Oliver’s excommunication

[Mamabear]

I find the reasons that Oliver was excommunicated humorous. They sound like some of the same reasons people are exed today….speaking against the leaders and not following their “revelations” especially for petty things. I think if Joseph was alive he would agree with how things are done in the church….”the brethren are never wrong and should not be insulted or questioned” mindset.

“I do hereby prefer the following charges against President Oliver Cowdery.

1st, For stiring up the enemy to persecute the brethren by urging on vexatious Lawsuits and thus distressing the inocent.

2nd, For seeking to destroying the character of President Joseph Smith jr, by falsly insinuating that he was guilty of adultry &c.

3rd For treating the Church with contempt
by not attending meetings.

4th. For virtually denying the faith by declaring that he would not be governed by any ecclesiastical authority nor Revelation whatever in his temporal affairs.

5th For selling his lands in Jackson County contrary to the Revelations.

6th For writing and sending an insulting letter to President T[homas] B. Marsh while on the High Council, attending to the duties of his office, as President of the Council and by insulting the whole Council
with the contents of said letter

7th., For leaving the calling, in which God had
appointed him, by Revelation, for the sake of filthy lucre, and turning to the practice of the Law.

8th, For disgracing the Church by lieing
being connected in the ‘Bogus’ buisness as common report says.

9th. For dishonestly Retaining notes after they had been paid and finally for leaving or forsaking the cause of God, and betaking himself to the beggerly elements of the world and neglecting his high and Holy Calling’ contrary to his profession.”

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper ... book-2/121

[Dusty Wanderer]

This sunset of an era. Shortly after this, the printing press was mysteriously burned upon its confiscation by the sherif, and Kirtland was essentially abandoned, as Joseph fled to Far West. The church moved on from many of the “old standard” saints in a very short period of time.

I lament this time period in our history.

2nd, For seeking to destroying the character of President Joseph Smith jr, by falsly insinuating that he was guilty of adultry &c.

Fanny Alger — and I don’t believe it was a polygamous thing at all. It was probably nothing more than as reported at the time — “adultery scrape”. The remaining testimony in this same transcript is interesting. Who else was closer than Cowdery to the Smiths at the time? I’m sure it rattled him.

I don’t like that Oliver was so loose-lipped with family confidences. However, at the same time, what was he to do when he knew for sure, but it was swept aside. I get the impression that if Joseph had confessed to the court as part of his repentance, which I believe he did repent though (Oliver even says he confessed to Emma), perhaps Oliver would’ve stayed and remained bosom friends with Joseph. But he lost respect..

8th, For disgracing the Church by lieing
being connected in the ‘Bogus’ buisness as common report says.

These claims were never substantiated. In fact, the “common report” of bogus did not follow Oliver, it followed the church to Far West and then on to Nauvoo.

[Good & Global]

This was certainly part the sunset of an era. Shortly after this, the printing press was mysteriously burned upon its confiscation by the sherif, and Kirtland was essentially abandoned, as Joseph fled to Far West. The church moved on from many of the “old standard” saints in a very short period of time.

I lament this time period in our history.

2nd, For seeking to destroying the character of President Joseph Smith jr, by falsly insinuating that he was guilty of adultry &c.

Fanny Alger — and I don’t believe it was a polygamous thing at all. It was probably nothing more than as reported at the time — “adultery scrape”. The remaining testimony in this same transcript is interesting. Who else was closer than Cowdery to the Smiths at the time? I’m sure it rattled him.

I don’t like that Oliver was so loose-lipped with family confidences. However, at the same time, what was he to do when he knew for sure, but it was swept aside. I get the impression that if Joseph had confessed to the court as part of his repentance, which I believe he did repent though (Oliver even says he confessed to Emma), perhaps Oliver would’ve stayed and remained bosom friends with Joseph. But he lost respect..

8th, For disgracing the Church by lieing
being connected in the ‘Bogus’ buisness as common report says.

These claims were never substantiated. In fact, the “common report” of bogus did not follow Oliver, it followed the church to Far West and then on to Nauvoo.

I believe this as far as closeness to Joseph Smith. Oliver of all people would have known the dealings of the prophet on a particularly intimate level, second but maybe more so than Emma would. Oliver Cowdery was a "distant" cousin of Joseph Smith. Yet he made a statement and was excommunicated.

