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, 9 May 1841, as Reported by Julius Alexander Reed

Source Note

JS, Discourse,
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

More Info
, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, 9 May 1841. Featured version reported by Julius Alexander Reed; handwriting of Julius Alexander Reed; two pages, Julius Alexander Reed, Papers, Special Collections, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines. Includes docket.

Historical Introduction

On 9 May 1841, JS delivered a discourse at
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

More Info
, Iowa Territory, addressing the Latter-day Saints’ efforts to build a city 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...

More Info
and complaints made by British members 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
. Two years earlier, in mid-1839, church
agents

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...

View Glossary
Vinson Knight

14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...

View Full Bio
and
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. ...

View Full Bio
had purchased from
Isaac Galland

15 May 1791–27 Sept. 1858. Merchant, postmaster, land speculator, doctor. Born at Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Matthew Galland and Hannah Fenno. Married first Nancy Harris, 22 Mar. 1811, in Madison Co., Ohio. Married second Margaret Knight, by 1816....

View Full Bio
nearly 18,000 acres in what was known as the “
Half-Breed Tract

Tract consisted of 119,000 acres located in southeastern Iowa between Des Moines and Mississippi rivers. In 1824, U.S. Congress set aside tract for offspring of American Indian mothers and white fathers. Subsequent act passed, 1834, relinquishing Congress...

More Info
” 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...

More Info
, Iowa Territory.
1

“Joseph Smith Documents from September 1839 through January 1841.”


In early March 1841, JS dictated a revelation directing the Saints in Iowa Territory to
gather

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

View Glossary
in
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. ...

More Info
in Lee County or in other appointed gathering sites.
2

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


Two months later, in his 9 May discourse, JS discussed some of the circumstances in Lee County as well as some of the challenges the Saints faced there.
JS also responded to complaints from certain British converts who had immigrated to the area. In July 1838 the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
had been directed to “go over the great waters” and proselytize in the British Isles. Those apostles who went arrived in early 1840 and continued their work into April 1841. Through their efforts, thousands in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
converted to the Latter-day Saint faith, and by 1841 those converts were steadily streaming into
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
.
3

“Joseph Smith Documents from February through November 1841.”


In May 1841, the Warsaw Signal reported that “great dissatisfaction exists at Nauvoo, amongst those who have lately arrived from England,” and that “some have left both the City and the Church— not believing, on the one hand, in the mission of the Prophet, and on the other, dissatisfied with the temporal government which is exercised over them.”
4

“The Mormons,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 19 May 1841, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.

In June 1841, the Times and Seasons responded to this report stating that “there may be individuals who feel dissatisfied, but it is far from being general.” The newspaper further cautioned that “those who have come expecting to find gold in our streets, and all the luxuries of an old country, will find themselves disappointed, but those who have maturely considered the advantages and disadvantages, are perfectly satisfied and contented.”
5

“The Warsaw Signal,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:432; see also Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

In his discourse, JS reportedly encouraged dissatisfied immigrants to leave, saying that he no longer wanted to hear their complaints.
Julius Alexander Reed, a Congregationalist minister living 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...

More Info
, apparently heard JS speak on 9 May and made notes on what he said.
6

See Historical Introduction to Discourse, 25 April 1841.


Reed seems to have interspersed some related personal notes among his notes of JS’s discourse, and his account of the sermon seems to move between the first and third person in reference to JS.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Joseph Smith Documents from September 1839 through January 1841.”

  2. [2]

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

  3. [3]

    “Joseph Smith Documents from February through November 1841.”

  4. [4]

    “The Mormons,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 19 May 1841, [2].

    Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.

  5. [5]

    “The Warsaw Signal,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:432; see also Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  6. [6]

    See Historical Introduction to Discourse, 25 April 1841.

Page [2]

They havnt begun to suffer yet— If they cant do nothing but complain we wish they wd go back we dont want them here— If they love their ease more than the cause let them go to hell— We can get along without such persons & the devil will be glad to see them when they get home— We dont wish to hear any more complaints & we tell you boldly we will not hear it any longer— He wd not turn aside to save them from hell—
He said to some lads standing before the stand not to fear hell the Pres cd not damn them—
In March
Bishop [Alanson] Ripley

8 Jan. 1798–before 1860. Surveyor, lawyer. Born at New York. Son of Asa Ripley and Polly Deforest. Married Sarah Finkle. Resided in Massachusetts, 1827. Member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition...

View Full Bio
14

At the April 1841 general conference, Ripley “had his Bishopric taken from him for frequently being drunk and not fit for business.” (Clayton, Diary, 6–9 Apr. 1841; Minutes, 7–11 April 1841.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

resident at
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
entered Mr Bissells enclosure in surveying
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. ...

More Info
& drove a stake when forbidden Mr B. knocked it up & threw it away
Ripley

8 Jan. 1798–before 1860. Surveyor, lawyer. Born at New York. Son of Asa Ripley and Polly Deforest. Married Sarah Finkle. Resided in Massachusetts, 1827. Member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition...

View Full Bio
rained a club over his head & threatened to beat his brains out & drove by his order the stake was driven—
15

The section following this paragraph appears unrelated to JS’s 9 May 1841 sermon and is not reproduced here. The quotations are taken from testimony given by John Corrill at a Nov. 1838 hearing where JS and sixty-three other Latter-day Saints were tried for various charges, including treason against the state of Missouri. (John Corrill, Testimony, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes (Mo. 5th Jud. Cir. 1838), in State of Missouri, “Evidence,” [29]–[33].


Wd shew his gold watch but it was not his. belonged to a friend for whom he was keeping it that the sheriff might not get it— [p. [2]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [2]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 9 May 1841, as Reported by Julius Alexander Reed
ID #
5055
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Julius Alexander Reed

Footnotes

  1. [14]

    At the April 1841 general conference, Ripley “had his Bishopric taken from him for frequently being drunk and not fit for business.” (Clayton, Diary, 6–9 Apr. 1841; Minutes, 7–11 April 1841.)

    Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

  2. [15]

    The section following this paragraph appears unrelated to JS’s 9 May 1841 sermon and is not reproduced here. The quotations are taken from testimony given by John Corrill at a Nov. 1838 hearing where JS and sixty-three other Latter-day Saints were tried for various charges, including treason against the state of Missouri. (John Corrill, Testimony, Richmond, MO, Nov. 1838, State of Missouri v. JS et al. for Treason and Other Crimes (Mo. 5th Jud. Cir. 1838), in State of Missouri, “Evidence,” [29]–[33].

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