Seventies

Mormon History 1830-1844

Seventies

Organization and members of first quorum §.February ordination blessings §. Joseph Smith remarks §; no sacrament for the unworthy. As high priests §. As elders §. Seven presidents §. Additional quorums §. May ordination blessings §. Blessings by category §. High priest seventies revert §. As apostles §. Three quorms meet weekly §. Twelve nominate presidents §.

		February 28, 1835 Organization and Members
		Kirtland High Council Minutes (Kirtland council, 164–165) 1838	Manuscript History of the Church (MH-B, 577) Scribe: Willard Richards [Late 1843]
Names Blessings	¶	The hour for meeting having arrived Pres. S. Rigdon arose and made some observations, relative to the business before the meeting, then proceeded to open by prayer. The following are some of the names and ordination blessings of the Seventy who were called and to be sent forth.	On the 28th the church in council assembled, commenced selecting certain individuals from the nmber of those who went up to Zion, with me, in the camp. & The following are ~~some~~ the names of those who were ordained and blessed at that time to begin the organization of the first Quorum of the Seventies according to the visions and revelations which I have received. The seventies to constitute travelling Quorums. to go into all the earth. whither-Soever the twelve Apostles should call them.
	¶	[165] Hiram Winters Elias Hutchins Henry Shibley Roger Orton* J. B. Smith* Harvey Stanley* Jedediah Grant* Lyman Sherman* Joseph Hancock* Lyman Smith* Peter Buchanan David Elliott Almon Babbitt Levi Gifford Joseph B. Nobles Lorenzo Booth Zera S. Cole Leonard Rich Harrison Burgess Alden Burdick Wm. F. Cahoon Harpin RiggsBurr Riggs Lewis Robbins Darwin Richardson Joseph Young Alexander Badlam Zebedee Coltrin Solomon Angel John D. Parker Daniel Stevens Hiram Stratton Sylvester Smith Wm. Pratt Ezra Thayer Levi Hancock Salmon Warner Israel Barlow Willard Snow Hazen Aldrich Charles Kelly Jenkins Salisbury George A. Smith [blessings follow]	Hiram Winters Elias Hutchings Henry Shibley Roger Orton J. B. Smith Harvey Stanley Jedediah Grant Lyman Sherman Joseph Hancock Lyman Smith Peter Buchanan David Elliot Almon Babbitt Levi Gifford Joseph B. Nobles Lorenzo Booth Zera S. Cole Leonard Rich Harrison Burgess Allen Burdick William F Cahoon Harpin Riggs Nathan B. BaldwinBurr Riggs Lewis Robbins Darwin Richardson Joseph Young Alexander Badlam Zebedee Coltrin Solomon Angel John D. Parker Daniel Stearns Hiram Stratten Sylvester Smith William Pratt Ezra Thayer Levi W. Hancock Solomon Warner Israel Barlow Willard Snow Hazen Aldrich Charles Kelly Jenkins Salisbury George A. Smith Nathan B. Baldwin Bradford Elliot	Purple: blessed/ordained Mar. 1, 1835 Red: added in MH-B ( Feb. 28, 1835 entry) Italics: spelled differently in one or more of the lists cited. The only ocurrence of Bradford Elliot is in MH-B. I have found no references to him anywhere else. * Blessings recorded in Kirtland council ( Feb. 28, 1835 entry) Lyman Smith: two different blessings are recorded on Feb. 28, 1835. Nathan B. Baldwin is added (twice) in [SHOWREF=MHB ( Feb. 28, 1835 entry) and blessed/ordained in Kirtland council (Mar. 1, 1835).

