Accounts of the
June 1831 Conference
Primary
Sources
Joseph Smith
On the 3rd 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. The
man of sin was revealed, and the authority of the Melchizedek
Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several
of the Elders.3 It was clearly evident 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.
Note 3. A misapprehension has arisen
in the minds of some respecting the statement-"The authority of the
Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time
upon several of the Elders." It has been supposed that this passage
meant that the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was now for the first
time conferred upon men in this dispensation. This of course is an
error, since even before the Church was organized, the Apostleship, the
highest authority in the Melchizedek Priesthood, was conferred upon
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and very probably upon David Whitmer
also (See pp. 40-42, note.) The Prophet does not mean that the
Melchizedek Priesthood was given for the first time in the Church. It
was at this conference, however, that the special office of High Priest
was for the first time conferred upon men in this dispensation, except
in so far as Apostles are also High Priests (Doctrine and Covenants,
sec. 84:63); and of course as there were men who had been ordained to
the apostleship before this conference of June, 1831, in that manner
there had been High Priests in the Church, but not otherwise. (History
of The Church,1:175-177)
John Whitmer
June 3, 1831, a general conference was
called, and a blessing promised, if the elders were faithful, and
humble before him. Therefore, the elders assembled from the East and
the West, from the North and the South. And also many members.
Conference was opened by prayer and exhortation by Joseph Smith, Jr.,
the Revelator. After the business of the Church was attended to
according to the covenants. The Lord made manifest to Joseph that it
was necessary that such of the elders as were considered worthy, should
be ordained to the High Priesthood.
The spirit of the Lord fell
upon Joseph in an unusual manner. And prophesied that John the
Revelator was then among the ten tribes of Israel who had been led away
by Salmanasar King of Israel be Assyria], to prepare them for
their return, from their long dispersion, to again possess the land of
their fathers. He prophesied many more things that I have not written.
After he had prophesied he laid his hands upon Lyman Wight
[ordained him] to the High Priesthood after the Holy Order of God. And
the spirit fell upon Lyman, and he prophesied, concerning the coming of
Christ, he said that there were some in the congregation that should
live until the Savior should descend from heaven, with a shout, with
all the holy angels with him. He said the coming of the Savior should
be, like; the sun rising in the east, and will cover the whole earth,
so with the coming of the Son of man be, yea, he will appear in his
brightness and consume all before him. And the hills will be laid low,
and the valleys be exalted; and the crooked be made straight; and the
rough smooth. And some of my brethren shall suffer martyrdom, for the
sake of the religion of Jesus Christ, and seal the testimony of Jesus
with their blood.
He saw the heavens opened,
and the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the Father. Making
intercession for his brethren, the Saints. He said that God would work
a work in these last days that tongue cannot express, and the mind is
not capable to conceive. The glory of the Lord shone
around.
At the
conference these
were ordained to the high priesthood, namely, Lyman Wight, Sidney
Rigdon, John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon, Harvey Whitlock and Hyrum Smith
were ordained by Joseph Smith, Jr., except Sidney Rigdon.
The following by Lyman
Wight by commandment. Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley,
Edward Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Ezra Thayer, Martin Harris, Ezra
Booth, who denied the faith, Harvey Whitlock denied the faith, also
Joseph Wakefield, Joseph Smith, Sen., Joseph Smith, Jr., John Whitmer.
The bishop then proceeded and blessed the above named and others by the
laying on of hands. Isaac Morley and John Corrill were ordained as
bishop's counsellors to Edward Partridge.
Joseph
Smith, Jr.,
prophesied the day previous that the man of sin should be revealed.
While the Lord poured out his spirit upon his servants, the devil took
a notion, to make known his power, he bound Harvey Whitlock and John
Murdock so that they could not speak, and others were affected but the
Lord showed to Joseph the Seer, the design of the thing, he commanded
the devil in the name of Christ and he departed to our joy and
comfort.
Therefore a part of the
revelation given at Fayette, New York, was fulfilled. The churches of
the state of New York had moved to Ohio, with their wives and their
children, and all their substance, some purchased farms others rented,
and thus they situated themselves as convenient as they could. The day
being now far spent and the conference was adjourned. (The Book
of John Whitmer, Chapter 7)
John Corrill
Previous to this there was a revelation
received, requiring the Prophet to call the elders together, that they
might receive an endowment [D&C 38]. This was done, and the meeting
took place some time in June. About fifty elders met, which was about
all the elders that then belonged to the church. The meeting was
conducted by [Joseph] Smith. Some curious things took place. The same
visionary and marvelous spirits, spoken of before, got hold of some
elders; it threw one from his seat to the floor; it bound another, so
that for some time he could not use his limbs nor speak; and some other
curious effects were experienced, but, by a mighty exertion, in the
name of the Lord, it was exposed and shown to be from an evil source.
