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Minutes, 16 August 1841

Source Note

Special Conference of the Church, Minutes, , Hancock Co., IL, 16 Aug. 1841; handwriting of ; two pages; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, CHL. Includes docket.
Single leaf measuring 12¼ × 7⅝ inches (31 × 19 cm). The document is ruled with faint blue lines—thirty-eight lines on the recto and forty on the verso. It has one vertical fold and six horizontal folds and contains a vertically written docket in the bottom right of the verso.
These minutes are part of a larger collection of general church minutes created or collected by the Church Historian’s Office. The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. The minutes have likely been in institutional custody since their creation.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Historical Introduction

On 16 August 1841 the held a special in , Illinois, to transact “business necessary to be done before the meeting of the general conference” in October. One such item pertained to the role of the in church administration. Members of the Twelve had recently returned from their mission to , and with the experience they gained there, they were poised to help JS “in managing the affairs of th[e] kingdom” in Nauvoo, allowing him to focus more on spiritual matters.
According to a later history of , apostles Young, , , , and met on 10 August with JS, who directed them to send missionaries to various locations in the eastern and “to take the burthen of the business of the Church in , and especially as pertaining to the Church lands, settling of the Saints on their arrival and selling Church lands.” This new administrative assignment to the Twelve was formalized in the 16 August special conference. Moreover, their remit now extended throughout the world, including, for the first time, the Nauvoo area—whereas previously they had been assigned to serve as a traveling , presiding over and managing the affairs of the church in all places where no or high council existed.
The special conference of 16 August was held primarily to inform the Saints of the Twelve’s new administrative responsibilities and to invite the Saints to sustain the in their efforts. The five aforementioned members of the Twelve attended, and presided over the beginning of the conference in JS’s absence because JS and were mourning the death of their infant son, . When JS arrived for the afternoon session, he affirmed what Young had said and gave instructions about the new responsibilities of the Quorum of the Twelve. succinctly summarized the conference when he wrote in his journal, “Conference—Business of the Church given to the 12.”
Two contemporaneous versions of the minutes for this special conference exist: an original, handwritten document created by either during or shortly after the conference and a second version printed in the Times and Seasons. Though the Times and Seasons version is more complete and polished, it was likely based on Smith’s handwritten original, which is featured here. Significant differences or additions in the Times and Seasons version appear in the annotation.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “The Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 2 Aug. 1841, 2:487. Since at least 18 June 1840, JS had sought to be relieved from his duties pertaining to the development of Nauvoo, including land sales and related business. (Memorial to Nauvoo High Council, 18 June 1840.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [2]

    Historian’s Office, Brigham Young History Drafts, 56.

    Historian’s Office. Brigham Young History Drafts, 1856–1858. CHL. CR 100 475, box 1, fd. 5.

  3. [3]

    Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835.

  4. [4]

    “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:521–522.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  5. [5]

    Richards, Journal, 16 Aug. 1841.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  6. [6]

    “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:521–522.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 16 August 1841 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [2]

Met at 2 P.M. When the were was address’d by and on the subject of preaching the gospel and building up of the kingdom of God in theese last days
Joseph Smith (who had been absent in consequence of the death of his during the former part of the Day) being present <​on his arrival​> then addressed the conference on the objects of <​calling​> the a conference at this time and in addition to what had been stated by said that some the should be authorized <​wh​> to assist in managing the affairs of th[e] kingdom in this place. which he said was their duties of their office &c.
Motioned seconded and Carried the that the quorum of the twelve be authorized to act in building the accordance with the instructions given by president Joseph Smith in regulating and superintending the affairs <​of the .​>
Motioned, seconded & carried unanimou[s]ly that every individual who shall hereafter be found trying to influence any emigrants coming b[e]longing to the Church to either buy or sell property of them or to them (except the ) such person shall be immediately tried for fellowship and dealt with as offenders and unless they repent they shall be cut off from the Chu[rc]h
then made some appropriate remarks on speculation &c
Resolved on Motion of President Joseph Smith Res. that the twelve be authorised to make the selection of independent of the conference and present them to the first Pres. him to President Joseph Smith for <​his​> approval
Resolved that this conference be adjourned to the time of the general Conference in Oct next
Closed by singing and prayer by [p. [2]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 16 August 1841
ID #
8323
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:222–227
Handwriting on This Page
  • Elias Smith

