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Discourse, 11 April 1844–B

Source Note

JS, Discourse, [
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, 11 Apr. 1844]. Featured version inscribed [between ca. Aug. 1844 and ca. Feb. 1845] in Council of Fifty, “Record,” pp. [116]–[123]; 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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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Council of Fifty, “Record.”

Historical Introduction

On 11 April 1844, JS delivered a discourse to the
Council of Fifty

An organization intended to establish the political kingdom of God on the earth. An 1842 editorial in the church newspaper stated that the “design of Jehovah” was to “take the reigns of government into his own hand.” On 10 and 11 March 1844, JS and several...

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 the religious affiliation of council members, his support of “universal freedom,” and the role of state and federal governments in protecting the rights of the people. JS gave these remarks in the afternoon meeting held in the
Nauvoo Masonic Hall

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
.
1

JS, Journal, 11 Apr. 1844.


During an earlier meeting, which occurred from nine o’clock in the morning to one o’clock in the afternoon, the council deliberated on several items of business, including the state of a draft of the council’s constitution and the extent to which JS should be involved in writing it. JS also spoke on the role of revelation in a theocracy.
2

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844; Discourse, 11 Apr. 1844–A.


Before the morning session adjourned, council members unanimously accepted JS as their “Prophet, Priest & King.”
3

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844.


When the council reconvened at two o’clock in the afternoon, JS opened the meeting by acknowledging
Edward Bonney

26 Aug. 1807–4 Feb. 1864. Farmer, miller, bounty hunter, author. Born in Willsboro, Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro May Bonney and Lucinda Laurana Webster. Moved to Tioga Co., New York, before Aug. 1820. Moved to Cortlandville, Cortland Co., New York, ...

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’s absence. Bonney was not 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
but had joined the Council of Fifty a week prior while visiting
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
in search of a place to relocate his family.
4

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Apr. 1844. Bonney left his home in Indiana in February 1844 to find somewhere to live along the Mississippi River. While visiting Nauvoo, he became one of the few non–Latter-day Saints to join the Council of Fifty. Excited by the city’s commercial prospects, Bonney decided to move his family there. He later recorded, “I accordingly returned home to Indiana about the first of april and in the month of may 1844 Returned to Nauvoo with my family.” (Bonney, “Banditti of the Prairies,” 4–5; see also JS, Journal, 19 May 1844.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Bonney, Edward. Banditti of the Prairies. No date. Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949. Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.Bonney, Edward. “The Banditti of the Prairies,” ca. 1847–1849. Microfilm. CHL. The original manuscript is in the Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Discussing Bonney’s absence provided JS an opportunity to reiterate his position that those who were not affiliated with the Latter-day Saints could join the Council of Fifty. Bonney was the second of three councilmen who were not members of the church:
Uriah Brown

9 May 1784–22 Mar. 1853. Laborer, inventor. Born in Connecticut. Married Mary Perry, 3 Dec. 1805, in Nantucket, Nantucket Co., Massachusetts. Publicly demonstrated his invention of ironclad warships that propelled liquid fire, 1814, in Baltimore. Petitioned...

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joined the council on 19 March and
Merinus G. Eaton

22 Mar. 1812–? Lived in Seneca, Ontario Co., New York, by June 1842. Indicted for “passing and having in possesion Counterfeit bank bills,” Aug. 1842, in Ontario Co. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by Jan. 1844. Commissioned aide-de-camp to JS in ...

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was added to the council in the morning meeting on 11 April.
5

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. and 11 Apr. 1844.


JS further explained that a person’s religious beliefs should have no bearing on his or her standing before the law and that, when necessary, federal troops should be employed to enforce America’s promise of equality by protecting civil rights.
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
recorded that JS was holding a two-foot ruler while delivering his remarks. According to Clayton, JS was “animated” in his delivery and made use of the ruler “pretty freely,” breaking it in half at some point while he was speaking.
6

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844. The “24 inch gauge” (two-foot ruler) was apparently present in the Nauvoo Masonic Hall for use in Freemasonry ceremonies. It was one of the “implements” of an entered apprentice (new initiate) and symbolized the twenty-four hours in a day. (Webb, Freemason’s Monitor, 33.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Webb, Thomas Smith. The Freemason’s Monitor; or, Illustrations of Masonry: In Two Parts. Salem, MA: Cushing and Appleton, 1818.

At the conclusion of ‘'s remarks,
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

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expressed his wish that oppressive governments would fracture like the ruler had.
Brown

9 May 1784–22 Mar. 1853. Laborer, inventor. Born in Connecticut. Married Mary Perry, 3 Dec. 1805, in Nantucket, Nantucket Co., Massachusetts. Publicly demonstrated his invention of ironclad warships that propelled liquid fire, 1814, in Baltimore. Petitioned...

View Full Bio
then thanked JS for explaining the open admission policy for men who were not members of the church.
7

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844.


In the discourse, JS had stated that he would “appeal to every man in this council beginning at the youngest that when he arrives to the years of Hoary age he will have to say that the principles of intollerance and bigotry never had a place in this kingdom.”
It is likely that
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
recorded this discourse on loose-leaf paper.
8

See Historical Introduction to Council of Fifty, “Record.”


