-- Feb 2, 1841 (Tuesday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] (Source: McIntire Minute Book -Words of Joseph Smith, 62-3) Next Meeting, Joseph said the Lord said that we should build our house to his name that we might be Baptized for the Dead, But if we Did it Not we should be Rejected & our Dead with us & this Church should Not be excepted [accepted]. (1)
-- 8Apr41
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Quorum Organization
Temple Committee
Vacancy in 12
Baptism for the Dead (2)
-- Apr 8, 1841 (Thursday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] (Location: Temple Site, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Times and Seasons -15 April 1841-: 387-88 -Words of Joseph Smith, 69-70)
At an early hour this morning the different quorums, who had previously been organized, came to the ground and took their seats as follows: the First Presidency, with the presidents of the quorums on the stand; the High Council, on the front of the stand; the High Priesthood on the front to the right of the stand; the Seventies immediately behind the high priesthood; the Elders in the front, to the left; the Lesser Priesthood on the extreme right.
On motion; Resolved: that this session of Congress continue until Sunday evening.
Pres't J. Smith declared the rule of voting, to be a majority in each quorum, exhorted them to deliberation, faith and prayer, and that they should be strict, and impartial in their examinations. He then told them that the presidents of the different quorums would be presented before them for their acceptance or rejection . . . .
Pres't. Joseph Smith presented the building Committee of the "House of the Lord," to the several quorums collectively, who were unanimously received.
Pres't. Smith observed, that it was necessary that some one should be appointed to fill the quorum of the twelve, in the room of the late Elder David W. Patten, whereupon, Pres't Rigdon nominated Elder Lyman Wight to that office, which was unanimously accepted. . . .
[P.M.] Pres't. Rigdon delivered a discourse to the conference on the subject of "Baptism for the dead" which was set forth in a manner new and interesting, and with an eloquence peculiar to the speaker, which was listened to with intense interest by the assembly.
Gen. Bennett made some very appropriate observations in continuation of the subject.
Pres't Smith likewise followed on the same subject, threw considerable light on the doctrine which had been investigated. (1)
-- Apr 8, 1841. Thursday.
[William Clayton Journal] President Rigdon delivered a discourse on baptism for the dead, showing the propriety and absolute necessity of such an ordinance. After preaching a many were baptized for their dead relatives and many for the remission of sins. At this conference a Revelation was read (given January 19, 1841) containing instructions to build the Temple and a boarding house called the Nauvoo house and many other important items. A short revelation was also read concerning the saints in Iowa. The question had been asked what is the will of the Lord concerning the saints in Iowa. It read to the following effect, Verily thus saith the Lord let all those my saints who are assaying to do my will gather themselves together upon the land opposite to Nauvoo and build a city unto my name and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it. And all who come from the east and West and North and South who have desires let them settle in Zarahemla that they may be prepared for that wh
ich is in store for a time to come &c. Brother Joseph when speaking to one of the brethren on this subject says you have [Haun's] Mill for a sample. Many of the brethren immediately made preparations for moving in here but on account of its being so late in the season President John Smith advised to get through with planting and then proceed to move in. (3)
-- Apr 11, 1841
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon rebaptize each other for remission of sins and "renewal of covenants." Church leaders would promote rebaptism for all members during a religious reformation beginning May 1842. In future, four temples would perform 7,788 baptisms for renewal of covenants from 1877 through 1893. This ordinance would be officially discontinued in 1922. (4)
-- Apr 11, 1841 (Sunday Afternoon)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] (Location: Temple Site, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Source: Times and Seasons -15 April 1841-: 288 -Words of Joseph Smith, 71) Pres't. Joseph Smith then addressed the assembly and stated, that in consequence of the severty of the weather, the saints had not received as much instruction as he desired and that some things would have to be laid over until the next conferenceâ€"as there were many who wished to be baptized [for the dead], they would now go to the water and give opportunity to any who wished to be baptized of doing so. (1)
Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
3 - George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
