Mormon History, Jun 21, 1842 (Tuesday)

-- Jun 21, 1842 (Tuesday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Temple Stand, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 125)
A large meeting was again assembled & addressed by President Smith concerning emigration agriculturall & Manufacturing persuits & was followed by the Twelve & others. (1)

-- Jun 23, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith wrote a letter to Jennetta Richards, wife of Willard Richards. (2)

-- Jun 24, 1842
Wilford Woodruff records: "I called upon Mr. A. Crane M.D., professor of Phrenology, who accompanied me to my house and examined my head and the heads of my family and gave us a chart of each head." (3)

-- Jun 25, 1842
Joseph Smith writes: "Sat for a drawing of my profile to be placed on a lithograph of the map of the city of Nauvoo." What he understood would be a lithograph turns out two years later to be a zinc engraving measuring 27 inches by 22 inches. (3)

-- Jun 26, 1842
Sunday prayer circle and council meeting by Joseph Smith in his old home with Hyrum Smith, George Miller, Newel K. Whitney, William Marks, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards (BLL, MHBY). Sunday soon became the regular meeting day of the Anointed Quorum when circumstances allowed. (4)

-- Jun 27, 1842
"the council assembledin the evening" at Smith's old home, but this was not the Anointed Quorum, because this meeting induded unendowed men Edward Hunter, Edwin D. Woolley, (Charles or James) Ivins, and Robert Pierce, none of whom entered the 1842-45 Anointed Quorum (BLL, HC, NKW). [EHAT, 52, makes the unlikely suggestion that merely because these unendowed men of no ecclesiastical status were already using the room, a scheduled meeting of the Anointed Quorum adjourned without holding its prayer circle. Smith was not that deferential. (4)

-- After Jun 28, 1842
Stephen Markhow attempts to destroy Nancy Rigdon's character; several respond with affidavits confirming Nancy's good character. 7-Jul Joseph Smith sends Orson Pratt on mission. (5)

-- Before Jun 28, 1842
Joseph Smith offers John Bennett $500 to help get Nancy Rigdon; Bennett refuses [per George W. Robinson]. (5)

-- Jun 28, 1842
[Anointed Quorum] "the adjourned council of Sunday evening met at the upper Room at Josephs [old home] & were agreed that a reinforcement go immediately to the pine country..." (BLL). (4)


Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45
5 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, Jun 11, 1842

-- Jun 11, 1842
Joseph Smith publishes the "Mormon Creed" in THE WASP: "Mormon Creed -- To mind their own business and let everyone else DO LIKEWISE." (1)

-- Jun 14, 1842
Brigham Young, aged 41, marries Lucy Ann Decker (1822-1890) (aged 20); abandoned by non-Mormon husband William Seeley (not divorced); 7 children (2)

[Polygamy] Brigham Young polygamous marriage to Lucy Ann Decker (3)

[Polygamy] Smith performs secret plural mariage for Brigham Young. The first fully-dated plural marriage performed by Smith occurs for Young and Lucy Decker Seeley. PLACE: Nauvoo, IL (4)

-- Jun 17, 1842
[Anointed Quorum] Apostle Heber C. Kimball, a Freemason since 1823, wrote Apostle Parley P. Pratt that "we have received some pressious things through the Prophet on the preasthood that would caus your Soul to rejoice [--] I cannot give them to you on paper fore they are not to be ritten...thare is a similarity of preast Hood in masonary. Br Joseph ses masonry was taken from preasthood but has become degenerated" (HCK-L). (5)

Heber C. Kimball writes to Parley P. Pratt: "We have organized a Lodge here of Masons since we obtained a Charter. That was in Mar. Since that thare was near two hundred been made masons. Br. Joseph and Sidny [Ridgon] was the first that was Received into the Lodg. All of the twelve apostles have become members Except Orson Pratt. He hangs back. He will wake up soon, thare is a similarity of preas Hood [priesthood] in Masonry. Bro. Joseph Ses Masonry was taken from preasthood but has become degenerated. But menny things are perfect." (1)

-- 18Jun42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] John C. Bennett Exposed - Rich Must Contribute or be Cursed
Twelve to Take Charge of Settlement (6)

-- Jun 18, 1842
Joseph Smith denounces John C. Bennett publicly for the first time. He calls the citizens to a special public meeting, and "spoke his mind in great plainness concerning the iniquity, hypocrisy, wickedness and corruption of General John Cook Bennett." (1)

-- Jun 18, 1842 (Saturday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Near Temple, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 124-25)
The Citizens of Nauvoo Both Male & female assembled near the Temple for a general meeting many thousands were assembled Joseph the seer arose & spoke upon several subjects Among other subjects he spoke his mind in great plainness concerning the iniquity & wickedness of Gen John Cook Bennett, & exposed him before the public He also prophesied in the Name of the Lord concerning the merchants in the City that if they with the rich did not open their hearts & contribute to the poor that they would be Cursed by the hand of God & be Cut off from the land of the living, The main part of the day was taken up upon the business of the agricultural & manufacturing society, if we have a charter granted us by the Legislator of the State for that purpose & the time has come for us to make use of that Charter, it is divided into stock of $50 dollars each share, any person owning one share become a member of the society a stock-holder, each share is entitled to one vote this is established
with a
view of helping the poor arrangements were entered into to commence operations immediately
Also Joseph commanded the Twelve to organize the Church more according to the Law of God that is to require of those that come in to be settled according to their Council & also to appoint a committee to wait upon all who arive & make them welcome & council them what to do B Young, H.C. Kimball G A. Smith & Hyrum Smith was the committee appointed to wait upon emigrants & settle them. (7)


Footnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Wikipedia, List of Brigham Young's Wives, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brigham_Young%27s_wives
3 - Smith, George D (Spring 1994), "Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy, 1841-46: A Preliminary Demographic Report", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 27
4 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
5 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45
6 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
7 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, Jun 9, 1842

-- Jun 9, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith attended the Relief Society meeting and taught about avoiding strife and building unity. (1)

-- Jun 9, 1842 (Thursday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes (Words of Joseph Smith, 122-24)
Prest. Smith opened the meeting by pray'r and proceeded to address the congregation on the design of the Institutionâ€"said it is no matter how fast the Society increases if all are virtuousâ€"that we must be as particular with regard to the character of members as when the Society first startedâ€"that sometimes persons wished to put themselves into a Society of this kind, when they do not intend to pursue the ways of purity and righteousness, as if the society could be a shelter to them in their iniquity.
Prest. S. said that henceforth no person shall be admitted but by presenting regular petitions signed by two or three members in good standing in the Societyâ€"Who ever comes in must be of good report.
Said he was going to preach mercy Supposing that Jesus Christ and angels should object to us on frivolous things, what would become of us? We must be merciful and overlook small things.
Respecting the reception of Sis. Overton, Prest. Smith [said] it grieves me that there is no fuller fellowshipâ€"if one member suffer all feel it by union of feeling we obtain pow'r with God. Christ said he came to call sinners to repentance and save them. Christ was condemn'd by the righteous Jews because he took sinners into his societyâ€"He took them upon the principle that they repented of their sins. It is the object of this Society to reform persons, not to take those that are corrupt, but if they repent we are bound to take them and by kindness sanctify and cleanse from all unrighteousness, by our influence in watching over them. Nothing will have such influence over people, as the fear of being disfellowshipp'd by so goodly Society as this. Then take Sis. O. as Jesus received sinners into his bosom.
Sis. O. In the name of the Lord I now make you free, and from this hour any thing should be found against you
Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand and watch over them with tenderness. When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what pow'r it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind.
It is one evidence that men are unacquainted with the principle of godliness, to behold the contraction of feeling and lack of charity. The pow'r and glory of godliness is spread out on a broad principle to throw out the mantle of charity. God does not look on sin with allowance, but when men have sin'd there must be allowance made for them.
All the religious world is boasting of its righteousnessâ€"it is the doctrine of the devil to retard the human mind and retard our progress by filling us with self righteousnessâ€"The nearer we get to our heavenly Father the more are we disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our back. I am going to talk to all this Societyâ€"if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.
Prest. S. then referr'd them to the conduct of the Savior when he was taken and crucified &C.
He then made a promise in the name of the Lord saying, that soul that has righteousness enough to ask God in the secret place for life every day of their lives shall live till three score years and tenâ€"We must walk uprightly all day longâ€"How glorious are the principles of righteousness! We are full of selfishnessâ€"the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, while we are feeding on the faults of othersâ€"We can only live by worshipping our Godâ€"all must do it for themselvesâ€"none can do it for another. How mild the Savior dealt with Peter saying "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" at another time he said to him "lovest thou me?" "Feed my sheep"â€"If the sisters love the Lord let them feed the sheep and not destroy them. How oft have wise men & women sought to dictate Br. Joseph by saying "O if I were Br. Joseph I would do this and that" but if they were in Br. Joseph's shoes, they would find that men could not be compell'd into the kingdom of God,
but must be dealt
with in long suff'ring and at the last we shall save them. The way to keep all the saints together and keep the work rolling is to wait with all longsuff'ring till God shall bring such character to justice. There should be no license for sin, but mercy should go hand in hand with reproof.
Sisters of the Society, shall there be strife among you? I will not have itâ€"You must repent and get the love of God. Away with self-righteousness. the best measure or principle to bring the poor to repentance is to administer to their wantsâ€"the Society is not only to relieve the poor but to save souls.
Prest. S. then said that he would give a lot of land to the Society by deeding it to the Treasurer, that the Society may build houses for the poor. He also said he would give a house frame not finishedâ€"said that Br. Cahoon will move it on to the aforesaid lot, and the Society could pay him by giving Orders on the storeâ€"that it was a good plan to set those to work who are owing widows and thus make an offset. &C. &C (2)


Footnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
2 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 1842

-- During May 1842
Jr Smith, Joseph: Began administering temple endowment May 1842. (1)

Jr Smith, Joseph: Elected mayor of City of Nauvoo May 1842. (1)

[Polygamy] to 27 Jun 1844 Marriage - Joseph to Elizabeth Davis, age 50, already married. SOURCE: Bennett, History of the Saints, 256, "Mrs. D*****"; Sarah Pratt, in Wyl, 54; Jackson, A Narrative, 14, links Elizabeth with Patty Sessions as a Mother in Israel who helped arrange polygamous marriages for Joseph. Patty Sessions was certainly married to Joseph. Emily Partridge, Autobiography, 4, LDS archives, shows Elizabeth relaying a marriage proposal to Emily, which confirms Jackson. Joseph often relied on previously married wives to educate and recruit new plural wives. A Nauvoo temple proxy marriage to Joseph is good supporting evidence, Sealing and Adoption Book A, 505; cf. p. 385: "Elizabeth Davis Smith." (2)

-- Jun 1, 1842
Ezra Taft Benson: Left Nauvoo 1 June 1842. (1)

-- Jun 1, 1842 (Wednesday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Manuscript History of the Church (Words of Joseph Smith, 122)
I attended a political meeting in the Grove, for the nomination of County officers, for the County at large, in which I concurred, with the exception of the Candidate for the Sheriffalty and spoke in favor of the proceedings. (3)

-- Jun 4, 1842
Dr. John C. Bennett expelled from Masons. (4)

