Notice, circa 1 February 1844

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Notice, circa 1 February 1844
Source Note

JS and
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; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...
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, Notice, [
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 1 Feb. 1844]. Featured version published in “Notice,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1844, vol. 5, no. 13, 423. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction
The 1 February 1844 issue of the Times and Seasons, 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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newspaper published in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, included a notice from JS and
Hyrum Smith
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alleging that 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...
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named Hiram Brown was teaching the doctrine of “polygamy and other false and corrupt doctrines” while serving a proselytizing mission in
Michigan
Organized as territory, 1805, with Detroit as capital. De facto state government organized within territory, 1836, although not formally recognized as state by federal government until 1837. Lansing became new state capital, 1847. Population in 1810 about...
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. Since 1841, JS had been practicing plural marriage in Nauvoo and had invited a select group of men and women to participate in the practice.
1
Revelation, 12 July 1843 [D&C 132]; “Joseph Smith Documents from May through August 1842.”
Brown, who had previously lived in Nauvoo, may have heard about plural marriage there.
2
Very little is known about Brown. According to the 1842 Nauvoo stake census, he lived alone in the Third Ward. Beyond the information in the notice from JS and Hyrum Smith, details concerning Brown’s mission are unknown. (Nauvoo Third Ward Census, [23], Nauvoo Stake, Ward Census, CHL.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Nauvoo Stake. Ward Census, 1842. CHL.
Information regarding Brown’s teachings in Michigan had apparently reached JS and his brother Hyrum, who was both the church
patriarch
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office with the authority to give inspired blessings, similar to the practice of Old Testament patriarchs. JS occasionally referred to patriarchs as “evangelical ministers” or “evangelists.” Joseph Smith Sr. was ordained as...
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and a member of the
First Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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.

In the newspaper notice, JS and
Hyrum Smith
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directed Brown to return to
Nauvoo
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to respond to ecclesiastical charges during the church’s upcoming special
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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in early April 1844. Despite this request, there is no evidence that Brown attended the conference.
3
The conference was held from Saturday, 6 April, to Monday, 8 April. Nauvoo high council minutes kept during this time do not discuss Brown’s case. (See JS, Journal, 6–8 Apr. 1844; and Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 30 Mar.–13 Apr. 1844.)
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
Brown’s alleged preaching of plural marriage was one of many reports that prompted Hyrum Smith to instruct elders of the church that missionaries were only to teach the gospel and that they would lose their licenses to preach if they did otherwise.
4
Hyrum Smith told the gathering, “Every Elder who teaches such stuff ought to have his nose wrung— his name will be pub[lishe]d. & if found guilty his licence shall be taken.” (Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–9 Apr. 1844, 30.)
Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

If any earlier drafts of this notice were written, they are no longer extant.
Footnotes
[1]
Revelation, 12 July 1843 [D&C 132]; “Joseph Smith Documents from May through August 1842.”
[2]
Very little is known about Brown. According to the 1842 Nauvoo stake census, he lived alone in the Third Ward. Beyond the information in the notice from JS and Hyrum Smith, details concerning Brown’s mission are unknown. (Nauvoo Third Ward Census, [23], Nauvoo Stake, Ward Census, CHL.)
Nauvoo Stake. Ward Census, 1842. CHL.
[3]
The conference was held from Saturday, 6 April, to Monday, 8 April. Nauvoo high council minutes kept during this time do not discuss Brown’s case. (See JS, Journal, 6–8 Apr. 1844; and Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 30 Mar.–13 Apr. 1844.)
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
[4]
Hyrum Smith told the gathering, “Every Elder who teaches such stuff ought to have his nose wrung— his name will be pub[lishe]d. & if found guilty his licence shall be taken.” (Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 6–9 Apr. 1844, 30.)
Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL
Page 423
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NOTICE.

As we have lately been credibly informed, that 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...
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of the
Church of Jesus Christ, of 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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, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan.
1
Stephen Post, who served a proselytizing mission in Michigan, helped organize a branch in Lapeer, Michigan, in 1839. The Times and Seasons printed a report about a January 1843 conference for the missionaries and members of several branches of the church in Lapeer County, suggesting that missionary activity continued in this area. (Stephen Post, Detroit, MI, 18 Sept. 1839, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, Jan. 1840, 1:39; Minutes, Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.)
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity; and he is further notified to appear at the Special
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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, on the 6th of April next, to make answer to these charges.

JOSEPH SMITH,

HYRUM SMITH
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.

Presidents
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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of said Church. [p. 423]
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Editorial Title
Notice, circa 1 February 1844
ID #
1262
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
Printed text
Footnotes
[1]
Stephen Post, who served a proselytizing mission in Michigan, helped organize a branch in Lapeer, Michigan, in 1839. The Times and Seasons printed a report about a January 1843 conference for the missionaries and members of several branches of the church in Lapeer County, suggesting that missionary activity continued in this area. (Stephen Post, Detroit, MI, 18 Sept. 1839, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, Jan. 1840, 1:39; Minutes, Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.)
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.