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Minutes, 17 September 1837–B

Source Note

Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 17 Sept. 1837. Featured version copied [ca. 17 Sept. 1837] in Minute Book 1, pp. 243–245; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On the evening of 17 September 1837, the of the in , Ohio, met in the . JS began the meeting with a discourse on the gathering of the Saints. According to , whom JS visited after this meeting, “Some important things were shown to Bro. Josph in vision . . . relitive to the enlargment of our Borders.” This expansion was “necessary for the Inhabitants of both here and in the West are crying the Citys are too strait for us give place that we may dwell the people are crouding in from all parts.” likewise said that the Saints “will gather” and that “Earth and hell combind cannot hinder them for gather they will hence the necessaty of planting new stakes.” The conference then authorized JS and Rigdon to appoint additional of Zion, since the present areas appointed for the Saints, in both and , were “crowded to overflowing” and would not have room for the additional church members intending to gather. The measure was unanimously approved by a vote of the assembled elders.
JS then asked the elders for volunteers to leave and preach. The 109 elders who indicated their willingness to travel were divided into eight companies, with about thirteen men in each, and were assigned a direction in which to travel. Although it had been common for the elders to return from their travels and remain at home in the winter months, Marcellus Cowdery informed that this was not the case that winter: “Brother Joseph & say that the Elders must be out all winter this year, no compulsion you know, but this is the word to the Elders, and great promises to those who go and are faithful.” Although Cowdery intended to fulfill his mission, as others certainly did, extant documentation does not provide adequate details regarding the outcome of his planned missionary endeavor.
The day following this conference, and his counselors, and , printed a broadside containing a memorial addressed to “the Saints scattered abroad.” The memorial informed church members outside Kirtland and northwest of the decision to appoint further stakes of Zion and appealed to the Saints to donate money to relieve the debts of church leaders in Kirtland and help build Zion. Whitney and his counselors also urged every individual to “give heed the very instant that they embrace the gospel, and exert themselves with energy to send on means to build up Zion: for our God bids us to haste the building of the city, saying, the time has come when the city must be pushed forward with unceasing exertions.”
Ten days after the conference, JS and left for to set the church there in order, locate new stakes of Zion, and conduct other church business. They and their companions arrived in , Missouri, by early November and there appointed a committee to locate areas for new settlements.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Mary Fielding, Kirtland, OH, to Mercy Fielding Thompson and Robert Thompson, Churchville, Upper Canada, 7 Oct. 1837, Mary Fielding Smith, Collection, CHL.

    Smith, Mary Fielding. Collection, ca. 1832–1848. CHL. MS 2779.

  2. [2]

    Mary Fielding, Kirtland, OH, to Mercy Fielding Thompson and Robert Thompson, Churchville, Upper Canada, 7 Oct. 1837, Mary Fielding Smith, Collection, CHL, underlining in original.

    Smith, Mary Fielding. Collection, ca. 1832–1848. CHL. MS 2779.

  3. [3]

    John Smith and Marcellus Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to George A. Smith, Shinnston, VA, 26 Sept. 1837, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.

    Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

  4. [4]

    To the Saints Scattered Abroad, the Bishop and His Counselors of Kirtland Send Greeting [Kirtland, OH: 18 Sept. 1837], CHL. The memorial was also printed in the September issue of the Messenger and Advocate. (Newel K. Whitney et al., Kirtland, OH, to “the Saints Scattered Abroad,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1837, 3:561–564.)

    To the Saints Scattered Abroad, the Bishop and His Counselors of Kirtland Send Greeting. [Kirtland, OH: 18 Sept. 1837]. CHL.

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

  5. [5]

    Travel Account and Questions, Nov. 1837.

  6. [6]

    Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Minutes, 17 September 1837–B
Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 243

<​Sunday Evening Sept. the 12th 17th 1837​>
Minuits of a of held in the this evening Joseph Smith Jr presided, the conferance was op[e]ned by prayer by Pres. after which the conferance was addressed by from the Chair, on the subject of the of the Saints in the last days and the duties of the of the different relations thereto, It appeared manifest to the conference that the places appointed for the gathering of the saints <​were​> at this time crowded to overflowing & that it was necessary that there be more of appointed in order that the poor might have a place to gather to, wherefore it was moved seconded & carried by vote of the whole that Presidents J Smith Jr & be requested by this conference to go & appoint other Stakes or places of gathering and that they receive a certificate of this their appointment signed by the Clerk of the , Elder who had been appointed, in the after part of the day to be the was called upon to know if he would accept the appointment he arose and said that he would comply with the request of the Church & the Lord being his helper he would discharge the duties thereof to the best of his abilities, After which the Elders present who were in a situation to travel were called upon [p. 243]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 243

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 17 September 1837–B
ID #
8745
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:444–446
Handwriting on This Page
  • George W. Robinson

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    On 6 April 1837, Sidney Rigdon stated that the gathering of the Saints was “the object of this mission & ministry” and that “the preaching of the gospel was the first thing,” since “nothing can effect the gathering of the Saints but that.” Rigdon further informed the elders that they should instruct those who joined the church to gather at the appointed places for the Saints, including Kirtland. (“Anniversary of the Church of Latter Day Saints,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1837, 3:488–489.)

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

  2. [2]

    Marcellus Cowdery, in a letter to George A. Smith in late September, wrote, “Brother Joseph & Sidney expect to start soon to appoint 11 or 12 new Stakes of Zion” in Missouri. Mary Fielding in a 7 October letter also noted that after JS and Rigdon established new stakes in Kirtland before they left, they would go to Missouri to “set in order the Church in the West” and there establish “11 new Stakes before they return.” (John Smith and Marcellus Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to George A. Smith, Shinnston, VA, 26 Sept. 1837, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL, underlining in original; Mary Fielding, Kirtland, OH, to Mercy Fielding Thompson and Robert Thompson, Churchville, Upper Canada, 7 Oct. 1837, Mary Fielding Smith, Collection, CHL.)

    Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

    Smith, Mary Fielding. Collection, ca. 1832–1848. CHL. MS 2779.

  3. [3]

    The clerk and general recorder of the church was George W. Robinson, who had been appointed at an earlier meeting on 17 September 1837. (Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–A.)

  4. [4]

    See Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–A.

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