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Authorization for Oliver Granger, 13 May 1839

Source Note

JS, , and , Authorization, for , , Hancock Co., IL, 13 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 29 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 45–46; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

During a general of the church on 4–5 May 1839, the in , Illinois, resolved to send to , Ohio, to oversee the and church affairs in the region. On 6 May, JS and his counselors in the prepared an authorization for Granger to carry with him to Kirtland. While transacting “various business” with Granger a week later in , the First Presidency wrote a second authorization, featured here.
The 13 May authorization is longer than the 6 May authorization and is addressed to members of the church. The authorization expresses the First Presidency’s confidence in Granger’s integrity and ability to resolve the business concerns of the church. The authorization also expands the duties mentioned in the 6 May authorization, instructing him to oversee a broad set of church affairs in . These duties included acting as an for the church and collecting funds from church members. The authorization cites a revelation JS dictated in July 1838 concerning ’s responsibilities and uses language from the revelation to appoint him as a church agent and bless him for his integrity and work on the church’s behalf.
The authorization was copied into JS Letterbook 2 by between 29 May and 30 October 1839. The original is apparently not extant, but its format was likely similar to that of the 6 May authorization and another authorization written for Granger on 1 November 1839, both of which were inscribed on loose leaves.
left for sometime after 29 May 1839, when he acted as an agent in purchasing land in from . Granger continued to travel between Kirtland and , managing JS’s and the church’s affairs in and the eastern , until his death in 1841.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 4–5 May 1839; Authorization for Oliver Granger, 6 May 1839.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 13–14 May 1839. The business may have included arranging for Granger to purchase land for the church in Lee County, Iowa Territory, from Isaac Galland.

  3. [3]

    Mulholland copied his own 29 May 1839 letter to Edward Partridge on page 15 of JS Letterbook 2, making that the earliest likely copying date for documents he subsequently copied but that had dates preceding 29 May.

  4. [4]

    See JS et al., Authorization for Oliver Granger, Quincy, IL, 1 Nov. 1839, photocopy, CHL.

  5. [5]

    See Lee Co., IA, Land Records, 1836–1961, vol. 1, pp. 507–510, 29 May 1839, microfilm 959,238, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  6. [6]

    See Agreement with Mead & Betts, 2 Aug. 1839. For additional examples of Granger’s actions and responsibilities as a church agent, see William Marks, Power of Attorney for Oliver Granger, 7 May 1839; John A. Newbould, Agreement with Oliver Granger, ca. 2 Aug. 1839; JS, Articles of Agreement with Oliver Granger, 29 Apr. 1840, Hiram Kimball Collection, CHL; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Oliver Granger, Kirtland, OH, [23] July 1840, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 159–161; and Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 12 Apr. 1840.

    Kimball, Hiram. Collection, 1830–1910. CHL.

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Authorization for Oliver Granger, 13 May 1839
Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 45

Ill, 13th May 1839
Joseph Smith Jr, , and ; of the ; do hereby certify And solemnly declare unto all the Saints scattered abroad, And send unto them greeting. That we have always found to be a man of the most strict integrity and moral virtue, and in fine to be a man of God. We have had long experience and acquaintance with , we have entrusted vast business concerns to him which have been managed skilfully to the support of our Characters and interest, as well as that [p. 45]
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Source Note

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Page 45

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Authorization for Oliver Granger, 13 May 1839
ID #
446
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:456–459
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See James 1:1.

  2. [2]

    See Historical Introduction to Letter of Introduction from John Howden, 27 Oct. 1838.

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