Minutes, 26 April 1835

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Minutes, 26 April 1835
Source Note
Minutes,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH, 26 Apr. 1835. Featured version copied [between ca. 26 Apr. and May 1835] in “Record of the Transactions of the Twelve,” p. 5, in Patriarchal Blessing Book 2; handwriting of
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Record of the Twelve, 14 Feb.–28 Aug. 1835.
Historical Introduction
On 26 April 1835, the
Twelve Apostles
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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and members of the
Seventy
A priesthood office with the responsibility to travel and preach and assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, similar to the seventy in the New Testament. In February and March 1835, the first members of the Seventy were selected and ordained. All of those...
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met in the unfinished
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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in
Kirtland
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, Ohio, to receive instructions from JS on their mission and duties. The meeting was one in a series called to prepare the Twelve for their service as
apostles
A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical and priesthood office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder...
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and for their pending mission to the eastern
United States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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and
Upper Canada
British colony of Canada divided into Upper Canada and Lower Canada, 1791; reunited 1841. Upper Canada’s boundaries corresponded roughly to portion of present-day Ontario south of Hudson Bay watershed. Population in 1840 about 430,000. Immigrants mainly from...
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.
1
On 12 March 1835, the Twelve agreed to leave Kirtland on 4 May 1835 to go “through the eastern States to the Atlantic Ocean,” holding “conferences in the vicinity of the several branches of the church for the purpose of regulateing all things necessary for their welfare.” (Minutes, 12 Mar. 1835.)
It also marked the first time that all twelve of the apostles had met together since their appointment in February 1835.
2
For more information about the appointment of the apostles, see Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835.

Orson Pratt
19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...
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, the last apostle to come to Kirtland, entered the meeting late, having been summoned from a lengthy, multistate preaching assignment to meet with the other apostles in Kirtland. Many other church members also attended the meeting; Pratt wrote in his journal that “a large congregation” was present.
3
Pratt, Diary, 26 Apr. 1835.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Pratt, Orson. Journal, 1833–1837. Orson Pratt, Autobiography and Journals, 1833–1847. CHL. MS 587, fds. 2–4.
The meeting had been planned for some time. In the March 1835 issue of the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, a notice appeared requesting that
Thomas B. Marsh
1 Nov. 1800–Jan. 1866. Farmer, hotel worker, waiter, horse groom, grocer, type foundry worker, teacher. Born at Acton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Marsh and Molly Law. Married first Elizabeth Godkin, 1 Nov. 1820, at New York City. Moved to ...
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and
Orson Pratt
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return to
Kirtland
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so they could “attend a meeting of the
elders
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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in this place on the 26th of April next.”
4
Notice to Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1835, 1:90.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
The featured minutes, as recorded by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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in the Record of the Twelve, describe the meeting as a large gathering of people assembled to hear JS but then provide little detail about the meeting, ending abruptly after noting Pratt’s arrival. Other sources provide more information. A license dated 26 April 1835 for
Parley P. Pratt
12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....
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states it was “given by the direction of a conference of the elders of said church, assembled in Kirtland,” presumably referring to this same meeting. JS signed the license as “Chairman,” confirming his presence at the meeting, but no source clearly indicates that he delivered the expected instructions and charge referenced in the minutes.
5
Elder’s License for Parley P. Pratt, 26 Apr. 1835, JS Collection, CHL. Orson Pratt’s diary, for example, describes the meeting but says nothing about JS speaking. (Pratt, Diary, 26 Apr. 1835.)
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
If he did, it is possible that the instruction provided was the Instruction on Priesthood, which he and likely
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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prepared sometime that spring and which was later published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.
6
Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107].
Orson Pratt
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’s journal also explains that
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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preached to the group in the morning and four individuals were
baptized
An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...
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in the afternoon. Orson Pratt and
Thomas B. Marsh
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then spoke, after which the two were
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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apostles by
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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and
David Whitmer
7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...
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. Pratt and Marsh were the last two members of the Twelve to be ordained to that position.
7
Lyman Johnson, Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball were ordained on 14 February 1835; Orson Hyde, David W. Patten, Luke Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, and William Smith were ordained on 15 February; and Parley P. Pratt was ordained on 21 February. (Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835; Minutes and Blessings, 21 Feb. 1835.)
The two then “entered into a Covenant to keep the commandments of God in all things & do the work of the ministry where unto [they] were called.”
8
Aside from this copy in the Record of the Twelve, no other copies of the minutes are extant.
Footnotes
[1]
On 12 March 1835, the Twelve agreed to leave Kirtland on 4 May 1835 to go “through the eastern States to the Atlantic Ocean,” holding “conferences in the vicinity of the several branches of the church for the purpose of regulateing all things necessary for their welfare.” (Minutes, 12 Mar. 1835.)
[2]
For more information about the appointment of the apostles, see Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835.
[3]
[4]
Notice to Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1835, 1:90.
[5]
Elder’s License for Parley P. Pratt, 26 Apr. 1835, JS Collection, CHL. Orson Pratt’s diary, for example, describes the meeting but says nothing about JS speaking. (Pratt, Diary, 26 Apr. 1835.)
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
[6]
Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107].
[7]
Lyman Johnson, Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball were ordained on 14 February 1835; Orson Hyde, David W. Patten, Luke Johnson, William E. McLellin, John F. Boynton, and William Smith were ordained on 15 February; and Parley P. Pratt was ordained on 21 February. (Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835; Minutes and Blessings, 21 Feb. 1835.)
[8]
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Kirtland
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April 26, 1835.

