Minutes of a Conference Held in Zarahemla, January 6, 1842

Historical Introduction

The Iowa or Zarahemla Stake was not disbanded for almost a year after most other stakes outside Nauvoo were disbanded. The fact that this stake was not disbanded when most others were is a testament to the vision of the Saints for what the city of Zarahemla would become. However, as tensions with neighbors increased and the desire of Church leaders and members to finish the Nauvoo temple intensified, the stake in Iowa was also disbanded. As historian Alisha Hillam explains, “The Lee County communities were prospering, but, like the stakes disbanded before them, the Zarahemla Stake members were needed to help complete the temple in Nauvoo more than they needed to grow the Church in the surrounding area.”¹

The disbandment changed the presence of Latter-day Saints in Lee County, Iowa, dramatically. Many members began to move across the river to Nauvoo, Illinois. The town of Zarahemla was practically emptied after this announcement.² Iowa continued to play a critical, and sometimes conflicting, role in the history of the Church at this time and in Joseph Smith’s actions. The masonic lodge in Montrose is where, in August of 1842, Joseph Smith reportedly again gave another prophecy that the Saints would eventually go to the Rocky Mountains.³ Leaders from Nauvoo continued to report that they attended conferences in Iowa. Smith used Latter-day Saint homes and settlements in Iowa as hiding places and refuges while avoiding extradition attempts, and he sought out legal assistance from Iowan lawyers up until his death.⁴

However, Smith’s attitude toward Iowa would sometimes fluctuate. On April 6, 1843, at a conference held at the temple in Nauvoo, Smith declared, “It is necessary that I make a proclamation concerning Keokuk; and also in relation to the economy of the church on that side of the river.” Smith explained that the governor of Iowa, John Chambers, had begun to take legal action against Smith, issuing writs which Smith felt were unjustified. Smith continued, “I will therefore advise you to serve them a trick that the devil never did, i.e:—come away and leave them—come into Illinois, pay taxes in Illinois, and let the Iowegians take their own course. I don’t care whether you come away or not. I do not wish to control you, but if you wish for my advice, I would say, let every man as soon as he conveniently can, come over here, for you can live in peace with us.”⁵ However, there are two important contextual facts that must be considered. First, Smith was speaking specifically about Keokuk. While he made this statement about Iowa generally, directly before this, Hyrum Smith spoke about a couple of men, James Dunn and David Holman, who had stayed at his house and confessed to stealing “from the world, not from the brethren.”⁶ These men then went to Montrose and Keokuk and stole goods there. Smith publicly condemned their actions and called for a stop to any gangs of thieves, declaring, “If any man is afraid to disclose what he knows about this gang of thieves, let him come to me, and tell me the truth, and I will protect him from violence. Thieving must be stopped.”⁷ Directly following Joseph Smith’s invitation for Saints in Iowa to come over to Nauvoo, Smith spoke about the ongoing land disputes in Keokuk.

Smith’s apprehensions about Iowa were thus centered around the tensions which developed because of land disputes and criminal activity, which was associated, either accurately or not, with the Saints. These issues likely played a prominent role in Smith’s decision to disband the Iowa or Zarahemla Stake. However, despite the disbandment, Iowa continued to function as a critical part of the Nauvoo experience.

Document Transcript

[p. 2] Minutes of a conference held in Zarahemla Jany 6th 1842

A Conference of the branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, in Lee County, Iowa was held, pursuant to adjournment, at the house of elder [Pierce] Hawley in Zarahemla, on the 6th day of Jany 1842. President Hyrum Smith (being present,) was unanimously appointed to preside in conference and Elias Smith chosen clerk

Opened by singing a hymn, and prayer by elder John Taylor

The president then laid before the conference the business thought necessary to be transacted and spoke at some length on the propriety of disorganizing the constituted authorities of the Church in this County followed by elder Heber C. Kimball and G[eorge] A. Smith, when on motion it was unanimously

Resolved. That the High Council and Bishop and Counsellors in this branch of the church be discontinued

Resolved that President John Smith continue to be the presiding elder of the branch of the church in this place

President H. Smith then in a lengthy discourse enjoined upon the saints, to keep the Laws and commandments of the Lord; to feed the hungry, and to clothe the naked, to comfort the afflicted; to bind up the broken hearted; to abstain from those things that God had said were not good, and from every appearance of evil, and withal to remember the Tithing for the House of the Lord.

Closed by prayer by elder Taylor

Elias Smith ClerkHyrum Smith Prest.