STEPHEN PERRY IN NAUVOO page 1 Info. taken from vol's 4,5,6 & 7 Church HistoryB. H. Roberts On April 8th, 1840, the committe on Ordinations reported that they had ordained 31 persons to be Elders of the Church. They were ordained by Alpheus Gifford and Stephen Perry. We know that Stephen was a High Priest and may have journeyed to Nauvoo as a representative of Essex, new York, for this conference. In late January of 1843, there was a meeting for the MIA (Priesthood youth). Heber C. Kimball presided and Joseph Smith was present. Heber C. Kimball delivered an address, warning his hearers against yielding to the tempations of youth. He then arranged for another meeting. At a following meeting, Joseph Smith addresses them and told them to organize themselves into a society for the relief of the poor. He recommended a brother Maudesley who was crippled and needed a house built. He suggested that they start with this project and continue with other good works. Stephen (Washington) Perry is the last name on the list of those attending. He was 12 years and 10 months at this time and may have been last because he was the youngest. Stephen (Washington) Perry was put on a committee to draft a constitution for this Society, and then was appointed with others to a "Committee of vigilance". (This was the beginning of our auxiliary organizations) On April 10, 1843, a special conference of Elders was convened and many of them recieved mission calls. Stephen Perry was called to serve a mission in Conneticut. Stephen Perry was a member of the City Council of Nauvoo. We don't know when this came into effect, but he was on the Council on June 10th, 1844. A newspaper founded by 200 bitter apostates and some non-members, called the "Expositor" was printing all manner of lies and slander against the Church and it's members. Under the Nauvoo Charter, this was illegal. The city Council met with the Mayor, Joseph Smith and unamionously agreed that the Expositor must be put out of business. The City Council signed the order to do so and it was carried out that day. (Please note, this was not an unusual circumstance. 20 such presses had been destroyed in Illinois without any hue and cry from the public.) This one was an eception. Urged on by the apostates and more criminal elements in Illinois the press printed terrible things about the Mormons and demanded their extermination or expulsion from the state. Meanwhile a Constable had been sent to arrest Joseph Smith and 14 council members, of which Stephen Perry was one. They insisted on being tried in Nauvoo. This was granted and on Thursday at 9 A.M., they were arrained in Municipal court and after evidene was heard, the defendents were acquitted. The outcry in the press became more heated and on the advice of a Curcuit Judge, they submitted to another hearing before Judge Daniel H. Wells (Non-member at this time). They were again acquitted, but the hue and cry went up that they must be tried in Carthage. 216