Record of the Twelve, 14 February–28 August 1835
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Source Note
Record of the Twelve, 14 Feb.–28 Aug. 1835, as copied ca. late 1835 into “A record of the transactions of the Twelve apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints from the time of their call to the apostleship which was on the 14th. Day of Feby. AD 1835”; handwriting of and ; twenty pages; verso of Patriarchal Blessings, vol. 2; CHL. Includes use marks and archival markings.The Record of the Twelve was copied from original manuscripts, apparently retained by , into a bound volume that was later used to record patriarchal blessings. The volume measures 1213/16 x 8⅛ x 1¼ inches (33 x 21 x 3 cm) and has 172 leaves measuring 12½ x 7⅞ inches (32 x 20 cm). The main body has fourteen gatherings of twelve leaves each. There are also two flyleaves in the front, two flyleaves in the back, and two pastedowns. All but the pastedowns and flyleaves are ruled paper with thirty-five horizontal lines in blue ink, now faded. The text block is sewn all along over recessed cords, and the front and back covers of the volume are millboard. The book has a tight-back case binding with a brown sheep- or calfskin quarter-leather binding. The outside covers are adorned in shell marbled paper, with a green body and veins of red and blue. The Record of the Twelve was recorded on the first twelve leaves of the volume. In the back of the volume, 120 leaves were used to record patriarchal blessings, leaving 40 blank leaves between the two records. The front cover of the book is labeled “R. T.”—presumably for “Record of the Twelve”—in black ink. The inside front cover has “Y B | B | Book.” written in ink and “L/P | POC | 12/=” written in graphite. Similar markings appear in at least three other extant volumes. Three labels pasted on the spine, apparently in Utah, read “RECORD of the TWELVE”, “PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS BY JOSEPH SMITH S”, and “Vol. 2 | Patriarchal | Blessings”.The rectos of each of the two front flyleaves were used as title pages for the Record of the Twelve. Before each of the titles was inscribed in ink, these pages were ruled in graphite. The record itself was inscribed in black ink on twenty pages. The record is in the handwriting of except for the entries for 23 and 25 May (pages 12–13), which were inscribed by . Hyde wrote page numbers at the top of each page except page 20. Use marks were made in graphite pencil on the record when it was used later as a source text for JS’s multivolume manuscript history of the church. In the 1840s, the book was turned over so that the back cover became the front and the last page became the first. This side of the book was used by Thomas Bullock to record patriarchal blessings. The cover is labeled “2”, indicating that it was the second volume in a series of patriarchal blessing books. The volume is listed in Nauvoo, Illinois, and early Utah inventories of church records, indicating continuous custody.
Footnotes
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1
See William E. McLellin, Independence, MO, to D. H. Bays, Lafayette, KS, 24 May 1870, True Latter Day Saints’ Herald,15 Sept. 1870, 553.
Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.
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2
See JS Letterbook 1; Minute Book 1; and Revelation Book 2.
JS Letterbook 1 / Smith, Joseph. “Letter Book A,” 1832–1835. Joseph Smith Collection. CHL. MS 155, box 2, fd. 1.
Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
Revelation Book 2 / “Book of Revelations,” 1832–1834. Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
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3
Historian’s Office, “Schedule of Church Records,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [7]; “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [14], Catalogues and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
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1
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Historical Introduction
Only twice did the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles undertake a quorum mission under the direction of JS. Their success in the British Isles in 1840–1841 is well known. Less well known is their first quorum mission to the eastern states in the spring and summer of 1835, shortly after the quorum was organized. The “record of the transactions of the Twelve apostles” contains the official account of that mission.This record begins with the call of the apostles and organization of the quorum in February 1835 and documents some of JS’s teachings to the new quorum about their role and functioning, including an admonition on record keeping. These teachings and the circa April 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” dictated by JS just before the newly called apostles received their first mission assignment, were viewed as foundational documents for the new quorum. According to this record, on 12 March, less than a month after the apostles were named, JS “proposed” that their first mission be “through the eastern States to the Atlantic Ocean.” This record preserves JS’s teachings to the quorum as they prepared to depart and then documents the central activities of that mission.and , clerks for the Quorum of the Twelve, created this record by copying into a large, permanent record book the original minutes and notes, no longer extant, which they had written. This is evident from a careful examination of the content of the record and also from the nature of the volume into which it is copied, which is too large for the men to have conveniently carried on their travels. This also followed the standard record-keeping pattern of JS’s office. Minute Books 1 and 2 were created when loose minutes were copied into more permanent books of record, and a similar practice was followed with letterbooks and revelation books created under JS’s general direction. An original minute or letter, or a dictation copy