Wilford Woodruff Diary[1]

The Citizens of Nauvoo Both Male & female assembled near the Temple for a general meeting many thousands were assembled Joseph the seer arose & spoke upon several subjects Among other subjects he spoke his mind in great plainness concerning the iniquity & wickedness of Gen John Cook Bennet, & exposed him before the public [2] He also prophesied in the Name of the Lord concerning the merchants in the City that if they with the rich did not open their hearts & contribute to the poor that they would be Cursed by the hand of God & be Cut off from the land of the living, The main part of the day was taken up upon the business of the agricultural & manufacturing society, [3] if we have a charter granted us by the Legislator of the State for that purpose & the time has come for us to make use of that Charter, it is divided into stock of $50 dollars each share, any person owning one share become a member of the society a stock-holder, each share is entitled to one vote this is esstablished with a view of helping the poor arangments were entered into to commence operations immediately

Also Joseph commanded the Twelve to organize the Church more according to the Law of God that is to require of those that come in to be settled according to their Council & also to appoint a committee to wait upon all who arive & make them welcome & council them what to do B Young, H.C. Kimball G A. Smith & Hyrum Smith was the committee appointed to wait upon emigrants & settle them. [4]

—18 June 1842

Notes

[1] See History of the Church, 5:34-35. Not in Teachings. The original source for History of the Church is the Wilford Woodruff Diary.

[2] This appears to be the first public announcement in Nauvoo of John C. Bennett's licentious conduct. The Prophet made every effort to help Bennett amend his ways, but "seeing no prospects of any satisfaction" the Church withdrew the hand of fellowship from him. After his excommunication Bennett pleaded earnestly that he not be exposed publicly, which Joseph Smith agreed to, but when Bennett abruptly left Nauvoo, began traducing the Prophet's character, and threatened to join forces with anti-Mormons from Missouri, Joseph Smith had no recourse but to unmask Bennett's past.

[3] The Nauvoo Agricultural and Manufacturing Association was incorporated by the state of Illinois in February 1841. The purpose of the association was for the "promotion of agriculture and husbandry in all its branches, and for the manufacture of flour, lumber, and such other useful articles as are necessary for the ordinary purposes of life." Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and William Law, the commissioners, were to receive subscriptions and distribute capital stock (Times and Seasons, 2 [15 March 1841]: 355-56).

[4] See 16 August 1841, note 2.