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Discourse, between 6 and 9 April 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire

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, between 6 and 9 Apr. 1841]. Featured version in William P. McIntire, Notebook, p. [19]; handwriting of
William P. McIntire

29 May 1813–5 Jan. 1882. Tailor. Born in Wheatfield, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. Son of George McIntire and Sarah Davis. Married Anna Patterson, ca. 1833, in Pennsylvania. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Erastus Snow, 23 Nov. 1836...

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Account of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire.

Historical Introduction

At some point between 6 and 9 April 1841 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, JS gave a discourse about the need for missionaries to provide for their families. From 7 to 11 April 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...

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held a general
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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, during which most members of 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 ...

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were proselytizing in Europe, and several other men were serving missions in various parts of the
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
.
1

See Letter from Harrison Sagers, ca. Apr. 1841; and Letter from John E. Page, 1 Sept. 1841.


Increased missionary activity led to concern for the temporal welfare of wives and children left behind in Nauvoo and neighboring areas while husbands and fathers were away proselytizing for the church. Local support was available for the families of missionaries, and an earlier revelation indicated that the church had the responsibility for taking care of those families.
2

See Revelation, 25 Jan. 1832–B [D&C 75:24].


However, at the April 1840 general conference, JS “spoke to the
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...

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respecting their mission, and advised those who went into the world, to preach the gospel, to leave their families provided for, with the necessaries of life.”
3

Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 Apr. 1840.


In the discourse featured here, JS again emphasized that missionaries were responsible for ensuring their families’ welfare prior to departing on extended missions.
It is unclear precisely when JS delivered this discourse.
William McIntire

29 May 1813–5 Jan. 1882. Tailor. Born in Wheatfield, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. Son of George McIntire and Sarah Davis. Married Anna Patterson, ca. 1833, in Pennsylvania. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Erastus Snow, 23 Nov. 1836...

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, who recorded an account of the discourse, gave the date as 6 April. That date coincides with the eleventh anniversary of the church’s founding and with the cornerstone ceremony of the
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
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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, which took place the day before the business portion of the church’s general conference began.
4

See Benediction, 6 Apr. 1841; and Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.


JS spoke at the cornerstone ceremony, but no evidence indicates that he gave instructions for missionaries during that event. McIntire likely considered the day of the ceremony to be the first day of the conference and so recorded his notes that way.
5

In its 15 February 1841 issue, the Times and Seasons indicated the cornerstone ceremony would open the forthcoming April general conference of the church. (“The General Conference, and the Temple of God,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:320.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

An examination of the published minutes of the general conference that followed the cornerstone ceremony provides another possible date for JS’s discourse. The minutes record that on 9 April, “Pres’r. J. Smith made some observations respecting the duty of the several
quorums

An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...

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, in sending their members into the vineyard.” Because that statement is similar to what
McIntire

29 May 1813–5 Jan. 1882. Tailor. Born in Wheatfield, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. Son of George McIntire and Sarah Davis. Married Anna Patterson, ca. 1833, in Pennsylvania. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Erastus Snow, 23 Nov. 1836...

View Full Bio
recorded, it is possible that the sermon as recorded by McIntire was given on 9 April. However, in McIntire’s notebook, this discourse from JS is followed by notes from sermons given by
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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and
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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on 8 April 1841, suggesting that JS may have delivered this discourse on 6, 7, or 8 April rather than 9 April 1841. According to McIntire, JS directed his words to the
presidents

An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...

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of the
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
quorums of the church. McIntire presumably inscribed his notes on JS’s discourse during the conference or shortly thereafter.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter from Harrison Sagers, ca. Apr. 1841; and Letter from John E. Page, 1 Sept. 1841.

  2. [2]

    See Revelation, 25 Jan. 1832–B [D&C 75:24].

  3. [3]

    Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 Apr. 1840.

  4. [4]

    See Benediction, 6 Apr. 1841; and Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.

  5. [5]

    In its 15 February 1841 issue, the Times and Seasons indicated the cornerstone ceremony would open the forthcoming April general conference of the church. (“The General Conference, and the Temple of God,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:320.)

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Discourse, between 6 and 9 April 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [19]

Conferance

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...

View Glossary
April the 6th. 1841
1

See Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.


Joseph said to the
presedents

An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...

View Glossary
of the
quorums

An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...

View Glossary
that they should see that No man go out to preach unless their Family, was amply Provided for; and if not provided for stay untill they are, this is Done to put up the Borrs against those that, mearly Join 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
& Get
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

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to Get their familys struck in her & Go out & Glut themselves
2

A week earlier, JS also spoke against “dishonest men amongst us who has more injenity [ingenuity] to cheat the Rest.” (Account of Meeting, ca. 30 Mar. 1841; see also Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 299 [Alma 30:31–32].)


while the Church has their familys to Keep. [p. [19]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [19]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, between 6 and 9 April 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire
ID #
633
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:117–118
Handwriting on This Page
  • William McIntire

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.

  2. [2]

    A week earlier, JS also spoke against “dishonest men amongst us who has more injenity [ingenuity] to cheat the Rest.” (Account of Meeting, ca. 30 Mar. 1841; see also Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 299 [Alma 30:31–32].)

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