The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. Documents, Volume 5, Part 3 Introduction: 12 February–28 March 1836

Part 3: 12 February–28 March 1836

During this period of about six weeks, JS spent much of his time studying the Hebrew language under the instruction of
Joshua Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
.
1

See Letter to Henrietta Raphael Seixas, between 6 and 13 Feb. 1836; and JS, Journal, 24 and 25 Feb. 1836; 2 and 3 Mar. 1836.


He also saw to his familial and domestic concerns and at the same time entertained visitors in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, who were interested in the Egyptian artifacts, the
House of the Lord

JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...

More Info
, or “the work of the Lord” generally.
2

See JS, Journal, 12, 15, 16, 28, and 29 Feb. 1836.


The majority of the documents in this part highlight JS attending to the “duties of the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
” as the
House of the Lord

JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...

More Info
neared completion and the anticipated
solemn assembly

A special church meeting or conference convened to conduct church business, administer sacred ordinances, and receive spiritual power and instruction. In November 1831, the Saints were directed by revelation to gather as a body in solemn assemblies. A December...

View Glossary
approached. During this time of preparation, JS continued to instruct and organize the church, and he oversaw the passage of resolutions that standardized the
ordination

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

View Glossary
of men to
priesthood

Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...

View Glossary
offices and centralized priesthood
licensing

A document certifying an individual’s office in the church and authorizing him “to perform the duty of his calling.” The “Articles and Covenants” of the church implied that only elders could issue licenses; individuals ordained by a priest to an office in...

View Glossary
to a more formal system of tracking the growing body of ordained men.
3

See, for example, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 22 Feb. 1836; and License, 21 Mar. 1836.


A historic event came at the end of these six weeks: after more than three years of fund raising, construction work, and high expectations, the
House of the Lord

JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...

More Info
was completed, and JS led the dedicatory services on 27 March 1836. Participants recorded that a spiritual outpouring transpired that day.
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
stated “that a Holy Angel of God” entered the building and sat next to him and
Joseph Smith Sr.

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...

View Full Bio
during the dedicatory prayer offered by JS.
4

Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836 [D&C 109].


Benjamin Brown

View Full Bio

recorded that at a meeting of the priesthood on the evening of the dedication, several in attendance had “Miracilous Experiences” and saw “Many Visions” during a Pentecostal event in the House of the Lord.
5

Benjamin Brown to Sarah Mumford Brown, ca. Apr. 1836, Benjamin Brown Family Collection, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Benjamin Brown Family Collection, 1835–1983. CHL. MS 17646.

  1. 1

    See Letter to Henrietta Raphael Seixas, between 6 and 13 Feb. 1836; and JS, Journal, 24 and 25 Feb. 1836; 2 and 3 Mar. 1836.

  2. 2

    See JS, Journal, 12, 15, 16, 28, and 29 Feb. 1836.

  3. 3

    See, for example, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 22 Feb. 1836; and License, 21 Mar. 1836.

  4. 4

    Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836 [D&C 109].

  5. 5

    Benjamin Brown to Sarah Mumford Brown, ca. Apr. 1836, Benjamin Brown Family Collection, CHL.

    Benjamin Brown Family Collection, 1835–1983. CHL. MS 17646.

Contact UsFAQFollow Us on Facebook

Request for Documents

Do you know of any Joseph Smith documents that we might not have heard about? Tell us

The Church Historian’s Press is an imprint of the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, and a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06