Late in 1830, Oliver Cowdery and others traveled west to preach to the Delaware Indian nation in the Kansas Territory. Early church members often referred to Indians as “Lamanites” because they associated them with a Book of Mormon people identified by that name. In this letter, Cowdery dutifully passed to church associates in the East information he had acquired in western Missouri about Indian nations farther west (in this case, the Navajo people). He also noted that despite general opposition a handful of local citizens seemed interested in Mormonism. Cowdery and his associates remained in Missouri until JS and other elders arrived in late July and early August 1831 to identify and dedicate the location for the New Jerusalem.

   The original letter is not extant. Frederick G. Williams recorded the letter’s text in JS’s letterbook between 27 November 1832 and early January 1833.