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Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock

Source Note

Special conference of the church, Minutes, and JS, Discourses, [Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL], 6–8 Apr. 1844. Featured version inscribed in Thomas Bullock, Minutes, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, 6–9 Apr. 1844, pp. 1–29; handwriting of
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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; General Church Minutes, CHL. Includes dockets, use marks and notations.
Twenty-one loose leaves and one bifolium measuring 12⅜ × 7⅝ × ⅛ inches (31 × 19 × 0.3 cm). Each page is ruled with either thirty-four or thirty-five blue lines. Some leaves are embossed in the top left corner of the recto with the inscription “D & J. AMES”, the insignia of a Springfield, Massachusetts, paper mill firm established by brothers David and John Ames in 1828.
1

Whiting, “Paper-Making in New England,” 309; Gravell et al., American Watermarks, 235.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Whiting, William. “Paper-Making in New England.” In The New England States: Their Constitutional, Judicial, Educational, Commercial, Professional and Industrial History, edited by William T. Davis, vol. 1, pp. 303–333. Boston: D. H. Hurd, 1897.

Gravell, Thomas L., George Miller, and Elizabeth Walsh. American Watermarks: 1690–1835. 2nd ed. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2002.

At some point, the leaves were unevenly cut by hand. After
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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inscribed the minutes, the document was folded for filing. When the conference minutes were edited for publication, graphite and ink use marks were added. There are holes from staples (now removed) in the upper left corner of the recto of each leaf.
Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865, docketed the minutes.
2

See Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; and Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

The notation “A. J” was apparently later added twice by Andrew Jenson, who served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
3

Jenson, Autobiography, 389; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–52, 55.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

In the mid-twentieth century, the document was included in a miscellaneous minutes collection that was a vestige of a genre-based filing method used by the Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) in the first half of the twentieth century. This document genre collection contained many documents that subsequently formed the basis for the General Church Minutes collection that was cataloged in 1994.
4

See the full bibliographic entry for Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 1839–1877, in the CHL catalog.


The document’s dockets, its notations, and its inclusion within the General Church Minutes collection suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Whiting, “Paper-Making in New England,” 309; Gravell et al., American Watermarks, 235.

    Whiting, William. “Paper-Making in New England.” In The New England States: Their Constitutional, Judicial, Educational, Commercial, Professional and Industrial History, edited by William T. Davis, vol. 1, pp. 303–333. Boston: D. H. Hurd, 1897.

    Gravell, Thomas L., George Miller, and Elizabeth Walsh. American Watermarks: 1690–1835. 2nd ed. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2002.

  2. [2]

    See Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; and Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 389; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–52, 55.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  4. [4]

    See the full bibliographic entry for Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 1839–1877, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

From 6 to 8 April 1844, 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...

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held a special
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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in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Illinois, in which JS and other church leaders gave extensive discourses and for which church clerk
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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kept minutes. This conference marked the fourteenth anniversary of the church’s founding.
Prior to the April conference, tensions had been growing for months between JS and his opponents in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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. On 24 March, JS publicly accused
William Law

8 Sept. 1809–12/19 Jan. 1892. Merchant, millwright, physician. Born in Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co...

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,
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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,
Robert D. Foster

14 Mar. 1811–1 Feb. 1878. Justice of the peace, physician, land speculator. Born in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. Son of John Foster and Jane Knibb. Married Sarah Phinney, 18 July 1837, at Medina Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of ...

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,
Chauncey L. Higbee

7 Sept. 1821–7 Dec. 1884. Lawyer, banker, politician, judge. Born in Tate Township, Clermont Co., Ohio. Son of Elias Higbee and Sarah Elizabeth Ward. Lived in Fulton, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1832...

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, and
Joseph H. Jackson

?–? Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by fall 1842. Moved to Carthage, Hancock Co., winter 1842–1843. Returned to Nauvoo, spring 1843. Hired to sell land for JS, 20 May 1843. Appointed aide-de-camp to lieutenant general in Nauvoo Legion, by 5 Jan. 1844...

