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Minutes, 9 June 1830

Source Note

Minutes,
Fayette Township

Located in northern part of county between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Area settled, by 1790. Officially organized as Washington Township, 14 Mar. 1800. Name changed to Fayette, 6 Apr. 1808. Population in 1830 about 3,200. Population in 1840 about 3,700. Significant...

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, Seneca Co., NY, 9 June 1830. Featured version, titled “Minutes of the first Conference held in the Township of Fayette, Senaca County, State of New York; by the Elders of the Church, June 9th. 1830, according to the Church Articles and Covenants,” copied [between ca. 6 Apr. and 19 June 1838] in Minute Book 2, p. 1; handwriting of
Ebenezer Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 2.

Historical Introduction

Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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recorded these minutes of the first
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, held on 9 June 1830 at
Peter Whitmer Sr.

14 Apr. 1773–13 Aug. 1854. Farmer. Born at Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer and likely Maria Salome. Member of Presbyterian church. Married Mary Musselman, before 1798, in Pennsylvania. Lived in Lebanon Township, Dauphin Co., by...

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’s home in
Fayette

Located in northern part of county between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Area settled, by 1790. Officially organized as Washington Township, 14 Mar. 1800. Name changed to Fayette, 6 Apr. 1808. Population in 1830 about 3,200. Population in 1840 about 3,700. Significant...

More Info
, New York. The members assembled in compliance with “Articles and Covenants,” a document that called for conferences to be held “to do church business, whatsoever is necessary.”
1

Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:62]. The more detailed instruction in the version in Revelation Book 1 that the elders should “meet in conference once in three Month to [do] Church business” appears to be a later addition. Oliver Cowdery’s 1829 “Articles of the Church of Christ” declared that “the church shall meet together oft for prayer & suplication casting out none from your places of worship,” but there are no records from meetings held before the formal organization of the church on 6 April 1830. Lucy Mack Smith wrote that during fall and winter of 1829–1830, “we held no meetings because of the plotting schemes of the people against us,” implying that meetings had taken place earlier in 1829. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830, in Revelation Book 1, p. 56 [D&C 20:62]; “Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829; Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [12].)


Even though the minutes list only a dozen men by name, they affirm that “most of the male members of the Church” attended. A later account reported that about thirty church members attended, along with many who “were either believers or anxious to learn.”
2

JS History, vol. A-1, 41.


Of the men named in the minutes, only JS and
Ziba Peterson

Ca. 1810–1849. Teacher, farmer, law officer. Born in New York. Lived in Macedon, Wayne Co., New York, ca. 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, by 9 June 1830. Served mission to Ohio and Missouri, 1830–1831. Stripped...

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were not among the witnesses who testified of seeing the
plates

A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates were...

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in the summer of 1829.
3

Jacob Whitmer was the only one of the eleven witnesses of the plates not listed in the minutes. (See Testimony of Three Witnesses, Late June 1829; and Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829.)


During the conference, three men were ordained officers of the
Church of Christ

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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and they, along with several previously ordained men, received licenses identifying their church office. The conference also formally endorsed Articles and Covenants as an official statement of church belief and practice. While the minutes provide a record of only official business conducted, JS’s later history reported that the proceedings also included singing, the partaking of the “emblems of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the
confirmation

After baptism, new converts were confirmed members of the church “by the laying on of the hands, & the giving of the Holy Ghost.” According to JS’s history, the first confirmations were administered at the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. By March...

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of several who had been recently
baptized

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...

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, spiritual manifestations including prophecy and visions, and “much exhortation and instruction.”
4

Regarding spiritual manifestations at the meeting, JS’s history noted that “the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner many of our number prophecied, whilst others had the Heavens opened to their view, and were so over come that we had to lay them on beds, or other convenient places.” Newel Knight, one of the attendees not listed in the minutes, reported that he “beheld the Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of the majesty on high.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 41–42.)


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:62]. The more detailed instruction in the version in Revelation Book 1 that the elders should “meet in conference once in three Month to [do] Church business” appears to be a later addition. Oliver Cowdery’s 1829 “Articles of the Church of Christ” declared that “the church shall meet together oft for prayer & suplication casting out none from your places of worship,” but there are no records from meetings held before the formal organization of the church on 6 April 1830. Lucy Mack Smith wrote that during fall and winter of 1829–1830, “we held no meetings because of the plotting schemes of the people against us,” implying that meetings had taken place earlier in 1829. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830, in Revelation Book 1, p. 56 [D&C 20:62]; “Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829; Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [12].)

  2. [2]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 41.

  3. [3]

    Jacob Whitmer was the only one of the eleven witnesses of the plates not listed in the minutes. (See Testimony of Three Witnesses, Late June 1829; and Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829.)

  4. [4]

    Regarding spiritual manifestations at the meeting, JS’s history noted that “the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner many of our number prophecied, whilst others had the Heavens opened to their view, and were so over come that we had to lay them on beds, or other convenient places.” Newel Knight, one of the attendees not listed in the minutes, reported that he “beheld the Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of the majesty on high.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 41–42.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Minutes, 9 June 1830
Minute Book 2

Page 1

Minutes of the first
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
held in the Township of
Fayette

Located in northern part of county between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Area settled, by 1790. Officially organized as Washington Township, 14 Mar. 1800. Name changed to Fayette, 6 Apr. 1808. Population in 1830 about 3,200. Population in 1840 about 3,700. Significant...

