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“Explanation of the Plat of the City of Zion,” circa 25 June 1833
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occupied for these must be laid off according to wisdom[.] On the North and South are to be laid off, the farms for the agriculturist and sufficient quantity of land to supply the whole plot and if it cannot be laid off without going too great a distance from the city there must also be laid off on the east and west, when this squ[a]re is thus laid off and supplied lay off another in the same way and so fill up the world in these last days and let evry man live in the City for this is the City of Zion all the streets are of one width being eight perches wide also the space round the outer edge of the painted squ[a]res is to be eight perches between the temple and the street on evry side no one lot in this City is to contain more then one house and that to be built twenty five feet back from the street leaving a small yard in front to be planted in a grove according to the taste of the builder the rest of the lot for gardens &c all the houses to be build of brick and stone
The names of the temples to be built on the painted squ[a]re No 10-11-12 are to be called the house of the Lord for the presidency of the high and most holy priesthood after the order of Melchisedeck which was after the order of the son of God, upon mount Zion City of the New Jerusalem Nos 7-8-9 The sacred Apostolic repository for the use of the Bishop No 4-5-6 The holy evangel ical house for the high Priesthood of the holy order of God– No 1-2-3 The house of the Lord for the Elders of Zion an ensign to the Nations Nos 22-23-24 house of the lord [p. 40]
The sacred edifice in Kirtland, Ohio, since known as the Kirtland temple. Although the term temple in the early days of the church designated a category of buildings, the proper name applied to the structure in Kirtland was “House of the Lord.” JS and the...
View GlossaryOrganized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and various groups of Latter-day Saints. A November 1831 revelation underscored the importance of a president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
View GlossaryThe authority and power held by certain officers in the church. The Book of Mormon referred to the high priesthood as God’s “holy order, which was after the order of his Son,” and indicated that Melchizedek, a biblical figure, was a high priest “after this...
View GlossaryThe Book of Mormon indicated that, in preparation for Jesus Christ’s second coming, a city should be built on the American continent and called the New Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon further explained that the remnant of the seed of Joseph (understood to be...
View GlossaryAn ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, he functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
View GlossaryAn 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...
View GlossaryIn summer 1831, Jackson County, in western Missouri, was identified as the site of Zion. By mid-1833, more than a thousand church members had relocated to Jackson County. In late June the presidency of the high priesthood in Kirtland, Ohio, sent church leaders in Missouri a city plat for Zion, drawn by Frederick G. Williams. A written explanation in the margins described the configuration of the plat or pattern. The plat was revised in August.
Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...
More InfoArea acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...
More InfoLocated 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...
More Info28 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...
View Full BioBefore mailing the original plat, Williams transcribed the explanatory text into Letterbook 1. In the process he made several textual changes and corrections. The original drawing is now incomplete, with edges missing that included text. This transcription is drawn from the text in Letterbook 1, which is more complete. JS and Williams began the letterbook to record JS’s history and also as a letter registry.
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...
View Full Bio“Explanation of the Plat of the City of Zion,” ca. 25 June 1833; handwriting of Frederick G. Williams; in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 38–41; JS Collection, CHL.
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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