Minutes, 12 February 1836

Source Note

Minutes, [
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], 12 Feb. 1836. Featured version copied [between ca. 4 Apr. and ca. 16 May 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 137–138; handwriting of
Warren A. Cowdery
17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
Since fall 1835, JS had talked of a
solemn assembly
A special church meeting or conference convened to conduct church business, administer sacred ordinances, and receive spiritual power and instruction. In November 1831, the Saints were directed by revelation to gather as a body in solemn assemblies. A December...
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to be held in the
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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in which men
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
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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in 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...
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would be
endowed
Bestowal of spiritual blessings, power, or knowledge. Beginning in 1831, multiple revelations promised an endowment of “power from on high” in association with the command to gather. Some believed this promise was fulfilled when individuals were first ordained...
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with divine power for their ministry. In anticipation of such a meeting—planned to be held in spring 1836, after the dedication of the House of the Lord—JS began in early 1836 to organize and prepare the priesthood
quorums
An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...
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. On 30 January 1836, the church’s
presidency
An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
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unanimously passed a resolution that “no one be ordained to an office in the Church in
Kirtland
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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without the voice of the several quorums when assembled for church business.”
1
Minutes, 30 Jan. 1836.
In early February, JS continued to attend to the business of “organizing of the quorems of
High priests
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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—
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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—
Seventy
A priesthood office with the responsibility to travel and preach and assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, similar to the seventy in the New Testament. In February and March 1835, the first members of the Seventy were selected and ordained. All of those...
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&
Bishops
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
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,” beginning with meetings prior to the one featured here.
2
JS, Journal, 1 Feb. 1836.
At a meeting on 6 February that included the
bishoprics
Initially referred to a bishop’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but eventually described the ecclesiastical body comprising the bishop and his assistants, or counselors. John Corrill and Isaac Morley were called as assistants to Bishop Edward Partridge in 1831...
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of Kirtland and
Zion
A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...
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(
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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), elders, high priests, seventies, the
high councils
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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of Kirtland and Zion, the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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, and the church’s presidency, JS “laboured with each of these quorems for some time to bring [them] to the order which God had shown to me.”
3
JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1836.
At the same meeting, JS reprimanded the elders for “evil deeds” and for having failed to observe “the order which [he] had given them,” and he instructed them concerning the proselytizing work they would commence after they received the endowment of power. JS stated, “This night the key is turned to the nations; and the angel John is about commencing his mission to prophesy before kings, and rulers, nations tongues and people.”
4
JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1836; Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 6 Feb. 1836; see also Revelation 10:11; and Answers to Questions, between ca. 4 and ca. 20 Mar. 1832 [D&C 77:14]. According to the Kirtland elders quorum record, at least ninety-seven elders had been anointed with oil from 28 January to 4 February 1836. The elders quorum minutes for 6 February record that JS and his counselors in the presidency “came and sealed our anointing by prayer and shout of Hosanna” and then “gave us some instructions and left us.” Alvah Beman then addressed those present, and “several spoke and there seemed to be a cloud of darkness in the room.” After Oliver Cowdery and Hyrum Smith came into the room to resolve the problem, “the cloud was broken and some shouted, Hosanna and others spake with tongues.” (Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 28 Jan.–6 Feb. 1836; see also JS, Journal, 3 Apr. 1836.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Kirtland Elders Quorum. “A Record of the First Quorurum of Elders Belonging to the Church of Christ: In Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838, 1840–1841. CCLA.
On 11 February, the instruction continued in a meeting of the elders quorum. According to the elders quorum record, “president
[Alvah] Beman
22 May 1775–15 Nov. 1837. Farmer. Born at New Marlboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Reuben Beman and Mariam. Married Sarah (Sally) Burt, 18 Aug. 1796. Moved to what became Livonia, Ontario Co., New York, 1799. Moved to Avon, Livingston Co., New York...
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gave some instructions respecting the duty of the officers, and made some confession and was followed by president Joseph Smith jr. in giving instruction to the quorum.”
5
Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 11 Feb. 1836.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Kirtland Elders Quorum. “A Record of the First Quorurum of Elders Belonging to the Church of Christ: In Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838, 1840–1841. CCLA.

