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Minutes, 17 August 1835

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Minutes, 17 August 1835

Source Note

Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 17 Aug. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 98–106; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 17 August 1835, a general assembly of the church met in , Ohio, to review and approve “a book of commandments and covenants” titled Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God. This book was a compilation of many of JS’s revelations along with seven lectures dealing with the church’s theology. The book, which presented to the gathering, was compiled by a committee composed of JS, Cowdery, , and . The Kirtland had appointed the committee on 24 September 1834, and church members attending that council had approved the appointment. The high council instructed the committee “to arrange the items of the doctrine of Jesus Christ for the government of the church of Latter-Day Saints.” Such items were “to be taken from the bible, book of mormon, and the revelations which have been given to the church up to this date.” A later JS history noted that after finishing the book, the committee decided “to call a general assembly of the church to see whether the Book be approved, or not, by the authorities of the Church, that it may, if approved, become a Law, and a rule of faith and practice to the church.” However, JS did not attend the assembly because he was with Williams on a mission to . In presenting the book, Cowdery stated that he was acting on the committee’s behalf, suggesting that JS had authorized Cowdery to present the book and the committee’s work to the assembly in his absence.
The book that presented differed from the one foreseen by the high council. It did not contain excerpts from the Bible or the Book of Mormon but instead had two sections, one of which was devoted to seven theological lectures that were prepared in the winter of 1834 and 1835 for the in Kirtland. The other section contained many of JS’s revelations, which constituted the “covenants and commandments of the Lord.” No extant record indicates when or why the committee decided to deviate from its original instructions, but the change had occurred by February 1835, when the committee composed the preface to the book. That preface stated that the theological lectures were included because they “embrac[ed] the important doctrine of salvation,” while the “covenants and commandments” section contained “items or principles for the regulation of the church.”
The book was compiled and prepared for publication over a period of several months. In January 1835, JS obtained a copyright for the book; in February, the committee wrote the preface. In May 1835, , who had spearheaded the publication of the Book of Commandments in 1833, arrived from to help. By the end of May, six gatherings of the book, comprising the first ninety-six pages, had been printed. However, funding the publication was an issue. As late as June 1835, for example, JS wrote a letter soliciting funds for the publication. It is unknown whether church leaders received additional money, but the book was published by the end of the summer. The August 1835 Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate stated that the book was “nearly ready for sale” and that one thousand copies were in the process of being bound.
At least parts of the volume were already in limited circulation before printing was finished. In May 1835, sent the first six gatherings to his wife, , in , and a 4 August 1835 letter from a council of the church’s to the indicated that both the presidency and the apostles had at least a partial copy of the book by that time. Participants in this 17 August meeting also passed around “a book of commandments and covenants,” which was likely a collection of loose gatherings from the book rather than the complete volume, which contained a version of these minutes when it was bound for publication.
Those overseeing publication of the Doctrine and Covenants followed the precedent set in the publication process of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Commandments. When the Book of Mormon was published in 1830, it contained statements from three witnesses that the volume came from God. Likewise, beginning in in November 1831, eighteen elders of the church affixed their names to a testimony stating that the revelations to be published in the Book of Commandments were “given by inspiration of God & are profitable for all men & are verily true.” That same month, a special of nine church , including JS, considered the forthcoming Book of Commandments and voted that the revelations contained therein “be prized by this Conference to be worth to the Church the riches of the whole Earth.” The conference also voted to acknowledge those who had worked and would work to publish the revelations.
Similarly, at this August 1835 general assembly, representatives from the , the and high councils, the Kirtland and Missouri , the , and the elders, , , and expressed their belief in the divinity of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. In the absence of the Quorum of the Twelve, read a statement that was presented as the “testimony of the 12 Apostles” regarding the compilation. All those present who held a priesthood office then voted to approve the publication and the work of the committee that compiled it. The general church membership in attendance, both male and female, also gave their approval. In addition, the assembly voted to include two other documents—“Rules for Marriage among the saints” and a declaration on “laws in general. & church government”—in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Church leaders also used this meeting to some men to priesthood offices and to give blessings to others who had gone on the expedition. Those who received these Camp of Israel blessings were generally either elderly or still in their youth. The younger recipients were told to prepare themselves for the ministry, while the older men were blessed for their sacrifice in going to . Similar to the ordination blessings provided to the Twelve Apostles and members of the Seventy earlier in 1835, these blessings and ordinations made great promises to the recipients if they served the church faithfully in the future.
Because many church leaders had been sent on missions from in spring and summer 1835, a number of leaders, including JS, were absent from this meeting. None of the Twelve Apostles were at the gathering, and only four members of the high council and two members of the high council were in attendance. , president of the Missouri high council; ; and Partridge’s counselor were absent as well, as were many members of the Seventy. Because of this, several individuals were appointed as acting officers for the day. Six individuals were also appointed as “assistant Presidents” of the assembly itself, responsible for “preserving order, &c. in the whole assembly.”
, , and were appointed clerks of the meeting and presumably took the minutes. Two published versions of the minutes appeared shortly after the meeting, one in the Messenger and Advocate and one in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. These two versions closely resemble each other. Probably sometime after becoming one of JS’s scribes in 1836, entered the minutes into Minute Book 1. Cowdery’s minutes, which are featured here, are a more complete record of the meeting than the minutes published in the Messenger and Advocate and the Doctrine and Covenants, which appear to be more of a summary of the proceedings. The minutes featured here include a record of the ordinations and other blessings given at the meeting, whereas the published minutes focus entirely on the approval of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834.

