Discourse, 21 February 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards

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Discourse, 21 February 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards
Source Note

JS, Discourse, [
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, 21 Feb. 1843]. Featured version copied [ca. 21 Feb. 1843] in JS, Journal, bk. 1, 21 Dec. 1842–10 Mar. 1843, pp. [202]–[215]; 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...
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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, journal, 1842–1844.

Historical Introduction
On 21 February 1843, JS delivered a one-hour discourse at 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...
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construction site in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, regarding the urgency of completing the temple and 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...
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, both of which the Latter-day Saints were building in accordance with a January 1841 revelation.
1
Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:22–23, 31].
Comprehensive Works Cited
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
According to
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,...
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, thousands had gathered at the temple site in the morning for the purpose “of Advancing the cause of the Nauvoo House & other mattrs.”
2
Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843.

Peter Haws
17 Feb. 1796–1862. Farmer, miller, businessman. Born in Leeds Co., Johnstown District (later in Ontario), Upper Canada. Son of Edward Haws and Polly. Married Charlotte Harrington. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Kirtland...
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, a trustee of the
Nauvoo House Association
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, addressed the gathering, followed by
Lucien Woodworth
3 Apr. 1799–after 1860. Architect, laborer, carpenter. Born in Thetford, Orange Co., Vermont. Married Phebe Watrous. Moved to Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1830; to Missouri, by 1839; and to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by 1841. Architect of Nauvoo...
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, whom JS had appointed to be the architect of the Nauvoo House.
3
Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843; An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 131, sec. 2; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 22 Mar. 1845.
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.
During his comments, Woodworth stated that there was “not that public spirit here as in other cities.” To support his claims, he referenced the laborers on the Nauvoo House who were constantly asking for their pay and for food.
4
JS, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843.
Hoping to deescalate the complaints, he asked the laborers to continue working on the house and to be patient as they waited to receive compensation for their labor.
5
JS, Journal, 1 Feb. 1843; see also Council of Fifty, “Record,” 22 Mar. 1845. Temple laborers had also expressed concern about receiving compensation. (Letter to “Hands in the Stone Shop,” 21 Dec. 1842.)
He then stated that, like the workers, he had eaten “dry Johncake & cold water” and had shared whatever he had with the workers. For those who continued to complain, Woodworth hoped that they would “get their pay & run away.” Emphasizing the importance of the temple and Nauvoo House building projects, he told the community that if the two buildings were not finished, “you must run—away,” suggesting that those who did not contribute to the buildings ought to vacate the city.
6

When JS arose to speak, he endorsed what
Woodworth
3 Apr. 1799–after 1860. Architect, laborer, carpenter. Born in Thetford, Orange Co., Vermont. Married Phebe Watrous. Moved to Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1830; to Missouri, by 1839; and to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by 1841. Architect of Nauvoo...
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had said and then offered his own remarks on the subject. He reiterated the importance of the
Nauvoo House
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, explaining that he considered it just as sacred as 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
. The 19 January 1841 revelation commanding the construction of the
Nauvoo
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temple made clear that the house, like the temple, “shall be holy.”
7
Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:24].
On 2 October 1841, JS further demonstrated the importance of the Nauvoo House when he deposited the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon, along with several other sacred writings, in the building’s cornerstone.
8
Memorandum, 2 Oct. 1841; JS, Journal, 29 Dec. 1841.

