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Minutes, 28 June 1838

Source Note

Minutes, , Daviess Co., MO, 28 June 1838. Featured version published in Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, pp. 60–61. For more complete source information, see the source note for Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.

Historical Introduction

On 28 June 1838, JS served as the chairman of a conference to organize a of at in , Missouri. Two months earlier, on 26 April 1838, a revelation had designated nearby , in , as a holy place in which to build a city of Zion and a . In addition, the revelation directed that “other places” should also “be appointed for stakes in the regions round about as they shall be manifested unto my Servant Joseph from time to time.” JS had long contemplated establishing multiple places of gathering in . In 1833, JS explained that when growth necessitated expansion beyond the original plat of the city of Zion in , Missouri, the Saints could develop another plat “in the same way and so fill up the world in these last days.” By 1837 it was time to expand, and in September church leaders in selected JS and to go to Missouri and “appoint other Stakes or places of ” in addition to Far West. After traveling to Missouri, JS and Rigdon met with local church officers, who affirmed the assignment to locate sites for future settlement and established a committee to assist in locating sites. One of the committee members was , who reported that he had found an abundance of sites for mills and settlements to the north. Another committee member, , soon settled with his family north of Far West on the in Daviess County.
In the second half of May 1838, JS and several others traveled north to to survey land for settlement, using church member ’s home on the as a base of operations. On 21 May, the surveying party decided that instead of exploring further northward, they should focus on securing all the land they could on the Grand River, especially in the vicinity of Wight’s farm, by a bluff they called . Around this time, JS dictated a revelation stating that Spring Hill “was called Adam Ondi Awmen, because said he it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people.” The word Awmen (also spelled Ahman, Ah Man, and Awman) was not new to JS. In 1832 he produced a document titled “Sample of Pure Language,” which stated Awmen was the name of God in the language of Adam. In 1835 JS taught that Adam, before dying, had gathered “the residue of his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.” According to , when JS applied this name to Spring Hill, he gave the following interpretation in English: “The valley of God, in which Adam blessed his children.” JS returned to at the end of the month.
In early June 1838, JS and others returned to . According to JS’s journal, the group “continued surveying and building houses &c for some time day after day.” The surveying culminated in the completion of a city plat for , likely by the end of the month. During this time, JS’s uncle —a former member of the church in —arrived in with six other families who had moved from Kirtland to be with the Latter-day Saints in . According to JS’s history, JS “counseled them to settle at Adam ondiahman.” , who was already living there, reported that on 24 June the “called a meeting” at Adam-ondi-Ahman to organize the church there. The meaning of “called” is unclear; Swartzell may have been referring to a circulated announcement about the organizational meeting to be held on 28 June, or he may have been describing the meeting itself, giving the wrong date. Two days before the meeting, John Smith and those traveling with him arrived at Adam-ondi-Ahman.
On the morning of 28 June 1838, JS served as the chairman at the “conference meeting,” which convened near ’s home. During the meeting, was organized as a stake with a presidency, a , and a temporary . and other former officers in the presidency and bishopric of the stake, which was being disbanded, were appointed to fill similar roles in the stake in Adam-ondi-Ahman. After these and other appointments, JS gave instruction to the new officers.
The minutes of the meeting close by listing JS as the chairman, possibly indicating that he approved of the minutes, and Isaac Perry and as the clerks. At some point, the decision was made to publish the minutes in the Elders’ Journal. , who had been appointed in May to edit articles for the paper, may have helped prepare the minutes for publication. A fair copy was probably prepared for the printers to use in typesetting. The minutes were published in the August issue of the Elders’ Journal.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Revelation, 26 Apr. 1838 [D&C 115:7–8].

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 26 Apr. 1838 [D&C 115:18].

  3. [3]

    Plat of the City of Zion, ca. Early June–25 June 1833.

  4. [4]

    Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–B.

  5. [5]

    Travel Account and Questions, Nov. 1837; see also Minutes, 6 Nov. 1837.

  6. [6]

    Travel Account and Questions, Nov. 1837; Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 21 Jan. 1838.

  7. [7]

    Minutes, 7–8 Apr. 1838; Corrill, Brief History, 28; JS, Journal, 18 May–1 June 1838; Lyman Wight, Mountain Valley, TX, to Wilford Woodruff, [Salt Lake City], 24 Aug. 1857, p. 9, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

  8. [8]

    JS, Journal, 18 May–1 June 1838; see also Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 11–12.

    Swartzell, William. Mormonism Exposed, Being a Journal of a Residence in Missouri from the 28th of May to the 20th of August, 1838, Together with an Appendix, Containing the Revelation concerning the Golden Bible, with Numerous Extracts from the ‘Book of Covenants,’ &c., &c. Pekin, OH: By the author, 1840.

  9. [9]

    Sample of Pure Language, between ca. 4 and ca. 20 Mar. 1832; see also William W. Phelps, Kirtland, OH, to Sally Waterman Phelps, Liberty, MO, 26 May 1835, William W. Phelps, Papers, BYU.

    Phelps, William W. Papers, 1835–1865. BYU.

  10. [10]

    Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:53].

  11. [11]

    Corrill, Brief History, 28; see also Letter to Stephen Post, 17 Sept. 1838.

  12. [12]

    JS returned to Far West on 24 May. On 28 May, JS was headed north of Far West to scout out further locations for settlement. He returned again to Far West on 1 June, the day before the birth of his son Alexander Hale Smith. (JS, Journal, 18 May–1 June 1838.)

  13. [13]

    JS, Journal, 4–5 June 1838.

  14. [14]

    JS History, vol. B-1, 799; see also “Record Book A,” in Sherwood, Record Book, CHL.

