This item is reproduced by permission of The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Footnotes
Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery to Maxwell Hunley Rare Books, Receipt, 10 Nov. 1964, Maxwell Hunley Rare Books, Records, 1952–1967, Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California Los Angeles; see also the archival notations on the folder housing the featured document at Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Maxwell Hunley Rare Books, Records, 1952–1967. Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California Los Angeles.
Footnotes
In April 1840, the Nauvoo high council appointed Granger to “settle some buisness transactions for the church” in the eastern United States. JS then signed an agreement with Granger instructing him to “use all necessary dilligence” in settling debts JS and his counselors in the First Presidency had contracted in New York and Ohio. (Minutes, 12 Apr. 1840; Agreement with Oliver Granger, 29 Apr. 1840.)
At the October 1840 general conference, JS provided “his opinion, that the brethren from the east”—apparently meaning both Saints migrating from England and those living in the eastern United States and Canada—“might gather” at Kirtland. He also communicated to the Saints in Kirtland that those “eastern bretheren who desire to locate in Kirtland” were permitted to do so and that he hoped the Kirtland Saints would “use all their endeavors to promote the welfare of the brethren who may think proper to take up their residence in that place.” However, a proclamation from the First Presidency published in the 15 January 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons instructed the Saints to gather to Nauvoo, stating that “This is the word of the Lord, and in accordance with the great work of the last days.” Part of a company of emigrants from England led by Theodore Turley had stopped in Kirtland for the winter on the advice of Hiram Kellogg. (Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; Letter to the Saints in Kirtland, OH, 19 Oct. 1840; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841, emphasis in original; Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840; Clayton, Diary, 24 and 29 Oct. 1840.)
Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.
Church members in Kirtland had apparently locked other Saints out of the House of the Lord during some meetings. In an October 1840 letter, JS and Hyrum Smith informed the Kirtland Saints that Babbitt would “hold the keys of the House of the Lord,” probably because of his presiding role, and requested that the keys “be put into his hands” so that he could “hold them for the benefit of the Church.” (Letter to Oliver Granger, between ca. 22 and ca. 28 July 1840; Letter to the Saints in Kirtland, OH, 19 Oct. 1840.)
The possibility of JS being imprisoned in New York for outstanding debts may explain why he would have been reluctant to travel to Kirtland—located not far from the southwestern boundary of the state of New York—until those debts were settled. (See Letter from Jacob W. Jenks, 31 Dec. 1839.)
TEXT: “p[page torn]ticulars”.
TEXT: “pleasu[page torn]”.
A 19 January 1841 revelation instructed Galland and Hyrum Smith to be ordained “to accomplish the work that my servant Joseph shall point out unto them.” The nature of that work was specified in a power of attorney JS gave to Galland and Hyrum Smith in February 1841. That document explained that they would focus their efforts on eliminating JS’s debts, selling property he owned, making land exchanges, and paying taxes. A February 1841 letter of recommendation also stated that the two were to visit church branches, exchange land, sell stock in the Nauvoo House, and solicit donations for building the Nauvoo temple. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:79]; JS to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith, Power of Attorney, 1 Feb. 1841, Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, p. 96, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; JS, Letter of Recommendation for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.)