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  2. Documents, Volume 8, Part 1 Introduction: 2 February–30 March 1841

Part 1: 2 February–30 March 1841

After the articles of incorporation for the city of
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Illinois, were approved in December 1840, the
Saints

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...

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turned their attention to developing the city. In early 1841 they acted on their newly acquired civic power by organizing the Nauvoo City Council and the
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

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. Prompted by a revelation of 19 January 1841, JS implored the Saints to begin construction on the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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and the
Nauvoo House

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...

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.
1

See Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].


As the city expanded, complemented by these building projects, JS took measures to meet debt payments on the land he,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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, and
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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had purchased for the church in August 1839.
2

See Authorization for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841; and Historical Introduction to Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.


Through communications with his
agent

A specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...

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Oliver Granger

7 Feb. 1794–23/25 Aug. 1841. Sheriff, church agent. Born at Phelps, Ontario Co., New York. Son of Pierce Granger and Clarissa Trumble. Married Lydia Dibble, 8 Sept. 1813, at Phelps. Member of Methodist church and licensed exhorter. Sheriff of Ontario Co. ...

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, JS also oversaw the settlement of debts that had been acquired during his time 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...

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, Ohio.
3

See Letter to Amos Keeler, 16 Mar. 1841.


JS’s appointment as trustee-in-trust on 2 February 1841 established the church as a lawful religious society in
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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.
4

Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.


Though much of JS’s time was occupied with temporal matters, he continued to labor for the spiritual welfare of the Saints. In a variety of settings, including lyceum meetings and Sabbath-day meetings, JS delivered discourses—addressing topics such as
baptism

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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for the dead, the temple, the necessity of the fall of Adam, and loyalty.
5

See Discourse, ca. 2 Feb. 1841; Discourse, ca. 9 Feb. 1841; Account of Meeting and Discourse, ca. 2 Mar. 1841.


JS also dictated a revelation in March that directed the Saints in
Iowa Territory

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...

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to gather in
Lee County

First permanent settlement established, 1820. Organized 1837. Population in 1838 about 2,800; in 1840 about 6,100; in 1844 about 9,800; and in 1846 about 13,000. Following expulsion from Missouri, 1838–1839, many Saints found refuge in eastern Iowa Territory...

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, Iowa Territory, and to establish a city named
Zarahemla

Located about one mile west of Mississippi River; area settled, by May 1839. Site for town selected by JS, 2 July 1839, and later confirmed by revelation, Mar. 1841. Iowa stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized by JS, by Oct. 1839. ...

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.
6

Revelation, ca. Early Mar. 1841 [D&C 125].


  1. 1

    See Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].

  2. 2

    See Authorization for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841; and Historical Introduction to Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.

  3. 3

    See Letter to Amos Keeler, 16 Mar. 1841.

  4. 4

    Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.

  5. 5

    See Discourse, ca. 2 Feb. 1841; Discourse, ca. 9 Feb. 1841; Account of Meeting and Discourse, ca. 2 Mar. 1841.

  6. 6

    Revelation, ca. Early Mar. 1841 [D&C 125].

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