Elders’ Journal, August 1838

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 62
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husband at all times, not as a servant, neither as one who fears a tyrant, or a master, but as one, who, in meekness, and the love of God, regards the laws and institutions of Heaven, looks up to her husband for instruction, edification and comfort. “Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”—1st Peter, 3rd 6th.
————
NOTICE.
Agreeable to the proceedings of a general Conference of the authorities of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints, assembled in the city , April 6th 1838, at the first quarterly conference held in this place. It becomes my duty to give some information to the ordained members of this church, with respect to licenses, etc. All licenses whether that of an elder, priest, teacher; or deacon, must be given by the general Recorder, and signed by the first presidency, and general clerk otherwise they will be considered null and void, or without authority.
Certificates, however can be given to those who are ordained, where it is inconvenient to obtain licences at the time, which certificates, when presented to the general recorder, will entitle him to a license. It is also necessary to have all licenses recorded on the general church record. It is further necessary for all persons receiving or taking licenses from any individual in consequence of ill behavior; to send such license to the general recorder, in order to have it erased from the docket, or record. If the licenses of any persons are called for officially; in consequence of their misbehavior, and such persons refuse to give them up, then it is the duty of such Court or officer, authorized to take such license or licenses to give information accordingly, to the general recorder, that his license may be killed, and he published to the world.
It is the duty of the Clerk of each branch of the church, not yet organized into a stake by the first presidency to send a record of the names of said branch. And also the most interesting part of said history such as miracles etc. to the Clerk of the nearest stake, or to such as they may be attached.
It is the duty of the Clerk and recorder of each stake of Zion, to preserve in order the records under his hands, that, he has the names of the individuals belonging to, or with in his jurisdiction in alphabetical order, so that the general recorder can obtain them with ease. They will also please to observe and keep their record with an index or in such order, that the matter wanted, at any time, can be had with as little trouble as possible.— And further that every Clerk and recorder, notice in his record every interesting incident or such as his president, or the presidents of such stake may think proper, so that the same may be noticed in its proper sequence in the general church history, which will undoubtedly be published from time to time, as the Church progresses. Also let them furnish the general Clerk and recorder every quarterly Conference with a transcript of all their records, or else such stake will not be noticed in the general history.
,
General Clerk and Recorder.
————

Editorial Note
The August issue of the Elders’ Journal also included a letter “to the Saints gathering into Zion.” The letter was presumably written in expectation of a large group of arriving from , Ohio, as well as the continued gathering to of newly converted Saints from throughout the and abroad. The letter was written by at the direction of the , for whom Robinson was a scribe.
likely wrote the letter sometime in July or August 1838 at , Missouri, where he and the presidency lived. In the letter, he admonished Latter-day Saints preparing to gather to that, upon arriving, they should give their names to the recorders for the in which they settled. Robinson also assured that, contrary to rumors, food was and would be plentiful. The letter was conveyed to the Latter-day Saints by being published in the Elders’ Journal, which was mailed to Saints throughout the and possibly to Saints in and .

