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Officers of Church-Affiliated Organizations in Nauvoo, Illinois, December 1841–April 1842

Officers of Church-Affiliated Organizations in Nauvoo, Illinois, December 1841–April 1842

Temple Building Committee

In October 1840, a general conference of the church resolved to “build a house for the worship of God” in , Illinois, and appointed , , and as a committee to oversee its construction. These men continued to act as the temple building committee and no other committee members were added during the period between December 1841 through April 1842.

1 December 1841–30 April 1842

Nauvoo House Association

In January 1841, JS dictated a revelation that commanded the Latter-day Saints to build a boardinghouse for visitors to , Illinois. The future boardinghouse came to be known as the . On 5 February 1841, in a meeting of the Nauvoo House’s stockholders, was appointed president of the association and was appointed clerk. A few weeks later, on 23 February, the state legislature approved the incorporation of the Nauvoo House Association, the organization responsible for managing construction of the building, selling stock to fund its construction, and employing laborers on the project.

The association’s charter named four men—George Miller, , John Snider, and —as trustees of the association. In March 1841, JS dictated a revelation appointing and as agents to assist the trustees by selling Nauvoo House stock.

1 December 1841–30 April 1842

, president and trustee

, clerk and trustee

, trustee

, agent

Relief Society

The was organized on 17 March 1842. The twenty women in attendance at that meeting elected as the new organization’s first president. Smith then chose and to be her counselors. The society selected and Phebe Bartholomew Wheeler as secretary and assistant secretary, respectively, and Elvira Cowles as treasurer.

17 March–30 April 1842

, president

, counselor

, secretary

Phebe Bartholomew Wheeler, assistant secretary

Elvira Cowles, treasurer

1
Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840. In the six months prior to this announcement, JS periodically referenced plans to construct a temple in Nauvoo. (“A Glance at the Mormons,” Alexandria [VA] Gazette, 11 July 1840, [2]; Discourse, ca. 19 July 1840; Letter to Saints Scattered Abroad, Sept. 1840.)
Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, VA. 1834–1877.
2
Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:31, 55–60].
3
Minutes, 5 Feb. 1841.
4
An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], pp. 131–132; see also “Charter for the Nauvoo House,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:270–271.
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twelfth General Assembly, at Their Session, Began and Held at Springfield, on the Seventh of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty. Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1841.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
5
An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 131, sec. 2.
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twelfth General Assembly, at Their Session, Began and Held at Springfield, on the Seventh of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty. Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1841.
6
Revelation, 20 Mar. 1841.
7
Minutes and Discourses, 17 Mar. 1842.

Officers of Church-Affiliated Organizations in Nauvoo, Illinois, December 1841–April 1842

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