We have to consider too that all the signatures of the witnesses in the Book of Mormon attesting to its truthfulness were all in Oliver Cowdery's handwriting. We assume this was for the printing press but couldn't the actual signature page have worked too? So he alone was privy to the fact of whether the witnesses actually signed a document or it was all made up to boost credibility for the book.

So whether by faith or by fraud - Oliver Cowdery knew Joseph on such a personal level it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate something like this unless it was true or he wanted to take over as leader of the organization. This would be the other motive I can see as reasonable (in which case this reason would most likely be due to Oliver knowing it was all a fraud)

It is a crazy thing but the events unfolded with the printing press and Carthage (smoke) as if there had been an actual fire. Two high level insiders of the inner mormon circle stating the same thing and both got dealt with with swift justice as if the matter was closed.

[Dusty Wanderer]

We have to consider too that all the signatures of the witnesses in the Book of Mormon attesting to its truthfulness were all in Oliver Cowdery's handwriting. We assume this was for the printing press but couldn't the actual signature page have worked too? So he alone was privy to the fact of whether the witnesses actually signed a document or it was all made up to boost credibility for the book.

So whether by faith or by fraud - Oliver Cowdery knew Joseph on such a personal level it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate something like this unless it was true or he wanted to take over as leader of the organization would be the other motive I can see as reasonable (in which case this reason would most likely be due to Oliver knowing it was all a fraud)

It is a crazy thing but the events unfolded with the printing press and Carthage (smoke) as if there had been an actual fire.

Good points. As for the signatures, I think there was ample time for the other signatories to object to their witness being falsely printed.

I’ve also thought that if taking over the church was Oliver’s motivation, then he probably would’ve tried to start his own offshoot. Instead he went to his grave attesting to the BoM, in spite of his feelings for Joseph and without trying to start his own movement. I can’t shake these things.

And your noting of the printing press being at the heart of much of their troubles is something I appreciate. I spent some time digging into that, but was eventually deterred by all the dead ends.

[Christianlee]

We have to consider too that all the signatures of the witnesses in the Book of Mormon attesting to its truthfulness were all in Oliver Cowdery's handwriting. We assume this was for the printing press but couldn't the actual signature page have worked too? So he alone was privy to the fact of whether the witnesses actually signed a document or it was all made up to boost credibility for the book.

So whether by faith or by fraud - Oliver Cowdery knew Joseph on such a personal level it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate something like this unless it was true or he wanted to take over as leader of the organization would be the other motive I can see as reasonable (in which case this reason would most likely be due to Oliver knowing it was all a fraud)

It is a crazy thing but the events unfolded with the printing press and Carthage (smoke) as if there had been an actual fire.

Good points. As for the signatures, I think there was ample time for the other signatories to object to their witness being falsely printed.

I’ve also thought that if taking over the church was Oliver’s motivation, then he probably would’ve tried to start his own offshoot. Instead he went to his grave attesting to the BoM, in spite of his feelings for Joseph and without trying to start his own movement. I can’t shake these things.

And your noting of the printing press being at the heart of much of their troubles is something I appreciate. I spent some time digging into that, but was eventually deterred by all the dead ends.

What if he went to his grave attesting to the Book of Mormon because he didn’t want to admit he had been involved in creating it? I sometimes think that is possible.

[Wolfwoman]

Oliver Cowdery rejoined the church, didn’t he? That’s what I remember.

[Good & Global]

All of these are excellent points. As to Dusty Wanderer's comment, I think that is precisely why we have only the scant evidence that we do. It is enough so we can act like the event was not totally denied (or otherwise there would have been objectors to that too) but not enough actual information exists in public so as to corroborate facts.

We have to realize Mark Hoffman was not the only instance of the church "collecting" all of its history. They also had a campaign to go around collecting family journals of pioneers to help "preserve" them for history sake. If there were disagreeing details had by any of the faithful, it has probably long since been donated in the name of honoring our heritage. They have had 200 years to whittle away at these embarrassing events.

[Atrasado]

I'm not going to say you're wrong, Dusty, but I wonder if the Alger incident was an early attempt at plural marriage. One reason I think that is that Joseph said that he had sins, but they weren't the sins that people commonly believed about him. And plenty of people thought that he had committed adultery with Fanny. Who knows?