-- 5Jun42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Ezekiel 32, 33 - Curse (5)

-- Jun 5, 1842
Joseph Smith's "thus saith the Lord" revelation on repentance is given to a Nauvoo congregation. The text is available but has not been officially acknowledged. (6)

-- Jun 5, 1842 (Sunday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location:
Source: The Wasp (11 June 1842) (Words of Joseph Smith, 122)
The Prophet, Joseph Smith, delivered a powerful discourse, last Sabbath, to an attentive audience of about 8000, in this city. The subject matter was drawn from the 32nd and 33rd chapters of Ezekiel, wherein it was shown the Old Pharaoh was comforted, and greatly rejoiced, that he was honored as a kind of King Devil over those uncircumcised nations, that go down to hell for rejecting the word of the Lord, withstanding his mighty miracles, and fighting the saints:â€"The whole exhibited as a pattern to this generation, and the nations now rolling in splendor over the globe, if they do not repent, that they shall go down to the pit also, and be rejoiced over, and ruled over by Old Pharaoh, King Devil of mobocrats, miracle rejecters, saint killers, hypocritical priests, and all other fit subject to fester in their own infamy.â€"Spring water tastes best right from the fountain. (3)


Footnotes:
1 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
2 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
3 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
4 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
5 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
6 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47"


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 27, 1842

-- May 27, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith stayed at home and took medicine for a bilious attack. (1)

-- May 28, 1842
[Joseph Smith] An anonymous contributor to The Wasp, a pro-Mormon newspaper in Nauvoo, writes that, "Boggs is undoubtedly killed according to report; but who did the noble deed remains to be found out." (2)

-- May 29, 1842
[Polygamy] Three women testify that Smith taught "spiritual wifery". Three women testify that Assistant President John C. Bennett and Apostle William Smith taught them that Smith approved of "spiritual wifery" wherein several men have sexual relations with the same woman. The women testifying were Margaret and Matilda Nyman and Catherine Fuller Warren. The report of the Nymans was later printed in the 29 May 1844 Nauvoo Neighbor. The sisters said that Elder Chauncy Higbee had advised them that Smith approved of "spiritual wifery" but gave instructions to keep the matter a secret because "there was no sin when there is no accuser." Catherine Fuller Warren in her 20 May 1842 testimony responded to charges of "unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with John C. Bennett and others" by admitting to having intercourse not only with him but with Chauncy Higbee and the prophet's younger brother, Apostle William Smith. Speaking in her defense, however, she insisted that the men had "taught t
he doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the Church also taught and practised it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right." PLACE: Nauvoo, IL SOURCE: Minutes of The High Council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24 May 1842, Nauvoo Neighbor 29 May 1844 edition (3)

-- During 1842. May
(Orson Pratt) : Pratt did not join the other apostles in withdrawing "the hand of fellowship" from John C. Bennett. (4)

(Sidney Rigdon) October: Ordained a "Prophet and a Seer and Revelator, and to be equal with him [Joseph Smith] in holding the Keys and authority of this kingdom."
1842. May: Lasting difficulties were created between Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon when Rigdon's daughter Nancy, her brother John, and her brother-in-law George W. Robinson testified that the Prophet had proposed "spiritual marriage" to her. Joseph publicly denied the accusations. (4)

-- During May 1842
John C Bennett: Demoted to brigadier-general in Nauvoo Legion May 1842, court-martialed 30 June (5)


Footnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
2 - Wikipedia, Joseph Smith Chronology, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.
3 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
4 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons
5 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 25, 1842

-- May 25, 1842
Chauncey L. Higby cut off form Church for licentious conduct toward females. (1)

John C. Bennett's fellowship with the Church is withdrawn. (1)

John Cook Bennett: Excommunicated 25 May 1842 for adultery and teaching that illicit intercourse was condoned by Church leaders. While in Nauvoo wrote articles defending Church under pen name of Joab. (2)

[Polygamy] John Bennett disfellow-shipped
John Bennett was disfellowshipped. He then publishes the first expose of polygamy. On 18 June 1842, he is excommunicated. (3)

-- May 25, 1842 - 4 February 1843
[1st Presidency Changes] Joseph Smith, Jr. Hyrum Smith (Assistant President) Sidney Rigdon (never ordained an apostle) William Law (never ordained an apostle) John Smith (never ordained an apostle, Assistant Counselor) John C. Bennett (never ordained an apostle) disfellowshipped (4)

-- 26May42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] In Time of Ezekiel - Man had to Deliver Own Soul
People Must not Base Testimony on Prophet
Avoid Being Overzealous - Gossip
Hold Influence in World - Put Down Evil by Example and Good Will (5)

-- May 26, 1842
John C Bennett: Joseph Smith Jr. prevented Nauvoo Lodge from expelling John C Bennett 26 May 1842 (6)

-- May 26, 1842 (Thursday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Upper Room, Red Brick Store, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes (Words of Joseph Smith, 120-21)
Prest. Smith rose; read the 14th Chap. of Ezekielâ€"Said the Lord had declared by the prophet that the people should each one stand for himself and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish Churchâ€"that righteous persons could only deliver their own soulsâ€"applied it to the present state of the church of Latter Day Saintsâ€"Said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fallâ€"that they were depending on the prophet hence were darkened in their minds from neglect of themselvesâ€"envious toward the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.
There is another error which opens a door for the adversary to enter. As females possess refined feelings and sensitiveness; they are also subject to an over much zeal which must ever prove dangerous, and cause them to be rigid in a religious capacityâ€"Should be arm'd with mercy notwithstanding the iniquity among us. Said he had been instrumental in bringing it to lightâ€"melancholy and awful that so many are under the condemnation of the devil & going to perdition With deep feeling said that they are our fellowsâ€"we lov'd them once. Shall we not encourage them to reformation?
We have not forgiven them seventy timesâ€"perhaps we have not forgiven them once. There is nowâ€"a day of salvation to such as repent and reformâ€"they should be cast out from this Society yet we should woo them to return to God lest they escape not the damnation of hell!
When there is a mountain top there is also a valleyâ€"we should act in all things as a proper medium to every immortal spirit. Notwithstanding the unworthy are among us, the virtuous should not from self importance grieve and oppress needlessly those unfortunate ones, even these should be encourag'd to hereafter live to be honored by this Society who are the best portions of community. Said he had two things to recommend to the Society, to put a double watch over the tongue. No organiz'd body can exist without this at all. All organiz'd bodies have their peculiar evils, weaknesses and difficultiesâ€"the object is to make those not so good, equal with the good and ever hold the keys of power which will influence to virtue and goodness. Should chasten and reprove and keep it all in silence, not even mention them again, then you will be established in power, virtue and holiness and the wrath of God will be turn'd away. One request to the Prest. and Society that you search yours
elvesâ€"the
tongue is an unruly memberâ€"hold your tongues about things of no moment, a little tale will set the world on fire. At this time the truth on the guilty should not be told openlyâ€"Strange as this may seem yet this is policy. We must use precaution in bringing sinners to justice lest in exposing their heinous sins, we draw the indignation of a gentile world upon us (and to their imagination justly too)
It is necessary we hold an influence in the world and thus spare ourselves an extermination; and also accomplish our end in spreading the gospel in holiness in the earth.
If we were brought to desolation, the disobedient would find no help. There are some who are obedient yet man cannot steady the arkâ€"my arm cannot do itâ€"God must steady it. To the iniquitous show yourselves merciful. I am advis'd by some of the heads of the church to tell the Relief Society to be virtuousâ€"but to save the Church from desolation and the sword beware, be still, be prudent, Repent, reform but do it in a way to not destroy all around you. I do not want to cloak iniquityâ€"All things contrary to the will of God, should be cast from us, but don't do more hurt than good with your tonguesâ€"be pure in heartâ€"Said Jesus ye shall do the work which ye see me doâ€"Jesus designs to save the people out of their sins. These are the grand key words for the Society to act upon.
If I were not in your midst to aid and council you, the devil would overcome you. I want the innocent to go freeâ€"rather spare ten iniquitous among you than condemn one innocent one. "Fret not thyself because of evil doers," God will see to it. (7)


Footnotes:
1 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
2 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
3 - Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm
4 - Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency
5 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
6 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
7 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 19, 1842

-- May 19, 1842
The citizens of Nauvoo elect Joseph Smith as the city's second mayor, replacing John C. Bennett, who had been excommunicated. (1)

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith was elected by the Nauvoo City Council to replace the discredited John C. Bennett as mayor. (2)

[Joseph Smith] Joseph is elected mayor of Nauvoo. (3)

[Joseph Smith] Elected mayor of Nauvoo. (4)

-- May 20, 1842
Catherine Fuller Warren, responds to charges by the Nauvoo High Council of "unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with [Assistant President] John C. Bennett." She admits to them and also confesses to intercourse with others, including Joseph Smith's younger brother, Apostle William Smith. She explains that the men had "taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the church also taught and practiced it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right." Bennett is excommunicated but charges against William Smith are withdrawn by Brigham Young after Joseph Smith complains, "I will not listen to this abuse of my family a minute longer. I will wade in blood up to my knees before I will do it." (5)

-- May 24-25, 1842
Three women testify that two apostles have taught them that Joseph Smith approved of "spiritual wifery" wherein several men can have sexual relations with one woman. One of those is John C. Bennett. Bennett is excommunicated, and immediately publishes the first exposé of Mormon polygamy. The other apostle was Joseph Smith's brother William. Joseph Smith prevents Brigham Young (the president of the Quorum of the Twelve) from disciplining William for adultery. Apostle George A. Smith records that "Wm. Smith committing iniquity & we have to sustain him against our feelings". (6)

-- May 25, 1842
John C Bennett: Disfellowshipped 25 May 1842 (7)

Joseph Smith disfellowships John C. Bennett who quickly publishes the first exposé of Mormon polygamy. It is not clear whether Bennett is disfellowsipped for sexual misconduct or for using Smith's name in justifying seduction. Bennet's excommunication on Jun 18 would be for his intention to publish against Joseph Smith who prevents Brigham Young from disciplining his brother William for adultery. George A. Smith later referred to "Wm Smith committing iniquity & we have to sustain him against our feelings" as an apostle. Joseph addresses the Nauvoo Relief Society, directing his comments to Emma: "One request to the Pres[iden]t and Society, hold your tongues about things of no moment-a little tale will set the world on fire. At this time the truth on the guilty should not be told openly-we must use precaution in bringing sinners to justice but in exposing their heinous sins, we draw the indignation of a gentile world upon us." Later that evening after listening to John C. Benn
ett's confession of wrongdoing before 100 of his fellow Freemasons, Joseph requests mercy for his friend and former counselor. (5)


Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
3 - More Good Foundation, Timeline, http://www.prophetjosephsmith.org/joseph_smith_timeline
4 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah
5 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
6 - McQue, Bob; Religious Faith: Enlightening or Blinding?: Timeline of Key Events in Mormon History
7 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 17, 1842

-- May 17, 1842
Bennett, John Cook: Resigned office of mayor of Nauvoo 17 May 1842. (1)

John C Bennett: Resigned from LDS church 17 May 1842 (2)

