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Elders’ Journal, August 1838

Source Note

Elders’ Journal, , Caldwell Co., MO, Aug. 1838. For more complete suorce information, see the source note for Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.

Historical Introduction

The Elders’ Journal, which published two issues in , Ohio, in 1837 before the church’s was destroyed, was reestablished in , Missouri, in 1838, after JS and most other church leaders migrated from Kirtland to Far West. was the proprietor of the newspaper, and JS was the editor, though the amount and nature of JS’s involvement and editorial oversight is unclear. By May 1838, JS and began working on material for the first Far West issue, dated July 1838. Ultimately, two issues were published in , dated July 1838 and August 1838. The July issue included letters to and from church serving proselytizing missions, as well as articles, minutes of meetings, and other items. The August issue contained similar material, including an editorial by JS and a letter that the commissioned to write to who had not yet gathered to Missouri. The August issue also included an obituary for Ethan Barrows Jr., who died in mid-August 1838, indicating that the issue was published sometime in the second half of the month or later.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Elders’ Journal is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents, such as the Minutes from a 28 June 1838 conference, are annotated elsewhere.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837; Historical Introduction to Elders’ Journal, Nov. 1837; Minutes, 21 Apr. 1838; and Prospectus for Elders’ Journal, 30 Apr. 1838. JS was identified as the editor of the November 1837 issue of the paper even though he was away from Kirtland from 27 September to approximately 10 December. (Editorial, Elders’ Journal, Nov. 1837, 27; Letter to Wilford Woodruff, ca. 18 June 1838; Vilate Murray Kimball, Kirtland, OH, to Heber C. Kimball, Preston, England, 19–29 Jan. 1838, Heber C. Kimball, Collection, CHL.)

    Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.

  2. [2]

    See JS, Journal, 8 May 1838. In May, Sidney Rigdon was assigned to edit the letters that would be included in the Elders’ Journal. (Minute Book 2, 12 May 1838; see also Minute Book 2, 23 June 1838.)

  3. [3]

    See, for example, Questions and Answers, 8 May 1838.

  4. [4]

    The obituary in the Elders’ Journal states that Barrows died on 15 August, but his father’s later autobiography gives the date of 18 August. (Obituary for Ethan Barrows Jr., Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, 64; “The Journal of Ethan Barrows,” Journal of History, Jan. 1922, 46; see also “The Journal of Ethan Barrows,” Journal of History, Oct. 1922, 451–452.)

    Journal of History. Lamoni, IA, 1908–1920; Independence, MO, 1921–1925.

  5. [5]

    See “Editorial Method”.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Elders’ Journal, August 1838 *Elders’ Journal, August 1838 *Elders’ Journal, August 1838 *Elders’ Journal, August 1838 *Elders’ Journal, August 1838
*Elders’ Journal, August 1838
*Minutes, 28 June 1838 Elders’ Journal, August 1838 *Revelation, 26 April 1838 [D&C 115] Journal, March–September 1838 Elders’ Journal, August 1838 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 62

husband at all times, not as a servant, neither as one who fears a tyrant, or a master, but as one, who, in meekness, and the love of God, regards the laws and institutions of Heaven, looks up to her husband for instruction, edification and comfort. “Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”—1st Peter, 3rd 6th.
————
NOTICE.
Agreeable to the proceedings of a general Conference of the authorities of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints, assembled in the city , April 6th 1838, at the first quarterly conference held in this place. It becomes my duty to give some information to the ordained members of this church, with respect to licenses, etc. All licenses whether that of an elder, priest, teacher; or deacon, must be given by the general Recorder, and signed by the first presidency, and general clerk otherwise they will be considered null and void, or without authority.
Certificates, however can be given to those who are ordained, where it is inconvenient to obtain licences at the time, which certificates, when presented to the general recorder, will entitle him to a license. It is also necessary to have all licenses recorded on the general church record. It is further necessary for all persons receiving or taking licenses from any individual in consequence of ill behavior; to send such license to the general recorder, in order to have it erased from the docket, or record. If the licenses of any persons are called for officially; in consequence of their misbehavior, and such persons refuse to give them up, then it is the duty of such Court or officer, authorized to take such license or licenses to give information accordingly, to the general recorder, that his license may be killed, and he published to the world.
It is the duty of the Clerk of each branch of the church, not yet organized into a stake by the first presidency to send a record of the names of said branch. And also the most interesting part of said history such as miracles etc. to the Clerk of the nearest stake, or to such as they may be attached.
It is the duty of the Clerk and recorder of each stake of Zion, to preserve in order the records under his hands, that, he has the names of the individuals belonging to, or with in his jurisdiction in alphabetical order, so that the general recorder can obtain them with ease. They will also please to observe and keep their record with an index or in such order, that the matter wanted, at any time, can be had with as little trouble as possible.— And further that every Clerk and recorder, notice in his record every interesting incident or such as his president, or the presidents of such stake may think proper, so that the same may be noticed in its proper sequence in the general church history, which will undoubtedly be published from time to time, as the Church progresses. Also let them furnish the general Clerk and recorder every quarterly Conference with a transcript of all their records, or else such stake will not be noticed in the general history.
,
General Clerk and Recorder.
————
Editorial Note
The August issue of the Elders’ Journal also included a letter “to the Saints gathering into Zion.” The letter was presumably written in expectation of a large group of arriving from , Ohio, as well as the continued gathering to of newly converted Saints from throughout the and abroad. The letter was written by at the direction of the , for whom Robinson was a scribe.
likely wrote the letter sometime in July or August 1838 at , Missouri, where he and the presidency lived. In the letter, he admonished Latter-day Saints preparing to gather to that, upon arriving, they should give their names to the recorders for the in which they settled. Robinson also assured that, contrary to rumors, food was and would be plentiful. The letter was conveyed to the Latter-day Saints by being published in the Elders’ Journal, which was mailed to Saints throughout the and possibly to Saints in and .
To the Saints gathering into :—
It is of importance that they should return their names to the recorders of the different , in order that their names may be had in the general record.— Many have come and have settled at a distance without returning their names to the recorders of the stakes, in which they have settled. Thus rendering it very difficult for the general church record to be kept.
It is expected that all the saints coming up to this land, or gathering into ; will have their names recorded on the records of the respective stakes, where they may settle.
We further say to the saints gathering, that the rumors which have gone abroad of the scarcity of provisions in this part of the country, is absolutely false—there is a great abundance, and the present appearance for corn, was never surpassed in any part of the .
Therefore you need not fear, but gather yourselves together unto this land, for there is, and will be an abundance.
Done by order of the ,
, Scribe.
————
NOTICE.
Elders , , of , and are requested to come immediately to , to prepare for a great mission.
, August 3rd, 1838.
————
The following lines were written by an Elder of the church of Latter Day Saints, while he was journeying and preaching the gospel in the eastern States, which he sent to his wife, who was then residing in Mo., in the fall of 1835.
Receive these lines, beloved bosom friend,
And let them with your virtuous feelings blend;
Thou wast my partner in our sprightly youth,
And now my partner in the ways of truth.
In sickness thou hast sooth’d this fainting breast,
Like some kind angel hovering o’er the bles’t. [p. 62]
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Source Note

