First Quorum of Seventy

Mormon History 1830-1844

First Quorum of Seventy


		February 28, 1835
		Kirtland High Council Minutes		Manuscript History of the Church
Names Blessings	¶	The hour for meeting having arrived Pres. S. Rigdon arose and made some observations, relative to the business before the meeting, then proceeded to open by prayer. The following are some of the names and ordination blessings of the Seventy who were called and to be sent forth.		On the 28th the church in council assembled, commenced selecting certain individuals from the nmber of those who went up to Zion, with me, in the camp. & The following are ~~some~~ the names of those who were ordained and blessed at that time to begin the organization of the first Quorum of the Seventies according to the visions and revelations which I have received. The seventies to constitute travelling Quorums. to go into all the earth. whither-Soever the twelve Apostles should call them.		Kirtland council, 164–165. MH-B, 503.
	¶	[165] Hiram Winters Elias Hutchins Henry Shibley Roger Orton* J. B. Smith* Harvey Stanley* Jedediah Grant* Lyman Sherman* Joseph Hancock* Lyman Smith* Peter Buchanan David Elliott Almon Babbitt Levi Gifford Joseph B. Nobles Lorenzo Booth Zera S. Cole Leonard Rich Harrison Burgess Alden Burdick Wm. F. Cahoon Harpin Riggs	Burr Riggs Lewis Robbins Darwin Richardson Joseph Young Alexander Badlam Zebedee Coltrin Solomon Angel John D. Parker Daniel Stevens Hiram Stratton Sylvester Smith Wm. Pratt Ezra Thayer Levi Hancock Salmon Warner Israel Barlow Willard Snow Hazen Aldrich Charles Kelly Jenkins Salisbury George A. Smith [blessings follow]	Hiram Winters Elias Hutchings Henry Shibley Roger Orton J. B. Smith Harvey Stanley Jedediah Grant Lyman Sherman Joseph Hancock Lyman Smith Peter Buchanan David Elliot Almon Babbitt Levi Gifford Joseph B. Nobles Lorenzo Booth Zera S. Cole Leonard Rich Harrison Burgess Allen Burdick William F Cahoon Harpin Riggs Nathan B. Baldwin	Burr Riggs Lewis Robbins Darwin Richardson Joseph Young Alexander Badlam Zebedee Coltrin Solomon Angel John D. Parker Daniel Stearns Hiram Stratten Sylvester Smith William Pratt Ezra Thayer Levi W. Hancock Solomon Warner Israel Barlow Willard Snow Hazen Aldrich Charles Kelly Jenkins Salisbury George A. Smith Nathan B. Baldwin Bradford Elliot	Purple: blessed/ordained Mar. 1, 1835 Red: added in MH-B, Feb. 28, 1835 Italics: spelled differently in one or more of the lists cited. The only ocurrence of Bradford Elliot is in MH-B. I have found no references to him anywhere else. * Blessings recorded in Kirtland council, Feb. 28, 1835 Lyman Smith: two different blessings are recorded on Feb. 28, 1835. Nathan B. Baldwin is added (twice) in MH-B, Feb. 28, 1835 and blessed/ordained in Kirtland council, Mar. 1, 1835

		March 1, 1835
		Kirtland High Council Minutes		Manuscript History of the Church
Council meets for ordinations Postpone for confirmations, sacrament		The council met this morning to proceed with the ordination of the 70, There being several who had been recently baptized present, and being expedient that they should be confirmed, and also that the sacrament should be administered to the Church, the business of ordination was suspended for a short time.		March 1st. when, after attending the funeral of Seth Johnson several. who, had recently been baptized, were confirmed. and the sacrament <was> administered to the church.		Kirtland council, 172–186 MH-B, 577–578
Joseph speaks to the church Partaking of sacrament worthily		President Joseph Smith Junr. addressed the Church & the Council and the Church upon the propriety of attending to this ordinance with pure hearts, and pure desires. He touched upon the propriety of attending to this ordinanance with pure hearts, and pure desirlees. He touched upon the propriety of this institution in the church & urged the vast importance of doing it with acceptance to the Lord,		Previous to the Administration I spoke of the propriety of this institution in the church. and urged the importance of doing it with acceptance before the Lord, and		upon the propriety: repeated in original
Don't trifle Buffetings of Satan		He asked how long do you suppose a man may partake of this ordinance unworthily and the Lord not withdraw his spirit from him? How long will he thus trifle with sacred things and the Lord not give him over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of Redemption?		asked. How long do you suppose a man may partake of this ordinance. unworthily and the Lord not withdraw his Spirit from him? How long will he thus trifle with sacred things. and the Lord not give him over to the buffettings of Satan until the day of redemption?
		The church should know if they are unworthy, from time to time, to partake, The servants of the Lord will be forbidden to administer it.		The church should know if they are unworthy from time to time, to partake, lest the Servants of God be forbidden to administer it.
Humility		Therefore our hearts ought {ought} to humble themselves, and we to repent of our sins, and put away evil from among us,		Therefore our hearts ought humble themselves, and we to repent of our Sins. and put away evil from among us.
Sacrament		some further remarks were made and the sacrament was then administered,		After sacrament
Resume ordination blessings		The council then proceeded to business and the following names were called (viz.) Levi W. Hancock, Salmon Warner, and Israel Barlow,		the council continued the ordination and blessing of those priviously called. also John Murdock. Ezra Thayer. S. W. Denton. were ordained & blessed. Benjamin Winchester. Hyrum Smith and Frederick G. Williams were blessed. and Joseph Young and Sylvester Smith were ordained Presidents of the Seventies.
		Blessings follow for Levi W. Hancock [172–173], Salmon Warner [173], Hazen Aldrich, John Murdock [174–175]; Willard Snow, Charles Kelly [175]; George A. Smith, Jenkins Salisbury, Peter Buchanan [176]; Alexander Badlam, Zebedee Coltrin [178], Solomon Angel, John D. Parker, Daniel Stevens [179], Hiram Stratten, Sylvester Smith [180], William Pratt, S.W. Denton [181]; Ezra Thayer, Harrison Burgess, Alden Burdick [182]] William F. Cahoon, Harpin Riggs [183]; Nathan B. Baldwin, Burr Riggs [184]; Lewis Robbins, Darwin Richardson [185], Joseph Young, Hiram Winters, Elias Hutchings [186]; Hyrum Smith, Frederick G. Williams.				John Murdock: "You are not set apart as one of the 70 but to continue as you have been, To be ready to go at the command of the Lord …"

