March 9, 1844 • Saturday

¹The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo resumed its Meetings— March 9^th 1844

Mienetes [Minutes] of the ~~First~~ Procidings of the

First Meeting of the Society

Room over Brick Store

March 9 1844

Meeting conveind— Presedent E. [Emma] Smith. Proceeded to Open the Meeting— appointed— H. [Hannah] Ells, Sectary

Stated the object of the Meeting, read an Epistle called the Voice of Innocence— adressed the Meeting on the late Slander, of Hiram [Hyrum] Smith &c by O F Bostic [Orsamus F. Bostwick] w[h]ich calld forth— the 〈of reading of〉 above Epistle—² it was then asertaned by vote, who would be willing to receeve the princples of vurtue, keep the commandments of God, and uphold the Pres^tss in puting 〈down〉 iniquity— was received by unanimous voice— Pres^t E. S. Said her determination was to do her Duty Effectully— in puting down transgresion

Counslor Witney [Elizabeth Ann Whitney]— requested the Sisters to Pray that Sister Emma might be supported, to teach us the princples of Righteousness expressed her fears, that Jugement would bgin at the house of God— Pres^t S. said it was high time for Mothers to wach over their Daughters & exhort them to keep the path of virtue— the present Meeting then ajourned in order to make room for those who could not get admitance in the fore part of the day—

12 o c A M— th[e] following Persons were then received by vote—

Rachel Foster	Clarsesa Labanno [Clarissa LeBaron]
Mary Ann Shefflin	Nancy [blank]
Mary All[e]y	Mary S. Nelson
Hannah [blank]	Mary Stuart
Catharine Tuttle	Harriet Carter
Sarah Har	Susan Ashby

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Brick Store Affternoon

**Meeting minutes, March 9, 1844.** The Nauvoo Relief Society met four times in 1844, twice on March 9 and twice on March 16. In the two March 9 meetings, Emma Smith read a document titled “Voice of Innocence,” which William W. Phelps had written and Smith had somewhat revised (see Document 1.10). Hannah M. Ells took minutes of the 1844 meetings. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City. Photograph by Welden C. Andersen.)

1 oclock Meeting Called to order by

Prest— Emma S— again staded the object of the 〈Meeting〉 that it was on account of the Slander of P. Hiram Smith by a vile man— Bostwic— wich had ex[c]ited th[e] indignation; of the Breatheren against him; and called forth the present remarks; the [‘]Voice of Inocence’ was then read and approved— continued firther by exhorting all to take heed to their ways; and follow the teachings of Broather Joseph; and when he Preacheas against vice to take heed to it; and said; he meant what he said; concludid her remarks by requ[e]sting all to use theire common senses; and they would teach us right princples if we would adheare to them— further that we must be willing to forgive 〈what has past〉 in consideration of repentance & reformation— Meeting— adjoured to meet again Next Sat^y 10 OClock³

H. M. Ells Sec^d

Abigal Gray	Elisabeth Moss
Eliza Gray	Emly Jacobs
Catharine A. Curtis	Rachel Swaner
Jane S Richards	Elisabeth Miles
Mary Cole	Emily Merrell
Susanah Cambill	Mary Guinomd [Guinand]
Ann Cotten [Cottam]	Sophia Pollard
Sarah Littlewood	Catherine Jameion [Jemeion]
Mary Bundys	Dolly Duncon [Duncan]
Isabela Willby [Isabella Wilkie]	Alice Robinson
Ann Bushby [Busby]	Sarah Gibbs
Lidia Savery [Lydia Severy]	Sally Pollard
Mary Bedford	Sarah Stuart
Dellia [Amelia Delilah] Mikesell	Mehaatable Chase
Ester McMin [Esther McMeans]	Rebeca Romand [Rebecca Raymond]
Elizabeth Clark	Ennice Leffinwell [Eunice Leffingwell]
	Amy [blank]

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