Ramus. The word has an intriguing sound to it. And well it might. During the 1839-1846 period Ramus, Ill., was a prominent gathering place for Latter-day Saints.
Whether they were members fleeing Missouri mobs or new converts arriving from England and the Eastern United States, many chose to settle in the thriving community of Ramus, located about 22 miles east of Nauvoo. In time that settlement became home for hundreds of members. In fact, Ramus was, during its heyday, the second largest Latter-day Saint community (after Nauvoo) in Illinois.Today, the site of Ramus is home for 42 people.There are no stores there and residents must drive to Carthage (some 10 miles away) to do their shopping. Even the name of Ramus has changed. Now the clutch of houses, abandoned stores and community church (built on the site of an LDS meetinghouse that stood there 100 years before) is known as Webster.
Yet a visit to that area stirs memories, for the imprint of Mormonism lingers. The most poignant reminder of its LDS heritage is the fact that Joseph Smith's sister Catherine Smith Salisbury is buried in the town's cemetery.
A survey of Church history and emerging records gives a fascinating picture of Ramus during the seven years it bloomed as an LDS gathering place. It is a bittersweet story.
In 1839, a group of saints was sent from Nauvoo to a location in eastern Hancock County, then known as Crooked Creek. As membership multiplied, the name was changed to Ramus - a Latin term meaning "Branch" - for it was indeed becoming a strong branch of the Church. In fact on July 4, 1840, it was designated as a stake. However, a year and a half later, at a conference at Ramus on Dec. 4-5, 1841, the stake was discontinued. (History of the Church 4:468.)
Though the problems at Ramus had reduced the scope of organizational structure, the spirit of the saints there was generally very strong and supportive. On Dec. 8, 1841, the Prophet noted: "The Twelve who attended the Ramus conference . . . returned with nearly a thousand dollars worth of property . . . for the Temple, which has been donated by the saints at Ramus." (HC 4:469.)
During the next year and a half Ramus continued to be a popular settling place for the saints, and a generous one as well. On March 1, 1843, Brigham Young and the Twelve sent a letter to the Ramus saints asking for money and supplies for the Prophet.
Two days later the Prophet wrote: "Bishop Newel K. Whitney returned from Ramus this evening with five teams loaded with provisions and grain, as a present to me which afforded me very seasonable relief. I pray the Lord to bless those who gave it abundantly; and may it be returned upon their heads an hundred fold." (HC 5:294-295.) Their kindness sparked a desire in Joseph to visit his friends in Ramus, and a few days later he did so.
On March 11, 1843, the Prophet Joseph wrote: "At nine a.m., I started in company with Brother Brigham Young, to Ramus and had a delightful drive. Arrived at Brother McClary's (Joseph's brother-in-law, who had married his sister Sophronia) at a quarter to four." He stayed at McClary's only a short time and then went on to Benjamin F. Johnson's home where he stayed the night. (HC 5:302.)
Benjamin Johnson was a special friend of the Prophet's and it was no doubt at Johnson's urging that Joseph had agreed to visit Ramus. While in Ramus, the Prophet felt relaxed and free to seek athletic diversion. "In the evening," he wrote, "when pulling sticks, I pulled up Justus A. Morse, the strongest man in Ramus, with one hand."
The next day was Sunday and Joseph preached from John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions." He found the Ramus saints "well and in good spirits" and, after listening to Brigham Young preach in the afternoon, Joseph again returned to the Johnson home to spend the night.
In a meeting held Monday night, March 13, 27 children were blessed, "nineteen of whom," the Prophet wrote, "I blessed myself. . . . Virtue went out of me, and my strength left me, when I gave up the meeting to the brethren."
Joseph visited Ramus a second time on Saturday, April 1, 1843, with Orson Hyde and William Clayton.
On Sunday morning, Orson Hyde preached and in his sermon made a number of errors. Joseph did not refute the errors at that time (since he did not want to publicly embarrass Elder Hyde) but instead waited until a better teaching moment presented itself.
