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, circa 2 February 1841

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, ca. 2 Feb. 1841]. Featured version in William P. McIntire, Notebook, pp. [8]–[9]; 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...

View Full Bio
; 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

JS spoke about the
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...

More Info
and
baptism

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
for the dead at what was most likely a lyceum meeting held 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 2 February 1841. About one month earlier, JS spoke at the organization of a “school of instruction,” an adult education society or lyceum, in Nauvoo.
1

Accounts of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841.


Part of the larger reform impulse of Jacksonian America, the lyceum movement, with its lectures, dramatic performances, class instruction, and debates, contributed significantly to adult education in 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
.
2

See Stevens, “Science, Culture, and Morality,” 69–83; Bode, American Lyceum, chaps. 1–2, 7; and McClure et al., Education for Work, 18; see also JS, Journal, 18 Nov. 1835.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Stevens, Edward W., Jr. “Science, Culture, and Morality: Educating Adults in the Early Nineteenth Century.” In “. . . Schools and the Means of Education Shall Forever Be Encouraged”: A History of Education in the Old Northwest, 1787–1880, edited by Paul H. Mattingly and Edward W. Stevens Jr., 68–83. Athens: Ohio University Libraries, 1987.

Bode, Carl. The American Lyceum: Town Meeting of the Mind. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956.

McClure, Arthur F., James Riley Chrisman, and Perry Mock. Education for Work: The Historical Evolution of Vocational and Distributive Education in America. Rutherford, NJ: Farleigh Dickinson University Press, 1985.

The Nauvoo lyceum met weekly to discuss various topics, generally related to religious principles. Each lyceum meeting typically included two to three speeches or presentations, often followed by debate among those in attendance.
3

Though he did not join the lyceum until the following year, Wandle Mace left perhaps the most extensive account of the lyceum and of JS’s involvement with it. Mace observed that the lyceum was designed to educate members and help them improve their public speaking abilities. He explained that the Nauvoo lyceum “was composed of eighteen members, each presided over the meeting in turn, this gave all the members a like experience in conducting, a meeting.” Mace further noted: “There was no jarring, contention, or discord and all were entertained, instructed and edified. The Prophet Joseph, encouraged us by his presence whenever practicable, giving instruction and assistance. ‘Get into your Lyceums’—he would say to all the brethren—‘Get into your Lyceums and investigate doctrine, if you run against a snag, I am here, I’ll help you off.’” (Mace, Autobiography, 69–70.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Mace, Wandle. Autobiography, ca. 1890. CHL. MS 1924.

Following this model, other lyceum groups were formed in Nauvoo over the course of the next few years.
4

For instance, in December 1841 Gustavus Hills organized a musical lyceum through the University of Nauvoo with the intent to meet weekly for the purpose of “our own improvement in the art of Music, and with a view to extend and elevate musical science.” (“University of Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:666.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

During early lyceum meetings,
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...

View Full Bio
penned notes capturing topics and themes from speakers, including JS, in a personal notebook. McIntire apparently made no attempt to transcribe everything spoken at the meetings but noted only “the subjects & the most promonent matter as brought fourth from those subjects at Joseph’s office.”
5

Accounts of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841.


Accordingly, McIntire’s lyceum notes are only brief accounts of the topics discussed. Given the succinct and occasionally incomplete nature of the entries, it appears that McIntire wrote his accounts of the lyceum during or soon after each meeting.
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
did not provide a date for the notes of this lyceum meeting during which JS spoke, but it was likely held on 2 February 1841. 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
lyceum initially met on the first two Tuesdays of 1841.
6

See Historical Introduction to Accounts of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841.


After the second Tuesday, 12 January, McIntire simply noted “Next Meeting” for subsequent entries in his notebook instead of providing a date.
7

See Account of Meeting, 12 Jan. 1841; Account of Meeting, ca. 19 Jan. 1841; and McIntire, Notebook, [8].


Comprehensive Works Cited

McIntire, William Patterson. Notebook, 1840–1845. CHL. MS 1014.

If the pattern of weekly meetings on Tuesdays continued, the discourse featured here was given on 2 February, the fifth Tuesday of 1841, since the entry containing the account featured here is the fifth in McIntire’s notebook.
According to
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
’s notebook, JS was the first of two speakers at this lyceum meeting. For the discourse featured here, McIntire recorded only a single statement from JS on the importance of completing the
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...

More Info
so that baptisms for the dead could be performed within it. On 19 January 1841, JS had dictated a lengthy revelation that in part commanded the church to “build a house unto my name, for the Most High to dwell therein.” In addition to promising restoration of
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
power, the revelation declared that the Saints would be allowed to perform baptisms for their deceased ancestors outside the temple for only a short time and warned that “at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead, shall not be acceptable unto me, and if you do not these things, at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church.”
8

Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:22, 29–32].