John C. Bennett resigns as Mayor of Nauvoo. Joseph Smith writes to Church Recorder James Sloan, "You will be so good as to permit Bennett to withdraw his name from the Church record, if he desires to do so, and this with the best of feelings towards you and General Bennett" Two days later Joseph Smith is elected Mayor by the Nauvoo City Council. His first official act is to ask for the establishment of a "night watch etc." for "counteracting the designs of our enemies, . . . whereupon the council resolved that the mayor be authorized to establish a night watch, and control the same." At that time Joseph asks Bennett if he had anything against him. Bennett responds: "I know what I am about, and the heads of the Church know what they are about, I expect. I have no difficulty with the heads of the Church. I publicly avow that any one who has said that I have stated that General Smith has given me authority to hold illicit intercourse with women is a liar in the face of God" (3)

[Lucy Mack Smith] Joseph Smith replaces Bennett as mayor. He has been acting mayor since February. Hyrum Smith is elected vice-mayor. (4)

-- May 19, 1842
Joseph Smith becomes Nauvoo's mayor. His Nauvoo "Lifeguards" are headed by former Danite Albert P. Rockwood and include Danites Hosea Stout and Orrin Porter Rockwell. At the City Council meeting during the balloting for Mayor, Joseph Smith jots down and then "threw across the room" a revelation to Hiram Kimball which declares that "Verily thus saith the Lord-Hiram Kimball has been insinuating evil, and forming evil opinions against you, with others; and if he continue in them, he and they will be accursed, for I am the Lord thy God, and will stand by thee and bless thee. Amen." Joseph had recently proposed plural marriage to Hiram Kimball's wife Sarah M. Kimball and had been rebuffed by her. (3)

John C. Bennett resigns as mayor of Nauvoo; Joseph Smith elected as mayor by City Council. Bennett reportedly competed with Joseph Smith for wives, taking those that Smith was planning on. (5)


Footnotes:
1 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
2 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
5 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 6, 1842

-- May 6, 1842
[Lucy Mack Smith] Lilburn Boggs is shot in the head but recovers; he suspects Joseph of having ordered Orrin Porter Rockwell to perform the assassination. Rockwell is arrested. (1)

-- May 7, 1842
As part of a parade before such dignitaries as Stephen A. Douglas, Joseph Smith and John C. Bennett perform a "mock battle" with each man leading troops of the Nauvoo Legion. Joseph refuses to follow Bennett's staging instructions as he fears Bennett will use the opportunity to kill him and call it an accident. (2)

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith commanded drills for the Nauvoo Legion throughout the day. (3)

-- May 11, 1842
Church leaders announce that John C. Bennett will be disfellowshipped. Orson Pratt refuses to sign the announcement. Pratt's wife Sarah had accused Joseph Smith of trying to seduce her. Joseph had accused John C. Bennett of being the one involved with Sarah Pratt. (2)

-- May 12, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith attended an overflowing meeting of the Relief Society. (3)

-- May 13, 1842
Joseph Smith writes to a creditor: "you will probably be apprised of the failure of myself and brethren to execute our designs in paying off our contracts, or in other words, that we have been compelled to pay our debts by the most popular method; that is by petitioning for the privilege of general bankruptcy, a principle so popular at the present-throughout the United States." (2)

-- May 14, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith received word that Lilburn W. Boggs, former Missouri governor, had been shot at Independence. (3)

-- May 15, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith published facsimile 2 and the remaining verses from the book of Abraham in the Church newspaper Times and Seasons. (3)

-- May 16, 1842
The Prophet Joseph Smith publishes Facsimile 2 and portions of the Book of Abraham in Times and Seasons, a Nauvoo publication. (4)

[Lucy Mack Smith] John C. Bennett resigns as mayor, is disfellowshipped on 25 May, and expelled as a Mason by 16 June. An order of excommunication is drawn up on 11 May but not published until 23 June. (1)


Footnotes:
1 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
4 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 4-5, 1842

-- May 4-5, 1842
Joseph Smith organizes the Anointed Quorum or Holy Order of the Priesthood and initiates nine men into it by use of what would later be called the temple endowment. Women do not participate until September 28, 1843. Emma Smith administers the "anointing" to women who become part of the quorum. (1)

-- May 5, 1842
[Anointed Quorum] "I attended Council as yesterday, and we administered to brother Joseph the same ordinances" (MHBY). Vinson Knight was anointed and endowed between 5 May 1842 and his death on 31 July 1842 (GWR). (2)

Thursday, after James Adams left the city, first Joseph and then Hyrum Smith received their anointing and endowment in the upper room of his store from the other men who were anointed and endowed yesterday (BLL, HC). In 1843 Thursday became one of the regular meeting days of the Anointed Quorum, just as it had been the day for the Kirtland temple's prayer meetings (HC). (2)

At a British Mission conference in Manchester, Lorenzo Snow sings a hymn "beautifully in tongues." In Nauvoo Joseph and then Hyrum Smith receive their anointing and endowment in the upper room of his store from the men who were anointed and endowed the day before. (3)

-- May 6, 1842
Orin Porter Rockwell attempts the assassination of Lilburn Boggs, Governor of Missouri. (1)

An assassination attempt is made on Missouri's ex-governor Liburn W. Boggs, allegedly by former Danite and later member of the Council of Fifty Orrin Porter Rockwell. The last entry into the Founding Minutes of the Nauvoo [Masonic] Lodge indicate there were 105 members, of whom 73 had joined for the first time at Nauvoo. In addition there were quite a number who had been passed but not yet given the first degree, and 52 additional candidates who had applied and had been accepted for membership in the lodge, pending initiation. (3)

Orrin Porter Rockwell (Joseph Smith's body guard) reportedly shoots and wounds former Missouri Governor Lilburn W. Boggs at his house, through the window. John Whitmer says it was well known that Joseph Smith hired Rockwell to kill Boggs and that Rockwell was a member of the Gadianton band. (4)

A gunman shoots Governor Boggs in his home, hitting him four times. The gunman is not found, but his revolver was left at the scene. Rumor and speculation points to Porter Rockwell, Joseph Smith's personal bodyguard, as the would-be assassin. Rockwell denies this, remarking that if it was him, Boggs would not have recovered. (5)


Footnotes:
1 - McQue, Bob; Religious Faith: Enlightening or Blinding?: Timeline of Key Events in Mormon History
2 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
5 - Wikipedia, Joseph Smith Chronology, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 4, 1842

-- May 4, 1842
Kimball, Heber Chase: Received endowment 4 May 1842. (1)

Law, William: Received endowment 4 May 1842. (1)

[Lucy Mack Smith] Temple endowment is introduced in this dispensation. (2)

Marks, William: Received endowment 4 May 1842. (1)

Miller, George: Received endowment 4 May 1842. Sent to Quincy, Illinois, and Jefferson City, Missouri, with Erastus H. Derby to confer with Governor Thomas Reynolds concerning a requisition on the Prophet for being an accessory to attempted murder before the fact. (1)

Richards, Willard: Received endowment 4 May 1842. (1)

Whitney, Newel Kimball: Received endowment 4 May 1842. (1)

Young, Brigham: Received endowment 4 May 1842. Seven children: Brigham H. Fanny Caroline, Ernest Irving, Shemira, Arta De Christa, Feramorz Little, and Clarissa Hamilton. (1)

-- May 4-5, 1842
- On May 4 Joseph Smith, after two days of preparation in the upper story of his store in Nauvoo, organizes the Quorum of Anointed or Holy Order of the Priesthood and, with Hyrum Smith's help, initiates eight men (James Adams, Heber C. Kimball, William Law, William Marks, George Miller, Willard Richards, Newel K. Whitney, and Brigham Young.) into what would later be called the "temple endowment." According to Joseph's diary he administered "washings, anointings, endowments and the communications of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fulness of those blessings which have been prepared for the Church of the First Born, and come up and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of things for the first time in th
ese last days." He excludes first counselor Sidney Rigdon and assistant counselor John C. Bennett. On May 5 Joseph and Hyrum are given their endowments by some of the men endowed the day before. Of this Heber C. Kimball (who had been a Mason since 1825) writes to Parley P. Pratt, "We have received some pressious things through the Prophet on the presthood that would cause your Soul to rejoice .... Bro. Joseph Ses Masonry was taken from presthood but has become degenerated. But menny things are perfect." In 1858 Kimball declares: "We have the true Masonry. The Masonry of today is received from the apostasy which took place in the days of Solomon and David. They have now and then a thing that is correct, but we have the real thing." Later the official history of the church omits the names of apostates William Law and William Marks as having been in the original group. Woman do not participate until Sep 28, 1843. (3)


Footnotes:
1 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
2 - Proctor, Scott and Maurine Jensen, editors, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother: Revised and Enhanced
3 - This Day in Mormon History, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, May 04, 1842

-- May 04, 1842
Joseph Smith administers the endowment for the first time in this dispensation in the upstairs room of the Red Brick Store on Water Street in Nauvoo. (1)

[Polygamy] Endowment Introduced. Joseph Smith introduced the temple endowment to seven men at a meeting in the room over his store in Nauvoo. A few others received endowments before completion of the temple. PLACE: Nauvoo, IL SOURCE: page 343, Deseret News Church Almanac 1993-1994 ed. [Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News 1992] (2)

-- May 4, 1842
First full endowments given on second floor of the Prophet's Red Brick Store, in Nauvoo. (3)

Vinson Knight: Anointed Quorum between 4 May 1842 and his death (4)

William Law: Anointed Quorum 4 May 1842 but never received second anointing (4)

Joseph Smith introduces Temple Ceremonies (similar to Masonic ceremonies). (5)

Joseph Smith takes name of "Enoch" at temple endowment. (5)

[Joseph SMith] Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith met with Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Judge James Adams, Bishops Newel K. Whitney, George Miller, and William Law in the upper room of the Red Brick Store, where he gave them instructions on the priesthood and celestial marriage. (6)

[Joseph Smith] (7)

[Joseph Smith] In an upper room of the Red Brick Store at Nauvoo, the Prophet administers the first extended endowment ordinances; nine men receive them, including Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards. (8)

[Joseph Smith] Joseph receives his full endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. (9)

[Joseph Smith] Administers the first endowment ordinances in an upper room of his Red Brick Store. (10)


Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
3 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
5 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
6 - Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0
7 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
8 - Highlights in the Prophet's Life, Ensign, June 1994
9 - More Good Foundation, Timeline, http://www.prophetjosephsmith.org/joseph_smith_timeline
10 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, Apr 28, 1842

-- Apr 28, 1842
Orson Hyde: Joseph Smith Jr. publicly rebuked him 28 Apr. 1842 for "aspiring," and said Orson Hyde would "not be exalted" (1)

Parley P Pratt: Criticized by Joseph Smith Jr. 28 Apr. 1842 for ambition (1)