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of plotting to take his life and the lives of his family members. Around the same time, William Law, a disaffected former member of the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
, told
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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that he “was ready for an investigation before the Conference, and that there [he] would bring their abominations to light,” referring to the practice of plural marriage. Hyrum reportedly replied that “there would not be an investigation before [the] Conference, that they wanted peace.” At some point, Law apparently “sent Joseph and some of the
Twelve

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
, special word that he desired an investigation before the Church in General Conference, on the 6th of Ap’l.”
1

Discourse, 24 Mar. 1844–A; JS, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844; Historian’s Office, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844; Abiathar Williams, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 27 Mar. 1844, and Merinus G. Eaton, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2]; Law, Record of Doings, 29 Mar. 1844, in Cook, William Law, 48; “Preamble,” Nauvoo Expositor, 7 June 1844, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

JS, Hyrum Smith, and
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
alluded to these difficulties during the April conference.
Another noteworthy development preceding the conference was the formation of the
Council of Fifty

An organization intended to establish the political kingdom of God on the earth. An 1842 editorial in the church newspaper stated that the “design of Jehovah” was to “take the reigns of government into his own hand.” On 10 and 11 March 1844, JS and several...

View Glossary
. On 11 March 1844, JS formally organized this secret body, which he and his closest associates saw as the beginning of the literal kingdom of God on earth. The Council of Fifty’s principal concerns included JS’s candidacy for the
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 ...

More Info
presidency, wide-ranging discussions about the meaning of the kingdom of God, and a possible Latter-day Saint emigration to the
Republic of Texas

France established colony in area, 1685. First Spanish settlement created, 1718. After Mexican War of Independence from Spain, 1821, area became part of Mexico and immigration increased. Conflict between Mexican government and Texian residents resulted in...

More Info
or elsewhere in the West.
2

“The Council of Fifty in Nauvoo, Illinois.”


Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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, who had been admitted to the Council of Fifty on 19 March 1844, referenced this body at several points during the conference.
3

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. 1844. Rigdon had previously addressed the Council of Fifty on “the subject of the kingdom of God.” At a council meeting held on 5 April 1844, Rigdon observed that he “entertained no fears that legal exceptions to this council could or would be taken” and asserted that “there was nothing done here but he was willing should be proclaimed on the house tops.” (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 26 Mar. and 5 Apr. 1844.)


Although work on the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
would not resume until 11 April 1844, efforts to raise funds for the building’s construction were ongoing.
4

Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 45. During winter 1843–1844, work on the temple halted, leaving the unfinished building with “walls . . . as high as the arches of the first tier of windows all round.” (Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 40–41.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

Mercy Fielding Thompson

15 June 1807–15 Sept. 1893. Born in Honeydon, Bedfordshire, England. Daughter of John Fielding and Rachel Ibbotson. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, 21 May 1836, near Toronto. ...

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, a plural wife of
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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, reported that after praying to know what she might do to build God’s kingdom, she felt “a most Pleasant sensation” and had the impression to “try to get the Sisters to subscribe one Cent per Week for the purpose of buying glass and nails for the Temple.” Thompson then went to JS and related to him “what seemed to be the wisperings of the still small voice,” and he approved her proposal. She next told her plan to Hyrum Smith, who, according to Thompson, “was much plea[s]ed and did all in his power to encourage and help by speaking to the Sisters on the subject in private and public promising them that they should recieve their blessings in that Temple.”
5

Thompson, Autobiographical Sketch, 7–8; see also Editorial, Millennial Star, June 1844, 5:15. The exact date when Thompson felt impressed to raise money for the temple is unknown. Her autobiography suggests that it occurred after her marriage to Hyrum Smith in August 1843 and before Hyrum’s endorsement of the plan in the Millennial Star, which was dated 25 December 1843. Thompson and her sister, Mary Fielding Smith, “took down and kept a record of all the names” of those who contributed.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Thompson, Mercy Rachel Fielding. Autobiographical Sketch, 1880. CHL. MS 4580.

