Footnotes

1. [1]

   Minutes, 17 Aug. 1835.

2. [2]

   Minutes, 17 Aug. 1835.

3. [3]

   Minutes, 17 Aug. 1835; see also Declaration on Government and Law, ca. Aug. 1835 [D&C 134].

4. [4]

   Geauga Co., OH, Court of Common Pleas, Court Records, 1807–1904, vol. M, pp. 380–381, Mar. 1835, microfilm 20,277, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

   U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

5. [5]

   An Act Regulating Marriages [6 Jan. 1824], Statutes of Ohio, vol. 2, p. 1407, sec. 2.

   The Statutes of Ohio and of the Northwestern Territory, Adopted or Enacted from 1788 to 1833 Inclusive: Together with the Ordinance of 1787; the Constitutions of Ohio and of the United States, and Various Public Instruments and Acts of Congress: Illustrated by a Preliminary Sketch of the History of Ohio; Numerous References and Notes, and Copious Indexes. 3 vols. Edited by Salmon P. Chase. Cincinnati: Corey and Fairbank, 1833–1835.

6. [6]

   The earliest recorded marriage performed by JS occurred in November 1835 when he was invited to “solemnize the matrimonial ceremony” of Newel Knight and Lydia Goldthwaite. (JS, Journal, 24 Nov. 1835; for more information on Ohio marriage laws at this time, see Bradshaw, “Joseph Smith’s Performance of Marriages in Ohio,” 23–69.)

   Bradshaw, M. Scott. “Joseph Smith’s Performance of Marriages in Ohio.” BYU Studies 39, no. 4 (2000): 23–69.

7. [7]

   It is possible that William W. Phelps was involved in drafting the document since he and Cowdery were both involved in printing the Doctrine and Covenants. In preceding months, Phelps had expressed considerable excitement and interest in what he called “a new idea” of eternal marriage. (See Van Orden, “W. W. Phelps,” 45–62; and William W. Phelps, Kirtland, OH, to Sally Waterman Phelps, Liberty, MO, 26 May 1835, William W. Phelps, Papers, BYU.)

   Van Orden, Bruce A. “W. W. Phelps: His Ohio Contributions, 1835–36.” In Regional Studies in Latter-Day Saint Church History: Ohio, edited by Milton V. Backman Jr., 45–62. Provo, UT: Department of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University, 1990.

   Phelps, William W. Papers, 1835–1865. BYU.

8. [8]

   Brigham Young, Discourse, 8 Sept. 1867, in George D. Watt, Discourse Shorthand Notes, 8 Sept. 1867, Pitman Shorthand Transcriptions, CHL.

   Watt, George D. Papers, ca. 1846–1865. CHL.

9. [9]

   Joseph F. Smith recorded Young’s words in his diary, explaining that “Prest. Young spoke 12 minutes in relation to Sec. 109 B. of Doctrine and Covenants.” Smith later stated that Cowdery knew of the doctrine of plural marriage but took “liberties without license” in publishing the statement in the Doctrine and Covenants “without authority.” (Joseph F. Smith, Diary, 9 Oct. 1869; Joseph F. Smith, in Journal of Discourses, 7 July 1878, 20:29; see also Provo, UT, Central Stake, General Minutes, 4 Mar. 1883, vol. 12, pp. 271–275.)

   Smith, Joseph F. Diary, Sept. 1869–Apr. 1870. Joseph F. Smith, Papers, 1854–1918. CHL. MS 1325, box 2, fd. 5.

   Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855–1886.

   Provo, UT, Central Stake. General Minutes, 1852–1977. CHL. LR 9629 11.

10. [10]

    Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, 17 Feb. 1835, italics in original.

11. [11]

    JS was in Michigan Territory with Frederick G. Williams at the time. He did not return until 23 August 1835. (JS History, vol. B-1, 606.)

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.