These six men, along with Oliver Cowdery, served as leaders of the church in Missouri. According to JS’s history, as a result of a series of solemn assemblies held under the direction of Bishop Edward Partridge in March 1833, Phelps, Whitmer, Partridge, Morley, Corrill, Gilbert, and Cowdery were to “stand at the head of affairs, relating to the church, in that section of the Lords vineyard.” (Historical Introduction to Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 21 Apr. 1833; Pettegrew, “History,” 15; Minute Book 2, 26 Mar. 1833; JS History, vol. A-1, 282.)

Pettegrew, David. “An History of David Pettegrew,” not after 1858. Pettigrew Collection, 1837–1858, 1881–1892, 1908–1930. CHL.

“Indite” meant “to compose; to write; to commit to words in writing” and “to direct or dictate what is to be uttered or written.” (“Indite,” in American Dictionary.)

An American Dictionary of the English Language: Intended to Exhibit, I. the Origin, Affinities and Primary Signification of English Words, as far as They Have Been Ascertained. . . . Edited by Noah Webster. New York: S. Converse, 1828.

See Genesis 15:13; 17:8; 28:4.

See Revelation 17:3.

See Proverbs 30:14.

See 1 Corinthians 15:32.

See Genesis 22:1–14.

On 23 July 1833, representatives of the Jackson County citizens met with six church leaders in Independence. Edward Partridge later wrote, “Nothing appeared satisfactory to the mob but for our people to either leave the county or be put to death. Seeing the determination of the mob, some few of the leading elders offered their lives, provided that would satisfy them, so as to let the rest of the society live, where they then lived, in peace.” The six church leaders were Partridge, John Corrill, Isaac Morley, John Whitmer, William W. Phelps, and Sidney Gilbert. None of those leaders or any church members were killed that day. ([Edward Partridge], “A History, of the Persecution,” Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:18; “To His Excellency, Daniel Dunklin,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 114–115.)

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

See Luke 1:71; Nehemiah 9:27; 1 Samuel 4:3; and Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101:54].

See Isaiah 48:10; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 53 [1 Nephi 20:10].

Church leaders in Missouri also viewed the events taking place as part of a painful but necessary purification. John Whitmer wrote, “We need the prayers of all the disciples of our Redeemer for it is a time of great anxiety to behold the cleansing of this Church & also the land from wickedness & abominations.” (Letter from John Whitmer, 29 July 1833.)

See Jude 1:15.

See Deuteronomy 9:3.

The phrase “go down to the pit” is a common Old Testament trope for death. (See Psalm 30:3, 9; Isaiah 38:18; Ezekiel 28:8; 32:18; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 101 [2 Nephi 24:19].)

See Genesis 6:3; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 542 [Ether 2:15]; and Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 1:33].

See Luke 22:42; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 141 [Jacob 7:14].

See Psalm 51:17; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 474 [3 Nephi 9:20].

Letters sent between Kirtland and Independence generally required three to four weeks’ travel time.

See Revelation 7:14.

See Matthew 5:11; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 480 [3 Nephi 12:11].

This “covenant” likely refers to a revelation received by JS only a few days earlier on 6 August 1833. (Revelation, 6 Aug. 1833 [D&C 98:3].)