Letter to Brethren in Zion, 25 June 1833

Should you not understand the explanations sent with the drafts you will inform  us, so as you may have a propper understanding, for it is meet that all things sh ould be done according to the pattern— The following errors we have found in the co mmandment, as printed 40th Chap 10th verse third line, instead of corruptable put corrupted  14 verse of the same chapter 5th line instead of respecter to persons, put respecter  of persons. 21st verse 2nd line of the same chapter, instead of respecter to, put respecter  of 44 Chapter 12 verse last line, instead of hands, put heads— Bro Edward

27 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...

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 Sir, I proceed to answer your questions concerning the consecration

The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...

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of Property. First,  it is not right to condescend to verry great paticulars in takeing inventories. The fact is  this, that a man is bound by the law of the church to consecrate to the Bishop

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...

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 before he can be considered a legal heir to the Kingdom of Zion, and this too,  without constraint, and unless he does this, he cannot be acknowledged before  the Lord on the Church Book. Therefore, to condescend to particulars, I will tell  you that every man must be his own judge how much he should receive, and  how much he should suffer to remain in the hands of the Bishop. I speak of  those who consecrate more than they need for the support of themselves and family  The matter of consecration must be done by the mutual consent of both parties— For,  to give the Bishop power to say how much every man shall have and he be obliged  to comply with the Bishops judgment, is giving to the Bishop more power than a King has  and upon the other hand, to let every man say how much he needs and the Bishop  obliged to comply with his judgment, is to throw Zion into confusion and make a  slave of the Bishop. The fact is, there must be a balance or equalibrium of  power between the bishop and the people, and thus harmony and good will  may be preserved among you. Therefore, those persons consecrating property to the  Bishop in Zion, and then receiveing an inheritance

Generally referred to land promised by or received from God for the church and its members. A January 1831 revelation promised church members a land of inheritance. In March and May 1831, JS dictated revelations commanding members “to purchase lands for an...

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back, must show reasonably  to the Bishop that he wants as much as he claims, but in case the two parties  can<not> come to a mutual agreement, the Bishop is to have nothing to do  about receiveing their consecrations and the case must be laid before a council

A 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...

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of  twelve high Priests

An ecclesiastical office. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed an order of high priests who were called to teach the commandments of God and serve as leaders in...

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, the Bishop not being one of the council, but he is to lay the  case before them. Say to Bro Gilbert

28 Dec. 1789–29 June 1834. Merchant. Born at New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Eli Gilbert and Lydia Hemingway. Moved to Huntington, Fairfield Co., Connecticut; to Monroe, Monroe Co., Michigan, by Sept. 1818; to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio; ...

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that we have no means in our power to  assist him in a pecuniary point, as we know not the hour when we shall  be sued for debts which we have contracted ourselves in N[ew] York

Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...

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. Say to him  that he must exert himself to the utmost to obtain means himself to replenish  his store for it must be replenished and it is his duty to attend to it. We  were not a little surprised to hear that some of our letters of a public nature  which we sent for the good Zion <have been> kept back from the Bishop, this is cond uct which we highly disapprobate, answers to queries in Bro [William W.] Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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letter of June  4th. First in relation to the poor, when the Bishops are appointed according to  our recommendation, it will involve upon them to see to the poor according to  the laws of the church

Principles given to the church and its members in February 1831 revelations. In January 1831, a revelation promised the saints in New York that the law would be given after they gathered in Ohio. Once in Ohio, on 9 and 23 February 1831, JS dictated two revelations...

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. In regard to the printing of the New translation it  cannot be done until we can attend to it ourselves, and this we will do as soon  as the Lord permit— As to Bro Frederick [G. Williams]

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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, all members of the United Firm

An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties, 1832–1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the United...

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are  considered one, The order of the literary firm

The branch of the United Firm responsible for church publications. In November 1831, a revelation appointed JS, Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, and William W. Phelps as “stewards over the revelations & commandments.” In March 1832...

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is a matter of stewardship

One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...

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 which is of the greatest importance and the mercantile establishment God com manded

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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for to be devoted to the support thereof, and God will bring every  transgressor into judgment. Say to the Brethren Hulits and to all others  that the Lord never authorised them to say that the Devil nor his angels  nor the Sons of perdition should ever be restored, for their state of destiny  was not revealed to man, is not revealed, nor ever shall be revealed save to  those who are made partakers thereof, consequently, those who teach this doctrine  have not received it of the Spirit of the Lord, Truly, Bro Oliver [Cowdery]

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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declared it  to be the doctrine of devils. We therefore, command that this doctrine [p. [2]]