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Early in 1844, Hyrum “made a proclamation to the female members of the church, calling upon them to subscribe one cent per week each, in money for the purpose of buying the Glass and Nails for the Temple.”
6

Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 43.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

On 7 March 1844, he addressed the men of the church, urging them to contribute money to purchase gunpowder and fuses needed for the construction of the temple. He noted that the women were paying for the necessary glass and nails and requested that “the brethren . . . do as much as the sisters.”
7

Woodruff, Journal, 7 Mar. 1844.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

During the April conference, Hyrum Smith renewed his calls for funds and materials to forward the work of building the temple.
By all accounts, large congregations attended the April conference, which was held in the
grove

Before partial completion of Nauvoo temple, all large meetings were held outdoors in groves located near east and west sides of temple site. Had portable stands for speakers. JS referred to area as “temple stand” due to its location on brow of hill.

More Info
east of the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
construction site.
8

JS, Journal, 6–7 Apr. 1844; Richards, Reminiscences and Journal, 6 Apr. 1844; Willard Richards, Journal, 6–7 Apr. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 7 Apr. 1844; “Conference,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 10 Apr. 1844, [2]. Among those in attendance were a group of American Indians. According to William Clayton, this group consisted of five Potawatomi, while Willard Richards recorded that there were four “Lamanites” and an interpreter present on the speaker’s stand. On 4 April 1844, eleven Potawatomi, who were seeking help to avoid losing their land, visited the Council of Fifty. It was probably members of this same group who sat on the stand at the April conference. Several Potawatomi delegations had previously traveled to Nauvoo to ask JS and the Latter-day Saints for assistance and advice in their struggles with white Americans. (Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 18 Apr. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 26 June 1843; Clayton, Journal, 18 Apr. 1843; 26 and 28 Aug. 1843; Letter to Paicouchaiby and Other Potawatomis, 28 Aug. 1843.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Samuel W. Reminiscences and Journal, ca. 1843–1845. Samuel W. Richards, Papers, 1839–1909. CHL. MS 1841.

Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

JS opened the meeting on the morning of 6 April with some brief remarks explaining the conference’s business and defending his standing as a true prophet.
9

Discourse, 6 Apr. 1844.


Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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, one of JS’s counselors, followed with a lengthy discourse on the history of the church and the kingdom of God.
10

During his discourse, Rigdon referenced the bad health he had suffered over the previous five years. He had contracted malaria while living in Commerce (later Nauvoo) in August 1839, and his poor health continued in subsequent years, limiting his activities. (Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840; Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, to H. W. Miller, 8 July 1840, in Times and Seasons, July 1840, 1:134–136; JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1843.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

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, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, then spoke, lamenting the failure of the
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 ...

More Info
to live up to its potential as a land of liberty by guaranteeing the rights of the Saints.
11

Taylor echoed a series of appeals written by Latter-day Saints to their native states in 1843–1844. These entreaties, such as JS’s appeal to Vermont, were meant to invoke sympathy for the Saints and win support for their renewed efforts to obtain redress for their losses suffered during the Missouri expulsion of 1838–1839. Similar language was also used in General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States. Taylor’s comparison of the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of the world also reflected ideas in an editorial on theocracy published in the Times and Seasons in 1842, which may have been authored by Taylor. (Rogers, “Mormon Appeals for Redress and Social Justice, 1843–44,” 36–39; General Joseph Smith’s Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys, 21 Nov.–ca. 3 Dec. 1843; Parley P. Pratt, An Appeal to the Inhabitants of the State of New York . . . [Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, (1844)]; Benjamin Andrews, “An Appeal to the People of the State of Maine,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Jan. 1844, [1]; Sidney Rigdon, “To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, in Legislative Capacity Assembled,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 31 Jan. 1844, [1]; Phineas Richards, “An Appeal, to the Inhabitants of Massachusetts,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 7 Feb. 1844, [2]; [Alphonso Young], “An Appeal to the State of Tennessee, by A. Young,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 28 Feb. 1844, [1]; General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, ca. 26 Jan.–7 Feb. 1844; “The Government of God,” Times and Seasons, 15 July 1842, 3:855–858.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Robers, Brent M. “To the ‘Honest and Patriotic Sons of Liberty’: Mormon Appeals for Redress and Social Justice, 1843–44.” Journal of Mormon History 39, no. 1 (Winter 2013): 36–67.