Also, I wonder if Oliver was all that many people crack him up to be. He was pretty quick to go what-about Joseph. I don't know either way, since the Lord hasn't given me any revelation on that yet. It's all such a tangled web to me. But, I still believe that Joseph was not a fallen prophet and died a martyr.

[Good & Global]

Brigham Young is easier. He always seemed to come out on top. Everyone else - that's their problem.

With Joseph, half the time I don't know if he was the victim, the abuser or both.

[TheChristian]

I recall a Christian Judge of England whom wrote in his memoirs,

"One morning there came a man before my court accused of a crime, he asked me bluntly." Hey your Honor, will I get a fair trial?"
I thought for a minute and then said, "No you will not a fair trial in any court presided over by men, the only time you will get a fair trial is when the Lord Jesus returns and He sits in judgement of your soul"

[FrankOne]

This was certainly part the sunset of an era. Shortly after this, the printing press was mysteriously burned upon its confiscation by the sherif, and Kirtland was essentially abandoned, as Joseph fled to Far West. The church moved on from many of the “old standard” saints in a very short period of time.

I lament this time period in our history.

2nd, For seeking to destroying the character of President Joseph Smith jr, by falsly insinuating that he was guilty of adultry &c.

Fanny Alger — and I don’t believe it was a polygamous thing at all. It was probably nothing more than as reported at the time — “adultery scrape”. The remaining testimony in this same transcript is interesting. Who else was closer than Cowdery to the Smiths at the time? I’m sure it rattled him.

I don’t like that Oliver was so loose-lipped with family confidences. However, at the same time, what was he to do when he knew for sure, but it was swept aside. I get the impression that if Joseph had confessed to the court as part of his repentance, which I believe he did repent though (Oliver even says he confessed to Emma), perhaps Oliver would’ve stayed and remained bosom friends with Joseph. But he lost respect..

8th, For disgracing the Church by lieing
being connected in the ‘Bogus’ buisness as common report says.

These claims were never substantiated. In fact, the “common report” of bogus did not follow Oliver, it followed the church to Far West and then on to Nauvoo.

So whether by faith or by fraud - Oliver Cowdery knew Joseph on such a personal level it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate something like this unless it was true or he wanted to take over as leader of the organization. This would be the other motive I can see as reasonable (in which case this reason would most likely be due to Oliver knowing it was all a fraud)
.

or Oliver flat out did not believe Joseph's story that he was commanded to have a relationship with Fannie....so...he called it as he saw it, adultery.

[FrankOne]

Brigham Young is easier. He always seemed to come out on top. Everyone else - that's their problem.

With Joseph, half the time I don't know if he was the victim, the abuser or both.

when I studied Joseph's words decades ago, I felt a kinship with him. He made many mistakes and some of them were significant. but... I perceive that he was in some regards quite naive. At other times though, quite overzealous in assuming God had his back in all things. He definitely was mislead by his own weakness of desiring more and more women. Sort of like David or Solomon. In my book, he was a great man, prone to error like any other man and his weaknesses got him killed.

Brigham was a different sort that was not naive in the least. Very astute and calculating. He always understood where he was and how to manage his lifestyle as well as the thousands of members that were dependent on him during the early years. In my book, Brigham was a necessary tyrant, but not someone that I would respect. Those that followed him were sheep in need of a shepherd.

[Mamabear]

We have to consider too that all the signatures of the witnesses in the Book of Mormon attesting to its truthfulness were all in Oliver Cowdery's handwriting. We assume this was for the printing press but couldn't the actual signature page have worked too? So he alone was privy to the fact of whether the witnesses actually signed a document or it was all made up to boost credibility for the book.

So whether by faith or by fraud - Oliver Cowdery knew Joseph on such a personal level it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate something like this unless it was true or he wanted to take over as leader of the organization would be the other motive I can see as reasonable (in which case this reason would most likely be due to Oliver knowing it was all a fraud)

It is a crazy thing but the events unfolded with the printing press and Carthage (smoke) as if there had been an actual fire.

Good points. As for the signatures, I think there was ample time for the other signatories to object to their witness being falsely printed.

I’ve also thought that if taking over the church was Oliver’s motivation, then he probably would’ve tried to start his own offshoot. Instead he went to his grave attesting to the BoM, in spite of his feelings for Joseph and without trying to start his own movement. I can’t shake these things.

