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Proclamation, between 19 January and 27 August 1841

Source Note

JS, Proclamation,
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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, Hancock Co., IL, between 19 Jan. and 27 Aug. 1841; handwriting of
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket and notation.
Bifolium measuring 11⅜ × 7½ inches (29 × 19 cm). Each page is ruled with thirty-five lines, which are now faded. The document was later folded for filing and docketed. On the top, right side of the first page, “1842” appears in type.
1

A Historian’s Office inventory includes the following under the entry for 1842: “A religious proclamation by the Prophet.” That entry likely refers to this document. (“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

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

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; 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.

By 1973 this document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The proclamation’s dockets and inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    A Historian’s Office inventory includes the following under the entry for 1842: “A religious proclamation by the Prophet.” That entry likely refers to this document. (“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.)

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  2. [2]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; 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.

Historical Introduction

Sometime between 19 January and 27 August 1841, JS dictated a religious proclamation inviting government leaders throughout the earth to gather with the
Latter-day Saints

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
and “become the elite of the kingdom” of God. JS produced the proclamation with his scribe
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

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in accordance with a 19 January 1841 revelation, which commanded JS to “make a solemn proclamation of my gospel . . . written in the spirit of meekness and by the power of the holy ghost” so that the authorities in all the world would know God’s will, “even what shall befall them in a time to come.”
1

Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:1–6].


The revelation also directed JS to warn the world’s people and authorities of the second coming and judgment of Jesus Christ so “that they may be left also without excuse . . . when I shall unveil the face of my covering, to appoint the portion of the oppressor, among hypocrites, where there is gnashing of teeth; if they reject my servants, and my testimony, which I have revealed unto them.”
2

Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:7–8].


The revelation instructed JS to have
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

View Full Bio
help him write the proclamation,
3

Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:12–14].


and the proclamation featured here is indeed in Thompson’s handwriting. Though the proclamation was not dated, it would have been created after 19 January, when JS dictated the revelation that called for the proclamation to be written, and before 27 August 1841, when Thompson died.
4

Thompson apparently died from a severe lung infection. (Letter to Oliver Granger, 30 Aug. 1841; see also Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.)


No other textual clues in the document suggest a more specific date.
5

When Thomas Bullock filed the proclamation featured here, he wrote on the document that it was created “about, 1842,” but that appears to be a mistake.


The proclamation was apparently not published or distributed, despite the 19 January revelation’s injunction that JS do so immediately. There is no extant evidence that the proclamation was ever completed. At the end of 1841, JS evidently spoke to
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...

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about the proclamation,
6

Richards wrote the title of the proclamation and a few sentences about it on the verso of a 22 December 1841 revelation appointing John Snider to raise funds for the construction of the Nauvoo temple and the Nauvoo House, which the 19 January 1841 revelation commanded to be built. (See Revelation, [Nauvoo, IL], ca. 22 Dec. 1841, Revelations Collection, CHL.)


though no evidence suggests any effort was made to publish it in JS’s lifetime.
7

In April 1845, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published a sixteen-page proclamation that was far more expansive and wide-ranging than JS’s 1841 proclamation. (Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints [New York: Prophet Office, 1845].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

[Pratt, Parley P.] Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-Day Saints. New York: Samuel Brannan and Parley P. Pratt, 1845.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:1–6].

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:7–8].

  3. [3]

    Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:12–14].

  4. [4]

    Thompson apparently died from a severe lung infection. (Letter to Oliver Granger, 30 Aug. 1841; see also Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.)

  5. [5]

    When Thomas Bullock filed the proclamation featured here, he wrote on the document that it was created “about, 1842,” but that appears to be a mistake.

  6. [6]

    Richards wrote the title of the proclamation and a few sentences about it on the verso of a 22 December 1841 revelation appointing John Snider to raise funds for the construction of the Nauvoo temple and the Nauvoo House, which the 19 January 1841 revelation commanded to be built. (See Revelation, [Nauvoo, IL], ca. 22 Dec. 1841, Revelations Collection, CHL.)

  7. [7]

    In April 1845, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published a sixteen-page proclamation that was far more expansive and wide-ranging than JS’s 1841 proclamation. (Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints [New York: Prophet Office, 1845].)

    [Pratt, Parley P.] Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-Day Saints. New York: Samuel Brannan and Parley P. Pratt, 1845.

