Minutes, 15 January 1836

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...
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, Geauga Co., OH, 15 Jan. 1836. Featured version copied [between ca. 4 Apr. and ca. 16 May 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 203–205; handwriting of
Warren A. Cowdery
17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
The grand council of church leaders that met in the attic of the
printing office
Following destruction of church printing office in Independence, Missouri, July 1833, JS and other church leaders determined to set up new printing office in Kirtland under firm name F. G. Williams & Co. Oliver Cowdery purchased new printing press in New ...
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on 13 January 1836 reconvened two days later in a council room on the third floor of the
House of the Lord
JS revelation, dated Jan. 1831, directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” In Dec. 1832, JS revelation directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS revelation, dated 1 June 1833, chastened...
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. The council discussed and voted on the rules and regulations that a committee led by JS had drafted the previous day.
1
Minutes, 13 Jan. 1836; Rules and Regulations, 14 Jan. 1836.
The church leaders at the meeting further organized the
priesthood
Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...
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quorums
An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...
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preparatory to the
solemn assembly
A special church meeting or conference convened to conduct church business, administer sacred ordinances, and receive spiritual power and instruction. In November 1831, the Saints were directed by revelation to gather as a body in solemn assemblies. A December...
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and the promised
endowment
Bestowal of spiritual blessings, power, or knowledge. Beginning in 1831, multiple revelations promised an endowment of “power from on high” in association with the command to gather. Some believed this promise was fulfilled when individuals were first ordained...
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of power.
Presidents
An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
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were then appointed and
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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to lead the various quorums of the priesthood. This structure—each quorum overseen by a presiding official—had been described in a November 1831 revelation that was later incorporated into the instruction on priesthood published in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.
2
Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:60–66]; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:60–66].
The council also oversaw the bestowal of blessings on certain individuals and conducted other business concerning the House of the Lord.

There are two extant accounts of the 15 January meeting.
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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took the official minutes, probably on loose paper, but that original version has not survived.
Warren A. Cowdery
17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...
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copied the minutes into Minute Book 1 sometime in the spring of 1836.
Warren Parrish
10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...
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penned an alternate account in JS’s journal sometime shortly after the meeting took place.
3
JS, Journal, 15 Jan. 1836.
Because Minute Book 1 represents the official record of meetings of church governance in
Kirtland
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...
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and both extant versions are contemporaneous, the Minute Book 1 version is presented here. Significant differences between the two versions are noted.

Footnotes
1. 1
  Minutes, 13 Jan. 1836; Rules and Regulations, 14 Jan. 1836.
2. 2
  Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:60–66]; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:60–66].
3. 3
  JS, Journal, 15 Jan. 1836.

Hide editing marks

was nominated to be of the in , Seconded and carried with out opposition.

, was nominated for president of the of in , seconded and voted unanimously that he serve in that capacity.

The of nominated to be president of the in . This nomination was seconded and carried unanimously.

was nominated for president of the , vote not carried

was nominated for president of the Teachers, seconded and vote carried unanimously

was nominated to be president of the in this place, motion seconded and carried by a unanimous vote.

President proceeded to and to the respective offices to which they had been chosen, and pronounced great blessings upon them.

of then proceeded to ordain , & and pronounced many blessings upon them, according to their offices & standing.

Moved seconded & voted that all the quorums take their turn in performing the office of door keeper in the .

Moved seconded and voted that by each quorum that Amos Orton, & be appointed assistant door keepers

Motioned, seconded & voted that the Presidencey of the hold the keys of the except the keys of one vestry which shall be held by the [p. 204]