Pratt, Parley P. An Appeal to the Inhabitants of the State of New York, Letter to Queen Victoria: (Reprinted from the Tenth European Edition,): The Fountain of Knowledge, Immortality of the Body, and Intelligence and Affection. Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, 1844.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

After an intermission, Rigdon took the entire afternoon session to continue his discourse from the morning.
The following day, 7 April,
Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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renewed his sermon on the church and the kingdom of God, followed by an intermission, during which
baptisms

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...

View Glossary
were performed.
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...

View Full Bio
, the church’s
patriarch

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office with the authority to give inspired blessings, similar to the practice of Old Testament patriarchs. JS occasionally referred to patriarchs as “evangelical ministers” or “evangelists.” Joseph Smith Sr. was ordained as...

View Glossary
and a member of the
temple building committee

A committee assigned to raise funds and direct the building of the Nauvoo temple; also called the building committee or temple building committee. On 3 October 1840, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds Cahoon, and Elias Higbee were appointed as a committee responsible...

View Glossary
, then addressed the Saints, urging them to contribute to the construction of the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
and counseling them to refrain from judging those who appeared to be apostatizing. JS was the concluding speaker on 7 April, preaching a long funeral sermon for church member
King Follett

24/26 July 1788–9 Mar. 1844. Born at Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Follett and Hannah Oak (Oake) Alexander. Married Louisa Tanner, by 1815. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spring 1831. Member of Whitmer branch...

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, who had died on 9 March. In this discourse, JS taught about the nature of God and humankind and defended himself against accusations that he was a fallen prophet.
12

Obituary for King Follett, Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2]; see also Discourse, 7 Apr. 1844. JS had meant to preach a funeral sermon for Follett on 5 April but was unable to because of poor health. On 27 February 1844, Follett had been “stoning up a well” some fifteen feet underground when a rope lowering a bucket of rocks snapped and Follett was struck by the falling objects. Although the blow did not kill him instantly, Follett died eleven days later, having “suffered much.” He was buried on 10 March “in due Masonic form.” (Woodruff, Journal, 5 Apr. 1844; Notice, Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2]; Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book, 10 Mar. 1844; see also Historian’s Office, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book. / “Record of Na[u]voo Lodge Under Dispensation,” 1842–1846. CHL. MS 3436

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

JS again spoke on the morning of 8 April, instructing the congregation about the location of
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 ...

View Glossary
, the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
, and the
gathering

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

View Glossary
of the Latter-day Saints.
13

The proclamation JS made during his 8 April discourse modified the Latter-day Saint practice of gathering. Previously, JS had instructed the Saints to gather in either Hancock County, Illinois, or Lee County, Iowa Territory. Stakes outside of these counties had been discontinued in 1841, although branches of the church continued to function in various parts of the United States. Later, in April 1843, JS counseled the Saints to leave Iowa Territory and settle in Illinois. (Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841; Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 Apr. 1843; see also Discourse, 8 Apr. 1844.)


After his exertion the previous day to make himself heard to a large group in the open air, JS’s lungs were exhausted, and he was forced to give a shorter discourse.
14

On 7 April 1844, JS spoke for two hours and fifteen minutes. On 8 April, Willard Richards recorded that JS brought the meeting to order at ten o’clock in the morning, after which William W. Phelps read 1 Corinthians 15 and Brigham Young said a prayer. JS then preached until 10:40, meaning that his discourse lasted less than forty minutes. (JS, Journal, 7–8 Apr. 1844.)


