On Thursday, March 17, 1842, in the second-story meeting room over Smith’s Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, the Relief Society was organized. Eliza R. Snow took meticulous minutes of the meeting. These minutes were published in the Deseret News in 1855, but with significant (sometimes egregious) changes made by George A. Smith and three scribes. When Heber C. Kimball stopped by the Historian’s
Office, he “Heard Joseph’s sermon Read, liked it better as revised.” Brigham Young also approved of the changes.
These changes have slipped into the common phrases of the church for example, Joseph Smith said, “I now turn the key to you …” This was changed to, “I now turn the key in your behalf.” Also changed was a failed prophecy of Queens visiting the Relief Society within ten years.
The original minutes were hidden from view from the public for over 150 years. The original documents were published along with the Joseph Smith Papers, and these changes came to light. Here are presented side by side the more significant changes.
| Original Relief Society Notes | Notes published in the Deseret News |
|---|---|
| March 31, 1842 | Deseret News, September 5, 1855 |
| “observe the Constitution that the blessing of Heaven may rest down upon us.” | “observe the laws of the kingdom of God, that the blessing of Heaven may rest down upon us.” |
| “Said he was going to make of this Society a kingdom of priests [as] in Enoch’s day—as in Pauls day.” | “The Lord was going to make of the Church of Jesus Christ a kingdom of priests, a holy people, a chosen generation, as in Enoch’s day, having all the gifts as illustrated to the church in Paul’s epistles and teaching to the churches in his day” |
| [Joseph Smith asked that the men] “withdraw, that the Society might proceed to business—that those wishing to join have their names presented at the next meeting.” | “He then blessed the saints.” |
| April 28, 1842 | Deseret News, September 19, 1855 |
| “…there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on the sick than in wetting the face with water.” | …there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on and praying for the sick, than in wetting the face with water.” |
| “For instance P. Pratt[,] O. Pratt, O. Hyde and J. Page had been aspiring—they could not be exalted…” | “For instance, John E. Page and others had been aspiring; they could not be exalted…” |
| “He spoke of delivering the keys to this Society and to the church—that according to his prayers God had appointed him elsewhere.” | “He spoke of delivering the keys of the Priesthood to the church, and said that the faithful members of the Relief Society should receive them in connection with their husbands, that the Saints whose integrity had been tried and proved faithful, might know how to ask the Lord and receive an answer; for according to his prayers, God had appointed him elsewhere.” |
| “He exhorted the sisters always to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence, in those whom God has appointed to honor, whom God has plac’d at the head to lead. That we should arm them with our prayers; for the keys of the kingdom are about to be given to them, that they may be able to detect everything false; as well as to the elders.” | “He exhorted the sisters always to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence in their husbands, whom God has appointed for them to honor, and in those faithful men whom God has placed at the head of the Church to lead his people that we should arm and sustain them with our prayers; for the keys of the kingdom are about to be given to them, and they may be able to detect everything false; as well as to all the elders who shall prove their integrity in due season.” |
| “He said if one member becomes corrupt, and you know it, you must immediately put it away.” | “He said if one member becomes corrupt, and you know it, you must immediately put it away, or it will either injure or destroy the whole body.” |
| “If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious!” | “If you live up to these principles, how great and glorious will be your reward in the celestial kingdom!!” |
| You need not be tearing men for their deeds, but let the weight of innocence be felt | You need not be teasing your husbands because of their deeds, but let the weight of your innocence, kindness and affections be felt |
| “This Society shall have power to command Queens in their midst.” | “If this Society listen to the council of the Almighty, through the heads of the church, they shall have power to command queens in their midst.” |
| “I now deliver it as a prophecy that before ten years shall roll round, the queens of the earth shall come and pay their respects to this Society—they shall come with their millions and shall contribute of their abundance for the relief of the poor—if you will be pure, nothing can hinder.” | “I now deliver it as a prophecy, if the inhabitants of this state, with the people of the surrounding country, will turn unto the Lord with all their hearts, ten years will not roll round before the kings and queens of the earth will come unto Zion, and pay their respects to the leaders of this people: they shall come with their millions, and shall contribute of their abundance for the relief of the poor, and the building up and beautifying of Zion.” |
| “After this instruction, you will be responsible for your own sins. It is an honor to save yourselves—all are responsible to save themselves.” | “After this instruction, you will be responsible for your own sins; it is a desirable honor that you should so walk before our Heavenly Father as to save yourselves; we are all responsible to God for the manner we improve the light and wisdom given by our Lord to enable us to save ourselves.” |
| This Society is to get instruction thro’ the order which God has established— thro’ the medium of those appointed to lead— | You will receive instruction through the order of the Priesthood, which God has established, through the medium of those appointed to lead, guide, and direct the affairs of the church in this last dispensation; |
| And I now turn the key to you in the name of God | And I now turn the key in your behalf in the name of the Lord |
| Those ordain’d to lead the Society, are authoriz’d to appoint to different offices as the circumstances shall require. | Those ordained to preside over and lead you, are authorized to appoint to different offices as the circumstances shall require. |
| Prest. S. then offered instruction respecting the propriety of females administering to the sick by the laying on of hands— said it was according to revelation &c. said he never was plac’d in similar circumstances, and never had given the same instruction. | President Smith then gave instruction respecting the propriety of females administering to the sick by the prayer of faith, the laying on of hands, or the anointing with oil; and said it was according to revelation that the sick should be nursed with herbs and mild food, and not by the hand of an enemy. Who are better qualified to administer than our faithful and zealous sisters, whose hearts are full of faith, tenderness, sympathy, and compassion? No one. Said he was never placed in similar circumstances before, and never had given the same instruction. |
For further reading: Derr, Jill Mulvay et. al. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History.2016, Church Historian’s Press; First Edition, pgs. 198-208
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