| Dating this conference and D&C 58 with which it is associated,
is somewhat problematic. The conference is usually dated June 3–6,
1831. A Friday–Monday conference would not be unusual, and it is
probably correct. Unfortunately, no contemporary report or first-hand
reminiscence expressly uses that range. |
| Clerk John Whitmer dates the "general
Conference" minutes
June 3. Ordinations and exhortations are accounted for, but visions, exorcisms,
and what became D&C 52 are not mentioned, suggesting either that they
took place on subsequent days or were intentionally omitted. |
| Less than two weeks after the conference, the Painesville
Telegraph reports Joseph received a revelation at a meeting on June
3 naming elders to start for Missouri immediately. They
are endowed with "miraculous gifts, or supernatural power" to
be used on the journey. Strikingly, no mention is made of the visions,
exorcisms, or attempts to heal the sick and raise the dead that appear
made in Ezra Booth's account and, to some extent, other, later first-hand
reminiscences. |
| Ezra Booth's [October–November] 1831 account states
"the 4th of June last was appointed for the sessions of the conference."
(He is listed as present in the June 3 minutes.) |
| John Whitmer's history refers to a "general Conference" on
June 4, "from whence the elders were sent forth to preach the gospel
and many were added of such as were determined to be saved" (From
Historian to Dissident,
41). Other accounts do not refer to conversions or baptisms. |
| Levi Hancock recalls that he arrived in Kirtland at the end
of May and "lerned that on the fourth of June there was to be an indowment
of some Elders"—which he attends on that date. (He is listed
as present in the June 3 minutes.) |
| John Corrill's and David Whitmer's recall the conference
was in June, Philo Dibble does not mention a date. |
| Parley P. Pratt's 1858 autobiographical (?) sketch dates
the conference June 6, 1831, at which time he was ordained
to the High Priesthood and he and Orson "and many others," were
assigned by revelation "to journey two and two, to the western bounds
of Missouri, preaching and baptizing by the way." ¶ Parley
P. Pratt (h). (In the minutes, Parley is ordained June 3.) |
| No reference to elders being called to Missouri (which might
help us date D&C 52) is made by John Corrill, Philo Dibble, Levi Hancock,
or David Whitmer. Writing in retrospect, they are all concerned with other
issues. |
| Minutes of June [3–6],
1831 |
|
First ordinations to the High Priesthood occur on June [3],
1831. John Corrill and Isaac Morley are ordained assistants to Bishop Partridge.
Exhortations by Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, and Harvey Whitlock.
Joseph ordains several more on June [6]. |
| Mormonism on the Wing |
|
Painesville Telegraph's account of the conference
focuses on calling elders to go to Missouri to establish the New Jerusalem. |
Ezra Booth Letters (4) |
|
High expectations for June conference. Joseph promised some would see
the Savior. He harrangues the audience, then ordains Lyman Wight and others
to the High Priesthood. Lyman declares he sees the Lord and Joseph delegates
him to ordain the others. The "man of sin" is manifest in demonic
possessions. Exorcisms. Joseph fails to heal a lame man, restore a crippled
hand, or raise the dead. |
Manuscript History of the Church
MH A-1, 118. |
|
On the 6th of June, the elders from the various parts of the country
where they were laboring, came in and the conference before appointed,
convened in Kirtland, and the Lord displayed his power <to the most
perfect satisfaction, of the saints> in a manner that could not be
mistaken. The man of Sin was revealed, and the authority of the melchisedec <priesthood> was
manifested and <I> conferred, <the high priesthood> for the
first time, upon Several of the elders. It was clearly evidint that the
Lord gave us power in proportion to the work to be done and strength according
to the race set before us; and grace and help as our needs required. Great
harmony prevailed. Several were ordained; Faith was strengthened: and humility,
so necessary for the blessing of God to follow prayer, characterized the
saints. The next day as a kind continuation of this great work of the last
days, I received [D&C 52]. |
| |
|
The original text is in the hand of W. W. Phelps. Changes are in the hand of Willard Richards. Papers, 343n3, 353n1. |
| Lyman's Vision and the Man
of Sin |
|
Four accounts in parallel columns:
Ezra Booth (October 1831)
John Whitmer (his history of the church, probably before 1837)
Levi Hancock (after 1838)
Philo Dibble (reminiscence, Juvenile Instructor,
1892)
Plus John Corrill's brief recollection (1839) |
| David
Whitmer's Analysis of the First Conference in Kirtland |
|
The possession of Harvey Whitlock was a manifestation
of "God's sore displeasure" at the ordination of men to the High
Priesthood. The so-called outpouring of the Spirit spoken of is really the
devil appearing as an angel of light. |
| |
|
Kirtland 1830–1831
Ohio
|