The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, 2 July 1833

Source Note

, JS, and , Letter, , Geauga Co., OH, to “Brethren,” [, Mo.], 2 July 1833. Retained copy, [ca. 2 July 1833], in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 51–54; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 1.

Historical Introduction

This letter was written in response to three letters, each dated 7 June 1833, that church leaders in , Ohio, received from , none of which have been located. The contents of this 2 July 1833 letter indicate that at least one of the letters from Missouri reported the safe arrival of and , who had been directed by a of in Kirtland to travel together to Missouri. The letter also suggests that at least one of the 7 June letters had inquired about the gift of tongues. In addition to addressing these topics, the letter from JS featured here included instructions for sending copies of the Book of Commandments—then being printed on the church’s in , Missouri—to Kirtland and updated the Missouri church members on various developments in , including the health of Kirtland church members, Kirtland leaders’ impending missionary journeys, and the news that JS had completed his translation of the Bible on the same day this 2 July 1833 letter was written. At one point in the letter, makes a first-person reference to himself, and he was also the first signer of the letter, indicating that he likely served as the principal author. Nevertheless, most of the letter is written in the first-person plural.
It is unclear whether church members in ever received this letter. Depending on a variety of factors, letters sent between and could take anywhere from ten days to a month to deliver. If the letter was mailed as intended on 3 July, it could have arrived in Independence as early as 13 July. If it traveled more slowly, however, it may have been lost in the confusion attending the mob violence that took place on 20 and 23 July in Independence.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 30 Apr. 1833. An 8 March 1833 revelation directed Jaques to move to Missouri. Hobert moved to Jackson County, Missouri, in order to work as a typographer in the church’s printing office there. (Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:28]; “Obituary,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 117.)

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, 2 July 1833 Letterbook 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 52

is good at present no case of sickness known to us, s wife is declining fast and cannot continue much longer but will soon be in the paradise of God, we are engaged in writing a letter to respecting the two Smith[s] as we have received two from them one from John Smith the other from the of the Church. As to the gift of tongues, all we can say is that in this place we have received it as the ancients did we wish you however to be careful lest in this you be deceived guard against evils which may arise from any accounts given of women or otherwise be careful in all things lest any root of bitterness spring up among you and thereby many be defiled. Satan will no doubt trouble you about the Gift of tongues unless you are careful you cannot watch him too closly nor pray to[o] much may the Lord give you wisdom in all things, in a letter mailed last week you will doubtless see before you receive this <​have​> obtained information about the new translation. Consign the Box of the book of the Commandments to Geauga Co Ohio care of Killy and Walworth Cuyahoga County Ohio, I write this in great haste in answer to yours to Bro Joseph as I am going off immediately in company with , to proclaim the gospel we think of starting to morrow having finished the translation of the bible a few hours since and needing some recreation we know of no way we can spend our time more to divine exceptence then endevoring to build up <​his​> [p. 52]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 52

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, 2 July 1833
ID #
169
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:165–168
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    Dianthe Stiles Kingsbury died at Painesville, Ohio, on 19 August 1833. (Kingsbury, Pendulous Edition of Kingsbury Genealogy, 230.)

    Kingsbury, Joseph Addison, comp. A Pendulous Edition of Kingsbury Genealogy, Gathered by Rev. Addison Kingsbury. Marietta, Ohio: Forty Years Pastor of the Putnam Presbyterian Church, Zanesville, Ohio. Pittsburgh: Murdoch-Kerr Press, 1901.

  2. [3]

    Letter to Church Leaders in Eugene, IN, 2 July 1833. “Eugine” refers to the branch of the church in Eugene Township, Vermillion County, Indiana.

  3. [4]

    See Letter to John Smith, 2 July 1833; and Letter to Church Leaders in Eugene, IN, 2 July 1833.

  4. [5]

    JS and other men and women spoke in tongues at a conference of high priests on 22 January 1833. The conference reconvened the following morning, at which time attendees spoke, prayed, and sang in tongues. (Minutes, 22–23 Jan. 1833.)

  5. [6]

    See, for example, Acts 2:4; 19:6.

  6. [7]

    JS’s translation of the Bible, which was completed this day. The 25 June 1833 letter states, “In regard to the printing of the New translation it cannot be done until we can attend to it ourselves, and this we will do as soon as the Lord permit.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 25 June 1833.)

  7. [8]

    Probably Thomas M. Kelley and Ashbel W. Walworth, who were engaged in the shipping industry in Cleveland. (Kelley, Genealogical History of the Kelley Family, 88; “Pioneer Father and Son: John Walworth and Ashbel W. Walworth,” 665.)

    Kelley, Hermon Alfred, comp. A Genealogical History of the Kelley Family Descended from Joseph Kelley of Norwich, Connecticut. With Much Biographical Matter concerning the First Four Generations, and Notes of Inflowing Female Lines. Cleveland: By the author, 1897.

    “A Pioneer Father and Son: John Walworth and Ashbel W. Walworth.” Magazine of Western History 3, no. 6 (Apr. 1886): 658–666.

  8. [9]

    It is unknown if Rigdon and Williams went on a preaching tour as planned or where they may have traveled. Williams served as the clerk for a meeting in Kirtland held on 13 July, suggesting that any traveling he and Rigdon did at this time was relatively local. (Minutes, 13 July 1833.)

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06