Clayton’s original minutes are not extant.
9

Clayton generally burned the original minutes after copying them into the Council of Fifty record books. (See Historical Introduction to Council of Fifty, “Record”; and Council of Fifty, “Record,” 1 Mar. 1845.)


Before his death, JS instructed Clayton to destroy or safely secure the Council of Fifty’s records.
10

Events of June 1844.


Clayton opted to bury the records, but he dug them up after JS’s death and copied them in August and September 1844 and in February 1845.
11

Clayton, Journal, 3 July 1844; 18 Aug. 1844; 6 Sept. 1844; 6, 11, and 12 Feb. 1845; see also Historical Introduction to Council of Fifty, “Record.”


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

It was presumably during this period that Clayton copied JS’s second 11 April discourse into a small bound volume that he titled “Record of the Council of Fifty or Kingdom of God.”
12

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 10 Mar. 1844.


The copied version is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 11 Apr. 1844.

  2. [2]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844; Discourse, 11 Apr. 1844–A.

  3. [3]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844.

  4. [4]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Apr. 1844. Bonney left his home in Indiana in February 1844 to find somewhere to live along the Mississippi River. While visiting Nauvoo, he became one of the few non–Latter-day Saints to join the Council of Fifty. Excited by the city’s commercial prospects, Bonney decided to move his family there. He later recorded, “I accordingly returned home to Indiana about the first of april and in the month of may 1844 Returned to Nauvoo with my family.” (Bonney, “Banditti of the Prairies,” 4–5; see also JS, Journal, 19 May 1844.)

    Bonney, Edward. Banditti of the Prairies. No date. Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949. Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.Bonney, Edward. “The Banditti of the Prairies,” ca. 1847–1849. Microfilm. CHL. The original manuscript is in the Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

  5. [5]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. and 11 Apr. 1844.

  6. [6]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844. The “24 inch gauge” (two-foot ruler) was apparently present in the Nauvoo Masonic Hall for use in Freemasonry ceremonies. It was one of the “implements” of an entered apprentice (new initiate) and symbolized the twenty-four hours in a day. (Webb, Freemason’s Monitor, 33.)

    Webb, Thomas Smith. The Freemason’s Monitor; or, Illustrations of Masonry: In Two Parts. Salem, MA: Cushing and Appleton, 1818.

  7. [7]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 11 Apr. 1844.

  8. [8]

    See Historical Introduction to Council of Fifty, “Record.”

  9. [9]

    Clayton generally burned the original minutes after copying them into the Council of Fifty record books. (See Historical Introduction to Council of Fifty, “Record”; and Council of Fifty, “Record,” 1 Mar. 1845.)

  10. [10]

    Events of June 1844.

  11. [11]

    Clayton, Journal, 3 July 1844; 18 Aug. 1844; 6 Sept. 1844; 6, 11, and 12 Feb. 1845; see also Historical Introduction to Council of Fifty, “Record.”

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  12. [12]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 10 Mar. 1844.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Discourse, 11 April 1844–B
*Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845

Page [116]

The chairman made some remarks on the absence of brother
Edward Bonney

26 Aug. 1807–4 Feb. 1864. Farmer, miller, bounty hunter, author. Born in Willsboro, Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro May Bonney and Lucinda Laurana Webster. Moved to Tioga Co., New York, before Aug. 1820. Moved to Cortlandville, Cortland Co., New York, ...

View Full Bio
the cause of absence, and his good feelings towards the council &c
He then went on to say that for the benifit of mankind and succeeding generations he wished it to be recorded that there are men admitted members of this honorable council, who are not members 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
, neither profess any creed or religious sentiment whatever,
1

Following JS’s address to the council, Uriah Brown confirmed that he was not a member of any “religious body.” Edward Bonney later recounted that he was not “much of a religionest.” Nothing is known of Merinus G. Eaton’s religious affiliation (or nonaffiliation). (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. 1844; 4 and 11 Apr. 1844; Bonney, “Banditti of the Prairies,” 5.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Bonney, Edward. Banditti of the Prairies. No date. Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949. Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.Bonney, Edward. “The Banditti of the Prairies,” ca. 1847–1849. Microfilm. CHL. The original manuscript is in the Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

to show that in the organization of this [p. [116]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 11 April 1844–B
ID #
13247
Total Pages
8
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Following JS’s address to the council, Uriah Brown confirmed that he was not a member of any “religious body.” Edward Bonney later recounted that he was not “much of a religionest.” Nothing is known of Merinus G. Eaton’s religious affiliation (or nonaffiliation). (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. 1844; 4 and 11 Apr. 1844; Bonney, “Banditti of the Prairies,” 5.)

    Bonney, Edward. Banditti of the Prairies. No date. Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949. Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.Bonney, Edward. “The Banditti of the Prairies,” ca. 1847–1849. Microfilm. CHL. The original manuscript is in the Ellison Manuscripts, 1790–1949, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington.

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