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Remarks, 3 October 1843

Source Note

JS, Remarks, [, Hancock Co., IL, 3 Oct. 1843]. Featured version published in Robert D. Foster, “Pleasure Party, and Dinner at ‘Nauvoo Mansion,’ October 3. 1843,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 4 Oct. 1843, vol. 1, no. 23, [3]. For more complete source information, see the source note for Notice, 26 Aug. 1843.

Historical Introduction

On 3 October 1843, in , Illinois, JS addressed guests at a dinner party celebrating the opening of the as a hotel. Because the much larger was still under construction, the Saints built the mansion to house JS’s many visitors and guests with the “best Table accommodations in the city” and to make them “more comfortable than any other place on the Upper .” By April 1843, JS instructed to have the “put hands” on the mansion to “finish it right off.” JS and his family moved into the new residence around 31 August 1843.
Around one hundred couples attended the celebration. addressed the attendees on “the rise and progress of the city, the varied scenes through which the saints had to pass,” and “the persecutions and abuses the prophet had to undergo.” After Foster’s address, and delivered comments, followed by JS. In his address, JS thanked those present for the commendation he had received. Like Foster, he mentioned his past trials and expressed gratitude for the Saints in . Next, tendered her thanks to the guests, Taylor offered a benediction, and the party retired from the mansion with the “most perfect satisfaction, and good humour.”
recorded a detailed description of the gala, including JS’s remarks, which was published in the 4 October 1843 issue of the Nauvoo Neighbor. This is the only known extant account of the oral commentary JS gave on the occasion.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 3 Oct. 1843; Robert D. Foster, “Pleasure Party, and Dinner at ‘Nauvoo Mansion,’ October 3. 1843,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 4 Oct. 1843, [3]. The Nauvoo Mansion was a commodious two-story Greek Revival frame structure located on the northeast corner of Water and Main streets. (JS, Journal, 31 Aug. 1843.)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  2. [2]

    A January 1841 revelation called for the Saints to construct the Nauvoo House to provide housing for visitors as well as for JS and his family. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:56–83]; for more information on the Nauvoo House, see Historical Introduction to Memorandum, 2 Oct. 1841; and Smith, “Symbol of Mormonism,” 109–136.)

    Smith, Alex D. “Symbol of Mormonism: The Nauvoo Boarding House.” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 35, no. 2 (Fall/Winter 2015): 109–136.

  3. [3]

    JS History, vol. E-1, 1734.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 19 Apr. 1843.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 31 Aug. 1843.

  6. [6]

    Robert D. Foster, “Pleasure Party, and Dinner at ‘Nauvoo Mansion,’ October 3. 1843,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 4 Oct. 1843, [3]. An earlier JS revelation called on Foster to “build a house for my servant Joseph.” It is unclear if that house was the Nauvoo Mansion or how involved Foster was in the mansion’s construction. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:115].)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

  7. [7]

    Robert D. Foster, “Pleasure Party, and Dinner at ‘Nauvoo Mansion,’ October 3. 1843,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 4 Oct. 1843, [3].

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Remarks, 3 October 1843
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [3]

Gen. Smith then arose and in a very touching and suitable manner, tendered his thanks to the company, for the encomiums and honors conferred on him. He recited the many woes through which he had passed, the persecutions he had suffered and the love he had for the brethren and citizens of . He tendered his gratitude for the pleasing prospects that surrounded him, to the great giver of all good. He said he thought that his case was similar to that of old Job’s; that after he had suffered and drank the very dregs of affliction the Lord had remembered him in mercy and was about to bless him abundan[t]ly. [p. [3]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Remarks, 3 October 1843
ID #
4062
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:138–140
Handwriting on This Page
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Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS was the lieutenant general of the Nauvoo Legion. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 4 Feb. 1841, 4–6; JS History, vol. C-1, 1161–1162.)

  2. [2]

    In a letter to land speculator Horace Hotchkiss, written less than ten days following this event, JS stated that “smiling prospects” surrounded the Saints in Nauvoo, and he assured Hotchkiss of his belief that the Saints’ “success seems certain.” (Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 12–13 Oct. 1843.)

  3. [3]

    In the Bible, Job is a righteous and wealthy individual who was afflicted by Satan and endured severe trials. (See Job chaps. 1–2, 6, 13–14, 19, and 42.)

  4. [4]

    See Psalm 75:8; and Isaiah 51:17.

  5. [5]

    At the conclusion of Job’s suffering, the Lord blessed him again—more abundantly than before. (Job 42:10–17.)

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