The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

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 161

It is the will of your Heavenly Father that you proclaim his gospel to the ends of the earth. and the Islands of the sea. Be zealous to save souls. The soul of one man is as precious as the soul of another. You are to bear this message to those who consider themselves wise. and such may persecute you, they may seek your life. The adversary has always sought the life of the servants of God. You are, therefore, to be prepared at all times to make a sacrafice of your lives, should God require them in the advancment and building up of his cause. Murmur not at God. Be always prayerful, be always watchful. You will bear with me while I relieve the feelings of my heart. We shall not see another day like this. The time has fully come; The voice of the spirit has come to set these men apart. You will see the time when you will desire to see such a day as this, and you will not see it. Every heart wishes you peace & prosperity. but the scene, with you, will inevitably change. Let no man take your , and beware that you lose not your crowns. It will require your whole souls. It will require courage like Enoch’s. The time is near when you will be in the midst of congregations, who will gnash their teeth upon you. This gospel must roll and will roll till it fill the whole Earth. Did I say congregations would gnash upon you, yea I say nations will gnash upon you. You will be considered the worst of Men. Be not discouraged at this, When God pours out his Spirit, the enemy will rage, but, God, remember is on your right hand and on your left. A man, though he may be considered the worst, has joy who is conscious that he pleases God. The lives of those who proclaim the true gospel will be in danger; this has been the case ever since the days of righteous Abel. The same opposition has been manifest whenever [p. 161]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 161

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. [45]

    See Revelation, 3 Nov. 1831 [D&C 133:8].

  2. [46]

    See Acts 1:20.

  3. [47]

    See Revelation, 25 Jan. 1832–B [D&C 75:28].

  4. [48]

    Enoch was a biblical prophet mentioned in the book of Genesis. As part of the Bible revision that JS undertook in late 1830, he presented “the Prophecy of Enoch,” which provided much more detail about Enoch and his ministry. (Genesis 5:18–24; “Extract from the Prophecy of Enoch,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Aug. 1832, [2]–[3]; Old Testament Revision 1, pp. 15–19 [Moses 7].)

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

  5. [49]

    See Revelation, 30 Oct. 1831 [D&C 65:2].

  6. [50]

    See Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:88].

  7. [51]

    See Genesis 4:1–8.

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06