Elders’ Journal of the Church of Latter Day Saints, , Geauga Co., OH, Nov. 1837. For more complete source information, see the source note for Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.
Historical Introduction
In November 1837, the second issue of the church’s new periodical, Elders’ Journal of the Church of Latter Day Saints, was published in , Ohio. The paper was first published in October 1837 as an instrument for the of the to “communicate to others, all things pertaining to their mission, and calling as servants of the living God, and messengers of righteousness to the nations among whom they are sent.” As editor of the Elders’ Journal, JS was ultimately responsible for its content, including editorial selections in the November issue that introduced conference minutes, prefaced a letter from in , articulated an editorial philosophy, and implored subscribers to remit payment for their subscriptions. Though JS authored an account of his trip to and an attending list of questions, the extent of his involvement in writing the other editorial pieces is unclear. Given that he did not return to Kirtland from , Missouri, until 10 December 1837, the November issue was likely not published until after that date.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Elders’ Journal 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, such as JS’s travel account, are annotated elsewhere.
Vilate Murray Kimball, Kirtland, OH, to Heber C. Kimball, Preston, England, 19–24 Jan. 1838, Heber C. Kimball, Collection, CHL; Thomas B. Marsh to Wilford Woodruff, in Elders’ Journal,July 1838, 36–38.
Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.
The first editorial passage from the November Elders’ Journal introduces minutes of a assembly held in on 17 September 1837 to discuss the building up of . The following day, and his counselors issued a memorial to members of the church to “exert themselves with energy to send on means to build up Zion.” The appeal was distributed as a broadside and reprinted in the September 1837 issue of the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate.
The following minutes should have been published in the Sept. No. with the ’s Appeal or Memmorial, but through a press of business it has been overlooked and not handed to us until now, however, we feel in hopes that it will serve to call the attention of our readers (those that have the last No. of the Messenger) to the second candid perusal of the Appeal.—Ed.
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Minutes of a conference, of the authorities of the church of Latter Day Saints assembled in the house of the Lord in , Sept. 17th, 1837.
President Joseph Smith jr. presided; conference opened by prayer after which Bishop arose and said the time had arrived when it became necessary for him to travel and necessarily must have an agent to act in his abscence, agreeably to the Provisions made in the revelations &c.— Elder was nominated and elected by the unanimous voice of the conference, to act and serve the church in this office. After taking into consideration the affairs of the Latter Day Saints in general, having opportunities of becoming acquainted with the affairs of the Saints throughout the continent, and also the peculiar condition of this our city; it is deemed by this conference, (which is constituted of all the authorities and even members of the church,) of great importance to the prosperity of the cause of truth in general, that the Bishop and his Counselors send abroad their memorial, to all the Saints throughout the land, as well as to all well-wishers to the cause of Zion, That their appeal may go forth in the name and by the authority of the church, to all Saints scattered abroad. Some remarks were made by President , relative to the duties of the Bishop, his counselors and agent, Showing the great necessity of their immediate exertion in steping forward in the dignity of their office &c. Conference closed after receiving a benediction from Presidint .
J. SMITH Jr. Pres’t.
Clerk.
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Fox Islands, VinalhavenMe.
Nov. 20th 1837.
Elder .
The 11th No. of the Messenger and Advocate containing the Prospectus for the Elders Journal has providentially fallen into my hands. It is cheering to my feelings to learn that such a paper is to be presented before the world. I believe it will become a powerful engine in removing a flood of prejudice from the minds of thousands of this generation, and encourage the Saints to persevere in the glorious cause in which they are engaged even if their path should at times be intersected with trials, afflictions, and persecutions. And while we peruse the account of the Elders of Israel, whom God hath called, commissioned and sent forth to establish light and truth in the earth and to prune his vineyard for the last time: we rejoice at their success. And as we learn of their prosperity in the ministry, while faithfully proclaiming the word of God we feel encouraged to go and do likewise.
My object in addressing you at this time, is to forward you a list of the names of some of our friends from the several Islands of the sea, who wish you to send them your valuable paper, viz: The Elders Journal of the church of Latter Day Saints, and knowing there are thousands of Saints who feel interested in the progress of the work of the Lord in these last days, and believing it to be interesting to them to learn that the Lord is raising up a people upon the Islands of the Sea, who are engaged in the same cause with their brethren and sisters, that are scattared abroad through the land. I will endeavor to give a brief account of its prospect in this part of the moral vineyard. Elder and addressed a letter to Elder Joseph Smith jr. and the church in , under date Sept. 18th. We then gave an account of our visit to the Islands, the reception we met with among the people, and the commencement of the work of the Lord. On the 13th of Oct. following we held a meeting on North Fox Island Vinal [p. [17]]
To the Saints Scattered Abroad, the Bishop and His Counselors of Kirtland Send Greeting [Kirtland, OH: 18 Sept. 1837], CHL; Newel K. Whitney et al., Kirtland, OH, to “the Saints Scattered Abroad,” in LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1837, 3:561–563.
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.