-- Apr 28, 1842 (Thursday Afternoon)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Upper Room, Red Brick Store, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes (Words of Joseph Smith, 114-19)
President Smith arose and said that the purport of his being present on the occasion was, to make observations respecting the priesthood, and give instructions for the benefit of the Society that as his instructions were intended only for the Society; he requested that a vote should be taken on those present who were not members, to ascertain whether they should be admittedâ€"He exhorted the meeting to act honestly and uprightly in all their proceedings inasmuch as they would be call'd to give an account to Jehovah. All hearts must repentâ€"be pure and God will regard them and bless them in a manner that could not be bless'd in any other wayâ€"
. . . Committee retired and Prest. J. Smith arose and call'd the attention of the meeting to the 12th chap of 1st Co. "Now concerning spiritual gifts" &C.â€"said that the passage which reads "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy ghost," should be translated, No man can know &C
He continued to read the Chap and give instructions respecting the different offices, and the necessity of every individual acting in the sphere allotted him or her; and filling the several offices to which they were appointedâ€"Spoke of the disposition of man, to consider the lower offices in the church dishonorable and to look with jealous eyes upon the standing of othersâ€"that it was the nonsense of the human heart, for a person to be aspiring to other stations than appointed of Godâ€"that it was better for individuals to magnify their respective callings, and wait patiently till God shall say to them come up higher.
He said the reason of these remarks being made was, that some little things was circulating in the Society, that some persons were not going right in laying hands on the sick, &C. Said if he had common sympathies, would rejoice that the sick could be heal'd, that the time had not been before, that these things could be in their proper orderâ€"that the Church is not now organiz'd in its proper order, and cannot be until the Temple is completed. Prest. Smith continued the subject by adverting to the commission given to the ancient apostles "Go ye into all the world" &C. No matter who believeth; these signs such as healing the sick, casting out devils &C. should follow all that believe whether male or female. He ask'd the Society if they could not see by this sweeping stroke that werein they are ordained, it is the privilege of those set apart to administer in that authority which is conferr'd on themâ€"and if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their t
ongues,
and let every thing roll on.
He said if God has appointed him, and chosen him as an instrument to lead the church, why not let him lead it through? why stand in the way, when he is appointed to do a thing? Who knows the mind of God? Does he not reveal things differently from what we expect? He remarked that he was continually risingâ€"altho' he had every thing, bearing him down, standing in his way and opposingâ€"after all he always comes out right in the end.
Respecting the females laying on hands, he further remark'd, there could be no devil in it if God gave his sanction by healingâ€"that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on the sick than in wetting the face with water It is no sin for any body to do it that has faith, or if the sick has faith to be heal'd by the administration.
He reproved those that were dispos'd to find fault with the management of concernsâ€"saying that if he undertook to lead the church he would lead it rightâ€"that he calculats to organize the church in proper order &C.
President Smith continued by speaking of the difficulties he had to surmount ever since the commencement of the work in consequence of aspiring men, "great big Elders" as he called them who had caused him much trouble, whom he had taught in the private counsel; and they would go forth into the world and proclaim the things he had taught them; as their own revelationsâ€"said the same aspiring disposition will be in this Society, and must be guarded againstâ€"that every person should stand and act in the place appointed, and thus sanctify the Society and get it pure
He said he had been trampled under foot by aspiring Elders, for all were infected with that spirit, for instance P. Pratt O. Pratt, O. Hyde and J. Page had been aspiringâ€"They could not be exalted but must run away as though the care and authority of the church were vested with themâ€"He said we had a subtle devil to deal with and could only curb him by being humble.
He said as he had this opportunity, he was going to instruct the Society and point out the way for them to conduct, that they might act according to the will of Godâ€"that he did not know as he should have many opportunities of teaching themâ€"that they were going to be left to themselvesâ€"they would not long have him to instruct themâ€"that the church would not have his instruction long, and the world would not be troubled with him a great while, and would not have his teachingsâ€"He spoke of delivering the keys to this society and to the Churchâ€"that according to his prayers God had appointed him elsewhere
He exhorted the sisters always to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence in those whom God has appointed to honor, whom God has plac'd at the head to leadâ€"that we should arm them with our prayersâ€"that the keys of the kingdom are about to be given to them, that they may be able to detect every thing falseâ€"as well as to the Elders
He said if one member become corrupt and you know it; you must immediately put it away. The sympathies of the heads of the church have induc'd them to bear with those that were corrupt in consequence of which all become contaminatedâ€"you must put down iniquity and by your good example provoke the Elders to good worksâ€"if you do right no danger of going too fast; he said he did not care how fast we run in the path of virtue. Resist evil and there is no danger. God, man, angels and devils can't condemn those that resist every thing that is evil as well might the devil seek to dethrone Jehovah, as that soul that resists every thing that is evil.
The charitable Societyâ€"this is according to your naturesâ€"it is natural for females to have feelings of charityâ€"you are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms. If you live up to these principles how great and gloriousâ€"if you live up to your privilege the angels cannot be restrain'd from being your associates
Females, if they are pure and innocent can come into the presence of God, for what is more pleasing to God than innocence; you must be innocent or you cannot come up before God. If we would come before God let us be pure ourselves. The devil has great powerâ€"he will so transform things as to make one gape at those who are doing the will of Godâ€"You need not be teasing men for their deeds, but let the weight of innocence be felt which is more mighty than a millstone hung about the neck. Not war, not jangle, not contradiction, but meekness, love purity, these are the things that should magnify us. Achan [Joshua 7:18-26] must be brought to lightâ€"iniquity must be purged outâ€"then the vail will be rent and the blessings of heaven will flow downâ€"they will roll down like the Mississippi river. This Society shall have power to command Queens in their midstâ€"I now deliver it as a prophecy that before ten years shall roll around, the queens of the earth shall come and pay thei
r respects to this
Societyâ€"they shall come with their millions and shall contribute of their abundance for the relief of the poorâ€"If you will be pure, nothing can hinder.
After this instruction, you will be responsible for your own sins. It is an honor to save yourselvesâ€"all are responsible to save themselves.
Prest. Smith, after reading from the above mentioned chapter, Continued to give instruction respecting the order of God, as established in the church; saying every one should aspir only to magnify his own office &C.
He then commenc'd reading the 13th chapter, "Though I speak with the tongues of men" &C. and said don't be limited in your views with regard to your neighbors' virtues, but be limited towards your own virtues, and not think yourselves more righteous than others; you must enlarge your souls toward others if you [w]ould do like Jesus, and carry your fellow creatures to Abrams bosom. He said he had manifested long suffering and we must do so tooâ€"Prest. Smith then read, "Though I have the gift of prophecy" &C. He then said though one should become mightyâ€"do great thingsâ€"overturn mountains &C should then turn to eat and drink with the drunken; all former deeds would not save himâ€"but he would go to destruction!
As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your hearts expandâ€"let them be enlarged towards othersâ€"you must be longsuffering and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of man! The female part of community are apt to be contracted, in their views. You must not be contracted but you must be liberal in your feelings.
Let this Society teach how to act towards husbands, to treat them with mildness and affection. When a man is borne down with troubleâ€"when he is perplexed, if he can meet a smile, [not] an argumentâ€"if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul and smooth his feelings. When the mind is going to despair it needs a solace.
This Society is to get instruction through the order which God has establishedâ€"thro' the medium of those appointed to leadâ€"and I now turn the key to you in the name of God and this Society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this timeâ€"this is the beginning of better days to this Society.
When you go home never give a cross word, but let kindness, charity and love, crown your works henceforward. Don't envy sinnersâ€"have mercy on them, God will destroy themâ€"Let your labors be confined mostly to those around you to your own circle, as far as knowledge is concerned, it may extend to all the world, but your administrations, should be confin'd to the circle of your immediate acquaintances and more especially to the members of the society.
Those ordain'd to lead the Society, are authoriz'd to appoint to different offices as the circumstances shall require.
If any have a matter to reveal, let it be in your own tongue. Do not indulge too much in the gift of tongues, or the devil will take advantage of the innocent. You may speak in tongues for your own comfort but I lay this down for a rule that if any thing is taught by the gift of tongues, it is not to be received for doctrine.
Prest. S. then offered instruction respecting the propriety of females administering to the sick by the laying on of handsâ€"said it was according to revelationâ€"&C. Said he never was placed in similar circumstances, and never had given the same instruction.
He clos'd his instruction by expressing his satisfaction in improving the opportunity.
The spirit of the Lord was pour'd out in a very powerful manner, never to be forgotten by those present on that interesting occasion. (2)

-- Apr 29, 1842
Joseph Smith defines as "a conspiracy against the peace of my household" three separate conflicts that converge today. First, the Sidney Rigdon family is outraged to learn of his polygamous proposal to his first counselor's daughter Nancy. Second, the charges and counter-charges involved in that crisis lead to the discovery that Joseph's special counselor John C. Bennett had been claiming the prophet's authorization for seducing several women. In his own defense Bennett apparently told others about his knowledge of Joseph's recent polygamous marriages and unsuccessful proposals. These interrelated scandals threw Joseph's wife Emma into a fury, as one woman after another began disclosing Nauvoo's sexual underground. This controversy caused Joseph to delay his plans to give the "grand key words of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood" to his wife and other women, "as well as to the Elders" (3)

[Lucy Mack Smith] Levira Annette Clark, the first child of Samuel and Levira Smith, is born at Nauvoo. She is Samuel's fifth child. (4)

-- Apr 30, 1842
The Nauvoo WASP reports that "a sham battle will be fought between the mounted Rifle-men under the immediate command of Lieutenant General [Joseph] Smith, and the Invincibles under the immediate command of Major General [John C.] Bennett." (3)

-- During Apr 1842
[Polygamy] to 27 Jun 1844 Marriage - Joseph to Nancy Marinda Hyde, age 27, already married. Ten years earlier, Smith had been tarred and feathered for supposedly seducing Nancy at age 16 ,while staying with her family. Nancy was likely taught polygamy by Joseph when her husband, Orson Hyde, was on his mission to Palestine. In 1841, Nancy was given a direct revelation through Joseph to "hearken to the counsel of my servant Joseph in all things whatsoever he shall teach unto her" (History of the Church, vol. 4, pg. 467). In May 1844 Nancy would become pregnant with Smith's child while Hyde was on another mission (sent by Smith). She later divorced Hyde and voiced her disgust of polygamy. PLACE: Nauvoo, IL SOURCE: Joseph Smith journal, LDS archives, a list of marriages in the handwriting of Thomas Bullock, entered after 14 July 1843: "Apr 42 Marinda Johnson to Joseph Smith," in Scott Faulring, ea., An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith (Salt Lake
City: Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, 1989), 396. For a second marriage to Joseph Smith, in May 1843, see Marinda Hyde affidavit, 1 May 1869, Joseph F. Smith Affidavit Books, 1:15, (5)

