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. The Papers > 

Discourse, 11 February 1843

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 Feb. 1843]. Featured version copied [ca. 11 Feb. 1843] in JS, Journal, bk. 1, 21 Dec. 1842–10 Mar. 1843, pp. [181]–[183]; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1842–1844.

Historical Introduction

On 11 February 1843, JS delivered his inaugural address as mayor 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
, Illinois, during the morning meeting of the Nauvoo City Council. He used the opportunity to instruct the city council members regarding their duties to the people of Nauvoo, prophesying that the city would be enriched if the council enacted laws promoting “peace & good order.” Much of the address focused on the duty of the city council to regulate Nauvoo’s expenditures. The comments were likely connected to the city’s growing financial problems and
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
’s 13 January 1843 letter warning the city council that the city had only about forty dollars of
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
currency in its treasury.
1

William Clayton, Nauvoo, IL, to Nauvoo City Council, 13 Jan. 1843, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; see also Discourse, 25 Feb. 1843.


The minutes of the city council meeting do not mention JS’s address, but JS likely delivered it after he and the other newly elected or reelected members of the city government had taken their respective oaths of office.
2

JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; see also Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.


Although the Times and Seasons published a transcript of
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
’s inaugural address in 1841, neither the Times and Seasons nor the Wasp published any of JS’s inaugural address.
3

John C. Bennett, “Inaugural Address,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:316–318. On 3 February 1841, the city council resolved that the Times and Seasons would publish Bennett’s address. (Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.)


The abbreviated notes of the address that
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
made in JS’s journal represent the only known account of JS’s remarks on the occasion.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    William Clayton, Nauvoo, IL, to Nauvoo City Council, 13 Jan. 1843, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; see also Discourse, 25 Feb. 1843.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; see also Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.

  3. [3]

    John C. Bennett, “Inaugural Address,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:316–318. On 3 February 1841, the city council resolved that the Times and Seasons would publish Bennett’s address. (Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 11 February 1843 Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843 History Draft [1 January–3 March 1843] History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [182]

the
city

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
f[r]om all unnecessary expences & burthens. Not to attempt to improve the
city

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
but enact such laws as will promote peace & good order.
1

On 30 January 1843, the Nauvoo City Council passed a series of ordinances regulating law and order in the city. (Ordinances, 30 Jan. 1843.)


& the people will improve the
city

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
, capitalist will come in from all quarters & mills factories. & machinery of all kinds & buildings will arise on every hand this will become a great city. & prophecid that if the council would be liberal in their proceedings they would become rich.— & spoke at considerable length again[s]t the principle of pay for every little service rendered
2

JS had grown impatient with council members and city officers requesting fees for any and all services provided. Just before delivering his address, he told the city recorder, James Sloan, that “it would be better for him 10 years hence not to Say any thing more about fees.” A 14 January 1843 ordinance regularized fees charged for services that city employees performed. On 30 January, the city council ordered over $300 in fees to be paid to various individuals for services rendered. (JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 and 30 Jan. 1843, 141–146, 158.)


and espec[i]ally that of committe[e]s having extra pay.— [p. [182]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [182]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 11 February 1843
ID #
3997
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:418–419
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    On 30 January 1843, the Nauvoo City Council passed a series of ordinances regulating law and order in the city. (Ordinances, 30 Jan. 1843.)

  2. [2]

    JS had grown impatient with council members and city officers requesting fees for any and all services provided. Just before delivering his address, he told the city recorder, James Sloan, that “it would be better for him 10 years hence not to Say any thing more about fees.” A 14 January 1843 ordinance regularized fees charged for services that city employees performed. On 30 January, the city council ordered over $300 in fees to be paid to various individuals for services rendered. (JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 and 30 Jan. 1843, 141–146, 158.)

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