. . . at evening, was invited with my wife, to attend [a marriage] . . . when, we arived, we opened our interview with singing & prayer, after which, I delivered an address, upon the subject of matrimony, I then invited the parties to arise, who were to be joined in wedlock, and, solemnized the institution in a brief manner, and pronounced them husband and wife in the name of God according to the articles, and covenants of the Church of the latter day saints ¹ . . .

1. The "articles and covenants" of the Church consisted of the instructions and regulations now found in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beginning in 1830, this document was read at most Church meetings and was carried by missionaries as a guide to regulating newly established congregations of the Church. What precisely Joseph Smith meant by "according to the articles and covenants" is unclear, since the document mentions nothing specific regarding marriage or a marriage ceremony. However, since it does provide guidance for other sacraments, perhaps Joseph Smith used it to infer what ought to be done in a marriage ceremony. For further information on the "articles and covenants," see volume 1, chapter 7 of the annotated history.