That moment came that evening. Wrote Joseph: "We dined with my sister Sophronia, . . . when I told Elder Hyde I was going to offer some corrections to his sermon this morning. He replied, `They shall be gratefully received.' " (HC 5:323.)
Out of that interview arose portions of instruction now set forth in Section 130 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It is well to keep in mind that the information recorded in Sections 130 and 131 (both received in Ramus about a month and a half apart) were not obtained in uninterrupted impressions as were so many of his other revelations.
Instead, instructional comments that Joseph made throughout his visit were recorded by William Clayton. Later, when the Doctrine and Covenants was compiled, the most important items from inspired remarks by the Prophet were accepted as scripture.
In the first part of Section 130 is the record of Joseph's correction of Elder Hyde's erroneous statements. Joseph pointed out that "the idea that the Father and Son dwell in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false." He emphasized that God and Jesus are physical beings, like men, but glorified and exalted.
Joseph then gave sundry other information. Other points were clarified throughout the day. During an evening sermon Joseph received spiritual insight that was later incorporated as verses 18-21 of Section 130.
Therein the saints are urged to gain knowledge and intelligence for these are the qualities that will be carried from this life to the next. The importance of learning God's laws was also stressed so that promised blessings can be gained by obedience to them.
He then emphasized that, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also . . . " while "the Holy Ghost . . . is a personage of Spirit . . . ", in an effort to lay to rest once and for all the "sectarian notion" of the Triune God. He closed by pointing out the need for righteousness to enjoy the Holy Ghost, for while "a man may receive the Holy Ghost," He has no obligation to "tarry with him" unless that person is faithful and true to the commandments.
In the afternoon of the next day (April 3, 1843), Joseph, William Clayton and Orson Hyde traveled to Carthage where they stayed with Jacob B. Backenstos, a friendly non-Mormon, for the night. (Jacob Backenstos will be profiled in a Church News feature next week.) The next day they completed their trip back to Nauvoo. (HC 5:326.)
Joseph, William Clayton and others returned to Ramus for a third visit on Tuesday, May 16, 1843, and again stayed in the Johnson home.
Although it must have been late (the party had stopped in Carthage for a time), the Prophet spent considerable time visiting with the Johnsons and providing instruction to them. He then explained that eternal increase was the privilege of eternal life. "Except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity, while in this probation, by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood, they will cease to increase when they die; that is, they will not have any children after the resurrection." Continuing, he explained that there are three degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom, and, in order to obtain the highest, a man and wife must be sealed so their union is of force after they die. (HC 5:391-392.
The next day (May 17, 1843) additional information was received reinforcing the importance of learning for "it is impossible to be saved in ignorance."
On Thursday, May 18, 1843, Joseph and his party left Ramus and referred to it by a new name - Macedonia. Due to the troubles that the community had had from time to time, they decided a name change reflecting Paul's reference to the problems besetting the original Macedonia was appropriate. (See Acts 16:9). Wrote Joseph: "We left Macedonia about half past eight a.m., and arrived at Carthage at ten." There he visited with Judge Stephen A. Douglas (and delivered his famous warning for Douglas not to turn against the saints), and then arrived at Nauvoo late that same afternoon.
Although Joseph made at least one more trip to Ramus/Macedonia in October of 1843 (HC 6:59-60), no more revelations were recorded there.
Ramus (or Macedonia) continued to be the dwelling place for hundreds of Latter-day Saints until 1846 when most of them left to join the exodus west.
The Prophet's visits to Ramus were essentially happy times for him. It was here that Joseph found not only respite from the day-to-day problems in Nauvoo, but also he was able to enjoy the fellowship of many dear friends with whom he could freely associate without fear of intrigue against him. It was in Ramus that he deftly balanced his physical and spiritual abilities: wrestling and pulling sticks in vigorous, spirited play and then smoothly making the transition to meet the spiritual needs of the saints. And the inspiration he received in Ramus not only enriched the lives of the saints in that community, but is preserved for all in Sections 130 and 131 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