		Blessing/ordination categories				Kirtland council
Missionary		Missionary blessing, but no office mentioned: Levi Hancock,† Salmon Warner, Hazen Aldrich,† George A. Smith
		Missionary blessing, but explicitly not a seventy: John Murdock*				* not on February 28, 1835 list of those to be called to be seventies.
		Seal ministry anew for missionary work: Zebedee Coltrin†
70 set apart		Set apart as one of the 70: Willard Snow, William F. Cahoon, Harpin Riggs
70 ordained		Ordained as one of the 70: John D. Parker, Henry Shibley
70 ordained and president		Ordained as one of the 70 and a President among the 70: Sylvester Smith†
70 set apart and president		Set apart as one of the 70 and one of the Presidents: Joseph Young†
70 ordained and set apart		Ordained and set apart to be one of the 70: William Pratt
70 to be		Are/to be one of the 70: Ezra Thayer, David Elliott, Zera S. Cole
70 and elder ordained		Ordained an elder and one of the 70: Charles Kelly, Jenkins Salisbury, Alexander Badlam, Solomon Angel, Hiram Stratten, Harrison Burgess, Nathan B. Baldwin, Darwin Richardson
Elder		Ordained an elder: Peter Buchanan, Solomon W. Denton, Alden Burdick, ¶ Burr Riggs
		Confirm eldership: Lewis Robbins, Hiram Winters
High priest ministry		Seal ministry as high priest: Leonard Rich†
Confirm patriarchal blessing		Confirm patriarchal blessings: Daniel Stevens
Confirm priesthood		Confirm priesthood: Bradford Elliott*				* not on February 28, 1835 list of those to be called as seventies.
Ministry		"Secure unto you the holy ministry:" Benjamin Winchester*
Ordained (no office)		Ordained (no office mentioned): Elias Hutchings
Blessed (no office)		Blessed (no office mentioned): Hyrum Smith,* Frederick G. Williams,* Almon Babbitt, Levi Gifford, Joseph B. Noble, Lorenzo Booth*

		March 8, 1835
		Ordination dates unknown
		Five [sic] seventies whose "time of their ordination cannot be accurately ascertained" are:				Kirtland council, 196–197
Other seventies		Milo Andrus, Joseph Winchester, Zerubabel Snow, Kim Heem, Heman T. Hyde, Henry Brown, and Nelson Higgins.				Original: Andress
Attached to the Seventy		Henry Beeman is ordained a seventy and Jesse Huntsman, Royal Barney, Zebedee Coltrin (already a seventy), and Henry Harriman are "all to be attached to the Seventy. Lorenzo Barnes one of the Seventy."				Original: Barns

		March 16, 1835
		President substitutes on high council
One of the presidents		Sylvester Smith, "one of the presidents of the Seventy," substitutes for John Smith, complainant, at a meeting of the Kirtland high council.				Kirtland council, 84

		May 2, 1835
		First seven presidents
		First known listing of seven presidents of the Seventy: Joseph Young, Sylvester Smith, Lyman Sherman, Leonard Rich, Hazen Aldrich, Zebedee Coltrin, and Levi Hancock. They are to hold themselves in readiness "to go [on missions] at the call of the Twelve, when the Lord opens the way."				¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		One "suspended as an Elder"
		Ezra Thayer (named a seventy on March 1) is "suspended as an Elder and member until an investigation could be had before the Bishop's court."				¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		Provision for additional quorums
		… when another Seventy is required, the presidency of the first Seventy shall choose, ordain and set them apart from among the most experienced Elders of the Church.				¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835

