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Minutes, 27–28 December 1832

Source Note

Minutes,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, OH, 27–28 Dec. 1832. Featured version copied [ca. 28 Dec. 1832] in Minute Book 1, pp. 3–4; handwriting of
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

Throughout December 1832, several missionaries who had spent time preaching in the eastern
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 ...

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returned to
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, some at the specific request of JS and others for unspecified reasons. For example, in the fall of 1832, JS instructed
Samuel Smith

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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and
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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, who were laboring in New England, to “come immediately” to Kirtland.
1

Samuel Smith, Diary, 4 Dec. 1832; “Extracts of Letters from the Elders Abroad,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Feb. 1833. [5]. According to Samuel Smith’s journal, JS left the message for Hyde and Smith while traveling in New England in October and November 1832. Upon his return to Kirtland, JS sent a letter to members in Boston, Massachusetts, requesting again that Hyde and Smith return. (Samuel Smith, Diary, Oct.–Nov. and 4 Dec. 1832.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

JS might have wanted these missionaries to return so that they could be more fully instructed in their duties. On 27 December 1832, JS met with Samuel Smith, Hyde, and other
high priests

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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in the new “translating room,” located in the recently renovated second story of
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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’s
white store

In Apr. 1826, Whitney purchased quarter-acre lot on northeast corner of Chardon and Chillicothe roads and built two-story, 1500-square-foot, white store. Mercantile store also functioned as Kirtland Mills post office. Whitney met JS at store, 4 Feb. 1831....

More Info
, where JS was living.
2

Levi Hancock, Statement, no date, CHL; see also Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 251.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Hancock, Levi. Statement, no date. CHL. MS 3958.

Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

According to the minutes, the purpose of the
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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was to seek revelation on the duties of 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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and to gain instruction on how to build
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

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. Following prayer by the attendees, JS began dictating a lengthy revelation but was unable to finish in that session. The conference reconvened on 28 December for JS to complete the dictation begun on the previous day. As clerk of the conference,
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
kept the minutes, which he later recorded in Minute Book 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Samuel Smith, Diary, 4 Dec. 1832; “Extracts of Letters from the Elders Abroad,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Feb. 1833. [5]. According to Samuel Smith’s journal, JS left the message for Hyde and Smith while traveling in New England in October and November 1832. Upon his return to Kirtland, JS sent a letter to members in Boston, Massachusetts, requesting again that Hyde and Smith return. (Samuel Smith, Diary, Oct.–Nov. and 4 Dec. 1832.)

    Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  2. [2]

    Levi Hancock, Statement, no date, CHL; see also Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 251.

    Hancock, Levi. Statement, no date. CHL. MS 3958.

    Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 27–28 December 1832 Minute Book 1

Page 4

in his turn his feelings, and determination to keep the
commandments

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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of God,
2

At a general conference of elders held in October 1831, participants similarly reiterated their desire to keep the covenants they had made. (See Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)


And then proceded to receive a revelation
3

Reflecting on the revelation, Samuel Smith recorded that “the word of the Lord was given throug[h] Joseph.” (Samuel Smith, Diary, 10 Dec. 1832; see also Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:1–126].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.

concerning the subject of our above stated 9 oclock PM. the revelation not being finished the
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...

View Glossary
adjourned till tomorrow morning 9 oclock AM—.
28th. meet according [to?] adjournment and commenced by Prayer then proceded to receive the residue of the <​above​> revelation and it being finished and there being no further business before the conference closed the meeting by prayer in harmony with the brethren and gratitude to our heavenly Father for the great manifestation of his holy spirit during the setting of the conferenc[e]
F G Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
Clk of Con [p. 4]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 4

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 27–28 December 1832
ID #
6583
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D2:331–334
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    At a general conference of elders held in October 1831, participants similarly reiterated their desire to keep the covenants they had made. (See Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)

  2. [3]

    Reflecting on the revelation, Samuel Smith recorded that “the word of the Lord was given throug[h] Joseph.” (Samuel Smith, Diary, 10 Dec. 1832; see also Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:1–126].)

    Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.

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