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Minutes, 8 September 1834

Source Note

Minutes,
New Portage

Settled by 1815. Population severely diminished by epidemic, possibly typhus, in late 1820s. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited and preached at many meetings in town, by 1831. Large branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized, early...

More Info
, Medina Co., OH, 8 Sept. 1834. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 49–51, 73–74; handwriting of
Warren 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

A church
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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held in
New Portage

Settled by 1815. Population severely diminished by epidemic, possibly typhus, in late 1820s. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited and preached at many meetings in town, by 1831. Large branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized, early...

More Info
, Ohio, on 8 September 1834 apparently reconvened a conference held in nearby
Norton

Area first settled, 1814. Formed from Wolf Creek Township, 1818. Reported location of “great Mormon excitement,” 1832–1838. Population in 1830 about 650. Primarily populated by immigrants from New England states. Increased German Pennsylvanian immigration...

More Info
, Ohio, on 21 April 1834.
1

New Portage village was located in Norton Township. It is possible that both conferences were held in the village of New Portage.


The minutes of the April conference indicate that it was “adjourned to the Monday precedeing the second sunday in September,” which was 8 September. JS 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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left
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...

More Info
, Ohio, for New Portage on 5 September and arrived by 7 September.
2

Minutes and Discourse, 21 Apr. 1834; Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, in LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:14.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

The conference dealt with a number of difficult issues, probably because the issues had been set aside in expectation of this conference.
The minutes of the
New Portage

Settled by 1815. Population severely diminished by epidemic, possibly typhus, in late 1820s. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited and preached at many meetings in town, by 1831. Large branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized, early...

More Info
conference depict some of JS’s typical actions when visiting the various congregations of Saints. He blessed a sick woman, provided instruction about the operation of the church, and presided over a council giving decisions on three disciplinary cases. In the first case, the church in New Portage had previously tried one of its members, a man named Carpenter,
3

The 21 April 1834 conference was held at the “dwelling house of bro. Carpenters.” The Carpenter mentioned here is probably that same individual. (Minutes and Discourse, 21 Apr. 1834.)


for an unspecified fault and decided he should be given time to consider his response to the charge. A church member named Gordon
4

Though the minutes of this 8 September 1834 meeting give only a last name, “brother Gordon” is probably Thomas Gordon, a high priest who is identified by his full name in the minutes of conferences held at New Portage on 18 November 1835 and 10 June 1836. (Minute Book 1, 18 Nov. 1835 and 10 June 1836.)


had then spoken in tongues, evidently saying the church should not be so lenient with Carpenter, whereupon the decision was reversed. JS instructed the council that this use of the gift of tongues was inappropriate because the gift was instituted mainly to preach the gospel to other nations and was not to be used “for the government of the Church”—perhaps the first time he had given this explanation of how the gift of tongues was to be used. Gordon, who was present at the conference, then admitted his error and sought forgiveness. In the second case,
Ambrose Palmer

15 Sept. 1784–before Sept. 1838. Farmer, tavern keeper, surveyor, glass worker, manufacturer, justice of the peace. Born at Winchester, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. Moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio, by 1807. Married Lettis (Lettice) Hawkins of Castleton, Rutland...

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, the presiding authority in New Portage, asked JS whether he, Palmer, should remain the president of the church’s branch in the area since a member of the branch,
Joseph B. Bosworth

6 Mar. 1790–16 July 1850. Farmer. Born at Scituate, Providence Co., Rhode Island. Son of Benajah Bosworth. Moved to Burlington, Otsego Co., New York, by 1800. Married Lucina Hopkins, 17 May 1815. Moved to Copley, Medina Co., Ohio, by 1818. Baptized into Church...

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, had refused to comply with Palmer’s call to order in a previous meeting. The conference determined that Bosworth should make a confession before a
bishop’s council

A governing body comprising a bishop and his counselors. The bishop’s council was charged with overseeing the temporal affairs of the church, administering goods under the law of consecration, and assisting the poor. The bishop’s council had authority to ...

View Glossary
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...

More Info
and be notified of this decision by letter. The conference then addressed a final charge against
Milton Stow

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for having made false prophecies.
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...

