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Letter to Brethren in Zion, 25 June 1833

be taught no more in Zion. We sanction the decission of 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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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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and his council

Used to designate a bishop and his assistants or counselors as they carried out ecclesiastical or administrative responsibilities. The term “bishop’s council” also denoted the officers who served in a bishop’s court.

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in relation to this doctrine being a bar of communion

Primarily referred to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as opposed to other religious sacraments. The articles and covenants of the church directed “that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord...

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The number of disciples in K[irtland]

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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is, about 150 We have commenced building the House of the Lord

The sacred edifice in Kirtland, Ohio, since known as the Kirtland temple. Although the term temple in the early days of the church designated a category of buildings, the proper name applied to the structure in Kirtland was “House of the Lord.” JS and the...

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JS revelation of Jan. 1831 directed Latter-day Saints to migrate to Ohio, where they would “be endowed with power from on high.” JS Revelation of Dec. 1832 directed Saints to “establish . . . an house of God.” JS Revelation of 1 June 1833 chastened Saints...

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in this place, and it goes on rapidly— Good news from the East and South, of the success of the Labourers is often saluting our ears, a general time of health among us, families all well and day and night <we pray> for the salvation of Zion. We deliver Bro Ziba [Peterson]

Ca. 1810–1849. Teacher, farmer, law officer. Born in New York. Lived in Macedon, Wayne Co., New York, ca. 1830. Baptized into LDS church. Ordained an elder, by 9 June 1830. Served mission to Ohio and Missouri, 1830–1831. Stripped of office of elder, Aug. ...

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over to the buffetings of Satan in the name of the Lord, that he may learn not to transgress the commandments

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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of God. We conclude our letter by the usual salutation in token of 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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We hasten to a close because the mail is just going

Joseph Smith Jr

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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F.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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Martin Harris

18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s Landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris at Palmyra...

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Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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Clk for the presidency

Organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and various groups of Latter-day Saints. A November 1831 revelation underscored the importance of a president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...

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P.S. We feel gratified with the way in which Bro William

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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is conducting the Star at present We hope he will seek to render it more and more interesting. In relation to the size of Bishopricks

Initially referred to a bishop’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but eventually described the ecclesiastical body comprising the bishop and his assistants, or counselors. John Corrill and Isaac Morley were called as assistants to Bishop Edward Partridge in 1831...

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when Zion is once properly regulated there will be a Bishop to each to each square of the size of the one we send you with this; but at present it must be done according to wisdom. It is needful Brethren that you should be all of one heart and of one mind in doing the will of the Lord. there should exist the greatest freedom and familiarity among the Rulers in Zion. We were exceeding sorry to hear the complaint which was made in Bro Edward

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s letter that the letters attending the olive leaf had been kept from him as it is meet that he should know all things in relation to Zion as the Lord has appointed him to be a judge in Zion. We hope dear Brethren that the like circumstance will not take place again— When we direct letters to Zion to any of the High Priests which pertains to the regulation thereof, we always design that they should be laid before the Bishop so as to enable him to perform his duty we say say so much hopeing that it will be received in kindness and our Brethren be careful about each others feelings and walk in love honoring one another more than themselves as is required of the Lord Yours as ever [p. [3]]

This letter from JS and his close associates in Kirtland

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, Ohio, responded to several inquiries from Missouri

Area 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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leaders and also discussed a variety of church matters. Among other topics, the letter addressed questions concerning “lost books mentioned in the bible,” the use of the Apocrypha, and whether the devil and his angels would be restored to grace. The letter also discussed priesthood assignments, the bishop’s role regarding property consecrated to the church, and publication of the Book of Commandments. A draft plat for the city of Zion accompanied the letter.

Frederick G. Williams

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and Orson Hyde

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penned the letter, which was signed by JS, Sidney Rigdon

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, Frederick G. Williams, and Martin Harris

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. Received by Edward Partridge

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when it arrived in Missouri

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, the document was initially retained in the Partridge family before being added to JS’s papers.

Facts

Editorial Title: Letter to Brethren in Zion, 25 June 1833
ID #: 2207