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Baptismal Certificate for Martha Nelson Goforth, 9 April 1844

Source Note

JS, Baptismal Certificate, for
Martha Nelson Goforth

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,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 9 Apr. 1844; handwriting of
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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; signature of JS; one page; CHL.
Single leaf of faded blue paper measuring 4¼ × 7 inches (11 × 18 cm). At least two of the four sides, the top and bottom, were unevenly hand cut, suggesting that this certificate was written on a larger leaf. The document was trifolded. Some of the folds have undergone conservation.
The document was presumably received by
Martha Nelson Goforth

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. It was likely passed down among her descendants for some time. The Church Historical Department (now CHL) acquired the document in 1984 from the descendants of Emmaretta Gabbott Brown, a great-granddaughter of Goforth.
1

See the full bibliographical entry for JS, Certificate, to Martha Nelson Goforth, 9 Apr. 1844, in the CHL catalog.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See the full bibliographical entry for JS, Certificate, to Martha Nelson Goforth, 9 Apr. 1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 9 April 1844, JS certified that he had
baptized

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...

View Glossary
and
confirmed

After baptism, new converts were confirmed members of the church “by the laying on of the hands, & the giving of the Holy Ghost.” According to JS’s history, the first confirmations were administered at the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. By March...

View Glossary
Martha Nelson Goforth

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as a member 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
in
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....

More Info
, Illinois, on Sunday, 7 April 1844. On 5 April, Goforth had accompanied her husband,
William Goforth

21 Apr. 1795–Aug. 1847. Postmaster, physician, politician. Born in Washington, Mason Co., Kentucky. Son of William Goforth and Elizabeth Wood. Moved to Columbia, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1799; to Cincinnati, 1800; to Lafourche Co., Louisiana, 1807; and to New ...

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—a prominent Freemason and physician—to the dedication services of the new
Masonic lodge

Illinois lodge Grand Master Abraham Jonas granted dispensation to establish Nauvoo lodge, 15 Oct. 1841. First lodge meeting held, 29–30 Dec. 1841, in Hyrum Smith’s office. Installation ceremonies held, 15–16 Mar. 1842. Prior to eventual dedication of Masonic...

More Info
in Nauvoo.
1

William Goforth, Letter to the Editor, Belleville (IL) Advocate, 18 Apr. 1844, [2]; see also Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book, 5 Apr. 1844. The Nauvoo Neighbor advertised this event to the “Masonic world” for several weeks and invited “All worthy Brethren of the Fraternity” to participate in the dedication ceremonies. (“Masonic Notice,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 and 20 Mar. 1844, [3], emphasis in original; “Masonic Notice,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 27 Mar. and 3 Apr. 1844, [4], emphasis in original.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Belleville Advocate. Belleville, IL. 1840–1854.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

At the time, the couple lived in Belleville, Illinois, across the
Mississippi River

Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...

More Info
from
St. Louis

Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...

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, and were not members of the church, although Martha had a brother who lived in Nauvoo.
2

William Goforth to [Editor of the Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL], 10 Apr. 1844, 1, CHL; Reynolds, History of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Illinois, 191; History of St. Clair County, Illinois, 188; see also William Goforth, Letter to the Editor, Belleville (IL) Advocate, 18 Apr. 1844, [2]; and William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2]. William Goforth reported this April visit to Nauvoo in a letter to the Times and Seasons. At the point in the handwritten letter where William Goforth referred to Martha Goforth’s brother, Thomas Bullock inserted “Thomas Nelson.”


Comprehensive Works Cited

Goforth, William. Letter to Times and Seasons, 10 Apr. 1844. CHL. MS 15541.

Reynolds, John C. History of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Illinois, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons, From the Organization of the First Lodge Within the Present Limits of the State, Up to and Including 1850. Springfield, IL: H. G. Reynolds, 1869.

History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough and Co., 1881.

Belleville Advocate. Belleville, IL. 1840–1854.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

However, William Goforth sympathized with the Latter-day Saints and JS, who, William determined, had endured “defamitory abuse from the individuals whose names are by some registered within the indisputable fields of Hell’s meritorious environs.”
3

William Goforth to [Editor of the Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL], 10 Apr. 1844, 1, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Goforth, William. Letter to Times and Seasons, 10 Apr. 1844. CHL. MS 15541.

The Goforths’ visit coincided with the special
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

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held in
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....

More Info
from 6 to 8 April 1844.
4

JS, Journal, 4 Mar. and 6–8 Apr. 1844.


On Sunday, 7 April, during the intermission from noon to two o’clock, the Goforths accompanied JS to his residence at the
Nauvoo Mansion

Large, two-story, Greek Revival frame structure located on northeast corner of Water and Main streets. Built to meet JS’s immediate need for larger home that could also serve as hotel to accommodate his numerous guests. JS relocated family from old house ...

