Elders' Journal

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.

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. Marsh, at Far West, Caldwell County 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 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3][4][5]

See also

• Evening and Morning Star
• List of Latter Day Saint periodicals
• Messenger and Advocate
• Millennial Star
• Times and Seasons

References

External links

• Joseph Smith (ed.), The Elders' Journal: 1837-1838, Kirtland, Ohio and Far West, Missouri
• Elders' Journal (Liahona, the Elders' Journal) of the Southern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1903 -1945.