[Polygamy] Marinda Johnson Hyde (Age 27, already married to Orson Hyde): Fifteen-year-old Marinda Johnson and her family were baptized into the church during the winter of 1830, near Kirtland, Ohio. The [following] fall, Marinda wrote, Joseph came with his family to live at my fathers house. He was at that time translating the Bible... For the next year, Joseph lived in the Johnson home.
In 1833, Marinda met and was courted by Orson Hyde. A year later they would marry. Within months of the marriage, Orson was called to be an Apostle of the church, a calling which meant he would spend two of the next three and one-half years in the Eastern States and England in missionary service. Back home Marinda raised their two children. By June 1839 Marinda and Orson had relocated to Nauvoo. A third child soon arrived.
On April 6, 1840, Orson wrote, I was appointed, in company with Elder John E. Page, to go on a mission to Jerusalem. A week later, Orson left for what would be a three year mission. On October 24, 1841, Orson stood on the Mount of Olives and consecrated Palestine for the gathering of Judah in the last days.
While Orson was gone, Marinda, had to live in a little log house whose windows had no glass but in place of which were pieces of greased paper...A little cornmeal and a few groceries were all the provisions remaining to sustain her and the little ones.. Noting Marindas living conditions, Joseph Smith received the following revelation dated December 2, 1841: Verily thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph. that inasmuch as you have called upon me to know my will concerning my handmaid Nancy Marinda Hyde Behold it is my will that she should have a better place prepared for her than that in which she now lives...and let my handmaid Nancy Marinda Hyde hearken to the counsel of my servant Joseph in all things whatsoever he shall teach unto her...
Marinda soon moved to a better home. In the Spring of 1842 she married Joseph. In Josephs diary is a list of his marriages. It includes the entry: Apr 42 Marinda Johnson to Joseph Smith.. Eight months later, in December, Orson returned from his mission. It is not clear when, or if, Orson learned about his wifes marriage to Joseph. However, by March, Orson had learned about plural marriage himself and married two additional wives.
After Josephs death in 1844, Marinda and Orson continued to live in Nauvoo. In April of 1846, shortly before leaving for Utah, Orson dedicated the Nauvoo temple. Over the next 20 years, Marinda would bear 7 more children. Orson would continue to serve missions and marry seven additional wives. In 1870 Marinda and Orson divorced.
Marindas grandchildren later wrote of her caring and thoughtful demeanor: She was so loving and sympathetic with...all... She was a lovely creature, dignified and...took a keen interest in life and people. (6)

-- During Apr. 1842
[Polygamy] Marinda Nancy Johnson (Hyde) age 27, Married
"In the summer of 1831 the Johnson family took Joseph and Emma Smith into their home as boarders, and soon thereafter the prophet purportedly bedded young Marinda. Unfortunately, the liaison did not go unnoticed, and a gang of indignant Ohioans including a number of Mormons resolved to castrate Joseph so that he would be disinclined to commit such acts of depravity in the future." Wiki-(6)

-- During Spring 1842
[Nauvoo] There were nearly 3,000 people living within the city limits. Many other LDS families, however, lived outside the city both nearby and far away. (8)

-- 1May42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Signs, Key Words - Detecting Devil - Knowing God
Calling and Election - John emple (9)

-- May 1, 1842 (Sunday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Manuscript History of the Church (Words of Joseph Smith, 119-20)
I preached in the grove on the keys of the Kingdom, Charity &c The keys are certain signs and words by which false spirits and personages may be detected from true, which cannot be revealed to the Elders till the Temple is completedâ€"The rich can only get them in the Templeâ€"the poor may get them on the mountain top as did Moses. The rich cannot be saved without Charity, giving to feed the poor when and how God requires, as well as building. There are signs in heaven, earth and hell, the Elders must know them all to be endowed with power, to finish their work and prevent imposition. The devil knows many signs, but does not know the sign of the Son of Man, or Jesus. No one can truly say he knows God until he has handled something, and this can only be in the Holiest of Holies. (2)

-- May 3, 1842
[Anointed Quorum] Joseph Smith summoned five loyal Mormons to the upper room of his Red Brick Store and confidentially instructed them to "fit up that room preparatory to giving endowments pertaining to the A[a]ronic and Melchisedec [sic] Priesthoods" (LNS). There are several significant features (DMQ) to this: (1) two of the five were prominent Masons: Lucius N. Scovil, Junior Warden of the Nauvoo Lodge, and Dimick B. Huntington, official "Tyler" of the lodge (MNL); (2) several of the five were former Danites from Missouri: Huntington, Daniel Carn, and Hosea Stout (AD); (3) Smith made special physical arrangements for these "endowments" that he did not require for the Masonic use of the "Lodge Room" of his store; (4) he made no mention of "Patriarchal Priesthood," as alleged by some interpreters of these May 1842 endowment ceremonies (EHAT). (10)


Footnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
2 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
5 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
6 - Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith, http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/
7 - Wikipedia, List of the Wives of Joseph Smith, Jr., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_wives_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.
8 - LDS Church News: Nauvoo -- The City of Joseph, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58063/Church-history--Nauvoo.html
9 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
10 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, Apr 16, 1842

-- Apr 16, 1842
[Lucy Mack Smith] William Smith begins publishing The Wasp, a miscellaneous weekly in Nauvoo. (1)

-- Apr 18, 1842
A month and a half after the federal Bankruptcy Act becomes effective Joseph Smith and his brothers Hyrum and Samuel declared themselves insolvent before the county commissioner's court on Apr 18, 1842, and filed petitions to be certified bankrupt by the United States District Court for Illinois. Joseph's listed debts totaled $73,066.38, with a U.S. government obligation of $4,866.38 for purchase of a steamboat which had run aground listed first. Concurrently other leading Mormons filed similar petitions, including President Sidney Rigdon, Bishop Vinson Knight, "Judge" Elias Higbee, Reynolds Cahoon, Henry G. Sherwood, John P. Green, Arthur Morrison, George Morey, Jared Carter, Amos Davis, Charles Warner, William P. Lyon, William Niswanger, and John Fullmer. They were joined by at least one prominent gentile businessman of Nauvoo, Hiram Kimball.67 (2)

Joseph Smith and brother Hyrum file for bankruptcy. (3)

[Lucy Mack Smith] Joseph and Hyrum file bankruptcy petitions, as do Sidney Rigdon, Elias Higbee, Reynolds Cahoon, John P. Greene, George Morey, Jared Carter, Hiram Kimball, and others. By December petitions have still not been approved. (1)

-- Apr 19, 1842
Emma Smith, Sarah Cleveland, and Elizabeth Whitney administer to a Sister Durfee. The following week, she testifies that she has "been healed and thought the sisters had more faith than the brethren." (2)

[Lucy Mack Smith] Lucy attends Relief Society and is among those who give impromptu "exhortation, admonition, encouragement &c. &c." to the sisters. (1)

-- Apr 20, 1842
Marks, William: Initiated into Masonry 20 April 1842. (4)

-- Apr 22, 1842
Taylor, John: Initiated into Masonry 22 April 1842. (4)

-- Apr 24, 1842 (Sunday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Near Temple, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Manuscript History of the Church (Words of Joseph Smith, 114)
Preached {on the hill, near the Temple concerning the building of the temple, and pronounced a curse on the Merchants and the rich, who would not assist in building it}. (5)

-- Apr 25, 1842
Law, William: Initiated into Masonic Order 25 April 1842. (4)

Wight, Lyman: Initiated into Masonic Order 25 April 1842. Member of Nauvoo Legion and Nauvoo City Council. (4)

-- 28Apr42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Sisters Prepared to Receive Blessings (Endowment)
Scriptural Correction First Corinthians 12
Aspiring to Church Office Foolish
Sisters Laying on Hand to Heal Sick - Shadow of Temple Service
God had Appointed Him to Guide the Church - Let Him
Joseph Predicts His Death
Priesthood Order to be Given
Pray for Leaders
Endowment Keys to be Given
Be Pure - Resist Evil
Charity
Woman can Enter Presence of God without Priesthood
How to get Men to do Good - Purge Iniquity
Joseph's Prophecy of Relief Society if Faithful
Endure in Goodness to the End
What Relief Society Should Teach - Dealing with Husbands
How Sisters Should Behave
Tongues (6)

-- Apr 28, 1842
John E Page: Criticized by Joseph Smith Jr. 28 Apr. 1842 for being ambitious (7)


Footnotes:
1 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47"
4 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
5 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
6 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
7 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, Apr 9, 1842

-- Apr 9, 1842
Smith, William B: Initiated into Masonry 9 April 1842. (1)

-- Apr 9, 1842 (Saturday Morning)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 112-13)
9th The Saints in Nauvoo assembled at the house of President Marks at an early hour in the morning to pay their last respects to the Body of Ephraim Marks son of President Marks who died on the evening of the 7th A large procession formed two by two & walked to the grove a larger concourse assembled President Joseph Smith spoke upon the occasion with much feelings & interest among his remarks he said it is a vary solumn & [DEL: awful :DEL] time I never felt more solemn it calles to mind the death of my oldest Brother who died in New York & my youngest Brother Carloss Smith who died in Nauvoo It has been hard for me to live on earth & see those young men upon whome we have leaned upon as a support & comfort taken from us in the midst of their youth, yes it has been hard to be reconciled to these things I have some times felt that I should have felt more reconciled to have been called myself if it could have been the will of God, yet I know we ought to be still & know it is of
God &
be reconciled all is right it will be but a short time before we shall all in like manner be called. It may be the case with me as well as you Some has supposed that Br Joseph Could not die but this is a mistake it is true their has been times when I have had the promise of my life to accomplish such & such things, but having accomplish those things I have not at present any lease of my life I am as liable to die as other men I can say in my heart that I have not done any thing against Ephraim Marks that I am sorry for & I would ask any of his companions if they have done any thing against him that they are sorry for or that they would not like to meet at the bar of God if so let it prove as a warning to all men to deal justly before God & with all men then we shall be clean in the day of judgment When we loose a near & dear friend upon whom we have set our hearts we can never feel the same afterwards knowing that if we set our hearts upon others they may in like manner be t
aken
from us President Smith made many other interesting remarks & left it for President Rigdon to close. (2)

-- 10Apr42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Must Behave with Principles of Godliness
Sin Causes Loss of Knowledge
Salvation Comes from Knowledge (3)

-- Apr 10, 1842
Nauvoo, Illinois. While preaching in a grove near the Nauvoo Temple site, Joseph Smith reproved and rebuked the Saints for wickedness and all forms of iniquity. (4)

[Polygamy] to 10 Apr 1842 Smith proposes secret plural marriage to 19 year-old Nancy Rigdon. Joseph Smith invited Nancy Rigdon, nineteen-year-old daughter of his close friend and counselor, Sidney Rigdon, to meet him at the home of Orson Hyde. Upon her arrival Smith greeted her, ushered her into a private room, then locked the door. After swearing her to secrecy, wrote George W. Robinson, Smith announced his "affection for her for several years, and wished that she should be his...the Lord was well pleased with this matter...here was no sin in it whatever...but, if she had any scruples of conscience about the matter, he would marry her privately." Incredulous, Nancy countered that "if she ever got married she would marry a single man or none at all." Grabbing her bonnet, she ordered the door opened or she would "raise the neighbors." She then stormed out of the Hyde-Richards residence. The next day, Smith wrote Nancy a letter, where he justified his advances, saying " That wh
ich is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. ... Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. ... even things which might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation." This is his first written statement of theocratic ethics. PLACE: Nauvoo, IL SOURCE: Official History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.134-136, Sidney Rigdon Biography by Richard S. Van Wagoner, p.295 (5)

-- Apr 10, 1842 (Sunday Morning)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Manuscript History of the Church (Words of Joseph Smith, 114)
I preached in the grove and pronounced a curse {upon all adulterers and Fornicators, and unvirtuous persons and those who have made use of my name to carry on their iniquitous designs}. (2)

