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 > 

Revised Minutes and Discourses, 23 April-circa 8 May 1843, Willard Richards Draft

Source Note

Revised Minutes, and JS, Discourses,
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
, Hancock Co., IL, [23 Apr.–ca. 8 May 1843]. Version drafted [3–ca. 8 May 1843]; handwriting of
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
with printed passages from previous drafts pasted in; ten pages with one inserted slip; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, CHL. Includes dockets.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Revised Minutes and Discourses, 23 Apr.–ca. 8 May 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 6 April 1843–B, as Reported by William Clayton *Discourse, 6 April 1843–B, as Reported by Willard Richards *Discourse, 6 April 1843–B, as Reported by James Burgess *Discourse, 6 April 1843–B, as Published in Times and Seasons *Discourse, 6 April 1843–A, as Reported by William Clayton *Discourse, 6 April 1843–A, as Reported by Willard Richards *Discourse, 6 April 1843–A, as Published in Times and Seasons *Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 April 1843, as Reported by William Clayton *Revised Minutes and Discourses, 23 April–circa 8 May 1843

Page 1

<​Special​>

Insertion in handwriting of Willard Richards. Triple underlined.


Printed text begins. This text block was cut from the first fragment of the first printed draft and pasted here.


CONFFRENCE

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
.

John Taylor struck through the second “F” of “CONFFRENCE”, marking the typographic mistake.


<​—​>

Insertion in handwriting of Willard Richards.


Thursday Morning April 6th, 1843.
11 o’clock, A. M.
A special Conference 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
was convened on the platform 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
. <​There were presents. present.
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
,
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
;
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
,
H[eber] C. Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

View Full Bio
,
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

View Full Bio
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
,
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 ...

View Full Bio
Geo. A. Smith

26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...

View Full Bio
, &
W[illard] 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
of the
Quorum 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
.— & a very large assembly of 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
& Saints.​>

Insertion in handwriting of Willard Richards written to to the right side of the pasted-in printed text.


Elder
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
announced that Pres’t Joseph Smith
1

TEXT: “ng”—from “Brigham Young”—was written over the printed text when John Taylor revised the first printed draft.


was detained on business,
2

TEXT: John Taylor struck through the upside-down “e” of “business”, marking the typographic mistake.


but would be present soon. He called upon the choir to sing an Hymn.
3

TEXT: “l”—from “H. C Kimball”—was written over the printed text when John Taylor revised the first printed draft.


Elder
Amasa Lyman

30 Mar. 1813–4 Feb. 1877. Boatman, gunsmith, farmer. Born at Lyman, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Son of Roswell Lyman and Martha Mason. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Lyman E. Johnson, 27 Apr. 1832. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co....

View Full Bio
opened by prayer and another Hymn was then sung, and Elder
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

View Full Bio
read the 3d Chap. of the 2d epistle of Peter, and spoke for somc time
4

TEXT: John Taylor struck through the “c” of “somc”, marking the typographic mistake. The whole phrase “for somc time” was then stricken by either Taylor or Willard Richards.


upon the subject of the resurrection. At half past elen <​10 minutes before 12​>

Cancellation and insertion written to the left side of the pasted-in printed text in the handwriting of Willard Richards.


o’clock President
5

TEXT: “ruf”—from “Wilford Woodruf”—was written over the printed text when John Taylor revised the first printed draft.


Joseph Smith, Elder
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
and Elder
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
arrived.

Printed text ends; Willard Richards handwriting begins.


At 12 o clock
Elder Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

View Full Bio
gave way, for President Joseph Smith, who arose and stated that the object of the conference, was
1st, to ascertain the standing 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
At 12 oclock
Elder Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

View Full Bio
gave way for the business of the Confince [conference].
President Joseph Smith commenced, by saying. We all ought to be thankful for the privilege of <​we​> enjoy this meeting <​day​> of meeting so many of the saints.— & for the warmth and brightness of the heavens over our heads,— which <​& it​> truly makes our <​the​> countenances look of this great multitude to look cheerely, & gladdens the hearts of all p[r]esent.
The president next presentd the <​a synopsis of the​> business of the meeting which was first
First the trial
He next stated the object of the meeting, which <​was​> <​[illegible]​> first, to ascertain the standing of the first presidency, which he should <​would​> do. by persenting himself before the conference for trial.
Second; to take into consideration. the expediency of <​the​> sending out of the twelve, or some portion of them, or somebody else <​amongst the
branches

An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...

View Glossary
of the church​> to get means <​obtain Stock​> to build the
Nauvoo House

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...

More Info
, for the time has come to build it. & The church must build it or abide the consequence result of not fulfilling the commandment.
6

TEXT: Wafer residue indicates Richards pasted another clipping of printed text here to replace the canceled text. There is text cut from the first fragment of the first printed draft that is likely what was pasted here.


third. the Elders will have the privilege of appeals from the different conferences, to this, if any such cases exist. These, said the,
7

TEXT: Possibly “<​t​>he”.


p[r]esident are the principle items of business which I have at p[r]esent to lay before you, This is not a General Conference but an annual confernce. [p. 1]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 1

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revised Minutes and Discourses, 23 April-circa 8 May 1843, Willard Richards Draft
ID #
2692
Total Pages
22
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards
  • Printed text

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Insertion in handwriting of Willard Richards. Triple underlined.

  2. new scribe logo

    Printed text begins. This text block was cut from the first fragment of the first printed draft and pasted here.

  3. new scribe logo

    John Taylor struck through the second “F” of “CONFFRENCE”, marking the typographic mistake.

  4. new scribe logo

    Insertion in handwriting of Willard Richards.

  5. new scribe logo

    Insertion in handwriting of Willard Richards written to to the right side of the pasted-in printed text.

  6. [1]

    TEXT: “ng”—from “Brigham Young”—was written over the printed text when John Taylor revised the first printed draft.

  7. [2]

    TEXT: John Taylor struck through the upside-down “e” of “business”, marking the typographic mistake.

  8. [3]

    TEXT: “l”—from “H. C Kimball”—was written over the printed text when John Taylor revised the first printed draft.

  9. [4]

    TEXT: John Taylor struck through the “c” of “somc”, marking the typographic mistake. The whole phrase “for somc time” was then stricken by either Taylor or Willard Richards.

  10. new scribe logo

    Cancellation and insertion written to the left side of the pasted-in printed text in the handwriting of Willard Richards.

  11. [5]

    TEXT: “ruf”—from “Wilford Woodruf”—was written over the printed text when John Taylor revised the first printed draft.

  12. new scribe logo

    Printed text ends; Willard Richards handwriting begins.

  13. [6]

    TEXT: Wafer residue indicates Richards pasted another clipping of printed text here to replace the canceled text. There is text cut from the first fragment of the first printed draft that is likely what was pasted here.

  14. [7]

    TEXT: Possibly “<​t​>he”.

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