License, 21 March 1836

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License, 21 March 1836
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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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and
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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, License, for JS,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH, 21 Mar. 1836; printed form with manuscript additions in the handwriting of
Oliver Cowdery
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; signatures of
Oliver Cowdery
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and
Sidney Rigdon
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; endorsed by
Thomas Burdick
17 Nov. 1795/1797–6 Nov. 1877. Farmer, teacher, judge, postmaster, clerk, civil servant. Born at Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., New York. Son of Gideon Burdick and Catherine Robertson. Married Anna Higley, 1828, at Jamestown, Chautauque Co., New York. Baptized...
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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL.

One leaf, measuring 5 × 8 inches (13 × 20 cm). The document has three vertical folds. It was printed on the press of the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. The document was signed by
Oliver Cowdery
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,
Sidney Rigdon
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, and
Thomas Burdick
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on 21 March 1836. The provenance of this document is unknown; it is assumed that the document has remained in continuous institutional custody since its creation.
Historical Introduction
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 founding “Articles and Covenants” allowed for
licenses
A document certifying an individual’s office in the church and authorizing him “to perform the duty of his calling.” The “Articles and Covenants” of the church implied that only elders could issue licenses; individuals ordained by a priest to an office in...
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to be issued to
deacons
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The “Articles and Covenants” directed deacons to assist teachers in their duties. Deacons were also to “warn, expound, exhort, and teach and invite all to come unto Christ.” Although deacons did not have the authority...
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,
teachers
Generally, one who instructs, but also an ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The Book of Mormon explained that teachers were to be ordained “to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end...
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,
priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed...
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, and
elders
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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, declaring their
priesthood
Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...
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office.
1
Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:64].
A license demonstrated to those both inside and outside the church that an individual had been granted authority for a particular assignment or office. A JS revelation from February 1831 required that no one “go forth to preach my gospel or to build up my church except they be
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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by some one that hath authority & it is known to the church that he hath authority & have been regularly ordained by the leaders of the church.”
2
Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:11].
As early as March 1833, licenses issued by the church began attesting to moral character and spiritual worthiness.
3
License for Frederick G. Williams, 20 Mar. 1833.
Whereas earlier licenses were handwritten documents, in February 1834 individuals began receiving printed licenses with blank lines on which the issuer wrote in his name, the date, and the name of the person receiving the license.
4
License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 Feb. 1834.

At a 3 March 1836
council
A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...
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of church leaders, a committee consisting of
Oliver Cowdery
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,
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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, and
Sylvester Smith
25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...
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presented its draft of regulations for licensing priesthood holders.
5
Minutes, 3 Mar. 1836.
After the council unanimously accepted the licensing resolutions, all “
official members
Male church members ordained to a priesthood office. Records of conferences occasionally listed the number of official members present. In March 1836, a gathering of priesthood quorums and councils met in the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, and approved...
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”—that is, men ordained to a priesthood office—were evaluated for worthiness and obtained a new license. In this system, men ordained to offices of the
Melchizedek
The authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...
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, or higher, priesthood were issued an elder’s license, even if they had already been ordained as a
high priest
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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or to another office. The term elder was used in two ways: sometimes it referred generically to all men ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood, and in other cases it pertained specifically to the particular priesthood office of elder. Once an official member received the signed license from the chairman and clerk, it was his responsibility to have it copied into a record book maintained by
Thomas Burdick
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as part of the church’s larger effort to standardize licensing and track the growing body of men ordained to offices in the higher priesthood. The recipient would retain possession of the original license, such as the one featured here, as proof of his authority.

The license featured here is representative of hundreds of similar licenses that bear JS’s signature; as chairman appointed on 3 March 1836 to sign licenses, JS signed nearly 250 of these new licenses before the end of May 1836.
6
Of the licenses recorded in the Kirtland Elders’ Certificate record book, only thirteen originals from the period covered in this volume are known to be extant. (See Kirtland Elders’ Certificates; and Calendar of Documents.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Kirtland Elders’ Certificates / Kirtland Elders Quorum. “Record of Certificates of Membership and Ordinations of the First Members and Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Dating from March 21st 1836 to June 18th 1838 Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838. CHL. CR 100 401.
Unlike those licenses, however, JS was the recipient of this license, rather than the signatory.
Footnotes
[1]
Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:64].
[2]
Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:11].
[3]
License for Frederick G. Williams, 20 Mar. 1833.
[4]
License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 Feb. 1834.
[5]
Minutes, 3 Mar. 1836.
[6]
Of the licenses recorded in the Kirtland Elders’ Certificate record book, only thirteen originals from the period covered in this volume are known to be extant. (See Kirtland Elders’ Certificates; and Calendar of Documents.)
Kirtland Elders’ Certificates / Kirtland Elders Quorum. “Record of Certificates of Membership and Ordinations of the First Members and Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Dating from March 21st 1836 to June 18th 1838 Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838. CHL. CR 100 401.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *License, 21 March 1836 Kirtland Elders’ Certificates
Page [1]
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