During the discourse, JS expressed displeasure with those who withheld resources from the construction of the
Nauvoo House
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in order to aggrandize themselves at the expense of others, singling out
Robert D. Foster
14 Mar. 1811–1 Feb. 1878. Justice of the peace, physician, land speculator. Born in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. Son of John Foster and Jane Knibb. Married Sarah Phinney, 18 July 1837, at Medina Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of ...
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in his criticism. JS and Foster had disputed over various matters during the preceding months, and Foster had publicly supported someone other than JS for mayor. At his inauguration, JS accused Foster of having taken “an active part in electioneering for the written opposition ticket. & obstructing the passage to the polls.”
9
In his 21 February discourse, JS voiced irritation that Foster had recently signed a petition to replace
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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as
Nauvoo
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’s postmaster with
William Rollosson
8 Jan. 1820–9 Oct. 1864. Merchant, politician, military officer. Born in Williamsburg, James City and York counties, Virginia. Attended Williams College, 1837–1839, in Williamstown, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, ca....
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, who was not a
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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member.
10
In November 1842, JS and others expressed discontent with Rigdon as the postmaster, believing he may have cooperated with John C. Bennett to steal money and letters from the post office. (Letter to George W. Robinson, 6 Nov. 1842; Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 26 Nov. 1842; Letter to Richard M. Young, 9 Feb. 1843. For the petition in favor of Rollosson, see JS, Journal, 13 Feb. 1843; for the petition in favor of JS, see JS, Journal, 8 Nov. 1842.)
Shortly before JS ended his discourse, Foster interjected by refuting some of JS’s criticisms, and JS apparently accepted most of his refutations.
11
Foster acknowledged that some of JS’s accusations against him were true. At the same time, he noted his contributions to the Nauvoo House and the Nauvoo Relief Society as well as to the construction of JS’s own house. Foster suggested that his business dealings allowed him to contribute to the public good in Nauvoo. He also acknowledged signing the petition requesting that William Rollosson be made the postmaster but said that he had done so without knowing about the earlier efforts to make JS the postmaster. As indicated by his subsequent remarks at the end of the sermon, JS apparently felt satisfied with Foster’s reply. (Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843; JS, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843.)

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,...
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briefly mentioned the discourse in his diary, stating that JS’s remarks “were plain & pointed.”
12

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...
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created a much more detailed account of the discourse, which he recorded in JS’s journal. In preparing JS’s history, Richards later inscribed a copy of the sermon in his rough draft notes. This later version provided additional information that helped to explain some of the enigmatic statements in the journal. Richards’s original version in JS’s journal is featured here.
Footnotes
[1]
Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:22–23, 31].
[2]
[3]
Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843; An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 131, sec. 2; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 22 Mar. 1845.
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.
[4]
[5]
JS, Journal, 1 Feb. 1843; see also Council of Fifty, “Record,” 22 Mar. 1845. Temple laborers had also expressed concern about receiving compensation. (Letter to “Hands in the Stone Shop,” 21 Dec. 1842.)
[6]
[7]
Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:24].
[8]
Memorandum, 2 Oct. 1841; JS, Journal, 29 Dec. 1841.
[9]
[10]
In November 1842, JS and others expressed discontent with Rigdon as the postmaster, believing he may have cooperated with John C. Bennett to steal money and letters from the post office. (Letter to George W. Robinson, 6 Nov. 1842; Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 26 Nov. 1842; Letter to Richard M. Young, 9 Feb. 1843. For the petition in favor of Rollosson, see JS, Journal, 13 Feb. 1843; for the petition in favor of JS, see JS, Journal, 8 Nov. 1842.)
[11]
Foster acknowledged that some of JS’s accusations against him were true. At the same time, he noted his contributions to the Nauvoo House and the Nauvoo Relief Society as well as to the construction of JS’s own house. Foster suggested that his business dealings allowed him to contribute to the public good in Nauvoo. He also acknowledged signing the petition requesting that William Rollosson be made the postmaster but said that he had done so without knowing about the earlier efforts to make JS the postmaster. As indicated by his subsequent remarks at the end of the sermon, JS apparently felt satisfied with Foster’s reply. (Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843; JS, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843.)
[12]
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 21 February 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843 Discourse, 21 February 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff History Draft [1 January–3 March 1843] History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page [202]
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Joseph says
1
TEXT: Possibly “say,”.
well the pagan prophet
2
Lucien Woodworth, whom JS had appointed as architect of the Nauvoo House, referred to himself as the “Pagan Prophet.” (See Council of Fifty, “Record,” 22 Mar. 1845; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 21 Feb. 1843, 20; and Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843.)
has preached us a pretty good sermon thiss morni[n]g— to break off the yoke of oppressesion <I dont know as I can better it much—> and say what he is a mind to. [p. [202]]
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Footnotes
[1]
TEXT: Possibly “say,”.
[2]
Lucien Woodworth, whom JS had appointed as architect of the Nauvoo House, referred to himself as the “Pagan Prophet.” (See Council of Fifty, “Record,” 22 Mar. 1845; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 21 Feb. 1843, 20; and Woodruff, Journal, 21 Feb. 1843.)