Elders' Journal
Encyclopedia
The Elders' Journal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (usually shortened to Elders' Journal) was an early Latter Day Saint periodical edited by Don Carlos Smith
. Two issues Vol. 1 No. 1 (October) and Vol. 1. No. 2 (November) were published in Kirtland, Ohio
in 1837. The remaining two issues Vol 1. No. 3 (July) and Vol 1. No. 4 (August) were published in Far West, Missouri
. The first two issues were published on the press that had previously been used to publish The Messenger and Advocate
— but this press fell into the hands of Warren Parrish
's schismatic "Church of Christ." Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon
relocated to a new headquarters in Far West and continued to publish The Elders' Journal until the events of the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri
prevented further operations in the state. The press of The Elders' Journal in Far West, was used by the church to publish Sidney Rigdon's July 4th Oration
which was one of the factors that increased tensions among Latter Day Saints and non-Mormons in northwestern Missouri.
In 1903, under the direction of Ben E. Rich, the LDS Church's Southern States Mission
began publishing a monthly periodical called Elders' Journal in honor of the 1837-1838 periodical of the same name.
By September 1, 1904 the publication had moved from Atlanta, Georgia
to a newly purchased Southern States Mission office in Chattanooga, Tennessee
and, with a price increase from $0.25 to $0.50 annually, became a semi-monthly publication.
In June 1907, the Elders' Journal was merged with The Liahona, a weekly publication created in April 1907 for use in all missions of the LDS Church in the United States. The combined publication was named Liahona The Elders’ Journal and printed in Independence, Missouri
. The new publication retained the format of the Elders' Journal rather than The Liahona and remained semi-monthly. Subscription lists from both publication were combined, roughly 20,000 copies of the first edition were printed, and the consolidated publication continued for the next 37 years.
In the final issue of Liahona The Elders’ Journal, published February 27, 1945, the editors recommended readers subscribe to one of two LDS Church periodicals; the weekly Church News
, or the monthly magazine The Improvement Era. Wrapped with the final issue was a sample copy of the Church News as it was presumably less well known to subscribers than The Improvement Era. The Church News, a weekly insert in the Deseret News, had been available in limited circulation outside of Utah since 1943. The Improvement Era, had been available since 1897.
Don Carlos Smith
Don Carlos Smith was the youngest brother of Joseph Smith, Jr. and a leader, missionary, and periodical editor in the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement....
. Two issues Vol. 1 No. 1 (October) and Vol. 1. No. 2 (November) were published in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
in 1837. The remaining two issues Vol 1. No. 3 (July) and Vol 1. No. 4 (August) were published in Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
. The first two issues were published on the press that had previously been used to publish The Messenger and Advocate
Messenger and Advocate
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Kirtland, Ohio from October 1834 to September 1837...
— but this press fell into the hands of Warren Parrish
Warren Parrish
Warren Parrish was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint or Mormonism movement. Parrish held a number of positions of responsibility, including that of scribe to church president Joseph Smith Jr. Parrish and other leaders became disillusioned with Smith after the failure of the Kirtland Safety...
's schismatic "Church of Christ." Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
relocated to a new headquarters in Far West and continued to publish The Elders' Journal until the events of the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
prevented further operations in the state. The press of The Elders' Journal in Far West, was used by the church to publish Sidney Rigdon's July 4th Oration
Rigdon's July 4th Oration
Rigdon's July 4th oration was a speech delivered by Mormon leader Sidney Rigdon during a 4th of July celebration in Far West, Missouri in 1838. Rigdon was first counselor to, and often spokesman for, Joseph Smith Jr.....
which was one of the factors that increased tensions among Latter Day Saints and non-Mormons in northwestern Missouri.
Prospectus
The revised prospectus for the periodical (reprinted in No. 3) reads:- "PROSPECTUS for the ELDERS' JOURNAL of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints.
- It is, we presume, generally known, that this paper was commenced in Kirtland, Ohio, in October last; but by reason of the great persecution against the Saints in that place, the paper had to be stopped; and through the craft of wicked men they go possession of the Printing Office, and knowing they could not hold it, it was burned.
- The paper is now about to be resuscitated in this place; to be conducted as set forth in the former prospectus. It will be issued in a few weeks, and sent to the former subscribers, as previously stated.
- We send this prospectus to arouse the Saints to energy in obtaining subscribers. — We hope the Elders abroad, will not fail to use their influence to give as general a circulation as possible.
- The JOURNAL will be Edited by Joseph Smith, jr., and Published by Thomas B. MarshThomas B. MarshThomas Baldwin Marsh was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served as the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1835 to 1839...