To the Saints gathering into :—
It is of importance that they should return their names to the recorders of the different , in order that their names may be had in the general record.— Many have come and have settled at a distance without returning their names to the recorders of the stakes, in which they have settled. Thus rendering it very difficult for the general church record to be kept.
It is expected that all the saints coming up to this land, or gathering into ; will have their names recorded on the records of the respective stakes, where they may settle.
We further say to the saints gathering, that the rumors which have gone abroad of the scarcity of provisions in this part of the country, is absolutely false—there is a great abundance, and the present appearance for corn, was never surpassed in any part of the .
Therefore you need not fear, but gather yourselves together unto this land, for there is, and will be an abundance.
Done by order of the ,
, Scribe.
————
NOTICE.
Elders , , of , and are requested to come immediately to , to prepare for a great mission.
, August 3rd, 1838.
————
The following lines were written by an Elder of the church of Latter Day Saints, while he was journeying and preaching the gospel in the eastern States, which he sent to his wife, who was then residing in Mo., in the fall of 1835.
Receive these lines, beloved bosom friend,
And let them with your virtuous feelings blend;
Thou wast my partner in our sprightly youth,
And now my partner in the ways of truth.
In sickness thou hast sooth’d this fainting breast,
Like some kind angel hovering o’er the bles’t. [p. 62]
husband at all times, not as a servant, neither as one who fears a tyrant, or a master, but as one, who, in meekness, and the love of God, regards the laws and institutions of Heaven, looks up to her husband for instruction, edification and comfort. “Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”—1st Peter, 3rd 6th.
————
NOTICE.
Agreeable to the proceedings of a general Conference of the authorities of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints, assembled in the city , April 6th 1838, at the first quarterly conference held in this place. It becomes my duty to give some information to the ordained members of this church, with respect to licenses, etc. All licenses whether that of an elder, priest, teacher; or deacon, must be given by the general Recorder, and signed by the first presidency, and general clerk otherwise they will be considered null and void, or without authority.
Certificates, however can be given to those who are ordained, where it is inconvenient to obtain licences at the time, which certificates, when presented to the general recorder, will entitle him to a license. It is also necessary to have all licenses recorded on the general church record. It is further necessary for all persons receiving or taking licenses from any individual in consequence of ill behavior; to send such license to the general recorder, in order to have it erased from the docket, or record. If the licenses of any persons are called for officially; in consequence of their misbehavior, and such persons refuse to give them up, then it is the duty of such Court or officer, authorized to take such license or licenses to give information accordingly, to the general recorder, that his license may be killed, and he published to the world.
It is the duty of the Clerk of each branch of the church, not yet organized into a stake by the first presidency to send a record of the names of said branch. And also the most interesting part of said history such as miracles etc. to the Clerk of the nearest stake, or to such as they may be attached.
It is the duty of the Clerk and recorder of each stake of Zion, to preserve in order the records under his hands, that, he has the names of the individuals belonging to, or with in his jurisdiction in alphabetical order, so that the general recorder can obtain them with ease. They will also please to observe and keep their record with an index or in such order, that the matter wanted, at any time, can be had with as little trouble as possible.— And further that every Clerk and recorder, notice in his record every interesting incident or such as his president, or the presidents of such stake may think proper, so that the same may be noticed in its proper sequence in the general church history, which will undoubtedly be published from time to time, as the Church progresses. Also let them furnish the general Clerk and recorder every quarterly Conference with a transcript of all their records, or else such stake will not be noticed in the general history.
,
General Clerk and Recorder.
————

Editorial Note
The August issue of the Elders’ Journal also included a letter “to the Saints gathering into Zion.” The letter was presumably written in expectation of a large group of arriving from , Ohio, as well as the continued gathering to of newly converted Saints from throughout the and abroad. The letter was written by at the direction of the , for whom Robinson was a scribe.
likely wrote the letter sometime in July or August 1838 at , Missouri, where he and the presidency lived. In the letter, he admonished Latter-day Saints preparing to gather to that, upon arriving, they should give their names to the recorders for the in which they settled. Robinson also assured that, contrary to rumors, food was and would be plentiful. The letter was conveyed to the Latter-day Saints by being published in the Elders’ Journal, which was mailed to Saints throughout the and possibly to Saints in and .

To the Saints gathering into :—
It is of importance that they should return their names to the recorders of the different , in order that their names may be had in the general record.— Many have come and have settled at a distance without returning their names to the recorders of the stakes, in which they have settled. Thus rendering it very difficult for the general church record to be kept.
It is expected that all the saints coming up to this land, or gathering into ; will have their names recorded on the records of the respective stakes, where they may settle.
We further say to the saints gathering, that the rumors which have gone abroad of the scarcity of provisions in this part of the country, is absolutely false—there is a great abundance, and the present appearance for corn, was never surpassed in any part of the .
Therefore you need not fear, but gather yourselves together unto this land, for there is, and will be an abundance.
Done by order of the ,
, Scribe.
————
NOTICE.
Elders , , of , and are requested to come immediately to , to prepare for a great mission.
, August 3rd, 1838.
————
The following lines were written by an Elder of the church of Latter Day Saints, while he was journeying and preaching the gospel in the eastern States, which he sent to his wife, who was then residing in Mo., in the fall of 1835.
Receive these lines, beloved bosom friend,
And let them with your virtuous feelings blend;
Thou wast my partner in our sprightly youth,
And now my partner in the ways of truth.
In sickness thou hast sooth’d this fainting breast,
Like some kind angel hovering o’er the bles’t. [p. 62]
Page 62