Letter to Brethren in Zion, 2 July 1833

  • Kirtland, July 2d— 1833–

    Brethren—

    We received your letters of June 7 one from  Bro William [W. Phelps] and Oliver [Cowdery] one from Bro D Whit mor [David Whitmer] and one from Br S. G. [Sidney Gilbert] for which we are  thankful to our heavenly Father to hear of your  welfare, as well as the prosperity of Zion having  received your letters in the mail of today we hasten  to answer to go with tomorrow’s mail, we are  excedingly fateagued owing to a great press of  business we this day finished the translating of  the Scriptures, for which we returned gratitude  to our heavenly father, and sat immediately down  to answer your letters we rejoiced greatly to hear  of the safe arival of Sister Viana [Vienna Jacques] and Brother  William [Hobert] and thank our heavenly father that  their lives have been spared them till their  arival the health of the brethren & sisters in [p. 51]

Part of the regular flow of administrative correspondence between Kirtland, Ohio, and Jackson County, Missouri, the church’s two primary population centers, this letter from   the presidency of the high priesthood touched on such subjects as the gift of tongues, distribution of the nearly completed Book of Commandments, and JS’s revision of the Bible. News of a personal nature was also exchanged. The letter reflected the fellowship that existed among the corresponding leaders and their commitment to the church.

Written in behalf of JS, Williams, and himself, Rigdon wrote this letter from Kirtland, Ohio, to their brethren in Zion, Jackson County, Missouri. Frederick G. Williams subsequently transcribed it into JS Letterbook 1, probably in July 1833. JS and Williams began the letterbook to record JS’s history and also as a letter registry.

Facts

Editorial Title
Letter to Brethren in Zion, 2 July 1833
ID #
169