In the
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
More Info
on 12 February 1836, JS met again with the council comprising the several quorums of the priesthood, to whom he presented some specific problems and possible solutions on the subject of ordinations. The church leaders discussed regulating the “manner and power to ordain” men to various priesthood offices and quorums.
6
Cowdery, Diary, 12 Feb. 1836.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Cowdery, Oliver. Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL. MS 3429. Also available as Leonard J. Arrington, “Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book,’” BYU Studies 12 (Summer 1972): 410–426.
After those in attendance rejected a preliminary set of resolutions, the council asked JS alone to compose new governing measures, which he did.
7
JS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836.
As a part of this discussion, JS then offered two resolutions that further clarified the 30 January 1836 resolution on ordinations.
8
See JS, Journal, 12 and 14 Feb. 1836.

There are two extant versions of the minutes: one was recorded in JS’s 1835–1836 journal and the other in Minute Book 1. The version in Minute Book 1 is featured here as the official minutes; footnotes detail differences between the two versions.
Warren Parrish
10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...
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was both the clerk for the council meeting who wrote the original minutes (no longer extant) and the scribe for the copy found in JS’s journal. Parrish also recorded JS’s instructions and the resolutions presented on 12 February 1836 into the 14 February 1836 entry of JS’s journal.
9
JS, Journal, 12 and 14 Feb. 1836.

Warren A. Cowdery
17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...
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recorded the minutes in Minute Book 1 in the spring of 1836. Both the Minute Book 1 version and the version in JS’s journal may have been copied from the original minutes, or Cowdery may have relied solely on JS’s journal when he penned his version a couple of months later.

Footnotes
1. 1
  Minutes, 30 Jan. 1836.
2. 2
  JS, Journal, 1 Feb. 1836.
3. 3
  JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1836.
4. 4
  JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1836; Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 6 Feb. 1836; see also Revelation 10:11; and Answers to Questions, between ca. 4 and ca. 20 Mar. 1832 [D&C 77:14]. According to the Kirtland elders quorum record, at least ninety-seven elders had been anointed with oil from 28 January to 4 February 1836. The elders quorum minutes for 6 February record that JS and his counselors in the presidency “came and sealed our anointing by prayer and shout of Hosanna” and then “gave us some instructions and left us.” Alvah Beman then addressed those present, and “several spoke and there seemed to be a cloud of darkness in the room.” After Oliver Cowdery and Hyrum Smith came into the room to resolve the problem, “the cloud was broken and some shouted, Hosanna and others spake with tongues.” (Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 28 Jan.–6 Feb. 1836; see also JS, Journal, 3 Apr. 1836.)
  
  Kirtland Elders Quorum. “A Record of the First Quorurum of Elders Belonging to the Church of Christ: In Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838, 1840–1841. CCLA.
5. 5
  Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 11 Feb. 1836.
  
  Kirtland Elders Quorum. “A Record of the First Quorurum of Elders Belonging to the Church of Christ: In Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838, 1840–1841. CCLA.
6. 6
  Cowdery, Diary, 12 Feb. 1836.
  
  Cowdery, Oliver. Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL. MS 3429. Also available as Leonard J. Arrington, “Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book,’” BYU Studies 12 (Summer 1972): 410–426.
7. 7
  JS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836.
8. 8
  See JS, Journal, 12 and 14 Feb. 1836.
9. 9
  JS, Journal, 12 and 14 Feb. 1836.

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Friday evening, February 12th. 1836

convened in the for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of men to the office of and other offices in the .

Opened by singing and prayer

The minutes in JS’s journal state the following: “I then arose and made some remarks upon the object of our meeting, which were as follows— first that many are desiring to be ordained to the ministry, who are not called and consequntly the Lord is displeased.”a This may have been connected to the ongoing difficulties and questions raised about ordinations to the elders quorum.b It is also possible that JS suggested here that the Lord was displeased that so many who desired ordination had not adequately prepared for the ministry and were, therefore, not properly called and ordained to the work. As a February 1829 revelation stated, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”c The journal continues: “Secondly, many already have been ordained who ought [not] to hold official stations in the church because they dishonour themselves and the church and bring persecution swiftly upon us, in consequence of their zeal without k[n]owledge— I requested the quorum’s to take some measures to regulate the same.”d The “official stations” likely referred to various priesthood offices. Church leaders had cautioned local leaders two years earlier to be “exceedingly careful” when they ordained an elder to the ministry. “Let it be a faithful man,” they counseled, and they admonished the local authorities to instruct those ordained to “avoid contentions and vain disputes.”e In a 2 October 1835 letter instructing the “elders, traveling through the world,” JS cautioned against those who had a “zeal not according to knowledge” and who “in the heat of enthusiasm, taught and said many things which are derogatory to the genuine character and principles of the church.”f (^aJS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836.^bSee Letter from the Presidency of Elders, 29 Jan. 1836.^cRevelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4:3].^dJS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836.^eLetter to the Church, not after 18 Dec. 1833, italics in original; see also Romans 10:2.^fLetter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835.)

