Discourse, 13 January 1840

Home >
The Papers >

Discourse, 13 January 1840
Source Note

JS, Discourse,
Philadelphia
Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...
More Info
, Philadelphia Co., PA, 13 Jan. 1840. Featured version copied [between 18 Oct. 1840 and Apr. 1842] in Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854, p. 3; handwriting of
James B. Nicholson
28 Jan. 1820–4 Mar. 1901. Bookbinder. Born in St. Louis. Son of John Nicholson and Eliza Lowry. Moved to Pittsburgh, ca. 1821. Moved to Philadelphia, by 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 May 1840, in Philadelphia. Appointed...
View Full Bio
; CCLA. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minutes and Discourse, 13 Jan. 1840.

Historical Introduction
See Historical Introduction to Minutes and Discourse, 13 Jan. 1840.
Page 3
Hide editing marks

Brother Joseph Smith Jr dilated at some length on the offices of the
Priesthood
Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...
View Glossary
and on the duties of Elders
Bishops
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
View Glossary
.
Priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed...
View Glossary
. &c
1
See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830, in Doctrine and Covenants 2:8–27, 1835 ed. [D&C 20:38–84]; and Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835, in Doctrine and Covenants 3:30–44, 1835 ed. [D&C 107:58–100].
and directed it should be entered on the minutes as the injunction of the
Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
View Glossary
that travelling Elders should be especially cautious of incroaching on the ground of stationed & presiding Elders and rather direct their efforts to breaking up and occupying new ground
2
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had been designated as a “traveling high council” and had the duty, according to JS, “to go abroad and regulate and set in order all matters relative to the different branches of this church.” The quorum also oversaw the work of the Seventy and other “travelling Elders” who were appointed to preach the gospel outside of Zion and its stakes. JS had given similar instruction before; he declared in a January 1839 letter, “Let every Elder ocupy his own ground. and when he builds a church let him preside over it. and let not others run in to trouble him.” (Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:38]; Minutes and Discourse, 2 May 1835; Letter to Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young, 16 Jan. 1839.)
and that the Churc[h]es generally refuse to be burthened with the support of unprofitable and dilatory labourers. [p. 3]
View entire transcript
|
Cite this page
Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 3
Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 13 January 1840
ID #
17464
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
James B. Nicholson
Footnotes
[1]
See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830, in Doctrine and Covenants 2:8–27, 1835 ed. [D&C 20:38–84]; and Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835, in Doctrine and Covenants 3:30–44, 1835 ed. [D&C 107:58–100].
[2]
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had been designated as a “traveling high council” and had the duty, according to JS, “to go abroad and regulate and set in order all matters relative to the different branches of this church.” The quorum also oversaw the work of the Seventy and other “travelling Elders” who were appointed to preach the gospel outside of Zion and its stakes. JS had given similar instruction before; he declared in a January 1839 letter, “Let every Elder ocupy his own ground. and when he builds a church let him preside over it. and let not others run in to trouble him.” (Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:38]; Minutes and Discourse, 2 May 1835; Letter to Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young, 16 Jan. 1839.)