And your noting of the printing press being at the heart of much of their troubles is something I appreciate. I spent some time digging into that, but was eventually deterred by all the dead ends.

What if he went to his grave attesting to the Book of Mormon because he didn’t want to admit he had been involved in creating it? I sometimes think that is possible.

I agree. I think it’s likely.

[Dusty Wanderer]

Oliver Cowdery rejoined the church, didn’t he? That’s what I remember.

That is correct, but only after he assured them that he had no leadership claims. He did not go west with the saints, though, and passed away at his brother in law’s (David Whitmer) home a little over a year after his rebaptism.

[Dusty Wanderer]

I'm not going to say you're wrong, Dusty, but I wonder if the Alger incident was an early attempt at plural marriage. One reason I think that is that Joseph said that he had sins, but they weren't the sins that people commonly believed about him. And plenty of people thought that he had committed adultery with Fanny. Who knows?

Also, I wonder if Oliver was all that many people crack him up to be. He was pretty quick to go what-about Joseph. I don't know either way, since the Lord hasn't given me any revelation on that yet. It's all such a tangled web to me. But, I still believe that Joseph was not a fallen prophet and died a martyr.

I could be wrong, Atrasado. I haven’t received any revelation on it either. Maybe Oliver believed a rumor, but he seemed to have more info than that - even told others that Joseph told him he confessed to Emma. It’s a tangled web, for sure.

I don’t think a slip up with Fanny necessarily means he died a fallen prophet. The way I see it, he could’ve repented like the rest of us. I wonder, though, if he was guilty and thought he could repent and cover his sins at the same time, would that make him more susceptible to someone else planting the polygamy seed in his head? A doctrine that changes one’s indiscretion into enlightenment/righteousness would be quite appealing.

If Joseph was complicit in polygamy, that would explain some of the evidence that shows he could’ve been trying to repent of it at the end. However, that same evidence shows that he could’ve been falling into the same weakness of keeping his repentance secret from rest of the church, like he had done with Fanny.

I do find it interesting that the possible timeframe for Fanny coincides with a drop in revelations to the church. That could be due to general body of the church at the time, rather than Joseph, or both… I have only theories and a general sentiment at this point.

[Atrasado]

I'm not going to say you're wrong, Dusty, but I wonder if the Alger incident was an early attempt at plural marriage. One reason I think that is that Joseph said that he had sins, but they weren't the sins that people commonly believed about him. And plenty of people thought that he had committed adultery with Fanny. Who knows?

Also, I wonder if Oliver was all that many people crack him up to be. He was pretty quick to go what-about Joseph. I don't know either way, since the Lord hasn't given me any revelation on that yet. It's all such a tangled web to me. But, I still believe that Joseph was not a fallen prophet and died a martyr.

I could be wrong, Atrasado. I haven’t received any revelation on it either. Maybe Oliver believed a rumor, but he seemed to have more info than that - even told others that Joseph told him he confessed to Emma. It’s a tangled web, for sure.

I don’t think a slip up with Fanny necessarily means he died a fallen prophet. The way I see it, he could’ve repented like the rest of us. I wonder, though, if he was guilty and thought he could repent and cover his sins at the same time, would that make him more susceptible to someone else planting the polygamy seed in his head? A doctrine that changes one’s indiscretion into enlightenment/righteousness would be quite appealing.

If Joseph was complicit in polygamy, that would explain some of the evidence that shows he could’ve been trying to repent of it at the end. However, that same evidence shows that he could’ve been falling into the same weakness of keeping his repentance secret from rest of the church, like he had done with Fanny.

I do find it interesting that the possible timeframe for Fanny coincides with a drop in revelations to the church. That could be due to general body of the church at the time, rather than Joseph, or both… I have only theories and a general sentiment at this point.

I have good reasons for believing God was involved in the foundation of this Church so I believe Joseph was a prophet. I also believe that he wasn't guilty of adultery. I think he would have been disqualified to be the prophet had he been. That means I think God commanded him to live the law of plural marriage.

However, there are so many crazy things I can't account for that I don't blame anyone for thinking differently. The devil sure muddied the waters on this one, I think.

[Dusty Wanderer]

Brigham Young is easier. He always seemed to come out on top. Everyone else - that's their problem.

With Joseph, half the time I don't know if he was the victim, the abuser or both.