		Ordination Blessings
		Kirtland High Council Minutes (Kirtland council, 172–176) 1838	Manuscript History of the Church (MH-B, 577) Scribe: Willard Richards [Late 1843]
Resume ordination blessings		The council then proceeded to business and the following names were called (viz.) Levi W. Hancock, Salmon Warner, and Israel Barlow,	the council continued the ordination and blessing of those priviously called.
		Blessings follow for Levi W. Hancock [172–173], Salmon Warner [173], Hazen Aldrich, John Murdock [174–175]; Willard Snow, Charles Kelly [175]; George A. Smith, Jenkins Salisbury, Peter Buchanan [176]; Alexander Badlam, Zebedee Coltrin [178], Solomon Angel, John D. Parker, Daniel Stevens [179], Hiram Stratten, Sylvester Smith [180], William Pratt, S.W. Denton [181]; Ezra Thayer, Harrison Burgess, Alden Burdick [182]] William F. Cahoon, Harpin Riggs [183]; Nathan B. Baldwin, Burr Riggs [184]; Lewis Robbins, Darwin Richardson [185], Joseph Young, Hiram Winters, Elias Hutchings [186]; Hyrum Smith, Frederick G. Williams.	also John Murdock. Ezra Thayer. S. W. Denton. were ordained & blessed. Benjamin Winchester. Hyrum Smith and Frederick G. Williams were blessed. and Joseph Young and Sylvester Smith were ordained	John Murdock: "You are not set apart as one of the 70 but to continue as you have been, To be ready to go at the command of the Lord …"
			Presidents of the Seventies.	Probable anachronism. The first mention of presidents of the Seventies, in contemporaneous documents, first occurs in ¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		March 1, 1835 Joseph Smith Remarks
		Kirtland High Council Minutes (Kirtland council, 172�186) 1838	Manuscript History of the Church (MH-B, 577–578) Scribe: Willard Richards [Late 1843]
Council meets for ordinations Postpone for confirmations, sacrament		The council met this morning to proceed with the ordination of the 70, There being several who had been recently baptized present, and being expedient that they should be confirmed, and also that the sacrament should be administered to the Church, the business of ordination was suspended for a short time.	March 1st. when, after attending the funeral of Seth Johnson several. who, had recently been baptized, were confirmed. and the sacrament <was> administered to the church.
Joseph speaks to the church Partaking of sacrament worthily		President Joseph Smith Junr. addressed the Church & the Council and the Church upon the propriety of attending to this ordinance with pure hearts, and pure desires. He touched upon the propriety of attending to this ordinanance with pure hearts, and pure desires. He touched upon the propriety of this institution in the church & urged the vast importance of doing it with acceptance to the Lord,	Previous to the Administration I spoke of the propriety of this institution in the church. and urged the importance of doing it with acceptance before the Lord, and	upon the propriety: repeated in original
Don't trifle Buffetings of Satan		He asked how long do you suppose a man may partake of this ordinance unworthily and the Lord not withdraw his spirit from him? How long will he thus trifle with sacred things and the Lord not give him over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of Redemption?	asked. How long do you suppose a man may partake of this ordinance. unworthily and the Lord not withdraw his Spirit from him? How long will he thus trifle with sacred things. and the Lord not give him over to the buffettings of Satan until the day of redemption?
		The church should know if they are unworthy, from time to time, to partake, The servants of the Lord will be forbidden to administer it.	The church should know if they are unworthy from time to time, to partake, lest the Servants of God be forbidden to administer it.
Humility		Therefore our hearts ought ~~ought~~ to humble themselves, and we to repent of our sins, and put away evil from among us,	Therefore our hearts ought humble themselves, and we to repent of our Sins. and put away evil from among us.
Sacrament		some further remarks were made and the sacrament was then administered,	After sacrament

		March 16, 1835 As High Priests Kirtland council, 84 1838
One of the presidents		First known reference to a president of the Seventy and first known instance of seventies serving as high priests. Sylvester Smith, "one of the presidents of the Seventy," substitutes for John Smith (another seventy) at a meeting of the Kirtland high council.		¶ Minutes of March 16, 1835

		May 2, 1835 As Elders
		Ezra Thayer (named a seventy on March 1) is "suspended as an Elder and member until an investigation could be had before the Bishop's court."		¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		Seven Presidents
		First known reference to seven presidents and their names: Joseph Young, Sylvester Smith, Lyman Sherman, Leonard Rich, Hazen Aldrich, Zebedee Coltrin, and Levi Hancock. They are to hold themselves in readiness "to go [on missions] at the call of the Twelve, when the Lord opens the way."		¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		Additional Quorums
		… when another Seventy is required, the presidency of the first Seventy shall choose, ordain and set them apart from among the most experienced Elders of the Church.		¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		May 8, 1835 Ordination Blessings (Kirtland council, 196–197) 1838
Unknown ordination dates		Five [sic] seventies whose "time of their ordination cannot be accurately ascertained" are:
Other seventies		Milo Andrus, Joseph Winchester, Zerubabel Snow, Kim Heem, Heman T. Hyde, Henry Brown, and Nelson Higgins.		Original: Andress
Attached to the Seventy		Henry Beeman is ordained a seventy and Jesse Huntsman, Royal Barney, Zebedee Coltrin (already a seventy), and Henry Harriman are "all to be attached to the Seventy. Lorenzo Barnes one of the Seventy."		Original: Barns

