The ''Elders' Journal of the Church of Latter Day Saints'' (the name changed to ''Elders' Journal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints'' with the third issue) was an early

Latter Day Saint The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Jo ...

periodical edited by

Don Carlos Smith Don Carlos Smith (March 25, 1816 – August 7, 1841) was the youngest brother of Joseph Smith and a leader, missionary, and periodical editor in the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith was born in Norwich, Vermont, on March 25, 18 ...

, younger brother of Joseph Smith. It was the successor to the ''

Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate The ''Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate'', often shortened to ''Messenger and Advocate'', was an early Latter Day Saint monthly newspaper published in Kirtland, Ohio, from October 1834 to September 1837. It was the successor to ''The Eveni ...

'' and was eventually replaced by the '' Times and Seasons''.

History

Two issues of the ''Elders' Journal'' were published in Kirtland, Ohio in 1837. The newspaper was then relocated to

Far West, Missouri Far West was a settlement of the Latter Day Saint movement in Caldwell County, Missouri, United States, during the late 1830s. It is recognized as a historic site by the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, added to the register in 1970. It ...

where two more issues were printed. The first two issues were published on the press that had previously been used to publish the ''Messenger and Advocate'' — but this press fell into the hands of

Warren Parrish Warren F. Parrish (January 10, 1803 – January 3, 1877) was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. Parrish held a number of positions of responsibility, including that of scribe to church president Joseph Smith. Parrish and other leader ...

's schismatic "Church of Christ" and a new press had to be obtained before printing could continue. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon relocated to a new headquarters in Far West and continued to publish the ''Elders' Journal'' until the events of the

1838 Mormon War The 1838 Mormon War, also known as the Missouri Mormon War, was a conflict between Mormons and non-Mormons in Missouri from August to November 1838, the first of the three " Mormon Wars". Members of the Latter Day Saint movement, founded by Jo ...

in Missouri prevented further operations in the state. The press of the ''Elders' Journal'' in Far West, was used by the LDS Church to publish

Rigdon's July 4th oration Rigdon's July 4th oration was a speech delivered by Mormon leader Sidney Rigdon during a 4th of July celebration in Far West, Missouri in 1838. Rigdon was first counselor to, and often spokesman for, Joseph Smith Jr. The first half of the oratio ...

, which was one of the factors that increased tensions between Latter Day Saints and non-Mormons in northwestern Missouri.

Prospectus

The revised prospectus for the periodical (reprinted in No. 3) reads: :"PROSPECTUS for the ELDERS' JOURNAL of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints. :It is, we presume, generally known, that this paper was commenced in Kirtland, Ohio, in October last; but by reason of the great persecution against the Saints in that place, the paper had to be stopped; and through the craft of wicked men they go possession of the Printing Office, and knowing they could not hold it, it was burned. :The paper is now about to be resuscitated in this place; to be conducted as set forth in the former prospectus. It will be issued in a few weeks, and sent to the former subscribers, as previously stated. :We send this prospectus to arouse the Saints to energy in obtaining subscribers. — We hope the Elders abroad, will not fail to use their influence to give as general a circulation as possible. :The JOURNAL will be Edited by Joseph Smith, jr., and Published by

Thomas B. Marsh Thomas Baldwin Marsh (November 1, 1800 – January 1866) was an early leader in the Latter-day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who served as the quorum's first president in the Church of the Latter Day ...

, at

Far West Far West may refer to: Places * Western Canada, or the West ** British Columbia Coast * Western United States, or Far West ** West Coast of the United States * American frontier, or Far West, Old West, or Wild West * Far West (Taixi), a term used ...

, Caldwell County Missouri. :Terms—One dollar, per annum, paid in advance. All letters must be Post Paid, and directed to the Publisher. :Far West, Mo. April 26, 1838.

The ''Elders' Journal'' contains a number of letters from church leaders, minutes from church conferences as well as notices of marriages and obituaries. The July 1838 issue published a "Q & A" style interview with the editorial board (led by Joseph Smith, Jr.) about Smith's personal history and Mormon beliefs.

Namesake

In 1903, under the direction of Ben E. Rich, the LDS Church's Southern States Mission began publishing a monthly periodical called ''Elders' Journal'', which was named after the 1837–38 periodical of the same name. By September 1, 1904, the publication had moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to a newly purchased Southern States Mission office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and, with a price increase from $0.25 to $0.50 annually, became a semi-monthly publication. In June 1907, the ''Elders' Journal'' was merged with ''The Liahona'', a weekly publication created in April 1907 for use in all missions of the LDS Church in the United States. The combined publication was named ''Liahona: The Elders’ Journal'' and printed in Independence, Missouri. The new publication retained the format of the ''Elders' Journal'' rather than ''The Liahona'' and remained semi-monthly. Subscription lists from both publication were combined, roughly 20,000 copies of the first edition were printed, and the consolidated publication continued for the next 37 years. In the final issue of ''Liahona: The Elders’ Journal'', published February 27, 1945, the editors recommended readers subscribe to one of two LDS Church periodicals; the weekly '' Church News'', or the monthly magazine ''

The Improvement Era The ''Improvement Era'' (often shortened to ''The Era'') was an official magazine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1897 and 1970. History The ''Improvement Era'' was first published in 1897 as a replacement t ...

''. Wrapped with the final issue was a sample copy of the ''Church News'' as it was presumably less well known to subscribers than ''The Improvement Era''. The ''Church News'', a weekly insert in the ''

Deseret News The ''Deseret News'' () is the oldest continuously operating publication in the American west. Its multi-platform products feature journalism and commentary across the fields of politics, culture, family life, faith, sports, and entertainment. Th ...

'', had been available in limited circulation outside of Utah since 1943. ''The Improvement Era'', had been available since 1897. "Notice for Liahona Subscribers"
, ''Liahona The Elders’ Journal'' Volume 42, number 18, February 27, 1945. Independence, Missouri, page 432

Notes

References

External links

''Elders' Journal''
(multiple formats) courtesy of the LDS Church History Library and the Internet Archive
''Elders' Journal (Liahona, the Elders' Journal) of the Southern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''
1903 -1945, courtesy of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. {{LDSChurchpubs 1837 in Christianity Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) periodicals Defunct newspapers published in Missouri Latter Day Saint movement in Missouri Latter Day Saint movement in Ohio Publications disestablished in 1838 Publications established in 1837 Defunct newspapers published in Ohio Kirtland, Ohio