Such a terse warning likely contributed to the continuing discussion in this meeting about building the temple.
William Law

8 Sept. 1809–12/19 Jan. 1892. Merchant, millwright, physician. Born in Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co...

View Full Bio
followed JS in the lyceum meeting and spoke on the eleventh chapter of Romans, the law of order in heavenly bodies, and animal creation.
9

McIntire, Notebook, [9].


Comprehensive Works Cited

McIntire, William Patterson. Notebook, 1840–1845. CHL. MS 1014.

McIntire did not note any further discussion on the topics presented by JS and Law.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Accounts of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841.

  2. [2]

    See Stevens, “Science, Culture, and Morality,” 69–83; Bode, American Lyceum, chaps. 1–2, 7; and McClure et al., Education for Work, 18; see also JS, Journal, 18 Nov. 1835.

    Stevens, Edward W., Jr. “Science, Culture, and Morality: Educating Adults in the Early Nineteenth Century.” In “. . . Schools and the Means of Education Shall Forever Be Encouraged”: A History of Education in the Old Northwest, 1787–1880, edited by Paul H. Mattingly and Edward W. Stevens Jr., 68–83. Athens: Ohio University Libraries, 1987.

    Bode, Carl. The American Lyceum: Town Meeting of the Mind. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956.

    McClure, Arthur F., James Riley Chrisman, and Perry Mock. Education for Work: The Historical Evolution of Vocational and Distributive Education in America. Rutherford, NJ: Farleigh Dickinson University Press, 1985.

  3. [3]

    Though he did not join the lyceum until the following year, Wandle Mace left perhaps the most extensive account of the lyceum and of JS’s involvement with it. Mace observed that the lyceum was designed to educate members and help them improve their public speaking abilities. He explained that the Nauvoo lyceum “was composed of eighteen members, each presided over the meeting in turn, this gave all the members a like experience in conducting, a meeting.” Mace further noted: “There was no jarring, contention, or discord and all were entertained, instructed and edified. The Prophet Joseph, encouraged us by his presence whenever practicable, giving instruction and assistance. ‘Get into your Lyceums’—he would say to all the brethren—‘Get into your Lyceums and investigate doctrine, if you run against a snag, I am here, I’ll help you off.’” (Mace, Autobiography, 69–70.)

    Mace, Wandle. Autobiography, ca. 1890. CHL. MS 1924.

  4. [4]

    For instance, in December 1841 Gustavus Hills organized a musical lyceum through the University of Nauvoo with the intent to meet weekly for the purpose of “our own improvement in the art of Music, and with a view to extend and elevate musical science.” (“University of Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:666.)

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

  5. [5]

    Accounts of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841.

  6. [6]

    See Historical Introduction to Accounts of Meeting and Discourse, 5 Jan. 1841.

  7. [7]

    See Account of Meeting, 12 Jan. 1841; Account of Meeting, ca. 19 Jan. 1841; and McIntire, Notebook, [8].

    McIntire, William Patterson. Notebook, 1840–1845. CHL. MS 1014.

  8. [8]

    Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:22, 29–32].

  9. [9]

    McIntire, Notebook, [9].

    McIntire, William Patterson. Notebook, 1840–1845. CHL. MS 1014.

Page [9]

for the Dead—
1

JS first publicly taught the doctrine of baptism for the dead in August 1840. In a December 1840 letter to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he further explained that the “saints have the priviledge of being baptized for those of their relatives who are dead, who they feel to believe would have embraced the gospel if they had been priviledged with hearing it, and who have received the gospel in the spirit through the instrumentality of those who may have been commissioned to preach to them while in the prison.” (Obituary for Seymour Brunson, Times and Seasons, Sept. 1840, 1:176; Jane Harper Neyman and Vienna Jaques, Statement, 29 Nov. 1854, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, ca. 1839–1860, CHL; Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

But if we Did it Not we should be Rejected & our Dead with us & this
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
should Not be excepted [accepted]
2

See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:32].


[p. [9]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [9]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, circa 2 February 1841
ID #
603
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:6–8
Handwriting on This Page
  • William McIntire

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS first publicly taught the doctrine of baptism for the dead in August 1840. In a December 1840 letter to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he further explained that the “saints have the priviledge of being baptized for those of their relatives who are dead, who they feel to believe would have embraced the gospel if they had been priviledged with hearing it, and who have received the gospel in the spirit through the instrumentality of those who may have been commissioned to preach to them while in the prison.” (Obituary for Seymour Brunson, Times and Seasons, Sept. 1840, 1:176; Jane Harper Neyman and Vienna Jaques, Statement, 29 Nov. 1854, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, ca. 1839–1860, CHL; Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840.)

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

    Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

  2. [2]

    See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:32].

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