1.2.13
June 23, 1842 • Thursday
See images of the original document at josephsmithpapers.org.
Minutes of the Proceedings
of the
Twelfth meeting of the Society.
Grove, June 23d.
Meeting commenc’d with singing “Awake ye saints of God awake” &c.—1 Pray’r by Councillor [Sarah] Cleveland
Mrs. Prest. propos’d that the Society place funds in the hands of the Treasurer, for the purpose of preparing the house in contemplation for the poor.
On motion of Councillor Cleveland, resolved that all applying to the Treasurer for relief, without a recommend, shall be aided at the discretion of the President.
Coun. C. said the time had come that all must live by faith alone— the pow’rs of darkness were array’d against us, but said she fear’d nothing.
Coun. W. [Elizabeth Ann Whitney] rose— encourag’d the sisters to look for long life to do good— spoke of the glory to come &c. [p. [68]]
Mrs. President said she was rejoic’d to see the increasing union of the Society— hop’d we should live right before God, among ourselves and before the world.
Coun. C. said we should be extremely careful in handling character— be merciful and not oppress any especially those persons objected to by some, yet considered virtuous, such should be held in their place— should not feel themselves numbered with the vile— said we would have none among us who would speak against the prophet of the Lord, or the authorities of the church &c——
Mrs. President propos’d that a Circular go forth from this Society, expressive of our feeling in reference to Dr. [John C.] Bennett’s character— requested all who could wield the pen, to write and send in their productions, out of which, a selection should be made— said Dr. B. had proclaim’d that the Relief Society would be the means of a mob forth-coming—2 said she could not be afraid of mobs— desired the objects of the Society— the true situati♢♢ of matters might be represented— said we had nothing to do but to fear God and keep the commandments, and in doing so we shall prosper.
Mrs. Chase prophesied that henceforth, if the sisters are faithful, the gifts of the gospel shall be with us, especially the gift of healing— &c. &c.
The following persons were then receiv’d by petition and recommend.
| Nancy H. Davidson | Mary Edgar [Eager] |
| Mary Kempton | A. [blank] Parker |
| Maria Champlin | Mary C. McCall |
| Olive Cathcart | Lucinda Harmon |
[p. [69]]
| Mary J. [Isabella] Horne | Mary Ann Hales |
| Susan Stillson | Sally Killien [Killian] |
| Louisa Butterfield | Adah Phippen |
| Betsey Ogden | Ann Mc.Caslin |
| P. [Patience] D. Palmer | Susan[nah] Mc.Caslin [McCauslin] |
| Hannah Driggs | Eliza Mitchell |
| Sarah Gibbons | Milly Knight |
| Sally Allred | Phebe Cole [Phoebe Van Alstyne Cole] |
| Abigail Hovey | Mary Brown |
| Polly Meckand [Meacham?] | Mary Ann Lumereaux [Lamoreaux] |
| Mary Ann Hubbard | Cynthia Mc.Lellin |
| Lovina Thayre [Thayer] | Harriet Ellis |
| Esther Briarly | Lucinda Page |
| Eleanor Simmons [Helenora Symons] | Polly Vanansdale [Van Ausdall] |
| Sarah Sagers | Lucina Snow |
| Martha Rogers | Amy A. Smith |
| Margaret McCall | Mary Ann Nickerson |
| Amanda Simmons | Polly Leach |
| Barbara Study | Martha Helsen [Helsor] |
| Mary Ann Russell | Rhoda Smith |
| Eliza Hough | Emily J. Burke |
| Leah Childs | Christiana Wood |
| Patience Childs |
Objections were remov’d against the following persons, to wit.
| Elizabeth Garlick | Hannah Garlick |
| Mary Garlick | Talithacuma Garlick |
[p. [70]]
Donations.
