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Letter from John E. Page, 23 September 1840

Area settled largely by emigrants from New England and New Jersey, by 1788. Village founded and surveyed adjacent to site of Fort Washington, 1789. First seat of legislature of Northwest Territory, 1790. Incorporated as city, 1819. Developed rapidly as shipping...

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September 23d. 1840

The President

The presiding body of the church. From the day of the church’s organization on 6 April 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery led the church in their capacity as elders. An 11 November 1831 revelation directed that “the duty of the president of the office of the high...

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& Council

A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...

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of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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, & also to all the saints assembled in general Conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

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Your humble servant embraces with pleasur this opportunity to pin [pen] for your edification a few lines. I congratulate you with the stedy march and advancement of the cause of Christ, as has fallen under my observation. Elder

An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.” The articles and covenants of the church directed...

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[Orson] Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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and myself have been treated with respect, and had the greatest atte ntion paid us by the brethren and sisters; and, also the Gentiles

Those who were not members of the House of Israel. More specifically, members of the church identified gentiles as those whose lineage was not of the Jews or Lamanites (understood to be the American Indians in JS’s day). Certain prophecies indicated that ...

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by gentlemen & ladies of the first class in society, we have been made welcome very hartily to their dwellings and comforts of life. When we separate with them, they grip our hands with tears standing full in their eyes, bidding us farewell and often leave something noble with us to help us on our mission; and a firm promise that they will duly reflect on the great things which we have told them. They ardently request us to send them some competent Elders to preach to them; yes, dear bretheren the cause of truth is marching onward with unparalleled rapidity, and victory! victory! will soon be the shout of all the faithful in Christ; and thank the Lord, thank the Lord is the language of unworthy me, that I have lived to see 1840 with all its attendant evidences of truth of the Book of Mormon, and the book of Doctrine and Covenants. I must save a place in this communication to make some remarks concerning Bro. E[benezer] Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

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. I can say in truth & soberness that he merits the esteem and confidence of the Saints and all good men for his diligence and econ omy while getting the Book of Mormon stereotyped &c here. The honest and frank course he has pursued towards the Gent. whith whom he has been concerned in business (viz. Mr. Shepherd Stearns & others) has conciliated their everlasting respect and esteem, from their own manifestations to me. Dear bretheren and Sisters your humble servants Elder Hyde

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and myself [p. 181]

Source Note

Facts

Editorial Title: Letter from John E. Page, 23 September 1840
ID #: 573