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.
and read a list of charges from a written document against him and . Pres’t. then spake a few words by way of confession, and was followed by Elder . The vote was called and carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned for one hour.
Meeting convened according to adjournment, a hymn was sung and a prayer offered up by the Moderator.
was nominated for an assistant pres’t. for this church by pres’t. Joseph Smith, jr He rose and made certain remarks on the subject of the charges refered to above, by way of confession also, when the vote was put by pres’t. , and passed unanimous.
Elders , , , , , , and , were unanimously chosen high counselors, was nominated and objected by , who went aside to converse. was unanimously chosen. was nominated, and was objected to by elder , because he was too noisy—By because of his military office, and by because he was a merchant. made a few remarks, the vote was called and was unanimous. and were unanimously chosen. then took the stand and made his objections to , after which also spoke, the vote was called and he unanimously chosen.
The Twelve were then called, viz: , , , , , , , , , , , and and were unanimously chosen.
Bishop was nominated to still act as Bishop, and was unanimously chosen. Who then nominated and for his Counselors, who were unanimousley chosen. Elder was then unanimously appointed Patriarch of this branch of the church.
Elder was chosen to be keeper of the Lord’s Storehouse. Elder was then ordained to the office of patriarch under the hands of pres’ts. Joseph Smith jr. and .
The congregation, after a few remarks from , unanimousley voted not to support stores and shops, selling spirituous liquors, Tea, Coffee or Tobacco.
A vote was called on the subject of the pres’ts of the Seventies—and those who have recently been appointed to that office, were unanimously received.
The congregation then united with , who, in the closing prayer, called upon the Lord to dedicate this land for the gathering of the Saints, and their inheritances.
,
Moderator.
Attest. .
————
, Mo. Nov. 10, 1837.
At a general meeting of the ordained members of the church in this place, Elder opened the meeting by prayer, and president read the memmorial of the of , and his counselors, to the churches abroad, of Sept. 18th 1837. He then laid before the meeting the subject of laying off cities, of consecrating, for public purposes, and for remunerating those who lay them off, &c. when it was unanimously voted that all city plots hereafter laid off, after remunerating those for their labors who may be engaged in appointing and laying off the same, shall be consecrated for the public benefit of the church—for building houses for public worship, or such other purposes as the church shall say.
then read the prospectus of the “Elders’ Journal,” which was unanimously received It was then also unanimously voted that the persons present, use their exertions to support said paper.
It was then voted that the town plot of be enlarged so that it contain four sections—that is, two miles sq[u]are.
Voted, that and his Counselors be appointed a committee to apprize the land adjacent to the present town plot, see that it is enlarged according to the above vote, provided the present holders of those lands will take such a price for the same as the above apprizers shall think worth, and that the same be then disposed of as is voted above. [p. 30]