Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by Elias Smith

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Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by Elias Smith
Source Note
JS, Discourse,
Montrose Township
Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...
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, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, 6 Mar. 1840. Version copied [between ca. 12 July 1840 and ca. Aug. 1841] in Iowa Stake Record, fair copy, p. 89; handwriting of
Elias Smith
6 Sept. 1804–24 June 1888. Teacher, printer, postmaster, bookkeeper, probate judge, newspaper editor. Born in Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Asahel Smith and Elizabeth Schellenger. Moved to Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., New York, 1809. Baptized into...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minutes and Discourse, 6 Mar. 1840.
Historical Introduction
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by John Smith *Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by Elias Smith History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 89
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President
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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Joseph Smith Jun. then addressed the
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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on various subjects, &, in particular, the
Consecration Law
The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...
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; Stating, that the affair now before Congress
1
That is, the Saints’ memorial to Congress seeking redress for the church’s expulsion from and losses of property in Missouri. (Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 30 Oct. 1839–27 Jan. 1840.)
was the only thing that ought to interest the saints at present. & till it was ascertained how it would terminate no person ought to be brought to account before the constituted authorities of 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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for any offence whatever, & was determined that no man should be brought before the Council in
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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till that time &c. &c.
2
When JS left Washington DC for the Commerce area, the church’s memorial was still being considered by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. On 26 February 1840, Elias Higbee wrote a letter to JS stating the committee had decided that the Saints needed to seek redress in Missouri, not from Congress. JS had evidently not yet received Higbee’s letter. (Letter from Elias Higbee, 26 Feb. 1840.)

He said that the Law of consecration could not be kept here, & that it was the will of the Lord that we should desist from trying to keep it, & if persisted in it would produce a perfect abortion, & that he assumed the whole responsibility of not keeping it untill proposed by himself. He requested every exertion to be made to forward affidavits to
Washington
Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...
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, & also letters to members of Congress.
3
On 7 December 1839, JS and Higbee instructed the Nauvoo high council to send to them affidavits “specifying the particulars” of the actions of non-Mormons against Mormons in 1838 and 1839. (Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.)
[p. 89]
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Page 89
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Footnotes
[1]
That is, the Saints’ memorial to Congress seeking redress for the church’s expulsion from and losses of property in Missouri. (Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 30 Oct. 1839–27 Jan. 1840.)
[2]
When JS left Washington DC for the Commerce area, the church’s memorial was still being considered by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. On 26 February 1840, Elias Higbee wrote a letter to JS stating the committee had decided that the Saints needed to seek redress in Missouri, not from Congress. JS had evidently not yet received Higbee’s letter. (Letter from Elias Higbee, 26 Feb. 1840.)
[3]
On 7 December 1839, JS and Higbee instructed the Nauvoo high council to send to them affidavits “specifying the particulars” of the actions of non-Mormons against Mormons in 1838 and 1839. (Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.)