Philadelphia Branch Minutes [1] [2]

Brother Joseph Smith Jr. dilated at some length on the offices of the Priesthood and on the duties of Elder, Bishops, Priests, &c. and directed it should be entered on the minutes as the injunction of the Presidency that travelling Elders should be especially cautious of incroaching on the ground [3] of stationed & presiding Elders and rather direct their efforts to breaking up and occupying new ground and that the Churches generally refuse to be burthened with the support of unprofitable and dilatory labourers.

—13 January 1840

Notes

[1] The following report is here published for the first time.

[2] The Philadelphia Branch Minutes are located in the Library-Archives of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Auditorium, Independence, Missouri.

[3] Because the presiding officer of a branch of the Church was a proselyting missionary, and because he was supported by the congregation while he was in their area, it was only reasonable that such an injunction be given by the Presidency of the Church.