The Melchizedek Priesthood was then for the first time introduced, and
conferred on several of the elders. In this chiefly consisted the
endowment--it being a new order--and bestowed authority. However, some
doubting took place among the elders, and considerable conversation was
held on the subject. The elders not fairly understanding the nature of
the endowments, it took some time to reconcile all their feelings. In a
few days, however, a commandment was received for the elders to go to
Missouri, two by two; no two were to travel in the track of the others,
and they were to preach the gospel by the way. After a little delay we
started. Smith, Rigdon, and six or eight others came in company. They
continued their journey until they arrived in Jackson County, where
they found Oliver Cowdery and his companions, Smith pointed out the
spot for the temple, received some revelation concerning the purchasing
of land and settling the church in that place, appointed some persons
to remain there, held one or two conferences, and then returned with
part of his company to Kirtland; Cowdery went back with him. . . . (History
of the Mormons (1839), p.18)
Secondary
Sources
Brigham Young
How came these Apostles, these Seventies,
these High Priests, and all this organization we now enjoy? It came by
revelation. Father Cahoon, who lately died in your neighbourhood, was
one of the first men ordained to the office of High Priest in this
kingdom. In the year 1831, the Prophet Joseph went to Ohio. He left the
State of New York on the last of April, if my memory serves me, and
arrived in Kirtland sometime in May. They held a General Conference,
which was the first General Conference ever called or held in Ohio.
Joseph then received a revelation, and ordained High Priests. You read
in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants how he received the Priesthood in
the first place. It is there stated how Joseph received the Aaronic
Priesthood. John the Baptist came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
When a person passes behind the vail, he can only officiate in the
spirit-world; but when he is resurrected he officiates as a resurrected
being, and not as a mortal being. You read in the revelation that
Joseph was ordained, as it is written. When he received the Melchisedek
Priesthood, he had another revelation. Peter, James, and John came to
him. You can read the revelation at your leisure. When he received this
revelation in Kirtland, the Lord revealed to him that he should begin
and ordain High Priests; and he then ordained quite a number, all whose
names I do not now recollect; but Lyman Wight was one; Fathers Cahoon
and Morley, John Murdock, Sidney Rigdon, and others were also then
ordained. These were the first that were ordained to this office in the
Church. I relate this to show you how Joseph proceeded step by step in
organizing the Church. At that time there were no Seventies nor twelve
Apostles. (Journal
of Discourses, 9:89)
George A. Smith
Among the early baptisms in Northern Ohio,
was a Methodist minister by the name of Ezra Booth. He was present when
the Elders first received the ordination of the High Priesthood. They
met together in June, 1831, in a log school house in Kirtland, a room
about eighteen feet by twenty. While they were there, the manifestation
of the power of God being on Joseph, he set apart some of the Elders to
the High Priesthood. Ezra Booth was bound, and his countenance was
distorted, and numbers of the brethren looked at him, and thought it
was a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but to their
astonishment, Joseph came forward and rebuked the foul spirit, and
commanded it to depart, in consequence of which Booth was relieved, and
many of the brethren were greatly tried at such a singular treatment by
the prophet of these wonderful manifestations of
power.
Others had visions. Lyman
Wight bore testimony that he saw the face of the
Savior.
The Priesthood was
conferred on a number of Elders, and thirty were selected to take a
mission to the western boundaries of Missouri, and travel and preach
two and two by the way, travelling without purse or scrip. They did so,
building up churches. (Journal
of Discourses, 11:4-6)
Joseph F. Smith
It is a pity that greater attention is not
paid to matters of history, for then such mistakes would not occur.
Several errors of this character have crept into history through
neglect or want of proper attention to the subjects. The passage of
history from which this brief and misleading extract was taken reads as
follows: "On the sixth of June (1831) 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 in a manner that could not be mistaken. The man of sin was
revealed, and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was
manifested, and conferred for the first time upon several of the
elders." Now, if this does not mean that on this occasion several
elders received their first ordination, then it must mean that these
several elders who had previously been ordained, then, for the first
time, received the power or authority of their ordinations. The words
"conferred for the first time upon several of the elders," would seem
at first glance to mean that several were then ordained elders, but
taking the complete sentence together, namely, "The man of sin was
revealed, and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was
manifested, and conferred for the first time upon several of the
elders," we naturally conclude that several who had previously been
ordained elders, had not yet received the spirit, or power, or
authority of their ordinations, but that now for the first time, the
authority of the Priesthood having been manifested, it fell upon them.
It is evident from the context that the word authority as used in this
quotation means power. It reads as follows: "It was clearly evident
that the Lord gave us power in proportion to the work to be done, and
strength according to the race before us, and grace and help as our
needs required." That several persons were ordained on that occasion is
directly stated, as follows: "Great harmony prevailed; several were
ordained; faith was strengthened; and humility so necessary for the
blessing of God to follow prayer, characterized the Saints." One thing
is perfectly clear, and that is, no reference whatever is here made to
the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James and John,
which great event occurred, without doubt, between May and July, 1829.
