License for Hosea Stout, 20 April 1840

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License for Hosea Stout, 20 April 1840
Source Note

JS, License, for
Hosea Stout
18 Sept. 1810–2 Mar. 1889. Farmer, teacher, carpenter, sawmill operator, lawyer. Born near Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Stout and Anna Smith. Moved to Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, 1819; to Wilmington, Clinton Co., fall 1824; to...
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,
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....
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[
Commerce
Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...
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], Hancock Co., IL, 20 Apr. 1840; printed form with manuscript additions in the handwriting of
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...
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; signatures of
Robert B. Thompson
1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...
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and JS; one page; photographs in Hosea Stout, Papers, CHL. Includes notation.

One leaf with writing on both sides. The document’s proportions are similar to other licenses, which generally measure about 3 × 7 inches (8 × 18 cm). The location of the original document is unknown, as are the identity of the donor who provided the photographs to the Church History Library and the date on which the donation was made.
Historical Introduction
On 20 April 1840, JS and his clerk
Robert B. Thompson
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signed an
elder
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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’s
license
A document certifying an individual’s office in the church and authorizing him “to perform the duty of his calling.” The “Articles and Covenants” of the church implied that only elders could issue licenses; individuals ordained by a priest to an office in...
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for
Hosea Stout
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. JS likely signed scores of such licenses in the years after
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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leaders adopted an April 1838 resolution requiring each license to be signed by at least one member of the
First Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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.
1
Resolution, ca. 8 Apr. 1838; see also Cannon, “Licensing in the Early Church,” 96–105.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Cannon, Donald Q. “Licensing in the Early Church.” BYU Studies 22, no. 1 (Winter 1982): 96–105.
This license is featured as an example of this type of document as issued in 1840.
2
See License for Robert Snider, 13 Apr. 1840; License for William Rust, 14 Apr. 1840; and License for Joseph King, 27 Apr. 1840, Far West and Nauvoo Elders’ Certificates, 32–36. For a full list of known licenses signed by JS, see the Calendar of Documents.

Stout
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moved to the
Commerce
Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...
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, Illinois, area in March 1840 and was subsequently appointed clerk of the
Nauvoo
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high council
A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...
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, even though he apparently was not a
high priest
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
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.
3
Stout began serving as the Nauvoo high council’s clerk pro tem on 8 March 1840 and eight months later was appointed clerk of the council. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 8 Mar. 1840, 49; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, draft, 28 Nov. 1840, 23.)
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. Draft. CHL.
According to this license, an early April 1840 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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of the church resolved that the First Presidency should issue Stout a license—most likely as part of an effort to license a large group of recently
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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elders—although the resolution is not recorded in the conference minutes.
4
See Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840.
The license itself is undated, but
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...
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wrote in a church record book that Stout received an elder’s license “from under our hands” on 20 April 1840.
5
License for Hosea Stout, 20 Apr. 1840, General Church Recorder, License Record Book, 35.
The license certified that Stout was a member of the church, that he had been ordained an elder, and that he was authorized to preach the gospel.
Footnotes
[1]
Resolution, ca. 8 Apr. 1838; see also Cannon, “Licensing in the Early Church,” 96–105.
Cannon, Donald Q. “Licensing in the Early Church.” BYU Studies 22, no. 1 (Winter 1982): 96–105.
[2]
See License for Robert Snider, 13 Apr. 1840; License for William Rust, 14 Apr. 1840; and License for Joseph King, 27 Apr. 1840, Far West and Nauvoo Elders’ Certificates, 32–36. For a full list of known licenses signed by JS, see the Calendar of Documents.
[3]
Stout began serving as the Nauvoo high council’s clerk pro tem on 8 March 1840 and eight months later was appointed clerk of the council. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 8 Mar. 1840, 49; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, draft, 28 Nov. 1840, 23.)
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. Draft. CHL.
[4]
[5]
License for Hosea Stout, 20 Apr. 1840, General Church Recorder, License Record Book, 35.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*License for Hosea Stout, 20 April 1840
License Record Book
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This certifies that
Hosea Stout
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has been recieved into the
church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
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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,
1
Stout was baptized by Charles C. Rich in August 1838 while living in Caldwell County, Missouri. (Eleventh Quorum of Seventies, Records, vol. 2, p. 19, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)
Seventies Quorum Records, 1844–1975. CHL. CR 499.
organized on the sixth of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and has been
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...
View Glossary
an
Elder
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...
View Glossary
2
Stout was ordained an elder by Seymour Brunson at an October 1839 general conference of the church. (Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839; Eleventh Quorum of Seventies, Records, vol. 2, p. 25, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)
according to the rules and regulations of said church; and is duly authorised to preach the gospel, agreably to the authority of that office.

Given by the direction of 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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of the authorities of said church, assembled in
Nauvoo
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, Ill. on the sixth of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.
3

Signatures of Robert B. Thompson and JS.
Robt B Thompson
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Clerk. Joseph Smith Jr President. [p. [1]]
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Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
License for Hosea Stout, 20 April 1840
ID #
2271
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:266–267
Handwriting on This Page
Printed text
Hyrum Smith
Robert B. Thompson
Footnotes
[1]
Stout was baptized by Charles C. Rich in August 1838 while living in Caldwell County, Missouri. (Eleventh Quorum of Seventies, Records, vol. 2, p. 19, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)
[2]
Stout was ordained an elder by Seymour Brunson at an October 1839 general conference of the church. (Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839; Eleventh Quorum of Seventies, Records, vol. 2, p. 25, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)
[3]
Signatures of Robert B. Thompson and JS.