Page 1

A Religious Proclamation
From Joseph Smith,
President

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
of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

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
, and Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Most High God,
1

At the church’s organization, JS dictated a revelation stating that he would be recognized in the church record as “a seer & Translater & Prop[h]et an Apostle of Jesus Christ an Elder of the Church through the will of God the Father.” This authority was reiterated in the 19 January 1841 revelation that mandated the creation of a proclamation: “I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding Elder over all my Church, to be a Translater, a Revelator, a Seer, and Prophet.” (Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21:1]; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:125].)


to the President 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 ...

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of North America—
2

Martin Van Buren served as president of the United States from 4 March 1837 to 4 March 1841. William Henry Harrison served from 4 March 1841 to 4 April 1841, and John Tyler served from 4 April 1841 to 4 March 1845. Given the uncertain date of creation for this document, it could have been addressed to any one of these three presidents.


the Governors of the several States— the Emperors, Kings, and Princes of the earth— the Executives of all nations— the Chiefs of all tribes— and all occupying high places in the administration of governments.
“Thus saith the Lord God,
3

TEXT: “Lord God” is double underlined.


Behold I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, and their queens thy nursing-mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord:
4

TEXT: “Lord” is double underlined.


for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.”
5

Isaiah 49:22–23.


(Isaiah— LX, LXI, LXII.)
6

Chapters 60, 61, and 62 of Isaiah contain prophecies that Israel would rise again as a mighty nation and that the Gentiles would join with and serve Israel.


Now in obedience to a revelation given January 19th, [A]D. 1841, I proceed to call upon you to yield yourselves as obedient subjects to the requisitions of heaven, in fulfilling the contributing to the fulfilment of the predictions of the prophets
7

See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:1–12].


—to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of and abandon your sins, be
immersed

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 the remission of your sins, receive to
imposition of hands

A practice in which individuals place their hands upon a person to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, ordain to an office or calling, or confer other power, authority, or blessings, often as part of an ordinance. The Book of Mormon explained that ecclesiastical...

View Glossary
for the
gift of the Holy Ghost

A right or privilege bestowed through the confirmation ordinance. Individuals were confirmed members of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands. The Book of Mormon explained that remission of sins requires not only...

View Glossary
, and, in fine, to embrace the gospel in its beauty & fulness.
8

This list resembles the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Latter-day Saint thought. In 1837 a church newspaper identified “faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sin, and . . . the reception of the Holy Ghost” as the “first principles of the gospel.” (A. Cheney, “The Gospel,” Messenger and Advocate, May 1837, 3:498, 499; see also Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835; Discourse, 3 Oct. 1841; Acts 2:38; 19:1–6; and Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 117, 494, 499–500 [2 Nephi 31:5–13; 3 Nephi 27:20; 4 Nephi 1:1].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

“And now, why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptised, and wash away thy sins, calling on th[e] name of the Lord.”
9

Acts 22:16.


This is more honorable than the diadems of kings. [p. 1]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 1

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Proclamation, between 19 January and 27 August 1841
ID #
2192
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:240–243
Handwriting on This Page
  • Robert B. Thompson

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    At the church’s organization, JS dictated a revelation stating that he would be recognized in the church record as “a seer & Translater & Prop[h]et an Apostle of Jesus Christ an Elder of the Church through the will of God the Father.” This authority was reiterated in the 19 January 1841 revelation that mandated the creation of a proclamation: “I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding Elder over all my Church, to be a Translater, a Revelator, a Seer, and Prophet.” (Revelation, 6 Apr. 1830 [D&C 21:1]; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:125].)

  2. [2]

    Martin Van Buren served as president of the United States from 4 March 1837 to 4 March 1841. William Henry Harrison served from 4 March 1841 to 4 April 1841, and John Tyler served from 4 April 1841 to 4 March 1845. Given the uncertain date of creation for this document, it could have been addressed to any one of these three presidents.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “Lord God” is double underlined.

  4. [4]

    TEXT: “Lord” is double underlined.

  5. [5]

    Isaiah 49:22–23.

  6. [6]

    Chapters 60, 61, and 62 of Isaiah contain prophecies that Israel would rise again as a mighty nation and that the Gentiles would join with and serve Israel.

  7. [7]

    See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:1–12].

  8. [8]

    This list resembles the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Latter-day Saint thought. In 1837 a church newspaper identified “faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sin, and . . . the reception of the Holy Ghost” as the “first principles of the gospel.” (A. Cheney, “The Gospel,” Messenger and Advocate, May 1837, 3:498, 499; see also Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835; Discourse, 3 Oct. 1841; Acts 2:38; 19:1–6; and Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 117, 494, 499–500 [2 Nephi 31:5–13; 3 Nephi 27:20; 4 Nephi 1:1].)

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

  9. [9]

    Acts 22:16.

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