Footnotes

  1. [7]

    Though these contemporary minutes suggest that JS and Emma Smith’s infant son, Don Carlos Smith, died “during the former part of the Day” on 16 August, the Times and Seasons obituary states that the baby died a day earlier, on 15 August, at the age of fourteen months and two days. The baby Don Carlos died just a week after the death of JS’s brother of the same name. He was the fifth of JS and Emma’s children, whether biological or adopted, who died in infancy. (Obituary for Don Carlos Smith, Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:533.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [8]

    The version of the minutes published in the Times and Seasons renders this paragraph differently. The status of the Quorum of the Twelve as administratively and hierarchically second only to the First Presidency was explicitly clarified in a January 1836 meeting at which JS stated that the Twelve’s authority “is next to the present presidency” and that it is “not subject to any other than the first presidency.” Nevertheless, in that 1836 meeting the Twelve were not given spiritual leadership over the standing high councils of established stake organizations; even at this 16 August 1841 conference, where members of the Twelve were assigned to manage “the affairs of th[e] kingdom in this place,” they did not assume ecclesiastical or spiritual authority over members in Nauvoo ahead of the Nauvoo stake president and high council. (Discourse, 16 Aug. 1841; Minutes, 16 Jan. 1836; for more on the responsibilities and administrative jurisdiction of the Twelve, see Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835; and Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:21–24].)

  3. [9]

    The version of the minutes published in the Times and Seasons renders this paragraph as follows: “Motioned seconded and carried that the conference approve of the instructions of President Smith, in relation to the twelve, and that they proceed accordingly, to attend to the duties of their office.” (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:522.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  4. [10]

    The version of the minutes published in the Times and Seasons renders the phrase “to either buy or sell property of them or to them (except the agent)” as “to buy of them (except provisions,) or sell to them, (excepting the church agents).” JS and the church were in debt for land purchases in the Nauvoo area and needed emigrants to buy from church agents in order to help retire the debt. (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:522.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  5. [11]

    Latter-day Saint migration to Nauvoo and the surrounding area was steadily increasing in 1840 and 1841. Hundreds came from England as a result of the Twelve’s proselytizing efforts.a According to a letter Edward Hunter wrote from Nauvoo in early May 1841, “There have something like 400 brethren arrived here in about a fortnight. Some from England, others from Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Philadelphia, etc.”b Though the Nauvoo high council had determined that lot prices were to range between $200 and $800, some individuals in the community were apparently selling land for higher prices.c With the directives given by JS in this 16 August 1841 conference, the Twelve took on the responsibility of “planting the saints upon the lot of their inheritance” and acting “as agents for the church . . . at Nauvoo, Zarahemla, and Warren, ready to render every assistance in [their] power towards the location of emegrants.”d

    (aSee, for example, Historical Introduction to Letter to Vilate Murray Kimball, 2 Mar. 1841; see also George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 26 June 1855, in Northern Islander [St. James, MI], 16 Aug. 1855, [3]. bEdward Hunter, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter [Uncle], 6 May 1841, typescript, Edward Hunter Correspondence, BYU. cNauvoo High Council Minutes, 21 Oct. 1839. dBrigham Young et al., Nauvoo, IL, to “the Saints Scattered Abroad among the Nations,” 26 Aug. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:520, 521; see also Historical Introduction to Letter from Calvin A. Warren, 31 Aug. 1841.)

    Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

    Hunter, Edward. Correspondence, 1725–1965. BYU.

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

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  6. [12]

    The version of the minutes published in the Times and Seasons renders this paragraph as follows: “It was moved that the conference accept the doings of the twelve, in designating certain individuals to certain cities &c. When President Joseph Smith, remarked that, the conference had already sanctioned the doings of the twelve, and it belonged to their office to transact such business with the approbation of the first presidency and he would then state what cities should now be built up viz: Nauvoo, Zarahemla, Warren, Nashville, and Ramus.” (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:522.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

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