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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...

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; 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...

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’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 ...

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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 ...

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’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 [183]

for services—
3

A 15 January 1842 resolution allowed council members two dollars per day for committee work in addition to their pay as council members. In accordance with JS’s wishes, they voted unanimously to repeal pay for committee work the same day JS gave his inaugural address. The election judges also resigned their claim to pay. (Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 15 Jan. 1842, 40; 11 Feb. 1843, 159–162.)


& reproved the Judges of the late Election for not holding the poll open after 6 o clock when there were many wishing to vote.—
4

Although notices for the election stated that polls would close at six o’clock in the evening, an ordinance passed a month before the election stipulated that “the Judges of the Election may, if they shall deem it necessary, for the purpose of receiving the votes of all the electors wishing to vote; postpone the closing of the Polls, until twelve O Clock at night.” Willard Richards noted that the judges were George Harris, Daniel Spencer, and Benjamin Warrington. Warrington was present during the meeting. (Election Notice, 16 Jan. 1843, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 Jan. 1843, 133; JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; “City Election,” Wasp, 8 Feb. 1843, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845. CHL.

The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

[p. [183]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [183]

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. [3]

    A 15 January 1842 resolution allowed council members two dollars per day for committee work in addition to their pay as council members. In accordance with JS’s wishes, they voted unanimously to repeal pay for committee work the same day JS gave his inaugural address. The election judges also resigned their claim to pay. (Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 15 Jan. 1842, 40; 11 Feb. 1843, 159–162.)

  2. [4]

    Although notices for the election stated that polls would close at six o’clock in the evening, an ordinance passed a month before the election stipulated that “the Judges of the Election may, if they shall deem it necessary, for the purpose of receiving the votes of all the electors wishing to vote; postpone the closing of the Polls, until twelve O Clock at night.” Willard Richards noted that the judges were George Harris, Daniel Spencer, and Benjamin Warrington. Warrington was present during the meeting. (Election Notice, 16 Jan. 1843, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 Jan. 1843, 133; JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; “City Election,” Wasp, 8 Feb. 1843, [2].)

    Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845. CHL.

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

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