, at Far WestFar West, MissouriFar West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
, Caldwell CountyCaldwell County, MissouriCaldwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. , the population was 8,969. Its county seat is Kingston. The county was organized in 1836 as a haven for the Mormons, who had been previously driven from Jackson County, Missouri in November of 1833 and had been refugees in...
Missouri.
- Terms—One dollar, per annum, paid in advance. All letters must be Post Paid, and directed to the Publisher.
- Far West, Mo. April 26, 1838.
Contents
The Elders' Journal contains a number of interesting letters from church leaders, minutes from church conferences as well as notices of marriages and obituaries. The July 1838 issue published an interesting "Q & A" interview with the editorial board (led by Joseph Smith, Jr.) about Smith's personal history and Mormon beliefs. Among the questions and answers were:- Question 3rd. Will every body be damned, but Mormons?
- Answer. Yes, and a great portion of them unless they repent work righteousness.
- Question 5th. Do you believe Joseph Smith Jr. to be a prophet?
- Answer. Yes, and every other man who has a testimony of Jesus. "For the testimony of Jesus, is the spirit of prophecy."—Rev. 19:10.
- Question 7th. Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one[?]
- Answer. No, not at the same time. But they believe, that if their companion dies, they have a right to marry again. But we do disapprove of the custom which has gained in the world, and has been practised among us, to our great mortification, of marrying in five or six weeks, or even two or three months after the death of the companion. We believe that due respect out to be had, to the memorty of the dead, and the feelings of both friends and children.
- Question 10. Was not Jo Smith a money digger[?]
- Answer. Yes, but it was never a very proffitable [sic] job to him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it.
- Question 20th. What are the fundamental principles of your religion[?]
- Answer. The fundamental principles of our religion is [sic] the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ, "that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended up into heaven;" and all other things are only appendages to these, which pertain to our religion. But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth.
Reincarnation
In 1903, under the direction of Ben E. Rich, the LDS Church's Southern States Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
began publishing a monthly periodical called Elders' Journal in honor of the 1837-1838 periodical of the same name.
By September 1, 1904 the publication had moved from Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to a newly purchased Southern States Mission office in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
and, with a price increase from $0.25 to $0.50 annually, became a semi-monthly publication.
In June 1907, the Elders' Journal was merged with The Liahona, a weekly publication created in April 1907 for use in all missions of the LDS Church in the United States. The combined publication was named Liahona The Elders’ Journal and printed in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. The new publication retained the format of the Elders' Journal rather than The Liahona and remained semi-monthly. Subscription lists from both publication were combined, roughly 20,000 copies of the first edition were printed, and the consolidated publication continued for the next 37 years.
In the final issue of Liahona The Elders’ Journal, published February 27, 1945, the editors recommended readers subscribe to one of two LDS Church periodicals; the weekly Church News
Church News
The Church News is a weekly tabloid-sized supplement to the Deseret News and the MormonTimes , a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, or the monthly magazine The Improvement Era. Wrapped with the final issue was a sample copy of the Church News as it was presumably less well known to subscribers than The Improvement Era. The Church News, a weekly insert in the Deseret News, had been available in limited circulation outside of Utah since 1943. The Improvement Era, had been available since 1897.
See also
- Evening and Morning StarEvening and Morning StarThe Evening and the Morning Star was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Independence, Missouri, from June 1832 to July 1833, and then in Kirtland, Ohio, from December 1833 to September 1834...
- List of Latter Day Saint periodicals
- Messenger and AdvocateMessenger and AdvocateLatter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Kirtland, Ohio from October 1834 to September 1837...
- Millennial StarMillennial StarThe Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star was the longest continuously published periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being printed from 1840 until 1970....
- Times and SeasonsTimes and SeasonsTimes and Seasons was a 19th-century Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly or twice-monthly at Nauvoo, Illinois, from November 1839 to February 15, 1846...
External links
- Joseph Smith (ed.), The Elders' Journal: 1837-1838, Kirtland, Ohio and Far West, Missouri
- http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/results.php?&CISORESTMP=results.php&CISOVIEWTMP=item_viewer.php&CISOMODE=grid&CISOGRID=title,A,1;creato,A,1;subjec,A,0;descri,200,0;none,A,0;20;title,none,none,none,none&CISOBIB=creato,A,1,N;contri,A,0,N;title,200,0,N;none,A,0,N;none,A,0,N;20;creato,none,none,none,none&CISOTHUMB=20%20(4x5);creato,none,none,none,none&CISOTITLE=20;creato,none,none,none,none&CISOHIERA=20;contri,creato,none,none,none&CISOSUPPRESS=1&CISOTYPE=browse&CISOROOT=/FHLiahonaEJElders' Journal (Liahona, the Elders' Journal) of the Southern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] 1903 -1945.