[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 113-14)
A pleasant morning A large Congregation of Saints met at the grove President William Law addressed the assembly for about 1 hour Then Joseph the Seer arose in the power of God reproved & rebuked wickedness before the people in the name of the Lord God He wished to say a few words to suit the condition of the general mass And I shall speak with authority of the priesthood in the name of the Lord God which shall prove a savior of life unto life or of death unto death.
Notwithstanding this congregation profess to be saints yet I stand in the midst of all characters and classes of men If you wish to go whare God is you must be like god or possess the principles which God possesses for if we are not drawing towards God in principle we are going from him & drawing towards the devil, yes I am standing in the midst of all kinds of people Search your hearts & see if you are like god, I have searched mine & feel to repent of all my sins, we have theives among us Adulterers, liars, hypocritts, if God should speak from Heaven he would Command you not to steal, not to commit Adultery, not to covet, nor deceive but be faithful over a few things As far as we degenerate from God we descend to the devil & loose knowledge & without knowledge we cannot be saved & while our hearts are filled with evil & we are studying evil their is no room in our hearts for good or studying good, is not God good, Yes then you be good. if he is faithful then you be faithfu
l Add
to your faith virtue to virtue knowledge. & seek for evry good thing the church must be cleansed & I proclaim against all iniquity. A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge for if he does not get knowledge he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world as evil spirits will have more knowlede & consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. hence it needs Revelation to assist us & give us knowledge of the things of God. What is the reason that the Priest of the day do not get Revelation They ask ownly to consume it upon their lust their hearts are corrupt & they cloke their iniquity by saying that their is no more Revelations But if any Revelations are given of God they are universally opposed by the priest & christendon at large for it reveals their wickedness & abominations many other remarks of interest were made by the speaker I truly felt in my own heart that it was a profitable meeting. (2)

-- Apr 11, 1842
Joseph Smith writes a letter to sixteen-year-old Nancy Rigdon in which he attempts to persuade her to become his secret, plural wife. The letter expounds Joseph's version of situation ethics: "that which is wrong under one circumstance, may be and often is, right under another." Willard Richards delivers the letter to Nancy. The letter makes its way to John C. Bennett who publishes it in the SANGAMO JOURNAL. Smith denies having written the letter but after his death the Church publishes its content in the HISTORY OF THE CHURCH as an "essay" written by Joseph Smith. In succeeding years portions of the letter/essay are often quoted in general conference and in official church publications. (6)

-- Apr 14, 1842
Joseph Smith unsuccessfully proposes plural marriage to Nancy Rigdon and "in a day or two" dictates a letter to her which reads in part: "That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. . . .Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire." This is his first written statement of theocratic ethics. Joseph Smith engages Calvin Warren to commence "an investigation of the principles of general insolvency in my behalf according to the statutes-" (6)

-- Apr 15, 1842
The TIMES AND SEASONS, edited by Joseph Smith publishes the "History of Joseph Smith:" "While I was thus in the act of calling upon God I discovered a light appearing in the room which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside standing in the air for his feet did not touch the floor. . . He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Nephi." In later versions of the story the name is changed from "Nephi" to "Moroni." (7)

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith published an editorial in the Church newspaper Times and Seasons concerning baptism for the dead. (4)

-- Apr 16, 1842
The Wasp first published in Nauvoo, Illinois, with William Smith and John Taylor as editor. (8)

William Smith publishes the first issues of the Wasp, a Nauvoo community newspaper. (9)


Footnotes:
1 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
2 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
3 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
4 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
5 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
6 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
7 - This Day in Mormon History, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
8 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
9 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, Apr 7, 1842

-- Apr 7, 1842
John E Page: Restored to fellowship 7 Apr. 1842 (1)

Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball deny, reports that they tried to induce a sister into the belief of having two wives. Joseph Smith also denounces the reports. (2)

Joseph Smith receives a revelation to establish a formal theocratic government, "the Kingdom of God," later known as the "Council of Fifty." The text is available but has not been canonized or officially published. (3)

Richards, Willard: Initiated into Masonry 7 April 1842. (4)

Young, Brigham: Initiated into Masonry 7 April 1842. (4)

-- Apr 7, 1842 (Thursday Afternoon)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Times and Seasons (15 April 1842): 761-63 (Words of Joseph Smith, 110-11)
Conference met, Pres't Joseph Smith had the several quorums put in order, and seated: he then made some very appropriate remarks concerning the duties of the church, the necessity of unity of purpose in regard to the building of the houses, and the blessings connected with doing the will of God; and the inconsistency folly and danger of murmuring against the dispensations of Jehovah.
He said that the principal object of the meeting was to bring the case of Elder Page before them, and that another object was to choose young men, and ordain them, and send them out to preach, that they may have an opportunity of proving themselves, and of enduring the tarring and feathering and such things as those of us who have gone before them, have had to endure.
. . . Pres't J. Smith then arose and stated that it was wrong to make the covenant referred to by him; that it created a lack of confidence for two men to covenant to reveal all acts of secrecy or otherwise to each otherâ€"and Elder Page showed a little grannyism. He said that no two men when they agreed to go together ought to separate, that the prophets of old would not and quoted the circumstance of Elijah and Elisha iii Kings 2 chap. when about to go to Gilgal, also when about to go to Jericho, and to Jordan, that Elisha could not get clear of Elijah, that he clung to his garment until he was taken to heaven and that Elder Page should have stuck by Elder Hyde, and he might have gone to Jerusalem, that there is nothing very bad in it, but by the experience let us profit; again, the Lord made use of Elder Page as a scape goat to procure funds for Elder Hyde.
. . . Pres't J. Smith spoke upon the subject of the stories respecting Elder Kimball and others, showing the folly and inconsistency of spending any time in conversing about such stories or hearkening to them, for there is no person that is acquainted with our principles would believe such lies, except Sharp the editor of the "Warsaw Signal." Baptisms for the dead, and for the healing of the body must be in the font, those coming into the church and those rebaptized may be done in the river.
A box should be prepared for the use of the font, that the clerk may be paid, and a book procured by the monies to be put therein by those baptized, the remainder to go to the use of the Temple. (5)

[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 111-12)
Rainy in the fore part of the day conferance opened at 1 oclock President J. Smith H. Smith Wm Law & the Twelve took the stand & opened meeting & spoke upon a variety of subjects & called upon those who wished to be ordained to the office of an Elder to come forward & have their names taken many came forward. (5)

-- Apr 8, 1842
Lyman, Amasa Mason: Initiated into Masonry 8 April 1842. (4)

-- Apr 8, 1842 (Friday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Location: Grove, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Wilford Woodruff Journal (Words of Joseph Smith, 112)
Conference opened at 10 oclock Elder L. Wight Presidents J Smith & Hyarm Smith & others spoke. . . . In the afternoon Elders Amasa Lyman & Wm Smith occupied the stand in the afternoon & was followed by Joseph with a few remarks & the Conference closed. (5)

-- 9Apr42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Solemn Time - Contemplate our Lives
Joseph has no Lease on Life
We Should be Ready to Die (6)

-- Apr 9, 1842
the Nauvoo City Council passes an ordinance to license taverns and ordinaries in the town to sell beer but not spirits. (7)

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith preached at the funeral of Brother Ephraim Marks in the morning. (8)

Knight, Vinson: Initiated into Masonry 9 April 1842. Took plural wife before death. Possibly received endowment before death. (4)


Footnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
2 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47"
4 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
5 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
6 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
7 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
8 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith


LDS History Timeline

About this site: http://bit.ly/mohist

Mormon History, 1842. March

-- During 1842. March
(Eliza R. Snow) : Eliza R. Snow drew up the constitution for a benevolent society of women which met at Sarah Kimball's home in Nauvoo. When they presented the plan to Joseph Smith, he told them that the Lord had something better for them under the organization of the priesthood. The Relief Society was formed the next week, and Eliza Snow was elected secretary. (1)

-- During Mar 1842
[Black History] Smith writes the following in a letter on the subject of slavery, "I have just been perusing your correspondence with Doctor Dyer, on the subject of American slavery, and the students of the Quincy Mission Institute, and it makes my blood boil within me to reflect upon the injustice, cruelty, and oppression of the rulers of the people. When will these things cease to be, and the Constitution and the laws again bear rule? I fear for my beloved country mob violence, injustice and cruelty appear to be the darling attributes of Missouri, and no man taketh it to heart! O tempora! O mores! What think you should be done?" (History of the Church, 4:544) (2)

Times & Seasons prints translation from Book of Abraham that says Elohim lives near the star Kolob and it introduces the doctrine of plural gods. (3)

[Polygamy] to 26 Dec 1842 Emma carries child, boy dies shortly after birth. PLACE: Nauvoo, IL SOURCE: Official Joseph Smith family record, www.FamilySearch.org (4)

[Polygamy] Patty Bartlett Sessions (Age 47, already married to David Sessions): Patty Bartlett was born and raised in southwest Maine. Speaking of Pattys Father and her upbringing, her oldest child, Perrigrine wrote: [her Father] made no pretentions to religion and never belonged to any sect he was a very liberal man to the poor and was honest and upright in all his Deportment and taught his children to work and always to speak the truth
On June 28, 1812 Patty married David Sessions. They stayed in Maine and bought land and made a farm built a log house and a large fraim barn...my husband by his industry on his farm and with his mills And by keeping a public house procured considerable wealth. Patty and David had seven children only three of which lived into adulthood.
While in Maine, Patty was trained as a midwife by her mother-in-law. Later, as a midwife in Illinois and Utah, Patty would deliver nearly 4000 babies.
In August 1833, Patty came into contact with Mormon missionaries. Again, Perrigrine wrote, And as soon as my Mother herd she believed and she was baptized and Confirmed into the Church of laterday Saints... Apostles Brigham Young and Lyman Johnson later visited and the gathering of the Saints was taught and preperations began to bee made to remove to Zion...we began to dispose of property as my Father and I had considerable.
The Sessions spent a year in Missouri and then settled in Nauvoo. There, Patty wrote in her journal: I was sealed to Joseph Smith by Willard Richards March 9 1842 in Newel K Whitneys chamber Nauvoo, for time and all eternity...Sylvia my daughter was presant when I was sealed. Patty was 47. Her daughter Sylvia had married Joseph a month earlier on February 8. It is unclear if Pattys first husband, David, was aware of the marriage.
After her marriage to Joseph, Patty continued to live with David. Three months later, he left on a mission to his former home state of Maine. Of the occasion, Patty wrote in her journal, He left me alone, and I am very lonesome. Two months later she wrote that she was making shirts for Joseph.
Pattys duties as Josephs plural wife included approaching and educating prospective wives, serving as a messenger and go between, and acting as a witness at the wedding ceremonies of Joseph and the other plural wives he took. Patty continued in this role until Josephs death in 1844. Patty and David later left Nauvoo for Utah with the other migrating Saints. (5)

-- During March 1842
The first Relief Society organized in Nauvoo, Illinois to care for the needy and strengthen community morals. (6)

[Heber C. Kimball] Helps organize Nauvoo Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois. (7)

