Frederick G. Williams handwriting begins.

Church conferences in November 1831 decided to publish a collection of JS’s revelations in a volume called A Book of Commandments, for the Government of the Church of Christ. Knowing that William W. Phelps was nearing completion of this project, the presidency of the high priesthood instructed that the volume be distributed unbound. However, by late July 1833, when Phelps would have learned of this instruction, Jackson County citizens had razed and destroyed the church’s printing office. By that point, Phelps had printed five thirty-two-page signatures of the Book of Commandments and probably intended that the sixth signature, which was not yet printed, would be the final signature in the volume. (Minutes, 1–2 Nov. 1831; Minutes, 8 Nov. 1831; Minutes, 12 Nov. 1831; Letter from John Whitmer, 29 July 1833; Historical Introduction to Book of Commandments.)

Possibly George Burket, or Bergat, who was among the church members driven from Jackson County a few months later. (See George Burket, Affidavit, Adams Co., IL, 13 May 1839, Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845, CHL.)

Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845. CHL. MS 2703.

By 30 April 1832, six members of the United Firm also composed the Literary Firm, a component of the United Firm that was responsible for overseeing church publications. (Revelation, 1 Mar. 1832 [D&C 78]; Revelation, 26 Apr. 1832 [D&C 82:11–21]; Minutes, 12 Nov. 1831; Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832; Revelation, 12 Nov. 1831 [D&C 70:1–3]; Minutes, 30 Apr. 1832.)

“Bro Chapin” is possibly Adolphus Chapin, who in May 1835 was among those selected to receive “inheritances in Zion.” It is not known why or how much money Gilbert would have owed Chapin at this time. (Whitmer, History, 71–72.)

It is not clear to what extent early church members were interested in the book of Jasher, beyond what is offered in this letter. Two passages in the Old Testament refer to the book of Jasher, which was first translated into English by Moses Samuel, a Jewish scholar residing in Liverpool, England. In 1840, Samuel’s translation was published as Sefer ha-yashar, or, The Book of Jasher; Referred to in Joshua and Second Samuel in New York by Mordecai M. Noah & A. S. Gould. Mormons showed interest in the lost books of the Bible early in the church’s history. Of the latter part of 1830, JS’s history records, “Much conjecture and conversation frequently occurred among the saints, concerning the books mentioned and referred to, in various places in the old and new testaments, which were now no where to be found.” For more on Mormons’ views of lost and Apocryphal books of the Bible, see Historical Introduction to Revelation, 9 Mar. 1833 [D&C 91]. (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18; Wasserstein, “Moses Samuel,” 95; JS History, vol. A-1, 80; see also Brandt, “History, Content, and Latter-day Saint Use of the Book of Jasher,” 8, 14–15, 122–131.)

Wasserstein, Bernard. “Moses Samuel, Liverpool Hebraist.” Jewish Historical Studies 35 (1996–1998): 93–102.

Brandt, Edward J. “The History, Content, and Latter-day Saint Use of the Book of Jasher.” PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1976.

See Revelation, 9 Mar. 1833 [D&C 91].

Frederick G. Williams handwriting ends; Orson Hyde begins.

Since JS had last written to Missouri on 2 May 1833, he had dictated three revelations, though it is unclear when he sent them to Missouri. The revelations were transcribed into Revelation Book 1, which was kept in Missouri. (See Letter to Edward Partridge, 2 May 1833; Revelation, 6 May 1833, in Revelation Book 1, pp. 178–181 [D&C 93]; Revelation, 1 June 1833, in Revelation Book 1, pp. 181–182 [D&C 95]; and Revelation, 4 June 1833, in Revelation Book 1, pp. 182–183 [D&C 96].)

The presidency may have sent manuscripts of the Book of Mormon as part of their plan, expressed two months earlier, to print the Book of Mormon and the New Testament together. Alternatively, this portion of the letter could be related to William W. Phelps’s intent to publish the Book of Mormon serially in The Evening and the Morning Star so that “the world will have an opportunity to read for themselves.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 21 Apr. 1833; “The Book of Mormon,” The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1833, [2].)

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

This idea to hire an instructor may have stemmed from an injunction in a December 1832 revelation to “teach one another, the doctrines, of the kingdom,” which resulted in the creation of the School of the Prophets in Kirtland. This revelation may have also prompted the creation of a similar school in Missouri. At some point in summer 1833, church leaders in Missouri selected Parley P. Pratt to teach and lead a school, and on 2 August 1833, a revelation encouraged Pratt to continue to conduct that school. (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:77]; Pratt, Autobiography, 99–100; Revelation, 2 Aug. 1833–A [D&C 97:3–6].)

Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

For the prior two years, Isaac Morley and John Corrill had served as Bishop Edward Partridge’s two official assistants, or counselors, in Jackson County. In December 1832, Morley and Corrill were assigned to “set in order the different Branches of the Church of Christ in the land of Zion.” The influx of church members arriving in Missouri may have prompted Partridge or other Missouri leaders to ask JS and the presidency how they were to govern the increasing population. According to Parley P. Pratt, in summer 1833, “immigration had poured into the County of Jackson in great numbers; and the Church in that county now numbered upwards of one thousand souls.” Corrill later wrote that instructions on how church members should prepare to resettle in Zion were disregarded in the rush to gather: “The rich were afraid to send up their money to purchase lands, and the poor crowded up in numbers, without having any places provided, contrary to the advice of the bishop and others.” Anticipating church members’ continued immigration to Missouri, church leaders stated in the postscript of the letter featured here that “when Zion is once properly regulated there will be a Bishop to each square,” referring to the squares on the plat map and in the explanation of the city of Zion plat, which accompanied this letter. (Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831; Minute Book 2, 3 Dec. 1832; Pratt, Autobiography, 99; Corrill, Brief History, 19; Plat of the City of Zion, ca. Early June–25 June 1833.)

Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.

Christian Whitmer was ordained a high priest by Simeon Carter on 21 August 1833, though it is unclear whether his ordination was connected to the instruction here. (Minute Book 2, 21 Aug. 1833.)

In the aftermath of the violence that church members faced in July and November 1833, it is unclear if these new three-man bishoprics were ever formally organized. However, on 11 September 1833, when a church council met in Jackson County and appointed “High Priests to wach over the several Branches,” four of the eight men designated here as new bishops and counselors—Parley P. Pratt, Newel Knight, John Corrill, and Daniel Stanton—were each called to preside over one of the ten branches. These appointments may have acted as an extension or alteration of the direction here to appoint them as counselors in bishoprics. Whether the ten Missouri branches were ever formally organized is unknown. (Minute Book 2, 11 Sept. 1833; see also Letter from William W. Phelps, 6–7 Nov. 1833; Letter from William W. Phelps, 14 Nov. 1833; and Letter from Edward Partridge, between 14 and 19 Nov. 1833.)

See Minutes, 4 June 1833; and Revelation, 4 June 1833 [D&C 96:6–9].

A “power of Agency,” or power of attorney, established a consensual relationship wherein one party granted another party authority to act on its behalf to deal with a third entity. A power of agency may have facilitated and created flexibility in making economic and land transactions between the two branches of the United Firm. (See De Pillis, “Development of Mormon Communitarianism,” 221.)

De Pillis, Mario S. “The Development of Mormon Communitarianism, 1826–1846.” PhD diss., Yale University, 1960.

This direction reiterates JS’s previous counsel to Edward Partridge to refine the process of making deeds of consecration and land stewardship in Jackson County. (Letter to Edward Partridge, 2 May 1833.)

Gideon Carter wrote to Missouri church leaders, stating, “The work is prospering in all the regions round about, especially east, much addition is made to several churches, and new ones are springing up. Brother Jared has been to Michigan and raised up three small ones.” Sylvester Smith likewise wrote: “It is about six weeks since I left Kirtland to take a mission to the east; since which time I have visited twelve churches, and passed three others, in coming to this place: all of which are nearly in the course from Kirtland to Chenango, New York: so grows, and so spreads the mighty work of the Lord. Some of said churches are composed of nearly one hundred members; and, in nearly all of them, the work is still going on. With some few exceptions, union prevails among them.” (“Progress of the Church of Christ,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1833, 108.)

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

Nancy Gallaher Rigdon was actually seventy-four years old at this time. A former longstanding resident of the Pittsburgh area, she was born in 1759. A later history of Luke Johnson states that Johnson, while on a proselytizing mission with Sidney Rigdon, baptized Rigdon’s mother; Johnson stated, “We journeyed to Pittsburgh to the place where Sidney was born & raised, here we preached the Gospel to his relatives & I baptized his mother & his oldest brother & several others & organized a branch.” (“History of Luke Johnson,” [2], Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861, CHL.)

Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.

Plat of the City of Zion, ca. Early June–25 June 1833; Plan of the House of the Lord, between 1 and 25 June 1833.

According to a JS revelation, Jackson County was the primary gathering place for members of the church at this time, while Kirtland was designated as a temporary gathering place, known as the stake of Zion. (See Revelation, 4 June 1833 [D&C 96:1].)

See Jeremiah 18:16; and Lamentations 2:15.

See Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:66–67].

It was standard legal practice at the time for both the husband and the wife to sign a deed transaction. For example, when JS and Emma Smith bought property from her parents, Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, both Isaac and Elizabeth signed the transaction in the presence of a local justice of the peace. Written on the bottom of the deed is testimony that Elizabeth Hale, “being of proper age & being examined Apart from her Said husband,” signed the deed “of her own free will & not from any fear” of her husband. (Deed from Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Hale, 25 Aug. 1830.)

Possibly Clarissa Nye Bachelor Blaisdell. (See Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, 20, 266; 1840 U.S. Census, Salisbury, Essex Co., MA, 297; Hyde, Journal, 30 July 1832; and Samuel Smith, Diary, 30 July 1832.)

Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1915.

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Hyde, William. Journal, ca. 1868–1873. CHL. MS 1549.

Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.

The Evening and the Morning Star.

Probably Joshua Bailey, father of Mary Bailey, who later married JS’s brother Samuel Smith. (See Geauga Co., OH, Probate Court, Marriage Records, 1806–1920, vol. C, p. 60, 13 Aug. 1834, microfilm 873,461, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Located in the south-central region of the state, Andover was about fifty-five miles southeast of Benson, Vermont.