Elder's Journal/1/2

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Elder's Journal 2, Number 2

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Source document in online archive: Elder's Journal Vol. 1

17

ELDER'S JOURNAL
OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
Volume I. No. 2.]	KIRTLAND, OHIO, NOVEMBER, 1837.	[Whole No. 2.

The following conference minutes should have been published in the Sept. No. with the Bishop's Appeal or Memmorial [Memorial], but through a press of business it has been overlooked and not handed to us until now, however, we feel in hopes that it will serve to call the attention of our readers (those that have the last No. of the Messenger) to the second candid perusal of the Appeal. — Ed. Minutes of a conference, of the authorities of the church of Latter Day Saints assembled in the house of the Lord in Kirtland, Sept. 17th, 1837. President Joseph Smith jr. presided; conference opened by prayer after which Bishop N. K. Whitney arose and said the time had arrived when it became necessary for him to travel and necessarily must have an agent to act in his abscence [absence], agreeably to the Provisions made in the revelations &c. — Elder William Marks was nominated and elected by the unanimous voice of the conference, to act and serve the church in this office. After taking into consideration the affairs of the Latter Day Saints in general, having opportunities of becoming acquainted with the affairs of the Saints throughout the continent, and also the peculiar condition of this our city; it is deemed by this conference, (which is constituted of all the authorities and even members of the church,) of great importance to the prosperity of the cause of truth in general, that the Bishop and his Counselors send abroad their memmorial [memorial], to all the Saints throughout the land, as well as to all well-wishers to the cause of Zion, That their appeal may go forth in the name and by the authority of the church, to all Saints scattered abroad. Some remarks were made by President S. Rigdon, relative to the duties of the Bishop, his counselors and agent, Showing the great necessity of their immediate exertion in steping [stepping] forward in the dignity of their office &c. Conference closed after receiving a benediction from Presidint [President] S. Rigdon. J. SMITH Jr. Pres't. 0. W. Robinson Clerk.

Fox Islands, Vinalhaven Me. Nov. 20th 1837. Elder Don C. Smith. The llth No. of the Messenger and Advocate containing the Prospectus for the Elders Journal has providentially fallen into my hands. It is cheering to my feelings to learn that such a paper is to be presented before the world. I believe it will become a powerful engine in removing a flood of prejudice from the minds of thousands of this generation, and encourage the Saints to persevere in the glorious cause in which they are engaged even if their path should at times be intersected with trials, afflictions, and persecutions. And while we peruse the account of the Elders of Israel, whom God hath called, commissioned and sent forth to establish light and truth in the earth and to prune his vineyard for the last time: we rejoice at their success. And as we learn of their prosperity in the ministry, while faithfully proclaiming the word of God we feel encouraged to go and do likewise. My object in addressing you at this time, is to forward you a list of the names of some of our friends from the several Islands of the sea, who wish you to send them your valuable paper, viz: the Elders Journal of the church of Latter Day Saints, and knowing there are thousands of Saints who feel interested in the progress of the work of the Lord in these last days, and believing it to be interesting to them to learn that the Lord is raising up a people upon the Islands of the Sea, who are engaged in the same cause with their brethren and sisters, that are scattared [scattered] abroad through the land. I will endeavor to give a brief account of its prospect in this part of the moral vineyard. Elder Jonathan H. Hale and myself addressed a letter to Elder Joseph Smith jr. and the church in Kirtland, under date Sept. 18th. We then gave an account of our visit to the Islands, the reception we met with among the people, and the commencement of the work of the Lord. On the 13th of Oct. following we held a meeting on North Fox Island Vinalhaven