Elders’ Journal, , Caldwell Co., MO, Aug. 1838. For more complete suorce information, see the source note for Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.
Historical Introduction
The Elders’ Journal, which published two issues in , Ohio, in 1837 before the church’s was destroyed, was reestablished in , Missouri, in 1838, after JS and most other church leaders migrated from Kirtland to Far West. was the proprietor of the newspaper, and JS was the editor, though the amount and nature of JS’s involvement and editorial oversight is unclear. By May 1838, JS and began working on material for the first Far West issue, dated July 1838. Ultimately, two issues were published in , dated July 1838 and August 1838. The July issue included letters to and from church serving proselytizing missions, as well as articles, minutes of meetings, and other items. The August issue contained similar material, including an editorial by JS and a letter that the commissioned to write to who had not yet gathered to Missouri. The August issue also included an obituary for Ethan Barrows Jr., who died in mid-August 1838, indicating that the issue was published sometime in the second half of the month or later.
Note that only the editorial content created specifically for this issue of the Elders’ Journal is annotated here. Articles reprinted from other papers, letters, conference minutes, and notices, are reproduced here but not annotated. Items that are stand-alone JS documents, such as the Minutes from a 28 June 1838 conference, are annotated elsewhere.
The obituary in the Elders’ Journal states that Barrows died on 15 August, but his father’s later autobiography gives the date of 18 August. (Obituary for Ethan Barrows Jr., Elders’ Journal, Aug. 1838, 64; “The Journal of Ethan Barrows,” Journal of History, Jan. 1922, 46; see also “The Journal of Ethan Barrows,” Journal of History, Oct. 1922, 451–452.)
Journal of History. Lamoni, IA, 1908–1920; Independence, MO, 1921–1925.
of the meeting, which was to organize a Presidency, and High Council, to preside over this stake of Zion, and attend to the affairs of the church in . It was then motioned, seconded and carried, by the unanimous voice of the assembly, that Pr’s , should act as President of the stake of . was unanimously chosen 1st and 2nd counsellors. After prayer, the Presidents proceded to the ordination of as 2nd assistant counsellor. was then chosen acting Bishop pro tempore by the unanimous voice of the assembly. President , then proceded to organize the high council. The counsellors were chosen according to the following order, by a unanimous vote. John Lemon 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Isaac Perry 5th, 6th, 7th, Thomas Gordon 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.
After the ordination of the counsellors, who had not previously been ordained to the high priesthood. President J. Smith Jr. made remarks by way of charge to the Presidents and counsellors, instructing them in the duty of their callings, and the responsibility of their stations; exhorting them to be cautious and deliberate, in all their councils, and to be careful to act in righteousness in all things. President , and , then made some remarks. was unanimously chosen clerk of this council and stake; and after singing the well known hymn Adam-ondi-ahman, the meeting closed by prayer by , and a benediction by Pres. J. Smith Jr.
, Mo.)
Daviess Co. June 28 1838.)
J. SMITH Jr. Chairman.
)
Clerks,
Isaac Perry.)
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July 9th 1838.
A Council of the twelve apostles of the last days, assembled at , agreeable to a revelation given July 8 1838.
Council called to order, presiding.
Persons present belonging to said quorums.
,
,
.
,
.
Council opened by prayer by . Resolved, 1st that the persons who are to fill the place of those fallen, be immediately notified, to come to . Also those of the twelve who are not present.
Resolved, 2nd that notify , & , notify , & notify who is now in England.
And voted, that , publish the same in the next Journal.
then gave some instructions, concerning the provisions necessary to be made for the families of the twelve, while laboring in the cause of their Redeemer; advising them to instruct their converts to move without delay to the places of gathering, and their to strictly attend to the law of God.
, pres’t.
. Clerk.
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ON THE DUTY OF HUSBAND AND WIFE.
It is the duty of a husband to love, cherish, and nourish his wife, and cleave unto her and none else; he ought to honor her as himself, and he ought to regard her feelings with tenderness, for she is his flesh, and his bone, designed to be an help unto him, both in temporal , and spiritual things; one into whose bosom he can pour all his complaints without reserve, who is willing (being designed) to take part of his burden, to soothe and encourage his feelings by her gentle voice. It is the place of the man, to stand at the head of his family, and be lord of his own house, not to rule over his wife as a tyrant, neither as one who is fearful or jealous that his wife will get out of her place, and prevent him from exercising his authority. It is his duty to be a man of God (for a man of God is a man of wisdom.) ready at all times to obtain from the scriptures, the revelations, and from on high, such instructions as are necessary for the edification, and salvation of his household.— And on the other hand, it is the duty of the wife, to be in subjection to her [p. 61]