More Info
and from there went to where Main Street met the
Mississippi River

Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...

More Info
, a block from JS’s home.
5

William Goforth to [Editor of the Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL], 10 Apr. 1844, 17, CHL; JS, Journal, 7 Apr. 1844; Hills, Map of the City of Nauvoo, 1842; see also William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Goforth, William. Letter to Times and Seasons, 10 Apr. 1844. CHL. MS 15541.

Hills, Gustavus. Map of the City of Nauvoo. New York: J. Child, 1842. CHL.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

There, Martha and thirty-four others were baptized.
6

JS, Journal, 7 Apr. 1844; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 7 Apr. 1844.


Because the featured document is the only extant baptismal certificate from that occasion, it is unclear if JS performed any of the other baptisms.
The remaining conference and
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
meetings likely delayed the production of this certificate, which
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
inscribed and JS signed on 9 April 1844. On that day, JS met with church
elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
from eight o’clock in the morning until two o’clock in the afternoon or later, suggesting that the certificate was prepared in the late afternoon.
7

See JS, Journal, 7–9 Apr. 1844.


The certificate was presumably given to
Goforth

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on or soon after 9 April.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    William Goforth, Letter to the Editor, Belleville (IL) Advocate, 18 Apr. 1844, [2]; see also Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book, 5 Apr. 1844. The Nauvoo Neighbor advertised this event to the “Masonic world” for several weeks and invited “All worthy Brethren of the Fraternity” to participate in the dedication ceremonies. (“Masonic Notice,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 and 20 Mar. 1844, [3], emphasis in original; “Masonic Notice,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 27 Mar. and 3 Apr. 1844, [4], emphasis in original.)

    Belleville Advocate. Belleville, IL. 1840–1854.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  2. [2]

    William Goforth to [Editor of the Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL], 10 Apr. 1844, 1, CHL; Reynolds, History of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Illinois, 191; History of St. Clair County, Illinois, 188; see also William Goforth, Letter to the Editor, Belleville (IL) Advocate, 18 Apr. 1844, [2]; and William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2]. William Goforth reported this April visit to Nauvoo in a letter to the Times and Seasons. At the point in the handwritten letter where William Goforth referred to Martha Goforth’s brother, Thomas Bullock inserted “Thomas Nelson.”

    Goforth, William. Letter to Times and Seasons, 10 Apr. 1844. CHL. MS 15541.

    Reynolds, John C. History of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Illinois, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons, From the Organization of the First Lodge Within the Present Limits of the State, Up to and Including 1850. Springfield, IL: H. G. Reynolds, 1869.

    History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough and Co., 1881.

    Belleville Advocate. Belleville, IL. 1840–1854.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  3. [3]

    William Goforth to [Editor of the Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL], 10 Apr. 1844, 1, CHL.

    Goforth, William. Letter to Times and Seasons, 10 Apr. 1844. CHL. MS 15541.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 4 Mar. and 6–8 Apr. 1844.

  5. [5]

    William Goforth to [Editor of the Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL], 10 Apr. 1844, 17, CHL; JS, Journal, 7 Apr. 1844; Hills, Map of the City of Nauvoo, 1842; see also William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].

    Goforth, William. Letter to Times and Seasons, 10 Apr. 1844. CHL. MS 15541.

    Hills, Gustavus. Map of the City of Nauvoo. New York: J. Child, 1842. CHL.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  6. [6]

    JS, Journal, 7 Apr. 1844; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 7 Apr. 1844.

  7. [7]

    See JS, Journal, 7–9 Apr. 1844.

Page [1]

To whom it may concern:
This certifies that I
baptised

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...

View Glossary
Martha [Nelson] Goforth

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on sunday the 7th. day of April 1844, and
confirmed

After baptism, new converts were confirmed members of the church “by the laying on of the hands, & the giving of the Holy Ghost.” According to JS’s history, the first confirmations were administered at the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. By March...

View Glossary
her by the
laying on of my hands

A practice in which individuals place their hands upon a person to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, ordain to an office or calling, or confer other power, authority, or blessings, often as part of an ordinance. The Book of Mormon explained that ecclesiastical...

View Glossary
for the
gift of the Holy Ghost

A practice in which individuals place their hands upon a person to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, ordain to an office or calling, or confer other power, authority, or blessings, often as part of an ordinance. The Book of Mormon explained that ecclesiastical...

View Glossary
, as a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 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...

View Glossary
.
Given under my hand at 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....

More Info
this 9th. day of April 1844.

Signature of JS.


Joseph Smith
President

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. [p. [1]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Baptismal Certificate for Martha Nelson Goforth, 9 April 1844
ID #
1632
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton
  • Joseph Smith Jr.

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Signature of JS.

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