of a revelation, would later be copied into a record book to create a more permanent record copy.The existing record itself is almost entirely in the hand of Hyde. This is so even though Hyde shared with fellow quorum member McLellin the assignment to serve as clerks, and even though each actively served in creating the original minutes upon which this record is based. McLellin inscribed only the entries of 23 and 25 May. However, McLellin apparently retained possession of the original manuscripts. In a 24 May 1870 letter published in the True Latter Day Saints’ Herald, he claimed to have “our apostolic record, as we first made it up,” and proceeded to provide details consistent with the record.This record may be thought of as consisting of three parts. The first three and a half pages record the calling and general instruction of the apostles. The next three and a half pages, to the bottom of page seven, document a series of meetings as quorum members prepared for their spring and summer mission, a series that included JS’s 26 April “charge and instructions” to them and ended with a 2 May “grand council” consisting not only of the Twelve but of other leaders. The third part, the largest, consists of a dozen-page record of the conferences and other activities of the mission itself, including meetings of the quorum, conferences with members, and public preaching meetings that on occasion attracted hundreds.The first entry in this record bears the date of 14 February 1835 and briefly describes the “conference or general meeting” convened by JS to consider if the time had come to implement a June 1829 revelation “relative to the choosing of twelve apostles.” After it was “ascertained that the time had come,” twelve men were chosen and, it is implied, ordained. Fortunately, a better record exists of this foundational meeting than this brief entry. The second entry, dated 27 February, provides a context for seeing the entry of 14 February as a retrospective account likely written some two weeks later than the date it bears and also helps explain why Minute Book 1 contains a longer and more informative record of this meeting than does the Record of the Twelve.On 27 February, JS convened the Twelve to instruct them on the importance of record keeping. After lamenting that the records of the church as a whole were not as complete as they should be, in his view a deficiency of considerable consequence, he urged that whenever they convened to transact business as a council to always keep a record of proceedings and important decisions so “they will ever after remain upon record as law, covenant and doctrine.” After further instruction on the importance of records, the council appointed and to serve as clerks for the Twelve. All this and further instruction from JS about the role of the quorum was duly noted by “William E. McLellin Clerk.”It seems evident that only with the 27 February instruction from JS and the appointment of clerks did the Quorum of the Twelve obtain a book and begin keeping a record, and that the brief 14 February entry with which the book begins was therefore created after the 27 February meeting. This also explains why Minute Book 1 contains not only more information about the 14 February meeting but minutes of 15 and 21 February meetings that are not part of the quorum’s own record. These minutes from Minute Book 1, therefore, provide both additional information about the calling and instruction of the apostles and a context for understanding the Record of the Twelve prior to 27 February.The more extensive account in Minute Book 1 of the 14 February 1835 meeting reports that JS convened on that date the veterans of the 1834 (later known as Zion’s Camp), a military march to in support of Saints violently dispossessed from their lands in , Missouri, and that it was mainly from these veterans that the Twelve (and a related new quorum, the Quorum of Seventy) would be selected. The entry in Minute Book 1 then lists the names of fifty-six veterans. According to this account, the men had been assembled not so much to ascertain if the time had come to organize a Quorum of the Twelve but for JS to announce that it was the will of God that they proceed to do so. These minutes also indicate that three of those called, , , and , were then ordained (and the minutes preserve their “ordination blessings”). In addition to a more full account of the 14 February 1835 meeting, Minute Book 1 contains minutes of a follow-up session on 15 February, about which the Record of the Twelve is silent. At this meeting additional numbers of those appointed on the 14th were ordained and their ordination blessings recorded.The Record of the Twelve—but not Minute Book 1—is also silent about a meeting on Saturday, 21 February 1835, that was as important to the nascent quorum as were the meetings of 14–15 February. At this meeting, was ordained a member of the Twelve and received his “ordination blessing,” bringing to ten the number of new apostles who had been ordained. (Before, or possibly as, the minutes of this meeting were copied from loose paper into Minute Book 1, the blessings of and were also appended, bringing to twelve the number of blessings recorded in the book—but as the Record of the Twelve attests, Marsh and Pratt did not arrive in until 25 and 26 April, respectively.) Following Parley Pratt’s blessing on 21 February, gave him a detailed personal “charge” respecting his duty as an apostle. Later in the meeting, Cowdery delivered a lengthy and substantive charge to the entire quorum respecting their responsibilities and future labors.The 27 February 1835 entry in the Record of the Twelve marked the effective beginning of record keeping for the Twelve and a shift from preserving such records elsewhere. Although Minute Book 1 also contains an account of this meeting—an apparently independent account recorded by that parallels the one by that appears in the Record of the Twelve—it is the final 1835 meeting of the newly organized quorum to be preserved in Minute