License for Joseph Smith Sr., 9 June 1830
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Source Note
“A License Liberty Power & Authority,” License, , Seneca Co., NY, for , 9 June 1830; handwriting of ; signatures of JS and ; one page; JS Collection, CHL.Single leaf measuring 10¼ × 7¾ inches (26 × 20 cm). The verso has a notation in the handwriting of Joseph F. Smith, who became president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1901: “Rec’d from Cousin | Elias A. Smith | Oct. 8. 1902 | J. F. Smith”. It is unknown when the document was transferred from Joseph F. Smith’s custody to the custody of the Church Historian’s Office.
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Historical Introduction
The following document is a “signifying & proveing” that , one of the six founding members of the church and one of the Eight Witnesses who saw and handled the , was a of the . He was ordained at the church’s first and was among those who received ministerial licenses at this gathering. The duties of a priest, which had been outlined previously, were “to preach, teach, expound, and exhort, and , and administer the , and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret, and also to attend to all family duties, to ordain priests, , and , and to take the lead in meetings; but none of these offices is he to do when there is an present, but in all cases is to assist the elder, &c.” The church’s foundational document, “Articles and Covenants,” gave priests more authority than teachers and deacons but less than elders.
Footnotes
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1
Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Late June 1829; see also Revelation, Apr. 1830–D [D&C 23:5]; for more information on priesthood licenses, see Historical Introduction to License for John Whitmer, 9 June 1830.
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2
See Historical Introduction to Minutes, 9 June 1830.
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3
Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:46–52].
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1

A Liberty Power & Authority
Given to signifying & proveing that he is a of this established & regularly Organized in these last days AD 1830 on the 6th. day of April All of which has been done by the will of God the Father according to his holy calling & the gift & power of the Holy Ghost agreeable to the revelations of Jesus Christ given to Joseph Smith Jun. the of the Church signifying that he has been & received into the Church according to the Articles & Covenants of the Church & under the hand of who is an Apostle of our Lord an of the Church
Signed by | (Joseph Smith Jr first Elder | |
( Second Elder |
Given to the Bearer in held in Seneca County NY June 9th 1830 [p. [1]]
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