1.2.11

See images of the original document at josephsmithpapers.org.

May 27, 1842 • Friday

Minutes of the Proceedings of the

Tenth Meeting of the Society.

May 27^th.

Meeting in the Grove— open’d with singing— prayer by Prest E. Smith.

Prest. E. Smith arose and address’d the congregation, said all must have grace for themselves &c.— that the first business is to finish the business commenc’d yesterday— requested if any were present who came to make ridicule of the Society, that they would withdraw.

The following persons were receiv’d. to wit.

Nancy Flemming	Almena Haskins
Sophia A. [Bundy] Packard	Sarah Powers
Elizabeth Barnum	Sarah Lyons
Marcia A. Root	Mary Ann Bigler
Elizabeth Bullard [Ballard]	Sally Hawley
Eliza Odercark [Odekirk]	Asenath Janes1

[p. [54]]

Lillis Barney	Sarah Ames
Eliza Kelley [Kelly]	Sarah Dodley [Dudley]
Mary Jinkins [Jenkins]	Lovina Dodge
Anna M. Hulett	Dorcas Averett
Mary Pearsons [Parsons]	Catharine Raymond
Mary C. Rawson	Mary Asherley [Ashley]
Martha Murdock	Loisa Stout
Eliza Pace	Mary Wilson
Jane V. Lee	Almira [Lucy Alvira] Atwood
Lydia Stewart	Violette O. Harding
Celinda Hoyt	Thomazin Downing
Sally McArthur	Sarah Brinton
Mary Ann Call	Lucy Ann W. Cutler
Hannah Ames	Clarinda Cutler
Elizabeth Ames	Amanda Babcock
Betsey Arnold	Asenath Babcock
Nancy M. [Case] Winchester	Sarah Morrison
Patience Johnson	Eunice Warnuth [Warmouth]
Clarissa J. More	Nancy Wilson
Dolly Wightman	Sally Baker
Rebecca Reed	Phebe Harding
Elizabeth Pilkington	Eliza Harvey
Caroline Partridge	Frances Humphrey
Eliza Delany	Betsey Rhodabank
Charlotte Allen	Frances Kelley [Kelly]
Rachel McCall	Sophrona Daviss [Davis]
Lydia M. Brown	Mary Johnson
Desdemona Gleason	Juliet Johnson
Sylvia Vanfleet	Beulah A. Clark
Esther Russell	Margaret Carn [Garn]
Nancy Baldwin	Esther Huse
Mary Ann Dimick	Mary Lower
Sarah Hadfield	Polly Ann Butler
Phebe Curtiss [Curtis]	Jemima Johnson

[p. [55]]

Ann Powers	Sarah L. Hoyt
Susanna C. Perry	Caroline Butterfield
Christianna Lytle	Olive Newell
Deborah Houghton	Sarah Strong
Mary M. Carpenter	Elizabeth Walker
Mary Houghton	Katharine Huntsman
Charity Riley	Julia Ann Shumway
Mary Hardman	Sarah Burket
Abigail Bentley	Lavinia Clough [Lavina Cluff]
Mary Winnegar [Winegar]	Martha Nelson
Isabel Strickland	Rhoda Nelson
Melissa J. Bigler	Betsey Stephen
Margaret Moon	Susannah Cummings
Mary Okey	Mabel Sharp
Ann Birch	Mary Parsons
Eliza A Allen	Mary Wilcox
Julia Ann Chapman	Mary Aldridge
Elizabeth Ann Dort	Hannah Henderson
Sarah Wild	Mary Ann Dixon [Dickson]
Abigail Abbott	Levina W. Murphy
Anna Gifford	Polly M. Colton
Lucy Parker	Albina Merrill
Maria Empey	Caroline E. Grover
Mary Ann Empey	Nancy Timmon
Ellen Parker	Sophronia Drake
Lorena Barrows	Flora Drake
Hannah B. Merriam	Dolly [Polly] Daniels
Rebecca Hodge	Sarah Earl
Delecta Clark	Mary Ann Coons
Huldah M. Clark	Polly Vaughn
Elizabeth H. Hyde	Elizabeth Stewart
Prudence Miles	Melinda Stewart
Lucy [Turner] Atwood	Rebecca W. Holman
Terissa Judd	Ann Bosley

