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Minutes, 8 September 1834

Settled by 1815. Population severely diminished by epidemic, possibly typhus, in late 1820s. Mormon missionaries visited and preached at many meetings in town, by 1831. Large branch of LDS church organized, early 1830s. JS attended several church conferences...

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, Ohio Sept 8th. 1834

Minutes of a 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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of the Elders

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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of the Church of the 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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, held at New-Portage

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Ohio. September 8th 1834, After prayer by brother Joseph Smith Junr. he, brother Joseph and Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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, united in anointing with oil

Following a biblical pattern, JS on 21 January 1836 instituted the ordinance of anointing with oil on the head or body as a sign of sanctification and consecration in preparation for the endowment of “power from on high.” This anointing was combined with ...

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and laying hands upon a sick sister

JS’s revelations instructed elders to lay their hands on those who were ill and offer a blessing of healing. Beginning in the mid-1830s, blessings usually included a preliminary anointing with oil. As in the New Testament, having faith was a necessary component...

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, who said she was healed, and requested us to pray that her faith fail not, saying, if she did not doubt, she should not be afflicted any more.

Brother Joseph then made a few intro ductory remarks upon the subject of false spirits and other items.

Brother A[mbrose] Palmer

15 Sept. 1784–before Sept. 1838. Farmer, tavern keeper, surveyor, glass worker, manufacturer, justice of the peace. Born at Winchester, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. Moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio, by 1807. Married Lettis (Lettice) Hawkins of Castleton, Rutland...

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made a few observa tions, and proceeded to present a case which had previously occasioned some difficulty in the church. It was that a certain brother Carpenter had been tried for a fault before the church, when the Church gave him a certain time to reflect whether he would acknowledge or not. Brother Gordon at the time, spake in tongues and declared that brother Carpenter should not have any lenity. He, brother Palmer

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, wish ed instruction on this point, whether they had proceeded right or not, as brother Car penter was dissatisfied &c.

Brother Joseph then proceeded to give an explanation of the gift of tongues: that it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages, but it was not given for the government of the Church. He further said, if brother Gordon introduced the Gift of tongues, as a testimony against [p. 49]

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Facts

Editorial Title: Minutes, 8 September 1834
ID #: 6715