To compensate for his inability to speak at length, JS requested that
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
address the congregation, having previously given Adams some instruction on what he should teach. Adams then gave an extensive discourse that focused on the literal establishment of Zion and the salvation of the dead through vicarious
ordinances

A religious rite. JS taught that ordinances were covenants between man and God, in which believers could affirm faith, gain spiritual knowledge, and seek blessings. Some ordinances were considered requisite for salvation. The manner in which ordinances were...

View Glossary
. In the early afternoon, the special conference closed, and the meeting was turned over to the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
, who held an
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...

View Glossary
conference that afternoon and the next day.
15

JS, Journal, 8–9 Apr. 1844; Clayton, Journal, 8–9 Apr. 1844.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

The reaction to the April conference was mixed. For some it was an uplifting experience.
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
observed that “the speakers have all had the Spirit of the Lord upon them. spoke powerful—and told of great things.” He considered the conference “the greatest, best and most glorious five days that ever were consecutively” and concluded that “all rejoiced” with “much good done.”
16

Historian’s Office, Journal, 9 Apr. 1844.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Others shared Bullock’s sentiment. Ellen Douglas wrote to her family in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
that “the teaching which we heard made our hearts rejoice. I for one feel to rejoice and to praise my God that he ever sent the Elders of Israel to England and that he ever gave me a heart to believe them.”
17

Ellen Briggs Douglas, Letter to Family Members, 14 Apr. 1844, in Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 157–162.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

Likewise, Sally Randall wrote to her friends: “I wish you could have the teachings that we have here at the conference.”
18

Sally Carlisle Randall, Nauvoo, IL, to “Dear Friends,” 21 Apr. 1844, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Randall, Sally. Letters, 1843–1852. Typescript. CHL.

In contrast,
William Law

8 Sept. 1809–12/19 Jan. 1892. Merchant, millwright, physician. Born in Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co...

View Full Bio
remarked that “some of the most blasphemous doctrines have been taught by J. Smith & others” during the conference, referring, among other things, to JS’s teachings about the nature of God and humankind and
Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
’s teachings on the kingdom of God.
19

Law, Record of Doings, 1 June 1844, in Cook, William Law, 49.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

Four individuals—
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
,
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
,
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
, and
Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

View Full Bio
—attempted to capture the proceedings of the April conference.
20

In his account of the April conference, William Goforth observed that four clerks were at work recording the “masterly sermons.” (William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Bullock, Clayton, and Richards all recorded their accounts while the speakers were preaching. Bullock specifically attended the conference as a reporter, and his notes are the most comprehensive of the four accounts.
21

Historian’s Office, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Clayton and Richards often acted as scribes for JS, and they may have been assigned to record the proceedings as well.
22

Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–8 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

Woodruff recorded a refined version of his notes from the conference in his journal.
23

Woodruff, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844. The quality of Woodruff’s handwriting suggests that his account of the conference is a fair copy. Woodruff recalled in 1877 that “he had written” JS’s 7 April 1844 discourse “on the crown of his hat, standing in the congregation.” This suggests that at least on one occasion during the conference he took notes, which he then probably used to create the more polished account in his journal. (Bleak, Annals of the Southern Utah Mission, 10 June 1877.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Bleak, James Godson. Annals of the Southern Utah Mission, ca. 1898–1907. CHL. MS 318.

After the conference concluded, Bullock compiled the conference’s minutes for publication.
24

Historian’s Office, Journal, 10, 23–26, and 28 Apr. 1844; see also the docket for the 6 April 1844 minutes in Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–9 Apr. 1844. Apparently, by 10 April there were plans to publish the discourses from the conference. (William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

The Times and Seasons subsequently published polished accounts of the 6 April morning session and the 7 April afternoon session, which were an amalgamation of Bullock’s and Clayton’s notes.
25

“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 May 1844, 5:522–524; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 July 1844, 5:577–579; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Aug. 1844, 5:596–598; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1844, 5:612–617.


Bullock’s rough minutes are featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Discourse, 24 Mar. 1844–A; JS, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844; Historian’s Office, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844; Abiathar Williams, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 27 Mar. 1844, and Merinus G. Eaton, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 27 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Apr. 1844, [2]; Law, Record of Doings, 29 Mar. 1844, in Cook, William Law, 48; “Preamble,” Nauvoo Expositor, 7 June 1844, [2].