Agreed. I feel like Joseph is an enigma to me sometimes. I want to believe he was a standing prophet all the way through to the end, a crescendo from the start, but I suspect his life was much more nuanced than that, with ups and downs, like most mortal humans.

[Dusty Wanderer]

We have to consider too that all the signatures of the witnesses in the Book of Mormon attesting to its truthfulness were all in Oliver Cowdery's handwriting. We assume this was for the printing press but couldn't the actual signature page have worked too? So he alone was privy to the fact of whether the witnesses actually signed a document or it was all made up to boost credibility for the book.

So whether by faith or by fraud - Oliver Cowdery knew Joseph on such a personal level it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate something like this unless it was true or he wanted to take over as leader of the organization would be the other motive I can see as reasonable (in which case this reason would most likely be due to Oliver knowing it was all a fraud)

It is a crazy thing but the events unfolded with the printing press and Carthage (smoke) as if there had been an actual fire.

Good points. As for the signatures, I think there was ample time for the other signatories to object to their witness being falsely printed.

I’ve also thought that if taking over the church was Oliver’s motivation, then he probably would’ve tried to start his own offshoot. Instead he went to his grave attesting to the BoM, in spite of his feelings for Joseph and without trying to start his own movement. I can’t shake these things.

And your noting of the printing press being at the heart of much of their troubles is something I appreciate. I spent some time digging into that, but was eventually deterred by all the dead ends.

What if he went to his grave attesting to the Book of Mormon because he didn’t want to admit he had been involved in creating it? I sometimes think that is possible.

Hmm… If he were involved in some grand conspiracy like that, he would be a filthy liar. Then why would he care so much about Joseph’s alleged improprieties? As long as the ruse was in tact, why rock the boat? Why would he be rebaptised into the church knowing he would have no position of leadership or influence?

[Pazooka]

Courtesy of Brian Hales:

Several nineteenth-century Church leaders accused Oliver Cowdery of either unauthorized polygamy or adultery. It appears that the first mention was by President Brigham Young in 1857, some twenty-five years after the alleged events. On August 26, Elder Wilford Woodruff recorded in his journal: “President Young stayed three-plus hours in compiling his history. He remarked that the revelation upon a plurality of wives was given to Joseph Smith. He revealed it to Oliver Cowdery alone upon the solemn pledge that he would not reveal it or act upon it. But he did act upon it in a secret manner and that was the cause of his overthrow.” (Wilford Woodruff, Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, 1833–1898)

In 1872, President Young also reportedly taught:
While Joseph and Oliver were translating the Book of Mormon, they had a revelation that the order of Patriarchal Marriage and sealing was right. Oliver said unto Joseph, “Brother Joseph, why don’t we go into the order of polygamy, and practice it as the ancients did? We know it is true, then why delay?” Joseph’s reply was “I know that we know it is true, and from God, but the time has not yet come.” This did not seem to suit Oliver, who expressed a determination to go into the order of plural marriage anyhow, although he was ignorant of the order and pattern and the results. Joseph Said, “Oliver if you go into this thing it is not with my faith or consent.” Disregarding the counsel of Joseph, Oliver Cowdery took to wife Miss Annie Lyman, cousin to George A. Smith. From that time he went into darkness and lost the spirit. ~ Andrew Karl Larson and Katharine Miles Larson, eds., The Diary of Charles Lowell Walker (Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1980), 1:349.

https://rsc.byu.edu/days-never-be-forgo ... _noteref-3

[sushi_chef]

https://journal.interpreterfoundation.o ... ull-color/

"After finishing his work in setting up the press and starting the Frontier Guardian, Oliver Cowdery visited his wife's relatives, the Whitmers, and other friends. Upon the way, he stopped in Upper Missouri, and spent some time with Samuel W. Richards, to whom he repeated his testimony, in a signed statement, January 13, 1849. He was not well at that time, and his malady, thought to be incipient pneumonia, developed into consumption, from which he died at Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, on March 3, 1850.
"
http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdryhst2.htm

ummm..., peradventure samuel w (nephew of willard richards) gave him pneumococcus infected blanket treatment ...

remembers read somewhere-www that oliver(October 3, 1806 – March 3, 1850) sought a woman as another wife but joseph did not give approval, source was brigham's words and that lady was in utah territory under brigham's protection ...

his brothher warren (October 17, 1788 – February 23, 1851) was one of many ex-cochranites("The Society of Free Brethren and Sisters") coverts, like Lyman Wight (May 9, 1796 – March 31, 1858), William Marks(November 15, 1792 – May 22, 1872) ..