However until about the time this conference was held, the term
Melchizedek Priesthood was seldom or never used. The High Priesthood,
or the Holy Priesthood, were the terms generally applied until
then.
Thus this glorious
Priesthood, which "is after the holiest order of God," has been
restored to man in its plenitude and power in the present age for the
last times," and no part of it will be "taken from the earth again
until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in
righteousness," or "until God shall gather together in one all things,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth." In conclusion I will
call the attention of the readers of this to Sections 5, 13, 27, 84,
107, 110 and 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants for further reflection
on the subject. (Gospel
Doctrine, p.196)
Joseph
Fielding Smith
FIRST HIGH PRIESTS ORDAINED. At the fourth
conference, held in Kirtland, June, 1831, the first high priests in
this dispensation were ordained. There were 23 in all, among them being
the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was ordained a high priest under the
hands of Lyman Wight, he (Lyman Wight) having first been ordained to
that office by the Prophet. Owing to his absence, Oliver
Cowdery was not ordained a
high priest at this conference, but was ordained by Sidney Rigdon,
August 28, following.
At this conference Edward
Partridge was also ordained a high priest; he had previously been
called to the bishopric, and on this date chose as counselors-or
assistants as they were then called-John Corrill and Isaac Morley. This
was the first bishopric in the Church.
From this time forth the
Church grew rapidly in power and strength, notwithstanding the many
trials, apostasies and hardships through which it was forced to
pass. (Doctrines
of Salvation, 1:232)
John A. Widtsoe
The Important Conference of June,
1831. In the month of February (1831), the Lord commanded that
the word be sent out to the Elders of the Church calling them from the
east and from the west; from the north and from the south; to meet in
conference and receive instruction. Accordingly a conference was set
for June 3, which convened at Kirtland and continued until the 6th. The
spirit of the Lord was displayed in a marvelous way, and the power of
the evil one, which was made manifest in opposition to the work was
successfully rebuked.
The First High Priests
Ordained. At this conference the first High Priests in this
dispensation were ordained. Lyman Wight, John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon,
Harvey Whitlock and Hyrum Smith, were ordained to the office of High
Priest, by Joseph Smith the Prophet; Joseph Smith, Sen., Joseph Smith
the Prophet, Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley, Edward
Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Martin Harris, Ezra Thayer, Ezra Booth,
John Corrill, Samuel H. Smith, John Whitmer and Sidney Rigdon were
ordained to the office of High Priest, under the hands of Lyman Wight.
Edward Partridge, the Bishop of the Church, then blessed those who had
been ordained. John Corrill and Isaac Morley were sustained and
ordained as assistants, or counselors, to Bishop Whitney, under the
hands of Lyman Wight.-ECH.126.
In the minutes of the
meeting the statement is made that the authority of the Melchizedek
Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time on several
of the Elders. This is an error, for the Melchizedek Priesthood had
been conferred upon these and other brethren when they were ordained
Elders. The meaning is clear that the office of High Priest is meant
instead of Melchizedek Priesthood.-DHC.1:175-176. (Priesthood
and Church Government, p.122)
Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr.
In June 1831, at a conference in Kirtland,
nineteen men were the first to be ordained to the office of high priest
in modern times (ECH, 106). This office of the Melchizedek Priesthood
had been mentioned in a revelation received several months earlier
(D&C 42:31, 71). Reference to this office can also be found in
section 20, but in verses that were added five years after the original
revelation was received (D&C 20:66).
Although it is a separate
office in the priesthood, it is often used to designate men who hold
yet other offices. For example, bishops must be high priests unless
lineal descent from Aaron can be ascertained (D&C 68:14-21).
Apostles are designated as high priests (D&C 84:63), as are members
of the First Presidency of the Church (D&C 107:22). High councilors
must be high priests (D&C 102:1).
The office of high priest
is an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood and derives its authority
from that priesthood (D&C 107:2-5). One who holds the office of
high priest would do well to ponder these words of President Joseph F.
Smith: "Every man who holds the office of high priest in the Church, or
has been ordained a high priest, whether he is called to active
position in the Church or not-inasmuch as he has been ordained a high
priest, should feel that he is obliged-that it is his bounden duty, to
set an example before the old and young worthy of emulation, and to
place himself in a position to be a teacher of righteousness, not only
by precept but more particularly by example-giving to the younger ones
the benefit of the experience of age, and thus becoming individually a
power in the midst of the community in which he dwells.… There is no
body of priesthood in the Church who should excel, or who are expected
to excel, those who are called to bear the office of high priest in the
Church." (GD, 182.)
Those who belong to the
high priests quorum "should have a lively union with it, not a dead
connection" (PCG, 125). (Doctrine
and Covenants Encyclopedia , p.244)