31366

Letter to Church Officers in Missouri, 31 August 1835

 
Images of this item © Community of Christ and licensed to the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Inquiries about high-resolution images of this item for scholarly use should be directed to the Community of Christ Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri.
Kirtland

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...

More Info
 Aug. 31, 1835.
The Presidency

The presiding body of the church. From the day of the church’s organization on 6 April 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery led the church in their capacity as elders. An 11 November 1831 revelation directed that “the duty of the president of the office of the high...

View Glossary
 of Kirtland

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...

More Info
 and Zion say  that the Lord has manifested by revelation  of his spirit that the high preeist

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...

View Glossary
, teachers

Generally, one who instructs, but also a specific office in the church. The Book of Mormon explained that teachers were to be ordained “to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end.” According...

View Glossary
,  Priests

An ecclesiastical office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed the ordination...

View Glossary
 and deacons

An ecclesiastical office. The articles and covenants directed deacons to assist teachers in their duties. Deacons were also to “warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ,” though they lacked the authority to baptize. The first recorded...

View Glossary
, or in other words all the  officers in the land of Clay Co.

Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...

More Info
 Mo. belonging  to the church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
 are more or less in transgres sion, because they have not enjoyed the  Spirit of God sufficiently to be able to  comprehend their duties respecting them selves, and the welfare of Zion. Thereby  having been left to act, in a manner that  is detrimental to the interest, and also  a hindrance, to the redemption of Zion

In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the work JS was called to do. However, the term Zion was soon used more specifically to describe a community of believers who live in harmony and equality. The Book of Mormon explained...

View Glossary
.
Now if they will be wise, they will  humble themselves in a peculiar manner  that God may open the eyes of their under standing, It will be clearly manifest that  the design and purposes of the Almighty;  are with regard to them and the children of  Zion: that they should let the high counsel

Although JS utilized councils of elders and high priests earlier in church government, the first standing high council of the church was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834. The second high council was organized a few months later in Clay County...

View Glossary
  which is appointed of God and ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

View Glossary
 for  that purpose, <make and> regulate all the affairs of Zion:  and that it is the will of God, that her chil dren should stand still, and see the salvation  of her redemption; and the officers of the  church should go forth, inasmuch as they  can leave their families in comfortable  circumstances; and gather up the saints,  even the strength of the Lords house.  And those who cannot go forth consist ently with the will of God their circumstan ces prev[e]nting them; remain in deep  humility: and in as much, [as] th[e]y do any thing [p. 77]

Facts

Editorial Title
Letter to Church Officers in Missouri, 31 August 1835
ID #
268