Minutes, 5 December 1832

Home >
The Papers >

Minutes, 5 December 1832
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...
More Info
, OH, 5 Dec. 1832. Featured version copied [ca. 5 Dec. 1832] in Minute Book 1, p. 1; handwriting of
Frederick G. Williams
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full Bio
; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
This document and a note recorded 9 December 1832 pertain to a
council
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 Glossary
of
high priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
View Glossary
that met on 5 December 1832 at the request of
Solomon Humphrey Jr.
23 Sept. 1775–Sept. 1834. Born in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Solomon Humphrey and Lucy Case. Moved to Burlington, Hartford Co., ca. 1785. Married Ursula Andrews, at Hartford Co. Moved to Irasburg, Orleans Co., Vermont, by 1800; to Glover,...
View Full Bio
, a member of the church who migrated from
New York
Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...
More Info
to
Kirtland
More Info
, Ohio, in 1831.
1
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 11, [2]; bk. 12, [5]. According to the 1830 United States Census, Humphrey was living in Stockholm, New York, in 1830. (1830 U.S. Census, Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., NY, 41.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
Humphrey had recently completed a 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 ...
More Info
with
Joseph Wakefield
7 July 1792–18 Jan. 1835. Born in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Thomas Wakefield and Elizabeth Hardy. Married first Eunice Sawyer, 13 Dec. 1812. Moved to Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter...
View Full Bio
.
2
Humphrey and Wakefield were called on this mission in a 6 June 1831 revelation and served into fall 1832. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:35]; see also Whitney, History of Utah, 4:35.)
Whitney, Orson F. History of Utah. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904.
On 3 December, JS wrote in his journal that Humphrey visited him that day, bearing “news from Brother
Lyman Johnson
24 Oct. 1811–20 Dec. 1859. Merchant, lawyer, hotelier. Born at Pomfret, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of John Johnson and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, Mar. 1818. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Sidney Rigdon...
View Full Bio
and
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...
View Full Bio
,” who were also proselytizing in the East.
3
JS, Journal, 3 Dec. 1832.
Two days later, JS explained that the 5 December council convened “to advise with” Humphrey, apparently about what Humphrey should do next in the church.
4
JS presided over the council, which directed Humphrey to preach with
Noah Packard
7 May 1796–17 Feb. 1860. Farmer, surveyor, miner. Born at Plainfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Noah Packard and Molly Hamblin. Moved to Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1817. Married Sophia Bundy, 29 June 1820, at Parkman. Baptized into Church of Jesus...
View Full Bio
in
Parkman
Located about fifteen miles southeast of Kirtland Township. Population in 1830 about 700. Population in 1840 about 1,200. Missionaries appointed to preach in township, 5 Dec. 1832. John P. Greene directed to move to Parkman and take charge of branch of Church...
More Info
, Ohio, and wherever else they were inspired to go.
5
In autobiographical writings, Packard mentioned that he and a companion (presumably Humphrey) “started on our mission” on 3 January 1833, traveling to Chatham, Ohio, to visit Packard’s brother. (Packard, “Life and Travels,” 3.)
Packard, Noah. “The Life and Travels of Noah Packard.” In Voices from the Past: Diaries, Journals, and Autobiographies, compiled by Campus Education Week Program, Education Week Department, Continuing Education, Brigham Young University, 1–7. Provo, UT: Campus Education Week, Brigham Young University Press, 1980.
Although the minutes state that Humphrey’s situation was the only business considered, at least one other item was addressed, as detailed in a later note.
6
As indicated by another entry in the minute book, the council also ordained Horace Kingsbury an elder. (Note, ca. 9 Dec. 1832.)
As clerk of the council,
Frederick G. Williams
View Full Bio
took minutes of the proceedings and later entered them into Minute Book 1.
Footnotes
[1]
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 11, [2]; bk. 12, [5]. According to the 1830 United States Census, Humphrey was living in Stockholm, New York, in 1830. (1830 U.S. Census, Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., NY, 41.)
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
[2]
Humphrey and Wakefield were called on this mission in a 6 June 1831 revelation and served into fall 1832. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:35]; see also Whitney, History of Utah, 4:35.)
Whitney, Orson F. History of Utah. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904.
[3]
[4]
[5]
In autobiographical writings, Packard mentioned that he and a companion (presumably Humphrey) “started on our mission” on 3 January 1833, traveling to Chatham, Ohio, to visit Packard’s brother. (Packard, “Life and Travels,” 3.)
[6]
As indicated by another entry in the minute book, the council also ordained Horace Kingsbury an elder. (Note, ca. 9 Dec. 1832.)
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 5 December 1832 Minute Book 1
Page 1
Hide editing marks

A
councel
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 Glossary
1
Although the term conference is used most often in minutes to refer to gatherings such as these, council is also sometimes used. In the minutes of a meeting held in Missouri in April 1832, for example, conference and council are used interchangeably. (See Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832.)
of
high Priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
View Glossary
held in
Kirtland
More Info
— December 5, AD 1832,
2
The council convened in the evening. (JS, Journal, 5 Dec. 1832.)
at the request of brother
Solomon Humphry [Humphrey Jr.]
View Full Bio
who desired to know the will of the Lord respe[c]ting him, the councel opened by prayer br Joseph Smith Jr. and appointed bro
F[rederick] G Williams
View Full Bio
Clerk, after hearing a statement from
bro Humphry
View Full Bio
of his situation, It was ordered in councel that
br Humph[re]y
View Full Bio
should devote himself entirely to the work of the ministry commencing in
Parkman
More Info
and taking Br
Noah Packard
7 May 1796–17 Feb. 1860. Farmer, surveyor, miner. Born at Plainfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Noah Packard and Molly Hamblin. Moved to Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1817. Married Sophia Bundy, 29 June 1820, at Parkman. Baptized into Church of Jesus...
View Full Bio
3
JS ordained Packard a priest at a conference of elders held on 3 December 1832, which Humphrey attended. (Minutes, 3 Dec. 1832; JS, Journal, 3 Dec. 1832.)
of
Parkman
More Info
4
Packard had resided in Parkman, Ohio, since 1817. (Packard, “Life and Travels,” 1, 3.)
as his companion in travel and labouring in such places and regions as the lord may direct by his spirit
There being no further business the councel closed by prayer——

F,G, Williams
View Full Bio
Clk of Con.
Joseph Smith Jr— Prsd [p. 1]
View entire transcript
|
Cite this page
Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 1
Document Information
Footnotes
[1]
Although the term conference is used most often in minutes to refer to gatherings such as these, council is also sometimes used. In the minutes of a meeting held in Missouri in April 1832, for example, conference and council are used interchangeably. (See Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832.)
[2]
The council convened in the evening. (JS, Journal, 5 Dec. 1832.)
[3]
JS ordained Packard a priest at a conference of elders held on 3 December 1832, which Humphrey attended. (Minutes, 3 Dec. 1832; JS, Journal, 3 Dec. 1832.)
[4]
Packard had resided in Parkman, Ohio, since 1817. (Packard, “Life and Travels,” 1, 3.)