Minutes, 23 March 1833

  • Kirtland 23d of March 1833—

    A councel of High Priests & Elders assembled  in the school room at 9 oclock agreeable  to previous arangments.

    After opening the councel by prayer by  Broth Joseph it was agreed that bro  Joseph Coe and brother Moses Dailey [Daley] should  procede to make purchase of certain  farms or to obtain, or to obtain their  terms of sail [sale], and and that Bro E. Thair [Ezra Thayer]  be appointed to obtain the price of Peter  French farm and the brethren agreed  to continue in prayer and fasting for  the ultimate success of their mission  after an absence of about three hours  Bro Coe & Bro Daily returned and made  report as follows, That Eligeh [Elijah] Smith  would sell his farm for four thousand  dollars and that, Mr [Isaac] Morley would  sell his farm for twenty one hundred  dollars. and also bro Thair returned  and reported that Peter French would  sell his farm for five thousand dollars  and after the report of the brethren it  was put to vote whether it was  the property should be purchased  and deceded [decided] in the affirmative  it was then agreed that bro Ezra Thair and  Joseph Coe should superintend the pur chasing of said farms and to have  the prayer of the brethren and that  they should be ordained to that office  accordingly Sidney Rigdon ordained  them as general agents to be set apart. [p. 18]

As church membership in the Kirtland, Ohio, area expanded in March 1833, so also did the needs of the poor within the church. The financial circumstances of church leaders were also of concern. Moreover, an earlier revelation called for the establishment of a “house of God,” or temple, as a place of instruction and worship, despite economic difficulties.

In this situation it became evident that additional purchases of property were necessary. Such development would provide a site for the proposed temple, locations for local industry, land for agriculture, and lots to be sold to emigrants to raise funds for the poor.

On 23 March 1833, a council of high priests met to discuss possible land acquisitions. Though three parcels were considered and their purchase authorized, apparently only the Peter French farm in Kirtland was acquired.

Frederick G. Williams kept the minutes of this meeting and entered a copy into Minute Book 1.

Facts

Editorial Title
Minutes, 23 March 1833
ID #
6596