Book 1. After the admonition in this meeting that the new quorum keep a record—and after the creation of this record which came as a result—there are no more entries in Minute Book 1 related to the official meetings of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1835. The Record of the Twelve presented here, then, becomes not only the official record but the only extant record.The nature of the minutes for 27 February 1835 in the two records illustrates this shift. That the two accounts of JS’s instructions to the Twelve are so similar suggests that both and successfully captured much of what JS said on this occasion. But unlike the entries of 14 February, in which Cowdery recorded much more detail than exists in the retrospective entry in the Record of the Twelve, for 27 February the record of the Twelve contains additional instructions not noted by Cowdery. Cowdery, by now a veteran in creating minutes, added details about the setting and people present that McLellin did not preserve, including the preamble: “This evening a meeting of nine of the twelve of the Apostles, who had been chosen and ordained was held at the house of President Joseph Smith,” after which he named the nine present and accounted for those not present. But only the official Record of the Twelve and not the account in Minute Book 1 contains the additional, closing explanation by JS about “the power and authority of the priesthood”—the explanation that the Twelve had received their authority as apostles “from God through me,” and that they and only they now had the authority and “duty to go and unlock the kingdom of heaven to foreign nations.”Although the notes of most subsequent meetings preserved in the Record of the Twelve are not lengthy, they are instructive. The entry for the 12 March 1835 meeting notes not only the proposal by JS that they take their first mission to the East but a plan for the mission that included a 4 May departure date and an ambitious itinerary, complete with dates for conferences with members in outlying branches in , , and New England. Later entries confirm that they largely followed this itinerary, regulating branches, teaching members, and preaching and proselytizing along the way. Among the several preparatory meetings held late April and early May was a 26 April assembly of the Twelve and some of the Seventy, held in the unfinished temple in , convened “in order to receive our charge and instructions from President Joseph Smith Jun. relative to our mission and duties.” Two days later they made the decision not only to leave on 4 May, as earlier proposed, but to depart at 2:00 a.m. that day, ensuring arrival at in time to catch a lake steamer for New York.Traveling east on their quorum mission “to the Atlantic,” the newly organized quorum normally met as a group with members along the way, though occasionally one or another had a different assignment (and in early June, and had to leave their brethren for a time and return to as witnesses in a court case on behalf of JS). Through their 7 August conference in Bradford, Massachusetts, the schedule of conferences unfolded largely as had been planned in the 12 March meeting. That day, however, they decided to alter plans for the remainder of the mission and return home a month earlier. One conference was canceled and the last two moved up, changes, say the minutes, dictated by “the Spirit of God.” The record thereafter documents only two more conferences, both in : on 21 August and Farmington on 28 August. With the account of the latter, presumably the final gathering before quorum members returned home, the record abruptly ends.The Record of the Twelve is the only known record created by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during its first several years of existence. This can be explained by practical difficulties but also by the fact that most activities of quorum members over the next several years were undertaken either as individual assignments or in connection with the activities of other leadership quorums. In the fall and winter of 1835–1836, members of the Twelve joined with other quorums in finishing the in , Ohio, and in preparing for and participating in the March 1836 dedication and solemn assembly. JS’s journal for 30 March 1836 reports that rather than undertaking a quorum mission, “the 12 are at liberty to go wheresoever they will and if one shall say, I wish to go to such a place let all the rest say Amen.” The quorum mission to England planned for 1837 was postponed because of division within the church and within the quorum, although and of the Twelve did make the journey. The mass migration of leadership and members from Kirtland to , Missouri, in 1838 made a mission impractical that summer. Not until 1839–1840, after the violent expulsion from , would the Twelve again undertake a mission as a quorum.
Footnotes
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1
William E. McLellin, Independence, MO, to D. H. Bays, Lafayette, MO, 24 May 1870, True Latter Day Saints’ Herald,15 Sept. 1870, 553.
Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.
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2
See Ordination Blessings, 14 February 1835, in Minute Book 1.
Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
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3
Minute Book 1 also preserves an account of this 27 February 1835 meeting created by Oliver Cowdery, clerk for JS and the church presidency.
Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
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Document Transcript
R. T.
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A record of the transactions of the of the from the time of their call to the which was on the 14th. Day of Feby. AD 1835.
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A record of the transactions of the twelve Apostles of the church of christ of latter day saints from the time of their call to the apostleship which was on the 14th. Day of February AD 1835.