This day, pursuant to previous appointment, the
Twelve Apostles
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
View Glossary
and the
Seventy
A priesthood office with the responsibility to travel and preach and assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, similar to the seventy in the New Testament. In February and March 1835, the first members of the Seventy were selected and ordained. All of those...
View Glossary
(a part of whom had already been chosen,)
1
Forty-four individuals were appointed members of the Seventy at meetings held on 28 February and 1 March 1835. Another fourteen were ordained thereafter. (Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 28 Feb.–1 Mar. 1835; Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835.)
assembled in the
temple
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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(altho’ unfinished.)
2
Joseph Young later recalled that in February 1835, the walls of the House of the Lord were “up to the square and the roof was being put on.” Nearly two months later, the roof was close to being finished; the July 1835 issue of the Messenger and Advocate reported its completion. Some work had been done in the interior of the building as well, although it is unclear how much was finished by the end of April. (Joseph Young, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Lewis Harvey, 16–18 Nov. 1880, CHL; “The House of God,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, July 1835, 1:147; Robison, First Mormon Temple, 56, 59–63.)
Young, Joseph. Letter, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Lewis Harvey, 16–18 Nov. 1880. CHL. MS 2304.
Robison, Elwin C. The First Mormon Temple: Design, Construction, and Historic Context of the Kirtland Temple. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1997.
with a numerous concourse of people in order to receive our charge and instructions from President Joseph Smith Jun relative to our mission and duties. The congregation being assembled,
Elder
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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Orson Pratt
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arrived from the south part of the
state
French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...
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,
3
Pratt had been preaching for some time in various states and was not aware of the notice requesting his presence in Kirtland until he reached Columbus, Ohio, around 23 April. While staying with a member of the church there, he saw the announcement in the Messenger and Advocate and left directly for Kirtland. According to his journal, he arrived there “on the 26th. of April about 10 o. clock & found a large congregation collected in the stone meeting house I was invited to take my seat as one of the 12.” Heber C. Kimball later recalled that Pratt arrived while the congregation was “praying, and wishing for his arrival.” (Pratt, Diary, 20–26 Apr. 1835; Kimball, “Journal and Record,” 54.)
Kimball, Heber C. “The Journal and Record of Heber Chase Kimball an Apostle of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” ca. 1842–1858. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 1.
makeing our number complete, Elder
T[homas] B. Marsh
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haveing arrived the day before.—
4
Marsh had been preaching with Edward Partridge since January 1835. He left Partridge in Cleveland on 24 April to return to Kirtland. (Partridge, Diary, 28 Jan. and 24 Apr. 1835.)
Partridge, Edward. Diaries, 1818 and 1835–1836. Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892, box 1, fds. 1–2.
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Footnotes
[1]
Forty-four individuals were appointed members of the Seventy at meetings held on 28 February and 1 March 1835. Another fourteen were ordained thereafter. (Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 28 Feb.–1 Mar. 1835; Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835.)
[2]
Joseph Young later recalled that in February 1835, the walls of the House of the Lord were “up to the square and the roof was being put on.” Nearly two months later, the roof was close to being finished; the July 1835 issue of the Messenger and Advocate reported its completion. Some work had been done in the interior of the building as well, although it is unclear how much was finished by the end of April. (Joseph Young, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Lewis Harvey, 16–18 Nov. 1880, CHL; “The House of God,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, July 1835, 1:147; Robison, First Mormon Temple, 56, 59–63.)
Young, Joseph. Letter, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Lewis Harvey, 16–18 Nov. 1880. CHL. MS 2304.
Robison, Elwin C. The First Mormon Temple: Design, Construction, and Historic Context of the Kirtland Temple. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1997.
[3]
Pratt had been preaching for some time in various states and was not aware of the notice requesting his presence in Kirtland until he reached Columbus, Ohio, around 23 April. While staying with a member of the church there, he saw the announcement in the Messenger and Advocate and left directly for Kirtland. According to his journal, he arrived there “on the 26th. of April about 10 o. clock & found a large congregation collected in the stone meeting house I was invited to take my seat as one of the 12.” Heber C. Kimball later recalled that Pratt arrived while the congregation was “praying, and wishing for his arrival.” (Pratt, Diary, 20–26 Apr. 1835; Kimball, “Journal and Record,” 54.)
Kimball, Heber C. “The Journal and Record of Heber Chase Kimball an Apostle of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” ca. 1842–1858. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 1.
[4]
Marsh had been preaching with Edward Partridge since January 1835. He left Partridge in Cleveland on 24 April to return to Kirtland. (Partridge, Diary, 28 Jan. and 24 Apr. 1835.)
Partridge, Edward. Diaries, 1818 and 1835–1836. Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892, box 1, fds. 1–2.