License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 February 1834

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License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 February 1834
Source Note

License,
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, for
Frederick G. Williams
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
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, 25 Feb. 1834; printed form with additions in handwriting of
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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; signatures of JS and
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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; one page; CHL.

Single leaf measuring 5⅛ × 6⅛ inches (13 × 16 cm). The form bears a printed decorative border. The folds of the document have weakened over time, leading to tearing and holes. The document underwent conservation efforts in February 1994, shortly after descendants of
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donated it to the Church History Department.
Historical Introduction
On 24 February 1834, JS dictated a revelation appointing
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to accompany
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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on a mission to recruit men and raise funds for the
Camp of Israel
A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...
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expedition to
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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. The
license
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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featured here was issued to Frederick G. Williams the following day.
1
Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:39].
No minutes from the 25 February 1834 meeting in which the license was issued have been located.
While the document identifies itself as a “letter of commendation,” documents with similar language were later issued and recognized as official licenses.
2
A document employing essentially the same language as this one, for example, was issued to Daniel Kent on 20 September 1836. On the back of Kent’s license was an endorsement made by clerk Thomas Burdick. (Elder’s Certificate for Daniel Kent, 20 Sept. 1836, CHL.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Elder’s Certificate for Daniel Kent, 20 Sept. 1836. CHL. MS 20640.
The church’s founding “Articles and Covenants” required that
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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have licenses to perform 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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duties.
3
Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:63–64].
The language used in
Williams
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’s license reflects language used in the Articles and Covenants regarding licenses.
4
Just as the Articles and Covenants noted that a license authorized a teacher or priest “to perform the duty of his calling,” this document certified that Williams had been ordained an elder and was “duly authorized to preach the gospel, and act in all [th]e ordinances of the house of the Lord, agreeably to the authority of that office.” (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:64].)

Williams
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had been issued a similar license on 20 March 1833, shortly after being
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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“to the
Presidency of the High priesthood
Both the office of the president of the high priesthood and the body comprising the president and his counselors; the presiding body of the church. In November 1831, a revelation directed the appointment of a president of the high priesthood. The individual...
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.”
5
License for Frederick G. Williams, 20 Mar. 1833.
While that license was issued to certify Williams’s ordination and his authority “to preside over the affairs of the Church,” this elder’s license certified Williams’s authority “to preach the gospel, and act in all [th]e ordinances of the house of the Lord”—a probable reference to the various duties that pertained specifically to the office of elder,
6
to which Williams had been ordained in November 1830. Williams had been ordained 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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in October 1831 but continued to have “authority to officiate in all the lesser offices” of the priesthood when necessary, provided, evidently, that he was properly licensed to do so.
7
Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Doctrine and Covenants 22:2, 1835 ed. [D&C 68:19]. A spring 1835 JS revelation explained that the office of elder was one of the “lesser offices” in which a high priest was authorized to act. (Instruction on Priesthood, ca. Apr. 1835, in Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–8, 1835 ed. [D&C 107:10–12, 17].)

This license is a printed form, with the name of the individual, the date, and the names of the clerk and moderator filled out by hand. It is one of the earliest printed licenses known to have been issued in the
Church of Christ
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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; previously, licenses were handwritten. In comparison to earlier licenses, this printed form is longer but incorporates much of the same language.
8
See, for example, License for Edward Partridge, ca. 4 Aug. 1831–ca. 5 Jan. 1832; License for William Smith, 5 Oct. 1831; and License for Frederick G. Williams, 20 Mar. 1833.
Footnotes
[1]
Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:39].
[2]
A document employing essentially the same language as this one, for example, was issued to Daniel Kent on 20 September 1836. On the back of Kent’s license was an endorsement made by clerk Thomas Burdick. (Elder’s Certificate for Daniel Kent, 20 Sept. 1836, CHL.)
Elder’s Certificate for Daniel Kent, 20 Sept. 1836. CHL. MS 20640.
[3]
[4]
Just as the Articles and Covenants noted that a license authorized a teacher or priest “to perform the duty of his calling,” this document certified that Williams had been ordained an elder and was “duly authorized to preach the gospel, and act in all [th]e ordinances of the house of the Lord, agreeably to the authority of that office.” (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:64].)
[5]
License for Frederick G. Williams, 20 Mar. 1833.
[6]
[7]
Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A, in Doctrine and Covenants 22:2, 1835 ed. [D&C 68:19]. A spring 1835 JS revelation explained that the office of elder was one of the “lesser offices” in which a high priest was authorized to act. (Instruction on Priesthood, ca. Apr. 1835, in Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–8, 1835 ed. [D&C 107:10–12, 17].)
[8]
See, for example, License for Edward Partridge, ca. 4 Aug. 1831–ca. 5 Jan. 1832; License for William Smith, 5 Oct. 1831; and License for Frederick G. Williams, 20 Mar. 1833.
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 February 1834
ID #
2237
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:463–465
Handwriting on This Page