Minutes, 11 September 1833

  • Kirtland 11 Sept 1833—

    This day the following members of—  of the United firm residing in Kirtlan[d]  to wit F[rederick] G. Williams. Joseph Smith J Sidney  Rigdon and N[ewel] K Whitney and also  Oliver Cowd[e]ry delegate to represent the  residue of the said firm residing in  Independence Jackson County Missouri  meet in councel to take into consideration  the expediency of establishing a printing  press in this place

    First Resolved that <by> unanimous consent  that a press be established and conducted  under the firm of F G.W & Co

    Secondly Resolved that the above firm  publish a paper as soon as arrangments  can be made entitled The Latter day  Saints messenger and advocate

    Resolved also that the Star formerly  published in Jackson County, Missouri  by the firm of W W, Phelps & Co— be  printed in this place by the firm of  F.G, Williams & Co to be conducted by  Oliver Cowdry one of the said firm  untill it is transfered to it former  Location— — — — — —

    F.G. Williams [p. 24]

After suffering vigilante violence in July 1833, Missouri church leaders attempted to avert further conflict by agreeing not to  operate a press or publish a newspaper in Jackson County. This ended the church’s two-year publishing enterprise in Zion.

Kirtland, Ohio’s United Firm responded to this news by resolving to continue the work of publication. Officers of the Firm, including JS, authorized F. G. Williams & Co. to operate a press, with plans to continue publication of The Evening and the Morning Star (previously published in Missouri) and publish a new periodical titled Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Frederick G. Williams, a member of the United Firm, copied these minutes into Minute Book 1.

Facts