[p. [56]]

Cynthia Clyde	Rebecca Wight
Abigail Dow	Rachel Worthington
Rebecca Holman	Rebecca Warner
Nancy Green[e]	Sarah Lytle
Ellen Rockwood	Sarah Higgins
Sarah M’Gill [McGill]	Phebe Leavitt
Mary Newberry	Mary Peck
Clarissa C. Cutler	Mrs. John [Harriet] Luce
Nancy Gilbert
Tanor [Tamer] Washburn
Susanna Rigby
Polly McLellin [McClellan]
Maria Sc[h]oles
Melissa Bird
Eliza Ann Haven
Ann Parry
Sarah Dodge
Sarah Ann Wood
Julia E. Stone
Sally Ann Reed
Elizabeth Hugh
Amanda Higbee
Margaret Shirts
Celinda Fuller
Mary Jones
Caroline Huntington
Harriet Clark
Rhoda Pearson
Hester Myers
Phebe Madison
Elizabeth Pool
Amelia Green

Mrs. President said the case of L. A. [Lucy Ann] Munjar was put over— read a certificate and spoke [p. [57]] of dropping the subject.² She impress’d the necessity of being united in doing good to the poor— said she had hired a poor man to plough 〈and fence〉 father Knights [Joseph Knight Sr.’s] lot at $.22,60, and solicited the Society in behalf of the payment which might be made in provision, clothing and furniture.

Prest. J. Smith and Bishop [Newel K.] Whitney then came upon the stand.

Bishop Whitney arose and after some preliminary remarks, proceeded to address the congregation by saying that he rejoic’d and did rejoice at the formation of the Society that we might improve upon our talents and to prepare for those blessings which God is soon to bestow upon us.³

In the beginning God created man male and female and bestow’d upon man certain blessings peculiar to a man of God, of which woman partook, so that without the female all things cannot be restor’d to the earth it takes all to restore the Priesthood.⁴ It is the intent of the Society, by humility and faithfulness; in connexion with those husbands that are found worthy. Rejoice while contemplating the blessings which will be pour’d out on the heads of the saints. God has many precious things to bestow, even to our astonishment if we are faithful. I say again I rejoice in the prospect of what lays before. It becomes us to prepare by striving for union one with another, that we may be prepar’d for the day of choosing— man will not choose but God will say who is and who is not worthy.

We must humble ourselves and live by the rule given for our practice— we must lose sight of vain things and remember that the eye of God is upon us. If we are striving to do right, altho’ we may err in judgment many times yet we are justified in the sight of God if we do the best we can according to our judgment. We need not go astray [p. [58]] if we will strive in all the energy of our souls to do right.

I rejoice that God has given us means whereby we may get intelligence and instruction. It is our privilege to stand in an attitude to get testimony for ourselves— it is as much our privilege as that of the ancients saints. We must prove all things and hold fast that which is good.⁵ There are blessings lying before which are worth striving to obtain. It is our duty to humble ourselves— it is our most reasonable service to do it— must proceed to receive grace for grace, light and intelligence—⁶ if we have intelligence we have pow’r— knowledge is power: if we understand all things we shall not be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of God.⁷ I desire all evil things may be done away; but far as possible throw the vail of charity over failings— when we see one out of the way, we ought in humility to go to, and counsel, and strive to bring back those who have stray’d from the holy principles— we must do as we would wish to be done by, this is the way to win souls and bring them back. There are many things to be taken into consideration. Far be it from me to harbor iniquity and outbreaking sins. We may have different views of things, still there is some criterion which all may come to, and by bringing our minds and wills into subjection to the law of the Lord, may come to unity.