View Full Bio
, who served as clerk of this conference, kept the minutes, though his original inscription is not extant.
Warren 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...

View Full Bio
later copied the minutes, along with a nota bene that included a copy of a letter from Oliver Cowdery to
Bosworth

6 Mar. 1790–16 July 1850. Farmer. Born at Scituate, Providence Co., Rhode Island. Son of Benajah Bosworth. Moved to Burlington, Otsego Co., New York, by 1800. Married Lucina Hopkins, 17 May 1815. Moved to Copley, Medina Co., Ohio, by 1818. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
, in Minute Book 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    New Portage village was located in Norton Township. It is possible that both conferences were held in the village of New Portage.

  2. [2]

    Minutes and Discourse, 21 Apr. 1834; Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, in LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:14.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  3. [3]

    The 21 April 1834 conference was held at the “dwelling house of bro. Carpenters.” The Carpenter mentioned here is probably that same individual. (Minutes and Discourse, 21 Apr. 1834.)

  4. [4]

    Though the minutes of this 8 September 1834 meeting give only a last name, “brother Gordon” is probably Thomas Gordon, a high priest who is identified by his full name in the minutes of conferences held at New Portage on 18 November 1835 and 10 June 1836. (Minute Book 1, 18 Nov. 1835 and 10 June 1836.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 8 September 1834 Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 50

brother Carpenter, that it was contrary to the rules and regulations 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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, because, in all our decisions we must judge from actual testimony. Brother Gordon said the testimony was had and the decision given before the gift of tongues was manifested. Brother Joseph advised that <​we​> speak in our own language in all such matters, and then the adversary cannot lead our minds astray.
1

JS had given previous instruction regarding the misuse of the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. In July 1833, he and others wrote to church leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, warning them that the gift of tongues could be used as a tool of Satan and that members needed to be careful lest the gift deceive them. (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 2 July 1833.)


Brother Palmer

15 Sept. 1784–before Sept. 1838. Farmer, tavern keeper, surveyor, glass worker, manufacturer, justice of the peace. Born at Winchester, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. Moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio, by 1807. Married Lettis (Lettice) Hawkins of Castleton, Rutland...

View Full Bio
then gave a relation of a certain difficulty which took place in 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...

View Glossary
. He,
brother Palmer

15 Sept. 1784–before Sept. 1838. Farmer, tavern keeper, surveyor, glass worker, manufacturer, justice of the peace. Born at Winchester, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. Moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio, by 1807. Married Lettis (Lettice) Hawkins of Castleton, Rutland...

View Full Bio
presided, when several of the brethren spake out of order, and brother
J[oseph] B. Bosworth

6 Mar. 1790–16 July 1850. Farmer. Born at Scituate, Providence Co., Rhode Island. Son of Benajah Bosworth. Moved to Burlington, Otsego Co., New York, by 1800. Married Lucina Hopkins, 17 May 1815. Moved to Copley, Medina Co., Ohio, by 1818. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
refused to submit to to order according to his (
brother Palmer

15 Sept. 1784–before Sept. 1838. Farmer, tavern keeper, surveyor, glass worker, manufacturer, justice of the peace. Born at Winchester, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. Moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio, by 1807. Married Lettis (Lettice) Hawkins of Castleton, Rutland...

View Full Bio
’s) request. He now wished instruction on this point, whether he, or some one else should preside over this
branch

An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...

View Glossary
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...

View Glossary
, and also whether such conduct could be approbated in conferences. Brother Gordon then made some remarks on the subject which was at the time before the
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...

View Glossary
.
Brother Joseph said, relative to the first question, that brother Gordon’s tongues in the end, did operate as testimony, as, by his remarks in tongues, the former decision was set aside, and his taken. That it was his decision that brother Gordon’s manifestation was incorrect, and from a suspicious heart. He approved the first decision, but discarded the second. Brother Joseph Keeler said that in the former decision he had acted hastily himself in urging brother Carpenter to make acknowledgement without [p. 50]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 50

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 8 September 1834
ID #
6715
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:164–168
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS had given previous instruction regarding the misuse of the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. In July 1833, he and others wrote to church leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, warning them that the gift of tongues could be used as a tool of Satan and that members needed to be careful lest the gift deceive them. (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 2 July 1833.)

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