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Minutes and Discourses, 6–9 October 1843

Source Note

Special conference of the Church, Minutes, and JS, Discourses, , Hancock Co., IL, 6–9 October 1843. Featured version published in “Minutes of a Special Conference,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1843, vol. 4, no. 21, 329–332. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

From 6 to 9 October 1843, JS presided over the semiannual of the in , Illinois. JS had announced the conference about two weeks earlier in print and in a discourse. The conference was to commence on Friday, 6 October, at ten o’clock in the morning, but cold and windy weather necessitated postponing it until the next day. When the conference began the next morning at ten o’clock, JS stated that the conference would address two matters of business: first, ’s standing in the church; and second, the building of the .
In the early years of the church emerged as one of JS’s most capable followers and fellow church leaders, serving as the first counselor in the , but the two men grew estranged after the Latter-day Saints relocated to . Because of chronic sickness, Rigdon had not actively functioned as a counselor. Additionally, a rift emerged between the men following JS’s alleged plural marriage proposal to Rigdon’s daughter in spring 1842. During the next year and a half, JS’s and Rigdon’s relationship vacillated between tenuous reconciliation and open hostility. In August and September 1843, and reportedly heard rumors that Rigdon had conspired with JS’s enemies in and . During a mid-August discourse, JS responded to these allegations by publicly accusing Rigdon of disloyalty and persuading the assembled Saints to withdraw Rigdon’s ministerial . Rigdon tried to answer these charges in late August, but the claims did not receive a full investigation until the October conference. Several church leaders later stated that JS privately to replace Rigdon in the First Presidency even though Rigdon’s case was still pending.
On Saturday, 7 October, JS formally charged , and Rigdon began his defense. The session was dismissed early due to inclement weather, and Rigdon continued to defend himself on Sunday, 8 October, during which time JS dropped at least one of the charges against him. , , and advocated for mercy in Rigdon’s behalf. Although JS continued to express doubt about Rigdon’s integrity, the conference voted to retain Rigdon as one of the counselors in the First Presidency. At the conclusion of the vote, the conference adjourned until the next day due to poor weather.
On Monday, 9 October, the conference assembled for both a morning and an afternoon session. In the morning, JS stated that the next item of business for the conference was the progress of the ’s construction. During the prior season, temple workers raised the walls from somewhere between four and twelve feet high to nearly twenty-five feet high, roughly completing the first-story stonework. Yet considerable work remained, and there was a great need for labor and goods to complete the structure. After JS’s remarks, and , the members of the church’s , discussed this progress and the need for additional labor and supplies to help the work continue. echoed their comments, after which the conference voted to continue the efforts to build the temple.
In the Monday afternoon session, JS delivered a funeral sermon for , a prominent Latter-day Saint who had moved to from , Illinois, by the prior summer. JS first met Adams in 1839, when JS passed through Springfield on his way to . Thereafter Adams served as one of JS’s trusted confidants and was a father figure to him. Adams died on 11 August 1843, and though JS attended his funeral on 16 August, there is no record that he preached on that occasion. His conference sermon about Adams was possibly prompted by the attendance of Harriet Denton Adams, James Adams’s widow, at a prayer meeting held in JS’s house the night before. JS based his discourse on chapter 12 of the epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament, particularly the difference between angels and the spirits of “just men made perfect” as mentioned in verses 22–23. According to the featured published conference report, JS’s sermon “was delivered with his usual feeling and pathos; and was listened to with the most profound and eager attention by the multitude, who hung upon his instructions.” recorded that “the people were well edified” by JS’s remarks and “a very good feeling prevailed throughout” the conference.
There are apparently no extant manuscript minutes for the October 1843 conference. served as the conference clerk. Although Hills occasionally served as clerk for church and civic meetings, he was not one of JS’s usual scribes. Hills’s minutes were printed in the 15 September 1843 issue of the Times and Seasons, which was at least a month behind schedule. likely kept loose minutes of at least the proceedings against on 7 October, but if he did so, they are apparently not extant. While Richards typically recorded conference minutes in JS’s journal, which he kept, he did not do so for this conference. However, Richards did record an account of JS’s 9 October discourse in the journal. Church member copied a refined account of JS’s doctrinal teachings from that discourse into his personal journal, although it is unclear if Burgess was present at the conference. Burgess attributed these teachings to “J Smith Prophet,” and while his account is not dated, it matches the themes and doctrines JS addressed at the October 1843 conference.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    He authorized Willard Richards to publish a notice, dated 22 September, announcing the conference, but before it was published, JS announced the conference from the stand during his Sunday discourse on 24 September. (“Special Conference,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 27 Sept. 1843, [3]; Note from Willard Richards, 22 Sept. 1843; JS, Journal, 24 Sept. 1843.)