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On the 14th. Day of February AD 1835, a or general meeting was called in Ohio by the of the in order to consult measures relative to the welfare thereof. The Three special witnesses of the Book of Mormon being present, that part of the revelation given in N.Y. June 1829 relative to the chooseing of , was taken into consideration, and it was ascertained that the time had come when they should be chosen: consequently They proceeded by the spirit of prophecy and revelation to choose and set apart from among all the of the church the following persons to fill that high and responsible station: (Viz)
| 1 | 7 | ||
| 2 | 8 | ||
| 3 | 9 | ||
| 4 | 10 | ||
| 5 | 11 | Lyman | |
| 6 | 12 | . |
These were under the hands of the Three Witnesses and great blessings were pronounced upon the head of each one by the spirit of prophecy and to be obtained through faithfulness.
February 27th. of the same year the met in by request of President J. Smith Jun. After the was opened by prayer, he arose and made the following observations, (Viz) “I have something to lay before this council, an item which they will find to be of great importance to them. I have for myself learned— a fact by experience which on reflection gives me deep sorrow. It is a truth that if I now had in my possession every decision which has been given had upon important items of doctrine and duties since the rise of this , they would be of incalculable worth to the saints, but we have neglected to keep records [p. 1] of such things, thinking that prehaps that they would never benefit us afterwards, wh[i]ch had we now, would decide almost any point that might be agitated; and now we cannot bear record to the church nor unto the world of the great and glorious manifestations that have been made to us with that degree of power and authority wh[i]ch we otherwise could if we had those decisions to publish abroad.
Since the twelve are now chosen, I wish to tell them a course which they may pursue and be benefitted hereafter in a point of light of which they, prehaps, are not now aware. At all times when you assemble in the capacity of a council to transact business let the oldest of your number preside, and let one or more be appointed to keep a record of your proceedings and on the decision of every important item, be it what it may, let such decision be noted down, and they will ever after remain upon record as , covenant and doctrine. Any Questions thus decided might at the time appear unimportant, but should they be recorded and one of you lay hands upon them afterward you might find them of infinite worth not only to your brethren but a feast als[o] to your own souls.
Should you assemble from time to time and proceed to discuss important questions and pass decisions upon them and omit to record such decisions, by and by, you will be driven to straits from which you will not be able to extricate yourselves— not being in a sufficient situation to bring your faith to bare with sufficient perfection or power to obtain the desired information. Now in consequence of a neglect to write these things when God reveals them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth the spirit may withdraw and God may be angry, and here is a fountain of intelligence or knowledge of infinite importance which is lost. What was the cause of this? The answer is slothfulness [p. 2] or a neglect to appoint a man to occupy a few moments in writing. Here let me prophecy the time will come when if you neglect to do this, you will fall by the hands of unrighteous men. Were you to be brought before the authorities and accused of any crime or misdemeanor and be as innocent as the angels of God unless you can prove that you were somewhere else, your enemies will prevail against you: but if you can bring twelve men to testify that you were in some other place at that time you will escape their hands. Now if you will be careful to keep minutes of these things as I have said, it will be one of the most important and interesting records ever seen. I have now laid these things before you for your consideration and you are left to act according to your own judgments.”
The then expressed their approbation of the foregoing remarks and proceeded to nominate and appoint and to serve as clerks for the ‘twelve’.
The following question was then proposed by president J Smith Jun. (viz) What importance is attached to the callings of these differrent from the other callings and offices of the . After some discussion by Elders , , and , the following decision was given by President Smith, the Prophet of God.
“They are the twelve apostles who are called to a travelling to preside over all the churches of the saints among the gentiles where there is no presidency established. They are to travel and preach among the until the Lord shall shall them to go to the Jews. They are to hold the of this ministry— to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations and preach the Gospel unto every creature. This is the virtue power and authority of their — Amen. It is all important that the twelve should understand the power and authority of [p. 3] the , for without this knowledge they can do nothing to profit. In the first place God manifested himself to me and gave me authority to establish his , and you have receivd your authority from God through me; and now it is your duty to go and unlock the kingdom of heaven to foreign nations, for no man can do that thing but yourselves. Neither has any man authority or a right to go to other nations before you; and you, , stand in the same relation to those nations that I stand in to you, that is, as a minister; and you have each the same authority in other nations that I have in this nation.[”] The was closed by .
