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Letter to the Eugene Branch, 2 July 1833

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

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, July 2nd, 1833.

Dear Brethren it is truly painful to be under the painful necessity of writing on a subject which engages our attention at this time viz the case of John Smith and Eden Smith

1806–7 Dec. 1851. Laborer. Born in Indiana. Son of John Smith. Baptized into LDS church. Served mission to Ohio, Dec. 1831, 1832. Married first Elizabeth. Rebaptized into LDS church by William E. McLellin, 27 Aug. 1834, in Eugene, Vermillion Co., Indiana....

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his son. We have just received a letter from you concerning their Standing in the Church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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. We do not hold them in fellowship we would inform you that John Smith has been dealt with and his authority taken from him and you are required not to receive his teachings but to treat him as a transgressor until he repents and humbles himself before the Lord to the entire satisfaction of the Church and also you have authority to call a conference

A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...

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and sit in judgment on Eden

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s case and deal with him as the law directs we feel to rebuke the Elders

An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.” The articles and covenants of the church directed...

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of that <branch

An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, branches were led by a presiding...

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of the> church of Christ for not magnifying their office and letting the transgressor go unpunished we therefore enjoin upon [p. 54]

John Smith, no relation to JS, and his son Eden

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joined the church in 1831. Soon thereafter they were ordained to the priesthood and performed missionary service. After completion of his mission in August 1832, John Smith had a dispute with church members. A bishop’s court in Kirtland

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, Ohio, deprived him of his ministerial license. This letter explained the elder Smith’s circumstances to branch leaders and authorized them to consider Eden Smith’s fellowship in the church.

JS, Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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, and Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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, as presidents of the high priesthood, sent a letter on 2 July 1833 to John Smith to affirm the bishop’s court decision. That same day they sent this letter to the leaders of the Eugene

Located in west central part of state, about three miles from Illinois border and about seventy miles west of Indianapolis. Population in 1840 about 1,000. Population in 1850 about 1,700. Included Eugene village; population in 1840 about 400. Branch of LDS...

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branch in Vermillion County, Indiana, where John and Eden Smith

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resided. Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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, the church bishop in the Kirtland

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area who rendered the initial decision regarding John Smith, added a postscript.

Williams

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transcribed a copy of the communication into JS Letterbook 1, possibly in July 1833.

Facts

Editorial Title: Letter to the Eugene Branch, 2 July 1833
ID #: 171