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 6 Oct. 1843.

  3. [3]

    Rigdon told the April 1844 conference of the church that he had frequently suffered from “the violence of sickness” and noted that “want of health, and other circumstances have kept me in silence for nearly the last five years.” (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 May 1844, 5:522.)

  4. [4]

    Letter to Nancy Rigdon, ca. mid-Apr. 1842; Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 1 July 1842.

  5. [5]

    “Elder Rigdon, &c.,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1842, 3:922–923; Letter to Justin Butterfield, 16 Jan. 1843; JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843; Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 Mar. 1843; Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 Apr. 1843.

  6. [6]

    Historical Introduction to Discourse, 13 Aug. 1843–B.

  7. [7]

    JS, Journal, 27 Aug. 1843.

  8. [8]

    JS had previously called Lyman to the First Presidency in February 1843, apparently to replace Rigdon. At the time, JS was preparing ecclesiastical charges against Rigdon for his alleged connections to John C. Bennett. However, JS and Rigdon reconciled before Lyman’s calling could be announced and possibly before it could be implemented. In 1844, after JS’s death, Heber C. Kimball publicly stated that sometime around the October 1843 conference, Lyman was privately “ordained & put in the place of Sidney Rigdon as counsillor” to JS. Jedediah Grant made a similar statement in an 1844 pamphlet. This ordination may have occurred during a 1 October 1843 prayer meeting at which William Law and at least one unidentified individual were “anointed. counselors” to JS. (JS, Journal, 4 and 11 Feb. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, [20] Jan. 1843; Historical Department, Journal History of the Church, 10 Jan. 1842 [1843]; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 8 Sept. 1844, 12; “Continuation of Elder Rigdon’s Trial,” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1844, 5:663–664; Grant, Collection of Facts, 15–16; JS, Journal, 1 Oct. 1843.)

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

    Historical Department. Journal History of the Church, 1896–. CHL. CR 100 137.

    Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

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

    Grant, Jedediah M. A Collection of Facts, Relative to the Course Taken by Elder Sidney Rigdon, in the States of Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Brown, Bicking and Guilbert, 1844.

  9. [9]

    Workers had completed the basement stonework in 1842. (JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1843; David Nye White, “The Prairies, Nauvoo, Joe Smith, the Temple, the Mormons, &c.,” Pittsburgh Daily Gazette, 14 Sept. 1843, [3].)

    Pittsburgh Daily Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. 1841–1844.

  10. [10]

    Historical Introduction to Letter of Introduction from James Adams, 9 Nov. 1839.

  11. [11]

    Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 4 Nov. 1839, 67; JS, Journal, 4 May 1842; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 4 May 1842, 11.

  12. [12]

    JS, Journal, 11 and 16 Aug. 1843.

  13. [13]

    JS, Journal, 8 Oct. 1843.

  14. [14]

    JS previously touched on this subject during a funeral sermon for Elias Higbee in mid-August 1843. (Discourse, 13 Aug. 1843–A.)

  15. [15]

    Clayton, Journal, 9 Oct. 1843.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  16. [16]

    Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; Historical Introduction to Minutes, 22 July 1842.

  17. [17]

    The 15 September issue of the Times and Seasons included an authorization for George J. Adams dated 14 October, indicating that the issue was published at least a month behind the printed date. In the previous issue, dated 1 September, John Taylor, the editor of the Times and Seasons, apologized for the lengthy delay, which he attributed to the absence of his business partner Wilford Woodruff—who was then serving a mission in the east—and his employees’ poor health. (Authorization for George J. Adams, 14 Oct. 1843; “To Our Patrons,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1843, 4:312.)

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

  18. [18]

    In the 7 October 1843 entry in JS’s journal, Richards directed the reader to “see minutes” of an account of Sidney Rigdon’s trial. Richards wrote “see minutes” in JS’s journal nine other times, each time referring to minutes he personally kept. (JS, Journal, 7 Oct. 1843; JS, Journal, 12, 24, and 30 Apr. 1843; JS, Journal, 11, 23, 27, and 29 May 1843; 29 Dec. 1843; 13 May 1844.)