} Clerk
Evening of March 12th the assembled and the was opened by president J. Smith Jun. and he proposed that we take our first mission through the eastern States to the Atlantic Ocean and hold in the vicinity of the several of the for the purpose of regulateing all things necessary for their welfare. It was proposed that the twelve should leave on the 4th. May which was unanimously agreed to. It was then proposed that during their present mission, Elder should open a door to the who dwelt among the which was carrid. It was motioned and voted that the twelve should hold their first conference in , May 2nd.. In N. York May 9th. In N.Y. May 22, Lyonstown N.Y. June 5. On Pillow [Pillar] point June 19. In West Loboro’. [Loughborough] U.C. [Upper Canada] June 29, In [St.] Johnsbury Vt. July 17. In Bradford Mass. Augt. 7. Dover N.H. Sept 4th. Me Sept 18th. Farmington, Me. Oct. 2nd.
| ) | Clerks |
| ) |
[p. 4]
April 26, 1835
This day, pursuant to previous appointment, the and the (a part of whom had already been chosen,) assembled in the (altho’ unfinished.) with a numerous concourse of people in order to receive our charge and instructions from President Joseph Smith Jun relative to our mission and duties. The congregation being assembled, arrived from the south part of the , makeing our number complete, Elder haveing arrived the day before.—
April 28.—
The met this afternoon at the for the purpose of prayer and consultation. opened the meeting by prayer. Motioned and carried that when any of the wishes to speak he shall arise and stand upon his feet. then read the commandment given concerning the chooseing of the twelve before the council. Motioned and carried, that we each forgive one another every wrong that has existed among us; and that from hence forth each one of the twelve love his brother as himself in temporal as well as in spiritual things; always enquiring into each others welfare.
Decided that the Twelve be ready an<d> start on their mission from ’s tavern on Monday at 2 o’clock A.M. May 4th. Elder then closed by prayer
| ) | Clerks |
| ) |
May 2nd. A grand was held in this place this day, composed of the following officers of the (viz) Joseph Smith Jun. , , , , and , with their council of twelve men— The travelling or (Viz) , , [p. 5] , , , , , and .—
and his and , from Zion Mo. Also Bishop and his counsellors and , and also, some of the with their (Viz) , , , , , and . ( was absent.)
These authorities were present together with a great many other of the church from different parts. In the midst of this grand assemblage, President J Smith Jun arose and made many remarks, among which were the following. “It will be the duty of the twelve when in council to take their seats together according to their ages. The oldest to be seated as the head, and preside in the first council, the next oldest in the second; and so on until the youngest has presided.”
The twelve Apostles have no right to go into Zion or any of its where there is a regular established, to regulate any mattrs pertaining thereto: But it is their duty to go abroad and regulate and set in order all matters relative to the different of the .’
When the twelve are all together or a of them in any church, they have authority to act independently of the church and form decisions and those decisions will be valid; but where there is not a quorum of them together, they must transact business by the common consent of the church.
No standing hig[h] council has authority to go into the churches abroad and regulate the matters thereof, for this belongs to the Twelve. [p. 6]
No standing high council will ever be established except in Zion or one of its stakes.
When the Twelve pass a decision, it is in the name of the church, therefore, it is valid.
No of the church has authority to go into any branch thereof and any minister for the church unless it is by the voice of that branch. No elder has authority to go into any branch of the church and appoint meetings or attempt to regulate the affairs of the church without the advice and consent of the presideing Elder of that branch.
If the first seventy are all employed and there is a call for more labourers in the vineyard it will be the the duty of the seven presidents of the first seventy to call and ordain other seventy and send them forth to labour until, if need be, they set apart seven times seventy, and even until there are one hundred and forty & four Thousand thus set apart to the ministry. The seventy are not to attend the conferences of the Twelve, unless they are called upon or requested so to do by the twelve.
The twelve and the seventy have particula[r]ly to depend upon their ministry for their support and that of their families, and they have a right by virtue of their offices to call upon the churches to assist them.
Resolved in this grand council; That we never give up the struggle for until it is redeemed altho’. we should die in the contest. The vote was unanimous of all that were in the house.
} Clerk [p. 7]
May 4th 1835. left this morning and embarked on board the Steamer Sanduskey, at , bound for Dunkirk N.Y. where we landed the same day at 5 o’clock P.M. We preached in those regions for a short time and then met in pursuant to previous appointment where we held a May 9th. in order to transact such business as should be found necessary. This met with the , Elder , being the oldest man in the council, took the chair, the meeting was opened by a solem appeal to Heaven that his blessings might be shed forth upon us.
The following items were suggested for the consideration of the council
1st Resolved that the limits of this conference extend south and west to the line of , North as far as Lake Erie and East as far as , embraceing the branches of , Perrysburgh and , to be called the
“ Conference.”
2nd To inquire into the standing of all the within the bounds of this conference
3rd To inquire into the manner of their teaching, dilligence and faithfulness in the cause of truth and whether any teach false and <or> erroneous doctrine.
4th. To inquire into the conduct, teaching and faithfulness of all the travelling Elders who have recently travelled through the bounds of this conf.
5th. To call upon the Elders, present to represent the several branches of the church over which they preside.
