Meeting held in the grove, June 19th, 1842.
President Joseph Smith attended and opened the meeting with prayer. Character was clearly very important to Joseph Smith. He said, “Sometimes persons wish to put themselves into a Society of this kind, when they do not intend to pursue the ways of purity and righteousness, as if the Society would be a shelter to them, in their iniquity.” He declared that from now on no one would be admitted unless recommended by two or three members in good standing.
There had been an objection made against a certain woman entering into the Society. The charges were dropped, and this seems to have prompted Joseph’s topic for the day.
Raising a question, he said, “Supposing that Jesus Christ and angels should object to us on frivolous things? What would become of us? We must be merciful and overlook small things. If one member suffers, all feel it—by union of feeling, we obtain power with God. It is the object of this Society to reform persons, not to take those that are corrupt.”
He went on, “Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand and watch over them with tenderness. When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O, What power it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind.”
Explaining what the principle of charity is, he said, “God does not look on sin with allowance, but when men have sinned there must be allowance made for them. All the religious world is boasting of righteousness. Self-righteousness is the doctrine of the devil and retards the human mind. The closer we are to Heavenly Father, the more disposed to compassion we are. If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.”
In the name of the Lord, Joseph promised that the “soul that has righteousness enough to ask God in the secret place for life, every day of their lives shall live to three score years and ten. We must walk uprightly all day long. How glorious are the principles of righteousness!”
“We are full of selfishness—the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, while we are feeding on the faults of others. If the sisters love the Lord, let them feed the sheep and not destroy them.”
“No man can be compelled into the kingdom of God, but must be dealt with in long suffering and at last we shall save them. The way to keep all the saints together and keep the work rolling, is to wait with all long suffering till God shall bring such character to justice.”
“Sisters of this Society, shall there be strife among you? I will not have it—you must repent and get the love of God. The best measure or principle to bring the poor to repentance is to administer to their wants—the Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.”
Joseph offered to give land to the Society so they could build a house for the poor. Bro. Calhoun would provide the frame and the sisters could pay him back by shopping at his store.
Many of these same concepts were taught in our recent General Conference; doctrine never changes. After such a powerful lesson, I love that Joseph was willing to “put his money where his mouth was” and to make it possible for the sisters to house the poor. We can do the same. As we work with the Priesthood, we can discover needs and wants of people and supply them.
The Minute Book is now online at Joseph Smith Papers.