Footnotes

1. [1]

   Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, July 1890, 302.

   The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

2. [2]

   “At a Special Conference of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:521–522. During the succeeding months, the apostles took a lead role in raising capital for and directing the construction of the temple and the Nauvoo House, managing the settlement of immigrants in Hancock County, and training missionaries and directing missionary efforts. (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 31 Aug. 1841; Esplin, “Joseph, Brigham, and the Twelve,” 310–312.)

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

   Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

   Esplin, Ronald K. “Joseph, Brigham and the Twelve: A Succession of Continuity.” BYU Studies 21, no. 3 (Summer 1981): 301–341.

3. [3]

   Richards, Journal, 16 Aug. 1841.

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

4. [4]

   Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 31 Nov. [30 Nov. or 1 Dec.] 1841. An addendum to the entry for 20 November 1841 in the manuscript history of the church indicates that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were upset with editorial content written by Gustavus Hills, who began working at the paper following the death of editor Robert B. Thompson. The addendum contradicts the original minutes of the quorum’s 20 November meeting, which suggest the apostles voted to thank Hills for his remarks in the 15 October issue commending an epistle of the quorum. (JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda, 44; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 20 Nov. 1841.)

   Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

5. [5]

   Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, Sept. 1890, 324.

   The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

6. [6]

   Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 17 Jan. 1842. Though Robinson was instrumental in having a third edition of the Book of Mormon stereotyped and printed in 1840, it is possible that church leaders were unhappy that Robinson was reaping the profits from the printing of church scripture or were unhappy with the editorial content of the Times and Seasons. (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 258–262; Agreement with Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, 14 Dec. 1840; see also Walker, “As Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” 1–40.)

   Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

   The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

   Walker, Kyle R. “‘As Fire Shut Up in My Bones’: Ebenezer Robinson, Don Carlos Smith, and the 1840 Edition of the Book of Mormon.” Journal of Mormon History 36, no. 1 (Winter 2010): 1–40.

7. [7]

   Regarding the revelation, a 28 January 1842 entry in JS’s journal records, “Received instruction concerning John Snider; & E. Robinson concrning the Times and Seasons as Recorded on 64 page.” The revelation was actually inscribed on page 67 of the Book of the Law of the Lord, which served as JS’s journal from December 1841 to December 1842 and also contained revelation texts and records of financial donations made to the church. Journal and financial entries for 20 to 28 January 1842 appear between entries for 26 and 27 February, casting doubt on when this revelation was inscribed. The mixed order of these entries can be partially explained by the fact that in the first few months after being appointed JS’s scribe, Richards intentionally left pages blank and then later filled them with texts that had not previously been recorded. It is possible that Richards copied the revelation into the book on 28 January as noted or copied it in after 26 February 1842 (the latest entry date preceding the 28 January entry). (JS, Journal, 28 Jan. 1842.)

8. [8]

   Woodruff, Journal, 3 Feb. 1842.

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

9. [9]

   Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, Sept. 1890, 325, italics in original.

   The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

10. [10]

    Agreement with Ebenezer Robinson, 4 Feb. 1842.