Upon inquirey all the Elders present were found to be in good standing. Their manner of teaching met the approbation of the council, except that of Elder Joseph Rose who was found to have taught [p. 8] some things contrary to the faith of the church, such for instance, “The Jewish church was the Sun and the church was the Moon &c. When the Jewish church was scattered, the sun was darkened, and when the Gentile church is cut off, the moon will be turned to blood and also some things relative to the Apocalyptic Beast, with seven heads and ten horns— and such like. He was shown his error and willingly made an humble confession. The faithfulness of all the travelling Elders was found to be good. The church at was represented by Elders Geo. Babcock & James Burnham (the presideing Elder, being absent on a journey) and was fou[n]d to be in good standing and fellowship with the exception of a difficulty resting in the minds of some of the church relative to the validity of the baptism of brother , in asmuch as he was baptized by Eldr Noah Hubbard, a travelling Elder, without the church being called together to know if they would receive him to fellowship, after much explanation had been given by the council on the nature and principles of church government it was decided that, if there was fault, it was in the administrator and not in the candidate. The number of disciples in this branch was Seventy Five in good faith and fellowship. The branch at was represented by Elder Edmond Fisher -[one of the]- The number of disciples being Twenty in good standing but rather low in spirit in consequence of a neglect to keep the “word of Wisdom”.
After some farther instructions by the council on general principles, the conference adjourned until 8 o’clock A.M. Monday May 11. [p. 9]
Sunday May 10, about Five Hundred people attended preaching. There was tolerably good attention by most of the congregation while & addressed them in the fore and afternoon. They also broke bread bread in the afternoon to the saints. Five persons came forward desireing , after haveing expressed their belief in our testimony. They were received to baptism by the which was administered by Elder and was attended to in the evening.
Monday morning met pursuant to adjournment and proceeded to business.
Resolved Unanimously, that this Conference go to immediately and appoint their “wise men” and gather up their riches and send them to purchase lands according to previous that all things be prepared before them in order to their . Much was said to the conference upon these important things, and they covenanted before the Lord that they would be strict to attend to our teachings. Conference was then dismissed and publick preching commenced at 3 o’clock by Eld— and closed by the farewell exhortation of the Twelve after which seven came forward professing faith and repentance and were received by the church for Baptism which was administered by Elder and confirmed in the evening by . Also laid hands upon many that were sick and infirm and they obtaind relief— Adjourned until the 22nd Inst. to meet in N. York—
} Clerk [p. 10]
, N. York, May 22, 1835.
This morning agreeably to appointment, a met in this place, The or travelling being present, after an agreeable salutation and rejoiceing in each other’s prosperity, being chairman conference was opened by singing and prayer by the .
Resolved that the limits of this conference extend from in the west so far East as to include , South to and North to Lake Ontario to be called the
“ Conference”
includeing the of , , Portage, Grove, Burns, and , Java, Holland Aurora Green-Wood and Niagara.
An inquiry was made of the Elders present relative to their labours and teachings since their call to the ministry and also the inquiry was extended to <concerning> all those who lived in the bounds of this Conference. They were found to be in good standing and generally striveing to be faithful in their callings. No travelling Elders were represented to have recently passed through these regions whose conduct, faithfulness or teachings were not good. The presideing Elder, represented the branch in this place to be 65 in number in good fellowship. represented the branch in to be 28 in number & altho young, yet strong in the faith. represented the branch in Portage to be in fellowship but do not generally obey the “word of Wisdom.” He also represented the chu[r]ch in Grove to Have remained the same as when last represented, also the church in Burns to be 30 in good standing and Java not represented. Holland branch represented by Elder to be 15 in number who [p. 11] had suffered much from false teaching by hypocrites and knaves. Aurora also to be 4 in number. Green-wood not represented. Niagara by Elder Jacobs to be 4 in number also a few brethren liveing in and round about were represented by Eldr as wanting instruction. The representation of the churches closed about 3 o’clock P.M. and the council then proceeded to give some general and particular instructions relative to the “Word of Wisdom”, the gift of tongues and interpretation, prophecyings, and of a propper use of all the spiritual gifts &c. after these remarks conference adjourned until tomorrow morning—
May 23rd. Conference met according to adjournment in order to take into consideration the meanes necessary for the . opened the meeting by prayr— and five of the counsellors addressed the conference on the nature and propriety of the and the meanes necessary thereto. Much instruction was given upon these all important subjects while the spirit of God rested down and bore testimony to their utility. After which the expressed their determination to put into practice the teachings we had given them.
They were then dismissed with a blessing from the Presidents— Amen
May 25th.