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

  2. [2]

    “The Council of Fifty in Nauvoo, Illinois.”

  3. [3]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. 1844. Rigdon had previously addressed the Council of Fifty on “the subject of the kingdom of God.” At a council meeting held on 5 April 1844, Rigdon observed that he “entertained no fears that legal exceptions to this council could or would be taken” and asserted that “there was nothing done here but he was willing should be proclaimed on the house tops.” (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 26 Mar. and 5 Apr. 1844.)

  4. [4]

    Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 45. During winter 1843–1844, work on the temple halted, leaving the unfinished building with “walls . . . as high as the arches of the first tier of windows all round.” (Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 40–41.)

    Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

  5. [5]

    Thompson, Autobiographical Sketch, 7–8; see also Editorial, Millennial Star, June 1844, 5:15. The exact date when Thompson felt impressed to raise money for the temple is unknown. Her autobiography suggests that it occurred after her marriage to Hyrum Smith in August 1843 and before Hyrum’s endorsement of the plan in the Millennial Star, which was dated 25 December 1843. Thompson and her sister, Mary Fielding Smith, “took down and kept a record of all the names” of those who contributed.

    Thompson, Mercy Rachel Fielding. Autobiographical Sketch, 1880. CHL. MS 4580.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  6. [6]

    Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 43.

    Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

  7. [7]

    Woodruff, Journal, 7 Mar. 1844.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  8. [8]

    JS, Journal, 6–7 Apr. 1844; Richards, Reminiscences and Journal, 6 Apr. 1844; Willard Richards, Journal, 6–7 Apr. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 7 Apr. 1844; “Conference,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 10 Apr. 1844, [2]. Among those in attendance were a group of American Indians. According to William Clayton, this group consisted of five Potawatomi, while Willard Richards recorded that there were four “Lamanites” and an interpreter present on the speaker’s stand. On 4 April 1844, eleven Potawatomi, who were seeking help to avoid losing their land, visited the Council of Fifty. It was probably members of this same group who sat on the stand at the April conference. Several Potawatomi delegations had previously traveled to Nauvoo to ask JS and the Latter-day Saints for assistance and advice in their struggles with white Americans. (Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1844; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 18 Apr. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 26 June 1843; Clayton, Journal, 18 Apr. 1843; 26 and 28 Aug. 1843; Letter to Paicouchaiby and Other Potawatomis, 28 Aug. 1843.)

    Richards, Samuel W. Reminiscences and Journal, ca. 1843–1845. Samuel W. Richards, Papers, 1839–1909. CHL. MS 1841.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  9. [9]

    Discourse, 6 Apr. 1844.

  10. [10]

    During his discourse, Rigdon referenced the bad health he had suffered over the previous five years. He had contracted malaria while living in Commerce (later Nauvoo) in August 1839, and his poor health continued in subsequent years, limiting his activities. (Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840; Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, to H. W. Miller, 8 July 1840, in Times and Seasons, July 1840, 1:134–136; JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1843.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  11. [11]

    Taylor echoed a series of appeals written by Latter-day Saints to their native states in 1843–1844. These entreaties, such as JS’s appeal to Vermont, were meant to invoke sympathy for the Saints and win support for their renewed efforts to obtain redress for their losses suffered during the Missouri expulsion of 1838–1839. Similar language was also used in General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States. Taylor’s comparison of the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of the world also reflected ideas in an editorial on theocracy published in the Times and Seasons in 1842, which may have been authored by Taylor. (Rogers, “Mormon Appeals for Redress and Social Justice, 1843–44,” 36–39; General Joseph Smith’s Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys, 21 Nov.–ca. 3 Dec. 1843; Parley P. Pratt, An Appeal to the Inhabitants of the State of New York . . . [Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, (1844)]; Benjamin Andrews, “An Appeal to the People of the State of Maine,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Jan. 1844, [1]; Sidney Rigdon, “To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, in Legislative Capacity Assembled,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 31 Jan. 1844, [1]; Phineas Richards, “An Appeal, to the Inhabitants of Massachusetts,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 7 Feb. 1844, [2]; [Alphonso Young], “An Appeal to the State of Tennessee, by A. Young,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 28 Feb. 1844, [1]; General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, ca. 26 Jan.–7 Feb. 1844; “The Government of God,” Times and Seasons, 15 July 1842, 3:855–858.)