  19. [19]

    See, for example, JS, Journal, 6–8 Apr. 1843; and JS, Journal, 6–9 Apr. 1844.

  20. [20]

    Burgess, who moved to Nauvoo in April 1843, noted in his journal the “joy and gladness” he felt after arriving at the city, where he had “the priviledge of hearing the doctrine of the blessed redeemer developed by his servant the Prophet.” He also seems to have sought out accounts of JS’s sermons, and there is at least one sermon recorded in his notebook that he did not attend. (Burgess, Journal, [62]–[63]; see also, for example, Discourse, 6 Apr. 1843–B, as Reported by James Burgess.)

    Burgess, James. Journal, 1841–1848. CHL. MS 1858.

  21. [21]

    Burgess, Journal and Notebook, Oct. 1841–Dec. 1848, [14]–[15]; JS, Journal, 9 Oct. 1843.

    Burgess, James. Journal and Notebook, Oct. 1841–Dec. 1848. James Burgess, Journals, 1841–1848. CHL.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 7 October 1843, as Reported by Gustavus Hills “History of Joseph Smith” *Discourse, 8 October 1843, as Reported by Gustavus Hills History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] *Discourse, 9 October 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 3, 15 July 1843–29 February 1844 *Discourse, 9 October 1843, as Reported by Gustavus Hills *Minutes and Discourses, 6–9 October 1843 *Discourse, 9 October 1843, as Reported by James Burgess History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 331

, on the part of the , represented the work of the to be retarded for want of team work and provisions: also of iron, steel, powder and clothing—giving as his opinion that [t]he walls could easily be completed next season, if these embarrassments were removed, and the brethren would come forward to sustain them in the work with the means that were in their hands.
Elder followed, seconding the remarks of , and setting forth the importance of the using their utmost exertions to fulfil the revelation concerning the —earnestly exhorting the saints, here and abroad, to roll in the necessary means into the hands of the Committee, that the work may advance with rapidity.
President followed with pertinent remarks on the importance of the work—the ease with which it might be advanced to its completion—that it had already become a monument for the people abroad to gaze on with astonishment. He concluded with some advice to parents to restrain their children from vice and folly, and employ them in some business of profit to themselves, to the , or elsewhere.
On motion by elder , and seconded by President , voted, That we, as conference, and individuals, will use all the means, exertions and influence in our power, to sustain the Temple Committee in advancing the work of the .
President Joseph Smith presented and read to the Conference, a communication from Col. , whose conduct had been called in question, in connection with elder , and expressed himself satisfied that Col. was free, even of reproach or suspicion, in that matter.
Conference adjourned for one hour.
Monday, 2 o’clock, P. M.
Conference reassembled, and listened with profound attention, to an impressive discourse from President Joseph Smith, commemorative of the decease of , Esq., late of this , and an honorable, worthy, useful, and esteemed member of the . He spoke of the importance of our understanding the reasons and causes of our exposure to the vicissitudes of life, and of death; and the designs and purposes of God, in our coming into the world, our sufferings here, and our departure hence—that it is but reasonable to suppose that God would reveal something in reference to the matter—the ignorance of the world in reference to their true condition, and relation. Reading the experience of others, or the revelations given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things, can only be obtained by experience in these things, through the of God set forth for that purpose. He remarked that the disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection, would be indescribably dreadful. That the organization of the spiritual and heavenly worlds, and of spiritual and heavenly beings, was agreeably to the most perfect order and harmony—that their limits and bounds were fixed irrevocably, and voluntarily subscribed to by themselves—subscribed to upon the earth—hence the importance of embracing and subscribing to principles of eternal truth. He assured the saints that truth in reference to these matters, can, and may be known, through the revelations of God in the way of his ordinances, and in answer to prayer. The Hebrew church “came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant;” but what they learned, has not been, and could not have been written. What object was gained by this communication with the spirits of the just, &c.? It was the established order of the kingdom of God—the of power and knowledge were with them to communicate to the saints—hence the importance of understanding the distinction between the spirits of the just, and angels. Spirits can only be revealed in flaming fire, or glory. Angels have advanced farther—their light and glory being tabernacled, and hence appear in bodily shape.
Concerning brother , he remarked, that it should appear strange that so good and so great a man was hated. The deceased ought never to have had an enemy. But so it was, wherever light shone, it stirred up darkness. Truth and error, good and evil, cannot be reconciled. had been a most intimate friend. He had anointed him to the power—to receive the keys of knowledge, and power, by revelation to himself. He had had revelations concerning his departure, and had gone to a more important work—of opening up a more effectual door for the dead. The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious work—hence they are blessed in departing hence. Enveloped in flaming fire, they are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings and motions, and are often pained therewith.
President Smith concluded with exhortations to the church to renew their exertions to [p. 331]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes and Discourses, 6–9 October 1843
ID #
12370
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:160–167
Handwriting on This Page
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Footnotes