  2. [2]

    JS History, vol. B-1, 600.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  3. [3]

    “General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161.

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

  4. [4]

    For a detailed discussion of the contents of the Doctrine and Covenants and the publication of the volume, see Historical Introduction to Doctrine and Covenants, 1835.

  5. [5]

    Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, 17 Feb. 1835; JS History, vol. B-1, 557–558, 562; First Theological Lecture on Faith, ca. Jan.–May 1835.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  6. [6]

    Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., 75, italics in original. Many of these revelations had been published previously in The Evening and the Morning Star and the Book of Commandments. (“Corresponding Section Numbers in Editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.”)

  7. [7]

    Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, 17 Feb. 1835

  8. [8]

    Copyright for Doctrine and Covenants, 14 Jan. 1835, Copyright Records, Ohio, 1831–1848 (Department of State), unnumbered vol., Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC; Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, 17 Feb. 1835.

    Copyright for Doctrine and Covenants, 14 Jan. 1835. Copyright Records, Ohio, 1831–1848 (Department of State). Unnumbered vol. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC.

  9. [9]

    JS History, vol. B-1, 592.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  10. [10]

    William W. Phelps, Kirtland, OH, to Sally Waterman Phelps, Liberty, MO, 26 May 1835, William W. Phelps, Papers, BYU.

    Phelps, William W. Papers, 1835–1865. BYU.

  11. [11]

    Letter to Church Brethren, 15 June 1835.

  12. [12]

    “Doctrine and Covenants,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:170. The size of the print run for the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants is unclear.

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

  13. [13]

    William W. Phelps, Kirtland, OH, to Sally Waterman Phelps, Liberty, MO, 26 May 1835, William W. Phelps, Papers, BYU; Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 Aug. 1835.

    Phelps, William W. Papers, 1835–1865. BYU.

  14. [14]

    “General Assembly,” in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., 255–257.

  15. [15]

    Testimony of Three Witnesses, Late June 1829.

  16. [16]

    Testimony, ca. 2 Nov. 1831. The testimony was to be included at the end of the volume; however, mob action destroyed the printing office before the final signature was printed, and the testimony never appeared in the printed Book of Commandments.

  17. [17]

    Minutes, 12 Nov. 1831.

  18. [18]

    These documents were presented by William W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery. The minutes are not clear on their authorship or origin. (See Declaration on Government and Law, ca. Aug. 1835 [D&C 134]; and Statement on Marriage, ca. Aug. 1835.)

  19. [19]

    For more information on the blessing of Camp of Israel participants, see Historical Introduction to Minutes, 8 Aug. 1835.

  20. [20]

    A later JS history noted that the School of the Elders closed the last week of March 1835 “to give the elders an opportunity to go forth and proclaim the gospel preparatory to the endowment.” William W. Phelps informed his wife, Sally, in a June 1835 letter that “the Elders are constantly coming in and going.” (JS History, vol. B-1, 588; Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835.)

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  21. [21]

    The Twelve Apostles were on a mission to the eastern United States and Upper Canada. (Esplin and Nielsen, “Record of the Twelve,” 49–50.)

    Esplin, Ronald K., and Sharon E. Nielsen. “The Record of the Twelve, 1835: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles’ Call and 1835 Mission.” BYU Studies 51, no. 1 (2012): 4–52.

  22. [22]

    It is not clear where David Whitmer was at this time, although he had been living in Kirtland since at least October 1834. Partridge and Morley were on a mission to the eastern United States to preach and raise funds to help the Saints in Missouri. (Oliver Cowdery, Editorial, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:3; Historical Introduction to Recommendation for Edward Partridge and Isaac Morley, 1 June 1835.)

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

  23. [23]

    That church leaders decided to hold this assembly in the absence of so many high-level church leaders suggests the importance they placed on publishing the Doctrine and Covenants as soon as possible.

  24. [24]

    “General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161.

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

  25. [25]

    “General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161–164; “General Assembly,” in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., 255–257.