| $ | ||
| Hannah Huntsman | .. | 50 |
| Emma Smith | 14, | 00 |
| Elizabeth [Davis] Durfee | 14 | 00 |
| Margaret Dana | .. | 50 |
| Sarah Lincoln | 1. | 00 |
| Sarah Foster | 71. | 00 |
| Martha Sessions | .. | 25 |
| Catharine Wilkie | 4, | 00 |
| Mary Abbott | 6, | 00 |
| Susan McArthur | 6, | 00 |
| Irene H. Cowles | 1, | 50 |
| Sarah Higbee | 2. | 00 |
| Bulah Hoyt | 25 | |
| Mary Ann Hadfield | 2, | 00 |
| Emma Smith | 1, | 00 |
| Elizabeth Corey | 1, | 25 |
| Eunice Holbrook | 25 | |
| Matilda Case | 1, | 75 |
| Catharine Spencer | 1, | 25 |
| Lucy Foot | .. | 50 |
| Lydia Huntington | .. | 25 |
| Mary Greenwell | .. | 25 |
| Nancy Winchester | .. | 50 |
| Sophia Aldridge | . | .6 |
| Ruth C— | .. | 12 |
| Louisa Knight | .. | 12 |
| Loisa Pratt | .. | 50 |
| Catharine Spencer | .. | 50 |
| Sybil Jacobs | .. | 12 |
| Susannah Cummins | .. | 50 |
| Abigail Bradford | 12 | |
| Elizabeth Matthews | .. | 50 |
[p. [71]]
| Catharine Raymond | .. | 80 |
| Mary Wooley | 1, | 00 |
| Philinda Stanley | .. | 12 |
| Mary Wooley | 1, | 25 |
| Rebecca Hodge | .. | 62 |
| Amanda [Barnes] Smith | 1, | 00 |
| Emeline Carlin[g] | 2. | 50 |
| Nancy King | .. | 12 |
| Drusilla Hendricks | .. | 12 |
| Thirza [Stiles] Cahoon | 1. | 00 |
| Rachel Allen | .. | 31 |
| — Chase | .. | 25 |
| E. [Elizabeth] Maudsley | .. | 20 |
| Elizabeth Burn[e]s | .. | 20 |
| Melinda Lewis | 2[.] | 33 |
| Susan A. Chapman | .. | 12 |
[p. [72]]
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Footnotes
Footnotes
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[1]Hymn 113, Collection of Sacred Hymns [1841], 121.
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[2]Emma Smith’s call for a circular may have resulted in a statement on marriage published in the October 1, 1842, edition of the Times and Seasons. Bennett was excommunicated from the church and resigned as mayor of Nauvoo in May 1842; he left Nauvoo on June 21, 1842. About a month later, approximately one thousand women signed a petition to Governor Thomas Carlin from the Female Relief Society, prepared on July 22, 1842. The petition called Bennett “an unvirtuous man & a most consummate scoundrel a stirrer up of sedition & a vile wretch unworthy the attention or notice of any virtuous man.” On June 24, 1842, the day following this Relief Society meeting, Joseph Smith sent a letter to Carlin describing Bennett’s serial adultery, manipulation of Joseph Smith’s teachings, and hostility toward the Latter-day Saints. Smith reported to Carlin, “It is rumored, and strong evidence exists that Bennett and David and Edward Kilbourn[e] have posted Bills in Galena calling upon the people to hold meetings and have themselves in readiness at a moments warning to assemble and come here and mob us out of the place and try to kidnap me.” Bennett soon began printed attacks against the Latter-day Saints; for his 1842 attack on the Relief Society, see John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints; or, An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism (Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842), 220–225. (Documents 1.5 and 1.6; Joseph Smith et al., “Notice,” May 11, 1842, Joseph Smith Collection, CHL; Joseph Smith, Journal, May 19, 1842, in JSP, J2:58, 67n269; Joseph Smith to Thomas Carlin, June 24, 1842, in Joseph Smith, “Copies of Letters, &c. &c.,” 1839–1843, Joseph Smith Collection, CHL, 233–235.)