[blitzinstripes]

Brigham Young is easier. He always seemed to come out on top. Everyone else - that's their problem.

With Joseph, half the time I don't know if he was the victim, the abuser or both.

Agreed. I feel like Joseph is an enigma to me sometimes. I want to believe he was a standing prophet all the way through to the end, a crescendo from the start, but I suspect his life was much more nuanced than that, with ups and downs, like most mortal humans.

Joseph prophesied that his name would be had for good and for bad among all nations. Indeed, he remains one of the most mysterious and controversial religious figures who have ever lived.

[sushi_chef]

might need to go an extra mile ...
Samuel W. Richards .. bio
"
Samuel Whitney Richards (August 9, 1824 – November 26, 1909 (aged 85)) was a religious and political leader in 19th-century Utah Territory and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Early years
Richards was the son of Phinehas Richards and his wife Wealthy Dewey. He was born in Richmond, Massachusetts. He joined the LDS Church at age 14 shortly after his father was baptized. At age 18 he worked on building a railroad in the vicinity of Richmond, having learned the carpenter's trade from his father. He moved with his family to Nauvoo, Illinois which is where he met his first wife, Mary Haskin Parker. ..
"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_W._Richards
Samuel W. Richards lds
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Samuel+W.+Ric ... =h_&ia=web

[Pazooka]

Why didn’t Joseph Smith have Sidney Rigdon excommunicated? It seemed he wanted to be rid of him on more than one occasion but most definitely in October of 1843.

[Arm Chair Quarterback]

Courtesy of Brian Hales:

Several nineteenth-century Church leaders accused Oliver Cowdery of either unauthorized polygamy or adultery. It appears that the first mention was by President Brigham Young in 1857, some twenty-five years after the alleged events. On August 26, Elder Wilford Woodruff recorded in his journal: “President Young stayed three-plus hours in compiling his history. He remarked that the revelation upon a plurality of wives was given to Joseph Smith. He revealed it to Oliver Cowdery alone upon the solemn pledge that he would not reveal it or act upon it. But he did act upon it in a secret manner and that was the cause of his overthrow.” (Wilford Woodruff, Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, 1833–1898)

In 1872, President Young also reportedly taught:
While Joseph and Oliver were translating the Book of Mormon, they had a revelation that the order of Patriarchal Marriage and sealing was right. Oliver said unto Joseph, “Brother Joseph, why don’t we go into the order of polygamy, and practice it as the ancients did? We know it is true, then why delay?” Joseph’s reply was “I know that we know it is true, and from God, but the time has not yet come.” This did not seem to suit Oliver, who expressed a determination to go into the order of plural marriage anyhow, although he was ignorant of the order and pattern and the results. Joseph Said, “Oliver if you go into this thing it is not with my faith or consent.” Disregarding the counsel of Joseph, Oliver Cowdery took to wife Miss Annie Lyman, cousin to George A. Smith. From that time he went into darkness and lost the spirit. ~ Andrew Karl Larson and Katharine Miles Larson, eds., The Diary of Charles Lowell Walker (Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1980), 1:349.

https://rsc.byu.edu/days-never-be-forgo ... _noteref-3

After all we know about Brigham Young, including possible direction or at least foreknowledge of the Mountain Meadows massacre, along with his outlandish comments on being more masculine than other men and worthy of many wives, after all of his antics which included teaching apostles that lying was okay if it served the purposes of the church especially when it came to Polygamy---after all of that, how dependable are Brigham Young's comments on this subject?

[Arm Chair Quarterback]

Why didn’t Joseph Smith have Sidney Rigdon excommunicated? It seemed he wanted to be rid of him on more than one occasion but most definitely in October of 1843.

He was killed before he could deal with Sydney. By 1843 things were spiraling out of control in Nauvoo. Hundreds of members were passing rumors of polygamy. There was mistrust among members. Outsiders were threatening. Joseph was on the run. There wasn't time for a public ecommunication preceding. Things were getting chaotic. Sydney Rigdon, was the last of the concerns. Whereas, with Oliver, the only enemy were those from within.