Benediction, 6 April 1841

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Benediction, 6 April 1841
Source Note

JS, Benediction,
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, 6 Apr. 1841. Featured version published in “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church—Military Parade—Prest. Rigdon’s Address—Laying the Corner Stones of the Temple,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, vol. 2, no. 12, 376. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction
On 6 April 1841 in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, JS oversaw the laying of the cornerstones for the Nauvoo
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...
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and pronounced a benediction on one of the cornerstones. The cornerstone ceremony coincided with the
church
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...
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’s eleventh anniversary and was part of a celebration attended by thousands.
1
A newspaper from nearby Warsaw, Illinois, reported that the anniversary celebration was attended by “about 7000 or 8000, some say as high as 12,000.” The church’s newspaper reported that there were “probably not less than ten thousand persons present.” (“The Mormons,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 7 Apr. 1841, [3]; “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
JS and the church had prepared for the cornerstone ceremony since mid-February. An announcement in the 15 February 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons notified readers that at the church’s April general
conference
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...
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, “the Corner Stone of the temple of god will be laid, attended with appropriate ceremonies.”
2
“The General Conference, and the Temple of God,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:320, emphasis in original; see also “The Mormons,” Western World (Warsaw, IL), 31 Mar. 1841, [2].
To prepare for the event,
Alpheus Cutler
29 Feb. 1784–10 June 1864. Stonemason. Born in Plainfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Knight Cutler and Elizabeth Boyd. Married Lois Lathrop, 17 Nov. 1808, in Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Moved to Upper Lisle, Broome Co., New York, ca. 1808...
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,
Reynolds Cahoon
30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...
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, and others “laid out the foundation of the building,” while on 18 February other Latter-day Saints “commenced to dig the cellar.”
3
Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 5.
Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.
The corners of the cellar were dug first, and by early March, workers began constructing the cellar wall. Latter-day Saints were asked to labor on the temple once every ten days, which many did during March. According to
William Clayton
17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...
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, by “this means they were enabled to rush on the works so that by the 6th day of April the walls were sufficiently high at the corners to lay the corner stones.”
4
Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 5–6; Jacob, Reminiscence and Journal, 4. For more on the Saints laboring every tenth day, see “Ecclesiastical,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:296; Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840; and Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840.
Jacob, Norton. Reminiscence and Journal, May 1844–Jan. 1852. CHL. MS 9111.
Similarly,
William Huntington
28 Mar. 1784–19 Aug. 1846. Farmer, brick maker, potash manufacturer. Born in New Grantham, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of William Huntington and Prescendia Lathrop. Married first Zina Baker, 28 Dec. 1806, in Plainfield, Sullivan Co. Moved to Watertown...
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noted in his journal that by the time of the April general conference, “the wall Was raised five feet was in Rediness for to recieve the Corner stone for the hewed Stone of the basement story.”
5
Huntington, Diaries of William Huntington, 12; see also “The Temple,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:369.
Huntington, William. Diaries of William Huntington. [Provo, UT]: Brigham Young University Library, 1952–1953. Copy at CHL.

A procession of the
Nauvoo Legion
A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...
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began early in the morning of 6 April 1841 with a military review presenting a “beautiful silk national flag.” The procession arrived at the
temple
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ground at noon. Some ten thousand men and women—members of the church as well as nonmembers—joined JS and the Nauvoo Legion to sing hymns and hear an hour-long oration from
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...
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on church history and the Saints’ tribulations.
6
“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:375–376.
Latter-day Saint Norton Jacob described the scene: “A countless multitude thronged around the Ma[r]sheled lines filed with much wonder & curiosity to know what all this would amount to, manny strange murmers ran through the waveing throng, to see the Prophet the master spirit of the glitering scene; mount a scaffold at the South East corner in full Military costume acompanied by many of his fellow-officers & friends!”
7
Jacob, Reminiscence and Journal, 4.
After another hymn, 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...
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directed the lowering of the first, southeast, cornerstone. JS then pronounced a benediction for that stone, praying, as reported in the Times and Seasons, that “the building might soon be completed, that the saints might have an habitation to worship the God of their fathers.”
8
Robert B. Thompson, “Laying the Corner Stone of the Temple,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:382; see also “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376.
The only known account of JS’s prayer is the one printed in the 15 April 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons, which is the account featured here.
9
The Times and Seasons served as the source text for a later version copied into JS’s history. (See Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 6 Apr. 1841; and JS History, vol. C-1, 1185.)

Following JS’s blessing,
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...
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also offered a brief prayer, and then the other three stones were placed: the southwest corner by
Don Carlos Smith
25 Mar. 1816–7 Aug. 1841. Farmer, printer, editor. Born at Norwich, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Moved to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. Baptized into Church of Jesus...
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, the
president
An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
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of the
high priesthood
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
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, and
William Marks
15 Nov. 1792–22 May 1872. Farmer, printer, publisher, postmaster. Born at Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Cornell (Cornwall) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. Married first Rosannah R. Robinson, 2 May 1813. Lived at Portage, Allegany Co., New York, where he...
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, president of the
Nauvoo
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stake
Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...
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, with Smith pronouncing the benediction; the northwest corner by the Nauvoo
high council
A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...
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, representing the
Twelve Apostles
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 ...
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, who were abroad, with a benediction by
Elias Higbee
23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...
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; and the northeast corner by the church’s
bishops
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
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, with
Newel K. Whitney
3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...
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giving the benediction.
10
“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:377. The order of the cornerstone placement followed the pattern of the 1838 cornerstone service for a temple in Far West, Missouri. (“Celebration of the 4th of July,” Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, 60.)

