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Note on Ordinations, circa 16 June 1831

Source Note

Note on Ordinations, [
Kirtland Township

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

More Info
, OH], [ca. 16] June 1831. Featured version copied [between ca. 6 Apr. and 19 June 1838] in Minute Book 2, p. 4; 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

On the final day of the church
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 early June 1831, JS dictated a revelation calling many to travel to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
, preaching along the way.
1

Historical Introduction to Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831; Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:3, 7–10, 22–36].


Some of those named in the revelation who had not yet been
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

View Glossary
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
were subsequently ordained. Although the document featured here, which recorded the ordinations in the minute book, bears a 6 June date, it appears to be a compilation of information about ordinations performed by JS between 6 and 18 June.
The 6 June revelation directed that
Symonds Rider

20 Nov. 1792–1 Aug. 1870. Farmer, teacher, minister. Born in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joshua Ryder and Marilla Loomis. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, 6 Jan. 1814. Married Mahitable Loomis, 12 Nov. 1818, in Portage Co. Served as captain in...

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and
Selah Griffin

Ca. 1795–after 1860. Blacksmith. Born in Virginia. Married first Polly. Lived in Morgan Township, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, by 1820. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1826. Supervisor of highways, 1827, and fence viewer, 1829, in Kirtland. Baptized into ...

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be ordained elders, and they likely were ordained that same day.
2

Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:32, 37].


Daniel Stanton

28 May 1795–26 Oct. 1872. Farmer, carpenter. Born in Manlius, Onondaga Co., New York. Son of Amos Stanton and Elizabeth Wyman. Moved to Pompey, Onondaga Co., by 1800. Married Clarinda Graves, 16 Mar. 1816. Moved to Mayfield, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Moved...

View Full Bio
was listed as being present at the conference, making it probable he was ordained around 6 June as well.
Sidney Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...

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, however, was apparently not yet an elder by 8 June, when JS dictated a revelation instructing him to “take upon you mine
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...

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even that of an Elder to Preach faith & repentance & remission of sins.”
3

Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53:3].


William W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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likewise could not have been ordained on 6 June, since he arrived in
Kirtland

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

More Info
after the conference and was directed by a 14 June revelation to be
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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into the church and then ordained an elder.
4

Revelation, 14 June 1831 [D&C 55:1–2]. According to a letter Phelps wrote later in 1831, he arrived in Buffalo, New York, en route to Kirtland, on 12 June. ([William W. Phelps], “Extract of a Letter from the Late Editor,” Ontario Phoenix [Canandaigua, NY], 7 Sept. 1831, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Ontario Phoenix. Canandaigua, NY. 1828–1832.

Phelps wrote that he was baptized on 16 June. He was possibly ordained an elder the same day and was almost certainly ordained before he departed with JS and others for
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
on 18 June 1831.
5

William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Historical Introduction to Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831; Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:3, 7–10, 22–36].

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:32, 37].

  3. [3]

    Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53:3].

  4. [4]

    Revelation, 14 June 1831 [D&C 55:1–2]. According to a letter Phelps wrote later in 1831, he arrived in Buffalo, New York, en route to Kirtland, on 12 June. ([William W. Phelps], “Extract of a Letter from the Late Editor,” Ontario Phoenix [Canandaigua, NY], 7 Sept. 1831, [2].)

    Ontario Phoenix. Canandaigua, NY. 1828–1832.

  5. [5]

    William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Note on Ordinations, circa 16 June 1831
Minute Book 2

Page 4

June 6th. 1831.
Brothers
Simonds Rider

20 Nov. 1792–1 Aug. 1870. Farmer, teacher, minister. Born in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joshua Ryder and Marilla Loomis. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, 6 Jan. 1814. Married Mahitable Loomis, 12 Nov. 1818, in Portage Co. Served as captain in...

View Full Bio
1

The revelation dictated on 6 June declared, “In consequence of transgression let that which was bestowed upon Heman (Bassett) be taken from him & placed upon the head of Simonds (Rider).” Bassett had previously served as an elder in the church, the position to which Rider was ordained. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:37].)


Selah J. Griffin

Ca. 1795–after 1860. Blacksmith. Born in Virginia. Married first Polly. Lived in Morgan Township, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, by 1820. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1826. Supervisor of highways, 1827, and fence viewer, 1829, in Kirtland. Baptized into ...

View Full Bio
2

The 6 June revelation instructed, “Let my Servent Newel Knight & Sealy [Selah] (Griffin) both be ordained & also take their Journey.” (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:32].)


Daniel Stanton

28 May 1795–26 Oct. 1872. Farmer, carpenter. Born in Manlius, Onondaga Co., New York. Son of Amos Stanton and Elizabeth Wyman. Moved to Pompey, Onondaga Co., by 1800. Married Clarinda Graves, 16 Mar. 1816. Moved to Mayfield, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Moved...

View Full Bio
3

Stanton was listed as a priest in the minutes of the June conference. (Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.)


Peter Dustin

19 Apr. 1781–after 1860. Farmer, laborer. Born at Goffstown, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Dustin and Sarah (Sally) Webster. Moved to Alstead, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, by 1803. Married first Aruba (Azubah) Tubbs, 11 Sept. 1803, at Marlow...

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Sidney Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...

View Full Bio
&
William W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
were
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

View Glossary
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
of this Church according to the church covenants
4

Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20].


under the hand of Joseph Smith jr. [p. 4]
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Source Note

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Page 4

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Note on Ordinations, circa 16 June 1831
ID #
7252
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:343–344
Handwriting on This Page
  • Ebenezer Robinson

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The revelation dictated on 6 June declared, “In consequence of transgression let that which was bestowed upon Heman (Bassett) be taken from him & placed upon the head of Simonds (Rider).” Bassett had previously served as an elder in the church, the position to which Rider was ordained. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:37].)

  2. [2]

    The 6 June revelation instructed, “Let my Servent Newel Knight & Sealy [Selah] (Griffin) both be ordained & also take their Journey.” (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:32].)

  3. [3]

    Stanton was listed as a priest in the minutes of the June conference. (Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.)

  4. [4]

    Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20].

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