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Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835

Source Note

Minutes and Blessings, , Geauga Co., OH, 21 Feb. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 154–164; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

Under the date of 21 February 1835 in Minute Book 1, recorded information pertaining to the ordination of three of the , an apparent continuation of a 14–15 February meeting at which the Twelve Apostles were named and nine of them . However, the entry for 21 February combines events that actually occurred on two or three different dates. The first part of the minutes includes the blessing given to by JS, , and , ordaining him to the Twelve, along with a charge that Oliver Cowdery gave specifically to Pratt. According to Pratt’s autobiography, these events occurred on 21 February. The second part of the minutes documents the blessings ordaining and as apostles, blessings that were given by Cowdery and Whitmer. However, Marsh and Orson Pratt were not in , Ohio, until the end of April, and their ordinations took place on 26 April 1835, when they attended their first meeting of the Twelve.
Following the record of ’s and ’s blessings is an account of a charge that gave to all the apostles. The charge may have been given on 21 February, but it refers to “the other three” apostles who were “not present,” and apparently only two apostles—Orson Pratt and Marsh—were not in attendance on 21 February. In addition, the text of the charge suggests that it was given at a time when more than one apostle was ordained.
Clerical confusion or a copying error may account for the recording of events from different days under the same date. For example, when copying loose minutes, may have inadvertently placed the later blessings and the general charge to the apostles under the 21 February date. It is also possible that Cowdery intended the record to reflect additional blessings and charges given to the Twelve, regardless of when they were given. Whatever the case, neither nor , clerks to the Twelve, included the ordination blessings or the general charge in their record of the Twelve’s transactions, making the Minute Book 1 record the only official record of these events. A later JS history includes a copy of these blessings and charges, apparently copied from Minute Book 1. Likewise, later recorded his blessing, ’s charge specific to him, and Cowdery’s general charge to the apostles in his autobiography, copying them from the minutes which had by then been incorporated into “the Church History.”
The blessings given to , , and are similar to the blessings given to the other nine apostles on 14 and 15 February 1835. Focusing on the proselytizing aspects of their calling as apostles, the blessings make several promises to the individuals. The charges, meanwhile, provide an expanded view of the responsibilities of the apostles, while also emphasizing that privation and hardship would be part of their lifelong ministry. Both the charge specific to Parley P. Pratt and the general charge to all the apostles emphasize that these apostles were to be like the “ancient Apostles,” or those called by Jesus Christ during his ministry. counseled the apostles, therefore, to seek personal knowledge of Christ so that they could testify of his existence with power and surety. Cowdery’s general charge also hinted at the larger administrative role of the apostles, stating that each one of them was equal to the others “in bearing the keys of the kingdom to all nations.” JS provided more information on what that meant in a 27 February 1835 meeting, stating that the apostles were “to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations, and to preach the Gospel to every creature.”

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835.

  2. [2]

    Pratt, Autobiography, 127.

    Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

  3. [3]

    Pratt, Diary, 26 Apr. 1835.

    Pratt, Orson. Journal, 1833–1837. Orson Pratt, Autobiography and Journals, 1833–1847. CHL. MS 587, fds. 2–4.

  4. [4]

    Marsh, who was preaching with Edward Partridge during the first few months of 1835, did not arrive in Kirtland until 25 April 1835. Orson Pratt, who had been preaching in Cincinnati, reached Kirtland on 26 April. (Partridge, Diary, 24 Apr. 1835; Pratt, Diary, 26 Apr. 1835; Minutes, 26 Apr. 1835.)

    Partridge, Edward. Diaries, 1818 and 1835–1836. Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892, box 1, fds. 1–2.

    Pratt, Orson. Journal, 1833–1837. Orson Pratt, Autobiography and Journals, 1833–1847. CHL. MS 587, fds. 2–4.

  5. [5]

    All of the February 1835 minutes pertaining to the calling and ordination of the Twelve are in the back of Minute Book 1 (pages 147–168), well out of their chronological order.

  6. [6]

    JS History, vol. B-1, 568–575.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  7. [7]

    Pratt, Autobiography, 127–136.

    Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

  8. [8]

    JS also explained in that meeting that the apostles were a “traveling high council” that would “preside over all the churches of the Saints among the Gentiles.” (Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835 Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 163

are to go to the nations afar off; nations that sit in darkness. The [day] is coming when the work of God must be done. Israel shall be , The seed of Jacob shall be gathered from their long dispersion. There will be a feast to Israel, the elect of God. It is a sorrowful tale but, the gospel must be preached and his <​God’s​> ministers be rejected. but where can Israel be found, and receive your testimony, and not rejoice? No where. The Prophecies are full of great things that are to take place in the last days. After the Elect is gathered out, destruction shall come on the inhabitants of the Earth; All nations shall feel the wrath of God, after they have been warned by the saints of the Most High. If you will not warn them others will and you will lose your crowns. You must prepare your minds to bid a long farewell to . even till the great day come. You will see what you never expected to see. You will need the mind of Enoch or Elijah & the faith of the brother of Jared.
You must be prepared to walk by faith, however, appalling the prospect to human view. You, and each of you should feel the force of the imperious mandate, “Son go labor in my vineyard” and cheerfully receive what comes, but in the end you will stand while others will fall. You have read in the Revelation concerning . Beware how you ordain, for all nations are not like this nation. They will willingly receive the at your hand to put you out of the way. There will be times, when nothing but the angels of God can deliver you out of their hand. We appeal to your intelligence, we appeal to your understanding, that we have so far discharged our duty to you. We consider it one of the greatest condescentions of our Heavenly Father in pointing you out to us. You will be over this ministry. [p. 163]
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Source Note

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Page 163

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835
ID #
6816
Total Pages
11
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:237–247
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [56]

    Transcripts in both a later JS history and in Parley P. Pratt’s autobiography have “day” here. (JS History, vol. B-1, 574; Pratt, Autobiography, 135.)

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

    Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

  2. [57]

    See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 84, 464, 499 [2 Nephi 10:8; 3 Nephi 5:24; 21:1].

  3. [58]

    Elijah was a biblical prophet, while the brother of Jared was a Book of Mormon prophet who exhibited great faith and saw the Lord. (See 1 Kings chap. 17; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 543–545 [Ether chap. 3].)

  4. [59]

    See 2 Corinthians 5:7.

  5. [60]

    See Matthew 21:28.

  6. [61]

    See Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18:27–29, 32].

  7. [62]

    See Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18:37–38].

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