Report of the First Presidency to the Church, circa 7 April 1841
First Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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[JS,
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
], Report, to the
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, "they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ." The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was "the Church of Christ...
, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 7 Apr. 1841. Featured version published in "Report of the First Presidency," Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, vol. 2, no. 12, 384–386. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.
At the beginning of a general
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...
that commenced on 7 April 1841 in
, Illinois,
Robert B. Thompson
1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...
read this report from JS and his counselors in the
. The report, describing the state of the church, followed the model of a report read at the previous general conference, held in early October 1840.
See Report of the First Presidency, 4 Oct. 1840. The First Presidency had also issued a proclamation to the church in mid-January 1841 that contained a message similar to that of the conference reports. The proclamation, for instance, encouraged Saints to immigrate to Nauvoo. (Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841; see also Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840.)
The April report detailed the growth of the church and encouraged the Saints to gather to Nauvoo. It highlighted progress on construction of the
, the First Presidency's optimistic promises for the city's growth, and the need for church members to provide financial aid and physical labor to support the growth of Nauvoo.
served as the scribe for the First Presidency's original report, which is apparently no longer extant.
Thompson is listed as the clerk in the Times and Seasons version, indicating that he penned the original that was sent to the Times and Seasons for publication.
A copy of the original was published in the 15 April 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons in accordance with a resolution of the conference that called for the report's publication.
See Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841.
That version, featured here, is the only known contemporaneous account of the report. No date was given for the creation of the report, but because it was prepared for the April 1841 general conference and delivered by Thompson on 7 April, it was likely created either on 7 April 1841 or in the days before.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation *Report of the First Presidency to the Church, circa 7 April 1841 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] "History of Joseph Smith"
, feel great pleasure in assembling with the Saints at another general
, under circumstances so auspicious and cheering; and with grateful hearts to Almighty God for his providential regard, they cordially unite with the Saints, on this occasion, in ascribing honor, and glory, and blessing to his holy name.
It is with unfeigned pleasure that they have to make known, the steady and rapid increase of the church in this
, the
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 ...
, and in Europe.
A report in the Western World noted the rapid growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Hundreds left their homes in Europe, and thousands are now preparing to leave and take up their residence in a far distant land. And in our own country, from the east, and from the north, and from the south, converts are continually flocking to this new city. . . . But a few years ago the Mormons were regarded as a set of fanatics, deserving only the pity or contempt of mankind; but now that their numbers are concentrating they begin to assume, at least in this state, a political and moral importance possessed by no other denomination." Thomas Wentworth Storrow, a prominent Bostonian, visited Nauvoo in July 1841 and noted that Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo and the surrounding county numbered about five thousand. (Report, Western World [Warsaw, IL], 20 Jan. 1841, [2]; Storrow, "Journey to the West," 3 July 1841; see also Historical Introduction to Letter to Vilate Murray Kimball, 2 Mar. 1841.)
Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.
Storrow, Thomas Wentworth. "Journey to the West," no date. Storrow Family Papers, 1762–1999. Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.
The anxiety to become acquainted with the principles of the gospel, on every hand, is intense, and the cry of, "come over and help us,"
See Acts 16:9.
is reaching the
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...
on the wings of every wind, while thousands who have heard the gospel, have become obedient thereto, and are rejoicing in its gifts and blessings.— Prejudice with its attendant train of evils, is giving way before the force of truth, whose benign rays are penetrating the nations afar off.
The reports from the
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 ...
in Europe are very satisfactory, and state that the work continues to progress with unparalleled rapidity and that the harvest is truly great.
Several reports from the Twelve were printed in the Times and Seasons during the previous six months. Some two hundred British converts had already traveled to the United States, more than one hundred of whom arrived in Nauvoo in late 1840. (See, for example, George A. Smith, Lane End, Staffordshire, England, to Don Carlos Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 18 Nov. 1840, in Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:307–308; Wilford Woodruff, Manchester, England, to Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 7 Oct. 1840, in Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:311–314; 1 Mar. 1841, 2:327–331; and Parley P. Pratt, Manchester, England, to Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 8 Jan. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:364–365; see also Historical Introduction to Letter to Vilate Murray Kimball, 2 Mar. 1841.)
In the eastern states, the faithful laborers are successful, and many are flocking to the standard of truth. Nor is the south keeping back—churches have been raised up in the southern and western states, and a very pressing invitation has been received from
Settled by French, 1717. Acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. City, port of entry, and parish seat of justice. Population in 1840 about 100,000. Important trade center on Mississippi River. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established...
for some of the elders to visit that city, which has been complied with.
Reports from missionaries proselytizing in the eastern and southern United States had recently been published in the church newspaper. Elam Luddington and Eli G. Terrill sent a letter to JS from New Orleans on 4 January, informing the church president about the branch in that city and requesting another elder be sent to New Orleans to assist them in their proselytizing efforts. They further urged, "For God's sake send help to this city before the people perish, for it is a time of great excitement here, send us a Peter, or an apostle to preach unto us Jesus." Harrison Sagers was sent to New Orleans soon thereafter and "commenced to proclaim the fullness of the everlasting gospel to the inhabitants thereof." ("Communications," Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1841, 2:347–350; "Summary," Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1841, 2:339; "Summary of News from the Elders Abroad," Times and Seasons, 15 May 1841, 2:415; see also Letter from Harrison Sagers, ca. April 1841.)
In our own
and immediate neighborhood, many are avowing their attachment to the principles of our holy religion, and have become obedient to the faith.
In Walnut Grove, Illinois, for example, the church saw an increase of sixty-six members in the six months following 4 July 1840 and an increase of nearly one hundred since October 1839. ("Conference Minutes," Times and Seasons, 1 Mar. 1841, 2:338; see also "Truth Prevailing," Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1841, 2:350; and Report, Western World [Warsaw, IL], 20 Jan. 1841, [2].)
Peace and prosperity attend us; and we have favor in the sight of God and virtuous men.
See Luke 2:52.
The time was, when we were looked upon as deceivers, and that Mormonism would soon pass away, come to nought, and be forgotten. But the time has gone by when it was looked upon as a trancient matter, or a bubble on the wave, and it is now taking a deep hold in the hearts and affections of all those who are noble minded enough to lay aside the prejudice of education, and investigate the subject with candor and honesty.
The truth, like the sturdy oak, has stood unhurt amid the contending elements, which have beat upon it with tremendous force. The floods have rolled, wave after wave, in quick succession; and have not swallowed it up. "They have lifted up their voice, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; but the Lord of Hosts is migh [p. 384]