-- 1Apr42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Article appearing in Times and Seasons 3 (1 April 1842):743 "TRY THE SPIRI Recent occurrences that have transpired amongst us render it an imperative duty devolving upon me to say something in relation to the spirits by which men are actuated.
It is evident from the apostle's writings, that many false spirits existed in their day, and had "gone forth into the world," and that it needed intelligence which God alone could impart to detect false spirits, and to prove what spirits were of God. The world in general have been grossly ignorant in regard to this one thing, and have should they be otherwise--for no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God." The Egyptians were not able to discover the difference between the miracles of Moses and those of the magicians until they came to be tested together; and if Moses had not appeared in their midst, they would unquestionably have thought that the miracles of the magicians were performed through the mighty power of God, for they were great miracles that were performed by them--a supernatural agency was developed, and great power manifested.
The witch of Endor is a no less singular personage; clothed with a powerful agency she raised the Prophet Samuel from his grave, and he appeared before the astonished king, and revealed unto him his future destiny. Who is to tell whether this woman is of God, and a righteous woman--or whether the power she possessed was of the devil, and she a witch as represented by the Bible? It is easy for us to say now, but if we had lived in her day, which of us could have unravelled the mystery? It would have been equally as difficult for us to tell by what spirit the Apostles prophesied, or by what power the Apostles spoke and worked miracles. Who could have told whether the power of Simon, the sorcerer, was of God or of the devil? There always did, in every age, seem to be a lack of intelligence pertaining to this subject. Spirits of all kinds have been manifested, in every age, and almost amongst all people, If we go among the pagans, they have their spirits; the Mohammedan
s the Jews, the Christians, the Indians--all have their spirits, all have a supernatural agency, and all contend that their spirits are of God. Who shall solve the mystery? "Try the spirits," says John, but who is to do it? The learned, the eloquent, the philosopher, the sage, the divine--all are ignorant. The heathens will boast of their gods, and of the great things that have been unfolded by their oracles. The Mussulman [Muslim] will boast of his Koran, and of the divine communications that his progenitors have received. The Jews have had numerous instances, both ancient and modern, among them of men who have professed to be inspired, and sent to bring about great events, and the Christian world has not been slow in making up the number.
"Try the spirits," but what by? Are we to try them by the creeds of men? What preposterous folly--what sheer ignorance--what madness! Try the motions and actions of an eternal being (for I contend that all spirits are such) by a thing that was conceived in ignorance, and brought forth in folly--a cobweb of yesterday! Angels would hide their faces, and devils would be ashamed and insulted, and would say, "Paul we know, and Jesus we know, but who are ye?" Let each man of society make a creed and try evil spirits by it, and the devil would shake his sides; it is all that he would ask--all that he would desire. Yet many of them do this, and hence "many spirits are abroad in the world." One great evil is, that men are ignorant of the nature of spirits; their power, laws, government, intelligence, &c., and imagine that when there is anything like power, revelation, or vision manifested, that it must be of God. Hence the Methodists, Presbyterians, and others frequently
possess a spirit that will cause them to lie down, and during its operation, animation is frequently entirely suspended; they consider it to be the power of God, and a glorious manifestation from God--a manifestation of what? Is there any intelligence communicated? Are the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the purposes of God developed? Have they seen and conversed with an angel--or have the glories of futurity burst upon their view? No! but their body has been inanimate, the operation of their spirit suspended, and all the intelligence that can be obtained from them when they arise, is a shout of "glory," or "hallelujah," or some incoherent expression; but they have had "the power." The Shaker will whirl around on his heel, impelled by a supernatural agency or spirit, and think that he is governed by the Spirit of God; and the Jumper will jump and enter into all kinds of extravagances. A Primitive Methodist will shout under the influence of that spirit, until he wi
ll rend the heavens with his cries; while the Quakers (or Friends) moved as they think, by the Spirit of God, will sit still and say nothing.
Is God the author of all this? If not of all of it, which does He recognized? Surely, such a heterogeneous mass of confusion never can enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Every one of these professes to be competent to try his neighbor's spirit, but no one can try his own, and what is the reason? Because they have not a key to unlock, no rule wherewith to measure, and no criterion whereby they can test it. Could any one tell the length, breadth or height of a building without a rule? test the quality of metals without a criterion, or point out the movements of the planetary systems, without a knowledge of astronomy? Certainly not; and if such ignorance as this is manifested about a spirit of this kind, who can describe an angel of light? If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory?--or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French prophets with their revelations and their visions, and power of manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites, with their apostles and prophets, and visions and tongues, and interpretations, &c.,
&c.
Or who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as "no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God," so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices; without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God, together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings.
A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors;for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed.
The Turks, the Hindoos, the Jews, the Christians, the Indian; in fact all nations have been deceived, imposed upon and injured through the mischievous effects of false spirits.
As we have noticed before, the great difficulty lies in the ignorance of the nature of spirits, of the laws by which they are governed, and the signs by which they may be known; if it requires the Spirit of God to know the things of God; and the spirit of the devil can only be unmasked through that medium, then it follows as a natural consequence that unless some person or persons have a communication, or revelation from God, unfolding to them the operation of the spirit, they must eternally remain ignorant of these principles; for I contend that if one man cannot understand these things but by the Spirit of God, ten thousand men cannot; it is alike out of the reach of the wisdom of the learned, the tongue of the eloquent, the power of the mighty. And we shall at last have to come to this conclusion, whatever we may think of revelation, that without it we can neither know nor understand anything of God, or the devil; and however unwilling the world may be to acknowl
edge this principle, it is evident from the multifarious creeds and notions concerning this matter that they understand nothing of this principle, and it is equally as plain that without a divine communication they must remain in ignorance. The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets, and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true prophets, and these made to hide themselves in deserts and dens, and caves of the earth," and though the most honorable men of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds, whilst they cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites, impostors, and the basest of men.
A man must have the discerning of spirits, as we before stated, to understand these things, and how is he to obtain this gift if there are no gifts of the Spirit? And how can these gifts be obtained without revelation? "Christ ascended into heaven, and gave gifts to men; and He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers. And how were Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists chosen? By prophecy (revelation) and by laying on of hands:--by a divine communication, and a divinely appointed ordinance--through the medium of the Priesthood, organized according to the order of God, by divine appointment. The Apostles in ancient times held the keys of this Priesthood--of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and consequently were enabled to unlock and unravel all things pertaining to the government of the Church, the welfare of society, the future destiny of men, and the agency, power and influence of spirits; for
they could control them at pleasure, bid them depart in the name of Jesus, and detect their mischievous and mysterious operations when trying to palm themselves upon the Church in a religious garb, and militate against the interest of the Church and spread of truth. We read that they "cast out devils in the name of Jesus," and when a woman possessing the spirit of divination, cried before Paul and Silas, "these are the servants of the Most High God that show unto us the way of salvation," they detected the spirit. And although she spake favorably of them, Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, and saved themselves from the opprobrium that might have been heaped upon their heads, through an alliance with her, in the development of her wicked principles, which they certainly would have been charged with, if they had not rebuked the evil spirit.
A power similar to this existed through the medium of the Priesthood indifferent ages. Moses could detect the magician's power, and show that he [himself] was God's servant--he knew when he was upon the mountain (through revelation) that Israel was engaged in idolatry; he could develop the sin of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, detect witches and wizards in their proceedings, and point out the true prophets of the Lord. Joshua knew how to detect the man who had stolen the wedge of gold and the Babylonish garment. Michaiah could point out the false spirit by which the four hundred prophets were governed; and if his advice had been taken, many lives would have been spared, (II Chronicles xviii) Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many other prophets possessed this power. Our Savior, the Apostles, and even the members of the Church were endowed with this gift, for, says Paul, (I Corinthians xii), "To one is given the gift of tongues, to another the interpreta
tion of tongues, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits." All these proceeded from the same Spirit of God, and were the gifts of God. The Ephesian church were enabled by this principle, "to try those that said they were apostles, and were not, and found them liars," (Revelation ii: 2.) In tracing the thing to the foundation, and looking at it philosophically, we shall find a very material difference between the body and the spirit; the body is supposed to be organized matter, and the spirit, by many, is thought to be immaterial, without substance. With this latter statement we should beg leave to differ, and state that spirit is a substance; that it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic and refined matter than the body ; that it existed before the body, can exist in the body; and will exist separate from the body, when the body will be mouldering in the dust; and will in the resurrection, be again united
with it.
Without attempting to describe this mysterious connection, and the laws that govern the body and the spirit of man, their relationship to each other, and the design of God in relation to the human body and spirit, I would just remark, that the spirits of men are eternal , that they are governed by the same Priesthood that Abraham, Melchizedek, and the Apostles were: that they are organized according to that Priesthood which is everlasting, "without beginning of days or end of years,"--that they all move in their respective spheres, and are governed by the will of God; that when they appear upon the earth they are in it probationary state, and are preparing, if righteous, for a future and greater glory; that the spirits of good men cannot interfere with the wicked beyond their prescribed bounds, for "Michael, the Archangel, dared not bring a railing accusation against the devil, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee, Satan." It would seem also, that wicked spirits have thei
r bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed or controlled, and know their future destiny; hence, those that were in the maniac said to our Savior, "Art thou come to torment us before the time," and when Satan presented himself before the Lord, among the sons of God, he said that he came "from going to and fro in the earth, and from wandering up and down in it;" and he is emphatically called the prince of the power of the air; and, it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the Priesthood can control, as we have before adverted to, in the case of the sons of Sceva.
Having said so much upon general principles, without referring to the peculiar situation, power, and influence of the magicians of Egypt, the wizards and witches of the Jews, the oracles of the heathen, their necromancers, soothsayers, and astrologers, the maniacs or those possessed of devils in the Apostles' days, we will notice, and try to detect (so far as we have the Scriptures for our aid) some few instances of the development of false spirits in more modern times, and in this our day.
The "French Prophets" were possessed of a spirit that deceived; they existed in Vivaris and Dauphany, in great numbers in the year 1688; there were many boys and girls from seven to twenty-five; they had strange fits, as in tremblings and faintings, which made them stretch out their legs and arms, as in a swoon; they remained awhile in trances, and coming out of them, uttered all that came in their mouths [see Buck's Theological Dictionary].
Now God never had any prophets that acted in this way; there was nothing indecorous in the proceeding of the Lord's prophets in any age; neither had the apostles, nor prophets in the apostles's day anything of this kind. Paul says, "Ye may all prophesy, one by one; and if anything be revealed to another let the first hold his peace, for the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets;" but here we find that the prophets are subject to the spirit, and falling down, have twitchings, tumblings, and faintings through the influence of that spirit, being entirely under its control. Paul says, "Let everything be done decently and in order," but here we find the greatest disorder and indecency in the conduct of both men and women, as above described. The same rule would apply to the fallings, twitchings, swoonings, shaking, and trances of many of our modern revivalists.
Johanna Southcott professed to be a prophetess, and wrote a book of prophecies in 1804, she became the founder of a people that are still extant. She was to bring forth, in a place appointed, a son, that was to be the Messiah, which thing has failed. Independent of this, however, where do we read of a woman that was the founder of a church, in the word of God? Paul told the women in his day, "To keep silence in the church, and that if they wished to know anything to ask their husbands at home;" he would not suffer a woman "to rule, or to usurp authority in the church;" but here we find a woman the founder of a church, the revelator and guide, the Alpha and Omega, contrary to all acknowledged rule, principle, and order.
Jemimah Wilkinson was another prophetess that figured largely in America, in the last century. She stated that she was taken sick and died, and that her soul went to heaven, where it still continues. Soon after, her body was reanimated with the spirit and power of Christ, upon which she set up as a public teacher, and declared that she had an immediate revelation. Now the Scriptures positively assert that "Christ is the first fruit, afterwards those that are Christ's at His coming, then cometh the end." But Jemimah, according to her testimony, died, and rose again before the time mentioned in the Scriptures. The idea of her soul being in heaven while her body was [living] on earth, is also preposterous. When God breathed into man's nostrils, he became a living soul, before that he did not live, and when that was taken away his body died; and so did our Savior when the spirit left the body, nor did His body live until His spirit returned in the power of His resurrec
tion. But Mrs. Wilkinson's soul [life] was in heaven, and her body without the soul [or life] on earth, living [without the soul, or] without life! The Irvingites, are a people that have counterfeited the truth, perhaps the nearest of any of our modern sectarians. They commenced about ten years ago in the city of London, in England; they have churches formed in various parts of England and Scotland, and some few in Upper Canada. Mr. Irving, their founder, was a learned and talented minister of the Church of Scotland, he was a great logician, and a powerful orator, but withal wild and enthusiastic in his views. Moving in the higher circles, and possessing talent and zeal, placed him in a situation to become a conspicuous character, and to raise up a society similar to that which is called after his name.
The Irvingites have apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and angels. They profess to have the gift of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, and, in some few instances, to have the gift of healing.
The first prophetic spirit that was manifested was in some Misses Campbell that Mr. Irving met with, while on a journey in Scotland; they had [what is termed among their sect] "utterances," which were evidently of a supernatural agency. Mr. Irving, falling into the common error of considering all supernatural manifestations to be of God, took them to London with him, and introduced them into his church.
They were there honored as the prophetesses of God, and when they spoke, Mr. Irving or any of his ministers had to keep silence. They were peculiarly wrought upon before the congregation, and had strange utterances, uttered with an unnatural, shrill voice, and with thrilling intonations they frequently made use of a few broken, unconnected sentences, that were ambiguous, incoherent, and incomprehensible; at other times they were more clearly understood. They would frequently cry out, "There is iniquity! There is iniquity!" And Mr. Irving has been led, under the influence of this charge, to fall down upon his knees before the public congregation, and to confess his sin, not knowing whether he had sinned, nor wherein, nor whether the thing referred to him, or somebody else. During these operations, the bodies of the persons speaking were powerfully wrought upon, their countenances were distorted, they had frequent twitchings in their hands, and the whole system was
powerfully convulsed at intervals: they sometimes, however, (it is supposed) spoke in correct tongues, and had true interpretations.
Under the influence of this spirit the church was organized by these women; apostles, prophets, &c. were soon called, and a systematic order of things introduced, as above mentioned. A Mr. Baxter (afterwards one of their principal prophets) upon going into one of their meetings, says, "I saw a power manifested, and thought that was the power of God, and asked that it might fall upon me, and it did so, and I began to prophesy." Eight or nine years ago they had about sixty preachers going through the streets of London, testifying that London was to be the place where the "two witnesses" spoken of by John, were to prophesy; that (they) "the church and the spirit were the witnesses, and that at the end of three years and a half there was to be an earthquake and great destruction, and our Savior was to come. Their apostles were collected together at the appointed time watching the event, but Jesus did not come, and the prophecy was then ambiguously explained away. T
hey frequently had signs given them by the spirit to prove to them that what was manifested to them should take place. Mr. Baxter related an impression that he had concerning a child.
It was manifested to him that he should visit the child, and lay hands upon it, and that it should be healed; and to prove to him that this was of God, he should meet his brother in a certain place, who should speak unto him certain words. His brother addressed him precisely in the way and manner that the manifestation designated. The sign took place, but when he laid his hands upon the child it did not recover. I cannot vouch for the authority of the last statement, as Mr. Baxter at that time had left the Irvingites, but it is in accordance with many of their proceedings, and the thing never has been attempted to be denied.
It may be asked, where is there anything in all this that is wrong? 1st. The church was organized by women, and "God placed in the Church (first apostles, secondarily prophets), and not first women; but Mr.
Irving placed in his church first women (secondarily apostles, and the church was founded and organized by them. A woman has no right to found or organize a church--God never sent them to do it.
2nd. Those women would speak in the midst of a meeting, and rebuke Mr. Irving or any of the church. Now the Scripture positively says, "Thou shalt not rebuke an Elder, but entreat him as a father" not only this, but they frequently accused the brethren, thus placing themselves in the seat of Satan, who is emphatically called "the accuser of the brethren." 3rd. Mr. Baxter received the spirit on asking for it, without attending to the ordinances, and began to prophesy, whereas the scriptural way of attaining the gift of the Holy Ghost is by baptism, and by laying on of hands.
4th. As we have stated in regard to others, the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets; but those prophets were subject to the spirits, the spirits controlling their bodies at pleasure.
But it may be asked how Mr. Baxter could get a sign from a second person? To this we would answer, that Mr. Baxter's brother was under the influence of the same spirit as himself, and being subject to that spirit he could be easily made to speak to Mr. Baxter whatever the spirit should dictate; but there was not power in the spirit to heal the child.
Again it may be asked, how it was that they could speak in tongues if they were of the devil! We would answer that they could be made to speak in another tongue, as well as their own, as they were under the control of that spirit, and the devil can tempt the Hottentot, the Turk, the Jew, or any other nation; and if these men were under the influence of his spirit, they of course could speak Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Italian, Dutch, or any other language that the devil knew.
Some will say, "try the spirits" by the word. "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God." John 4:2, 3. One of the Irvingites once quoted this passage whilst under the influence of a spirit, and then said, "I confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." And yet these prophecies failed, their Messiah did not come; and the great things spoken of by them have fallen to the ground. What is the matter here? Did not the Apostle speak the truth? Certainly he did--but he spoke to a people who were under the penalty of death, the moment they embraced Christianity; and no one without a knowledge of the fact would confess it, and expose themselves to death, and this was consequently given as a criterion to the church or churches to which John wrote. But the devil on a certain occasion cried out, "I know thee, who thou art, the Holy One of God!" Here
was a frank acknowledgment under other circumstances that "Jesus had come in the flesh." On another occasion the devil said, "Paul we know, and Jesus we know"--of course, "come in the flesh." No man nor set of men without the regular constituted authorities, the Priesthood and discerning of spirits, can tell true from false spirits. This power they possessed in the Apostles' day, but it has departed from the world for ages.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has also had its false spirits; and as it is made up of all those different sects professing every variety of opinion, and having been under the influence of so many kinds of spirits, it is not to be wondered at if there should be found among us false spirits.
Soon after the Gospel was established in Kirtland, and during the absence of the authorities of the Church, many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild, enthusiastic notions were entertained; men ran out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them; one man pursued a ball that he said he saw flying in the air, until he came to a precipice, when he jumped into the top of a tree, which saved his life; and many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the Church of God, to cause the Spirit of God to be withdrawn, and to uproot and destroy those glorious principles which had been developed for the salvation of the human family. But when the authorities returned, the spirit was made manifest, those members that were exercised with it were tried for their fellowship, and those that would not re
pent and forsake it were cut off.
At a subsequent period a Shaker spirit was on the point of being introduced, and at another time the Methodist and Presbyterian falling down power, but the spirit was rebuked and put down, and those who would not submit to rule and good order were disfellowshiped. We have also had brethren and sisters who have had the gift of tongues falsely; they would speak in a muttering unnatural voice, and their bodies be distorted like the Irvingites before alluded to; whereas, there is nothing unnatural in the Spirit of God. A circumstance of this kind took place in Upper Canada, but was rebuked by the presiding Elder; another, a woman near the same place, professed to have the discerning of spirits, and began to accuse another sister of things that she was not guilty of, which she said she knew was so by the spirit, but was afterwards proven to be false; she placed herself in the capacity of the "accuser of the brethren," and no person through the discerning of spirits c
an bring a charge against another, they must be proven guilty by positive evidence, or they stand clear.
There have also been ministering angels in the Church which were of Satan appearing as an angel of light. A sister in the state of New York had a vision, who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods, an angel would appear to her. She went at the appointed time, and saw a glorious personage descending, arrayed in white, with sandy colored hair; he commenced and told her to fear God, and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home, or he would not return; whereas God had called him to go to the ends of the earth, and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage, and many things that were false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation.
We have also had brethren and sisters who have written revelations, and who have started forward to lead this Church. Such was a young boy in Kirtland, Isaac Russel, of Missouri, and Gladden Bishop and Oliver Olney of Nauvoo.
The boy is now living with his parents who have submitted to the laws of the Church. Mr. Russell stayed in Far West, from whence he was to go to the Rocky Mountains, led by three Nephites; but the Nephites never came, and his friends forsook him, all but some of the blood relations, who have since been nearly destroyed by the mob. Mr. Bishop was tried by the High Council, his papers examined, condemned and burned, and he cut off the Church. He acknowledged the justice of the decision, and said "that he now saw his error, for if he had been governed by the revelations given before, he might have known that no man was to write revelations for the Church, but Joseph Smith," and begged to be prayed for, and forgiven by the brethren. Mr. Olney has also been tried by the High Council and disfellowshiped, because he would not have his writings tested by the word of God; evidently proving that he loves darkness rather than light, because his deeds are evil. (8)

