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Iowa/Zarahemla Branch/Stake

congregation #480606
created 2012-10-02 by bplewe
official name: The Church in Iowa   (started: Jul 1840, ended: 1843)
Not really an official-looking name, but this is what it was called in official documents for a while.
assertion #4003401 by mpra on 2017-07-18: confidence 100%.
official name: Iowa Stake   (started: between Aug 1840 and 7 Aug 1841, ended: 6 Jan 1842)
assertion #3724976 by bplewe on 2017-07-18: confidence 80%.
official name: Iowa Branch   (ended: between Aug 1840 and 7 Aug 1841)
assertion #4003280 by mpra on 2017-07-15: confidence 100%.
official name: Zarahemla Stake?   (started: about 1841)
Have not seen this name specifically, but the stake was clearly centered at Zarahemla during 1841
assertion #3724977 by bplewe on 2017-07-16: confidence 50%.
is a(n): stake-like   (started: between Jan 1840 and Jul 1840, ended: 7 Aug 1841)
Not called a stake, but looks and acts just like one
assertion #4003307 by mpra on 2017-07-18: confidence 100%.
is a(n): stake   (started: 7 Aug 1841, ended: 6 Jan 1842)
Presidency, Bishopric, and High Council, with regional jurisdiction
assertion #4003406 by bplewe on 2019-10-01: confidence 100%.
is a(n): branch-stake   (ended: between Mar 1840 and Jul 1840)
Never called a stake during this period, but structured like a branch-stake
assertion #4003279 by mpra on 2017-07-15: confidence 100%.
started: 19 Oct 1839   
Leaders were called on October 5th, but organized on the 19th
assertion #3723471 by bplewe on 2017-07-15: confidence 80%.
ended: between 6 Jan 1842 and 6 Oct 1844?   
High Council and Bishopric were released, but the president still had jurisdiction over multiple branches.
assertion #3737471 by bplewe on 2022-03-04: confidence 50%.
description: At first, the Church in Iowa appears to have been a single-congregation "branch-stake" with a presidency (President John Smith), bishopric, and high council, much like other large branches surrounding Nauvoo. However, by the summer of 1840, additional branches were being organized in the county under the leadership of "the Church in Iowa." It behaved almost exactly like a modern stake, but was not called one until August of 1841. Even then there is little record of an official name; it is often called "Iowa Stake" or "Zarahemla Stake" in later histories but these names do not appear to have been used at the time. The stake was officially disorganized and demoted to a single branch (with John Smith still president) in January 1842, but it appears that at least into 1843 Smith was still considered the "president of the saints in Iowa" overseeing multiple branches in the county.   
assertion #4003409 by mpra on 2017-07-19: confidence 100%.
religion: Early   
assertion #4003495 by bplewe on 2017-07-29: confidence 100%.
location: 40°31'22"N, 91°26'3"W   
Centered around Zarahemla
assertion #3718506 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 90%.
located at: Lee County, Iowa, United States   
assertion #3712606 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Sand Prairie Branch?   
Likely organized after the stake was gone
entity #481042, assertion #3751199 by bplewe on 2017-07-17: confidence 30%.
has part: Zarahemla Branch [Iowa]   
entity #480702, assertion #3751215 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Bentonsport Branch?   
no direct evidence, but this is the nearest stake
entity #480496, assertion #3751233 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 50%.
has part: String Prairie Branch?   
Likely organized after the stake was gone
entity #481031, assertion #3751198 by bplewe on 2017-07-17: confidence 50%.
has part: Norwegian Settlement Branch?   
no direct evidence, but this if there were a branch, it would be part of this stake.
entity #481062, assertion #3751203 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 40%.
has part: Richardson Branch?   
no direct evidence, but this the nearest stake
entity #480456, assertion #3751218 by bplewe on 2017-07-17: confidence 40%.
has part: Keokuk Branch   
entity #480170, assertion #3751235 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Nashville Branch   
entity #480181, assertion #3751195 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Ambrosia Branch (Iowa)   
entity #480488, assertion #3751232 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Augusta Branch (Iowa)   
entity #480498, assertion #3751238 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Chequest Creek Branch   
entity #480714, assertion #3751237 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Siloam Branch   
entity #481068, assertion #3751202 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Montrose Branch   
entity #480183, assertion #3751197 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Mecham Branch   
entity #480187, assertion #3751229 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
has part: Van Buren Twp Branch   
entity #480190, assertion #3751204 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
see also: T&S 4:10, 159   
1 Apr 1843: "John Smith, president of the saints in Iowa" presides over multiple branches
entity #850580, assertion #4003354 by mpra on 2017-07-17: confidence 100%.
see also: Iowa Stake records   
entity #850158, assertion #3770945 by bplewe on 2013-10-29: confidence 80%.
see also: John Smith Papers   
John Smith was president 1839-1841
entity #700070, assertion #4003281 by mpra on 2017-07-15: confidence 100%.
see also: Times & Seasons   (image: archive.org, source part: v.1 #2 (Dec 1839) p.30)
Organization of "branch" (stake) at general conference, October 5, 1839
entity #800112, assertion #4006264 by bplewe on 2019-10-01: confidence 100%.
see also: HC 4:493   
Stake disorganized 6 Jan 1842, replaced by [still regional] Branch
entity #850127, assertion #4003350 by bplewe on 2022-03-04: confidence 100%.
see also: HC 4:382   
New clerk and recorder of baptisms for the dead appointed, 12 July 1841
entity #850120, assertion #4003339 by mpra on 2017-07-17: confidence 100%.
described by: Iowa Conf 1841-08-07   
7 Aug 1841. John Smith, "President of the Stake in Iowa", counselors, high council, Elias Smith "Bishop of this Stake" with counselors
entity #700435, assertion #4003333 by bplewe on 2022-03-04: confidence 100%.