Times and Seasons (, Hancock Co., IL), 1 Oct. 1842, vol. 3, no. 23, pp. 927–942; edited by JS. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
Historical Introduction
JS, assisted by and , served as editor for the 1 October 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons, the twenty-third issue in the third volume. The extent to which JS was involved in writing the editorial content in this particular issue is unclear. As the newspaper’s editor, however, he was responsible for its content.
The non-editorial content in the issue, which is not featured here, included an installation of the serialized “History of Joseph Smith,” a letter from JS on the subject of for the dead, and the minutes of a church held in Alexander, New York. In addition, the issue featured a poem by Frederick William Faber titled “The Signs of the Times,” reprinted from the Warder (a newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland), and reprinted a response by the Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star (the ’s newspaper published in ) to a letter featured in a British newspaper on the differences between Latter-day Saint and Baptist doctrine.
Editorial content included commentary on a passage from a book about archaeology in Central America; an update on the growth and development of , Illinois; and an editorial encouraging donations to the Nauvoo construction fund. In addition, the editors reprinted with commentary the church’s 1835 statement on marriage, criticized the way was handling the criminal case of three abolitionists, and countered the millenarian claims of and his followers. The issue also included a response to reports circulating in American newspapers that JS had fled Nauvoo to escape arrest. Two passages presumably written by the editors but not included in the selection of editorial content featured here are a single-sentence notice requesting that Martin Titus return to Nauvoo to answer undisclosed charges preferred against him and a recurring notice that new printings of the Book of Mormon and hymnbook were available for purchase.
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.
Motioned and carried that Hiram Thomson, and R. L. Young retain their recommends received last conference.
Moved and carried that we acknowledge Charles Thompson in authority to travel in all the in this , teaching them the order of the kingdom, organizing and regulating the officers of the same, and to preside over them while with them, and to gather up the scattered members and officers and attach them to some branch or organize them by themselves.
Moved and carried that S. W. Disbrow retain his former appointment as to receiving donations for the building of the at , and that he forward the said donations to the Trustee in Trust, when he shall have a convenient opportunity and receive receipts which he shall present at the next conference.
Conference then adjourned to meet on the 28th at the meeting house at Alexander Centre at 9 o’clock A. M.
Met agreeable to adjournment. A hymn sung and prayer made by Elder Charles Thompson, followed by a discourse delivered by Elder on the resurrection. A discourse was delivered in the afternoon by Elder Charles Thompson on the subject of faith.
Conference adjourned to meet at Elder Geo. Thompson’s at early candle light.
Met acording to adjournment, a hymn sung and the throne of Grace addressed by the president.
Motioned and carried that we give our vote of thanks by letter to the Rev. Mr. Bunker, minister of the Universalist church of Alexander, and the members of the same for their kindness in granting to this conference the use of their house of worship and candid attention during the conference: also his kind invitation in inviting us to attend his meetings, which will be accepted when convenient.
Moved and carried that Miron Alger, , have a recommend to go forth to preach and to build up according to his office.
Moved and carried that Hiram Thompson be the clerk in this conference until otherwise directed by the same, to receive, record and keep a memorandum of all the essential business done in said conference.
Motioned and carried that the president and clerk transcribe these minutes after their true meaning, and forward them to the editor of the “Times and Seasons” requesting them to be printed.
R. L. YOUNG, Pres.
Calvin R. Clark, Clerk.
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NOTICE.
Martin Titus is requested to return to immediately, to answer to certain charges that are preferred against him.
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THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
(From the Warder.)
The days of old were days of might,
In forms of greatness moulded;
And flowers of heaven grew on the earth,
Within the church unfolded.
For grace fell fast as summer’s dew,
And Saints to giant’s stature grew.
But one by one the gifts are gone,
That in the church resided;
And gone the spirits living light,
That on her walls abided:
When by our shrines he came to dwell
In power and presence visible.
A blight hath pass’d upon the church,
Her summer hath departed;
The chill of age is on her sons,
The cold and fearful-hearted.
And sad amid neglect and scorn,
Our mother sits and weeps forlorn.
Narrow and narrower still, each year
The holy circles groweth;
And what the end of all shall be,
Nor man nor angel knoweth.
And so we wait and watch in fear.
It may be that the Lord is near.
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BOOKS OF MORMON, &C.
JUST published and for sale, Books of Mormon, and Hymn Books, together with some other publications in defence of the faith of the saints.
, Aug. 20, 1842.
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The Times and Seasons,
Is edited, printed and published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, , Hancock County, Illinois, by
JOSEPH SMITH.
TERMS.—Two Dollars per annum, payable in all cases in advance. Any person procuring five new subscribers, and forwarding us Ten Dollars current money, shall receive one volume gratis. All letters must be addressed to Joseph Smith, publisher, post paid, or they will not receive attention. [p. 942]