A special convention is held in Nauvoo at the end of general conference to launch Joseph Smith's presidential campaign. Brigham Young asks for volunteers to "to preach the Gospel and electioneer" He gets 244 responses and cash and pledges of $200. (1)
[Joseph Smith] Conference continues. Brigham Young, Hyrum Smith, and Heber C. Kimball speak. (2)
[Joseph Smith Diary] April 9th 1844, Tuesday 8 A.M. The Elders assembled at the stand and Amasa Lyman addressed the Elders. After which President Young spoke at conciderable length on Elders preaching 1st principles alone when they go out.
Said the Prophet's declaration that all America was Zion was a perfect sweep stakes.
Referred to the building of the Temple and the branches around to send teams and provisions and work continually drawing stone and [seeing] to the election of Joseph.
11 mi[nutes to] 10 [A.M.] Hyrum referred to Joseph's proclamation concerning building up churches all over the land, also to the rights of franchise and the correct principles of electing good men for offices, especially [a] President[, we] want a Pres[iden]t of the U[nited] S[tates].
Pres[iden]t Young requested all who were in favor of electing Joseph to the Presidency to raise both hands which they [did] say 1,100 Elders and commenced clapping their hand[s] and gave many loud cheers. The opposite was called for and only one hand raised.
Elder Kimball spoke of a figure of the threshing flour mill, smut machine, grain heads &c. &c. never preached mysteries &c.
President Young corrected Bro[ther] Kimball and told about the mystery of Amasa Lyman [and Joseph's] breeches. Must al[1] take thought for thy brother.
20 mi[nutes to] 11 [A.M.] A call was made for those who would volunteer to go preaching to pass out on[to] the green. A great company walked out then returned to their seats on the right of the stand and the names of those who could go 6 months were first taken /then 3 months/ viz. &c. 244 which were read and corrected. After which W[illiam] W. Phelps made a few remarks in relation to principles.
20 mi[nutes] before 1 [P.M.] adjourned for 1 hour.
P.M. Met according to adjournment. Names of volunteers called and places assigned for their mission.
Pres[iden]t Young gave the brethren some good instruction to behave themselves and not come back crying can't you do something for me because they have been guilty of iniquity and related several instances where God has heard the prayer of the brethren to defend us from our enemies [such] as Carlin, Reynolds, John C. Bennet[t].
Elder G[eorge] J. Adams said Lieut[enant] Smith had to raise $1750.00 this month and called on all who could give 5.00 each 1.00 each &c. and more than 50.00 were paid down 100.00 offered to be lent and the Elders agreed to sustain the President with uplifted hand. (3)
-- Apr 10, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] April 10th Wendesday I spent the day at home to work in my garden. (4)
[Joseph Smith Diary] Wednesday, April 10th 1844 The Twelve [Apostles] were in council arranging for conference. (3)
-- Apr 11, 1844
Amasa Mason Lyman: Member of Council of Fifty, probably as early as 11 April 1844. (5)
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 11th I spent the day in council. Some remarks wer made upon the principle of toleration. (4)
Amasa M Lyman: Council of Fifty bet. 14 Mar. and 11 Apr. 1844 q(5)
[Nauvoo Temple] The year's labor on the Temple commenced with William Player beginning to work on this date. (7)
Smith becomes Mormonism's theocratic king. The kingdom's clerk William Clayton wrote that during the 11 April 1844 meeting "was prest. Joseph chosen as our Prophet, Priest and King by Hosannas." William Marks, who was present at the coronation, later stated that the Council of Fifty performed an ordinance "in which Joseph suffered himself to be ordained a king, to reign over the house of Israel forever." A later revelation to the Council of Fifty affirmed that God called Smith "to be a Prophet, Seer and Revelator to my Church and Kingdom; and to be a King and Ruler over Israel." In detailed minutes of this same ceremony years later, the Council of Fifty's standing chairman, John Taylor, was "anointed & set apart as a King, Priest and Ruler over Israel on the Earth." In a veiled reference to Smith's kingship, Apostles Lyman Wight and Heber C. Kimball wrote in 1844 that "you are already President Pro tem of the world." Smith is anointed and ordained "King, Priest and Ruler over
Israel on Earth" . PLACE: Council of Fifty Meeting in Masonic Hall, Nauvoo, IL SOURCE: The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, p.124 (8)
Footnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Conklin, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1844, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
4 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
5 - 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, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith
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, http://amzn.to/origins-power
7 - Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple
8 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
LDS History Timeline
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