Footnotes
JS History, vol. A-1, 156. Although the minutes list four priests in attendance, John Whitmer wrote that five priests were present. (Whitmer, History, 38.)
McLellin, Journal, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Whitmer, History, 38; “History of Luke Johnson,” 3, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, ca. 1858–1880, CHL. Luke Johnson’s history states that the eleven witnesses to the Book of Mormon, “with uplifted hands, bore their solemn testimony to the truth of that book; as did also the Prophet Joseph.” Although the conference clearly included testimonies of the Book of Mormon, and although many of the eleven witnesses who attested to the existence of the gold plates were present, the minutes of the conference do not reflect the particular event Johnson describes. Of the eleven, neither Christian Whitmer, who held the office of elder, nor Hiram Page, who held the office of teacher, was present at the commencement of the conference when the names of attending priesthood officers were recorded. There is no indication that Jacob Whitmer, another of the eleven witnesses, attended. (Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831; Minutes, 6 Sept. 1831.)
McLellin, William E. Journal, 18 July–20 Nov. 1831. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 1. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).
Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.
McLellin, Journal, 25–26 Oct. 1831. Joel Johnson also recounted that he first saw JS at the conference. (Johnson, Autobiography, 2.)
McLellin, William E. Journal, 18 July–20 Nov. 1831. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 1. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).
Johnson, Joel H. Autobiography, ca. 1882. Photocopy. CHL. MS 15025.
McLellin, Journal, 25–26 Oct. 1831.
McLellin, William E. Journal, 18 July–20 Nov. 1831. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 1. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).
Johnson, Reminiscenses and Journals, vol. 1, p. 16.
Johnson, Joel Hills. Reminiscences and Journals, 1835–1882. 3 vols. Joel Hills Johnson, Papers, 1835–1882. CHL. MS 1546, fds. 1–3.
“Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock,” ca. 1896, 43.
Hancock, Mosiah Lyman. "Autobiography of Levi Ward Hancock," ca. 1896. CHL. MS 570.
Cahoon, Diary, 9 Nov. 1831; Minutes, 11 Oct. 1831.
Cahoon, Reynolds. Diaries, 1831–1832. CHL. MS 1115.
The minutes include parenthetical redactions that were probably added after the creation of the original document. (See the source note for Minute Book 2.)
Speaking about JS’s journey to Missouri in the summer of 1831, a later JS history recounts that, “notwithstanding the corruptions and abominations of the times, and the evil spirits manifested towards us on account of our belief in the Book of Mormon, at many places, and among various persons, yet the Lord continued his watchful care and loving-kindness to us day by day.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 126–127.)
See Revelation 21:27; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 237 [Alma 5:58].
When JS revised the book of Genesis, he added that Enoch established a Zion community among his followers “because they were of one heart and of one mind and dwelt in righteousness.” (Old Testament Revision 1, p. 16 [Moses 7:18].)
See Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:8]. Just a few days after this meeting, another revelation further explained that it was the “privilege” of those “ordained unto the ministry” to have the veil rent and to see Christ, if they would rid themselves “from Jealesies & fears & humble [them]selves.” (Revelation, ca. 2 Nov. 1831 [D&C 67:10].)
See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20].
Several individuals were proselytizing elsewhere at this time, including Ezra Thayer and Joseph Coe. (See Joseph Coe, Report, 7 Mar. 1832, Missionary Reports, 1831–1900, CHL.)
Missionary Reports, 1831–1900. CHL. MS 6104.
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Benjamin told his people that if they would be “steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works,” Christ would “seal you his.” This meant, Benjamin continued, that they would have “everlasting salvation and eternal life.” (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 167 [Mosiah 5:15].)