s still highly regarded and loved within the church for all his contributions. 
 
So perhaps, not a villain, but a hero after all. I sure like to think so. 
 

Final Thoughts: Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition

 
Each of these men—Marsh, Boggs, Bennett, Law, and Sharp—opposed the Church in different ways, but their stories all share a common theme: pride, deceit, and unchecked anger lead to destruction.
 
Their actions caused suffering, but the Church survived and thrived. The Lord’s work cannot be stopped, and His promise in Doctrine and Covenants 6:34 remains true:
“Fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.”
 
The question is—when opposition comes, will we stand with the Lord?
 

Love, 
 
Emily Clark
Acquisitions & Marketing Manager 
The Cedar Fort Family
 
P.S. If you're looking to dive deeper into the early history of the church, be sure to check out The Assassination of Joseph Smith, Conspiracy at Carthage, Seeds of Faith, and Every Person in the Doctrine Covenants by clicking here.  

P.P.S. Read the full Doctrine and Covenants Series below.