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Discourse, 26 May 1842

Source Note

JS, Discourse, , Hancock Co., IL, 26 May 1842. Featured version copied [ca. 26 May 1842] in Relief Society Minute Book, [51]–[53]; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book.

Historical Introduction

On the evening of 26 May 1842, JS spoke to the about showing mercy to individuals who had sinned and helping them to reform. He gave this discourse at the organization’s ninth meeting, held on the second floor of JS’s in , Illinois. Accompanied by his wife , president of the Female Relief Society, he arrived late and began his sermon shortly after entering.
JS began by reading the fourteenth chapter of Ezekiel. He then counseled the assembled women to take responsibility for their own salvation. He especially emphasized being merciful to those in the community who had erred and encouraging them to repent. Although vague, these instructions seem to reference women in who had been seduced and deceived by and other men who told them their immoral actions were sanctioned by JS. Two days earlier, on 24 May, Sarah Miller, Margaret Nyman, and Matilda Nyman gave depositions before the Nauvoo high council as part of the council’s investigation into unvirtuous acts committed by men and women in Nauvoo. In his 26 May discourse, JS also directed the women of the Relief Society to “put a double watch over the tongue” and to spare the from retribution from those outside the religion by not openly or publicly discussing sin or other details about their community.
After JS concluded his discourse, addressed the Relief Society as its president, offering similar remarks, though she placed more emphasis on the public repudiation of sin. She agreed with JS’s direction to abandon “idle rumor and idle talk” and insisted that “sin must not be covered, especially those sins which are against the law of God and the laws of the country.” She warned that “all who walk disorderly must reform, and any knowing of heinous sins against the law of God, and refuse to expose them, becomes the offender.”
recorded an account of JS’s discourse in the minutes she kept as secretary for the Relief Society. Her original notes of the meeting are apparently not extant, but she recorded the minutes, including the discourse, in the Relief Society Minute Book, presumably sometime shortly after the 26 May 1842 meeting.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    This is the location where all prior Female Relief Society of Nauvoo meetings had been held.

  2. [2]

    See Historical Introduction to Notice, 11 May 1842; “Joseph Smith Documents from May through August 1842”; and Letter to Emma Smith and the Relief Society, 31 Mar. 1842.

  3. [3]

    JS, Journal, 24 May 1842; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 24–25 May 1842.

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

  4. [4]

    While JS’s references to guilty individuals likely applied to those who had been involved with Bennett’s seductions, JS’s admonition to keep confidences may have also related to rumors and misunderstandings about JS’s practice of plural marriage. (See “Joseph Smith Documents from May through August 1842”; Historical Introduction to Letter to Emma Smith and the Relief Society, 31 Mar. 1842; and Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 11–12.)

    Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

  5. [5]

    For the full minutes of the 26 May 1842 meeting of the Relief Society, see Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 68–72.

    Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 26 May 1842 Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [52]

these should be encourag’d to hereafter live to be honored by this who are the best portions of community. Said he had two things to recommend to the Society, to put a double watch over the tongue. No organiz’d body can exist without this at all. All organiz’d bodies have their peculiar evils, weaknesses and difficulties— the object is to make those not so good, equal with the good and ever hold the of pow’r which will influence to virtue and goodness. Should chasten and reprove and keep in it all in silence, not even mention them again, then you will be established in power, virtue and holiness and the wrath of God will be turn’d away. One request to the and Society, that you search yourselves— the tongue is an unruly member— hold your tongues about things of no moment,— a little tale will set the world on fire. At this time the truth on the guilty should not be told openly— Strange as this may seem, yet this is policy. We must use precaution in bringing sinners to justice lest in exposing these heinous sins, we draw the indignation of a world upon us (and to their imaginatio[n] justly too)
It is necessary to hold an influence in the world and thus spare ourselves an extermination; and also accomplish our end in spreading the gospel or holiness in the earth.
If we were brought to desolation, the disobedient would find no help. There are some who are obedient yet men cannot steady the ark— my arm can not do it— God must steady it. To the iniquitous show yourselves merciful. I am advis’d by some of the heads of the to tell the Relief Society to be virtuous— but to save the church from desolation and the sword beware, be still, be prudent. Repent, reform but do it in a way to not destroy all around you. I do not want to cloak iniquity— all things contrary to the will [p. [52]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [52]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 26 May 1842
ID #
13544
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:101–105
Handwriting on This Page
  • Eliza R. Snow

Footnotes

  1. [8]

    JS used the terms “keys” and “keys of the kingdom” to connote both knowledge and authority. On 28 April 1842, he told the women of the Relief Society, “I now turn the key to you in the name of God and this Society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time.” (Discourse, 28 Apr. 1842; see also Discourse, 1 May 1842.)

  2. [9]

    Emma Smith.

  3. [10]

    See James 3:8.

  4. [11]

    See James 3:5–6.

  5. [12]

    The women of the Relief Society were counseled in several meetings to keep matters related to the society confidential. (Relief Society Minute Book, 24 Mar. and 27 May 1842, in Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 37–42, 72–77; Letter to Emma Smith and the Relief Society, 31 Mar. 1842.)

    Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

  6. [13]

    In using “extermination,” JS appears to be alluding to the violent confrontations, seizure of property, and forced exile of the Saints from Missouri in the winter of 1838–1839. In October 1838, Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs ordered the state militia to consider the Latter-day Saints enemies of Missouri who should be “exterminated or driven from the state.” (Lilburn W. Boggs, Jefferson City, MO, to John B. Clark, Fayette, MO, 27 Oct. 1838, copy, Mormon War Papers, MSA; see also Introduction to Part 3: 4 Nov. 1838–16 Apr. 1839.)

    Mormon War Papers, 1838–1841. MSA.

  7. [14]

    See 2 Samuel 6:6–7; and 1 Chronicles 13:9–10.

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