Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by Elias Smith
Source Note
JS, Discourse, , Lee Co., Iowa Territory, 6 Mar. 1840. Version copied [between ca. 12 July 1840 and ca. Aug. 1841] in Iowa Stake Record, fair copy, p. 89; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minutes and Discourse, 6 Mar. 1840.
Joseph Smith Jun. then addressed the on various subjects, &, in particular, the ; Stating, that the affair now before Congress was the only thing that ought to interest the saints at present. & till it was ascertained how it would terminate no person ought to be brought to account before the constituted authorities of the for any offence whatever, & was determined that no man should be brought before the Council in till that time &c. &c.
He said that the Law of consecration could not be kept here, & that it was the will of the Lord that we should desist from trying to keep it, & if persisted in it would produce a perfect abortion, & that he assumed the whole responsibility of not keeping it untill proposed by himself. He requested every exertion to be made to forward affidavits to , & also letters to members of Congress. [p. 89]
When JS left Washington DC for the Commerce area, the church’s memorial was still being considered by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. On 26 February 1840, Elias Higbee wrote a letter to JS stating the committee had decided that the Saints needed to seek redress in Missouri, not from Congress. JS had evidently not yet received Higbee’s letter. (Letter from Elias Higbee, 26 Feb. 1840.)