Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 July 1842, vol. 3, no. 17, pp. 831–846; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
The 1 July 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons was the ninth issue published under JS’s editorship. Much of the issue was devoted to the publication of correspondence regarding ’s immoral conduct in , Illinois. This correspondence included a letter that JS wrote telling members about Bennett and describing how church leaders had handled his situation. To corroborate JS’s statements in that letter, the issue included excerpts of correspondence from unidentified individuals and from , who had evidently been sent to verify information about Bennett in . These statements, as well as JS’s letter, had been previously published in the 25 June 1842 issue of the Wasp.
In addition to information about , the 1 July issue contained an article by , excerpts from the “History of Joseph Smith,” an article on the Jews, and a reprint of a letter published in the Dollar Weekly Bostonian recounting a meeting at which “, the Mormon lecturer of the city of ” spoke. Also included were accounts of earthquakes that had occurred in Haiti and in Greece, a letter from to JS, communications from preaching outside of , minutes of in outlying , and a poem by about the . The issue also featured editorial commentary and notices written by the editorial staff. How involved JS was in composing the editorial material is unclear. While assisted him in editing the paper, JS, as editor, assumed primary responsibility for the paper’s content.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Times and Seasons is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents are annotated elsewhere; links are provided to these stand-alone documents.
seventeen members, two and one , all in good standing. The at Shirk river, of eight members, one , and one . The branch at Shrewsbury, of about eight members and one priest. The branch at Tom’s River of about forty three members, two elders, one teacher, and one deacon; and stated that there were four members on Staten Island; and that he had six at Long Branch.
represented the branch in the city of Brooklin to consist of sixteen members, exclusive of one elder, one priest, and one deacon; and then gave a brief but highly interesting account of his mission to .
The branch at New Rochelle, N. Y. was represented by Elder John Wolf, to consist of twenty members, one elder, one priest, and one teacher.
The branch at Setauket, L. I. was represented by W. Carmichael, to consist of thirty members, one priest, one teacher, and one deacon.
Elder preferred the following charge against Elder , viz: writing a letter to president , on or about the 30th of August last, traducing his character, and containing allegations which are not true, and then addressed the conference on the subject of his charge.
At this stage of the proceedings, a quarter before 7 o’clock, the took a recess for one hour.
evening session.
The conference re-assembled, and after singing and prayer proceeded to business.
The made some pertinent remarks on the subject matter of the controversy.
exhorted the brethren to settle the difficulty between themselves.
consented to drop it if would make acknowledgements.
having confessed and asked forgiveness, expressed himself perfectly satisfied.
On motion of Elder Everett it was
Resolved, That the conference accept the confession made by , and of what has been said and done by , and consider that the matter has been settled according to the laws of the church.
Moved and seconded, That Charles E. Spencer, Jesse C. Braley, of and Geo. T. Leech, of Norwalk, Ct. be ordained elders. Carried.
These persons were then ordained under the hands of Elders , , , , Everett and Wandell.
Moved and seconded, That the president and secretary be authorized to furnish new licenses to those elders within the limits of this conference who are entitled to receive them.
The conference adjourned until 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.
Thursday morning, 9 o’clock the conference met agreeeably to adjournment, and was opened with singing and prayer.
The represented the branch in the city of to consist of about 200 members, about twenty of whom have been received by baptism, and 5 or 10 by certificate, since last conference.
It having been reported by several elders that the branch at Hempstead, L. I was in a cold state, and that some unkind feelings existed in it. was deputed to proceed to that branch and regulate it;* and Elder Beebee to visit the branch at Setauket, L. I.
The delegates generally gave very cheering accounts of the progress of the cause of truth, and stated that the calls for preaching were very numerous.
addressed the audience at considerrble length, giving an interesting narrative of his travels and labors, and some valuable instruction to those who have been called to the ministry.
On motion, it was
Resolved, That the next general conference be held in the city of on the third Wednesday in October, next
Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to transmit a copy of the minutes to the editor of the “Times and Seasons,” with a request that he would give them a place in his valuable paper.
The minutes of the conference were read and approved.
The Conference then adjourned sine die.
The benediction was pronounced by the .
, President.
, Secretary.
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* reported on his return that he found the branch in a better state than [p. 845]