Letter from William W. Phelps, 7 May 1837

Dear brother in the Lord,

Permit me to drop you a few lines to show you our prog ress temporally and spiritually. A multiplicity of business has prevented me from writing much the year past, but the greatness of our doings and the importance of the occasion require a recital to you for your consolation.— Monday the 3d of July, was a great and glorious day in Far West

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

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; more than fifteen hundred saints assembled in this place, and, at ½ past 8 in the morning, after a prayer, singing, and an address, proceeded to break the ground for the Lord’s House

Plans for Far West included temple on central block. Latter-day Saints in Caldwell Co. made preparations for construction and commenced excavating for foundation, 3 July 1837. However, while visiting Latter-day Saints in Far West, 6 Nov. 1837, JS gave instructions...

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; the day was beautiful, the Spirit of the Lord was with us, a cellar for this great ed ifice, 110 long by 80 broad was nearly finished: on Tuesday the fourth, we had a large meeting and several of the Missourians were baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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: Our meet ings, held in the open prairie, or, in fact larger than they were in Kirtland

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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when I was there. We have more or less to bless, confirm and, baptize ev ery Sabath.

This same day our school section was sold at auction, and although en tirely a prairie, it brought, on a years credit, from 3 ½ to $10,20 an acre, making our first school fund $5070!! Land can not be had round town now much less than $10 per acre.

Our numbers increase daily, and, notwithstanding the season has been cold and backward, no one has lacked a meal, or went hungry. Provisions to be sure have risen, but not as high as our accounts say they are abroad.

Public notice has been given by the mob in Davi[es]s county

Area in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Mormon settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest to ...

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, north of us, for the Mormons to leave that county by the first of August, and go into Cald well

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

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. Our enemies will not slumber, till Satan knows the bigness of his lot.

Our town gains some, we have a bout one hundred buildings, 8 of which are stores. If the brethren abroad are wise, and will come on with means, and help enter the land and populate the Co.

Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...

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and build the Lord’s House

Plans for Far West included temple on central block. Latter-day Saints in Caldwell Co. made preparations for construction and commenced excavating for foundation, 3 July 1837. However, while visiting Latter-day Saints in Far West, 6 Nov. 1837, JS gave instructions...

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, we shall soon have one of the most pre cious spots on the Globe. God grant that it may be so. Of late we receive but little news from you: and we think much of that is exaggerated.

As ever,

N. B. Please say in your Messen ger: “A Post office has been estab lished at Far West

Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...

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, Caldwell County, Missouri. Our brethren will now have a chance to write to their friends.” [p. [529]]

Letter from William W. Phelps, 7 May 1837

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