More Info
, Senaca County, State of New York;
1

The Peter Whitmer Sr. home, where the conference was held, was also the site where the church had been officially organized two months earlier. (See Historical Introduction to Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21].)


by 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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of the
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
, June 9th. 1830,
2

JS’s history dates the conference to “the first day of June 1830.” Because the minutes featured here are a later copy dating from 1838, it is possible that a transcription error in the minutes accounts for the discrepancy; more likely, the reconstruction in the history is misdated. (JS History, vol. A-1, 41.)


according to the Church Articles and Covenants
Elders Present:
Joseph Smith, junior.
3

TEXT: “junior.” possibly inserted later.


David Whitmer

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

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,
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
,
John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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,
Peter Whitmer [Jr.]

27 Sept. 1809–22 Sept. 1836. Tailor. Born at Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, in Seneca Lake, Seneca Co. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Among six...

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,
Ziba Peterson

Ca. 1810–1849. Teacher, farmer, law officer. Born in New York. Lived in Macedon, Wayne Co., New York, ca. 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, by 9 June 1830. Served mission to Ohio and Missouri, 1830–1831. Stripped...

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Ezekiel 14th. read by br. Joseph Smith jr. and prayer by the same Articles and Covenants read by Joseph Smith jr. and recieved by unanimous voice of the whole congregation,
4

This practice of obtaining “common consent” was mandated by revelation one month later. (Revelation, July 1830–B [D&C 26:2].)


which consisted of most of the male members of the Church.
Samuel H. 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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was then ordained an Elder under the hand of
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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;
Joseph Smith seignior

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...

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and
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; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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were ordained
Priests

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed...

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.
The following persons were then seated respectf◊lly respectively & received their
licences

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...

View Glossary
, Viz:
Elders of this Church.Priests of this Church.
David Whitmer

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

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Martin Harris

18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...

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John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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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; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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Peter Whitmer

27 Sept. 1809–22 Sept. 1836. Tailor. Born at Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, in Seneca Lake, Seneca Co. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Among six...

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Joseph Smith Sen.

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...

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Ziba Peterson

Ca. 1810–1849. Teacher, farmer, law officer. Born in New York. Lived in Macedon, Wayne Co., New York, ca. 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, by 9 June 1830. Served mission to Ohio and Missouri, 1830–1831. Stripped...

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Teachers

Generally, one who instructs, but also an ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The Book of Mormon explained that teachers were to be ordained “to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end...

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of this Church
Samuel H. 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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Hiram Page

1800–12 Aug. 1852. Physician, farmer. Born in Vermont. Married Catherine Whitmer, 10 Nov. 1825, in Seneca Co., New York. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Oliver Cowdery...

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and
Christian Whitmer

18 Jan. 1798–27 Nov. 1835. Shoemaker. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Married Anna (Anne) Schott, 22 Feb. 1825, at Seneca Co., New York. Ensign in New York militia, 1825. Constable of Fayette, Seneca Co., 1828–1829. Member...

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.
5

Of those listed as having received their ministerial licenses at this conference, only the licenses of John Whitmer, Joseph Smith Sr., and Christian Whitmer are extant. (See License for John Whitmer, License for Joseph Smith Sr., and License for Christian Whitmer, 9 June 1830.)


Exhortation by Joseph Smith jr. and
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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, Conference adjourned to the 26th. September 1830, to be held in the same place.
Br.
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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appointed to keep the Church record and Conference Minutes until the next conference.
6

Oliver Cowdery also served as the clerk for the conference held 26 September 1830. (Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830.)


Prayer by all the Brethren present
7

This procedure of all conference attendees praying continued at the conference held in September 1830, but it is not clear whether at these conferences they prayed sequentially, were led in a vocal prayer in unison, or prayed in silence individually. An account of several earlier meetings of believers in April 1830, in which each of the brethren was apparently encouraged to individually “pray vocally during meeting,” suggests that this statement in the minutes likely referred to the practice of having each man pray aloud sequentially before dismissal of the conference. (Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830; JS History, vol. A-1, 40.)


and dismissed by Br.
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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. The above Minutes were taken at the time of this conference by
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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Clerk. [p. 1]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 9 June 1830
ID #
6475
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:139–142
Handwriting on This Page
  • Ebenezer Robinson

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The Peter Whitmer Sr. home, where the conference was held, was also the site where the church had been officially organized two months earlier. (See Historical Introduction to Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21].)

  2. [2]

    JS’s history dates the conference to “the first day of June 1830.” Because the minutes featured here are a later copy dating from 1838, it is possible that a transcription error in the minutes accounts for the discrepancy; more likely, the reconstruction in the history is misdated. (JS History, vol. A-1, 41.)

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “junior.” possibly inserted later.

  4. [4]

    This practice of obtaining “common consent” was mandated by revelation one month later. (Revelation, July 1830–B [D&C 26:2].)

  5. [5]

    Of those listed as having received their ministerial licenses at this conference, only the licenses of John Whitmer, Joseph Smith Sr., and Christian Whitmer are extant. (See License for John Whitmer, License for Joseph Smith Sr., and License for Christian Whitmer, 9 June 1830.)

  6. [6]

    Oliver Cowdery also served as the clerk for the conference held 26 September 1830. (Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830.)

  7. [7]

    This procedure of all conference attendees praying continued at the conference held in September 1830, but it is not clear whether at these conferences they prayed sequentially, were led in a vocal prayer in unison, or prayed in silence individually. An account of several earlier meetings of believers in April 1830, in which each of the brethren was apparently encouraged to individually “pray vocally during meeting,” suggests that this statement in the minutes likely referred to the practice of having each man pray aloud sequentially before dismissal of the conference. (Minutes, 26 Sept. 1830; JS History, vol. A-1, 40.)

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