| William Marks named
agent for Bishop Newel
K. Whitney; George W. Robinson, general clerk and recorder. In the evening
109 elders volunteer for missions. They are divided into
eight companies. Joseph and Sidney are
to "appoint other stakes or places of gathering." |
|
| Date |
|
September 17, 1837 (Sunday) |
|
Except where noted, I follow Kirtland council. Another account, consistent with Kirtland council, 242
is given in Elders' Journal, 1, no. 2 (Nov. 1837): 17. MH-B, 773–774 follows Elders' Journal. |
| Location |
|
Kirtland, Ohio |
|
| Description |
|
… an assembly of the Saints
in the house of the Lord, the following business was transacted by the
Church, |
|
"At a conference
of the authorities of the church, and of the saints in the House of the
Lord …" MH-B, 773. |
| Elders' Journal heading |
|
Minutes of a conference, of the authorities of the church of Latter Day Saints assembled in the house of the Lord in Kirtland, Sept. 17, 1837. |
|
|
| President |
|
Joseph Smith |
|
Elders' Journal. |
| Clerk |
|
G[eorge]. W. Robinson |
|
|
| Need for an agent |
|
N. K. Whitney, the Bishop of the Church in Kirtland, Stated
to the Saints that the time had now arraved [arrived] when it was necessary
for him to have an agent, agreeable to the provisions made for him in the
revelations, |
|
"Bishop N. K. Whitney arose and said the time had arrived when it became necessary for him to travel and necessarily must have an agent to act in his abscence, agreeably to the Provisions made in the revelations &c.— |
| William Marks, bishop's
agent |
|
he proceded to nominate Elder William Marks, and then Called
upon the Church to know if it was their minds that Elder Marks Should officiate
as Agent to the Bishop, Voted in the affirmative. by the unanymous vote
of the Church, |
|
"Elder William Marks was nominated and elected by the unanimous voice of the conference, to act and serve the church in this office." Elders' Journal. |
| |
|
After taking into consideration the affairs of the Latter Day Saints in general, having opportunities of becoming acquainted with the affairs of the Saints throughout the continent, and also the peculiar condition of this our city; it is deemed by this conference, which is constituted of all the authorities and even members of the church,) of great importance to the prosperity of the cause of truth in general, that the Bishop and his Counselors send abroad their memorial, to all the Saints throughout the land, as well as to all well-wishers to the cause of Zion. That their appeal mapy go forth in the name and bpy the authority of the church, to all Saints scattered abroad. |
|
Elders' Journal. |
| Oliver has moved to Missouri |
|
Pres..
Rigdon then Stated that it was necessary that the Church Should have a general
recorder & Clerk, to fill the place of O. Cowdery who had lately removed
to the west, |
|
Doubled periods (Pres.., &c..) original.
