The city’s inability to properly care for the poor had persisted for some time. As Bishop George Miller remembered, it was difficult to convince those with means to contribute to the poor during Nauvoo’s early years. The immigrating “poor had to be cared for, and labor created,” but the wealthier citizens “pretended to be too poor to barely feed themselves and nurse their speculations, which they were all more or less engaged in.” JS had previously taught on the evils of economic inequality and urged those with surplus to freely contribute to the temporal welfare of others. He had also recently organized the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, which had relief for the poor as one of its central objectives. In discourses delivered in April and May 1842, JS singled out merchants for not giving liberally enough to the cause of the temple and stated that “the rich cannot be saved without cha[r]ity. giving to feed the poor.” (George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 26 June 1855, in Northern Islander [St. James, MI], 16 Aug. 1855, [3]; Letter to the Church in Caldwell Co., MO, 16 Dec. 1838; Minutes and Discourses, 17 Mar. 1842; Discourse, 28 Apr. 1842; JS, Journal, 24 Apr. 1842; Discourse, 1 May 1842.)

Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

In February 1841, the Illinois state legislature approved the charter for the Agricultural and Manufacturing Association, incorporating the association and allowing stock sales to fund the endeavor. The association’s initial capital was set at $100,000, divided into 2,000 shares of $50 each. The charter stated that the association’s sole purpose was “the promotion of agriculture and husbandry in all its branches, and for the manufacture of flour, lumber, and such other useful articles as are necessary for the ordinary purposes of life.” JS, Sidney Rigdon, and William Law were appointed as commissioners to receive stock subscriptions to fund the association. However, the “stock, property and concerns” of the corporation were managed by twenty trustees who were annually elected from the group of stockholders. (“An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo Agricultural and Manufacturing Association,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1841, 2:355–356.)

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

While in England, the apostles had begun helping converts immigrate to the United States. Seeking to reduce travel expenses by chartering ships, they appointed agent Amos Fielding to guide immigrants to Nauvoo. After most of the apostles returned to Nauvoo in the summer of 1841, JS called upon the apostles to stand in their “place next to the first presidency” and take on more administrative responsibilities in Nauvoo, overseeing such things as immigration and real estate transactions. At the same time that the apostles fulfilled their new responsibilities to welcome immigrants in Nauvoo, they appointed Hiram Clark to go to England and oversee emigration there. On 17 June 1842, just one day before the meeting featured here occurred, Heber C. Kimball wrote a letter to Parley P. Pratt lamenting that many immigrants to Nauvoo were disgruntled—some because the Saints “had no Housses fore them to go in when they got here. Some becaus we did not make more of them and invite them Home, and provide for them.” (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842; Times and Seasons, 16 May 1842, 3:790; “Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:311; Discourse, 16 Aug. 1841; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842; Heber C. Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt, “Manchester or Liverpool,” England, 17 June 1842, Parley P. Pratt, Correspondence, CHL.)

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

Pratt, Parley P. Correspondence, 1842–1855. CHL. MS 897.