Minutes, 8 November 1831

Most of the elders present at this conference of 8 November 1831 had attended a similar gathering a week earlier at which important decisions were made regarding the publication of the manuscript compilation called the “Book of Commandments and Revelations.” JS intended to include as part of the published volume a formal testimonial from various church elders about the book’s truthfulness. However, some were hesitant and expressed doubts about the divinity of the revelations’ language. A revelation advised them how to resolve their concerns. The elders followed this advice, and the day’s meeting concluded with all present openly attesting to the truthfulness of the revelations.

The texts never claimed to be linguistically perfect but instead acknowledged that they contained certain infelicities of expression, with human “weakness” manifested in the dictation and recording process. The conference resolved that JS should correct any errors or mistakes that he discovered by the Spirit.

This text appears in Minute Book 2, copied into that record by Ebenezer Robinson

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

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in spring 1838. He apparently recorded these minutes from notes kept at the conference in November 1831.