Minutes, circa 1 May 1832
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Source Note
United Firm, Minutes, [
An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...
View GlossaryIndependence, Jackson Co., MO, ca. 1 May 1832]. Featured version, titled “Minutes of a meeting of the United Firm,” copied [between ca. 6 Apr. and 19 June 1838] in Minute Book 2, p. 26; handwriting ofLocated twelve miles from western Missouri border. Permanently settled, platted, and designated county seat, 1827. Hub for steamboat travel on Missouri River. Point of departure for Santa Fe Trail. Population in 1831 about 300. Mormon population by summer...
More InfoEbenezer Robinson; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 2.25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....
View Full Bio -
Historical Introduction
Having traveled toMissouriin April in accordance with instructions in a March 1832 revelation, JS held several
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...
More Infocouncilsto organize the “Literary and Merchantile establishments” of the church.A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...
View Glossary1At a 26 April 1832 council, a revelation instructed JS and eight others to “be bound together by a bond & Covennant that cannot be broken in your several Stewartships to manage the literary & Mercantile concerns & theRevelation, 1 Mar. 1832 [D&C 78:9].
Bishoprickboth in the Land ofInitially referred to a bishop’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but eventually described the ecclesiastical body comprising the bishop and his assistants, or counselors. John Corrill and Isaac Morley were called as assistants to Bishop Edward Partridge in 1831...
View GlossaryZion& in the Land ofJS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of Zion” for gathering of Saints and place where “City of Zion” was to be built, with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland,...
More InfoKirtland.”Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...
More Info2The next day, participants in this same council named the Missouri branch of this organizationRevelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82:11–12]; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832.
Gilbert, Whitney & Co., and the Kirtland, Ohio, branch,The branch of the United Firm responsible for overseeing the church’s mercantile endeavors in Missouri. Sidney Gilbert and Newel K. Whitney were partners in the mercantile business in Kirtland, Ohio, before Gilbert relocated to Missouri, by January 1832, ...
View GlossaryN. K. Whitney & Co.They also appointedA partnership between Newel K. Whitney and Sidney Gilbert; later the branch of the United Firm responsible for overseeing the church’s mercantile endeavors in Kirtland, Ohio. In late 1826 or early 1827, Whitney and Gilbert established this partnership to ...
View GlossaryWilliam W. Phelpsand17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full BioSidney Gilbertto prepare a binding agreement for members of the firm. Two days later, those designated in a November 1831 revelation as “28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...
View Full Biostewardsover the revelations,” men who were also among the nine mentioned in the 26 April revelation, held a council discussing future church publications and calling themselves the “One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...
View GlossaryLiterary Firm.” With these three entities in place—Gilbert, Whitney & Co.; N. K. Whitney & Co.; and the Literary Firm—a meeting of “theThe branch of the United Firm responsible for church publications. In November 1831, a revelation appointed JS, Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, and William W. Phelps as “stewards over the revelations & commandments.” In March 1832...
View GlossaryUnited Firm” was held. Eight of the nine men appointed as members of the firm in the 26 April revelation were present at this meeting;An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...
View GlossaryMartin Harris, who had not come to Missouri, was absent, while18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...
View Full BioJesse Gause, counselor to JS but not one of those mentioned in the 26 April revelation, attended. Although the minutes of this meeting are not entirely clear, the participants at the meeting apparently established the United Firm as an umbrella organization to govern the three aforementioned entities. At the meeting, the firm designated Sidney Gilbert andCa. 1784–ca. Sept. 1836. Schoolteacher. Born at East Marlborough, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Gause (Goss) and Mary Beverly. Joined Society of Friends (Quakers), 1806. Moved to Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, 1808; to Chester Co., 1811; and to Wilmington...
View Full BioNewel K. Whitneyas its agents and authorized N. K. Whitney & Co. to obtain a $15,000 loan, apparently to provide funding for the firm.3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...
View Full BioThe exact date of this meeting of theUnited Firmis unclear.An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...
View GlossaryOliver Cowdery, as “Clerk of3 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...