THIS Certifies that
Underlined text with leading and trailing spaces indicates handwritten portions of the pre-printed form. Handwriting of Oliver Cowdery.
Joseph Smith, Jr. has been received into the
church of the Latter Day 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...
View Glossary
, organized on the sixth of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred, and thirty,
1
The church was organized on this date as the “Church of Christ.” The church officially changed its name in May 1834 to the “Church of the Latter Day Saints.” (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:1]; Minutes, 3 May 1834.)
and has been
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
View Glossary
an
elder
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
View Glossary
according to the rules and regulations of said church,
2
The “articles and covenants of the Church of Christ,” containing the founding principles for governing the priesthood, were presented to members at the first conference of the church, held 9 June 1830 at Fayette, New York. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830.)
and is duly authorized to preach the gospel, agreeably to the authority of that office.
3
These new licenses, with the wording presented in this first paragraph, could be used to demonstrate that their holders were ordained ministers of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and, therefore, eligible for licenses to perform marriages in accordance with Ohio state law. On 21 March 1836, JS’s journal states that JS “went to the printing office and prepared, a number of Elders licinses, to send by Elder [Ambrose] Palmer to the court [in] Medina County in order to obtain licenses to marry.” (JS, Journal, 21 Mar. 1836; An Act, Regulating Marriages [6 Jan. 1824], Statutes of Ohio, vol. 2, chap. 623, pp. 1407–1408; see also Historical Introduction to Marriage License for John F. Boynton and Susan Lowell, 17 Nov. 1835.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
The Statutes of Ohio and of the Northwestern Territory, Adopted or Enacted from 1788 to 1833 Inclusive: Together with the Ordinance of 1787; the Constitutions of Ohio and of the United States, and Various Public Instruments and Acts of Congress: Illustrated by a Preliminary Sketch of the History of Ohio; Numerous References and Notes, and Copious Indexes. 3 vols. Edited by Salmon P. Chase. Cincinnati: Corey and Fairbank, 1833–1835.

From the satisfactory evidence which we have of his good moral character, and his zeal for the cause of righteousness, and diligent desire to persuade men to forsake evil and embrace truth, we confidently recommend him to all candid and upright people, as a worthy member of society.

We, therefore, in the name, and by the authority of this church, grant unto this, our worthy brother in the Lord, this letter of commendation as a proof of our fellowship and esteem: praying for his success and prosperity in our Redeemer’s cause.

Given by the direction of a
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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of elders of said church, assembled in
Kirtland
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, Geauga county, Ohio, this <the> 3rd day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred, and thirty-six.

Signatures of Sidney Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery.
Sidney Rigdon
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Chairman.

<Pro. Tem.>

Oliver Cowdery
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, Clerk.

<Pro Tempore.>
4
The resolutions to regulate licenses specified that both a chairman “Pro. Tempore” and temporary clerk could sign the licenses for the standing chairman and clerk. At the meeting on 3 March 1836 when the regulations on licensing were approved, JS was appointed as the “standing chairman” and Sidney Rigdon as “chairman protem.” Frederick G. Williams served as the standing clerk to sign licenses, and the authorities of the church appointed Oliver Cowdery as clerk pro tempore. (See Minutes, 3 Mar. 1836; JS, Journal, 3 Mar. 1836.)

<
Kirtland
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, Ohio. March 21, 1836.> [p. [1]]
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Document Information
Footnotes
Underlined text with leading and trailing spaces indicates handwritten portions of the pre-printed form. Handwriting of Oliver Cowdery.
[1]
The church was organized on this date as the “Church of Christ.” The church officially changed its name in May 1834 to the “Church of the Latter Day Saints.” (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:1]; Minutes, 3 May 1834.)
[2]
The “articles and covenants of the Church of Christ,” containing the founding principles for governing the priesthood, were presented to members at the first conference of the church, held 9 June 1830 at Fayette, New York. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830.)
[3]
These new licenses, with the wording presented in this first paragraph, could be used to demonstrate that their holders were ordained ministers of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and, therefore, eligible for licenses to perform marriages in accordance with Ohio state law. On 21 March 1836, JS’s journal states that JS “went to the printing office and prepared, a number of Elders licinses, to send by Elder [Ambrose] Palmer to the court [in] Medina County in order to obtain licenses to marry.” (JS, Journal, 21 Mar. 1836; An Act, Regulating Marriages [6 Jan. 1824], Statutes of Ohio, vol. 2, chap. 623, pp. 1407–1408; see also Historical Introduction to Marriage License for John F. Boynton and Susan Lowell, 17 Nov. 1835.)
The Statutes of Ohio and of the Northwestern Territory, Adopted or Enacted from 1788 to 1833 Inclusive: Together with the Ordinance of 1787; the Constitutions of Ohio and of the United States, and Various Public Instruments and Acts of Congress: Illustrated by a Preliminary Sketch of the History of Ohio; Numerous References and Notes, and Copious Indexes. 3 vols. Edited by Salmon P. Chase. Cincinnati: Corey and Fairbank, 1833–1835.
Signatures of Sidney Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery.
[4]
The resolutions to regulate licenses specified that both a chairman “Pro. Tempore” and temporary clerk could sign the licenses for the standing chairman and clerk. At the meeting on 3 March 1836 when the regulations on licensing were approved, JS was appointed as the “standing chairman” and Sidney Rigdon as “chairman protem.” Frederick G. Williams served as the standing clerk to sign licenses, and the authorities of the church appointed Oliver Cowdery as clerk pro tempore. (See Minutes, 3 Mar. 1836; JS, Journal, 3 Mar. 1836.)