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Letter from William W. Phelps, with appended letter from Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 29 June 1840

 
Dayton, Ohio June 29. 1840
Brother Joseph
I am alive and with thee help of God I mean  to live still. I am as the prodigal Son, though I never doubt  or disbelieve the fulness of the Gospel: I have been greatly abased  and humbled: And I blessed the God of Israel, when I lately  read your prophetic blessing on my head, as follows:—
“The Lord will chasten him because he taketh honor to himself,  and when his soul is greatly humbled he will forsake the  evil: Then shall the light of the Lord break upon him as the  noon day, and in him shall be no darkness” &c. I have  Seen the folly of my way and I tremble at the gulf I have  passed. so it is, and why I know not. I prayed and God  answered, but what could I do? Says I, I will repent  and live, and ask my old brethren to forgive me, and  though they chasten me to death, yet I will die with the—  for their God is my God. The least place with them is enough  for me, yea it is bigger and better than all Babylon. Then  I dreamed “That I was in a large house with many mansions,  with you and Hyrum [Smith]

9 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...

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 and 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 when it was said  Supper must be made ready, by one of the cooks, I saw no  meat, but you said there was plenty and shewed me much,  and as good as I ever saw; And while cutting to cook, you  and Hyrum

9 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...

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 looked very pleasant and smiled, but Sidney

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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’s  heart and mine beat within us, and we took each others  hand and cried for Joy”. and I awoke and took courage
I I know my situation, you know it, and God  knows it, and I want to be saved if my friends will help  me. Like the Captain that was cast away on a desert  Island, when he got off he went to sea again, and made  his fortune the next time, So let my lot be. I have  done wrong and I am sorry. The beam is in my own eye.
I have not walked with my friends according to my  holy Annointing

Following a biblical pattern, JS on 21 January 1836 instituted the ordinance of anointing with oil on the head or body as a sign of sanctification and consecration in preparation for the endowment of “power from on high.” This anointing was combined with ...

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: I ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus  Christ of all the saints for I will do right God helping  me, I want your fellowship: If you cannot grant  that, grant me your peace and friendship, for we are  brethren, and our communion used to be Sweet, and [p. 155]

Facts

Editorial Title
Letter from William W. Phelps, with appended letter from Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 29 June 1840
ID #
548