  1. [14]

    See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:25–55].

  2. [15]

    Of the three men who addressed the business of the temple, Hyrum Smith was the only one who was not a member of the temple committee. However, the next day he was appointed a member of the committee to replace Elias Higbee, who died in June 1843. (JS, Journal, 10 Oct. 1843; Book of the Law of the Lord, 315, 366.)

  3. [16]

    Eastern newspaper correspondents frequently commented on the grandeur and unique design of the temple then under construction, and their reports were often widely circulated upon publication. For example, even while criticizing some elements of the design, a correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce, as reprinted in the New England Puritan, stated that “the Temple now in process of erection, to be completed in three years, is of free stone, scarcely less beautiful in texture and color than granite, and will if perfected according to the present design, be an edifice externally of grandeur and magnificence, which in its great advantages of site will have no equal in the Western world.” (“Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce,” New England Puritan [Boston], 11 Aug. 1843, [5].)

    New England Puritan. Boston. 1840–1849.

  4. [17]

    Letter from Francis M. Higbee, 8 Sept. 1843.

  5. [18]

    See Hebrews 12:22–24.

  6. [19]

    Adams was a prominent but politically controversial resident of Springfield, Illinois. During his contentious election to probate judge of Sangamon County in 1837, several Whig lawyers, led by Abraham Lincoln, published anonymous letters to the Sangamo Journal as well as public handbills and letters that accused Adams of forging documents and conducting fraudulent land dealings, charges that Adams vehemently denied. Though Adams won the election, the charges led to legal cases that were still pending at the time of his death. At a May 1843 prayer meeting prior to Adams’s sealing to his wife, JS and others present prayed that Adams “might be deliverd from his enemies.” (“Handbill: The Case of the Heirs of Joseph Anderson vs James Adams,” 5 Aug. 1837; “First Reply to James Adams,” 6 Sept. 1837; “Second Reply to James Adams,” 18 Oct. 1837, in Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, 1:89–93, 96–100, 102–106; Schwartz, “Lincoln Handbill of 1837,” 267–274; Walgren, “James Adams,” 123–125; JS, Journal, 28 May 1843.)

    The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Edited by Roy P. Basler, Marion Dolores Pratt, and Lloyd A. Dunlap. 8 vols. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953.

    Schwartz, Thomas F. “The Lincoln Handbill of 1837: A Rare Document’s History.” Illinois Historical Journal 79, no. 4 (Winter 1986): 267–274.

    Walgren, Kent L. “James Adams: Early Springfield Mormon and Freemason.” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 75 (Summer 1982): 121–136.

  7. [20]

    Although JS ordained Adams to the priesthood office of patriarch in July 1841, here JS possibly was referring to the power derived from the endowment and sealing ceremonies that he had introduced to a small group of individuals in Nauvoo. In May 1842, Adams was in attendance when JS first presented the endowment; Adams was also sealed in marriage to his first wife, Harriet Denton, in May 1843 and to his plural wife, Roxsena Repshar, in July. In August 1843, JS referred to three orders of priesthood in the church—Levitical, patriarchal, and Melchizedek—the patriarchal authority being associated with sealing ordinances. (General Church Recorder, License Record Book, 85; JS, Journal, 4 May 1842; JS, Journal, 28 May 1843; Roxsena Rachel Repshar Adams, Affidavit, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, 13 Oct. 1869, in Joseph F. Smith, Affidavits about Celestial Marriage, 1:88; Discourse, 27 Aug. 1843.)

    Smith, Joseph F. Affidavits about Celestial Marriage, 1869–1915. CHL. MS 3423.

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