    Sherwood, Henry G. Record Book, ca. 1838–1844. CHL.

  15. [15]

    John Smith, Journal, 16 June 1838; JS History, vol. B-1, addenda, 6nV.

    Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.

  16. [16]

    Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 13. This passage in Swartzell’s publication may be a retrospective expansion on his original journal entry. John Smith wrote in his journal that JS “called thelders to gether.” (John Smith, Journal, 28 June 1838.)

    Swartzell, William. Mormonism Exposed, Being a Journal of a Residence in Missouri from the 28th of May to the 20th of August, 1838, Together with an Appendix, Containing the Revelation concerning the Golden Bible, with Numerous Extracts from the ‘Book of Covenants,’ &c., &c. Pekin, OH: By the author, 1840.

    Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.

  17. [17]

    John Smith, Journal, 26 June 1838.

    Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.

  18. [18]

    Barnes was appointed clerk for the high council and the stake at the end of the conference.

  19. [19]

    The Zion high council had decided to publish meeting minutes in the Elders’ Journal when deemed proper. Four sets of minutes were published in the July issue. (Minutes, 21 Apr. 1838; Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 44–47.)

  20. [20]

    Minute Book 2, 12 May 1838; see also Minutes, 6 Aug. 1838, in JS, Journal, 6 Aug. 1838.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 28 June 1838 Elders’ Journal, August 1838

Page 61

of the meeting, which was to organize a , and , to preside over this of , and attend to the affairs of the church in . It was then motioned, seconded and carried, by the unanimous voice of the assembly, that Pr’s , should act as President of the stake of . was unanimously chosen 1st and 2nd . After prayer, the Presidents proceded to the of as 2nd assistant counsellor. was then chosen acting pro tempore by the unanimous voice of the assembly. President , then proceded to organize the high council. The counsellors were chosen according to the following order, by a unanimous vote. John Lemon 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Isaac Perry 5th, 6th, 7th, Thomas Gordon 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.
After the ordination of the counsellors, who had not previously been ordained to the . President J. Smith Jr. made remarks by way of charge to the Presidents and counsellors, instructing them in the duty of their callings, and the responsibility of their stations; exhorting them to be cautious and deliberate, in all their councils, and to be careful to act in righteousness in all things. President , and , then made some remarks. was unanimously chosen clerk of this council and stake; and after singing the well known hymn Adam-ondi-ahman, the meeting closed by prayer by , and a benediction by Pres. J. Smith Jr.
, Mo.)
Daviess Co. June 28 1838.)
J. SMITH Jr. Chairman.
) Clerks,
Isaac Perry.)
[p. 61]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 28 June 1838
ID #
7525
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:162–167
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Footnotes

  1. [2]

    In addition to the church members in Adam-ondi-Ahman, groups of Saints had settled in southern Daviess County at Marrowbone Creek, Honey Creek, Lick Fork, and possibly other locations. (History of Daviess County, Missouri, 188–190; Berrett, Sacred Places, 4:358, 366–370, 493–496.)

    The History of Daviess County, Missouri. An Encyclopedia of Useful Information, and a Compendium of Actual Facts. . . . Kansas City, MO: Birdsall and Dean, 1882.

    Berrett, LaMar C., ed. Sacred Places: A Comprehensive Guide to Early LDS Historical Sites. 6 vols. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999–2007.

  2. [3]

    John Smith and Reynolds Cahoon had previously served in the church presidency in Kirtland. (John Smith and Clarissa Lyman Smith, Kirtland, OH, to George A. Smith, Shinnston, VA, 1 Jan. 1838, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Bedford, England, 18–19 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Papers, CHL; see also Shurtleff and Cahoon, Reynolds Cahoon, 4.)

    Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

    Shurtleff, Stella Cahoon, and Brent Farrington Cahoon, comps. Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons: Utah Pioneers. Salt Lake City: Paragon Press, 1960.

  3. [4]

    Knight previously served as a counselor to Bishop Newel K. Whitney in Kirtland. Knight may have been appointed as the temporary bishop pending Whitney’s arrival. (Minutes, 13 Jan. 1836; Minutes, 3 Sept. 1837; see also Revelation, 8 July 1838–E [D&C 117].)

  4. [5]

    The men were probably numbered by casting lots, as had been done at the organizations of the Ohio and Missouri high councils in 1834. The numbers were used in council meetings to determine speaking order. (Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834; Minutes and Discourse, ca. 7 July 1834.)

  5. [6]

    The high councils of the church were to be composed of high priests. George A. Smith later recounted that he was ordained a high priest on this occasion by John Lemon. John Smith noted in his journal that after the appointment of the presidency and high council, “the Council decides that I must live in the city and see to the affairs of the church.” (George A. Smith, Autobiography, 71; John Smith, Journal, 28 June 1838; see also Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:79]; and Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834.)

    Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.

    Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.

  6. [7]

    JS offered similar instruction when he organized the high councils in Kirtland and Missouri in 1834. (Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834; Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834; Minutes and Discourse, ca. 7 July 1834.)

  7. [8]

    Barnes had previously been a schoolteacher. (Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, p. 2.)

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  8. [9]

    Hymn 23, Collection of Sacred Hymns, 29–30. “Adam-ondi-Ahman” was written by William W. Phelps in 1835. (“Adam-ondi-Ahman,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, June 1835, 1:144.)

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  9. [10]

    The primary definition of benediction in Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary is “the act of blessing; a giving praise to God or rendering thanks for his favors; a blessing pronounced.” (“Benediction,” in American Dictionary.)

    An American Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibit, I. the Origin, Affinities and Primary Signification of English Words, as far as They Have Been Ascertained. . . . Edited by Noah Webster. New York: S. Converse, 1828.

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