Discourse, 25 April 1841, as Reported by Julius Alexander Reed

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Discourse, 25 April 1841, as Reported by Julius Alexander Reed
Source Note

JS, Discourse,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, 25 Apr. 1841. Featured version reported by Julius Alexander Reed; handwriting of Julius Alexander Reed; two pages; Julius Alexander Reed, Papers, Special Collections, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.

Historical Introduction
On 25 April 1841, JS delivered a discourse in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, answering recent complaints made against him. Earlier that month, the
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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had celebrated its eleventh anniversary by laying the cornerstones of the Nauvoo
temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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.
1
JS, Discourse, 25 Apr. 1841, Julius Alexander Reed, Papers, Special Collections, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; Benediction, 6 Apr. 1841; “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376; “The Mormons,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 7 Apr. 1841, [3].
Comprehensive Works Cited
Reed, Julius Alexander. Papers, 1825–1909. Special Collections, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.
JS’s attire on this occasion had reportedly offended at least one person who then left Nauvoo and abandoned the church. This incident apparently led JS on 25 April to address various criticisms leveled against him and other leaders. In particular, JS defended himself against the charges of wearing a ruffled shirt, driving a nice carriage, and saying that he was willing to steal from wealthy individuals. In addition, JS warned of the consequences of criticizing church leaders and encouraged his audience to avoid finding fault with their leaders’ conduct.

Julius Alexander Reed, a Congregationalist minister living in
Iowa Territory
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...
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, heard JS speak on 25 April and made notes on what he said.
2
Cutter, New England Families, 3:1149. Reed described these notes as “a memorandum made while it was fresh in my memory.” [Julius Alexander Reed], Fairfield, Iowa Territory, 2 Feb. 1843, Letter to the Editor, Congregational Journal, 16 Mar. 1843, [2].
Cutter, William Richard, comp. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, a Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. 4 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1914.
Congregational Journal. Concord, NH, 1841–1862.
Reed later published a portion of these notes, which he had revised, in the Congregational Journal. The commentary that accompanied Reed’s published account reveals his animus toward JS; he criticized JS’s “rich and genteel dress,” for instance, and pronounced him “a villain.”
3
[Julius Alexander Reed], Fairfield, Iowa Territory, 2 Feb. 1843, Letter to the Editor, Congregational Journal, 16 Mar. 1843, [2].

Reed’s handwritten notes are featured here. Significant textual differences between this version and the version published in the Congregational Journal are identified in footnotes.
4
A portion of Reed’s published account from the Congregational Journal was later published in the Christian Observer, a Presbyterian newspaper published in Philadelphia. (“The Mormon Prophet as Speaker,” Christian Observer, 7 Apr. 1843, 14; see also Shankman, “Converse, ‘The Christian Observer’ and Civil War Censorship,” 228.)
Christian Observer. Philadelphia. 1840–1861.
Shankman, Arnold. “Converse, ‘The Christian Observer’ and Civil War Censorship.” Journal of Presbyterian History (1962–1985) 52, no. 3 (Fall 1974): 227–244.
Footnotes
[1]
JS, Discourse, 25 Apr. 1841, Julius Alexander Reed, Papers, Special Collections, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; Benediction, 6 Apr. 1841; “Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:376; “The Mormons,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 7 Apr. 1841, [3].
Reed, Julius Alexander. Papers, 1825–1909. Special Collections, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.
Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.
[2]
Cutter, New England Families, 3:1149. Reed described these notes as “a memorandum made while it was fresh in my memory.” [Julius Alexander Reed], Fairfield, Iowa Territory, 2 Feb. 1843, Letter to the Editor, Congregational Journal, 16 Mar. 1843, [2].
Cutter, William Richard, comp. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, a Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. 4 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1914.
[3]
[Julius Alexander Reed], Fairfield, Iowa Territory, 2 Feb. 1843, Letter to the Editor, Congregational Journal, 16 Mar. 1843, [2].
[4]
A portion of Reed’s published account from the Congregational Journal was later published in the Christian Observer, a Presbyterian newspaper published in Philadelphia. (“The Mormon Prophet as Speaker,” Christian Observer, 7 Apr. 1843, 14; see also Shankman, “Converse, ‘The Christian Observer’ and Civil War Censorship,” 228.)
Christian Observer. Philadelphia. 1840–1861.
Shankman, Arnold. “Converse, ‘The Christian Observer’ and Civil War Censorship.” Journal of Presbyterian History (1962–1985) 52, no. 3 (Fall 1974): 227–244.
Page [2]
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His lungs like a man who was worn down feel as tho’ cd do nothing in morning till got warm— like an foundered horse had to get warm & then go well enough

Bennet
3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...
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s command on 6th April—
27
John C. Bennett was in command of the Nauvoo Legion during the cornerstone-laying ceremonies on 6 April 1841. (“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:375.)
Every one that will not keep profound silenc[e] run through with bayonet— I’ll stand in the breach your business is to obey me right or wrong. So say Davis of
Warsaw
Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...
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Terry a Mormon substitut[e]s submit for “keep profound silence”
Smith talked politics with W[illiam] H. Roosevelt
28
Thomas Gregg’s History of Hancock County, Illinois described Roosevelt as “a scion of a rich family in New York city” who had moved to Warsaw, Illinois, and “acquired large interests there.” He was “a politician, a trader and land speculator.” (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 417.)
Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.
from 8 A.M. to 1. P.M. & excused himself <tardiness> to the people at meeting on plea he had been communing with the Lord.
[Oliver] Granger
7 Feb. 1794–23/25 Aug. 1841. Sheriff, church agent. Born at Phelps, Ontario Co., New York. Son of Pierce Granger and Clarissa Trumble. Married Lydia Dibble, 8 Sept. 1813, at Phelps. Member of Methodist church and licensed exhorter. Sheriff of Ontario Co. ...
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& debts to eastern merchants.
29
Following the removal of JS and the Saints from Missouri, church leaders assigned Oliver Granger to return to Kirtland, Ohio, to “preside over the general affairs of the Church in that place” and to settle JS’s debts in New York and Ohio. (Authorization for Oliver Granger, 6 May 1839; Recommendation for Oliver Granger, 1 Nov. 1839; Agreement with Oliver Granger, 29 Apr. 1840; Letter to Oliver Granger, 26 Jan. 1841; Letter to Oliver Granger, 4 May 1841.)
Buffaloe meat &c. Cource haired deer skin—
Harris Buffalo meat—
Smiths potatoe story—

Smith Sermon at
Nauvoo
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Editorial Title
Discourse, 25 April 1841, as Reported by Julius Alexander Reed
ID #
5056
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
Julius Alexander Reed
Footnotes
[27]
John C. Bennett was in command of the Nauvoo Legion during the cornerstone-laying ceremonies on 6 April 1841. (“Celebration of the Aniversary of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:375.)
[28]
Thomas Gregg’s History of Hancock County, Illinois described Roosevelt as “a scion of a rich family in New York city” who had moved to Warsaw, Illinois, and “acquired large interests there.” He was “a politician, a trader and land speculator.” (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 417.)
Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.
[29]
Following the removal of JS and the Saints from Missouri, church leaders assigned Oliver Granger to return to Kirtland, Ohio, to “preside over the general affairs of the Church in that place” and to settle JS’s debts in New York and Ohio. (Authorization for Oliver Granger, 6 May 1839; Recommendation for Oliver Granger, 1 Nov. 1839; Agreement with Oliver Granger, 29 Apr. 1840; Letter to Oliver Granger, 26 Jan. 1841; Letter to Oliver Granger, 4 May 1841.)