-- Apr 1, 1842
In his article "Try the Spirits" (Times and Seasons, Friday April 1, 1842 p. 745), Joseph Smith quotes from Buck's Theological Dictionary (1825): "after a catachumen was dead they hid a living man under the bed of the deceased; then coming to the dead man they asked him whether he would receive baptism; and he making no answer, the other answered for him, and said that he would be baptized in his stead; and so they baptized the living for the dead." (9)

In publishing the official version of the first vision, the TIMES AND SEASONS gives Joseph Smith's description of himself between the ages of fourteen and sixteen: "I frequently fell into many foolish errors and displayed the weakness of youth and the corruption of human nature, which I am sorry to say led me into divers temptations, to the gratification of many appetites offensive in the sight of God. In consequence of these things I often felt condemned for my weakness, and imperfections." In a separate editorial, "Try the Spirits," Joseph Smith acknowledges that Mormonism is not the only contemporary church that claims to have apostles and visitation of angels: "The Irvingites have apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and angels." (10)

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith published a lengthy editorial in the Church newspaper Times and Seasons entitled Try the Spirits about the gift of discernment. (11)

-- Apr 6, 1842
In a sermon Joseph Smith affirms regarding the second coming of Christ that, "There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes - I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written - the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of Heaven till I am eighty-five years old [December 23, 1890]." (12)

-- 7Apr42
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Temple and Nauvoo House
Young Men Should Go Out to Prove Themselves
Don't Listen to Rumor
Baptisms for Health and for the Dead in Temple Font Only (8)


Footnotes:
1 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons
2 - Crapo, Richley, Chronology Pertaining to Blacks and the LDS Priesthood, http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/node/62
3 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
4 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
5 - Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith, http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/
6 - Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984
7 - Kimball, Stanley B. (editor), On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball, Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1987
8 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
9 - Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source
10 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
11 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
12 - McQue, Bob; Religious Faith: Enlightening or Blinding?: Timeline of Key Events in Mormon History


LDS History Timeline

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