    Robers, Brent M. “To the ‘Honest and Patriotic Sons of Liberty’: Mormon Appeals for Redress and Social Justice, 1843–44.” Journal of Mormon History 39, no. 1 (Winter 2013): 36–67.

    Pratt, Parley P. An Appeal to the Inhabitants of the State of New York, Letter to Queen Victoria: (Reprinted from the Tenth European Edition,): The Fountain of Knowledge, Immortality of the Body, and Intelligence and Affection. Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, 1844.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  12. [12]

    Obituary for King Follett, Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2]; see also Discourse, 7 Apr. 1844. JS had meant to preach a funeral sermon for Follett on 5 April but was unable to because of poor health. On 27 February 1844, Follett had been “stoning up a well” some fifteen feet underground when a rope lowering a bucket of rocks snapped and Follett was struck by the falling objects. Although the blow did not kill him instantly, Follett died eleven days later, having “suffered much.” He was buried on 10 March “in due Masonic form.” (Woodruff, Journal, 5 Apr. 1844; Notice, Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2]; Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book, 10 Mar. 1844; see also Historian’s Office, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844.)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

    Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book. / “Record of Na[u]voo Lodge Under Dispensation,” 1842–1846. CHL. MS 3436

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

  13. [13]

    The proclamation JS made during his 8 April discourse modified the Latter-day Saint practice of gathering. Previously, JS had instructed the Saints to gather in either Hancock County, Illinois, or Lee County, Iowa Territory. Stakes outside of these counties had been discontinued in 1841, although branches of the church continued to function in various parts of the United States. Later, in April 1843, JS counseled the Saints to leave Iowa Territory and settle in Illinois. (Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841; Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 Apr. 1843; see also Discourse, 8 Apr. 1844.)

  14. [14]

    On 7 April 1844, JS spoke for two hours and fifteen minutes. On 8 April, Willard Richards recorded that JS brought the meeting to order at ten o’clock in the morning, after which William W. Phelps read 1 Corinthians 15 and Brigham Young said a prayer. JS then preached until 10:40, meaning that his discourse lasted less than forty minutes. (JS, Journal, 7–8 Apr. 1844.)

  15. [15]

    JS, Journal, 8–9 Apr. 1844; Clayton, Journal, 8–9 Apr. 1844.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  16. [16]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 9 Apr. 1844.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

  17. [17]

    Ellen Briggs Douglas, Letter to Family Members, 14 Apr. 1844, in Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 157–162.

    Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

  18. [18]

    Sally Carlisle Randall, Nauvoo, IL, to “Dear Friends,” 21 Apr. 1844, CHL.

    Randall, Sally. Letters, 1843–1852. Typescript. CHL.

  19. [19]

    Law, Record of Doings, 1 June 1844, in Cook, William Law, 49.

    Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

  20. [20]

    In his account of the April conference, William Goforth observed that four clerks were at work recording the “masterly sermons.” (William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  21. [21]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

  22. [22]

    Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–8 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844.

    Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

  23. [23]

    Woodruff, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844. The quality of Woodruff’s handwriting suggests that his account of the conference is a fair copy. Woodruff recalled in 1877 that “he had written” JS’s 7 April 1844 discourse “on the crown of his hat, standing in the congregation.” This suggests that at least on one occasion during the conference he took notes, which he then probably used to create the more polished account in his journal. (Bleak, Annals of the Southern Utah Mission, 10 June 1877.)

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

    Bleak, James Godson. Annals of the Southern Utah Mission, ca. 1898–1907. CHL. MS 318.

