Footnotes
See John Smith, Journal, 1833–1841.
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.
“Historian’s Office Catalogue 1858,” 7, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; Notation, 31 Aug. 1858, in John Smith, Journal, 1846–1854, 106. The journal is not listed in earlier Historian’s Office inventories.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.
Footnotes
Franklin D. Richards, Walnut Grove, IL, to Levi Richards, West Stockbridge, MA, 21 July 1840, CHL.
Richards, Franklin D. Letter, Walnut Grove, IL, to Levi Richards, East Stockbridge, MA, 21 July 1840. CHL.
The tradition of holding monthly fast and prayer meetings on Thursdays began in Kirtland, Ohio. (Woodruff, Journal, 23 Mar. and 20 Apr. 1837; Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 8 Dec. 1867, 12:115.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. Liverpool: F. D. Richards, 1855–1886.
John Smith, Journal, 1840–1841, 30 July 1840. Although the week of 30 July included heavy rains on Sunday and Monday, as well as rising temperatures, this entreaty to God to “pasify the elements” seems to relate specifically to the presence of malaria in Nauvoo. (John Smith, Journal, 1840–1841, 26–27 July 1840.)
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.
The dominant understanding of the spread of malaria was miasma theory, which included the idea that “the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter” produced vapors that in turn spread the disease. Certain locations, such as the swampy lowlands on the banks of the Mississippi River, were thought to breed such miasma. (“Westminster Medical Society,” 849–851; see also Gunnison, Mormons, 117.)
“Westminster Medical Society, Saturday, February 23rd, 1839.” Lancet 1 (2 Mar. 1839): 849–851.
Gunnison, J. W. The Mormons; or, Latter-day Saints, in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake: A History of Their Rise and Progress, Peculiar Doctrines, Present Condition, and Prospects, Derived from Personal Observation during a Residence among Them. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo, 1852.
Ivie and Heiner, “Deaths in Early Nauvoo,” 165.
Ivie, Evan L., and Douglas C. Heiner. “Deaths in Early Nauvoo, 1839–46, and Winter Quarters, 1846–48.” Religious Educator 10, no. 3 (2009): 163–173.
Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839; John Smith, Journal, 1840–1841, 28 July 1840.
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.
See Ephesians 4:31; and Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:27].
Echoing language in the Epistle of Jude, JS earlier referred to Michael as “the archangel.” Michael, according to JS, was the biblical figure Adam. In July 1839, JS explained, “The Priesthood was. first given To Adam: he obtained the first Presidency & held the Keys of it, from genration to Generation; he obtained it in the creation before the world was formed as in Gen. 1, 26:28,— he had dominion given him over every living Creature. He is Michael, the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures. . . . The Keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent.— When they are revealed from Heaven it is by Adams Authority.” (Jude 1:9; Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A, underlining in original; see also Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:112]; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:54]; and JS, to “the Church,” 6 Sept. 1842.)
See Romans 15:6.
During this period, JS was concerned about the Saints criticizing one another and the church’s leadership. In July 1840, he wrote to Oliver Granger, who was then serving as the church’s presiding authority in Kirtland, Ohio, that “in order to conduct the affairs of the kingdom in righteousness it is all important, that the most perfect harmony kind feeling, good understanding and confidence should exist in the hearts of all the brethren. and that true Charity— love one towards another, should characterize all their proceedings.” JS was also concerned with being the object of the Saints’ criticism, as had recently been the case in Kirtland and Far West, Missouri. He told Granger that he had frequently “been envied in his office by such characters who endeavoured to raise themselves to power at my expense, and seeing it impossible to do so, resorted to foul slander and abuse and other means to effect my overthrow.” (Letter to Oliver Granger, between ca. 22 and ca. 28 July 1840.)