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Times and Seasons, 1 March 1842

Source Note

Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 Mar. 1842, vol. 3, no. 9, pp. 703–718; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

The first issue of the -affiliated newspaper Times and Seasons was published near , Illinois, in 1839. Owned jointly by and , the paper was edited at various times by Smith, Robinson, and through summer 1841. Following the deaths of Smith and Thompson in August 1841, Robinson became sole proprietor and editor of the paper. On 28 January 1842 JS dictated a revelation that directed the to assume editorial responsibility for the paper. A week later Robinson sold the newspaper, along with the remainder of his printing establishment, to JS.
Though JS assumed editorship of the Times and Seasons sometime in mid-February, he stated in his first editorial passage that he did not begin reviewing the paper’s content until the 1 March 1842 issue. A 2 March 1842 entry in JS’s journal notes, “Read the Proof of the ‘Times and Seasons’ as Editor for the first time, No. 9[th] Vol 3d. in which is the commencement of the Book of Abraham.” Though JS actively edited the paper at times, apparently assisted him in writing content. Regardless of who penned specific passages of editorial material, JS openly assumed editorial responsibility for all installments naming him as editor except the 15 February 1842 issue.
Included in the 1 March 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons are four editorial passages, which are featured below with introductions. Other JS documents published in this issue of the newspaper, including an excerpt from the Book of Abraham and a rare narrative history of the church, are featured as stand-alone documents in this or other volumes of The Joseph Smith Papers. In the first editorial passage, JS publicly announced his new role as editor of the Times and Seasons to the newspaper’s readership.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, “Address,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:1–2.

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

  2. [2]

    Ebenezer Robinson, “To the Patrons of the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons, 16 Aug. 1841, 2:511; Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 257; July 1890, 302; see also Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:91–92.

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

    The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

    Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

  3. [3]

    Revelation, 28 Jan. 1842.

  4. [4]

    Agreement with Ebenezer Robinson, 4 Feb. 1842.

  5. [5]

    In the 15 March 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons, Robinson confirmed JS’s declaration. Apprising readers that in early February it had not been “fully decided whether President Smith should take the responsibility of editor, or not,” Robinson stated that the 15 February issue went to press without JS’s “personal inspection.” (Ebenezer Robinson, “To the Public,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 3:729.)

  6. [6]

    JS, Journal, 2 Mar. 1842.

  7. [7]

    Woodruff, Journal, 19 Feb. 1842.

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

  8. [8]

    JS was listed as editor of the newspaper through the 15 October 1842 issue; John Taylor was listed as editor thereafter. (Masthead, Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:958; Masthead, Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1842, 4:16.)

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

  9. [9]

    Book of Abraham and Facsimiles, 1 Mar.–16 May 1842 [Abraham 1:1–2:18]; “Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842; Letter from Robert Peirce, 28 Feb. 1842; Notice, ca. 1 Mar. 1842; General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 22–27 Feb. 1842.

  10. [10]

    See “Editorial Method”.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Notice, circa 1 March 1842–B *Letter from Robert Peirce, 28 February 1842 *“Church History,” 1 March 1842 *General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 22–27 February 1842

Page 715

the transgressors, and “made his grave with the rich;” until the dawn of the third day, when like a mighty conqueror he rose from the tomb, and after “going in and out for the space of forty days, ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men: and ever lives to make intercession for us.”
(To be concluded in our next.)
 
————
Joseph Smith,
Dear sir:—I feel anxious to express my feelings, concerning the business transactions between the and myself;—as it is well known to many, that , as for the church, purchased my farm while I was living in , Chester co. Pa, and many supposed or pretended to suppose, I would get nothing in return;—but I wish to say to all my old friends and enemies in , through the medium of the “Times and Seasons,”—-[which I rejoice you now have the control of,]- that I have received my pay in full from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, through yourself, sir, as their Trustee in Trust, according to the original contract; and that from my acquaintance with yourself, and those brethren who are assisting you in the great and increasing business of the church, I have the fullest confidence in all the transactions of the church, and I request those papers in who published concerning my sale and loss, with such bitter lamentations to publish this also. I am, sir, your brother and well wisher,
.
, Feb. 28, 1842.
 
————
TO THE BRETHREN IN , GREETING:—
It is highly important, for the forwarding of the , that an equal distribution of labor should be made, in relation to time; as a superabundance of hands one week, and none the next, tends to retard the progress of the work; therefore, every brother is requested to be particular to labor on the day set apart for the same, in his ward; and to remember that he that sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly,—so that if the brethren want a plentiful harvest, they will do well to be at the place of labor in good season in the morning, bringing all necessary tools, according to their occupation; and those who have teams bring them also, unless otherwise advised by the temple committee.
Should any one be detained from his labor by unavoidable circumstances, on the day appointed, let him labor the next day, or the first day possible.
N. B.—The captains of the respective wards are particularly requested to be at the place of labor on their respective days, and keep an accurate account of each man’s work, and be ready to exhibit a list of the same when called for.
The heart of the trustee is daily made to rejoice in the good feelings of the brethren, made manifest in their exertion to carry forward the work of the Lord, and rear his ; and it is hoped that neither planting, sowing or reaping will hereafter be made to interfere with the regulations hinted at above.
JOSEPH SMITH.
Trustee in Trust.
 
————
TEMPLE FRIENDS.
This day a certificate of deposite of $145, in the Auburn Bank, was received at this office, and passed to the credit of the twelve individuals of West Niles, named in the accompanying letter of Wm. Van Orden, in the Book of the Law of the Lord, page 83, with their respective items attached to the individual names, as specified in the schedule.
Such receipts can never come amiss, but this arrived at a moment when it will prove peculiarly useful, as we knew not what course to pursue to raise that amount of cash, which could not be dispensed with without immense loss, or sacrifice of the property of the .
,
Temple Recorder.
Recorder’s Office, Feb. 21, 1842.
We would also say to all the churches, that in as much as they want the blessings of God and Angels, as also the church of Jesus Christ, and wish to see it spread and prosper through the world and built up and truth and righteousness prevail, let all the different of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in all the world, call meetings in their respective places and tithe themselves and send up to this place to the Trustee in Trust, so that his hands may be loosed and the go on, and other works be done, such as the new translation of the bible, and the record of Father Abraham published to the world. [p. 715]
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Page 715

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Times and Seasons, 1 March 1842
ID #
8487
Total Pages
16
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:192–202
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