View Full BioConference,” would have made the original record of the meeting, but that record is no longer extant. In 1838,A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
View GlossaryEbenezer Robinsoncopied the minutes into Minute Book 2 without supplying a date. A later JS history records two meetings in immediate succession that appear to be the meetings of the Literary Firm and the United Firm. The United Firm meeting is referenced second in the history, which suggests that this meeting occurred after the council of the Literary Firm. The minutes of the Literary Firm council are dated 30 April, though the JS history dates the Literary Firm meeting as 1 May.25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....
View Full Bio5The United Firm meeting may have occurred directly after the Literary Firm meeting on 30 April, or it could have occurred on 1 May. If the United Firm meeting did take place on 1 May, the compilers of the JS history may have confused the two meetings and used the 1 May date for the meeting of the Literary Firm by mistake. In any case, the meeting of the United Firm probably happened on one of those two days.JS History, vol. A-1, 214; Minutes, 30 Apr. 1832.
Footnotes
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1
Revelation, 1 Mar. 1832 [D&C 78:9].
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2
Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82:11–12]; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832.
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4
Revelation, 12 Nov. 1831 [D&C 70]; Minutes, 12 Nov. 1831; Minutes, 30 Apr. 1832.
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5
JS History, vol. A-1, 214; Minutes, 30 Apr. 1832.
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1
An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...
View GlossaryA meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
View GlossaryMinutes of other conferences up to this point usually refer to a “moderator” of a conference and not a “president.” Both words denote one who presided.
The authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...
View Glossary3 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...
View Full BioA June 1831 revelation directed William W. Phelps “to assist my servent Oliver [Cowdery] to do the work of Printing.” However, a July 1831 revelation appointed Phelps “as a Printer unto the Church” and directed Cowdery to “assist him even as I have commanded.” (Revelation, 14 June 1831 [D&C 55:4]; Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:11, 13].)
27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...
View Full BioAn ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
View Glossary3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...
View Full Bio28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...
View Full BioA specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...
View Glossary19 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...
View Full Bio27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...
View Full BioThis designation probably references a March 1831 revelation that assigned Whitmer to “write & keep a regulal [regular] history & assist my servent Joseph in Transcribing all things which shall be given him.” On 9 April 1831, Whitmer “was appointed to keep the Church record & history by the voice of ten Elders.” (Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–B [D&C 47:1]; Minute Book 2, 9 Apr. 1831.)
17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full BioCa. 1784–ca. Sept. 1836. Schoolteacher. Born at East Marlborough, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Gause (Goss) and Mary Beverly. Joined Society of Friends (Quakers), 1806. Moved to Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, 1808; to Chester Co., 1811; and to Wilmington...
View Full BioGause’s name was not included in the 26 April 1832 revelation designating the membership of the United Firm, and no other records indicate he was ever made a member. The parenthetical notation of Gause denying the faith was added after Cowdery made his original record; Gause was not excommunicated from the church until 3 December 1832. (See Historical Introduction to Minutes, 30 Apr. 1832; and JS, Journal, 3 Dec. 1832.)
28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan Territory, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co...
View Full Bio3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...
View Full BioSettled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...
More InfoLocated in northeastern Ohio, south of Lake Erie. Rivers in area include Grand, Chagrin, and Cuyahoga. Settled mostly by New Englanders, beginning 1798. Formed from Trumbull Co., 1 Mar. 1806. Chardon established as county seat, 1808. Population in 1830 about...
More InfoGilbert was directed to “plant” himself in Missouri while Whitney was living in Kirtland, Ohio. Both had previously been appointed agents to the church. (See Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:8]; Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53:4]; and Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:45].)
At this time, N. K. Whitney & Co. had goods with a valuation of only $2,000, suggesting that the firm was supposed to obtain a loan, not give one. (See Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 230.)
Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.
A partnership between Newel K. Whitney and Sidney Gilbert; later the branch of the United Firm responsible for overseeing the church’s mercantile endeavors in Kirtland, Ohio. In late 1826 or early 1827, Whitney and Gilbert established this partnership to ...
View Glossary19 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...
View Full Bio3 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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