In 1835, the Aaron & Mehitable Cheney family moved to Kirtland, Ohio. They purchased a farm which was located about two miles southeast of where the Kirtland Temple was built. There the father put his boys to work on the farm. Elam was too young to do much heavy work, but being too bright a boy and interested in all the work going on, he learned not only how to manage the farm, but also a great deal in how to handle iron and work at the blacksmith forge in the foundry which his father now built. Circumstances that occurred in this place made a deep impression on the young boy’s mind. Elam was baptized in the Chagrin River by Elder Damascus Carter.
Elam learned the Cooper’s trade and studied medicine and surgery. He also helped as a boy with some of the work on the Kirtland Temple. At this time, notice was given that the Kirtland Temple was to be dedicated. This Aaron Cheney family attended. The Prophet spoke in the meeting and Elam noticed that while he was speaking he looked up as if he was looking at someone, so Elam looked in that direction and saw six personages…three on each side of the room.
Their appearance attracted his attention as they were dressed so differently to what he was accustomed to seeing. They had white moccasins on their feet and white caps on their heads. He asked his mother who they were and she said she could see no one. He told her they were dressed in white. He always remembered how they looked and how they were dressed. Later on when he went to the temple to get his endowments he discovered that the clothing those six personages wore, were like the temple clothes. This experience was a testimony which stayed with him through his life.
The Cheney family left Kirtland in July, 1838 in the company known as Kirtland Camp. Intending to join the Saints at Nauvoo: but owing to sickness were not able to continue the journey, so stopped temporarily at Decatur, Macon Co., IIL…While detained at this place, they were to work and fence a piece of ground, build a small house, and raise a crop. It was while they were living at Decatur, that Joseph, the Prophet started on his memorable trip to Washington for the purpose of laying the grievances of the Saints Before the President of the United States.
As Joseph was passing through Decatur, he stopped and spent the night at the Cheney home. Elam who was 14 at the time was very much impressed by the conversation of the Prophet. As soon afterward as they could, the Cheney family continued their journey to Nauvoo. While at Nauvoo he played in a game of baseball with Joseph Smith.