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27584
Letter from Wilford Woodruff and Others, 9 March 1838
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Vinalhaven, Fox Islands, Me.
March 9th, 1838.
Bishop Edward Partridge,
and Presi dents Joseph Smith jr., Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith,
and the Saints in Zion, Greeting:
An 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 Glossary27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...
View Full BioThe presiding body of the church. From the day of the church’s organization on 6 April 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery led the church in their capacity as elders. An 11 November 1831 revelation directed that “the duty of the president of the office of the high...
View Glossary19 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...
View Full Bio9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...
View Full BioIn JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the work JS was called to do. However, the term Zion was soon used more specifically to describe a community of believers who live in harmony and equality. The Book of Mormon explained...
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Dear Friends in the new and everlasting covenant;
Generally referred to the “fullness of [the] gospel”—the sum total of the church’s message, geared toward establishing God’s covenant people on the earth; also used to describe individual elements of the gospel, including marriage. According to JS, the everlasting...
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I, Willford [Wilford] Woodruff,
sit down to inform you, that I have just heard, correctly, of
the deplorable state of things in Kirtland, and I have this day
held a council with Elders J[oseph] Ball and J[ames] Townsend,
who are now with me upon these
Islands, and we resolved to address a few lines to you
concern ing our feelings, and set before you a brief account
of things with us, and the course we intend to pursue. I have labored
principally alone upon these Islands,
since Elder [Jonathan H.] Hale left last fall, and the
work of the Lord has prosper ed in my hands, or in other words, the Lord
has worked with me during the winter. Elder Joseph Ball has been with me for a number of weeks past upon
the Islands. There is rising of 40 members in the church on these Isl ands,
and they are strong in the faith. I returned last evening from a mission in
company with Elder James Town send.
we have been visiting the most notable cities and vilages in the eastern country,
and delivering unto them the word of God.
1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into LDS church by Zera Pulsipher, 31 Dec. 1833, near Richland. Ordained...
View Full BioLocated 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 InfoA 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...
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 GlossaryThe 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 preached in their City Halls, Chapels, School houses, dwellings
&c., in such places as Camden, Belfast, Northport, Frankfort, Hampden and the City of Bangor.
Doors were open in all of these places, and many others I might
mention, and the people heard with profound attention; and many are believing.
I never saw more doors open for doing good, than at the pres ent
time in the State of Maine:
But the Devil is stired up against me here on the Island.
One Methodist priest has applied several times for a warrant
to take me, but the Officers, as yet, will not grant him any,
for he cannot bring any ac cusation against me in t[r]uth
or justice.
The most trouble I now have, is the stopping the papers. I
have forwarded about 30 subscribers with the money, and now
the press is burnt down, and our
enemies roar in the midst of the congregations, and they set up these ensigns
for signs.
I expect the report of these things will come like a clap
of thunder in the ears of the Saints upon these
Islands and else where. They do not know it yet,
but are wondering why these pa pers do not come. We have appointed a time to meet the
church, and we shall lay all these things before them and trust
in God for wisdom to direct us. The Elders that are with me are expecting
to go to their homes, and I shall be left to fight the battles alone. Brethren,
pray for me out of Zion, for I have a load to bear; but in the name
of Elijah’s God, I am determined to stand at my post. I feel as though the
time of Jacob’s trouble had began, but I know God will deliver him
out of it, and fulfil his word.
We are advising the Saints of God to go from this country to
Zion, as soon as they can. I suppose this is right: many are
preparing to go the following season.
Now we say to the Presidency of the church in Zion; we do not expect to counsel you, nor
any one there, let God be your counsellors. But we ask, can
it not be consistent with the will of God and your feelings and circum stances,
to soon publish the Elders’ Journal from Zion,
that we may have one weapon, to cut away some of the deep gloom,
that will be cast upon the minds of thousands of the Saints, by wicked
men and devils, and false breth ren. The traveling Elders feel the wait
of these things, equally, if not more than those who are in Zion; for we
are naked targets to the press and tongue, as we pass through the midst of
the Gentiles. O my God! have mercy and support us, I pray, through the
toils that are to come, that our gar ments may be washed white in the blood
of the Lamb! for it is through tribulation that we inherit the blessing and
overcome.
Could the Elders’ Journal be contin ued,
it would be great relief to the feel ings of all the faithful; for while
our enemies are publishing against us, even in Kirtland, we should also know what
God is doing for his Saints.
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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Brethren, we pray you to consider this last clause, not for
our sake alone, but for the sake of all the faithful that are
scattered abroad. We do not make these remarks because we have any lack
of confidence in you.—No, God forbid, we believe you have done,
and will do all that lies in your power for [p. 35]
Wilford Woodruff, James Townsend, and Joseph Ball, letter, Vinalhaven, Fox Islands, ME, to JS, Edward Partridge, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and church members in Missouri, 9 Mar. 1838; Elders’ Journal , July 1838, pp. 35–36.
1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into LDS church by Zera Pulsipher, 31 Dec. 1833, near Richland. Ordained...
View Full Bio27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...
View Full Bio19 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...
View Full Bio9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...
View Full BioArea 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...
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