		November 1835
		High priests dropped as presidents
Five presidents dropped (high priests)		The council was called together in the month of November, 1835. After it was assembled he asked the newly-organized quorum if any of their number had been ordained to the High Priest's office, previous to their ordination as Seventies. It was not ascertained how many from the Seventies' quorums had previously been ordained High Priests; five out of the seven Presidents however, acknowledged that they were High Priests before they were ordained Seventies. These were Hazen Aldrich, Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Sherman and Sylvester Smith. Accordingly, the Prophet invited them to take their places in the High Priests' quorum again, which was complied with, thus leaving Joseph Young and Levi W. Hancock in the council. He thought that this was the best way to settle the difficulty and remove all feelings, without deciding the question as to which was the greatest.				History of Seventies, 7–8.
		Shortly after this the Prophet met Joseph Young again, and told him six brethren, instead of five, had been chosen to fill the vacancy in the council of the Seventies, at the same time requesting him to see Bro. John Gould, and signify to him the desire of the Prophet to have him placed in the High Priests' Quorum. Bro. Gould complied with the wishes of the Prophet, and he was ordained a High Priest. When Bro. Levi W. Hancock returned, he was ordained a First President of the Seventies, and took the position assigned him in the council in the fall of 1835.

		December 28, 1835
		Seventy are apostles
		on this day the council of the seventy meet to render an account of their travels and ministry, since they were ordained to that apostleship				SHOWREF=js3536], 91 and 1834�1836 history, 165.

		January 15, 1836
		Quorum approves rules
Rules for the House of the Lord		Quorum participates in the council of entire church leadership that approves the rules for the House of the Lord in Kirtland.				¶ Minutes of January 15, 1836

		April 6, 1837
		High priest presidents revert
Six of seven presidents of Seventy released (high priests)		[132] … In the first place six of the Presidents of the Seventies were to leave the Seventies & take a station in the quorum of the travling high priesthood and six other Presidents chosen in their stead. … all of Councillors first chosen excepting Joseph Young were high priest before the organization of the seventies & they had a right to officiate in the lower offices of the Church & there was some difference in the authority and office of the quorums of high Priesthood & Seventies.				¶ Minutes of April 6, 1837
Six new presidents		The six new Presidents Chosen out of the Seventies to take the place of thos that were to leave were: John Gould, Josiah Butterfield, Salmon Gee, [blank] Foster, John Gaylard.				John Gaylord "This council stood intact [from November 1835] until the month of May, 1838. … The brethren in Kirtland received a message from him [Joseph], giving all the councils of the priesthood, remaining in that place, instructions to have them filled up. At this time the council of the Seventies convened for this purpose. Elders Salmon Gee and John Gaylord were absent from the council, but sent word that they wished to be excused from any further services in the council. Consequently, pursuant to their request, they were excused and were dropped by the council, and Zera Pulsipher and Henry Herriman were chosen in their places, and were ordained First Presidents and members thereof." History of Seventies, 8.

		April 6, 1845 General Conference
Zion's Camp member		Elder George A. Smith remarked that Roger Orton was one of the Old Camp and was selected a year ago to be one of the seven Presidents of the Seventies; … Brother Orton was one of the Old Camp, and we love him on that account; …				TS 6, no. 7 (Apr. 15, 1845): 870.
First Presidency of the Seventies		Moved and seconded that Joseph Young be continued and and sustained as President of the First Presidency of the Seventies. Carried unanimously.
Five assistant presidents		Moved and seconded that Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Jedediah M. Grant, and Daniel S. Miles be continued and sustained in their office, as assistant presidents to President [Joseph] Young. Carried unanimously.
Roger Orton, if he reforms		Moved and seconded that if Roger Orton will reform and become a good man, he be received and ordained as a member of this presidency
		October 6, 1845 General Conference
		Elder George A. Smith remarked that Roger Oorton [sic] was one of the Old Camp and was selected a year ago to be one of the seven Presidents of the Seventies; but he had never received his ordination, nor done anything to magnify his calling. … Brother Orton was one of the Old Camp, and we love him on that account; we always called him the "Big Major," and a first rate man; but he has not come forward since his appointment to magnify his calling.				TS 6, no. 16 (Nov. 1, 1845):1009. Orton's status as a member of Zion's Camp appears to be his primary (and essential?) qualification.
		[1010] … Brother Orton … has very little of the spirit: he has … never has been active since his discharge from the I have no particular desire to plead for him, but if his case can be laid over, I think he can be saved in that office, but I will be subject to counsel. I have considerable feeling for him; he lost all his property in Missouri, and has since addicted himself to drinking whiskey; that seems to have ruined him, but he may be reclaimed.camp, that went up to Missouri in 1834
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