  24. [24]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 10, 23–26, and 28 Apr. 1844; see also the docket for the 6 April 1844 minutes in Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–9 Apr. 1844. Apparently, by 10 April there were plans to publish the discourses from the conference. (William Goforth [Sissimus, pseud.], Nauvoo, IL, 10 Apr. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].)

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  25. [25]

    “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 May 1844, 5:522–524; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 July 1844, 5:577–579; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Aug. 1844, 5:596–598; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1844, 5:612–617.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1844, as Reported by William Clayton Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 April 1844, as Published in Times and Seasons History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith” “History of Joseph Smith” “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 23

Monday morning
Prayer by
Pres [Brigham] Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
— after which choir sung an hymn
Prophet it is just as impossible for me to continue the subject as to raise the dead— my lungs are worn out— I will do so ano[the]r. day— I want a few words to 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...

View Glossary
you know very well that the L[or]d. has led this
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
by rev[elatio]n I have an[othe]r. revn. a great grand & glorious revn. & this is what I am going to declare— you kno there has been great discus[sio]n where
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 ...

View Glossary
is & when the
gath[erin]g.

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

View Glossary
of the
D[ispensation]

A gift of divine knowledge, power, and authority from God to humankind; often associated with a prophet and his time period. A revelation published in 1835 identified JS and Oliver Cowdery as the recipients of keys to administer a final dispensation of the...

View Glossary
is & which I am ◊◊◊er to— the whole America is the Land itself N[orth] & S[outh] itself & is desc[ribe]d. by the Prophets that it sho[ul]d be in the centre of the land. the decla[ratio]n is that as soon as the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
& B[aptismal] font is prep[are]d. & so as we can wash &
anoint

To apply ceremonial oil to the head or body, often in conjunction with priesthood ordinances and the blessing of the sick. The practice of blessing the sick included anointing with oil and laying hands on the sick person. Ritual washings and anointings were...

View Glossary
the El[ders] of Israel there must be a place prepd for that purpose //— There are provi[sio]ns made until the work is comp[lete]d.— to be as K[ings] & P[riests] of the mos[t] H[igh] God but as all to do with the
ho[use] of God

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
— but there must be an express place built for that purpose & for men to be
B[aptized]

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...

View Glossary
for their d[ea]d for every man who wishes to save th[ei]r F[athers] & M[others]— B[rothers] S[isters] & F[riends] must go thru the same— B[aptism]— A[nointing] W[ashing] & all the protect[io]n. of the powers of the
Priesthood

Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...

View Glossary
same as for themselves— the Elders of Israel shall build Churches unto the L[or]d & there shall they build Churches unto the Lr..— there shall be a
Stake

Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...

View Glossary
of Zion— it is a glorious procln & I reserved it to the last & desn it to be undestd [understood] that it shall be after the washg. & anointg. here— the place that the Ld. has est[ablishe]d.for the S[alvatio]n of the dead— there must be a par[ticu]lar place— I verily believe this to be the place— & men who wish to save their dead must come here to be B for their dead— & then may go back ag[a]in.— & I shall leave m[y]— Brern to enlarge— it is my duty to teach those who err in doctrine— the Sp[irit] is will[in]g. but the flesh is weak— it God made Aaron to be their mouthpiece & made me to be their K. & their God— & if you dont like it you must lump it— I have given instr[ucti]on to
El [George J.] Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

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in some principles— if he makes a mistake I will tell it
El Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

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called to order to give prayerful att[entio]n. I will read some Scrip[tures] & will make obse[rvati]ons by the Sp[irit] of God— it is better for Pres &
E. [Sidney] Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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to make texts— I shall speak to sinners & shall read Obadiah <​(17v)​>— “But in Mount Zion shall be deliverance “&c on this Mt. Zion where the house shall be estab[lishe]d. there shall come Saviors &c you will be able to see whe[the]r. I stick to the text. & understand it [p. 23]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock
ID #
13267
Total Pages
32
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Thomas Bullock

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