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Page 62

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Elders’ Journal, August 1838
ID #
8534
Total Pages
16
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:215–219
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text

Footnotes

  1. [11]

    In JS’s journal entry for 28 July 1838, George W. Robinson noted that a large group of “Cannadian bretheren” had recently arrived in Missouri. In the entry for 29 July, Robinson wrote that “a large majority of the saints in Kirtland have and are arriving here every day.” In this entry, Robinson also noted that apostles Orson Hyde and Heber C. Kimball had returned from their mission to England with the news that more than one thousand there had joined the church. It was reasonable to assume that at least some would migrate to the United States. (JS, Journal, 28–29 July 1838.)

  2. [12]

    The church’s founding “Articles and Covenants” included directions for reporting membership “so that there can be kept a regular list of all the names of the members of the whole church in a book.” A “general” record book used in Far West began with such a list of members. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:81–82]; “Names of the Members of the Church in Missouri,” 2–14.)

    The Scriptory Book of Joseph Smith, 1838. CHL. MS 8955.

  3. [13]

    The April 1838 revelation designating Far West a holy city of Zion also directed “that other places should be appointed for stakes in the regions round about as they shall be manifested unto my Servant Joseph from time to time.”a After surveying and directing settlement in Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri, JS organized a stake there in June.b JS similarly directed settlement in De Witt, Missouri, suggesting that he intended to organize a stake there as well.c

    (aRevelation, 26 Apr. 1838 [D&C 115:18]. bMinutes, 28 June 1838. cSee Letter from David Thomas, 31 Mar. 1838; Letter to Stephen Post, 17 Sept. 1838; Rockwood, Journal, 14 Oct. 1838; and Perkins, “Prelude to Expulsion,” 261–280.)

    Rockwood, Albert Perry. Journal Entries, Oct. 1838–Jan. 1839. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2606.

    Perkins, Keith W. “De Witt—Prelude to Expulsion.” In Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: Missouri, edited by Arnold K. Garr and Clark V. Johnson, 261–280. Provo, UT: Department of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University, 1994.

  4. [14]

    The previous issue of the Elders’ Journal included an editorial written in May that reported extensive cultivation generally and stated, “Hundreds of acres of corn have been planted already, in our immediate neighborhood; and hundreds of acres more are now being planted.” The editorial claimed that “no part of the world can produce a superior to Caldwell County.” On 24 July 1838, Bishop Edward Partridge in Missouri wrote to Bishop Newel K. Whitney in Ohio that whereas the wheat crop had been average, “the corn looks uncommonly prosperous.” (Editorial, Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 33–34; Edward Partridge, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 24 July 1838, in Reynolds Cahoon, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 23 July 1838, CHL; see also Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 39.)

    Cahoon, Reynolds, and Edward Partridge. Letter, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland Mills, OH, 23 and 24 July 1838. CHL.

    Swartzell, William. Mormonism Exposed, Being a Journal of a Residence in Missouri from the 28th of May to the 20th of August, 1838, Together with an Appendix, Containing the Revelation concerning the Golden Bible, with Numerous Extracts from the ‘Book of Covenants,’ &c., &c. Pekin, OH: By the author, 1840.

  5. [15]

    See Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:22].

  6. [16]

    In the July issue of the Elders’ Journal, an editorial written in May likewise anticipated an “abundant harvest.” On 24 July 1838, Bishop Edward Partridge wrote a letter to Bishop Newel K. Whitney in Ohio, noting there was “no danger of the saints starving.” However, there was significant scarcity in Adam-ondi-Ahman in July 1838. William Swartzell wrote that there was “complaining among the poor for food and water.” (Editorial, Elders’ Journal, July 1838, 34; Edward Partridge, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 24 July 1838, in Reynolds Cahoon, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland, OH, 23 July 1838, CHL; Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, 18–19.)

    Cahoon, Reynolds, and Edward Partridge. Letter, Far West, MO, to Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland Mills, OH, 23 and 24 July 1838. CHL.

    Swartzell, William. Mormonism Exposed, Being a Journal of a Residence in Missouri from the 28th of May to the 20th of August, 1838, Together with an Appendix, Containing the Revelation concerning the Golden Bible, with Numerous Extracts from the ‘Book of Covenants,’ &c., &c. Pekin, OH: By the author, 1840.

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