Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 15 Apr. 1842, vol. 3, no. 12, pp. 751–766; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
The 15 April 1842 issue of the ’s , Illinois, newspaper, Times and Seasons, was the fifth issue to identify JS as editor. The issue contained three editorial passages, each of which is featured below with an accompanying introduction. Two other JS texts printed in this issue—a discourse and minutes of the April 1842 special in Nauvoo—are featured as stand-alone documents elsewhere in this volume.
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.
While JS likely authored many of the paper’s editorial passages, John Taylor reportedly assisted him in writing content. No matter who wrote individual editorial pieces, JS assumed editorial responsibility for all installments naming him as editor except the 15 February issue. (Woodruff, Journal, 19 Feb. 1842; Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1842.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
then addressed those who intended to be ordained, on the subject of their duty and requirements to go to preach.
spoke concerning the elders who went forth to preach from , and were afterwards called in for the and anointing at the dedication of the , and those who go now will be called in also, when this is about to be dedicated, and will then be to go forth with mighty power having the same anointing, that all may go forth and have the same power, the first, second, and so on, of the and all those formerly ordained. This will be an important and beneficial mission, and not many years until those now sent will be called in again.
He then spoke in contradiction of a report in circulation about , , himself, and others of the , alledging that a sister had been shut in a room for several days, and that they had endeavored to induce her to believe in having two wives. Also cautioned the sisters against going to the steam boats.
Pres’t. J. Smith spoke upon the subject of the stories respecting and others, showing the folly and inconsistency of spending any time in conversing about such stories or hearkening to them, for there is no person that is acquainted with our principles would believe such lies, except the editor of the “ Signal.” for the dead, and for the healing of the body must be in the font, those coming into the church and those rebaptized may be done in the .
A box should be prepared for the use of the font, that the clerk may be paid, and a book procured by the monies to be put therein by those baptized’ the remainder to go to the use of the .—Sung a hymn. Ordinations to take place to-morrow morning—Baptisms in the font also—There were 275 ordained to the office of Elder under the hands of the Twelve during the .
April 8. Sung a hymn—Prayer by —Sung a hymn.
then addressed the assembly upon several subjects; made many interesting remarks concerning being called to the ministry, labor in the vineyard &c., spoke of his own travels and the fruits of his labors as an encouragement to the young elders who were going into the vineyard.
Pres’t. J. Smith said the baptisms would be attended to, also the ordinations.
Sung a hymn—Elder preached a sermon while the ordinations and baptisms were going on on the subject of infidelity showing that the arguments used against the bible were reasonably scientifically and philosophically false.
The was occupied in the afternoon by Elder and followed by Elder , then the Conference closed by benediction of Pres. J. Smith.
, Clerk.
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MINUTES.
Minutes of a conference of the , held in the City of , Nov. 29th 1841.
The Conference was organized at 2 o’clock P. M. by electing , Chairman, and , Clerk.
After addressing the Throne of Grace, the briefly stated the object of convening together—and then proceeded to ascertain how many of each , or order were present, when it was ascertained there were present, one of the travelling High Councillors, six , sixteen elders, three , two and two .
Reports of delegates being called for, reported that the whole number of persons who had been received into the at was two hundred and ninety-two, of which two hundred and seventy-nine were received by and , and thirteen by certificate. Of these, four have died, ninety-six moved away, and thirteen have been excommunicated; leaving one hundred and seventy-nine, of whom there are a president and two councillors, a and two councillors, eleven elders, two priests, one teacher and two deacons.
The branch of Setauket, Long Island, was represented by Benjamin Hulse, teacher.—That branch was organized on the 27th of March, 1841, with eighteen members, two of whom had been preachers, one a Baptist, and the other a Methodist. The number has since, been increased to forty-three, of whom six have been cut [p. 763]