It is impossible while finding fault with one another to be united. Would to God I had pow’r to bridle my tongue— We are 〈am〉 too apt when I hear anything, to make remarks, but of late have decreed to set a double watch on my tongue and not offend one of the little ones. I wish nobody harm— wish it were in my pow’r to save all within the reach of mercy— would glory in it. Perhaps some would say from my past life that I had not been so faithful as I might have heen, or my voice would [p. [59]] oftener have been heard in the congregation of the saints, but I rejoice in God that it is as well with me as it is. I assure you there are great blessings before, that would astonish you if you could behold them.⁸ I came here for the purpose of hearing Prest. Smith and of being instructed by him.⁹ I wish to encourage you to persevere in the ways of righteousness. I tell you there are blessings before to be confer’d as soon as our hearts are prepar’d to receive them.— you have my heart’s desire for the prosperity of the Society and pray my heav’nly Father that you may go on and glorify your profession.

The meeting then adjourn’d.

[p. [60]]

Notes

1. text: Possibly “Jones”.

2. Munjar was admitted as a member March 24, 1842, and suspended as a member May 19, 1842. (Document 1.2, entries for Mar. 24 and May 19, 1842.)

3. Whitney almost certainly was referring to blessings associated with temple rites in which he had recently participated. On May 4 and 5, 1842, Whitney and eight other men met with Joseph Smith in the upper room of Smith’s red brick store. Willard Richards participated in these events and made both a brief entry in Smith’s journal as well as a more extended description that later became part of Joseph Smith’s multivolume manuscript history. Richards recorded that Smith spent the day “instructing them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of Keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchisedec Priesthood. … In this Council was instituted the Ancient order of things for the first time in these last days.” This marked the introduction of temple ceremonies often collectively termed “the endowment.” Because the temple in Nauvoo was still under construction, the upper room of Smith’s store was specially arranged for the ceremonies. The circle of those who received the endowment through Joseph Smith in May 1842 expanded gradually after September 1843 and became known variously as the quorum, the temple quorum, the anointed quorum, and the Holy Order. Emma Smith received her endowment September 28, 1843, the first woman to enter this temple quorum. Approximately sixty-five men and women received the endowment before Joseph Smith’s death in 1844. Whitney and other May 1842 initiates were aware that “there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all Saints, of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them.” (Historian’s Office, Joseph Smith History, Draft Notes, ca. 1839–1856, CHL, May 4, 1842; Joseph Smith, Journal, May 4 and 5, 1842, in JSP, J2:53, 54n198; Joseph Smith et al., History, 1838–1856, vols. A-1–F-1 [original], A-2–E-2 [fair copy], CHL, vol. C-1, 1328–1329 [hereafter JS History]; Joseph Smith, Journal, Sept. 28, 1843, in Andrew H. Hedges et al., eds., Journals, Volume 3: May 1843–June 1844, vol. 3 of the Journals series of The Joseph Smith Papers, ed. Ronald K. Esplin and Matthew J. Grow [Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2015], 104 [hereafter JSP, J3]; Andrew F. Ehat, “Joseph Smith’s Introduction of Temple Ordinances and the 1844 Mormon Succession Question” [master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, 1982], 25–45; Carol Cornwall Madsen, “Mormon Women and the Temple: Toward a New Understanding,” in Maureen Ursenbach Beecher and Lavina Fielding Anderson, eds., Sisters in Spirit: Mormon Women in Historical and Cultural Perspective [Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987], 84–86.)

4. For a discussion of early Mormon marriage rituals and Newel K. Whitney’s understanding of the divine authority he and his wife possessed, see Kathleen Flake, “The Development of Early Latter-day Saint Marriage Rites, 1831–53,” Journal of Mormon History 41, no. 1 (Jan. 2015): 77–102.

5. See 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

6. See Doctrine and Covenants 93:12, 13, 20, 36.

7. See 2 Peter 1:8.

8. Heber C. Kimball, one of the nine men who received the endowment through Joseph Smith on May 4 and 5, 1842, expressed a similar sentiment in a letter to fellow apostle Parley P. Pratt: “We have recieved some pressious things through the Prophet on the preasthood that would caus your Soul to rejoice.” (Heber C. Kimball to Parley P. Pratt, June 17, 1842, Parley P. Pratt, Correspondence, 1842–1855, CHL.)

9. Though Joseph Smith attended the meeting, he was apparently ill. His journal entry for May 27, 1842, as recorded by Willard Richards, notes: “A billious attack. at home taking medicine.” (Joseph Smith, Journal, May 27, 1842, in JSP, J2:64.)