The following resolutions were offered by the for discussion.

1st Resolved that no one be ordained to any office in the in this of at without the unanimous voice of the several bodies that constitute this , who are appointed to do church business in the name of the <said> church. (Viz) The Presidency of the Church and Council. The of the Lamb. The twelve of . The twelve High Counsellors— [p. 137]

Friday evening, February 12th. 1836

convened in the for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of men to the office of and other offices in the .

Opened by singing and prayer

The following resolutions were offered by the for discussion.

1st Resolved that no one be ordained to any office in the in this of at without the unanimous voice of the several bodies that constitute this , who are appointed to do church business in the name of said church. (Viz) The Presidency of the Church and Council. The of the Lamb. The twelve of . The twelve High Counsellors— [p. 137]

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Document Information

Editorial Title
Minutes, 12 February 1836
ID #
8384
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:170–173
Footnotes
1. 1
  The copy of the minutes in JS’s journal specifies that JS “met in the School room in the chapel in company with the several quorums.” The “several quorums” likely included those entities listed in the first resolution in the featured text. These several quorums also constituted the church’s “grand council,” which met regularly during the months when Missouri church leaders were in Kirtland to prepare for the March dedication of the House of the Lord. (JS, Journal, 13 Jan. 1836, and Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836; Minutes, 13 Jan. 1836.)
2. 2
  The minutes in JS’s journal state the following: “I then arose and made some remarks upon the object of our meeting, which were as follows— first that many are desiring to be ordained to the ministry, who are not called and consequntly the Lord is displeased.”a This may have been connected to the ongoing difficulties and questions raised about ordinations to the elders quorum.b It is also possible that JS suggested here that the Lord was displeased that so many who desired ordination had not adequately prepared for the ministry and were, therefore, not properly called and ordained to the work. As a February 1829 revelation stated, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”c The journal continues: “Secondly, many already have been ordained who ought [not] to hold official stations in the church because they dishonour themselves and the church and bring persecution swiftly upon us, in consequence of their zeal without k[n]owledge— I requested the quorum’s to take some measures to regulate the same.”d The “official stations” likely referred to various priesthood offices. Church leaders had cautioned local leaders two years earlier to be “exceedingly careful” when they ordained an elder to the ministry. “Let it be a faithful man,” they counseled, and they admonished the local authorities to instruct those ordained to “avoid contentions and vain disputes.”e In a 2 October 1835 letter instructing the “elders, traveling through the world,” JS cautioned against those who had a “zeal not according to knowledge” and who “in the heat of enthusiasm, taught and said many things which are derogatory to the genuine character and principles of the church.”f
  
  (^aJS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836. ^bSee Letter from the Presidency of Elders, 29 Jan. 1836. ^cRevelation, Feb. 1829 [D&C 4:3]. ^dJS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836. ^eLetter to the Church, not after 18 Dec. 1833, italics in original; see also Romans 10:2. ^fLetter to the Elders of the Church, 2 Oct. 1835.)
3. 3
  According to the minutes in JS’s journal, JS “proposed some resolutions and remarked to the brethren that the subject was now before them and open for discussion[.] The subject was taken up and discussed by President’s S[idney] Rigdon O[liver] Cowdery Eldr. M[artin] Harris and some others, and resolutions drafted, by my scribe [Warren Parrish] who served as clerk on the occasion— read and rejected— it was then proposed that I should indite resolutions which I did as follows.” (JS, Journal, Minutes, 12 Feb. 1836.)

Minutes, 12 February 1836

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