Mormon History
Renaming of Commerce to Nauvoo - 1840
Western World – May 13, 1840
LATEST FROM THE MORMONS.
It is known that these
people, since their dispersion in Missouri, have collected in great numbers in
and around Commerce in this state, on the Mississippi river. The name of
Commerce, as we have heretofore stated, they have changed to Nauvoo, from the
Hebrew or Egyptian, though of the signification of the term we are ignorant.
They hold two great conferences every year, -- in the spring and fall; and that
appointed for the present spring took place last week, commencing on the 6th,
and ending on the 9th of April. We learn that between 2000 and 3000 persons were
present, and that considerable accessions were made to the church from the
surrounding neighborhood. Our informant states that the number was 74, all
received by baptism, and that at the same time thirty of the ablest men were
ordained to p[r]each the gospel.
The preachers present were Joseph and Hiram Smith, John Page, Orson Hyde, and
two others. Messrs. Page and Hyde, with ten others, (probably chosen elsewhere),
were commissioned to go to the Holy Land to preach the gospel to the Jews. They
are to meet in Quincy next Sabbath, and from thence take their departure for
Palestine.
About 300 houses have been put up in Nauvoo since last October. Some of them are
neat frame buildings, but the greater portion are log cabins, designated for
temporary habitations merely. The ground assigned to each is generally one acre,
though to some there are five acres.
The increase of population by immigration is very great. Our informant states
that several families arrive every day. A gentleman living on the road from
Quincy to Nauvoo assured him that on some days at least 15 families passed his
house, all bound to the latter place . -- Peoria Register.