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

  26. [26]

    The major difference between the published versions is that the Messenger and Advocate version includes the texts of the articles on marriage and the government and the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants version does not. The Messenger and Advocate version also shows Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon signing the minutes as presidents. (“General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161–164; “General Assembly,” in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., 255–257.)

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

  27. [27]

    Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, 1835–1836.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Minutes, 17 August 1835, as Published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate Doctrine and Covenants, 1835
*Minutes, 17 August 1835
Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 98

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General Assembly,
Convened in August 17th. A.D. 1835 by the of the , for the purpose of Examining a book of commandments and covenants, which has been compiled and written by the following committee, which was appointed by a general assembly of the Church in Sept. 24th 1834 & instructing the writers of said Book. This committee was nominated, by the Speaker of the , seconded & voted into this office, by the whole body of the church then assembled. The names of the Committe are as follows Joseph Smith Junr. , & . This Committe having finished said Book according to the instructions given them, it was deemed necessary to call the general assembly of the Church to see whether the book be approved or not by the Authoroties of the church, that it may, if approved, become a law. unto the church, and a rule of faith and practice unto the same. Therefore, this assembly was called to order & organized as follows. First the Presidents of the church in , (Viz.)
)present and took the lead of the meeting
)
Joseph Smith Junr.)absent
&)
)
John also present
The High Council of .
No. 1
3
5
Willard Woodstock
Amos R. OrtonGiles Cook
[p. 98]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 17 August 1835
ID #
6718
Total Pages
9
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:382–396
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Samuel Smith, a member of the high council, made the nomination and Hyrum Smith seconded it. (Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834.)

  2. [2]

    The minutes of the 24 September 1834 meeting refer to it as a meeting of the Kirtland high council, but the minutes also mention “the whole conference” agreeing to the high council’s actions. (Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834.)

  3. [3]

    These were the members of the First Presidency, or presidency of the high priesthood.

  4. [4]

    Hyrum Smith and Joseph Smith Sr. were ordained to the presidency of the high priesthood in December 1834. It is unclear why they are not listed here with the other four. One possibility is that the minutes listed only those members of the presidency who were also members of the committee appointed to compile the Doctrine and Covenants. (Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834.)

  5. [5]

    John Smith was a member of the Kirtland high council, but no records prior to this time show him functioning as the president of the Kirtland high council. When the high council was organized, JS, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams were specifically appointed as its presidency. The version of these minutes published in the Doctrine and Covenants state that “Elder” John Smith took “the lead of the high council in Kirtland” but do not mention him functioning as a president of the council. In January 1836, at a meeting where leaders of the church were anointed in preparation for the dedication of the House of the Lord, Hyrum Smith anointed John Smith as “the president of the counsellors in Kirtland,” indicating he was functioning in that position at that time. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:3]; “General Assembly,” in Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., 256; JS, Journal, 21 Jan. 1836.)

  6. [6]

    Lyon, who had been living in Warsaw, New York, moved to Kirtland sometime after 6 August 1833. A “Father Lions” (presumably Lyon) participated in a Kirtland high council meeting in February 1834. (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833; Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834.)

  7. [7]

    The numbers 1, 3, and 5 refer to how the high council was ordered for the meeting. It is not clear why no numbers appear by the names of other members of the council, but John Smith, Samuel H. Smith, and Jared Carter were the only original members of the Kirtland high council present at this meeting. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:3].)

  8. [8]

    Sherwood was ordained an elder in August 1832 and was blessed in a 7–8 March 1835 meeting in Kirtland for his participation in the construction of the House of the Lord. (Jared Carter, Journal, 115; Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835.)

    Carter, Jared. Journal, 1831–1833. CHL. MS 1441.

  9. [9]

    Johnson was appointed to the Kirtland high council on 28 August 1834 to replace John S. Carter, who had died. Aside from Johnson, John Smith, Samuel Smith, and Jared Carter, the rest of the individuals listed as members of the Kirtland high council were apparently substitutes for that day. (Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834.)

  10. [10]

    Davis was ordained an elder at a 7–8 March 1835 meeting in Kirtland. He was also blessed in that meeting for his participation in the construction of the House of the Lord. (Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835.)

  11. [11]

    Woodstock was ordained a high priest on 8 June 1833 in Bath, New Hampshire. (“History of Orson Pratt,” 16, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861, CHL.)

    Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

  12. [12]

    Orton was ordained an elder at a 7–8 March 1835 meeting in Kirtland. He was also blessed in that meeting for assisting in the construction of the House of the Lord. He helped Brigham Young and John Greene preach to American Indians in New York in May 1835. (Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835; Young, Journal, 25 May 1835.)

    Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.

  13. [13]

    Cook was ordained an elder at a 7–8 March 1835 meeting in Kirtland. He was also blessed at that meeting for participating in the construction of the House of the Lord. (Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835.)

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