The met this morning in order to do some business and to pray for one another to be preserved until we meet again at our succeeding . presiding opened by calling upon the Lord.* <*The traveling or twelve Apostles never proceed to do any business without first calling upon the Lord. In future therefore this will not be recorded>
1st Resolved, that we recommend and council Elders and to go to the churches at Shenang-point [Chenango Point] N. York and Springville Penn. (among whom we understand there is some difficulty,) and set in order the things that are wanting in those . [p. 12]
2nd. Resolved, that Elder go immediately from this place to an adjacent and open the dool [door] of salvation to that long dejected and afflicted people. The council according to his request, upon him that he might have their faith and prayrs to fill (with humility and power) that very important mission. They also laid hands on Elders and A[mos] Orton for the same purpose, in as much as they expected to accompany him.
Rose or Lyonstown N.Y. June 5, 1835.
Met this day in , three of the being absent (Viz) , and . Conference being being opened, no business of importance was presented, there being but few disciples in these regions, Resolved therefor, that it is not necessary to establish a conference here. After some remarks to those present, the conference adJourned, and after a number of sermons were preached in these regions, Elders and , who arrived just in time, returned to Ohio as Witnesses on a certain case wherein Joseph Smith Jun was concerned, before the county courts, in which he rightiously triumphed over his enemies.
Pillow-Point [Pillar Point] N.Y. June 19, 1835.
According to previous appointment, nine of the met with the church in . Chairman.
Resolved, that the limits of this conference embrace all the northeastern part of this to be called the “Black River Conference.” Upon inquiry it was found that the Elders in the bounds of this conf. had generally been delligent in their callings and ministry. Their manner of teaching, in some respects, needed correction and they willingly received our teaching and instruction. [p. 13] Elder Thomas Dutcher represented the church in this place to be 21 in fellowship, but do not generally observe the “Words of Wisdom.” Elder Calvin B Childs representd the church in Sackets Harbour to be 19 in number. The branch at Burbille was represented by Elder Ducher to be 7 in number, also 6 in the Town of Champion all in good standing. The branch in Ellisburgh was represented by Elder to be 33 in number also 4 in Henderson. Elder Ira Patten represented 4 in Alexandria and 4 in the Town of Lyme, also 2 in Orleans, as being very anxious to have Elders call on them and add to their numbers. Elder Fuller represented 6 in and Three in The opinion of all the travelling Elders was that a great field for faithful labourers was open in this region.
Five of the Counsellors then proceeded to give the conference such information upon church government, the natur of the spiritual gifts, and the exercise of them in Wisdom, upon the “Word of Wisdom” and also upon the propriety of chooseing wise men and sending them with their moneys to purchase lands in Zion and in the regions round about, so that they might not in confusion but have all things prepard before them. The conference unanimously acquiesced in the teachings of the counsellors & resolved to put them in practice as fast as practicable. Adjourned until the 20.th Then met and the case John Elmer was presented as holding very incorrect principles, such for instance, that the spirit of God some times took him and threw him down and that he could die the death of the righteous and of the wicked in order to show his power with God. He also stated that he had passed through a kind of death so as to become immortal & should exist forever without any other death or [p. 14] change only grow brighter and brighter eternally. He persisted in these things and would not receive the teachings of the council, nor give heed to the faith of the , therefore the conference lifted their hands against him. Conference closed and after public meeting and breaking bread among the saints, the next day 5 persons were & ad[d]ed to the church. Public meeting closed on Monday forenoon after haveing a good season and much liberty in teaching.——
Our next was held in West Lo[ugh]borough Upper Canada June 29.th Six of the counsellors were were absent (viz) , , and .—
presided in council, The business of necessity was done by common consent of the a majority of the not being present.
Twenty Five members compose the church in this place, We found them uninformeed in the principles of the , not haveing had an opportunity for instruction, being under another government and aside from the general course of the travelling : But we endeavored to instruct them faithfully in the knowledge of God. Bros. Henry & Jacob Wood who had been suspended for some time, were privilegeed with a re-hearing, it was decided, however, that they should loose their standing in the church, consequently the conference lifted their hands against them. Elder Frederick M Van Leuven was chosen as the presideing elder in this . A number were during our stay and we left them all rejoiceing in the light of truth: and thence we passed through a dreary uncultivated region to meet our breth[r]en at the next conference in [p. 15]
St. Johnsbury— Vt July 17th
This day the met in agreeably to previous appointment, presided.— Resolved that this be the limits of this conference, also to include the in Littleton, Dalton and Landaff of N. Hampshire to be called the— “ Conference”
The Presideing Elder, , represented the branch in this place to be 41 liveing in great unity and harmony whose faith and works we can speak of as being <of> that saint-like kind which the Lord loves. Elder John Badger represented the little branch in Danville to be 23. Elder William Snow represented the Congregation in Charleston to be 21 in good standing, also the number in Jay to be 11 who had lately covenanted to do the will of God in all things. Dalton Branch was represented by L. B. Wilder 15 in number, also 4 in Landaff, als[o] 10 in Littleton, 15 in Andover Vt. In 7 and in N.Y. 17, represented by Z. Adams. After an adjournment of one hour, the conference assembled and Six of the oldest counsellors proceeded to give such general and particular instructions to the assembly on the principles of faith and of action as the Spirit of God suggested to their minds, and they really had great liberty in delivering those instructi[o]ns which were well calculated for the perfection of the Saints, and also instructed them relative to the nature and propriety of the and the necessity of their attending to it for their temporal salvation.