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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noted that all those in attendance “were truly of one heart and mind, no contention or discord; even persons unconnected with the church forgot their prejudices, and for once took pleasure in the society of the saints, admired their order and unanimity, and undoubtedly received favorable impressions by their visit.”
11
Robert B. Thompson, “Laying the Corner Stone of the Temple,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:382.
The ceremony for placing the cornerstones drew the interest of editors and readers of newspapers throughout the region and the eastern
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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.
12
For some of the newspaper coverage of the cornerstone event, see News Item, Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot (Burlington), 15 Apr. 1841, [2]; News Item, Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 16 Apr. 1841, [2]; “The Mormons,” Cleveland [OH] Daily Herald, 19 Apr. 1841, [3]; “The Mormons,” New-York Tribune, 22 Apr. 1841, [2]; and “The Mormon Temple,” Jeffersonian Republican (Stroudsburg, PA), 12 May 1841, [2].
Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot. Burlington, IA. 1839–1851.
Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.
Cleveland Herald. Cleveland. 1843–1853.
New-York Tribune. New York City. 1841–1842.
Jeffersonian Republican. Jefferson City, MO. 1831–1844.
When
Horace Hotchkiss
15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...
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in
Connecticut
Originally inhabited by native Algonquin tribes. Among first thirteen colonies that formed U.S., southernmost state in New England. First permanent European settlements established by members of Massachusetts Bay Colony, ca. 1635. Population in 1820 about...
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, for example, wrote to
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...
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a little over a month later, he commented on his gratification in “seeing pu[b]lished in many papers here the glowing description of cermonies at the laying of the corner stone for your great
Temple
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.”
13
Horace Hotchkiss, Fair Haven, CT, to Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 13 May 1841, JS Office Papers, CHL.
Footnotes
[1]
A newspaper from nearby Warsaw, Illinois, reported that the anniversary celebration was attended by “about 7000 or 8000, some say as high as 12,000.” The church’s newspaper reported that there were “probably not less than ten thousand persons present.” (“The Mormons,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 7 Apr. 1841, [3]; “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376.)
[2]
“The General Conference, and the Temple of God,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:320, emphasis in original; see also “The Mormons,” Western World (Warsaw, IL), 31 Mar. 1841, [2].
[3]
Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 5.
[4]
Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 5–6; Jacob, Reminiscence and Journal, 4. For more on the Saints laboring every tenth day, see “Ecclesiastical,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:296; Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840; and Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840.
[5]
Huntington, Diaries of William Huntington, 12; see also “The Temple,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:369.
Huntington, William. Diaries of William Huntington. [Provo, UT]: Brigham Young University Library, 1952–1953. Copy at CHL.
[6]
“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:375–376.
[7]
Jacob, Reminiscence and Journal, 4.
[8]
Robert B. Thompson, “Laying the Corner Stone of the Temple,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:382; see also “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376.
[9]
The Times and Seasons served as the source text for a later version copied into JS’s history. (See Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 6 Apr. 1841; and JS History, vol. C-1, 1185.)
[10]
“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:377. The order of the cornerstone placement followed the pattern of the 1838 cornerstone service for a temple in Far West, Missouri. (“Celebration of the 4th of July,” Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, 60.)
[11]
Robert B. Thompson, “Laying the Corner Stone of the Temple,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:382.
[12]
For some of the newspaper coverage of the cornerstone event, see News Item, Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot (Burlington), 15 Apr. 1841, [2]; News Item, Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 16 Apr. 1841, [2]; “The Mormons,” Cleveland [OH] Daily Herald, 19 Apr. 1841, [3]; “The Mormons,” New-York Tribune, 22 Apr. 1841, [2]; and “The Mormon Temple,” Jeffersonian Republican (Stroudsburg, PA), 12 May 1841, [2].
Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot. Burlington, IA. 1839–1851.
Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.
Cleveland Herald. Cleveland. 1843–1853.
New-York Tribune. New York City. 1841–1842.
Jeffersonian Republican. Jefferson City, MO. 1831–1844.
[13]
Horace Hotchkiss, Fair Haven, CT, to Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 13 May 1841, JS Office Papers, CHL.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Benediction, 6 April 1841 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
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This principal corner stone, in representation 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...
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, is now duly laid in honor of the great God; and may it there remain until the whole fabric is completed; and may the same be accomplished speedily; that the
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...
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may have a place to worship God, and the Son of Man have where to lay his head.
1
After JS prayed, Sidney Rigdon added a short benediction of his own: “May the persons employed in the erection of this house be preserved from all harm while engaged in its construction, till the whole is completed; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; even so, Amen.” (“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376, italics in original.)
[p. 376]
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Footnotes
[1]
After JS prayed, Sidney Rigdon added a short benediction of his own: “May the persons employed in the erection of this house be preserved from all harm while engaged in its construction, till the whole is completed; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; even so, Amen.” (“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376, italics in original.)