		Blessing Ordinations by Category (Kirtland council, 172–186, 196–197) 1838
70		Are or are to be a 70: Ezra Thayer, David Elliott, Zera S. Cole
70 set apart		Set apart as one of the 70: Willard Snow, William F. Cahoon, Harpin Riggs
70 ordained		Ordained as one of the 70: John D. Parker, Henry Shibley
70 ordained and set apart		Ordained and set apart to be one of the 70: William Pratt
70 ordained and president		Ordained as a 70 and a president: Sylvester Smith
70 set apart and president		Set apart as a 70 and a president: Joseph Young
70 ordained and elder		Ordained an elder and one of the 70: Charles Kelly, Jenkins Salisbury, Alexander Badlam, Solomon Angel, Hiram Stratten, Harrison Burgess, Nathan B. Baldwin, Darwin Richardson
Elder		Ordained an elder: Peter Buchanan, Solomon W. Denton, Alden Burdick, ¶ Burr Riggs
		Confirm eldership: Lewis Robbins, Hiram Winters
Ordained (no office)		Ordained, no office mentioned: Elias Hutchings
Confirm priesthood		Confirm priesthood: Bradford Elliott*		* not on February 28, 1835 list of those to be called to be seventies.
Seal as high priest		Seal ministry as high priest: Leonard Rich (ordained a seventy February 28, 1835 §)
Missionary		Missionary blessing, no office mentioned: Levi Hancock, Salmon Warner, Hazen Aldrich, George A. Smith (ordained a seventy February 28, 1835 §)
		Missionary blessing, explicitly not a seventy: John Murdock*		* not on February 28, 1835 list of those to be called to be seventies.
		Seal for missionary work: Zebedee Coltrin
Confirm patriarchal blessing		Confirm patriarchal blessings: Daniel Stevens
Secure holy ministry		"Secure unto you the holy ministry:" Benjamin Winchester*		* not on February 28, 1835 list of those to be called to be seventies.
Blessed (no office)		Blessed, no office mentioned: Hyrum Smith,* Frederick G. Williams,* Almon Babbitt, Levi Gifford, Joseph B. Noble, Lorenzo Booth*


		December 28, 1835 As Apostles (Diary-2, 91 // 1834�1836 history, 165)
		on this day the council of the seventy meet to render an account of their travels and ministry, since they were ordained to that apostleship		.

		December 27, 1836 Three Quorums Meet Weekly (WWJ 1:112�113)
		[Wilford Woodruff:] Met at the house of the Lord at Candle light with the quorum of the Seventies. Their was about one hundred Elders of Israel Preasant of 1, 2, & 3rd Seventy. It is expected the Seventies will meet every tuesday evening through the [113] winter for the Purpose of worshipping God & sanctifying themselves before him.

		April 6, 1837 Presidents Revert to High Priests ¶ Minutes of April 6, 1837
Six of seven presidents of Seventy released (high priests)		In the first place six of the Presidents of the Seventies were to leave the Seventies & take a station in the quorum of the travling high priesthood and six other Presidents chosen in their stead. … all of Councillors first chosen excepting Joseph Young were high priest before the organization of the seventies & they had a right to officiate in the lower offices of the Church & there was some difference in the authority and office of the quorums of high Priesthood & Seventies.
Six new presidents		The six new Presidents Chosen out of the Seventies to take the place of those that were to leave were: John Gould, Josiah Butterfield, Salmon Gee, [blank, James] Foster, John Gaylard.		John Gaylord
Leve Hancock eturns as a president		September 3, 1837 returns as one of the seven presidents of the Seventy (not a high priest).		¶ Minutes of September 3, 1837

		Joseph Young's History
Five presidents dropped (high priests)		Joseph Young's History of the Organization of the Seventies (1878) conflicts with Wilford Woodruff's contemporaneous account quoted above. Young was one of the original seven presidents. He cites a November 1835 meeting where the seventy–high priest issue was raised.		(History of Seventies, 7–8 (1878)
		In February, 1835, the First Quorum of Seventies was organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith … The names of the Presidents were as follows … The council was called together in the month of November, 1835.		Council could be an acronistic term for the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, but likely refers to the quorums of seventy. I have seen no other reference to a seventies meeting in November 1835.
		Six of these were ordained Presidents at the time of the organization of the quorum. Levi W. Hancock being absent, his place was held vacant until his return. …
		After it was assembled he asked the newly-organized quorum if any of their number had been ordained to the High Priest's office, previous to their ordination as Seventies. It was not ascertained how many from the Seventies' quorums had previously been ordained High Priests; five out of the seven Presidents however, acknowledged that they were High Priests before they were ordained Seventies. These were Hazen Aldrich, Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Sherman and Sylvester Smith. Accordingly, the Prophet invited them to take their places in the High Priests' quorum again, which was complied with, thus leaving Joseph Young and Levi W. Hancock in the council. He thought that this was the best way to settle the difficulty and remove all feelings, without deciding the question as to which was the greatest.
		Shortly after this the Prophet met Joseph Young again, and told him six brethren, instead of five, had been chosen to fill the vacancy in the council of the Seventies, at the same time requesting him to see Bro. John Gould, and signify to him the desire of the Prophet to have him placed in the High Priests' Quorum. Bro. Gould complied with the wishes of the Prophet, and he was ordained a High Priest. When Bro. Levi W. Hancock returned, he was ordained a First President of the Seventies, and took the position assigned him in the council in the fall of 1835.

		Twelve Nominate Presidents TS 6, no. 16 (Nov. 1, 1845):1010.
Twelve nominate residents		[Joseph Young, October 6, 1845:] It was by the counsel of the Twelve that he [Roger Orton] was appointed one of the Presidents of the Seventies.		¶ Roger Orton
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