Mormon History, Apr 14, 1845

-- Apr 14, 1845
[Anointed Quorum] possible meeting of "Holy Order" women at "P[resident?]. Young's" in evening . (1)

-- Apr 15, 1845
[Anointed Quorum] "Holy Order" prayer circle at office of Willard Richards . (1)

[Council of Fifty Members] Young, Phineas H. (1799-1879). Admitted 15 April 1845. His fellowship in the Council was challenged on 22 August 1851, but he reconciled himself with the Council on that date. (2)

-- Apr 15, 1845, Tuesday
[William Clayton Writings] Tuesday April 15, 1845 ... Dined at 12 Oclock with Brother Miller and afterwards rode with him to meet with the Kingdom of God in the upper room of the Seventies Hall. Phineas Young was received into the Council and decided to go with Bros Dana, Dunham and Shumway to the Indian Council at Council Bluffs and thence if they think best to the Pacific Ocean. It was also decided that Bro. Solomon Zundal (Zendal) should go with them to his tribe the Delawares. A letter from Gov. Ford was read giving his advice relative to our policy in organizing the City. He advises to organize the City into corporations of a mile square so as to include the whole surface. He d also recommends us to go and establish an independent government in California (3)

[William Clayton Writings] When one man called on him in April seeking forgiveness for the ``hard feelings and speeches'' he had used against him while Joseph was alive, Clayton quickly forgave him. ``I am glad for his sake he has taken the course he has to make the matter right & shall cherish no unkind feeling against him,'' he wrote in his journal. (3)

-- Apr 16, 1845
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] April 16th ( )(10 P) I went to the office & Carried 40. which I had recieved at the conference for the Covenants, Temple & Emegration. On my arival there I recieved 4 Letters one from President Young, one from Elder P. P. Pratt one from Father Carter, & one from Glasgow. The three letters from America were full of interest. Br Young speaks of the Progress of the Temple & endowment & affairs in Nauvoo. Elder Fordham Brannan & Pratt all write in one letter containing good news. Father Carter & Sister Foss both write in one letter. They state that Sister Foss family are all well though several of them lay at the Point of Death when we left. Our Child Phebe Amelia is well. It is the first letter we have recieved from them since we left New York.

I also recieved 10 Papers 6 from Nauvoo & 4 from New York. 4 miles. (4)

[Newspaper] - Announcement: "List of Lands" - Lands with Due Taxes Part 2 -- Editorial -- Provides the name, description, acreage, value, and taxes owed on many properties in Nauvoo.

- Story: "The Conference" - General Conference Synopsis -- Editorial -- Describes the recently held General Conference.

- Letter to the Editor: Thomas C. Sharp and the Persecution of the Saints (3 Letters) -- Signed, "Americus" -- Describes the large anti-Mormon sentiment, and the dishonesty that allows it to perpetuate. Also speaks about Sidney Rigdon.

- Announcement: "Notice to the Churches Abroad" - Disfellowshipment Announced -- Brigham Young -- Describes the disfellowshipment of George J. Adams and Samuel Brannan.

- Announcement: Notice - Relief Society to Collect Subscriptions -- Mary Smith -- Asks the Sisters to collect the peany subscription to provide funds for the Relief Society. (5)

-- Apr 16, 1845 (Wednesday)
As the city charter of Nauvoo had been repealed, a small part of the city was incorporated as the town of Nauvoo. (6)

-- Apr 16, 1845, Wednesday
[William Clayton Writings] Wednesday April 16. 45 ... P.M. at the Office mostly copying records of the Kingdom (3)

-- Apr 17, 1845
[Anointed Quorum] Thursday evening, prayer circle of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa M. Lyman, Orson Pratt, Newel K. Whitney, George Miller, John Smith, Joseph Young, and William Clayton at Willard Richards's office at 8 p.m. . (1)

Letter to Lyman Wight-- Lyman Wight to whom this communication of the Council of the Twelve is addressed was an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Like the letter of February 27, 1845, to James Emmett, this letter calls Lyman Wight to repentance for seeking to lead a group of Saints west contrary to the advice and authority of the Quorum. Significantly enough Lyman Wight and those with him were told, ". . . if you will hearken to our counsel you will give up all idea of journeying west at present. If you go westward before you have received your endowments in the Temple you will not prosper." Lyman Wight was unable to take the counsel of his Quorum leaders. His insubordination towards Brigham Young and the Quorum was discussed in the April 6, 1845, Conference of the Church, two weeks before this letter was written. For a discussion of the restrain used by the Quorum in dealing with Lyman Wight, see CHC 2:435-436. For additional background see CHC 3:384; 2:435.

LETTER to Lyman Wight et al: A Plea for Union To Brother Lyman Wight and All the Brethren With Him-Greeting: We the Council of the Twelve being assembled and having learned your present circumstances and situation and also your future calculations with regard to your journey west, cannot feel justified without giving you a word of counsel and advice together with some information relative to our present prospects. We are prospering in this city both temporally and spiritually. Immigration continues to this city. Several hundred have arrived this spring. Great peace and union prevail among all the saints. There were many thousands present at our conference this month. All of our business was performed with the utmost peace and union and not a dissenting voice. We are rushing the Temple ahead with a strong hand. Tithings come in for the Temple more liberally than they have ever done before, and with but few exceptions the saint are willing to give their all for the Temple if r
equired. There is every prospect of getting on the roof and finishing some rooms by next autumn when we shall commence administering the ordinances of endowment according to commandment. We intend commencing again on the Nauvoo House within a few days. All the saints feel spirited and determined to carry out the measures of our martyred Prophet. There is no prospect of any mob at present, and all things bid fair for peace and prosperity.

And now, dear brethren, if you will hearken to our counsel you will give up all idea of journeying west at present. If you go westward before you have received your endowments in the Temple you will not prosper. And when you meet with trouble and difficulty let no one say that the counsel of the Twelve brought them into it, for we now in the name of the Lord counsel and advise you not to go west at present. We desire, dear brethren, that you should take hold with us and help us to accomplish the building of the Lord's houses. Come brethren, be one with us, and let us be agreed in all of our exertions to roll on the great wheel of the kingdom. We forward this letter by Brother Bent. He will give you further instructions relative to our proceedings and future calculations and we hope you will receive his counsel and do accordingly and all shall be well. {1845-April 17-DHC 7:400-401} (7)


Footnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power
2 - Quinn, D. Michael, Council of Fifty Members, 1844-1945, BYU Studies 20, #2 (1980)
3 - Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries
4 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
5 - http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor
6 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
7 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)


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