July 18th. the remaining six enforced the necessity of sending up wise men and purchaseing lands according to the , which they readily agreed to do. [p. 16]
Our public meeting on Sunday was attended by a vast concourse of people, say over One Thousand. A deep interest was felt by the more candid part of community in those everlasting and glorious principles of truth and salvation, delivered them by the speakers. Nine persons, during our conference, manifested their faith by repenting of their sins and being for the remission thereof. We truly had an interesting meeting in this place.
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Bradford Mass. Augt. 7, 1835.
Met in in order to transact such business as should be brought before them, three of the counsellors being absent (viz) , and . presided, and it was unanimously Resolved that the limits of this conference should embrace the to be called the.
“ Conference”
The Elders present except Chase, Holmes & G. Bishop— were in good standing. Elder Chase had his and membership taken from him because of gambling for money and then before he confessed his sins. Elder Holmes’ licence was taken from <him> in consequence of a disagreement between him and his wife which was of long standing, it was therefore considered that if a man cannot preserve peace in his own family, he is not qualified to rule the of God. A letter of complaint was written to by Elder Gibson Smith of Norfolk Conn. against Elder G. Bishop, upon which he was suspended and referred to the conference at Bradford for his trial. No one appeared to substantiate the complaint, he was therefore acquitted on that point, but upon further inquirey it was [p. 17] proven that <he> had erred in Spirit and in Doctrine and was considerably inclined to enthusiasm and much lifted up. The council therefore took his licence from him until he become more instructed and also get his spirit and feelings amalgamateed with his brethren
Elder James Paten of North Providence <R.I.> was legally excommunicated for impropper conduct by the authority of two witnesses, and he, refuseing to give up his licence, was ordered to be published in the “Messenger and Advocate:” but little business to be done at this Conference. People were, generally hard and unbelieveing & but little preaching called for, but by the church.
It was decided, that, in consequence of the small number of disciples at Dover N.H. and no business to attend to of much importance, our conference in that place should be recalled, and also that the conferences at & Farmington should be altered so as to close our last conference at Farmington jast one month earlier than the former appointn◊◊ and we sent letters by mail to inform them of the alteration in time for the news to be circulated. This alteration, the counsel was dictated to do by the Spirit of God.
} Clerk
Maine Augt. 28 21st. 1835.
Seven of the met in at this place (Viz) , , , , , & . There was no business of importance for the conference here to attend to. presided and the in this place was represented by the to number 57 generally in good standing. represented a little in Dover N. Hampshire consisting of eight members in good fellowship. Adjourned one [p. 18] hour. At the opening of the conference in the afternoon, Elder arrived from and we hailed him with joy. The council then proceeded to deliver many general and particula[r] instructions to the conference upon the following subjects (Viz) The redemption, the Building of the in , and the printing of the word of God to the nations; and also, various other topics connected with the welfare of the saints. Our public meeting on Sunday was attended by a large concourse of people of almost all classes who paid good attention to the proclamation of the glorious truths of Prince Emanuel. Some were in this place during our stay.
} Clerk
N.B. The Church in the above place contributed money unto us to assist us in returning home to , to the amt of 70 or 80 Dollars, many of the brethren and sisters opened their hearts liberally to assist us, for which May the Lord in great mercy prosper and favour them, and safely bring them to Zion and to the . This record is according to our covenant with them.
.} Clerk.
Farmington Me. Augt. 28, 1835.
The assembled in in this place, all except . took the chair and presided during the meeting.— Resolved, that this be called the conference. Elder was called upon. to He arose and gave an account of his [p. 19] labours in the ministry, his manner of teaching &c It appeared that he had been dilligent and faithful in his ministry and a number. He represented the in this place to number 32 Elder Daniel Bean, a travelling Eldr represented the in Letter B. to number 22. also in Newry to number 25. Also, in Errol N.H. to number 20, all in good standing and abounding in faith and good works. Adjournd one hour, then proceeded to give the conference such instructions as the nature of our mission and ministry required [p. [20]]
Footnotes
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