¶ Minutes of September 3, 1837 |
| |
|
Some remarks were made by President S. Rigdon, relative to the duties of the Bishop, his counselors and agent. Showing the great necessity of their immediate exertion in steping forward in the dignity of their office &c. |
|
Elders' Journal. |
| George W. Robinson,
Church clerk and recorder |
|
George W. Robinson was nominated & elected by a unanymous voise
of the Church, to act in that office as General Clerk & recorder of the
whole Church. |
|
"George W. Robinson was unanimously elected
General church Recorder in place of Oliver Cowdery who had removed to
Missouri." MH-B, 773. |
| Sidney: bishopric responsibilities |
|
Pres.. Rigdon made Some remarks upon the duties responsibility &c.. of
the Bishop, his Agent & Councilors, & the
necessity of their Standing forth immediately to dignify their office, |
|
|
| Joseph and Sidney: discipline
children, sacrament |
|
After Some remarks by Presidents Smith & Rigdon and
others upon the disipline of Children, &c.., the administration
of the Lords Supper being attended to, the meeting Closed by a
benediction from the Bishop.— |
|
|
| |
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Conference closed after receiving a benediction from Presidint S. Rigdon. |
|
|
| |
|
J. Smith Jr. Pres't. |
|
|
| |
|
G. W. Robinson Clerk. |
|
|
| |
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G. W. Robinson
Clerk of the Church |
|
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| |
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| |
|
Evening Elders' Conference |
|
|
| Description |
|
… a conference of Elders held in the house
of the Lord this evening |
|
Kirtland council, 243–245
// MH-B, 773–774. Elders' Journal does not contain a report of this meeting. |
| Presiding |
|
Pres.. Joseph Smith Jr. presided … |
|
| Opening |
|
…opend by Pres.. <S.> Rigdon |
|
Rare instance when the moderator or president does not give the opening prayer. |
| Gathering responsibility of quorums |
|
after which the conferance was addressed from the Chair,
on the Subject of the gathering of the of the [sic] Saints in the last days and the
duties of the different quorums relation thereto, |
|
|
Existing stakes overflowing
More stakes needed for poor |
|
It appeared manifest to the conference that the places appointed
for the gathering of the Saints <were> at this time crowded to overflowing & that
it was necessary that there be more Stakes of Zion appointed in order that
the poor might have a place to gether to, … |
|
|
| Joseph and Sidney elected to
appoint other stakes |
|
"[B]y vote of the whole," Joseph and Sidney are "requested
by this conference to go & appoint other Stakes or places of gathering
and that they receive a certificate of this their appointment Signed
by the Clerk of the Church." |
|
Why does Joseph need a certificate
to organize a new stake? if authorization needed, why does Kirtland alone suffice? |
| William Marks accepts position |
|
William Marks is asked if he accepts appointment as bishop's
agent. |
|
|
|
|
he arose and Said that he would comply with the request of
the Church, & the Lord being his helper he would discharge the duties
thereof to the best of his abilities, |
|
|
| Missionaries line up |
|
After which the Elders present who were in a situation
to travel were called
upon [244] to number themselves, begining on the South Side of the House, & So
pass to the north, |
|
|
109 in 8 groups
[12] east |
|
it appeared that there were one hundred & nine Elders
present who wished to travel, they were then divided into eight companies
in the following manner, Beginning with No. 1 to No. 12 formed the first
company They
were appointed to travel East, |
|
12: thirteen in MH-B,
773, probably due to unusual way the Kirtland council clerk inconsistently forms the numbers 2 and 3. |
| [13] southeast |
|
The next company was from [-]12 to 26 They were appointed
to travel South East, |
|
12: 13 in MH-B,
773. |
| [13] south |
|
The next was from 26 to 39 They were appointed to travel
South, |
|
|
| [13] southwest |
|
The next for from 39 to 52 They were to travel South
west, |
|
|
| [13] west |
|
The next from 52 to 65 They were to go directly west. |
|
|
| [13] northwest |
|
The next from 65 to 78 Their course was North west, |
|
|
| [13] north |
|
The next from 78 to 91 They were to travel North, |
|
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| [13] northeast |
|
The next from 91 to 104 They were to travel North East |
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| Remainder |
|
It appeared after this division that there [were] 5 left Nos. 105,
–6 –7 –8 and 9 No 105 was appointed to travel with the company that
go South Eeast [East], 106 with the Com''y South, 107 to travel with
the South Com''y, 108 with the East Company, <&> 109 North.
|
|
Joseph and William Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and
Vinson Knight leave for Independence on September 27. |
| Exchanges allowed |
|
It was farther appointed that those who might desire to travel
a different course from the one which was appointed to the division to
which They belonged, might have the privilege of changing with one of another
division And lastly it was appointed that the different divisions appoint
a meeting for themselves to make [245] Such arrangments as they Shall
think proper in relation to their journying … |
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| Close |
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Prayer by Sidney Rigdon |
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Omitted in MH-B, 774. |
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Minutes of October 1, 1837
Minutes of September 3,1837
Ohio Minutes
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